I follow Angela from the channel Literature Science Alliance, who has been raving about Barbados author Karen Lord for years. Although The Blue, Beautiful World isn’t technically part of a series, it kind of is in that the previous two books set in that same universe lay a lot of the world-building groundwork and follow some of the same characters. Angela recommends reading them in publication order: The Best of All Possible Worlds, The Galaxy Game, and The Blue, Beautiful World if you don’t want to feel a bit lost for part of the book. Happy reading.
Haha! this is what a reaction video should look like! The dedication to not peek into the box. The excitement at seeing Western Lane. And the questioning stare at books never heard of before. Beautiful.
This is an exciting box to open and great way to learn about the longlist. Very excited to see And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott - Indigenous/Canadian. I want to read The Wren, The Wren so happy to see it too. 😊💙
Watching your surprised reaction was delightful. It feels quite an exciting list. The two I have read, Enter Ghost and The Wren The Wren feel worthy inclusions so I am optimistic about the rest. If The Fraud had made it I would have been bit disillusioned.
Lovely to watch your joyous and enthusiastic reactions Eric, thank you for sharing!- I have read The Wren, The Wren, and have also recently finished reading Western Lane, both going by your recommendations, and they were wins for me, I really love both of these beautiful novels. So much to chose from, when I have finished The Land of Milk & Honey I plan to read Enter Ghost, as The Parisians has been on my TBR since picking it up in a charity shop last year, Isabel Hammond sounds like a wonderful author I would enjoy, and also themes/places so relevant.
I'm really excited by this Longlist. So many books I haven't heard of! I had 3 right in my predictions video so didn't do great. I'm just so happy that there aren't any incredibly long and daunting books this year because last year completely put me off 😅
I am sooooo excited to see And Then She Fell on this list!! I managed to predict 5 but not it. I think it’s the only Canadian and Indigenous book on the list….
What a fun way to announce the Longlist. I’m so glad that it’s not all the usual suspect. I need to review to see which ones I want to tackle. I only own Western Lane and need to read it
finally an excuse to get around to 8 Lives! i'm very surprised by the list, definitely quite a few i've never heard of and a lot of snubs for more well-known authors (not necessarily a bad thing, just unexpected)
I've read 4 of the list, very happy to see both Soldier Sailor and Ordinary Human Failings there. I'm also happy to see Kate Grenville. A quick bit of research shows a number not available here but hopefully that is rectified in the next few weeks. Enter Ghost has been on my radar for a while.
Great summary, I'm really excited by the list and have ordered 5, bought one. Haven't read any so far. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as you read them 😊
I've been binge watching the longlist unboxings this evening and I just want to thank you for the work you put in to summarize the books and their themes and plots succintly. It has really helped me get a feel for which ones I'm most interested in.
Lovely to see Chetna Maroo on the list. I passed Western Lane on to a friend, and now I know why they had a blank look, when I said, "It's about a game of Squash." I'm English, living in San Francisco, where I should have said "Racket Ball." LOL
What fun it was opening the box with you! I’ve been meaning to read Brotherless Night, so excited to dig in. Also, now I’m super intrigued by Soldier Sailor
Super excited for this list. So much to choose from!! If I can I think 8 lives is the one I most excited to get to. The Space one is the most outside my comfort zone but lots of people were excited for it so we shall see!! Loved seeing your reaction 😊
So many new books/authors to explore! I actually happen to be in the middle of Hangman right now. I think it may be a book I’ll need to reread in order to see how the story connects. I think I’m most intrigued by Enter Ghost and a Blue Beautiful World. Happy reading!
Enjoyed this video! Fyi, Peace Medie is also an academic at Bristol and has also published non-fiction academic books, which I sense will get pretty overlooked in discussions, but has won awards for her academic work on GBV in Africa as well.
Loved this reaction. I've only read Ordinary Human Failings so you've read 3x more than I have 😅. I'm most curious about Nightbloom, Karen lord's book and The Maiden
Wow. A very unexpected longlist - that's good as this prize can be quite predictable. Started both The Wren, The Wren and Soldier Sailor and DNF either. But hey, some great and interesting books I hadn't heard of, so going to dive right in
Wow! A lot of unknown books to explore and a few I've been hearing about. Surprising omissions! I do have Western Lane and Enter Ghost waiting on my book cart.
Thanks Eric. Had not heard of most of these which makes it more fun! Only read Western Lane. Did not share your enthusiasm for this one. Not going to try to read the entire list. Your video helping me to select. Might start with Blue Beautiful World. Then Enter Ghost and maybe The Wren, The Wren but might change my mind! Will do a bit more research later. Thanks again.
