I haven't read the first one, but I loved these two novels, and your appreciation of them is inspiring the desire for re-reads (and to finally get to the debut).
Would be curious to hear any thoughts you have on Rachel Kushner -- a very different writer, but one I think of as being in Offill's cohort, and in her league.
This review reminded me that I enjoyed Weather, although not as much as The Department of Speculation, and then that it seemed that Lauren Oyler was kind of mocking Jenny Offill in that section of Fake Accounts where she has the narrator write it in a style of observations that the narrator derides. That sent me down a short internet search which reminded me that Lauren Oyler reviewed Weather for the New Yorker and felt it was not really a novel, but "twitter fiction." Just curious what you think of that review and what you thought about that section of Fake Accounts. It seemed weirdly aggressive but maybe it's healthy to have this kind of intrafiction discourse?
Because you think people didn't read this piece, I'm coming back to say that when I read it (which was right after you posted it), I immediately bought Weather. I hope you'll keep writing about things you love as well as things that are controversial.
Just so you know, I read this book and loved it, and I read this review and loved it. It was a lovely review befitting a lovely book, and one the lines took my breath away. Your fiction reviews are delicious; please do not stop.
Freddie, I think you should consider writing a contemporary novel. Your writing is beyond excellent, but it's your insightfulness that so often sets you apart from others, and I have no doubt that you'll be able to translate that insightfulness into fiction that people can connect with in a way that transcends the page. Take the subject matter you care most about right now, whatever that might be - ideally something that's socially prevalent - figure out what message you want the reader to walk away with, and create a story that reads as if it's nonfiction. I'd be fascinated to see what you come up with.
Jesus christ what a good review. Just getting into you, Freddie, but I think you're the writer I've been looking for.
Amazing, perceptive, and FUNNY writer. So happy I got to discover her this year. More book reviews, pls.
I haven't read the first one, but I loved these two novels, and your appreciation of them is inspiring the desire for re-reads (and to finally get to the debut).
Would be curious to hear any thoughts you have on Rachel Kushner -- a very different writer, but one I think of as being in Offill's cohort, and in her league.
This book sounds like a worthy read. Naturally, the stuff about how it looks thoughtfully at the liberal panic of the Trump years intrigues me.
It was a pleasure to read this review, then walk upstairs at the library where I work to take Weather from its place on the shelf.
This review reminded me that I enjoyed Weather, although not as much as The Department of Speculation, and then that it seemed that Lauren Oyler was kind of mocking Jenny Offill in that section of Fake Accounts where she has the narrator write it in a style of observations that the narrator derides. That sent me down a short internet search which reminded me that Lauren Oyler reviewed Weather for the New Yorker and felt it was not really a novel, but "twitter fiction." Just curious what you think of that review and what you thought about that section of Fake Accounts. It seemed weirdly aggressive but maybe it's healthy to have this kind of intrafiction discourse?
Because you think people didn't read this piece, I'm coming back to say that when I read it (which was right after you posted it), I immediately bought Weather. I hope you'll keep writing about things you love as well as things that are controversial.
Just so you know, I read this book and loved it, and I read this review and loved it. It was a lovely review befitting a lovely book, and one the lines took my breath away. Your fiction reviews are delicious; please do not stop.
Freddie, I think you should consider writing a contemporary novel. Your writing is beyond excellent, but it's your insightfulness that so often sets you apart from others, and I have no doubt that you'll be able to translate that insightfulness into fiction that people can connect with in a way that transcends the page. Take the subject matter you care most about right now, whatever that might be - ideally something that's socially prevalent - figure out what message you want the reader to walk away with, and create a story that reads as if it's nonfiction. I'd be fascinated to see what you come up with.
Have you by any chance read any of her children’s books? I think you might really like Sparky. It’s drawn from the same well.