It's ok to judge a book by its cover, as long as we're not judging each other.
Welcome to the ellenmade book club!
Here you will find book reviews, book recommendations, booktube tag videos, and other kinds of bookish content, like book hauls, wrap-ups and tbr videos :)
We also have a BOOK CLUB! ⭐ Each month we select three books that I read, and you can read the ones you want. Everyone welcome anytime!
I like reading a variation of genres, including literary fiction, historical fiction, mystery and thriller, fantasy and magical realism, and whatever else catches my interest. I usually prefer a female perspective and some emotional depth. Cultural or psychological insights, social justice themes, human experiences that I can learn from, and entertaining stories - I'm all in!
Subscribe to join the club and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! I would love to discuss!
I always hear about books I’ve never heard of before on your channel! Which I love btw. I have the power so I would be curious to see how it is, as I don’t hear many people talking about it!
@@onceuponabookishsteph That’s good to hear! Thank you 🥰 It looks like The Power might be a pick, so let’s see what we think about it in September 😊 I’ve heard mixed things, but I’m curious too!
You have such a great variety of books in your library. Crooked Plow sounds interesting and I need to find a book for the 52 Book Challenge that won the Booker Award. The Power sounds very good too. I'm really going to try to join in for Sept.
@@TheLibraryMouseGina Thank you ☺️ I think it sounds so interesting too! I don’t think it’s won, but maybe shortlisted will do? 😊 You’re very welcome to join!
I voted for Clytemnestra. The Mercies sounds interesting, but I’m not at all religious and the witch hunting aspect might not be my thing. My Brilliant Friend is one I’ve got my eye on if it gets selected in future, though it might be hard to live up to the hype. I hope the vote turns out well.
Fun! Thank you for voting! 😊 I'm not religious either, I just want to see what the women do when the outsiders arrive 😂 But there's no pressure to be interested in all of the books of course, or any for that matter! All open invitation. Yes, My Brilliant Friend is on my list as well, and I know more people want to read that. I'm trying to manage my expectations too. I'm not sure if it's for me at all to be honest, but I'm still curious, and hopefully I'll like it :) I thought I had it on the list of suggestions, but I'll add it if it isnt on there already.
Rain in the summer? BLASPHEMYYYYYY for us Californians 😂 Thank you so much for always having these early prompts because I can follow (1984 is my PRIORITY to finish before August). I'm making good way through all 1984. Can't wait to hear you discuss about it! I'll be joining for August too w/ Pachinko 🥰 "If you don't want to read it, I will" 😂 The Mercies seem so orange on the camera! I thought for sure you would've picked that for the color. HAHA. Did you notice that almost all the books are orange too? I think this month... I'll try something new and pick Clytemnestra for September with you because I support women's wrongs ✨ jkjk but the plot seem so interesting! The Mercies also sounds good too! I was between the two. THE ENDING ELLEN. But also me HAHA
So much rain! 😂 To the point where the water level in the lake is significantly higher. It's good though, it's been more on the drought side for the past few summers, so this feels more like a typical old Swedish summer. Thank you for suggesting I do the selection earlier, it definitely works out better for everyone! I'm so excited about Panchinko, I'm so glad you're joining for that as well! 💜 Haha well I really want to read it, and I'm glad you're going with that one too! 😁 It didn't get a lot of votes last time, but it looks like it's doing better this time around! Anything can happen in a week though. They are a bit orange, but I think there's a bit of a yellow tint on the video as well, but yes, both prompts guided me right in the end. I have faith in the Jar! 😂 The color palette is perfect for September, so it was all meant to be! Haha omg I look so stupid, but that's probably the majority of the footage haha my two brain cells fighting it out 😂
@@ellenmadebookclub That's good to hear!! We almost never experience rain here 😂 Thunderstorm? Never heard of them. I didn't experience rain in the summer until I worked in the midwest for a bit. I'm so happy you started doing it!! I feel like I can easily join now without stressing if I can squeeze in for the month 🥰 I think it might be a top pick this month!! Synopsis is definitely interesting!! I haven't picked in the actually until you told me about the community tab. It's not really obvious and I wish it'll post on the front page of youtube or something. The TBR jar doesn't fail! I love watching you pick your collection from that. That's the only thing that I love about having a physical collection because I can actually look and pick. Whereas with my digital collection makes it less fun, I think 🤣 It's OK the amount of clips I have to cut out because that's me HAHA.
