👏 Special thanks for calling out the ‘Pay me & I’ll promote you’ stacks, it just seems so antithetical to the platform, it’s baffling… I have Buried in my ’to read’ pile, I can’t wait to get to it.
Also, Joel, if you’re reading--let this woman have her bookshelves!
Yes to quality! Or authenticity, or depth – or whatever we're going to call it. I'm excited and optimistic about a new app and a gathering together online of interesting minds and interesting writing.
I spot A Place of Greater Safety on your bedside. Is this a read or to be read book? It's one of my favourites.
To be read - and soon. Thanks for the endorsement, I’ve heard some say it’s not as good as the Wolf Hall trilogy... but my take is that so few books are that that isn’t exactly saying much... I’m looking forward to savouring it.
Few books are, indeed. APOGS is a ragged beast, her first stab at historical fiction. It does something magnificent that becomes more refined, perfected, in Wolf Hall. She creates that frightening proximity to her characters. I hope you enjoy it.
Re: Wolf Hall. I'm actually running a big group read of the trilogy next year. A slow read. "Savouring" is the word. We'll be spending a year immersed in her writing.
That's totally understandable! This will be my fifth time reading WH and third reading of the trilogy – I'm a big believer in the value of re-reading. I'm also discovering that a purposeful slow read can be like discovering the book entirely afresh.
Would be fabulous it you joined us Lisa! There will be lots more info in my newsletter, and there's a "Wolf Crawl" section that will become more active as we get closer to January.
I really feel this - people subscribing for the wrong reasons, the focus sometimes going so far away from the writing itself. Plus, many stacks are growing and getting so much attention for reasons other than the writing, or the writing is just downright bad but they still get huge numbers of subscribers. I guess it's fair enough - not everyone here is looking for that quality writing at the end of the day, they might be looking for something else. I'm like you though, I won't subscribe unless I genuinely like what I see and enjoy it, and I really want to focus on writers that I believe in, not just the trendy ones. Enjoy The Marriage Portrait, I read it a few months ago and quite liked it. Lessons in Chemistry was one of my favourites from last year too :)
"the writing is just downright bad but they still get huge numbers of subscribers" THIS. It's enough to make a gal despair. But, as you say, I guess different strokes.... I'm enjoying the marriage portrait so far and looking fwd to lessons in chemistry too. Will report back! Thanks for commenting Tamzin, nice to know I'm not the only one feeling like this...
You're definitely not. It can be so upsetting! I try so hard with every post, I agonize over my writing, I aim to always learn and improve and edit and hone. And then when we see a lot of attention go to posts that, at least in our view, don't merit it, of course it can be disheartening. But I think it comes down to so many factors, so we must try not to be hard on ourselves 😊
Ah yes, the attention magnet pieces that have less substance to them than a tic tac 🫥😶🌫️ oh well 🤷🏻♀️ totally agree w not beating ourselves up about it, I definitely don't! Have a great weekend, gal x
Nice one and timely! What a fine piece to greet me as I arrive in Lima. I am with you, fellow reader, all hopeful about Substack, and then concerned in equal measure....
Thanks Andrew 🙏 amazingly, the very next day after you suggested it, my friend (the one who didn’t like Jia Tolentino) also recommended it! I was like, the universe is trying to tell me
It is SUCH a good book, Andrew, great recommendation ... Nick Hayes is such a compelling writer and his analysis of 1066 and all that followed the dividing up of Britain as gifts to 180 barons is outstanding. His illustrations are magical, an excuse for 'trespass' if ever one should be needed.
I've got The Trespasser's Companion, the follow up, sitting unread on a shelf. Adding it to my autumn/winter reading pile. I'm also curious about trespassing here in France.
I’m more fluid with my book ownership (plus over half my reading is audio) but I do love the collection I have scattered over continents...and when I went to Powell’s Books on a trip over the pond I brought back a whole carryon 🙈 Have you been to Powell’s?
Also, if you like The Marriage Portrait, do read Hamnet (if you haven’t already); I thought Hamnet was much better actually.
Generally I think it’s going in the right direction. I’d like the ability to give feedback on the suggestions, like “not into this” or whatever. I’d also like my reading list of subscribed stuff to clear automatically when I’ve read a piece! Apart from that I’m liking it so far... what about you?
I like the audio, it's a step in the right direction. But the Read Next takes up too much space, and the repetition of the same new to Substack best-selling authors in "top posts", "Suggested posts", and "people to follow" is grating.
