pickKaufman has truly written the cultural history of The Bachelor that we all need in our lives. This book strikes the perfect balance between gossipy discussion of contestants, description of how it all works behind the scenes, and analysis of the show as a cultural phenomenon. Equally an expose, and anthropological study- I couldn‘t have asked for more from this, it had me completely enthralled. Kaufman reads the audio herself and it‘s fabulous.
Time to see wtf my old mate Ian is up to 😬 #readharder2019 an alternate history novel
pickThe Erratics is, in my opinion, the best kind of memoir- one that reads like a novel, that when you stop reading you marvel that it is true. Laveau-Harvie‘s tells the story of the psychologically damaging nature of the relationship between parents and children that endured in her family throughout her parents‘ lives. This is an exceptional story, that is told with a level of tenderness, and vulnerable honesty.
pickPhilipps is is happy to dish the dirt, be honest about her thoughts and feelings about everyone and everything, and at the same time is willing to be vulnerable and tackle some deeply personal events and issues. Equal parts gossipy and percipient, this memoir is an easy, and at times effecting read. Philipps has the extrovert with social anxiety patch covered, and if that sounds like you, this will be a reassuring read.
The Auckland Writers Festival was an amazing weekend 😍 #awf19
On the audios again and this one is SO GOOD
pickA compelling, beautifully written memoir. The Red Parts is more than just a narrative of a murder trial. Nelson intersperses this experience, with slices of everyday life, in doing so, effectively showing what it means to grow up in the shadow of such a tragedy; the extensive ripples of violent crime. Although an intensely personal, reflective story, this memoir also explores 'murder mind', and the culture of fascination around dead girls.
pickThe Populist Temptation is a thoroughly researched, clearly reasoned, evidence based analysis of the role of economic grievance/insecurity in creating environments vulnerable to populism. Eichengreen‘s claim is clear, and the comparative case studies of the US and Europe are effectively traced across history to illustrate this. For my purposes, there was a bit too much present focus, but this is a valuable perspective.
pickMen have become extinct. In Woman World, the exclusively female community re-learns how to connect to each other, form and maintain relationships, and manage society on their own terms. Although at times too brief in its exploration of ideas for my liking, Dhaliwal is able to spotlight some really sharp observations about the way women think and act, and the role that our power relationship with men has in developing such patterns of behaviours.
pickAli Smith describes Luiselli as a “novelist of rare vitality” and this is a perfect description of how I felt about this novel. Lost Children Archive is a nuanced, observational analysis of a family in crisis, juxtaposed against the wider human refugee crisis. Through this narrative Luiselli also explores the nature and purpose of archiving and storytelling. It‘s an exceptional achievement. #indiebuddyreads
This bit really touched my soul #indiebuddyreads
Work reads be like.... #historyteacherlife #teachersoflitsy
Um, this appears brilliant so far #indiebuddyreads
#indiebuddyreads time again 🙏🏻
Just trying again to be an audio book girl. I like podcasts so I suspect non-fiction is the way into this form for me.
so-soThe back of my edition of Like Water for Chocolate describes it as a "fairy tale, and a soap opera", and this is 100% accurate. I can see why this novel is as popular as it is. There's a lot to like here, its entertaining, dramatic, fast-moving, and outrageous. What I've realised, or reconfirmed, while reading this is that romance just isn't my genre. I wanted more from the characters, who ultimately seemed a bit superficial #readharder2019
This was April (plus Freshwater). School break always makes for great reading months and this was no exception. Still on track with #readharder2019 , a good dose of work reading, and some solid #indiebuddyreads managed to get in there too. Stand outs were easily, Spring, West, and The Lost Man- all of which I loved for different reasons.
This has been the school break 🏫
An historical romance by an author of colour #readharder2019
pickHarper is easily becoming the master of the slow-burn crime novel. The Lost Man has all the hallmarks of her other work- the extreme landscape is foregrounded, and we are humbled by its power over men, she puts small, isolated communities and families under the microscope. Her characters are real, and believably flawed. I didn‘t see the twist coming, and it added to the thematic weight of the novel, as an examination of misogyny and violence.