@@itsmimiduong I know, it should turn up on your subscription page, but you can never tell what YT is up to 😂 I hope you’ve voted now in any case 😊 Yes I prefer the physical ones too, it’s easier to see them, the digital or library ones there are so many of so then my little brain cells would have an even harder time choosing 😂 Glad I’m not alone in the stupid stare hahaha
@@ellenmadebookclub I have!! I (now) know to check out your channel page every once in a while 😂 Didn't even realize about the community tab!! SO COOL. Ability to vote and talk to others OUTSIDE of videos! I know Sula wasn't top 2 for August but I found my old Sula video to include for August when I mention your book club 🤣I dug through my emails to get the old YT channel. I scripted my videos before to stop that but still end up in that position!! Free form all the way now
Love the color palette and feminist vibes!! Just voted in the community tab. Also I see Beartown as a potential for October and I would love that! I was just thinking yesterday that I want to re-read it and then continue on in the series, so that would be perfect to do in the fall/winter 😊 Also, dying laughing at the blooper at the end 😂😂
I turned out very pretty! It's a bit of an odd bunch, but I'm still excited for all of them! 😁 I'm reading Beartown as a buddy read with a couple of people in October already, so I thought it might work as a book club option as well, and then possibly continuing with the other books over winter, so that's perfect that you thought that too! Haha I'm glad 😂😂 It's very humbling, this bookubing thing! :D
@@ellenmadebookclub Are we still on for a buddy read of Parable of the Talents in August? ^^ Ah, I got excited when you mentioned My Brilliant Friend because I'm really keen to read it (heard it's perfect for summer), but I'm also trying not to buy too many books, and the summer vibes don't feel like a strong enough reason for me to get it. If it was for a book club or buddy read... then it'd be another story... 😇😇 ahah
@@Curious-Cat Yes, we are! I think I can pick my copy up from the library next week, but I'm not sure how long I have it for. If there are more people waiting, it will probably just be two weeks. If I can have it for a month, I would probably want to read it in the latter half of August. Yes, that's definitely a future book club option! I'm sure you could find a copy second hand if you have the chance, or from the library? No rush though, but for the future ^^
@@ellenmadebookclub OK, let us know. I have another buddy read planned for early August, so the second half of the month would also be best for me if that works out with your library loan :) Good point about the library for My Brilliant Friend - for some reason, I was dead set on reading it in English, but since it's translated from Italian, it doesn't make much of a difference if I read it in French!
Really interesting to hear your answers. I agree about what makes a good book, particularly about not having to great at everything. It's nice if it does certain things, but it's hard to specify what because you only know it when you experience it. I like your dinner party guests. I bet they have some fascinating perspectives on the stories they're part of, and it would be nice to hear from characters who don't get much of the limelight. Your desert island picks cover all the bases of practicality, empathy, entertainment, losing yourself and remembering where you come from, so they sound like great choices. Nice to see The Da Vinci Code getting some love. I remember reading all four of his early books and being thoroughly entertained. I've never read Stephen King, either, but would like to try his books. I think one of his novellas became The Shawshank Redemption and that was a really good film. I've heard the Swedish phone book is quite the read. Spoiler alert but there's a great twist after the Gustavsson entries :)
Thank you for this very thoughtful comment! 😊 It is very hard to specify what makes a good book! It's that it-factor, the feeling you get of a book. And that's usually the thing that stays with me afterward as well, I don't remember the plots and details very well, but rather the feeling of the experience. Haha the dinner party seems very popular, everyone wants to join! I think we would all have a good time with those characters. It would be a night of retellings :) I have several Dan Brown books too, they weren't all fantastic but definitely entertaining! Yes, I've heard that. I'm also intrigued by 11/22/63. Like I said, never say never ^^ Haha oh no! Well I wasn't going to read it anyway, so the spoiler is fine by me, but please think of other people reading the comments ;)
Such fun answers. Seriously I shouldn't watch yours before I do it myself because I just want to agree with everything, lol! Ah, I'm so excited to re-read Piranese for book club coming up sometime this next year. It's going to be so fun to discuss, yes? Stephen King does write all sorts of books that aren't scary, so go for it! I can't think who/what I "won't" read either... off to think hard about this one...