I am currently reading The Women by Kristin Hannah and have to say it is one of the most moving books i have ever read. If ever a book deserved to be on this list this is it. Maybe it is ineligible for some reason. I can't wait to finish work to be with this story again. I don't want it to end.
I had to read it over a few days because the story overwhelmed me. Such an incredible story. It's being made into a movie! Read Winter Garden, by KH if you havent😊
Thanks heaps for that. I am a male and am moved by it. I think female readers would be even more moved than me. Angers me the way they were treated. Yes read that one too and loved it. Such a fantastic author. Deserves more recognition.
I've read The Wren The Wren and Enter Ghost, both excellent choices for the long list. Disappointed not to see The Fraud which I really enjoyed; equally pleased to see so many less popular authors included - I'll wait to see the shortlist before reading any more.
That was exciting! I have only read two The Wren… and Western Lane so lots to explore. Do I see A token Australian Novelist? Yes Kate Grenville. 🥳 lots of reading ahead.
I'm pretty happy with this list. I did not want to see Tom Lake or The Fraud on here. I did want to see Julia. I've only read two. The Wren, the Wren deserves its place, but IMO Western Lane is only there because WP seems to feel it necessary to a have Booker book every year. They need to get over that.
I am Australian and I thought Restless Dolly Maunder was an absolutely brilliant telling of the live of the author's own grandmother and all the battles she fought as a woman in a very unequal society.
Think this is definitely a surprising list, read two, so happy Soldier, Sailor is on the list not sure who am going to get to first maybe The Wren, The Wren
I have mixed feelings about this longlist. I appreciate the excitement for unexpected/unknown books but I think this may be one of the few years that I don’t read the whole longlist. I am finding the nonfiction longlist to be very strong, and that may be where I focus my time. I have read six already and am a big Enright fan. Most of the others did not really work for me. I am eager to read Soldier Sailor and I like the sound of the Grenville. So I’ll start there and see how it goes.
I wonder about who decides what gets on the Women's Prize list.I bought and read POD because it was on the 2023 short list. I have to say I hated this book. I had to force myself to finish it. I know that we all like different sorts of books, but, honestly, POD is just awful. I'd be nterested in other opinions.
I really appreciate your reviews, but when describing River East River West, are we to assume the girl who’s half Chinese and half American is half white? I hope white is not American by default, as it is in the minds of so many MAGA Americans and others as well. No shade, no politics, just wondering how you meant it. Thanks.
I was talking about nationality because she desperately wants to move to America and is legally able to do so because her mother is American born. This is something her friends who are Chinese nationals cannot do as easily without student visas. However, it's still difficult for her to move to America because she's a teenager and is reliant on her parents' permission and financial assistance.
The site Women and Books lists 37 international literary awards exclusively for women (although it misses the Women's Prize for Non-fiction). I couldn't find any for men only. A.S.Byatt was correct. That being said, I'll certainly be reading some of the books on this list. Next up is The Wren, The Wren.
I follow Angela from the channel Literature Science Alliance, who has been raving about Barbados author Karen Lord for years. Although The Blue, Beautiful World isn’t technically part of a series, it kind of is in that the previous two books set in that same universe lay a lot of the world-building groundwork and follow some of the same characters. Angela recommends reading them in publication order: The Best of All Possible Worlds, The Galaxy Game, and The Blue, Beautiful World if you don’t want to feel a bit lost for part of the book. Happy reading.
Haha! this is what a reaction video should look like! The dedication to not peek into the box. The excitement at seeing Western Lane. And the questioning stare at books never heard of before. Beautiful.
😊 thanks!
I was so happy to see a Karen Lord book come out of the box. I think it's great to see the women's prize being inclusive of genre books.
Kate Grenville's novel The Idea of Perfection is one of my favourites of all time. So nice to hear she has a new one Thanks for this!
This is an exciting box to open and great way to learn about the longlist. Very excited to see And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott - Indigenous/Canadian. I want to read The Wren, The Wren so happy to see it too. 😊💙
Thank you so much!!! Wonderful titles!!! What a hype!!! I want them all!!! I need an extra life to read everything I want to🙃🥴🤣🤣🤣
I am so happy soldier sailor is in the list! I just put a review out for it, and I think was so good!
Watching your surprised reaction was delightful. It feels quite an exciting list. The two I have read, Enter Ghost and The Wren The Wren feel worthy inclusions so I am optimistic about the rest. If The Fraud had made it I would have been bit disillusioned.
Thanks! Ah, I had a more positive response to The Fraud than you did.
Waterloo Bridge is my favourite movie too! Thank you for your extensive knowledge of book Eric! James ❤
Ah great! Yeah, it’s a real tear jerker.
