You deserve a raise Jen, such is your invaluable service dispensing the joys and merits of contemporary literature. Props for providing a space to children's literature. I 👁 you
I’ve been puzzled as to why I enjoy your videos so much since I don’t read books anything like the books you read. I’ve just started reading an article in NYRB about Rachel Kushner’s book Creation Lake and a lightbulb has gone off in my head and I now think I SHOULD be reading the books you read. I’m 81 years old so I tend to Trollope, Dickens and Austen but you are never too old to learn and change. Thanks Jen!
My favorites of 2024 (so far): Why God is a Woman by Nin Andrews (thanks, by the way) The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt A Horse at Night: On Writing by Amina Cain Homegoing by Yaaa Gyasi The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg Death as a Side Effect by Ana María Shua Peter and Alice by John Logan (thanks again 😂) Ongoingness by Sarah Manguso Happening by Annie Ernaux Our wives under the sea by Julia Armfield Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au (so beautiful, glad you recommended it 🥺) The details by Ia Genberg Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds It has been a good year, no complaints. I'm currently reading Breasts and Eggs and Burial Rites and I'm sure that both novels are going to be favorites too. A big hug from Cuba
Yay, a new video! And with so many books here I have also loved. Soldier Sailor was one of my favourites last year (although I did not read it under the same circumstances as you 😅) and Pet was such a revelation for me. What a story!
I've been having trouble reading books lately, but off the top of my head, I remember loving an FK Lukens novel earlier this year, where a young price falls for a merman he doesn't know isn't human. 🥰 I've recently gotten into playing/reading visual novels, especially Japanese Otome ("maiden" games), which are like digital choose your own adventure graphic novels, often with a romance focus and several branching routes and alternative endings (good, bad, or tragic) with different romancable characters. Some have complicated gameplay, but my favorites so far just have dialogue options. I love listening to the Japanese dialogue and reading the English subtitles. Love the art and music. My favorite trope is found family, and my favorite games/visual novels tend to focus on that more than romance. I especially love historical fiction games with a touch of fantasy or magical realism, like Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds (about the Shinsengumi in 1863-1869) and Nightshade (a Shinobi girl is framed for murdering the nation's leader and goes on the run).
I loved Soldier Sailor!! My “babies” are in their mid to late 20’s and won’t forget this book either. I can empathize that reading that one so fresh postpartum had to be very intense.
You've done brilliantly! I have added four books to my tbr and will check out Mouse on the river for a present😊. ....and Foster's ending made me sob in public- beautiful❤!
Twin toddler mom here! I appreciates you so freakin much and am sending all the best vibes ur way, new momma! :) i love your inclusion of children’s books in this video, as well as the warnings if a book may be a lil “too close to home”. I’ve def found im a little more sensitive in my literary taste in this period of my life. I’ve only just starter to venture back into the more gutsy, emotional reads. Lots of cozy lit and fantasy haha
So so pleased that you loved Pet, it was a highlight of my reading last year. Have you tried The Axeman’s Carnival by the same author yet? I can highly recommend it also ☺️
Oh, lord -- Grief is the Thing with Feathers -- what a book! It's one of my forever favorites now, and I'll always buy his books; I don't care what they're about. Yes, I loved Soldier Sailor the same way, even though my son is 29. She just describes that place so perfectly, and I was exactly there so many times, (and apparently, these feelings stay with you for the rest of your life.) Oh, boy, Pet! Also a book that is on my forever favorite list, and the author is now an auto buy. In fact, my library just notified me that my hold on her new one is now mine -- I'm so excited! Lots of great stuff this year: I Who Have Never Known Men, Monstrilio, everything I've read by Claire Keegan, Hello Beautiful, Prophet Song, Open Throat, Sleeping Giants, plus I read The Midwich Cuckoos on your rec, and adored it!
My favorites are all over the place this year Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - the title is quite scary since I have never thought about my life in terms of weeks. It was quite revolutionary to me, it made me rethink how I approach time and think about procrastination In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado - it's a brilliant memoir, both in terms of the subject and how it's done, every chapter is connected to the story but almost has a different genre? Some feel like essays, some like poetry, some like part of a novel. And there are so many folk tale references! How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz - very unique form and an underexplored subject of life of unemployed elderly people Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - this mystery novel is super refreshing, it's very cleverly done and the puzzle is so satisfying! It made me feel for the first time in ages that i read something novel and innovative in this genre
Oh Jen thank you so much for your children’s books recommendations 🙏🏽🍎 my kids love dumplings so that’s a no brainer 😂 but they all look like great ideas for upcoming birthdays thank you 🥰
I don't have a list, but one of my favorite books I've read this year is What Feasts at Night by T Kingfisher, which explores PTSD as an underlying theme.
