Friday Reads: Books As Therapy

It was an unexpectedly difficult reading week, but a book with surprising therapeutic value got me through it. Expand for more information. 👇
Links 💻
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The Trailer for Small Things Like These: • Small Things Like Thes...
Further Viewing 🎥
Booker Prize Shortlist Reaction: • Booker Prize Shortlist...
The National Book Award for Fiction Longlist Reaction: • National Book Award fo...
Book Haul Revisit for September: • Book Haul Revisit for ...
Book Haul for August: • Book Haul for August 2024
The Best Short Novels and Novellas: • The Best Short Novels ...
Last Friday Reads: • Friday Reads: Predicti...
Jump to the Friday Reads: 07:57
Titles Mentioned 📚
Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan: bookshop.org/a...
Foster, Claire Keegan: bookshop.org/a...
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark: bookshop.org/a...
Nicked, M.T. Anderson: bookshop.org/a...
Part of Your World, Abby Jimenez: bookshop.org/a...
Olivia, Dorothy Strachey: bookshop.org/a...
Headshot, Rita Bullwinkel: bookshop.org/a...
My Affiliate Page on Bookshop: bookshop.org/s...
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Website: supposedlyfun....

[@lulukan64]

A movie for Small Things Like These!!!🎉 Yes, please! How exciting! ❤

[@melissafirman1962]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's health crisis. Life always takes precedence over BookTube, so don't worry about posting or responding to comments. We'll be here. You're always so thoughtful in thinking of your audience. How fun about your upcoming Portland trip! I loved BookExpo back in the day. Yay for Teddy's clean bill of health from the vet!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much. That means a lot.

[@arlissbunny]

As a huge cheerleader for the acknowledgement of genre fiction by literary award juries. I love it when you tell us about any genre read. I’m not a romance reader but I’m a supporter and you’ve convinced me to give Abby Jimenez a try. I’m convinced genre books give authors room to run, often with powerful topics, in ways litfic can’t access in quite the same way. Thank you for the review!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I agree that genre (or at least genre tropes) give authors some room to run!

[@spexi513]

Loved Foster and bawled at the film adaptation 📚🪱💚

[@jordana99]

Well interesting! I’m in Portland visiting friends, just flew here on Wednesday. I have spent some time in Powells over the years. You just re reminded me to get there while I’m here. And see if I can find a good used book store.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Someone in comments recommended Bingo Used Books. I hope that helps!

[@joy_ofbooks]

I’m really sorry to hear about your friend’s health and hope they are able to see an improvement soon. Thinking of you and Joel too whilst you support them and as you head off on your exciting trip.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

On September 12th we had to say goodbye to our cat Pebbles. He’d been with us for 4 years and 9 months. I couldn’t read anything heavy after that. I’ve turned to romance. Lots of Romance. Joel can guess what my preference is, since I send him suggestions. Hockey was a common theme. Ice hockey. I’ve never seen a game nor do I know any of the rules etc.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so sorry. I’m glad you found a genre that helps you through it. ❤️❤️

[@janethansen9612]

Sorry for your loss, Jacqueline xx

[@wordqueen2406]

Just for the summer is not just a romance! I finally finished it and it is triggering and there is so much more to it than just romance! I did end up really liking it and Abby Jimenez is great at navigating trauma once you realize whats happening. The fact that the best friend ends in Part of Your world makes me want to read just for her! I loved the best friend in Just For the Summer! Plus Minneapolis is fun to read about because I lived there in my 20s! I will continue to watch your channel because I continue to get recs. I hope you have fun in Portland. Pacific NW is on my list of places to visit!

[@readandre-read]

The Portland trip sounds exciting! I hope your friend is improving. I'm also excited about the Small Things Like These movie.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much!

[@jeanniepawlowski265]

Have a coffee on me and you guys have a safe and fun tripThanks!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much!

[@jackwalter5970]

You will love Powell's!! Take a lot of money.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’ve been saving the Super Thanks and Bookshop affiliate money for just this!

[@Roscoethecat]

Powell's is wonderful! I spent my birthday week in May on a book buying trip.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s a great way of spending a birthday week!

