Just added Beautiful Ruins to my Kindle! For an immersive read, I'd suggest the whole Practical magic series by Alice Hoffman, or the whole Olive Kitteridge series by Elizabeth Strout. Very interesting to see the characters evolve over time!
I did not care for the first Olive Kittridge book....but she grew on me. And your comment about visiting an old friend? I had an outpatient medical procedure during Covid, so my husband couldn't wait with me .....but I reread Practical Magic while waiting, and it truly felt like an old friend was sitting there with me, holding my hand, keeping me calm!
I love all of this. Beautiful Ruins was great—both in reading and Audible versions. When I need to escape, I turn to the Louise Penny mystery novels (Armand Gamache is the main character). They transport me to a wonderful place and help when the news gets wild. I'm not a big mystery novel fan, but these are so good, and the characters are so well-rounded (and the food!).. they are a balm for the soul.
Peanutty cabbage and tofu are a hit around here too!
I was also going to suggest reading through the Louise Penny series! After listening to them the first time through, I’m now reading the actual hard copies the 2nd time through. It makes me want to be in Quebec!
I definitely understand the appeal of combining reading with community - it's a kind of magic - and my monthly book club provides this for me (are people still doing in-person book clubs?!). But I'm definitely intrigued by the idea of a slow read - it would be so different from what I've always loved about reading: the ability to get lost in a story. I'm wondering what unforeseen gifts could come out of challenging myself to read in a different way. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jenny! I'm intrigued by the "slow read" concept, but also wonder how immersive it ends up being. Part of the pleasure of "extreme reading experiences," to crib a phrase from a colleague, is the plunge into a whole different world. I actually made a podcast about doing such an adventure with Proust with a fellow literature professor, called "Proust Curious," if you're (sorry) curious!
Wow, Hannah that's so cool. Please provide the link! And yes, that makes sense -- I think a big draw for me with the slow read is the community side of it.
Wanted to let you know that your mention of Barbara Kingsolver's support of the Higher Ground recovery house prompted me to share it with my bookclub and overnight we've come up with support across the group to buy chairs for them to have a discussion circle. Getting together and talking is what our group does and supporting women doing the same just felt right. Anyone else want to support them, they have an Amazon Wish List.
Currently doing the War and Peace Slow read! Have also read Anna Karenina over the course of about 3 months previously. I find it takes the pressure off and also let’s me read other things so I don’t get bored/sick of it.
yes, that's very appealing to me! I remember loving AK in college even though I had to crash read it. (I was the biggest procrastinator.) The opposite of an immersive experience!
Loved @simonhaisell’s W&P slow read last year. Read daily, and read Simon’s commentary and comments from other slow readers—all very enlightening additions! I’ve missed it this year. You could read W&P every day for the rest of your life and never be bored. I am not a reader who follows trends—had just discovered the slow read right before it started and jumped in. Highly recommend…
I am a 2024 alum of Simon’s W&P slow read as well. (And, I’m doing his Cromwell series slow read this year.) It was such an amazing experience and I miss the daily cadence and check ins with such a smart, diverse community.
Is this is good place to say that i <3 Weekday vegetarians?? and that the spicy tofu (ok i added even more spice since i cook for one so it's all my way during the week, hahaha)with the peanut sauce was my gateway recipe for tofu (air fryer!) but also want to add that i even bought (amazon, i know, ugh.) a tofu press (genius!) so no need for paper towel waste...
I did a slow read of Dear Los Angeles last year. It is letters written to and from people living in Los Angeles 1500s to present. The format follows a calendar year, so it lent itself to this slow read. As a former Angeleno, I loved it!
I haven't done a slow read, but I've been listening to Anna Karenina on audio (Audible's version, narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal) for the last 2 months - I'm 8 hours in, with I think 28 left to go? So it's turning into a slow read (listen) by default I guess. I don't usually listen to books on audio but I knew that for this one I'd be more likely to stick with it if I piped it through my speakers/headphones than if I were reading it in print form. And I'm so glad I am - the hype is real! I've gasped in surprise multiple times and do really feel very immersed in Anna's world.
