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EJ Johnson's avatar

Have had my eye on Model Home— Rivers Solomon really blew me away with Sorrowland so i’m looking forward to reading that one! glad you thought it was decent.

Re authors for next year, i’m going to hard recommend Gary Indiana. He’s changed my life and has an impressive body of work with some of the funniest, most poignant, perfect writing i’ve ever encountered.

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Nic Marna's avatar

Ok ✍️✍️✍️ (I already have one of Gary Indiana’s books on my shelf!)

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EJ Johnson's avatar

would love to hear what you think!

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Nic Marna's avatar

I have Rent Boy, but haven’t read it yet. My boyfriend did and enjoyed it!

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calista ginn's avatar

now how did i miss this one.......... such a treat to read your favs as always <3 need to pick up the great believers once and for all! she's been teasing me on the shelf for years!

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Nic Marna's avatar

You would LOVE!!!

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amara reese's avatar

ooooomg I can not tell you how thrilled I am to have stumbled across your Substack. I got rid of my TikTok and Instagram a few months ago and have been DYYYYYING for your books recs ever since 💓

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Nic Marna's avatar

Omg that’s so sweet!!!! 🩷

I’m planning to ramp things up on Substack in the new year! Happy you stumbled now!!

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Viktoriia Vasileva's avatar

Have you by chance read The Perfume Burnt His Eyes by Michael Imperioli? It intrigues me in a similar way to Ethan Hawke’s book…I’m just curious about how these men’s brains operate

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Nic Marna's avatar

This is the first I’m hearing of it….. I fear I’m interested!!!

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Gabbie's avatar

If you haven't read most of her work already, although it's very possible you may have, I suggest Elena Ferrante for your reading challenge! The Neapolitan Quartet is beloved among the book community, but the three short novels that come before them are, in my humble opinion, even better!

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Nic Marna's avatar

Ferrante is definitely on the list! I've only read the first of the quartet, so it could be an interesting year.

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catie's avatar

No way Book binch is on the tuuuube! subscribing immediately

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Celine's avatar

Need to know your final thoughts on the Ethan Hawke ….I've heard good things, actually?

Still completely thrilled you adored The Great Believers :)

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Nic Marna's avatar

I have too! Everyone is like “it’s a rich white guy complaining, but randomly really good.” I’m curious!!!

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S.M.'s avatar

Barbara Kingsolver comes to mind for your next year of if you haven't already delved into those!

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Nic Marna's avatar

Oh, it’s definitely missing from my shelves!!

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Hannah's avatar

I think model home will be much more affective on a re read ! I do wish they gave us more time to sit with the ending, but oh well. I’d highly recommend sorrowland by them as well, the writing is just as beautiful. loved this roundup as always !!

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Nic Marna's avatar

I liked Sorrowland! They’re such a talented writer, I know I will appreciate it more a second time around

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Tim Wheaton's avatar

I’m so glad you got to Beale Street! It’s so good. And I say this next thing with a bit of trepidation just because adaptations have such a stigma (many times, rightly so): watch the movie. It is really, really fantastic. The way it’s filmed, the performances, the music, the handling of the seriousness of all of the legal dealings and the beauty of the relationships. I hope you watch it and I hope you love it!

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Nic Marna's avatar

I saw it years ago, but will definitely revisit now that I've read the book!

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booksthatslay's avatar

Bluets is so good! And I had a lot of similar feelings about Model Home, had higher hopes for that one, would like to try again in the future!

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Nic Marna's avatar

Like I know I’ll like it more a second time around 😔

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Julien's avatar

I got so so nervous reading your review of little blue encyclopedia worrying you didn’t like it! i’m a sucker for a uniquely told story so i really liked it. Bluets is also a favorite of mine (a good month of blue).

and ok officially adding model home to my TBR - rivers solomon’s other book i can’t remember the name of right now that took place on a big ship - i really enjoyed.

as for your next “year of” - have you done Ursula K Le Guin? I dove into her a bit (well, a few books) when a few years ago, shortly after she passed, I saw a short film documentary about her life and some of her work having queerness baked in, specifically left hand of darkness.

she has too many books to do them all though, and i also don’t think you’re much of a SFF guy?, but you could do the big hitters like LHOD, Dispossesed, the first Earthsea, The Telling, (idk would have to look into others more).

More modern is you could do Akwaeke Emezi. I just read Little Rot by them (and I think most people read Pet) and I immediately went and put the death of vivek oji on my TBR. They have enough books already even if you’ve already read Pet, including a new one coming out in April

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Nic Marna's avatar

I thought about Le Guin! When I tried reading TLHOD a while back, it was VERY sci-fi (maybe too sci-fi for me?). I will circle back to it eventually, but I’m not sure I could stick to that for a full year.

Akwaeke Emezi is a really interesting suggestion though! They have a really varied catalogue too, which could be fun. Thank you!!

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Sarah's avatar

Thank you for your post!

Some suggestions for your reading challenge:

- Edwidge Danticat

- Jamaica Kincaid

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Nic Marna's avatar

Love Jamaica Kincaid, thank you for the great suggestions!

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Martha's avatar

Ok firstly the gift guide is iconic that colour theory dictionary is SO good. Virality deserved even if it brought people who have no taste to your comment section. I also have a December birthday so I like you even more now <3 Are you a Sag or Cap December..?

Deeply tragic re the mixed comments on Fathers and Fugitives bc I thought that looked so good? Idk if I like the sound of it being so bleak. Might need to circle back on that one day.

Always wanted to read Bluets so loved to read your reflections on those! And loved to read about your love for If Beale Street Could Talk - when I read it earlier this year I felt a little indifferent to it which kinda shocked me. I enjoyed it but I think I expected more 'punch' (whatever that means I think its because of what the blurb implies) so just went in with the wrong expectations. But it is beautiful. Maybe I need to reread now my expectations are more in check. Poor blurbs literally ruin lives (mine)

I've read Homesick - i think you'd like it! Not like any other sickness memoir I've read, I found the format refreshingly unique. It can be read incredibly fast though so fair warning to maybe pace yourself with it a bit because I blinked and it was over.

I will think on the reading challenge for you bc I know there are some authors in my brain somewhere but I can't quite get to them yet.

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Nic Marna's avatar

I’m a Sag! But also Cap moon… so it’s kind of a toss up.

If I was using Martha terms, I would call Fathers and Fugitives a soft Bust. For me a book that makes me feel anything is inherently more interesting, but this one maybe isn’t worth the read.

I had the opposite expectation going into Beale Street! I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy a love story from Baldwin (specifically with so much of a focus on a woman’s POV).

That being said, the blurbs need to do better! I was fooled twice this month by some marketing copy.

Anything suggestions would be greatly appreciated! After the Zadie Smith disappointment, I just haven’t found any options I’m excited about.

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Martha's avatar

I’m a Sag!!! And a Sag moon and Scorpio rising.. it’s giving intense.

A soft bust made me laugh. I would agree and I trust you so I’ll steer clear of it.

The Zadie Smith comments are beyond disappointing. You truly do have to be excited if you’re going to commit to an author for a whole year! I’m still thinking for you sick brain is just a bit slow x

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Nic Marna's avatar

Ok that's a spicy big three!!

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Martha's avatar

😌 I know..

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Brendon Holder's avatar

wait your gift guide is super chic... I think i'm going to have to get the dedcool detergent!

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Nic Marna's avatar

Get Xtra Milk! It’s my fave dedcool scent!!

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Brendon Holder's avatar

adding to CART!

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