April Wrap Up - 2018

Hello Everyone -
Time to wrap up April. I had an uneven reading month - I DNF'd my first book of the year and really did not like 2 of the books I read. So, be ready for that. But I did read some real keepers. Hope you like it.
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Books Discussed
1. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
2. Trick by Domenico Starnone
3. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
4. The Decision by Britta Bohler
5. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
6. Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao
7. Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
8. How to Love the Empty Air by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowitcz
9. Less by Andrew Sean Greer
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[challengethyshelf]

I have never thought about coming out as something that you do for the rest of your life. I suppose in some small way people are having to explain things about themselves over and over again, however the repetition of having to experience acceptance or rejection each time one shares a piece of their life was not something that occurred to me. I don’t know why that was so profound to me, but thank you for the gift of that perspective.

[CinziaDuBois]

What a wonderfully engaging review of Simon V. I can't believe I've only just discovered your channel, can't wait to go through all your videos (:

[greensnowfall]

Not need to apologize for the length of your videos! They are always treasured!! The more, the merrier! Best wishes!

[christopherberry]

Wow! I read Home Fire when it came out and I loved it as well! My reading this year so far has been in a slump! I have DNF’d a couple of books already this year—
Currently reading and almost done with The Grip Of It by Jac Jemc-this one I would give 3/5.
I love all of your videos as you know! Keep it up!
❤️❤️❤️

[Cardenio]

I am adding Girls Burn Brighter on my TBR right now. Don’t worry about the length of your videos—I always enjoy every minute of them!

[susans.k.]

I too loved Girls Burn Brighter!!! Thank you for your honesty re: Simon. I haven’t picked it up but if I do I will be sure to read it with that lease. Great wrap up!

[EricKarlAnderson]

OMG, dinner with Lori Ostlund! So excited for the forthcoming videos.
I really want to read Britta's novel now though wonder if I should read Thomas Mann first (never read him before).
I loved Shobha Rao's book of short stories (also very dark) so I'm SO excited to read Girls Burn Brighter despite it sounding like such a harrowing story.
Wow, so interesting to hear your thoughts on Less. I loved Greer's Story of a Marriage so I'm curious if I'll be disappointed by Less as well, but another good friend of mine just read it and loved it. Curious!

[andrewbrendan]

Hi, Russell! I am so glad you recently discussed "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters. I finished reading it two days ago and it's one of the best novels I've read in a long time, an outstanding work of fiction. In your earlier video you mentioned a clock or clocks in the mansion in Ms. Waters's novel being stopped at twenty minutes to nine and I commented that that must be related to the clocks in Miss Havisham's house in "Great Expectations". You replied that Miss Havisham is a character you like a lot. I was recently at a Friends of the Library sale and found a novel that must have been written for you: "Havisham" by Ronald Frame (Picador/New York, 2012), the story of how Caroline Havisham became the recluse in the sealed-up mansion to which Pip is sent to play. The dust jacket says this book is "...the astonishing prelude to Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations"".If you don't have a copy I could send you mine when I'm done reading it.

[kalameet]

You have no idea how happy I am to finally see someone who had similar problems with Simon Vs. as I did.

[josmith]

Really enjoyed your comments on all these especially Simon vs and Less- and if you were worried you were scathing watch Matthew Sciarappa’s video, that will make you feel better! I loved Freshwater but I do understand why the style could get too much or put people off but I think we will both look forward to her next book. And, I am halfway through Trick, I think I saw it on your channel first and I’m really enjoying it, I love the first person narration of the main character and his struggles with aging and separating himself from his past as well as dealing with his recalcitrant grandchild. I have to get my library to get in more Starnone!

[browngirlreading]

You did a lot of reading last month. Homelier and Freshwater are on my TBR. I didn't listento what you said about Freshwater. I hope to get to it this month. My May TBR is already growing. Trying to watch a little less Booktube and less TV. Thanks for sharing Russell!

[caramcnulty]

After seeing you talk about "Girls Burn Brighter" I thought you might enjoy "My Absolute Darling". It is dark and currently on the 2018 Dylan Thomas Prize shortlist. On one hand it's hard to read but it is also hard to put down. It's also a beautiful rendition of the natural world of Northern California.

[KendraWinchester]

I have ben waiting for this wrap up! I saw your Goodreads and have been DYING to hear about the books you rated there. I totally get why you didn't mesh with FRESHWATER. It's so out there. O_O I was also disappointed that SING didn't win the Pulitzer. :( I haven't heard too many great things about LESS. So disappointed in literary awards this year in general.

[LouiseReader]

That was a great video Russell. I particularly enjoyed your thoughts on Simon vs and Less. Not liking a book isn't necessarily a bad thing- well for you, yes, but for us, not so much.

[SavidgeReads]

Firstly, I need your tshirt. Home Fire is excellent isn’t it. Uncomfortable but brilliant. That US edition is bloody gorgeous. I must try one of Britta’s books at some point. Interesting thoughts on Simon vs as I thought it showed the trauma of being outed but also showed it can be positive. The film portrayed that even more. I thought it handled both extremes really well and didn’t trivialise it at all. I think Chris was more on your side. But I think, sorry to say this, it might be a generational think. I’m so excited for Girls Burn Brighter. Shame about Freshwater. Love that cover. I think I’m going to really enjoy it, sounds twisted. The snark out there for Less is quite something. I might have to read it just to see why the claws are out for it so much. I think there are lots of gay men who the only thing that makes them gay is being gay. How should a gay protagonist be to be the right amount of gay? 😂😂😂

[JasmineReads]

Great to hear your thoughts on Simon vs! Always good to hear a bit of a different opinion. I loved the reading experience when I read it, precisely because it is so easy and heart warming. But I totally see your point. I don’t know what it’s like to come out, so it was great to hear you talk about it a little.

I also read Girls Burn Brighter recently. I loved the setting in the first half of the novel and seeing the girls in their village life, it was definitely my favourite part of the novel. It’s certainly a sad novel, but, you’re right, powerful. Glad you enjoyed.

Really enjoyed listening to you chat, as always!😊

[curioushmm]

wow...that is some high praise to say that mann would be honored by his depiction in the book...seems i must put this on my to be bought shelf! this might be a good time to try "the black swan" by mann..it's a novella and i read it when young and still think of it often...and it's a straight forward plot aimed at the emotions....i really think you'd like it...main character is not an old woman but she's aging!

[LiaMahony]

“Part of my husbandly contract” we all have those spousal requirements. This weekend for me will be spending 4hours at the football.

Home Fire was one of my best books from last year. Ah-mazing

[curioushmm]

thanks for your response to "simon vs..." and the truth of coming out forever...

[mary-annmaronski]

I strugged with Freshwater too. I finished it but it was not a favorite.