The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright / Review 

I read The Wren, The Wren in the fall, and I also loved it. My first book of 2024 has been North Woods by Daniel Mason. Phenomenal novel and very different from anything I’ve read before. Now I’m on to Alice McDermott’s novel, Absolution. I love your reviews and your enthusiasm, Eric. Happy New Year!

The first book I did an audio/text combo was Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery. I am a huge Sy Montgomery fan.

I've finished reading 'I, Mona Lisa' by Natasha Solomons. It's very well researched and the writing style's good. I think the only issue with the premise (the painting' s sentient) is the painting has to be taken to places to witness events.

Just finished reading The Wren, The Wren. Working my way through Women’s Prize for Fiction long list. This is the fifth book on the long list that I’ve read. I loved this novel. The writing was exquisite. So charming and funny throughout. And the honesty that shines through. I did gasp a time or two reading this for the language and the revelatory aspects of the writing. Such a beautiful book. I want to read more of her work!

Anne Enright really is a gift. I liked The Wren, The Wren very much and was particularly struck by the poems. Great choice for your first book of 2024. I started off with Carys Davies’ new novel Clear, which has really stayed with me and was very moving in a quiet, understated way.

The first book I read this year was Blackouts by Justin Torres and I loved it.

I enjoy the way you talk about books and the books you choose. Ordering this book from my library right now. I am currently reading Day, my first book of 2024. So far, it is just as engrossing and beautifully written as The Hours.

I’m in the middle of Fayne and loving it. It may take the whole month (700+ pages).

"The Gathering" is the only book I have read by Anne Enright. I really enjoyed that and I do want to read more from her. I started 2024 by finally reading "Wuthering Heights." It only took me five decades. 🙂 And I loved everything about it.

The Wren, The Wren was my first book of 2024 too!! I was quite chuffed to think I had gotten off to a good start! I really enjoyed the novel but I didn't love it. There was something about both Nell and Carmel that I couldn't quite get behind. I really enjoyed the writing though and as you say, Anne Enright is a great writer. When I picked the book up, I thought I was in safe hands! I am now reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store which I am struggling with. There just seems to be too many characters with more than one name and I'm finding it all a bit confusing. I suppose I am only persevering with it as I hope it will get better, as it seems to have had a lot of good reviews!

I'm interested in TWTW! My first book this year was 'Weird F***s' by Lynne Tillman. It was a birthday present, and I was so pleased because I wouldn't have bought it for myself. It was a bit of fun :)

Thank you, Eric!!! Great review! Already in my next TBR! 🤗📚🍀✨

So good to hear your first book of the year is a good one. I picked up the authors Green Road in an 6:29 op shop yesterday because I recognised her name on the cover. What a coincidence. My first read of the year was Richard Flanagans Question 7 and what an amazing read it was. It’ll take a lot of beating. I thought it was a superb story around two concentric circles, one his life experience and the other world events. I wish you a very happy year ahead.

Gosh, now I really want to read this…

Yay!!!

11 days in and you’ve already finished a book in 2024??? I gotta catch up!!!

The first book I read this year was Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, and what a book to start with. I found it to be so moving and such an important book for our time.

The first book I read this year was MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION by Ottessa Moshfegh. The first book I finished as an audiobook was IF I SURVIVE YOU by Jonathan Escoffery. I have THE WREN, THE WREN on my Kindle and will either read it this month or next.

I got The Wren The Wren for Christmas but haven't started it yet, sounds great! First book (apart from unfinished last year) was Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland by Sarah Moss which I loved. Have a wonderful year of reading.

I’ve read The Gathering which left a lasting impression on me. I didn’t finish What Are You Like by Enright but i will definitely be reading The Wren The Wren on the back of this review. I have just finished Ottessa Moshfegh’s My Year of Rest and Relaxation entertaining but not life changing. I’m about to start Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield. Love your channel!

I’ve read Emma Cline’s The Guest, and currently reading Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, which has been on my TBR list forever! I also revisited Claire Keegan’s brilliant So Late in the Day for my January book club. 🎉

I read The Bandit Queens ad loved it. Happy New Year Ericx

I do a New Year’s Day First Read Novella and this year’s was A Meal In Winter, which was very well done, powerful and perfect for the season. I had originally planned to read Boulder, but it was about 30 pages less and became my New Year’s Eve Last Day Novella for 2023 as I was running out of time! My first five star read of the year though was Liliana’s Invincible Summer, a memoir deconstructing the murder of her sister by an ex boyfriend in 1990 and coming to terms with what happened. Stunning writing including much of it from Liliana drawn from her diaries, journals and letters to friends and family.

Happy new year. I finally had access though los Angeles county library online system and loved How to build a Boat and Western Lane. Ahamdoulah from Esouraia Morocco.Both were superb and pulsing with humanity.

I'm reading the Iliad and Mothtown. Both books are great in extremely different ways.

This one is on my list to get to soon!

The first book this year was Still Life by Sara Winman and it was excellent. Then I listened to Tom Lake on audio and really loved it. Next was The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly and I found it interesting.

One of my favourite reads last year.

Was going to go with something short and sweet. Ended up starting "Beloved". For non-fiction I started "Birding While Indian " by Thomas C. Gannon.

GOSH......!!!😀 You are a fast reader 👨‍🏫📖

I've started the year with a non-fiction: 'Some Assembly Required' by Neil Shubin about evolution (very illuminating). I'm now onto my first novel with 'Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi - great so far.

My first book of 2024 is Now All Roads Lead to France (NF) by Matthew Hollis. Its about poet Edward Thomas and his friendship with Robert Frost. Sadly, the information it contains is worth reading but the experience is not enjoyable. :( Oh well.

I think I may read The Wren The Wren after hearing your review . My First book this year was North Woods , I was a little disappointed but it may have been my own expectations were very high. Also read The Sun Collective by Charles Baxter and The Village Idiot by Steve Stern

My first book is Kala by Colin Walsh. A true page turner, about friendship turning whodoneit.

I haven’t finished a fiction book yet this year, but soon I hope. The book sounded like a good first book of the year. Is this your favorite Enright book?

Good for you! Glad you enjoyed your first book of 2024. As a matter of fact I too just finished something, tho I'm pretty sure it would interest you not at all: Does God Exist? It's a re-read for me, and it's a chunker. If you have some background in philosophy, psychology or theology it's easier but it's not impossibly difficult. I don't want to spoil the ending for you but if you're a big fan of Nietzsche then don't bother with this one : )

The first book I read in 2024 was Baumgartner by Paul Auster. Didn't love it, to say the least.