Hi Mercy, upcountry sounds interesting. I’m from New York City originally and we called the Catskills upstate. I’ve only been there once but it’s completely different from the city and rural. And there is tension between the collar working people and the wealthy people who have second homes there. It’s a very interesting premise. Thank you for showing the book. If you read the book “we the animals“ it also shows that area. Aloha.
That's so interesting. Thanks for letting me know all that. The tensions make sense between the white collar working people and the wealthy and I think Upcountry did a good job of showing that. I've seen the film of We, the Animals but not read the book so I need to give it a go.
Your description of Upcountry makes me think you'd like 2001 Pulitzer winner, Empire Falls. Good characters, good and often funny dialogue. Small town. Not much happiness, but a funny book. Author of Nobody's Fool, the film adaptation of which, with Paul Newman is worth watching.
Yes!! Richard Russo is my favorite author; he is the KING of small town literature. Funny enough, in my years of searching for newer authors to take up his mantle, one of the only two authors who I’ve found meets or even exceeds his ability to fully flesh out characters and small town settings is Shannon Bowring. (The other one is Karin Lin-Greenberg, who recently debuted You Are Here - also set in upstate NY, like many of Russo’s book).
I always really enjoy your recommendations and read a couple of books on your autumn recommendations video. I enjoyed Grey Dog on audio, the descriptions of rural small town life in Canada in the late 19th Century really reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables, and other L M Montgomery books, really beautiful imagery, although obviously a very different book , wasn't sure about the ending and think I enjoyed first half more. I also ordered Birding from the library and enjoyed parts of that but felt it wasn't a favourite. I have also just finished Fire Exit by Morgan Talty which will definitely be on my favourites list this year. I really want to read Upcountry based on your description, and I'm also enjoying Margot's got money troubles on audio, read by the delightful Elle Fanning. Thanks Mercy!
Ohhh, I'm glad to hear how much you enjoyed Grey Dog. I still need to read that one. I'm still in the queue at my library for Birding but I'm hoping it comes in asap because I'm really in the mood for that type of story. I'm so glad you enjoyed Fire Exit. Elle Fanning is so great as an audiobook narrator, isn't she?! I hope you enjoy Upcountry when you get to it :)
Hi Mercy! I just wanted to stop by and say how much I admire your dedication and passion for books. Your content is always so engaging and inspiring! In fact, I recently featured your channel in a video on my own BookTube channel, highlighting some of the most amazing creators in the community-and, of course, you had to be on that list! 😊 Thank you for everything you do to make BookTube such a vibrant and welcoming space. Keep up the incredible work-you’re making such a difference in the bookish world! Warm regards, Kris (from SmartBookWorms)
Hi Kris, Thank you so much. That's so kind. It's always lovely to hear that people enjoy the videos :D My favourite thing is when people pick up a book I recommended and loved it so these videos are always fun to do. Thanks for featuring me on your channel! Mercedes xx
I have The Land in Winter and That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz in my tbr pile, I must get round to them. I’ve had The Road to Dalton on my to buy list for ages, it sounds good. I hope you enjoy Elizabeth Strout, I’ve loved all her books!
I’ve read Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller and I don’t recall him using lots of parenthetical info. I enjoyed it overall, though aspects of the ending were a little anticlimactic to me.
Hi Mercedes! Such a great wrap up.... really enjoyed it! That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz sounds intriguing....so I am going to pick it up for my Spring TBR. Enjoyed the video so much👍❤️ P.S. Would you consider putting your book shelf tour videos back up for us?
Hi lovely, I have a couple of my all time favourite books to recommend to you that I think you would absolutely love - if you have any room left on your winter TBR I think you would love A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore which is just the most beautifully written book in the world - I read it two years ago and some sentences just live rent free in my head always!! (It's also set just after WW1). And I think based on your reading tastes you would love Eve Green by Susan Fletcher; it's about a young woman looking back on her early teens when a young girl in her small Welsh village went missing! It's just gorgeous:) you might have read both of them but if you haven't I think they would be very you!
You always give the BEST recommendations. I’ve added quite a few to my library reserve list. Thank you. 🥰
Thank you so much!
My TBR just got a little longer.......LOL. Thank you so much for your recommendations!!!!!
I'm reading Upcountry now and loving it! ❤
I’d seen Upcountry around but honestly hated the cover 😂 You sold me though so it’s going on my TBR!
Where The Forest Meets The River is on my audio TBR. Loved The Road to Dalton.
Cannot get the Sharon Bowrings on Kindle. Will keep looking out for them. Not easy to get in the UK for some reason.
I'm excited to hear about your reading year and your best books of 2024 :)
I was just about to ask if you’d read any Elizabeth Strout! Upcountry added to the evergrowing list, thank you 🤍
Hi Mercy, upcountry sounds interesting. I’m from New York City originally and we called the Catskills upstate. I’ve only been there once but it’s completely different from the city and rural. And there is tension between the collar working people and the wealthy people who have second homes there. It’s a very interesting premise. Thank you for showing the book.
