They used to voice Irish terrorists with an actor rather than let their voice be heard. I wish they could do the same to Trump. His voice even without the content is repellent and has me grabbing for the off button
If you want an epic escape read that's smutty but also much more empowering and intelligent in its long arc than ACOTAR (which I also read and enjoyed), I always recommend Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart series. I mean, how could you not love a trilogy that starts with a young woman who is a sacred prostitute in a House that specializes in bdsm and ends with a trans-continental trek to uncover the Unspeakable Name of God? It's my favorite romantasy ever, ever, ever.
Thank you for this, and for the recommendations. I am also up and not crying. Omg yes, we must chuck the Today programme - and its equivalents on other channels - out of our lives. Why start your day by putting yourself in front of a machine-gun firing a constant stream of Bad Things Happening at you, which blow holes in you and you can do nothing about? It's a perfect recipe for anxiety. I'm not saying ignore the world; subscribe to The Week instead, a news magazine that summarises the main stories. I choose when to read it, what to read and when to put it down, and that is much better for my poor mind. For greater depth, and journalists who are not afraid to tell it like it is, The News Agents podcast. Again, you're in control.
Book-wise, I return every few years to War And Peace. Which, on the face of it, deals with the effects of one Napoleon Bonaparte, a revolutionary/dictator who inspired irrational fervour in his followers, horrified everyone else and threatened the existing order in Europe: sounds familiar? But I don't go back for the history. People say War And Peace is difficult but it really isn't. It's a big old soap opera but on an epic scale and with unwavering human insight.
Isn't it just the best?! Difficult to talk about it without committing spoilers. But when the BBC announced it was doing a tv adaptation in 6 parts back in 2016 (seems an aeon ago) I remember scoffing: can't be done. But they did a brilliant job. Jessie Buckley as Princess Mary was just like I imagined her - whereas Paul Dano's Pierre was a revelation: oh, of course! He's so young; somehow I saw him as older or at least more mature. Of course he admires Napoleon as a revolutionary; but as the French army invades his homeland & terrorises his friends he's forced to reconsider.
I will just say this to anyone who hasn't read it & thinks it might be 'too much': there are scenes that will never leave you, and about which, afterwards, you will think, how does Tolstoy KNOW? The psychological insight is astonishing.
What about Canada!!!! 🇨🇦 you did not mention this in your long list of things to avoid news about. We are in danger of having our country annexed. Check out the NYT today if you are unaware of this. Canadians are furious and cannot afford to avoid the news. Our very sovereignty is at risk. That being said- I think there is a lot of great Canadian fiction to be read though The Handmaids Tale may not be the escape you are looking for. For a comfort read anything by LM Montgomery is soothing. Margaret Laurence, Miriam Toews, Heather O Neil , Eden Robinson, Ruth Ozeki, Caroline Adderson are just a few great writers and of course anything by Margaret Atwood.
I know and I am so sorry this is happening to you. It must seem like a waking nightmare. Canada deserves Europe’s solidarity in this moment of crisis - and in particular the support of the UK as a fellow member of the Commonwealth
That is the Inside Out 3 that I need! Perhaps they could fast forward to Riley's midlife years, or switch focus to her mum.
I am currently reading children's books, as they are easier to manage when I don't have much brain capacity. My 11 year old daughter has many recommendations for me, bless her.
My other go to genre is romcom, as mentioned but sapphic, so there are very few male characters. Even better when the terrible men are ruining real life. My favourites are by Lee Winter, Claire Ashton and Jae (if anyone fancies giving one a go).
I’m off to see Daisy Buchanan in conversation with Louise O’Neill in a Dublin bookshop later and the always wonderful Marian Keys has said she will also be there. That’s enough to keep me going today! Sometimes if I can’t read, even being book-adjacent can be comforting…
"Up and not crying" is sadly absolutely it. Cathy Rentzenbrink is brilliant, and must add her Dear Reader too, which is uplifting and wonderful. I now never listen to Today and shifted to Radio 3' s Petroc Trelawny and would never go back.
Yes, I have read all of Maya's autobiographies which are a tour de force of hope and resilience. Edith's book is so humane and practical. And I love Shafak's work. Thank you for great, expansive recommendations.
It sounds a bit odd, but in COVID lockdown, I started reading the real books read by fictional characters. For example, from Dorothy L Sayers books I lifted the poetry of John Donne, the Kai Lung books of Ernest Bramah and Browne's Religio Medici. No prizes for what I found in Northanger Abbey. The point is that if you find a particular author fits your needs, what shaped them may help you too.
For escape, Aussie Peter Temple writes great crime novels but they're also insightful: not sure that came across in TV adaptation of Jack Irish. Try The Broken Shore, standalone. Read it four times and counting, just brilliant.
Love that mantra! Mine is Left Foot, Right Foot, Breathe In, Breathe Out - sometimes just walking & breathing to get through a day is enough.
Love that too. Sometimes it’s all you can do
They used to voice Irish terrorists with an actor rather than let their voice be heard. I wish they could do the same to Trump. His voice even without the content is repellent and has me grabbing for the off button
That is a genius idea. Who do we have to suggest it to?!
Jane Horrocks as Bubbles.
If you want an epic escape read that's smutty but also much more empowering and intelligent in its long arc than ACOTAR (which I also read and enjoyed), I always recommend Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart series. I mean, how could you not love a trilogy that starts with a young woman who is a sacred prostitute in a House that specializes in bdsm and ends with a trans-continental trek to uncover the Unspeakable Name of God? It's my favorite romantasy ever, ever, ever.
how did I not know about this? Downloading now.
I'd love to hear what you think!
