Saturday, 23 November 2024

November Reading

 


This book is hard. It's sad, there's a terrible sexual assault and then disordered eating but also covering all the difficulties involved with a body of size, plus the way society treats a person with that body. I have to say I learnt a lot in terms of being aware of careless words I might say (well meaningly) and maybe I need to reorder some of my thinking. I did also keep thinking of how Mia Freedman must not have even read the blurb of the book to write what she did. What a shocker that was!








I am finding this very hard to read also, to be honest. I'm very slow going as it's about a young person with depression. It is, indeed, quite the downer. In my mum mode, it just sort of breaks my heart. The comic form does lend itself though to literally show depression as a distortion of the mind or person's view of themselves and the world around them. So in that aspect, it's very clever.
I loved the play. I saw it in the theatre knowing nothing about it and it was so impactful. So bare that in mind, I felt the book didn't add anything. I think if you want to read it, get the script of the play (which is a monologue) or watch the film. Or see a production. However, if the novel is your chosen format, and you've not seen the play, then the book is worth a read. Very powerful and important topic. Lots to think about.
This is junk crime. It's interesting enough, about an author whose world comes undone with online haters targeting her book...that concept is interesting & fresh, so made for a good start. Overall, it's ok. Not a must read but you won't be too bored.


I actually read this for bookclub a month ago but forgot about it. It sort of sums up my feeling about it. Wasn't terrible, wasn't great - just got to the end and thought 'what was the point of that?'. To be fair, might have been my mood and perhaps I didn't give it the 
attention it deserved.











I read this because I started listening to their podcast while working. Initially as a way to help support a friend of mine, and then just out of interest. I had a 5 month stint of not drinking for health reasons this year, so I guess it was also of interest. This book is a memoir and jumps from her childhood and early 20's to her parenthood and starting to become sober. Some of it is very interesting, especially her travels and the tsunami. It's interesting to see how we normalise so much drinking and stigmatize not drinking.
Obviously, I feel this is changing, especially with all the non alcohol options out there now.

The podcast is here if you want to check it out.
















My bookclub is reading The Bruny and I've read that already thus less fiction in this month's list....
That's been my month's reading. What about you?












20 comments:

  1. I think your reaction to the Redhead by the Side of the Road would sum up the reaction from my book club, too.

    My Sunday Salon post

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  2. Thanks for the recommendations, though it sounds like it was a rather slow month. I just finished reading "Bournville" and loved it. #AnythingGoes

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  3. Hunger is very good. I have The Haters to read still.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  4. Thank you for the great titles to add to my list. My ever growing list!

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  5. I had not heard about the awful things the interviewers said about the author of Hunger. I'm not sure I would show up had I been the author.

    I have enjoyed many of Anne Tyler's books but that one wasn't one of my favorites.

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    1. It was an Australian woman who thinks she's a feminist and a big fan of Gay but wrote the most offensive article. It was a shocker. So embarrassing for the columnist.

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  6. Interesting assortment of books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  7. OH yes, my husband and I get such strange looks whenever we mention that we don't drink... especially when we went on our cruise! I think we were the only sober ones on most excursions.

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  8. It's Lonely as the Center of the Earth reminds me of Everything is Ok, by Debbie Tung. It's a graphic novel memoir about dealing dealing with her mental health issues. It was a hard read for me, but in the end, she takes us through how she managed to deal with it and live a good life. In this way it's kind of mentor text for others dealing with this problem. I agree that the format is a profound way to show us what it's like.

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    1. That sounds really interesting...I might check out (after a bit of a break....something more fun in between)

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  9. Wow! I’m really torn between wanting to add all of these great books to my TBR list, and knowing they may languish there due to the heavy subject matter. But I will add them.

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  10. Love your reviews. I'm always a bit ambivalent about Anne Tyler and find her books a bit "so what?"

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  11. Hi Lydia some interesting books here and the first three seem very 'heavy'. My sister had an eating disorder when she was 17 before anorexia was really known back in the late 70s. It's amazing how a word or two can unintentionally set off triggers. Thanks so much for sharing with us at #WWWhimsy and remember to share at next week's #WOYBS? Have a lovely week, Lydia. Sue L #TeamWWWhimsy

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    1. I have cheerier books in my December reading for #WBOYS...Didn't feel I could leave it on such a downer! Ha!

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  12. Hi Lydia, some heavy themes in some of these books by the sound of your reviews. It's always good to know what others are reading and why.
    Thanks for sharing with us for Min's #WWWhimsy linkup.
    Deb #TeamWWWhimsy

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  13. Hi Lydia, you had some challenging reading this year. I was intrigued about the Mia Freedman comment which I hadn't heard about. I always miss these things. I couldn't resist googling it. She certainly did do the wrong thing and you would think she of all people, would know better. #TeamWWWhimsy

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  14. I have a lot of opinions on Mia Freedman but won't share them here. I tried listening to Roxane Gay's book ages ago but it was not for me. Denyse x

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    1. One of her stories was so disturbing in a short story collection I decided I wouldn't read her work anymore - not because she wasn't good, maybe too good. Anyway, I don't know why I changed my mind to read Hunger (after many years of seeing her speak but not reading her work).

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    2. What a busy reading month. I’m still only reading festive fiction until after Christmas. And yes so interesting what you said about being sober and drinking - you’d think society attitudes would be the other way round! Can’t log into my ID as usual so it’s me, Sammie :)

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    3. Australia in we do a lot of things in reverse....thinking wise.

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