My reading goal this year was to read outside of my comfort zone. It actually sounds easier than it is. The amount of books I did not finish is staggering 😆Literally more than 100. But the amount of books that I read and authors I discovered that I never would have given a moment's attention to before, was incredibly rewarding. Thank you for posting these lists as it adds so much to my own reading experience.
I’ve read All Fours, James, Martyr!, and Fire Exit on this list. All are solid reads with Martyr! Being my favorite of the four. I will be reading Beautyland this week. 2024 was my year of reading outside of my norm. I’m so glad I’ve gone on this reading journey because although I’ve read more duds than usual, it’s made me excited about reading again! Sometimes it can be more interesting reading a book you really dislike and dissecting it, although I am a person who loves discourse. As always, thank you for sharing your thoughts! Happy New Year to all 🎉
the whole alien thing in Beautyland is very ambiguous, it's not an important thing for the plot and you can see it as just the character being neurodivergent, so readers who don't like scifi/alien stuff can still enjoy it.
Thank you for these videos, I enjoy going over the lists of best books. I had to laugh when you said you’d rather read Sandwich again than give a try to All Fours. I couldn’t finish Sandwich but I’m really enjoying All Fours. As you like to say, we all get different mileage out of books. But some are just outstanding and universally loved. James is that one this year for sure! Happy Xmas to your sweet family!
"I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." Joel and Teddy also! James has 39 holds in the County library system available to me. I had to buy it of course. Fire Exit is available at a local library and I will check it out when I visit it soon. Thank you for continuing to provide content during this busy holiday time. I really look forward to my cup of coffee in the morning and watching you. 🌲
When I first heard of All Fours I was interested, but since then I heard more about it and I put it out of my mind again. Now seeing it on all the lists I am wondering if it is worth checking out or if it is just on these lists because the topic hasn't been explored enough.
I greatly enjoyed All Fours and loved Martyr!. Hoping to read The Coin soon and Beautyland eventually. I think All Fours is surprisingly well received by these lists, and likely gets more negativity as it leaves its reader base. I would say it is a natural fit for fans of Melissa Broder. Some sort of a weird girl book (intimate tampon scene) that also appeals to women readers in middle life. Loved the topics & the way the story unfolds, with some issues. It was almost Maggie Nelson-esque.
So happy to see "Fire Exit" on the list! I have been very confused by other lists neglecting it! As for the "All Fours"--- I admit, the more I see it on the lists, the more I just don't understand it. Long before it started making these lists, it was my least favorite book I've read this year. For me, the lead character is just overflowing with privilege in a way that an Updike protagonist is--- I guess at least it's a woman in this book instead of a straight white middle aged guy? When I talked about it online after I read it, I admitted that I might not be the demographic for it, and that was okay. I got a bunch of responses from middle-aged women saying, "I am the demographic, and I hated it." But I also know a lot of people who did respond to it positively. I just know that if it were to win the Pulitzer over "James", I think I would lose my mind a little bit.
I've read James and Fire Exit from this lost but some of these are on my TBR, especially Martyr and Ghostroots. Fingers crossed for the Barnes and Noble after Christmas sale!
I read a story collection White Cat Black Dog by Kelly Link and it was fine and will read another collection by her but not really interested in her novel. Four Seasons Interest Me but haven’t read yet but I did really enjoy the short story collection I read by her
Appreciate the detailed breakdown! Could you help me with something unrelated: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
I'm rooting for "Fire Exit" for the Pulitzer Prize. Can't say that I'm very open to "James"--"Huckleberry Finn" is my all-time favorite novel, and I get the feeling that Everett is probably sponging off the substance of a great classic, and that he is writing something greatly inferior to the original that still, however, retains enough of the original's tone, humor, inventiveness, depth and fascination to make it feel to contemporary readers like a great book. That's just an impression I have. Even the title turns me off--in the 1840s, any James would've been a Jim in everyday life, and it seem pretentious and out of touch to make a point of calling Jim "James." "Martyr!" I'm not sure about but am open to reading it.
I cant take Times magazine seriously anymore. Yes, that is politicising reading but I have no respect for anyone or anything associated with a rapist and felon. Sorry, not sorry.
Got Fire Exit for Christmas and asked for it bc I read Night Of The Living Rez based on a passionate AF review from youuuuuu and wasn’t disappointed 📖 🪱 💚
My reading goal this year was to read outside of my comfort zone. It actually sounds easier than it is. The amount of books I did not finish is staggering 😆Literally more than 100.
But the amount of books that I read and authors I discovered that I never would have given a moment's attention to before, was incredibly rewarding.
Thank you for posting these lists as it adds so much to my own reading experience.
I’ve been doing the same and yes, the dnf’ing is at an all time high 😂
Starting on January 20th (Inauguration Day in the USA) I’ll be reading only books from WITHIN my comfort zone.😁
Almost exactly my plan. I’m going to lean in to all of the M/M romance novels and other such fluff
@@KurtAnderson812 Go for it!😄
That's a good plan!
