I have to say that I'm much more interested in the translated fiction category. So many interesting books on the longlist/shortlist I've never heard of before. I love that!
What a week it’s going to be! There’s the release of “Cher: The Memoir, Part One” on November 19th and the announcement of the winners of the National Book Award for fiction on November 20th. Like you, my money’s on either “James” or “Martyr!” for the winner and I’m happy with either choice.
I am starting All Fours today, as I am reading the short list, but was reading the long list, which brings me to report that yes, Yr Dead is a book you should still give a read to. I looked up the author and if my research is correct, this is is first full length “novel”. A flashback of his life and the tragedy being at the beginning. The form of the writing was intriguing. I thought it was really good, but it was up against some big contenders for sure.
I am grateful for the deep intelligence of the National Book Award longlist authors I've read thus far including Akbar, Cornejo Villavicencio, Kushner and Matar. Catalina is very good. I'm also enjoying Nonfiction longlist contender The War Below by Scheyder about the ecological tradeoffs from mining lithium and copper used for electrical vehicles. Thanks for your high intelligence!
I’ve got physical books Catalina and Yr Dead out from the library and I’m first on the list waiting for the audio of The Most. And I’ve had James and Martyr! here waiting to be read for a while. I also intend to get the audiobook of My Friends. So seems like a good run of books for the NBA (such an unfortunate acronym.) I’m about to commence more library usage as I’ll be retiring early next year and will be trying not to purchase quite so many books. It will be quite the conversion. First, it means waiting potentially a long time for the books I would normally order from the UK (although I’ll still order some.) I don’t mind using the library for new books. They are almost always in great condition. But for backlist books… not always so. My copy of Larry Watson’s Montana 1948 is in dire shape (for me.)
I’ve been using my library more this year as well (hence the looooong waits for Headshot and The Most). We’re working just as hard as ever but the income has gone down anyway-oh well! I do love supporting my library anyway. But it can be frustrating-especially with the waits and when the condition is off.
James and My Friends are so strong... James is my favorite but I could live with either of these winning. Well, I guess I will survive regardless! 😀 I do still want to read Martyr.
If James wins both the Booker and the NBA and then goes on to win the Pulitzer that would be awesome. If it only wins the Pulitzer, and Martyr! or My Friends wins the NBA and the Booker goes to Stone Yard Devotional, that would be great too because they are all worthy winners. If James doesn't win anything, now that would be a travesty! And if we end up with, say, Held for the Booker, All Fours for the NBA, and something that nobody likes for the Pulitzer again, then I think I'll just... take a break from following book awards for a few years 😆
I’m currently reading/listening to James Creation Lake Martyr! Intermezzo I finished Held on audio. I think it would have been better if I’d done a text & audio combination. The writing is beautiful. However I could only give it 4 stars as it’s confusing and it didn’t come together in my head by the end.
I feel like jury members likely to vote for a book that might not win any other major prizes are more likely to be swayed toward Martyr!, but a win for My Friends would be thrilling.
I was thrilled to see Martyr! getting some prize recognition. I thought it extraordinary, I loved it. I am lukewarm on James. I think it's doing important things, but the actual reading of it was just ok for me (kinda the way Trust was). I really liked My Friends, although it could have been shorter. I dnf-ed Creation Lake, I just couldn't get interested in it.
I was very disappointed with Catalina and I, too, had been excited to read it. It really isn't a novel because there is no real story, but a series of events. The writing is more about "teaching" the reader various academic and historical subjects, and this drags down what little story there is. It was also surprisingly hard to connect emotionally with the protagonist. The book is described as "part campus novel, part hagiography and part pop song," so even the publisher seems to be saying it really isn't a novel.
My Friends, Martyr, and James are among my favorite books of the year so far, and I also really enjoyed Ghostroots so I'm pretty pleased by this short list. My personal favorite is My Friends. As for nonfiction, I was disappointed to see Hanif Abdurraqib miss the short list. There's Always This Year is another one of my favorites of the year, and I just think Hanif is a really special writer.
I hated All Fours, it relied on many stereotypes that did not work for me. Martyr is a good debut but my money is on either James or My Friends. I generally do get along with the National Book Award which I find more accessible than some of the other award lists.
