30 On Mysteries, Memoir, and Methodology
In which our heroine greets 2020 with words about books
I think I forgot to mention I was taking a break from writing during the holidays. Probably because the break was less planned and more necessary, and because it had no set ending. In fact, two weeks ago I wrote an entire post, but did not send it. It was about my reading stats for 2019 and goals/thoughts for 2020. After spending three hours writing—ok fine, after spending three hours making pastel-colored pie charts I decided I didn’t think what I had to say on the matter was especially interesting so it languishes in my drafts folder. The pie charts were nice though.
Anyway, I am back after a month because I finally have both books I wish I were reading and books I feel like writing about.
Tana French
Yes, I do mean all of Tana French, though I suppose I’d start with In the Woods. A friend and former co-worker came into the bookstore the other evening and of course we talked about what we were reading. She’d just finished all seven of Tana French’s books. Her husband clearly meant to head out, but when he realized she was talking about Tana French he quickly recalculated, knowing we’d be there for a while longer. It is thrilling to listen to someone discuss an author who has recently bewitched them. She told me she’d begun the Dublin Murder series somewhere in the middle, read all six and capped it off with her standalone, The Witch Elm, which she read for nine hours straight, ending around 4am on a work night (or, rather, work morning). You can’t really come away from a conversation like that not wanting to also read seven books all by the same author.
Abandon Me by Melissa Febos
I’ve been meaning to read Abandon Me since before it came out; I still have the galley (whose cover is pictured because I like it better than the paperback’s). It’s kind of rare that I go to events at my store—I’d rather not go into work on my day off, or stick around after eight hours of work—but I went to Febos’s event. I’ve wanted to read this book so long that I’ve kind of forgotten why I’ve been wanting to read it. But a friend recently told me that if I liked In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (and you know I did) then I will probably enjoy Abandon Me. And the day after this recommendation I also read a co-worker’s staff pick for the book and really when a book recommends itself twice in twenty-four hours you simply can’t ignore it.
Fandom as Methodology: A Sourcebook for Artists and Writers edited by Catherine Grant and Kate Love Random
My interest in this book is all title-based. I couldn’t even define methodology for you, but it’s a ten cent word that makes me think of indexes and archives, and I like it. This book is on display at the store, I notice it every time I sit at our info desk but I have yet to pick it up. What does it mean to be a sourcebook for artists and writers? Again, I don’t know, but it piques my interest like sketchbooks and journals do. Also I am nothing if not a fan and a contributor to fandoms.
It’s not all just extrapolating the title. I did read the description of the book, in the course of writing this:
Fandom as Methodology examines fandom as a set of practices for approaching and writing about art… Key to the idea of “fandom as methodology” is a focus on the potential for fandom in art to create oppositional spaces, communities, and practices, particularly from queer perspectives, but also through transnational, feminist and artist-of-color fandoms.
And I am all the more intrigued. I guess I should actually go pick it up now.
Just Finished / Currently Reading
The Corner That Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner
You may not think that a winding, 400-page tale of a medieval nunnery would be utterly engrossing, but it is. Townsend Warner’s recently re-released last novel is peopled with nuns who are political, petty, and rather lacking in piety. The novel has no real plot or main characters, but it kept my attention through a century of gossiping, bookkeeping, and plotting. It was the first book I finished this decade, and I’m so glad for it. Also a shout-out to Townsend Warner’s first book, Lolly Willowes, which is about a spinster who abandons her irritating family to live in the country, consort with the Devil, and become a witch. Sylvia Townsend Warner is my new favorite.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Two issues ago I mentioned I’d never finished Little Women; well, I’m fixing that now. I’m past the chapters I read as a kid and thus in new territory. It is warm and lovely, and I can’t understand why it’s taken me so long to finish it. Also I really want to go see the movie… again.
Featured Bookstore
Each week I link all books mentioned to a different independent bookstore. This week I’m featuring The Raven Bookstore because I appreciate all they’re doing in the struggle against It-That-I’d-Not-Link-To, including an excellent zine written by the owner Danny Caine. They are also extremely witty and snarky on twitter.
Other Ways to Find Me On the Internets
I host a podcast called Drunk Booksellers where my best friend and I interview a fellow bookseller while drinking. I sometimes tweet about books and politics. I sometimes post pictures of books I’m reading, or cats I’m hanging out with on Instagram.
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