Hi Tracy! Welcome!! I’d love to share more about my diss! I majored in English, with an emphasis on modernist women authors. I picked up so many amazing tips—a lot of them form the basis of my “become a closer reader” series linked in this post, so be sure to check that out!!
I’ll also be sharing many more reading tips throughout our next few book club reads!
Oh I could go on and on about Ruby and Lorie Vallow and the secret lives!! It’s so fascinating how people get sucked into these fringe beliefs. Can’t wait until Middlemarch summer….!
I could go on, too! I also feel like...the way these stories get packaged up for us via reality TV and documentaries gestures toward nuance....but so much gets lost. So I also feel like I *should not* go on. But my mind is like warp-speeding through all the wild connections between these elements...!!
There's so much great stuff here, but I just have to agree with you about Litia. As soon as she said she was Mormon, I was like, "that's what's off!" My exvie radar is sensitive to that. I'm not saying she was all horrible, or that Grant shouldn't have been more careful with his words, but there was definitely a vibe, and I'm glad he didn't pick her.
Yes to all of this! I felt like the vibes were extra-off once she said she had *never* said "I love you" to anyone...ever...at 31 years old...and also "knew" she loved Grant after TWO WEEKS? Girl. That's just....soooooo Mormon.
The only way I can cope with life in the dystopian future we’re living in is by mentally living in the 19th c. -So I also am very excited for Middlemarch, and I am excited to read it with you, Haley! You create such a great experience around these books and part of that is the intelligent & insightful people who are your readers. Their comments during P&P were always just right.
I am also looking forward to reading Middlemarch as it is a classic I've had on my list for a few years since I've been trying to read more of them. I know it will be fun to read along with this group with your leadership! thank you.
I devoured the new Hunger Games book days after the release. I love Haymitch too, exactly why I was so excited for the release. Felt young again deeply engrossed in a book without any other distractions.
It's on my list for next week. I am so excited! I hoped to read it this weekend, but I was busy and now I'm trying to avoid spoilers lol It's a minefield on my TikTok algorithm
Can't wait for the Yonnondio read! I bought my copy a few months ago in prep - I'm excited! I also didn't know you were a thrower as well Haley! It is soooo therapeutic for the mind. I'm off to my class in a few hours and I am always excited to just forget about the world for a few hours.
Yes!! Martha: I'm so excited we're reading Yonnondio together. If you have time this week, I hope you can spend a little time with Rebecca Harding Davis — since her story inspired Tillie Olsen to write Yonnondio. (And I'd LOVE to see your own fantastic essay about these women, since you're always bringing new authors to your readers!)
I'm loving that we have even more in common with clay :) What type of class are you taking right now?? I kind of miss having a consistent class time, though going to open hours is its own brand of fun!
I too have Ursula LeGuin on my list of novels to read. I have so loved things I've found her to have said, like the amazing essay you've shared. However when I've tried to read her sci fi novels, I've had difficulty. If you do decide to plunge in, I'd love if you'd share your journey. Oh, and reading this essay will completely change the way I visit a museum. Whether in art, history, or science, I will now and forever be looking for the carrier stories. What a wonderful gift of an alternate way to interpret the world. Thank you for sharing!
I love the carrier essay! Yes: it completely changes how you interact with art, doesn't it?? I want to read it again. Maybe we should sneak it into the read-a-longs this year somewhere. It's just so brilliant.
I have also heard that her fiction can be tough to crack. I'll keep you posted on where I start in -- Left Hand of Darkness is supposed to be an incredible starting point with her!
Re: your interest in fairy tales, if you're not already familiar with Jen Campbell, you should check out her wonderful bookish YouTube channel. Among other things, she has a series of deep-dives into the history of various fairy tales. Here's the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlRIaAzTjWi7P2StmqI0MG8d_K3bo2BX3
So much to think about in this post! Regarding your conflicting thoughts and feelings on church and religion, I say yes, both can be truth. Like so many things, it is not either/or. That is the core of Keatsian philosophy, and I’m ever grateful to John Keats and the letter he wrote that imparts that realization of his. Divisiveness and manipulation by social medium relies on people not seeing that and being able to hold two conflicting ideas in their minds at the same time. On another front, so many intriguing books you’re reading I need to add to my TBR.
I very much relate to a house full of (made of?) books. I feel very confused if I’m in a house with no books! I’m a big fan of Naomi Klein and saw her speak when Doppelgänger came out. I have not read it yet, but you mention in the both that both Naomis grew up in the “same basic cultural system.” Naomi K is Canadian, and as a Canadian, I’d argue that they didn’t, even though, yes, we have a lot — a lot! — of US content here. You’ve got me curious to pick it up! I really enjoy the eclectic nature of your newsletter and am hoping to hop on the Middlemarch ride!
You're SO right that I should make the distinction about Naomi K as a Canadian!! I find it hilarious in the book that she's always struggling against whether or not to engage on the Twitterstorms that tag her into things she has nothing to do with -- should she defend herself? should she just try to stay out of it? She grapples with it in such a real and relatable way that I find myself recognizing the plight, even though she's dealt with it on a scale I'll (hopefully) never understand.
I'm excited to read Middlemarch with you!! I hope you'll join us!!
I am reading Sunrise on the Reaping and love it (but it is gutting!). Also watching Severance with my partner and really enjoying reflecting on the themes around the life vs work debacle
Hi Tracy! Welcome!! I’d love to share more about my diss! I majored in English, with an emphasis on modernist women authors. I picked up so many amazing tips—a lot of them form the basis of my “become a closer reader” series linked in this post, so be sure to check that out!!
I’ll also be sharing many more reading tips throughout our next few book club reads!
