I found your channel a few months ago and have really enjoyed your videos. Just want to say thank you for content that actually makes me feel uplifted, rather than depleted.
Love the shirt and peek-a-bea 😄 I just picked up Wood at Midwinter, planning to read it on xmas. It is so beautiful, but even more padded by art than I expected, so going in not expecting too much. Unrelated to books, if you haven't watched Christmas on Cherry Lane (hallmark/netflix), you really must! Its not a romcom, it is super heartwarming following 3 families at different times in a house. One of those is the most kind hearted, Christmas loving couple, who want to become foster dads and one of them is a chef. They are only missing a dog 😄
I have read The Sleeping Car Porter and enjoyed it immensely. I am about to read The Most, thanks to your channel. A Merry Christmas to you, Joel, and Teddy.
I read A Place for Us on your recommendation and, wow! It has stayed with me over a few years, and one of my favorites of all time. I also read The Poisonwood Bible,thanks to you, and voila, another favorite of all time. ❤Love your channel. Merry Christmas to you, Joel and Teddy.
It makes me really happy that SJP will be a Booker Judge! Her literary credentials are absolutely fine - and the Booker does have a bit of a history of celebrity chasing. She definitely has the literary chops to be a good judge, but the Booker is clearly looking to reach out to her international fan base too. Which is completely fine.
When you said SJP I stopped in my tracks and said a very loud…”WHAT”!!! This was before your explanation…. PS my reaction was the same when you said you read three books this week! It take me weeks to read one book…frustrations of a person who loves to real but is VERY slow at it🤦🏻♀️
I had no idea about SJP's connection to publishing, so thanks for sharing that. I didn't have any opinion about her being a Booker judge, as they often have celebrities as judges, and often they don't have anything to do with publishing, but it makes more sense now they would specifically pick her.
I read The Sleeping Car Porter months ago when you first mentioned it. I love it. I found Baxter a man of integrity and goal oriented. He did everything he could to not getting anymore demerits. The book showed a view of one man's life that few of us will ever understand.
I think SJP was an interesting choice, but I don’t have anything negative to say about it. She is one of several judges, and as long as she does what is required, I don’t get the backlash. She’s not the first “celebrity” Booker judge and she won’t be the last.
One thing to add about "The Wood at Midwinter": It was originally produced for radio, and aired on BBC Radio in 2022. So the time constraints are probably more acute than an ordinary short story and that likely explains why it ended when it did. It's a beautiful book, and I loved the illustrations, but I agree it could be longer, and is probably only for Susannah Clarke completionists.
SJP's imprint landed a book (Coleman Hill) on the Carol Shields Prize short list, so so she's got that going for her as well. Chris Power, another of the judges, used to write a column on short stories for the Guardian. According to Wikipedia, he cites Denis Johnson as a literary influence. Will be interesting to see if that affects the long list at all. Wouldn't mind a novel in stories on the list.
Ah, I really need to get to A Place For Us. I think I bought it when I first heard about it on your channel. I did read The Sleeping Car Porter when I heard about it on Shawn's channel and quite enjoyed it. I can always depended on being kept up on great books and the thoughtful commentary that goes along with a healing dose of Teddy most times. Feelings of fondness coming your way. 🥰
I hope you and your family are enjoying the holidays so far! I'm liking The Sleeping Car Porter so far--and I'm almost done! And I hope you like A Place For Us when you get to it!
Regarding “The Wood at Midwinter” by Susanna Clarke: the protagonist is described as follows: “She can talk to animals and trees - and she is only ever happy when she is walking in the woods.” That could describe me. It’s a short but sweet read but I agree that it could use some padding. It would make a great Christmas gift. It’s so small you could stuff it in a stocking. Or dunk it in your coffee.☕😁
The life and adventures of santa claus was made into a animated film. Robbie Benson voices Nicholas and Dixie Carter voices his mother. Well made worth seeing if anyone can find it. As for SJP, its unexpected but perfectly fine, her reading perspective could prove important to next years list. She is an avid diverse reader as you said.
