Books on GIF

A little bit about me: ‘Books on GIF is a brilliant high-low fusion of an old art form and modern storytelling device.’ -- Esquire ‘Books on GIF is exactly what it sounds like: a book review sent every other week, told with gifs.’ -- Book Riot booksongif.substack.com

Books on GIF is a free biweekly newsletter for readers looking for literary gems overlooked by the mainstream. Each newsletter has a GIF-filled review that keeps things fun and smart, while emphasizing the joy of reading and discovery. Start here: booksongif.substack.com/p/the-gadfly...

In this Q&A, you can learn some fun facts about me, including how I was a so-so reader as a kid, why I swore off fiction for five years and how I tried to read ‘Anna Karenina’ on my phone at the gym. theholdslist.substack.com/p/interview-...

I’ve been in an introspective mood recently, so it was the perfect time for me to read this book. I was engaged by its philosophical purpose to untangle and understand what makes a person good as opposed to one who’s merely nice. booksongif.substack.com/p/the-nice-a...

My 'Dracula' review might be my best work. booksongif.substack.com/p/dracula-by...

Even though they were written decades apart and in different styles, the novels seem almost to be in conversation with each other. booksongif.substack.com/p/balsam-kar...

It’s almost October, a month known at Books on GIF as ‘Iris Murdoch-tober.’ We’ll kick off our second-annual celebration of Iris Murdoch’s work with a novel that several BoG readers have recommended to me: ‘The Nice and the Good.’ Join us!

Steinbeck explores how parental love, or its absence, can make us compassionate or mean, and he shows the difficulties of being our brother’s keeper in this richly detailed and engaging novel. booksongif.substack.com/p/east-of-ed...

I love to read books with friends. booksongif.substack.com/p/nell-zink-...

I was excited to read and share these quick reads for Women in Translation month: booksongif.substack.com/p/women-in-t...

‘Fresh Water for Flowers’ is a story about surviving unimaginable pain and grief, and how we can heal from those deep wounds. booksongif.substack.com/p/fresh-wate...

I see that, in October, @andotherstories.bsky.social is bringing out a single volume of Eva Baltasar's three. She's a great choice for #WITmonth - they're all short but each packs a serious punch.

I wrote about 'Ex-Wife' by Urusla Parrott. I loved it, and I couldn’t put it down. booksongif.substack.com/p/ex-wife-ur...

I wrote about 'Scruples' by Judith Krantz booksongif.substack.com/p/scruples-j...

He had to wait to become a team exec to do it, but Patrick Ewing is finally an NBA champion.

now more than ever

Last image from tonight (short film in the morning): this brother out here with his Singer sewing machine, gifting people a custom embroidery on their jerseys and hats with the name and the date, was more artistic than anything at Burning Man and ad gorgeous as a Caravaggio. Magic! Goodnight.

ICYMI, I wrote about 'Lonesome Dove' booksongif.substack.com/p/lonesome-d...

The latest edition of Books on GIF is out! booksongif.substack.com/p/western-la...

The Vision of Saint Anthony the Abbot, artist unknown, 19th c, 📸 by Gregory Shamus

I’m happy to report that my second reading of ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ did not disappoint or diminish my love for the book. booksongif.substack.com/p/left-hand-...

I’ve got a pile of unread books here that I can’t wait to read and write about. I look forward to our conversations in the years ahead. booksongif.substack.com/p/books-on-g...

‘Lonesome Dove’ is like ‘Game of Thrones’ with cowboys—the story unfolds through different characters’ perspectives, and all of them are in constant danger. booksongif.substack.com/p/lonesome-d...

I wrote about Lonesome Dove. booksongif.substack.com/p/lonesome-d...

I wrote about Lonesome Dove. booksongif.substack.com/p/lonesome-d...

Iris Murdoch’s first novel is so funny and good

Books on GIF is 10 years old! booksongif.substack.com/p/books-on-g...

Books on GIF is 10 years old! booksongif.substack.com/p/books-on-g...

I wrote about 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin. Enjoy! booksongif.substack.com/p/left-hand-...

Here are three books you can read in a day or two: booksongif.substack.com/p/peter-huja...

I wrote about 'Angle of Repose' by Wallace Stegner. booksongif.substack.com/p/angle-of-r...

“Who knows if they even liked each other? But I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if they came back as lesbians?’” Jessica Ferri on Ann Rower’s Lee And Elaine.

Why I don't go camping in the woods. booksongif.substack.com/p/god-of-the...

Before the 'Wuthering Heights' discourse cycles out, please consider reading my review of Emily Brontë's classic novel. It's a fun and smart look at this 'exploration of cruelty and the corruption of the human soul.' Enjoy! booksongif.substack.com/p/wuthering-...

I’m kicking myself for not reading it sooner. Don’t make the same mistake. If you haven’t read this book, you should right away. booksongif.substack.com/p/song-solom...

'A Strange Woman' by Leylâ Erbil will be featured in our next newsletter. Look for the review on Sunday, 3/1. Subscribe here: booksongif.substack.com

'Plum Bun' explores Angela’s inner turmoil—the character wants to live freely, pursue her art and not be lonely. But she’s faces a hard truth that living a lie is not a path to freedom. A great reissue from new imprint @quiteliterallybks.bsky.social booksongif.substack.com/p/plum-bun-j...

‘The God of the Woods’ is one of those just-one-more-chapter books where after hours have passed unnoticed you suddenly realize you’ve barreled through more than 100 pages. But I can’t shake the feeling that the book is missing something. booksongif.substack.com/p/god-of-the...

Up next. Review coming 2/1.

The latest edition of the Books on GIF newsletter is out! It features a review of 'The God of the Woods' by Liz Moore. Enjoy! booksongif.substack.com/p/god-of-the...

‘Wuthering Heights’ is one of the most unsettling and violent novels I’ve ever read.

'And no more dreams; I take what I can get when I can get it, and worry about nothing else.' booksongif.substack.com/p/butchers-c...

I read many great novels in 2025. Here are a few. booksongif.substack.com/p/novels-lov...

Review coming 1/18

I need to talk to Kate Bush. booksongif.substack.com/p/wuthering-...

Books on GIF is a smart, fun & FREE newsletter that uses GIFs to review books. Bestsellers. Classics. Niche gems. Let’s find your next favorite book! booksongif.substack.com

I read some wonderful novels this year! booksongif.substack.com/p/novels-lov...

Books on GIF is a smart, fun & FREE newsletter that uses GIFs to review books. Bestsellers. Classics. Niche gems. Let’s find your next favorite book! Subscribe: booksongif.substack.com

Grace is a force in the universe that can empower and change us unbidden and without requiring reciprocity, as the story points out. But karma exists, too. booksongif.substack.com/p/martyr-kav...

"[H]e came to see the destruction as a cold, mindless response to the life in which Miller had immersed himself." booksongif.substack.com/p/butchers-c...