Some books I read this summer • 6 book reviews

Is it a wrap up? Are these book reviews? Well, yes and yes. But it's also not my usual wrap-up as I left out a bunch of things I read in July. Don't worry, I'll get to them soon. But here is a mixture of reading recommendations... and a few unpopular opinions on much-hyped books.

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Creators mentioned:
@louisesavidgemuses4135
@SavidgeReads

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Books mentioned in this video:
📖 Greta and Valdin, by Rebecca K (not R!) Reilly
📖 Evenings and Weekends, by Oisín McKenna
📖 First Love, by Gwendoline Riley
📖 Monstrilio, by Gerardo Sámano Córdova (apologies for pronouncing 'Gerardo' wrong in the video)
📖 Anyone's Ghost, by August Thompson
📖 Goodnight Tokyo, by Atsuhiro Yoshida (translated by Haydn Trowell)

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00:00 Summer reading
01:35 Greta and Valdin
04:50 Evenings and Weekends
07:19 First Love
10:55 Monstrilio
13:47 Anyone's Ghost
16:24 Goodnight Tokyo

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Thank you so much for watching.

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#books #booktube #readingwrapup

[nathansnook]

the Monstrilio shirt looks so good on you!

HMMM still deciding if i want to get to Evenings and Weekends and with the way you described it, just seems like Rooney cosplay! i might jump the gun before the end of the year who knows~

and SIR BEN! i've been waiting patiently for the japan vlog!!! 😭😭😭

[onourpath]

I'm so glad you loved Monstrilio! Your approval should get a wave of eager new readers for it. I loved that book so much, and I'm super jealous of your UK edition. When there are different covers, the UK edition is always the best! 😭😂

[sheltercoordinator]

I so appreciate your thoughtful reviews. I'm really excited to get to Greta & Valdin now.

[TheLeniverse]

This summer I read Ducks, Newburyport, which almost sank my boat. And I finally finished The Stand, which I started in February for Feverary, or whatever you called it 😆 I also DNFed Butter, and griped my way through All Fours and Kairos. Wow, this sounds like a bad summer... I did like The Stand though! And, actually, August was I good month. Once I freed myself from Ducks (why didn't I DNF it? I don't know!) I had a great time with Glorious Exploits, Martyr!, The Rachel Incident, and Open Throat.

[jenniferlovesbooks]

I've been looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Monstrilio. Sounds good!

[AnaReads]

'I can still imagine what summer feels like' 😄😄
I loved Monstrillio, it was so good

[cathyg.]

Great reviews Ben! Love the shirt too!

[pollyebaker]

Just finished 'The Summer Book' by Tove Jansson and it was such a delight. It is neither 'sweaty and sticky' (it's set in Finland) nor would I describe it as a page turner (although it has lovely short chapters) but it captures those long lazy summers, the kind that always seemed to stretch on forever as a kid. And while Jansson is most famed for her work with Moomins, her writing is exceptional. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm sailing off to a remote Finnish island to live with my Grandmother... ⛵

[readandre-read]

I've had Goodnight Tokyo on my list for awhile but I was looking for more info. Now I'm even more keen to try it!

[RovingReader]

I’m a mood reader and thus send to be a seasonal reader too ❤ The Offing was my favorite book of the summer 😊

[SavidgeReads]

Evenings and Weekends… basic. Weeps. Hahaha. I loved it but we can’t all love the same books. You’ve reminded me I need to read My Phantoms as I really liked First Love when most of the internet didn’t when it came out. I really need to read Monstrilio and am very jealous of that tshirt.

[janethansen]

It's still winter here but 35 degrees celsius today so summer reads are still appropriate.

[ambythebooks]

Goodnight Tokyo wasn't on my list, but your description sounds quite mellow and cozy! I've read some ARCs during the summer, but I also read Chain-Gang All-Stars and Minor Detail. Neither is a new favorite but both had some value. Really longing for my next James-experience tho!

[MsPixieD]

Hi Ben, I love how articulate you are. Your book descriptions really help me decide what I want to read.
I think your Storygraph challenge for September is a short story collection? They're down for maintenance so I can't look it up right now. Would you consider Goodnight Tokyo a short story collection for that purpose?
A few days ago I saw someone write about a collection that sounded good, put it on my tbr, then yesterday saw in my GoodReads list that I'd already read it in 2019. Not the only book I can't remember reading at all, even highly-rated ones (apparently the covid shutdown did a hard reset on my brain).
Maybe you'll be doing a video with short story suggestions?
P.S. love the T-shirt, also the cover in that purple color 💜

[Laney]

Reading Monstrillo, I found out 'Magos' means magicians or wizards in Spanish. Love that little detail from the author.
The t-shirt is really cute!

[jsjim]

I loved Evenings and Weekends but I totally agree with you, they needed to talk! But this lack of communication didn't irritate me as much as it did with Conversations with Friends. I felt it was part of the characters' upbringing and suppression of their feelings and thoughts. And Rosaleen was the best, so fleshed out and developed even though she's not as prominent as others in the book, and the relationship between her and her older sons was very well represented and realistic, in my opinion.

On the other hand, Monstrilio is a great read and I devoured it (in a very Monstrilio's fashion haha), although the magic realism was too much for my suspension of disbelief in the book at some points.

[BookishAdventuresInWellbeing]

Sounds like a great summer of reading. I’ve also been reading a lot of queer fiction and happily so.

[thaliad]

I wish the publishing dates were not so disjointed sometimes between countries. Living in the U.S., I read Monstrilio last year and really loved it. A complex human, emotional and unique book that I want to reread one day. Nice shirt! :) While I am waiting for a couple more Bookers from the library, I picked up The Night Alphabet, which I had to purchase from the UK earlier this year, after learning about it from non U.S. Booktubers when it came out. This is a much better book than some that made the Booker list ( in mho:)! I think you did have it on your prediction list (?). I'm surprised it has not had more praise - it should.

[Tetsujin-]

Monstrilio : Even with Ben's "Realm of Influence" and the fact that the book has been out for awhile, I should be able to get a copy at the library.

[OliviasCatastrophe]

I saw a lot of people loving greta and valdin which does sound good to me, as does evenings and weekends but at the same time I am not entirely sure if it is one for me... I really want to read monstrillo and it sounds so good. I read the first page in a shop and the writing was so good. I also really like books that explore grief, and play with perspective and pov. Anyone's ghost is waiting for me on my shelf as well. A shame you didn't like it :( Ooh, I hope you had a good time in Japan!