Lovely to watch your joyous and enthusiastic reactions Eric, thank you for sharing!- I have read The Wren, The Wren, and have also recently finished reading Western Lane, both going by your recommendations, and they were wins for me, I really love both of these beautiful novels. So much to chose from, when I have finished The Land of Milk & Honey I plan to read Enter Ghost, as The Parisians has been on my TBR since picking it up in a charity shop last year, Isabel Hammond sounds like a wonderful author I would enjoy, and also themes/places so relevant.
Some excellent books longlisted, nice hearing your initial thoughts.
I'm really excited by this Longlist. So many books I haven't heard of! I had 3 right in my predictions video so didn't do great. I'm just so happy that there aren't any incredibly long and daunting books this year because last year completely put me off 😅
I am sooooo excited to see And Then She Fell on this list!! I managed to predict 5 but not it. I think it’s the only Canadian and Indigenous book on the list….
I remember reading about her nonfiction book now which also sounds great.
I loved seeing your excitement on unpacking the books! 😊📚
I so enjoy your videos even though I hardly get around to reading everything you mention. I just add them to my retirement plan 😆
Thanks! 😊📚
I got FIVE correct!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I have only read 3 📚 so far. I hope to read most if not all of this longlist.
Well done! 👏 Looking forward to hearing which are your favourites.
What a fun way to announce the Longlist. I’m so glad that it’s not all the usual suspect. I need to review to see which ones I want to tackle. I only own Western Lane and need to read it
So many surprises! My initial reaction is this is a strong list. I can't wait to start reading!
Love the creative way you introduced these books - awesome long list✅
Thanks! 😊📚
You know a list is eclectic when Eric doesn’t know about this many books.🤓
😊📚📚📚
finally an excuse to get around to 8 Lives! i'm very surprised by the list, definitely quite a few i've never heard of and a lot of snubs for more well-known authors (not necessarily a bad thing, just unexpected)
I've read 4 of the list, very happy to see both Soldier Sailor and Ordinary Human Failings there. I'm also happy to see Kate Grenville. A quick bit of research shows a number not available here but hopefully that is rectified in the next few weeks. Enter Ghost has been on my radar for a while.
Great summary, I'm really excited by the list and have ordered 5, bought one. Haven't read any so far. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as you read them 😊
I've been binge watching the longlist unboxings this evening and I just want to thank you for the work you put in to summarize the books and their themes and plots succintly. It has really helped me get a feel for which ones I'm most interested in.
thanks, I’m glad to help! 📚
Lovely to see Chetna Maroo on the list. I passed Western Lane on to a friend, and now I know why they had a blank look, when I said, "It's about a game of Squash." I'm English, living in San Francisco, where I should have said "Racket Ball." LOL
What fun it was opening the box with you! I’ve been meaning to read Brotherless Night, so excited to dig in. Also, now I’m super intrigued by Soldier Sailor
I'm excited I don't know most of them.... More exciting new books to dive into!
Super excited for this list. So much to choose from!! If I can I think 8 lives is the one I most excited to get to. The Space one is the most outside my comfort zone but lots of people were excited for it so we shall see!!
Loved seeing your reaction 😊
Thanks Charlie! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of them.
Anne Enright is a master of her craft. She deserves to win for The Wren, The Wren. It was an amazing read.
So many new books/authors to explore! I actually happen to be in the middle of Hangman right now. I think it may be a book I’ll need to reread in order to see how the story connects. I think I’m most intrigued by Enter Ghost and a Blue Beautiful World. Happy reading!
I am so excited for this longlist! I was happy I got four of my predictions right! Enter Ghost, The Wren, The Wren, Nightbloom and Western Lane.
Well done! 📚
Enjoyed this video! Fyi, Peace Medie is also an academic at Bristol and has also published non-fiction academic books, which I sense will get pretty overlooked in discussions, but has won awards for her academic work on GBV in Africa as well.
I read Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord and really liked it so I'm thrilled to see her on the list!
Wonderfully exciting unboxing! What a great package to get in the mail.
Loved this reaction. I've only read Ordinary Human Failings so you've read 3x more than I have 😅. I'm most curious about Nightbloom, Karen lord's book and The Maiden
Thanks! Hope you enjoy those when you get the time to read them.
Wow. A very unexpected longlist - that's good as this prize can be quite predictable. Started both The Wren, The Wren and Soldier Sailor and DNF either. But hey, some great and interesting books I hadn't heard of, so going to dive right in
Wow! A lot of unknown books to explore and a few I've been hearing about. Surprising omissions! I do have Western Lane and Enter Ghost waiting on my book cart.
Yeah! I felt bashful I didn’t know about a number of them but great to discover new books. Hope you enjoy those two!
The wren, the wren is on my TBR because of you...
Great, hope you enjoy it!
