I second the person who said you need to read A Gentleman in Moscow for the hotel vibes! It's perfect, 90% of the book happens inside a hotel 😊
Was just about to comment about this as well haha! Really think you’re gonna love it Emma!!
i recently read Ministry of Time, loved it so much, but had no one to gush about it to and just happened to stumble across your channel yesterday from the video of you reading it. you literally highlighted everything i liked about the book and i had the exact same quotes saved too 😭i feel so seen
IM SO HAPPY - was hoping I would stumble on someone who loved it just as much❤❤
Calling golem an adorable lil mongrel got me 😂
I feel like Tolkien felt the same way😂 the amount of times he’s compared to a sweet little dog are more than I can count haha
@@emmiereadsoh my goodness, so true! Gollum represented in Two Towers books gets me every time.
Chinese doesn't generally have tense - all verbs stay the same form regardless of time. Time is conveyed through context, time expressions and markers. So there is certainly a way of saying "loved", just not how English says it.
Love your point about Goodreads, this an’t text books we gotta finish for the tests. it’s books we be reading to be immersed, to contemplate, to enjoy.
We're so lucky to get back to back videos! 😂♥️
The "at the end of things" scene from Return of the King hit me square in the face. I sobbed so much. Didn't think it would get me that much, but it did.
I read Rilke for the first time because of you and it has permanently altered my brain chemistry ✨ the me after reading Letters to a Young Poet is no longer the same as the me I once was. Thank you!
I read "Regrettably, I'm about to cause trouble" after your recommendation and it's also one of my favourite books of the year!
Yay for Faramir! He was one of my favorite characters when the movies came out and reading the book this year I loved getting to see more of him and his part of the story.
omg I was just watching a booktag video of you from a different year the other day and was just thinking if you're gonna make another one soon! soo happy to see it :))
Emma, I recommend reading "Chile: The Other September 11" to learn more about The Coup. My family came to Manitoba because of the coup and my grandparents' memories, along with this book, helped me to better understand our story. Love your channel ❤️.
It's been such a gentle, cosy pleasure to watch your videos ever since I've found your channel earlier last year and have found even more books to add to my overflowing TBR. I find your warm spirit, soothing voice, calming aura and genuine love for books really inspiring. I love how you read and recommend different type of books from different genres and not the same 15 popular books. Thank you for making such wonderful content for us.
i think by far you read excellent books this year! i also love Monte Christo, I read it about 20 years ago when I was a teen and now you and Carolyn inspired me to re-read it
Great responses! I just did the tag myself today. Hope you have a wonderful summer full of five-star reads. Happy Reading! 😎📚👍
I have heard so many people recently say they adored the Ministry of Time but they don’t think it would appeal to a wider audience and everyone of them has touched on slightly different parts. It seems like the type of book that gives the individual reader what they need in that moment which is beautiful!
Soooo many different parts to Ministry, you’re so right - I just love it:’)
I love the Mid-Year Book Tag! I'll answer the questions.
- Best book you’ve read so far in 2024 --> Lady Audley's Secret. I loved this book so! much!
- Best sequel you've read so far in 2024 --> Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. The climax was insane.
- New release you haven't read yet, but want to --> Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands. I wasn't too keen on the first one, but I like the characters well enough to try the second one.
- Most anticipated release for the second half of the year --> Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson, the fifth book in the Stormlight Archive series. I am so scared!
- Biggest disappointment --> Babel by RF Kaung. It sounded like a perfect book for me. It had everything I was interested in. The book wasn't as good as I thought it would be.
- Biggest surprise --> Once Upon a Broken Heart. I did NOT think I would like this. Especially because I'm not the biggest fan of YA fantasy/romance. And although it's not very good objectively, I LAUGHED SO MUCH at its ridiculousness. I had a great time.
- Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you) --> Ursula K Le Guin. I read A Wizard of Earthsea recently and it became one of my favorite books. Her prose is magical. I look forward to reading more from this series and trying Le Guin's Sci-Fi books.
- Newest fictional crush --> Kaladin Stormblessed from the Stormlight Archive. I love him so much y'all.
- Newest favourite character --> Dalinar Kholin from Stormlight Archive.
- Book that made you cry --> Lady Audley's Secret and Oathbringer.
- Book that made you happy --> Half A Soul by Olivia Atwater.
- Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received) --> The Dragonsteel edition of Yumi and The Nightmare Painter. It's so gorgeous! The colors are amazing, and so are the illustrations inside.
- What books do you need to read by the end of the year? --> I need to read Rhythm of War before the release of Wind and Truth in December.
