I loved The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. I'm hoping she has another book out soon. I'm kind of obsessed with Percival Everett right now; Erasure was excellent and James is right around the corner! If you haven't read Telephone yet, I recommend that one, too.
It is SUCH a joy that Everett has this enormous back catalogue to dive into. I might make a bit of a project of it. And, as luck would have it, a bunch of his previous books are being reissued in the UK like... this month or something? It's fate 😅
Hi Ben. Wonderful video and wrap-up of February. I absolutely loved seeing all of the pictures of the London meet-up on some other channels. What an incredible event! I hope that we can do something like that in parts of the US at some point. I also have a copy of Martyr! and it is one that I will read soon. I have JAMES on order and should receive it the day that it is available here in the US. I've been more than a little overwhelmed this month as I just started my own channel, after watching all of you for the past year (I used to comment on your videos under my full name instead of this channel name). My favorite February read, I think, was Alice McDermott's Absolution, though I've also been reading or re-reading a lot of banned books, and many of those have been wonderful too. Thanks for another great video.
Thanks Pat! I am a bit silly that I didn't take pictures of my own 😅 And huge congrats on starting your own channel!!! It's a great first step to take, so I hope you get a lot of fun out of it.
loved The Secret Lives of Church Ladies! is The Night Alphabet very sci-fi/futuristic? I really like the premise but being set hundreds of years in the future makes me nervous!
The Night Alphabet is a bit futuristic, particularly at the start, but it jumps around quite a bit. The first couple of stories are set in the past, including in northern mining towns! Some is present day, and then some is a bit more speculative.
I read “Hamnet” for February’s challenge. It was so good. Only problem I had with the book is that it was more about Hamnet’s mother. So I’m not sure why they didn’t title the book “Agnus”.
Glad you found a goodie for February 😊 Yeah it's very much Agnes' story. Reminded me a bit in that way of Shuggie Bain, which is also more about another Agnes than it is about Shuggie!
My best reads of February were Javier Marias " Berta isla" spy novel where not much happens but there is lot of space for thoughts and beautiful long sentences, Yoko Ogawa " Revenge: Eleven dark tales" ( read it twice cause I love her and how she writes) and Meg Mason " Sorrow ans bliss".
For people who like movies -- we still haven't seen American Fiction, but the plot reminded us of a hilarious and thoughtful movie that no one seems to mention anymore, Hollywood Shuffle. A different take on the same theme. Now Erasure and The Night Alphabet are on my tbr!
I wish I could read 9 books in a month! I read pretty slowly, in part because I savor but mostly because I only have time to read at night before bed. When I'm *really* enjoying a book I naively take it to work with me, but I've never had time to read at work in my 20 years of practicing law. Sometimes I think the best thing that could happen to me is some kind of house arrest situation. Anyway, I'm tearing through Enter Ghost, which I love. LOVE. I'll probably finish it this weekend. Last month I finished my first two books of the year (after a very scary January, during which I couldn't complete a single book). I read Tender is the Flesh, which is good but haunting. It fulfilled my Fever-ary challenge. And then I read The Last Language by Jennifer duBois, which is so good. It's unsettling and haunting in a different way, with an amazing take on the unreliable narrator. I hope it gets published in the UK. If not, and if you want to read it, I'll send it to you. So far in March I've read La Bastarda by Trifonia Melibea Obono, which has the distinction of being one of, if not the first, English - translated novel from Equatorial Guinea. There was an article in the New York Times about the subtle rising of queer fiction in Africa and that's how I stumbled upon this. It's really short and not a masterpiece but I suspect it's a pretty accurate snapshot of life in remote EG. The author still lives there. And then Women Talking - what a sweet little gem. I loved the voice of August, the narrator and the various characters among the women. I still think about that one. I grew up in rural Michigan and there were lots of what we called old-order Mennonites (or Amish) in my county - enough that there were hitching posts at local stores and stuff for their horses. My grandparents used to engage them to slaughter chickens. The kids don't speak English; I suppose they speak the same language as the folks in the book. It sounds like some kind of Dutch or German. Still working out what to read next. I think my 'Women's Prize pick for the challenge is Song of Achilles, which I've wanted to read for years, since I loved Circe. Thanks for the motivation!
To be honest I am usually not a very fast reader either, but I have found myself reading for longer and pushing myself to read a bit faster, but I think I want to slow down a little. There are just too many books I want to read and not enough time though!!! I am exactly the same with taking books to places I definitely won't get a chance to read 😂 I also really enjoyed Women Talking, and recently read Enter Ghost but have to wait until the BookTube Prize ballot closes before I can talk about it! Song of Achilles is a great pick - I still need to get to it!
Wow Ben! Your summaries are so gorgeously lyrical, I just order the books on a different tab as soon as you finish talking about each title! Your thoughts are so well organized, you probably sell me on the books you disliked too. Keep 'em coming! Greetings from NYC!