Thanks Eric. Had not heard of most of these which makes it more fun! Only read Western Lane. Did not share your enthusiasm for this one. Not going to try to read the entire list. Your video helping me to select. Might start with Blue Beautiful World. Then Enter Ghost and maybe The Wren, The Wren but might change my mind! Will do a bit more research later. Thanks again.
Looking forward to reading Soldier Sailor. I personally did not care for The Wren, The Wren, but I may be alone in that position. Enjoy your reviews!
It was so much fun watching you in real time unboxing the longlist books! Thank you for doing it for us! ❤❤❤
Thanks! Fun to discover so many surprises! 📚
I am currently reading The Women by Kristin Hannah and have to say it is one of the most moving books i have ever read. If ever a book deserved to be on this list this is it. Maybe it is ineligible for some reason. I can't wait to finish work to be with this story again. I don't want it to end.
I had to read it over a few days because the story overwhelmed me. Such an incredible story. It's being made into a movie! Read Winter Garden, by KH if you havent😊
Thanks heaps for that. I am a male and am moved by it. I think female readers would be even more moved than me. Angers me the way they were treated.
Yes read that one too and loved it. Such a fantastic author. Deserves more recognition.
Thank you for the quick synopses. Eager to read several. Happy reading.
Hope you find some new favourites. 😊📚
I've read The Wren The Wren and Enter Ghost, both excellent choices for the long list. Disappointed not to see The Fraud which I really enjoyed; equally pleased to see so many less popular authors included - I'll wait to see the shortlist before reading any more.
That was exciting! I have only read two The Wren… and Western Lane so lots to explore. Do I see A token Australian Novelist? Yes Kate Grenville. 🥳 lots of reading ahead.
I love Waterloo Bridge. I struggle watching Vivien Leigh in a lot of things but that was one of her best.
Such a different list. so excited to start reading some of them.
Soldier Sailor has definitely been on my radar.
you should start covering the carol shields :)
I'm pretty happy with this list. I did not want to see Tom Lake or The Fraud on here. I did want to see Julia. I've only read two. The Wren, the Wren deserves its place, but IMO Western Lane is only there because WP seems to feel it necessary to a have Booker book every year. They need to get over that.
I am Australian and I thought Restless Dolly Maunder was an absolutely brilliant telling of the live of the author's own grandmother and all the battles she fought as a woman in a very unequal society.
Think this is definitely a surprising list, read two, so happy Soldier, Sailor is on the list not sure who am going to get to first maybe The Wren, The Wren
What fun. Thanks❤️
I have mixed feelings about this longlist. I appreciate the excitement for unexpected/unknown books but I think this may be one of the few years that I don’t read the whole longlist. I am finding the nonfiction longlist to be very strong, and that may be where I focus my time. I have read six already and am a big Enright fan. Most of the others did not really work for me. I am eager to read Soldier Sailor and I like the sound of the Grenville. So I’ll start there and see how it goes.
That's fair enough - there are quite a few very intriguing books one the Non-fiction list. I'm halfway through Soldier Sailor now and it's very good!
@@EricKarlAnderson Soldier Sailor is not out in the US until June but I ordered it from Blackwell’s and will start it as soon as it arrives.
Pretty flower pot on your left
I wonder about who decides what gets on the Women's Prize list.I bought and read POD because it was on the 2023 short list. I have to say I hated this book. I had to force myself to finish it. I know that we all like different sorts of books, but, honestly, POD is just awful.
I'd be nterested in other opinions.
There are different judges every year and I also disliked and did not finish reading Pod.
There’s too much genre fiction for my tastes. I’m trying to keep an open mind but I’m skeptical at this point.
I really appreciate your reviews, but when describing River East River West, are we to assume the girl who’s half Chinese and half American is half white? I hope white is not American by default, as it is in the minds of so many MAGA Americans and others as well. No shade, no politics, just wondering how you meant it. Thanks.
I was talking about nationality because she desperately wants to move to America and is legally able to do so because her mother is American born. This is something her friends who are Chinese nationals cannot do as easily without student visas. However, it's still difficult for her to move to America because she's a teenager and is reliant on her parents' permission and financial assistance.
@@EricKarlAnderson Got it, thank you.
Oops...books..
I'm afraid Hangman was the worst book I read last year. Glad to see Soldier Sailor made it, but most of them I've never heard of
Is there a Men's Prize for Fiction?
There's a Women's Prize for Non-Fiction too. I hope that doesn't give you a fit of the vapours.
Yeah. Literally every other book prize out there.
The site Women and Books lists 37 international literary awards exclusively for women (although it misses the Women's Prize for Non-fiction). I couldn't find any for men only. A.S.Byatt was correct. That being said, I'll certainly be reading some of the books on this list. Next up is The Wren, The Wren.
Why read female author when male author exist
Because not everyone is a tedious edge Lord.