Mentioned: ✨ My skincare box - bit.ly/3z0lnsI Book meet up vlog - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rmV21FdrVls.html ✨ ALSO! I completely forgot to talk about Book Lovers by Emily Henry until after this was already all edited and subtitled but I have a vid coming in a week or two where I'll go into detail about it cause it was SO GOOD!
Half a Soul was just pure joy in book form. Short, sweet with touches of romance, sarcasm and magic. I feel like this is probably the perfect book to pick up if you’ve found yourself in a reading rut or feeling uninspired.
The girl who fell beneath the sea is a beautiful book. I just got this today and I am already on chapter five. Something about the writing is just beautiful too. Almost poetic.
I’m glad you’re chatting about Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow because it ABSOLUTELY wrecked me. I had to put the book down for 3 days because of how it hurt me and I know no one else who’s read it but I feel like it’s such a life changing book and I want to promote it from the rooftops. So I’m happy to see and hear someone else’s thoughts on it 😭
OH MY GOSH! My library hold finally came in and I've already recommended this to two people within minutes of finishing it. I absolutely love the parallel structure between the opening and closing scenes, because it gives it that videogame "new game plus" feeling, in a much more encouraging way than... the "restart" scene during the alternate narrator portion? But yeah, this whole thing made me cry the kind of crying where your eyes physically hurt after. Wow!
I just finished it yesterday and I am definitely in the wrecked stage. My mind keeps on going back to the book and then I get teary-eyed all over again. 😭😩
I finished tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow last night and i ave felt such a profound sense of emtiness since 😭when i read the last sentence i didnt realise it was bc the book still had like many pages left BUT THEN I SAW NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and then reread the last paragraph as well knowing it is and i honestly felt like sobbing from 45 different emotions, WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really liked The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia so I thought I'd weigh in on the "why does Nina have powers?" question. I read that Moreno-Garcia wanted this to be a "book about manners" in the way of Jane Austen novels. So often when we read fantasy the character's powers not only define them but are essential to progressing the plot. Nina doesn't need to save the world and she doesn't really need to have mastery of her powers by the end of the book. I read it as Nina growing in confidence to speak up for herself, her desires, and live a different life. Her powers grow stronger as she does but it's not the main focus. I've read a few books recently where the fantasy/magic is just a background detail. It's really different from the standard fantasy where the powers and world-building are so central to the narrative. It also made a lot of sense to me the way Moreno-Garcia ended Mexican Gothic. The family's obsession with staying "pure" and "preserving their heritage" is what brought about their ruin. I don't want to say too much (I'm trying to stay spoiler free) but the practices of the family were common amongst European royalty. People today are still interested in eugenics in ways that really worry me (it's unfortunately not a thing of the past). In a less intense (and not illegal way) we still see people of higher classes only socializing and marrying each other to preserve their social standing and exclude "outsiders." I hope you have a happier August reading month. Sorry for this novel-length response!
yeah i didnt mean that i didnt like mx gothic - just that i hate reading about that topic and so when it came sort of out of the blue i didnt enjoy reading it :') thank you tho!!!
@@caricanread yeah, I totally understand! It's not a fun or easy subject. The ending definitely makes it a horror book. I understand why people don't like that part.
Ohhhhh my gosh, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was my July BOTM pick too and I literally sobbed. SOBBED. Ugh. It was so good! The characters may not be 100% likable, but I love them all regardless.
Ladies and gentlefolk, she's done it again 😭❤ Half A Soul sounded super interesting, so immediately after watching I ran to Libby and read it in a day! It ended up being the first 5☆ book of the year for me!!! Such a sweet story, and I had never heard of it before. Thanks for the rec, Cari!
