I’m with you on Nuclear War. I read an article on what would happen if nuclear missiles were fired at us, and it traumatized me. So a whole book would be a no.
First, this video made me laugh so much! Thanks for the laughs. Also, We Burn Daylight was mentioned on Book Tube (I cannot remember who but you can do a search probably) as a story told modern day Romeo Juliet parallels and throw in a cult, right? I haven’t read it but have heard good things. Lastly, love the free library searches. I found a hardcover Angela’s Ashes edition yesterday in one near me in excellent condition. Score! Thanks for your recommendations and your book haul preview.
I enjoyed both Stoneyard Devotional and I Cheerfully Refuse:) When reading each, I looked up where they took place and even looked at the land in google maps, especially in Australia. It helped me to imagine the desolation of the Australian SE desert area and the author includes a real life event. For the Leif Enger book I pulled up a map of Lake Superior and followed the character's journey, or imagined I was following, since places are also made up. Again, some of what he mentions comes from local myths of that area. It made me feel like I was on the journey. With both books , environment is a part of the experience and both writers immersed me in the characters and the world they lived .
Thanks for the heads-up about “The Diaries of Mr. Lucas.” That knowing look you gave us at 6:00 says all I need to know about the book. 😁I’ll be reading it.
I like the cover for “Peggy.” If you’re interested and haven’t already read Peggy Guggenheim’s “Confessions of an Art Addict: A Memoir” published in 1977, give it a try. (Like you don’t already have enough books to read.)😄
Looking forward to reading Peggy, The Betrayal of Thomas True & Spoilt Creatures! Re: the owning a bookstore dream that so many of us have, I just started The Bookshop - A History of the American Bookstore by Friss (so far, so good).
Thanks Brett, another great video. 😊 I'm on a serious book buying ban (BBB) but some of your suggestions really appeal to me. I am off to see Chigozie Obioma at the Edinburgh Book Festival which is part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival - the biggest art festival 🎨🎼🩰 in the 🌎 world. Excited.
I’m doing a buddy read of The City of Last Chances with a friend, and slowly but surely working my way through the list of possibilities for the Ursula K. LeGuin Award: Sift didn’t work for me, too much magical realism even though the writing was beautiful; Mammoths at the Gate was surprisingly moving for a novella: currently about halfway through Space Between Worlds, the first of the duology that includes Those Beyond the Wall, a gritty dystopian multiverse theme. Looking forward to diving into the rest.
Just wanted to say how glad I am to have found your channel! We have a similar sensibility in our appreciation for great books! I look forward to hearing your thoughts each time I get a notification! WeddingPeople and Liars are up next for me. I just finished Ethan Joella’s Same Bright Stars and am going to take on The God of the Woods starting today! Thanks for adding more to my TBR!
In addition to “Blue Sisters,” I’m looking forward to the early September publication of “The Amendments” by Irish author, Niamh Mulvey. It’s a novel about three generations of women and the hand they’re dealt by Irish society. The title refers to the institution and repeal of Ireland’s 8th amendment which recognized “the equal right to life of the pregnant woman and the unborn”.
Thanks for the recommendation! I looked it up and it looks great but nothing about a us publication date. Might have to get from the uk. Love those Irish!☘️
The best books I’ve read so far in August Wild Houses by Colin Barrett The Coast Road by Alan Murrin When the Booker long list was announced, I’d read three. Stone Yard Devotional was ok. Orbital was ok. Enlightenment was disappointing. I’m currently reading The Alternatives by Caolinn Hughes The In Between by Christos Tsiolkas ☘️👋🍀📖📕☕️📚
I really enjoyed The Wedding People! Such memorable, fully human characters. I’m looking forward to reading The History of Sound. I enjoy short stories anyways, and an extra element like the hook and chain structure. I was also pleased to see it was blurbed by Charles Baxter. Your channel is the first I’ve heard of it, like so many other terrific picks, so thank you, Brett. On a separate note, I don’t know if your Gays Reading podcast co-host has a connection with Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla, but his name and the Gays Reading podcast has come up a few different times during their “Tea Time” events (every Monday at 4pm PT they host publisher’s reps on zoom/FB to talk about new releases). It’s always fun to hear it mentioned, including just this last week, so of course I always have to note in the comments that I am a fan of yours. 😃🎉📚
This is the second time I've heard about the Ben Shattuck book and I'm so intrigued. I DO love short stories so I think I need this. Sounds like a great reading month.
“Liars” definitely pairs well with “Soldier Sailor” although anyone reading them consecutively will feel exhausted by the end.🛌Then, add French author Maud Ventura’s “My Husband” into the mix. It’s the story of a married woman with two children. Her obsession with her husband has her questioning his every conversation and every gesture, wondering if he still loves her. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about married life behind closed doors.
@MJ-in-Canada - “My Husband” has one of my favorite passages/scenes ever, when the narrator thinks about her husband comparing her to a clementine. I don’t know why it appeals to me so much - the pacing, how bananas it is (ha!), how very funny - I will remember it forever.
Read Liars in one-sitting, great story format & character development. Looking forward to reading The Rich People Have Gone Away & The History of Sound - thanks!
I think you may have already read this? If not , I highly recommend The Coast Road by Alan Murrin I stayed up to 3am just to finish it as I had to know what happened!
I liked the list - nothing on there really struck me as something I wouldn't consider or have a go at. Read My Friends already. Looking to read the Messud next, and then maybe Wild Houses, Safe Keep or Headshot. What other Irish titles/authors were you thinking of that you would have preferred? I've added Praiseworthy to be TBR as well as it seems to be getting mentioned a lot.
I’m sitting here hitting the refresh key, waiting for my library to load the new ebooks so I can read “The Wedding People.” I hope you feel better soon.
I'm really interested in reading The Safekeep. A couple of the new books coming out in August also sound good. Thanks for sharing! And I hope you feel better. Summer colds are the worst!
The Booker list seems pretty vanilla to me, but I’m not a fan of the Booker in general. I already had four on my TBR and only added Held (from the library).
I'm hoping to see James and Blackouts on the list. A lot of your choices are on my TBR so I hope some of those make it, too! I keep hearing about Praiseworthy but it's giving me big book trepidation.
Great list! I'd like Caledonian road to be on there because id love to read it! I've heard from Gunpowder Fiction & Plot that Praiseworthy definitely won't be on the list and that you're correct that Orbital will be there because some books on the list have been leaked already (apparently!)... We'll find out for sure tomorrow 🤞🏻😍
The Booker Prize....The most depressing Lit award! The winner is always sooooo sad! But that said..Of all your picks I have only read James. But I will ad one more that I think will be part of the long list. The Ministry of Time. Another great video!