Oh I could go on and on about Ruby and Lorie Vallow and the secret lives!! It’s so fascinating how people get sucked into these fringe beliefs. Can’t wait until Middlemarch summer….!
I could go on, too! I also feel like...the way these stories get packaged up for us via reality TV and documentaries gestures toward nuance....but so much gets lost. So I also feel like I *should not* go on. But my mind is like warp-speeding through all the wild connections between these elements...!!
So excited for Middlemarch!
There's so much great stuff here, but I just have to agree with you about Litia. As soon as she said she was Mormon, I was like, "that's what's off!" My exvie radar is sensitive to that. I'm not saying she was all horrible, or that Grant shouldn't have been more careful with his words, but there was definitely a vibe, and I'm glad he didn't pick her.
Yes to all of this! I felt like the vibes were extra-off once she said she had *never* said "I love you" to anyone...ever...at 31 years old...and also "knew" she loved Grant after TWO WEEKS? Girl. That's just....soooooo Mormon.
Sooooo excited for Middlemarch!
The only way I can cope with life in the dystopian future we’re living in is by mentally living in the 19th c. -So I also am very excited for Middlemarch, and I am excited to read it with you, Haley! You create such a great experience around these books and part of that is the intelligent & insightful people who are your readers. Their comments during P&P were always just right.
This is my strategy as well! Give me all things 19th century.
Thanks so much Debbie! I'm getting SO excited for Middlemarch!
I am also looking forward to reading Middlemarch as it is a classic I've had on my list for a few years since I've been trying to read more of them. I know it will be fun to read along with this group with your leadership! thank you.
I'm so excited to get started on George Eliot with everyone!
I devoured the new Hunger Games book days after the release. I love Haymitch too, exactly why I was so excited for the release. Felt young again deeply engrossed in a book without any other distractions.
It's on my list for next week. I am so excited! I hoped to read it this weekend, but I was busy and now I'm trying to avoid spoilers lol It's a minefield on my TikTok algorithm
yeah haha gosh
Really looking forward to reading Middlemarch with you. Book ready and waiting to be opened.
Yay!! I'm excited to read with you, Dawn!!
Can't wait for the Yonnondio read! I bought my copy a few months ago in prep - I'm excited! I also didn't know you were a thrower as well Haley! It is soooo therapeutic for the mind. I'm off to my class in a few hours and I am always excited to just forget about the world for a few hours.
Yes!! Martha: I'm so excited we're reading Yonnondio together. If you have time this week, I hope you can spend a little time with Rebecca Harding Davis — since her story inspired Tillie Olsen to write Yonnondio. (And I'd LOVE to see your own fantastic essay about these women, since you're always bringing new authors to your readers!)
I'm loving that we have even more in common with clay :) What type of class are you taking right now?? I kind of miss having a consistent class time, though going to open hours is its own brand of fun!
I too have Ursula LeGuin on my list of novels to read. I have so loved things I've found her to have said, like the amazing essay you've shared. However when I've tried to read her sci fi novels, I've had difficulty. If you do decide to plunge in, I'd love if you'd share your journey. Oh, and reading this essay will completely change the way I visit a museum. Whether in art, history, or science, I will now and forever be looking for the carrier stories. What a wonderful gift of an alternate way to interpret the world. Thank you for sharing!
I love the carrier essay! Yes: it completely changes how you interact with art, doesn't it?? I want to read it again. Maybe we should sneak it into the read-a-longs this year somewhere. It's just so brilliant.
I have also heard that her fiction can be tough to crack. I'll keep you posted on where I start in -- Left Hand of Darkness is supposed to be an incredible starting point with her!
Re: your interest in fairy tales, if you're not already familiar with Jen Campbell, you should check out her wonderful bookish YouTube channel. Among other things, she has a series of deep-dives into the history of various fairy tales. Here's the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlRIaAzTjWi7P2StmqI0MG8d_K3bo2BX3
Thank you for this!!! I can't wait to check out her videos today between work calls.
So much to think about in this post! Regarding your conflicting thoughts and feelings on church and religion, I say yes, both can be truth. Like so many things, it is not either/or. That is the core of Keatsian philosophy, and I’m ever grateful to John Keats and the letter he wrote that imparts that realization of his. Divisiveness and manipulation by social medium relies on people not seeing that and being able to hold two conflicting ideas in their minds at the same time. On another front, so many intriguing books you’re reading I need to add to my TBR.
I love this reminder to go back to Keats. Thank you. It's so true that multiple points of view can be true at once; it's never black and white.
I very much relate to a house full of (made of?) books. I feel very confused if I’m in a house with no books! I’m a big fan of Naomi Klein and saw her speak when Doppelgänger came out. I have not read it yet, but you mention in the both that both Naomis grew up in the “same basic cultural system.” Naomi K is Canadian, and as a Canadian, I’d argue that they didn’t, even though, yes, we have a lot — a lot! — of US content here. You’ve got me curious to pick it up! I really enjoy the eclectic nature of your newsletter and am hoping to hop on the Middlemarch ride!
You're SO right that I should make the distinction about Naomi K as a Canadian!! I find it hilarious in the book that she's always struggling against whether or not to engage on the Twitterstorms that tag her into things she has nothing to do with -- should she defend herself? should she just try to stay out of it? She grapples with it in such a real and relatable way that I find myself recognizing the plight, even though she's dealt with it on a scale I'll (hopefully) never understand.
I'm excited to read Middlemarch with you!! I hope you'll join us!!
I am reading Sunrise on the Reaping and love it (but it is gutting!). Also watching Severance with my partner and really enjoying reflecting on the themes around the life vs work debacle