Books I read in May • Reading wrap-up
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- Here are book reviews of the 7 novels I read in May.
Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers review:
• Cuddy by Benjamin Myer...
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Books mentioned in this video:
📖 Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie
📖 Mongrel, by Hanako Footman
📖 Diary of a Void, by Emi Yagi (translated by David Boyd and Lucy North)
📖 Confessions, by Kanae Minato (translated by Stephen Snyder)
📖 In the Miso Soup, by Ryu Murakami (translated by Ralph McCarthy)
📖 Strange Weather in Tokyo, by Hiromi Kawakami (translated by Allison Markin Powell)
📖 The Offing, by Benjamin Myers
📖 Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers
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00:00 Home Fire
03:20 Mongrel
05:37 Diary of a Void
07:03 Confessions
09:58 In the Miso Soup
12:24 Strange Weather in Tokyo
14:11 The Offing
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Thank you so much for watching.
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🎁 Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...
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#books #booktube #readingwrapup
“Ben you sound like you need to blow your nose”
It’s hayfever season and I am SUFFERING 🫠
🦊 Loved The Offing. Myers is a brilliant writer. Glad to see more people reading his work.
Such a gem (a phrase that applies to both the book and Myers!)
I really like the way you do these videos! You've got such well-crafted pitches for each book - I love the way you talk through what stands out stylistically and emotionally about each one without rushing through them too quickly or spoiling anything. It always makes me feel like I'm browsing through a library myself. Definitely going to add some of these to my TBR! 🦊
Thank you so much for the kind comment! It can be hard sometimes to try and sum up these books in a way that properly reflects them without regurgitating the whole plot or making the videos a million hours long, but I’m so pleased to hear you like how they turn out 🫶
i did my a level coursework on home fires and think it's such a great novel! i thought i would feel 'spoiled' going in knowing it's based on antigone but i actually think i appreciate the narrative more knowing she was sticking to that arc & most cannot anticipate how the ending will play out in detail. i struggle with retellings that stick too close to their inspired work, but i feel shamsie did a great job making the plot different. it has just such great themes and i feel like she did enhance the antigone story, bringing it into the modern setting but highlighting how timeless the themes & characters are. such a deserving winner of the women's prize imo!
What a great book to get to study! It’s so rich that I bet there was tonnes to explore. Glad you loved it and agree it’s a great winner!
Home Fire is a total gem, it’s the only time my favourite book from the Women’s Prize shortlist has won! I’ll definitely grab The Offing now I’ve heard that Still Life comparison, thanks Ben ♥️🦊
It's such a deserving winner! Hope you love The Offing - it's also awesome to see some northern fiction get so much love.
I'm so happy I found your channel! We have similar taste in books, and after a bit of a binge on your content, I have a big list of books to purchase! Thank you
Thanks so much, and thank you for being here!!! You’ll have to let me know which ones you end up enjoying 😊
I, too, loved The Offing. I read it very slowly last Spring and Summer, savoring it. It's a book I'll return to time and again.
It’s a beautiful novel!
So glad to hear you enjoyed Home Fire - it is so, so good. Completely agree about the structure of it, and I also really appreciate not knowing too much of the Greek myth beforehand.
I’ll be reading The Offing next month!! 🦊 Glad it was another astonishing read by Myers!
Looking forward to the Sicily and Japan vlogs (no rush though!) 😎🙌
Hope you love The Offing - I don’t know how Myers does it. His books are all so different but so good!
🦊🦊🦊🦊#Kitsune.
"Freaks like me that can stomach it". There is a plethora of us.
The Offing ,with a horrible cover, is at the library.
Always great content.
We freaks stand together! 🤪
I wanted to come back and thank you for your positive review of Tom Lake. I don't read a lot of lit fic, but I do try to read some, and originally I thought I'd give that book a try. When a lot of so-so reviews came out I decided not to bother. Only after hearing you talk about it did I decide to read it after all.
I got recently got a copy through my library - and I loved it! It built slowly for me, but I found myself thinking so much about the themes I couldn't wait to pick it up and read more. It turned out to be a truly thoughtful book that I look forward to revisiting in a couple of years.
Thanks again for putting your thoughts out there. I would have missed it without you.
I am so glad you loved it too! It's such a gentle, observant and beautiful novel. Thank you so much for watching 🙌
All of these are on my tbr and I’ve literally picked up home fire to start this evening!
