Just finished and it continued to surprise me all the way to the end. I underlined and annotated a bunch (something that I don't do often. ) What a beautiful way to write about some difficult history. I am excited to get to her back list.
I fell head over heels for this book too and have since recommended it to everyone who will listen! Elif has to be one of the best writers out there at the minute! Great review and great cardigan too ❤
I just finished this book this past week. And I've not picked up anything else yet because I'm still sitting with it or rather it's still sitting with me. One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Absolutely lovely review and fab cardigan! 💖
It’s just stunning isn’t it. The book not my cardigan. Hahaha. Though that is quite lovely. Thank you. I’ve struggled with reading this week because of this book I won’t lie.
Great review! Please do more favorite book videos. I really enjoyed this one. I just bought this book and can’t wait to read it. She is one of my favorite writers. That cardigan looks fabulous on you and in the room. Love that color!
Simon, I had to do a Google translate when you revealed a new favourite book. It translates as gasps for breath (ek snak na my asem). You nailed it. There were so many layers to this book. So many. And what I loved about it is all the many rabbit holes it sent me down. I found myself reading up on history, nature, food; all related to this special book. It is one of those special fiction books that makes one want to learn more about what is actually behind it. What I also loved about it is how subtly she shouts across the message that ecologically we have been in trouble for a long time.
Yup, your enthusiasm for this one is definitely infectious and now I can't wait to get to it. Most pleased that you've managed to find a new favourite book, and a new favourite author as well. It sounds as though this particular tale has everything I enjoy to see utilised in fiction, so thank thee for reviewing it. I'd say that a current favourite is Joanna Cannon's A Tidy Ending. I was lucky enough to get a proof, and it just appealed to my sensibilities.
Oooh I’ve a proof of A Tidy Ending. I’m meant to hopefully be doing an event with Jo so am saving it to read closer to that. Thrilled you enjoyed it. A good sign indeed.
I‘ve read Shafak‘s Stay sane in an age of division and I loved it, it‘s such a powerful book! And this will be my next one for sure. Thanks for the excited review!
Yes!!! More if these videos please. You and your mom’s love of the Greek culture make me feel like a proud Greek, so thank you! I have purchased this book upon your (always amazing) recommendation (the US cover of course!) and can’t wait to feel all the feels you described! Thank you!!!
I really hope you love it as much as I did Julia. I did actually phone mum and tell her to read it ASAP. So hopefully she will soon. I know my step dad loved it. I meant to mention that… and that if it doesn’t get long listed for the Women’s Prize I might boycott it.
You should definitely do more favorite book videos. This one was such a good one (especially in that corner of the library and in that sweater). Isn’t it wonderful when you realize that you’ve found an author whose writing really speaks to you? It’s a gift that keeps on giving!
I think as they turn up in my life unless, like with Candice Carty Williams People Person, I can’t do it without spoilers I’ll try to. Because it’s nice to give them there own moment. I could have wanged on even longer about how much I loved this. It’s so fab.
Yes more videos like this please-added to all of the rest of them! I really appreciate the book reviews you give us & I will definitely be picking this one up because of your recommendation- & the pink cardigan! Tfs 💜📚
Great review, thank you. I loved Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver - beautifully observed, and examines the relationship between humans and nature wonderfully.
An amazing book! Shafak’s depiction of war and its impact on innocent people and the havoc wreaked on the environment are fully captured here. I think you would love Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr for the many reasons you loved Island of Missing Trees. These authors teach us the value of empathy.
True about lessons in the value(s) of empathy. Maybe about 'would love..." . I consider myself a Doerr fan, having read, respected, and enjoyed (possibly all of?) his books. Shafak hit an empathetic chord in me that I'm not sure Doerr did with CCL - although he has in other works. No disrespect intended. Both are A+ rock-my-boat writers and I am grateful for ALL of their writing!
Great video!! I'm so gutted because I was so excited about this book but it ended up being a bit of a disappointment for me (in the minority there I think🤭) I have close connections to Cyprus and have been to a lot of the places in the book so maybe that's why it didn't have the same impact. It was so interesting to hear you talk about the nature element because I just couldn't get on with that side of things, I guess it's just not my jam...I did however love Y&Y 😫 loved hearing your perspective on it, I think so many people agree just sad I didn't love it as much as I wanted to 😔
One if my recent favorites is The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. I bought it after hearing you mention wanting to read it, but never heard your review. Anyway - loved it. A lot.
Thanks Simon! Great video! Yes, please do more of these Books I Love videos! The recent book I read that really moved me and I loved was Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These.
Glad you loved this, your January picks remain the most inspiring for me. Favourite book focus, yes please and thank you in advance. "Assembly" was unexpected favourite of 2021,short and indepth 🍀🌲
I loved Assembly too. Read it in the summer for Sky Arts and might not have got to it so quickly otherwise. I hope it’s not just January. I’m hoping I get more books like this along the way throughout the year. Ha.
