It felt like early Fall in Northern Virginia this week and I was not happy about it. But today we’re back in the 80s! I am a lover of Summer through and through. It is my favorite season. That being said, I had a great reading week.
Back in 2021, some friends and I were planning to buddy-read The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang, so I bought it. Well, we never read it and it’s been sitting on my shelves for three years. Until this month! One of the Discords I belong to does a lot of buddy reads, so I finally read The Sword of Kaigen with them. And it was absolutely fantastic!! The characters were great. The magic system was interesting. I loved the main protagonist Misaki, but she had this sister-in-law named Setsuko that I just adored. She was outspoken, fiercely loyal, funny, and so supportive. We all need a Setsuko in our lives. If you enjoy reading Japanese-inspired military fantasy & family drama, I highly recommend this book. This book was so good, I already pre-ordered Wang’s upcoming October release Blood Over Bright Haven, which is dark academia fantasy. I’m now also subscribed to Wang’s newsletter. I can’t miss a thing from this author!
I also finished The Wall by Marlen Haushofer, translated from the German by Shaun Whiteside. I have to sit down and write a review on this book this week because I thought it was superb and there is a lot to flesh out. There are so many layers to dive into with this book. It was a pleasure to read.
The weekend is here and I am itching to go to Richard McKay Used Books, so I’ll most likely do that on Saturday. I hope to spend all of Sunday relaxing and reading. I think these are the books I’m going to be reading over the couple of weeks or so.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, translated from the French by Ros Schwartz. I started this yesterday and so far so good.
Side note: If you don’t know, I cohost a weekly conversational bookish podcast called TBR Lowdown, and we run an annual reading challenge called #12Women12Countries. We also have a book club and this book is our Aug/Sep book pick.
A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez, translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell. I read the first short story and it was so haunting and very memorable.
Private Rites by Julia Armfield
Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin
The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey
Leena Krohn: Collected Fiction
Time of the Flies by Claudia Piñeiro, translated from the Spanish by Frances Riddle
Assassin of Reality by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko, translated from the Russian by Julia Meitov Hersey
What have you all read lately? What are your weekend plans?
I just read Scaffolding and interviewed Lauren Elkin for my Substack (to be published soon) and I absolutely loved it!!!
I love so many of the books on your list, I am so glad to have come across your newsletter. Looking forward to digging into the archives.
I’m definitely going to check out your interview with Lauren.