Big ups on the sponsor, cuz. So happy for you! But also, love the variety of books you read. It seems like you always try to give things a chance, and that's really awesome.
First off, I love that this was three books. I've been watching booktube for over 5 years now and I still get overwhelmed by the ppl I follow reading 20+ books a month. 😅 I've had to accept that I'm a slow reader so I can manage maybe 2 a month, so seeing you do reviews with fewer books makes your content so relatable. Second, I am so glad to see that I hadn't heard of two of these books, and that one of them was a YA romance. You are showing that you're willing to try different genres, authors, etc. outside what's currently being talked about and that's so important. Glad you enjoyed everything, and you honestly might have convinced me to read 1984. 😅 I also never read it for school, so kind of want to now. You've gained a subscriber today!
I read 1984, in 1984. I had Advanced English teacher who thought she was funny. I loved it!! And, I reread it in 2020. I think it shook me more the second time around bc it felt like everything was real! I love your reviews and my TBR list shows it. Congratulations on the sponsorship!!🎉🎉🎉
I love Sayaka Murata and I feel like Earthlings fell victim to its marketing in the English speaking world. Her first novel to be translated into English, Convenience Store Woman, was a slice of life novel where nothing dramatic really happens. It's very good but a real divergence from her other short stories and novels which are often horrific and dystopian. So I think they tried to appeal to her existing fans by softening the synopsis of Earthlings a bit to appeal to people who had only read Convenience Store Woman and weren't familiar with the content of most of her writing.
If you liked earthlings I def recommend convenience store woman by the same authos! I read it in like four hours maybe, but it was really good. A lot of people say nothing happens and it's kind of slow, but it's def got some of that weird surrealism and I like the feeling you get at the end. A lot of people are recommending Haruki Murakami which I think is good, but be warned that he has a misogny problem, so there are some instances with the women he writes that are a little odd. Also congrats on your first sponser!!! so excited to see some more reviews and your next upload!
Waaaayyyy back in 1949 George Orwell foresaw the modern surveillance state. 1949! This was before the widespread use of cameras or obviously personal and/or handheld computers & smartphones--and yet he imagined our loss of personal privacy and, essentially, data privacy. He was years and years ahead of his time. Amazing.
I hope you read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It’s another big brother book about burning everyone’s books so they can’t learn anything and just watch what the gov’t wants to show them on tv. It’s short and so good.
when I first got into dystopian books I felt the same way about 1984 its a bit of a hard book but I started with Animal farm and Fahrenheit 451. I haven't gotten into The Hunger Games yet but since its ya it should be much easier to digest. Oh and The Giver is really good too! Highly recommend! When you get more used to dystopian books Brave New World is a really interesting read as well! Also, since you picked up some Japanese lit I'd be very interested in your opinion on Haruki Murakami which a good start into his world would be Norwegian Wood and Kafka On The Shore. I also think you'd enjoy books like A Tree Grows In Brooklyn and The Watsons Go To Birmingham! Thank you for you videos!
You really just unlocked a VERY CORE MEMORY for me with “The Watsons Go To Birmingham” 😭 I for sure have to get that book ASAP ‼️ I also appreciate the other recs as well 🙌🏾🙌🏾
THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy is a great recommendation for digestable dystopian fiction--a wonderful place to start! The world-building, characters, and plot are all fantastic and highly readable. Katniss Everdeen is a stellar protagonist/hero. Murakami, on the other hand, I would not recommend to new readers. His writing can be kind of experimental, PLUS we're reading it in translation, which adds another layer of complexity. To many people, his stories are quite hard to digest. I do like him a contemporary author, but I think I'd hold off on tackling a Murakami novel until you've really cut your teeth on high-end literary fiction.
I love the range of books you read! Always a surprise in there and your takes are really helpful. I was curious what you would think of Earthlings since it's OUT THERE - love how you framed it! 😂 Congrats on the sponsorship!
I absolutely loved Earthlings! The story really stays with you and leaves a raw yet fulfillment in you. I strongly suggest reading ‘Connivence Store Woman’! It is not like Earthlings but the premise and story that is told is an eye opener to the disadvantages and challenges (women specifically) go through in Japan when they are not considered ‘normal’. 😊
Found your channel last week, love your energy and diverse genre selection! Keep up the vids man you're gonna be a staple in the book community for sure!!
I read 1984 as a teen in the early 90's and I've been curious to re-read it, just to see how it has aged. There are some modern classics that simply didn't age well. Thank you for another great vlog. So glad to see your subscribers increasing -- and so quickly! 🥳
Theres a book I recommend called "Dead of Winter" by Darcy Coates, and that book was amazing! Like, had me running laps and screeching and pulling my hair. It's a horror/thriller book where people are trapped in a small cabin while everyone is slowly getting killed off one by one. It's genuinely my favorite book of all time! It's actually the first book to seriously give me anxiety while reading (y'know the feeling of wanting to look away during a scary movie? That but with a book) The plot twists were a 10/10, Coates' writing style is also one of my favorites. She writes characters so well, and it was a perfect pace imo. I'm recommending it because I desperately need someone to talk to about this book 😔 it's been months and I STILL think about it.
