I pay for exactly two Sayable subscriptions. Yours and this author's podcast. This entire discussion has been absolutely fascinating to me--I love it when worlds collide. That said, my review of the book is TBD, but I think Caro would 100% agree that liking different things IS what makes us interesting.
I’m so behind on the books that are buzzin’, currently reading a novel that was written 10 years ago, but because it came with a surprise hand written note about the beautiful writing and it’s staying power, I can’t resist the pull of finding out whether I’ll feel the same way or not.
Just here to say that our best book club meets are when the one of us hates the book! It’s so fiery, funny and often passionate because someone else loved it. Even if the general consensus was less than five stars, ironically the book holds the upper hand because we never forget the conversation and our love for talking about books!📚
Ooooh I want to know what novel you're reading! Also, I love when someone doesn't love a book, too, because it means I can trust them when they DO love a book.
Love blue, all the ways God makes it. One imitation is cerulean. Just because someone markets it, it’s not theirs, and they ought to be piggy-glad I’m buying it. Yogis did not invent breathing or body movements, yet they want all that attached to their religion. However, your direct expression of thought using particular words is uniquely your own and God-given as a gift to humanity. If people want to pay you to support you that is a gift as well, not a marketing game. Not to you or us. Your writing is getting better and better not because of the dollars you accumulate, but because you as a human being are growing and learning and showing us.
There is nothing more saddening to me (when it comes to reading at least) than an excellent premise that can’t live up to its potential! I am bummed to see all of these critiques but my TBR pile is pretty heavy already so I will begrudgingly lighten that load in favor of something more promising. The quote I have read of the author who “stopped researching as soon as she started writing” really gave me the ick as well.
Maybe you and your buddy Kendall can bring us a better version of this novel some day 👀👀
A friend said she listened to it and that experience was great, so i wonder if because it was optioned so quickly for a movie, if the potential for scripting was heavily leaned on while drafting, and that's why it felt like a better experience on audio. I listened to the first chapter on audio this morning and, while I still didn't LOVE it, I didn't feel quite so hung up on what felt like really clunky writing while I was reading it.
That’s a good point! I’ve read a few books that had a similar novel-to-film adaptation pipeline and felt they should have just been screenplays to begin with. I’ll wait for the movie and save myself the frustration 😅
PS. I sat down at my desk this morning and I have your little cairn and note nearby and it caught my eye and made me smile. Thank you for the gift of it. it brings me joy.
I agree - I did not like this book at all but it did make me think a lot, especially about the inner lives of people I know and struggle to relate to IRL as well as influencers I find distasteful or troubling. Because I found the main character of this book so unbelievable as far as motivations, beliefs, and inner world go, it did make me ponder a lot on the real inner life of real people. And that made me have a bit more empathy and understanding about the backgrounds and struggles of the real women this author was trying to convey. So I suppose it produced some good in me despite my dislike of the writing and my frustration with the way the characters were written.
Also your book is definitely not going to be bad. ♥️ I’m really excited to read it someday - you are one of the most thoughtful people I enjoy following and I know you will have put so much care into it.
Also, thank you. There are parts of my novel that I really love and really work, but other parts that are really tough for me to nail to a point where I'm happy with that. But I am caring about it, that's for sure ;)
Substack has effectively validated my decision to skip Yesteryear (seems boring and also I am extremely picky about people representing the interior life of religious piety accurately). Also, your novel is NOT going to be awful. <3
See, I thought the premise sounded SO interesting. It really is a pet peeve of mine, though, same as you, when the representation of the religious is limited to cliches.
Also, thank you. Coming from someone who read it deeply for me, it means a lot. Really.
