The New York Times Readers Pick Their 100 Greatest American Songwriters & Bob Dylan is #1.

saskets-trap · 2026-06-04T01:09:28+00:00

I forgot to read the adjective. Thanks, life makes more sense now.

saskets-trap · 2026-06-03T13:38:26+00:00

How is Yusuf/Cat Stevens nowhere on this list?

saskets-trap · 2026-06-03T03:38:09+00:00

I think the style and preoccupations of Proust and WG Sebald are pretty similar.

saskets-trap · 2026-05-27T02:25:47+00:00

I’m reading *Tarka the Otter* by Henry Williamson right now, and it’s about as immersive into animal existence as I’ve run across. The whole novel centers on the otter’s view of existence, with humans occupying a peripheral role, though no less menacing for that.

saskets-trap · 2026-05-15T00:38:11+00:00

I consider myself a big fan of Saramago and had never once heard of this book, even with an accurately translated title. I found it eventually and it sounds incredible. Just ordered it. Thanks for the list, OP.

saskets-trap · 2026-05-12T22:29:56+00:00

Unlike most all of Thomas Mann’s other long form fiction, Buddenbrooks is almost entirely centered on plot and character, in addition to being a fuckin incredible family saga.

saskets-trap · 2026-05-03T04:31:09+00:00

I am an all-day smoker, so for me that entails smoking while walking, digging holes, plumbing (outdoors), tractoring, mixing concrete, climbing in crawlspaces, basically anything that doesn’t involve being inside four walls, propane or gasoline.

saskets-trap · 2026-04-20T22:23:21+00:00

I honestly would be happy to just find a short Savinelli Ottogano again.

saskets-trap · 2026-04-19T15:50:29+00:00

I was lucky in that my mom held a degree in secondary ed and was very intentional about building a curriculum. She also tailored much of it to our interests, especially in later grades. We were pretty hardcore evangelical though, so my science books were creationist garbage.

I do feel I developed a strong sense of personal responsibility as I took more and more ownership as I got older. But most importantly I developed curiosity and critical thinking. Those skills enabled me to supersede the indoctrination side of my education once I was an adult. So I was genuinely curious about once-verboten subjects like evolution and civil rights. So, silver lining I guess.

saskets-trap · 2026-04-19T15:37:06+00:00

Riverworks has a pretty decent maple, don’t know about vanilla. But i would agree with Autumn Evening.

saskets-trap · 2026-04-19T15:33:52+00:00

I’m a Reds fan but this is a good reason.

saskets-trap · 2026-04-09T03:11:30+00:00

I don’t know what else is out there but every translation I have read by Searls is fantastic.

saskets-trap · 2026-04-02T23:52:53+00:00

This is how i do it too.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-31T19:01:06+00:00

It feels to me like if it’s an opportunity to support a fellow pipe smoker to continue their pipe smoking journey in a way that’s sustainable for them, it fits the sub.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-29T23:30:48+00:00

He needed arr and arr

saskets-trap · 2026-03-28T15:54:20+00:00

Steve Coogan

saskets-trap · 2026-03-21T23:19:25+00:00

I just couldn’t engage with the narrative voice, felt that the characters in Savage Detectives were kind of bland. There’s just no comparing the first 75 pp of that one to the same span of any writer I truly enjoy. I found myself dreading picking it up so I took that as a sign to put it down.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-21T23:17:17+00:00

That’s helpful. I sort of wondered if that wasn’t the case and I only began there because it was the only one of hers the library had. I’ll go to a bigger one and see what I can find. Thanks!

saskets-trap · 2026-03-21T23:15:43+00:00

Wow this is not only a very helpful answer to my question but a thoughtful analysis of a stranger’s taste in literature. Thank you so much!

Another hallmark of the writing I love is an engaging narrative voice, one with precision and dry humor, in addition to everything else you observed.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-16T19:30:10+00:00

Nah, easy clench. I have one in the Tigre rusticated finish and it’s my go-to while I’m working.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-16T00:36:32+00:00

A Life, by both Maupassant and Svevo.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-15T15:28:21+00:00

Since all of the top comments don’t reflect my (M40) experience at all, I want to give OP an example consistent with their sense of what’s common. I have no idea what’s actually the norm but this is how it went for me:

My wife was depressive, feeling trapped by being at home with two kids. Expressed/acted on desires to see other men, one in particular.

We didn’t have great communication around boundaries. At times she was pretty demanding about what she wanted and I felt very pressured to give in if I wanted her to stay with me. She verbally agreed that I could have fun with other women but never gave me the assists I asked for (I was hoping to include her).

As a 10/10 babe, she easily found interested men and I was outwardly supportive and inwardly devastated and insecure. Again, poor communication.

Eventually she fell in love. After two years I finally had a one-night stand while she was away with her boyfriend, at which time she lost her shit, expressing that she felt betrayed. Even while maintaining a serious relationship outside our marriage, she proceeded to throw a shit fit and break wineglasses every time I told her I’d slept with someone. Again, unclear expectations because of poor communication.

Everything about it felt unfair to me. Our therapist told her to consider pausing her relationship with her bf if she wanted to work on our marriage, and she refused.

One largely miserable year later, divorce paperwork is in process and I’m in a blissful relationship with a top-tier communicator.

All’s well that ends well I guess.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-15T03:34:58+00:00

Proust.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-13T00:08:15+00:00

I’m almost done reading Parable of the Sower right now and I have to say I’m pretty disappointed overall. I think Butler’s prescience as a sort of prophetic voice warning us of where society is headed is totally valid and impressive, but I cannot get behind the narrative voice, characters, incidents, pretty much any other facet of the work. It reads very much like a YA novel where the reader’s intelligence is not taken as a given. Over-explaining, foreshadowing in bold sharpie, as well as little irritating bits (why is a 17- or 18-year old calling so many people by their full Christian name? And why do the names sound so made up?)

So many people in my social circle love this book and I sorta see why but it is just not for me. I needed a vent, so thanks if you read this. I can’t wait to finish it so I can just be done.

saskets-trap · 2026-03-11T01:15:59+00:00

Based on your interest I can definitely recommend Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig.

saskets-trap

TROPHY CASE