#epistolary novel
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Have you read...
note: If you did not finish but feel you read enough to form an opinion, you may choose a ‘Yes’ option instead of 'Partly' (e.g., Yes, I didn’t like it). Similarly, if you’ve never heard of a book until now but formed an opinion from this post, you may wish to select a “no” option e.g., “No, but I want to.”
(...) [A] work of epistolary fiction and metafiction focusing on a fictional documentary film titled the Navidson Record, presented as a story within a story discussed in a handwritten monograph recovered by the primary narrator, Johnny Truant. The narrative makes heavy use of multiperspectivity as Truant's footnotes chronicle his efforts to transcribe the manuscript, which itself reveals the Navidson Record's supposed narrative through transcriptions and analysis depicting a story of a family who discovers a larger-on-the-inside labyrinth in their house.
submit a horror book!
#House of Leaves#Mark Danielewski#horror books#horror#bookblr#books#horror classics#cult classic#epistolary fiction#epistolary novel#mark z danielewski#horrorbookpoll
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Book review: Augustus, a novel by John Williams.
This is not a history book. This is a story about small and ordinary people living through extraordinary times. It's a story about destiny, betrayal, love and grief; about how the same person can do both wonderful and horrible things. It is a book that raises questions - how far should you go in pursuit of what is right? What price are you willing to pay? How do you choose between your loved ones and your country? And it doesn't grant you a comfortable answer.
It's written in epistolary format: a collection of fictional letters, memoirs, meeting notes and public announcements from Augustus' contemporaries. The biggest voice in the novel is Julia, Augustus' daughter, whose journal is incredibly touching. Another standout narrator is Marcus Agrippa, who's a perfectly nice guy but intensely biased toward Augustus, and who will lie so smoothly to defend him you won't even notice it. Mark Antony shines in all his appearances, too.
Honestly, all of the narrators are either good or great. Williams' prose is exquisite and evocative. We don't hear from Augustus himself until the very end, a narrative choice that forces us to consider the feelings of the people around him, and how his actions (both great and horrible) affected them. We see those narrators fade out one by one, as Augustus outlives almost everyone, and the second half of the book is very melancholy as a result. By the time we see Augustus' own words, he's an old man questioning whether he made the right choices, whether it was all worth it in the end. His self-doubt mirrors the conflicted feelings and judgment you will probably be feeling as a reader by then.
I wouldn't call it a sad ending; there are sparks of hope and joy, and the world keeps moving, in some ways better than before. It's bittersweet. It humanizes a man who would be the "evil overlord" in many other stories - in fact, I think it humanizes everyone, including the antagonists, and that's part of what makes it so moving.
This is not a book for people who want clear good guys and bad guys, or a happy ever after. It's also not completely historically accurate: Williams took a few liberties for the sake of wrapping up character arcs, and he glosses over the proscriptions and the immense damage Augustus did to Roman democracy. The author emphasizes at the beginning that this is fiction, and the narrators are clearly not supposed to be objective, so I can forgive that. Just don't use this book as a reference for judging the real people.
Even so, if you want something poignant, thought-provoking, and heartfelt, this book is an excellent choice. It has my favorite portrayals of Julia, Maecenas, Salvidienus, and a lot of other historical figures from this era. Highly recommended.
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2023 books ~ daddy long legs by jean webster
"I'm going to enjoy every second, and I'm going to know I'm enjoying it while I'm enjoying it. Most people don't live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through; and then the first thing they know, they are old and worn out, and it doesn't make any difference whether they've reached the goal or not."
#2023 books#jean webster#daddy long legs#jerusha abbot#judy abbott#jervis pendleton#american literature#bookedit#romanceedit#romance books#epistolary novel#litedit#my posts 3
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To be misunderstood is the fate of our kind.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
#johann wolfgang von goethe#the sorrows of young werther#die leiden des jungen Werther#german literature#romantic literature#epistolary novel#quote#literature#lit#prose#fiction#life#life quote#misunderstood#miscommunication#outcast#humanity
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~ books read in 2022 ~
#20b: Dracula Daily by Bram Stoker, edited by Matt Kirkland (see Part A here)
Get the classic novel Dracula delivered to your email inbox, as it happens.