Back in school I read Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. It is a memoir where Mitch was the student of sociology professor Morrie Schwartz who died of ALS which is a neurological disease. Takes time to understand but it is eye opening once you’ve finished.
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE is a great book. I avoided it for years because I thought it was going to be saccharine & "sappy," but Morrie (the real person) has such hard-nosed truth in him. So no matter how bad his ALS gets, he doesn't hide it from us. But somehow the book is still filled with such joy and vigor and zest for life. It's kind of a miracle combination. Revelatory and life-affirming.
Yay on the sponsorship!! I'm about to walk over to the bookstore (yes, I live within a 5 minute walk to one! It's dangerous lol) and get a few of these! Thanks, cousin 😊
I wish I could get back that anxiety and shock I experience once Winston was captured. His conversation with O'Brien inside the ministry of love really hits at the superfluous nature of attempting to be free in a world where information can't be trusted and every action is scrutinized. It's absolutely a warning and a beautiful critique of political concepts like Absolute-Justice, Cult of Personality, Stalinism and Populism. Once you've read more political texts, I'd definitely recommend a re-read of 1984 in a couple years. It is absolutely timeless.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 congrats 🎉🎉🎉 cousin Five ! Your love of books 📚 and a sponser. Look at GOD opening doors..ayeeeee ayeeeee 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 keep bringing the amazing content. Your RU-vid family supports you ❤❤❤❤we out here vibing with books and reading wit ya ...keep shining 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
You're such a joy to watch! Your love for books and the excitement that you show is awesome. I did miss you and seeing your videos. I want to send you a congratulations on your channel and the growing subscribers that you have. May the Lord continue on blessing you and your future endeavors❤📚
Cousin Five! Thanks for another great video. I just finished one of your previous book recommendations, Blacktop Wasteland, and I loved it! Definitely going to check these out too.
1984 is so good! The part that took me out of it was the "book within a book" portion. But it's super thought provoking. I love your channel keep it going!
I'm so happy your channel is growing so fast! Congrats on being sponsored, too! I'm so happy to have been along for the ride since the beginning. I hope your authenticity and energy never changes, this is pretty much my favourite Booktuber channel at this point. Anywho, I read 1984 when I was maybe 20-ish? Not for school, because I went to school in my own language lol, but I liked it, kinda. I'm less interested in YA romance, especially if it's straight (I know one of the characters is bi, but the relationship is still cis MF), so I'm probably less likely to pick this up, but I have heard great things about Talia Hibbert, and I really do love that plus-sized Black women are getting some romance rep. So like, basically, the one I'm most intrigued about is the one you're not recommending! It made you feel weird and all out of sorts, and hell yeah, I'm here for all the unhingedness!
Great reviews. I’ve tried 1984 twice and DNF’d both times. I understand it’s cultural place in modern lit but I struggled with it. You might like Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Similar themes but more accessible prose, imo. Highly recommend.
Congratulations on the growth of your channel. Well deserved! Unfairly Cute sounds like fun. It reminds me of a good movie on Netflix with similar themes called Candy Jar. Love your channel!
I have some of the same book on my TBR which I was kinda on the fence about reading. Your take made me want to jump right in! Keep up the awesome work!
WAITTTTTT!!!!! I love this!!! I love booktube but I only seen and watch the yt girlies videos. A black booktuber!!! 🥴 and you’re a guy whatttt I love this for meeee lol I never thought I’d get to have this type of experience…. book reviews from a black guy!!!! ❤❤ I love your video!!
Yasss sponsorship 🎉. Now BOTM needs to go ahead and slide you your code too! Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into Highly Suspicious but if you’re on the YA romance train, you NEED to read Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle. If you love R&B, unapologetic boldness in Black culture, and Love Jones, then that book will knock your socks off 🫶🏾
I've only watched a few of your videos now and really like your content. I feel like you're someone I could sit down with and talk for hours about books, life, etc. I'm sure you've got a pile of books to read already, but I wanted to give you some recommendations of some of my favorite authors and one book to start with each if you're interested. 1. Stephen King -- Misery (a page-turner for sure; also, the Green Mile is another good first King book) 2. William Faulkner -- Light in August (he can be a tough read, but he's worth it in my opinion) 3. J. D. Salinger -- Catcher in the Rye (all four of his books are excellent, but start with his first) 4. Haruki Murakami -- The Wind-up Bird Chronicle (another "strange" Japanese writer like Sayaka Murata, but also one of my favorites) 5. Kotaro Isaka -- Bullet Train (I can almost guarantee that you'll like this one; I never saw the movie, but I know the book is better) I could list many more but five is a good number. Plus, some of my favorites, I know you've already read, like The Great Gatsby. Have a good one.
glad you read 1984, its completely relatable to today! if you want another book thats kind of similar, brave new world is considered a parallel to 1984, but in a different way.
