Reading vlog: first books of the year & home in France

Starting the reading year off with some bangers! Also in this episode: muddy walks, the sea, thoughts on looking up how to pronounce author names & a record number of clips of me drinking red wine

Books:
Too Much and Not the Mood by Durga Chew-Bose (2017)
Mémoires d’une jeune fille rangée (Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter) by Simone de Beauvoir (1958)
Ugly Feelings by Sianne Ngai (2005)
Theory of the Gimmick by Sianne Ngai (2020)
Quicksand by Nella Larsen (1928)
Passing by Nella Larsen (1929)
Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville (1853)
The Confidence Man by Herman Melville (1857)
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (1952)
Les Mandarins (The Mandarins) by Simone de Beauvoir (1954)

People:
@sporadicallyreading1952

Socials:
StoryGraph: @sdelphis

[csp]

"words, this brutal precision which mistreats our complications" is a mic drop. SO good. And I loved the vlog. I like rotten weather! Sometimes because I feel less discordant with my surroundings when I'm not feeling sexy. And like you said, there is of course beauty in the abject. But I also like a nice pretty sunny day hahah

[r.enee.morris]

Thank you so much for mentioning name pronunciation!!! This is something I find beyond frustrating, how hard is it?!? If we can learns to pronounce names like “phoebe” you can do a quick google and give the author a bit of respect. That same essay ‘D as in’ was one of my favourites.

[MatthewSciarappa]

As someone who can’t type his last name into Microsoft Word without a squiggly, red underline appearing, I appreciate your comments about the pronunciation of names. I’m sure like many, I would rather someone try their best and fail than offer some sort of line about “not even going to attempt to pronounce.” And I’m sure I’ve definitely botched pronunciations before. It’s the attempt that is valuable ☺️💕

[SpringboardThought]

Yay return of a vlog! I hope my version of Passing, which also has other stories, has Quicksand as well. Probably would… it sounded interesting. As did all of these really.

[seesararead]

Such a beautiful vlog, Sophie! I love all the France footage, I felt transported. Also agree with you on name pronunciation. I always feel like a fool when I think I'm pronouncing something correctly and I am very wrong haha so easy to just look up. Too Much & Not the Mood is one I'm looking to get to soon.

[rebareads]

Beautiful landscapes, beautiful house, and beautiful thoughts! A wonderful vlog!

[nathansnook]

ahhh when you get the chance, if you ever find a hard copy of Too Much and Not the Mood, reread Heart Museum again! it's such an intimate experience that is so so spellbinding 💫

also 20:45 c'est une peinture! tres beau <3

[radiantchristina]

what a lovely vlog! happy new year, Sophie. I'm also reading Beauvoir this year. I've always dabbled in her works but i plan to focus on more of her works 2023

[small.limebooks]

ah glad to see you're joining the Harlem Renaissance challenge!