[@Roscoethecat]

​@@SupposedlyFun Check out the rare book room at Powell's. It's beautiful. My friend proposed to his wife there.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@Roscoethecat That sounds like a great place to propose.

[@Nina_DP]

Hope things work out well for your friend, Greg. Have a great trip!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much!

[@onourpath]

Oh god, why didn't this happen 6 years ago, when I was a lead bookseller in the blue room (lit/fiction) at Powell's and on the PNBA Awards Committee at the trade show???? Damn, that stings! I would have been your personal guide for the trade show and Powell's! 😭

[@onourpath]

Sending all good health thoughts to your friend! So nerve-wracking and painful.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Timing! It’s the worst. Thank you for the good thoughts.

[@onourpath]

@@SupposedlyFun you'll have a great time; prepare to be exhausted -- by both the show and Powell's!

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@onourpath Thank you!

[@capturedbyannamarie]

I planned to read small things like these in November, since I heard it was a winter book. I guess I’ll plan to read it before the 8th, so I can watch the movie right after!🎉

[@SupposedlyFun]

That's a good plan!

[@karenmoore4430]

Hi Greg read Do Tell while on holiday and it was a great read. Thanks for the recommendation. Currently reading The Lost Love Songs of Boycie Singh which I am enjoying.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so glad you liked Do Tell! I don’t think I’d heard of Lost Love Songs. I’ll have to look it up.

[@catherinejager3264]

Ugh, people and their options 😉 If not for you I would not have read some of the romance/“light reads” I have. LOVED Here We Go Again and The Guncle - two very heart felt books that I got insight from … and isn’t that why we read?! Just finished Olive Kitteridge - still digesting it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so glad you liked them! Those are two great books that have so much to show readers. I remember needing a little time to digest Olive Kitteridge as well. I look forward to rereading it for my Pulitzer Project at some point.

[@scarba]

Bought and read Prime of Miss J Brodie this summer in Edinburgh. The movie of it is actually on KZbin, best i wanted to compare and I agree that the book is just deeper. I also loved Small things like these. Some of it seemed like poetry.

[@SupposedlyFun]

100% agree-the book is deeper. But Maggie Smith is tremendous!

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Hope everything is calming down and going well for the three of you. Just wanted to say if you get a chance Memento Moi by Muriel Spark is an all time favorite. I’ve also read The Collected Short Stories and Loitering With Intent and they were very good as well. I need to get back to her .

[@SupposedlyFun]

There have been a couple of recommendations for Memento Mori. Thanks for the recommendations on her work!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Speaking of film adaptations, “The Thursday Murder Club” has wrapped filming and is scheduled for release at some point in 2025.😀I just finished Richard Osman’s new book, “We Solve Murders” and it’s so much fun to read.

[@MJ-in-Canada]

p.s. The cast of “The Thursday Murder Club” includes Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Pierce Brosnan as Ron, Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim, and Celia Imrie as Joyce.

[@SupposedlyFun]

WOW! That’s a great case. I guess I’ll have to try that series now to get ready.

[@MJ-in-Canada]

@@SupposedlyFun The Thursday Murder Club books gets better and better as the series progresses. For example, I liked book 1 in the series but I didn't become fully invested in the characters until book 2, and by book 4, I wanted to see them in a movie.

[@marciajohansson769]

Hi MJ. Since you just finished Osman's latest book I take it you are a fan 😜I had picked up the first of the series and then found book 3 and 4 at the dollar table at the library. I have been on a mission to find the 2nd one but the least expensive one I have found is around 10usd. too much! Anywho. Please tell me what you like about the series if you do not mind! MJ of the Massachusetts variety LOL (Marcia Johansson) oops.editing me says... I guess before I rambled on I should have read through the additional comments!!!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

@@marciajohansson769 Yes, Massachusetts MJ, I’m a fan. The main thing for me about The Thursday Murder Club series is that it’s fun! The lead characters - regular folks who live in a retirement village and form a group to investigate unsolved murders - are likeable, and it’s enjoyable to watch how their relationships progress. The author uses humour liberally. I found that book #1 has a little too much going on though, as well as too many extra characters, and that can lead to confusion. Even though I enjoyed book #1, I wasn’t sure if I would pick up book #2. I’m glad I did. And as I mentioned, the books get better (in my opinion) as you progress through the series.

