With the return to school, that moment when books shift from being called ‘books’ to being labelled ‘texts’, I’ve been reflecting on my sweet summer reading. The books weren’t all sweet but the freedom of reading purely for pleasure and with absolute serendipity was. As a tutor of English Literature (more about me here) I genuinely enjoy the majority of books I have to teach, (I’m currently re-reading Pride and Prejudice, last read aged 14, and I am in awe of Austen’s brilliance, so much more biting, savage and critical than even the very best TV/Film adaptation), however the experience is undeniably different than the total hedonism of mid-July to late-August reading. In that spirit this is more of a picture blog, with a reading location, and a couple of feelings and thoughts attached rather than a deep-dive, very analytical review, as currently that is the preserve of my lessons. I read all of these books while in Greece for a month (more on that trip here) and some of my choices were influenced by my location as you’ll see. I’m curious to know who else chooses their books according to place, season, time of day, or something else external?
Book: A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion.
Location: completed on the plane from London to Athens.
Feeling: How is Joan doing this? Set in the fictional Latin American country of Boca Grande, her characters are moneyed, violent and frivolous. A dangerous combination. ‘It's basically Joan at her airiest, scariest.’
Book: Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk.
Read: started Blue Star Ferry from Athens Piraeus to Astypalea.
Feeling: Woah. The best book I’ve read this year. Set in rural Poland. A William Blake-loving, eco-vegetarian, misfit protagonist? Yes please. (Also love that cobalt blue cover.)
Book: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney.
Read: started on Steno beach in Astypalea.
Feeling: I read and liked the other two (before the hype!), why not this one? First feeling: these character are really irritating. It’s a repetition. Second feeling: She’s smart, this is interesting and easy to read.
Book: The Light of Day by Eric Ambler.
Read: in a cafe in the Chora of Astypalea.
Feeling: how refreshing to read a so-called ‘genre’ book. This is a crime novel set in Athens and Turkey. A fabulous heist! Fun! Oh Arthur! The protagonist, is an enjoyable anti-hero you can (sort of) root for even though he’s kind of a gross mess too! This was adapted into the film Tokpali.
Book: The Beautiful Visit by Elizabeth Jane Howard.
Read: begun in a cafe in Naxos island port.
Feeling: So English (and I mean English not British). A coming of age story set in the years surrounding World War One. Despite being set during this era nothing much happens to this kind -of -ordinary protagonist but that’s sort-of of the point and somehow I still cared. The novel is as charming as the front cover.
Book: Someone Who Isn't Me by Geoff Rickly.
Location: in the hills, the interior of Naxos island, (but I forgot to take a photo so this is on my yoga mat at home along with the publisher's card, Rose Books is an indie publisher based in Arizona and this is the first book founder Chelsea Hodson published under the press.)
Feeling: Bloody hell! Auto-fiction that tracks the trip of an addict attempting to come off heroine by using ibogaine in a Mexican addiction clinic. Ibogaine is a psychedelics dissociative drug first used by the pygmy tribes of Central Africa and then Bwiti tribe of Gabon. A spiralling music-infused unconventional addiction tale- no wonder this didn’t get a mainstream publisher.
Book: Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis.
Location: read on the balcony in the Athenian Riviera.
Feeling: I love Greece! Zorba there is so much to admire about you and your world, your lust for life, your Santuri playing, your child-like ability to be absorbed and engrossed in the moment but why, why must you be such a massive misogynist? I understand this was written in a different time (published in 1946) but it did all get a bit wearing. I still do plan to watch the film though if only for that amazing soundtrack…
Thank you very much for reading as always! And I would love to hear about your summer reads, term texts, and books of the year so far too! Please do comment below.
And if you’re a person who likes a recommendation list, (I know I do), you may enjoy this recent guest post by David Horgan (Art) here. Finally, if you are new to this newsletter there is more about its inception here.
Love,
Emma x o x o
I loved Drive Your Plough ... so much that I've read it three times! And found something new to discover each time. Have you read Pig Tales by Marie Darrieussecq? It's a disturbing novel. And I don't know quite what to make of it.
Apparently reading for pleasure is in decline! Can you suggest/recommend one or two books for upcoming holiday in Malta?