As an Egyptian, who literally just finished reading "If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English" before opening your video, I'm so happy with your review. We don't have many books that talk about these themes and issues that were discussed with so much nuance like this. It was unbelievable.
Re: queer trauma dumps -- I've been thinking about this and I think there are two paths that happen: the own-voice narrative of the person who has experienced the trauma vs. the appropriation storytellers who want to write something bleak (I'm looking at you A Little Life). The books that I've actually appreciated (Dreamhouse - Caramen Maria Machao, History of My Brief Body - Billy-Ray Bellcourt -- and even On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous that I didn't love but appreciated) tell stories from the person who experienced them. Then there are the Yanagahara's and Carson's and Makkai's that twist a narrative into a dark place that just completely fetishizes the pain in a way that makes me want to punch walls. Queer life still sucks, but there is beauty in it. Unfortunately a lot of authors want to capitalize on the shocking sordid side of depression, prostitution, drugs, and suicide instead -- and then don't even have the grace to do it well.
good way of putting it, maybe the difference in effect isnt so much from pov but more that in a fictional narrative trauma tends to be used a device - instead of in the memoir/autofiction depictions where it doesnt have an agenda aside from being a lived experience. not sure, but you’ve got me thinking!
I looove the photos of the book fragments ! the words themselves but also just being able to get the feel of the book & getting to know your favourite quotes. really cool
Since I started watching your book related vids... I'm strangely drawn only towards small books that take me less time to finish. And surprisingly, those small books have influenced me way more than any of those hefty books would have. Ps. Congratulations on breaking your record of reading most number of books. 👍🏻
Hello! So glad you love Yoshimoto! I would strongly recommend Moshi Moshi by her if you haven’t read it already. It’s similar in some ways to kitchen but it’s more based around a mother daughter dynamic. Aslo there’s some music in there. The main characters dad is a musician. Anyway have a great day! ✨
yes yes yes!!! more stans for Y/N!!! glad you're enjoying it. freakin bOnKeRs and a potential top 10 pick?? 👀👀👀 and alright alright ! *cracks knuckles* you and Ceren have officially put me on If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English!!!
Love! Will get to Egyptian ASAP. I too liked Kitchen a lot, a surprise hit for my reading so far this year, I was so worried about its pop culture status if I thought it was overhype! The Auto of Red slander!! Haha, I like it a lot when I read it, but it was before I read more books based on, as you say, this constant recurrence of books that identify some kind of hardship with queer trauma (generally). I actually feel you’d maybe like Carson’s other works! Maybe trying Glass Irony and God And love the Y/N love!! My first 5 star of the year that I can remember, so much to explore and eat up in that book. Jaylen’s recent interview with the author is great! V recommend once you finish. And your trip looked fun! 🤠💫
ooh hope you enjoy - i've seen mixed reviews already! & im so relieved i enjoyed kitchen i dont think my heart could have taken the dissapointment haha. i'm not put off to reading other of carson's stuff, i'll keep yr recs on the backburner! and i need to watch jaylens vid but yes im so happy about the hype Y/N has been getting !
getting spicy with the autobiography of red take. i personally enjoyed it, but am curious how i’ll feel upon a second read through. i agree it did venture into misery porn, but i think because of the format maybe i was less annoyed by it? i dunno. your take got me thinking though!
I definitely have to read In Love, had my eye on it already. NW is my favourite novel out of the three I've read by Zadie Smith. I usually prefer her nonfiction books. Totally agree with you about The Hole. And Autobiography of Red wasn't for me either.
havent seen it talked about much, i'm curious to know how other people like it! & i think NW will be my favorite too purely for sentimental reasons. Glad someone else didnt like autobio of red either, seems like a very small minority on booktube haha
Glorias y bubulubus 🤙🏻 Woah... that's a lot of books, "Temporary" sounds very interesting, by the way A tale for the time being is a great book too. I wonder if you've read What a wonderful world by Inio Asano, volume 1 is pretty cool. Great videos, saludos Pato c:
I've been wanting to try some Christie recently, I've watched so many adaptations of her books but only read 1 random Poirot story! I never try to solve the mystery because I'm always like why bother the story will tell me haha so hopefully I don't mind the endings too much.
i definitely think you’d enjoy them! they’re super cozy and atmospheric, lot of quiet towns & the nursery rhyme mysterys have childrens storybook energy (positive)
Hiii How do you find book clubs to join? I’m really struggling to find RL/internet friends to read with, and I’ve heard you mention bookclubs often. Please give some advice. ❤❤
hm idk i’ve only ever been in one & its of a booktuber i watch - lots of channels have their own book clubs though i’d start there if there’s someone you like watchin
Lol dying over your cute freakout over mary oliver’s inspiration and miss marple’s c*ntiness 😂 I do have to say i never read agatha christie tryna solve, but after rereads all the clues were there 🤷🏻♀️🧐🫡 These fresh off the cuff takes are great and then later on when certain books, good or bad, have continued to burrow inside you inspire deeper/other thoughts, that’s also nice to talk about too. I need to check out in love-alfred hayes!! And the ross gay!!
i think i just need to enjoy the ride when reading christie but i think mysteries lend themselves to feeling plotty. will try to prioritize vibes on the next few, still have more i want to read! & yeah i'll have to come back to some of these on a midyear freakout, lot to appreciate. & yes do!!!!
@@alsopato this makes me so curious what u think about miss marple in something she’s in more of, i guess. Like nemesis, that one’s dark. Or 4.50 from paddington, my personal fav. Yes mysteries are super plotty but the fun for me is seeing all the diff kinda character tropes interacting w each other, and how some kinds of ppl never change. Like when you saw all the characters in glass onion and u instantly knew what those ppl are like.
mary oliver universally beloved for real 🫶🫶 also speaking of short surreal books u can read in one sitting, i recently read 'the iliac crest' by cristina rivera garza and really loved it. its about a person who lets two women into their home on a stormy night, one an ex-lover and one a stranger, and everything kind of unravels from there. would highly recommend if ur not sick of the subgenre yet!
