rapierwit
Historical fiction; Francophone literature; Anti-colonial historiography and political theory
2290 points
rapierwit commented on rapierwit's update
Post from the Pagebound Club forum
After years of never having time to read for pleasure, my return into literature has been joyous. I’m feeling so accomplished with the reading that I’ve done and so inspired to take on more stories. However, sometimes I find myself disappointed by a book. I can be totally captivated by the plot but feel so much lacking from the actual writing. I’d really like to know others’ thoughts about the reading levels that exist within adult literature. Is this something that bothers you? How you do figure out if a book is the right “reading level” for you? Have you ever been disappointed or overwhelmed by the writing in a book that you thought was the right fit? Do you think this is even about “reading levels” or more about the talent of the author or individual taste in certain components of prose? How you do think the concept of “reading levels” fits into the complex relationship that a lot of people have with the trope-ification of many fiction genres? I’m so curious to see what you guys think!
37rapierwit commented on a post
On a scale of 1 to 10, honestly, how difficult is it to read "The Lord of the Rings" in English for someone who has a level of about B1/B2? Because I read it in my native language, which is Italian, but I would really like to read it in English only I don't want to spend most of my time looking for the meaning of words that I don't know.
9rapierwit commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
Like, really truly funny the entire time. Like I'm reading a sitcom or even a cartoon. My reading taste has always been pretty dark and I think I'd like to try something really light and laugh out loud funny if anyone has any recommendations 😊
40rapierwit commented on a post
Post from the She Would Be King forum
I’m so confused right now. I love the style and all the spaces the author is leaving us between narrators to put pieces together but I truly have no idea where this is going. Already being almost a third through this short book and knowing that there are still characters to meet is making me nervous. In a way, I find myself wishing that this book was somehow both an easier and harder read? I think I’m wanting more from the prose and hoping for less from the tangle of this plot.
0rapierwit commented on a post
Okay. Now that I’m more than halfway through the book, I’m come to glumly accept that Ken Follett cares way more about describing all the horrible things that happen to women in this book, and way less about describing the process of building the actual goddamn cathedral this whole book is about.
5rapierwit commented on a post
Okay. Now that I’m more than halfway through the book, I’m come to glumly accept that Ken Follett cares way more about describing all the horrible things that happen to women in this book, and way less about describing the process of building the actual goddamn cathedral this whole book is about.
5rapierwit started reading...
She Would Be King
Wayétu Moore
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0rapierwit finished a book
The Orphan Master's Son
Adam Johnson
0rapierwit commented on a post
Pour me motiver un peu (j'avoue que j'ai un peu peur de cette lecture, pour moi les classiques sont un lointain cauchemard d'école 🫠) j'ai lu à mon copain la première page en prenant la voix des ados doublés en français dans les teenage movies, et franchement ça colle à l'écriture jpp
3rapierwit commented on a post
Im currently reading James and found out that it’s more or less a huckleberry reimagining. However is Huckelberry worth reading? And is it very heavy on the racism?
I know it’s an older piece of literature set in the south so I’m imagining lots of N-words etc but does it make it an uncomfortable read?
8Post from the The Orphan Master's Son forum
The references to Mugabe are so wild to me after reading Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo earlier this year. Two modern autocratic dystopias, two imagined narratives of liberation, and the eerily similar representations of the dictator’s grotesque obsessions. The overlap in isolationism and propaganda is astounding. If there’s a book club that wanted to take on current political dystopias as a theme, these two would be an excellent pairing.
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