Your thoughtful chatty book discussions are sooo good! 📚 It'd be fab if you did more classics for your bookclub. I've made it an aim to read more classics this year (since I mainly read new fiction). I'm in the middle of Anne Bronte's biggest novel since it's her 200th birthday soon. I've only read a couple Jane Smiley books and I've not heard of The Greenlanders before so it's really exciting how you speak so highly of it. I was a big fan of The Heart's Invisible Furies too but I wasn't as invested when the writer mother left the narrative.
Totally agree with what you mentioned about Murakami and his representation of women. I think 1Q84 is one of my faves because it's on the perspective of a woman. It's a monstrous sized book, but worth it if you're trying to get a full scope of him as a writer :) love your videos !
It's actually great that you don't do super new books for book club, because for viewers living outside the UK/US it can be hard to get their hands on new books. I live in South Africa and it takes a few months for us to get books that are already on UK shelves :)
Doing Scandinavian studies and having read lots of sagas, the style is definitely tricky at the beginning but once you are in it.... I am so excited to read The Greenlanders that I discovered thanks to you x
I didn't read a lot of books in 2019, so my goal this year is to read more. Most of the time I read classics and those books from "to read before die" lists, but this year I wanna try to read something different!
I chalenge myself to read 50 books this year. Some of them, well, most of them from your reviews, Jess. I made a list with the ones I need o buy and mix with the ones I already have, so the chalenge is also to read things already on my collection, again, a inspiration from your work
As much as I personally loved The Wind Up Bird, I completely agree about Murakami's portrayal of women. I think because it was my first book of his, a few years ago, I wasn't as aware of those tropes, but I would say all of his female characters are generally the same which has definitely led me to enjoy his work less.
@@josepha133 Agreed! I haven't read some of his earlier work, so I don't know if Kafka on the Shore is different, but his recent work definitely features the same "aloof guy who just lets life happen to him" basically
I love how your review of Fahrenheit 451 is basically "it's not that deep... unfortunately" also I'd love more book videos so I'm in favour of a video on your 2020 reading goals and challenges!
I'm still so sad you didn't enjoy Hearts Invisible Furies. It's one of my favourite books of all time! Loved this video, and just ordered some Jane Smiley and Phillip Pullman as I haven't read them before. Looking forward to more book recommendations in 2020!
Thanks for the inspiration, I think I will do a “no buy” book challenge for 2020. I need to read some of the bazillion books I already have on my shelf!
Don’t forget to do a little research into the Educated controversy! My library did Educated as a book club pick a year ago and the whole group ended up thinking most of it was fabricated 🤷🏼♀️
Anyone else read The Secret Commonwealth and was sorely disappointed? I LOVE the first HDM trilogy, but this book just seemed all over the place for me. The Mal/Lyra romance came out of no where and I tried to put the fact that he’s about 10 years her senior behind me, but then the book mentions how he’s been attracted to her since she was in her teens and just… gross. Also why did chapter 31 exist? I can’t stand those kind of scenes, especially when they do nothing to further the plot and especially when they’re written by a male author. Anyone else feel similarly? 🤔
Ugh I've finally given up on Murakami. As beautiful as his writing is, he is incapable of writing women and I just can't get past it. Interested to see if you find something of his in the future that isn't so painfully misogynistic. Excited to see your thoughts on the new books!
I love you and have been following your book chats for years. I do wish tho that you used these books as stepping stones to talk about some of the questions that the book raises, actually putting into words not just that it made you think, but what it make you think of, how your perspective was altered. The second Smiley book got me intrigued, but at the same time it wasn’t really much food for thought there. Hope this doesn’t seem harsh, because I get you have tons of books to get through in this vid. But rather lesser books, with more depth, than short status updates of whether you’d like them or not. For inspiration, I think BBCs (radio 4 is it?) A good read with Harriet Gilbert masters this brilliantly. I rarely read the books, but they always present me with a new perspective!
i can hear you talk about books forever. rt about murakami's writing of women! i've only read norwegian wood and hated it because of this reason and now i'm scared to pick up all his other books. i think i've also read his short stories collection 'after the quake' and that was a better experience. looking forward to all the book content you're thinking of making!
Can you maybe make a video talking about where you get nice editions/publications of your books? We have lots of the same books and yours are usually nicer editions than mine. Also, when I go out to buy a book you've recommended, I can almost never find the same publication.
I always love watching your book reviews and couldn't agree with you more on the views of Murikami. I have read Norwegian Wood and currently reading 1Q84 and just the way he depicts women I just can't get over. He also doesn't make his characters very likeable for me, and I find myself not really caring what happens to them.
