Hello Jen, I want to thank you deeply for this review. I have just read Autumn and Winter and then I have delved into your videos, which are eye-opening. The way you interweave all the elements of the book, drawing paralles to snowballs and layers is simply genial. Being Italian, I initially found it challenging to grasp the book's profound essence. You have unveiled an entire world to me and I am very grateful for that!
Oh Jen... I love this review. I really enjoyed Winter but of course you've made me realize a few things I didn't notice while reading. :))) Personally, I really loved some of Lux's parts as I'm also from a different part of Europe but I've always loved the English language and culture, that's why I studied English at uni :). One of my favourite parts was when Art didn't know she was actually talking about the a real Shakespeare's play. Fun fact, only a few days before getting to this part of the book I had been randomly thinking about buying myself Cymbeline to read, so that also felt really weird and amazing! ;D
i knew you'd made this video so i had it bookmarked for when i finished reading. it was so great to hear you talk about it! i enjoyed it too but this helped me look at it a bit differently and think about some stuff that went over my head. english is not my first language so reading ali smith feels quite daunting, so this was a great companion to my reading experience. thanks a lot, jen xx
I watched your review on Autumn before reading it and it helped me to enjoy it SO SO MUCH! Doing the same now with Winter. Watching you speak so passionately about Ali Smith's work is very inspiring. Thanks.
I was really looking forward to watching this video and then picking the book up myself, but, despite you specifically stating you don't think you could spoil it for anyone, the enthusiasm you showed in the first minute was so strong, I kind of caught it too and decided to read it without having the slightest idea of what it's about.
You amaze me how you can bring in the connections to other things or people, I love that but I would never see these things Thankyou so much .....i would like to read it so moving
I’m reading this now and I LOVE IT. I’m so pleased I read it in the run up to Christmas, it is just so special and wonderful. And I love it even more now I have heard your thoughts on it xxx
I had not heard of these books before, but this sounds so amazing, so I've just rushed off to purchase both Autumn and Winter. THANK YOU for recommending it. This is why I love your channel. I discover so many new books that are right up my alley. :)
I listen to you talk about books, and I start to wonder if I actually am literate. You see so many layers and so many levels of literature and language, and I never do. I love to hear you talk about books because there’s so much obvious love for everything that they mean and are. I’m not anywhere near your levels of interpretation, (not to mention understanding of depth) but I love learning from things you say. 😊
I was already interested in reading this book, but thanks to you I am surely going to read through this book tomorrow on Christmas Eve. I read Autumn in one day a few months ago, and I am hoping to read this books before Christmas is gone. This is such a wonderful review and discussion, you insight both inspires and illuminates readers.
I think this is my favourite video you’ve ever made, which is fitting given the book it discusses :) so careful and eloquent and intelligent. I loved it xxxxx
Could you make a video analysing your books in depth like this? I love how you find meaning in all the little things that most people would miss. Sometimes I feel like I am reading and it's only entertainment when actually there is an underlying subtext that I am completely blind to. x
Thanks but I would feel weird making a video analysing my own books because, once they're out in the world, they belong to everyone, so making a video where I (as the author) am saying 'this is what this means...' etc would feel a little wrong. x
Your review of this gave me shivers. I wasn't going to try her because I thought it may make me even more depressed about the election (yes, even now, unfortunately) but thanks to you, I will try her. Happy New Year and thank you, Jen. Off to check out your author spotlight video. 💙
I’m halfway through this book and was finding it a bit confusing, I knew there was a lot of clever things going on I just couldn’t make sense of it. I’m not that well read if I’m honest and only recently started reading more (so am feeling a bit out of my depth with stories I feel too stupid to understand..!) but your review has been so helpful to my appreciation of this novel. I’m glad I decided to watch a review while I’m still reading this book, feel like now I can really appreciate it. Thank you!
Thanks for such a great review of a brilliant novel. I have just finished reading Winter. Spotted some of the themes you mention, but missed a lot more! Previously read Autumn, but did not spot which character reappears in Winter.
cleave does mean sever... but it also means cling to, and it seems that Sophie is clinging to a delusion... (cleave is a contronym - a word that has two opposing meanings)
I did another one last week th-cam.com/video/1YsGyweHtkM/w-d-xo.html I plan to do more in the new year, as well as more academic videos on the history of fairy tales, I just haven't had time to do them while I was on book tour.
