"Darling." Ah Pet Cemetery. It's been over 30 years since I've read it but I'll never forget that last line. I never thought it was scary like I was told it was but still, one of the most memorable if not most memorable last lines in any novel I've read. Love it! And more audiobooks I need, damn it! Another great video.Have a great week!
I love your videos and I'm so happy you're back. I've just started reading 'The Book Thief' and I'm loving it. FYI, Markus Zusak will be talking about it at a literary meet in my city Kolkata (India). Super excited to meet him. 😃
Glad to have found your channel today. I haven't read many of the books you mentioned and love the idea of reading a classic each month. Great idea for a challenge!
Glad your back. My favs from 2018 were: The Help, The Good Daughter, and I started The Reckoning at the end of 2018 and I'm still reading it. Read a lot of books that were disappointing too.
My favourite Julian Barnes book so far has to be "History of the World in 10 1/2 chapters". "The Only Story" and "Sense of an Ending" (of course!) are wonderful and very short reads as well.I very much enjoyed Mitchell's "Slade House" as well, though for me, "The Bone Clocks" was more enjoyable. This is the first video that I've seen of yours. Excellent! I'll be back for more.
I have I'm Thinking of Ending Things on my To-Read list, after hearing what you thought about it, it's moving up on my priority list! Also, LOVE that you make it a point to re-read favorites! I've been known to get into that mindset of feeling like I need to read all new books each year, even when I have a craving to explore an old favorite again. SO GLAD you like The Book Thief, it's one of my all-time favorites!
I honestly read I'm Thinking of Ending Things in two sittings because it was so. damn. good. It's the type of writing that is so deceptively simple that it stuns you with its depth as the story unfolds. One of my favourite recent reads - you'll love it!
Sometimes i'm afraid to revisit a book or movie years later out of fear that it doesn't hold up or I don't like it as much the second time around (being more critical, outgrown the material, etc). I'm tempted to read books only once
Probably not a very PC recommendation in 2019, but I ran into a cheap hardcover copy of Gone With The Wind and it's actually a classic that is a page turner and has kept me interested in the story of Scarlett O'Hara.
"not very PC" haha I need to read that book one of these days since "Gone with the Wind" is one of my favorite films, can't even tell you how many times I've seen it.
You're my inspiration to keep reading. I couldn't read much last year because of college, but I'm back now, starting the year with a Brave New World, which was in my backlog for quite a while 👀
@@ImpressionBlend Ohhh..you put me on the spot there! Hmmm... 1 - The Stand (I think i've read the unabridged version atleat a half dozen times over the years) 2 - It 3 - Pet Sematary 4 - The Talisman 5- Misery 6 - The Dead Zone, 7 - Carrie 8 - The Tommyknockers 9 - The Shining 10 - Firestarter. After looking at my bookshelf I went for 10. Notice they are all older titles. I have most of his newer stuff but just havent gotten around to it. Most of the early short story collections are a good read too. Night Shift, Different Seasons, Skeleton Crew.
I read I'm Thinking of Ending Things in two sittings because it was so. damn. good. It's the type of writing that is so deceptively simple that it stuns you with its depth as the story unfolds. One of my favourite recent reads - I highly recommend it!
Great video, good recommendations. I won't lie, I've fallen behind on book reading, because my job got apocalyptically stressful and draining to the point where I didn't even have the mental energy for audiobooks. I'm glad to say I quit before Christmas and I'm in a job I love now, so I'm going to try to read and re-read some books again.
Aww, so glad you were able to find a different job. Jobs that suck the life out of you are the WORST, since you are forced to spend so much time doing something you don't enjoy.
I’ve read about 7 Stephen King books so far and still haven’t read one that’s better than Pet Sematary. It’s his best work, in my opinion. Also it’s good to see you back!
Great that you're back Books by Julian Barnes that Id recommend : The Porcupine , Arthur and George , History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters but just about anything he writes is really good
I had an unusually good year and read for pleasure much more than I have in the last couple of years where my reading energy has largely been taken up by university research. I breezed through The First Law in about three weeks which was the first series I'd read back to back in years. My favourite series and surprise (as I thought nothing could come close to George for dark fantasy for me.) Also listened to Burial Rites on your recommendation - thank you so much for that! I need to go back to it soon. Looking forward to what you have for us in the coming year.
I'm so glad I found your channel!!! Other book-tubers I found only seem to read overly "sentimental" or as I call them "chic books" (don't get offended I'm female I just don't like mushy stuff). I can't wait to give a few of these a go myself, I've read Slade House actually before I read Bone Clocks and you're totally right you don't need to have read both to get a kick out of it, my mom got me a signed copy because she knew I'd read Cloud Atlas (don't worry it took me two attempts and a lot of hard work to get through that one so you aren't alone).
I feel like it was yes, it just took a while to reach its point. The main problem is it's extremely slow feeling and it doesn't seem like some of the characters are connected until right at the end (they must be in some way otherwise he wouldn't have formatted the book like that). I feel better having read it but its not something I'd pick up and read over and over. Slow burner, I definitely feel like he's gotten better at writing over time, his later stuff is really good.
I highly recommend Talking it over. It also discusses the idea of time, the role of memories and if they are real or created. You are going to enjoy Barnes´s short story collection Pulse
I'll take your list in highly consideration. I love books, but I don't read them as much as I want too. Mainly because I suffer from ADHD and dyslexia, but I still buy books and read them whenever I can.
Okay so I'm crazy behind watching booktube videos, but I just had to pop in a comment to say how absolutely excited I am that you loved I'm Thinking of Ending Things. I'm so happy you decided to pick it up! Are you thinking about reading Foe? (It's not as good, but I still really liked it).
I'm SO GLAD I stumbled upon your review! You helped me discover a new favorite :D I did read "Foe" as soon as it came out. Thought it was a very cool concept, and while I didn't love it as much as "I'm Thinking of Ending Things", I still really enjoyed it. Can't wait to see what he comes out with next!
I agree on Pet Semetary, there are no winners only losers. I remember when I was reading it a friend who was pregnant asked me what I was reading. I had to lie and say I was reading a book on "war and stuff"! I think they're making a film of "The Long Walk" which is a great story by King, one of my favorites and I've read a lot of his stuff.