I just got my copy, and can't wait to read it!! I haven't read a favourite yet in 2022, but I did read Faithful Place by Tana French, and will say that it's my favourite so far in the Dublin Murder Squad series.
This book sounds amazing, I popped it on my wishlist when I saw Elif on Sky Arts Book club and its now going on my next to buy list! Would love more of your favourite book features. My favourite book recently is a tie between The Wolf Den and Midnight in Everwood.
I absolutely adored this book, for all the reasons you mentioned. I felt like I learned so much about Cyprus, but oh, the characters! Just stunning. I hope the rest of the year can hold up to the epic start I had, considering Winman’s Still Life was my first of the year! So so good! But also, is 2022 the year of the parrot? 🤣
I've been interested in this book for a while, and after your enthusiasm for it I bought it on audiobook. I'm looking forward to listening to it. Love the new background setting and love your cardigan! Great pop of colour. Best wishes 💕📚
Hope you enjoyed the audio and delighted you like this backdrop. I might have to switch it up when I do hauls and wrap ups as I’ve nowhere to pile the books. Ha.
I have a cardigan from Next that looks identical 😁! I've had my eye on The Island of Missing Trees for a while. I'm not buying books at the moment, but will see if my library has it. Fab video 😊.
Hi Simon I’m fairly new to your channel so you may already have a video somewhere….if not would you consider doing one about your favourite or recommended magical realism books. I think this is my favourite genre but I’ve only recently discovered it and want to fill my shelves!
Hi Pia, welcome to the channel. Hope you keep enjoying it. I’ve not done a magical realism recommendations video as yet as it’s not something I read masses on. After reading The Island of Missing Trees though it’s definitely something I want to dip my toe into more and more.
I’m so glad I have this on pre order. Im trying to catch up with Les Miserables - years reading - 365 chapters one per day and am just finishing The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory. Loved this one 🥰
This book sounds bonkers to be honest and although magical realism isn't much my cup of tea anymore, I now want to read it even if just to see if Shafak can pull this one of. I liked 10 minutes etc. and I want to read more of her work anyway. Congrats you started your reading year with a bang :-)
That was the book I was referring to, The Prophets, when I talked about the video from last year. And it ended up in my top two. Which I think this one could.
I’ve been meaning to read Elif Shafak for ages, and I think you’ve just convinced me that she’ll become one of my favorite authors of all time? Everything you say about this book sounds 10000% like my kind of thing. I’m absolutely sold and I think I’ll be buying this for my birthday next month 💕 Also, yes to more of these videos! I love your dedicated views! It’s hard to pick a recent favorite but I guess I would have to go with My Name is Leon because that’s the last book that made me cry 😂
Oooh I recently got Kit’s memoir which I’m really looking forward to. I don’t know if all Elif’s are like this. The three I’ve read have all been very different. But all been really good.
I'm so intrigued with this book. I put a hold on one from my library. Why I put myself on a book buying ban, I have no idea. Figured I try to save money. 😬
so excited to pick this one up! I loved 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in the Strange World (on your rec!) and this one sounds equally as brilliant. Nature in fiction is also a topic I enjoy immensely, so that's also a massive draw for me 💛 ((also, if you were to make a video about Still Life this year, it'd be totally welcome! Tin Man was one of the most impactful books I read last year, and I'd really like to get around to more of her work!!))
I would like to make a video about Still Life my only thing is that I feel these videos work best when you’ve just read them. I do have footage of me in conversation with Sarah that I could pop up on here when the paperback is out BUT people don’t tend to love author interviews so much. Hope you enjoy The Island of Missing Trees when you get to it.
Tardy to the party, but I read it a few months ago ( significantly bc of I’d heard you rave about it in another video ) and I absolutely loved it! So, thank youuu 📕🪱💚
I might do a video on all Sarah’s books. I think these single review videos need to be done quite close to the reading. So maybe for the paperback of Still Life I will do an author spotlight.
Yes! That one and Still Life made my top 6 in 2021. Please read After Story by Larissa Behrendt, great Australian fiction and also was in my top picks last year. Just finished Bewilderment by Richard Powers that one is my first fiction 5 star for the year.
I’ll look up After Story, thanks for the top tip. I have Bewilderment on the TBR. I’ll see when the whim takes me to it. Cos for some reason it hasn’t yet.
I didn’t think I could want to read this any more than I already do - but you’ve made me want to run out and buy it right now! I REALLY want the version you have though, did you say you ordered it from America?
I got it via Blackwells marketplace, sometimes Blackwells do the international editions but when they don’t you can always find a market place edition and Blackwells still get some money so helping an indie bookshop out too.
