8 Comments
Sep 18Liked by Chris O'Brien

I just finished a run reading about the Reconstruction Era in the US, two history books, several SCOTUS decisions and Beloved by Toni Morrison. Currently recovering with a bunch of cheap trashy novels. The big problem is that they're so badly written It makes my teeth hurt.

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Sep 18Liked by Chris O'Brien

I found it an easy read and so many unexpected and fascinated things are recounted: Lise et Lulu by Lise Livitzky (the little known first wife of Serge Gainsbourg, the book is her recounting of their relationship)

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Sep 19Liked by Chris O'Brien

Completely agree, we can't always be high-brow! Shouldn't be seen as a guilty pleasure, just pleasure.

On a separate note, I love your Substack, and I write similarly on travel, culture and general life in Japan, so wondering if you'd like to collaborate?

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Sep 19Liked by Chris O'Brien

I'll see if my French husband, who loves reading popular fiction (a more polite way of saying "trashy novels"), has read these authors. Levy and Musso, I'm sure.

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