Love! Endorse! Make it a thing!! Also v into the NYT list. I thought THE NAMESAKE by JHUMPA LAHIRI and KNOW MY NAME by CHANEL MILLER were most notably missing, alongside HOMEGOING. But what a fun week for books.
Thank you so much for the enthusiastic feedback! I had fun writing it and am so happy to see all these positive comments roll in! I would have loved—as another commenter suggested—if this was accompanied by a second crowdsourced list of top books. Interestingly, I also saw another Substack piece about the age skew on the books included and how so few were by authors under 40 (most being by authors over 65).
These “best of” lists make me roll my eyes a bit—I can get on board with a best of the year, but 25 years?!? It’s preposterous to think such a list could even be procured, and for who?! Oof. Lahiri and A Little Life were huge misses. I’d love a list crowdsourced by NYT readers by generation. THAT would interest me!
Let us know what you think of Husbands and Lovers—Beatriz Williams is one of the most wonderful historical fiction authors, I always love her work and this one was on my recent Summer Reading Guide! 📚
YES! A crowdsourced list would have been so interesting, and a way to extend the conversation that this has created. I'd love to see the compare and contrast and to be able to slice it by age demo.
I finished Husbands and Lovers yesterday and really liked it, though it was REALLY different than what I expected from the first few chapters when I wrote this little write-up. Def check for triggers.
Slightly late to this comment but I’m in the middle of The Artist’s Way and I was also nervous about the commitment! Two friends are doing it with me so we have an accountability text chain. Also, we take it at our own pace. I was doing well the first 6 weeks, but have gone a little slower the second half. It’s about adapting it to what works best for you and processing everything in your own way. I can really feel the creativity stirring inside me. It’s worked amazingly well as a reset!
I feel similarly daunted and also don’t trust myself to not use it as a distraction/excuse to not do the actual work. But excited to tackle it at some point!
That’s true… I started it in May and told myself I was doing NO writing this summer bc I was done treating my creativity like “work.” Removing that pressure has been incredibly freeing. I’m starting to view creativity as “play” again! I can’t wait to begin creating new pieces once I finish The Artist’s Way in a few weeks. So I get what you’re saying, and I hope you’ll consider it next time you feel a little burnt out or overwhelmed with “the right way to create,” like I was!
As someone who has weekly Sunday scaries- fully endorse and LOVE a Sunday newsletter. Also hard agree with commentator above about the namesake! A little life is another for sure
Love love love your sentiment on the best of lists!!! This was how I felt after reading The Fraud which had gotten RAVE reviews everywhere. It felt so 1% to me. My list shares some with yours (A Little Life!) and some other authors I thought were so missed (O’Farrell, Groff) - but again, it’s alllllll so subjective. And the best of lists usually feel like we’re trying to impress someone!
Love this - it’s the exact antidote I need to my regular Sunday evening doomscrolling, something productive and fun that leaves me looking forward to next week. Thank you!
I just read Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club and ordered Kitchens of the Great Midwest to our (midwest-located) bookstore! Excited to get to it soon. I read my first Amor Towes recently (Gentleman in Moscow)…I haven’t read any other books or authors on your list! I need to read Sally Rooney! etc etc haha always more to read
Yes! I'm really missing my era of PBS Masterpiece, Walking Dead, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, "At Least There's SOMETHING To Look Forward To On Sunday Evening." Please try to gift us a lovely newsletter at the end of these summer weekends that are never long enough. God bless everyone who survives living somewhere hot and steamy, because those of us who thought we lived somewhere more temperate are not prepared. Ninety degrees is dumb.
Love! Endorse! Make it a thing!! Also v into the NYT list. I thought THE NAMESAKE by JHUMPA LAHIRI and KNOW MY NAME by CHANEL MILLER were most notably missing, alongside HOMEGOING. But what a fun week for books.
Thank you so much for the enthusiastic feedback! I had fun writing it and am so happy to see all these positive comments roll in! I would have loved—as another commenter suggested—if this was accompanied by a second crowdsourced list of top books. Interestingly, I also saw another Substack piece about the age skew on the books included and how so few were by authors under 40 (most being by authors over 65).
The Namesake!!! Such a good call!!
