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I LOVED A Flat Place!!!!!!! I did a vlog(ish) review of it. Hope you love it too!

I enjoyed Leonard & Hungry Paul. Great job fitting your books in the prompts!

English history … everyone has the same name … So true! 😂 Looks like a great trip! I think it’s fun it was so football heavy. And the oldest library was cool.

Thanks for joining in! So good to see so many I'm unfamiliar with, I'm also planning to read some Natalia Ginzburg! Bert 🎉

I’m having so much fun watching everyone’s Shorty September TBR’s! I hope you find a new favorite!

I have The Pear Field for the same prompt. Have saved your video, you have a lot of great books.

Looks like a nice work trip. 🤓

thanks for the trip to manchester...and i have problems when the names are alike too!

I live in Manchester and it's so lovely to see videos of the city here!!! I didn't see the riots as was in my flat in Stockport, just south of the city. That is so sad that you were here when that happened as Manchester is normally such a nice place. The Manchester Museum is such a beautiful place. Loved hearing about the books too.

i'm also a fan of naomi klein and have this one lined up to read soon...i think i'm going to enjoy the memoir aspect more than you did but who knows.

Wow- you had a great reading month! I really appreciated the approach taken in Code Dependent. I thought she did a wonderful job at painting a wide swath of its current applications and the people impacted by AI. I have Julia that I would like to read. I haven’t read 1984 in a long time. Do you think that will be an issue? Should I reread before starting? The 1947 book sounds interesting. If Is Mother Dead was your first Vigdis Hjorth, I could see it being disappointing. I preferred Will and Testament, although repetition is a big part of that book, too, but in a different way. I have Ti Amo and that sounds intense from your description. I look forward to hearing your further review of Doppelgänger. Naomi Klein is amazing.

I thought the longlist was great. It's already leagues better than last year's. Sounds like you're impossible to please. Hope the new Powers book is one you'll love!

not so excited..waiting to hear more.

I'm expecting for your video on the Booker Longlist 2024... I've only read the book 'Orbital' by Samanta Harvey. Very short book. It's only 144 pages..Espero leer más libros....😊

It’s a very American heavy list. I had the same feeling of Tommy Orange’s first book but I found Wandering Stars a progression from There, There and I enjoyed it more. He and Rachel Kushner are from the SF Bay Area. I loved The Flamethrowers from her but wasn’t moved by The Mars Room. I am hopeful it will return more to that earlier novel. I was surprised by the Sarah Perry’s inclusion on the list. I bought the Safe Keep on the trip last year and so I was happy to seeing it on this list. And I was also confused about it not being translated.

The only one I've already read is James, which I did really like - the humor is *way* turned down from The Trees, which I also thought was a bit too over-the-top in-your-face for me. James tends more to the ironic than the slapstick. Not sure it would appeal as much to non-Americans who haven't had Huckleberry Finn as literary canon. Of the others, Orbital and My Friends I'd already been looking forward to and definitely want to get to, and I seem to have already added Safekeeping and Stone Yard Devotional to my GR TBR, but don't remember doing it and will only prioritize if more reviews increase my interest. Creation Lake and Held I feel like could go either way, and will likewise wait for more feedback. I also thought Tommy Orange's first book was fine, but not rushing for this (which is both a pre-and sequel to the other). I low-key hated The Essex Serpent and really have no desire to ever read another Sarah Perry book. I've also heard the Messud is boring, and not excited at all by Headshot or Wild Houses; will give all those a pass. Playground isn't out for ages yet; I did love The Overstory so may get to that one when it's finally published.

Interesting. I haven't read any of these books. But some of them sound fascinating!

I think a wrap-up on completion of your projects is a good idea. Your channel is quite unique because you talk about a lot of international books that aren't always mentioned elsewhere.

Great video. Each year, with my husband, daughter and son, we all pick a book for each other, a recommendation of something that we have read in the previous year and think the other person will enjoy. Then we each have to read these at some point in the year. I have already read my daughters pick, which was A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. But I still have my husbands pick to read, which is The Overstory by Richard Powers and my sons pick, which is The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford. Other than those, I really want to read : Brotherless Night Crooked Plow Sea of Poppies. ....amongst many others, but those are my priorities. Happy reading 📚 Also....Braiding Sweetgrass is one of my favourite books of all time, too. Its so good!

