The Great God Pan – Arthur Machen, 1890. This has been on my radar forever, but what prompted me to finally read it was our friend Harold pointing me to Bob Dylan’s tweet saying it’s one of his favorite books. He’s a strange man and it’s a strange book – clearly it influenced Lovecraft a lot.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen – Christopher McDougall, 2009. Another long-dweller in the TBR list. I got so much out of the Eric Orton book that I finally picked this up. I did finish it but kind of hated it, especially the way McDougall exaggerates everything.
The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa. Second Monday; I didn’t love it but we had a good discussion. Only one thing I looked up, ramune candy (akin to Smarties?) and one quote: “A heart has no shape, no limits. That’s why you can put almost any kind of thing in it, why it can hold so much. It’s much like your memory, in that sense.”
Souls – Joanna Russ, 1982. My go-to when I am distressed about humanity, so I re-read this the day after the election.
The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us – Margaret Lowman, 2021. Nature and Environment group selection, quotes TBD.
Kristin Lavransdatter v1: The Bridal Wreath – Sigrid Undset, 1920. Great Books selection, quotes TBD.
James – Percival Everett, 2024. Amherst Book Club, quotes TBD.
Erasure – Percival Everett, 2001. Quotes TBD.
The Book of (More) Delights – Ross Gay, 2019. Massachusetts Center for the Book November challenge: “A relaxing, soul-soothing book.” I wrote: “A wonderful follow-up to one of my favorite books of the past decade. Gay’s wise, sharp, funny, touching essays find beauty and challenge in the everyday.” I was lucky enough to get this signed at his reading in Northampton – if you ever have a chance to see him speak, don’t miss it! He is even lovelier, warmer, and funnier in person.
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Timothy Snyder, 2017. I’d meant to read this for ages. It’s very good, and brought me the tiniest gleam of hope…