Friday Reads: A DNF, a Fave, and a Meh

[@TiresiasPrufrock]

Hi Greg! I started following your channel around a year ago, but I’ve never commented until today. You have inspired me to read quite a few books, not least “The Secret Life of Church Ladies” and “The Love Songs of WEB du Bois” which is now one of my favourite books of all times (and I’m currently reading - and loving - Matrix). I never read romance books, because the ones I’ve tried were always trite, predictable and not very well written, but today I bought “Just for the summer” because of you! Thanks a lot for your videos and your political engagement and Teddy 😊

[@readandre-read]

Teddy found the perfect family. Happy anniversary! "Meh" was in my Friday Reads title, too. It was a weird reading week. Hope you find a lot of treasures at Powell's!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Me too! And thank you!

[@jeremyl2594]

My go to comfort podcast is Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men. I'm on my third time through! They calm me down and make me feel safe and seen

[@AvidMari23]

You are going to love Yours Truly. It was my favorite of the three. ❤.

[@myreadinglife8816]

Yay for Abby Jimenez!

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Wow I’m watching this on Monday and they are still mowing the lawn. Must be a big yard

[@galilali4]

Have a wonderful trip! Will miss you though. Blessings from Mexico City

[@TheLeniverse]

When I saw the video title and thumbnail I thought "oh no, did he dislike Headshot?" I had just started it and was having such a good time with it, I had to wait until I had finished it before I could watch the video 😅I liked how the boxers were full-named. So often women are only referred to by their first name (while men are referred to by their last name). Full-naming them gives them more emphasis, encompasses more of them. They're in a competition that seems so vitally important to them, and so insignificant to all the men running the competition. And they are also still developing themselves. Some of them will change their last name later, through marriage. This name, it's who they are in the here and now of the book. I'm a fan of giving women their whole name. That said, I'm not sure this is a book that will stay with me or be one of my favourites at the end of the year, but I had a really good time reading it! I read Only This Beautiful Moment after you did a video on it, and thought that was pretty great. I don't read (or like) much YA so thank you for the rec! (And I might pass on Desert Echoes; maybe give Like a Love Story a try instead)

[@katrianamacmillan]

Happy Gotcha Day Teddy! Have a wonderful time in Portland!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks!

[@future_ghost49]

Awww Teddy! I just discovered your channel this week and am so pleased to have found it! This week I’m reading Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. I really enjoyed the first of the series and the sequel is not disappointing so far!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hadn’t heard of that book, I’ll need to look for it.

[@junipernin]

Hi! Interested to hear what you think of Eric Larocca… I’ve read You’ve Lost A Lot of Blood & it just felt disjointed and strange… but they do tend to go for more imaginative horror.

[@LauraNeemann]

I LOVE Maintenance Phase!! I'm such a Michael Hobbes fangirl! and Aubrie is so great too!

[@AntisocialAuntie]

Have a great time in Portland! I went in 2018 so I'm not sure if the food truck that only sold different Mac and Cheese bowls, but I recommend (added bonus to sort of match an Instagram name haha). Congratulations on one year with Teddy 🧡

[@SupposedlyFun]

Meal number 1 was delicious, so I’m excited to find more food today.

[@onmalsshelf4800]

I listened to Headshot while driving home from the airport at 4:30am. I didn’t notice all of the full name and descriptor repetition, that way. I ended up giving it 4 stars

[@SupposedlyFun]

I can see how an audiobook would bypass some of that.

[@danazanna]

I also listened to the audio of Headshot. Initially, the full name repetitions didn't bother me, but then they became taxing. By the time I reached the final pages, the all the repetitions were like chalk screeching on a blackboard.

[@leilawanders]

Whoa! I didn't see Desert Echoes as being the DNF! I just bought it based on my love for Abdi Nazemian's other books. 😮

[@kirkwallmage]

Erin Morgenstern did the name thing with The Starless Sea and it drove me cuckoo bananas I love Eric LaRocca… but those stories are very very intense. If you like him I’d recommend Alison Rumfitt Tell Me I’m Worthless

[@Book_Hugger]

🫶🏻 Portland. Wish I lived in Powell’s. I wouldn’t need much space, just sayin’ Enjoy your trip and time there.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I'm also in an Autumnal mood, but it's still warm where I live as well. It lasts till November.

[@bookofdust]

If there’s some outdoors time available in Portland, I highly recommend the Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden, they are both exceptional examples of those places outside their country of origin. And autumn in the gardens should be the peak of the year. My pubic garden hack is to be waiting at the gate for the morning opening, if you want peopleless photographs it’s your best bet to get them. I can’t remember if they both have tea houses (I know SF’s does) but make that part of the experience too.

