30k is amazing, I’m so happy for you and us, thank you for being you and congratulations 🥳 Would love a celebratory vid with the thirty greatest of all time. And a 1st of December vlog to start vlogmas sounds fab! ❄️ - I’ve got just a few prompt ideas, lol: Set somewhere you’ve not been, a one word title, a house or interior on the cover, water featured on the cover, nature featured on the cover, sizeable title (e.g. The little Prince), your favourite trope, title including a person’s name, a book written before the 2000’s, an animal on the cover, an animal in the title, no ppl on the cover, book rec by favourite author, book you’ve been feeling guilty about not reading yet, favourite colour on the cover, A as the first letter in the title, backlist of favourite author, translated fiction, the name of a place in the title, a book that has gone under the radar, a book in a genre you read less often, a book with a piece of fruit on the cover, the longest book on your tbr (at home or library)
@ I’m so excited for the picking. Though it will be hard to top last year being the first picked out of the jar! Which was very unexpected and surreal, lol. But the loveliest thing too 😍
Well now that you have told us what you are doing next week - bring on Wicked! - I’m sure we would all love to see a vlog of the end of November . 😊 Congrats on the 30K! 🎉
Congratulations on the 30k!! I love sitting down with a cuppa and having a catch up with your videos. Yes please on the vlogmas for the end of month/nov into dec. 🎉😊
I'm so excited to see what you end up filming for your version of Vlogmas! In terms of book prompts, I loved this one I found this year: 'a book set during a festival or holiday (bonus if the festival or holiday is from a culture that's different to your own)'. I ended up reading an excellent book set during Eid and loved it. Hope you have a great week with Wicked watching ahead!
@ Oh absolutely no pressure, Simon. Read as you please, and if that’s pretty much nothing for the next while, you do you. You’ve been flat out reading for work - you definitely deserve a bit of a break ☺️
I've been very involved with leading a bingo style reading challenge elsewhere off book tube and people can REALLY get hung up on whether things are allowed or suitable. It really can help to lay out that the prompt police do not exist, the prompts are there to inspire not restrict, so if a reader in good faith thinks they've met the prompt, then congrats, they have. There is no cheating anyone but themselves if they shortcut a prompt out of its intent. It can be hard to remind people this is all just for fun.
I don’t think this was the prompt police, or the fun police or people cheating, it was people genuinely just pointing out that some of the prompts weren’t as accessible and that’s fair enough. Now that I see it I agree, so simpler ones in 2025.
Next year I really need to get my TBR down on my Kindle (I know). So I have a cunning plan. Your prompts will come from that TBR list and from no where else. Then I will read one book from the top of my list (oldest) and then one from the bottom of the list (newest). It sounds good in my head so we shall see whilst also trying not to buy anymore books. Congrats on 30k subscribers. I love your and your mums videos🎉
Sounds like a fun challenge that. Which is what we want prompts to be. In fact I think I was 2025 to be a year of fun challenges. Or just a fun challenge of a year. We will see how I can make that happen. Lol.
Congrats on 30k! 🎉🎉🎉 I'd like to see an all time favorite list from you -- that would be fun. For prompts, an obscure or confusing cover: i e. This Thing Between Us, Madeleine is Sleeping, etc. Some cover that's hard to figure out.
Congrats on 30k! Very excited for your fave 30 under 30 (mins) video! You will love Fingersmith and I’m pretty sure Jen Campbell has spoken highly of Sarah Waters’ audiobooks. Prompt suggestions: book with a hand on the cover, book with punctuation in the title (!,?’…) - I love following along with the prompts!
I borrowed Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet on cassette from the library about ten years ago, I loved listening to them, I had to buy a couple of personal cassette players on eBay in order to listen to them.
I'm at the final chapter of North Woods and I'm reading VERY slowly now to make it last...love it! Congrats on the 30k, well deserved (and then some)! That November video sounds interesting, so yes please. And if we could see Christmas tree decorating at some point, that would be lovely!🎄
I wanted to get the Christmas tree last week but I wasn’t allowed. I’m also a little nervous as to how our two newest family members will react with a tree so we need to get it either a bit before we have a festive break or after, the tree timing will be key 🎄
Congratulations on 30k subscribers! Totally deserved!🥂🍾A video on Samantha Harvey’s back catalogue is a great idea! I loved Orbital and have now The Western Wind on my wishlist, but I would like to know more about her work.
I’ve just seen that Orbital is the first Booker winner to go to number one in the book charts the week the winner is announced. Chuffed for her. The Western Wind is my favourite of her books.
You will LOVE Fingersmith and the unmentionable twist, Simon. I was working on a woman’s magazine and we were all buddy reading it. We came in one morning and just couldn’t speak after reading the twist. Excited to know what you think.
Oooh that group read sounds fun. I will have to see how I can report back without mentioning the twist (and work out how I can talk to Sarah without mentioning it) two challenges for 2025 already. Ha.
your vlogmas plans sound great, it's my first christmas on BookTube so tempted to do something but have zero ability to do something every day as I work full time and need to sleep LOL
I did the everyday vlogmas once and it was INTENSE. It is for the brave, I am glad I managed it though... probably never again though, so this seems a nice medium.
Finally that huge TBR got to you - just kidding. I'm sorry it did actually. I can't handle that amount of books to choose from in my house. Especially since the stack of 15 I have currently doesn't get read as I constantly buy something new to read instead of picking up what I got. I'm looking forward to seeing how your reading and library will look in 2025.
I don’t think it’s got to me really, lol. I think it’s more I haven’t sorted it for ages as I’ve been so busy and now I gotta get it done. Which will probably be quite cathartic. I don’t know how 2024 got so busy the last few months. Ha.
So much excitement coming up Simon! 🤩 I'm so unhelpful with content advice because I always just love seeing whatever people enjoy sharing 😝 so glad to hear you are catching up with Holly - gosh I loved her books so much !
Congratulations on 30K Looking forward to all the great things coming our way in December and 2025. So glad you are doing prompts again. Here are a few: Wild in the title, Into Darkness and Two by Two- siblings. Also cannot wait to hear you chatting with Sarah Walters in Jan. Whatever you decide to put on here will be fab too.