I’m ready to have my tbr duplicate after watching this lmao also, just yesterday I was watching your last vlog and thought it’d be really interesting to see a reading one made from you. Have you ever thought about it? x
"Not even the dragons could save it!" Lol!!! I adore Jane Smiley as well! I read A Thousand Acres years ago and it began a love affair that has been going on for the last decade! I haven't gotten to The Greenlanders, but it is on my holds list at the library now! I love your book related content so so much ❤️♥️😍
No one does book content like you do, it's my absolute favorite! And I hope you get to read "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula Le Guin at some point, it's a true gem. Sending love
I got through just over 60 books last year and of those around 15-20 so were Audiobooks so I have some great recommendations if you'd like to be grabbed by them again! Lolita read by Jeremy Irons (obvi the perspective on women is fkd but this novel is fascinating and creepy for that reason and Jeremy Irons' voice is heaven) Rebecca narrated by Anna Massey (her voice perfectly suits this novel and is one of the most under read classics of all time) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel (three narrator cast, wonderfully done) The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1 (Phenomenal fantasy read by Rupert Degas, who shows some of the best voicework I have ever listened to! So versatile and engaging!) I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer (True crime; You won't be able to sleep but it's worth it) The Book Thief read by Dennis Olson (what an absolutely MAGNIFICENT novel and the narrator does not let it down) All the Light We Cannot See read by Julie Teal (also set in WWII but with an entirely new perspective. Beautifully read) Also it'd be amazing if you could make a playlist with all your book content
Always up for more book video content, so do please make more book videos about anything book related. Regardless of views. I think those not interested can pass but you wouldn't lose viewers. Plus it's also something for you and people are drawn to that.
I plan to read at least 2 books per month. For January I'm reading: Permanent Record - Edward Snowden 13 things mentally strong people don't do Please do a review on Orwell's books :)
PLS PLDS PLSSSSSSSSSSS do an Isabel Allende book for book club!! Eva Luna, The Stories of Eva Luna or The House of the Spirits I'd be STOKED about :) my favorite author.
Since I assume everyone in the comments likes books haha, does anyone have any recommendations for Greek mythology books? 😊 I love reading about mythology 🦄
ugh yes i have a few! circe and the song of achilles by madeleine miller! all of rick riordan books (theyre middle grade tho), stephen fry's books mythos and heroes, the silence of the girls by pat barker! let me know if you need any more recs heheheh
Have you checked our the BBC His dark materials and if so, what are your thoughts? I'm slowly watching the episodes and have yet to read the book of dust books I recently purchased the earthsea! There was a beautiful hardcover copy I was after but was too much money, but I found the same cover I'm paper back for £8.99 :) I feel like I've seen an anime of it on Netflix!
I'm on a book (and anything) buying ban this year but I loooove Le Guinn so I'll probably loan The Earthsea Quarlet ebook from my library but I'm scared I'll like it too much and want my own copy aaaah
Hi Jessie! I love your book-related vlogs. Do you have a goodreads account? Also, how do you read so much? And how do you finish a book that you turn out not to like? Sending you love. ❤
Hi Jess, when you describe ABHO7K as 'wild, crazy and totally out there' you are reinforcing Eurocentric ideas of what is acceptable in literature. Despite saying that you like the novel you deploy terms which, especially the first two, play into anti-black, racist stereotypes. What is wild and crazy in this context? Why might the cultural production of a gay black man invite such descriptions from someone with your positionally? I doubt it was intentional but that is the harmful thing about unconscious bias its stealthy proliferation across your audience. I would hope in future you are more careful with your language and perhaps more aware especially considering your audience. This is genuinely constructive criticism and I hope that if you see this you engage with it as these offhand comments really are damaging. The idea of 'out there' is othering the novel from the realms of what is 'normal' and implicitly acceptable i.e. white - also seems strange as the novel won the man booker so is it 'out there' really as in a step removed from the publishing world?
Would you be willing to do like “intro to ...” for some of your favorite authors? Im interested in reading them but have no idea where to start!
This is a fab idea!
Yes!
That sounds interesting!
Thank you for suggesting that ^^
Would love a bit of classics for the bookclub, I also like the extra push to read a bit more diverse books and/or books "you should have read".
Your thoughtful chatty book discussions are sooo good! 📚
It'd be fab if you did more classics for your bookclub. I've made it an aim to read more classics this year (since I mainly read new fiction). I'm in the middle of Anne Bronte's biggest novel since it's her 200th birthday soon.