Thanks for the reviews Mariana. And in honor of your return I've decided to leave a real comment. Pet Sematary was good King, and I would agree sadder than scary. Have you seen Tarkovsky's Solaris? How did they compare? I've seen the film many times, I'm almost afraid to read it. I'm sure they will be quite different experiences. Fiction-wise, since I've moved from Alaska to Tbilisi Georgia, I've been reading Georgian and related literature. Kurban Said's Ali and Nino is a classic. (The movie does a fair job with the material.) Also Nikolas Tchkotoua's Timeless is a haunting tale as well. Both novels reveal the fascinating early 20th Century in the Caucasus, quite romantic in a dark sad way, revealing worlds now lost, that one gets a faint whisper of when walking through the decaying Art Nouveau structures in Tbilisi's Old Town. Non-Fiction: Notes on the Death of Culture by Mario Vargas Llosa was thought provoking. And Beauty: A Very Short Introduction by Roger Scruton reminded me more deeply of the need for beauty in these kitschy times.
I love Tarkovsky in genera and "Solaris" in particular. It's been a while since I've seen it, but I would definitely say he focuses more on the existential parts, while the book also offers a good portion of hard sci-fi. Don't be afraid to read it though, I think you will find it interesting!
it's so interesting how different opinions can be, i absolutely loved Neverworld Wake but i went into it with pretty low expectations. i had enjoyed Night Film but never finished her other novel, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, so I was skeptical about this one. maybe that helped. Solaris sounds fascinating! adding that to my TBR and also getting the audiobook for I'm Thinking of Ending Things because i've heard quite a few people recommend it recently and your recommendation pushed me over. if you like Barnes you should definitely read The Sense of an Ending--one of my favorites of all time, but surprisingly the only one of his i've read. also glad i'm not alone in not liking Cloud Atlas!
Julian Barnes: I've read and can recommend Flaubert's Parrot, A History of the World in 10½ Chapters, The Porcupine and Arthur & George. If you enjoy the Sherlock Holmes stories then Arthur & George might be a good next stop. Stanislaw Lem: Again I've only read a handful of his books, of which Solaris is the standout. Like Barnes he's an author I should've read more thoroughly. But in general I like to source books by browsing in a dedicated store, and you rarely find east-European sci-fi like Lem or the Strugatskys on shelves in the UK. Even in the large book & comic stores in London. Nice to see you're back in my TH-cam feed, btw. You make good content. I continue to have no particularly strong opinions about your latest haircut.
Thank you for your suggestions. The Strugatsky brothers are definitely an area of sci-fi I want to get started on this year, I've been meaning to read them for a long time.
Thank you for your insightful reviews; anxious to check out a couple of your favorites. As for Julian Barnes, Flaubert's Parrot is one of my favorite books ever, and A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters also very good. Perhaps my own favorite last year was a re-read of White Noise by Don DeLillo. Also revisited many Vonneguts. So glad to see your triumphant return. The disappearance of a TH-camr doesn't usually leave a vacuum in my life, but yours did. All is right again. Just watched Hereditary recently. Wow! All I can say is Wow. Thanks again. Be well.
You must read Julian Barnes "The only story " I didn't want to finish it. Everyone has a story and if you have than you will love this book. " would you rather love the more and suffer the more; Or love the less, and suffer less ? That is, I think,finally ,the only real question. Wow !
I'm a slow reader and had a house brick sized book so I only got three books read last year. - Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill - The Stand by Stephen King - The Power by Naomi Alderman The first two were good, Queen of the Dark Things being a slightly not as good sequel to an incredible book and The Stand being very good but also very bloated. The Power is probably going down as an all-time favourite for me.
The very best of Juian Barnes (maybe one of the top 10 of my life) is The sense of an ending, which make us all remember of lost loves at the youth age.
I like the way you did this with the specific categories 😊 my favourites were The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, How the Blessed Live by Susannah M. Smith, and The Lonely City by Olivia Laing!
I Absolutely loved the categories you came up with, they are relatable like Favorite Classic or Most Disappointing. Now, you just keep proving to me that I don't read enough. How do you do it? What's your secret???!!! Anyways, can't wait to watch the Top Movies video 😁
Biggest surprise of 2018. The Library at Mount Char. Definitely one of the strangest fantasy novels I've ever read. Highly imaginative, hilarious and wonderfully over-the-top absurd. My only gripe: it's way too short, the story is wrapped up much too fast. I still recommend it though, if you want to read something quick and unique. Currently reading: Shogun. Absolutely amazing, I'm totally engrossed. It's a classic, and rightly so. Highly recommended. Plans for future reading: the books on which The Expanse is based. If you're not watching it, you should. It's GoT in space! P.S. I'm actually curious about reading Cloud Atlas. I adore the movie, so I feel like I should give the book a try.
There is going to be a film adaptation of I'm Thinking of Ending Things, directed by none other than Charlie Kaufman(directed Synecdoche, New York, wrote Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). No better person to be in charge really, but my only gripe is that it is a Netflix film.
Did you remove the Night film review? I just finished reading it! Added it to my to read list yeears ago thanks to you and I could swear you had a review on it, and have been looking for it, but the closest I got was this video where it's at least mentioned. 😝
Hey Marianna, can only stop by for a sec gotta get back to work but I'm commenting for later. Be back soon, very interested in some books I probably haven't heard about!
I keep eyeing "The Great Alone", but something about the premise just isn't grabbing me enough. Would you say the description is pretty accurate or is there more to it?
Thank you for recommending I'm Thinking of Ending Things. That book destroyed me. I understand it's not for everyone (hence the polarized rating) but HOLY SH*T it is for me. 5/5!
Hi Mariana. Glad to see you again. You are very,very beautiful. I like your recommendations and try to catch up with them because they are ready-witted. It's a blessing for me to listen to your wise and acute opinions. I barely read half a novel last year.Why don't you make this video in the russian version I'd love to hear you speaking russian, though i don't speak russian.
Fun fact: Lem didn't like that movie. He said: 'Tarkovsky didn't make a 'Solaris' adaptation, he made a 'Crime and Punishment' adaptation'. His opinions of Tarkovsky were hilarious. Anyway, Lem was preoccupied with different philosophical questions than Tarkovsky, so the book is similar in structure, but doesn't make the same points.
I ordered a copy of Solaris a couple of weeks ago and then realized I'm an idiot and ordered a French translation. I read Robert K. Massie's Peter The Great in 2018 and I loved it. I'm not sure if that lands in your dry history writing category but to me it's packed full of life. I thought Massie and his editors did a great job of making a fairly linear and concise narrative out of all of the events happening around Peter. For a super obscure read, you should hunt down a copy of Death On The Ice by Cassie Brown. It's based on a true story of a ship of sealers who get stranded in the thick pack ice off the coast of Newfoundland in 1914. An infamous event in Newfoundland history. I'm a Newfoundlander myself so I'm biased, but the descriptions of weather systems and the peril of the sealers is super intense. It's a classic. Also, I found a copy of a book called Women Filmmakers in Early Hollywood by Karen Ward Mahar which I haven't read yet but looks super cool. You can find some really cool stuff in thrift stores around here.