Prompt suggestions that I have enjoyed: All of the letters of your first name are on the cover Book is primarily your favorite color. Book matches a favorite sweater, pair of socks, etc.
Hi Simon, wish I could read Fingersmith again for the first time! So.... Reading promps, 1. The book you brought because you loved the cover. 2. New Year, new beginnings, so a book about Starting again or A change of direction. 3. As such a big mile stone, 30,000 subscribers, A book with a number in the title.
Gosh I don’t know if there are many, or any, books with 30,000 in the title. Unless that leagues under the sea one is 30,000. That might might be too much of a challenge. But 30 may be doable. I’m very much looking forward to finally reading Fingersmith.
I am on day 4 of COVID and feel terrible, but I found your channel a couple of years ago during Vlogmas and didn't even know what it was or what Booktube was before then. I am so excited for any Vlogmas content. Start it whenever you like and we will all be thrilled. Could we have a book list for gifts for people who aren't great readers but would like to read more? (I know a few people who fit in that category for me.) 🎄
Awww hope you feel better soon and you’re finding lots of things to escape into. I’m quite looking forward to doing vlogs on the channel again and Vlogmas seemed the perfect time.
Ha. That wasn’t actually the spotlight I mentioned, ha. It was a Samantha Harvey one but I could potentially do a Sarah Waters one if I reread the ones I’ve already read aswell as the two I’ve not.
Ooh this is an interesting idea. I actually might steal it for a vlog instead of a prompt. Cheeky I know but I like the idea of doing that for a week or so like you did a month.
Congratulations on 30K! Love your vlogs and chatty videos, you've introduced me to so many authors that are my favourite now. Very much looking forward to your interview of Sarah Waters, hope we find out when her new book is coming out. Suggestion of a prompt: Read a book where the story starts in the same month you read it. For example, Life after life for February because it starts on February 10th .
I’m sure when a new Waters book will come up in conversation, if not by me by someone in the audience. Hahaha. I forgot to put the links in the description like a wally. Oooh that timely prompt is an interesting one!
Congrats on 30k subs! Just discovered Between the Covers on BBC so my tbr is now too large so reducing that is my goal for next year. Suggestion for prompts would be reading a book with author that shares your name or initials. Or to read a backlog book from an author you enjoyed this year.
Yay for blogmas and getting 30k really like your channel your honest speaking and friendly chats would love you to read something like middle grade as a reading challenge of something different xx
Oooh that’s an interesting idea and I do have some middle grade books on my shelves… but not in the library which is why I don’t get to them much - if at all, need to rectify that.
For books that I've read this year that I think you would enjoy, for fiction, I'm thinking Razorblade Tears from S.A. Cosby. Not sure if you're read this one already or not. In non-fiction, I've really loved Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, it helped me get a much better grasp on past and current events.
I have read Razorblade Tears, I thought it was pretty brilliant! I need to head to more of his books. I have Caste on the shelves so one to get to in the next year.
I’m glad you asked for recommendations because I actually thought of you the other day as soon as I finished a book… I think you will absolutely *love* What I Know About You by Eric Chacour. It is absolutely brilliant: queer, heartbreaking, full of plot but beautifully written. Loved it so much, and I think would be right up your street!
Ooh I have Eric on my shelves, well not literally. Hahaha. It’s one I got sent a proof of and was intrigued and then got all the more intrigued when it was Giller prize shortlisted. So you’re spot on and all the more keen now I know you loved it. Bang on book recommendation!
Yes, please, to the author spotlight video! I love those, no matter the author. I wish people did more of them. Since you think you've changed as a reader, I'd love a discussion regarding what has changed, if your favorite books are still your favorites, if you are drawn to something that put you off in the past or vice versa, etc.
I think people probably don’t do so many of the author spotlight videos as it’s rare to have read all an authors books if they’ve written more than three or four. Harvey has written six and I’ve missed one, which I’ll have to read before making the video. But that said I will have read all Waters so far by January so could do another then. Will be interesting to see how much they’re actually viewed. I am definitely giving the ‘what reader am I now’ content some thought, maybe reflections will come at the end of next year as I try some things out. I was at an event for Persephone books last night and it’s made me ponder if I start the Persephone project again next year, which I started waaaaay back in my blogging days over a decade ago.
Would have loved to have been at that Persephone event. I’ll bet it was terrific! Definitely voting for first vlog on Dec 1 to capture all of the amazing-sounding late November content. Am fascinated to learn your 30 favorite reads even if it takes longer than 30 minutes to tell us about them. 😊
It was a fab event last night and reminded me that I need to get back to my Persephone Project which I started on my blog over a decade ago and never finished. Books were bought and Francesca and I may do a video in the shop next year which could be a lot of fun.
Re prompts: I haven't been able to travel this year for health reasons. But if I can read, I can experience other cultures. So I think there are all sorts of inclusive prompts, such as read a book from a country you've never read about before, read a book from a country beginning with M, read a book about your home town/region/country, read a book set in your dream destination, etc.
Yes, this is exactly what I think, the joy of book is we can visit all sorts of places and all sorts of lives through the pages and travel from wherever we are reading the book. So hoping our next prompts are all the more universal but still fun and shape what we are reading in a lovely way.
Hi Simon. 30K subs! Yaaay!😀🥳👏🎈🎂Balloons, cake, looottss of cake😋 Chris, Mom Louise, more family, cats, all wearing 30K t-shirt/ sweatshirts to name just a few celebratory ideas you’ve prob already thought about. Yes to a SH and other author spotlight videos and didn’t know AM had won the GP. Happy you include prize winners in your vlogs Simon. I have enjoyed my reading journey for 2024, so far, with you and your mom Louise 😊📚 and especially the WPBC. Nice way ending your last author interview for 2024 and must add JC to my tbr for this year. Sounds like just my genre. I love it that your going to be doing vlogmas and like the idea of them starting for Dec 1st but would also like seeing you and W with Pip, the W menu, and Holly R🥰 too. Some ideas for prompts; A book with a map on the cover, a mystery with Ink blot or spot on the cover, Read the first book of a trilogy, read a short story of a person, place, or animal. A fav modern classic, also a classic you’ve never read, a fiction or non-fiction set in your birthday month. A book in vignette style. Also, have to include a book with the number/word three on the cover for your 30K subs😁 just sayin’ …lol…watching you and Louise pick from the prompt jar is a highlight video for me. Once again, Congrats!📚💓
I think maybe just the 30 favourite books in under 30 mins will be enough. Though I did have some belated celebratory cake hahahaha. Don't want to go too OTT and have people think I am becoming a diva hahaha. Love all the suggestions though and will keep them in my back pocket!
