Unusual Eulogies is a curated record of my reading life. These entries collect brief reflections on the books that have accompanied me at different moments \u2014 classics, contemporary fiction, unexpected finds, and the ones everyone was talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My reading in 2023 was defined by\u00a0haunting intimacy and fractured perspectives. I was drawn to voices that spoke from the margins of memory, of society, of reality itself, and to stories that explored the raw, complex anatomy of trauma, love, and identity. It was a year of feeling viscerally, in the gut and the bones, often leaving me beautifully unsettled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I read with a dual heart: as a pure reader getting lost in a story, and as a writer marveling at voice, structure, and the lingering questions a great book leaves behind. Think of this not as a review site, but as a conversation about the stories that stick with us. It\u2019s a reference for anyone curious about what\u2019s on my shelf and, perhaps, a source for your next great read.<\/p>\n\n\n
The story is captivating from the start \u2014 smart, adventurous, and set in a fascinating futuristic world of time travel. This epistolary novel weaves time travel, rivalry, and a deeply felt romance into a tapestry of stunning prose. It\u2019s smart, adventurous, and lingers in the mind like a dream you can\u2019t quite shake.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
An absolute, devastating gem. This collection peers through the eyes of insects and animals to explore profoundly human themes of loss, connection, and survival. There\u2019s this fox story that broke me completely. It\u2019s one of those rare, unique reading experiences you wish you could have again for the first time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Alderton\u2019s voice is irresistibly witty, warm, and deeply relatable. This memoir is a hilarious and heartfelt celebration of friendship, the messiness of early adulthood, and the many shapes love takes. It feels like a brilliant conversation with your cleverest friend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
A masterclass in building claustrophobic, creeping dread. This novella crafts an atmosphere so tense and unsettling that it gets under your skin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
A brilliantly disorienting and psychologically taut puzzle box of a novel. Reid expertly crafts an atmosphere of mounting unease that twists into something profoundly unsettling and unforgettable. It defies genre and leaves you reeling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Sharp, achingly funny, and sneakily profound. These essays feel like chatting with a friend who finds the perfect, absurd angle on the human condition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
A seminal collection of essays that captures the fractured psyche of an era with clinical precision and iconic style. Didion\u2019s observational genius and cool prose define a certain school of thought.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
This warm, compelling coming-of-age novella centers on the powerful, complex bonds of sisterhood. It tackles weighty themes with empathy and heart, showcasing Weiner\u2019s talent for crafting relatable, human stories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
A dark, intricately woven exploration of grief and the lingering ghosts of trauma. Jeffery\u2019s writing is visceral and unflinching, pulling the reader into a haunting psychological landscape.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
This was a gift from a friend after she found out that I was weirdly obsessed with writing about murder. It\u2019s an utterly fascinating and accessible dive into the criminal underbelly of the ancient world. Informative, engaging, and packed with vivid details that are a goldmine for any writer or history enthusiast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
A collection of graceful, quietly powerful poetry. Salter builds whole worlds and nuanced emotions with precise, elegant language. It\u2019s storytelling in verse form, subtle and layered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
A gripping, addictive novel about secrets, rebellion, and the perilous journey of self-discovery. The tension is masterfully sustained, making it utterly impossible to put down. It completely owns your attention from start to finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
This one is a sharp, theatrical exploration of gender, politics, and desire. We had a lot to analyze in my literature class.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
An enduring, powerful classic whose warning about censorship, conformity, and the death of critical thought feels chillingly prescient. Its allegorical fire burns as brightly today as ever.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
The backstory to this is so funny to me because my friends read a couple of pages and were in shock<\/em> for months afterward. This is a deliberately transgressive, stomach-churning satire that holds a grotesque mirror up to modern dating and consumer culture. It\u2019s so effectively vile and well-written that it\u2019s impossible to look away, leaving a deeply (and intentionally) uncomfortable impression.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n I had heard so much about this essay collection and had to read it. A raw, striking, and beautifully written essay collection that dissects the commodification and autonomy of the female body with remarkable grace and intellectual rigor. It\u2019s both a personal testimony and a cultural critique that resonates deeply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n An inventive collection of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic tales. Its hits are bursts of strange, poignant, and wildly creative storytelling that imagine endings and aftermaths in unforgettable ways.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t decide if I\u2019m traumatized, enthralled, or emotional.\u00a0Waif<\/em>\u00a0is an ivy-grown roller coaster that starts in the unknown and only travels through darkness. It\u2019s a raw and devastating exploration of trauma and survival, written with such vivid, unflinching clarity that it leaves a permanent emotional imprint. Profoundly affecting. Holding my breath with every chapter, I think I stopped breathing for a few pages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A mesmerizing puzzle of a novel, steeped in the fog of memory and post-war ambiguity. Modiano masterfully creates an atmosphere of elusive charm and deep melancholy, pulling the reader into a captivating search for lost time and identity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A wildly inventive, twist-filled novel that blends dark fantasy, nostalgia, and visceral thriller elements into something wholly original. Just when you think you get it, it throws you off a cliff. Delightfully unpredictable and memorable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A strong, intriguing sci-fi premise with a compelling protagonist on a futuristic detective mission. The world-building is engaging, though the narrative\u2019s focus shifted into areas that diverged from my personal investment in the core mystery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A razor-sharp, timeless allegory about power, corruption, and revolution. The simplicity is its genius, delivering a devastating political critique that remains an essential lesson in history and human nature.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A generous, intimate collection that feels like a series of love letters to humanity, resilience, and the heart. Benedetti\u2019s poetry is deeply felt and flourishes within you, finding new life with each visit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Tiny, perfect grenades of thought and observation. Dickinson\u2019s poems are sharp, playful, mysterious, and quietly devastating, holding entire universes in a handful of words.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A captivating and heartbreaking epistolary novella that masterfully unfolds a story of betrayal and connection. Reid\u2019s graceful prose makes it feel intimately real, like discovering secret letters you weren\u2019t meant to read.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n My high school literature professor wrote this, and I was so excited to read it. A compelling, tense duology set in an apocalyptic landscape, following a teenager navigating profound chaos. My former professor crafts a palpable sense of dread and fragile hope, with emotions that vibrate powerfully off the page.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMy Body<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Emily Ratajkowski<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGigantic: Stories From the End of the World<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Benjamin Harnett<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWaif<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Samantha Kolesnik<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nVilla Triste (Spanish Edition)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Patrick Modiano<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWinterset Hollow<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Jonathan Edward Durham<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nEl peso del coraz\u00f3n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Rosa Montero<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAnimal Farm<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
George Orwell<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAntolog\u00eda po\u00e9tica<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Mario Benedetti<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Emily Dickinson<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nEvidence of the Affair<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Taylor Jenkins Reid<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGalileo-kun: Se\u00f1ales de los \u00faltimos d\u00edas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Galileo-kun: El ej\u00e9rcito invisible<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Carlos Calles<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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