Loved ten minutes, 38 seconds, one of my favourites. Heading straight to the library to order this one Simon. Just finished Love after love and just adored it, im reading Those who are loved by Victoria hislop at the moment and loving that too. Loved the one book vlog, brilliant but love anything you do anyway 😂.
Love After Love is a stunner. Another book infused with delicious foods. Maybe that’s another theme in books I didn’t realise I loved. Ha. Hope you enjoy this once you get to it. And thank you for the video love.
Hi Simon, I haven't read this one yet, but definitely will do. Still Life by Sarah Winman is phenomenal. If it's not longlisted for The Women's Prize for Fiction, I will be very disappointed.
This sounds fantastic! My favourite book this month was The Women of Pearl Island by Polly Croby. It takes place on this remote island off the coast of England. It's beautifully written, mysterious and athmospheric. No talking trees in this one but fascinating insects and animals and a family secret 🙂
I held this book in my hands in a bookshop last week. I was actually looking for ‘How to stay sane in an age of division’ but they only had this book. I went back and forth between ‘yes, no, maybe, I don’t know’ but I kept thinking about it. I’ll take this video as a sign that I should buy the book and take it home with me.
oh such a hard question about good recent books as seem to have had a great start to the year, mainly catching up on books I wanted to read from last year - Detransition Baby, Mermaid of Black Conch, Sankofa, The Island of Missing Trees, The Family Tree and NightBitch. Mid way through No Touching about a woman in Paris who works as a teacher by day and in a strip club by night...its certainly starting well. I am still working through the backlist of Elif and want to do it slowly but would recommend 10 minutes and 38 seconds in this strange world as a fab read. Her recent book made me want to go and read more nature in fiction too and have Richard Powers - The Overstory on my TBR now for Feb.
Sankofa and The Family Tree I really hope to get to this year. I liked 10 Minutes a lot. This new one blew me away though. I liked The Overstory, I should read Bewilderment at some point.
I read this while on holiday during the summer and while I liked it well enough, I prefer her other two novels I've read, The Bastard of Istanbul and 10 Minutes. 10 Minutes particularly wowed me, and now I want to read the rest of her back catalogue.
I’m yet to read anything by Shafak even though I know she’s a brilliant writer (so many of my favs love her writing). I may do a challenge of reading her backlist this year 🤔
My copy of this arrived yesterday! Very disappointed that it’s not the lovely cover like the American copy. I know it’s silly but it looks so dull 😂 looking forward to reading though.
Thanks for the review Simon- Elif Shafak's books so far haven't made me want to pick them up for some reason but you might have sold me on this one!! I love nature writing a lot and am also going through a bit of a resurgence on it myself, so great to have another recommendation! I have two recent favourites which I can't pick between- Last Night at the Telegraph Club, which is a queer romance set in 50s San Francisco which gave me allll the feels, and Entangled Life, a non-fiction book about fungi- if you're inclined to read non-fiction nature books, I would highly recommend it as it was just so mind expanding! If you love fiction about nature, and you haven't read it already, I would very much recommend Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behaviour. It sticks in the mind even now, almost ten years since I read it.
If she’s not piqued your interest before maybe she’s not for you, she’s DEFINITELY for me though. And if you’re after nature writing this has it in a very interesting way. I’ve got Last Night at the Telegraph Club on my TBR shelves. Must get to it at some point. Kingsolver and I… Hmmm. I may try her again one day. Lol.
As always love your enthusiasm and you have convinced me to read soon. I have two of hers and loved Forty rules of love. I enjoyed your response to old comments , ♥️s and all. Sometimes I don’t comment because although I have enjoyed the video I look and see you have so many comments and my comment is really an acknowledgement of appreciation and not a worth while statement of interest. You are so busy all the time. I just add a like. Does that make sense? I do love a pink cardi.
Hahaha. You can like all you like Penelope. I love getting comments and now they’re all under control it’s easy to get back to them when I can. Hope you manage to get to Shafak at some point.
@@SavidgeReads I can’t imagine a book you haven’t read! 😉 I also loved Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen. Not quite as complex and multilayered as Overstory or Island of Missing Trees, but lovely.
Great video, you've totally sold this to me, Simon ❤️ a glorious menagerie of emotions, tastes, memories and a chatty 🌴You know you've got a new fave when you 🤗 it to you be-cardied bosum. Still ❤️ the new editing ( and 📸?) ...and yes, please share more faves as and when. And thank you for the recent ❤️ activity too 😊
Shockingly I’ve yet to use that new camera. Hahaha I might spend some time with it this weekend maybe. Glad you’re enjoying the videos. Hope you love The Island of Missing Trees.
