I listened to KC’s book recently and I’m gonna reread it soon. Closing Duties have been really transformational around here, so I’m on the lookout for the next great idea to try out on this read through.
I’m currently on a lesbian contemporary romance kick and I’m reading Scent by Kris Bryant, which is really cute.
And I’m about to start The Power of Plus by Gianluca Russo—it’s about the size inclusivity movement in fashion, and a friend of mine is the author’s colleague at Parsons in New York and just hosted the launch.
My friend, Leila, is a size inclusive sewing pattern designer (she co-runs Muna & Broad) in addition to teaching at Parsons and I’m super interested to read about the size inclusivity movement from the fashion perspective. I’ve mostly come at it from the sewing perspective—I make most of my own clothes and fat acceptance and size inclusivity has been a HUGE thing in the sewing community over the last 5 years or so. Understandably so, since so many of us—especially fat women and nb folks—have turned to sewing because of a lack of RTW stuff we want to wear that fits.
I'm currently reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, and it's INCREDIBLE!!! Before that I'd been re-reading Toni Morrison (God Help the Child, The Bluest Eye, Sula, and Beloved), because I love her! Before that I read The Hunger by Alma Katsu--pretty dark, but still a great read!
I'm about halfway through Colson Whitehead's newest, Harlem Shuffle, and enjoying the hell out of it. His language is SO fresh, like he's coining new turns of phrase on every page. Such different pacing and tone than Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys!
I'm also slogging through The Perfectionism Workbook (blahhhh) with a professional book discussion group, and I'm re-starting Aubrey Gordon's What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat.
I wish I could just sit around reading books and eating bonbons all day.
On a friend's recommendation, I read Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship
by Gail Caldwell, then HAD to read Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp, the friend of whom Gail wrote. Both lived locally to me in Cambridge MA so there was a kinship. Drinking is a great read especially if you're considering not drinking.
On an educate myself bend, I just finished Invisible Child: Poverty Survival & Hope in an American City (New York) about the shelters and governmental food/housing/drug programs and how they fail us.
Lastly, for a fun, sassy older rich woman's life, The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, was a blast!!
I just finished If I Survive You; before that, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Currently reading Black Cake. I’m definitely in a hardcore “moving fiction” place; I think with the start of school, a busy period at work, etc, I’m definitely reading for a feelings-release valve at the moment.
A few weeks ago I read Heartburn by Nora Ephron and it was so witty and cutting and funny and poignant! I had never read anything by her before and I don’t really know where I formed the few general impressions and assumptions I had of what her books would be like, but I had no idea she was so great. So, like, I guess I’m the last person on earth to figure that out, but I’m glad I got there eventually.
I've been holding onto this rec for the right thread and today is my day! If you're into fun romance books, I really enjoyed "If The Shoe Fits."
It's a modern fun retelling of Cinderella with a fat protagonist who goes on a version of the Bachelor. It's very sweet and ends well. It's part of a "Happily Ever After" series (Jasmine Guillory wrote the Beauty and Beast adaptation) and I'm not sure how involved Disney is other than agreeing not to sue anyone, but the book was very fun.
Young kids, a full-time job, moving to a different state, a global pandemic - it all impacted the time and energy I had to read for a few years. Whenever I tried, I fell asleep instantly. But this year my kids are 2 and 5 y/o and I recommitted to finding time to read. I love reading and it's such a good way to have some alone, undistracted time with myself. I've read about one book a month since the start of the year and even started a book club with my friends who are also working moms with young kids. It's a low stakes club. Books are ideally less than 400 words, fiction, easy-to-read, page-turners. Romance, scifi, chick lit, thrillers are all welcome. Plus we all now have an excuse to get together once every 4-6 weeks. It's been so fun! We just finished "Nothing to See Here" by Kevin Wilson and now we're onto "The It Girl" by Ruth Ware. You, Virginia, helped inspire me with your incredible ability to read so many books - thank you!
Sep 30, 2022·edited Sep 30, 2022Liked by Virginia Sole-Smith
Just finished Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory (delightful as always) and am working on Acne by Laura Chinn (love a memoir!).
Speaking of memoir, Dinners With Ruth by Nina Totenberg was basically her memoir framed through the lens of her friendship with RBG. It's a great read though I did occasionally have to roll my eyes at a bit of the "privileged white feminist boomer" perspective on the world.
