22 Comments
Sep 1Liked by Abra McAndrew

Haha I love this piece Abra - although I think the list of what I didn’t read is so long it is perhaps incomprehensible

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This piece is the anti-Martha’s Monthly piece. Hah. Your list of what you did read is plenty comprehensible!

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Sep 2Liked by Abra McAndrew

Hahaha 🫣 but as readers we ALWAYS want to read more 😉

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You understand the point of this post exactly.

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I love the brutal honesty and twist of a “didn’t read” list. I’m an aisle girl so that I can get up whenever I need to use the restroom. On God of the Woods, definitely looks like nail polish, and I’m right with you in catching it next summer because the hold queue is just way too long for this year, ha.

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Thanks for reading Renee! I love that so many people want to read a book from the library, whichever it may be.

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I didn’t read so many books. I loved this perspective. The main one I set aside this month was “martyr” by Kaveh Akbar. I’m halfway through and loving it, but some of the themes were a bit much for my current mental state. Will return soon.

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That one is on my September list! Thanks for reading, Haley.

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That’s how I felt for the first 20% of Martyr too. It got better though when you feel like picking it back up!

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When he goes and visits that artist in the museum the second time? I was so sad haha.

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Thanks Abra for another great reading/not reading post! I DID read the Griffin Dunne memoir and thought it was excellent by the end - impossible not to be moved by the family's ordeal following his sister's murder. I had to pause it as it was so sad, but very glad I went back to it. Happy to chat about it with you and other family memoirs sometime (I've just written about Virginia Woolf's memoir of her nephew Julian Bell).

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Yes, the sadness was why it took me so long to read it as well. I wanted to give it its due but also, I wanted it to end. I will DM you about discussing it because that is an offer I cannot refuse! I loved your piece about Virginia Woolf’s memoir of Julian.

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I did not read—much, at least—The Unreality of Memory by Elisa Gabbert. It’s the last book club pick I made with my mom. I like it, and I am theoretically a perfect target for the book, but it was just not bringing me back!

August was busy and I didn’t want to think much so I read two books in The Expanse science fiction series.

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Sometimes that’s how it goes, right? I love that you have a book club with your mom. 💕

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We started it during her chemo treatment and both loved it so much we kept it going 😊

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Hope she is healing and well.

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She is, thank you!

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Oh, and congrats on the new position!

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Thank you Nathaniel.

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Sep 1Liked by Abra McAndrew

Yes, nail polish. Aisle seat, please.

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You got it!

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I did not read Parable of the Sower even though I specifically bought it to read this summer. I just got distracted by book FOMO! It’s so strong 😫

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