Interesting! Apparently SJP, imprint is called Zando projects under sjp Lit. They have an edition of The Story of the Forest by Linda Grant. Grant has been longlisted for the Booker before and I enjoy her work. SJPs imprint has only been going since June 2023, so she seems very new to it and obviously positioning herself in the book industry. Which is good I guess but still feels a bit strange. Happy Reading 🙂
I think SJP being on the judging panel will be interesting. She definitely likes to read so Im all in! I think any star that promotes reading actual books is a good thing.
The two books that I know you own but haven't yet read, that I most want you to read (because I love them and think you will too) are Piranesi and Days Without End (S Barry). Hopeful that 2025 will be the year when the mood take you to both of them! But I enjoy hearing you talk about any book, really, so no pressure!
I agree with you on Wood at Midwinter, it's just way too short. Which is crazy coming from me because I didn't think it was possible for a book to be too short 😅
I read The Sleeping Car Porter last year. I thought the pacing of the story echoed an actual train journey (ex: really slows when the train is stalled). It would be interesting as an audio to see if that perception is valid.
I think it’s an interesting set of judges for next year, have no issue with SJP and am excited to see Roddy Doyle as Chair. I’ve felt the shortlist for the last couple of years has been a bit meh so am looking forward to seeing their choices.
There is no excuse for bad book cover art. Having said that, I find bad book covers hilarious.🤣L. Frank Baum’s “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” made my day.
I love L. Frank Baum's "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus"... I agree that the original cover is SO much better. What's great about Baum's Santa Claus is that he does overlap with the Oz books. I also like that his take is more like a fairy tale and really quite secular, too. Every year when people are talking about Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, I like to say, "But what about Santa's real reindeer? You know, Flossie and Glossie, Racer and Pacer, Fearless and Peerless, Ready and Steady, and Feckless and Speckless?" Sometimes people will know what I'm talking about, but many do not.
So agree with your review on The Wood at Midwinter. I liked it but only because of the first part and then it just seemed a bit of an outline versus a story.
I think it's fine for SJP to be on the Booker panel. If one of the criteria is readability, then she's sort of the proxy for the reading community. She seems to have a wide ranging taste in books. I think a more provocative pick would have been Reese Witherspoon. Also curious that they've never asked Oprah to judge lol. Perhaps SJP will open the door for that?
That’s interesting. I think Oprah wouldn’t do it unless she was allowed to chair. Reese wouldn’t be criticized for being a book club leader. But all three are connected to books!
I am fine with SJP being a judge. I feel readers, thinkers, people of all types who love books are able to recognize excellent books. Oh, I was just wondering, have you and Joel ever gone to Ireland?
I actually have more issues with Kiley Reid being a Booker judge than SJP. While I thought Such a Fun Age was good, her last book was awful. But then I guess that’s not really the criteria for a judge.
I think it is positive to have an enthusiastic reader on the panel but to make that newsworthy they need to be a bit of a name. So someone like SJP works. Like you I found the Wood in Midwinter charming but slight.
I also have enjoyed psychological thrillers (great escapism), but, yes Greg! Thank you for distilling the problem that I’ve felt but didn’t see so clearly. The unreliable narrator thing is so overdone. And why is the word “Lie” in so many titles? And even the font on the covers is the same. Gone Girl and Harry Potter are the two most copied novels I know of. 📖 😢
I found your channel a few months ago and have really enjoyed your videos. Just want to say thank you for content that actually makes me feel uplifted, rather than depleted.
Thank you so much! I'm so glad to give you a lift. 🥂
Love the shirt and peek-a-bea 😄
I just picked up Wood at Midwinter, planning to read it on xmas. It is so beautiful, but even more padded by art than I expected, so going in not expecting too much.
Unrelated to books, if you haven't watched Christmas on Cherry Lane (hallmark/netflix), you really must! Its not a romcom, it is super heartwarming following 3 families at different times in a house. One of those is the most kind hearted, Christmas loving couple, who want to become foster dads and one of them is a chef. They are only missing a dog 😄
We actually watched Christmas on Cherry Lane! It was cute--and the foster story really hit us hard.
I have read The Sleeping Car Porter and enjoyed it immensely. I am about to read The Most, thanks to your channel. A Merry Christmas to you, Joel, and Teddy.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope you enjoy The Most.
