Issue #6: What I’ve read so far this year
Annie Ernaux, Annie Ernaux, Annie Ernaux, and some others
Summer season has hit Europe and that means peak reading season for me, although a good portion of the population is stuck in front of a screen watching the Olympics, my husband included. My thoughts on the competition are mixed, as I find it hard to justify male-/female-only sports in 2024 (rhythmic gymnastics?), the controversies around including nations involved in wars or with dubious human rights conditions, and the qualifications’ questionable definitions on who gets to be part of the games. It’s certainly a feat for the human race what’s being achieved at the Games, but there’s still a long way to go to make them truly universal.
I’ve spent the last weeks moving houses again, enjoying lake beaches, and slowly disconnecting from work. Rediscovering the Swiss summer, after visiting briefly last August, has been a joy - except for the unforgiving amount of people smoking next to children and with such stunning views to look at instead.
Between moving countries, houses, jobs, and the overwhelming logistics of it all, I have tried to squeeze reading time here and there, sometimes short books, sometimes revisiting a book I believe I’ll never finish (Dune?!). It has been a slow year for books on my bedside table, but not any less exciting because of that.
These are the 10 books I’ve read so far this year:
I Will Write To Avenge My People by Annie Ernaux: I read this in one very short sitting at the beginning of the year. It’s Ernaux’s acceptance speech for the Nobel prize in 2022. Last year I started going through my (new) little collection of Ernaux’s work and this addition fits perfectly into the everyone-has-something-they-can-write-about. As an amateur nonfiction writer myself, I found this to be the perfect book to start the new year.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton: Of course I tagged along this booktok sensation. Good Material follows the breakup of Andy, a struggling comedian, and Jen - the fun part? Andy is the narrator. Alderton is a mastermind of the contemporary Millennial experience. It was my first read of her work and I can’t wait for what’s next.
A Girl’s Story by Annie Ernaux: This was my 7th read of Ernaux’s work. I’ll just quote Sigrid Nunez: "Another deeply felt, fearlessly honest exploration of female desire, shame, and intellectual passion from the incomparable Annie Ernaux."
The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg: I’ve first come across Ginzburg’s work thanks to reviews comparing her to Ernaux, an essay in the Oxford Review of Books comparing her to Sally Rooney, and a mention of her work by a new voice in Portuguese nonfiction - Madalena Sá Fernandes. While I certainly understood the comparisons, and I haven’t read more of Ginzburg’s work, I wouldn’t pick this one as the first try to get engaged with her writing style. It starts with ‘I shot him between the eyes’ and follows the life of a sexually liberated woman navigating marriage.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan: Does Irish fiction still need an introduction? This was my first Keegan. It covers the Magdalene Laundries - and I still can’t decide what I loved the most, the story or the writing.
Writers & Lovers by Lily King: A slow burning romance, following aspiring writer Casey while she navigates life as a struggling waitress. The plot shows her stuck in her book writing and faced to choose between two men. I was drawn to having a female writer as the main character and King certainly delivered on keeping me entertained with the trenches of an unfinished manuscript.
A Pediatra by Andréa del Fuego: (no English translation) The book follows Cecília, a pediatrician that hates children. Cecília is an egocentric pragmatist and I certainly won’t forget her anytime soon. This book has been the cherry on top of my realization that I like novels with strong female leads, those that tell you what’s going through their minds, memorable, and with a tendency for overanalyzing other characters.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors: Another booktok sensation, it came recommended by my husband with ‘I loved it, no plot, just vibes’. It didn’t hit all the right notes for me as, at times, it lacked pace, and I didn’t see the point of it. It was one of those books that I probably would’ve really liked if it was 150 pages shorter. I’m still very keen to dive into her new novel Blue Sisters.
I Remain in Darkness by Annie Ernaux: My 8th Ernaux’s and surely in my top 3 favorites. The book compiles a series of journal entries from Ernaux on her mother’s dementia and subsequent deterioration and death. As an immigrant, it made me think about how I’ll support my own mother if it ever comes to such a situation - gut wrenching thoughts. While describing her mother’s Alzheimer’s impact, she painfully walks the reader through the rooms and corridors of care homes and her dreams of a dead mother to-be. I particularly enjoyed how she explains that the mother-daughter relationship will always be missed when it ends, regardless of how complicated it once was.
Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth: Sadly I have no words for this one. I skimmed through the very last few pages as I couldn’t have any more of Alexander Portnoy’s complaining. I hope to forget this experience so I can give Roth another try.
Up next is Funny Story by Emily Henry, a much needed fresher take on inner monologues. It’s been my companion during beach and pool afternoons - so far it really has been a funny story!
I’ve spent the last week at my mother’s. She has an overflow of tomatoes crowding the fridge. Of course I asked her to put them all outside for a stunning photo. I’ll leave it here so we can all dream about Summer’s gift of juicy tomatoes when the weather starts to get cold.
Another highlight of the week was this lunch! A quick frittata to use up a single zucchini the size of my calf - the gems of the countryside. The recipe was vaguely inspired by the lemon frittata recipe in The Farm Book by Julius Roberts.
I’m writing this from a little island called Porto Santo, the sister island to Madeira in the North Atlantic Ocean. It’s my first time in a Portuguese island, despite their fame - and I can so far recommend it. It reminds me of the small and not-crowded Greek islands where you see mostly families and where everyone seems to know each other. Sunny weather not always 100% guaranteed, but that’s given me non-beach time to write this. Wishing you a wonderful Summer with great reads!
I have Dolly Alderton on my list, Annie E, too. Thanks for the recommendations. I also love Claire Keegan.