Congrats on 30k! Would love to see you revisit some of the books from your earliest videos and how your reading tastes have changed. For vlogmas could Chris make an appearance with some festive cookbook creations?
Sooooo he might appear. He’s been appearing much more on my patreon vlogs after a period of being very camera shy so we can hope. Though with his shifts at work and Christmas being pretty chaotic in retail I think the only festive meal he’ll be cooking will be Christmas dinner.
Hahaha. I have visions of me bumping into all the shelves and knocking things over if I did that with a blind fold. How do you do it with damage limitation?
Suggestions: Early 2025 Women's Prize Predictions (fiction and/or nonfiction), unless there's a conflict of interest. I'd love to see an unhaul episode where you explain which new books don't interest you and what do you do with all of the free books you don't read. 10 most anticipated new books of 2025. Anything Booker-related, regular or international, predictions, etc.
There shouldn’t be a conflict of interest with the women’s prizes next year as even though we’re now part of the family with book club we will have no idea what the list is until a teeny tiny bit before everyone else does. I don’t think I could even try to predict the non fiction. It’s not my field of expertise though judging by how crap my guesses are for the fiction longlist maybe it doesn’t matter. Hahaha. I’ll be doing some 2025 book videos for sure 👌🏻
Your Wicked dinner reminds me of the book club I hosted in L.A. for many years. There were about ten of us, and our meetings always included a dinner in which we "cooked the book." The African menu we put together for The Poisonwood Bible was amazing! A fun way to immerse yourself in a story if you're young and energetic enough. ~ The audiobook of The Paying Guests is excellent, btw. Juliet Stevenson narrates, I believe.
Cook the book sounds fun, well not so fun sounding for the book. Hahaha. Great idea though, that said neither Holly nor I will have to cook and that’s an even bigger treat! I’m going to sample the Waters audiobooks soon.
I’m just ecstatic that you’re going to be doing more videos than usual. I have missed you this week. Please add my congratulations on 30k subscribers to your scrapbook. Q. What exactly is your relationship with Jen Campbell?
My ‘exact’ relationship with Jen? That sounds like it has undertones lol. She got me into BookTube and was my fairy book godmother. Lol. I’ve not seen her for yonks due to the pandemic and distance and life but still watch almost religiously. She’s ace. Ps. It won’t be more videos, well maybe slightly, but definitely more regular videos. Haha.
Vlogmas from 1. December. Really enjoyed your vlogmas years ago where you watched batman and read books on boxing day - I'd be interested in your plans for this year. More cat updates! Prompts - a book from Finland. 2 books from the same translator (original authors could be different). A book with a family member in the title (mom, son, etc.), A book in which someone moves to the countryside.
Ooh thank you for the prompt ideas. They’ll go on the jar. We’ve never had a prompt before that involves two books could be very interesting. I think we all know which translator I would pick. Ha. Was that the day I was pretty much live on socials all day on Boxing Day during the lockdown Christmas? I loved that too. We’ve too many guests this year.
Love your channel and so excited you are doing Vlogmas! 🎄💕⛄️Please do a Vlogmas on December 1st! We’d love it and a great way to start festive December! 🎄
Fixed myself a cup of Jack Frosted Mocha from David's Tea to enjoy while watching your video. I do have a couple of Sarah Waters books on my TBR and I hope to discover her work in the near future. You reminded me that I should look if her audiobooks are available at the library and it turns out that a couple are, including Fingersmith. It's 24 hours long, though, so I will have to finish the two that I have on loan first before I borrow this one, but this could be a great option in December. Then, I'll know more about this book when you share your thoughts on it later on. Yeah on 30K subscribers - congratulations! 🥳 Yeah on vlogmas coming our way as well. I'm okay with you telling us about what happened in the last week of November for your first vlogmas, that sounds perfectly acceptable. 😁 I think you can do favorite 30 books in under 30 minutes, if you describe each book in one sentence. The hard part is remaining concise about books that we are truly passionate about! But that being said, I'm definitely interested in hearing what makes your top 30 list. I had not heard you ever mention Wicked until now, so I feel like I might discover some of your past favorites in this video.
Wicked was one of the books that made me think I should do books from before UA-cam as well as ones I’ve read whilst being on UA-cam. I did think about doing 30 from before and 30 since but I haven’t the brain maths (or time) haha. Sarah does like to write a chunkster but they are wonderful to get lost in.
A video bout Christmas bookish gift? A relative that only reads biographies?/ non fiction? Best pick of historical fiction book to give at Christmas etc Congratulations on 30k 🤩🎉🤗🥳🍀
Maybe I’m a horrible cow but I did have to roll my eyes at the prompt thing. I just think if the prompt doesn’t work for someone because it’s too privileged, they can adapt it.
I wouldn’t say you’re a horrible cow. That seems extreme. But Mum and I have talked about it and we want these prompts to be as accessible and I hate the idea of anything being privileged or exclusive. To me it would be easier to keep them universally appealing and people can adapt if needed. Seems an odd idea to make those finding some of the prompts tougher… tougher again by making them adapt it.