Emma thank you so much for making such amazing videos and being such an amazing person💝You brighten up the darkest days❤❤
Count of Monte Cristo has been on my shelf for soooo long and me and my mom are finally buddy reading it together!! You talking about it and a few others I’ve seen read it was really making me want to finally jump into it and we are both absolutely loving it so far! It’s one of the most readable classics I’ve read (Victor Hugo found dead in a ditch because he could literally never 😂) so thanks for the inspiration, Emma! Also hearing how much you’ve loved Tolkien and LOTR is so wonderful 🥰 he’s everything to me!
I love your channel, Emmie ♥ Currently I'm reading Slaughterhouse 5!
Emma I love your energy in this video! Made me laugh out loud multiple times. Thank you for so many shining book recommendations 💚💚💚
Awesome video, Emma! Yes, I love LOTR (and The Hobbit). I think I first read the whole series when I was in elementary school, around 2000 (24 or 25 years ago). Still like it! Greetings from the EU!
Love the mid year book freak out tag!! This was my first year participating on Booktube! so much fun!🥰
The actor that plays the Count in the movie was Jim Caviezel. He was also in The Passion Of The Christ. Great actor imo. I love your giggles and giddiness talking about TCMC. So adorable. That’s how I felt too. 😊😊
i bought the ministry of time after your vlog and its been such a joy to read so far! been reading it slowly and savouring it :)
Love your Mid-Year check in every time!!
Hi Emma! I semi-recently started a channel and posted my first midyear book tag last week. The book I'm most looking forward to reading was already The Ministry of Time but after watching this I feel like I need to go get it asap. That quote destroyed me. Thank you for making the videos that you do, I can always count on them to bring me peace and joy
you have convinced me to finally pick up Lord of the Rings after this huge copy of all 3 books has sat on my shelf for years!! I'm looking forward to it
You look amazing in this dress
Also congrats on 5 years on youtube ❤❤
Emma you always upload in the perfect time
You are treating us with all these videos 🎉🎉🎉 thank you. Also I cannot wait for you to read Floating Hotel so that you can let us know if it’s worth it because I might be way too invested in the idea of slice of life space hotels
I love watching other people's videos doing this tag too 💛 It was my first year doing it as I joined BookTube only a few months ago, and I had so much fun! I hope to continue doing it for many years ^^
you giggling about Edmond is so adorable (and relatable) haha 😭🤭
Am I first for the first time in forever?love you emma thank you so much for all these videos and the book recommendations
ministry of time is at the top of my tbr and now i’m even more excited to read it! also-would love to see a video breaking down how you annotate if you haven’t made one already!!!
12:08 I got the audiobook right after this, finished it in like two days, and loved it so much! So thank you for introducing this and giving me the opportunity to read this book 🥰
Hi Emma! Hope you're having a wonderful week! ❤
Btw, I'm currently reading 1q84, Master and Margarita and im rereading LOTR for the sixth time i believe 🙃
Hi Emma! Just started my channel and I can’t wait to upload more. Your love of 100 Years of Solitude convinced me to buy it and it’s on my TBR for August. Can’t wait to get to it!!
I started a book tube channel this year because of you! I definitely need to film this book tag lol. My favorite book this year has been Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. it's soooooo good! Highly recommend!
The Ministry of Time is also one of my favorites this year! I haven't seen a lot of people gushing about it. So happy you loved it!!
I read The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born this year for a class and it was a really memorable read -- both for the content and style. I'm glad you liked it!
Just finished Lemon Trees. Good story! I'm currently at 48/90. Had a few books be disappointed. Hope all is well, Emma!
Keep the videos coming!❤ they are my guilty pleasure
I'll just list my favorite reads so far this year:
Vol. 2-4 Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion - Beth Brower
The Unseen - Roy Jacobsen
Just City - Jo Walton
Saint Sebastian's Abyss - Mark Haber
Doomsday Book - Connie Willis
The Ambassadors - Henry James
Look at Me - Anita Brookner
The Trees - Percival Everett
Stranger in Olondria - Sofia Samatar
You cracking up about loving Edmond Dantes got me 😂😂😂 I really need to read it, especially considering I got is specifically to read with Game of Tomes & life got in the way lol
Yaay!! Mid year tag!!!