I read A Place for Us on your recommendation and, wow! It has stayed with me over a few years, and one of my favorites of all time. I also read The Poisonwood Bible,thanks to you, and voila, another favorite of all time. ❤Love your channel. Merry Christmas to you, Joel and Teddy.
I'm so glad you also like A Place For Us and The Poisonwood Bible! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
It makes me really happy that SJP will be a Booker Judge! Her literary credentials are absolutely fine - and the Booker does have a bit of a history of celebrity chasing. She definitely has the literary chops to be a good judge, but the Booker is clearly looking to reach out to her international fan base too. Which is completely fine.
It will be interesting to see what they all pick!
When you said SJP I stopped in my tracks and said a very loud…”WHAT”!!!
This was before your explanation….
PS my reaction was the same when you said you read three books this week! It take me weeks to read one book…frustrations of a person who loves to real but is VERY slow at it🤦🏻♀️
I'm a slow reader too 😅 reading more than 2 books a month is aspirational lol
@ 😉❤️
It's okay to be slow at it! But I was impressed with what I got done last week.
I had no idea about SJP's connection to publishing, so thanks for sharing that. I didn't have any opinion about her being a Booker judge, as they often have celebrities as judges, and often they don't have anything to do with publishing, but it makes more sense now they would specifically pick her.
I'm very interested to see what they choose!
I read The Sleeping Car Porter months ago when you first mentioned it. I love it. I found Baxter a man of integrity and goal oriented. He did everything he could to not getting anymore demerits. The book showed a view of one man's life that few of us will ever understand.
I'm almost done with it and loving it!
I think SJP was an interesting choice, but I don’t have anything negative to say about it. She is one of several judges, and as long as she does what is required, I don’t get the backlash. She’s not the first “celebrity” Booker judge and she won’t be the last.
One thing to add about "The Wood at Midwinter": It was originally produced for radio, and aired on BBC Radio in 2022. So the time constraints are probably more acute than an ordinary short story and that likely explains why it ended when it did. It's a beautiful book, and I loved the illustrations, but I agree it could be longer, and is probably only for Susannah Clarke completionists.
That's very interesting--and good to know. Thanks.
SJP's imprint landed a book (Coleman Hill) on the Carol Shields Prize short list, so so she's got that going for her as well. Chris Power, another of the judges, used to write a column on short stories for the Guardian. According to Wikipedia, he cites Denis Johnson as a literary influence. Will be interesting to see if that affects the long list at all. Wouldn't mind a novel in stories on the list.
Ah, I really need to get to A Place For Us. I think I bought it when I first heard about it on your channel. I did read The Sleeping Car Porter when I heard about it on Shawn's channel and quite enjoyed it. I can always depended on being kept up on great books and the thoughtful commentary that goes along with a healing dose of Teddy most times. Feelings of fondness coming your way. 🥰
I hope you and your family are enjoying the holidays so far! I'm liking The Sleeping Car Porter so far--and I'm almost done! And I hope you like A Place For Us when you get to it!
Regarding “The Wood at Midwinter” by Susanna Clarke: the protagonist is described as follows: “She can talk to animals and trees - and she is only ever happy when she is walking in the woods.” That could describe me. It’s a short but sweet read but I agree that it could use some padding. It would make a great Christmas gift. It’s so small you could stuff it in a stocking. Or dunk it in your coffee.☕😁
The life and adventures of santa claus was made into a animated film. Robbie Benson voices Nicholas and Dixie Carter voices his mother. Well made worth seeing if anyone can find it. As for SJP, its unexpected but perfectly fine, her reading perspective could prove important to next years list. She is an avid diverse reader as you said.
The film is available here on UA-cam if one is a premium subscriber, which I am not.
Wow, I didn't know there was a film adaptation! Thanks.
Interesting! Apparently SJP, imprint is called Zando projects under sjp Lit. They have an edition of The Story of the Forest by Linda Grant. Grant has been longlisted for the Booker before and I enjoy her work. SJPs imprint has only been going since June 2023, so she seems very new to it and obviously positioning herself in the book industry. Which is good I guess but still feels a bit strange.