#2022 reading list#book aesthetic#book moodboard#dracula#dracula daily#bram stoker#matt kirkland#books#classic novels#gothic#vampires#epistolary novel#memes#so many memes#the power of friendship#and record-keeping#tumblr university 2022
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Just got my copy of Query!
If you're a writer, publisher, or a curious reader, I definitely recommend this.
With elements of ecological activism, queer drama, and metafiction, this is a short but delightful read that perfectly encapsulates the despair of hte modern oment - while also offering humour and hope.
It's a little bit similar to Martha Grimes' Foul Matter or Happiness(tm) by Will Ferguson, so if you liked those, check this out.
#book#writeblr#book rec#short novel#indie#independent#ecofiction#metafiction#postmodern#epistolary novel#query#publishing#industry
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Ok, the weird internet people were right, This Is How You Lose The Time War really is that good. And everyone should read it. Reading Hugo Award winners has never let me down so far.
As for going in blind, I don't think is necessary. I'm one of those who like to read summaries first (it's probably the autism). It doesn't take from it to know the ending. It's a time travel story with twists and turns common in that subgenre. It's a love story with usual love story beats. It's not reinventing the wheel.
But it is beautiful. I cried until I had a headache. I'm inspired to write now. I'm inspired to read poetry.
And I only listened to the German translation audiobook. I can't imagine how good the English original must be.
#this is how you lose the time war#currently reading#max gladstone#amal el mohtar#translation#science fiction#time travel#epistolary novel#romance
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Scattered Pages: Day 589
We finally found a way into Cloud Tower.
As much as Maiko and I want to go on in, Lin and Cass insisted that we take a break for lunch outside first. As much as Lin insisted it was because exploring an unknown space on an empty stomach is a bad idea (and, to be fair, she’s not wrong), it’s obvious that she’s stalling. And I can’t say that I’m surprised or entirely blame her. That semi-irrational “tower fear” has been hitting both of them pretty hard since we landed at the base of this impossible structure - even harder than when we rode the floating island close to it.
I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again: It’s unsettling watching two normally vibrant, courageous people go from being excited to go on this venture to being uncomfortable looking up from the ground. Just as unsettling is that pull that Maiko and I are both feeling, even stronger now than we’ve found the entrance. I shudder to think how I’d have reacted to it were I not already practiced in recognizing such influences from the nature sprite and… other things.
But as to our discovery. I’m not sure what’s more surprising, that the entrance was so hard to find (and figure out how to open) or the way that we found it.
No, it’s definitely the latter.
We found a pile of rocks that were obviously artificially stacked. Honestly, I half suspect they may have been dragged over from the main island given how flat and bare this mossy rim of an outcropping is. But that top rock of the pile had words scratched into its surface.
“For Maiko”
We were stunned by that development, to say the least. Maiko was the first to recover, if “recover” is an appropriate word to describe the ensuing frenzy of removing stones from the pile to find what was hidden beneath.
And what was beneath was a shiny brushed metal box, untouched by dirt or moss.
And inside the box were folded papers finer and whiter and more regular than any the Village has ever produced.
And on those pages were words in a script so even so regular that they could only have been typed and printed.
And in those words was a message. From Maiko’s mother to her.
She’s not let go of the papers since she opened the box, so an exact transcription will have to wait. Even now she’s sitting away from the rest of us, rereading the words over and over again without even touching her lunch.
Truth be told, I owe the length of this rambling entry to her (understandable) absorption in her mother’s message and to Lin and Cass’s stalling.
But as for the content of the message, I can at least summarize.
It seems that Maiko’s mother meant to bring her here one day and she had hoped the message we found would be unnecessary. But if not, then she left another message that promises to explain more inside and instructions on how to find it, assuming the internal layout hasn’t changed.