If you also read nonfiction, check out Andrea Elliot's Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City. (2021) Beautifully written. True to life. Heartfelt hurts and heartfelt glories. A few more 'ouches' than 'ahas,' but still inspiring! Full disclosure: I'm a native Manhattanite. Not rich but pretty much thus educated and grateful for that ... esp the parts involving reading! (Also, re: nonfiction, I rubbed buttered Zatar under skin of Spatchcocked chicken per Dorie Greenspan. YES!)
Just finished and it continued to surprise me all the way to the end. I underlined and annotated a bunch (something that I don't do often. ) What a beautiful way to write about some difficult history. I am excited to get to her back list.
Me too. Sooooo many fabulous Elif books ahead I’m sure.
I fell head over heels for this book too and have since recommended it to everyone who will listen! Elif has to be one of the best writers out there at the minute! Great review and great cardigan too ❤
Thank you Jessica. Glad you liked the cardi and the book thoughts. It is so good isn’t it? I’m raving about it to everyone too.
I just finished this book this past week. And I've not picked up anything else yet because I'm still sitting with it or rather it's still sitting with me. One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Absolutely lovely review and fab cardigan! 💖
It’s just stunning isn’t it. The book not my cardigan. Hahaha. Though that is quite lovely. Thank you. I’ve struggled with reading this week because of this book I won’t lie.
Love everything about this. Background and cardigan included.
Awww thank you Maxime.
Great review! Please do more favorite book videos. I really enjoyed this one. I just bought this book and can’t wait to read it. She is one of my favorite writers. That cardigan looks fabulous on you and in the room. Love that color!
Why thank you so much Cathy. Ha. Fingers crossed more favourites turn up so I can do more of these videos.
I finished this book yesterday and I was blown away reading the book, it's written so beautifully
It’s just brilliant isn’t it!
love all the books of Elif. Can't wait to read it following you great recommendation.
Love the cardigan!!
Thank you. Pink to make the beardy men wink. Ha.
Have just borrowed this from the library and look forward to it being my first read in February.
Oooh hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Hooray for libraries.
Simon, I had to do a Google translate when you revealed a new favourite book. It translates as gasps for breath (ek snak na my asem). You nailed it. There were so many layers to this book. So many. And what I loved about it is all the many rabbit holes it sent me down. I found myself reading up on history, nature, food; all related to this special book. It is one of those special fiction books that makes one want to learn more about what is actually behind it. What I also loved about it is how subtly she shouts across the message that ecologically we have been in trouble for a long time.
Hahaha. Gasps for breath. I like that. So pleased you enjoyed this book and this video. Thanks for a fab comment. It was indeed all about the layers.
Great review, Simon! Your enthusiasm is infectious - will be picking this up ASAP! 😊
Awwww thank you. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
I loved her 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World. Her characters are amazing and just shine. Thank you Simon!
I loved that book too… I loved this one even more.
I bought 10 minutes... last week can't wait to wait read it!
@@CosyMidlifeBookNook It is brilliant. Off beat, and topical. Oh, and witty too.
@@18Alpine can't wait thank you
Ohhh… going to Cyprus this summer on holiday hopefully, so must read this one!
Cyprus is WONDERFUL. This book made me want to go back.
Fantastic review Simon...I am adding of course!
Hope you enjoy it when you get to it Lisa.
Yup, your enthusiasm for this one is definitely infectious and now I can't wait to get to it. Most pleased that you've managed to find a new favourite book, and a new favourite author as well. It sounds as though this particular tale has everything I enjoy to see utilised in fiction, so thank thee for reviewing it.
I'd say that a current favourite is Joanna Cannon's A Tidy Ending. I was lucky enough to get a proof, and it just appealed to my sensibilities.
Oooh I’ve a proof of A Tidy Ending. I’m meant to hopefully be doing an event with Jo so am saving it to read closer to that. Thrilled you enjoyed it. A good sign indeed.
Love thia book. Yiorgos and Yusuf's story also devastated me.
It’s wonderful isn’t it!
Love a favourite video, love the granny chic and am currently running out the door to buy this book. Thank you
Hahaha. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did when you get to it.
I‘ve read Shafak‘s Stay sane in an age of division and I loved it, it‘s such a powerful book! And this will be my next one for sure. Thanks for the excited review!
A pleasure. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
Yes!!! More if these videos please. You and your mom’s love of the Greek culture make me feel like a proud Greek, so thank you! I have purchased this book upon your (always amazing) recommendation (the US cover of course!) and can’t wait to feel all the feels you described! Thank you!!!
I really hope you love it as much as I did Julia. I did actually phone mum and tell her to read it ASAP. So hopefully she will soon. I know my step dad loved it. I meant to mention that… and that if it doesn’t get long listed for the Women’s Prize I might boycott it.
LOVE your cardi, it's fab and the colour really suits you! 😍 I've reserved The Island of Missing Trees at my library.