I've only read a couple Jane Smiley books and I've not heard of The Greenlanders before so it's really exciting how you speak so highly of it.
I was a big fan of The Heart's Invisible Furies too but I wasn't as invested when the writer mother left the narrative.
Would love a video version of your 2019 favorites!! I like to put your book videos as a background so it’d be easier since I’m intrigued
Totally agree with what you mentioned about Murakami and his representation of women. I think 1Q84 is one of my faves because it's on the perspective of a woman. It's a monstrous sized book, but worth it if you're trying to get a full scope of him as a writer :) love your videos !
I appreciate you picking books that have at least been out a few months, since brand new books often have a wait list at the library!
Hi, would u like to make a vlog about maybe russian literature, your thoughts and what u like/dislike?
It's actually great that you don't do super new books for book club, because for viewers living outside the UK/US it can be hard to get their hands on new books. I live in South Africa and it takes a few months for us to get books that are already on UK shelves :)
Doing Scandinavian studies and having read lots of sagas, the style is definitely tricky at the beginning but once you are in it.... I am so excited to read The Greenlanders that I discovered thanks to you x
I didn't read a lot of books in 2019, so my goal this year is to read more. Most of the time I read classics and those books from "to read before die" lists, but this year I wanna try to read something different!
I chalenge myself to read 50 books this year. Some of them, well, most of them from your reviews, Jess. I made a list with the ones I need o buy and mix with the ones I already have, so the chalenge is also to read things already on my collection, again, a inspiration from your work
Wonder how its going...
I have to say Murakami's Norwegian Wood is my favorite novel of his, and I've read most of them. You should really give that one a go!
I've been watching you for ever and I'm still not over how fast of a reader you are. Still and forever in awe!
As much as I personally loved The Wind Up Bird, I completely agree about Murakami's portrayal of women. I think because it was my first book of his, a few years ago, I wasn't as aware of those tropes, but I would say all of his female characters are generally the same which has definitely led me to enjoy his work less.
As much as I love Murakami, I feel like he recycles a lot of his material throughout his books.
@@josepha133 Agreed! I haven't read some of his earlier work, so I don't know if Kafka on the Shore is different, but his recent work definitely features the same "aloof guy who just lets life happen to him" basically
Denisse P haha yesss, and he always talks about wells 😂
My favourite book I read this year is definitely “In the distance” by Diaz exactly for that “quiet vibe” you explained !
I love how your review of Fahrenheit 451 is basically "it's not that deep... unfortunately" also I'd love more book videos so I'm in favour of a video on your 2020 reading goals and challenges!
please do a video of your top books of 2019! My goal this year is to read 24 books and start reading more nonfiction
Ohhh I just read The Heart’s Invisible Furies and LOVED it! A new favourite... I do hope you try again sometime, so worth it!
I'm still so sad you didn't enjoy Hearts Invisible Furies. It's one of my favourite books of all time! Loved this video, and just ordered some Jane Smiley and Phillip Pullman as I haven't read them before. Looking forward to more book recommendations in 2020!
Yes to best books of 2019! And anything else bookish. Xx
I love seeing you guys here. I’m binge watching her videos.
Thanks for the inspiration, I think I will do a “no buy” book challenge for 2020. I need to read some of the bazillion books I already have on my shelf!
i'd love if you did a really fast favorite books of 2019! Maybe more artistic in style than discussion based.
I love your content so much jessie! Especially anything book related. ❤️
Don’t forget to do a little research into the Educated controversy! My library did Educated as a book club pick a year ago and the whole group ended up thinking most of it was fabricated 🤷🏼♀️
Amazing number of books! Also, I adoree this backdrop of books. Please use this camera again and again! 😊
Finally! Been waiting for so long. Love the new settup as well
Anyone else read The Secret Commonwealth and was sorely disappointed? I LOVE the first HDM trilogy, but this book just seemed all over the place for me. The Mal/Lyra romance came out of no where and I tried to put the fact that he’s about 10 years her senior behind me, but then the book mentions how he’s been attracted to her since she was in her teens and just… gross. Also why did chapter 31 exist? I can’t stand those kind of scenes, especially when they do nothing to further the plot and especially when they’re written by a male author. Anyone else feel similarly? 🤔
Yes!!! I just bought Educated yesterday! I’m so excited to read it :) I’ve heard great things.
Absolutely LIVING for the book content
Ugh I've finally given up on Murakami. As beautiful as his writing is, he is incapable of writing women and I just can't get past it. Interested to see if you find something of his in the future that isn't so painfully misogynistic. Excited to see your thoughts on the new books!