The instructions included a warning that the shades do not consider the inside of Cloud Tower a home, and while they still obey their regular schedule, she will not have the mists inside as a warning before they begin to appear. She also advises bringing several days’ worth of food and water on the way in, just in case she gets lost, but once she finds the room with her mother’s second message there will also be instructions on how to acquire food and water from inside the tower. Also, the room with the second message is two floors up, so it may take some time to get there.
The message also speaks of machines inside the tower - “constructs” she calls them at one point - that appear to maintain the tower’s inner workings. Allegedly they are harmless so long as you do not try to harm them or the tower and will even stop what they are doing to allow one past or for inspection, ignoring people otherwise. Still, she advises against poking or prodding at them too much lest you accidentally lose a finger from getting caught in their mechanical limbs.
She ended the message with an apology to Maiko for not being here with her and an affirmation that she loves her.
I’ve drawn this entry out too long. I shouldn’t make her wait anymore.
*******
Camping for the night at the foot of stairs. Or as best we can guess is night. It seems to always be evenly lit in here. We’re all tired enough though.
Just making a short entry to jot down status. Promised Cass that I would give my full and undivided attention to keeping watch for my shift. Took notes in my other notebook as we went anyway. Will write down more detailed impressions later.
This place is equal parts amazing, alien, and unsettling. Hoping next floor will be better.
#writing#original fiction#serial fiction#sliceoflife#Writeblr#daily writing#epistolary novel#writers on tumblr#WIP#creative writing#literature#prose#writers#web novel#novel#journal#isekai#epistolary#fantasy#slice of life#fiction#my writing#epilogue#Scattered Pages
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"And he is -- Oh, well! He is just himself, and I miss him, and miss him, and miss him. The whole world seems empty and aching. I hate the moonlight because it's beautiful and he isn't here to see it with me. But maybe you've loved somebody too, and you know? If you have, I don't need to explain; if you haven't, I can't explain."
Jean Webster, Daddy-Long-Legs (1912)
#jean webster#daddy-long-legs#daddy long legs#quotes#love quotes#literature#literature quotes#lit quotes#american literature#20th century literature#20th century lit#american lit#epistolary#epistolary novel#epistolary literature#e
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I want to be a body for you. I want to chase you, find you, I want to be eluded and teased and adored; I want to be defeated and victorious—I want you to cut me, sharpen me. I want to drink tea beside you in ten years or a thousand.
– Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone, This is How You Lose the Time War
#book quote of the day#amal el mohtar#max gladstone#this is how you lose the time war#lgbtq literature#sapphic#sci-fi#time travel#epistolary novel#epistolary#hugo award winner#nebula award winner#BSFA award winning#book quotes
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Romy, honey, if the computer can translate that message for you, it should also be able to identify it for you and provide instructional materials. You suspect the message sounds cold an awkward due to the automatic translation? (Those of us in the audience know that's probably not why, but stay with me here.) You got all the time in the world, girl. You're plenty smart. Study the language. Make your own informed decision on the message's meaning.
But also, North America being consolidated into a "Republic" (but they have a King?) that exclusively (because if it weren't exclusive they would've sent the message in a language she knew or could at least recognize, right?) uses an language that doesn't use the Latin alphabet? Highly unlikely. Unless, y'know, aliens. But in that case, how did the computer decipher the message at all?
#Dispatches from the loneliest girl in the universe#June 4#(I am behind)#(Well I was. I'm caught up now.)#Substack#Tumblr book club#Lauren James#Epistolary novel#What I'm reading
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Felicia Davin is going to be delivering her next book, The Scandalous Letters of V and J, in serial format via email beginning on February 15! Like Dracula, the book is epistolary, so it lends itself well. The Scandalous Letters of V and J is a queer historical fantasy romance about two non-binary people. I’ll stick the full book summary under a cut, and you can take a look at content warnings at the title link. Once the book has been emailed in full (after about 3 months), the newsletter will be locked, so get in early if this sounds like your thing!