[@janethansen9612]

Ignore the "Book police" and read whatever you want. I was surprised how much I enjoyed Headshots, and I'm no fan of boxing. It's a terrific debut novel.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m excited to start it!

[@karo.treasurehunter]

Hello. I’ve been watching your videos for quite some time now. I’ve chosen yours as one of my favourite book channels to subscribe to because I think you articulate your thoughts well. Mainly, because you seem to read many many many of the same books that I do. We seem to share similar tastes, or get turned off by similar things when it comes to content or writing. Anyway, I enjoy your posts very much. I want to share a book recommendation with you, and any readers of this comment on your thread. It is Fearnoch, by Jim McEwen. I recently saw it on the shelf of a very small town book shop. I had not heard of it before, and the description got my attention. I also read a review that started with “John Steinbeck meets Miriam Toews”, both of whose works I adore. This book is STUNNING. I will not review it on your comment feed, but I beg you to please read it. Please read it. I would love to hear your thoughts and impression. I just can’t say enough. It will live on my shelf forever, and will be a re-read in my future. Kind regards, Karolina

[@guyguy332]

I hate to be ‘that person’ but I was mindlessly scrolling looking for something and this came up at the perfect time! 🎉

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m glad!

[@marciajohansson769]

Oh Greg... I hope your friend is Okay. It is stressful for sure and I will send positive/healing thoughts their way via you. I had planned to read more short books for Shorty September which started with Foster which I loved. I took on TOO many events. I thoroughly enjoyed The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt's Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. I also watched the movie with Helen Mirren. I could not put the book down. Maybe I already mentioned 🤔 Reading an intense book now. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer so I am glad I have a few books by Abby Jimenez that maybe a good place to go onto next. I am not a romance reader but truly I think it says more about me not feeling comfortable with all the romancy talk than it says about those that enjoy the genre. 🥰💕❤‍🩹💞💝

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! Foster is very good, but I’ve loved everything by Claire Keegan that I’ve read. I think what I like about Jimenez is that both books I’ve read of hers are more about people figuring out how they want to live and dealing with their emotional baggage (through the lens of a romantic relationship).

[@alldbooks9165]

Abby Jimenez is on fire. ❤️🔥

[@SupposedlyFun]

It's like she knows me!

[@terrelldean]

Powell's is magical

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so excited!

[@larajean1]

OMG...your trip will be amazing! I read "The History of Sound" on your recc.. and I think I liked/loved it more than you....5 star read for me. I don't usually LOVE short story collections but this one blew me away...so thanks for that! I loved that trio of Abby Jimenez books too.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so glad you loved History of Sound! It’s a fascinating collection!

[@marciaalbaum2597]

the election does not calm till hope becomes votes

[@SupposedlyFun]

Fair point! I agree with that. And the anxiety is still there, it’s just not as powerful as it was.

[@catedee5012]

I like the idea of books as therapy. I think I’ll start the books by Abbey Jimenez. A while back during a particularly stressful period I read the Rosie Project. It was fun and therefore good therapy.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’ve heard that The Rosie Project is good for that. I’m glad it helped! And I hope you like Abby Jimenez as much as I have.

[@spexi513]

Hugs and love to you and your friend and you’ve nothing to apologize for ! But , while on the topic … I tend to comment on videos and then never return to them . I just get too busy like we all do . Your videos are alot of work and effort and energy as is and i appreciate them 📚🪱💚

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Will you get to meet any other booktubers at the book event? I think @abookolive is somewhere near there??

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m not sure there would be time with all the events we’ll be attending!

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

When life is « lifing » Greg, romance like Abby Jimenez is all my brain can take. I will never apologize for that or judge someone else reading romance! 😅

[@SupposedlyFun]

Jimenez was PERFECT for this week. She was a lifesaver!