Prompt ideas for 2025: - Translated book - Book involving a career you wanted as a kid - Book that has been on your TBR the longest - Roll a dice - pick a book with this amount of words in the title - Cover with your favorite colour - Book with less than 200 pages - A book you saw someone read in public (love this idea, but might be limiting for some people) - Book on your TBR with the longest title - Book with protagonist that's at least 50 years old (would be a fun way to discover new titles as well) - Book published the year you were born - Book with stars on the cover - Book that became a movie - Search your name and read first book you see (I tried this on Indigo and my library website and this is really fun! More flexible than the name having to be the author's) - A book about books
Susanna Clarke & her fella sci-fi author Colin Greenland have a place here in Cambridge & I have met them both a couple of times ... she has been ill with ME ... you have 30,000 subscribers as your posts about books are enthusiastic & you are generous about your 'real' life, introducing your fine mother, the splendid cats & you love books & love to read which is apparent every time you speak ...
She has been ill but is doing really well. We had a lovely dinner after the event, she didn’t mention Cambridge though, they live in the Peak District which we bonded over as I, and mum, are from there.
I also think that the vlogs should only include December content. Cannot believe it is going to be January soon - I am starting to freak out with all the books I want to finish this year.
Uh oh. A vlog on December first has been very popular. Though I wonder if I there’s lots of festive content in this last week of November it will count. Ha.
Don't be hard on yourself about prompts. They can be interpreted about places you'd like to visit or people you'd like to meet etc. l vote for author spotlight videos because I usually stick to familiar authors and subjects rather than taking a risk on someone unfamiliar to me.
I promise I wasn't being hard on myself, I actually thought the comments were really insightful and made me think a lot and have a really good chat with mum about it. We want the prompts to be as universal and fun as possible.
Congrats to 30K! Yes to a December 1st vlog start date. You could always switch that holiday prompt to “read a book from a country you haven’t been to but want to go to”. Video ideas….as someone who may spend Christmas alone and is already dealing with depression, maybe make a video of comfy, cozy suggestions? Books that will make you forget your troubles, so to speak, and have you immersed. Good books to snuggle into blankets and pots of tea with, etc.
Oooh I shall see what I can do with cosy suggestions, I don't tend to read cosy books but hopefully vlogmas will bring some cosy content. Depends what I get up to hahahaha.
I feel like all my favorites I’ve read this year you’ve already read ( Booker shortlist ) or plan to ( Hum) , but I can’t recall if you’ve read Private Rites , but I think you loved Our Wives Under The Sea ??? and fairly certain you’ll love the former regardless. Blahdiggityblah 📚 🪱 💚
30k is amazing, I’m so happy for you and us, thank you for being you and congratulations 🥳 Would love a celebratory vid with the thirty greatest of all time. And a 1st of December vlog to start vlogmas sounds fab! ❄️
- I’ve got just a few prompt ideas, lol: Set somewhere you’ve not been, a one word title, a house or interior on the cover, water featured on the cover, nature featured on the cover, sizeable title (e.g. The little Prince), your favourite trope, title including a person’s name, a book written before the 2000’s, an animal on the cover, an animal in the title, no ppl on the cover, book rec by favourite author, book you’ve been feeling guilty about not reading yet, favourite colour on the cover, A as the first letter in the title, backlist of favourite author, translated fiction, the name of a place in the title, a book that has gone under the radar, a book in a genre you read less often, a book with a piece of fruit on the cover, the longest book on your tbr (at home or library)
Thank you for all the prompt ideas. I shall make sure some of those end up in the jar or joy for when picking the prompt time comes.
@ I’m so excited for the picking. Though it will be hard to top last year being the first picked out of the jar! Which was very unexpected and surreal, lol. But the loveliest thing too 😍
Well now that you have told us what you are doing next week - bring on Wicked! - I’m sure we would all love to see a vlog of the end of November . 😊 Congrats on the 30K! 🎉
Maybe that’ll be the start to my festive vlogs and return to vlogging then.
Congratulations on the 30k!! I love sitting down with a cuppa and having a catch up with your videos. Yes please on the vlogmas for the end of month/nov into dec. 🎉😊
Thank you! Your wish may well be my command.
Congrats on 30K subscribers!🥳🎉I’d like to see your 30 fave books of all time.
Thank you. And hopefully you will quite soon. Ha.
congrats on 30k subscribers - utterly well deserved - I adore spending time with you on here!
Very kind of you to say.
I'm so excited to see what you end up filming for your version of Vlogmas! In terms of book prompts, I loved this one I found this year: 'a book set during a festival or holiday (bonus if the festival or holiday is from a culture that's different to your own)'. I ended up reading an excellent book set during Eid and loved it. Hope you have a great week with Wicked watching ahead!
That’s a nice idea for a prompt indeed. Will pop it in the jar. Loved Wicked, watched it twice in less than 48 hours lol.
Huge congratulations on 30k, Simon. So well deserved. And a huge yes to a Samantha Harvey author spotlight ☺
I shall see what I can do, I have one more of hers to read and need to get to it before I can film and am having a slight slump at the moment.
@ Oh absolutely no pressure, Simon. Read as you please, and if that’s pretty much nothing for the next while, you do you. You’ve been flat out reading for work - you definitely deserve a bit of a break ☺️
I've been very involved with leading a bingo style reading challenge elsewhere off book tube and people can REALLY get hung up on whether things are allowed or suitable. It really can help to lay out that the prompt police do not exist, the prompts are there to inspire not restrict, so if a reader in good faith thinks they've met the prompt, then congrats, they have. There is no cheating anyone but themselves if they shortcut a prompt out of its intent. It can be hard to remind people this is all just for fun.
I don’t think this was the prompt police, or the fun police or people cheating, it was people genuinely just pointing out that some of the prompts weren’t as accessible and that’s fair enough. Now that I see it I agree, so simpler ones in 2025.
Next year I really need to get my TBR down on my Kindle (I know). So I have a cunning plan. Your prompts will come from that TBR list and from no where else. Then I will read one book from the top of my list (oldest) and then one from the bottom of the list (newest). It sounds good in my head so we shall see whilst also trying not to buy anymore books. Congrats on 30k subscribers. I love your and your mums videos🎉
Sounds like a fun challenge that. Which is what we want prompts to be. In fact I think I was 2025 to be a year of fun challenges. Or just a fun challenge of a year. We will see how I can make that happen. Lol.
