16 Comments
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juliana, phd's avatar

Thank you so much for the shout-out! <3

And I love what you wrote about Blue Light Hours, one of my favorites from last year!

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Regan's avatar

Such a beautiful book! can't wait to see what Bruna Dantas Lobato writes next (or translates!)

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Anh's avatar

I really loved The Anthropologists & The Wall for the reasons you talked about so I'll definitely give Blue Light Hours a try!

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rio's avatar

the wall is my favorite book everrr

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Courtney Minor's avatar

I love this type of book. I’ve been wanting to read The Wall, so now I definitely have to. (and thanks for the mention!)

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Regan's avatar

Do you have any recs of books you'd put in a similar category? always looking for more like this!! and yes you definitely have to read The Wall, I'll be eager to read your book notes newsletter on it!

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Immaculata Abba's avatar

Saw your post on my fyp and clicked because of the post’s image and the beautiful book covers only to read this and think over and over again: oh, this is what my attention deserves/is for! Lovely books, lovelier reviews. 🙏🏾

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Regan's avatar

Thank you for the kind, kind words <3 really hope you enjoy spending your attention on these if you pick them up! (and I so agree-- the covers are stunning!)

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Martha's avatar

I love the theme of these recs - the quietness of them, they are often my favourites too! I love a big conflict or climax every now and then, but to be able to move and engross me within the quiet moments of a novel are sometimes what I am most impressed by.

I smiled at you pitching The Anthropologists to your friend as boring in a good way!! The premise really sounds like Perfection by Latronico - interesting! This newsletter operated as yet another reminder to read Blue Light Hours & The Wall!

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Regan's avatar

I have been hearing so much about the Latronico novel recently! It just popped up again in a review I read today in The Point of the newly translated German novel Allegro Pastel--which also seems as though it might fall into this theme, although I haven't read either of them. Also haven't read either On the Calculation of Volume, but from all the reviews I've read here on Substack, I'm maybe also picking up on a sense of this in those? Would be curious if you think so, or if those have a very different vibe!

Agree that the big drama of certain novels can be so exciting, but l it can almost be so much more impressive for a writer to achieve quiet moments that really resound and stick with you

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Laurel Clayton's avatar

as a watcher of vlogs so boring i can’t explain why i’m watching them, i love this list and am tracking down blue light hours

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Regan's avatar

please do and please report back!! a very quick and worthwhile read <3

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Jam Canezal's avatar

Both The Anthropologist and Blue Light Hours are books that I suspect that I will love but kept delaying reading it. Same with what you felt about The Wall. What you wrote about Blue Light Hours feels a bit like Norweigan Wood by Murakami (except for the screen thing). Have you read it? I loved it then but not sure if I will still feel the same if I read it now. But I do loved reading about the campus life of the MC. So meditative.

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Regan's avatar

I read Norwegian Wood in high school & feel the same way! really enjoyed it at the time and would be curious to reread it now. If & when you do pick up The Anthropologists and Blue Light Hours, I'll be curious to hear if you love them as much as you think you might :)

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Kayla Roolaart's avatar

Thanks for the mention!! Loved this

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Regan's avatar

glad you enjoyed thank you for reading!!

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