I loved Tom Lake so much! Enter Ghost was powerful, and so well layered. I would have found it really difficult to pick between them! North Woods is on my tbr for October. Very much agree with your thoughts about The Rachel Incident and The Bee Sting, and I haven't read Wellness.
I have Enter Ghost on my 10 Before the End list...I am excited to read it. I do understand your predicament choosing your top books. I did non-fictions and my top 4 books were all 5 star books for me!
I totally agree with you about the long novels needing to earn their time commitment! I would have had a very similar line up if I'd voted in the finals. I might have gotten stuck forever between Tom Lake and North Woods for #1. Your recap is excellent!
Betwixt you and Brian @Bookish I dont know which to read first 😂 I always trust & enjoy your reviews. (Im going to pick one and buddy read it w a friend.) I read _Master Slave Hisband Wife,_ loved it, thought it'd rank higher on the BookTube Non-fiction winners ... 😢 _Enter Ghost,_ you say? 🤔 Ill read _Northwoods,_ too. ☺
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I can’t say I’m surprised either, but I was also very disappointed. I only judged the first two rounds. I watched a batch of people’s videos today with their choices. I didn’t see one video that had Bee Sting anywhere near the top. I guess I don’t know any of the people who voted for it. Very disappointing. Your top three would have been my top three as well (though I actually have not read Wellness yet).
I liked Tom Lake much more than I thought I would. I disliked much of North Woods I really hated The Bee Sting I thought Enter Ghost was very good. I applaud your choices and reasons for your rankings.
Thank you for such a thoughtful analysis of your choices - I agree almost totally (I would have put North Woods first, what a brilliant book). Now I’ve looked at the winners - I am with you 100%.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I am sure I will - it’s on the shelf along with 600 other unread books 🥲 but I will get to it. I also have her first novel The Parisian - have you read that?
I loved Tom Lake so much! Enter Ghost was powerful, and so well layered. I would have found it really difficult to pick between them! North Woods is on my tbr for October. Very much agree with your thoughts about The Rachel Incident and The Bee Sting, and I haven't read Wellness.
@@TheLeniverse I hope North Woods brings you the pleasure it did me. Like Enter Ghost it is multilayered.
I have Enter Ghost on my 10 Before the End list...I am excited to read it. I do understand your predicament choosing your top books. I did non-fictions and my top 4 books were all 5 star books for me!
@@awebofstories it is so hard by the final. I have a better understanding of other book prizes and their judges since taking part.
I totally agree with you about the long novels needing to earn their time commitment! I would have had a very similar line up if I'd voted in the finals. I might have gotten stuck forever between Tom Lake and North Woods for #1. Your recap is excellent!
@@readandre-read those two really are perfect novels. I am glad that the BookTube Prize meant I got to them this year.
Northwoods is my number one (by far)
Very interesting video .. well done! Thank you 😊
I really did love North Woods too. It was a close run thing for me. My affection for Hamlet probably tipped the scales.
Betwixt you and Brian @Bookish I dont know which to read first 😂 I always trust & enjoy your reviews. (Im going to pick one and buddy read it w a friend.) I read _Master Slave Hisband Wife,_ loved it, thought it'd rank higher on the BookTube Non-fiction winners ... 😢 _Enter Ghost,_ you say? 🤔 Ill read _Northwoods,_ too. ☺
@@bighardbooks770 at least Brian and I agree on The Bee Sting not being worth your time.
Brilliant, Ros! I also loved your top three choices. What a great batch. I love your really thoughtful assessments of each. Thank you.😊
Thanks Pat. They're all three great books aren't they? I am sad that The Bee Sting came top but not altogether surprised.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I can’t say I’m surprised either, but I was also very disappointed. I only judged the first two rounds. I watched a batch of people’s videos today with their choices. I didn’t see one video that had Bee Sting anywhere near the top. I guess I don’t know any of the people who voted for it. Very disappointing. Your top three would have been my top three as well (though I actually have not read Wellness yet).
@@BookChatWithPat8668 I'm going to watch some other ranking videos tonight so I'll be looking out for Bee Sting lovers!
I liked Tom Lake much more than I thought I would.
I disliked much of North Woods
I really hated The Bee Sting
I thought Enter Ghost was very good.
I applaud your choices and reasons for your rankings.
I may never forgive you for Northwoods! 😂😂😂😂 KIDDING!!
@@TKTalksBooks At least I didn’t hate it as much as The Bee Sting😂
@@BookishTexan I really resented The Bee Sting for taking so long for so little reward.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I thought the Bee Sting was alright, until the ending which made me hopping mad!
@@TheLeniverse it did feel like a bit of a cheat, didn't it?
Yay!! Enter Ghost! 😍😍😎
I read it in 2023 right before the war, and then again in 2024 obviously after and I think it is in my top reads of both years.
It is a beautiful book and feels timely, alas.
Oh and I just watched the results - I think I am more in tune with your rankings!
@@ianp9086 I am quite disappointed that Bee Sting won but I know many people really enjoyed it.
Thank you for such a thoughtful analysis of your choices - I agree almost totally (I would have put North Woods first, what a brilliant book). Now I’ve looked at the winners - I am with you 100%.
North Woods is a special book. It was a hard choice and I could easily have swung the other way.
I saw Isabella Hammad in Hay this year and she gave a wonderful talk and reading from this book - but I still haven’t read it 🙄
Oh Ian you should. I think you would find it rewarding.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I am sure I will - it’s on the shelf along with 600 other unread books 🥲 but I will get to it. I also have her first novel The Parisian - have you read that?
@@ianp9086 no not yet.
I have Tom lake on my shelves ti read in spring after Alice loving it. I got it after I was able to tell her so it will be emotional to read 🥲
@@novellenovels it is a lovely book. It starts slowly but really builds.