So I had never heard a comparison like that between 100 years and House of the spirit! But I can imagine they’re really different. Also I’ve only heard bad things about Allende’s book and I’m intrigued to know if I’m gonna like it! I definitely recommend you reading Elena Garro! She’s Mexican and she was one of the biggest inspirations for García Márquez 😊 she was also the initiator of magical realism in Mexico ❤ I have so many recommendations from you to read!!🥹
My favourite book of the year is Enlightenment by Sarah Perry. You would love it! It explores faith, astronomy and unrequited love. The writing is beautiful and reminds me of classic gothic novels ❤
Today I got an realization, that your videos kinda feel like the same way as Studio Ghibli movies. It is already night where I live and you popped new video. Coincidence? I don't think so😂 As always thank you for giving such a Great Vibes! 💚💚💚
@@emmiereads Thank you for making such a great videos! Everytime when I'm watching I'm wishing I lived near you and we could talk about books for hours💚💚💚
Thank You For This Awesome Video😊👍👍📚
I’m really enjoying Jessica Lange: An Adventurer’s Heart by Anthony Uzarowski. An excellent biography of her amazing life and career. I’m also halfway through East of Eden by Steinbeck. What a fantastic novel! You’ve intrigued me with Ministry of Time. I want to try it.
I love your videos so much! I have to tell you I'm reading ember and the ice dragons and it's so cute 🥰😂❤
22:51 me being distracted for a second and not realizing you had stopped talking about book crushes when you mentioned Gandalf and Gollum 🐸
Adding 'Minister of Time' to my wishlist. And since like words as much as the rest of us: the concept of time in English is experienced very differently than in the romance languages.
In English you ARE your age.
Other languages I speak you HAVE your age. Which is by default so much heavier and less abstract.
I love how in English you *are* as in it is temporary, fragile and romantic.
oh emma, I am so excited to hear your opinion on the Steppenwolf. I have read it recently and I loved it very much. To me Hesse has a very distinct writing style that is to its core very German and I cannot really imagine the book in any other language. So I am looking forward to some quotes and stuff to get the vibe in English
Your videos are always so lovely Emma! I have been in a bit of a reading slump this summer but have been rereading some old favorites, and of course your videos always remind me of the joys of reading 😄
1. Best book: EASILY the Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
2. Best sequel: I actually haven’t read any sequels so far!
3. New release you want to read: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Not sure on this one
5. Biggest disappointment: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, just didn’t enjoy it too much
6. Biggest surprise: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
7. Favorite new author to you: Margaret Atwood!!!
8. New fictional crush: Captain Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen 🥰 (or maybe I’m just in love with the overall romance in that book)
9. Favorite newcharacter:Damon from Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
10. Book that made you cry: Demon Copperhead :(
11. Book that made you happy: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
12. Most beautiful book you got: A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon, it’s just gorgeous
13. Need to read: I need to finish Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and Crusoe’s Daughter by Jane Gardam!
I’d love a video on your favorite hotel books!
This is my 2nd year doing this tag on my channel loves it 📚🥤
Emmie, your hair looks stunning!
Perhaps your most anticipated release for the second half of the year should be Murakami's new novel "The City and Its Uncertain Walls" which will be published in November.
Also, I recently read a novel from New Zealand, "Potiki" by Patricia Grace. New favorite for me and I highly recommend it.
emma!!! if you have not already, you must read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles for hotel vibes!! a man is literally sentenced to life but in this hotel in moscow and its INCREDIBLE!! the writing is just amazing and the story is so heartwarming and unique.
i second this!! A Gentleman in Moscow is one of my favorite books of all time. i’ve read it 4 times
@@barbaralemon4170 I went in knowing nothing about this book and was just mind blown, i could not put it down!
@@itsnotrainer yes!! i want to re-read it soon, as well as his other books!!
Finished reading Evocation a few days ago and I loved it! It’s also the first in a series to let you know! She also has another book called An Education in Malice that’s a dark academia book~
It's so funny I set my goal to 10 books this year for the exact reasons you mentioned aat the beginning of the video. Granted, I read nothing for 6 months, but I dont care. Good reads, don't stress me out. I'm going through stuff >
I've also had a kind of unremarkable reading year so far but have still made a few truly incredible finds and that's enough for me 🙂 thanks Emma this tag is always fun
Also damn I'm really going to have to track down The Ministry of Time, it sounds incredible!
The notable bits: (only answering some of the questions)
Best Book: Probably The Count of Monte Cristo? There were a few great ones but this was obviously amazing
Biggest surprise: "The Unanswered Question" by Leonard Bernstein (I have tried a truly impressive amount of music since reading this omg)
Favourite new author: Definitely Italo Calvino ❤
Book that made me cry: Memorial by Alice Oswald
Book that made me happy: The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers
To read by end of year: If I can finish just a couple more bookclub picks before having to switch to focusing on school then I will be happy 😢
A final honourable mention/extra surprise: "Embracing Contraries: Explorations in Learning and Teaching" by Peter Elbow is absolutely enthralling.
