How exciting, Rosalynn! I have just downloaded the podcast to check out later : )
And on the subject of 'unpopular' opinions of books...I have to confess to a deep-seated dislike of Sally Rooney's 'Normal People' (I can hear the shouting now...Yikes!)
Kate, I also didn’t like Normal People! I think Sally Rooney is a talented writer, so I’d like to try another of her books…unless they also delve into the minutiae of a dysfunctional situationship between two young, unlikeable characters…in which case I guess I’m just not her ideal reader!
Hi! I liked Sally Rooney's writing style but was So Angry at the ending to Normal People. It was so hard to read as the characters just ignored what seemed like pretty obvious signs. However! I really enjoyed her book Beautiful World, Where Are You? It is still very character focused and slow to get into (which I ended up enjoying), so def not for someone who is looking for a rollicking plot, but it has a much more satisfying ending. Whereas in Normal People I got so frustrated with the characters, I would use the words redemptive or growth to describe the character arcs in Beautiful World.
We might be book twins! I think you’ve described exactly what bugged me so much about Normal People. It’s not that they were so clueless to begin with, it’s that they failed to really grow and change with experience. Which I suppose is pretty “normal,” but makes for an unsatisfying end to a story, depending on who you are as reader. I’ll have to try Beautiful World, Where are You?!
Very exciting that you were a guest on WSIRN! One of my favorite podcasts. Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorites. I finished Demon Copperhead a few weeks ago and am predicting it will be my favorite book of the year. As for unpopular opinions: I cannot get into Joyce Carol Oates. I appreciate that she's so prolific, but I've tried several of her novels and they just don't work for me.
I haven’t read Demon Copperhead yet, but it’s on my way-too-long TBR! I just looked up Joyce Carol Oates out of curiosity and found out she has published 58 (!) novels. And I don’t think I’ve read any.
I remember reading High Tide in Tucson when my son was young and I was trying to keep the dream if writing alive. But then I've read almost everything by Barbara Kingsolver. She's one if this writers who challenges herself and teaches me.
I just popped in to say that I am now totally addicted to the 'What should I read next?' podcast, thanks to your post!! I am working my way through the episodes as I go about my day, and am finding them so comforting (although I have to constantly pause whilst I check if the book recs are available at my local library!!)
Isn’t it great?! I discovered it after it had been on air for about five years, and then spent several months catching up on the archive. It’s still one of my favourite things to listen to while cleaning or folding laundry because it makes the task zip by :)
Hi! I did in fact wander over from listening to your WSIRN episode! Congrats and well done, I enjoyed the listen for sure, and I'm so so glad to find your Substack. I am not a solo parent, but I am a new parent, and I think we could share reading tastes. I love the way you write here about the struggle of articulating why you love a certain book. But you've really done it quite gracefully and I am now on the hunt for a copy of High Tide in Tucson. Cheers.
How exciting, Rosalynn! I have just downloaded the podcast to check out later : )
And on the subject of 'unpopular' opinions of books...I have to confess to a deep-seated dislike of Sally Rooney's 'Normal People' (I can hear the shouting now...Yikes!)
Kate, I also didn’t like Normal People! I think Sally Rooney is a talented writer, so I’d like to try another of her books…unless they also delve into the minutiae of a dysfunctional situationship between two young, unlikeable characters…in which case I guess I’m just not her ideal reader!
Haha, I know what you mean! I loved her writing style, I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters.
Hi! I liked Sally Rooney's writing style but was So Angry at the ending to Normal People. It was so hard to read as the characters just ignored what seemed like pretty obvious signs. However! I really enjoyed her book Beautiful World, Where Are You? It is still very character focused and slow to get into (which I ended up enjoying), so def not for someone who is looking for a rollicking plot, but it has a much more satisfying ending. Whereas in Normal People I got so frustrated with the characters, I would use the words redemptive or growth to describe the character arcs in Beautiful World.
We might be book twins! I think you’ve described exactly what bugged me so much about Normal People. It’s not that they were so clueless to begin with, it’s that they failed to really grow and change with experience. Which I suppose is pretty “normal,” but makes for an unsatisfying end to a story, depending on who you are as reader. I’ll have to try Beautiful World, Where are You?!
Also not a Sally Rooney fan. I DNFed Beautiful World, Where Are You rather early.
Very exciting that you were a guest on WSIRN! One of my favorite podcasts. Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorites. I finished Demon Copperhead a few weeks ago and am predicting it will be my favorite book of the year. As for unpopular opinions: I cannot get into Joyce Carol Oates. I appreciate that she's so prolific, but I've tried several of her novels and they just don't work for me.
I haven’t read Demon Copperhead yet, but it’s on my way-too-long TBR! I just looked up Joyce Carol Oates out of curiosity and found out she has published 58 (!) novels. And I don’t think I’ve read any.
I remember reading High Tide in Tucson when my son was young and I was trying to keep the dream if writing alive. But then I've read almost everything by Barbara Kingsolver. She's one if this writers who challenges herself and teaches me.
Excuse the typos! I shouldn't do this on my phone.
Yes, she’s amazing. I’m not sure I’ve read all of her work but definitely, a lot, both fiction and non.
I just popped in to say that I am now totally addicted to the 'What should I read next?' podcast, thanks to your post!! I am working my way through the episodes as I go about my day, and am finding them so comforting (although I have to constantly pause whilst I check if the book recs are available at my local library!!)
Isn’t it great?! I discovered it after it had been on air for about five years, and then spent several months catching up on the archive. It’s still one of my favourite things to listen to while cleaning or folding laundry because it makes the task zip by :)
Same! : )
Hi! I did in fact wander over from listening to your WSIRN episode! Congrats and well done, I enjoyed the listen for sure, and I'm so so glad to find your Substack. I am not a solo parent, but I am a new parent, and I think we could share reading tastes. I love the way you write here about the struggle of articulating why you love a certain book. But you've really done it quite gracefully and I am now on the hunt for a copy of High Tide in Tucson. Cheers.
Thanks, Amy! I hope you enjoy High Tide in Tucson as much as I do :)