R.A. Littman
@ralittman.bsky.social
Writer. Rootless cosmopolitan. Netherlands for now.
Finally got a copy of The Wax Child.
I'm easily disappointed when books are heavily hyped, but I'm pleased to say this one is delivering so far. I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes things
I'm easily disappointed when books are heavily hyped, but I'm pleased to say this one is delivering so far. I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes things
November 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Finally got a copy of The Wax Child.
I'm easily disappointed when books are heavily hyped, but I'm pleased to say this one is delivering so far. I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes things
I'm easily disappointed when books are heavily hyped, but I'm pleased to say this one is delivering so far. I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes things
Read this in a single sitting. Absolutely devastating.
It was like The Hour of the Star only better
It was like The Hour of the Star only better
November 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Read this in a single sitting. Absolutely devastating.
It was like The Hour of the Star only better
It was like The Hour of the Star only better
This book really opens up on a reread. I'm so glad I gave Obscene Bird a second chance. A truly unique and inspiring work of art
October 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This book really opens up on a reread. I'm so glad I gave Obscene Bird a second chance. A truly unique and inspiring work of art
Reading The Flanders Road by Claude Simon and fucking hell is this good. I will definitely be reading more of him. Haven't been this excited about an author in a while
September 2, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Reading The Flanders Road by Claude Simon and fucking hell is this good. I will definitely be reading more of him. Haven't been this excited about an author in a while
After the disappointment of The Obscene Bird of Night, Hell Has No Limits has redeemed Donoso for me. An excellent book, and an obvious influence on Hurricane Season.
I think I'm going to keep exploring Latin American lit. I've never enjoyed so many books in such a short span of time
I think I'm going to keep exploring Latin American lit. I've never enjoyed so many books in such a short span of time
June 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
After the disappointment of The Obscene Bird of Night, Hell Has No Limits has redeemed Donoso for me. An excellent book, and an obvious influence on Hurricane Season.
I think I'm going to keep exploring Latin American lit. I've never enjoyed so many books in such a short span of time
I think I'm going to keep exploring Latin American lit. I've never enjoyed so many books in such a short span of time
Full of sensuous detail and dreamlike narrative, but a bit experimental for my taste. I enjoyed it but I think I'd probably like The Lime Twig more on a reread
June 18, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Full of sensuous detail and dreamlike narrative, but a bit experimental for my taste. I enjoyed it but I think I'd probably like The Lime Twig more on a reread
I guess I'm just doing Spanish language novels in translation on my vacation, because now I'm starting The Black Cathedral by Marcial Gala. I'm a bit worried about the fragmented narration grating on me—it switches between many different narrators on a sometimes by paragraph basis—but I'm excited
June 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I guess I'm just doing Spanish language novels in translation on my vacation, because now I'm starting The Black Cathedral by Marcial Gala. I'm a bit worried about the fragmented narration grating on me—it switches between many different narrators on a sometimes by paragraph basis—but I'm excited
It wasn't as good as Hurricane Season, but Paradais was excellent. Melchor is a fantastic author and I'm really looking forward to seeing more books from her
June 10, 2025 at 7:13 PM
It wasn't as good as Hurricane Season, but Paradais was excellent. Melchor is a fantastic author and I'm really looking forward to seeing more books from her
I ended up dnf'ing The Obscene Bird of Night. The experimental narration was interesting, but not interesting enough to sustain my attention. I can see why other folks might like it, but it just didn't do it for me
June 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
I ended up dnf'ing The Obscene Bird of Night. The experimental narration was interesting, but not interesting enough to sustain my attention. I can see why other folks might like it, but it just didn't do it for me
I've started Hurricane Season and wow, it's excellent so far. It's been on my tbr for a while and I'm glad I saved it for some hot weather
June 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I've started Hurricane Season and wow, it's excellent so far. It's been on my tbr for a while and I'm glad I saved it for some hot weather
I started and dnf'd The Nickel Boys. I wanted to read it before seeing the film, but I found it to be incredibly mediocre
June 5, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I started and dnf'd The Nickel Boys. I wanted to read it before seeing the film, but I found it to be incredibly mediocre
Invitation to a Beheading was...fine? It felt like Nabokov doing Kafka, and I found it uninteresting for many of the same reasons I don't usually enjoy Kafka
June 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Invitation to a Beheading was...fine? It felt like Nabokov doing Kafka, and I found it uninteresting for many of the same reasons I don't usually enjoy Kafka
As I continue my trek through Nabokov's Russian novels in publication order, I'm finding Despair to be far and away the best thus far. It's shaping up to be the first I'll give five stars to
May 28, 2025 at 8:44 AM
As I continue my trek through Nabokov's Russian novels in publication order, I'm finding Despair to be far and away the best thus far. It's shaping up to be the first I'll give five stars to
A neon colored Lynchian nightmare about letting the years pass while living inauthentically.
