I just listened to the audiobook of You Could Make This Place Beautiful, by Maggie Smith -- stunning. One of my Top 5 memoirs (and I read a *lot* of memoirs). Also, I am training myself to be happy with “the good-enough way” 😉
Isn’t it?? It’s opening up a ton of thoughts for me on form and how to take control of a vulnerable narrative ways that set protective boundaries without sacrificing narrative urgency. After Blow Your House Down and then this, I feel the possibilities for these types of memoirs are blown wide open.
In the summer, I usually want cozies and police procedurals, so I've re-read (by audiobook) The Windsor Knot and All The Queen's Men by S.J. Bennett. I just finished and loved Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal, and if you haven't read Kitchens of the Great Midwest, definitely pick that up! (Or listen: Amy Ryan narrates part of it.) I'm about 70 pages into Homecoming by Kate Morton and I'd recommend it but we'll see.
And Happy Birthday! I just crossed into 40 and I counted down, too. :)
Love this list! The book that just totally rocked my world was The Revelations: a Novel by fellow Substacker Erik Hoel. It was a top fiver for lifer too! Can’t wait to read the new Kingsolver one.
I just listened to the audiobook of You Could Make This Place Beautiful, by Maggie Smith -- stunning. One of my Top 5 memoirs (and I read a *lot* of memoirs). Also, I am training myself to be happy with “the good-enough way” 😉
Ok this is really good for me to know because I've wondered if it could be a comp for me! Thank you!
OMG I read You Could Make This Place Beautiful. WOW WOW WOW.
Isn’t it?? It’s opening up a ton of thoughts for me on form and how to take control of a vulnerable narrative ways that set protective boundaries without sacrificing narrative urgency. After Blow Your House Down and then this, I feel the possibilities for these types of memoirs are blown wide open.
“in ways”
I only came here to say "hey! I thought you were off social! How did you see the tweets?!" Good thing I read all the way to the footnote. ;)
And I think I saved those before I got off socials... I keep a whole folder of funny tweets. Weird I know.
In the summer, I usually want cozies and police procedurals, so I've re-read (by audiobook) The Windsor Knot and All The Queen's Men by S.J. Bennett. I just finished and loved Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal, and if you haven't read Kitchens of the Great Midwest, definitely pick that up! (Or listen: Amy Ryan narrates part of it.) I'm about 70 pages into Homecoming by Kate Morton and I'd recommend it but we'll see.
And Happy Birthday! I just crossed into 40 and I counted down, too. :)
I never read police procedurals, so I love these recommendations! I definitely read differently in the summer, too.
Happy 40th! I feel like I want to hang on to my thirties a little longer, but so it goes.
I just started Romantic Comedy and am glad to know you approve! Mate.
You'll love it mate, my mate.
Love this list! The book that just totally rocked my world was The Revelations: a Novel by fellow Substacker Erik Hoel. It was a top fiver for lifer too! Can’t wait to read the new Kingsolver one.
Oh yay—a top fiver!! I hadn't even heard of this one but just popped it in my cart—neuroscience + higher ed is an intriguing combo!
Yes!