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I’m picking up on deep simmering feminine rage in this book. The narrator is not expressing anger but it is evident in the things that she mentions and holds to the light. Expressing the way women are objectified or murdered in American society but in a very casual way, like its nothing out of the ordinary. Which is even more disturbing!

I could never be famous. It sounds hellacious. And I love Lena, and I know she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but she never deserved the level of criticism and hate she always received. It’s like our patriarchal society picks certain women to be the collective’s punching bags and I believe Lena was unfairly maligned.

Gonna need reader eyeglasses for this novel. I’m reading a paperback with tiny typeset.

I’m told this book is considered dark academia genre and I’m here for that.

I LOVED “The Goldfinch.”

So witty and perceptive, especially about marriage. I’m into it.

I am very much enjoying this book so far. It was a bit slow in the beginning but its become compelling.

The book has become better, but I have very little attachment to the characters. None whatsoever. I could NOT care less… (It’s my biggest pet peeve when people say “could care less”, lol)

Not impressed so far. The writing is hard to follow, indicating subpar writing/editing. The author does not understand Italian geography. She says in the book that Portofino is close to Capri. Portofino is in northern Italy, thousands, of miles away. The fact that the editor did not catch before publishing does not bode well. I’m just reading this for a light entertainment distraction from *gestures broadly*

Was I crying on the plane while reading this book? Yes, yes I was.

This novel is reminding me of “The Guest” by Emma Cline. Both narrators are conventionally beautiful women who use the societal bias for being tall, thin, and blonde to their advantage. Moshfegh is making some excellent cultural critique here. Why is our society so obsessed with a narrow definition of beauty? When the narrator is clearly so desperately miserable in spite of her physical looks.

This book is really funny. I have lol-ed a few times. It’s a refreshing read but I am not obsessed with it.

I don’t want to finish this book, as it is the last book of Ferrante’s Neopolitan novels. I have been reading this series for a year now. I have taken my time with them, since they can be quite sad at times. I didn’t speed through these books. I have savored them over time. I also have a bad habit of reading multiple books at a time, and sometimes I put her books down for weeks. But I love these books.

I checked this book out from the library because I won’t be giving Amanda Knox money. I don’t believe she is completely innocent of the charges she has been tried for. I believe that she was there in the house the night of the murder of victim Meredith Kercher, and she played a part in the murder. Its distasteful that Knox continues to play the victim when Meredith was the victim. Amanda has narcissistic traits!

Fully obsessed with Lila and Lenu. 💜

Second read of this wonderful work of literary fiction. It holds a special place in my heart.

This is a favorite novel of mine. I haven't re-read it in ages, and it's definitely overdue to do so. At the heart of this story is a Midwestern family gathering at Christmas time, so a timely story for this time of year. This book makes me laugh out loud. I love Franzen's dry sense of humor and keen grip on satire. No one is spared from being satirized.

This is my first time reading Ann Patchett. She’s pretty good. She doesn’t overly explain to the reader. There’s often more dialogue than exposition. But this can be tiresome at times. I guess the dialogue explains the characters more than an omniscient narrator does. But I find it awkward and clunky at times. But some of the writing is very good and also moving.

Though Seana lost her life at age 50, she still lives on in the lessons she instilled in her students. She touched more lives in her time on Earth than most people ever dream of. She accomplished what she set out to do in her time on this planet. She really did make the world a better place. I know her lessons have stayed w/ me, her words stay with me. I will always remember her eyes: so intelligent and awake

The book is written by Seana's husband, Barron. It is almost the anniversary of Seana's passing, and I have put off reading this, though I have had it downloaded on my Kindle, because I wasn't ready to face that Seana is gone. The loss is just massive and immeasurable. I am finding myself facing a lot of unprocessed or not fully processed grief, having lost several loved ones.

This book is about the passing of a great woman. A great teacher and mentor: Seana. She passed away almost 6 years ago when a car hit her head on as she was driving in Colorado. It was so devastating. She was only 50 years old. She was a person who made a huge impact on my life and the lives of the other students who studied and were mentored by her in the INVST Community Leadership Program at CU Boulder.

This book is so entertaining, just what I needed to read during a stressful week. I can’t wait to see how it ends!

Entrancing.

What is a “jackaroo”? 🤔

Sylvia has now met Ted Hughes and married him within months of their meeting.

Like many Plath fans, I cannot stand Ted. He treated her badly, cheated on her, left her bereft with two babies, and destroyed her last journals. Ted was a cad. Apparently Aurelia and some of Sylvia’s friends also were wary of Ted. But even if Sylvia had never met Ted, I don’t know that she would have avoided dying young by suicide…

Fascinating, compelling.

I love learning about Sylvia’s Dostoyevsky obsession. Her development into the brilliant poet she became. I’m now on her Cambridge years. She was so courageous to move to England and forge her academic path in an era of deep sexism and amid a lot of class elitism. I come to love and appreciate her more for all her complexities.

I am so into this book! Its a very well researched biography with a fresh and feminist take on Sylvia Plath. The author has found a fresh narrative style that keeps me hooked. I just finished the part about Sylvia’s summer working as a guest editor at Mademoiselle and living at the Barbizon hotel in NYC in 1953, the summer that the Rosenbergs were executed. Sylvia would soon attempt suicide after this.

Donna Tartt is immensely talented. I’m so drawn into the novel.

I'm spellbound by Franzen's magnificent writing. I don't know of another contemporary writer who has such gifts. His writing is at one moment hilarious, at another moment so moving I feel my heart swelling. He is perceptive and writes his characters with such full humanity. I'm so excited that this book is part of a trilogy and I'm savoring the last half of this book. <3 <3 <3

I am very absorbed in this novel. Marion’s story was deeply moving to me. Franzen is still in top form.