So many thoughts. A) I love your hypothesis that serious writers love reality TV because I know far too much about the Mormon Wives and their Secret Lives. B) If it makes you feel any better, most people I know loved Theo and most people I know hated Yesteryear, although I think that's less about the writing and more about the lazy stereotyping (which is, of course, part of the craft of writing, but even with beautiful prose I think a lot of my circle was primed to hate that book). C) I love when people get fiery about books because it shows they care. D) This week, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature stepped in shit for calling most of children's literature bad and then people got mad at me for--not AGREEING, but seeing his point, because criticizing children's literature isn't "lifting each other up". Because kids, apparently, aren't serious enough human beings to have meaningful literature and the feelings of authors are far more important than the quality of stories we're telling them. 💀 All of this to say: I love a good literary critique so keep 'em coming, friend! Even though I hate Jayber Crow hahaha. ;)
Claire, I just need to tell you it's my favorite when you comment =)
A. Girl, don't get me started. I have SO many thoughts about reality TV and why people who write like it. I mean, I know a lot of people like it, but writers specifically.
B. Most people I know also hated Theo and most of them also hated Yesteryear, so I don't know what that says about me but lazy stereotyping is a real pet peeve of mine, not just in literature, but in life too.
C. I do care!
D. I saw that dustup happen and it's nuts to me. I will always love L'Engle's quote about why she wrote for children, it's been a guiding light for me.
E. It's sad to me that you hate Jayber Crow, but also it's okay. I mean, I want the people I like to like the things I like, but I also really like it when the people I like like different things than I like!
the feminist in me can not transition from him first being attracted to her as a school girl and then slowly falling in love with her and also she's married? I love a complicated sinner character but I feel like the book highlights him as some moral hero while he just carries on an emotional affair? with a girl he fell in love with as a child??? haha one day I will make it big, go on a massive book tour, come to Nooks, and you me and Lore can discuss this over a drink 😂
I pay for exactly two Sayable subscriptions. Yours and this author's podcast. This entire discussion has been absolutely fascinating to me--I love it when worlds collide. That said, my review of the book is TBD, but I think Caro would 100% agree that liking different things IS what makes us interesting.
I hear GREAT things about CCB's podcast! I'm planning to check it out soon =) (ALSO, thanks for supporting Sayable =) That means a lot to me!)
I love reality tv. I’m so interested in your theory.
Oh girl. So many thoughts =)
I’m so behind on the books that are buzzin’, currently reading a novel that was written 10 years ago, but because it came with a surprise hand written note about the beautiful writing and it’s staying power, I can’t resist the pull of finding out whether I’ll feel the same way or not.
Just here to say that our best book club meets are when the one of us hates the book! It’s so fiery, funny and often passionate because someone else loved it. Even if the general consensus was less than five stars, ironically the book holds the upper hand because we never forget the conversation and our love for talking about books!📚
Ooooh I want to know what novel you're reading! Also, I love when someone doesn't love a book, too, because it means I can trust them when they DO love a book.
Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier, lovely prose, story with all kinds of sad and best of all, the Trees!
Love blue, all the ways God makes it. One imitation is cerulean. Just because someone markets it, it’s not theirs, and they ought to be piggy-glad I’m buying it. Yogis did not invent breathing or body movements, yet they want all that attached to their religion. However, your direct expression of thought using particular words is uniquely your own and God-given as a gift to humanity. If people want to pay you to support you that is a gift as well, not a marketing game. Not to you or us. Your writing is getting better and better not because of the dollars you accumulate, but because you as a human being are growing and learning and showing us.
Thank you friend =) That is nice to hear and kind of you to say.
There is nothing more saddening to me (when it comes to reading at least) than an excellent premise that can’t live up to its potential! I am bummed to see all of these critiques but my TBR pile is pretty heavy already so I will begrudgingly lighten that load in favor of something more promising. The quote I have read of the author who “stopped researching as soon as she started writing” really gave me the ick as well.
Maybe you and your buddy Kendall can bring us a better version of this novel some day 👀👀
Also, Kendall has something in the works that I am VERY excited about and can't wait to talk more about when some things get ironed out.
A friend said she listened to it and that experience was great, so i wonder if because it was optioned so quickly for a movie, if the potential for scripting was heavily leaned on while drafting, and that's why it felt like a better experience on audio. I listened to the first chapter on audio this morning and, while I still didn't LOVE it, I didn't feel quite so hung up on what felt like really clunky writing while I was reading it.
