Jen's 2021 WiT Challenge

[Jen]

I read 8 WiT in 2020 (so far) and enjoyed each. For 2021 I'll aim for 10 and *try* to focus on books I already own, which include:

The Land of Green Plums
Lizard
A Novel Bookstore
The Fool and Other Moral Tales
The Museum of Unconditional Surrender
Out
The Piano Teacher
Suite Française
The Days of Abandonment
Transit
The Ten Thousand Things
A Man's Place
The End of the Story
Women of Sand and Myrrh
Grand Hotel
Masks
My Phantom Husband
Celestial Bodies
My Heart Hemmed In
Fish Soup
Mirror, Shoulder, Signal
70% Acrylic 30% Wool
After Midnight
A Greater Music
Nada
All Russians Love Birch Trees

[Jen]

Saved for progress tracking

[Alwynne]

What a fascinating list of choices, I've read some of these so will be interested to see what you think of them, and plan to read Nada, Transit and A Greater Music at some point, so perhaps we can compare notes.

[Liesl]

Yes there are some great reads in this list. My TBR list just grew. Good luck with your challenge.

[Valerie]

Great list Jen, with some titles I hadn't heard of. Thanks for making me discover them!

[Jen]

Thanks everyone! What a supportive group of readers. I'm always happy to compare notes. Happy planning (and reading).

[Jen]

First progress post, better late than never. For the first quarter of 2021 I've read:

Tender Is the Flesh (Argentina) - 3* - My star rating on this one feels arbitrary, moreso than usual! It's a memorable book for sure and one of the only I can recall that made me feel physically repulsed at times. So in that sense it realizes its intent. An accomplished story but a tough swallow. (oh dear...)

Earthlings (Japan) - 4* - This story is out there in every sense. It's tender and sweet, shocking and sad. It should resonate with anyone whose ever felt on the outside looking in. This one has really stuck with me and might get a bump up to 5* when I reflect back on my reading year.

Neighbourhood Watch (Quebec, Canada) - 4* - A glimpse into the lives behind doors of three children and their families. Located in an apartment block in a disadvantaged neighbourhood of Montreal, this is a tough read - the kids and their parents endure a full range of traumas. The intimate moments between parents and children are beautifully written.

[Jen]

Hmmm and I'm noting that despite the long list of owned books I'm meant to be reading (top post) these three are all library books. Time to refocus.

[Alwynne]

I always end up reading books out of order too. Thanks for the overviews.

[Hannah]

Good start Jen! I tried tender is the flesh earlier this year and couldn't get into it, I wasn't in the right frame of mind but will retry it later. I also loved earthlings, definitely resonated with me....although perhaps not quite as much by the end! Hadn't heard of neighbourhood watch but sound like one for me so thanks!
I also tend to prioritise library books over books I own and wonder why...

[Jen]

Oops I have some catch up posting to do:

#4. The Dangers of Smoking in Bed: Stories (Argentina) - 4* - I loved the no holds barred women-centric perspective of these stories. I also enjoy being made uncomfortable / spooked and they delivered on this. The writing is gutsy and challenging. As often with story collections, I enjoyed some more that others making rating the collection difficult.

#5. The Impudent Ones (France)- 3* - I enjoy Duras' writing so much. Here, the story did not draw me in the way in did in L'Amante anglaise or The Lover, but I'll continue reading pretty much any book of hers I come across.

#6. Suite for Barbara Loden (France) - 5* - I thought this creative-biography exploration of American actress Barbara Loden was utterly brilliant. It explored her personal, inner life through media/performance and reflection, but it seemed to go beyond the woman herself to feel universal in its observations and meaning. Beautifully written and totally unique.

#7. Masks (Japan) - 4.5* - The use of metaphor is heavy and at times it felt beyond my reach. But despite this I loved this evocative, sensual tale and the writing is just brilliant. Heavy on mood, which I love.

I'm so pleased I remembered to check in here and it's a chance to remind myself to complete this challenge! 3 books to go. I hope everyone reading for this challenge is finding some gems.