”The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. This was a perfect quiet contemplative book. Also, snails are very cool.
”Orbital” by Samantha Harvey. She’s a Booker Prize winner, so I’m obviously not the only one who thought it was excellent. It could do us all some good to view our world from a wider angle.
”How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer” by Sarah Bakewell. I also loved Sarah’s book about the existentialists. She has a way of discussing philosophy that is relatable and personable. It prompted me to buy a copy of the essays, which I will tackle at some point.
”I Hate Men” by Pauline Harmange. In defense of misandry. Can’t say I disagree with hating men as the default, or at least being wary of them until they show some decency. Hating women is the cultural default, so I’m okay with having this personal default.
”Doppelgänger: A Trip Into the Mirror World” by Naomi Klein. “If your Naomi by Klein, you’re doing fine. If your Naomi be Wolf, oh buddy, ooph.” As always, Klein is excellent at explaining our specific cultural moment and how we got here. So many fine minds sucked into the black hole of internet conspiracy and slop, and I’m not sure how we recover.