#aussieapril continues (belatedly) with this one I borrowed from my Dad.
pickThis is a novel that examines tragedy, both large and small in scale. Through these twin tragedies, Gandolfo interrogates some challenging ideas about both human nature, and urban Australian society- social mobility, and immobility, generational change and stasis, it‘s a reminder of the role of chance in determining the outcomes of the poor decisions which we universally make, and that in the face of immeasurable loss and grief that life endures.
I am really enjoying this book but WHHHHYYYY does it have a typo?!
pickWtf did I just read? I‘m genuinely unsure whether this is the best book I‘ve ever read or the worst book I‘ve ever read. Either way, I loved reading, or hate-reading this outrageous novel. It‘s at times, trashy, pulpy and gratuitous, at others serious and tragic. It‘s absurd, and confusing. It‘s definitely pretentious. But it was a bewildering, hilarious, bizarre reading experience.
Next up from the #womensprize long list...apparently there‘s fish sex in it 🤷🏻♀️🎉
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️ An American Marriage was a bit of a flip flop read for me. At times I thought it was incredibly well-executed, insightful and compelling, and at other times I was bored, and the characters and circumstances felt false or forced. As an examination of the complexity of marriages, and familial relationships, of what it is to be African American, and the far reaching consequences of wrongful incarceration- this is an important novel.
pickThe History teacher in me loves a book where the central premise is that History is important and we have a lot to learn from it. On Tyranny is a brief, salient, timely reminder of what we are only ever a few small steps away from tyranny, and that we are all responsible for actively maintaining the social and political freedoms we value. Snyder uses the tyrants from our past to illuminates the potential tyrants of our present.
Here I am...on the internet.
My fave so far
Next. (School Reading never stops in the holidays) #teachersoflitsy
pickHistory Repeating is an accessible examination of populist movements, revolutions, leaders, and regimes which seeks to illustrate commonalities in the way populism appears and acts. Wilkin used these case studies to contextualise the global political events of 2016. The argument that is presented draws on a range of research and thinking, based in the disciplines of Social Science and Political Science. An entertaining and informative analysis.
so-soShout out to Allen and Unwin NZ who hooked me up with this. It‘s a beautifully written novel (I can tell the writer is a poet) about families and relationships, and the complexity of being an individual within this context. I‘m probably not the target audience, but it‘s the perfect book to buy your mum or grandma. I‘m off to give this to my Nana who I‘m sure will love it.
Current read in exchange for review- I‘ve read about 100 pages and I think I‘m not really the target market for this. If you need a book for your mum or nana, they‘re bound to love this though. It‘s heading straight to my nana when I‘m done because I know she‘ll love it.
pickSometimes there is an author who just speaks to you in a way that others don‘t or can‘t, and Ali Smith is that author for me.
Spring exceeded my super high expectations. In it, Smith is as always, an exceptional wordsmith. She confronts us unapologetically with some of the most real darkness of our times. But within this perfectly crafted reflection of the worst parts of ourselves, there are glimmers of hope. And that is the Ali Smith Magic.
Ali Smith is a bloody queen. That‘s all.
pickThis novel is slight and quiet, but still manages to discuss big ideas, draw vivid portrait of a place, and construct characters with depth. This is a novel you savour sentence by sentence, and are compelled to read on. In many ways this isn‘t a new story; it leans on the western genre to tell a familiar tale of fated journeys, American exceptionalism, and the arrogance of the white man in the face of nature, and those who have come before.
Um this is quite good aye?
Recommended by a friend.
pickThis novel, is exceptional, in terms of the scope and ambition of the ideas it explores, and the originality of its expression. It is a dark narrative, one that is awash with intense feelings, passionate deeds, connection, and isolation. Emezi writes about identity, what makes us who we are, and what happens when that identity is fragmented and competing. There‘s a lot going on here, and all of it is good. #indiebuddyreads