Yup. A well-known self-promoting other-guru-bashing Substack guru who I unsubscribed from shows up as a Top Post in Literature, which is neither my category nor hers. The other Top Post is from a new account that hasn't posted yet. To this former software developer, it looks like test content at this point. The data equivalent of "Ipsum lorem". I hope so.
Feels to me, without any data to back it up, that the newsletter culture of the now is split between your traditional salesy gunk and a growing collection of people that have something to say and nowhere to put it.
The weird publications are the ones that mix in both, trying to say something meaningful and also selling ad space or influencing a product or whatever.
I have no insight here... anyways, Sam Kriss is the best.
Quality is winning through. All those people who said 'the future of writing/journalism is free' were wrong about everything.
(You've reminded me to write a popcorn hand grenade on the change from 'World of Books' to 'WOB.' I don't know why it hurts me so deeply. What dynamic, 'moving-forward' yuppie came up with that?)
😅 Asking the big questions 🤝 wob-wob-wob sounds like a dystopian gyrocopter turning on propellers, whereas WOB is obviously a Soviet-bloc grocery chain. Or a new American conservative prepper movement, gaining strength in the Idaho panhandle...
👏 Special thanks for calling out the ‘Pay me & I’ll promote you’ stacks, it just seems so antithetical to the platform, it’s baffling… I have Buried in my ’to read’ pile, I can’t wait to get to it.
Also, Joel, if you’re reading--let this woman have her bookshelves!
Baffling is right 🤝 thanks Chloe. (And dw, I’ll get my shelves ☺️)
Yes to quality! Or authenticity, or depth – or whatever we're going to call it. I'm excited and optimistic about a new app and a gathering together online of interesting minds and interesting writing.
I spot A Place of Greater Safety on your bedside. Is this a read or to be read book? It's one of my favourites.
To be read - and soon. Thanks for the endorsement, I’ve heard some say it’s not as good as the Wolf Hall trilogy... but my take is that so few books are that that isn’t exactly saying much... I’m looking forward to savouring it.
Few books are, indeed. APOGS is a ragged beast, her first stab at historical fiction. It does something magnificent that becomes more refined, perfected, in Wolf Hall. She creates that frightening proximity to her characters. I hope you enjoy it.
Re: Wolf Hall. I'm actually running a big group read of the trilogy next year. A slow read. "Savouring" is the word. We'll be spending a year immersed in her writing.
Wow that’s amazing! If I hadn’t already read them all, perhaps I might join - but my to-be-read pile is too big and too compelling right now...
That's totally understandable! This will be my fifth time reading WH and third reading of the trilogy – I'm a big believer in the value of re-reading. I'm also discovering that a purposeful slow read can be like discovering the book entirely afresh.
But I relate to the never-ending tbr pile!
A virtual group reading the trilogy? I would be up to join in with that!
Would be fabulous it you joined us Lisa! There will be lots more info in my newsletter, and there's a "Wolf Crawl" section that will become more active as we get closer to January.
Excellent!!!
Thanks for great recommendations.
I just finished “ how beautiful we were” by Imbolo Mbue
I really feel this - people subscribing for the wrong reasons, the focus sometimes going so far away from the writing itself. Plus, many stacks are growing and getting so much attention for reasons other than the writing, or the writing is just downright bad but they still get huge numbers of subscribers. I guess it's fair enough - not everyone here is looking for that quality writing at the end of the day, they might be looking for something else. I'm like you though, I won't subscribe unless I genuinely like what I see and enjoy it, and I really want to focus on writers that I believe in, not just the trendy ones. Enjoy The Marriage Portrait, I read it a few months ago and quite liked it. Lessons in Chemistry was one of my favourites from last year too :)
"the writing is just downright bad but they still get huge numbers of subscribers" THIS. It's enough to make a gal despair. But, as you say, I guess different strokes.... I'm enjoying the marriage portrait so far and looking fwd to lessons in chemistry too. Will report back! Thanks for commenting Tamzin, nice to know I'm not the only one feeling like this...
You're definitely not. It can be so upsetting! I try so hard with every post, I agonize over my writing, I aim to always learn and improve and edit and hone. And then when we see a lot of attention go to posts that, at least in our view, don't merit it, of course it can be disheartening. But I think it comes down to so many factors, so we must try not to be hard on ourselves 😊
Ah yes, the attention magnet pieces that have less substance to them than a tic tac 🫥😶🌫️ oh well 🤷🏻♀️ totally agree w not beating ourselves up about it, I definitely don't! Have a great weekend, gal x
Nice one and timely! What a fine piece to greet me as I arrive in Lima. I am with you, fellow reader, all hopeful about Substack, and then concerned in equal measure....