Subscribe here!
Paris, 1823. Victor Beauchêne has led a stifling existence, unrecognized for both his cleverness and his gender, except in the pages of his meticulous diary. Abruptly cut off from his family’s fortune, he takes the opportunity to start a new life in a shabby boarding house with his beloved spinster aunt Sophie. There, he stumbles upon two kinds of magic: a pen with eerie powers of persuasion and a reserved, alluring art student named Julien.
Brilliant, unconventional Julien is also Julie, a person whose magical paintings can transform their body or enchant viewers. Haunted by a terrible episode in their past, they’ve come to Paris for artistic success—the ordinary, non-magical kind. Victor, too handsome and far too inquisitive, is a dangerous distraction from their ambitions.
Drawn to each other, Victor and Julie strike up a cautious correspondence of notes slid under doors. It soon unfolds into a passionate romance. Outside the bedroom, their desires clash: Julie wants to distance herself from the world of magic and Victor wants to delve deeper. When the ruthless abuser from Julie’s past resurfaces, he aims to take control of her powers and ruin more lives. Victor and Julie are the only ones who can stop him. Do they trust each other enough to survive the threat to their love and their lives?
The Scandalous Letters of V and J is a historical fantasy romance with two nonbinary main characters, told primarily in letters and diary entries. It is approximately 100,000 words long and sexually explicit.
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I know people are already planning to set up mailing lists for Frankenstein etc, but also there literally already exists a service like dracula daily for "the sorrows of young Werther" that starts may 4th. In German or english depending on your language skills.
So if people are interested in doing one more bookclub or if the people creating the other mailing lists need some more time, check out
For the German text or
To get English letters
They also have Les liaisons dangerous, but my french is pretty bad 😔
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Continuing on the Gravity Falls-Twin Peaks connection theme….
I have not finished season two of Twin Peaks yet, I watched the first one right before the holidays and got the watch-an-episode-at-X-time pattern broken before the end, but I have read both of the Twin Peaks dossier books. As a result, I can say that:
1) I suspect, or at least it amuses me to imagine, that “The Secret History of Twin Peaks” was partially a shout-out back to GF, given the similarities of the Archivist’s Dossier to the Journal and how it was published shortly after GF aired its finale, and
2) I have figured out a life plan, y’all. I shall make up a town where an inquiring outsider comes to stay, gets drawn into the Disturbingly Weird Dimension, and then comes back - so far, just copying what a character per each of the shows tagged in this post did. My Great Original Twist will be that it turns out the returning figure has *both* an evil doppelgänger (like Coop) *and* an estranged identical twin (like Ford). And then an agent who is a composite of a few people absolutely loses his mind trying to figure out who to arrest, since all three have evidence to support the idea that he is the real ‘Standale Coopford’, at which point our government-aligned friend is initiated into a secret society of literacy-promoting hypnotists. I’ll be rich! Well, maybe that’s a bit much…I’ll be successful! Or…okay, too ambitious, or at least too subjective of a term. I’ll…at least have a cult following? Maybe?
#gravity falls#gravity falls characters#twin peaks#twin peaks characters#epistolary novel#evil writer plots#joke post
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Most spend the greater part of their time working in order to live, and what bit of freedom they are left with makes them so anxious they strive by all available means to be rid of it. What a thing it is to be human!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
#johann wolfgang von goethe#the sorrows of young werther#die leiden des jungen Werthers#german literature#romantic literature#quote#literature#lit#prose#fiction#novel#epistolary novel#life quote#life#freedom#work#labor#anxiety#free time
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~ books read in 2022 ~
#20a: Dracula by Bram Stoker (see Part B here)
3 May. Bistritz.—Left Munich at 8:35 P. M., on 1st May, arriving at Vienna early next morning; should have arrived at 6:46, but train was an hour late.
#2022 reading list#book aesthetic#book moodboard#dracula#bram stoker#books#classic novels#gothic#vampires#epistolary novel#dracula daily#the power of friendship#and record-keeping
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