I don’t typically comment on videos but if you haven’t already, I would recommend the book Six Crimson Cranes. It’s really beautifully written and I believe the second in the duology is coming out soon. The general premise of the story is that the princess of this empire and her 6 brothers get cursed, her brothers turn into cranes and she is not allowed to speak or make any noise for that would kill one of her brothers. So she goes on a quest to find her brothers and break there curse. (I’m not the best at making summaries so I’m sorry if this is scrambled) but the story was beautiful and I would recommend 100% (edit: the author is Elizabeth Lim)
@@caricanread I’m also currently reading The Priory of the Orange Tree, it’s a very long book (814 pages) but it is so beautiful and worth the read, i fled through half the book in a couple days
This sounds like the premise of a fairytale my mom used to tell us when we were kids! Probably inspired by it. Sounds great tho, I hope I can read it some time :)
Juliet Marilliers Sevenwaters series deals with a very similar fairytale, I highly recommend her books, she makes great fairytales in a real feeling historical setting.
i just want to thank you SO MUCH for doing the ACOTAR plot vid!! i prefer to not read any spice, but i still wanted to know what everyone was talking about 😭😭 you’re actually the best
the wellness check in the beginning was so needed, I felt so called out but I've barely been drinking any water, even though I've been feeling very aneamic the past few days lol. Take care Cari! Literally can't wait for the summer heat to go away :)
I have to say that your review of How High We Go In The Dark was outstanding. It is difficult to describe the book (other than to say it was freaking amazing) but you did a fantastic job without giving away much of anything with regards to spoilers. Nice job!
Man, you really commit! 30+ minutes! Sounds like a great month of reading. I've been doing well lately in the reading department too--thanks for the recs, Cari!
I love that you pointed out how Sea of Tranquility felt like it was saying "maybe the world is always ending" especcciiialllyyyy because all of Mandel's characters live in all of her books (they creep up every once in awhile, sometimes not directly by name but you know they're being referenced, like a certain actor) but each book takes place in a slightly different world. Like the events of Station Eleven didn't happen in The Glass Hotel or SoT, but it's referenced, and you get the sense that they skirted one apocalypse just to find another. I adore her so much, so was super excited to hear your thoughts!!
That was actually scary accurate when you said to drink water even if you’re about to go to bed. Here’s me just downing a pint and up all night peeing. 👀 Thanks Cari! 😂
Just loved your thoughts on how high we go in the dark! It’s amazing how fiction helps us put our own reality into perspective. Thanks for the recommendation
i am so late to the hype but god i devoured “tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” in a day. i haven’t done that in so long. but everything about “tomorrow” had me hooked. i’m not a gamer myself (really not for me), but i was so compelled by their story. and yes, everything you described about this book just speaks to me.
It’s been weeks since I’ve finished Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and I still am in PAIN every time I think about it. So glad you felt the same way about it (and also sorry lol)
Strange the dreamer is one of my absolute favorite books ever. I love high fantasy like that, and I have a signed copy of that book. It sits in a place of pride on my shelf lol. If you are in love with romance or any type of very high fantasy or fairy tales you're going to love it.. The beginning couple chapters are a little bit of history for the MCs, not necessarily boring, but not as vivid as compared to the later half of the book. But the way that Lani Taylor writes is incredibly beautiful.
your channel really is a comfort space for me 🥺 after listening to you talking about “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” i definitely have to check it out !! also i’m currently reading the second book in the gilded wolves trilogy, thanks to your videos, and absolutely loving it
Cleopatra & Frankenstein sounds like a movie where "nothing" happens but delves into the assumptions people make about themselves and others in relationships. Did the book explicitly mention Cleopatra the historical figure and Frankstein the literary character?