Haha I'm glad you enjoyed! 😄 I'm sure you'll think of something though! Piranesi is a great book club read, so many things to look at and interpret - or just enjoy the story as is! I loved it!
Another fun tag video!! The Ocean At the End of the Lane is on my TBR, it definitely sounds interesting! I would love to be a fly on the wall at your dinner party, I love a good open minded, underdog, weird kind of vibe (maybe because I relate a little too much) 😂 Love that Piranesi kept getting mentioned, haha it’s totally deserved!! And I can’t do horror either, all the movies terrify me but for some reason I’m kind of interested in some horror novels, haha but who knows if I could actually handle it 😬
@@LibrariesandLattes Thank you! I feel like I’m just saying the same books over and over again but sometimes it’s all I got haha 😂 You would be very welcome to join our dinner party, there are already a bunch of people coming along so you’d fit right in 😊 Piranesi is a new favorite for sure! No horror messes me up, I’m already scared of everything, I don’t need any new ideas 😂 You could try Marina to start, it wasn’t too bad, but still had some creepy moments! It’s all I got! I’ve heard Kingfisher’s books are good too, and kind of funny.
Your dinner party sounds delightful and I would want an invitation 😂 I am like you… I hate to say never. I agree with you on The Da Vinci Code! I think I stayed up for 24 hours when I read that! And thank you for the tag!!
@@MyMessyBookshelf You are of course very welcome to join! There seems to be a whole bunch of people joining already haha 😂 Good vibes! I look forward to hearing your answers on this one! 😊
What a wonderful tag! I would like to come to your dinner party with the fictional characters. Thank you very much for tagging me. I will look forward to doing this one. 🥰
You are very welcome to the dinner party! We'd have a great time I'm sure 😄 I'm thinking there would be a band of hobbits playing later in the evening! I look forward to hearing your answers! For once I managed to tag you haha! 😄
Oh I absolutely love this flag actually! So I think I'll definitely do it 🤩 Except I'll be struggling to figure who I'd actually want to meet and have dinner with because.... 💀introvert here... just thinking an imaginary meeting with people is enough to make me feel like NOT want to do this tag??? HAHA. For the question about what books to bring when stranded on an island... I've heard this prompt multiple times but it didn't occur to me to bring something for survival 😂 I just thought of the longest book I can read that I can enjoy or books that is a "cheat" because it's so long 😂 I agree so much with what you think about making a good book. Except I think for me... I need it to be what I want during the time of reading it. Eg. something humorous when I want something that is fun!
Please do! I'd love to hear your answers! Honestly, same with the dinner party haha! I don't see myself interacting with everyone though, as much as sipping my drink and observing and listening to everyone else's shenanigans! And then when someone inevitably becomes drunk and sad, they'll come and sit by me and tell me about their secrets and life struggles ^^ You could do the question that way too! Just say which ones you would like to bring together to watch! 😄 Absolutely agree! It can depend so much on your mood, of course! Doesn't matter how good the book is, if I'm not in the right frame of mind for it. It's hard to know in advance sometimes though! Which I guess is the whole struggle of reading haha
Hi! Great video ! Even though you skipped our question !! 😂😂😂 so funny. We forgive you. That Neil Gaiman is actually next on my list ! Recently read Neverwhere and loved it so can’t wait to read more by him. 🎉
Hi! Thank you! Oh I'm usually pretty good with keeping track of the questions, I don't know what happened! Probably just saw the title Seven husbands and thought Yeah I just did that one! Since it was on two questions in a row - which also was not the greatest! 😂😂 Anyway, Sorry! Thank you for being kind! I tried! Neverwhere is probably the one I'm most keen to get to as well! I don't know what it's about, and don't want to, the title alone is enough to intrigue me! I hope you'll love Ocean at the End of the Lane! Thank you for watching! (And forgiving! 😂)
I found a penguin classics edition of The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson and added it to my wishlist. Sounds so cozy and I love flying adventures. I think I read the Da Vinci Code in one sitting. Stephen King also wrote Shawshank Redemption a realist novella it's great.