I Saw the TV Glow was absolutely harrowing and deeply affecting. The only film other than Paris, Texas I've given 5 stars this year
I Saw the TV Glow was absolutely harrowing and deeply affecting. The only film other than Paris, Texas I've given 5 stars this year
May 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A neon colored Lynchian nightmare about letting the years pass while living inauthentically.
I Saw the TV Glow was absolutely harrowing and deeply affecting. The only film other than Paris, Texas I've given 5 stars this year
I Saw the TV Glow was absolutely harrowing and deeply affecting. The only film other than Paris, Texas I've given 5 stars this year
Finished Laughter in the Dark.
I love Nabokov but find many of his novels hollow. I always feel at a distance.
In fiction, as in relationships, intimacy requires vulnerability. I don't think Nabokov is vulnerable in his fiction. His characters are deceivers because he himself won't tell the truth
I love Nabokov but find many of his novels hollow. I always feel at a distance.
In fiction, as in relationships, intimacy requires vulnerability. I don't think Nabokov is vulnerable in his fiction. His characters are deceivers because he himself won't tell the truth
May 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Finished Laughter in the Dark.
I love Nabokov but find many of his novels hollow. I always feel at a distance.
In fiction, as in relationships, intimacy requires vulnerability. I don't think Nabokov is vulnerable in his fiction. His characters are deceivers because he himself won't tell the truth
I love Nabokov but find many of his novels hollow. I always feel at a distance.
In fiction, as in relationships, intimacy requires vulnerability. I don't think Nabokov is vulnerable in his fiction. His characters are deceivers because he himself won't tell the truth
I'm also continuing with the Nabokov biographies. The Boyd is ever in the background. I recently finished The Secret History of Vladimir Nabokov, which was great, and am now onto Véra, which is mostly focused on Véra Nabokov. It's very illuminating. Highly recommend it so far
April 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I'm also continuing with the Nabokov biographies. The Boyd is ever in the background. I recently finished The Secret History of Vladimir Nabokov, which was great, and am now onto Véra, which is mostly focused on Véra Nabokov. It's very illuminating. Highly recommend it so far
Still working through Nabokov's Russian novels. Glory is fun so far, but Nabokov simply doesn't grab me as firmly in third person. We'll see where it goes
April 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Still working through Nabokov's Russian novels. Glory is fun so far, but Nabokov simply doesn't grab me as firmly in third person. We'll see where it goes
Started Oreo, a picaresque satire from the 70s structured around Theseus' odyssey, written by a Jewish woman of color about the intersection of Black and Jewish identity. It's full of wordplay, switching freely between Yiddish and AAVE. Not sure when a book has ever made me laugh out loud like this
April 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Started Oreo, a picaresque satire from the 70s structured around Theseus' odyssey, written by a Jewish woman of color about the intersection of Black and Jewish identity. It's full of wordplay, switching freely between Yiddish and AAVE. Not sure when a book has ever made me laugh out loud like this
I've barely begun The Eye and I'm already enthralled. Just an absolutely peerless stylist. And after three books of his in third person, it's absolutely apparent that Nabokov really is at his best in first person
April 19, 2025 at 6:55 AM
I've barely begun The Eye and I'm already enthralled. Just an absolutely peerless stylist. And after three books of his in third person, it's absolutely apparent that Nabokov really is at his best in first person
I've also been listening to @andreapitzer.bsky.social's The Secret History of Vladimir Nabokov and am enioying it immensely. The centrality of concentration camps, political upheaval and collapse, and the global rise of authoritarianism are especially pertinent right now. Nabokov is relevant as ever
April 17, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I've also been listening to @andreapitzer.bsky.social's The Secret History of Vladimir Nabokov and am enioying it immensely. The centrality of concentration camps, political upheaval and collapse, and the global rise of authoritarianism are especially pertinent right now. Nabokov is relevant as ever
Next up would be The Eye. I've heard it's his most influenced by the Noir films he enjoyed at the time, so it feels extra fitting that it should follow The Black Dahlia
April 17, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Next up would be The Eye. I've heard it's his most influenced by the Noir films he enjoyed at the time, so it feels extra fitting that it should follow The Black Dahlia
As I wrap up The Black Dahlia, I'm thinking of resuming my Nabokov project. I was working through Boyd's two volume biography and stopping whenever Nabokov writes a book to go read it. I decided to take a break after The Luzhin Defense
April 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
As I wrap up The Black Dahlia, I'm thinking of resuming my Nabokov project. I was working through Boyd's two volume biography and stopping whenever Nabokov writes a book to go read it. I decided to take a break after The Luzhin Defense
