Happy Thursday! I’ve been on a memoir binge—specifically, a scandalous memoir binge. I also just bought Piranesi and Hamnet and hope to start tonight. What’ve you been reading this week?
Finishing up High Art Lite by Julian Stallabrass. It's nearly 20 years old now but such an excellent evisceration of the 'young British artist' movement in the 90s and that particular flavor of contemporary art more generally. It's my first time going back to book-length art criticism after a long while so it feels really fun to flex those muscles again. Also still ready Tana French--finished The Likeness and onto Faithful Place.
Best scandalous memoir? I need some scandal in my life these days!
How to Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell is great, Stray by Stephanie Danler is great, Prozac Nation is always a classic, and I just finished The Surrender by Toni Bentley which was... a lot.
"How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe" by Charles Yu! It's about a time machine repairman, and it touches on family, how people tend to live in the past, and growing as a person. Yu plays a ton with language and tense, and the humor reminds me of Douglas Adams. I think I might write about it for my next post. Either way, highly recommend it!
Ahh I want to read that!! I have a weird irrational aversion to historical fiction but I've heard it's excellent and I'm very invested in the subject matter.
The Zadie Smith essay collection Imitations. It’s 4 brilliant pages hidden away under 100 awful ones. On deck is the Michael Pollan psychedelics book; anyone read it? Worth?
Yes, you did! Re: Weil Conjectures, I read that and liked it! I would highly recommend also checking Simone Weil's writing if you haven't--she's truly one of a kind.
I just finished Death's End by Liu Cixin which is the last book in The Three Body Problem series, absolutely amazing if you're into sci-fi! Also just started Quiet by Susan Cain as it's been recommended by a few people
Henry and June by Anais Nin. Just finished my third book in a row by Joan Didion (The White Album, After Henry and The Year of Living Magically) and in the mood for something a bit spicier.
!! You're really speaking to me, I'm a huge fan of Nin and Didion. Recommendations in that vein: I love Stray by Stephanie Danler and Problems by Jade Sharma. If you read either let me know what you think!
Finishing up High Art Lite by Julian Stallabrass. It's nearly 20 years old now but such an excellent evisceration of the 'young British artist' movement in the 90s and that particular flavor of contemporary art more generally. It's my first time going back to book-length art criticism after a long while so it feels really fun to flex those muscles again. Also still ready Tana French--finished The Likeness and onto Faithful Place.
Best scandalous memoir? I need some scandal in my life these days!
How to Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell is great, Stray by Stephanie Danler is great, Prozac Nation is always a classic, and I just finished The Surrender by Toni Bentley which was... a lot.
"How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe" by Charles Yu! It's about a time machine repairman, and it touches on family, how people tend to live in the past, and growing as a person. Yu plays a ton with language and tense, and the humor reminds me of Douglas Adams. I think I might write about it for my next post. Either way, highly recommend it!
I loved that book, he's incredibly clever. Interior Chinatown which is also by him is on my list of books I want to read by the end of the year.
I have to check that one out too! I read a few of his shorts in "Third Class Superhero" and they were amazing. He's got an interesting style.
Just ordered myself a copy thanks for the recommendation ✌️
Enjoy! Lmk what you think after you've read it!
Just started, but so far really enjoying "How Much of These Hills Is Gold"
Ahh I want to read that!! I have a weird irrational aversion to historical fiction but I've heard it's excellent and I'm very invested in the subject matter.
The Zadie Smith essay collection Imitations. It’s 4 brilliant pages hidden away under 100 awful ones. On deck is the Michael Pollan psychedelics book; anyone read it? Worth?
Re: Pollan, I read it and would recommend. I think it's a well-balanced and well-written look at psychedelics. Trip by Tao Lin is also good.
Haven't read Intimations and now I'm uncertain, I love Zadie Smith's essays generally though.
Piranesi, yes!! Hoping I helped tip the scales. :)
About to start The Weil Conjectures over here...
Yes, you did! Re: Weil Conjectures, I read that and liked it! I would highly recommend also checking Simone Weil's writing if you haven't--she's truly one of a kind.
Oh, cool -- I will! Do you have a recommended starting point for her writing?
Sapiens, The Sacred Enneagram, Millones Cajones.
I just finished Death's End by Liu Cixin which is the last book in The Three Body Problem series, absolutely amazing if you're into sci-fi! Also just started Quiet by Susan Cain as it's been recommended by a few people
Henry and June by Anais Nin. Just finished my third book in a row by Joan Didion (The White Album, After Henry and The Year of Living Magically) and in the mood for something a bit spicier.
!! You're really speaking to me, I'm a huge fan of Nin and Didion. Recommendations in that vein: I love Stray by Stephanie Danler and Problems by Jade Sharma. If you read either let me know what you think!
Thanks for the suggestions Ava. I will check them both out!