What great timing! Hope you enjoy it 😊
Great reviews Ben! These books sound really interesting and I’ve added many to my ever expanding TBR 😊 Looking forward to your video of Japan! And Sicily if you get to it! ❤
Thanks very much! Hopefully the vlog will be coming in the next few weeks 😊
Watched this and when you mentioned The Offing I stopped the video and went off and read it. It’s been on my shelves since I bought it following reading and loving The Perfect Golden Circle. Agree it is a 5* read. Just beautiful. The characters, the sense of place and the story telling. Loved it. Thank you. This would have languished on my shelves for ages without your mention of the book. Have listened to your review now and you do the book justice. Going to buy Cuddy now. PS. Also agree with you about Soldier Sailor which I hope wins Women’s Prize for fiction tomorrow. Keep up with the videos. Much appreciated.
The Offing is such a beautiful little read isn't it! So glad you enjoyed it too. Myers just has such a way with his characters and his descriptions. I can't get enough.
Shame about Soldier Sailor in the end but it was an excellent shortlist and Brotherless Night would have been my next choice. A very worthy winner!
The Offing is suuuuuuuuch a good book. Possibly my favourite Myers 🐱
It’s so good! I don’t think it quite tops Cuddy for me, but Myers seems to put out nothing but bangers.
Hello from Edinburgh, I bought and have just finished The Offing on your recommendation - my first Benjamin Myers - and adored everything about it. I will be heading to my local bookshop to treat myself to more of his books ASAP. Many thanks 😊
Yay, so glad you loved it. He's such a talent and The Offing was another big hit for me. Really excited to read even more from him!
Ooohhh I got a copy of The Offing as a ‘blind date with a book’ from my local secondhand bookstore. I’ve put it to the top of the TBR pile.
Sounds like a perfect date to me!
🦊🐈 Another well dome video! Looking forward to the Japan vlog!
I am half dreading editing it but very excited about the end result! 😅
I read Still Life at the start of this year after hearing your high praise and loved it. And, since then, I've convinced a friend to read Still Life too, and he loved it as well. So, I've added The Offing to my TBR list. When I'll get to it is another matter. My TBR list now numbers 597 entries.🦊
That’s a lot of books!!! Makes me feel better 😂
And when you get to it, I feel confident you’ll love it!
I had been sitting on the fence about Home Fires. But you've persuaded me to give it a go. And since I haven't read a single Myers I think I shall start with this one, it sounds intriguing.
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It’s really great - I’d definitely recommend giving it a go!
So enjoyed your video. Thank you Ben 🦊
Thanks for watching Janice - glad you enjoyed it!
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Wait, my ears perked up when you said someone on instagram recommended Confessions, that was me!
Even funnier I just picked up The Night Alphabet as my next read, based on your recommendation.
Also a big Benjamin Myers fan, looking forward to Rare Singles coming out soon.
Haha well thank you for the recommendation! It was a good one 😊
Definitely looking forward to Rare Singles!!! And I hope you enjoy The Night Alphabet.
As soon as you said "if you liked Still Life" i started writing The Offing down, because I adored Still Life 🥰also, cute tshirt!🐈
Hope it gives you the same vibes! And thanks very much 🐱
So good! 🦊
Thanks so much for watching! 🦊
You may have just introduced me to a new favorite writer. Based on your rave, I ordered The Offing and have long been intrigued by CUDDY (again, thanks to you). What is frustrating is that a good friend works for Bloomsbury New York-and had never heard of him! Seems his books would do well here-if they were widely available and publicized. Oh well, that's where you come in....
We need to start a campaign to take Myers stateside!!!
🦊 The Offing is fab, isnt it?! I still really need to read more Myers
So good! For another one with friendship and nature, I’d definitely recommend The Perfect Golden Circle ⭕️
Home fire is in my TBR for a very long time! Maybe it's time 😂
It’s definitely time. Do it!!!
🦊🦊 I wanted my son’s middle name to be Fox for no reason other than I love foxes. Sometimes being married and having to yield to someone else’s complete antipathy for one of your ideas really sucks.
So. Going to buy Home Fires now. And still want to read Miso Soup.
I think I’m going to come home from Britain with a suitcase full of Benjamin Myers books! And probably many others. The only thing longer than my list of books in the list of book stores in London and Edinburgh. Which reminds me - have you been to Rare Birds Books in Edinburgh? They only stock books written by women, which already makes it my most anticipated destination.
Marriage is compromise 😅 And it sounds like Myers isn’t easily available in the states, so stock up while you’re here!
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So I need to get The Offing now... (it's already on my TBR, but the library doesn't have it - yet...😅)
Hope you manage to track it down soon. It’s beaut!
🦊 🐈 Leaving both because I noticed the fox but the cat on your shirt stood out more. Didn’t see you as a cat guy.
I put Confessions on my Wish list. Sounds fascinating. I have had The Offing for quite a while and haven’t read it. This might be the push I need.
Same is true of Home Fire. I very much want to pull it out this summer after your review.
To be fair, I am not a cat guy. I’m extremely allergic, so my shirt is the closest I should get 😅
Hope you enjoy those books when you get to them!
