I read Unsheltered earlier this year and it was one of those books that gets under your skin. It felt a little worthy at first but then it grew and I found myself nodding along to the characters and feeling so much where they were. The conversations in it played in my head for many days.
I love these round-ups so much, thank you Luisa. Been meaning to read Vaster Wilds and now 100% going to, knowing you gave it the stamp of approval. Also found North Woods magnificent. The ending, good Lord. I wept.
So glad to hear that you loved North Woods after reading The Vaster Wilds. I devoured Vaster Wilds and had held off on picking up the North Woods because the descriptions were so similar. Love having a book to look forward to!
I totally would have held off if I'd had any inkling about it! In fact, as I started reading, I thought, oh no, another suffering Pilgrim in the forest, but then oh my goodness I kept going. Read it! :)
You are the second person in two days to recommend North Woods. Looking forward to reading it. I read Demon Copperhead while I had Covid. I thought it was beautifully written, though bleak. Kind of fit my Covid fevered state. Thanks for these recommendations. I’m glad you are doing this.
I have Vaster Wilds on hold at the library. I admit I wasn't wild about some of Groff's other books (I know I am in the minority here), but this premise sounds so good that I want to read it despite that. I have North Woods on my nightstand right now! I haven't started it, but can't wait to read it. Demon Copperhead: the voice in the book is incredible. I wanted to adopt Demon. There were some things I didn't love about it, though. I felt in some parts that Kingsolver didn't trust her reader to figure out her point, so she had to beat us over the head with it. (I read David Copperfield right before Demon Copperhead, which was a fun exercise in comparison.)
Ok, if you weren't wild about LG's other books, I think this one will be more up your alley. But keep me posted, I would love to know! And in the meantime, read North Woods! It's right next to you, aaaaaaah!!!
I have tried Daemon Copperfield a couple of times and failed, but my good friend who has never recommended a book I didn’t also love, really liked it so I will try again. However, I’m doing North Woods immediately (already in my wish list) and then will move on to Vaster Wilds as you too have never recommended a book I didn’t like, and some of them have been books I wouldn’t have picked up if not for you (thinking especially of Free Love).
I just finished Hunting the Falcon recently released and well reviewed by the NYT. It is a history of Anne Boleyn, not romantic fiction, and definitely reads like history more than entertainment, but it gets more and more fascinating as it goes on and ends up - in my mind - being more about Henry VIII and the terrible narcissistic ruler, who changed England forever, he was than his unfortunate second wife. I think it turns out to be rather terrifying considering the times we are in now. I highly recommend starting it and sticking with it. It would be interesting to know what Hilary Mantel would have thought of it.
I hope you are well. I worry a little - but I worry for all of us. ❤️
I had the same experience with The Vaster Wilds. It was so propulsive I was walking around the house attempting to do everything with one hand like when I was a teenager on school holidays.
Thank you, as always, for these! I’m reading Zadie Smith’s newest, THE FRAUD, and just picked up Alice McDermott’s newest from the library today.
Here’s my question: when do you read? I read for work so I can justify it any time, and I read before bed each night for 30 minutes or so, and I read for fun to relax when I can grab moments. But my parents are visiting with their strong Protestant work ethics, and I’m realizing how LAZY it feels to read in front of them. Trying to normalize my own reading practices, I’m wondering when other folks sit down with their books?
I always read before bedtime, that's my holy time. If possible, I try to grab a window here and there on a weekend afternoon or when Hugo's reading on the couch before his bedtime (if Max is putting Bruno to bed), but those are less reliable times. I have an idea for you: Rather than think of reading as LAZY, you should put that Protestant ethic in a different light: it values diligence and discipline, both of which are essential to a regular reading habit! :)
I like this! I can always justify reading for work if I frame it AS work, but trying to embrace reading as rest, unabashedly, is my growth edge, I think. I'm unlearning some of my childhood indoctrination around productivity. ;)
I’m actually reading North Woods right now and oh my, this books is nothing I was expecting when I read the description of it. It is a book I’ll pushing into people’s hands for a long time.
And I’ve read Nathan Thrall’s book in the first half of this year and it’s still with me. Especially now. It is so good, so human, it’s everything I wanted it to be before I started reading it.
I loved north woods. I read one of his earlier books first, set in Burma, (The Piano Tuner, I believe) which blew me away. A completely different style, but really enjoyed it. Now I need to get on to vaster wilds (currently on hold at the library). I’m reading Free Food for Millionaires at the moment and really enjoying it.
Ooh, I read The Piano Tuner years ago and remember thinking it was very good but haven't read anything else by this author and had forgotten his name. Intriguing! with so many great reviews from you all
I picked up The Vaster Wilds on Friday and devoured it over the weekend. The last two chapters poignantly wrap up the novel and the philosophy of the whole book really resonated with my own journey.
Putting both those books on my TBR list now!
I read Unsheltered earlier this year and it was one of those books that gets under your skin. It felt a little worthy at first but then it grew and I found myself nodding along to the characters and feeling so much where they were. The conversations in it played in my head for many days.
