Books you've read in 2023

[Suedehead]

But those are classics too (and I still own about 5 more Toni Morrisons books to read ). I need something more modern from this century maybe?

The definition of 'classic' is pretty fluid and debatable - but let's not get into literary theory here.

I also picked up Breasts & Eggs at an airport recently - not read it yet, but the blurb (and endorsement by Murakami) looked pretty promising.

 

[jivafox]

I found Heatwave in a charity shop for 50p, so will dive into that next once I’ve finished Riders

 

[GinAg (39)]

Moved into this. Even after the introduction, I can tell I'm going to like it. A lovely sociology x history flavour to the text. I know remarkably little about the USSR, so colour me curious.

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

The definition of 'classic' is pretty fluid and debatable - but let's not get into literary theory here.

Not another one replying with a

 

[Suedehead]

Moved into this. Even after the introduction, I can tell I'm going to like it. A lovely sociology x history flavour to the text. I know remarkably little about the USSR, so colour me curious.

View attachment 20143

I have the Germany one. Not read it yet!

 

[Jocasta Clun]

HI GIRLS I AM NOW READING

I spent half an hour reading it on the underground platform of LIVERPOOL LIME STREET STATION after missing the train by seconds yesterday but such are the trials of SUNDAY IN THE PROVINCES

 

[Saltwater]

Looks lovely, is it good?

Yes! It would make a nice short too in a romanian communism call me by your name way.

 

[lolly]

I think I've probably read more fiction this year than for a decade or more. Mostly I've been on a run of popular fiction and thrillers, the highlight of which had probably been this, exactly what it's called, set in the world of late night US TV.

And yesterday I picked up this on a whim, after feeling I fancied a bit of nonfiction. And 50 or so pages in, it's fucking great.

 

[Suedehead]

24 books read this year. It's shaping up to be one of my better years.

I know I posted this a while ago, but I'm about two thirds into this and I cannot recommend it more strongly. This is such a good book. @Beverley ?

 

[jyxz]

I’ve just started this about an Upstairs/Downstairs heist set in Mayfair, 1905.

View attachment 20137

This wasn’t that great after all

 

[jyxz]

Well - we finally have a date (March 7th). Now hurry the fuck up and get here (and please don't be shit).

 

[Jark]

I finished 1984 (for the first time!) and god it was bleak. but pretty enjoyable in a morbid way.

now on this 90s academia gay fic I picked up at Gay's the Word

wasn't sold at first but it's picking up a hundred pages in or so...

 

[GinAg (39)]

God 1984 is great. Always exciting to see my home town wiped out in a nuclear holocaust in chapter 1

 

[Nancy]

I am currently reading The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman.

 

[Nancy]

I love the Thursday Murder Club books so much

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

I love the Thursday Murder Club books so much

I hated it

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

I’m reading Murakami’s Wind-up Bird Chronicle; it started so well but now, 500 pages later (and still about 100 more to read ) I’m mostly getting annoyed at how nothing is really happening.

 

[Phoenix]

I hated it

I hated the one page chapters. Just zipping around. It’s not the worst but very mid.

 

[Suedehead]

I don't know if it was thanks to this thread or not (probably was) but I recently read and enjoyed this:

 

[Phoenix]

Looking at the cover I’m assuming it’s about a homosexual growing up in a rough part of the city.

 

[LTZ]

I’m almost through The Shards and I feel like I’m in a feverish dream where I don’t want to do anything but sit and slowly devour page after page

 

[auretz]

I don't know if it was thanks to this thread or not (probably was) but I recently read and enjoyed this:

I read this over the summer and after being slow to get into it initially, I found it rather moving. I also didn’t realise that it’s essentially a true story until the end.

 

[Suedehead]

OK so I'm reading this and absolutely hating it. I know it's meant to be experimental but is it also meant to be pretentious and boring.
However, I've seen the glowing Goodreads reviews from @Beverley and @RaspberrySwirl . Explain thyselves!

 

[Beverley]

You just need to surrender control and go with it, Madame S

 

[Suedehead]

Sure, Jan.

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

It was exquisite and the kind of ”fantasy” I like to read.

 

[Beverley]

Sure, Jan.

It’s called being a sophisticated reader. You might wanna -

 

[Suedehead]

Anyway ladies, in other news I am pleased to report that I have read 31 books so far this year. Okay, a couple of them were lowbrow audiobooks (Andy Cohen's biographies!)
but generally I'm quite pleased with my progress.

Are you ready for a near end of year update?
Let's go soon

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

(Andy Cohen's biographies!)

!!

I’m so disgusted. And you had the nerve to criticise my art book reading!

 

[Beverley]

!!

I’m so disgusted. And you had the nerve to criticise my art book reading!

get her, Jade

 

[Jocasta Clun]

Girls I lucked out and spotted this in the library ebooks before anyone else

It's fabulous but long and I'm running out of time to finish it and after my loan expires it's reserved until DOOMSDAY

 

[jyxz]

I started this but got a bit bored so set it aside.

I can dm you a link to a dodgy copy you can KEEP if you want x

 

[Beverley]

i'm trying to get through a lot of the fitzcarraldo editions i have atm. they're all v. good, of course

 

[Beverley]

also, i read the carmen maria machado stories and they woz shit

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Just finished this for book club.

I enjoyed the plot a lot (even if the main character was an absolute idiot) but we set this before CURRENT EVENTS made it all the more poignant.

The prose however did my tits in, and especially the refusal to use speech marks made some conversations very hard to follow.

 

[Beverley]

do you recommend, lady @ZenGiraffe?

 

[ZenGiraffe]

do you recommend, lady @ZenGiraffe?

On balance, YES

 

[Jark]

also, i read the carmen maria machado stories and they woz shit

I tried, seduced by the art/blurb, but found the first couple tedious and gave up

 

[Jark]

Girls I lucked out and spotted this in the library ebooks before anyone else

It's fabulous but long and I'm running out of time to finish it and after my loan expires it's reserved until DOOMSDAY

this sounds great, just bought it. thanks

 

[GinAg (39)]

Been stuck on this for a while. It's good, but it's just not grabbing me.