Hello, I'm Jen Campbell. I'm an award-winning poet and bestselling author of twelve books, spanning short stories, poetry, picture books, and nonfiction.
My books for adults include The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night, The Girl Aquarium, The Bookshop Book, and The Sunday Times bestselling Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops series. My picture book trilogy Franklin and Luna, and my middle-grade book The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers, are published by Thames & Hudson.
I've worked in the publishing industry for over fifteen years, first as a bookseller, and now as a freelance editor, book reviewer, content creator and disability advocate. I offer online writing workshops and editorial services, give talks at schools, publishing companies, universities and book festivals on a variety of topics, and I run a book club for TOAST clothing.
If you would like to speak with me about the possibility of working together, please get in touch: www.jen-campbell.co.uk/contact
Hey Jen , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?
I loved Soldier Sailor!! My “babies” are in their mid to late 20’s and won’t forget this book either. I can empathize that reading that one so fresh postpartum had to be very intense.
Yay, a new video! And with so many books here I have also loved. Soldier Sailor was one of my favourites last year (although I did not read it under the same circumstances as you 😅) and Pet was such a revelation for me. What a story!
I've had a pretty poor reading year, but my favourite books of the year so far are The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.
So so pleased that you loved Pet, it was a highlight of my reading last year. Have you tried The Axeman’s Carnival by the same author yet? I can highly recommend it also ☺️
Twin toddler mom here! I appreciates you so freakin much and am sending all the best vibes ur way, new momma! :) i love your inclusion of children’s books in this video, as well as the warnings if a book may be a lil “too close to home”. I’ve def found im a little more sensitive in my literary taste in this period of my life. I’ve only just starter to venture back into the more gutsy, emotional reads. Lots of cozy lit and fantasy haha
Oh Jen thank you so much for your children’s books recommendations 🙏🏽🍎 my kids love dumplings so that’s a no brainer 😂 but they all look like great ideas for upcoming birthdays thank you 🥰
My favorites are all over the place this year Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - the title is quite scary since I have never thought about my life in terms of weeks. It was quite revolutionary to me, it made me rethink how I approach time and think about procrastination In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado - it's a brilliant memoir, both in terms of the subject and how it's done, every chapter is connected to the story but almost has a different genre? Some feel like essays, some like poetry, some like part of a novel. And there are so many folk tale references! How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz - very unique form and an underexplored subject of life of unemployed elderly people Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - this mystery novel is super refreshing, it's very cleverly done and the puzzle is so satisfying! It made me feel for the first time in ages that i read something novel and innovative in this genre
That review makes me want to read Grief is a thing with feathers, I struck it from my tbr after really struggling with Lanny but from what you said it seems those are wildly different books
I love Dim Sum Palace! Have you read X. Fang’s newest, We are Definitely Human? It’s so great! Every line is a gem, but so are the illustrations, and the pacing/formatting reminds me a little bit of Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe.
Thank you for this lovely video! I haven't gotten around to any of these yet, but some are on my TBR (especially Foster, Pachinko Parlor, and Enter Ghost). I've had a rather slow reading year so far, my favourites are these: - Island by Siri Ranva Hjelm (I don't think you've read this, but I discovered it through one of your older videos! Thanks for that!) - Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi - Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Bunny by Mona Awad - Unscharfe Bilder by Ulla Hahn (no english translation unfortunately) - Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See I'm doing a pretty good job of focusing on women writers this year, which I'm v happy about!
Hi Jen Fantastic video as always 💕 Foster by Claire Keegan is now adapted in to a film by the Irish Film Institute. The title is An Cailin Ciuin and is one of the best Irish Films of recent years which I would highly recommend 🙂 Soldier Sailor is a very harrowing read but is written so well. Thoroughly enjoyed 💕
Hi Jen, thank you for the recs. I just wanted to say thank you for your book The beginning of the world in the middle of the night. I am not sure if you remember me asking for recs for books similar to the unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry and the YA work of carlos ruiz zafron?? I found your book in my bookshelf as a surprise. Well it left me with that same feeling of just staring out my window and just feeling. Beautiful work. Thank you Jen💝📚🥲🧘♀🧜♀
I read Butter last week and I thought it was very interesting in terms of its themes and ideas. I used to live in Japan and it reminded me of some of the issues that are part of their society, the treatment of women and the expectations that they face in the family and the work place . The ending was a bit strange but I think it reflected the journey that a lot of women go through when they take control of their lives and realise what they want. I loved the descriptions of the food and I now have a whole new appreciation of butter.