[@amberdoty1392]

Hi Greg, I hope all is well. I’m a long time viewer, first time commenter. I just had to come here and say the Abby Jimenez books are so great and exactly as you described. While romance comes with criticisms from “book bullies” I usually keep it to myself when I read one. But you talking about these just warms my heart. I have read all three, please don’t sleep on “Yours Truly” in my opinion it’s the best of the series. As a person who lives with severe anxiety and panic disorder “Yours Truly” resonated with me so much and I truly appreciated the true representation in such a hyped and mainstream novel. The author truly does her homework when crafting these novels. Thanks for all the content you share. Sending you love and hugs with the hope that life brings you some relief, take care. ❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s so good to know, and thank you so much for the kind words. I’m definitely excited to read Your Truly (and the rest of her books outside of this series). And I agree that she handles all of her topics with great care. She’s also a wonderful Instagram follow!

[@MountainShadow8]

I'm so happy you and Joel will be visiting Powell's! You may want to get ready to spend the day. There is underground parking nearby (parking can be a thing in downtown Portland) and a cafe on site. My son lives in Portland, so I've visited other bookstores. Broadway Books, another independent bookstore and Bingo Used Books are two I would highly recommend. Bingo is rather messy although organized in a unique fashion. When I've visited the owner has been curmudgeonly but becomes friendly if he approves of the books you buy, lol. Enjoy.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the recommendations! I love a chaotic used bookstore for some reason so that sounds fun (although if it gets too chaotic it makes me nervous 🤣). Right now our only plan for Saturday (our only free day) is Powell’s, but it would be fun to fit in some more stores. I think all the other days and nights will be taken by the trade show. But it will be so fun to be there!

[@Gen-yh1jz]

Teddy is adorable ❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

He is!

[@AvAlanchian]

When I saw last week that you were reading Brodie, I too pulled it off my shelf and read it - loved it. The movie is on KZbin!!!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I didn’t realize the movie is on KZbin! I’m glad you loved it as well.

[@kompas29]

The adaptation of "Small things" seems to be amazing. Quiet girl is an amazing, tender movie, hope you find time to watch it , heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I can’t believe we haven’t watched Quiet Girl yet.

[@AK-gl6wm]

I love Muriel Spark! A Far Cry From Kensington is GREAT (and super in audio). And Memento Mori is also super.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks for the recommendations.

[@andrew_8582]

Well, Greg, I have to hand it to you. I've been the sort of person who's looked down on the Romance genre for a long time because I haven't encountered a counterpoint to the snobbery from those outside the genre before - which I recognise is hypocritical of me, because I've been a long-time advocate of the literary world taking fantasy and science fiction more seriously - but your reviews of Abby Jimenez's novels are single-handedly changing my mind on Romance. Also, what have you done?! I want to read Nicked now but it doesn't seem to be published in the UK. 😩 P. S. Hope everything goes as well as possible for your friend! ❤️

[@runrgrl35]

Sorry about your friend….sending good thoughts and wishes 😌 I’ve been to Powell’s once many years ago but never forgot how amazing and overwhelming it is. Can’t wait to hear your reaction and thoughts ☺️

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much. I’m excited to see Powell’s at long last!

[@lulukan64]

Also, I loved The Quiet Girl. Let us know what you think when you see it!

[@1book1review]

shorties are the best when stressed and unable to focus. I particularly like that you get that finisher feeling while you still rememebr the beginning :D

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love the sense of accomplishment.

[@JKC1138]

I'm really sorry to hear about your friend's health problems, and I hope they improve. I'm also excited for you to go to Powell's! That's gonna be a blast. Hope you give us a tour around the place. Can't wait to see what you pick up!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I always intend to film inside bookstores (even though I’m always self conscious about filming in public), and every time I get so excited about the store that I completely forget. 🤣😂 Thank you for the well wishes.

[@jordana99]

@@SupposedlyFunI sometimes write about food and I forget to take photos of my food when I’m hungry! I have pics of half-eaten plates!

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@jordana99 It's so hard to remember!

[@galilali4]

Binge watching your chanel while doing The Great Gatsby jigsaw puzzle! Best wishes for a wonderful trip from Merida México

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love that! We love jigsaw puzzles. Thank you from Missoula in the USA!

[@lynniepie52]

Thanks for the Shorty September recommendation I was able to pick up small things like these from Libby today!!!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you love it!

[@Ali-AvidReader]

Really looking forward to the film adaptation of Small Things. I hope your friend is ok.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! I’m looking forward to it as well.