JULY 2020 BOOKS | sunbeamsjess
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
- / sunbeamsjess
For more info about the Book Club, be sure to expand! Plus as always all the timings are here if you want to skip to a specific book ❤️
JULY BOOKS BLOG POST: www.sunbeamsjess.com/blog/202...
WOLF HALL REVIEW: bit.ly/3gSnEe5
THE WAY BY SWANN’S REVIEW: bit.ly/3g1prMC
Affiliate links used below
--TIMINGS--
02:43 Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson tinyurl.com/y6yvfg65
05:57 Women, Race and Class by Angela Davis tinyurl.com/y23j7q8f
10:26 Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko tinyurl.com/yxjsq5gz
14:53 Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel tinyurl.com/y3qw22pm
18:36 The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett bit.ly/30Udwff
24:27 Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann tinyurl.com/y6yuy2go
27:46 The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander bit.ly/3h0AQ0v
30:44 Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk tinyurl.com/y2997qz9
33:58 In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower by Marcel Proust tinyurl.com/y6q5t6qe
37:28 The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang tinyurl.com/yy2365wv [review mentioned bit.ly/3apO2JI]
42:14 Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy tinyurl.com/y4kw56wd
44:08 Home to Harlem by Claude McKay bit.ly/2E025Ka
--NEXT MONTH’S BOOK CLUB--
This month’s books are:
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates tinyurl.com/yymrpck5
and
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler tinyurl.com/y5u3pham
I will be uploading my video around early September so if you want to contribute before then, you are more than welcome to email me at:
sunbeamsbooks@gmail.com
Alternatively just read away and comment or just watch next month's video!
--SOCIAL MEDIA--
Blog: www.sunbeamsjess.com
Twitter: bit.ly/r55XmV
Instagram: bit.ly/W5kDea (@sunbeamsjess)
Goodreads: bit.ly/2Um0WRd
--WHAT AM I WEARING--
CLOTHING:
Tee: & Other Stories [old]
JEWELLERY:
*Eye Necklace: Laura Lee Jewellery bit.ly/2pultIe
*Small Coin Necklace: Wolf & Badger [no longer available]
*Big Coin Necklace: Missoma apprl.com/al/5Vtw/
Silver Heart Necklace: The Great Frog
Eye Necklace: The Great Frog
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*Ray Hoops: Laura Lee Jewellery x Sunbeamsjess
Upper Ear Jewellery: Mostly Maria Tash bit.ly/2PB9j8f
Second Lobe Piercing Hoops with Drops: Jacqui Aiche bit.ly/2J1MPef
Septum Piercing: Maria Tash
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*Star Ring: Laura Lee Jewellery bit.ly/2JEGua5
*Moon Ring: Laura Lee Jewellery bit.ly/2JEGua5
Lace/Filigree Ring: Grace Lee bit.ly/2Twbc7y
Sapphire Ring: jewellers in India
Gold Signet Ring: grandma’s
Eternity Bands: Rosa de la Cruz
*Eagle Ring: The Great Frog bit.ly/2OFn3kR
Silver Signet Ring: The Great Frog bit.ly/2UIKpW8
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Gold Bracelets: gifts
Silver Link Bracelet/Silver Bangle: gifts
Skulls Bangle: The Great Frog bit.ly/2Bkxkfj
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Nails: Hand painted gels by @bhambnails
---FAQ---
How old are you?
26
What camera do you use?
Panasonic Lumix GH5
Where are you from?
London
How tall are you?
I think I'm about 5'4"
Is your hair dyed?
Nope!
Thanks for watching guys!
DISCLAIMER: This video is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate links. Gifted items are marked with a star. - Навчання та стиль
I look forward to these videos every month. THANK YOU, JESS for being so passionate about reading. You are so dang smart. Your open mind & heart is such a breath of fresh air! ❤️
I feel the same way that you do about literary fiction especially of the past few years. In addition to what you said, I also think it has to do with the fact that a book that is around 250 to 300 pages is a lot more marketable for publishers. As a result, authors are sitting in a story that would probably be more epic and scope with them much more limited parameter.