You are making these very well-made videos about books, but even though you address the fact that you haven't always read the books you talk about, I found it irritating how much you get into detail, for instance, with Martyr! (how do you know it's so inventive, for example?). So when you continue to Miranda July and talk about the quirkiness of her previous work, how is the viewer supposed to know if you're saying this from experience or from googling it? All of this gives your videos the feel that it's more about talking about the descriptions of the books, the discussions around books, maybe about holding them up to the camera (I almost read Catalina or maybe will read it next), and so many other things except actually reading them. It kind of turns books into objects or maybe abstractions of their contents based on, admittedly, very intense research. It's like watching your videos is a very enjoyable, but completely reading-unrelated experience. A blinkist for people who don't have time to read, but want to talk about books at social events.
I both understand and don’t understand your comment. If the way I talk about books isn’t for you, that’s fine. There are plenty of other book-centered channels you might enjoy better. But I don’t think it’s confusing or surprising that someone could be able to talk about a book they haven’t read (and in detail). Martyr! was a massive front list release. There was buzz for it well before it actually published. It doesn’t even require research to have heard about it because the marketing and publicity for it were everywhere-Kaveh Akbar was also interviewed by every major literary outlet. And all of those features, reviews, and interviews mention some variation of being bold, creative, inventive, or representing a unique perspective on how to tell a story. It’s also in the blurbs when Martyr! made it into several “best of the year so far” lists, the National Book Award shortlist, etc. This isn’t secret knowledge. It’s very public. As for Miranda July and confusion about whether or not I’m talking about my experience or reviews/media buzz (I haven’t Googled Miranda July or All Fours), it’s both. When I was resistant to reading The Bee Sting, it’s because I hadn’t enjoyed a previous Paul Murray book and everything I was hearing about Bee Sting sounded like it would be more of what I already hadn’t enjoyed. It didn’t represent a radical departure in form. This isn’t surprising either: if you didn’t like one Kurt Vonnegut book, you probably won’t like any of the others. Sure, authors can take departures, but nothing in the description of All Fours, its review buzz, or publicity for the book has indicated that this would be significantly different. Again, if you don’t like the way I talk about books or approach learning about new books (which is a huge reason I have this channel), that’s fine. But I don’t quite understand the confusion. Maybe it’s my background as a bookseller and in publishing. These are areas where it’s impossible to read everything but you have to be conversational for people who are interested. Like if you don’t read science fiction and a customer wants recommendations, you need to be able to point them toward some books they may like. It’s not a bad faith approach to talking about books-at least not inherently. It also appears you are only watching a specific type of my video. That’s fine, you don’t have to watch all of them (or any of them), but you can’t really get the whole picture by only watching the book award or book list reactions. I do many videos (including weekly Friday Reads) that center books I have read. It’s not at all like I only talk about books I haven’t read. It sounds like my style of learning about and talking about books isn’t for you regardless. That’s fine. I hope you find channels you enjoy more.
I could not believe "All Fours" was on the longlist. Again, I have respected much of Miranda July's work in the past. But "All Fours" is my least favorite read of the year, so far. Now that it has made the shortlist, I am even more flabbergasted. And frankly, I will be angry if it wins. I have read two other books on the longlist, and I am rooting for "James". I have an almost sick feeling in my stomach at the idea of "All Fours" winning. I just... I just don't know how I will continue respecting this award. I disliked it that much.
I have to say that I'm much more interested in the translated fiction category. So many interesting books on the longlist/shortlist I've never heard of before. I love that!
I’m excited to finally check that list out!
I was thrilled when My Friends made the shortlist
I’m hoping the people who wanted it to make the Booker shortlist are feeling vindication now.
What a week it’s going to be! There’s the release of “Cher: The Memoir, Part One” on November 19th and the announcement of the winners of the National Book Award for fiction on November 20th. Like you, my money’s on either “James” or “Martyr!” for the winner and I’m happy with either choice.
Somehow I didn't even know that Cher is releasing a memoir (let alone a part 1)!
@@SupposedlyFun I’m revoking your gay card!🤣
@@MJ-in-Canada Fair! 😂
😅
I am starting All Fours today, as I am reading the short list, but was reading the long list, which brings me to report that yes, Yr Dead is a book you should still give a read to. I looked up the author and if my research is correct, this is is first full length “novel”. A flashback of his life and the tragedy being at the beginning. The form of the writing was intriguing. I thought it was really good, but it was up against some big contenders for sure.
