Summer Reading Wrap Up | Literary Fiction

Books mentioned:

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
The Island Child by Molly Aitken
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

If you fancy it you can -

[aed]

I absolutely love that your reviews are so comprehensive. You voice your opinion and also unpack nuances of the plot/writing/context etc. I appreciate this so much!!!

[bethpalmer]

I’m really enjoying your Summer reading videos! The backgrounds in your most recent videos have been so lovely! Definitely cosy vibes. ✨
I just finished The Silver Sparrow after wanting to read it when I heard you talk about it in a vlog a few months ago. I think the way Tayari Jones conveys emotion is so powerful. In Dana’s section there was such a sense of simmering anger under the surface, and I also really enjoyed Chaurisse’s section and her naive love of her father and uncle. I keep thinking about it and the pain of the situation and also the ending... Thank you for the recommendation in the vlog! Really enjoyed reading it.

[kellygaughan]

I’m definitely going to listen to A Silver Sparrow after hearing your review! Loved An American Marriage and can’t wait to start listening to this one 😊 Xx

[HardcoverHearts]

I loved the exact same things you loved about Exciting Times! I look forward to watching what she does next. And I am intrigued now by Silver Sparrow. Lovely to see you!

[Alfred_]

Glad you're back. Cool content and info

[margotrobertson]

Silver Sparrow is now on my TBR. Thanks !

[rdculb]

Silver sparrow is going on my TBR now.

[SixMinutesForMe]

The Island Child and Exciting Times really intrigue me, and Tayari Jones is such a joy—I’ve seen her at book tour events here a few times and her energy is incredible! And I love how passionate she is about Southern lit ✨

[jennifernash]

I have felt the same about audiobooks that I let draw on for too long - that if I had finished it quicker I would have enjoyed it more. Nice wrap up!

[braincabbage]

I have a hold on the audiobook of Silver Sparrow from my library and I'm quite excited about it now that you said the narration was so good!

[glitterary]

I've never heard of "Exciting Times", but it sounds like it's right up my alley. Hope you're feeling a bit better!

[pastorytime]

Bert insisted I buy him Exciting Times and he still hasn't read it...😂 Maybe this is the push he needs!
It was so fun reading Rainbow Milk! ❤️❤️

[myreadinglife]

I have Silver Sparrow on the TBR shelf and now I want to read it immediately!

[thebritishbookworm]

I absolutely loved Silver Sparrow! If you haven’t read them already, The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett and Passing by Nella Larsen are great accompaniments to them (both about estranged sisters). I also think 26A by Diana Evans fits the bill too!

[readingwithlaurane]

I was waiting for my library to get The Island Child, but if it has a 'told around the firelight' quality, I might just buy it.

I'm really happy you have been feeling good enough to film and upload again! For me as viewer but mostly because you said you had missed it. Hope it's not a strain on your relationship to do this together ;)

[GaggingLit]

I wish publishers would stop putting matchsticks on book covers -_- not read any of these novels - but lovely as ever to hear how you found them. I'm gonna be reading Convos with Friends by Rooney soon so looking forward to that.

[FHMS]

i felt the same way about Exciting Times - i was enjoying all the intellectual stuff at first but then i think it started grating on me the more i got into the book because the narrative voice increasingly felt like it was dull or a bit monotone. I cant wait to read The Island Child and ive just added Silver Sparrow to my TBR!! 😊

[smooshie]

Agree on Exciting Times - really clever, funny, insightful. All the stuff about language, colonialism and class was really interesting. But I was frustrated by the ending. Basically, it didn't have one! None of the questions you mentioned around if Ava preferred Julian or Edith, or how they'd feel if they found out about each other, what Ava wanted, went anywhere or were developed. Ava was never held to account for anything. She didn't develop and the status quo didn't change. It almost felt like author wish fulfillment where Ava could just jerk everyone around and never be taken to task because she's so clever and self-aware. I'm interested to see what Naoise Dolan does next, though!

[RoisinsReading]

I loved The Island Child. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it, although I think the narrator struggled with the Canadian accent. I believe it mentions that the "contemporary" storyline is the 80s, and that Joyce was born in 1963

[Wolfhailstorm]

Very interested in your thoughts on Rainbow milk and how upon reading the article it made more sense to how you felt
The island child sounds amazing