Isn’t there something amazing about late summer? YES – I am ready for this torture to end and YES – look at that light! It’s been a while since I’ve been on a walk but I took one late in the day yesterday. It was a good choice for many reasons, one of which was the way the light glowed on the trail. Sunset is 7:55pm tonight, it was exactly 8:30 on the Summer Solstice. The tilt is happening; fall is coming!
I haven’t been posting on Mondays but I found myself with a pocket of time this morning, so here I am. I’ve finished two books since publishing on Friday and wanted to write about them while they’re still fresh in my mind. So here’s just a little knitting and reading update from the weekend:
Knitting:
Still no knitting on my sweater this weekend but I did make progress on my latest pair of socks. I finished the toe on the first on Friday evening and started the second in the pair. I’m working on the heel flap now. This is a terrible picture and it doesn’t help that the colors in the socks are so dark. I’ll try to get a much better one when they’re actually finished.
Reading:
Love Forms by Claire Adam
(Amazon | Bookshop.org)
A few of the blurbs about this book compared Claire Adam to Elizabeth Strout and Claire Keegan and I wholeheartedly agree. The voice of this novel felt like a conversation with a Trinidadian Lucy Barton and the crux of the story tilted towards Small Things Like These. I adored this book!
This novel is told to us by Dawn, a 40-something Trinidadian living in London who is trying to connect with the daughter she put up for adoption as a teenager. She shares what she can remember, which is fuzzy around the edges and short on details. She also describes her current life – recently divorced, two adult sons, finding her own way in the city – and how the search for her daughter fits into all of it.
I really enjoyed Dawn’s voice throughout this novel and loved the descriptions of Trinidad, Tobago, and Venezuela. I also learned a bit about Venezuelan history and how things have changed since the 1980s. It’s just fascinating when you consider the current immigration situation in the US and how many people are seeking refuge from Venezuela.
This book flew by for me and I found it moving and compelling. I’m so glad that it ended up on the Booker long list because I’m not sure if I would have prioritized it otherwise.
Endling by Maria Reva
(Amazon | Bookshop.org)
This book’s description had me sold with the words snails and Ukraine. The unique viewpoint and structure pushed me over the edge.
This book is set in the days leading up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and focuses on three women: Yeva, Nastia, and Sol. Yeva is a scientist who drives around Ukraine trying to save dying snail species. Sisters Nastia and Sol are looking for their mother, a feminist activist who has disappeared. They all collide when they join a mail order bride-type of agency, all for different reasons. None of which are to actually get married.
When Russia invades (in real life, not the novel), the author’s intentions for this novel are upended and it becomes a fascinating piece of metafiction as she tries to get these women through Ukraine and follows her actual family’s peril in the country. I’ve made it sound complicated but the author does a wonderful job of making this all make sense. It is quite the journey!
And now I’ve read four from the Booker longlist and am going to take a small break. I’ve started The Book of Records (amazing!) and The Gathering (for my goal of reading 12 Female Prize Winners this year). I plan to start Universality once finishing those, in case anyone wants to read along with me.
The weekend was full but I was so happy to have found a bit of time to do some reading and knitting. And now we’re headed into a very warm week so I’m hoping the kids and dog will be amenable to hiding out under the air conditioners for the next couple of days! Colton will be home from school in just a few minutes so I’m going to wrap this up.
I hope you find some time for the things you love this week. Take good care!
The Cozy Burrow 
I was reading something last week about the amount of daylight we (in Pittsburgh) will lose in August (it is over 70 minutes!) That makes me a bit sad… I will have to get my headlamp out for those early morning walks with Frankie! Sigh. But I am with you on being so over these hot (as hell) days!
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Hot, hot, hot in Maine. Not like Augusts of old, that’s for sure. (August used to be one of my favorite months.) Like you, I am looking forward to September.
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I remember, what was it, the beginning of last year?, when you read all of Sarah J. Maas’ books in quick succession. That’s me right now but with any type of book candy. Thrillers, “the hottest book of the summer”, romance, spy novels… if it has a fast moving plot, it’s for me! I have Endling checked out of the library but I’m not sure I will get to it in time. Thank you for these Booker reviews, I will get to them eventually 🙂
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I’ve noticed the shortening days when I take Ruthie out for her last walk of the day; in the past couple of weeks, I haven’t needed my sunglasses because the sun has gone down just enough. That makes me happy because it means fall is coming but also sad because it means the days are getting shorter and soon enough we’ll be walking in the dark. I will take a little more darkness if it means less heat and humidity, though! I’m still fighting with myself over how much of the Booker list I want to read. I’m interested in some of the titles, but generally I think there are too many men on the list, so maybe I’ll limit myself to the female authors. I already had Flashlight and Audition on hold at the library, and I added Endling (only available in audio right now and a very long wait). We’ll see if I end up buying more. I told myself I wasn’t going to try to read the full longlist this year because I have too many other books to read!
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I am torn – I hate losing the sunlight but I am SO READY for cooler temperatures! There are cozy things I enjoy about fall, so I’m going to do my best to focus on those. I keep in mind that everything changes all the time. I’m glad you had some good reading time this week! Hope things continue to go well in that department.
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I skipped right over your two book reviews because I’ll be reading both soon. I did read Universality this past weekend and look forward to sharing thoughts with you (did you read Assembly?) Our days are getting shorter FAST – sunrise is now about 7am and sunset before 8:30pm … We’ve been taking morning walks with a flashlight for a few weeks. Nashville’s times were 6am-7:45pm … no flashlight needed … and I loved that!
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I am following along with all of my reading friends as they tackle the Booker Prize so thanks for adding your thoughts. I am sad to see the days getting shorter but taking advantage of all the light when it is around.
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I just ordered a copy of Love Forms. I wonder if the cost of books from Blackwell’s will increase due to tariffs. I love the last light of the day – however many hours of daylight. I am a bit weary of the heat but the end of the longer hours of daylight is always bitter sweet.
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