Hey there! So happy to get an expected Tuesday notification from you, that made my day! About the Missing of Clairedelune, I do not think it’s worth you pushing through to know the ending: the two first books are the most popular (theyre my favorites as well!) and if you did not find the writing style, the Ghibliesque atmosphere engaging you’re defo not gonna love the next ones. I read those books as I was feeling so lonely in another country away from the people I loved and it really delivered, as it felt super cosy and unique. + The final ending is quite unexpected and unsatisfactory, even though a lot of details have been sparkled throughout the first three, I found it too abstract and messy and I know the author is taking a break from social media because she got a lot of hate from the fans saying that she ruined the series… love you always, thanks for the lovely vid xx
Honestly The Missing of Clairedelune was probably my favorite of the series. The third one was an absolute slog for me, and I’m still not sure about the fourth one. I like the characters, but getting through the whole series was rough.
ughhh thats how im feeling - i really want to learn more about the characters (especially our main two) but its like she doesnt want to write about that hahhah
Yea I'm kinda were you are cari I have read the first 2 but I don't know if I want to finish. I want to learn more about the characters and just see how it ends but I don't know
The ending's as if a ghibli movie had an existential crisis and suddenly decided to cosplay as Game of Thrones. Read it with a friend over a year ago and we still rant to each other about how uncalled for it was.
honestly my “grindset mindset” says read the rest of the series after missing of clairedelune and turn it into a video, especially if you hate it you could make a roast 😆 i have no idea how i’d feel about the book but i love seeing people have strong opinions on series anyways haha
Please keep going with the Mirror Visitor! The ending isn’t for everyone, but if you realize why it ended that way, it’s actually really beautiful and interesting. Also, you’ll be my favorite person in the world if you keep reading! 😂
I totally agree! I think if someone only read it for the romance it could feel like a slog but the main story isn't the romance, its the word and its mysteries! The ending is complex which suits the stories complex nature. I'm glad I'm not the only one who loved it!
Yeah Texas is having a beat down right now- I keep remembering several years back when we had to bring water to check the mail and electric and air could not be turned off if you couldn’t pay legally because heat was so bad. I can’t imagine how bad it is for places not prepared for that. Please do as she said and drink water, it is vital with temperatures like this! Thank you for touching on that, Love your videos! 💜
i know the exact reason why you said how high we go in the dark was so sad because i still get flashbacks on how horribly depressing the scenes are (yet i still loved the book because of how much it impacted me sighhh) idk if im just really into sci-fi pandemic things right now bc of what we experienced but the sea of tranquility as really good as well and i was into project hail mary - whatever it is, i want more
did cari warn me about reading books that could/would get my heart broken? yes. am i still going to read her recommendations? ABSOLUTELY YES! also, gabrielle zevin wrote storied life of a.j. fikry! ahhh to whoever's seeing this, read it! it's v heartwarming and ahhh just read it!
At the same time that mirror visitor is one of my favorite series EVER, the ending was reaaalllyy weird, and also girl who fell beneath the sea was my fav book i read this month, it was sooo good!!!
GIRL!!!! I love your videos. and you're so cool!!! this is so inspiring to get back in to reading! I love how you have a wide taste of books so you can give us a wider range of recs. lots of love from australia!!!
I loved Station Eleven, and the future science stuff in Sea of Tranquility sounds great. I read Strange the Dreamer last year and really liked it. The first half especially. Now to get into MY jammies.
tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow was my highest anticipated book of the year because i love video games and it absolutely wrecked me, i’m pretty sure i went through all five stages of grief over it. i had never read a book about the terrible thing that happens in it and i don’t really ever want to again. i wasn’t sure the author could win me back after that but i think she did. still processing it and i finished it 2 weeks ago. it’s a book i wish i could share with my dad and sister who are the reason i love gaming but don’t want them to go through the emotional trauma i did. i’m hoping this one will be popular and encourage more books with gaming to be published. i’m glad you enjoyed it despite not liking video games! here’s to a happier reading month in august!