I read Pet Sematary last year and loved it as well! I also felt that that the book was incredibly sad, more than it was scary (even though the ending was particularly disturbing). I think the main source of horror in this book for me was my fear for Louis and his family, born from all the horrible things that happened to them.
My take on why I'm Thinking of Ending Things gets a low rating - I think it leaves the reader feeling deceived (maybe similar to how you've said you feel when you find everything happened in a dream). Also, I got the impression the audiobook was viewed more favorably, as a reveal is much more obvious. I almost think audiobooks need to be a separate category from books ... somewhere between reading the book and watching a video-based adaptation ... it just isn't the same experience as reading the book on it's own. BTW, you're very gifted at describing books/movies without revealing spoilers.
Thank you :) It could be that the twist was a bit extreme and sad for a lot of people, Goodreads has some interesting ratings for certain books. Personally, I feel like it was done really well, even though you're right, more often than not this type of an ending annoys me. I don't agree with you about audiobooks though-a story is a story. For example, reading A Song of Ice and Fire and listening to A Song of Ice and Fire doesn't make a difference to me in the end. A great narrator or a full cast can enhance the experience, an ebook with extras or interactive content can enhance the experience, a special edition of a printed book can enhance the experience, but those are minor details that are very secondary to the story/writing/characters.
@@ImpressionBlend I guess I feel the narrator makes a bigger difference. I would have quite a different experience with a story read to me by Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Morgan Freeman vs. Scarlett Johansson vs. reading it myself. Audiobooks also tend to have a listeners divided attention, as people do other things while listening to them. I dunno, it is pretty different for me.
King wasn't even going to publish Pet Sematary because it was so bleak. He did only to fulfill a contract. It's not one of my King favorites but it is a good read. My favorite book of 2018 was Old Man's War by John Scalzi.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things slapped! It was one of the most thought-provoking and clever psychological thrillers I've ever read. I don't know why it has such a low ratings on Goodreads either, but you know, it's Goodreads so... hahaa
Loved the video! I have the same feeling as you about "Pet Sematery". I love it, but I thought it was sadder than scary. About Marisha Pessl, "Night Film" is one of my favourite books ever and I am still trying to read "Neverworld Awake", but I am just not interested enough because like you said, the characters, I just don't care for them.
Hi Marianna! So glad you're back :) I may have missed it on your previous videos, but have you ever read 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss? It's brilliant!
Such a pleasant broadcaster, zero "I am like an intellectual scarlett johansson" affect, well spoken and just "joyful" I think Mariana should start a channel where she just reads the latest news, I would much rather her do it. Cheers!
Some random thoughts: 1) Classic: Fully agree with you on "Solaris", this book makes you think. If you liked "Solaris" and read Russian, you may want to try Janusz Zajdel - there are no English translations of this guy but there are Russian, pretty much any book :-) In 2018 I read "Van Troff's Cylinder" (litteral translation) and personally I treat it as my 'fiction book' of the year 2) Non Fiction: Yes, non - fiction historical books can be a bit dry, but more important than style is if the book is well researched or not. If if on top of research it's written well, even better :-) I'm reading a lot of non fiction and personally I think that overall the books on history are generally becoming more and more 'accessible' in terms of writing style. And believe it or not after watching your video I bought "the Romanov Sisters". My knowledge on the subject of the murder of the Romanov tsar family is rather general and not too detailed (too put it diplomatically ;-) ) so I'm looking forward to improving it. 3) Disappointment: I tip my hat off to you. I routinely do not finish books I do not enjoy. The one I did finish was the first book in the crime story trilogy by Pierre Lemaitre. I found it so great that I got rid of this book and - without reading - its two sequels. 4) Best of the rest: "The book thief" has been on my reading list for quite a while now.
The new format is great! How would you say Solaris the book compares to Solaris the movie? I hear Lem criticised Tarkovsky for making it less of a genuine sci fi and more of a sci fi vehicle for a philosophical/psychological arthouse story (which I think is an accurate description of the film). That makes me wonder if the book maybe doesn't have as much of the human element in it? I didn't find Pet Sematary scary either. I agree that as a concept it was sad, but I was personally unable to really feel it/get invested in it because I absolutely hated Louis Creed as a character. The book that surprised me the most this year was Mr Gwyn by Alessandro Baricco. I went into it with no expectations and without knowing anything about it other than the basic premise, and it completely pulled me in. Very ethereal and elegant. Not without its flaws, but I really enjoyed it.
Here's the thing: the book has all of the psychology and philosophy in it, it's a big part of why I loved it so much. But the book also has pretty extensive section of scientific research info about the planet/ocean, which pushes it more towards the hard sci-fi genre. However, there is NO way to put that into a movie without bringing the pacing to a halt with an info dump. Tarkovsky's film is a masterpiece.
@@ImpressionBlend I absolutely loved the film, so I can agree with that! One of my favourites Tarkovsky has done alongside The Sacrifice, although there's still a few I haven't seen yet. Either way, good to know the book has that stuff as well. Feeling more optimistic about it now, so hopefully I'll get around to reading it at some point.
Barnes is an amazing author, i suggest "A sense of an ending", which also has a movie adaptation, and "The only story". Frankly, picking pretty much anything by Barnes will probably end up being good 😅 If you ever come across a book called "Confessions" by Jaume Cabré, give it a try. It's a big book, and it's worth every little portion of your time and energy. It's 800 pages of literary pleasure. Chaotic, beautifully written, one of a kind. Highly recommend.
Thank you for the suggestions! Funny, I actually have been hearing about "Confessions" a lot recently, so I added it to my to-read list. Hopefully, I can get to it soon, though the length is a bit intimidating lol
@@ImpressionBlend I read it in the summer of 2017, and the 700 pages of the greek translation were not enough, i wanted more. Don't hesitate, it's amazing 😁
I also read the wayward pines series last year, but I wouldn't say it was a favourite... I thought it was just a thriller, but it turned out to be something else entirely. I thought it dragged a little but the ending was good.
I found the Wayward Pines show before the book, and I absolutely love the show. I’m frustrated because they’ve been back and forth for a year over if there will be another season or not, and we definitely need one. I have the first book, have not read it yet, but i can say the series is absolutely worth it. It has a serious fan following also. I’ve seen reviews comparing the book to the show, and often I hear the main character in the book is bland, in the show he is not. It does start off slow but then it totally ramps up. If you have some time it’s worth it to see Wayward Pines come to life 😊. Thanks for the reviews, I haven’t heard or Burial Rites, but I’m intrigued!