I love your channel, I love that you read so diversly and give very thoughtful reviews. Im not a booktuber myself, but I find my interest for watching videos waxes and wains. I also have children, so can only watch when it works out. Reading is my life passion though, and I really see that in you too.

I haven't heard of this prize before, but I love the womans prize and the international booker, and this see s a bit of a mash up of both, so right up my street

I also really enjoyed Brotherless Night. I’m curious about Eve after hearing you talking about it. It’s been so long since I have read a fantasy series and maybe I should pick one up. The audio of The House on the Cerulean Sea was delightful. You are so right that it was on the nose - that part made me think it was a much younger audience than I expected. And yes- Orwell was a pig. I also was challenged by the more imaginative parts of the book. I love the wide range of your reading. Thanks for sharing.

I love Chakroborty! I read her new book, The adventures of Almina-al-sarafi a few months ago and that was great fun too. Have you read it?

I would love to visit Seattle! Looks like a fun trip!

I just finished Marzahn, mon Amour - what a lovely little book. I want to get to Your Wish is My Command soon (which for some reason is published here as Shubeik Lubeik). And Ali and Nino is getting ever closer to the top of my TBR! All the other ones you mention that I've read (Luminaries, Immense World, Bandit Queen) I've really enjoyed - great suggestions!

thanks for taking me to seattle...

That looks an amazing place to visit! It must be difficult to know where to start.

Looks like a great trip. Seattle is such a cool city.

I enjoyed The Long Way Through the Woods and I’m not usually a memoir person. It’s kind of why initially I didn’t want to read How to Say Babylon but I’ve heard such good things about it, I think I will. I also loved The Break, and yes, I read the cover Erin is talking about so never had the impression it might be a thriller. I thought it was so well done and really want to read more of Vermette ‘s writing. A great reading month Paula!

This prize definitely seems to pick some interesting books! I’ve only read, and loved Tomb of Sand, but I have Osebol and An Inventory of Losses on my shelf to look forward to. I loved Daša Drndić’s EEG so I’m hoping I’d enjoy Belladonna too.

I like reading two books at a time, something I would never have thought of doing before I discovered booktube. But I have found that I prefer reading 20-30 pages of one book, and may be 40 pages or so of another. But I cannot read 70-80 pages of one book now matter how much I like it! I like taking part in readalongs, where I may comment, but I am always in awe of how others can summarise a book and their insights. That's just not something I can do, but often I think, I knew that, but would never be able to articulate it. I read quite slowly, so I don't think I could fit in another book during a month for an IRL bookclub. At least typing my remarks online I can think about what I am saying, IRL I usually end up closing the conversation by putting my foot in it! I've overstretched myself for July as I have just joined a readalong for East of Eden, so for the first couple of weeks of July I will have to read 3 books together - just as well I'm retired. I prefer not to read during the day, but I will have to make an exception for a while!

I think I became a multi reader because of buddy reads of which I do at least four a month as I have people, like Leo does with Sarah, who I read with every month. I sometimes think less buddy reads would give me more freedom in my reading but I love the conversations and have made some great friends through buddy reading. It also helps me get to books off my shelves that I would maybe not have picked up otherwise. I like the idea of IRL book clubs but find it hard to find people who read the same kind of things as I do and I can’t do group reads on Voxer or Discord as I find them overwhelming with so many messages. I’m part of an online book club where we read one book every few months and then have a zoom chat on a certain date which is always fun.

Hi Paula! Interesting topic. I get you, I’m also one who always prefered to read one book at a time. But the joy that buddy reading and joining group reads brings me outweighs the not being able to read at my own pace so much more. The other readers give me more insight into my reading and I can talk with others about the thing I like the most, reading. And over the years I have slowly but surely become more adjusted to reading several books at the same time, it’s become much easier for me now. Every month I usually read a book with Sarah, we’ve been doing it now for some five years and become so tuned to each other that it’s something I wouldn’t wanted to to miss for the world. And there’s also the Author Spotlight Series which I joined from the beginning, where so many brilliant readers keep returning to. It’s a joy to discuss our reading every Sunday. And then there’s also always a novel that I’m reading by myself, mostly at night. So three books at a time usually. It’s become a regular schedule every day.

That is a very chunky stack. I like that it is so diverse in so many ways.

