Karellen > Recent Status Updates

Ending the year as I started it, reading another terrific book by this hugely talented French novelist. A year with no American writers. Lots of great translated books and some brilliant Brits. 😎

Actually I’ve been a member on GR for over 15 years so I feel entitled to be very annoyed with this terrible decision to remove messaging. During the COVID lockdown the only thing that kept me sane was writing to my GR friend - one in particular who looked after me. I’m very sad about this development. Maybe it’s time we all left GR en masse? It would serve them right !!!

Feeling completely pissed off tonight after the message from GR telling me they are removing the ability to message friends on here. I made several friends on GR whom I’d never have known about otherwise. This is the sort of negative thing that ultimately makes people leave. One of my friends helped me through a period of deep depression. What an absolutely diabolical decision by GR.

This short novel may be one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. Its author is certainly working on the edge of what’s possible in fiction. Extraordinary

Almost finished book 3 of this totally absorbing series. Unique. It’s going to be awful waiting for the next instalment.

Where has this author been hiding? How many more neglected talents are out there waiting to be discovered? Thank god for the translators and for the Booker International! Massive antidote to anglophone trash that clogs the best sellers.

I won’t spoil it for you. But this 3rd book in the series is utterly brilliant in the way it expands the world of the 18th November. It’s unnerving and eerie and creepy but also fascinating and incredibly clever the way the author sucks you into this implausible but totally believable story. Awesome. There are still 4 books to go!

Undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary literary achievements of recent years. Only on p20 but already hooked yet again. A work of pure genius.

First encountered in her Instagram page History Alice, this is the 2nd book from the pen of the rising star Alice Loxton. A writer as charming as her online self. What a refreshing historian!

Slowly falling under the spell of this writer who reminds me a little of my younger self only with better prose and even more absurd ideas. Deservedly nominated for the Booker in a strong field

Another cool book this time by an Italian author whom I was unaware of until this novel was deservedly nominated for the Booker. Another cool book by a European - all my Good Reads recently have been either English or European. It’s not a calculated boycott of Americans, they just aren’t writing anything interesting.

So far very enjoyable book by an author who seems like fun to be with - would be a cool friend to spend time with. Sometimes when I’m immersed in reading novels by female authors I imagine sharing a flat with them. Veronica is one I’d love to have. But my friends are obviously less exotic. I don’t know any published authors.

Such a beautiful novel. I’m not sure how I made it to P106 without crying but now I’m in tears. It’s like listening to the voice of a dear friend. Utterly mesmerising yet comforting also. Sickeningly good.

Half way through this enchanting novel. She really is wonderful writer, so dazzling and effortless it makes me sick with envy. Superb.

Been waiting for this ever since reading Checkout 19 on holiday 3 years ago. She’s one of the more promising new writers we have here in the UK. For some reason my last few months have been spent reading British novels. Here comes another one.

Refreshing to encounter this early novel by the celebrated writer. So far an intriguing exercise in metropolitan relations. Hilarious in fact.

I’m getting into this now. The strangeness of it is somehow comforting. Chapter headings like - The Quiet and Unrepeatable Closeness of It.
I like this purple paperback from Tuskar Rock Press. It’s cool. 😎