I love their film lists! So refreshing that they do it by genre instead of what everyone else does, they've definitely inspired me to try this instead of a top 10. Tarkovsky is one of my favorite directors :)
can you please review the bone clocks?i was struggling to finish ghostwritten and i am really no more interested in david mitchell but if you have an opinion on the bone clocks then i can go through it.
Michael C Hall narrated pet sematary? That's my next audio book then! Oh, nice video as always :D Edit: Have you ever read House of leaves? Finished it not too long ago and while I enjoyed it, I kinda expected more because of the hype surrounding it.
That was my reaction exactly when I saw that he narrated "Pet Sematary" lol Haven't read "House of Leaves" yet, but I definitely want to. The hype is real!
Mariana please tell me it's a little off topic but not at the same time it's not but are you excited for that Watchmen show on HBO u know the same channel as your other favorite show u like to talk about with their books and episodes of Game Of Thrones. I think it's gonna be good that and True Detective season 3
Alright!! From what I've seen, you have a very distinct variety of tastes, so I'm not sure how many of these will hit home and some of these may be things you've already read, but here are my (Author) Reccs: •Ken Liu(fantasy)(Chinese) •Yoshika Tanaka(sci fi)(japanese) •Mo Yan(postmodern, highly banned in China, not for the faint of heart, etc) •Keigo Higashino(mystery)(japanese) •Kanae Minato(mystery)(Japanese) •Natsuhiko Kyogoku(mystery)(japanese) •Natsuo Kirino(mystery)(japanese) •Qiu Xiaolong(mystery)(Chinese) •Hideaki Sena(horror)(japanese) •Ryu Murakami(horror)(japanese) •Otsuichi(horror)(japanese) •Monster Manga by Naoki Urasawa •Berserk Manga by Kentaro Miura
Wait, you know Russian? It's so strange to hear it from someone with such an impeccable English. Even though I myself know a Russian girl who mostly grew up in America an speaks perfect American English, it still amazes me. I myself just moved to America from Russia and I don't expect to ever have such a great accent!
@@ImpressionBlend if you don't mind my asking, how long did it take for you to develop your pronunciation? Or have it already been that way before you moved to the US? Don't know why I keep writing in English, even though we are both Russian :D
Thank you for mention Burial Rites. I have heard about that book before (probably from you) and wanted to read it but I could never find it. And now I know why, I thought it took place on Ireland not Iceland. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And hear are some books I read and liked last year. I tried to use the same categories as you. Best classic: "The Hand Maids Tail" by Margaret Atwood Best non-fiction: "Quiet: The Power of Introverts" by Susan Cain Surprise: "This Mortal Coil" by Emily Suvada. Didn't know much when starting this but I really liked it. Looking forward to continue this series. Best audio-book: "Bird Box" by Josh Malerman. This idea are so good as an audio book. Thought provoking book: "How I learned to understand the world" and "Factfulness" both by Hans Rosling Beautiful written: "Saga Book One" by Brian K Vaughan. Kinda weird pick but parts of Saga are very beautiful and some are just messed up. And I also read "It" and "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King. Both are great. I agree with what you said about Pet Sematary. It's not scary it's more creepy. And that ending. And goddamn It are a freaking long book.
I love your videos! I'm so glad you're back.
Thank you so much!
"Darling."
Ah Pet Cemetery. It's been over 30 years since I've read it but I'll never forget that last line. I never thought it was scary like I was told it was but still, one of the most memorable if not most memorable last lines in any novel I've read. Love it!
And more audiobooks I need, damn it!
Another great video.Have a great week!
Thank you! You too!
Glad you are back. You cannot imagine how much I have missed you.
So nice to have you back, Mariana. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
Thank you! You too!
a new Impression Blend video is like finding a $20 bill in my pocket- I get happy but I want more!
Haha more to come!
@@ImpressionBlend 😃
Exactly!
Me too i love your videos marianna
Ive seen the book thief film now i want to read the book
It's wonderful to have you back!!!
I love your videos and I'm so happy you're back. I've just started reading 'The Book Thief' and I'm loving it. FYI, Markus Zusak will be talking about it at a literary meet in my city Kolkata (India). Super excited to meet him. 😃
Oooo, that's awesome!!
Kaustav Ghosh the BEST read of my year last year!!❤️
@@maytedenisse7088 I met Markus Zusak yesterday along with Yann Martel and Andre Aciman. 😃
Kaustav Ghosh awww that’s awesome 👏🏻😍❤️❤️😁
Glad to have found your channel today. I haven't read many of the books you mentioned and love the idea of reading a classic each month. Great idea for a challenge!
Welcome to my channel! Glad you found me :)
As someone who looking for new stuff, these book reviews and wrap-ups are great. By the way, you do sound a little different in older videos.
I'm glad you're enjoying them :)
As someone who like to read but don’t read a lot (2-3books a month ) videos like this are really helpful for some good recommendations !
2-3 books per month is more than most people read, and it's not about the number anyways-it's about enjoying what you're reading, so don't feel bad :)
I wish I could read 2-3 books a month. I'm way too slow a reader for that.
Glad your back. My favs from 2018 were: The Help, The Good Daughter, and I started The Reckoning at the end of 2018 and I'm still reading it. Read a lot of books that were disappointing too.
I really missed your videos. Thanks for being back 😀👍
Aww thank you!
The Romanov Sisters is on my list. I didn't think anyone else I knew would read it. Can't wait to read it.
My favourite Julian Barnes book so far has to be "History of the World in 10 1/2 chapters". "The Only Story" and "Sense of an Ending" (of course!) are wonderful and very short reads as well.I very much enjoyed Mitchell's "Slade House" as well, though for me, "The Bone Clocks" was more enjoyable. This is the first video that I've seen of yours. Excellent! I'll be back for more.
I have I'm Thinking of Ending Things on my To-Read list, after hearing what you thought about it, it's moving up on my priority list! Also, LOVE that you make it a point to re-read favorites! I've been known to get into that mindset of feeling like I need to read all new books each year, even when I have a craving to explore an old favorite again. SO GLAD you like The Book Thief, it's one of my all-time favorites!
I honestly read I'm Thinking of Ending Things in two sittings because it was so. damn. good.
It's the type of writing that is so deceptively simple that it stuns you with its depth as the story unfolds. One of my favourite recent reads - you'll love it!