That’s a good point! I’ve read a few books that had a similar novel-to-film adaptation pipeline and felt they should have just been screenplays to begin with. I’ll wait for the movie and save myself the frustration 😅
Perhaps raised as this "tradwife" meme, but since then you are a marvelous person. Hugs
XOXO
casual corner is an actual store?!? i always thought she was saying it as an expression. i’m learning many things here.
It was back in the day, no idea if it still is!
PS. I sat down at my desk this morning and I have your little cairn and note nearby and it caught my eye and made me smile. Thank you for the gift of it. it brings me joy.
I agree - I did not like this book at all but it did make me think a lot, especially about the inner lives of people I know and struggle to relate to IRL as well as influencers I find distasteful or troubling. Because I found the main character of this book so unbelievable as far as motivations, beliefs, and inner world go, it did make me ponder a lot on the real inner life of real people. And that made me have a bit more empathy and understanding about the backgrounds and struggles of the real women this author was trying to convey. So I suppose it produced some good in me despite my dislike of the writing and my frustration with the way the characters were written.
Also your book is definitely not going to be bad. ♥️ I’m really excited to read it someday - you are one of the most thoughtful people I enjoy following and I know you will have put so much care into it.
See? We found some good in it =)
Also, thank you. There are parts of my novel that I really love and really work, but other parts that are really tough for me to nail to a point where I'm happy with that. But I am caring about it, that's for sure ;)
Substack has effectively validated my decision to skip Yesteryear (seems boring and also I am extremely picky about people representing the interior life of religious piety accurately). Also, your novel is NOT going to be awful. <3
See, I thought the premise sounded SO interesting. It really is a pet peeve of mine, though, same as you, when the representation of the religious is limited to cliches.
Also, thank you. Coming from someone who read it deeply for me, it means a lot. Really.
You know I love this conversation and can't wait to continue it with you and Nate tonight :)
So many thoughts. A) I love your hypothesis that serious writers love reality TV because I know far too much about the Mormon Wives and their Secret Lives. B) If it makes you feel any better, most people I know loved Theo and most people I know hated Yesteryear, although I think that's less about the writing and more about the lazy stereotyping (which is, of course, part of the craft of writing, but even with beautiful prose I think a lot of my circle was primed to hate that book). C) I love when people get fiery about books because it shows they care. D) This week, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature stepped in shit for calling most of children's literature bad and then people got mad at me for--not AGREEING, but seeing his point, because criticizing children's literature isn't "lifting each other up". Because kids, apparently, aren't serious enough human beings to have meaningful literature and the feelings of authors are far more important than the quality of stories we're telling them. 💀 All of this to say: I love a good literary critique so keep 'em coming, friend! Even though I hate Jayber Crow hahaha. ;)
I think you're the first person I've found who also doesn't like Jayber Crow. I wanted to like it so badly, but I just could not.
Claire, I just need to tell you it's my favorite when you comment =)
A. Girl, don't get me started. I have SO many thoughts about reality TV and why people who write like it. I mean, I know a lot of people like it, but writers specifically.
B. Most people I know also hated Theo and most of them also hated Yesteryear, so I don't know what that says about me but lazy stereotyping is a real pet peeve of mine, not just in literature, but in life too.
C. I do care!
D. I saw that dustup happen and it's nuts to me. I will always love L'Engle's quote about why she wrote for children, it's been a guiding light for me.
E. It's sad to me that you hate Jayber Crow, but also it's okay. I mean, I want the people I like to like the things I like, but I also really like it when the people I like like different things than I like!
Wait, WHAT?! :)
the feminist in me can not transition from him first being attracted to her as a school girl and then slowly falling in love with her and also she's married? I love a complicated sinner character but I feel like the book highlights him as some moral hero while he just carries on an emotional affair? with a girl he fell in love with as a child??? haha one day I will make it big, go on a massive book tour, come to Nooks, and you me and Lore can discuss this over a drink 😂
Okay, okay, I see your point :)
You don't have to make it big to come to Nooks!
Come to Nooks!