Reading Wrap Up / February 2024

[@ArtemisC.DAragon]

Thank you Eric!!! Wow! Marvelous month lectures!!! I'm glad you've rescued some "oldies", they're definitely great, timeless stories!!! 💖 'Parasol against...' was a wonderful book, that brought a few smiles to my lips! 🤗📚🍀✨

[@sarahwiltshire5851]

Thanks, Eric. I have just finished 'Doppleganger'. This was a vintage and very honest Naomi Klein in action - a terrific book and deserves to be on the Woman's Prize Non-fiction shortlist!

[@caralaggarwal7391]

I just finished reading River East, River West! I loved this book so much. The dual narrative and how the stories seamlessly segued without seeming jarring and at the same time bringing up important issues like Chinese economic boom, issues of Race, Culture, Importance of family and fitting in; it had so much without overwhelming you. What an immersive read!

[@Ericaclimbthestacks]

I ordered Doppleganger after hearing what you had to say about it. I hope it stays on my shelves. Thank you for your channel.

[@johnnamurraycamp5100]

I just finished rereading Huck Finn in preparation for publication of Everett's James! As you perhaps know, I've been a Percival Everett fan for years. I'm thrilled that his readership has grown. (Thanks, Booker judges!) His brill book Erasure was recently released as the film American Fiction (which I have NOT yet seen, but will). If you haven't read his others, consider doing so!

[@philstrand]

I began the year with Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in anticipation of Percival Everett's James which I'm reading now. I'm so impressed by this book so far that I can see it being my favorite book of 2024. This just might finally give him the recognition he deserves. I've been on a tear of reading classics that have so far escaped me. The last one I finished was Lolly Willowes: or The Loving Huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner. Others include Siddhartha (Hermann Hesse), Pale Fire (Vladimir Nabokov), Miss Lonelyhearts (Nathanael West), and Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin). And too many more to mention. Thanks for the wrap up!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

Eric, I couldn’t agree more about E.M. Forster. Captivating!

[@MarcNash]

I've never read any Helen Oyeyemi, but this sounds definitely worth a try. I love how you say she makes Prague a character in the beginning and a trolled one at that!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I think you’ll find her fiction really interesting, Marc

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Best books read in February Stone Yard Devotional by Charolette Wood The Caretaker by Ron Rash Greta & Valdin by Rebecca R Reilly Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan Bandit Queens Currently listening to Fayne by AnnMarie McDonald First book for #irishreadathon Night Swimmers by Roisin Maguire ☘️👋🍀☕️📕🇮🇪📚📖

[@cindyhaiken5644]

Your description of Parasol against the Axe was a quite way to sum up my experiences reading Oyeyemi in the past, and I do very much want to read her new novel. I am so glad you felt positively about Tom Lake. I found it an immersive and deeply pleasurable and satisfying reading experience. My favorite read of February was Steeple Chasing by Peter Ross, a nonfiction book about visiting several of the churches around Britain during the pandemic. I found it powerfully written and extremely evocative and poignant. And yes, Percival Everett’s James is one of the books I am most looking forward to reading in March.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I’m sure you’ll find Oyeyemi’s new novel intriguing. Steeple Chasing sounds fascinating!

[@dawndobbins9398]

Great review…intrigued by Doppelgänger. Just reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout - I love her writing. Also listening to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke on Audible. A brilliant book made even better by Simon Prebble’s excellent narration. Looking forward to listening to This Other Eden by Paul Harding and The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida next.

[@neetupd8510]

I only read 2 books in February 😟 1.Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson 2.The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

[@johnnamurraycamp5100]

Meryl Streep's reading of Tom Lake possibly helped it leap from feeling Light Fic to Lit Fic. Patchett's writing is usually worth the trip ... whether I 'like' it or not.

[@dqan7372]

I've got five days to finish Lydia Davis's "Our Strangers" before it's due back at the library. Looking forward to reviews on "James".

[@TKTalksBooks]

Eager to read the Oyeyemi!

[@zsuzsablom6256]

Finally reading The Brothers Karamazov. Also Japanese Inn by Oliver Statler. An enjoyable combination. Looking forward to A Passage to India. Thank you for the review.

[@fj103]

👋🏽👋🏽👋🏽

[@a.amanning7631]

Love Jews

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Hi Eric. Great video. I adored Tom Lake and Heartstopper too. I also wanted to tell you that I posted a video today about the first three volumes of Heartstopper as part of the Read 24 Banned Books in 2024 today in which I talk about what has been happening to these books in some places here in the US. I thought that you might be interested.

[@karinasuarez9981]

Heeello Eric! I went to the library to get Tom Lake for Michael. Your review make it sound so compelling! I also red aloud, inspired by you The Aleph to my husband. I’m taking part in The Reading World Cup that starts tomorrow in Argentina. It was challenging to read Jorge Luis Borges in English but his sublime words sound great in any language. ❤

[@EricKarlAnderson]

That’s great to hear! Hope Michael enjoys it.

[@millysbookshelf2101]

Looking forward to picking up Parasol. I've just posted my review of James so will be interested to see what your reaction to the novel is.

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

I’m looking forward to Parasol Against The Ax and Doppelgänger. Kind of on the fence for Lubins eventually I’ll get to Tom Lake. Fourteen Days edited by Margaret Atwood and Doug Peterson is one of the best things I’ve read in a while. Also read Heaven and Earth Grocery Store James McBride , The Caretaker Ron Rash and The Bells of Old Tokyo by Anna Shermab

[@sandra7319.]

I read/ listened to Tom Lake and I gave it 2 stars....which is basically blasphemy in my house. I have almost all of Patchetts books, signed, and made the pilgrimage to her bookstore. I love her books but my mistake was probably listening to the book. I don't think i was as invested in the story and some of Streep's choices for voices were questionable such as a childs voice for the youngest daughter who is in college and a lot overacting on another character. Also, this book seemed so WHITE and the repition of the beauty of apples and cranberries didnt help lessen this idealized very homogonized world.

[@AmalijaKomar]

Finally, at the end of last year, I found Louis Gluck translation. Read Wild Iris in February. Loved it. About Forster book: brutally honest, but english writers did make some great books about India.

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

Great wrap up. Several are on my TBR. Interesting doppelgänger story. My Men is new to me. Might have to check it out. 😊💙

[@EricKarlAnderson]

It’s a really interesting one!