@@TheLinguistsLibrary Oh lovely! It’s been so long since I read it, it was written as a sort of geography textbook for children so it was probably in school sometime. But it’s a classic for sure! Loved the Da Vinci code, everything I wanted in a book! Right! See I knew I should never say never! At least not without doing some good (or at least some!) research first 😂 Thanks for watching! 💜
@@Danni.Dabbles How come? I think his books are emotional but I don’t think you need to be intimidated! There is humor as well, subtle maybe, but it’s there ^^ No rush though! You’ll be welcome to join the discussion whenever you get to it! Thanks for watching! 😊
The Zadie Smith has a lovely cover, doesn't it?. I'm about to launch into Susanna Clarke, looking forward to it. You've presented an amazing variety of books here, very engaging, thank you. Ah, I adore both the book & film of 'The Hours', so structurally clever, moving & commemorative. I love it! (I really like Natalie Haynes too, all these modern mythology retellings are so interesting, classicism for us all).
@@apoetreadstowrite Yes I agree, I love the colors and patterns! Are you reading Piranesi or the Jonathan Strange one? I popped over to your channel, and I saw that you’ve gotten started, well done! And congratulations 😊 Last time I heard from you, you were just thinking about it. I’m happy you went for it and I’ll be checking out your videos. From what I read on your About section, Piranesi sounds like something you would enjoy very much. I won’t say why, but there were some key words that would fit very well 😊 I need to give The Hours another go, I think it deserves better than “I think I saw it once..?” 😂 Thank you for your very kind comment and I hope you’re enjoying yourself as a booktuber! 😊 Oh and yes, I’m really into the myths! I took Latin in school and the myths were the best part 😊 And even more fun now haha
@@ellenmadebookclub: I am about to launch into both Susanna Clarke books, can't wait. I adore 'The Hours'. It is very moving, so be warned, it can be quite triggering. I love the Michael Cunningham book as well, I think it's quite astounding. The Philip Glass soundtrack for the film is also incredible, if you love minimalism which I do - the book & film are breathtaking.
@@apoetreadstowrite I’m excited for both now, thank you 😊 Enjoy Susanna Clarke! And when you’ve read Piranesi, come back to my book club video on it and share your thoughts! I would love to hear them.
I know! Aaron did such a good job. I felt I could have been more creative with my answers, but I did what I could 😄 Any one in particular you're interested in? Just being nosy ^^ I look forward to hearing your answers as well!
@@ellenmadebookclub I went looking for The Maiden after you mentioned it in another video and it wasn’t in stock at my local bookstore but Ours sounds intriguing and so does the one with the boxes of string! I also have wanted to read the Ocean at the End of the Lane and you’ve put it back on my mind!
@@MyMessyBookshelf Oh I'm so excited for you to read any of them! 😄 (The Measure by Nikki Erlick is the one with the strings). I haven't started Ours yet, I'm still on 1984 and Ove, but then it's time! I think The Maiden and The Measure have similar depth, they're just under the surface if that makes sense, dipping a bit every now and then, but neither of them are too heavy. Great for fall, both of them. Haha I should stop selling now!
Thanks for doing the tag! White Teeth is great, its always the book I think of as the most London to me. I loved Piranesi too. Ocean at the End of the Lane is my favourite Gaiman book by far.
@@AaronReadABook It was a great one to do, well done 😊 That’s hopeful, thank you! Oh that makes me so happy to hear! It was so long ago that I read it now but it has a special place in my heart. What other books by Gaiman have you read? I’m mostly intrigued by Norse mythology at the moment, I’m on a mythology kick like the rest of… the other people on a mythology kick!
@@ellenmadebookclub I love Good Omens his book with Pratchett, but that feel more like a Pratchett book. I've read Anansi Boys, American Gods, and The Graveyard Book too, none of those blew me away but they are fun.
