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Recent reading
Feb. 4th, 2024 09:17 pmThe Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (2013)
Audiobook. I wanted to read the sequel, but didn't remember enough of the first book, and so I listened to this, having read it on paper back when it first came out. I still really like it! It has a good historical flavor and takes its time developing the characters and relationships, and I like the way it contrasts the nature of the two main characters. Someone on Goodreads calls it a romance, but nope, I really don't agree; but it is about two people (or beings, perhaps) making a connection, for sure.
Tramps and Vagabonds by Aster Glenn Gray (2022)
Oooh, this is so good! I can't decide whether this is now actually my favorite of the five books I've read by the author. Possibly I like it even more than Honeytrap, which was my previous favorite. It's about two young men just turning twenty (I think) who ride the rails in the Great Depression in the US, tramping about and having adventures and trying as best they can to scrounge a living, and also falling for each other. Somehow I wasn't expecting it to be from the more experienced character's POV, but that works great. The best things about the book are: 1) the vivid, immediate nature of the storytelling--you really feel how young they are! 2) the way it's rooted in historical understandings of sexuality--so interesting! 3) the progression from the happy, sunny summer to the increasing threat of winter, and the way that the stakes feel so high at the end. Also, the book feels just the right length to me, while I've previously felt that I wanted a little more relationship development from the author's shorter books.
I also got the complete letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montague (1689-1762) from the university library in order to read her love letters to Francesco Algarotti and the fragments of letters between her and her friend John, Lord Hervey, who was also into Algarotti (and with more success?). There's a drawing of Algarotti and he does admittedly look hot. But I have to say that when I have been unrequitedly in love, I behaved with more, well, restraint. Restraint, however, is not for her!
But it's really the fragments between her and Hervey which are most interesting. Look at these tantalizing bits, for example...
( Read more... )
Audiobook. I wanted to read the sequel, but didn't remember enough of the first book, and so I listened to this, having read it on paper back when it first came out. I still really like it! It has a good historical flavor and takes its time developing the characters and relationships, and I like the way it contrasts the nature of the two main characters. Someone on Goodreads calls it a romance, but nope, I really don't agree; but it is about two people (or beings, perhaps) making a connection, for sure.
Tramps and Vagabonds by Aster Glenn Gray (2022)
Oooh, this is so good! I can't decide whether this is now actually my favorite of the five books I've read by the author. Possibly I like it even more than Honeytrap, which was my previous favorite. It's about two young men just turning twenty (I think) who ride the rails in the Great Depression in the US, tramping about and having adventures and trying as best they can to scrounge a living, and also falling for each other. Somehow I wasn't expecting it to be from the more experienced character's POV, but that works great. The best things about the book are: 1) the vivid, immediate nature of the storytelling--you really feel how young they are! 2) the way it's rooted in historical understandings of sexuality--so interesting! 3) the progression from the happy, sunny summer to the increasing threat of winter, and the way that the stakes feel so high at the end. Also, the book feels just the right length to me, while I've previously felt that I wanted a little more relationship development from the author's shorter books.
I also got the complete letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montague (1689-1762) from the university library in order to read her love letters to Francesco Algarotti and the fragments of letters between her and her friend John, Lord Hervey, who was also into Algarotti (and with more success?). There's a drawing of Algarotti and he does admittedly look hot. But I have to say that when I have been unrequitedly in love, I behaved with more, well, restraint. Restraint, however, is not for her!
But it's really the fragments between her and Hervey which are most interesting. Look at these tantalizing bits, for example...
( Read more... )