[@LouiseReader]

Awww, Teddy was the most adorable Ever today, I loved him loving his scratches! I've read/am reading two great audiobooks this week. I finally got to My Friends by Hisham Matar, which was quite outside of my comfort zone, and really surprised me by how much I really enjoyed it. Then today I started Julia Armfield's new book Private Rites. I'm loving this, much more than Our Lives Beneath the Sea, which I enjoyed the first 2/3 of maybe, and didn't like the weirder stuff at the end. I'm hoping that the same thing doesn't happen here. Three daughters are coping with the death of their father in a dystopian setting. Think I'll go and listen to some more now.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’ve been thinking about trying Our Wives Under the Sea. And also trying My Friends at some point. Too many options!

[@MeMyDogAndBooks]

You came to Scotland earlier this year? That's my home country and where I live!!

[@SupposedlyFun]

We loved Scotland. I would love to go back someday.

[@alldbooks9165]

Happy Teddy gotcha day! ❤️🐶🥳

[@SupposedlyFun]

❤️ 🐶 🥂

[@JKC1138]

DNFing books from an author whose work you've loved is frustrating. You assumed it was the start of a beautiful friendship and then you realize things aren't as simple as that, haha. Once again, have fun in Portland! Can't wait to hear dispatches!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Happy one year anniversary, Teddy!♥I wonder how long that is in dog years?😄

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m just glad we have him now!

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

I haven't read romance since I was in high school, but you've convinced me to give Part of Your World a try. It's been a really tough month, and I could use something lighter, so I'm looking forward to it. I've tried LaRocca twice, and didn't really get along with his books, but I'll be interested to see what you think. (It may just be because I don't read much horror. But I've recently read a couple of Rivers Solomon books, and really enjoyed their prose. They might be worth checking out, if you're interested. I also love Julia Armfield.) I hope you and Joel enjoy your trip! I'll look forward to seeing your Powell's haul, knowing I'll probably have contributed to a small part of it. 😊

[@nanimaonovi2528]

Can I recommend 'Anyone But You' by Jennifer Crusie? I'm pretty sure it's the inspiration for 'Part of Your Wold' and it doesn't need an unexplained supernatural element to make the plot work. The humour and discussion around age gaps is genre defining, and Fred the basset hound is the best boy ever.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I did not and up getting on with the LaRocca book at all, but I can always say that I tried. I think horror will be a tough genre for me to crack. Someone has recommended Rivers Solomon to me so maybe that would be a better entry. And thank you!

[@dqan7372]

Happy 🐕anniversary! Same as my birthday. Glad you mentioned book prizes. Goldsmiths Prize short list is coming up on the 2nd. Maybe I'll gift myself the whole list.

[@MeMyDogAndBooks]

Happy Gotcha day for Teddy 🥰

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks!

[@nanimaonovi2528]

You might like literary horror? 'The Little Stranger' by Sarah Waters is mostly about post war class conflict and family issues with a side of haunting.

[@andrew_8582]

Oh yes, The Little Stranger is a brilliant book! There's a really good film adaptation, too, but it seems to be hard to find these days. I'm not great with horror, but I really enjoyed this one. There's a lot of interpretation you can go with, which makes it such a fascinating read.

[@PaulaBlazer-n7l]

❤ Happy Gotcha'day Teddy!

[@SupposedlyFun]

🐶 ❤️

[@janethansen9612]

I'm also middle of the road with Headshots, but I enjoyed it more than I had expected to. This week I finished All Fours by Miranda July which did not work for me. I'm moving on to the new Richard Powers book now. Enjoy your trip!

[@TimeTravelReads]

I'm close to being done with a biography of John Trumbull, a painter of the American revolution. Next, a friend recommended a historical fantasy romance about vampires (not Twilight).

[@TimeTravelReads]

I should try romance at some point. I like the idea of a healthy relationship.

[@dinasmith8277]

Thanks!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! ❤️

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’ve read so many ice hockey romances that I now want to go to a game. There is an ice hockey team in Belfast , Giants…. Have a great time in Portland. I hear the eating is good there. How many books will Greg and Joel get in Powells? I’m going to guess 6 for Greg and 3 for Joel. Best books of September ( that are not hockey themed) Highway Thirteen by Fiona McFarlane The English Understand Wool ( great short book) Abide With Me & The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout ☘️👋🍀🍂🤗📚📕📖☕️

[@catdancerskaleidoscopeofbo8496]

I'm going to guess Greg will bring back 8 books from Powell's, and Joel will bring back 5. 🎉

[@SupposedlyFun]

This feels like a lot of pressure for my wallet 🤣😂💪

[@SupposedlyFun]

The English Understand Wool was fun!

[@jaimee-kate]

I ended up DNFing Headshot, but not because I hated it or anything, but I did find the writing kinda weird and I was just not engaged with the premise, even though I wanted to be. Enh, it wasn't shortlisted and I wasn't having a good time really so I just moved on.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Not having a good time is a good reason to move on!

[@nadiadixon5805]

I've just finished 'A person is a prayer' Ammar Kalia, beautifully written a touching story...5 stars...

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hadn’t heard of that one-thanks for the recommendation.

[@mitchellbrenner6663]

I hated Headshot. I think I should have given myself a "Headshot" with the book instead of finishing it. It was pure torture to me.

[@dwaynewoodstock9458]

I really hate when you use the word cilantro