My favorites of 2024 (so far): Why God is a Woman by Nin Andrews (thanks, by the way) The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt A Horse at Night: On Writing by Amina Cain Homegoing by Yaaa Gyasi The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg Death as a Side Effect by Ana María Shua Peter and Alice by John Logan (thanks again 😂) Ongoingness by Sarah Manguso Happening by Annie Ernaux Our wives under the sea by Julia Armfield Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au (so beautiful, glad you recommended it 🥺) The details by Ia Genberg Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds It has been a good year, no complaints. I'm currently reading Breasts and Eggs and Burial Rites and I'm sure that both novels are going to be favorites too. A big hug from Cuba
Haven't read any of these yet, but I bought *Private Rites* and will get to it soon! *The Pachinko Parlour* and *Pet* are also on my Storygraph TBR. My favourites reads of 2024 so far have been my Muderbot rereads (so an honorable mention in your format), *The Moth Keeper* by K O'Neill (so good, it's actually my only 5-star from by new reads of 2024!), *After* by Auriane Velten, *Poor Things* by Alasdair Gray (thank you for the rec), *It's Not That Radical* by Mikaela Loach, *The Bandit Queens* by Parini Shroff (again, thank you), *Amari and the Night Brothers* by BB Alston, and *A Little Luck* by Claudia Pineiro which I just finished yesterday. Also, not a specific title but the Discworld series in general, I started a couple of years ago and am currently at #7, they're pretty fun.
Hi Jen, always so lovely to see you. :) I have a couple of these on my TBR - I am especially looking forward to _The Pachinko Parlour_ . One of the *best* for me so far this year has been _Orbital_ - from the Booker longlist. Jen, it was hypnotically beautiful. If you decided to read it, I would be incredibly interested in hearing your thoughts on it.
@@jenvcampbell YAYYY!!! I will be *so* looking forward to hearing your thoughts. :) Best to you and I am wishing for you and the baby... lots of recuperative sleep.
Oh, lord -- Grief is the Thing with Feathers -- what a book! It's one of my forever favorites now, and I'll always buy his books; I don't care what they're about. Yes, I loved Soldier Sailor the same way, even though my son is 29. She just describes that place so perfectly, and I was exactly there so many times, (and apparently, these feelings stay with you for the rest of your life.) Oh, boy, Pet! Also a book that is on my forever favorite list, and the author is now an auto buy. In fact, my library just notified me that my hold on her new one is now mine -- I'm so excited! Lots of great stuff this year: I Who Have Never Known Men, Monstrilio, everything I've read by Claire Keegan, Hello Beautiful, Prophet Song, Open Throat, Sleeping Giants, plus I read The Midwich Cuckoos on your rec, and adored it!
Best books January to June Enter Ghost Brotherless Night Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Service by Sarah Gilmartin Fayne by AnnMarie MacDonald Solider Sailor Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Haworth Stone Yard Devotional Strong Female Character by Fern Brady The Caretaker by Ron Rash Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan HowTo Build A Boat by Elaine Feeney North Woods by Daniel Mason 💐
You've done brilliantly! I have added four books to my tbr and will check out Mouse on the river for a present😊. ....and Foster's ending made me sob in public- beautiful❤!
Oh I remember the days of baby no sleep times. Hope you get some rest soon. Best books read so far this month Amy & Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes Wild Houses by Colin Barrett The Coast Road by Alan Murrin My Friends by Hisham Matar ☘️👋🍀📚📕📖☕️
I've read Butter, Private Rites and Enter Ghost. Enter Ghost is my top book of 2024 so far. I have a copy of River East River West that I'll be reading soon, so excited to hear that you loved it
Hi Jen , bookshopping yesterday I found interesting book called Brother Alive by author Zain Khalid. Have you heard off this book as I've never seen any reviews ? Think it may be interesting read.
Hi Jen! This video is exactly what I needed for quite a tired train ride home. I’m currently reading Prophet Song by Paul Lynch and loving it. Particularly eager to get my hands on Enter Ghost. The way you speak about books really articulates why I love them so much!
I don't have a list, but one of my favorite books I've read this year is What Feasts at Night by T Kingfisher, which explores PTSD as an underlying theme.
You deserve a raise Jen, such is your invaluable service dispensing the joys and merits of contemporary literature. Props for providing a space to children's literature. I 👁 you
As someone who lost her daddy a few months ago, that quote from The Railway Children hit too hard. Waiting to re-read Feathers, still too tender right now. How would you compare Private Rites to Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres?
I think this is maybe only the second year that I've really had an eye on new releases, but I definitely think I'm getting better at being able to predict what I'll have success with. I didn't enjoy Private Rites as much as Our Wives, but that was a very high bar. Was really looking forward to James by Percival Everett and I loved that one. So glad you got back to the heath!
I was really hoping you'd mention my favorite version i stumbled across a long time ago. I think it was an Italian variant, but i could be wrong. It starts off as the more or less standard story, except the evil queen doesn't mess around with poison apples. Instead, she starts spreading rumors about that slut living in the woods with seven men, and an angry mob goes in and kills Snow White and the seven dwarves for their presumed promiscuity. No happy ending. I don't remember where i found this version, and it's been long enough since i read it that I'm beginning to think maybe i imagined it. I was really hoping you'd validate my memory.