Thank you for this lovely video! I haven't gotten around to any of these yet, but some are on my TBR (especially Foster, Pachinko Parlor, and Enter Ghost). I've had a rather slow reading year so far, my favourites are these: - Island by Siri Ranva Hjelm (I don't think you've read this, but I discovered it through one of your older videos! Thanks for that!) - Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi - Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Bunny by Mona Awad - Unscharfe Bilder by Ulla Hahn (no english translation unfortunately) - Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See I'm doing a pretty good job of focusing on women writers this year, which I'm v happy about!
Haven't read any of these yet, but I bought *Private Rites* and will get to it soon! *The Pachinko Parlour* and *Pet* are also on my Storygraph TBR. My favourites reads of 2024 so far have been my Muderbot rereads (so an honorable mention in your format), *The Moth Keeper* by K O'Neill (so good, it's actually my only 5-star from by new reads of 2024!), *After* by Auriane Velten, *Poor Things* by Alasdair Gray (thank you for the rec), *It's Not That Radical* by Mikaela Loach, *The Bandit Queens* by Parini Shroff (again, thank you), *Amari and the Night Brothers* by BB Alston, and *A Little Luck* by Claudia Pineiro which I just finished yesterday. Also, not a specific title but the Discworld series in general, I started a couple of years ago and am currently at #7, they're pretty fun.
Hi Jen Fantastic video as always 💕 Foster by Claire Keegan is now adapted in to a film by the Irish Film Institute. The title is An Cailin Ciuin and is one of the best Irish Films of recent years which I would highly recommend 🙂 Soldier Sailor is a very harrowing read but is written so well. Thoroughly enjoyed 💕
I hope the sleep as improved. I have read foster, it's my favourite Claire Keegan so far and I've just started Antarctica. Very much looking forward to many of the ones on your list, even bought river east river west on your recommendation! My favourite books so far this year has been minor details, to amo and headshot with honourable mentioned for shadow cabinet, but there may be some recency bias in there 😊
I read Butter last week and I thought it was very interesting in terms of its themes and ideas. I used to live in Japan and it reminded me of some of the issues that are part of their society, the treatment of women and the expectations that they face in the family and the work place . The ending was a bit strange but I think it reflected the journey that a lot of women go through when they take control of their lives and realise what they want. I loved the descriptions of the food and I now have a whole new appreciation of butter.
Oh I remember the days of baby no sleep times. Hope you get some rest soon. Best books read so far this month Amy & Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes Wild Houses by Colin Barrett The Coast Road by Alan Murrin My Friends by Hisham Matar ☘️👋🍀📚📕📖☕️
Hi Jen, thank you for the recs. I just wanted to say thank you for your book The beginning of the world in the middle of the night. I am not sure if you remember me asking for recs for books similar to the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry and the YA work of carlos ruiz zafron?? I found your book in my bookshelf as a surprise. Well it left me with that same feeling of just staring out my window and just feeling. Beautiful work. Thank you Jen💝📚🥲🧘♀🧜♀
Best books January to June Enter Ghost Brotherless Night Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Service by Sarah Gilmartin Fayne by AnnMarie MacDonald Solider Sailor Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Haworth Stone Yard Devotional Strong Female Character by Fern Brady The Caretaker by Ron Rash Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan HowTo Build A Boat by Elaine Feeney North Woods by Daniel Mason 💐
I've read Butter, Private Rites and Enter Ghost. Enter Ghost is my top book of 2024 so far. I have a copy of River East River West that I'll be reading soon, so excited to hear that you loved it
That review makes me want to read Grief is a thing with feathers, I struck it from my tbr after really struggling with Lanny but from what you said it seems those are wildly different books
God I really must get to Enter Ghost it sounds so amazing. I think one of my favourite books of the year is Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon - also theatre-centred, but Euripides rather than Shakespeare. Really looking forward to seeing your thoughts on the Booker longlist, I'm about five books in and I'm enjoying it so far 🤞🤞
Hi Jen! This video is exactly what I needed for quite a tired train ride home. I’m currently reading Prophet Song by Paul Lynch and loving it. Particularly eager to get my hands on Enter Ghost. The way you speak about books really articulates why I love them so much!
Hi Jen, always so lovely to see you. :) I have a couple of these on my TBR - I am especially looking forward to _The Pachinko Parlour_ . One of the *best* for me so far this year has been _Orbital_ - from the Booker longlist. Jen, it was hypnotically beautiful. If you decided to read it, I would be incredibly interested in hearing your thoughts on it.