@@AaronReadABook Yeah I've gotten that feeling! I think I'll like that one too, or I'll think it's too much of a good thing, that's just my weird preconcieved notion. I get Black Books vibes from it, I'm not sure how far off that is ^^ I've only read The Graveyard Book and I agree, it's not the same but still enjoyed it. And I've seen Coraline. I just did a book club video including Piranesi, if you're interested :) No pressure, just since you're new here. Welcome by the way! 😊
Great to hear your answers. I've just put a hold on The Measure - it sounds really interesting. I've answered 5 questions, if that's OK: - Novel iDeea - The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - an Agatha Christie mystery with body swapping and time travel, but it's really a sci-fi - CriminOlly - Police by Jo Nesbø - an immersive and believable Norwegian crime series with twists I often don't see coming - Book Time With Elvis - Recursion by Blake Crouch - time travel, memory and ever changing reality - Obscure Book Adventures - The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain - a woman from 1970 has to travel to 2011 to save her unborn child, but things don't go as planned - Savage Reads - Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica - animals can't be eaten any more so people turn to human flesh For your channel, maybe: 'A book that would make a great discussion for a book club' - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - a man with learning difficulties is offered an experimental procedure to increase his intelligence 'A book featuring a book club' - Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum - found family in a Korean bookshop
Oh fun! I really enjoyed The Measure, let me know what you think of it. I did a review on it in my first ever video (where I ripped the cover 😅 so you can watch that as well if you want!) I love that you gave your own answers! 😄 -7½: I have that on my tbr! I was really intrigued by the body swapping. Don't tell me any more though, I might want to read that! :D -Police: Have you read the whole series? Looks like they've got pretty good reviews. Unfortunate name for the detective though, but that's what you get in Norway! 😂 - Recursion sounds right up my alley! Again, don't tell me more haha! Adding that! -The Dream Daughter also sounds really good, these are all great recommendations. Are you sure you don't want to start a channel of your own? :) -Tender Is the Flesh: I think this is past my limit :D And of course the title should be turned into prompts, that makes it a lot easier! 😄 I didn't think that far. Thanks for that!
@@ellenmadebookclub The first 2 Harry Hole books are set in Australia and Thailand and aren't very indicative of what's to come when he's back in Norway and it gets much more interesting. From about book 5, the whole police team becomes important and the events of one book have consequences in the next. If you decide to try the series, book 3 might be the best point to start. I hope the others books work out well, too, if you pick them up.
This sounds like such a fun tag 😂 I love how creative the names are -- meanwhile me with just my name 🤣 I loved hearing all the people's channel that remind you of a book. Definitely something I never think about but I'm most definitely going to have it in the front of my mind now whenever I see a book! I have to add The Ocean at the End of the Lane per your recommendation! Every time I watch your video, I find that I have to add more onto my TBR! Especially since it lets me expand my reading genres 😍
It was! Aaron did a good job picking the channels! You're welcome to do it too of course! I don't think of your channel as very tag-y, but you have done a few so I'll keep that it mind! How do you pronounce Duong though? I don't want to tag you and say it wrong! 😅 Yey, I would love for you to read Ocean! It's such a special book. Let me know if you do, I might reread it with you. It's been a long time. You're so sweet, thank you! That makes me very happy to hear 🥰
@@ellenmadebookclub Oh you are 100000% right, I don't do tags LOL. I struggle with tags so much because I feel the need to plan everything out and then I feel like I'm repeating myself 😭😂 Structured videos are not my things. I most definitely enjoy my vlogs way more. I think most people pronounce it fine! It can be pronounced dwong (long wong with a D in front) or this one is a little trickier but technically how you say it in vietnamese zz-ung but you go up at the end. Don't worry about it though 😂 Yesss, I most definitely already have it on my TBR. I'll let you know when I'll read it and maybe we can buddy read!! Love to be able to bounce conversation back and forth about the book 🥰Speaking of which... I still need to read 1984 🤣I promise, I won't be sparknoting anything this time! (Since there's no grades involved....)
@@itsmimiduong Got it! 😄 I like the structure and I have to do more takes on things anyway so I just have to live with it haha 😆 I’m not as good as vlogging, but I’m working on it! Thank you for that! The Vietnamese way sounds cool, but I would probably go with the “dwong” if I’m mentioning your channel. If I get it wrong just know I tried 😊 Great! Haha I’ve just started 1984 myself. We can do it! 😂 If we want, there’s no detention!
