Full disclosure is that I haven’t been reading much. When we finished our last show in Miami this past November I took a family trip to a tropical island where any time I attempted to read I mostly got distracted looking at waves or sunsets or just fell asleep because I was day drinking.
Upon returning home I got sucked into holiday and post album cycle busy-ness and there was really no time to read anything besides recipes for mushroom tarts and regions on wine bottles. Obnoxious, I know!
Then the new year started and I turned on my new desktop, updated my Logic and set up a fresh session. I didn’t expect anything, mostly was killing time and watching the street cats fight and chase squirrels out my office window. Within a few months Tegan and I had already written dozens of songs. So, as you might have already guessed, I didn’t read much then either!
Now I’m sitting in the studio and my focus is strictly on new music and lyrics and when I get home at the end of the night all I desire is a glass of wine and the sound of screaming ladies from the TV (The Real Housewives of…anywhere!)
Oh, and I’m a cat parent, so if there is a spare moment I basically sit in a blissed out glow staring at the perfect little furry creature who mostly ignores me and ruined the couch.
I’ve cobbled together a small list of the books I have managed to get through, but accept my apology for the delay in keeping up with this list!
-skq
The Neopolitan Novels, Elena Ferrante:
My Brilliant Friend
The Story of a New Name
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay
Elena Ferrante is one of my favorite writers. This series was one of those all consuming obsession level discoveries. Tegan just saw over my shoulder that the fourth novel in the series is being released in September and her face was all shock and awe and excitement. That’s how I feel too. Truly wonderful.
H Is For Hawk, Helen Macdonald
I still get teary thinking about this incredible book. It could have been my new pet emotions, but I will never forget this one.
The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcolm
After The Tall Timber: Collected Nonfiction, Renata Adler
Pitch Dark was hugely influential for me last year and I have been snapping up anything I can find written by Renata Adler ever since.
Nobody Is Ever Missing, Catherine Lacey
Indonesia, Etc.: Exploring the Improbable Nation, Elizabeth Pisani