@@jenvcampbell YAYYY!!! I will be *so* looking forward to hearing your thoughts. :) Best to you and I am wishing for you and the baby... lots of recuperative sleep.
Some of my favourites from this year have been Enter Ghost, Hospital by Sanya Rushdi (amazing autofiction about being hospitalised for psychosis), and White Cat Black Dog
I've had a pretty poor reading year, but my favourite books of the year so far are The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.
As someone who lost her daddy a few months ago, that quote from The Railway Children hit too hard. Waiting to re-read Feathers, still too tender right now. How would you compare Private Rites to Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres?
I love Dim Sum Palace! Have you read X. Fang’s newest, We are Definitely Human? It’s so great! Every line is a gem, but so are the illustrations, and the pacing/formatting reminds me a little bit of Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe.
Hi Jen , bookshopping yesterday I found interesting book called Brother Alive by author Zain Khalid. Have you heard off this book as I've never seen any reviews ? Think it may be interesting read.
Hey Jen , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?
Have you read any of these? What are your favourite books of 2024? x
You deserve a raise Jen, such is your invaluable service dispensing the joys and merits of contemporary literature. Props for providing a space to children's literature. I 👁 you
I’ve been puzzled as to why I enjoy your videos so much since I don’t read books anything like the books you read. I’ve just started reading an article in NYRB about Rachel Kushner’s book Creation Lake and a lightbulb has gone off in my head and I now think I SHOULD be reading the books you read. I’m 81 years old so I tend to Trollope, Dickens and Austen but you are never too old to learn and change. Thanks Jen!
My favorites of 2024 (so far):
Why God is a Woman by Nin Andrews (thanks, by the way)
The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt
A Horse at Night: On Writing by Amina Cain
Homegoing by Yaaa Gyasi
The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg
Death as a Side Effect by Ana María Shua
Peter and Alice by John Logan (thanks again 😂)
Ongoingness by Sarah Manguso
Happening by Annie Ernaux
Our wives under the sea by Julia Armfield
Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au (so beautiful, glad you recommended it 🥺)
The details by Ia Genberg
Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds
It has been a good year, no complaints. I'm currently reading Breasts and Eggs and Burial Rites and I'm sure that both novels are going to be favorites too. A big hug from Cuba
This is such an amazing list ❤ I love it
Yay, a new video! And with so many books here I have also loved.
Soldier Sailor was one of my favourites last year (although I did not read it under the same circumstances as you 😅) and Pet was such a revelation for me. What a story!
I've been having trouble reading books lately, but off the top of my head, I remember loving an FK Lukens novel earlier this year, where a young price falls for a merman he doesn't know isn't human. 🥰
I've recently gotten into playing/reading visual novels, especially Japanese Otome ("maiden" games), which are like digital choose your own adventure graphic novels, often with a romance focus and several branching routes and alternative endings (good, bad, or tragic) with different romancable characters.
Some have complicated gameplay, but my favorites so far just have dialogue options. I love listening to the Japanese dialogue and reading the English subtitles. Love the art and music. My favorite trope is found family, and my favorite games/visual novels tend to focus on that more than romance. I especially love historical fiction games with a touch of fantasy or magical realism, like Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds (about the Shinsengumi in 1863-1869) and Nightshade (a Shinobi girl is framed for murdering the nation's leader and goes on the run).
I loved Soldier Sailor!! My “babies” are in their mid to late 20’s and won’t forget this book either. I can empathize that reading that one so fresh postpartum had to be very intense.
Foster made me cry cry cry during several parts, but especially the end… ah, the simple love that couple showed her 😭😭😭😭
Same, oh it pierced my heart in the best way.
So happy whenever I see another video from you in my feed ❤ 📚
Thank you, Pet just jumped up on my TBR list and ordered Notes of a Scandal! Great way to start my day.
You've done brilliantly! I have added four books to my tbr and will check out Mouse on the river for a present😊.
....and Foster's ending made me sob in public- beautiful❤!
Twin toddler mom here! I appreciates you so freakin much and am sending all the best vibes ur way, new momma! :) i love your inclusion of children’s books in this video, as well as the warnings if a book may be a lil “too close to home”. I’ve def found im a little more sensitive in my literary taste in this period of my life. I’ve only just starter to venture back into the more gutsy, emotional reads. Lots of cozy lit and fantasy haha
I have pregnancy brain. I will come back to this video in the future 😅 would love the children book recommendations, Jen! Looking forward to it!