Happy Reading 🙂
Happy reading!
I think SJP being on the judging panel will be interesting. She definitely likes to read so Im all in! I think any star that promotes reading actual books is a good thing.
I agree! And I am very curious to see what they select.
The two books that I know you own but haven't yet read, that I most want you to read (because I love them and think you will too) are Piranesi and Days Without End (S Barry).
Hopeful that 2025 will be the year when the mood take you to both of them! But I enjoy hearing you talk about any book, really, so no pressure!
Hopefully, 2025 will be the year I finally get to them!
I agree with you on Wood at Midwinter, it's just way too short. Which is crazy coming from me because I didn't think it was possible for a book to be too short 😅
I’m glad I’m not alone!
I just finished Huckleberry Finn, just as James became available to me from my library hold.
I read The Sleeping Car Porter last year. I thought the pacing of the story echoed an actual train journey (ex: really slows when the train is stalled). It would be interesting as an audio to see if that perception is valid.
I haven't gotten that in the audio yet, but that's very interesting.
I think it’s an interesting set of judges for next year, have no issue with SJP and am excited to see Roddy Doyle as Chair. I’ve felt the shortlist for the last couple of years has been a bit meh so am looking forward to seeing their choices.
I'm excited to see what they pick as well!
There is no excuse for bad book cover art. Having said that, I find bad book covers hilarious.🤣L. Frank Baum’s “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” made my day.
I love L. Frank Baum's "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus"... I agree that the original cover is SO much better. What's great about Baum's Santa Claus is that he does overlap with the Oz books. I also like that his take is more like a fairy tale and really quite secular, too. Every year when people are talking about Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, I like to say, "But what about Santa's real reindeer? You know, Flossie and Glossie, Racer and Pacer, Fearless and Peerless, Ready and Steady, and Feckless and Speckless?" Sometimes people will know what I'm talking about, but many do not.
It's been fun so far--I'm about halfway at this point.
So agree with your review on The Wood at Midwinter. I liked it but only because of the first part and then it just seemed a bit of an outline versus a story.
I’m so glad I’m not alone!
I think it's fine for SJP to be on the Booker panel. If one of the criteria is readability, then she's sort of the proxy for the reading community. She seems to have a wide ranging taste in books. I think a more provocative pick would have been Reese Witherspoon. Also curious that they've never asked Oprah to judge lol. Perhaps SJP will open the door for that?
That’s interesting. I think Oprah wouldn’t do it unless she was allowed to chair. Reese wouldn’t be criticized for being a book club leader. But all three are connected to books!
You should definetely read Such A Fun Age, it's fantastic!
It’s been on my list! Maybe this will be my excuse to do it.
I think you would like All the Colors of the Dark.., it’s a crime/thriller/mystery but it’s not like a gone girl book… I think it was wonder
Thanks for the recommendation!
I am fine with SJP being a judge. I feel readers, thinkers, people of all types who love books are able to recognize excellent books.
Oh, I was just wondering, have you and Joel ever gone to Ireland?
You know, we might have! 😉
I actually have more issues with Kiley Reid being a Booker judge than SJP. While I thought Such a Fun Age was good, her last book was awful. But then I guess that’s not really the criteria for a judge.
Reid's work definitely has a cilantro quality to it.
I think it is positive to have an enthusiastic reader on the panel but to make that newsworthy they need to be a bit of a name. So someone like SJP works.
Like you I found the Wood in Midwinter charming but slight.
I'm glad I'm not alone!
❤️🎅🏼
🎄 🎅🏻
A spell of good things and Stay with me are good books by ayobami Adebayo
What is the rumor?
I also have enjoyed psychological thrillers (great escapism), but, yes Greg! Thank you for distilling the problem that I’ve felt but didn’t see so clearly. The unreliable narrator thing is so overdone. And why is the word “Lie” in so many titles? And even the font on the covers is the same. Gone Girl and Harry Potter are the two most copied novels I know of. 📖 😢
Oh, and Hunger Games too.
📖 🪱 💚💚💚💚
📚 🥂