Reading Really Is So Much Better Than Social Media
why haven't I been writing much? because I've been reading!
This year I made a concerted effort to read more books and to do so I made sure to include a “reading” section of my bullet journal to encourage and remind myself. When I recently looked back on the year I realised that I had actually read so much more than I was giving myself credit for. Do I spend too much time on my phone reading nonsense on Reddit and scrolling TikTok? Yes. Of course. I’m only human (most days). But I’m proud of my efforts and want to subtly brag about my reading habit by giving you a quick review of every book I’ve read, so far, this year. Oh, and in chronological order.
A Wizard of Earthsea Book One, by Ursula K. Le Guin
My favourite part of how Le Guin writes is that she never explains herself. She dives into a story with precision and sharp description in a way that I think is hard to do these days. I liked this book a lot, but it’s my least favourite piece of writing I’ve read from her.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I kind of, almost, wrote about this book here. As a book, and especially as an audio book, this was fantastically fun. Very derivative of Bruce Springsteen’s memoir (which is another book that is fantastic as an audio book) but in a way I don’t mind. Do not watch the TV show.
The Women’s Part by Jo Gatford
This is a short poetry book, maybe a chapbook? I’m not confident with my literary lingo. Gatford took women’s speeches from Shakespear plays and used her own prose poetry as well as blackout poetry of the script to be more honest about these women’s perspectives. Here’s a link because it’s fairly niche, and I strongly suggest you give it a try! It’s very short, and inexpensive, and I’m sure every woman reading my silly little substack will get something from the experience.
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
This is not a short poetry chapbook. This is a strange and wonderful and long piece of fiction that is more of an experience than a book. Read it. The physical book if you can.
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
I don’t love celebrity memoirs, and fortunately for Fern and I she’s not a huge celebrity. She is a Scottish comedian and this book is about how she moves through life being both a woman and neurodivergent. Can I vulnerable here and say that her book made me feel less like an alien creature in my own life?
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
The way she, again without explanation, wrote about gender in this book was fantastic. I love how she drops you into the story without a little cushion. My second favourite Le Guin I read this year. My favourite, which I’ll describe here as it’s an incredibly short story, was The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. I think about this at least once a week, both the story of it and how she wrote it.
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue
A fun summer read that I would recommend to anyone, but honestly I prefer Caroline’s podcast work a bit better than her writing. This isn’t a knock on her writing; I’m a podcast connoisseur and her’s is in my top 3. It’s called Sentimental Garbage and I’d describe the content as Caroline and her guests letting the teenage girls who live in her heart speak through the well-educated and experienced women they have become.
The Turnout by Megan Abbott
This was recommended to me by a friend and if she reads this I want her to know I will read anything she recommends, but that this was not my favourite. I found the story itself compelling but the way it was written made me think she wanted to write a screen play instead of a novel. It felt like I was reading scenes and not a story. I was desperate for more “connective tissue” between them.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This is the best book I read this year. It was so good I started reading it again the moment I finished it. It was so good I’m afraid to read any more Donna Tartt because what if it isn’t as satisfying? It was so good it makes me feel like I should never try to write long form fiction.
Bunny by Mona Awad
Tied for my second favourite book this year (along with The Women’s Part). If you have every given a book critique that included the word “likeable” this book isn’t for you. Honestly this substack isn’t for you either. Please leave. This book is the perfect literary companion to Barbie. And like Le Guin I’m going to refuse to explain myself.
And to conclude here’s a list of books I’m currently reading. They’re all poetry:
Elizabeth Ellen by Elizabeth Ellen
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
The Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily Wilson — I’m reading this one out loud to myself. It is immensely enjoyable. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “I should read Homer” I strongly recommend Emily Wilson translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey, and here’s an article as to why. I’ll give you a hint: because men cannot, and could never, help being misogynistic.