@@ellenmadebookclub I loooove your vlogs video tbh. I love the talk over format of it that you have it. Honestly, I just consume all your content because it makes me happy 😂 I just enjoy hearing your thoughts, and then talking to you about it afterwards!! I HAVE STARTED 1984. ONE PAGE IN. Will be on track for your book club discussion next month 💪But I gotta keep an eye out on your community tab. I realize I don't get those on my front page of RU-vid as much!!
@@itsmimiduong You’re so sweet, that makes me so happy to hear. Thank you 💜 I love talking to you about it too 😊 Good job! 😄 I’m about 10% in, I find it a bit dense so far but I’m getting into it! Yeah the community posts are a bit tricky, keep an eye out! Next options video is coming next week and the poll thing will be up right after! 😊
That was fun! Thanks so much for the tag 💛 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is actually the first book I ever read in English for fun (many years ago now)! It was quite intimidating to take that leap, but I remember that it actually felt super accessible and easy to read :) I don't remember much about it, but it has a special place in my heart because it opened so many doors for me ^^
@@Curious-Cat Oh I didn’t know that! Did it have anything to do with your choice of channel name or just happy coincidence? I read that pretty early as well, I think I got it in London, because I remember reading it in a hotel room and being very entertained 😊 It’s special to me too. I look forward to hearing your answers to this one! Might be another tag coming soon as well, I’m trying to catch up with my long list! 😅
@@ellenmadebookclub A nice coincidence :) My channel name is obviously because of my first name, and also because I'm a curious person: I love to learn and have many different interests. I was always annoyed with the sentence "curiosity killed the cat" until I heard the second part: "but satisfaction brought her back" -- that's where the name comes from ^^ It felt very fitting.
This is such a cool tag! If I ever get inspired to do a tag video, this would be a fun one 😉 Thanks for the shoutout!! And yes, you got it right with Legends and Lattes, haha! I need to read Before the Coffee Gets Cold since it does seem to match my vibe. I can’t think of a book that goes with your channel name either but I’ll be racking my brain!! 😂
@@LibrariesandLattes It is fun! And I guess you could choose whatever channels you wanted, but these are a good selection! I know my channel name doesn’t really work with anything haha 😂 Let me know if you come up with anything! Your was easy though, and yeah you need to read Btcgc! It’s a bit different but I think you’d like it 😊
What a good reading month! I recently finished Yellowface and Dead Poets Society. I'm currently working through The Old Man and The Sea, Annihilation, and Howls Moving Castle :)
@@elmossy It actually was! 😊 I felt behind most of it, but looking back I just had some really good reads. Can’t complain about that! I can’t wait to hear about Yellowface! You’ve got a good mix going 😂 Look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of them, Annihilation I’ve never even heard of. Hope you’ll like them all!
Really interesting to hear your views. I haven't watched the Lemon Trees part yet because I'm still on the fence about that book. I'd probably side with the mutineers in The Wager, too, but at some point you have to wonder when people who have already mutinied will turn on the new person in charge. - Spoilers for Piranesi - I'm glad you enjoyed Piranesi so much - definitely a book that makes you think and question. I had many of the same questions :) The feeling of having to make sense of the wolrd is what really lured me in. I enjoyed the themes of loneliness and isolation and how they affect perception of reality and memory. The author said she was very isolated due to illness at the time, so maybe I was just reading her situation into the story. Maybe the House was Jung's collective unconscious? I loved how Piranesi saw the beauty in the little things and lived in peace with his environment rather than exploiting it (definitely a real world lesson worth learning). I also liked the idea that something can be beautiful just because it is - there doesn't need to be a deeper explanation. As well as the Narnia references, I thought there were some Theseus and the Minotaur allusions - Piranesi is trapped in a labyrinthine house, a monster (The Other) wants to 'feed off' his discoveries and he is saved by a woman who leads him out. I agree with you that Susanna Clarke did a great job in making the story so vague and open to interpretation. A reader can see different things in it and interpret differently depending on their life experience, so everybody gets something out of it. It also makes it a fun book to discuss. There's a theory where Raphael (the archangel of healing) is his therapist and trying to help him out of a state he has entered due to trauma. The House is a creation in his mind, and Piranesi and the other characters represent different parts of his psyche as he comes to terms with things. The Narnia references might also support the idea - he's building a place from things he's read in real life. The real life Piranesi painted a series of 'Imaginary Prisons' so this also fits. I like the theory, but I'm not sure it really works. Anyway, lovely to hear your thoughts and answers to the others' questions. I've just finished A Man Called Ove, so looking forward to next month's discussion.
Thank you for this very thoughtful response! I agree with you on the mutineers, they are probably not the most trustworthy! I might be willing to bet though, they "just" need to get to land / home, and then they are out of your life! But yeah, that's quite a commitment too :) I thought Lemon Trees was worth a read. If you haven't watched my June Wrapup yet, I talk about it there without the spoilers. spoilers for piranesi Yes, the feeling of making sense of the world! Exactly that. And I guess that was the big religion parallel for me, or existential philosophy really, but they tend to go hand in hand. I'm not very familiar with Jung, but that sounds as plausible as anything ^^ I liked that too, the appreciation of things just because. And especially since there are so many things really worth appreciating. I feel gratitude for the running water in my tap pretty often. Simple, but essential and quite amazing. Or seeing colors. I don't know the Minotaur story very well (I'll willingly remain ignorant until I find a retelling ^^) but I'm sure your're right. People have so many links and theories and like you said, they all have some merit, which is part of the wonder of this book. I think it's enjoyable without all of the references, but seeing some of them makes you feel at least a bit smart, amid all the confusion! :D I thought that the Other was the therapist for a while, or some kind of medical staff, checking in on his patient and sort of playing along with his delusions. But that didn't really work out ^^ Raphael is a better choice for that, but she wasn't there as much, so I'm not sure. Thank you so much for participating, this is so much fun! I haven't gotten to Ove yet, but I'll get there soon! I'm looking forward to that as well! 😄
I feel like I need to read the second part to know for sure, I have mixed feelings! 😂 There's a wait for it at the library, but I think I'll try to read that pretty soon. Yesss, that would be so fun! You are very welcome to, if it works for you!
Oooh, do you want to buddy read Parable of the Talents when you get it from the library? I feel like if I don’t pick it up soon, I might never while, but I’d also be curious to read the second part.
@@Curious-Cat Haha sorry! 😂 You should be able to edit, on the three dots to the right of the comment, in the regular YT app. Anyway, I'm up for buddy reading that! It might be a few weeks, but I'll let you know!
I’m not in the app but I’m in the browser. Maybe that’s why… I can only like, dislike, Reply or delete 😑 Nice! Let’s do it then! Wouldn’t be able to read it this month anyway, so in a few weeks sounds good 👌
Quality over quantity always! But I always feel bad putting books back at the end of the month, haha. I’m so glad you loved The Wager and As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow though, I just placed a library hold for both and can’t wait to read them! I finished Parable of the Sower a couple nights ago and loved it! Well, loved it might be the wrong term haha but it was really good and a thought provoking read for sure. Just started reading a romance last night (Just For The Summer) and will be starting a cozy mystery audiobook today (The Man Who Died Twice) 😊
Absolutely! I know, I feel so bad too! I'm thinking I might do my personal tbr just a number of books and then just allow myself the time to finish them. I don't need to renew the pile just because it's a new month, I feel like the deadline is stressing me out sometimes! For book club it's fine, but for my personal pile I could just keep going. Oh fun, I look forward to hear how you'll like them! You have such a varied reading anyways, so I feel like you could enjoy both of them. Especially Lemon Trees, it's real but has a warmth to it, I feel like that's your vibe 😊 I'm so glad you loved Parable! I have mixed feelings, but I'm not sure if it's about the book, or the contents, if that makes sense. I felt miserable reading it, but that might have been the point, so... well done..? 🥴 😂 That sounds like a perfect summer combo! I'm skeptical about the Thursday books, but I think it's because I read Harold Fry, or tried to and didn't like it, and then I just decided that the whole senior character adventures was not for me. I hope you'll enjoy it though!
