This has been kind of a bummer year for me, book-wise. I’ve only read about five books that I’ve really liked, and otherwise I re-read a bunch of stuff because I just couldn’t find anything that got me excited to read. Seven of the 34 books I’ve read so far this year are books I’ve read before, and that makes me feel like I’m living in the past.
My hold list at the library has several books on it that I’m eager to read, if not truly excited to read, and I’ve been waiting for weeks for many of them. While I waited, I decided to read Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye for a local book club, and of course as soon as I started reading it, four of my library holds became available. I delayed them so I could finish the book club book, which was fine but not great, and by the time I finished it, the hold that became available was one I’d been waiting on for something like 14 weeks. I couldn’t remember anything about the book or why I’d requested it, but I started it because it was there. It’s very long, and is a romantasy, which I didn’t realize when I started it, and sometimes I like that! but not right now. Now I’m in it, and I don’t really want to abandon it because I feel like I’ve already abandoned a bunch of other books this year, and besides, I don’t have another book lined up. It just feels like a placeholder.
I started listening to book reviews and the Book Riot podcast again as a replacement for actual books I feel are missing in my life. I’ve learned that Lauren Groff and Ann Patchett both have new novels out, and for the first time this year, I’m excited about what I get to read next.
Butterfly Mind 
7 responses to “Book hopes”
Andrea, I loved Ann Patchett’s newest book, TOM LAKE. I think it’s one of her best (and that’s saying a lot). Some of the reviews I’ve read have been mixed–calling the book old-fashioned and slow-moving. I’d call it a quiet masterpiece. The story is riveting, the characters fully drawn, and the writing is gorgeous. I couldn’t put it down and read it in two days. Hope you love it as much as I did. I’ve been hearing a lot about Lauren Groff. Have never read her–guess it’s time to “meet” her. Autumn is such a good season for reading.
Thank you for sharing that! I can’t wait to read it, I’m so excited. My friend introduced me to Ann Patchett via Bel Canto, which I adore, and I’ve loved everything I’ve read by her since then (and read Bel Canto a couple of times). This friend told me she had to slow herself down with Tom Lake to make it last because she loved it so much.
Hi Andrea, it genuinely hurt my heart to read your post because there are so many great books out there.
I know this will sound like self-promotion but I have a newsletter called Book Chat in which I recommend books I’ve enjoyed. I started during the pandemic because I was bored and now it’s a major (and enjoyable) part of my life. I’m very aware that people have different tastes so I try to recommend a wide range of books. I’m a mood reader, so it varies wildly depending on where my head is at. I would love you to check it out.
Warm regards
Marg
Marg@substack.com
Thank you! I’ve subscribed 🙂
I’m thrilled. Hope you get out of your reading slump soon. It’s the worst.
I am not sure if any of these are up your alley, but I could recommend several books that I have enjoyed this year. Two books by Sarah Baughman, the Wild Path, and the Light in the Lake. I wrote reviews of both them on my blog, robfelty.com. They are young adult fiction, but I found them very engaging and thought-provoking as an adult too. Currently I am reading Silent Earth by Dave Goulson, which is non-fiction, about how important insects are in the world. I am learning all sorts of interesting facts, like that mosquitoes pollinate cocoa trees, so without mosquitoes, there would be no chocolate.
😱
Thank you for the recommendations! My library doesn’t have either of them but I’ve added them to my wish list, your reviews made me want to read them :).