I am slowly working my way through the books by the authors I saw at the Writers Festival. I've already reviewed The Promise. I loved it so much I've picked it as my book club selection. (My other book club has picked Disgrace (coincidently another South African Booker-winning novel) which I've read and can't recommend enough, so I will continue with my Roobis tea drinking and Jeremy Loops on repeat to keep in the South African mood.
I read She is Haunted, by Paige Clark. She was very interesting at the festival and her discussion of the short stories made them seem more interesting than I found them. I liked the collection but didn't love them as much as I'd expected to after hearing her dissecting one of them at the Festival.
I am halfway through Talking About a Revolution by Yassmin Abdel-Magied. This collection of essays I am thoroughly enjoying. It's political, feminist, and charming. Amidst the more serious topics are funny anecdotes about her hobbies and passions. A brilliant love letter to the demise of the petrol car is my favourite and her attempts to get into F1 (she got remarkably close!) pepper a few of the essays. Well worth reading.
I also listened to Prophet's Prey by Sam Brower on Audible as I'm reading Under the Banner of Heaven and they cover the same people, though the Brower book covers more into the court process and rescue operations. It's eye-opening.
I also read The Maid by Nita Prose for bookclub. It's a beach read, fun crime. Not a must-read but if you're wanting something fluffy and fun, this could be it.
I'm a little slow in the reading stakes this month but enjoying what I am reading, and loving that the festival introduced me to so many authors I'd never heard of nor read.
Love the takeaways you got from the writer's festival. The Maid sounds just fun and fluffy enough to make it onto my list. I'm going through one of those stages at the moment where I have so much to read, but am finding it hard to decide just what to read.
I've never been to a writer's festival but my cousin who lives in Sydney always attends. I've read The Maid and we are currently watching Under the Banner of Heaven - I didn't realise there was a book. Isn't reading wonderful? I think as I look at my ever growing list of books TBR. Thanks for joining us Lydia and see you next month. xx
I recently read The Maid too and thought it was a cute book. I would be so tempted to buy all the books from a writer's festival... it must have been hard to choose.
That's some interesting sounding books! I went to a literature festival last October and there's still one author's books I haven't got round to reading. I will get there in the end. Popping over from At Home a Lot.
I used to go to Sydney Writers festival when it was at The Wharf. I have never been to Carriageworks...so this is one place I will need to discover, along with Barrangaroo in my future.
Im about 3/4 of the way through one about the history of the Kaipara region and some of the settlers how first lived there in Northland here in NZ, quite fascinating to far.
It's so good to hear you've been to a writer's festival again Lydia and what a great idea to read your way through the books from it! thanks for joining us for this month's What's on Your Bookshelf with some great recommendations.
He'd just finished writing for a film so he wrote it like a Fellini film with the narration shifting like a camera zooming in for focus....I think he's a magnificent writer. I think he nails the weird experience of funerals - the cups of tea masking the fear etc.
I went to the Texas Book Festival last year, but I went with friends who were not really as bookish as I am, so I ended up seeing almost nothing. This year I hope to go on my own! It looks like you really had some great takeaways from your writers' festival.
I think I will look up more about The Promise since you liked it so much.
That writer's festival sounds great. I'm glad you were introduced to so many new authors. I attended the American Library Association conference just once and years ago and likely still have some of the books I picked up there on my TBR mountain. I read fast but not fast enough to read everything I would like to read. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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I am slowly working my way through the books by the authors I saw at the Writers Festival. I've already reviewed The Promise. I loved it so much I've picked it as my book club selection. (My other book club has picked Disgrace (coincidently another South African Booker-winning novel) which I've read and can't recommend enough, so I will continue with my Roobis tea drinking and Jeremy Loops on repeat to keep in the South African mood..PNG)
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Love the takeaways you got from the writer's festival. The Maid sounds just fun and fluffy enough to make it onto my list. I'm going through one of those stages at the moment where I have so much to read, but am finding it hard to decide just what to read.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a writer's festival but my cousin who lives in Sydney always attends. I've read The Maid and we are currently watching Under the Banner of Heaven - I didn't realise there was a book. Isn't reading wonderful? I think as I look at my ever growing list of books TBR. Thanks for joining us Lydia and see you next month. xx
ReplyDeleteIs the movie good? I really like Andrew Garfield. I'm reading the book wondering how it would make a good movie. Very unsettling, to say the least!
DeleteI recently read The Maid too and thought it was a cute book. I would be so tempted to buy all the books from a writer's festival... it must have been hard to choose.
ReplyDeleteThat's some interesting sounding books! I went to a literature festival last October and there's still one author's books I haven't got round to reading. I will get there in the end.
ReplyDeletePopping over from At Home a Lot.
I used to go to Sydney Writers festival when it was at The Wharf. I have never been to Carriageworks...so this is one place I will need to discover, along with Barrangaroo in my future.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're back and settled, it's a date!
DeleteThe Maid caught my attention, but I appreciate your honest review of this book. The Promise sounds like a good book to read too.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to go to a Writers' Festival again. It's been a very long time. Thank you for letting me enjiy yours vicariously!
ReplyDeleteIm about 3/4 of the way through one about the history of the Kaipara region and some of the settlers how first lived there in Northland here in NZ, quite fascinating to far.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to hear you've been to a writer's festival again Lydia and what a great idea to read your way through the books from it! thanks for joining us for this month's What's on Your Bookshelf with some great recommendations.
ReplyDeleteA really good selection of reads. I haven't been to a writer's festival for a while.
ReplyDeleteI did not know "Under the Banner of Heaven" was a book. It's also a TV series on Hulu which is on my to be watch list!
ReplyDeleteYes, that's why I'm rereading it, before starting the series....
DeleteI'm reading The Promise now for our book Club. It is an oddly written book but strangely compelling.
ReplyDeleteHe'd just finished writing for a film so he wrote it like a Fellini film with the narration shifting like a camera zooming in for focus....I think he's a magnificent writer. I think he nails the weird experience of funerals - the cups of tea masking the fear etc.
DeleteI'd love to go to a writers' festival and get to know the people behind the pages. Thanks for linking up with #DreamTeam
ReplyDeleteI went to the Texas Book Festival last year, but I went with friends who were not really as bookish as I am, so I ended up seeing almost nothing. This year I hope to go on my own! It looks like you really had some great takeaways from your writers' festival.
ReplyDeleteI think I will look up more about The Promise since you liked it so much.
Under the Banner of Heaven is one of my favorite cult books. (I've read a lot of cult books). I'm glad you learned a lot from the writers' festival!
ReplyDeleteThat writer's festival sounds great. I'm glad you were introduced to so many new authors. I attended the American Library Association conference just once and years ago and likely still have some of the books I picked up there on my TBR mountain. I read fast but not fast enough to read everything I would like to read. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDelete