reading habit
Books Editor’s note
This week, since the weather seems to be begging for it, I’m pleased to have subscriber Shalini Singh recommend some thrilling true crime to you! There’s renowned classics in there, as well as some incredible contemporary material that has been adapted for television. But before we get to that, here are some bookish links for you to peruse.
A list of good literary reads
One: The Booker Prize 2021 longlist was announced, and I think it is a terrific, wide-ranging selection. The Guardian has a rundown of the nominees, and some unexpected misses (Sally Rooney, Where Are You), but I am most excited about ‘China Room’ by Sunjeev Sahota and ‘A Passage North’ by Anuk Arudpragasam. Existing heavyweights include Kazuo Ishiguro, Richard Powers and Rachel Cusk. Time for my TBR to explode, yet again.
Two: If you make an enemy of a writer, the least you can do is be prepared to get insulted by them in the most colourful ways. LitHub has a roundup of some of Virginia Woolf’s juiciest words and phrases found in her diaries to describe people who couldn’t manage to hold themselves up in her eyes. Looking at you, “limp and damp and milder than the breath of a cow” EM Forster.
Three: It’s always fascinating to consider the role fiction might play in shaping real world matters. Chicago Review of Books interviews author Paul S Hirsch who, in his new book ‘Pulp Empire’, sheds light on how comic books were used by the US as propaganda, especially during World War II. “As I dove deeper... it became clear to me that the purpose of this propaganda was to shape popular perceptions of race and to present the U.S. as this positive egalitarian country.” A lot of shocking, eye-opening stuff in here.
Four: In this moving essay for Poets & Writers, Anjali Enjeti talks about living with chronic pain while being a writer. She chronicles her struggles and attempts at maintaining a writing routine despite the persistent discomfort—and comes out of it determined and kind to herself.
Five: In Catapult, a writer reckons with having a day job while attempting to make her writing the centre of life and career. It is a nuanced read, with many facets to it, and shows the daunting and complex nature of a dual life—one which fulfils you and the other that pays the bills. There are also tried and tested methods for writers looking to launch a daily writing schedule for themselves.
Six: The Atlantic has an incisive deep dive into the world of book adaptations and how it’s changing the nature of reading and the publishing industry as a whole. An adaptation bumps up the book’s popularity, sure, but it also has long lasting effects on contemporary fiction, including how it gets acquired in the first place. As a result, “[w]riters, agents, and editors have more incentive than ever to craft novels with TV in mind.” For pop culture aficionados and inveterate readers both, what an amazing time to be alive.
Quick fixes, aka a few varied recommendations
Shalini is a lawyer, writer, book reviewer and editor. She has published pieces on both legal and non-legal topics, and is a dedicated reader to boot! Here are her recommendations:
Green River, Running Red: by Ann Rule. I can read any book by Ann Rule and love it. She is the doyenne of true crime. I was introduced to the genre through her and her case files. If you want an introduction to some of the most famous cases, pick her up. Forget days and months as you know them, for you will be obsessing over the cases she wrote about for a very long time.
The Michigan Murders: by Edward Keyes. Well researched, very much urgent in tone and a remarkable account which thrills, this book compels the reader to not close the book without knowing more. If you have the stomach for the grotesque, go for it. A normally peaceful mid-American community was racked by a succession of inexplicable murders. The victims—seven young females—ranging in age from thirteen to twenty-three, each killed with unspeakable savagery. This book is an account of what happened and what followed.
Happy Like Murderers: by Gordon Burn. Fred and Rose West—both from incestuous and dysfunctional backgrounds—met, married and killed together. One of the worst serial killer couples I have read about. This book tells the story of their acts excellently and pays homage to the victims.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: by Michelle McNamara. A true crime book which felt close to my heart, as I had been following the East Area Rapist aka Golden State Killer—the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorised California for over a decade in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The perpetrator eventually was caught a few years ago and convicted last year. The book and the show based on it are both highly recommended. If you are an armchair detective, this is a must read.
The Devil in White City: by Erik Larson. This is a historical masterpiece. I loved the build-up, the tale of a fair in progress with a glowing serial killer in tow—one of the first serial killers of America. The premise alone is reason enough to pick up this highly lauded, award-winning book.
Note: Reading Habit is curated by our books editor Anushree Kaushal. Want to send along recommendations, feedback or just say hi? Email her at kaushalanushree@gmail.com.
