#great time for the little slice of folk i've been paying attention to

[leguin]

listened to it twice on the bus on the way to work this morning and at no point did i notice that it was 9 minutes long...just gripping

[davycoquette]

What're your favorite books?

Is this real, or something Tumblr just does? 🥴 If one of y'all asked me this, thank you!

My favorite sentimental books are:

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

IMO the most "accessible" book by the author I look up to most. I picked it up in the book store, read it IN the book store, bought it, and have given it to several readers since. It's devastating, quick to consume, beautifully written (McCarthy was a genius), and it never leaves you.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Jack London is a top favorite author, too. This book is important to me because as a Girl Who Loved Wolves, it was what I wanted to write when I was a kid. I remember buying it at a book fair when it was waaaay above my reading level - but that never stopped me from trying. I was so proud when I finished it. A few years ago I read through it in one sitting, and laughed at what a simple book it actually is. It's a great adventure novel, though. If anyone enjoys Jack London's (very fun) writing & wants to read about human characters, I recommend Sea Wolf.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My introduction to Jane Austen. Not my usual cup of tea, but I cannot put anything she writes down. I feel like this lady really understood the human heart - and she awoke something in me and every other reader in the enemies to lovers department with this novel.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Read this one when I was very, very young and will never forget it. The bond between the main character and his friend continues to be a major influence in the way I have my characters interact. The story is heartwrenching. The dark academia vibes are awesome. If you like Saltburn and would still enjoy it with 800% less weird sex stuff (not that I am complaining about the weird sex stuff in Saltburn lmao), I think you'll enjoy this classic novel.

Since those are classics and kind of obvious, I'd like to throw in a few things I've read recently that I'd recommend - not permanent favorites, maybe, but still good reads:

Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock

I do not recommend this one to folks with strong triggers, or anyone who is squeamish about reading some bleak, FUCKED UP shit. It's fucked up, but this dude's writing is stunning. The happenings in this vignette about an Appalachian town are a train wreck; horrifying, but you cannot look away.

Gentlemen of Space: A Novel by Ira Sher

It's been a couple years, but I found this book in a beach house and read the first few chapters there. I was mesmerized by the premise (boy's father is an astronaut who goes to space then cannot get back, to keep it short & simple), and the haunting prospect of the two "communicating." If I recall correctly, it got little attention and poor reviews. While none of the characters particularly interested me, the prose was so good I bought another book by this author. I think this one is aesthetically fascinating and would love to hear others' thoughts on it.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

I am not actually finished with this one, yet! I'm listening to the audio book, and Spotify only lets me listen to so much a month. I am kind of enjoying the fact it's forcing me to slow down to absorb and anticipate the next installments, so I'm not paying extra. Plus, wtf, Spotify. You cost enough money already. Anyway - this book is SO slice of life at times. So wholesome and enjoyable and pleasant. Then, when it isn't wholesome, enjoyable, or pleasant, it's absolutely horrifying. I can't speak to how politically correct it is. It's a Western, published in 1985. There's "cowboys vs Indians" stuff in it. If that's not something you feel you can enjoy reading, I cannot recommend this one. But! if you want to take your time and really indulge in a pretty slow paced but still fascinating Western, this one is brilliantly engaging.