Would you be able to tell me what happens? I really just want a total spoiler. I can't read books that are that heavy because they get me in a mood for days but I'm so curious and can't find anyone spoiling it online. :(
I relate so much to being a book loving introvert who has trouble making friends 😭 thank you for the validation and the tips on meet ups even though those still kinda scare me 😖
Okay so I read two books and I remember I was gonna talk in your next monthly wrap up so here I am!! The Alpha's Son 3.25/5 ⭐ Things I like: - the first and mid parts of this books was nice. It felt magical and relatable, especially with how the main character views his world. - loved Aisha, one of the side characters in the book. She's fun and I honestly want to be her best friend - I am not the type of person that's into these typical magical prose used in fantasy books because of my low comprehension skills and just that it takes away from the definitive meaning of the book, so I appreciated it when the writing style was direct and upfront Things I didn't like: - the ending. All of the build up was just twisted with how the ending happend - the injustice given to Max. Throughout the book, he was never given any justice whatsoever. He was treated badly and none of the characters ever proper apologized or admitted to the mistake - some spelling and grammar mistakes - despite being categorised as LGBTQ, the romance never was really build around them liking men but because of some "bond mate" thing. The book also commented about coming out was "normal" in the human world, and there's alot of queer people out already which is true but with how it was written, it was undermining the issues that comes before and after coming out Gallant 4/5⭐ Things I did like: - the characters weren't really depth but I found myself enjoying reading them and getting to know the parts that was revealed about them - I like the layout of these books and the themes the book had - I was heartbroken by the emotions in the ending and the defeated feeling Matthew felt finding about his brother Things I didn't like: - like with what I have said in my The Alpha's Son review, I do not like fantasy prosing and this book was filled with them. Unnecessary repeats and questionable use of commas. I still believe that the book could have even cut to just about 200-299 pages long had it been more refurbished - absolutely no plot and no end goal. Although I loved the emotions in the ending, the actual climax of it never made sense at all. There was no real story that build up to that moment and it all felt weak - so many themes yet to have been explored. I feel like this book was just made because the author had to release a new book. There was so many ideas that was not delved further and it felt disappointing since some of the key points in the book never made sense Hope you had fun reading this!!
How high we go in the dark was something I grabbed on a whim knowing nothing about and I read it and have no clue how but it has become my favorite book. I had to stop at the second chapter for a minuet and didnt think I would pick it back up. I am so glad I did. It’s a book I think about almost daily.
Yay new video!! Also I recommend reading the guest list by Lucy foley it was.. interesting but I just wanna see ur reaction to the ending & some of the dialogue tbh 😂💀
How High We Go in the Dark is by far one of my favourite reads this year. Absolutely destroyed me in the beginning though. I loved the way little details throughout the stories came together in the end.
I LOVED the first two books in the mirror visitor series but the third felt like a conpletely different book and I was kind of put off by it. Alot of what I loved was gone from the series. I’d say the series is still worth reading as a whole, but you have to keep in mind that the books will focus less on the characters and more about discovering the world? The world came first, the characters second. I also was bummed with the ending 🙃 it’s not BAD BAD, but unsatisfying
Please push through as someone who loves the series I defo recommend ending it because idk it just good, though the end is very frustrating. But I totally understand the frustrations with the books, since it is translated there are somethings that are missing.
I felt the same way about a Winters Promise, like the story wasn’t fully there. But I adored the second book in the series. I’d say that, if you didn’t like the first two, you probably won’t care for the second two and maybe should just skip this one.
I’ve read both Mexican Gothic and Gods of Jade and Shadow and I agree, the style just isn’t for me, the turns the author chooses to take end up being a bit meh which is a shame because both were enjoyable to me until a meh turn showed up :(
ahh, I've been wanting to read The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea ever since it came out!! plans to buddy read were made, but it's been so long, I've been sorely tempted to just go ahead and read it 😂
"you consider yourself a citizen of the world" 😭don't know why that hits me, but seriously Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow hit me like a freight train; it was so beautiful and devastating, Sam has traits of mine I thought only I had and OMFG I feel so judged through him 😰
noooo so sorry to hear that you didn't end up liking cleopatra and frankenstien! it's probably my fav book that i've read this year. i think it's actually kind of funny how we feel the complete opposite because my least fav part about it was actually the first chapter bc it read almost cheesy and cringey to me haha! funny how literature can speak to different people in different ways 😆
I'm about to finish the last book in The Mirror Visitor series, and honestly I get all of the opinions. On one hand, I have never read a book that blew me away more when it comes to plot and the worldbuilding, but on the other hand, books 3 and especially 4 are SO confusing. Like, having to take a break to try to connect the dots because you feel like you're suddenly getting a condensed plot that should've been spread across the previous 3 books confusing. It's so fast paced and honestly, with a hundred pages left, I have NO idea what to expect. Either way, no matter how it ends, I will still be grateful for the journey, because I loved books 1-3 and the journey with the characters. If anything, I'd recommend you to read book 3 to get more of an idea about the whole God thing, but treat book 4 as optional - it really sort of breaks the magical and atmospheric bubble of the series.