I love you and have been following your book chats for years. I do wish tho that you used these books as stepping stones to talk about some of the questions that the book raises, actually putting into words not just that it made you think, but what it make you think of, how your perspective was altered. The second Smiley book got me intrigued, but at the same time it wasn’t really much food for thought there. Hope this doesn’t seem harsh, because I get you have tons of books to get through in this vid. But rather lesser books, with more depth, than short status updates of whether you’d like them or not. For inspiration, I think BBCs (radio 4 is it?) A good read with Harriet Gilbert masters this brilliantly. I rarely read the books, but they always present me with a new perspective!
i can hear you talk about books forever. rt about murakami's writing of women! i've only read norwegian wood and hated it because of this reason and now i'm scared to pick up all his other books. i think i've also read his short stories collection 'after the quake' and that was a better experience.
looking forward to all the book content you're thinking of making!
I'm so happy I found your channel. I love the way you review books, very thoughtful and purposeful.
Can you maybe make a video talking about where you get nice editions/publications of your books? We have lots of the same books and yours are usually nicer editions than mine. Also, when I go out to buy a book you've recommended, I can almost never find the same publication.
I always love watching your book reviews and couldn't agree with you more on the views of Murikami. I have read Norwegian Wood and currently reading 1Q84 and just the way he depicts women I just can't get over. He also doesn't make his characters very likeable for me, and I find myself not really caring what happens to them.
I’m ready to have my tbr duplicate after watching this lmao also, just yesterday I was watching your last vlog and thought it’d be really interesting to see a reading one made from you. Have you ever thought about it? x
I am so glad you picked up Educated, for me it was a splendid read, quite interesting and extremely well put.
I’ve been so into classics lately and this makes me so excited to read some this month!
I have Earthsea on my TBR...along with ALL of the other books! My 2020 reading goal is to read more!
I wonder why you don’t read books from the library? If it’s something you really enjoyed then you could buy the book for yourself....just a thought
Educated is pretty good!
oooh I've been meaning to read the Earthsea series for so long, I'm glad you enjoyed it! ^^
Reading “His Dark Materials” triology because of you! How’s the house going?
I also started it because of her haha
me too! lol
"Not even the dragons could save it!" Lol!!! I adore Jane Smiley as well! I read A Thousand Acres years ago and it began a love affair that has been going on for the last decade! I haven't gotten to The Greenlanders, but it is on my holds list at the library now! I love your book related content so so much ❤️♥️😍
Would love a video on 2019 favourite books of the year. I love your bookish content! X
Yipppeee 🎉 absolutely loving the filming set up in front of your shelves - so cosy 😍
No one does book content like you do, it's my absolute favorite! And I hope you get to read "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula Le Guin at some point, it's a true gem. Sending love
I got through just over 60 books last year and of those around 15-20 so were Audiobooks so I have some great recommendations if you'd like to be grabbed by them again!
Lolita read by Jeremy Irons (obvi the perspective on women is fkd but this novel is fascinating and creepy for that reason and Jeremy Irons' voice is heaven)
Rebecca narrated by Anna Massey (her voice perfectly suits this novel and is one of the most under read classics of all time)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel (three narrator cast, wonderfully done)
The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1 (Phenomenal fantasy read by Rupert Degas, who shows some of the best voicework I have ever listened to! So versatile and engaging!)
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer (True crime; You won't be able to sleep but it's worth it)
The Book Thief read by Dennis Olson (what an absolutely MAGNIFICENT novel and the narrator does not let it down)
All the Light We Cannot See read by Julie Teal (also set in WWII but with an entirely new perspective. Beautifully read)
Also it'd be amazing if you could make a playlist with all your book content
Always up for more book video content, so do please make more book videos about anything book related. Regardless of views. I think those not interested can pass but you wouldn't lose viewers. Plus it's also something for you and people are drawn to that.
I would like to see you review more classics. My reading goal for the year is to read some of the major works of philosophy.
joining your book club this year and I already had educated in mind, meant to be!
yay! i just started educated on audiobook :) excited to have a reason to push it up on my tbr!
I had already started reading Educated- fantastic!!! Can’t wait to hear what you think.
I’m trying to read 30 books this year, and I tend to read classics so I’m gonna make myself read more contemporary authors :)
I plan to read at least 2 books per month. For January I'm reading:
Permanent Record - Edward Snowden
13 things mentally strong people don't do
Please do a review on Orwell's books :)
I would highly recommend Norwegian Wood from Murakami.