You're right, that's a great bunch of books. I realize the only one I've actually read thus far is The Eighth Life, but almost all the rest are already on my TBR. The only one that I don't think I'll get to is Belladonna - I read another Daša Drndić (EEG), and I think that was enough. Another that I'll probably read but am not super-excited about is the Annie Ernaux - I feel like I should read at least one of her books, but I get the feeling that it's a lot of self-indulgent navel-gazing. Maybe I'm wrong. I'll get to one at some point! The rest I very much want to get to!

Thanks for sharing, God bless you!

Your cover for The Break is so different from the one here, which I'd link but you can't put links in TH-cam comments... at any rate, the one here looks not at all thriller-y - it's a middle-aged woman in a black floral dress with her hand on her hip. Like you, I appreciated The Break but found it a bit of a harrowing read. Just FYI, it's the first in a trilogy (the other two are The Strangers and The Circle) and the others explore the story of the character who commits the crime in The Break, so if you want to know more about the why behind their story, you could read one or both - I plan to at some point.

Most of my favorite channels are under 5000 subscribers and probably most of what I watch are under 2000. I like watching people who are reading more globally like you Paula, who might read some prize stuff and new releases but that’s not all their content. I would say the booktube focus on number of books read rather the quality can get tiring but I don’t feel you are part of that. I really vary in how much time I get to watch - and comment- but I do love the community and have some great friends. I’ve noticed the changes you’ve made over the years but think ultimately, it’s what people read and how they talk about books that is most important!

I first came to your channel after watching the review video of the book "Tom of Sand" written by Gitanjali Sri. Since then I have been watching your channel videos regularly. Hope to get more beautiful book related videos from your channel. What impressed me the most is knowing that you are a scientist . That's a great achievement in your life. Moreover, you are a very kind hearted woman. Stay healthy, Stay happy always...😊

I like what you said about BookTube being a place where you can talk about the things you care about. I like that part of the community.

I like to follow your channel, it is quite individual. You have made me think more about looking for books from around the world, and I like your insightful reviews.

Paola, I've been following your channel since the pandemic. You are a thoughtful reviewer and when you used that word to describe yourself it struck a chord in me, because that's how I think of you. Since watching you I have been reading more internationally and have enjoyed my reading time so much more. Thanks!

I have read Minor Detail, it was quite shocking. Have you read "I Shall Not Hate - A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Dignity" by Dr Izzledin Abuelaish? It's very moving and insightful.

I thought Minor Detail was an excellent book. Enter Ghost sounds good too! Fun vacation!

i look forward to reading enter ghost...i've read and enjoyed salt houses by hala alyan but mostly i've been taken with the non-fiction i've been reading raja shehadeh..palestinean walks and strangers in the house. and i'll read anything by him can find.

I don’t get along with literary prizes in general but it was fun hearing you go through the list of winners.

I'm kind of surprised that I'm at least aware of all these winners! Guess maybe it's such a new prize and I'm old, lol. I've read The Vegetarian, Celestial Bodies, Flights, and Time Shelter. I liked all of them; I think my favorite of those is probably Flights. I've had Tomb of Sand on my shelf for a couple of years; I'll get to it eventually! I also have a different book here by the author of Satantango that I want to get to (Herscht 07769). I read a different book by Ismael Kadare that I did like, Chronicle in Stone. The others I just have no interest in reading - At Night All Blood is Black, The Discomfort of Evening, A Horse Walks into a Bar, and all the non-translated English language ones (must've been from before they allowed non-British writers in on the regular Booker?) except for Things Fall Apart, which it's kind of embarrassing I haven't gotten to yet! From this year's shortlist, the only one I'm probably going to get to is Crooked Plow, which I just finished.

What I found interesting about time shelter were the cases where individuals chose to go back to a time of great turmoil. They reasoned that if they survived the crisis the first time, that they will surely survive it the second. Underlining these choices is the human desire for the familiar and a feeling of nostalgia for the past. In fact you can say that the chaos of the present, with its unpredictability, makes one long for the past, a past one has already lived.

I started paying attention to the Int'l Booker only last year. I read Time Shelter and agree with your take on it. I read two other books that made it to the short list, Boulder, and Heavy, and I would recommend them both. This year I haven't read any of the finalists yet, but I plan to read Mater 2-10, which I bought a copy of, and The Details, which I got out from the library just yesterday.

This was interesting how the books unfolded, especially enjoying the one you weren’t sure you would and letting go of the one that you thought you’d like but didn’t. Hurray for knocking three off your TBR!