Hope you enjoy it when you get to it Lelly. Lovely to see people ordering it from their libraries. Woohoo! 🥳
Yes yes yes to more of these videos please. I can't wait to read this now. ALSO....fushia cardy is FAB. PAUL
Thanks Paul, hope you like the book as much as you like the cardigan. Ha.
Thanks Simon. I am racing to get it. I love your jersey
Thank you. Me too a fabulous sale find.
You should definitely do more favorite book videos. This one was such a good one (especially in that corner of the library and in that sweater). Isn’t it wonderful when you realize that you’ve found an author whose writing really speaks to you? It’s a gift that keeps on giving!
Good point. I'd be happy to read another plug for How Much of these Hills Is Gold, even though I've already read and enjoyed it.
I think as they turn up in my life unless, like with Candice Carty Williams People Person, I can’t do it without spoilers I’ll try to. Because it’s nice to give them there own moment. I could have wanged on even longer about how much I loved this. It’s so fab.
Yes more videos like this please-added to all of the rest of them! I really appreciate the book reviews you give us & I will definitely be picking this one up because of your recommendation- & the pink cardigan! Tfs 💜📚
Hahahaha. The pink cardigan sold it all the more. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
Great review, thank you. I loved Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver - beautifully observed, and examines the relationship between humans and nature wonderfully.
Kingsolver intimidates me. I struggle with her writing, I don’t know why. I will try her again at some point.
excellent vid Simon...my most recent fave is A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler, beautiful simplicity
Yes. I read that a few years back, pre BookTube, and had very similar thoughts.
Thank you Simon. Love the fav book review video! My most recent favorite book is (apart from Still Life by Sarah Winman) The Sentence by Louise Erdich
So pleased you enjoyed it. I want to get to The Sentence. I just loathe our UK edition so may wait and get it in NYC.
FABULOUS. I just finished reading Shafak's The Island of Missing Trees. Brava! What he said :^) With extra respect for the fig tree.
Hahaha. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the book. Hopefully I did it justice.
@@SavidgeReads You did!
An amazing book! Shafak’s depiction of war and its impact on innocent people and the havoc wreaked on the environment are fully captured here.
I think you would love Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr for the many reasons you loved Island of Missing Trees.
These authors teach us the value of empathy.
True about lessons in the value(s) of empathy. Maybe about 'would love..." . I consider myself a Doerr fan, having read, respected, and enjoyed (possibly all of?) his books. Shafak hit an empathetic chord in me that I'm not sure Doerr did with CCL - although he has in other works. No disrespect intended. Both are A+ rock-my-boat writers and I am grateful for ALL of their writing!
Ooooh ok I’ll look up Cloud Cuckoo Land. I’ve seen it around but I don’t really know much about it. So I’ll check it out.
Brilliant review - thank you ❤️
Thank you for watching.
Great video!! I'm so gutted because I was so excited about this book but it ended up being a bit of a disappointment for me (in the minority there I think🤭) I have close connections to Cyprus and have been to a lot of the places in the book so maybe that's why it didn't have the same impact. It was so interesting to hear you talk about the nature element because I just couldn't get on with that side of things, I guess it's just not my jam...I did however love Y&Y 😫 loved hearing your perspective on it, I think so many people agree just sad I didn't love it as much as I wanted to 😔
We can’t all love the same books. Life would be very very boring if we did. Ha.
One if my recent favorites is The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. I bought it after hearing you mention wanting to read it, but never heard your review. Anyway - loved it. A lot.
I think I reviewed it at some point. I did an event with Ruth, so she was in some of my vlogs last year.
@@SavidgeReads Ooh.. I must have missed it. I will go back and search. Thanks!
Thanks Simon! Great video! Yes, please do more of these Books I Love videos! The recent book I read that really moved me and I loved was Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These.
Sadly I didn’t get on with Small Things Like These but I am VERY much in the minority. Ha.
I've just started reading this yesterday. Loving it so far ❤❤❤
Glad that you’re enjoying it!!!
Glad you loved this, your January picks remain the most inspiring for me. Favourite book focus, yes please and thank you in advance. "Assembly" was unexpected favourite of 2021,short and indepth 🍀🌲
I loved Assembly too. Read it in the summer for Sky Arts and might not have got to it so quickly otherwise. I hope it’s not just January. I’m hoping I get more books like this along the way throughout the year. Ha.
Hi Simon ! you lookas beautiful as the sunset you have recently filmed 🌇
Oh you!!!!!
I just got my copy, and can't wait to read it!! I haven't read a favourite yet in 2022, but I did read Faithful Place by Tana French, and will say that it's my favourite so far in the Dublin Murder Squad series.
I haven’t made it past the first book in that series as it made me soooooooo cross at the end. Hahaha.
I have read two books by Elif Shafak and I have loved them both sooo much! I need to get my mittens on this one soon!