This is such a wonderfully kind comment to read - thank you so much! I do try to put in effort thinking about my book reviews and what I want to say, to get under the skin of why I liked or didn't like something. It's a bonus when people enjoy listening to them too! ❤️
Pet sounds very interesting! Reminds me a bit of the Prime of Jean Brodie. I had a slow reading month in Feb but my best read was On the Marsh by Simon Barnes. Beautiful bit of nature writing combined with family life.
I really need to read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - I am a sucker for most stuff that was written in the 60s for some reason, so it has been on my list *forever*!
How to Say Babylon was my outstanding read of February, it was on my TBR long before it showed up on the Nonfiction WP. I’ve long known memoirs written by poets are my sweet spot, and it’s well told in beautiful language and metaphor, which helps digest that harrowing truth of being a female living under an oppressive paternalistic head of household of repressive religion like Rasta. I had very little prior knowledge of it as a religion and I didn’t even know it’s not highly regarded in Jamaica. I enthusiastically recommend it, and the audio, with her very lovely Jamaican lilt to her voice. I may seek out some of her poetry for April.
Thanks for the recommendation! I haven't tackled anything from the non-fic list yet, but that one definitely appeals and it's good to know it's great on audio.
The secret lives of church ladies was a 5* read for me, I loved it. I can remember some of the stories, but read it quite a while ago. I'd really like to read Pet, as I loved her last book. I must try Percival Everett by the sounds of it! I'm watching American Fiction this week with a friend, can't wait to see it. Hope you're having a good month 😊
Sorry for the slow reply, but I hope you enjoyed American Fiction! I found it a lot of fun, and it's a good adaptation of the book. Definitely prioritise Pet - it's fab!
I am looking forward to talking about it! It's actually a bit of a pain not getting my thoughts out while they're still fresh... I really should have vlogged along the way, but oh well 😅 1984 and Julia are both super interesting and super disturbing!
thanks for the reminder of Church Ladies. I must get to it! I also just finished Erasure and I was wowed by it too. Oh my, the satire! I loved the way you talk about it here. 🥰
So glad you enjoyed Pet! And The Secret Lives of Church Ladies - I absolutely need to read it and Martyr!). My favourite read (audio) in Feb. was It’s Not About the Burqa edited by Mariam Khan, a non-fic which I highly recommend but will also say that Between Dog and Wolf was really captivating, so I’m very grateful to you for reviewing it and drawing me to it ☺️🤝
I have got Martyr! and I Have Some Questions ForYou on my audio TBR. Of the 9 books I had on my TBR for #irishreadathon , I’ve only finished one. Solar Bones by Mike McCormack I’m still reading/listening to Solider Sailor by Claire Kilroy Night Swimmers by Roisin Maguire Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth Enter Ghost Fayne ☘️👋🍀🇮🇪📖☕️📚📕 Happy St Patrick’s Day ☘️
I have so many of these books on my tbr! I think I'll try to get to Erasure as my book for your Read Good challenge this month, but I am definitely overbooked, so to speak. My favourite book of February was What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt.
Ah well, I know there's a lot of prize reading going on at the moment, so no sweat on the challenge! I have not read any Hustvedt but always hear good things 😊
I loved The Night Alphabet. I knew nothing about the author but I could tell very quickly she was a poet by the language, and some stunning lines. I also recently read Pet and enjoyed the suspense of it. I read Day by Michael Cunningham for my pandemic book, which was okay. I don't really get along with Percival Everett's style of satire, it's too heavy handed for my liking. March so far has been prize reading.
Yay, I'm so glad you liked The Night Alphabet! I think it will be challenging for my top reads of the year. Had heard mixed things on the Cunningham, but at least it wasn't a stinker for you. And can totally understand Everett not being for everyone. He's definitely very forthright with the satire.
Currently reading Martyr! And enjoying it, I think. There's so much in it, my brain is a bit overwhelmed! I think it'll be the kind of book I enjoy even more once I've finished it and it keeps with me.
Writing to a kindred morning-hater to say, I see you Ben. You are not alone. So glad you have read and loved The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. I have Greg at Supposedly Fun to thank for putting it on my radar(and championing it regularly). Just think of all the future readers who will discover it now because of you. Such a gem of a book. Thanks for making my TBR even longer. You just convinced me to add Pet, Erasure, The Night Alphabet, and possibly The House of Broken Bricks. Have I mentioned I'm old? I really don't have that much reading time left, Ben. Finally, a quick question re your Read Good Challenge: would it be absolutely, positively cheating to deal with No-paragraph-break-vember by listening to an audio book? 😉
This is very comforting to know as I feel like I'm surrounded by morning people these days! I feel like having children changes people 😅 I often think about how much reading time I have, and it's (briefly) depressing how few books it's possible to read in a lifetime. However with this month's reading, I think my time chips were very well spent. On the Read Good Challenge: there are no hard rules, so if you need to adapt them, be my guest! The main thing is to have fun with it 😊
Joelle Taylor is actually doing an event in my local library this week. Usually when international authors visit the netherlands they'd go to Amsterdam or any of the other major cities, so when I saw she was visiting here I was very thrilled (and slightly confused). And now hearing you rave about the book has made me even more excited about seeing her!
