I want to echo what everyone has already said - this is an incredible list but we all already kind of expect that from you. Thank you so much for being my Erpenbeck sherpa and making time to read Dillard with me and Eve in the middle of such a busy season of life.
The Portrait of a Lady is on my 19th Century Wives Under Pressure list... I won't make you coordinate your reading of such a big book with me but I am so excited that we will both be reading it soon and can yap about it.
I am so excited for the James!! Check in with me whenever you're beginning it, and I'll do the same, just in case we do align :) I'm imagining late Dec, early Jan but who is to say! Great years of reading all around <3
What a wonderful year of reading! I’m currently finishing Nadia Terranova’s Farewell, Ghosts (in italian) and will read Claire-Louise Bennett’s latest before settling with my big-book-to-end-the-year, Byatt’s Possession.
Sorry to butt (bud?!) into your conversation BUT if you like CLB, I just went through Checkout 19 and made a list of all the authors / books mentioned. Let me know if you want me to share, I'd be happy to! I'm just always so excited to meet CLB fans.
How are you liking Farewell, Ghosts in the original Italian? I've heard great things about the translation! Bennett is on my "must read asap" list, and her newest looks great
I picked it up in Italian after reading great things about the Goldstein translation! I’m really liking the intricate structure (the chapters + themes are organized around time, space, and corporality) but I’m liking the writing itself less than I thought I would (it’s the kind of contemporary Italian writing that lends itself really well to an English translation, similar to Latronico. So I might read the translation at some point too).
Lovely, lovely!! I was in the bookstore yesterday and saw Things That Disappear and thought "that looks like a book I would like" from the cover/title alone, and now I know I have to read it! Also intrigued by the Maggie Nelson title--will need to check that out. And The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie....hmm. I will be purchasing these and placing them under the tree for myself. Can't wait for more Dillard in the new year!! xx
I always love how your format this - it makes me forgive you for publishing it SO long before the year ends ;) I'm interested in The Suicides and The Trauma Plot. Happy December Reading Regan! <3
I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on both of those !! Appreciate your forgiveness on the early Dec end-of-yr newsletter— if anything, blame how long the Rush and James are, not me 😌 I’ll have my eyes out for your year-end favorites when the time comes!
So fun to see books we read together on this list! I completely second the recommendations for the books on Julia Sanches's syllabus for Hyphenated Identities -- especially Shade and Breeze and Dust Sucker. Also everyone: read Julia's translations! I also had the privilege of reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie alongside you (for me, for the very first time) -- it keeps haunting me. The way she's imprisoned by Catholicism at the end. So many metaphors overlaid on top of each other, layer upon layer, in such a short space. It makes me understand, finally, why so many people are obsessed with Muriel Spark.
Obsessed with this format!! I have yet to reflect on what I’ve read this year though I plan to!
This past year, I made it a goal to read at least four books a month (which I was often able to reach, plus a little more). I found it to be quite gratifying. A way to allow myself to sneak away from life for a second to accomplish this personal goal, SO I'm planning to keep it up in 2026. (learning that goals don't always have to increase to lean in if it's working!).
And as a way to lean into that, expanding the 4 books a month goal with some specifics, like 1/4 books need to be in translation or of a very different genre than what I typically go for and so on!
I’m such a library devotee that I’m always at the whim of the holds lists, BUT I’m currently reading On Freedom by Maggie Nelson, which will likely take me into the new year, and I would love to read Dead and Alive, Zadie Smith’s new collection of essays!! Along with some CLB I bought!! from the bookstore.
I feel like 4 books a month strikes a perfect balance! Similarly, I’ve kept my yearly reading goal at 50 books all the way back since high school, since I feel like it’s comfortably achievable and I often overshoot it by quite a bit, but never feel stressed about it as a result. The 1/4 in translation is so fun! A nice little addition. How are you liking the Maggie Nelson! I’ve read her more experimental shorter stuff (Jane, Bluets) but remain very curious about her essays
Some very interesting books in your list, some of which I have read and loved. By end of this year I will have read about 60 and will go through my list to see what the stand outs were for me.
Sounds like a great reading year! I'll be eager to hear which books you end up determining were your favorites-- and which of these above you're a fan of!
what a full and winding year! so many seriously good books and this format was a pleasure to read.
memory is a funny thing - when i think back on books i really only loosely think of context (unless it was on vacation or all in one sitting). meanwhile, i'm sitting on a copy of lily king's new book and have to get to it before i set my expectations too high!
I hope you enjoy the lily king! I really loved it in the moment, and I'll keep reading more from her for sure (but this one's dulled for me just a little since reading!)-- I mean this in the most complimentary way, it feels like a grown-up John Green novel. Will look forward to hearing what you think!
I want to echo what everyone has already said - this is an incredible list but we all already kind of expect that from you. Thank you so much for being my Erpenbeck sherpa and making time to read Dillard with me and Eve in the middle of such a busy season of life.
The Portrait of a Lady is on my 19th Century Wives Under Pressure list... I won't make you coordinate your reading of such a big book with me but I am so excited that we will both be reading it soon and can yap about it.
ps adding Erpenbeck sherpa to my resume, thank you!