If you liked 1984 and Brave New World, then I recommend WE. It’s translated from Russian and is older than either book. It was one of Orwell’s influences.
Came across your channel today, watched your content and I had no other option but to subscribe and hit the bell!! I’ll keep an eye for more. One love!
Cousin Five, I’m glad you read 1984. As you spoke on it an earlier video, we had to read this and Animal Farm in high school in the ‘80’s. Read Animal Farm too when you can.
Yooooo, congrats on the sponsor! Love your content so I'm happy you can get some bank from it :D I hope you read Sayaka Murata's other book, Convenience Store Woman because it's one of my favourites that I've read the last few years and I'd like to hear your thoughts. It's definitely neurodivergent coded and as someone with autism, I related to it so much.
I ended up picking up the graphic novel version of 1984 (started it a while back ago but need to finish it) I loved your review! Definitely encouraged me to pick it up again to hopefully finish soon!
always love your videos! i liked talia hibbert's brown sisters series so really excited to check out 'highly suspicious and unfairly cute.' never read any george orwell but your review convinced me to add '1984' to my to-read list. i'm currently reading "moon of the crusted snow" by waubgeshig rice which is a dystopian thriller. i'm about halfway through and really liking it so far and think it may be up your alley!
I just finished this phenomenal new book of fairy tales entitled Sillies, Fancies, and Trifles - it was phenomenal and I think you'd love it. It would go with the lovely recommendations here. Keep up the beautiful videos :)
heyyy! congrats on the sponsor! I totally get what you're saying about 1984, because it has "high school English class" association it makes it feel like schoolwork. For me, that's not a bad thing because I managed to enjoy almost all the books I read in school, but that could just be the luck of my teachers. My recommendation is The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer. It's the only romance book I've ever really enjoyed (romance is not my preferred genre) but this was a really good mix of romance, real world situations, and realistic people for me.
Started watching your videos not too long ago & I like what you offer here man. This isn’t book related but would you consider making a video about your tattoos? Nice video& channel man
Omg you have a sponsor I am so freakin happy for you Cousin Five!! I haven’t even finished the video yet, I had to stop and comment first cuz this is amazing
Seeing a new video from you makes me smile 😊 Congrats on your sponsorship! They must have figured out what we already knew…you make awesome videos. I have never been interested in reading 1984 until I heard you talk about it. Thanks!!
I have never read 1984. I recently bought a used copy of 1984 and Animal Farm. I’ll probably get a used copy of Fahrenheit 451. All three of these books are so ingrained in our society and referenced a lot. In large part it is because a lot of people had them as required reading in school. I heard one of them referenced again last month and realized that while I think I understand what they are implying, I don’t actually Know since I have never read the source material. So many phrases and references get twisted over time that when you go back to the source, you realize that the current day meaning is not at all the original or the intended meaning. Sometimes it is actually the opposite.
I would add BRAVE NEW WORLD and THE HANDMAID'S TALE to that list. Dystopian classics all. And, to a lesser degree because they haven't reached "classic" status yet, CHILDREN OF MEN and Jose Saramago's BLINDNESS. Saramago won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998, so BLINDNESS may be well on its way to becoming a classic.
Good to see you Five! congrats on the sponsor. I can’t remember if you’ve read Animal Farm by George Orwell, but I’d think you’d like that one. 1984 is on my TBR. Can’t wait for your next book review!
earthlings was a TRIP! i read it after reading her first book, which is such a different pace and mood it's actually crazy. would definitely suggest picking it up, it's very mundane and a little satirical but really gets you to think. the book was called convenience store woman!
Congrats your success bro! You’re an inspiration. I’m totally with you on 1984. It was difficult for me to get through the first time I read it. But I just listening to the Audible immersive version and it was dope! I recommend it to anyone on a re-read.
Big fan of yours! You inspire me to keep writing even if it’s not what’s hot right now. Us men feel too. Haha 1984, is fucked my brother, Orwell,a definitely called it. Haha skillshare is big time! Congrats, keep working! 🙌🏼 I’d love to hear your thoughts on Infinite Jest and David Foster Wallace
Here's my reading recommendation: Paolo Coelho's _The Alchemist_ . Would love to hear your take on it. It's one of my favourite books. Really makes you think about your life's purpose and the spiritual aspects of that.
If you were interested in 1984, I recommend checking out Brave New World if you haven't read it yet. Great video all in all, wishing you the best of luck while you continue your journey on the platform.
