What an absolute glut of delights! Also we spent the hot holiday reading the same things -- well Ripeness and Whistler for me, anyway.
I really love how deftly you've written about Ripeness here, and that central internal wrestling in Edith; the way family history resurfaces again and again. MAINLY because I feel like the jacket blurb does such a disservice to the book -- "family secrets in 1960s Italy". Makes it sound like there is going to be a big reveal, which I know publishers have to do this in the era of the instagram/booktok novel but this has never been Sarah Moss's style. She's always been a much subtler writer than that. I couldn't put it down. Tense and tender is exactly how to describe it.
ALSO totally agree re Whistler. I adored it. Did you see that rather mean Guardian review? Would love to know what you made of it, I was just discussing MY THOUGHTS ON WHY IT IS WRONG with someone yday xx
ps. Thanks for mentioning my Guardian Top 100 thingy!
Elizabeth, there is a LONG conversation I have been needing to have with someone about blurbs and how books are positioned. (I totally agree with you btw.) Let us do this when next we meet. xx
'The lanes are white': I love references to the pale colour of roads, especially in summer: they're everywhere once you start to notice them. Before tarmacadam most roads were lighter than the surrounding land: white with chalk in downland areas, but pale with dust elsewhere. Landscapes are so different now that our roads are dark grey or black.
Honestly, Lauren, the very thought of school PE sends chills... My daughter begs me to say she is ill on sports day and were it not for my steely husband, I would totally crack! x
Love the Bridport Bookshop - I stumbled across it a few years ago after a long coastal walk that ended in Bridport and it was a lovely conclusion to my walk!
So much to digest in this substack post. I grew up in Dorset and we went on field trips to Hardy country; such fond memories, and yes I've read a lot of Hardy! School P.E.? not an enjoyable experience... hockey in the snow anyone? As ever I've saved some of your book suggestions to my ever-growing library list :)
I love all of this and thank you for writing your book reviews and introducing me to even more Substackers! Dorset is my favourite place and am v jealous you spent a holiday there (we managed a day trip to Studland last Tuesday for our ‘fix’)
We went to Studland on the way back. It's glorious (although my children live in fear of us accidentally veering onto the nudist part of the beach). I covet a stay at The Pig on the Beach.
Fabulous!! Great selection of books! Your substack is always SO good!! Thank you 😊
Jenny, you are SO kind - thank you! x
Just bought Ripeness! 😊
What an absolute glut of delights! Also we spent the hot holiday reading the same things -- well Ripeness and Whistler for me, anyway.
I really love how deftly you've written about Ripeness here, and that central internal wrestling in Edith; the way family history resurfaces again and again. MAINLY because I feel like the jacket blurb does such a disservice to the book -- "family secrets in 1960s Italy". Makes it sound like there is going to be a big reveal, which I know publishers have to do this in the era of the instagram/booktok novel but this has never been Sarah Moss's style. She's always been a much subtler writer than that. I couldn't put it down. Tense and tender is exactly how to describe it.
ALSO totally agree re Whistler. I adored it. Did you see that rather mean Guardian review? Would love to know what you made of it, I was just discussing MY THOUGHTS ON WHY IT IS WRONG with someone yday xx
ps. Thanks for mentioning my Guardian Top 100 thingy!
Elizabeth, there is a LONG conversation I have been needing to have with someone about blurbs and how books are positioned. (I totally agree with you btw.) Let us do this when next we meet. xx
'The lanes are white': I love references to the pale colour of roads, especially in summer: they're everywhere once you start to notice them. Before tarmacadam most roads were lighter than the surrounding land: white with chalk in downland areas, but pale with dust elsewhere. Landscapes are so different now that our roads are dark grey or black.
Edna O'brien's The Blue Road. Those roads (or boreens) in Ireland ARE blue!
Some great book recommendations! Thanks!
You spoil us!! A dreamy list, thank you for the shout out xxx
Honestly, Lauren, the very thought of school PE sends chills... My daughter begs me to say she is ill on sports day and were it not for my steely husband, I would totally crack! x
This made my heart SO HAPPY. Every book is just the sort I want to read right now.
Love the Bridport Bookshop - I stumbled across it a few years ago after a long coastal walk that ended in Bridport and it was a lovely conclusion to my walk!
Ooh another Carley Fortune book, hooray! Thanks for the lovely mentions Natasha.
So much to digest in this substack post. I grew up in Dorset and we went on field trips to Hardy country; such fond memories, and yes I've read a lot of Hardy! School P.E.? not an enjoyable experience... hockey in the snow anyone? As ever I've saved some of your book suggestions to my ever-growing library list :)
I love all of this and thank you for writing your book reviews and introducing me to even more Substackers! Dorset is my favourite place and am v jealous you spent a holiday there (we managed a day trip to Studland last Tuesday for our ‘fix’)
We went to Studland on the way back. It's glorious (although my children live in fear of us accidentally veering onto the nudist part of the beach). I covet a stay at The Pig on the Beach.
That made me laugh about the nudist beach 😂 Yes would love to do The Pig!