Congrats on 30k! 🎉🎉🎉 I'd like to see an all time favorite list from you -- that would be fun. For prompts, an obscure or confusing cover: i e. This Thing Between Us, Madeleine is Sleeping, etc. Some cover that's hard to figure out.
Ooh I’ll have to look those up to see what you mean… as I’m confused. Hahaha.
@SavidgeReads ha ha ha! 😂🤣
Congrats on 30k! Very excited for your fave 30 under 30 (mins) video! You will love Fingersmith and I’m pretty sure Jen Campbell has spoken highly of Sarah Waters’ audiobooks. Prompt suggestions: book with a hand on the cover, book with punctuation in the title (!,?’…) - I love following along with the prompts!
Thank you for the congrats and the prompt suggestions. You’re right, I feel like both Jen and Mercedes have raved about Sarah Waters books on audio.
I borrowed Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet on cassette from the library about ten years ago, I loved listening to them, I had to buy a couple of personal cassette players on eBay in order to listen to them.
I'm at the final chapter of North Woods and I'm reading VERY slowly now to make it last...love it!
Congrats on the 30k, well deserved (and then some)!
That November video sounds interesting, so yes please. And if we could see Christmas tree decorating at some point, that would be lovely!🎄
I wanted to get the Christmas tree last week but I wasn’t allowed. I’m also a little nervous as to how our two newest family members will react with a tree so we need to get it either a bit before we have a festive break or after, the tree timing will be key 🎄
Congratulations on 30k subscribers! Totally deserved!🥂🍾A video on Samantha Harvey’s back catalogue is a great idea! I loved Orbital and have now The Western Wind on my wishlist, but I would like to know more about her work.
I’ve just seen that Orbital is the first Booker winner to go to number one in the book charts the week the winner is announced. Chuffed for her. The Western Wind is my favourite of her books.
@ I’m happy for Samantha Harvey’s record sales and to hear that you liked The Western Wind. It’s now officially on my Christmas list.
Yes please to the Samantha Harvey spotlight vid. I adored Orbital but haven't read any of her other books.
Okey doke, noted. Just have to read the one book of hers I haven’t.
You will LOVE Fingersmith and the unmentionable twist, Simon. I was working on a woman’s magazine and we were all buddy reading it. We came in one morning and just couldn’t speak after reading the twist. Excited to know what you think.
Oooh that group read sounds fun. I will have to see how I can report back without mentioning the twist (and work out how I can talk to Sarah without mentioning it) two challenges for 2025 already. Ha.
your vlogmas plans sound great, it's my first christmas on BookTube so tempted to do something but have zero ability to do something every day as I work full time and need to sleep LOL
I did the everyday vlogmas once and it was INTENSE. It is for the brave, I am glad I managed it though... probably never again though, so this seems a nice medium.
Woo how huge congratulations on 30k. Love your videos 📚❤️👍😊
Awwww thank you very much.
Finally that huge TBR got to you - just kidding. I'm sorry it did actually. I can't handle that amount of books to choose from in my house. Especially since the stack of 15 I have currently doesn't get read as I constantly buy something new to read instead of picking up what I got. I'm looking forward to seeing how your reading and library will look in 2025.
I don’t think it’s got to me really, lol. I think it’s more I haven’t sorted it for ages as I’ve been so busy and now I gotta get it done. Which will probably be quite cathartic. I don’t know how 2024 got so busy the last few months. Ha.
So much excitement coming up Simon! 🤩 I'm so unhelpful with content advice because I always just love seeing whatever people enjoy sharing 😝 so glad to hear you are catching up with Holly - gosh I loved her books so much !
There will be lots of giggling, possibly some excited screaming when we’re reunited and soooooo much to catch up on. I can’t wait.
Congratulations on 30K Looking forward to all the great things coming our way in December and 2025. So glad you are doing prompts again. Here are a few: Wild in the title, Into Darkness and Two by Two- siblings.
Also cannot wait to hear you chatting with Sarah Walters in Jan. Whatever you decide to put on here will be fab too.
Thank you for the prompts. I’ll pop those in the jar of joy. Speaking of joy those emojis are epically joyous.
Prompt suggestions that I have enjoyed:
All of the letters of your first name are on the cover
Book is primarily your favorite color.
Book matches a favorite sweater, pair of socks, etc.
Glad to see you’ve enjoyed those. I think we’ve done two of those but not the first one so I’ll pop that into the jar.
Hi Simon, wish I could read Fingersmith again for the first time! So.... Reading promps, 1. The book you brought because you loved the cover. 2. New Year, new beginnings, so a book about Starting again or A change of direction. 3. As such a big mile stone, 30,000 subscribers, A book with a number in the title.
Gosh I don’t know if there are many, or any, books with 30,000 in the title. Unless that leagues under the sea one is 30,000. That might might be too much of a challenge. But 30 may be doable. I’m very much looking forward to finally reading Fingersmith.
Yes to a late November vlog. Congrats on 30k! Looking forward to,the 30 in 30 for 30 video. I love hearing about older releases I may have missed.
I think there will be a good mix of older lesser shouted about books and some new hits I’ve chatted about on repeat. Haha.
I am on day 4 of COVID and feel terrible, but I found your channel a couple of years ago during Vlogmas and didn't even know what it was or what Booktube was before then. I am so excited for any Vlogmas content. Start it whenever you like and we will all be thrilled. Could we have a book list for gifts for people who aren't great readers but would like to read more? (I know a few people who fit in that category for me.) 🎄
Awww hope you feel better soon and you’re finding lots of things to escape into. I’m quite looking forward to doing vlogs on the channel again and Vlogmas seemed the perfect time.
Sarah Waters spotlight: yes please! Congratulations on 30K!
Ha. That wasn’t actually the spotlight I mentioned, ha. It was a Samantha Harvey one but I could potentially do a Sarah Waters one if I reread the ones I’ve already read aswell as the two I’ve not.
I need to add both Samantha Harvey & Sarah Water's backlist to my 2025 reading plans... & whatever you spotlight will be super!