You do indeed. Which have you read before?
@@SavidgeReads I read The Architect's Apprentice and Forty Rules of Love. I just love the way she writes; the characters and the settings. 🥰
Let's face it the books are a secondary bonus - I'm here for the Nana chic 😁💟
Hahahaha. I was on nanna chic max today.
@@SavidgeReads You wear it well 😁
This book sounds amazing, I popped it on my wishlist when I saw Elif on Sky Arts Book club and its now going on my next to buy list! Would love more of your favourite book features. My favourite book recently is a tie between The Wolf Den and Midnight in Everwood.
Ooooh I’ve not heard of either of these I’ll have to check them out. Hope you enjoy this Shafak when you get to it.
Absolutely love Elif Shafak's writing, The Island Of Missing Trees is one of my favourites too.
So pleased to hear it, I think it’s a marvellous book.
I absolutely adored this book, for all the reasons you mentioned. I felt like I learned so much about Cyprus, but oh, the characters! Just stunning. I hope the rest of the year can hold up to the epic start I had, considering Winman’s Still Life was my first of the year! So so good! But also, is 2022 the year of the parrot? 🤣
Wow you have had a good year so far with those two books. I’m slightly jealous.
The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop is another great book to learn about Cyprus history in the 1970s.
I've been interested in this book for a while, and after your enthusiasm for it I bought it on audiobook. I'm looking forward to listening to it. Love the new background setting and love your cardigan! Great pop of colour. Best wishes 💕📚
Hope you enjoyed the audio and delighted you like this backdrop. I might have to switch it up when I do hauls and wrap ups as I’ve nowhere to pile the books. Ha.
I have a cardigan from Next that looks identical 😁! I've had my eye on The Island of Missing Trees for a while. I'm not buying books at the moment, but will see if my library has it. Fab video 😊.
Hahaha. This wasn’t from Next but how fabulous we can do twinning. Hahaha. Fingers crossed the library sees you right.
Brilliant book, incredibly moving
🥳📚
“If you can hear alarm in the background, know it’s not the fashion police…” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hehehe.
I do so agree, this book has become one of my lifetime favourite reads along with 10 Minutes.
I loved 10 Minutes too. This was just next level for me.
Hi Simon I’m fairly new to your channel so you may already have a video somewhere….if not would you consider doing one about your favourite or recommended magical realism books. I think this is my favourite genre but I’ve only recently discovered it and want to fill my shelves!
Hi Pia, welcome to the channel. Hope you keep enjoying it. I’ve not done a magical realism recommendations video as yet as it’s not something I read masses on. After reading The Island of Missing Trees though it’s definitely something I want to dip my toe into more and more.
Another for my TBR! 📚❤️
Hope you enjoy it when you get to it Alison.
I’m so glad I have this on pre order. Im trying to catch up with Les Miserables - years reading - 365 chapters one per day and am just finishing The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory. Loved this one 🥰
That’s an interesting way of reading it. I would lose the plot I think. Literally. Ha.
This book sounds bonkers to be honest and although magical realism isn't much my cup of tea anymore, I now want to read it even if just to see if Shafak can pull this one of. I liked 10 minutes etc. and I want to read more of her work anyway. Congrats you started your reading year with a bang :-)
I hope your enjoy it when you get to it and it works is magic(al realism) on you.
Recently read the Shame by Makenna Goodman and loved it. I’m also going to claim the term ‘woooooo busy’
Oooooh I’m going to look Shame up. I’m going to try ‘wooooo busy’ in my 121 on Tuesday. Will let you know how it goes.
AAAh i would love more vids like this, I remember watching your vid about The Prophets and still thinking abt it
That was the book I was referring to, The Prophets, when I talked about the video from last year. And it ended up in my top two. Which I think this one could.
@@SavidgeReads I hope to see it at the end of the year again, can't wait to pick it up!
I’ve been meaning to read Elif Shafak for ages, and I think you’ve just convinced me that she’ll become one of my favorite authors of all time? Everything you say about this book sounds 10000% like my kind of thing. I’m absolutely sold and I think I’ll be buying this for my birthday next month 💕
Also, yes to more of these videos! I love your dedicated views! It’s hard to pick a recent favorite but I guess I would have to go with My Name is Leon because that’s the last book that made me cry 😂
Oooh I recently got Kit’s memoir which I’m really looking forward to. I don’t know if all Elif’s are like this. The three I’ve read have all been very different. But all been really good.
I'm so intrigued with this book. I put a hold on one from my library. Why I put myself on a book buying ban, I have no idea. Figured I try to save money. 😬
I am sure there’s a good reason for the book buying ban. Though don’t do it forever as if we all stop buying books… they’ll stop getting made. Ha.