I am so excited for the James!! Check in with me whenever you're beginning it, and I'll do the same, just in case we do align :) I'm imagining late Dec, early Jan but who is to say! Great years of reading all around <3
What a wonderful year of reading! I’m currently finishing Nadia Terranova’s Farewell, Ghosts (in italian) and will read Claire-Louise Bennett’s latest before settling with my big-book-to-end-the-year, Byatt’s Possession.
Sorry to butt (bud?!) into your conversation BUT if you like CLB, I just went through Checkout 19 and made a list of all the authors / books mentioned. Let me know if you want me to share, I'd be happy to! I'm just always so excited to meet CLB fans.
Oh wow, yes please!! That list sounds like an amazing reading project for 2026!
Would love the chance to see your list, too, Petya! In full agreement with Cy here, what an amazing project
How are you liking Farewell, Ghosts in the original Italian? I've heard great things about the translation! Bennett is on my "must read asap" list, and her newest looks great
I picked it up in Italian after reading great things about the Goldstein translation! I’m really liking the intricate structure (the chapters + themes are organized around time, space, and corporality) but I’m liking the writing itself less than I thought I would (it’s the kind of contemporary Italian writing that lends itself really well to an English translation, similar to Latronico. So I might read the translation at some point too).
Thank you for including Dust Sucker! What syllabus was it part of, if you don’t mind me asking?
Yes of course! It was part of Julia Sanches’ really amazing seminar, We Contain Multitudes: Hyphenated Writing Across Borders
Oh yes, Julia reached out a long while ago about it and I completely forgot, that’s wonderful!
Lovely, lovely!! I was in the bookstore yesterday and saw Things That Disappear and thought "that looks like a book I would like" from the cover/title alone, and now I know I have to read it! Also intrigued by the Maggie Nelson title--will need to check that out. And The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie....hmm. I will be purchasing these and placing them under the tree for myself. Can't wait for more Dillard in the new year!! xx
Dillard Squad was one of my favorite reading experiences of 2025. 😘 😘
Huge agree, here's to more group chat book clubs in 2026!
I always love how your format this - it makes me forgive you for publishing it SO long before the year ends ;) I'm interested in The Suicides and The Trauma Plot. Happy December Reading Regan! <3
I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on both of those !! Appreciate your forgiveness on the early Dec end-of-yr newsletter— if anything, blame how long the Rush and James are, not me 😌 I’ll have my eyes out for your year-end favorites when the time comes!
So fun to see books we read together on this list! I completely second the recommendations for the books on Julia Sanches's syllabus for Hyphenated Identities -- especially Shade and Breeze and Dust Sucker. Also everyone: read Julia's translations! I also had the privilege of reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie alongside you (for me, for the very first time) -- it keeps haunting me. The way she's imprisoned by Catholicism at the end. So many metaphors overlaid on top of each other, layer upon layer, in such a short space. It makes me understand, finally, why so many people are obsessed with Muriel Spark.
it was a good year for us Melissa!!!! hoping this semester's reading lists treat you well
What an amazing year of reading! I’m hoping to pick up Portrait of a Lady in 2026 as well :)
I love this reflection style and seeing how each book fit into your life!
Obsessed with this format!! I have yet to reflect on what I’ve read this year though I plan to!
This past year, I made it a goal to read at least four books a month (which I was often able to reach, plus a little more). I found it to be quite gratifying. A way to allow myself to sneak away from life for a second to accomplish this personal goal, SO I'm planning to keep it up in 2026. (learning that goals don't always have to increase to lean in if it's working!).
And as a way to lean into that, expanding the 4 books a month goal with some specifics, like 1/4 books need to be in translation or of a very different genre than what I typically go for and so on!
I’m such a library devotee that I’m always at the whim of the holds lists, BUT I’m currently reading On Freedom by Maggie Nelson, which will likely take me into the new year, and I would love to read Dead and Alive, Zadie Smith’s new collection of essays!! Along with some CLB I bought!! from the bookstore.
I feel like 4 books a month strikes a perfect balance! Similarly, I’ve kept my yearly reading goal at 50 books all the way back since high school, since I feel like it’s comfortably achievable and I often overshoot it by quite a bit, but never feel stressed about it as a result. The 1/4 in translation is so fun! A nice little addition. How are you liking the Maggie Nelson! I’ve read her more experimental shorter stuff (Jane, Bluets) but remain very curious about her essays
Some very interesting books in your list, some of which I have read and loved. By end of this year I will have read about 60 and will go through my list to see what the stand outs were for me.
Sounds like a great reading year! I'll be eager to hear which books you end up determining were your favorites-- and which of these above you're a fan of!
I felt like I was time traveling too when I read this. Books indeed can be markers of time.
I thought The Garden of Eden was great, very underrated and, yeah, very contemporary-feeling as well.
what a full and winding year! so many seriously good books and this format was a pleasure to read.
memory is a funny thing - when i think back on books i really only loosely think of context (unless it was on vacation or all in one sitting). meanwhile, i'm sitting on a copy of lily king's new book and have to get to it before i set my expectations too high!
I hope you enjoy the lily king! I really loved it in the moment, and I'll keep reading more from her for sure (but this one's dulled for me just a little since reading!)-- I mean this in the most complimentary way, it feels like a grown-up John Green novel. Will look forward to hearing what you think!