I actually enjoyed the small amout of information we got from Jacqueline Woodson about the characters and spent weeks after reading it imagining the rest of their stories in my head. maybe it's because I read it while watching Little Fires Everywhere which among many other things also covers the topic of mother-daughter conflicts and raising a black child.
The same thing with the vanishing half, I love when books give me just enough information and leave possibilities open with me wondering many "whys". those are the ones that stick to me the most, but I guess it's 100% personal.
I also had read some of Angela Davis essays before but it was great to read the whole book all at once, her work gives historical perspective to many issues that we face today and no doubt she is a reference and inspiration for so many.
last month was my first time properly joining the book club and I loved it. excited to join this month too!
So grateful for all the work you put into your videos!! Love your book reviews(: they’re my favorite
I love how you discuss about books so objectively
I always look forward to these videos! Thank you for your insightful reviews.
It's so interesting to hear your thoughts on books lacking drive/purpose. I personally love a book with great prose and no clear direction because it almost makes me feel like I'm floating through the book - a feeling I love the most and almost look for in a book. Red at the Bone definitely made me feel that way. I floated through the book but was hit hard at the strong points.
Yes I’ve been waiting for this, I’m so excited 😍
I'm so glad you liked Vita Nostra! That was my favorite book I read last year.
I can’t wait to read this month’s book club fictional book! I found the pacing in Red at the Bone kept me interested but I really wanted to see a more in depth view of some of the characters, especially Melody’s grandparents. It was an beautiful, enjoyable, emotional read.
I love watching your reviews on Saturdays, I always update my Goodreads with tons of 'want to read' books when I finish them. Your comment on Red at the Bone being like a prose poem was interesting because Woodson actually has a book in that style called Brown Girl Dreaming. I can't remember the exact plot/point of the book but I did read it in my English class in 8th grade. I also read Red at the Bone this month and started it off thinking I wasn't going to enjoy it, but surprisingly it has stuck with me. I'm noticing motherhood to be a big theme in contemporary fiction novels, even the Vanishing Half, and so that book keeps coming to mind as a point of comparison for me. The scenes with Stella in The Vanishing Half reminded me a lot of Jordan Peele's film 'Get Out' which I've noticed seems to be a varied viewing experience depending on who's watching. I feel like in written form it's even harder to ensure a similar experience for all readers because everyone is bringing their own background with them into the story and so maybe that's why you felt there wasn't enough there but some people enjoyed it thoroughly as is. As I read it I wasn't completely blown away but I enjoyed the experience of reading it. I completely understand what you mean by literary fiction sometimes having scenes that don't accomplish much or add to the story, but not to where the book becomes bad or unenjoyable, you just leave wanting more like you said. Excited for this month's book club picks, will definitely be reading along!
I know im going to LOVE this video without actually finishing it 🥺❤️
No, no, no, no! I just came from the bookstore yesterday with a full list, now this. I can't keep adding more!
Glad you reviewed the Vol, 2, that is going off the list
Oh yes almost an hour of Jess to brighten our days!! Xx
would be very interested to hear your thoughts on Delia Owens 'where the crawdads sing' x
It’s terrible don’t make her read it
60 pages to go and I haven’t enjoyed it, I’m surprised is so popular.
Rachel Berry I’m still so puzzled as to why.
I loved it! 🥺
yes! i thought this book was incredibly beautiful!
I'm so with you on the tyll book! loved sequences of it but lost a bit of speed on the way.. love from austria
Omg soo excited 😍❤️ I just love your content, inspires me to keep going myself 🤗 keep up the great work!!
My favourite part of the month! 🖤
So excited for this video! got my cup of tea☺️
I read REDHEAD BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD when it was released in America. It may not be my favorite book by Tyler, but there's always much to enjoy in her writing. To every story there's always the foundation that life is better if you connect with others, there's always hope, and it's never too late. Tyler is able to create a believable world full of multidimensional characters. THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST and CLOCK DANCE are two of my favorites.
women race and class is definitely a seminal Black feminist radical text and essential reading before heading to contemporary nonfiction I think !!! also you got me really existed to get to Vita Nostra! it's been sitting on my shelf staring at me for weeks lol.