Prompt idea- link the new book to the last book you read. I did this for a month and found some quirky connections.
Ooh this is an interesting idea. I actually might steal it for a vlog instead of a prompt. Cheeky I know but I like the idea of doing that for a week or so like you did a month.
Congratulations on 30K! Love your vlogs and chatty videos, you've introduced me to so many authors that are my favourite now. Very much looking forward to your interview of Sarah Waters, hope we find out when her new book is coming out.
Suggestion of a prompt:
Read a book where the story starts in the same month you read it. For example, Life after life for February because it starts on February 10th .
I’m sure when a new Waters book will come up in conversation, if not by me by someone in the audience. Hahaha. I forgot to put the links in the description like a wally. Oooh that timely prompt is an interesting one!
Hello Simon. Given how good you are at doing the Vlog thing...... End of Nov sounds fab!
Awww thanks very much for the compliment.
You made the big 30k! Congratulations! Hooray for an upcoming vlogmas!
I’m very chuffed about the 30k. Very surreal but very lovely. Here’s to Vlogmas.
🎉Congratulations on 30,000.
Thank you 🥳
30k is much deserved! Congrats! Hope you have a bit of time for a slowdown. ❤❤❤
I do now I’ve finished all my author events for the year. In fact I’m about to have five days off, well almost. I have a meeting tomorrow lol.
Congrats on 30k subs! Just discovered Between the Covers on BBC so my tbr is now too large so reducing that is my goal for next year. Suggestion for prompts would be reading a book with author that shares your name or initials. Or to read a backlog book from an author you enjoyed this year.
They are very good suggestions… and one’s that we had in the mix this year. Hahaha. I have failed at the one with my name so far.
omg i can't wait for savidge vlogmas !!!!
Hahaha. Don’t go getting to excited, I know you’ve always wanted to see me in a Santa suit but that content is not for here 🎅
Congrats on 30k 🎉
Thank you 🥳
Great you’ve reached 30k, I’m not surprised though as you are brilliant!
Awww that’s very kind of you to say!
Yay for blogmas and getting 30k really like your channel your honest speaking and friendly chats would love you to read something like middle grade as a reading challenge of something different xx
Oooh that’s an interesting idea and I do have some middle grade books on my shelves… but not in the library which is why I don’t get to them much - if at all, need to rectify that.
For books that I've read this year that I think you would enjoy, for fiction, I'm thinking Razorblade Tears from S.A. Cosby. Not sure if you're read this one already or not. In non-fiction, I've really loved Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, it helped me get a much better grasp on past and current events.
I have read Razorblade Tears, I thought it was pretty brilliant! I need to head to more of his books. I have Caste on the shelves so one to get to in the next year.
I’m glad you asked for recommendations because I actually thought of you the other day as soon as I finished a book…
I think you will absolutely *love* What I Know About You by Eric Chacour. It is absolutely brilliant: queer, heartbreaking, full of plot but beautifully written. Loved it so much, and I think would be right up your street!
Ooh I have Eric on my shelves, well not literally. Hahaha. It’s one I got sent a proof of and was intrigued and then got all the more intrigued when it was Giller prize shortlisted. So you’re spot on and all the more keen now I know you loved it. Bang on book recommendation!
Yes, please, to the author spotlight video! I love those, no matter the author. I wish people did more of them.
Since you think you've changed as a reader, I'd love a discussion regarding what has changed, if your favorite books are still your favorites, if you are drawn to something that put you off in the past or vice versa, etc.
I think people probably don’t do so many of the author spotlight videos as it’s rare to have read all an authors books if they’ve written more than three or four. Harvey has written six and I’ve missed one, which I’ll have to read before making the video. But that said I will have read all Waters so far by January so could do another then. Will be interesting to see how much they’re actually viewed. I am definitely giving the ‘what reader am I now’ content some thought, maybe reflections will come at the end of next year as I try some things out. I was at an event for Persephone books last night and it’s made me ponder if I start the Persephone project again next year, which I started waaaaay back in my blogging days over a decade ago.
that mug!!!
I do love me a good mug.
Congrats on 30k.
I’m currently doing my non-fiction November title, then I need to do one more to reach my target.
I just checked and my storygraph says I have six to go but I think I only have three. My storygraph is in utter disarray.
Would have loved to have been at that Persephone event. I’ll bet it was terrific! Definitely voting for first vlog on Dec 1 to capture all of the amazing-sounding late November content. Am fascinated to learn your 30 favorite reads even if it takes longer than 30 minutes to tell us about them. 😊
It was a fab event last night and reminded me that I need to get back to my Persephone Project which I started on my blog over a decade ago and never finished. Books were bought and Francesca and I may do a video in the shop next year which could be a lot of fun.
unrelated but I LOVE your cup 😍and major congrats on 30k, you're my fav cozy bookish bae :')
I looooooooooooove me a pint mug for hot drinks. Looooove them. And your fav cosy bookish bae, that’s such a complement from YOU!!!!
Re prompts: I haven't been able to travel this year for health reasons. But if I can read, I can experience other cultures. So I think there are all sorts of inclusive prompts, such as read a book from a country you've never read about before, read a book from a country beginning with M, read a book about your home town/region/country, read a book set in your dream destination, etc.
Yes, this is exactly what I think, the joy of book is we can visit all sorts of places and all sorts of lives through the pages and travel from wherever we are reading the book. So hoping our next prompts are all the more universal but still fun and shape what we are reading in a lovely way.
Hi Simon. 30K subs! Yaaay!😀🥳👏🎈🎂Balloons, cake, looottss of cake😋 Chris, Mom Louise, more family, cats, all wearing 30K t-shirt/ sweatshirts to name just a few celebratory ideas you’ve prob already thought about. Yes to a SH and other author spotlight videos and didn’t know AM had won the GP. Happy you include prize winners in your vlogs Simon. I have enjoyed my reading journey for 2024, so far, with you and your mom Louise 😊📚 and especially the WPBC. Nice way ending your last author interview for 2024 and must add JC to my tbr for this year. Sounds like just my genre. I love it that your going to be doing vlogmas and like the idea of them starting for Dec 1st but would also like seeing you and W with Pip, the W menu, and Holly R🥰 too.
