What Are We Reading This Spring?

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THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS / MARTYR! / JAMES / ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK / 33 PLACE BRUGMANN / LONG ISLAND

I’ve not been reading as much fiction as I normally do the past six months; I’ve instead been drawn to the creative practice of reading poetry most mornings when I settle into my studio. This is partly my own conscious embrace of the “fractionality” concept — i.e., knowing I don’t have as much time to read in longer stretches and accommodating little pockets of available time by reading sips of poetry instead — and partly because it’s what’s making me lean forward right now. I love the distillation of poetry, its elision and parataxis. Sometimes I re-read my prose and think, “now what would the poet do?” and weedwack about half the words off the page. Concision has never been my strong suit; I’m still learning to “kill my darlings.” Occupational hazard of the noticer, I guess — I want to leave it all in.

I have a couple of trips planned in the coming weeks and I’d like to take those occasions to dig into some novels, though. I miss the feeling of flopping, hammock-like, into a book.

Right now, I’m reading Pat Barker’s Silence of the Girls and my God does it scratch the itch Circe left years ago. I’m about a third of the way through and loving it, but my progress is stymied by the fact that I only seem able to read during that narrow crescent just before bed, when my mind swims as close to the rim of sleep as it can without actually slipping in. Not great; I find myself re-reading 1-2 pages each night. Have you read it? If not, disregard the following, but did anyone else get a small and strange thrill when Achilles cried as Briseis was taken by Agamemnon? I find his portraiture absolutely fascinating. I love the obliqueness of it (at least, as of 30% in) — it almost feels like Barker paints him in profile versus 3D. We see only the cut of his jib, but it’s closer-in than we’ve ever seen him before. The book is so cinematic; I’d love to see it adapted to screen. We’d need a Hemsworth brother for Achilles, and maybe like a Brie Larsen for Briseis? Natalie Portman also came to mind but she’s a bit too delicate for the way Briseis is written…

Next up: The Berry Pickers (check trigger warnings! I know a lot of you have written that you couldn’t stomach this one, as it has to do with the loss of a child) and then All the Colors of the Dark. These have been recommended dozens of times by Magpie readers and I need to see what all the buzz is about. A lot of you have specifically mentioned these books in the same breath as The God of the Woods, which I found gripping and pleasurable to read. (Full review here.)

I also always have a romance or two downloaded to my Kindle. They’re my escape valve when I’m fretting at 3 a.m. or killing time in a waiting room or some other unpleasant situation. I currently have B. K. Borison’s First Time Caller and Elsie Silver’s Wild Side downloaded but not started either. Heads up to check the spice level (i.e., open door vs. closed door) ratings from Beach Reads and Bubbly if you’re new to this genre!

Also on my radar…

+Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy — described as a literary thriller; people have been raving about the poetic quality of this work. “A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.”

+Martyr by Kaveh Akbar. Have heard this is darkly funny, incisive, poetic — but realistic. “A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum.”

+33 Place Brugman by Alice Austen — “An outstanding debut novel—a love story, mystery, and philosophical puzzle, told in the singular voices of the residents of a Beaux Arts apartment house in Belgium during World War II.”

+James by Percival Everett. I’ve had this downloaded for almost a year. I know I’ll get to it eventually!

+Long Island by Colm Toibin. When I polled Magpie readers on Instagram as to what they were reading, this was the number one response. (“From the beloved, critically acclaimed, bestselling author comes a spectacularly moving novel featuring Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of Brooklyn, Tóibín’s most popular work in twenty years.”)

Not really my speed / grabbing me, but there’s a lot of buzz right now about the novel I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacquline Harpman (“Ursula K. LeGuin meets The Road in a post-apocalyptic modern classic of female friendship and intimacy.”). Has anyone read? Is it worth the hype?

What’s in your TBR (to be read) pile?

Reminder: embrace your bad book girl self.

Shopping Break.

+I own many Dorsey pieces, but their Clemence necklace is my long-time favorite – easy to layer but elegant on its own against a bare neckline!

+Tory Burch Romy Tote – perfect work/everyday mom bag. Find more of my spring tote picks here.

+Obsessed with these Rag & Bone widelegs!  Probably one of my top two or three most worn pairs of jeans.

+One of my all-time favorite tees from Ayr – a perfect hybrid between a tee and a sweatshirt.

+One piece swimsuit for summer – flattering but cheeky, and come in the best colors.

+This depuffing face mask from Clarins is the GOAT.  I didn’t even know my skin was puffy sometimes before I tried this.

+Crisp white bed sheets at a great price.  I bought these as back-ups for our higher end sets, but now use them interchangeably.  Remarkably good quality relative to cost.

+These pants make lounging feel luxurious.  I wore these on an overnight flight to Italy last fall!

+Hotel standard pillows – our favorite inexpensive sleeping pillows.  We use throughout our home.

+I swear by this red light therapy mask; reduces wrinkles and promotes collagen production.  I’ve noticed a huge difference around my eyes in particular.  Use code JEN10.

+An elevated plain white tee is worth the investment, and this is my favorite of all time. I own several white and most of the other colors, too.  Use code MAGPIE15 for a discount.

+I love the size and silhouette of this chic bucket bag!  Bonus: I’ve never seen anyone else carry it.

+Any and all Chappywrap blankets – my family is obsessed.  We have one for each of us!  The most gorgeous, elevated patterns, and the perfect cuddle/share size.  Use code JEN15 for 15% off.

+One of my all-time favorite moisturizers.

+This Lake lounge set is a long-time Magpie reader (and personal) favorite.  The softest, swingiest material – it’s what you want to put on when you’re not feeling well, are tired, etc.

+Quince has become one of my most-loved brands – excellent quality for less. I always find myself reaching for this cardigan to throw on over any outfit!

+I use my Ugg platform slippers daily – perfect for school drop-offs or running to the mailbox.

+High-end fit on these kick-flare jeans from Gap.