The hottest Novel Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

"Ethan Frome" (Edith Wharton)

Outsider Art • 19 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
📚 Literature Novel Character analysis
  1. The village of Starkfield, isolated and suffocating in winter, plays a significant role in shaping the characters' fates.
  2. Zeena, with her apparent frailty, conceals a cunning mind and holds a significant power over Ethan and their relationships.
  3. Ethan's dreams and desires are ultimately crushed by the tragedies and constraints of fate, leaving him resigned to a life of quiet despair.

Stories of Sand, Cities of Salt

Critic at Large • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art Literature Novel Storytelling
  1. Artists like Kiluanji Kia Henda explore the notion of cities emerging in unlikely environments, such as deserts, and how these structures can impact society and culture.
  2. The concept of 'Dubaization' refers to the influence of extravagant city development projects, like those in Dubai, on architecture and urban planning in other regions, prompting discussions on the authenticity and value of such endeavors.
  3. The novel 'Cities of Salt' by Abdulrahman Munif delves into the consequences of rapid urbanization driven by oil exploitation, highlighting the societal tensions and transformations that accompany the development of 'cities of salt.'
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Welcome to gulmohur

storyvoyager • 7 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
⚔ Fiction Short Story Dystopian Novel
  1. A young teacher eagerly awaits her first gifted student at a unique school.
  2. The protagonist navigates an emotional journey involving an infant, parents, and a school's enrollment process.
  3. The story explores themes of duty, potential, and morality in a futuristic setting.

Ink #1

Arjun’s Newsletter • 3 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
📚 Literature Short Story Novel Music
  1. Arjun shares his favorite cultural experiences each week, like a jazz performance in New York
  2. He recommends reading J.D. Salinger's short story 'For Esmé—with Love and Squalor' for its emotional depth
  3. Arjun suggests Graham Greene's 'Our Man in Havana' for a light, humorous read about espionage during the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Purpose of the Novel

Novum Newsletter • 3 HN points • 31 May 23
📚 Literature Novel Art Social History
  1. The lazy option tends to win when translating content, leading to lowered writing quality.
  2. Artificially-generated writing and art are becoming more prevalent, raising concerns about their impact on various industries.
  3. The novel is a uniquely human form of expression that AI struggles to replicate due to its social and historical origins.

☞ The Magic of Code

Cabinet of Wonders • 1 HN point • 26 Apr 23
📚 Literature Technology Coding Books Writing Novel
  1. The author is writing a book titled 'The Magic of Code' that explores how digital language has shaped the modern world and will shape the future.
  2. The book will cover a wide range of topics such as the complexity of technology, glitches and bugs, the connection between coding and magic, old texts, simulation, and artificial life.
  3. The author aims to make the computational realm fascinating and understandable for a broad audience by providing a novel mental lens and a liberal arts-infused approach to computing.

Paging Steve Anderson

And It Don't Stop • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
📚 Literature Book review Novel Author Writing Style
  1. The novel "As the Day May Determine" by Steve Anderson features a dominatrix character who shows empathy towards her clients.
  2. The novel also offers a depiction of the changing East Village through the eyes of the author, reflecting on the neighborhood's evolution.
  3. The story line of the novel includes themes of betrayal, miscarriages of justice, and elements resembling murder, making it engaging for readers.

165 pages but no answers

Get Wit Quick • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
📚 Literature Novel Questions Book review
  1. The post discusses a book that consists of 165 pages of questions with no answers.
  2. The Betteridge's law of headlines suggests that headlines in question form usually have a negative answer.
  3. The book highlighted in the post is described as a brilliant piece of work

Brief thoughts on Joyce's Ulysses

Facsimile No. 2 • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jan 21
📚 Literature Classics Analysis Critique Ranking Novel
  1. Reading Joyce's Ulysses can be challenging due to its cryptic writing and dense text but offers moments of beautiful prose that make the struggle worth it
  2. The episodes of Joyce's Ulysses range in style and difficulty, with each offering unique and sometimes obscure insights into the characters and narrative
  3. The novel delves into the subconscious of the characters in a psychedelic way, presenting a mix of sublime and occasionally disgusting experiences

The big infodump chapter

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
📚 Literature Novel Narrative Meditation Romance Buddhism
  1. The post discusses the big infodump chapter of a Tantric Buddhist vampire romance novel, where characters compare notes and pieces fall into place, setting the stage for what's to come.
  2. The narrative structure of the post is the final episode of Act II, establishing the relationship with the supernatural mentor.
  3. The author's spouse's guide to a foundational Dzogchen meditation approach, 'Opening Awareness,' is newly available in a Kindle edition, focusing on meditation that leads to vivid perception, interpersonal clarity, and responsible action.

New vampire novel chapter for Halloween

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
📚 Literature Novel Fiction Writing
  1. The new vampire novel chapter is a major turning point in the plot, revealing what the novel is actually about.
  2. The author faced challenges while writing fiction, realizing that translating a mental movie into a written narrative required filling plot holes and revision.
  3. The novel, initially intended as a crowd-pandering advertisement, experienced a 15-year delay and is now mainly written for the author's enjoyment.