I’ve read All Fours, James, Martyr!, and Fire Exit on this list. All are solid reads with Martyr! Being my favorite of the four. I will be reading Beautyland this week. 2024 was my year of reading outside of my norm. I’m so glad I’ve gone on this reading journey because although I’ve read more duds than usual, it’s made me excited about reading again! Sometimes it can be more interesting reading a book you really dislike and dissecting it, although I am a person who loves discourse. As always, thank you for sharing your thoughts! Happy New Year to all 🎉
the whole alien thing in Beautyland is very ambiguous, it's not an important thing for the plot and you can see it as just the character being neurodivergent, so readers who don't like scifi/alien stuff can still enjoy it.
That's good to know--thanks!
I loved Martyr!, it was an experience reading it :). Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄!
Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🎄
Thank you for these videos, I enjoy going over the lists of best books. I had to laugh when you said you’d rather read Sandwich again than give a try to All Fours. I couldn’t finish Sandwich but I’m really enjoying All Fours. As you like to say, we all get different mileage out of books. But some are just outstanding and universally loved. James is that one this year for sure! Happy Xmas to your sweet family!
It really is interesting to see how different people react to the same book. Happy holidays to you and yours!
Thanks for these overview videos. It’s helpful to get ideas for books I wouldn’t normally encounter.
I'm so glad they help!
exacts and in such a welcoming and friendly atmosphere
"I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." Joel and Teddy also! James has 39 holds in the County library system available to me. I had to buy it of course. Fire Exit is available at a local library and I will check it out when I visit it soon. Thank you for continuing to provide content during this busy holiday time. I really look forward to my cup of coffee in the morning and watching you. 🌲
Happy to be part of your morning coffee. Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🎄
Thanks, Greg, and Merry Christmas to you, Joel and Teddy!🎄🎅🏻🎄
Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🎄
A very merry Christmas and happy new year Greg, Joel, Teddy.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🎄
Loved James but my favorite of his is Trees
I would like to catch up to The Trees!
I just started reading Fire Exit this morning. Haven’t read much of it yet but have hopes for it.
When I first heard of All Fours I was interested, but since then I heard more about it and I put it out of my mind again. Now seeing it on all the lists I am wondering if it is worth checking out or if it is just on these lists because the topic hasn't been explored enough.
Thank you! My favourite of 2024 has been "The Sons of El Rey" by Alex Espinoza.
I greatly enjoyed All Fours and loved Martyr!. Hoping to read The Coin soon and Beautyland eventually. I think All Fours is surprisingly well received by these lists, and likely gets more negativity as it leaves its reader base. I would say it is a natural fit for fans of Melissa Broder. Some sort of a weird girl book (intimate tampon scene) that also appeals to women readers in middle life. Loved the topics & the way the story unfolds, with some issues. It was almost Maggie Nelson-esque.
So happy to see "Fire Exit" on the list! I have been very confused by other lists neglecting it!
As for the "All Fours"--- I admit, the more I see it on the lists, the more I just don't understand it. Long before it started making these lists, it was my least favorite book I've read this year. For me, the lead character is just overflowing with privilege in a way that an Updike protagonist is--- I guess at least it's a woman in this book instead of a straight white middle aged guy? When I talked about it online after I read it, I admitted that I might not be the demographic for it, and that was okay. I got a bunch of responses from middle-aged women saying, "I am the demographic, and I hated it." But I also know a lot of people who did respond to it positively. I just know that if it were to win the Pulitzer over "James", I think I would lose my mind a little bit.
I'm the demographic and I hated it. I found it insulting in its stereotyping.
I've read James and Fire Exit from this lost but some of these are on my TBR, especially Martyr and Ghostroots. Fingers crossed for the Barnes and Noble after Christmas sale!
Nollaig Shona Duit (happy Christmas to you)
Nollaig Shona Duit!
I recently finished The Anthropologists, it was fine and it is a quick read.
Happy Holidays y'all!
Happy holidays to you too!
I read a story collection White Cat Black Dog by Kelly Link and it was fine and will read another collection by her but not really interested in her novel. Four Seasons Interest Me but haven’t read yet but I did really enjoy the short story collection I read by her
Appreciate the detailed breakdown! Could you help me with something unrelated: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
I read ghostroots. It was a good read. Reccomend it.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Ayshegul Savash. It means ' war'. Turkish names all originate from the Surname Law of 1934. They can be different.😂
Thanks for the information!
The number of books on this list I am interested in reading is 1 (James)
And Merry Christmas to you and your family!!! Very grateful for these list videos. 🩷
I'm rooting for "Fire Exit" for the Pulitzer Prize. Can't say that I'm very open to "James"--"Huckleberry Finn" is my all-time favorite novel, and I get the feeling that Everett is probably sponging off the substance of a great classic, and that he is writing something greatly inferior to the original that still, however, retains enough of the original's tone, humor, inventiveness, depth and fascination to make it feel to contemporary readers like a great book. That's just an impression I have. Even the title turns me off--in the 1840s, any James would've been a Jim in everyday life, and it seem pretentious and out of touch to make a point of calling Jim "James." "Martyr!" I'm not sure about but am open to reading it.
The coin is awful and pointless. It loses its way the further it goes on. Save yourself the time and read something half decent
I cant take Times magazine seriously anymore. Yes, that is politicising reading but I have no respect for anyone or anything associated with a rapist and felon. Sorry, not sorry.
Got Fire Exit for Christmas and asked for it bc I read Night Of The Living Rez based on a passionate AF review from youuuuuu and wasn’t disappointed 📖 🪱 💚