Hello reading friends,
The thing I love most about books is the way they can open your mind to new and different ways of thinking about the world.
This week’s recommendation is a great example.
What I’ve been reading
Margo’s Got Money Troubles, by Rufi Thorpe is definitely going to be on my list of favourite books this year. It has that beautiful blend of sharp and funny writing, combined with a main character who is flawed and feisty, but very loveable.
Rufi says that starting a new book is like going on a first date. You hope you will like each other. You hope you will be enthralled.
And I was. I liked it from the beginning and didn’t want it to finish.
I’m aware that one of the reasons I loved it so much is because I identified so strongly with Margo. I also found myself unexpectedly pregnant (and short of money) at the age of 19 and I know what it’s like to be told how wonderful you are for having a baby on your own, whilst also being fully aware that those same people are judging you and whispering behind your back. You honestly can’t win.
I remember being a new mother and being terrified that I was solely responsible for a new life, and at the same time, deeply in love with that tiny defenceless baby.
Many women will relate to that, but I don’t think you need to be a mother to empathise with Margo. She’s someone who finds herself responsible for a small human and she’s going to do whatever it takes, even if other people don’t approve.
She’s far more entrepreneurial than I ever was and I learnt a LOT about OnlyFans* by reading this book. I was going to say you need to be broadminded to read this book, but actually this is a great book for everyone to read because it might expand your worldview.
* OnlyFans is an internet content subscription service based in London, England. The service is used primarily by sex workers who produce pornography, but it also hosts the work of other content creators, such as physical fitness experts and musicians.
What I’ve been cooking
To be honest, I’ve barely cooked anything in the last couple of weeks. We’ve been eating the same old things, partly because I’ve been quite busy but also because like everyone else, I get stuck in a rut sometimes.
I did go to a 90th birthday party, where some very clever person had made these beautifully decorated cupcakes. They were surprisingly delicious.
Exciting news
When Abra McAndrew decided she wanted to connect with other bookstackers (people who publish book related newsletters on Substack), she was amazed to discover there was no easy way to find them, so she went about creating a directory everyone could use.
The Bookstack Directory is a carefully curated list of quality newsletters, and I’m thrilled to announce that Book Chat has been included.
The Directory has a wide range of content including reviews, essays, reading recommendations and critiques. Check it out!
More bookish news
As you may have heard, Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It’s the first time in 10 years that an Australian author has been shortlisted.
Stone Yard Devotional is a quiet, thought-provoking novel. I wrote about it earlier this year.
And if you’re interested in reading a potted history of the Booker Prize, you’ll find that here.
International Book Club
I haven’t set a date for our next meeting because I’m still waiting for the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store to become available at my library. Have you been able to get your hands on a copy? We might push the meet-up back to December if that suits everyone? Let me know either way by hitting reply.
That’s all for this issue.
As always, thanks so much for reading, I really appreciate your support.
If you enjoy Book Chat, please share it with a reading friend.
Warm wishes
Marg xx
+1 for loving Margo. I bought it on a whim visiting Parnassus in Nashville and have been pushing it on every reader I know since.
Wow! Look at those cupcakes. I really want to read Margo! And thanks for mentioning the BookStack Directory. 😅