So so pleased that you loved Pet, it was a highlight of my reading last year. Have you tried The Axeman’s Carnival by the same author yet? I can highly recommend it also ☺️
Oh, lord -- Grief is the Thing with Feathers -- what a book! It's one of my forever favorites now, and I'll always buy his books; I don't care what they're about. Yes, I loved Soldier Sailor the same way, even though my son is 29. She just describes that place so perfectly, and I was exactly there so many times, (and apparently, these feelings stay with you for the rest of your life.) Oh, boy, Pet! Also a book that is on my forever favorite list, and the author is now an auto buy. In fact, my library just notified me that my hold on her new one is now mine -- I'm so excited! Lots of great stuff this year: I Who Have Never Known Men, Monstrilio, everything I've read by Claire Keegan, Hello Beautiful, Prophet Song, Open Throat, Sleeping Giants, plus I read The Midwich Cuckoos on your rec, and adored it!
My favorites are all over the place this year
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - the title is quite scary since I have never thought about my life in terms of weeks. It was quite revolutionary to me, it made me rethink how I approach time and think about procrastination
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado - it's a brilliant memoir, both in terms of the subject and how it's done, every chapter is connected to the story but almost has a different genre? Some feel like essays, some like poetry, some like part of a novel. And there are so many folk tale references!
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz - very unique form and an underexplored subject of life of unemployed elderly people
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - this mystery novel is super refreshing, it's very cleverly done and the puzzle is so satisfying! It made me feel for the first time in ages that i read something novel and innovative in this genre
I have had Pet on my bedside table for ages. I will take it on holiday with me I think. Love your videos Jenxx
I hope you love it, too ☺️ xx
Oh Jen thank you so much for your children’s books recommendations 🙏🏽🍎 my kids love dumplings so that’s a no brainer 😂 but they all look like great ideas for upcoming birthdays thank you 🥰
I don't have a list, but one of my favorite books I've read this year is What Feasts at Night by T Kingfisher, which explores PTSD as an underlying theme.
River East River West is definitely in my Top 5 this year so far - I adored it too. And, Foster … broke my heart.
My goodness so many books straight onto the tbr! Also I would LOVE if you would do the picture book video!
Oh I loved Foster.
This year has been one of just re-reading favourites, but I read Enter Ghost (probably on your recommendation) and absolutely loved it.
Thank you for this lovely video! I haven't gotten around to any of these yet, but some are on my TBR (especially Foster, Pachinko Parlor, and Enter Ghost).
I've had a rather slow reading year so far, my favourites are these:
- Island by Siri Ranva Hjelm (I don't think you've read this, but I discovered it through one of your older videos! Thanks for that!)
- Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
- Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Bunny by Mona Awad
- Unscharfe Bilder by Ulla Hahn (no english translation unfortunately)
- Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
I'm doing a pretty good job of focusing on women writers this year, which I'm v happy about!
Haven't read any of these yet, but I bought *Private Rites* and will get to it soon! *The Pachinko Parlour* and *Pet* are also on my Storygraph TBR.
My favourites reads of 2024 so far have been my Muderbot rereads (so an honorable mention in your format), *The Moth Keeper* by K O'Neill (so good, it's actually my only 5-star from by new reads of 2024!), *After* by Auriane Velten, *Poor Things* by Alasdair Gray (thank you for the rec), *It's Not That Radical* by Mikaela Loach, *The Bandit Queens* by Parini Shroff (again, thank you), *Amari and the Night Brothers* by BB Alston, and *A Little Luck* by Claudia Pineiro which I just finished yesterday. Also, not a specific title but the Discworld series in general, I started a couple of years ago and am currently at #7, they're pretty fun.
Forgot to thank you for A Little Luck too, so many of my faves always come from your recommendations 😂
Hi Jen, nice to see you talking about books again. I have just read 'Poor' by Katriona O'Sullivan. It was amazing!
Hi Jen
Fantastic video as always 💕
Foster by Claire Keegan is now adapted in to a film by the Irish Film Institute. The title is An Cailin Ciuin and is one of the best Irish Films of recent years which I would highly recommend 🙂
Soldier Sailor is a very harrowing read but is written so well. Thoroughly enjoyed 💕
I hope the sleep as improved.
I have read foster, it's my favourite Claire Keegan so far and I've just started Antarctica.
Very much looking forward to many of the ones on your list, even bought river east river west on your recommendation!
