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#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

Such varying views on this one. It's the story of a striving-to-be utopian commune in western NY in the 60s, where our protagonist, Bit, takes us through his childhood to adulthood-- to a futuristic, dystopian pandemic in the city. My first book by Groff, the writing is lush and poetic, sometimes overwhelmingly so. However, that didn't stop me from caring about Bit and his journey towards peace. I'll read Groff again.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

“The women in the river, singing.“

I still have a stack of books that I used up renewals on to read through. Yet here I am checking out two more books. Both new to me authors Lauren Groff for #authorofthemonth and out of view Kiersten White for a fable bookclub.
@Soubhiville

Groff explores a man‘s mixed feelings about the commune he was raised in as he ages from childhood to 50. While I liked some of the characters, I strongly disliked the first 25% where Bit was a child narrator. Those rarely work for me. His later life as a teen and adult were more interesting, but overall this isn‘t anywhere near my favorite by her.

Sorry I haven‘t been around. Prep for Dad‘s cancer surgery tomorrow has been rough. 🙏🏻💙

Taking place in four periods, this book focuses on Bit, first born child of a late 60s commune. We see Bit‘s life both growing up in Arcadia and dealing with the aftermath of commune life. As a result of his chaotic childhood Bit spends his life wanting to care for everyone around him. He idealizes the past despite seeing the toll it has taken on everyone. Yet through it all many stayed connected despite wildly diverging paths. #authoramonth

@Soubhiville Here's another Kindle deal for Groff.
#AuthoroftheMonth. $2.99

Thanks to #AuthorAMonth, I finally got this one off the never ending TBR!

@Soubhiville

#ScarathlonPhotoChallenge #Day16 #October Another deeply unsettling read, this not only has a beautiful cover that reminds me of October, it also has a character named October. #Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub 6pts

Reading Melmoth furieux by Sabrina Calvo. It's set in Paris, in an alternate history nineties. There's a new Commune holed up in Belleville, fighting authoritarian capitalism, and a detention center under Disneyland Paris (or as it was called at the time, Eurodisney). Lots of nods to pop culture, 19th century writers (Hugo, etc.) and to medieval poet and robber François Villon.

picture of rue Dénoyez, Belleville, Paris from wikipedia

#Paris

Lush depictions of commune life in 1970s upstate NY through the eyes of 5-year-old Bit as he ages & leaves their attempt at utopia. Sensitive & tender, beautiful depiction of young narrator POV, maternal attachment. Slow burn & lulling, but ultimately the poetic prose made me feel like Bit‘s first taste of Sugarbush taffy: “His piece is so sweet that Bit gags, but to not hurt their feelings he swallows it anyway and pretends to want more.” 2012