read these books WITHOUT knowing their plots (trust me)

You should NOT read the plot lines of these books before reading them... trust me!

Hi friends,

I love recommending books to you and telling you about their wonderful stories, but *sometimes* (for certain books) I don't want to tell you anything about them. I want you to start reading them without knowing anything at all about their plots.
Therefore, I thought it would be interesting to make a video where I recommend you books, but don't tell you anything about their plots...FUN hahaha
I truly think that *sometimes* reading the synopsis of a book can change the way you take in the story. Being surprised by a story, and letting it (and the author) take you along on a "blind" adventure, is all part of the fun!

I'd love to know if you agree, and (if so) what books you think people should read without knowing anything about them beforehand?

Thank you so much for being here!
Best wishes,
Carolyn Marie :)

Chapters:
a trust exercise - 00:00
Never Let Me Go - 01:01
The Giver series - 02:22
The Five People You Meet In Heaven - 04:22
All recommendations need trust - 05:18
The Stranger - 05:31
Sweet Bean Paste - 06:33
Rebecca - 07:10
The Secret History - 07:56
Tess of the D'Urbervilles- 09:22
1Q84 - 10:12
Outro - 13:06

My Social Media: CarolynMarieReads

***About me -
I'm a freelance illustrator and writer who graduated (in May of 2021) from The Fashion Institute of Technology with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration with a minor in English/Writing.
My greatest passion in life is combining my three loves: illustrating, writing, and reading!

Happy Reading :)

#bookrecommendations #booktube #reading

[hmm]

I propose the antithesis. Tell us the books you think we should know something about going in. Listening to you over the years I think this will be much more of a challenge. You seem to always want to be blind going in. Tell me that's not true. Love your videos. Happy writing!

[Lyleelou]

hearing Carolyn swear really cracks me up😂 I read 1Q84 last summer and I was NOT about to tackle it again this year

[caspiansvensson]

Def a part two. I feel like I put almost all your videos in my playlist "Book recs to come back to". 💖

[MallowPuarangi]

Perfect timing, Carolyn. I have been craving for a video from you or Emma! 🔆🌻

[mariatimofeeva]

I'm so glad that I read "Gone with the wind" without knowing the plot and without knowing who the main pair of characters is. So I was literally following Scarlet in her feelings and that was wonderful. Now I have this paper book at home with a cover that spoils the main pair, I'm glad I haven't seen it earlier.

And another example is "The Murder of Roger Acroyd". Somewhy people put this book into lists with specific topic but this topic can easily spoil the plot. I recommend reading nothing about this great detective, it's truly great.

Thank you for the video btw, a very interesting idea :)

[anastasiaq]

I who have never known men by Jacqueline Harpman definitely belongs to this category of books! It is about how to be a human being, that is what I love about this book the most! The setting and plot twists and psychological questions raised in it are so unique!

[unicornqueenyt]

I actually saw "The five people you meet in heaven" in my bookstore earlier and I thought it was some sort of religious or self help books because it was at that section earlier but it did somehow grab my attention.

Btw, your hair is gorgeous!

[markhnk]

Such a great concept for a video, and I immediately wondered how you would talk about the books without talking about them. Loved it.

[jill_]

Would love to join a book club where you're rereading The Giver series!

[-alittletoowildinthes-]

Hi Carolyn! Just wanted to say that because of your recommendation, I picked up Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and I’ve been really loving it so far! I’m 75% through and it’s so so so good. It completely subverted all my expectations. Whatever you think this book is, it isn’t. Which is really rare when it comes to books. Thank you so much for the recommendations! (I also loved the stranger and the secret history!!) I’m currently reading Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, and I’m looking forward to picking up Tess of the D’Urbervilles soon!

[bujobyfilo]

Couldn't agree more on everything you said about Daphne Du Maurier. My favorite by her is My cousin Rachel and you definitely have to go blind.
I would also add that the movie adaptations they did, however good, are not faithful to the books, so even if you watched them, you'll be surprised. Plus she tricks you through her beautiful writing, it's mindblowing.
AND all of her books are very different from one another, she was a genius!

[cherishbroussard]

I’m reading Lonesome Dove right now and had no idea what to expect going into it. I have never read a western before and it is really surprising me and giving all the cozy small town vibes and that’s…all I’m gonna say about that! Lol.

[Rieboppers]

My husband “forced” me to read The Silo Saga by Hugh Howey. He refused to tell me what it was about b/c it’s better not knowing. I read it over 10 years ago and still think about it.

[giftofthegabby]

I love this concept! I try to go in blind with all my books so find myself skipping a lot of discussion in some videos as some booktubers go into lots of detail and tend to tred into the film-trailer territory you described. I would love a part two 😊

[МарияБондаренко-бй]

The first video that I watched on your channel but I already trust you, thank you for the recommendations ✨

[nissasbookcorner]

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke!!! best book to go in knowing nothing

[martinelanglois]

I liked this video before watching it. Trust. ❤

[pippahammond]

I had never heard of The Giver... but after watching your video I gave it a go and finished the first book in one sitting! Now on to the next book. Thank you so much. I'm from the UK and had never heard of it, maybe not such a big series over here. So THANK YOU!

[malachijaedon]

I just read The People In the Trees and I think that one would be great going in blind. Definitely check out trigger warnings!!!! It’s a kinda hard book to get through but it’s so worth it, haven’t gone a day without thinking about it.

[entrenchpodhost]

Books to go in blind: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman [contemporary], (if you haven't already out of popularity) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo [classic], and I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak [contemporary]. The last one particularly blew my mind when I read it.