@@SavidgeReads Very true. I have a list of books that I want to get. 1-2 books a month won't be to bad. If I just budget them in. 😁
so excited to pick this one up! I loved 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in the Strange World (on your rec!) and this one sounds equally as brilliant. Nature in fiction is also a topic I enjoy immensely, so that's also a massive draw for me 💛 ((also, if you were to make a video about Still Life this year, it'd be totally welcome! Tin Man was one of the most impactful books I read last year, and I'd really like to get around to more of her work!!))
I would like to make a video about Still Life my only thing is that I feel these videos work best when you’ve just read them. I do have footage of me in conversation with Sarah that I could pop up on here when the paperback is out BUT people don’t tend to love author interviews so much. Hope you enjoy The Island of Missing Trees when you get to it.
Tardy to the party, but I read it a few months ago ( significantly bc of I’d heard you rave about it in another video ) and I absolutely loved it! So, thank youuu 📕🪱💚
Pleasure!
My most recent favorite is Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. Definitely and right book right time situation for me.
I need to read his Cerulean Sea.
Loved this Simon, excited to read it! Also would love a video regardless of Still Life! It was my favourite book last year also 😊
I might do a video on all Sarah’s books. I think these single review videos need to be done quite close to the reading. So maybe for the paperback of Still Life I will do an author spotlight.
Yes! That one and Still Life made my top 6 in 2021. Please read After Story by Larissa Behrendt, great Australian fiction and also was in my top picks last year. Just finished Bewilderment by Richard Powers that one is my first fiction 5 star for the year.
I’ll look up After Story, thanks for the top tip. I have Bewilderment on the TBR. I’ll see when the whim takes me to it. Cos for some reason it hasn’t yet.
I didn’t think I could want to read this any more than I already do - but you’ve made me want to run out and buy it right now! I REALLY want the version you have though, did you say you ordered it from America?
I got it via Blackwells marketplace, sometimes Blackwells do the international editions but when they don’t you can always find a market place edition and Blackwells still get some money so helping an indie bookshop out too.
Loved ten minutes, 38 seconds, one of my favourites. Heading straight to the library to order this one Simon. Just finished Love after love and just adored it, im reading Those who are loved by Victoria hislop at the moment and loving that too. Loved the one book vlog, brilliant but love anything you do anyway 😂.
Love After Love is a stunner. Another book infused with delicious foods. Maybe that’s another theme in books I didn’t realise I loved. Ha. Hope you enjoy this once you get to it. And thank you for the video love.
Read and loved 😍 You have now inspired a re-read for me x
Ooooh, I would like to reread this at some point.
Hi Simon, I haven't read this one yet, but definitely will do.
Still Life by Sarah Winman is phenomenal. If it's not longlisted for The Women's Prize for Fiction, I will be very disappointed.
Me too. And if this isn’t. Though I might not be able to pick between them.
This sounds fantastic! My favourite book this month was The Women of Pearl Island by Polly Croby. It takes place on this remote island off the coast of England. It's beautifully written, mysterious and athmospheric. No talking trees in this one but fascinating insects and animals and a family secret 🙂
Oooooh that sounds good. Another nature tale set on an island.
@@SavidgeReads Yes, was thinking how these 2 books have similarities!
I held this book in my hands in a bookshop last week. I was actually looking for ‘How to stay sane in an age of division’ but they only had this book. I went back and forth between ‘yes, no, maybe, I don’t know’ but I kept thinking about it. I’ll take this video as a sign that I should buy the book and take it home with me.
Hahahaha. Sometimes we have to look at a book, leave it and then take some time thinking about it. Makes for more intentional purchases lol.
Read it. I don't know the book "How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division", but by the sound of your description you might enjoy it.
I also loved this book. Elif Shafa is one of my favourite authors and one of my favourite people.
I had the pleasure of meeting her on Sky Arts Book Club and fanboyed. Ha. Then bumped into her on a street in London.
oh such a hard question about good recent books as seem to have had a great start to the year, mainly catching up on books I wanted to read from last year - Detransition Baby, Mermaid of Black Conch, Sankofa, The Island of Missing Trees, The Family Tree and NightBitch. Mid way through No Touching about a woman in Paris who works as a teacher by day and in a strip club by night...its certainly starting well. I am still working through the backlist of Elif and want to do it slowly but would recommend 10 minutes and 38 seconds in this strange world as a fab read. Her recent book made me want to go and read more nature in fiction too and have Richard Powers - The Overstory on my TBR now for Feb.
Sankofa and The Family Tree I really hope to get to this year. I liked 10 Minutes a lot. This new one blew me away though. I liked The Overstory, I should read Bewilderment at some point.
I read this while on holiday during the summer and while I liked it well enough, I prefer her other two novels I've read, The Bastard of Istanbul and 10 Minutes. 10 Minutes particularly wowed me, and now I want to read the rest of her back catalogue.