I read Julia for the Savidge Prompts and then I read The Fell by Sarah Moss for yours. Both excellent reads. Will be reading The Talented Mr Ripley for your prompt this week.
Glad the prompts are going well for you! I also read Julia for Savidge Prompts 👁️ and almost went for The Talented Mr Ripley for my own, but chose True Grit instead in the end.
See, this is the thing that I struggle with concerning audio versus traditional book reading. If you had read The House of Broken Bricks and created the characters in your own head with their own voices, do you think you would have enjoyed it more? I can't help but think that the audio shortcomings spoiled the experience for you.
I'm not sure really - one of the narrators didn't work for me, but that was only a small part of the book compared to the others who were fine. It can be a bit of a gamble, but sometimes it pays off: my experience of Good Material and The Bee Sting were both definitely elevated by listening to the audio. I think I just need to learn more about what works for me on audio and what doesn't. I suspect it's plotty books or ones with a distinct voice that work best, but I will keep learning through trial and error 😅
More interesting books to add to my to read list 😊 I’m currently reading Clear by Carys Davies because of your review and I’m loving it, the writing is beautiful.
So many interesting books! I really want to read The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, Pet, The House of Broken Bricks, and The Night Alphabet - this concept had me hooked as soon as I heard it. Sorry to hear about the voice acting, I've only recently tried audiobooks and it's very hit and miss. If it's good or sort of neutral, it makes reading so easy, but if it's bad, it can really tank a good book. I'm listening to Yellowface at the moment, and although I think the narrator does a good job, the way it's written makes the audiobook sound like hours and hours of whining... I'm starting to get annoyed just from the tone of voice! Maybe that's true for the physical book as well though, I have no comparison. Anyways, I enjoyed your reviews and subbed :)
It was a great reading month for sure! Yeah it's interesting how much the narrator can impact on the experience of reading a book. I mean, it makes sense, but it's odd to think a different narrator could create an entirely different experience. I wonder how far off we are from publishers trying to do AI narration and letting you pick any famous person to read a book to you... but that's a bit dystopian and awful for voice actors. Thanks so much for watching and subscribing - pleased to have you here!
@@benreadsgood Oh, that would be great and horrible at the same time! I think AI has a bit to go before it's going to sound natural enough for an audiobook. I'm hoping. And the non-AI ones would be marketed as "Read by REAL human!!!" Although I might be nice to have the option for a neutral reader, if you find the narration a bit over-acting... Compromise: AI - tone them down, please. Best, non-AI
YES! Everything you said about The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, but especially, How To Make Love To A Physicist! Also my favorite story. I definitely want to read The Night Alphabet. I had so many great reads in February, Blizzard by Marie Vingtras, Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson, and The Reformatory by Tananarive Due being the cream of the crop.
It was such a great book, and a great story! Felt like a way more realistic portrayal of romance, and you don't realise how UNrealistic so many others are until you read a gem like this. Another Brooklyn is sitting on my shelf, staring at me, waiting to be read 👀
@@benreadsgood Take a look at Another Brooklyn. Huge margins, lots of white space, a super fast read. I read it in a day. And such lyrical writing. I was annoyed it was sitting here for as long as it was.
You sold me on The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. Ordered a second hand paperback copy whilst listening to your vlog. That's about as extravagant as I get in my book purchases. Normally, I borrow an e-book or an actual book, but this time I couldn't find either available. My favourite read from February would be The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old, by Hendrik Groen (pseudonym of writer Peter de Smit) A truly cozy read that was equally humorous and poignant. Q: As you enjoyed Erasure, I'm curious if you have read The Sellout by Paul Beatty? I think you would enjoy it, if you have not.
I have a feeling you won't regret grabbing a copy of Church Ladies. It's such a banger! I haven't read The Sellout but I do have a copy of it... just never got around to it! Thanks for the nudge 😊
@@benreadsgood Just finished reading Church Ladies and wanted to rewatch your review and also thank you bringing up a book I probably would have never heard about. I agree the writer's skill at creating a distinct voice in each of her stories was remarkable. I think my favorite stories from the collection were Dear Sister and Jael.
@@benreadsgood Pet: I enjoyed it. You knew where it was going, but still a fun ride. I just started The Snow Child (Eowyn Ivey). Very good 100pages in.