Janus reader-writer hopeful-cynic 🙋🏻♀️
As always, so well written. And I hope The Book of Trespass resonates.
Thanks Andrew 🙏 amazingly, the very next day after you suggested it, my friend (the one who didn’t like Jia Tolentino) also recommended it! I was like, the universe is trying to tell me
It is SUCH a good book, Andrew, great recommendation ... Nick Hayes is such a compelling writer and his analysis of 1066 and all that followed the dividing up of Britain as gifts to 180 barons is outstanding. His illustrations are magical, an excuse for 'trespass' if ever one should be needed.
Agreed. I must read it again - there was so much to take in and the points he makes need to be shared far and wide.
I've got The Trespasser's Companion, the follow up, sitting unread on a shelf. Adding it to my autumn/winter reading pile. I'm also curious about trespassing here in France.
Thanks for the lovely shoutout! Always appreciate the authenticity of your writing. Keep telling it like it is.
Ah thanks Will. Glad this message leaked through: appreciate your writing so much. It’s great.
I’m more fluid with my book ownership (plus over half my reading is audio) but I do love the collection I have scattered over continents...and when I went to Powell’s Books on a trip over the pond I brought back a whole carryon 🙈 Have you been to Powell’s?
Also, if you like The Marriage Portrait, do read Hamnet (if you haven’t already); I thought Hamnet was much better actually.
Sorry Anne - just saw this. Agreed Hamnet much better. I’ve not been to Powells but looks a treat ❤️🎯
Impressed you came back to this comment, haha! Glad you agree on Hamnet, and yes Powell's is something else.
Now you've seen the new app, what do you think?
Generally I think it’s going in the right direction. I’d like the ability to give feedback on the suggestions, like “not into this” or whatever. I’d also like my reading list of subscribed stuff to clear automatically when I’ve read a piece! Apart from that I’m liking it so far... what about you?
I like the audio, it's a step in the right direction. But the Read Next takes up too much space, and the repetition of the same new to Substack best-selling authors in "top posts", "Suggested posts", and "people to follow" is grating.
Oof hard agree on Substack *really* wanting me to subscribe to a small circle of the same five people I unsubscribed ages ago 🤣
Yup. A well-known self-promoting other-guru-bashing Substack guru who I unsubscribed from shows up as a Top Post in Literature, which is neither my category nor hers. The other Top Post is from a new account that hasn't posted yet. To this former software developer, it looks like test content at this point. The data equivalent of "Ipsum lorem". I hope so.
🤞🤞🤞
Feels to me, without any data to back it up, that the newsletter culture of the now is split between your traditional salesy gunk and a growing collection of people that have something to say and nowhere to put it.
The weird publications are the ones that mix in both, trying to say something meaningful and also selling ad space or influencing a product or whatever.
I have no insight here... anyways, Sam Kriss is the best.
Isn’t he 🤝
Quality is winning through. All those people who said 'the future of writing/journalism is free' were wrong about everything.
(You've reminded me to write a popcorn hand grenade on the change from 'World of Books' to 'WOB.' I don't know why it hurts me so deeply. What dynamic, 'moving-forward' yuppie came up with that?)
😅 Asking the big questions 🤝 wob-wob-wob sounds like a dystopian gyrocopter turning on propellers, whereas WOB is obviously a Soviet-bloc grocery chain. Or a new American conservative prepper movement, gaining strength in the Idaho panhandle...
Hahaha. Soviet grocery chain... My uncle lives in Bulgaria. The hardware giant, 'Praktika,' has a bar. I'm serious.
🤣 Serrated, whirling machinery + booze = worst idea ever. How will they pick up their beer with no fingers?
Hahaha. It's such a funny place. One fuel station had a beer garden. Surreal!
🍻 🚗 perfect. What could go wrong
Really enjoying your writing - and, no, I want nothing in return (well called out), I just feel the words resonating.
Thank you so much Barrie ❤️🙏 that’s the best reason I can think of. Looking forward to reading your tales of adventurous trespass en France! 🥐 🗝️
So great as always 💕
Thank you darling ❤️🤝
You’re welcome dearest x