I find these videos very insightful and helpful, + I really love your taste in books so I am very glad you are back !
Thank you! I'm glad you like them :)
Sometimes i'm afraid to revisit a book or movie years later out of fear that it doesn't hold up or I don't like it as much the second time around (being more critical, outgrown the material, etc). I'm tempted to read books only once
Probably not a very PC recommendation in 2019, but I ran into a cheap hardcover copy of Gone With The Wind and it's actually a classic that is a page turner and has kept me interested in the story of Scarlett O'Hara.
"not very PC" haha
I need to read that book one of these days since "Gone with the Wind" is one of my favorite films, can't even tell you how many times I've seen it.
'Not a very PC recommendation...' very funny, Frank, very funny.
Another superb video. I added two books to my wish list. I'm particularly interested in The Four Sisters. Thanks! You have exquisite taste.
This is the first video I've seen from you and I really really loved it. Can't wait to watch more
You're my inspiration to keep reading. I couldn't read much last year because of college, but I'm back now, starting the year with a Brave New World, which was in my backlog for quite a while 👀
That one will definitely give you a lot to think about!
Pet Sematary was the first King book I ever read. Probably in my top 5 of his novels. The Stand of course is and always will be #1. Glad you liked it.
What are your other King top 5 books?
@@ImpressionBlend Ohhh..you put me on the spot there! Hmmm... 1 - The Stand (I think i've read the unabridged version atleat a half dozen times over the years) 2 - It 3 - Pet Sematary 4 - The Talisman 5- Misery
6 - The Dead Zone, 7 - Carrie 8 - The Tommyknockers 9 - The Shining 10 - Firestarter. After looking at my bookshelf I went for 10. Notice they are all older titles. I have most of his newer stuff but just havent gotten around to it. Most of the early short story collections are a good read too. Night Shift, Different Seasons, Skeleton Crew.
Now you have my curiosity up regarding the Iain Reid novel...
Excellent choices, Ms Marianna!
I read I'm Thinking of Ending Things in two sittings because it was so. damn. good.
It's the type of writing that is so deceptively simple that it stuns you with its depth as the story unfolds. One of my favourite recent reads - I highly recommend it!
Great reviews! Love Shostakovich - so will for sure read The Noise of Time. Thanks
You'll definitely enjoy the book then!
Great video, good recommendations.
I won't lie, I've fallen behind on book reading, because my job got apocalyptically stressful and draining to the point where I didn't even have the mental energy for audiobooks. I'm glad to say I quit before Christmas and I'm in a job I love now, so I'm going to try to read and re-read some books again.
Aww, so glad you were able to find a different job. Jobs that suck the life out of you are the WORST, since you are forced to spend so much time doing something you don't enjoy.
We all missed your videos Mariana!! Keep making them for us!! Cheers!! :)
I’ve read about 7 Stephen King books so far and still haven’t read one that’s better than Pet Sematary. It’s his best work, in my opinion. Also it’s good to see you back!
loved this format - so glad you are back!💛
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!
Great that you're back Books by Julian Barnes that Id recommend : The Porcupine , Arthur and George , History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters but just about anything he writes is really good
I had an unusually good year and read for pleasure much more than I have in the last couple of years where my reading energy has largely been taken up by university research. I breezed through The First Law in about three weeks which was the first series I'd read back to back in years. My favourite series and surprise (as I thought nothing could come close to George for dark fantasy for me.)
Also listened to Burial Rites on your recommendation - thank you so much for that! I need to go back to it soon.
Looking forward to what you have for us in the coming year.
Ahhhh The First Law! I really want to re-read that series, loved it!
Glad you enjoyed "Burial Rites" :D
I'm so glad I found your channel!!! Other book-tubers I found only seem to read overly "sentimental" or as I call them "chic books" (don't get offended I'm female I just don't like mushy stuff).
I can't wait to give a few of these a go myself, I've read Slade House actually before I read Bone Clocks and you're totally right you don't need to have read both to get a kick out of it, my mom got me a signed copy because she knew I'd read Cloud Atlas (don't worry it took me two attempts and a lot of hard work to get through that one so you aren't alone).
Welcome :) Was "Cloud Atlas" worth it in the end?
I feel like it was yes, it just took a while to reach its point. The main problem is it's extremely slow feeling and it doesn't seem like some of the characters are connected until right at the end (they must be in some way otherwise he wouldn't have formatted the book like that).
I feel better having read it but its not something I'd pick up and read over and over.
Slow burner, I definitely feel like he's gotten better at writing over time, his later stuff is really good.
I highly recommend Talking it over. It also discusses the idea of time, the role of memories and if they are real or created. You are going to enjoy Barnes´s short story collection Pulse
I loved your video.. and easy to follow with names of the books on the screen..its really easy to follow!!
Thank you!
I'll take your list in highly consideration. I love books, but I don't read them as much as I want too. Mainly because I suffer from ADHD and dyslexia, but I still buy books and read them whenever I can.
Okay so I'm crazy behind watching booktube videos, but I just had to pop in a comment to say how absolutely excited I am that you loved I'm Thinking of Ending Things. I'm so happy you decided to pick it up! Are you thinking about reading Foe? (It's not as good, but I still really liked it).
I'm SO GLAD I stumbled upon your review! You helped me discover a new favorite :D
I did read "Foe" as soon as it came out. Thought it was a very cool concept, and while I didn't love it as much as "I'm Thinking of Ending Things", I still really enjoyed it. Can't wait to see what he comes out with next!
Thank you for an interesting choice of books, and some interesting tips. My favourite Julian Barnes is ’The Sense of an Ending’. Great read.
I agree on Pet Semetary, there are no winners only losers. I remember when I was reading it a friend who was pregnant asked me what I was reading. I had to lie and say I was reading a book on "war and stuff"!
I think they're making a film of "The Long Walk" which is a great story by King, one of my favorites and I've read a lot of his stuff.
Oh yea, probably one of the WORST books to read when pregnant lol
Just finished Thinking Of Ending Things and hated it. Wanted to like it but I couldn’t. Can’t wait to try out these other books!