Felt the same way at the start of Red at The Bone. I was like no way this is gonna cover all the issues brought up in 200 pages but towards the middle onward I definitely started to like it. I wasn’t blown away but I liked it.
I've been reading The Poppy War as well, not sure how I will articulate my feelings for my review. It definitely has been interesting from the side reading I've been doing along with it to gain a better perspective, a lot of history I'm less versed in.
I'm just about to start The Vanishing Half and after hearing so many people rave about the book it was really interesting to hear your take! Really excited for this month's bookclub picks - I will try read them on time (somehow I always end up behind hahah). I sometimes have this thing where I finish a book and I'm like that was amazing 5 stars then after a few days I really think about what could have been better and maybe my view shifts a little - like Crawdads for example, I finished it/cried throughout it/loved it and then after two weeks I was like hmm actually the ending was a little rushed/lacked 'something'.
You made me get the Angela Davis! I have read some of her speeches on prisons and Palestine and were amazing.
I really want to read now Vita Nostra but I have quite a few SF in my shelf that I need to read first. Happy birthday btw!
I really liked The Vanishing Half. I did not think the writing was exceptional or beautiful. It was rather simple, but I did not mind it. The characters are the stand out in this book. Although it did not go in depth with every topic, I still felt that it was enough to understand the characters and their decisions. I loved, LOVED, reading about Jude/Reese's relationship. And the interactions between Early/Adele near the end. So many touching moments.
22:30 I guess the term you are looking for is a 'MacGuffin'. (Example: the briefcase in Pulp Fiction)
I felt the exact same way about the Vanishing Half. Have you read Shuggie Bain? I think you will really love it Jess!
Loved seeing a video of you again❤️
I always love these videos so much!!!!😍😍
I really loved Red At The Bone. Because it has 5 narrators of different ages, gender and class, it’s able to cover a lot of ground and discuss a lot of topics in a very small book. I thought the writing was beautiful and impactful 😊
always love your book reviews
Loving the book videos! Your outfit in this video is so cute btw :)
I just read if you come softly and now I'm wanting to read everything from Woodson
You have such a beautifully diverse reading taste! Thank you so much for engaging with black literature it’s Truly inspiring.
Love, a black subscriber😭❤️
Must say I have to agree with you about The Vanishing Half (so I’m glad I’m not the only one). It felt like a mix of certain scenes not having a clear purpose, whilst also feeling some things were skipped over (especially because of the jumping of time point throughout the book). It felt like in the pursuit of covering several decades, it lost its detail in taking the time to explore the transitions. I’m also surprised you didn’t touch on the representation of the trans community. I hadn’t expected to find it in this book, but I found it to be beneficial in aiding the examination of colourism because I could almost see Reese as another example of a “vanishing half”, where his feminism fades from his life. I don’t know if this was an intentional metaphor by Bennett, but I thought it and provided good representation of intersectionality.
finally! my favorite day of the month is the day you upload lol
JESS!!!! HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND WEEK AHEAD!
I trust your reviews so much - especially when you say you didn't like On the Road. ;) I started reading Wolf Hall because of your review and I absolutely love it. I did like Drive Your Plow only because I'm basically the main character minus a love for astrology and criminal activity. But really, the book itself was exactly as you described. Thanks again for a great vid.
Your book videos are as always the best! Have you ever thought about reading psychoanalisis theory books, such as Freud‘s „Civilization and its discontent“ for example, or some philosophical theories such as Schopenhauer’s „the world as will and representation“? I think you would like it, not to mention that In light of current events it is as relevant as ever.
I read Wolf hall and Bring up the bodies this year too, so glad I did, I loved them, as at least I will have a good 2020 memory 😂I also read a couple of books in-between to pace myself because I enjoyed wolf hall so much, I always do that with book series. The new Jim Crow is a real eye opener, unforgettable book. The audiobook sounded really interesting, I’m going to give that a go.
