We’ve talked a lot about summer reading on this blog already but today we’re going to talk about it some more because . . . it’s announcement day for Read With Us. Those of you who participated in our Young Mungo discussion know the book already but for the rest of you . . . drumroll please . . . we are reading . . .

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

I read this book back in May and I really enjoyed it. And I’m not the only one, as some of you have already read and rated this highly, it was a nominee (short list) for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and the film rights have been acquired by New Regency, the production company behind 12 Years a Slave, Gone Girl, and Bohemian Rhapsody. In other words, it’s got street cred.

It tells the story of a young woman named Martha. She is married to Patrick and struggles with mental illness. This illness is never named by Mason but she writes about with incredible sensitivity and understanding. Martha isn’t always likeable, but I found myself cheering her on and being moved by her situation. The story is bitingly honest and beautifully written with sharp and witty dialogue, characters who are incredibly real, and a story that will move even the most stoic of readers. Just my opinion, of course.

I’m hoping you will want to form you own opinion and will read this along with Bonny and Kym and I. We will be promoting it on our blogs over the summer and will be holding our Zoom discussion on Tuesday, September 13th at 7:00pm EST.

When you’re choosing your summer reading, don’t forget Sorrow and Bliss so that you can Read With Us.

Friends, it’s time to talk about Young Mungo! Did you love it? Did you find it difficult? Are you excited to talk about it with your fellow Read With Us-ers? Yes to all of those questions? I’m right there with you.

I’ve already shared my review, so you know that I found it brilliant and felt like it was reading about Shuggie Bain’s next door neighbor. So many of the same themes were present . . . poverty, alcoholism, abuse . . . Stuart does an incredible job of creating rich and human characters in a real life setting with a heartbreaking story. There’s no stereotypes, it’s just raw and real and profound.

My question for all of you is: what did you think of the ending? We see Mungo wave to James and then . . . that’s it. It’s clearly meant to be ambiguous and Stuart doesn’t tell us what happens next. Does Mungo join James and live happily ever after? Is James even really there? What would you write for the ending if you were given the chance?

Please tell me in the comments and remember that you are invited to join us for a Zoom discussion this evening at 7:00pm EST. If you haven’t received a Zoom link and you’d like one, just let me know in the comments. And please check out Bonny and Kym’s posts today as they will also be asking questions about Young Mungo.

I know one thing . . . I can’t wait to read whatever Douglas Stuart writes next.

It’s spring! The days are longer and the weather is warmer and we’ve got a fresh new image for our Read With Us posts, thanks to Kym. We’re also ready to . . . announce our Spring 2022 selection . . .

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

You may recall that I absolutely adored Shuggie Bain, Stuart’s first novel and the winner of the 2020 Booker Prize and nominee for the National Book Award for Fiction. Well. I think it’s safe to say (even though I haven’t finished this one yet) that Stuart has . . . done it again. It feels like you’re reading about Shuggie’s neighbors and the themes are, for better or worse, much the same. It’s another coming-of-age story about a gay, working-class boy, living in 1980s Glasgow, and that comes with all of the heartbreak and abuse you might suspect. But when the writing is as gorgeous as Stuart’s, well, it’s worth the read, even when the story is hard.

Bonny and Kym and I will be doing promos over the next month and our live virtual discussion will be at 7pm EST on Tuesday, June 7th. I hope you will, once again, Read With Us!

As promised yesterday, it’s time for our All Things Agatha discussion. In case you haven’t seen it, this is my review of the book:

Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Claire Luchette’s debut novel is sharp and funny with prose that gets right to the point. I would have enjoyed a little more backstory on Agatha’s life, and I’m hoping for a sequel that continues her tale, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel about the lives of modern day sisters working in rehab.

My question for all of you focuses on Agatha’s backstory. I’d have liked more of it so that I could have developed a better understanding of why she chose to become a sister . . . and also why she then chose to leave it behind. I’m asking you, in the comments, to speculate on who Agatha was before she took her vows . . . and then what lead her to change her mind.

I’d tell you what I think but I don’t want to influence your own ideas so I’m going to stay silent . . . for now!

Please also visit Kym and Bonny today to read their questions and give them feedback, too.

As a reminder, our zoom discussion is tonight at 7:00pm EST. If you need a zoom invite please let me know straight away.