I would love to visit Parnassus. Maybe one day... I would also love to know what your other favourite books are? Do share. I'm always interested to find out what other like-minded folks are reading.
Oh gosh, like Ruth says above, I’m a sucker for a feisty - or even self-assured in her quietness- protag, whether in fiction or memoir. Valerie Perrin offered these up in Fresh Water for Flowers and Forgotten on Sundays. I enjoyed Housemates (Emma Copley Eisenberg) for a peek into Gen Z. Weike Wang is also a master here (Chemistry, Joan is Okay). Jen Beagin got much deserved praise for Big Swiss, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her Mona from both Pretend I’m Dead and Vacuuming in the Dark (- both read while waiting for my Big Swiss hold to be available). Helene Marie Bernini’s Beautyland is another best-of for me this year. My current ‘all time’ fave protag is Eleanor Oliphant. A reader friend put it best when she said “I liked that she didn’t feel sorry for herself.” Maybe this is truer to my favorite kind of protag.
The book sounds like an engaging read, Marg—I’m always up for a “flawed but feisty” main character in a tough spot.
Congrats on being included in the bookstacker list—so well deserved!
I’m up for any changes of date for the book club—or of book if the James McBride novel is too hard to get. I suspect some books that are easy to find here are less so in Australia—and vice-versa.
Hi Ruth! The James McBride book is quite easy to find but it’s very popular. I’m in a big long queue at the library and of course I am too mean to buy a copy. Might see if they have an e-copy. They have just installed a new catalogue and it lists all versions of titles in one place, which is handy. In the past you had to search the library catalogue and Libby separately.
We have that problem here too. I also don’t want to buy books if I can help it (my shelves are already overflowing) and resort to Libby, which is a great resource, but you can wait weeks for popular titles. Usually I find something else. SO many books in the world—but The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is one of a kind, so I hope you get hold of it!😊📖
Thanks Val! I appreciate the feedback. I’ve been re-thinking Tom Lake as a choice for next year but we can discuss at book club. I’ve just finished it for my other book club and it got a universal 👎 I know it got lots of praise but it’s a bit boring.
Oh really! Most people I spoke to loved it. I thought Margo was the perfect length and enjoyed it very much and I also learned a LOT about Only Fans and Tik Tok content.
+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.
I would love to visit Parnassus. Maybe one day... I would also love to know what your other favourite books are? Do share. I'm always interested to find out what other like-minded folks are reading.
Oh gosh, like Ruth says above, I’m a sucker for a feisty - or even self-assured in her quietness- protag, whether in fiction or memoir. Valerie Perrin offered these up in Fresh Water for Flowers and Forgotten on Sundays. I enjoyed Housemates (Emma Copley Eisenberg) for a peek into Gen Z. Weike Wang is also a master here (Chemistry, Joan is Okay). Jen Beagin got much deserved praise for Big Swiss, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her Mona from both Pretend I’m Dead and Vacuuming in the Dark (- both read while waiting for my Big Swiss hold to be available). Helene Marie Bernini’s Beautyland is another best-of for me this year. My current ‘all time’ fave protag is Eleanor Oliphant. A reader friend put it best when she said “I liked that she didn’t feel sorry for herself.” Maybe this is truer to my favorite kind of protag.
Wow! Look at those cupcakes. I really want to read Margo! And thanks for mentioning the BookStack Directory. 😅
I hope
You enjoy Margo (I wish that was my name). Thank you for all your hard work in putting together the directory.
The book sounds like an engaging read, Marg—I’m always up for a “flawed but feisty” main character in a tough spot.
Congrats on being included in the bookstacker list—so well deserved!
I’m up for any changes of date for the book club—or of book if the James McBride novel is too hard to get. I suspect some books that are easy to find here are less so in Australia—and vice-versa.
Hi Ruth! The James McBride book is quite easy to find but it’s very popular. I’m in a big long queue at the library and of course I am too mean to buy a copy. Might see if they have an e-copy. They have just installed a new catalogue and it lists all versions of titles in one place, which is handy. In the past you had to search the library catalogue and Libby separately.
We have that problem here too. I also don’t want to buy books if I can help it (my shelves are already overflowing) and resort to Libby, which is a great resource, but you can wait weeks for popular titles. Usually I find something else. SO many books in the world—but The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is one of a kind, so I hope you get hold of it!😊📖
I love this issue. And even tho I’ve never attended your book group I’m game for December!
Thanks Val! I appreciate the feedback. I’ve been re-thinking Tom Lake as a choice for next year but we can discuss at book club. I’ve just finished it for my other book club and it got a universal 👎 I know it got lots of praise but it’s a bit boring.
Oh really! Most people I spoke to loved it. I thought Margo was the perfect length and enjoyed it very much and I also learned a LOT about Only Fans and Tik Tok content.
Me too! I thought she was wonderful and it was very educational.