Tim Sullivan

THE SLIP by @lucaseschaefer.bsky.social was a page-turner - I whipped through its 487 pages in 48 hours. Beautiful prose brings to life these vibrant characters as they struggle and shape their identities in and out of the ring. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

WOODWORKING by @emilystjams.bsky.social was a delightful, thought-provoking read. This South Dakota town was brought to life so vividly and compassionately, and the intergenerational story shows coming out and coming-of-age can still happen no matter how old you are. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

THE BEE STING by Paul Murray was a triumph. The astonishing ways he plays with form sucked me into each of the characters in this dysfunctional but relatable family. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

I loved THE PEOPLE WE KEEP by @allielarkinwrites.bsky.social last year, and this year I adored HOME OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS. She writes complicated characters beautifully--frustrating, funny, inspiring, but always compelling. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

ON EARTH WE'RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS by Ocean Vuong was as heartbreaking, haunting, and stunningly written as advertised. A definite entry in the queer canon. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

After reading SONG OF ACHILLES last year, @madelinemiller.bsky.social has revived my childhood interest in mythology. CIRCE was a gem of a book--I loved being stuck on a island with the title character and hearing her take on the events of the Odyssey. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

THE DEVIANT'S WAR: THE HOMOSEXUAL VS. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA by Eric Cervini was a well-written and thoroughly researched depiction of some of the unsung heroes of the early LGBTQIA+ movement and the legal battles that set the stage for our modern struggles. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

IMAGINE ME GONE by Adam Haslett was a brutal and poignant depiction of complicated sibling dynamics and mental illness with stunning prose. I breezed through this despite the tough subject matter. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

Wow, I was hooked on REBECCA by Daphne Du Maurier from the very first page. Gothic, feminist vibes with twist after twist I didn't see coming (and key differences from the Hitchcock film!). Definitely a classic worth reading. #bookstory #reads #bookwrap

THE SECRET LIFE OF ALBERT ENTWISTLE by Matt Cain was a delightful, heartwarming exploration of an elderly queer man, showing growth and happiness are possible at any age. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

A few more books I loved this year: CAMBRIDGE GUIDE TO SHAKESPEARE AND RACE ed. Ayanna Thompson WE COULD BE SO GOOD by @catswrites.bsky.social NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters GOOD MATERIAL by Dolly Alderton #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024

THE HANDMAID’S TALE by @margaretatwood.bsky.social exceeded the hype. I was struck by the frightening parallels, of course, but also the repeated truth that there are many who can see the light and will sacrifice to keep it burning. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

THE PEOPLE WE KEEP by @allielarkinwrites.bsky.social was a gem of a novel. Richly woven lives with quirky characters I wanted to spend all day with. Heartbreaking but ultimately packed with hope and resilience. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

THE SUN ALSO RISES by Ernest Hemingway - the first of his novels I’ve read, and yes, the guy can write, but I was struck by the parallels between this lost generation and our current moment, and heartened by our ability to go on. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

FAMILY MEAL by Bryan Washington was a powerful portrayal of grief in various forms, and a testament to the unconventional families we build. I loved these characters, no matter how much I wanted to shake them, and this book shook me a little too. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

THE SONG OF ACHILLES by @madelinemiller.bsky.social reignited a love for ancient mythology I haven’t felt since childhood. A riveting reclamation of the gay heroes who’ve been all but written out of our oldest stories. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

MRS. DALLOWAY by Virginia Woolf - I’d been struggling with interiority in my own writing and this was the tonic - a gorgeous exploration of every character’s inner thoughts and feelings across a solitary day. So pacey I finished it in one day too. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

THINKING SHAKESPEARE by Barry Edelstein was that rare thing - incredibly informative while still being a joy to read. With wit and generosity, it offers a definitive guide to Shakespeare with plenty of practical exercises for theatre practitioners #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON by Daniel Keyes is a classic for a reason. I don’t often cry at books, but this one got me. An ahead-of-its-time reflection on the limits of technology and the double-edged sword of knowledge and enlightenment. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

SECRET CITY: THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF GAY WASHINGTON by James Kirchick was a riveting account of more than 60 years of US history and the LGBTQ+ figures who have been relegated to the shadows for too long. Essential reading. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead

I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL by Natalie Sue was a hilarious and heartbreaking look at corporate lunacy and millennial malaise. I loved the unflinching narrative voice, and embracing this protagonist, flaws and all. #ReadingRecommendations #BestBooks2024 #WhattoRead