Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan's Blog, page 97
March 5, 2017
March 3, 2017
Today in Photo
I discovered this book down an Amazon bookstore rabbit hole and was instantly intrigued by the cover blurb: the greatest novel you've never read. Huh. At 4 am yesterday, when I finally finished it from cover to cover and came out for breath, completely shattered in its wake, I understood what that reviewer meant. Quickly though: this is the story of a man named William Stoner (not as you might think, a novel about a pot smoker) and his unremarkable quiet life as a professor, as a husband, and as a father. What moves me so much is the way his life is set out in front of you like you're watching it from right next to him. The New Yorker, Guardian and New York Times all have long essays on this book so go read those for more, but I would just pick this up unhesitatingly without reading any more about it. One of the best things I've ever read. Seriously. #mrmbookclub #bookstagram #150in2017
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March 2, 2017
Today in Photo
Shitty ebook cover (so covered with an old ballet invitation) of this deliciously creepy classic which sort of sneaks up on you when you least expect it. I've always heard a lot about Shirley Jackson (a new biography out last year) but never got around to reading her. We Have Always Lived In The Castle is the story of a family who live in a village where everyone hates them. Told through the eyes of the winsome weird younger sister Merricat, it starts out slowly building you up for one thing and when you least expect it, starts to sucker punch you with twists. My favourite kind of narrative. #nowreading #bookstagram #150in2017 #mrmbookclub
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February 28, 2017
Today in Photo
Took me aaaaages to finish Paul Auster's latest, a gargantuan book with multiple time lines in the style of The Post Birthday World or Life After Life. It's a device I've always admired (even thinking of making a stab at it myself) but I'm not sure how I feel about the book. It was well written, but could have done with stricter edits and I'm not a person who normally advocates editing, I love a long rambling story but after a while the multiple Fergusons (the hero who lives four lives, thus the title) began to think and feel and do in one rambling sentence which went on page after page after page. Got to be a bit of a plod wading through the last quarter, but still ambitious and did I mention well written? The sentences sing. #150in2017 #bookstagram #mrmbookclub
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Today in Photo
#tbt to last week and our amazing sandwich dinner from @sandwichandsonsindia. Chicken with gunpowder and coconut, a lamb burger and nummy chips to go with. A present from the kind owners who took pity on our sandwich-less state, but I hope they start delivering to our area soon! #loveisasandwich #latergram
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February 25, 2017
Today in Photo
Sunday brunch stylings of the lazy housewife who hasn't even made her bed this morning but did remember to put on lipstick. #springselfie
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February 24, 2017
February 23, 2017
Today in Photo
Such a pleasure to discover an author when she's already got a whole body of work. I did that with Tana French and spent the last ten days binge reading her Dublin Murder Squad novels. Brilliant brilliant crime stories full of the little details you only find in literary fiction. Highly recommend for your next fix. #bookstagram #150in2017 #mrmbookclub
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February 18, 2017
Today in Photo
Did another comic on the Wacom. I think I'm getting steadier at it, even though my handwriting is still a bit tipsy. Here's musings on my cough and a brief history of me and cigarettes. #sketch #comic #smoking
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