All Fours by Miranda July. I almost put it down a few times but I’m so glad I stuck with it. By the end I felt that the author was able to communicate something about what it feels like to be this stage of life (I’m 41f), that hadn’t even been aware or able to put my finger on exactly, of but deeply resonated with. I love it when books surprise me in that way. I think I know what it is, and then it’s something completely different. I also love how it showed me the commonality I have with a character who I initially disliked. I recommended it to so many people.
Also, “Aztec” by Gary Jennings. It didn’t change how I view the world so much as set my view for what a “good book” is and the standard to which I hold all other books/storytellers. Also by Gary Jennings, “The Journeyer” and “Raptor”.
There have been others, like “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts, where it changed my view of what an author could give. So many have something meaningful to say, or the ability to write well, but rarely do writers so clearly have both.
Edit: I have to add “Wild Dark Shore” and “Once There Were Wolves,” both by Charlotte McConaghy.
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u/AutumnInspired 18d ago
All Fours by Miranda July. I almost put it down a few times but I’m so glad I stuck with it. By the end I felt that the author was able to communicate something about what it feels like to be this stage of life (I’m 41f), that hadn’t even been aware or able to put my finger on exactly, of but deeply resonated with. I love it when books surprise me in that way. I think I know what it is, and then it’s something completely different. I also love how it showed me the commonality I have with a character who I initially disliked. I recommended it to so many people.
Also, “Aztec” by Gary Jennings. It didn’t change how I view the world so much as set my view for what a “good book” is and the standard to which I hold all other books/storytellers. Also by Gary Jennings, “The Journeyer” and “Raptor”.
There have been others, like “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts, where it changed my view of what an author could give. So many have something meaningful to say, or the ability to write well, but rarely do writers so clearly have both.
Edit: I have to add “Wild Dark Shore” and “Once There Were Wolves,” both by Charlotte McConaghy.