With the earlier release of Challengers which had everyone clutching their pearls in the theater, but also bopping to the bangeSubstack & Bookstagram
With the earlier release of Challengers which had everyone clutching their pearls in the theater, but also bopping to the banger Nine Inch Nails signature soundtrack, I got into the mood that ‘oh maybe I can get behind tennis’.
I picked up the latest Taylor Jenkins Reid two years after its release (don’t rush a genius) and I’ve got some things to say about writing, literature, and maybe, gods, even maybe tennis.
I see all the girlies in their white tennis skirts and Reeboks this summer, and I raise you to a read of Carrie Soto Is Back, the story of a 37-year-old tennis player and owner of the title: “the biggest amount of Slam wins” who prepares for her big tennis comes back as her title is in peril by new blood.
Accompanied by her dad as her coach, we follow Carrie Sotto from the beginning of her falling in love with tennis, developing strategies for each of her opponents, and getting inside her head like a fucking worm and I loved every second of it.
The writing was sharp, filled with technical tennis terms I hadn’t heard until today (I play squash twice a year that’s all I know about tennis) and it felt like a tennis match between me and Taylor Jenkins Reid.
All thought is immoral. It's the very essence of destruction. If you think anything, you kill it. Nothing survives being thougSubstack & Bookstagram
All thought is immoral. It's the very essence of destruction. If you think anything, you kill it. Nothing survives being thought of.
This is my fourth Oscar Wilde and I have to say that somehow, it is a contender for my favorite. While The Picture of Dorian Gray, his masterpiece, is a slick esoteric trip with panache, A Woman of No Importance takes the wit and nonsensical 19th-century British society with flair to write a drama-filled comic masterpiece in 5 acts, filled with questions about womanhood in the 19th century.
Between discussions of religion, marriage, hopes, and dreams, the women in this story are trapped in a role of complacency, coming to life at the will of their idiotic husbands' calumnious self-importance.
The title itself, A Woman of No Importance is a choice referring to one of the characters, unwed, with a child, who has chosen a path of single motherhood instead of marrying a moronic lover who is, by the end, The Man of No Importance.
This book is easy to read, a true page-turner that won't fail to make you laugh. Highly recommend....more
It took me two months to read this book for the simple reason that I had never read a story this different before. Death ValleySubstack & Bookstagram
It took me two months to read this book for the simple reason that I had never read a story this different before. Death Valley was my first dip into feminist-surrealist, a genre I've been looking at from afar for a while (aside from Bunny by Awad, which I read and detested) but this novel surprised me to no end.
I refuse to say anything about this story apart from the fact that it is about grief, about love, and it made me think of the quote "Where there is love, there is grief" which perfectly encompasses Death Valley.
I especially loved the structure of each chapter, which was beyond excellent as every chapter starts with a question, the beginning of a thesis if you will, and the chapter takes you through a journey that satiates the thesis bringing it catharsis, at every chapter. Perfect structure.
This has been my first review in a while, and I hope I'm not too rusty and managed to convey the surreal intensity of this novel.
I love the Myth of Sisyphus, to me that's a 5-star read, a must-read for anyone in their twenties and thirties, however my editSubstack & Bookstagram
I love the Myth of Sisyphus, to me that's a 5-star read, a must-read for anyone in their twenties and thirties, however my edition (french) had more essays in it, which introduced the concept of Absurdist philosophy which I was already familiar with and didn't care for.
BUT DEFINITELY READ THE MYTH OF SYSIPHUS, ITS LESS THAN 10 PAGES COME ON....more
Virgine Despentes is one of those iconic women french writers in the wave of Natalie Nothomb who writes about typical french woSubstack & Bookstagram
Virgine Despentes is one of those iconic women french writers in the wave of Natalie Nothomb who writes about typical french women's experiences in a crude, vulgar way which I will forever respect, it is, however, not necessarily my style. ...more
My first Gogol, I'm trying to get into more Russian literature and I'm failing to see the point of this one sadly. Maybe it jusSubstack & Bookstagram
My first Gogol, I'm trying to get into more Russian literature and I'm failing to see the point of this one sadly. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me. ...more
I lament the missed opportunity for a comprehensive exploration of generational trauma in Russo's work. However, the glimpses iSubstack & Bookstagram
I lament the missed opportunity for a comprehensive exploration of generational trauma in Russo's work. However, the glimpses into Russo's life, though limited for a non-American like myself, proved crucial for grasping the intricate threads of the nation's current political tapestry....more
This review unravels in two distinct strands: first, an enchanting tale of romance, rich with characters grappling with vulneraSubstack & Bookstagram
This review unravels in two distinct strands: first, an enchanting tale of romance, rich with characters grappling with vulnerability and the courage to unveil their true selves. The intimate scenes unfold with refreshing imperfection, offering a delightful departure from conventional narratives. It's a gem deserving of wider recognition within the romance genre—a compelling and satisfying read.
Yet, the promise of a narrative centered on a young woman navigating displacement in the aftermath of her adoptive father's demise, embarking on a soul-searching journey in China, fell short of its potential. While elements of self-discovery and the complexities of adopting a child from a different cultural background were present, they failed to command the prominence promised, leaving an unfulfilled resonance in the narrative....more
The weight of motherhood is a backpack full of stones.
It's hard to relate to a literary fiction book with which you have nothinSubstack & Bookstagram
The weight of motherhood is a backpack full of stones.
It's hard to relate to a literary fiction book with which you have nothing in common, but somehow Makenna made Alma so full of shame (instead of life) which we all carry within us relatable. Makenna exploits that fear that we're never doing enough with our lives, that we made the wrong choice and extrapolates that anxiety tastefully....more
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