Xiaolu Guo is one of my favourite writers, and the book you mentioned one of my favourites by her! It made me happy to hear you mention her, it's the first time I hear about her on social media :) I'm currently learning Mandarin so can help out a bit here (though more fluent speakers are very welcome to correct me!): Mandarin doesn't have tenses per say, not in the way that Western languages do. There are particles that you can add to the sentence that gives more specificity to the timing of the predicate, but it is not in the same way that tenses do. For example adding 'le' means that the action is completed, or 'guo' means that it relates to a past experience of the speaker, but yeah, not quite the same.
Hi Emma! I also didn't like House of the Spirits. I read it back in 2020 for high school and had a really bad time getting through it. After that, I point blank refused to pick up anything else by Allende. Until last night, when for some reason I opened Mi pais inventado (my invented country). I guess you could say it's more of a memoir, but it's really good, I am loving it to pieces, so if you ever feel like reading something for her again I'd really recommend that one ❤❤❤
Just finished Evocation and it was soooo good, definitely exceeded my expectations, I hope you enjoy it too! 😊
Floating Hotel was unfortunately a DNF for me :(
God I bought "The Garden Against Time" and it is probably one of the most beautiful books I own now. I'm sooooo looking forward to reading it
Dear Ellie, I thought the cover of 'Ministry's was so cool, and so I got one ordered from the UK! Yep, first edition, signed at a release date with memorabilia from this event...... and.... it arrives here in a couple of days! When I saw your blog about it, I figured it would be pretty good in my collection.... thanks, happy trails
evocation is one of my favorite books of the year! if you haven’t read an education of malice either i would as well. she is cranking out my 5 star books this year!
Have you covered Algiers in the around the world bookclub? If not, I recommend ‘a bookshop in Algiers’, I absolutely loved it! The love for books shines through all the pages and at the same time it covers some serious political history in Algiers and France.
Best Book so far: Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
Best Sequel: The Two Towers
New release you haven't read yet: The Ministry of Time
Most anticipated release for the second half: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Biggest disappointment: The House of the Spirits
Biggest surprise: The Count of Monte Christo
Favourite new author: Paul Lynch
Newest favourite character: Count Rostov from A Gentleman in Moscow
Book that made you cry: Prophet Song
Book that made you happy: The fellowship of the ring
Most beautiful book bought: Anne of Green Gables (new Wordsworth classics edition)
What book do you need to read by the end of the year: A Void by Georges Perec
You definitely influenced my reading and I'm forever grateful for it ❤
You would love The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews - the covers aren’t my favorite but the cozy inn vibes are right up your alley!!!!
I just read The Count of Monte Cristo in June after Tristan and the Classics recommended it as a great classic to use as the gateway to reading more classics. I LOVED it! It's definitely a "why haven't I read this before?!" book to me. Last week, I went out and got the hardcover version to replace the cheapo, abridged soft cover. It will be a yearly re-read for me.
If you're talking about the 2024 adaptation of the Count of Monte Cristo the actor is Pierre Niney (everyone in France is in love with him)
LOL the book club is still so locked in to the count of Monte Cristo 😆 I recommend it to everyone now
Emmie You should read: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I loved it!!
Hi Emma, I am honestly surprised you didn't like House of the Spirits. It was a 5-star read for me but I haven't read 100 Years of Solitude so I don't know how the two would compare. Aside from that, I am slowly making my way through 1Q84 and loving it so far.
My answer for best book, most surprising book, fave new author, book crush, fave characters, and book that made me happy - is The Count of Monte Cristo for all of them!!
The one book goal I admire because other booktubers seem to overload themselves without realizing. Reading should be reading simple as that.
FINALLY!!!😄 Someone who is obsessed with The Ministry of Time as I am🥹 In my corner of booktube I’ve been seeing quite a bit of disappointment with it but it’s one of my top favourites so far this year. The discussion of immigration/belonging/otherness meant so much to me. I was obsessed with her Author’s Note and I totally fell into a rabbit hole researching Lt Graham Gore and the expeditions he was part of. Apparently there’s a show, The Terror, about the Franklin expedition that I can’t wait to get my grubby hands on and continue to love on all that this book brings into my life!
I hope you like The Terror! It’s my favourite TV show ever, it changed my life!
@@madelinebell5046 what no way!!! ahhh that’s amazing to hear! I can’t wait!
@@dani_wade I should warn you that it is a pretty brutal depiction of the story. It’s based on the supernatural horror/historical fiction novel by Dan Simmons, so probably doesn’t have the same vibes as The Ministry of Time! Absolutely worth it for the beautiful characters though.
@@dani_wade Yep! I read it before watching the show. One of my favourite horror novels, definitely not for everyone though! The characters aren’t as likeable in the book, so if you prefer stories with really likeable characters, the show is probably more suitable for you.