I just finished Sea of Tranquility and I loved it so much. And of course Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow & How high we go in the dark are also lying here waiting to be read. I mean…i‘m a sucker for sad books so I can’t wait to read them both☺️
Winter’s Promise - I love this series. LOVE. I appreciated the ending. It felt right for the arc of the book. But some things are purposefully left unresolved and I have a sneaking suspicion you will hate it. The third book is my absolute favorite in the whole series. It’s the sweet spot for me. More character development and more traditionally plot driven. You might really enjoy the third book. I predict you’ll throw the fourth book across the room. I get why people hate it and I wasn’t like wow that was satisfying. But I also think it needed to end the way it does.
The third book is my favorite of the series too, I really liked the setting of Babel ! The explanations in the fourth are a bit far fetched and confusing (even in the original language as I read it in French) and the open ending was a bit frustrating 🥲 it's a really fun series but you have to be open minded to a weird and confusing plot 😅
This is literally how I feel about reading Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books! I’ve tried each time because the premise sounds really good but I find the story sort of lacking. I’m really interested in her new one though because it’s a take on one of my faves - The Island of Doctor Moreau. I’ve read someone’s version of it and liked it but I’m hoping I enjoy this one too.
I haven't fully read anything by Silvia Moreno García (tho I think I started the mayan mythology one?) but the only thing I can come up with is maybe she was leaning into magical realism. There's recently been a boom in conversation here in Mexico about how surreally we live sometimes (it's, like, a meme) which might've contributed to the random, unacknowledged magic. I'd have to read it to know, though, cuz MR is a lot about vibes imo
yeah this was deffo magical realism but it felt so odd? usually the magic elements have some kind of meaning but this felt like it was added in there just to get the magical realism label instead of being a romance hahaha
I really recommend the book beasts of a little land, it’s a book about life and missing opportunities and relationships while gaining others, it takes place in the early 1900’s in Korea, I really loved the way the women were described through out their life… as they aged other characters saw them as unimportant but I grew a greater attachment to them. They became more graceful and I saw the beauty of growing older in this book
Wait, you're in Korea too! A booktuber who lives in Seoul I must know your favorite book stores! My book club from Osan just went to Seoul on a bookish day trip!
I've been watching your ACTOAR content and then only JUST NOW realized you're the same queen whose day in the life living in Seoul videos I watched like 5 months ago oh haaaaaaay lets me friends you're amazing
Hi, I'm Mexican and what Cari is talking about in The Beautiful Ones is called *magical realism* here in Latin America. It was a HUGE wave in our literature, and most of our iconic authors have done it. I haven't read the book, but it sounds like it is magical realism, and in Latam books it's basically when a character has magical powers, abilities or some magical element that's never fully explained. It's just THERE and no one questions it. I'm over simplifying it of course, but it seems like that's what the author is trying to do.
Hiiii I know what magical realism is 😭 its a big thing in the US and i studied Spanish language lit in school but this didnt feel like magical realism to me. It was used in such an odd way and i felt like the author added it in simply to avoid the label of “romance.” Her other books lean heavily on magical realism and this one felt really insincere which is why I hesitated to call it magical realism.
Hi Cari, I too have read 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow' and I loved it!! Despite the fact that when I got to 'that part' (iykyk) I was so angry I went to bed.
