Somehow we are over halfway through 2018 which is never not going to be crazy to me. That means half the year of reading is done too. Whaaaat. So far, according to Goodreads, I've read 36/37 books (give or take) which isn't a bad effort for me. Obviously if I wasn't chronic for drifting in and out of books all the time, this number would undoubtedly be higher. Old habits die hard or something though. Anyway, top five reads of 2018 (for now)...Side note: This is not in any sort of order, I can't rank them-that'd just be too much of an overly complicated move for me.

how to be both x ali smith: I still think about this unique and brilliant novel, inspired by fresco painting. Ali Smith's writing really is an artform in itself. The way in which she writes topical yet timeless fiction is so cleverly done. I might end up stickering pages with post-its that only say #yasssali in admiration because eloquence escapes me but I underline and write out passages left, right and centre. Anyway, go read this book and soak up its amazingness. It is worth the patience. 

the cost of living x deborah levy: This was my first encounter with Levy's work and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Fantastic writings on life, loss, heartbreak, getting on with it, sheds for writing retreats and friendships that span generations. I'll definitely be revisiting this at some stage and feel like it's going to be one of those books that the older I get, the more relatable it will become. 

call me by your name x andre aciman: Another novel I often find myself thinking about because of Aciman's writing. Candid yet refined. An intimate insight into first loves, the cornucopia of experiences that make up adolescence and beauty in the simplicities like reading a book amidst summer fruits. Absolutely exquisite book. Give the film a watch as well and the soundtrack a listen. All three do not disappoint. 

secrets for the mad x dodie clark, not pictured: Y'know when books just seem to 'find' you at the right time? Dodie's book met that criteria and then some. Filled to the brim with Dodie's honesty, wisdom, art, poetry and words-it's a truly special book. I found parts really relatable and comforting. If that makes sense-regardless, need my own copy. 

ma'am darling x craig brown: The Princess Margaret obsession is real ladies and gentlemen. If the MVP Spare (as I kinda cringe-worthily dub her in my mind and now on this here blog) were the category in a quiz I would probably ace it. That is largely in part thanks to this book. Part memoir, part story told with humour and fun. It's a book that doesn't take itself too seriously in a dry, historical+factual kind of way. Naturally there are pockets of that but Brown presents it in a more interesting and readable way. I loved this book and will again be revisiting it at some point. 

-What books have you read and liked in 2018 so far?

I recently stumbled upon Poppy Loves Book Club, a worldwide book club for women w/ IRL and online discussions aplenty. When I saw they were reading an Ali Smith book, you can bet I signed up mighty fast. How to Be Both is Smith's award-winning novel inspired by fresco painting, a technique which she seamlessly applies to text.

How to Be Both is split into two narratives; eyes and camera. The beauty of this book really is that it is printed at random. You might stumble upon a book that begins with camera, alternative copies begin with eyes. Each are separate tales, involving separate protagonists and time periods but they both intertwine. Through the common themes of time, art, loss and love, we see that the experiences faced by Georgia in 2014 run parallel to what Francesco dealt with in renaissance Italy. I feel like Ali did this in order to show that our life experiences transcend time. We may have new technologies and so many new advancements but our experiences with the likes of loss, finding one's own identity and vice versa remain the same. 

This isn't really a book you can spoil per se but the way in which the narratives of camera and eyes fuse together is so cleverly done. There is no correct way to read this book, and it may just be because my copy started with the camera narrative but I really think it informs the reading of eyes that much better. In fact I'm almost certain it does because when I first tried reading this book upon its release, a copy that started with eyes, I was perplexed and confused, eventually abandoning it. That being said, when I revisit this book which I am almost certain I will, I plan to read it in reverse so it will be interesting to see how that modifies the reading experience, if at all. 

As the text was inspired by fresco painting it really mirrors the multilayered aspects of these artworks. While fresco painting isn't a technique that is readily employed now, the personal galleries we curate for ourselves and build upon are much like fresco painting. In the camera narrative, Georgia arranges images on her wall, one being the photograph on the cover of the novel but also pictures of her mother who has recently passed away. In eyes, we see Francesco painting frescoes and building upon his work as the story progresses. 

I could talk about How to Be Both all day and probably still not be done with it. I was so disappointed I had to miss the Auckland discussion of it last week. Although in many ways maybe it's a blessing because I probably wouldn't have been quiet. My copy is overrun with annotations and notes+ideas which really emphasises to me how much I loved this book. If you do read this, you are in for a treat. It's worth persevering with but that being said, if you aren't used to Ali Smith start with one of her short story volumes. Her writing style is very distinct and does require a bit of patience, speaking from experience so I recommend starting with another book first. 

Before I make this love-fest any longer, I thought I'd share some of my favourite extracts from the novel because it is beautiful:

"She will lie in bed with all the covers thrown off and the stars will be directly above her, nothing between her and their long-ago burnt-out eyes." (pg. 12)

"She is not going to get the important boredoms and mournings and melancholies that are her due and are owing to her just from being the age that she is, for now it will be interrupted by real mournings and real melancholies." (pg. 83)

"Cause nobody's the slightest idea who we are, or who we were, not even we ourselves." (pg. 282)

"...we go out anonymous into the insect air and all we are is the dust of colour, brief engineering of wings towards a glint of light on a blade of grass or a leaf in a summer dark." (pg. 282-apparently I liked this page)

-Have you read How to Be Both? What did you think of it?