Even though I'm too old to be part of the Nickelodeon generation, I loved I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reed definitely sucked me in!
And if you're up for a wild ride that reads like a summer blockbuster movie script, Falling by TJ Newman had me on the edge of my seat!
I've also read approximately a million romcom type books in the last couple years when I've craved lots of light and easy happy ever after reading that doesn't require my perimenopausal foggy brain to work too hard.
I'm reading Fairy Tale, King's newest, and How the Word is Passed, which are both really good.
I read How to Stop Losing Your Shit with Your Kids last week and WOW, it has really opened my eyes to my triggers and buttons. I have made a bunch of changes in my routine and it's been noticably better. The author, Carla Naumburg, has new book out, too and is going on a book tour.
I would like a recommendation about the patriarchy - history, effects, general knowledge kind of book. Or podcast?
Currently reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin, and really into it! This morning I pre-ordered Health Communism by Beatrice Adler-Bolton and Artie Vierkant, which is scheduled to ship October 18.
My sister and I are reading a book by an author from every country in Latin America so I’m currently working through a collection of short stories by Horacio Quiroga (Uruguay). I recently finished Jennette McCurdy’s memoir which I really enjoyed, but it was a very graphic depiction of her eating disorder (weight, numbers, behaviors, thoughts described) with the ED quite central to the book and I wish people would mention that when they recommend and give 5 stars. And I have Tomorrow x 3 on deck with my book club. Also feeling some fantasy reads during fall so I read The Night Circus last week and really liked it (long but she creates an exquisite vibe).
Finally reading Aubrey Gordon’s what we don’t talk about when we talk about fat. Cannot put down. I am learning so much from this.
omg sob sob sob re MY BOOK. HEART EMOJI.
I finished Maggie Shipstead's Great Circle a month ago and CAN NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. Sweeping historical family saga with the coolest heroine.
I listened to KC’s book recently and I’m gonna reread it soon. Closing Duties have been really transformational around here, so I’m on the lookout for the next great idea to try out on this read through.
I’m currently on a lesbian contemporary romance kick and I’m reading Scent by Kris Bryant, which is really cute.
And I’m about to start The Power of Plus by Gianluca Russo—it’s about the size inclusivity movement in fashion, and a friend of mine is the author’s colleague at Parsons in New York and just hosted the launch.
My friend, Leila, is a size inclusive sewing pattern designer (she co-runs Muna & Broad) in addition to teaching at Parsons and I’m super interested to read about the size inclusivity movement from the fashion perspective. I’ve mostly come at it from the sewing perspective—I make most of my own clothes and fat acceptance and size inclusivity has been a HUGE thing in the sewing community over the last 5 years or so. Understandably so, since so many of us—especially fat women and nb folks—have turned to sewing because of a lack of RTW stuff we want to wear that fits.
I'm currently reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, and it's INCREDIBLE!!! Before that I'd been re-reading Toni Morrison (God Help the Child, The Bluest Eye, Sula, and Beloved), because I love her! Before that I read The Hunger by Alma Katsu--pretty dark, but still a great read!
I'm so obsessed with threads like this.
I'm about halfway through Colson Whitehead's newest, Harlem Shuffle, and enjoying the hell out of it. His language is SO fresh, like he's coining new turns of phrase on every page. Such different pacing and tone than Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys!
I'm also slogging through The Perfectionism Workbook (blahhhh) with a professional book discussion group, and I'm re-starting Aubrey Gordon's What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat.
I wish I could just sit around reading books and eating bonbons all day.
On a friend's recommendation, I read Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship
by Gail Caldwell, then HAD to read Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp, the friend of whom Gail wrote. Both lived locally to me in Cambridge MA so there was a kinship. Drinking is a great read especially if you're considering not drinking.
On an educate myself bend, I just finished Invisible Child: Poverty Survival & Hope in an American City (New York) about the shelters and governmental food/housing/drug programs and how they fail us.
Lastly, for a fun, sassy older rich woman's life, The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, was a blast!!
I started and finished Lessons in Chemistry this week and LOVED it!!! Of course I'm biased since I teach cooking (lol), but still...so good.