Rachey T a fun fact that I tell everyone at every opportunity... Hilary Mantel grew up on the street next to where I live now 😬
CarolineMM that is a good fact, love her, I wish I lived near the street she grew up on x
Amazing video as always, Jess!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ Try Origin by Dan Brown. I think it would be a good recommendation for your reading.
Jess, I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for what you do. I am new to book reading and would really appreciate a video for beginners like what books you’d recommend to start a reading journey as there are so many of them.
“He vanishing Half” looks good! And you’re right, the US cover is better, but I do like this one too 😛
LOVE your book videos.
I definitely agree with you about the YA-esque feel of the prose in the Poppy War, I thought it made Rin's sacrifices and personal growth feel unbelievable which was disappointing
I feel the same way as you about usually disliking military plots in fantasy/speculative fiction and I also really enjoyed the Three Body Problem. I am almost done with The Dark Forest at the moment and am also really enjoying it, but I have found both of them to start really slowly and not pick up until about a quarter to a third of the way through. Did you finish out that series/do you have plans to?
I can't wait to add these books to my list!!
You should read Milan Kundera “unbearable lightness of being” ...I am currently reading it and WOW
I do agree with it feeling a bit YA as well, although the violence is definitely a lot for a YA audience. I went ahead and read the second book, even though I had mixed feelings about the Poppy War, and it was MILES better. I think it loses a lot of the consistency issues that were in the Poppy War and overall is a lot more focused and a lot more brutal
Kuang wrote The Poppy War when she was 19 so that's probably why it had a young adult flavor to it. I also did not love that one, despite the widespread love it gets!!! I thought the pacing, the plot, the conflicts..... agh just very convoluted and muddled and inconsistent. I am also not going to read the sequels :/
you know...I'd buy any audio book on whatever topic if you read it. i also saved this video to watch at 5am so i can wake up gently.
Would love to see a video on books you liked on audiobook!
Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel is a brilliant audio book. I loved it would, love to hear your opinion! The ending of the Mirror and the light is one of the most perfect bits of writing I have ever read- Hilary said she thought of it at the self-checkout at Sainsbury’s of all places. Incredible can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
I agree about The Vanishing Half. I know that it's so relevant at the moment, and it's important to read it, but I needed "more." When literary fiction is your most read genre, I think you come to expect more emotion and depth from some experiences. It covered so much but not deeply enough. I almost wanted more focus on just the white passing, or the death of their father/impacts, or the domestic violence of the first marriage, or sexually transitioning... Too much packed in and I didn't need to know so much about the bratty theatre daughter!
French subscriber here! Themes continually unfold in In Search of Lost Time. That makes it both tiring and incredible. Things that the narrator got wrong in the past are constantly revalued throughout the volumes. Especially about Albertine.
Also, people usually say that you’re either can be a « Balbec » person or a « Germantes » person. I hated the « Germantes Way » (is it the English title?) and I loved In the Shadow of Young Girls.
Hi Jess, wanted to say a thank you (a year later since you shared this video!) for the recommendation of Vita Nostra. I marked it down as one of the books I kept my eye on, and on my to-read list ever since this video. Finally got around to reading this and absolutely enjoyed it. I was particularly impressed by the translation's ability to convey the eerie and trance-like mood throughout the novel. Slowly dipping my toes more into speculative fiction as well from your other recs!
Loved this!
Have you ever read the fall of giants trilogy by ken follet? My first historical novel and I love it. Would anyone know if and if so, where she has spoke about this before?