Interesting! I couldn’t get into it, when I read it. It’s always interesting to me what people like.
I just finished Callie Hart’s Quicksilver and now I’m mad because the second doesn’t come out until November!
Also Fourth Wing!
Cathy Retzenbrink. Oliver Burkeman. Martha Beck. They are all wonderful, Yes, I, too, am up and not crying. Almost.
Thank you for this, and for the recommendations. I am also up and not crying. Omg yes, we must chuck the Today programme - and its equivalents on other channels - out of our lives. Why start your day by putting yourself in front of a machine-gun firing a constant stream of Bad Things Happening at you, which blow holes in you and you can do nothing about? It's a perfect recipe for anxiety. I'm not saying ignore the world; subscribe to The Week instead, a news magazine that summarises the main stories. I choose when to read it, what to read and when to put it down, and that is much better for my poor mind. For greater depth, and journalists who are not afraid to tell it like it is, The News Agents podcast. Again, you're in control.
Book-wise, I return every few years to War And Peace. Which, on the face of it, deals with the effects of one Napoleon Bonaparte, a revolutionary/dictator who inspired irrational fervour in his followers, horrified everyone else and threatened the existing order in Europe: sounds familiar? But I don't go back for the history. People say War And Peace is difficult but it really isn't. It's a big old soap opera but on an epic scale and with unwavering human insight.
I read War and Peace periodically as well.
Isn't it just the best?! Difficult to talk about it without committing spoilers. But when the BBC announced it was doing a tv adaptation in 6 parts back in 2016 (seems an aeon ago) I remember scoffing: can't be done. But they did a brilliant job. Jessie Buckley as Princess Mary was just like I imagined her - whereas Paul Dano's Pierre was a revelation: oh, of course! He's so young; somehow I saw him as older or at least more mature. Of course he admires Napoleon as a revolutionary; but as the French army invades his homeland & terrorises his friends he's forced to reconsider.
I will just say this to anyone who hasn't read it & thinks it might be 'too much': there are scenes that will never leave you, and about which, afterwards, you will think, how does Tolstoy KNOW? The psychological insight is astonishing.
What about Canada!!!! 🇨🇦 you did not mention this in your long list of things to avoid news about. We are in danger of having our country annexed. Check out the NYT today if you are unaware of this. Canadians are furious and cannot afford to avoid the news. Our very sovereignty is at risk. That being said- I think there is a lot of great Canadian fiction to be read though The Handmaids Tale may not be the escape you are looking for. For a comfort read anything by LM Montgomery is soothing. Margaret Laurence, Miriam Toews, Heather O Neil , Eden Robinson, Ruth Ozeki, Caroline Adderson are just a few great writers and of course anything by Margaret Atwood.
I know and I am so sorry this is happening to you. It must seem like a waking nightmare. Canada deserves Europe’s solidarity in this moment of crisis - and in particular the support of the UK as a fellow member of the Commonwealth
Thank you so much for your comment- yes I agree with you. We need all the support we can get.
I work with a Canadian guy & he is mad as hell. I don't blame him, this is bullying. It's like we've gone back to the Age of Imperialism.
Oh, SAM! Now I’m crying but it’s nice crying. Thank you XXX
Up and crying was not the objective!
One out of two ain’t bad! X
That is the Inside Out 3 that I need! Perhaps they could fast forward to Riley's midlife years, or switch focus to her mum.
I am currently reading children's books, as they are easier to manage when I don't have much brain capacity. My 11 year old daughter has many recommendations for me, bless her.
My other go to genre is romcom, as mentioned but sapphic, so there are very few male characters. Even better when the terrible men are ruining real life. My favourites are by Lee Winter, Claire Ashton and Jae (if anyone fancies giving one a go).
I’m going in. And I love that idea - Riley’s mum!
The Choice is a wonderful book!
I'm getting a new tattoo "up and not crying"
I’m off to see Daisy Buchanan in conversation with Louise O’Neill in a Dublin bookshop later and the always wonderful Marian Keys has said she will also be there. That’s enough to keep me going today! Sometimes if I can’t read, even being book-adjacent can be comforting…
What a dream combo. Three of the very best women
"Up and not crying" is sadly absolutely it. Cathy Rentzenbrink is brilliant, and must add her Dear Reader too, which is uplifting and wonderful. I now never listen to Today and shifted to Radio 3' s Petroc Trelawny and would never go back.
Anything Cathy Retzenbrink is brilliant. Even just the mention of her in Nina Stibbe’s latest book.
Isn’t she? I have her novel to read next and I am so looking forward to it.
We did it for bookclub last summer. It’s wonderful.
Me too! Always used to be Radio 4 first thing but now Radio 3 - I feel a sense of calm again first thing
Up and not crying. YES. (She says also on the train wishing she’d just pick up a book rather than scrolling Substack)
Ah yes but then you wouldn’t have found this!
I’ve had Humankind on my shelf forever but I think it’s time to pick it up. 👏🏻
Yes, I have read all of Maya's autobiographies which are a tour de force of hope and resilience. Edith's book is so humane and practical. And I love Shafak's work. Thank you for great, expansive recommendations.
It sounds a bit odd, but in COVID lockdown, I started reading the real books read by fictional characters. For example, from Dorothy L Sayers books I lifted the poetry of John Donne, the Kai Lung books of Ernest Bramah and Browne's Religio Medici. No prizes for what I found in Northanger Abbey. The point is that if you find a particular author fits your needs, what shaped them may help you too.
For escape, Aussie Peter Temple writes great crime novels but they're also insightful: not sure that came across in TV adaptation of Jack Irish. Try The Broken Shore, standalone. Read it four times and counting, just brilliant.