Oooh interesting. I’ve some corking reads ahead then as I will be heading to her backlist.
Definitely added to my TBR, roll on August! What are your other two books you have read of Elif’s? 😊
They are How To Stay Sane in an Age of Division and 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World.
I’m yet to read anything by Shafak even though I know she’s a brilliant writer (so many of my favs love her writing). I may do a challenge of reading her backlist this year 🤔
Ooooh nice idea. I’m going to space them out but will definitely be heading back to her back catalogue for more.
Jonathan Franzen's Crossroads, but right now I am loving Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout and House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.
The House of Mirth. What. A. Book!!! I’ve read some more Wharton this year. I’d missed her.
My copy of this arrived yesterday! Very disappointed that it’s not the lovely cover like the American copy. I know it’s silly but it looks so dull 😂 looking forward to reading though.
Which one did you get. I quite like the forthcoming UK paperback. They’ve gone for a brighter cover at least.
Thanks for the review Simon- Elif Shafak's books so far haven't made me want to pick them up for some reason but you might have sold me on this one!! I love nature writing a lot and am also going through a bit of a resurgence on it myself, so great to have another recommendation!
I have two recent favourites which I can't pick between- Last Night at the Telegraph Club, which is a queer romance set in 50s San Francisco which gave me allll the feels, and Entangled Life, a non-fiction book about fungi- if you're inclined to read non-fiction nature books, I would highly recommend it as it was just so mind expanding!
If you love fiction about nature, and you haven't read it already, I would very much recommend Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behaviour. It sticks in the mind even now, almost ten years since I read it.
If she’s not piqued your interest before maybe she’s not for you, she’s DEFINITELY for me though. And if you’re after nature writing this has it in a very interesting way. I’ve got Last Night at the Telegraph Club on my TBR shelves. Must get to it at some point. Kingsolver and I… Hmmm. I may try her again one day. Lol.
I'm definitely going to give it a go!! Finding a new favourite author is the absolute best.
As always love your enthusiasm and you have convinced me to read soon. I have two of hers and loved Forty rules of love. I enjoyed your response to old comments , ♥️s and all. Sometimes I don’t comment because although I have enjoyed the video I look and see you have so many comments and my comment is really an acknowledgement of appreciation and not a worth while statement of interest. You are so busy all the time. I just add a like. Does that make sense? I do love a pink cardi.
Hahaha. You can like all you like Penelope. I love getting comments and now they’re all under control it’s easy to get back to them when I can. Hope you manage to get to Shafak at some point.
Thanks for my love hearts 💜 on comments I left three years ago. 😉🤣
I’m pleased you got them. Some people have been quite salty about it.
@@SavidgeReads Thank you for mine, too. No salt here!
Never mind those salty buggers. Love your channel Simon. You have immaculate taste. ❤❤❤
Agree! I was happy to get a series of unexpected ❤️.
I've just finished this and as they say here in Belfast, my heart is broke 💔
Yet hopeful too? That’s how my heart felt.
Love this! 💞💜 This book is on my TBR soon! If you're loving nature fiction, I'd suggest The Overstory by Richard Powers 🌲 🌳
I’ve read it! I had to for the BBC live Booker show when I was on it. I actually think this does what that was trying to more deftly.
@@SavidgeReads I can’t imagine a book you haven’t read! 😉 I also loved Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen. Not quite as complex and multilayered as Overstory or Island of Missing Trees, but lovely.
I've had 3 five star reads so far in January so it's really hard to decide, but Tin Man by Sarah Winman really stole my heart!
I loooooooooooooved Tin Man when I read it.
Great video, you've totally sold this to me, Simon ❤️ a glorious menagerie of emotions, tastes, memories and a chatty 🌴You know you've got a new fave when you 🤗 it to you be-cardied bosum. Still ❤️ the new editing ( and 📸?) ...and yes, please share more faves as and when. And thank you for the recent ❤️ activity too 😊
Shockingly I’ve yet to use that new camera. Hahaha I might spend some time with it this weekend maybe. Glad you’re enjoying the videos. Hope you love The Island of Missing Trees.
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If you also read nonfiction, check out Andrea Elliot's Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City. (2021) Beautifully written. True to life. Heartfelt hurts and heartfelt glories. A few more 'ouches' than 'ahas,' but still inspiring! Full disclosure: I'm a native Manhattanite. Not rich but pretty much thus educated and grateful for that ... esp the parts involving reading! (Also, re: nonfiction, I rubbed buttered Zatar under skin of Spatchcocked chicken per Dorie Greenspan. YES!)
Heartfelt hurts and heartfelt glories is a lovely way to talk about a book. I’ll add it to the list of books to look up. Thank you!
You look adorable X
You’re too kind Katherine.