Friday Reads: Women's Prize Predictions and More

This video has it all: Friday Reads, Women's Prize predictions, and a sweater haul! Expand for more information. 👇

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Jump to the Friday Reads: 10:24

Titles Mentioned 📚

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But wait, there's more!

[alt]

Not only are you entitled to not like a book, I find negative reviews refreshing (and highly entertaining 🙂). Please keep giving us your honest opinion and don't allow the "offended" people to censor you ❤

[Nina_DP]

Pausing video to say #1: fantastic "sweater haul"!

And #2: I don't understand why people are so precious about negativity when it comes to reviews. I appreciate them, especially coming from a Booktuber I watch regularly and whose taste in books I understand. If you, who have put so many fabulous books in my hands (truly, thank you) have a strong negative reaction to a book, it's going to give me pause. Something to think about. Take into consideration when deciding *for myself* if I want to give it a go. This whole concept that you can't say anything bad is preposterous. Reading books, like consuming any art, is subjective. And it's YOUR channel: you get to do what you want and express yourself however you like.

Now I'm wondering if these are the same people who don't like you talking about books you haven't read, or, basically, talking about anything other than books. 🤔

Okay, back to the video!

[BookishTexan]

I enjoyed your negative review. It was well reasoned and expressed. It made me want to read the book because you are the first person to talk about it with any feeling at all.

[myreadinglife]

Love the clothing haul!
I like a well done negative review. Yours was well done!

[rororeads]

Definitely put Still Life on your TBR. I absolutely loved it!

[sarahwallace]

You are definitely allowed to have a negative opinion on a book - and I for one am really pleased that you share ALL of your thoughts. Thank you.

'Tin Man' is such a lovely book, I loved it - but completely agree that the descriptions on the back etc are misleading.
I've found that with a handfuls of books recently, and it’s annoying!

[steveurick]

Congrats on your new  digs and head covering!

[pancakeday]

I love your honesty regarding Night Watch. You kind of empowered me to have my own opinion on award-winning or “important” books. I have always felt that if I didn’t like one of those books, it was because there was an inability on my part to understand the book. So Thank you! 💖

[Victoria]

I think it‘s really helpful to review books you don‘t like. If everyone is just raving about every book all the time, we‘ll lack a diversity of views. Keep up the good work! Love your channel!

[annegibson]

Brotherless Night for the Women's Prize for Fiction. All She Carried for the Nonfiction Prize.
I saw a terrific video on Barnes and Noble where Morgan Talty was interviewed. Thought of you.
Just finished reading The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. It is an indigenous story in Maine. A four star book.
Keep reading.

[catherinejager]

We call them “reviews” for a reason - geez! Thank you for saving us some time. I appreciate your reviews.
Bit off topic, currently reading How To Read A Book by Monica Wood, and thinking how much you would enjoy it - I hope 😊
Also, as an amateur knitter - yarn is everything ❤

[jennrecord]

You mentioned Toni Morrison. I read Beloved. I wondered if I would like it more on audio because I found reading it a struggle.

[ariannefowler]

The sweaters are amazing! It's a wonderful reminder of your trip. As for negative reviews, I actually appreciate the honesty. I want to hear what people really think of books because that helps me make my own decisions about reading a book or not. The Keith Haring sounds interesting. I remember traveling to NYC in the very early 90s and seeing his work everywhere. I'm waiting for a book on his journals from my library holds, but I should add Radiant to my list.

[shannongeier]

Maybe 1/2 way through Carson McCullers A Life which is very good, but based on your video discussing the 2000 Pulitzer Prizes, I decided to take a short break and listen to Close Range by Annie Proulx. Loving it. Reminds me so much of the short stories of Maile Meloy but then remembering that they are of different generations, I wonder if Maile Meloy was inspired at all by Annie Proulx. Realistic, taut, some would say depressing, but extremely simple and beautiful with so much underneath.

[philnasmith]

Still Life is beautiful, mesmerising - one of those books that you never want to end, and when it does, you immediately start reading from the beginning again. Be kind to yourself and read it …

[jackwalter]

That grandfather shirt is definitely me! I love really positive and really negative reviews. Guess I like the drama.

[geraldjones]

I loved the Guncle Abroad! I almost think I liked it more than the Guncle! It is amazing how different the tone is from the Celebrants, yet still have his amazing character development.

[browngirlreading]

I think it's going to be Soldier Sailor.Haven't got to Brotherless Night and Enter ghost just yet.

[marciajohansson]

I have managed to somehow purchase a bunch of the books you mentioned. 📚😏📚😲📚😔📚 The Wren, The Wren, Enter Ghost, Brotherless Night, Doppelganger. Master Slave Husband Wife. I am looking forward to my retirement in July which will provided much needed rest and time to dive into these books! I am glad you are upfront with how you feel about a book you read otherwise it would not seem sincere. Of course we want others to enjoy what we enjoy but it is so complex as to how each reader takes in the contents of a book (😜The Overstory, HAHA). Our own experiences and ability to "get the message" of a book varies with each individual. ( Enjoyed the sweater haul! You selected some beautiful items. Keep up the great content and give Teddy a head scratch for me and a welcome home and hello to Joel.

[jillianhasner]

Tin Man is one of my favorites! I found it in a Little Free Library in my area and picked it up just because it was so pretty! Still Life is also amazing so I can’t wait until you eventually read that one as well.
I also have Cinema Love on my next up. It sounds super interesting!
I’m currently finishing The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden and it’s amazing! Might be a 5 star for me this month.

Love the rec for the Keith Haring one. I don’t want to pile on another AIDS related book, but another non fiction that was very very good was It Was Vulgar & It Was Beautiful: How AIDS Activists Used Art To Fight A Pandemic by Jack Lowery. I learned so much! Highly recommend!