I'm so excited that my library decided to purchase a copy of Yr Dead.
I loved everything about Martyr. I love a book that stretches you.
I’m excited to read it!
@@elizabethtowne1559 Me too, I loved it!
I am grateful for the deep intelligence of the National Book Award longlist authors I've read thus far including Akbar, Cornejo Villavicencio, Kushner and Matar. Catalina is very good. I'm also enjoying Nonfiction longlist contender The War Below by Scheyder about the ecological tradeoffs from mining lithium and copper used for electrical vehicles. Thanks for your high intelligence!
The NBA is so good at representing authors who have something to say. That makes them fun to follow.
Love your book prizes predictions!
Thank you!
I am partway through Martyr! and not sure I like it enough to finish it but will keep going to see. Catalina sounds intriguing.
Martyr! does sound divisive but clearly, the NBA jury is on its side.
I’ve got physical books Catalina and Yr Dead out from the library and I’m first on the list waiting for the audio of The Most. And I’ve had James and Martyr! here waiting to be read for a while. I also intend to get the audiobook of My Friends. So seems like a good run of books for the NBA (such an unfortunate acronym.)
I’m about to commence more library usage as I’ll be retiring early next year and will be trying not to purchase quite so many books. It will be quite the conversion. First, it means waiting potentially a long time for the books I would normally order from the UK (although I’ll still order some.) I don’t mind using the library for new books. They are almost always in great condition. But for backlist books… not always so. My copy of Larry Watson’s Montana 1948 is in dire shape (for me.)
I’ve been using my library more this year as well (hence the looooong waits for Headshot and The Most). We’re working just as hard as ever but the income has gone down anyway-oh well! I do love supporting my library anyway. But it can be frustrating-especially with the waits and when the condition is off.
Interested to hear your thoughts on Catalina, I really liked it and was a little surprised it didn't make the long list. But I never really know 😅
I’m hoping to jump in once I catch up on comments this morning!
My Friends is my longlist favorite and I hope it wins!
We'll find out soon!
James and My Friends are so strong... James is my favorite but I could live with either of these winning. Well, I guess I will survive regardless! 😀 I do still want to read Martyr.
It definitely feels like a mostly solid final group!
If James wins both the Booker and the NBA and then goes on to win the Pulitzer that would be awesome. If it only wins the Pulitzer, and Martyr! or My Friends wins the NBA and the Booker goes to Stone Yard Devotional, that would be great too because they are all worthy winners. If James doesn't win anything, now that would be a travesty! And if we end up with, say, Held for the Booker, All Fours for the NBA, and something that nobody likes for the Pulitzer again, then I think I'll just... take a break from following book awards for a few years 😆
I think I broke out in hives after reading your final scenario. 😂 😬 😱
@@SupposedlyFun 😂 Sorry! But now that I've put it out there it won't happen 😅😬
@@TheLeniverse 🤞 😂
I’m currently reading/listening to
James
Creation Lake
Martyr!
Intermezzo
I finished Held on audio. I think it would have been better if I’d done a text & audio combination. The writing is beautiful. However I could only give it 4 stars as it’s confusing and it didn’t come together in my head by the end.
I hear a lot of that about Held.
“James” is great and I hope it wins several awards but my favorite on the list is “My Friends.” Fabulous!
I feel like jury members likely to vote for a book that might not win any other major prizes are more likely to be swayed toward Martyr!, but a win for My Friends would be thrilling.
I was thrilled to see Martyr! getting some prize recognition. I thought it extraordinary, I loved it. I am lukewarm on James. I think it's doing important things, but the actual reading of it was just ok for me (kinda the way Trust was). I really liked My Friends, although it could have been shorter. I dnf-ed Creation Lake, I just couldn't get interested in it.
It has felt a bit surprising to see Martyr! left off of so many lists (so far).
I was very disappointed with Catalina and I, too, had been excited to read it. It really isn't a novel because there is no real story, but a series of events. The writing is more about "teaching" the reader various academic and historical subjects, and this drags down what little story there is. It was also surprisingly hard to connect emotionally with the protagonist. The book is described as "part campus novel, part hagiography and part pop song," so even the publisher seems to be saying it really isn't a novel.
That’s interesting-thanks for sharing your thoughts.