My reading in May was very relaxed. I’d read so much for the Women’s Prize so I spent May reading romance. Best book was
The Mars House by Natasha Pulley
I hear you - all the prize reading can be exhausting! Hard to believe Booker season is just around the corner. The Mars House was on my longlist of Women’s Prize contenders 😅
Anything that can be said to be similar to Still Life is an instant buy for me. Sold on The Offing
It gave me the same warm fuzzies without being syrupy sweet. So, so good!
@@benreadsgood absolutely. I love the dignity with which Winman treats her characters. She doesn't coddle them or protect them, but she certainly doesn't revel in their misery.
A tough balance to tread but she does it so well 👏
🦊 how is your June reading going?
Great so far actually! Really enjoyed everything I’ve read, and currently about a third into Brotherless Night and I can see why it’s been getting rave reviews.
🦊I have not read any Benjamin Myers but I do love nature writing.
He does it so well! He has a non-fiction called Under the Rock which might be of interest 😊
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Just bought The Offing Ben.. good to hear you enjoyed itx
It’s such a wonderful, warm-hearted novel. Hope you love it!
🐐no fox on this ancient tablet so have a goat! Really interested to get to The Offing - I adored Cuddy but have put off more Myers for a bit because I heard that all his books were so different, I wasn't sure where to head to next!
I’ll take a goat 😂
The Offing is definitely quite different from Cuddy on the whole, but I think has the same heart and solid contemporary writing as Book 4 in Cuddy.
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I'm from Taiwan and have been reading Japanese literature since I was a teenager. I'm glad it's becoming more popular in the English-speaking world. The Offing sounds great.
I love your T-shirt! So I only notice the cat🙃😽
Oooh I would love to visit Taiwan 🇹🇼 Everything I’ve heard about it sounds wonderful, and as a fried chicken fan I know some people argue Taiwanese is the best 😅
I guarantee that once you've tried Taiwanese fried chicken, you'll never forget it.
I need it!
The italicized dialog box you mentioned from 'Mongrel' is often done in Urban Fiction. Curious if it's crossing into other genres. Great reviews...thanks!
Thanks so much for watching 🙏
And that’s interesting - haven’t read too much urban fiction (does Who They Was fall into that genre?) but Mongrel feels quite far from it!
Ugh! You had me for the Offing with the Still Life reference, but there doesn’t seem to be an ebook or audiobook of it offered on the US!
Ahhh that’s such a pain. I hadn’t realise Myers’ work was difficult to come by in the US. eBay maybe?
I absolutely loved Home Fire, but when recommending it to people, I am always a bit torn as to whether to describe it as a brilliant retelling of [that Greek myth], set in the context of modern day Britain and its politics with Islam. While it's a compelling selling point, I also feel that maybe it risks being a spoiler, even though all the PR for this book hasn't shied away from the connection.
I’m with you! I’m glad I didn’t know, or rather forgot, because it works so well as a straight contemporary novel. There’s maybe a bit of magic in finding out the retelling aspect after you’ve read it.
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🦊 Greetings from Slovakia! 👋😊
Hello! Thanks very much for watching 🙏
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🦊 The book I read for May-gical realism (Homegoing by Yaa Gyassi) didn't really have any magical realism either. Which is fine by me because I don't love magical realism. But it came up on several lists when I googled "magical realism for people who don't like magical realism" so I'm totally counting it.
Haha I guess it turns out magical realism for those of us who don’t usually read magical realism is just when it’s not actually in the book 😂
Perhaps that’s the real magic 🤔
@@benreadsgood Then I'm a believer! 🪄
Fuchs 🦊
Didn't notice the fox until you pointed it out. I noticed the cat though. 🐱 🐈
Haha just trying to figure out who is looking at the books and who is looking at my living room 😂
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🦊 I assume it’s strictly male readers who claim Ryu is the superior Murakami. I read one book of his short stories (back in 2016) and pegged him for a creepy misogynist. If you have a chance check out my review of Tokyo Decadence on Goodreads for the full report. Always enjoy your content. Take care.
Incidentally, the review is under “Blake Fraina,” not Christine. 😉
To be fair, I don’t think Haruki is applauded for his depictions of women either! 🥴
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That’s a funny looking cat.
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❤ 🐈 & U 😅
🐈⬛ my focus never shifted from you and your books, btw - if not Benjamin, what is your name? 🤔🤥
I’m just Ben! (Sung to the tune of the song from Barbie)
What if you listened instead of watching? A dog? :D 🐶
Ok I’ll accept that pupper 😅
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Careful with the loud beeps Ben! my ears
Need to make sure you’re awake
🦊I love foxes. Obviously you do too.
They’re such interesting creatures!
Schrödinger!!!
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I am living for all these fox emojis because they are so damn CUTE!
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