Thanks for the reviews Mariana. And in honor of your return I've decided to leave a real comment. Pet Sematary was good King, and I would agree sadder than scary. Have you seen Tarkovsky's Solaris? How did they compare? I've seen the film many times, I'm almost afraid to read it. I'm sure they will be quite different experiences. Fiction-wise, since I've moved from Alaska to Tbilisi Georgia, I've been reading Georgian and related literature. Kurban Said's Ali and Nino is a classic. (The movie does a fair job with the material.) Also Nikolas Tchkotoua's Timeless is a haunting tale as well. Both novels reveal the fascinating early 20th Century in the Caucasus, quite romantic in a dark sad way, revealing worlds now lost, that one gets a faint whisper of when walking through the decaying Art Nouveau structures in Tbilisi's Old Town. Non-Fiction: Notes on the Death of Culture by Mario Vargas Llosa was thought provoking. And Beauty: A Very Short Introduction by Roger Scruton reminded me more deeply of the need for beauty in these kitschy times.
I love Tarkovsky in genera and "Solaris" in particular. It's been a while since I've seen it, but I would definitely say he focuses more on the existential parts, while the book also offers a good portion of hard sci-fi. Don't be afraid to read it though, I think you will find it interesting!
it's so interesting how different opinions can be, i absolutely loved Neverworld Wake but i went into it with pretty low expectations. i had enjoyed Night Film but never finished her other novel, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, so I was skeptical about this one. maybe that helped. Solaris sounds fascinating! adding that to my TBR and also getting the audiobook for I'm Thinking of Ending Things because i've heard quite a few people recommend it recently and your recommendation pushed me over. if you like Barnes you should definitely read The Sense of an Ending--one of my favorites of all time, but surprisingly the only one of his i've read. also glad i'm not alone in not liking Cloud Atlas!
Thank you for these recommendations. already read the book thief and nightingales. Love your reviews.
Thanks for watching!
Julian Barnes:
I've read and can recommend Flaubert's Parrot, A History of the World in 10½ Chapters, The Porcupine and Arthur & George. If you enjoy the Sherlock Holmes stories then Arthur & George might be a good next stop.
Stanislaw Lem:
Again I've only read a handful of his books, of which Solaris is the standout. Like Barnes he's an author I should've read more thoroughly. But in general I like to source books by browsing in a dedicated store, and you rarely find east-European sci-fi like Lem or the Strugatskys on shelves in the UK. Even in the large book & comic stores in London.
Nice to see you're back in my TH-cam feed, btw. You make good content. I continue to have no particularly strong opinions about your latest haircut.
Thank you for your suggestions. The Strugatsky brothers are definitely an area of sci-fi I want to get started on this year, I've been meaning to read them for a long time.
Thank you for your insightful reviews; anxious to check out a couple of your favorites. As for Julian Barnes, Flaubert's Parrot is one of my favorite books ever, and A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters also very good. Perhaps my own favorite last year was a re-read of White Noise by Don DeLillo. Also revisited many Vonneguts.
So glad to see your triumphant return. The disappearance of a TH-camr doesn't usually leave a vacuum in my life, but yours did. All is right again.
Just watched Hereditary recently. Wow! All I can say is Wow.
Thanks again. Be well.
Thank you so much for your kind words and your recommendations!
I really liked the idea of different categories. great video. =) makes me want to read more.
Thank you!
You must read Julian Barnes
"The only story " I didn't want to finish it. Everyone has a story and if you have than you will love this book. " would you rather love the more and suffer the more;
Or love the less, and suffer less ? That is, I think,finally ,the only real question. Wow !
I'm a slow reader and had a house brick sized book so I only got three books read last year.
- Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill
- The Stand by Stephen King
- The Power by Naomi Alderman
The first two were good, Queen of the Dark Things being a slightly not as good sequel to an incredible book and The Stand being very good but also very bloated. The Power is probably going down as an all-time favourite for me.
The very best of Juian Barnes (maybe one of the top 10 of my life) is The sense of an ending, which make us all remember of lost loves at the youth age.
Oh man, sounds like a good one
I like the way you did this with the specific categories 😊 my favourites were The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, How the Blessed Live by Susannah M. Smith, and The Lonely City by Olivia Laing!
I Absolutely loved the categories you came up with, they are relatable like Favorite Classic or Most Disappointing. Now, you just keep proving to me that I don't read enough. How do you do it? What's your secret???!!!
Anyways, can't wait to watch the Top Movies video 😁
Audiobooks lol
@@ImpressionBlend I've only listened a couple, but it that's the secret... 😂💕
Wonderful! Thank you. I recommend Julian Barnes: The Only Story. Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
I felt exactly the same about ''Pet Sematary''. It is one of my favourite books of all time. Such a heartbreaking story!
Hi marianna!!
Good to see you. We miss you.
Brandon Sanderson and Yukio Mishima are my new thing this year.
So glad you’re back! I’m def gonna check out slade house!
Biggest surprise of 2018. The Library at Mount Char. Definitely one of the strangest fantasy novels I've ever read. Highly imaginative, hilarious and wonderfully over-the-top absurd. My only gripe: it's way too short, the story is wrapped up much too fast. I still recommend it though, if you want to read something quick and unique.
Currently reading: Shogun. Absolutely amazing, I'm totally engrossed. It's a classic, and rightly so. Highly recommended.
Plans for future reading: the books on which The Expanse is based. If you're not watching it, you should. It's GoT in space!
P.S. I'm actually curious about reading Cloud Atlas. I adore the movie, so I feel like I should give the book a try.
There is going to be a film adaptation of I'm Thinking of Ending Things, directed by none other than Charlie Kaufman(directed Synecdoche, New York, wrote Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). No better person to be in charge really, but my only gripe is that it is a Netflix film.
Great video format and great book recommendations! Thanks Mariana! 🤗
Thanks for watching!
Did you remove the Night film review? I just finished reading it! Added it to my to read list yeears ago thanks to you and I could swear you had a review on it, and have been looking for it, but the closest I got was this video where it's at least mentioned. 😝
These are amazing recommandations! Thank you so much!
You're very welcome :)
Hey Marianna, can only stop by for a sec gotta get back to work but I'm commenting for later. Be back soon, very interested in some books I probably haven't heard about!
I just finished I'm thinking of ending things. Wow, that was a great book.
I've watched Wayward Pines and love it. Didn't know it was a book.. I'll have to check it out
Thankyou great reviews. I read the nightingale and also the great alone by Kristin Hannah and loved them.
I keep eyeing "The Great Alone", but something about the premise just isn't grabbing me enough. Would you say the description is pretty accurate or is there more to it?
Thank you for recommending I'm Thinking of Ending Things. That book destroyed me. I understand it's not for everyone (hence the polarized rating) but HOLY SH*T it is for me. 5/5!
Hi Mariana. Glad to see you again. You are very,very beautiful. I like your recommendations and try to catch up with them because they are ready-witted. It's a blessing for me to listen to your wise and acute opinions. I barely read half a novel last year.Why don't you make this video in the russian version I'd love to hear you speaking russian, though i don't speak russian.