My Friends, Martyr, and James are among my favorite books of the year so far, and I also really enjoyed Ghostroots so I'm pretty pleased by this short list. My personal favorite is My Friends. As for nonfiction, I was disappointed to see Hanif Abdurraqib miss the short list. There's Always This Year is another one of my favorites of the year, and I just think Hanif is a really special writer.
There have been so many fans of Hanif that I was surprised to see that, too.
I hated All Fours, it relied on many stereotypes that did not work for me. Martyr is a good debut but my money is on either James or My Friends. I generally do get along with the National Book Award which I find more accessible than some of the other award lists.
The NBA does a great job at having something for everyone on their lists.
My Booker short list favorite = Held
It's been a love-it-or-hate it book, but the people who love it really seem to love it a lot.
You should read Martyr
I’m going to get to it soon.
I really think James deserves to win.
I agree, but we’ll find out soon enough.
You are making these very well-made videos about books, but even though you address the fact that you haven't always read the books you talk about, I found it irritating how much you get into detail, for instance, with Martyr! (how do you know it's so inventive, for example?). So when you continue to Miranda July and talk about the quirkiness of her previous work, how is the viewer supposed to know if you're saying this from experience or from googling it? All of this gives your videos the feel that it's more about talking about the descriptions of the books, the discussions around books, maybe about holding them up to the camera (I almost read Catalina or maybe will read it next), and so many other things except actually reading them. It kind of turns books into objects or maybe abstractions of their contents based on, admittedly, very intense research. It's like watching your videos is a very enjoyable, but completely reading-unrelated experience. A blinkist for people who don't have time to read, but want to talk about books at social events.
I both understand and don’t understand your comment. If the way I talk about books isn’t for you, that’s fine. There are plenty of other book-centered channels you might enjoy better. But I don’t think it’s confusing or surprising that someone could be able to talk about a book they haven’t read (and in detail). Martyr! was a massive front list release. There was buzz for it well before it actually published. It doesn’t even require research to have heard about it because the marketing and publicity for it were everywhere-Kaveh Akbar was also interviewed by every major literary outlet. And all of those features, reviews, and interviews mention some variation of being bold, creative, inventive, or representing a unique perspective on how to tell a story. It’s also in the blurbs when Martyr! made it into several “best of the year so far” lists, the National Book Award shortlist, etc. This isn’t secret knowledge. It’s very public. As for Miranda July and confusion about whether or not I’m talking about my experience or reviews/media buzz (I haven’t Googled Miranda July or All Fours), it’s both. When I was resistant to reading The Bee Sting, it’s because I hadn’t enjoyed a previous Paul Murray book and everything I was hearing about Bee Sting sounded like it would be more of what I already hadn’t enjoyed. It didn’t represent a radical departure in form. This isn’t surprising either: if you didn’t like one Kurt Vonnegut book, you probably won’t like any of the others. Sure, authors can take departures, but nothing in the description of All Fours, its review buzz, or publicity for the book has indicated that this would be significantly different.
Again, if you don’t like the way I talk about books or approach learning about new books (which is a huge reason I have this channel), that’s fine. But I don’t quite understand the confusion. Maybe it’s my background as a bookseller and in publishing. These are areas where it’s impossible to read everything but you have to be conversational for people who are interested. Like if you don’t read science fiction and a customer wants recommendations, you need to be able to point them toward some books they may like. It’s not a bad faith approach to talking about books-at least not inherently.
It also appears you are only watching a specific type of my video. That’s fine, you don’t have to watch all of them (or any of them), but you can’t really get the whole picture by only watching the book award or book list reactions. I do many videos (including weekly Friday Reads) that center books I have read. It’s not at all like I only talk about books I haven’t read.
It sounds like my style of learning about and talking about books isn’t for you regardless. That’s fine. I hope you find channels you enjoy more.
I could not believe "All Fours" was on the longlist. Again, I have respected much of Miranda July's work in the past. But "All Fours" is my least favorite read of the year, so far. Now that it has made the shortlist, I am even more flabbergasted. And frankly, I will be angry if it wins. I have read two other books on the longlist, and I am rooting for "James". I have an almost sick feeling in my stomach at the idea of "All Fours" winning. I just... I just don't know how I will continue respecting this award. I disliked it that much.
I admit, without having read it I kinda feel the same. But now I feel more justified. 😂