pickObviously I loved this. Racing to get my paws on Book II. Prelim thoughts: the specter of mutual subjectivity! or objectivity? Is it Being to see oneself through the eyes of another woman or are you just learning self-surveillance? How being in cloistered/tight-knit communities magnifies the tensions inherent to these kinds of friendships between women. How “lesbian” friendship is so much more complicated and interesting than overt lust or romance
pickReading Natalia Ginzburg, and this novel in particular, was an excellent use of the July 4th holiday. The war is over and Elsa's Italian village is returning to life after fascism. I particularly enjoyed the lines about how no one likes Purillo, who sided with the fascists, even as he continued to live among them. And I sympathized with the repeated refrain, "Why has everything been ruined?"
pickA lovely and sad book about a young man - Lorenzo - who travels to Romania after the death of his mother who abandoned him years prior to chase her dreams (and lover) there. It‘s a quiet story of loss and memory and sorrow, and also a story of modern Romania and the impact of foreigners. Archipelago Press never disappoints.
panI‘m not the right person for this book that takes place in a small Italian town, but I can see others loving it. A teacher goes into the forest after a student commits suicide. I expected a quiet, introspective novel that drew on human connection, emotions, &relationships. While it‘s certainly quiet &a little introspective, there are so many characters (in under 300 pgs), that I feel we didn‘t get the depth, emotion or connection we could have.
#EuropaEditions is celebrating their 20th anniversary.
I‘m glad that we are going to continue #EuropaCollective
To celebrate their books!
The Days of Abandonment was the first book published
#EuropaCollective
It‘s coffee (Italian expresso blend from my staycation box thankyouverymuch and it‘s delicious!) in the cool bedroom this morning, with Wimbledon and Le Tour on tap. And, of course, books.
pickI‘m absolutely loving this series. Can‘t believe I just found out about it this summer, but here we are. I‘m on book three right now, and they keep getting better. Terrific characters, somewhat Byzantine plots (especially the first book) and laugh out loud lines. I‘m buying them used through Thrift books, and it feels like I‘ve constantly got an order in to them. Probably because I do. 🤷🏻♀️
It‘s a beauty weekend here in Michigan.
What a wonderful #staycation box, @kspenmoll ! I adore it all. It‘s lovely that you included Gifts from the Sea, which I did not own, and the medieval mystics is exactly what I was looking for. A very fun #staycationintime awaits.