I'm excited to read Educated! I've already bought it
challenged myself to 40 books this year. have read 11 now! very proud of myself, hehe.
i’m very interested what you think of “hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world” and “kafka on the shore” by murakami 🥰
My two favorite of his
I’m so impressed with how much you read!! I just can’t find the time or brain power. Makes me sad
Start small! It will come :)
Don't forget-- renting books from the library is free! :)
PLS PLDS PLSSSSSSSSSSS do an Isabel Allende book for book club!! Eva Luna, The Stories of Eva Luna or The House of the Spirits I'd be STOKED about :) my favorite author.
Since I assume everyone in the comments likes books haha, does anyone have any recommendations for Greek mythology books? 😊 I love reading about mythology 🦄
I haven't read Circe by Madeline Miller but it is on my TBR and I have heard great reviews on it!
You should check out Natalie Haynes' novels :)
No recommendations, but Jeanbookishthoughts is booktuber and doing a classics PhD so she has loads of Greek classics/mythology suggestions!
ugh yes i have a few! circe and the song of achilles by madeleine miller! all of rick riordan books (theyre middle grade tho), stephen fry's books mythos and heroes, the silence of the girls by pat barker! let me know if you need any more recs heheheh
@@BethEades Yes! She is amazing!
Have you ever read a little life by Hanya Yanagihara?
Zarfeen Hameed I’m currently 50 pages into the book. So far I really like it! Yes I’d recommend
I'd really enjoy a video version of your favorites/reading challenge blog post!
Krasznahorkai is hard to read even in Hungarian but i would really recommend reading The Melancholy of Resistance
The connection between me and my favorite you tuber in the world: picking Educated simultaneously!!!!!
ok the same thing happened to me for wind up bird! it was so hyped up and I was really let down by it. I liked a wild sheep chase much much more
Have you checked our the BBC His dark materials and if so, what are your thoughts? I'm slowly watching the episodes and have yet to read the book of dust books
I recently purchased the earthsea! There was a beautiful hardcover copy I was after but was too much money, but I found the same cover I'm paper back for £8.99 :) I feel like I've seen an anime of it on Netflix!
I'm on a book (and anything) buying ban this year but I loooove Le Guinn so I'll probably loan The Earthsea Quarlet ebook from my library but I'm scared I'll like it too much and want my own copy aaaah
Great reviews,! I wholeheartedly agree with you about The Hearts Invisible Furies.
I read Educated for a class and absolutely loved it! great, absolutely fantastic choice!!!
Pachinko by min jin lee I highly reccommend its about the korean japanese one of my favorite books in a long time.
Hi Jessie! I love your book-related vlogs. Do you have a goodreads account?
Also, how do you read so much? And how do you finish a book that you turn out not to like? Sending you love. ❤
Michaella O. her goodreads account is linked in the description 🤗
@@GoshNecieee2K14 oh..i didn't see it. Thanks!
Where did you buy your copy of The Greenlanders?
Have been having the same issue! Ended up resorting to buying it on kindle
yamina i have seen it on bookdepository.com
Aina Servera thank you!
Yess a nice long book review!!!!
Love it, awesome wrap up!!
I bought fahrenheit for alevel english lit and hateddd it
yeah, murakami is a big bummer re. his writing of women.
Fave Murakami book is Killing Commendatore✨
Can you do a tour of your book shelves?
do some diana wynne jones on audiobook, so fun!
Classics and non-fiction please. 🙏🏼📚
LOVE ALL THE BOOK CONTENT !
try add pachinko by min jin lee!!!!
A tatoo video please 😭
I just think you are fantastic
its herreee !!!
thank you
❤️
💗💗💗💗
My goal is 120 books💪⭐😻
Hi Jess, when you describe ABHO7K as 'wild, crazy and totally out there' you are reinforcing Eurocentric ideas of what is acceptable in literature. Despite saying that you like the novel you deploy terms which, especially the first two, play into anti-black, racist stereotypes. What is wild and crazy in this context? Why might the cultural production of a gay black man invite such descriptions from someone with your positionally? I doubt it was intentional but that is the harmful thing about unconscious bias its stealthy proliferation across your audience. I would hope in future you are more careful with your language and perhaps more aware especially considering your audience. This is genuinely constructive criticism and I hope that if you see this you engage with it as these offhand comments really are damaging. The idea of 'out there' is othering the novel from the realms of what is 'normal' and implicitly acceptable i.e. white - also seems strange as the novel won the man booker so is it 'out there' really as in a step removed from the publishing world?
I know this is off-topic but I just want to say you're so pretty. 😍 I'm gay but dammn 😍😂
aweee you're so beautiful!!
Wow, you read a lot.
Cool gal
You are so cute