My favourite books so far this year has been minor details, to amo and headshot with honourable mentioned for shadow cabinet, but there may be some recency bias in there 😊
I read Butter last week and I thought it was very interesting in terms of its themes and ideas. I used to live in Japan and it reminded me of some of the issues that are part of their society, the treatment of women and the expectations that they face in the family and the work place . The ending was a bit strange but I think it reflected the journey that a lot of women go through when they take control of their lives and realise what they want. I loved the descriptions of the food and I now have a whole new appreciation of butter.
Oh I remember the days of baby no sleep times. Hope you get some rest soon.
Best books read so far this month
Amy & Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
The Coast Road by Alan Murrin
My Friends by Hisham Matar
☘️👋🍀📚📕📖☕️
Interesting! Thank you so much for the list 🎉
Hi Jen, thank you for the recs. I just wanted to say thank you for your book The beginning of the world in the middle of the night. I am not sure if you remember me asking for recs for books similar to the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry and the YA work of carlos ruiz zafron?? I found your book in my bookshelf as a surprise. Well it left me with that same feeling of just staring out my window and just feeling. Beautiful work. Thank you Jen💝📚🥲🧘♀🧜♀
Best books January to June
Enter Ghost
Brotherless Night
Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Service by Sarah Gilmartin
Fayne by AnnMarie MacDonald
Solider Sailor
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Haworth
Stone Yard Devotional
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
The Caretaker by Ron Rash
Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan
HowTo Build A Boat by Elaine Feeney
North Woods by Daniel Mason
💐
I've read Butter, Private Rites and Enter Ghost. Enter Ghost is my top book of 2024 so far. I have a copy of River East River West that I'll be reading soon, so excited to hear that you loved it
That review makes me want to read Grief is a thing with feathers, I struck it from my tbr after really struggling with Lanny but from what you said it seems those are wildly different books
Absolutely adored Foster.❤
God I really must get to Enter Ghost it sounds so amazing. I think one of my favourite books of the year is Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon - also theatre-centred, but Euripides rather than Shakespeare. Really looking forward to seeing your thoughts on the Booker longlist, I'm about five books in and I'm enjoying it so far 🤞🤞
Hi Jen! This video is exactly what I needed for quite a tired train ride home.
I’m currently reading Prophet Song by Paul Lynch and loving it. Particularly eager to get my hands on Enter Ghost.
The way you speak about books really articulates why I love them so much!
I feel like I'm lost in a huge library, and you're the only book that catches my eye. Can I borrow some of your time?
"a cloying dampness", fabulous 💯
Hi Jen, always so lovely to see you. :) I have a couple of these on my TBR - I am especially looking forward to _The Pachinko Parlour_ . One of the *best* for me so far this year has been _Orbital_ - from the Booker longlist. Jen, it was hypnotically beautiful. If you decided to read it, I would be incredibly interested in hearing your thoughts on it.
I’ve read it, as I’m currently reading the whole longlist. That vlog will be up in a few weeks.
@@jenvcampbell YAYYY!!! I will be *so* looking forward to hearing your thoughts. :) Best to you and I am wishing for you and the baby... lots of recuperative sleep.
Some of my favourites from this year have been Enter Ghost, Hospital by Sanya Rushdi (amazing autofiction about being hospitalised for psychosis), and White Cat Black Dog
I've had a pretty poor reading year, but my favourite books of the year so far are The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.
always a treat to see you though sorry about the sleep deficiency..but so glad you have a daughter.
I'm currently reading There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak which is already my favourite book this year.
As someone who lost her daddy a few months ago, that quote from The Railway Children hit too hard. Waiting to re-read Feathers, still too tender right now.
How would you compare Private Rites to Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres?
Sending love your way ❤ I haven't read A Thousand Acres, so can't comment on that. xx
I’ve heard a lot of great things about ‘Pet’. 📚💜
I love Dim Sum Palace! Have you read X. Fang’s newest, We are Definitely Human? It’s so great! Every line is a gem, but so are the illustrations, and the pacing/formatting reminds me a little bit of Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe.
I really want to but it’s not out here 😭 x
@@jenvcampbell Nooo!! Well, I can’t wait for you when the time comes
@@mxrumphius I've found an imported copy 👏🏻hurrah!
@@jenvcampbell HUZZAH! I'd love to know what you think ☺
All women too!
My favourite book this year is Take My Hand by by Dolen Perkins-Valdez.
Clicked play so fast that I left smoke trails 💜
Hi Jen , bookshopping yesterday I found interesting book called Brother Alive by author Zain Khalid. Have you heard off this book as I've never seen any reviews ? Think it may be interesting read.
Hey Jen , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?
I can barely function if i don't get enough sleep!!!
🖤💚
Really appreciate your videos and recommendations 📖🪱💚