If you haven’t read it, Mating by Norman Rush has my very highest recommendation. It’s a deep read, and recently re-celebrated by the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/style/mating-norman-rush.html. I read it when it came out and then decades later, and it only got better with time.
(And if you’ve read that, I also loved State of Wonder by Ann Patchett). ❤️
The critic Laura Miller, writing in Salon, named it the year’s best audiobook narration, with a tribute acknowledging how much Ballerini’s reading enhanced the source material: She called him a “true collaborator” who added a layer of warmth to what was already outstanding storytelling.
Immersing in the Dublin Detective series by Tana French would be a fun journey! Also the Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is one that transported me and left me living in a magical fluid dreamlike state for days after I finished it.
Is it heresy to say that I don't love Tana French books? I've read a couple -- The Witch Elm, In the Woods... I can be convinced to give it another shot. Never heard of Starless Sea, will check it out. Thank you Rachel!
In the Woods was sort of meh...but I got grabbed by the second in the series, The Likeness, then was hooked on the journey and all the relationships from there. (Witch Elm isn't part of the series and I agree not as strong.) Starless Sea is by the same author as The Night Circus, also fantastic!
Just added Beautiful Ruins to my Kindle! For an immersive read, I'd suggest the whole Practical magic series by Alice Hoffman, or the whole Olive Kitteridge series by Elizabeth Strout. Very interesting to see the characters evolve over time!
I have finally read all of Strout’s books and have loved them all.
they are my favorite - I like the idea of immersing yourself in a series of books, not just a single book
A big yes to Elizabeth Strout - the continuity of the characters throughout the novels is comforting, like I am checking in on friends.
I did not care for the first Olive Kittridge book....but she grew on me. And your comment about visiting an old friend? I had an outpatient medical procedure during Covid, so my husband couldn't wait with me .....but I reread Practical Magic while waiting, and it truly felt like an old friend was sitting there with me, holding my hand, keeping me calm!
I’ve not done a slow read, but just started rereading Kingslover’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.”
I love all of this. Beautiful Ruins was great—both in reading and Audible versions. When I need to escape, I turn to the Louise Penny mystery novels (Armand Gamache is the main character). They transport me to a wonderful place and help when the news gets wild. I'm not a big mystery novel fan, but these are so good, and the characters are so well-rounded (and the food!).. they are a balm for the soul.
Peanutty cabbage and tofu are a hit around here too!
My husband and I listen to all the Armand Gamache books in the car. We love them. The Three Pines people have become our travel buddies.
I was also going to suggest reading through the Louise Penny series! After listening to them the first time through, I’m now reading the actual hard copies the 2nd time through. It makes me want to be in Quebec!
I definitely understand the appeal of combining reading with community - it's a kind of magic - and my monthly book club provides this for me (are people still doing in-person book clubs?!). But I'm definitely intrigued by the idea of a slow read - it would be so different from what I've always loved about reading: the ability to get lost in a story. I'm wondering what unforeseen gifts could come out of challenging myself to read in a different way. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jenny! I'm intrigued by the "slow read" concept, but also wonder how immersive it ends up being. Part of the pleasure of "extreme reading experiences," to crib a phrase from a colleague, is the plunge into a whole different world. I actually made a podcast about doing such an adventure with Proust with a fellow literature professor, called "Proust Curious," if you're (sorry) curious!
Wow, Hannah that's so cool. Please provide the link! And yes, that makes sense -- I think a big draw for me with the slow read is the community side of it.
https://www.publicbooks.org/category/podcast/proust-curious/ … or wherever you get your podcasts!
Totally understand the community aspect; behold why I made a podcast with a friend instead of reading on my own!
Enjoy Tolstoy! Peace > War (in life AND in the novel!)