Now I've ought to read Solaris. I've seen the movie by Tarkovskey, and I adore it, so it'd only make sense.
Do it!
Fun fact: Lem didn't like that movie. He said: 'Tarkovsky didn't make a 'Solaris' adaptation, he made a 'Crime and Punishment' adaptation'.
His opinions of Tarkovsky were hilarious. Anyway, Lem was preoccupied with different philosophical questions than Tarkovsky, so the book is similar in structure, but doesn't make the same points.
I ordered a copy of Solaris a couple of weeks ago and then realized I'm an idiot and ordered a French translation.
I read Robert K. Massie's Peter The Great in 2018 and I loved it. I'm not sure if that lands in your dry history writing category but to me it's packed full of life. I thought Massie and his editors did a great job of making a fairly linear and concise narrative out of all of the events happening around Peter.
For a super obscure read, you should hunt down a copy of Death On The Ice by Cassie Brown. It's based on a true story of a ship of sealers who get stranded in the thick pack ice off the coast of Newfoundland in 1914. An infamous event in Newfoundland history. I'm a Newfoundlander myself so I'm biased, but the descriptions of weather systems and the peril of the sealers is super intense. It's a classic.
Also, I found a copy of a book called Women Filmmakers in Early Hollywood by Karen Ward Mahar which I haven't read yet but looks super cool. You can find some really cool stuff in thrift stores around here.
I've heard recommendations for that Peter the Great book before, may need to check it out! Thanks for reminding me!
I loved I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Amazing book. I couldn’t put it down!📚
Yay! So glad you loved it!
I read Pet Sematary last year and loved it as well! I also felt that that the book was incredibly sad, more than it was scary (even though the ending was particularly disturbing). I think the main source of horror in this book for me was my fear for Louis and his family, born from all the horrible things that happened to them.
Agreed! It's more of a dramatic horror than scary horror, if that makes sense.
I like the way you did this video! New subscriber. 👍🏻
New subbie!! Can't wait to see more videos!
Hi! Welcome to my channel :D
My take on why I'm Thinking of Ending Things gets a low rating - I think it leaves the reader feeling deceived (maybe similar to how you've said you feel when you find everything happened in a dream). Also, I got the impression the audiobook was viewed more favorably, as a reveal is much more obvious.
I almost think audiobooks need to be a separate category from books ... somewhere between reading the book and watching a video-based adaptation ... it just isn't the same experience as reading the book on it's own.
BTW, you're very gifted at describing books/movies without revealing spoilers.
Thank you :) It could be that the twist was a bit extreme and sad for a lot of people, Goodreads has some interesting ratings for certain books. Personally, I feel like it was done really well, even though you're right, more often than not this type of an ending annoys me. I don't agree with you about audiobooks though-a story is a story. For example, reading A Song of Ice and Fire and listening to A Song of Ice and Fire doesn't make a difference to me in the end. A great narrator or a full cast can enhance the experience, an ebook with extras or interactive content can enhance the experience, a special edition of a printed book can enhance the experience, but those are minor details that are very secondary to the story/writing/characters.
@@ImpressionBlend I guess I feel the narrator makes a bigger difference. I would have quite a different experience with a story read to me by Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Morgan Freeman vs. Scarlett Johansson vs. reading it myself. Audiobooks also tend to have a listeners divided attention, as people do other things while listening to them. I dunno, it is pretty different for me.
King wasn't even going to publish Pet Sematary because it was so bleak. He did only to fulfill a contract. It's not one of my King favorites but it is a good read. My favorite book of 2018 was Old Man's War by John Scalzi.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things slapped! It was one of the most thought-provoking and clever psychological thrillers I've ever read. I don't know why it has such a low ratings on Goodreads either, but you know, it's Goodreads so... hahaa
Loved the video! I have the same feeling as you about "Pet Sematery". I love it, but I thought it was sadder than scary. About Marisha Pessl, "Night Film" is one of my favourite books ever and I am still trying to read "Neverworld Awake", but I am just not interested enough because like you said, the characters, I just don't care for them.
I wish I could tell you it gets better... but it doesn't :(
Hi Marianna! So glad you're back :)
I may have missed it on your previous videos, but have you ever read 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss? It's brilliant!
Such a pleasant broadcaster, zero "I am like an intellectual scarlett johansson" affect, well spoken and just "joyful" I think Mariana should start a channel where she just reads the latest news, I would much rather her do it. Cheers!
I feel the same way about pet Cemetery.
Will give slade house a go after this video. I hated cloud atlas but I’m ready to give Mitchell a second chance.
Some random thoughts: 1) Classic: Fully agree with you on "Solaris", this book makes you think. If you liked "Solaris" and read Russian, you may want to try Janusz Zajdel - there are no English translations of this guy but there are Russian, pretty much any book :-) In 2018 I read "Van Troff's Cylinder" (litteral translation) and personally I treat it as my 'fiction book' of the year 2) Non Fiction: Yes, non - fiction historical books can be a bit dry, but more important than style is if the book is well researched or not. If if on top of research it's written well, even better :-) I'm reading a lot of non fiction and personally I think that overall the books on history are generally becoming more and more 'accessible' in terms of writing style. And believe it or not after watching your video I bought "the Romanov Sisters". My knowledge on the subject of the murder of the Romanov tsar family is rather general and not too detailed (too put it diplomatically ;-) ) so I'm looking forward to improving it. 3) Disappointment: I tip my hat off to you. I routinely do not finish books I do not enjoy. The one I did finish was the first book in the crime story trilogy by Pierre Lemaitre. I found it so great that I got rid of this book and - without reading - its two sequels. 4) Best of the rest: "The book thief" has been on my reading list for quite a while now.
Totally adore the John dies at the end by David wong
The new format is great! How would you say Solaris the book compares to Solaris the movie? I hear Lem criticised Tarkovsky for making it less of a genuine sci fi and more of a sci fi vehicle for a philosophical/psychological arthouse story (which I think is an accurate description of the film). That makes me wonder if the book maybe doesn't have as much of the human element in it?
I didn't find Pet Sematary scary either. I agree that as a concept it was sad, but I was personally unable to really feel it/get invested in it because I absolutely hated Louis Creed as a character.
The book that surprised me the most this year was Mr Gwyn by Alessandro Baricco. I went into it with no expectations and without knowing anything about it other than the basic premise, and it completely pulled me in. Very ethereal and elegant. Not without its flaws, but I really enjoyed it.