I love these round-ups so much, thank you Luisa. Been meaning to read Vaster Wilds and now 100% going to, knowing you gave it the stamp of approval. Also found North Woods magnificent. The ending, good Lord. I wept.
Me too! It was...glorious. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
So glad to hear that you loved North Woods after reading The Vaster Wilds. I devoured Vaster Wilds and had held off on picking up the North Woods because the descriptions were so similar. Love having a book to look forward to!
I totally would have held off if I'd had any inkling about it! In fact, as I started reading, I thought, oh no, another suffering Pilgrim in the forest, but then oh my goodness I kept going. Read it! :)
You are the second person in two days to recommend North Woods. Looking forward to reading it. I read Demon Copperhead while I had Covid. I thought it was beautifully written, though bleak. Kind of fit my Covid fevered state. Thanks for these recommendations. I’m glad you are doing this.
Thank you!!
I love your book recs! Thanks Luisa. I will be gifting Vaster Wilds this season and adding both books to my list.
I'm so happy to hear it.
I have Vaster Wilds on hold at the library. I admit I wasn't wild about some of Groff's other books (I know I am in the minority here), but this premise sounds so good that I want to read it despite that. I have North Woods on my nightstand right now! I haven't started it, but can't wait to read it. Demon Copperhead: the voice in the book is incredible. I wanted to adopt Demon. There were some things I didn't love about it, though. I felt in some parts that Kingsolver didn't trust her reader to figure out her point, so she had to beat us over the head with it. (I read David Copperfield right before Demon Copperhead, which was a fun exercise in comparison.)
Ok, if you weren't wild about LG's other books, I think this one will be more up your alley. But keep me posted, I would love to know! And in the meantime, read North Woods! It's right next to you, aaaaaaah!!!
I have tried Daemon Copperfield a couple of times and failed, but my good friend who has never recommended a book I didn’t also love, really liked it so I will try again. However, I’m doing North Woods immediately (already in my wish list) and then will move on to Vaster Wilds as you too have never recommended a book I didn’t like, and some of them have been books I wouldn’t have picked up if not for you (thinking especially of Free Love).
I just finished Hunting the Falcon recently released and well reviewed by the NYT. It is a history of Anne Boleyn, not romantic fiction, and definitely reads like history more than entertainment, but it gets more and more fascinating as it goes on and ends up - in my mind - being more about Henry VIII and the terrible narcissistic ruler, who changed England forever, he was than his unfortunate second wife. I think it turns out to be rather terrifying considering the times we are in now. I highly recommend starting it and sticking with it. It would be interesting to know what Hilary Mantel would have thought of it.
I hope you are well. I worry a little - but I worry for all of us. ❤️
I cannot wait to read Hunting the Falcon!! Have heard such good things. Take good care xo
I had the same experience with The Vaster Wilds. It was so propulsive I was walking around the house attempting to do everything with one hand like when I was a teenager on school holidays.
I love that feeling so much!!!
Thank you, as always, for these! I’m reading Zadie Smith’s newest, THE FRAUD, and just picked up Alice McDermott’s newest from the library today.
Here’s my question: when do you read? I read for work so I can justify it any time, and I read before bed each night for 30 minutes or so, and I read for fun to relax when I can grab moments. But my parents are visiting with their strong Protestant work ethics, and I’m realizing how LAZY it feels to read in front of them. Trying to normalize my own reading practices, I’m wondering when other folks sit down with their books?
I always read before bedtime, that's my holy time. If possible, I try to grab a window here and there on a weekend afternoon or when Hugo's reading on the couch before his bedtime (if Max is putting Bruno to bed), but those are less reliable times. I have an idea for you: Rather than think of reading as LAZY, you should put that Protestant ethic in a different light: it values diligence and discipline, both of which are essential to a regular reading habit! :)
I like this! I can always justify reading for work if I frame it AS work, but trying to embrace reading as rest, unabashedly, is my growth edge, I think. I'm unlearning some of my childhood indoctrination around productivity. ;)
I’m actually reading North Woods right now and oh my, this books is nothing I was expecting when I read the description of it. It is a book I’ll pushing into people’s hands for a long time.
And I’ve read Nathan Thrall’s book in the first half of this year and it’s still with me. Especially now. It is so good, so human, it’s everything I wanted it to be before I started reading it.
Right? It's just brilliant.
I loved north woods. I read one of his earlier books first, set in Burma, (The Piano Tuner, I believe) which blew me away. A completely different style, but really enjoyed it. Now I need to get on to vaster wilds (currently on hold at the library). I’m reading Free Food for Millionaires at the moment and really enjoying it.
Ooh, I read The Piano Tuner years ago and remember thinking it was very good but haven't read anything else by this author and had forgotten his name. Intriguing! with so many great reviews from you all
I picked up The Vaster Wilds on Friday and devoured it over the weekend. The last two chapters poignantly wrap up the novel and the philosophy of the whole book really resonated with my own journey.
The cover in the UK is so different for North Woods!