If you read the book “we the animals“ it also shows that area. Aloha.
That's so interesting. Thanks for letting me know all that. The tensions make sense between the white collar working people and the wealthy and I think Upcountry did a good job of showing that. I've seen the film of We, the Animals but not read the book so I need to give it a go.
Your description of Upcountry makes me think you'd like 2001 Pulitzer winner, Empire Falls. Good characters, good and often funny dialogue. Small town. Not much happiness, but a funny book. Author of Nobody's Fool, the film adaptation of which, with Paul Newman is worth watching.
Yes!! Richard Russo is my favorite author; he is the KING of small town literature. Funny enough, in my years of searching for newer authors to take up his mantle, one of the only two authors who I’ve found meets or even exceeds his ability to fully flesh out characters and small town settings is Shannon Bowring. (The other one is Karin Lin-Greenberg, who recently debuted You Are Here - also set in upstate NY, like many of Russo’s book).
Nobody’s Fool is my favourite Russo book. Read them all. He’s fantastic
Empire Falls is actually the book we'll be reading for my patreon bookclub in January :) A few people recommended it to me and it sounds brilliant!
@@TheBeatlesToday I've added Empire Falls and You Are Here to my tbr - thanks for the recommendations :)
I loved both of the Dalton books in audio, too! Great small town characters. I picked them up based on your Dalton recommendation. Thank you!
Yay, I'm so happy to hear that you loved the Dalton books too :)
I always really enjoy your recommendations and read a couple of books on your autumn recommendations video. I enjoyed Grey Dog on audio, the descriptions of rural small town life in Canada in the late 19th Century really reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables, and other L M Montgomery books, really beautiful imagery, although obviously a very different book , wasn't sure about the ending and think I enjoyed first half more. I also ordered Birding from the library and enjoyed parts of that but felt it wasn't a favourite. I have also just finished Fire Exit by Morgan Talty which will definitely be on my favourites list this year. I really want to read Upcountry based on your description, and I'm also enjoying Margot's got money troubles on audio, read by the delightful Elle Fanning. Thanks Mercy!
Ohhh, I'm glad to hear how much you enjoyed Grey Dog. I still need to read that one. I'm still in the queue at my library for Birding but I'm hoping it comes in asap because I'm really in the mood for that type of story. I'm so glad you enjoyed Fire Exit. Elle Fanning is so great as an audiobook narrator, isn't she?! I hope you enjoy Upcountry when you get to it :)
@@MercysBookishMusings Thanks Mercie
Hi Mercy!
I just wanted to stop by and say how much I admire your dedication and passion for books. Your content is always so engaging and inspiring! In fact, I recently featured your channel in a video on my own BookTube channel, highlighting some of the most amazing creators in the community-and, of course, you had to be on that list! 😊
Thank you for everything you do to make BookTube such a vibrant and welcoming space. Keep up the incredible work-you’re making such a difference in the bookish world!
Warm regards,
Kris (from SmartBookWorms)
Hi Kris,
Thank you so much. That's so kind. It's always lovely to hear that people enjoy the videos :D My favourite thing is when people pick up a book I recommended and loved it so these videos are always fun to do. Thanks for featuring me on your channel!
Mercedes xx
@@MercysBookishMusings You are most welcome... 😇
Read both Dalton books too, loved them and hope a third is on the way!
Yes, I've heard that they're will be a third Dalton book 🥳
I have The Land in Winter and That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz in my tbr pile, I must get round to them. I’ve had The Road to Dalton on my to buy list for ages, it sounds good. I hope you enjoy Elizabeth Strout, I’ve loved all her books!
I hope you enjoy them when you do :) They're so lovely and cosy.
I’ve read Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller and I don’t recall him using lots of parenthetical info. I enjoyed it overall, though aspects of the ending were a little anticlimactic to me.
Hi Mercedes! Such a great wrap up.... really enjoyed it! That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz sounds intriguing....so I am going to pick it up for my Spring TBR. Enjoyed the video so much👍❤️
P.S. Would you consider putting your book shelf tour videos back up for us?
I hope you enjoy That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz! My bookshelves are very different now so I keep meaning to refilm and upload them :)
Hi lovely, I have a couple of my all time favourite books to recommend to you that I think you would absolutely love - if you have any room left on your winter TBR I think you would love A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore which is just the most beautifully written book in the world - I read it two years ago and some sentences just live rent free in my head always!! (It's also set just after WW1). And I think based on your reading tastes you would love Eve Green by Susan Fletcher; it's about a young woman looking back on her early teens when a young girl in her small Welsh village went missing! It's just gorgeous:) you might have read both of them but if you haven't I think they would be very you!
They both sound so perfect for me! Thanks so much for letting me know about them both. I'll definitely be picking them up in the new year 🥰
Wow I finished Upcountry in a day..thanks for the recommendation. How did you come across this book?
I randomly stumbled across it on audible and clicked on it because I liked the cover. I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)
Upcountry sounds amazing, added to my TBR!