Some ideas for prompts;
A book with a map on the cover, a mystery with Ink blot or spot on the cover,
Read the first book of a trilogy, read a short story of a person, place, or animal.
A fav modern classic, also a classic you’ve never read, a fiction or non-fiction set in your birthday month.
A book in vignette style. Also, have to include a book with the number/word three on the cover for your 30K subs😁 just sayin’ …lol…watching you and Louise pick from the prompt jar is a highlight video for me. Once again, Congrats!📚💓
I think maybe just the 30 favourite books in under 30 mins will be enough. Though I did have some belated celebratory cake hahahaha. Don't want to go too OTT and have people think I am becoming a diva hahaha. Love all the suggestions though and will keep them in my back pocket!
Congrats on 30k! Would love to see you revisit some of the books from your earliest videos and how your reading tastes have changed. For vlogmas could Chris make an appearance with some festive cookbook creations?
Sooooo he might appear. He’s been appearing much more on my patreon vlogs after a period of being very camera shy so we can hope. Though with his shifts at work and Christmas being pretty chaotic in retail I think the only festive meal he’ll be cooking will be Christmas dinner.
We want to see everything you proposed plus the bin content and more of the glorious kitties.
Ha. I’ll see what I can do about the cats. And the bins 😉
Great video! Prompt I do all the time is a blind bookcase pick lol
Hahaha. I have visions of me bumping into all the shelves and knocking things over if I did that with a blind fold. How do you do it with damage limitation?
You time travelled to 2034 or have i been asleep for 10 years? Perhaps looking forward to this video even more than usual x
Ha no. I just have fat thumbs and was uploading this in a rush.
Looking forward to the vlogs 💓 I expect a lot of cat content as well as books! 😻
@@eli_libreli well I do have four of them now so that should help. Ha.
Suggestions: Early 2025 Women's Prize Predictions (fiction and/or nonfiction), unless there's a conflict of interest. I'd love to see an unhaul episode where you explain which new books don't interest you and what do you do with all of the free books you don't read. 10 most anticipated new books of 2025. Anything Booker-related, regular or international, predictions, etc.
There shouldn’t be a conflict of interest with the women’s prizes next year as even though we’re now part of the family with book club we will have no idea what the list is until a teeny tiny bit before everyone else does. I don’t think I could even try to predict the non fiction. It’s not my field of expertise though judging by how crap my guesses are for the fiction longlist maybe it doesn’t matter. Hahaha. I’ll be doing some 2025 book videos for sure 👌🏻
Your Wicked dinner reminds me of the book club I hosted in L.A. for many years. There were about ten of us, and our meetings always included a dinner in which we "cooked the book." The African menu we put together for The Poisonwood Bible was amazing! A fun way to immerse yourself in a story if you're young and energetic enough. ~ The audiobook of The Paying Guests is excellent, btw. Juliet Stevenson narrates, I believe.
Cook the book sounds fun, well not so fun sounding for the book. Hahaha. Great idea though, that said neither Holly nor I will have to cook and that’s an even bigger treat! I’m going to sample the Waters audiobooks soon.
I’m just ecstatic that you’re going to be doing more videos than usual. I have missed you this week. Please add my congratulations on 30k subscribers to your scrapbook.
Q. What exactly is your relationship with Jen Campbell?
My ‘exact’ relationship with Jen? That sounds like it has undertones lol. She got me into BookTube and was my fairy book godmother. Lol. I’ve not seen her for yonks due to the pandemic and distance and life but still watch almost religiously. She’s ace. Ps. It won’t be more videos, well maybe slightly, but definitely more regular videos. Haha.
Vlogmas from 1. December. Really enjoyed your vlogmas years ago where you watched batman and read books on boxing day - I'd be interested in your plans for this year. More cat updates! Prompts - a book from Finland. 2 books from the same translator (original authors could be different). A book with a family member in the title (mom, son, etc.), A book in which someone moves to the countryside.
Ooh thank you for the prompt ideas. They’ll go on the jar. We’ve never had a prompt before that involves two books could be very interesting. I think we all know which translator I would pick. Ha. Was that the day I was pretty much live on socials all day on Boxing Day during the lockdown Christmas? I loved that too. We’ve too many guests this year.
i LOVE yer waffle!
Thanking you!
I really like the original Sarah Waters covers, I wish I'd kept my original copies of the Sarah Waters books I read.
Oooh interesting. I do like the originals but I’m kind of obsessed with the new ones too.
Love your channel and so excited you are doing Vlogmas! 🎄💕⛄️Please do a Vlogmas on December 1st! We’d love it and a great way to start festive December! 🎄
Haha. Well I’ve already managed to catch a bit of festive content so your Christmas wish could be my command.
Fixed myself a cup of Jack Frosted Mocha from David's Tea to enjoy while watching your video.
I do have a couple of Sarah Waters books on my TBR and I hope to discover her work in the near future. You reminded me that I should look if her audiobooks are available at the library and it turns out that a couple are, including Fingersmith. It's 24 hours long, though, so I will have to finish the two that I have on loan first before I borrow this one, but this could be a great option in December. Then, I'll know more about this book when you share your thoughts on it later on.
Yeah on 30K subscribers - congratulations! 🥳 Yeah on vlogmas coming our way as well. I'm okay with you telling us about what happened in the last week of November for your first vlogmas, that sounds perfectly acceptable. 😁
I think you can do favorite 30 books in under 30 minutes, if you describe each book in one sentence. The hard part is remaining concise about books that we are truly passionate about! But that being said, I'm definitely interested in hearing what makes your top 30 list. I had not heard you ever mention Wicked until now, so I feel like I might discover some of your past favorites in this video.
Wicked was one of the books that made me think I should do books from before UA-cam as well as ones I’ve read whilst being on UA-cam. I did think about doing 30 from before and 30
since but I haven’t the brain maths (or time) haha. Sarah does like to write a chunkster but they are wonderful to get lost in.