I could watch these kind of videos from you endlessly!! Love your book summaries and your reactions are so entertaining. I’m definitely going to give some of these books a try! Just gotta make sure I’m emotionally ready for some of them it sounds like 😬😆
The 3rd and 4th books in the Mirror Visitor series are very different from the first 2 books. It's set on a different arc, and the story becomes a lot more about figuring out the magic system than families and politics. So, if you're interested to know more about the world, I think you should really push through to the end, because the worldbuilding is AMAZING. If you're there for some adventure, maybe try the 3rd book and see if you still like it. If you're there for the romance, maybe don't continue with it...
Honestly I don't recommend continuing the "Le Passe-Miroir" series if you didn't love the second book. I fairly enjoyed the first one but it only got worse with each book and the last book totally lost me. I feel like the last and first book are definitely about something else entirely.
I aways watch your books of the month video with a paper and a pen to write recs but this time you read a lot of sad books which I avoid always lol (I did write some tho). But it's always lovely to hear you talk about books. Thank you!
Just read How high we go in the dark in one sitting because of this video. You said suffering and I signed up lol. I Definitely was excited to see what I was suspecting come true in the end. Also yeah surprisingly cathartic!
Hi cari one of my favorite book series is tamora pierce circle of magic if you haven’t read it it’s about a magic school but the magic is created though practical means like weaving and growing plants it’s very good
Lol I absolutely loved The Beautiful Ones and thought that her and Hector’s talent gave them a common ground. Also, loved Gods of Jade and Shadow. To each their own! As for the Mirror Visitor series, hate to say it, but found book 2 to be the strongest in their series. Last half of the series gets super abstract and hella weird with very little payoff, in my opinion. But, gotta say, I have never ever read anything like it before.
12:12 Oh, I remember seeing part of a movie airing on an old box TV where Jacky Chan was killing..other... Jacky Chans....to essentially level up. XD I only saw the first few minutes of it before I had to go. Very interesting concept, though!
Yay for perfect timing, I traveled through the country yesterday and waited for trains under the hot sun. So now staying at home hydrating and watching this. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was so cute. I recently read a novella called A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow, it's a Sleeping Beauty retelling, and I thought it was a fun and fast easy read. Also recommend Little Thieves by Margaret Owen. Currently reading The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White, it's the first book of a fantasy trilogy set in Camelot. Love your weather reports 😂
Okay so, from your brief explanation of The Beautiful Ones, it seems like the author was taking inspiration from Isabelle Allende's narrative style. She is well known for creating the genre "magical realism". In short, she adds elements of magic and supperstion to non-fiction stories, while also doing a lot social commentary. In one of ther more known sagas (La Casa de los Espíritus), on of the female characters can move objects with her mind.
i actually really love isabel allende but this wasn't it :') i read a lot of magical realism and this book felt like she wrote a romance and just added this teeeeny magical element to keep it from being labeled 'romance.' It didnt feel like an actual magical realism book.
I loved Sea of Tranquility. Adding onto the apocalyptic, intergenerational, time skipping mega epics, I can wholeheartedly recommend Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan. So many emotions.
Very cool. I added Half A Soul to my tbr. But I wanted to say I am over half way through Sorcery Of Thorns. Thanks for the rec! I really do feel rhe Miyazaki vibes. Libby had the audio book and I love the narrator. And I forgot how much I love being read to. Thanks again your fantasy recs are spot on. 😍😘
the scream i let out once i saw the girl who fell beneath the sea on your list!!! such a great and wonderful book, i could NOT put it down at all! i got to meet axie oh at a book signing and told her that it made me remember how much i loved reading (,: i'd love to hear your thoughts on daughter of the moon goddess by sue lynn tan! the sequel comes out november so my fingers are crossed that you'll eventually pick it up!
The missing of the Claire de Lune is my favorite book of the serie and one of my favorite book in general ! The last two books didn't do it for me, but if you didn't like book 2 i would still recommand that you try the third book, as it takes a different turn you might like better !