I just finished If I Survive You; before that, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Currently reading Black Cake. I’m definitely in a hardcore “moving fiction” place; I think with the start of school, a busy period at work, etc, I’m definitely reading for a feelings-release valve at the moment.
A few weeks ago I read Heartburn by Nora Ephron and it was so witty and cutting and funny and poignant! I had never read anything by her before and I don’t really know where I formed the few general impressions and assumptions I had of what her books would be like, but I had no idea she was so great. So, like, I guess I’m the last person on earth to figure that out, but I’m glad I got there eventually.
I've been holding onto this rec for the right thread and today is my day! If you're into fun romance books, I really enjoyed "If The Shoe Fits."
It's a modern fun retelling of Cinderella with a fat protagonist who goes on a version of the Bachelor. It's very sweet and ends well. It's part of a "Happily Ever After" series (Jasmine Guillory wrote the Beauty and Beast adaptation) and I'm not sure how involved Disney is other than agreeing not to sue anyone, but the book was very fun.
Young kids, a full-time job, moving to a different state, a global pandemic - it all impacted the time and energy I had to read for a few years. Whenever I tried, I fell asleep instantly. But this year my kids are 2 and 5 y/o and I recommitted to finding time to read. I love reading and it's such a good way to have some alone, undistracted time with myself. I've read about one book a month since the start of the year and even started a book club with my friends who are also working moms with young kids. It's a low stakes club. Books are ideally less than 400 words, fiction, easy-to-read, page-turners. Romance, scifi, chick lit, thrillers are all welcome. Plus we all now have an excuse to get together once every 4-6 weeks. It's been so fun! We just finished "Nothing to See Here" by Kevin Wilson and now we're onto "The It Girl" by Ruth Ware. You, Virginia, helped inspire me with your incredible ability to read so many books - thank you!
I JUST started The Witch and the Tsar as well as White is for Witching. It’s spooky season... 🤷🏻♀️
I have recently finished The Last House on Needless Street, The Year of the Witching, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Babel.
I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. It was such a great cozy fantasy. I am hoping that Sangu Mandanna will write a sequel.
Babel was amazing... I really have nothing bad to say about this book. I can’t begin to understand how R.F. Kuang’s brain works but I love it!
Just finished Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory (delightful as always) and am working on Acne by Laura Chinn (love a memoir!).
Speaking of memoir, Dinners With Ruth by Nina Totenberg was basically her memoir framed through the lens of her friendship with RBG. It's a great read though I did occasionally have to roll my eyes at a bit of the "privileged white feminist boomer" perspective on the world.
Even though I'm too old to be part of the Nickelodeon generation, I loved I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reed definitely sucked me in!
And if you're up for a wild ride that reads like a summer blockbuster movie script, Falling by TJ Newman had me on the edge of my seat!
I've also read approximately a million romcom type books in the last couple years when I've craved lots of light and easy happy ever after reading that doesn't require my perimenopausal foggy brain to work too hard.
I'm reading Fairy Tale, King's newest, and How the Word is Passed, which are both really good.
I read How to Stop Losing Your Shit with Your Kids last week and WOW, it has really opened my eyes to my triggers and buttons. I have made a bunch of changes in my routine and it's been noticably better. The author, Carla Naumburg, has new book out, too and is going on a book tour.
I would like a recommendation about the patriarchy - history, effects, general knowledge kind of book. Or podcast?
I'm currently reading Chemistry Lessons, which I'm enjoying. But I'd love to read KC's book! I so appreciate everything that she does!
Currently reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin, and really into it! This morning I pre-ordered Health Communism by Beatrice Adler-Bolton and Artie Vierkant, which is scheduled to ship October 18.
My sister and I are reading a book by an author from every country in Latin America so I’m currently working through a collection of short stories by Horacio Quiroga (Uruguay). I recently finished Jennette McCurdy’s memoir which I really enjoyed, but it was a very graphic depiction of her eating disorder (weight, numbers, behaviors, thoughts described) with the ED quite central to the book and I wish people would mention that when they recommend and give 5 stars. And I have Tomorrow x 3 on deck with my book club. Also feeling some fantasy reads during fall so I read The Night Circus last week and really liked it (long but she creates an exquisite vibe).