I get super excited every time you upload! Your book content is the best, I feel like I have a similar taste in books and as an English lang graduate and master's applicant it works like a charm for me! I read amazing books thanks to you this year and you got me started in reading again after months of blockage and also inspired me to follow my own challenge(finishing the books I own) soooo thank you so much
oh and I also agree with your notes on Red at The Bone! The writing was extremely beautiful and dreamy but it didn't feel like a novel and I excepted more from it :( But I found it captivating in terms of language. ( I thought of it as prose poem also which definitely helped for the sense of fulfillment, can't wait for this month's book club) :D
You need to read Breathe by Imani Perry if you read Between the World and Me. It's written as a letter from a MOTHER to her sons and answers to a lot of the criticism Coates received for not discussing intersections of race and patriarchy. The recent Stacks podcast episode with Kiese Laymon is a great discussion on Perry's book
As far as I know Vita Nostra is a standalone and the other books in a 'series' are meant to be completely different stories, but I haven't read them so please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong 😁
Does anyone know where Jess' book holder/stand is from?
I’ve been wondering for a long time... is there an actual book club where people discuss this/last/next month’s books? I can’t find it in the description box. Thanks in advance!
Mirror and Light not overlong in my opinion, I didn't want it to end. I don't think Mantel did either.
Hey everyone! I really love Jess's videos and what to get more into similar content (on UA-cam or other social networks). Does anyone have recommendations of people who create similar content?
These are my al favorite videos
I will listen to a book if I “ have to”. Like maybe for school or if it’s something I really don’t want to own. But every single one I just can’t get past the narration and weird inflections!! I wish I liked them more.
omg i luv ur aesthetic 💗
I think the literary-fiction-drive-formula thing that you're talking about is an MFA thing. This doesn't mean that everyone who has an MFA writes books like that, but every book like that is written by someone with an MFA.
If you love historical fiction you should read The Book Of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd... same author who wrote The Secret Life Of Bees
I always come to you and other booktubers, and i just feel like you read a lot of USA and UK books, there are a LOT of Latin american books that are amazing, and suuuuper interesting, and that honestly now i follow more latin american booktubers because here i can only get mostly USA books :S anyway, you are awesome, and thanks for sharing! Im from Mexico btw haha
Who would you recommend? Puede ser en español:)
💗💗💗
Anyone got any tips of how to create good reading habits, so that you read more? I always start a book well, then slow down, and take ages to finish it 😩
Give yourself a monthly goal and deadlines - while it might seam daunting i really find that some Books are great if you read them faster 😊 good luck
Create an ambience - light a candle, wear your headphones and play some soothing music and read! So addicting
If I’m struggling to sit down and read, I will put a timer on my phone for 20/30 mins and dedicate it to reading, no looking at the phone or doing other things apart from reading in this time. Once the timer goes off I will usually be so into the book that I will just carry on reading because I’m in that headspace.
Are you reading books you want to read? I can feel similarly when I'm reading a book that I picked up because of hype etc - if you're in a particular reading mood, I'd recommend leaning into it even if that means starting a different book again :)
Also maybe take a book outside 🌻🌾🌳🌲and leave your phone at home or in flight mode
I totally agree with your Poppy War review. I was really excited after all the hype I’d heard. But it was quickly obvious that it was just a collage of generic fantasy tropes with almost no world building and very little setup to plot developments. Oh well 🤷🏻♂️
30:49 it's neither haha, the ending is pronounced "-chook" :P
Love your wrap-ups ❤️
🙌🏻😍
I'm finishing just now the Vanishing half and feel the same way as you do about it. I think it's the fact that there were so many subjects pacted into that book that she made choices of detailing scenes that I didn't find interesting, whilst surfacing other subjects that would've deserved to be looked at in depth. I thought that this book should have been a trilogy : grand-parents and life in the town, the twins since their runaway, then their daughter's different lives. I also would have liked if these two different story lines would not have been as opposite as they were, for I found it to be quite clichéd. Gave it 3* because of the prose and the ideas on colorism.
What is the book club?
YAYYYYYYYYYY
I'm from Tulsa and it's shocking how many people have never heard of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
please educate people about this whenever you can. exclusion of this, and other parts of americas history contributes to the dehumanization of black people.
I clicked so fast
I am Ukrainian and it was a bit shocking when you shown a book by our authors!
How funny I prefer the UK edition of The Vanishing Half. I actually prefer the UK edition of most books, what is that? The US versions of Morrison's books: ugly. The UK editions: lovely.
First