I loved "Trust". I read it while I was recovering from Covid. It made the time go by quickly. The structure was unique and engaging. I really enjoy books that tell the same story from various viewpoints.
I am currently reading Cloud Cuckoo Land (I know I am behind the curve on this one!). I am really enjoying it as well.
Thanks for bumping "Trust" higher up on my TBR! The structure, while not exactly the same, makes me think of Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday--another critic's favorite. Funny how the books that get critical attention don't necessarily overlap with the books that show up constantly on Instagram or in newsletters.
I remember hearing about Asymmetry, but it hasn't stuck around in the zeitgeist like others. It's indeed a funny relationship between what's popular with critics and what's popular commercially. When you find a crossover, you tend to know it's a winner!
First books this year... "Children of Dune", and "The Story of Philosophy" by Will Durant carried over. First fully within 2023 books are about to be a Dune break with "The Humans" by Matt Haig (s/o Ted Gioia The Honest Broker) and "A New History of Western Philosophy" by Anthony Kenny, which I hope will be more like what I wanted "The Story of Philosophy" to be.
I'm finding Durant very readable. My beef with the book is that it really is the *story* of philosophy from his perspective as opposed to the history. I didn't care for his dismissive takes on the stoic and epicurean schools, nor the acting like nothing of significance happened in the ~millenium between Aristotle and Francis Bacon. Still, it's a plenty insightful read for a philosophical novice and I don't regret it.
A book I have on my shelf for a long time The little coffee shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez. I enjoyed being taken to a place and culture so different than mine. Just started reading the Rocks by Brenda Maddox. About the beginnings of Geology.
My first book of 2023 was The Family Game by Catherine Steadman; quite gripping and dramatic! And Lonesome Dove, of course. Pappyland and Trust sound both amazing, too.
Trust sounds like it has a fascinating structure. It’s always interesting to see new ways of organizing novels. I’ve only ever seen a bottle of Pappy once, and haven’t ever tasted it. Someday though.
I started reading Trust this summer and set it aside because it wasn’t grabbing me. I picked it up again when it was out on so many of the end of the year lists and am so glad that I did. Once I figured out what he was doing in the first book I couldn’t put it down. Such an interesting take on the “great man” stories and on the idea of a memoir generally.
I have added two more books to my Goodreads list. As my father reaches 80 and my son turns 25, I feel nostalgic and terrified. I may wait until after dry January to pick up Pappyland, though.
Have been a long-time Wright Thompson fan since reading his Ghosts of Mississippi article on ESPN right around the time I was living in Memphis. Really enjoyed Pappyland as well. Interestingly, I had just finished 'How To Do Nothing' right before this book. Thompson dropped in a Thomas Merton quote that struck me as familiar and I realized that Jenny Odell had used the exact same quote.
“In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers."
We all have those serendipitous moments while reading that tie together authors, perspectives, etc. that we wouldn't have expected. I find those moments hard to explain to others, the coincidence of hearing a piece of trivia or catching a reference in a movie that you would have missed had you not just finished a piece of reading. Your timing of the Pappyland post was the extra coincidence! Cheers and thanks for the reviews.
I loved "Trust". I read it while I was recovering from Covid. It made the time go by quickly. The structure was unique and engaging. I really enjoy books that tell the same story from various viewpoints.
I am currently reading Cloud Cuckoo Land (I know I am behind the curve on this one!). I am really enjoying it as well.
Thanks for sharing your insights!
Cloud Cuckoo Land was one of my favorite reads of 2021! I'd love to read it again. Mesmerizing.
Trust was fantastic!
Thanks for bumping "Trust" higher up on my TBR! The structure, while not exactly the same, makes me think of Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday--another critic's favorite. Funny how the books that get critical attention don't necessarily overlap with the books that show up constantly on Instagram or in newsletters.
I remember hearing about Asymmetry, but it hasn't stuck around in the zeitgeist like others. It's indeed a funny relationship between what's popular with critics and what's popular commercially. When you find a crossover, you tend to know it's a winner!
First books this year... "Children of Dune", and "The Story of Philosophy" by Will Durant carried over. First fully within 2023 books are about to be a Dune break with "The Humans" by Matt Haig (s/o Ted Gioia The Honest Broker) and "A New History of Western Philosophy" by Anthony Kenny, which I hope will be more like what I wanted "The Story of Philosophy" to be.
I really enjoyed The Humans too! I reviewed it a couple years back: https://readmorebooks.substack.com/i/140610/the-humans-by-matt-haig.
I also enjoy Durant, but I take him very slowly. :)
I'm finding Durant very readable. My beef with the book is that it really is the *story* of philosophy from his perspective as opposed to the history. I didn't care for his dismissive takes on the stoic and epicurean schools, nor the acting like nothing of significance happened in the ~millenium between Aristotle and Francis Bacon. Still, it's a plenty insightful read for a philosophical novice and I don't regret it.
A book I have on my shelf for a long time The little coffee shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez. I enjoyed being taken to a place and culture so different than mine. Just started reading the Rocks by Brenda Maddox. About the beginnings of Geology.
I haven't heard of either of those! Thanks Mary!
My first book of 2023 was The Family Game by Catherine Steadman; quite gripping and dramatic! And Lonesome Dove, of course. Pappyland and Trust sound both amazing, too.
I'm not familiar with The Family Game — thanks for the rec!
Trust sounds like it has a fascinating structure. It’s always interesting to see new ways of organizing novels. I’ve only ever seen a bottle of Pappy once, and haven’t ever tasted it. Someday though.
I've never even seen it! Someday, indeed.
I started reading Trust this summer and set it aside because it wasn’t grabbing me. I picked it up again when it was out on so many of the end of the year lists and am so glad that I did. Once I figured out what he was doing in the first book I couldn’t put it down. Such an interesting take on the “great man” stories and on the idea of a memoir generally.
Ah, interesting! Glad it came around for ya!
I started the year with a great read- the Swimmers by Julie Otsuka. Incredible!
I've heard a lot of good things about that one!
First book on my reading log is year was The River of Doubt by Candice Milliard.
Classic! What a great read.
I have added two more books to my Goodreads list. As my father reaches 80 and my son turns 25, I feel nostalgic and terrified. I may wait until after dry January to pick up Pappyland, though.
Good idea! I'm also doing Dry January and it was a little bit cruel. haha
Have been a long-time Wright Thompson fan since reading his Ghosts of Mississippi article on ESPN right around the time I was living in Memphis. Really enjoyed Pappyland as well. Interestingly, I had just finished 'How To Do Nothing' right before this book. Thompson dropped in a Thomas Merton quote that struck me as familiar and I realized that Jenny Odell had used the exact same quote.
“In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers."
We all have those serendipitous moments while reading that tie together authors, perspectives, etc. that we wouldn't have expected. I find those moments hard to explain to others, the coincidence of hearing a piece of trivia or catching a reference in a movie that you would have missed had you not just finished a piece of reading. Your timing of the Pappyland post was the extra coincidence! Cheers and thanks for the reviews.