This year I set my GR goal to 200 books I also decided to do a reading challenge that has 116 prompts. It has been amazing for my reading. But next year I plan to slow down and tackle more classics and big books so I don’t want to think about numbers. Part of this year was competing with my sister. She said 200 is a usual reading year for her.
If you haven’t already read it, I highly recommend Sea of Tranquility!! It’s sci-fi and time travel and I adore Emily St. John Mandel‘s writing
Ah i just love watching your videos so much. The entertainment, the book recs, the comfort. Truly amazing 🫶🏻
Hopefully will find time to film the midyear check in as well
I was trying to decide between The Ministry of Time and North Woods but went with North Woods. Really looking forward to Ministry of Time after hearing how much you liked it
I also have a huge crush on the the Count of Monte Cristo. I have read this book so many times. I go a couple of years and then I get the need to read the book again.
The best experience I've had this year is with the audiobook of I'm Thinking of Ending Things, which is just so good it becomes the definitive edition of that story. And Donna Tart reading The Secret History was tons of fun, also the best version. Absurdly long and dull in parts but her performance is amazing. I also loved The Overstory by Richard Powers, which is about trees impacting the lives of several characters across decades.
But my favourite new author is Martin MacInnes, and I read his first two books Infinite Ground and Gathering Evidence, which are both special in different ways. Gathering Evidence, a sort of techno, eco horror, in particular, is the most thrilled, unsettled (in the best way) I've been since Annihilation. Highly recommended.
Infinite Ground has about 50 passages I want to quote but this was my favourite:
"He used to think he could see where language fell. The loads amassed at a particular conductive right angle. It was one of the things that made a bathroom different -- its dearth of words. Rooms affected by language were warmer, softer. It was cold where no one had spoken for a long time."
I have A Dowry of Blood on audio, excited for it!
I am going to buy The Ministry of Time
The Tudor story and the sci fi story sound great ❤
You might like "Eva Luna" by Allende! I won't compare it to OHYOS (since you're right, nothing can compare), but it does have a good amount of magical realism and I really adored it!
I'm reading Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries for a book club right now!! I'm really really enjoying it so far. Wendell...? Wendell. WENDELL? love him to bits, he's serving Howl Pendragon and I'm eating it up
We all foamed at the mouth reading Edmond Dantes.
We share a birthday coming up on the 24th! Happy early birthday if you don't put out another video before then
It’s mandatory to giggle when talking about Edmond Dantes 😌
The man that he is 😭
Loved your video as always! Thank you for bringing so much joy to this corner of the internet ❤
Here's my answers to the questions.
Best book you’ve read so far in 2024: Divine Rivals / Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
Best sequel you've read so far in 2024: The Two Towers by J R R Tolkien
New release you haven't read yet, but want to: The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer (comes out today!)
Biggest disappointment: The Once and Future King - the only character I liked was Merlin and he wasn't in it near enough, DNFed halfway through
Biggest surprise: Henry IV, part 1 by Shakespeare - I was literally laughing until I was crying
Favorite new author (Debut or new to you): Elizabeth Gonzalez James (author of The Bullet Swallower - Magical realism mixed with a Western and her own family lore - amazing)
Newest fictional crush: Faramir from Lord of the Rings
Newest favorite character: Faramir from Lord of the Rings
Book that made you cry: Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
Book that made you happy: Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (nostalgic re-read)
Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received): The Making of Middle-earth by Christopher A Snyder
What books do you need to read by the end of the year? - Currently 25% through War and Peace! Also want to read Jurassic Park, The Chronicles of Narnia, and some more Rebecca Ross
You TOTALLY need to check out the count of monte cristo anime! its done in a style that reminds me of the cartoon chowder! such a unique vibe and setting for the show and its just a really great time watching with the music and animation. Highly highly recommend. They make the count very likable and convincing just like the book. it is also called Gankutsuou.
Please read 1Q84!!! I read it last summer and it has become my favorite novel of all time.
Steppenwolf isn't gonna let you down
I'm a 70 yr old widow who was a book worm many years ago..I'm trying to get back into my reading mode..I found your channel last night last and subscribed to your channel..I went to the library this morning and found ONE HUNDRED YEARS of SOLITUDE..based on your recommendation...Thank you..I'm going to start reading it tonight...
emmie also convinced me to read ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE and it was sooooo worth it!!!!
what I would give to read 100yrs of solitude for the first time again! Savor it, and enjoy!
Happy reading!!!!!!
I'm afraid if I read that, nothing will ever be good enough.
Congratulations and welcome back 😇