Wanted to let you know that your mention of Barbara Kingsolver's support of the Higher Ground recovery house prompted me to share it with my bookclub and overnight we've come up with support across the group to buy chairs for them to have a discussion circle. Getting together and talking is what our group does and supporting women doing the same just felt right. Anyone else want to support them, they have an Amazon Wish List.
Amanda, this is amazing. I'll post the Amazon Wish List in my next newsletter.
Currently doing the War and Peace Slow read! Have also read Anna Karenina over the course of about 3 months previously. I find it takes the pressure off and also let’s me read other things so I don’t get bored/sick of it.
yes, that's very appealing to me! I remember loving AK in college even though I had to crash read it. (I was the biggest procrastinator.) The opposite of an immersive experience!
Loved @simonhaisell’s W&P slow read last year. Read daily, and read Simon’s commentary and comments from other slow readers—all very enlightening additions! I’ve missed it this year. You could read W&P every day for the rest of your life and never be bored. I am not a reader who follows trends—had just discovered the slow read right before it started and jumped in. Highly recommend…
I am a 2024 alum of Simon’s W&P slow read as well. (And, I’m doing his Cromwell series slow read this year.) It was such an amazing experience and I miss the daily cadence and check ins with such a smart, diverse community.
Is this is good place to say that i <3 Weekday vegetarians?? and that the spicy tofu (ok i added even more spice since i cook for one so it's all my way during the week, hahaha)with the peanut sauce was my gateway recipe for tofu (air fryer!) but also want to add that i even bought (amazon, i know, ugh.) a tofu press (genius!) so no need for paper towel waste...
there is no wrong place to say that. Thank you Tamara!
I did a slow read of Dear Los Angeles last year. It is letters written to and from people living in Los Angeles 1500s to present. The format follows a calendar year, so it lent itself to this slow read. As a former Angeleno, I loved it!
I also enjoyed Beautiful Ruins. I found Pachinko immersive. I wish Min Jin Lee would write another book.
Pachinko was terrific!
I haven't done a slow read, but I've been listening to Anna Karenina on audio (Audible's version, narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal) for the last 2 months - I'm 8 hours in, with I think 28 left to go? So it's turning into a slow read (listen) by default I guess. I don't usually listen to books on audio but I knew that for this one I'd be more likely to stick with it if I piped it through my speakers/headphones than if I were reading it in print form. And I'm so glad I am - the hype is real! I've gasped in surprise multiple times and do really feel very immersed in Anna's world.
If you haven’t read it, Mating by Norman Rush has my very highest recommendation. It’s a deep read, and recently re-celebrated by the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/style/mating-norman-rush.html. I read it when it came out and then decades later, and it only got better with time.
(And if you’ve read that, I also loved State of Wonder by Ann Patchett). ❤️
Beautiful Ruins is awesome!!!!!!
On the Beautiful Ruins, beat... listen to the audiobook! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/13/magazine/audiobooks-edoardo-ballerini.html
quoting from NYT:
The critic Laura Miller, writing in Salon, named it the year’s best audiobook narration, with a tribute acknowledging how much Ballerini’s reading enhanced the source material: She called him a “true collaborator” who added a layer of warmth to what was already outstanding storytelling.
:)
Your love affair with EB continues!
Immersing in the Dublin Detective series by Tana French would be a fun journey! Also the Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is one that transported me and left me living in a magical fluid dreamlike state for days after I finished it.
Is it heresy to say that I don't love Tana French books? I've read a couple -- The Witch Elm, In the Woods... I can be convinced to give it another shot. Never heard of Starless Sea, will check it out. Thank you Rachel!
In the Woods was sort of meh...but I got grabbed by the second in the series, The Likeness, then was hooked on the journey and all the relationships from there. (Witch Elm isn't part of the series and I agree not as strong.) Starless Sea is by the same author as The Night Circus, also fantastic!