Here's the thing: the book has all of the psychology and philosophy in it, it's a big part of why I loved it so much. But the book also has pretty extensive section of scientific research info about the planet/ocean, which pushes it more towards the hard sci-fi genre. However, there is NO way to put that into a movie without bringing the pacing to a halt with an info dump. Tarkovsky's film is a masterpiece.
@@ImpressionBlend I absolutely loved the film, so I can agree with that! One of my favourites Tarkovsky has done alongside The Sacrifice, although there's still a few I haven't seen yet. Either way, good to know the book has that stuff as well. Feeling more optimistic about it now, so hopefully I'll get around to reading it at some point.
Barnes is an amazing author, i suggest "A sense of an ending", which also has a movie adaptation, and "The only story". Frankly, picking pretty much anything by Barnes will probably end up being good 😅
If you ever come across a book called "Confessions" by Jaume Cabré, give it a try. It's a big book, and it's worth every little portion of your time and energy. It's 800 pages of literary pleasure. Chaotic, beautifully written, one of a kind. Highly recommend.
Thank you for the suggestions! Funny, I actually have been hearing about "Confessions" a lot recently, so I added it to my to-read list. Hopefully, I can get to it soon, though the length is a bit intimidating lol
@@ImpressionBlend I read it in the summer of 2017, and the 700 pages of the greek translation were not enough, i wanted more. Don't hesitate, it's amazing 😁
I also read the wayward pines series last year, but I wouldn't say it was a favourite... I thought it was just a thriller, but it turned out to be something else entirely. I thought it dragged a little but the ending was good.
I found the Wayward Pines show before the book, and I absolutely love the show. I’m frustrated because they’ve been back and forth for a year over if there will be another season or not, and we definitely need one. I have the first book, have not read it yet, but i can say the series is absolutely worth it. It has a serious fan following also. I’ve seen reviews comparing the book to the show, and often I hear the main character in the book is bland, in the show he is not. It does start off slow but then it totally ramps up. If you have some time it’s worth it to see Wayward Pines come to life 😊.
Thanks for the reviews, I haven’t heard or Burial Rites, but I’m intrigued!
Night film is an AMAZING BOOK!!
I really like this structure, similar to Cinefix's film lists videos
You should watch Tarkovsky's adaptation of Solaris
Is it similar to Stalker?
I love their film lists! So refreshing that they do it by genre instead of what everyone else does, they've definitely inspired me to try this instead of a top 10. Tarkovsky is one of my favorite directors :)
can you please review the bone clocks?i was struggling to finish ghostwritten and i am really no more interested in david mitchell but if you have an opinion on the bone clocks then i can go through it.
I haven't read "The Bone Clocks" yet
Michael C Hall narrated pet sematary? That's my next audio book then!
Oh, nice video as always :D
Edit: Have you ever read House of leaves? Finished it not too long ago and while I enjoyed it, I kinda expected more because of the hype surrounding it.
That was my reaction exactly when I saw that he narrated "Pet Sematary" lol
Haven't read "House of Leaves" yet, but I definitely want to. The hype is real!
Interesting list - well done - try Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes, the book that made his reputation, an excellent work.
Thanks for the suggestion!
You are welcome, thank you for the book recommendations, what I haven't already read I will certainly check out.
I'm definitely the last person to read The Book Thief. I'll add it to my list. 😁
Nice list.
You have to read I am the Messenger by Markus zusak!
I’ve been into high fantasy lately. Any recommendations?
Hmm I'm more of a dark fantasy person, tbh
Doesn't A Game Of Thrones and The First Law count
If ANYONE listened to An Anonymous Girl on audiobook, she reminds me of Dr. Shields.
Mariana please tell me it's a little off topic but not at the same time it's not but are you excited for that Watchmen show on HBO u know the same channel as your other favorite show u like to talk about with their books and episodes of Game Of Thrones. I think it's gonna be good that and True Detective season 3
I'm definitely interested to see what they do with Watchmen, I hope it's good! Will give it a try, for sure.
Yeah same it's definitely got my attention and I hope so too that it's good
Alright!! From what I've seen, you have a very distinct variety of tastes, so I'm not sure how many of these will hit home and some of these may be things you've already read, but here are my (Author) Reccs:
•Ken Liu(fantasy)(Chinese)
•Yoshika Tanaka(sci fi)(japanese)
•Mo Yan(postmodern, highly banned in China, not for the faint of heart, etc)
•Keigo Higashino(mystery)(japanese)
•Kanae Minato(mystery)(Japanese)
•Natsuhiko Kyogoku(mystery)(japanese)
•Natsuo Kirino(mystery)(japanese)
•Qiu Xiaolong(mystery)(Chinese)
•Hideaki Sena(horror)(japanese)
•Ryu Murakami(horror)(japanese)
•Otsuichi(horror)(japanese)
•Monster Manga by Naoki Urasawa
•Berserk Manga by Kentaro Miura
Thank you so much for all of your suggestions!!
Just discovered your channel 👍
Welcome :D
Wait, you know Russian? It's so strange to hear it from someone with such an impeccable English. Even though I myself know a Russian girl who mostly grew up in America an speaks perfect American English, it still amazes me. I myself just moved to America from Russia and I don't expect to ever have such a great accent!
Aww thank you :) Russian is my first language, I moved to the US when I was almost 17, right after school.
@@ImpressionBlend if you don't mind my asking, how long did it take for you to develop your pronunciation? Or have it already been that way before you moved to the US?
Don't know why I keep writing in English, even though we are both Russian :D
Love the hairstyle
Thank you for mention Burial Rites. I have heard about that book before (probably from you) and wanted to read it but I could never find it. And now I know why, I thought it took place on Ireland not Iceland.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
And hear are some books I read and liked last year. I tried to use the same categories as you.
Best classic: "The Hand Maids Tail" by Margaret Atwood
Best non-fiction: "Quiet: The Power of Introverts" by Susan Cain
Surprise: "This Mortal Coil" by Emily Suvada. Didn't know much when starting this but I really liked it. Looking forward to continue this series.
Best audio-book: "Bird Box" by Josh Malerman. This idea are so good as an audio book.
Thought provoking book: "How I learned to understand the world" and "Factfulness" both by Hans Rosling
Beautiful written: "Saga Book One" by Brian K Vaughan. Kinda weird pick but parts of Saga are very
beautiful and some are just messed up.
And I also read "It" and "Pet Sematary" by Stephen King. Both are great. I agree with what you said about Pet Sematary. It's not scary it's more creepy. And that ending. And goddamn It are a freaking long book.
Loved your list! Definitely adding some of those to my TBR!