Exciting news about Sarah Waters I have not read Fingersmith.
Me neither so it’s lovely to be getting to a fav authors backlist… and one that appears to be a firm fan favourite.
Would LOVE a Samantha Harvey video 😃
I shall see what I can do 😉
@@SavidgeReadsCount me as another vote for Samantha Harvey.
Prompt, a bear on the cover, not The Three Bears. 30 books in 30 minutes sounds wonderful. Looking forward to Jeff Goldblum as the wizard.❤
Well we all know how much I love a bear, it is part of my nickname after all.
@SavidgeReads Bought Orbital and the non-fiction read of old biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay has me adding Edmund Wilson to my reads.
Hi Simon. Prompt 1 A book with a balloon on the cover and Prompt 2 A book with either Angela in the title or written by someone called Angela.
Ooh ok. They’ll go in the jar of joy.
@ yay!
Which book did Susanna Clarke recommend? I just reread Piranesi yesterday and want more of that!
Oooh you would have to watch the live stream of the event to find that out, an support the Women's Prize Trust charity at the same time ;)
A video bout Christmas bookish gift?
A relative that only reads biographies?/ non fiction?
Best pick of historical fiction book to give at Christmas etc
Congratulations on 30k 🤩🎉🤗🥳🍀
Thank you for the congrats and thank you for the suggestions. I’ll see if the Christmas content spirit takes me over.
Maybe I’m a horrible cow but I did have to roll my eyes at the prompt thing. I just think if the prompt doesn’t work for someone because it’s too privileged, they can adapt it.
I wouldn’t say you’re a horrible cow. That seems extreme. But Mum and I have talked about it and we want these prompts to be as accessible and I hate the idea of anything being privileged or exclusive. To me it would be easier to keep them universally appealing and people can adapt if needed. Seems an odd idea to make those finding some of the prompts tougher… tougher again by making them adapt it.
Prompt ideas for 2025:
- Translated book
- Book involving a career you wanted as a kid
- Book that has been on your TBR the longest
- Roll a dice - pick a book with this amount of words in the title
- Cover with your favorite colour
- Book with less than 200 pages
- A book you saw someone read in public (love this idea, but might be limiting for some people)
- Book on your TBR with the longest title
- Book with protagonist that's at least 50 years old (would be a fun way to discover new titles as well)
- Book published the year you were born
- Book with stars on the cover
- Book that became a movie
- Search your name and read first book you see (I tried this on Indigo and my library website and this is really fun! More flexible than the name having to be the author's)
- A book about books
Ooh that’s a lovely list of prompts. I shall make sure some of those go into the jar. Thank you.
@@SavidgeReads Wonderfu!l Cannot wait to see what you and The Artist Formerly Known as Your Mother pick out of that jar! 😄
Susanna Clarke & her fella sci-fi author Colin Greenland have a place here in Cambridge & I have met them both a couple of times ... she has been ill with ME ... you have 30,000 subscribers as your posts about books are enthusiastic & you are generous about your 'real' life, introducing your fine mother, the splendid cats & you love books & love to read which is apparent every time you speak ...
She has been ill but is doing really well. We had a lovely dinner after the event, she didn’t mention Cambridge though, they live in the Peak District which we bonded over as I, and mum, are from there.
in 2025 I'd like to see you start a podcast with bookchew :)
Your request has been noted 😉
I wish Sarah Waters would write some more books
Hopefully a new one is coming. I do think there’s been reasons why one hasn’t arrived but I don’t think I can say more than that.
I also think that the vlogs should only include December content.
Cannot believe it is going to be January soon - I am starting to freak out with all the books I want to finish this year.
Uh oh. A vlog on December first has been very popular. Though I wonder if I there’s lots of festive content in this last week of November it will count. Ha.
Can you still buy tickets to watch the Suzannah Clarke thing?
Yes. Sorry I thought I said that in the video. Oops. No I’m sure I did. I mentioned why they aren’t free hahaha.
Don't be hard on yourself about prompts. They can be interpreted about places you'd like to visit or people you'd like to meet etc. l vote for author spotlight videos because I usually stick to familiar authors and subjects rather than taking a risk on someone unfamiliar to me.
I promise I wasn't being hard on myself, I actually thought the comments were really insightful and made me think a lot and have a really good chat with mum about it. We want the prompts to be as universal and fun as possible.
@@SavidgeReads that is good if you were still being kind to yourself as well as thoughtful. We call be more thoughtful at this time ❤️
I would like to see the first video of Vlogmas on UA-cam at Sunday 01 December.
Okey doke. Noted. Your wish may just be my command.
Vlog …… 1st December filming
🎥
You’ve not read the best Sarah Waters! That’s exciting. I need to reread all of them.
@@katrinaandallthebooks7993 I’ve heard it’s a firm favourite with her fans.
Prompt: either the word”hat” in the title or an image of a hat.
Hahaha. Brilliant.
Congrats to 30K!
Yes to a December 1st vlog start date.
You could always switch that holiday prompt to “read a book from a country you haven’t been to but want to go to”.
Video ideas….as someone who may spend Christmas alone and is already dealing with depression, maybe make a video of comfy, cozy suggestions? Books that will make you forget your troubles, so to speak, and have you immersed. Good books to snuggle into blankets and pots of tea with, etc.
Oooh I shall see what I can do with cosy suggestions, I don't tend to read cosy books but hopefully vlogmas will bring some cosy content. Depends what I get up to hahahaha.
I feel like all my favorites I’ve read this year you’ve already read ( Booker shortlist ) or plan to ( Hum) , but I can’t recall if you’ve read Private Rites , but I think you loved Our Wives Under The Sea ??? and fairly certain you’ll love the former regardless. Blahdiggityblah 📚 🪱 💚
I haven’t got to Private Rites yet… or Our Wives Under the Sea. I loved her short stories though and do have both her novels on the TBR.
My promp ideas typically blow so zero offended if this does , but a book w a profession or career or gig in the title ? 📕🪱💔🤍💙
I don’t think you need to be so hard on yourself in comments. That’s a great prompt idea. It’ll be going in the jar.