These “best of” lists make me roll my eyes a bit—I can get on board with a best of the year, but 25 years?!? It’s preposterous to think such a list could even be procured, and for who?! Oof. Lahiri and A Little Life were huge misses. I’d love a list crowdsourced by NYT readers by generation. THAT would interest me!
Let us know what you think of Husbands and Lovers—Beatriz Williams is one of the most wonderful historical fiction authors, I always love her work and this one was on my recent Summer Reading Guide! 📚
YES! A crowdsourced list would have been so interesting, and a way to extend the conversation that this has created. I'd love to see the compare and contrast and to be able to slice it by age demo.
I finished Husbands and Lovers yesterday and really liked it, though it was REALLY different than what I expected from the first few chapters when I wrote this little write-up. Def check for triggers.
Can’t believe you’re crowdsourcing a list you are a MANIAC get back to work lolol
Co-signing The Artist's Way for shifting the vibe, I just finished a couple of weeks ago and it's made a huge difference in my life!
I feel so overwhelmed by adding something big to my plate, but maybe that's a sign I need to do it??
Slightly late to this comment but I’m in the middle of The Artist’s Way and I was also nervous about the commitment! Two friends are doing it with me so we have an accountability text chain. Also, we take it at our own pace. I was doing well the first 6 weeks, but have gone a little slower the second half. It’s about adapting it to what works best for you and processing everything in your own way. I can really feel the creativity stirring inside me. It’s worked amazingly well as a reset!
I feel similarly daunted and also don’t trust myself to not use it as a distraction/excuse to not do the actual work. But excited to tackle it at some point!
That’s true… I started it in May and told myself I was doing NO writing this summer bc I was done treating my creativity like “work.” Removing that pressure has been incredibly freeing. I’m starting to view creativity as “play” again! I can’t wait to begin creating new pieces once I finish The Artist’s Way in a few weeks. So I get what you’re saying, and I hope you’ll consider it next time you feel a little burnt out or overwhelmed with “the right way to create,” like I was!
Gone Girl. Fates and Furies. The Vanishing Half. C’mon!
As someone who has weekly Sunday scaries- fully endorse and LOVE a Sunday newsletter. Also hard agree with commentator above about the namesake! A little life is another for sure
Yay! I agree, that's when I need a little scroll that isn't gd TikTok videos!
Love a Sunday newsletter! I thought the same about the NYT booklist. What a missed opportunity!
Sunday evening is a super time.
Saw that movie- it was terrible, and somehow distracting enough from this heat here that I watched all of it. 🤢🥴
YES! Like, I watched half the movie, went to bed, and then WENT BACK TO IT later. I mean, that's something. It was compelling in some weird way.
100% agree on keeping the Sunday newsletter. thinking the best thoughts for a happy and successful Q3!
Love love love your sentiment on the best of lists!!! This was how I felt after reading The Fraud which had gotten RAVE reviews everywhere. It felt so 1% to me. My list shares some with yours (A Little Life!) and some other authors I thought were so missed (O’Farrell, Groff) - but again, it’s alllllll so subjective. And the best of lists usually feel like we’re trying to impress someone!
Yes, I really wish there was a secondary crowdsourced list and would be so curious to see how that would be different.
Love this format! Sunday evening is exactly when I need a soothing substack!
Love this - it’s the exact antidote I need to my regular Sunday evening doomscrolling, something productive and fun that leaves me looking forward to next week. Thank you!
Oh yay! That is the goal! I'm going to keep it going and hopefully it can be a fun thing to expect in your inbox.
I support a Sunday evening newsletter!
Love a Sunday newsletter!
I just read Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club and ordered Kitchens of the Great Midwest to our (midwest-located) bookstore! Excited to get to it soon. I read my first Amor Towes recently (Gentleman in Moscow)…I haven’t read any other books or authors on your list! I need to read Sally Rooney! etc etc haha always more to read
Yes! I'm really missing my era of PBS Masterpiece, Walking Dead, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, "At Least There's SOMETHING To Look Forward To On Sunday Evening." Please try to gift us a lovely newsletter at the end of these summer weekends that are never long enough. God bless everyone who survives living somewhere hot and steamy, because those of us who thought we lived somewhere more temperate are not prepared. Ninety degrees is dumb.
Love this Sunday newsletter and the format!