I just read White Teeth by Zadie Smith and really loved it, I might add N-W to my reading list ! Personnally I'm just starting Finding Time Again, the last book of In search of lost time. I've been slowly reading In search of lost time for several years and I feel like the summer is a perfect time to enjoy Proust's beautiful writing
I’m in a book club that’s been going for more than 20 years, and recently we talked about the books we’ve liked best over that time. I included The Nix on my list. We read it some time ago, so many of the plot details are fuzzy, but I remember thinking Nathan Hill is a gifted writer. He somehow makes the mother, Faye—who does the unthinkable and abandons her son when he’s young—feel sympathetic rather than just selfish. There’s much more conversation now about generational trauma than there was when the book was published, but the novel illustrates its impact on the son, Samuel.
I also remember noticing Hill’s unusual use of narrative tense. As a writer, I usually decide whether to write in past tense or present tense and stick with it, but Hill must have made a deliberate choice not to. Faye’s sections are written in the present tense even when they’re set in the past, while Samuel’s story stays in the past tense whether it’s his childhood or adulthood. That convention seemed to shape how I felt about the characters. Faye's past feels emotionally unresolved and ongoing, while Samuel’s life feels like something that happened to him, he’s just going through the motions and is emotionally stunted. You mentioned reading Franzen as your big book over the past 2 summers. There’s a similarity in their writing and how they cover weighty topics. The Nix is one of my favorite novels; I hope you love it.
liliana's invincible summer is so so so good but also gut-wrenchingly sad especially if you have a sister. it's one of those non-fiction books that reads seamlessly like fiction. also i need to pick up a zadie smith since i've never read her, and another evaristo since i read two of her books a while back. good luck with the house hunting, i hope you find a beautiful home <3
I’ve read Kala and The Most of Nora Ephron and both are so good! (Couldn’t be more different vibes haha). I have a copy of Happy All the Time that I need to get to this year too
I just read White Teeth by Zadie Smith and really loved it, I might add N-W to my reading list ! Personnally I'm just starting Finding Time Again, the last book of In search of lost time. I've been slowly reading In search of lost time for several years and I feel like the summer is a perfect time to enjoy Proust's beautiful writing
white teeth is a masterpiece! have you read on beauty by zadie smith? i loved that one too. hoping NW becomes a new fave 🤞
i loved happy all the time by laurie colwin! i hope you enjoy read it!
i’m excited for it, her books are so charming
Mr Loverman is so sweet and fun! I need to get more Bernardine Evaristo on my TBR
love to hear that! have you read girl woman other by her?
Yes!! An all time fave
I’m in a book club that’s been going for more than 20 years, and recently we talked about the books we’ve liked best over that time. I included The Nix on my list. We read it some time ago, so many of the plot details are fuzzy, but I remember thinking Nathan Hill is a gifted writer. He somehow makes the mother, Faye—who does the unthinkable and abandons her son when he’s young—feel sympathetic rather than just selfish. There’s much more conversation now about generational trauma than there was when the book was published, but the novel illustrates its impact on the son, Samuel.
I also remember noticing Hill’s unusual use of narrative tense. As a writer, I usually decide whether to write in past tense or present tense and stick with it, but Hill must have made a deliberate choice not to. Faye’s sections are written in the present tense even when they’re set in the past, while Samuel’s story stays in the past tense whether it’s his childhood or adulthood. That convention seemed to shape how I felt about the characters. Faye's past feels emotionally unresolved and ongoing, while Samuel’s life feels like something that happened to him, he’s just going through the motions and is emotionally stunted. You mentioned reading Franzen as your big book over the past 2 summers. There’s a similarity in their writing and how they cover weighty topics. The Nix is one of my favorite novels; I hope you love it.
This is an interesting list! I would live to read the last one some day. 🤩
This year is mostly packed for me. 😅
liliana's invincible summer is so so so good but also gut-wrenchingly sad especially if you have a sister. it's one of those non-fiction books that reads seamlessly like fiction. also i need to pick up a zadie smith since i've never read her, and another evaristo since i read two of her books a while back. good luck with the house hunting, i hope you find a beautiful home <3
I’ve read Kala and The Most of Nora Ephron and both are so good! (Couldn’t be more different vibes haha). I have a copy of Happy All the Time that I need to get to this year too
I need to know how you feel about The Nix because it's been staring at me from a pile for a year at least.
ooh great list! best time of year for reading
Thank you for the recommendations! Just ordered Happy All The Time :))
I will also be reading Happy All The Time this spring/summer!