I use my computer as a typewriter, more than anything else. Can you tell me how I find the "links at the bottom" you speak of? Ali Smith brought me to you. Now I've fallen a little in love with what you're doing here. You are fairly brilliant!
I haven't read the book, but when you mentioned: 'a severed head' I immediately thought of that title by Iris Murdoch. Would that be another reference to literature, do you think?
Winter has come. Frozen time oh yes isnt that a level in hell. Read Authum liked it. Thanks for the recommend. Have order Winter. You havent steered me wrong. On a side note I never knew that Paddington was a book series until later in life. Knew what Paddington was the bear in the jacket and could recognize him on sight but Ive never read the stories. My childhood was lacking in some things but not in others.
I really liked this book too, I have only read 4 of Ali Smith's novels, but want to read them all. The first part of things that are dead, especially the first 'God was dead' also made me think of Friedrich Neitzsche and the destruction of cultural values.
+Susannah C indeed! “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”
I really liked your review and I'm intrigued to read the novel. However I'm afraid that I'm to stupid to understand literary fiction and all the references you talk about are in the novel. :-/
Hello Jen, I want to thank you deeply for this review. I have just read Autumn and Winter and then I have delved into your videos, which are eye-opening. The way you interweave all the elements of the book, drawing paralles to snowballs and layers is simply genial. Being Italian, I initially found it challenging to grasp the book's profound essence. You have unveiled an entire world to me and I am very grateful for that!
I am so jealous of the way you talk about books and describe them! Amazing!! :)
Oh Jen... I love this review. I really enjoyed Winter but of course you've made me realize a few things I didn't notice while reading. :))) Personally, I really loved some of Lux's parts as I'm also from a different part of Europe but I've always loved the English language and culture, that's why I studied English at uni :). One of my favourite parts was when Art didn't know she was actually talking about the a real Shakespeare's play. Fun fact, only a few days before getting to this part of the book I had been randomly thinking about buying myself Cymbeline to read, so that also felt really weird and amazing! ;D
+AuburnAfterglow that was one of my favourite parts, too. The quote I read out at the end of the video was from that page ❤️ Art was such a prat xx
This sounds like it has so much meaning and you're the second person in two days I've seen raving about Autumn and Winter!
i knew you'd made this video so i had it bookmarked for when i finished reading. it was so great to hear you talk about it! i enjoyed it too but this helped me look at it a bit differently and think about some stuff that went over my head. english is not my first language so reading ali smith feels quite daunting, so this was a great companion to my reading experience. thanks a lot, jen xx
FINALLY!!!!! Only seen 5 seconds of this video BUT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE WINTER VIDEO SO LONG!!
I watched your review on Autumn before reading it and it helped me to enjoy it SO SO MUCH! Doing the same now with Winter. Watching you speak so passionately about Ali Smith's work is very inspiring. Thanks.
The moment I saw the title I thought “I bet it’s going to be the new Ali Smith.” So happy you loved it and so excited to read it soon
Wonderful explanation of your love for Ali Smith's work.
I was really looking forward to watching this video and then picking the book up myself, but, despite you specifically stating you don't think you could spoil it for anyone, the enthusiasm you showed in the first minute was so strong, I kind of caught it too and decided to read it without having the slightest idea of what it's about.
You amaze me how you can bring in the connections to other things or people, I love that but I would never see these things
Thankyou so much .....i would like to read it so moving
I just finished this yesterday and this video made me appreciate it even more!
I’m reading this now and I LOVE IT. I’m so pleased I read it in the run up to Christmas, it is just so special and wonderful. And I love it even more now I have heard your thoughts on it xxx
So glad you love it, too :) xx
Thanks Jen. I finally got around to reading this. Your review helped me understand so much more about this book.
I am really excited to get my hands on this!
I had not heard of these books before, but this sounds so amazing, so I've just rushed off to purchase both Autumn and Winter. THANK YOU for recommending it. This is why I love your channel. I discover so many new books that are right up my alley. :)
Great analysis 👍🏼 I read Winter last week and loved it, love Ali Smith I find her absolutely brilliant and cannot wait for the next in the series
I listen to you talk about books, and I start to wonder if I actually am literate. You see so many layers and so many levels of literature and language, and I never do. I love to hear you talk about books because there’s so much obvious love for everything that they mean and are. I’m not anywhere near your levels of interpretation, (not to mention understanding of depth) but I love learning from things you say. 😊
I was already interested in reading this book, but thanks to you I am surely going to read through this book tomorrow on Christmas Eve. I read Autumn in one day a few months ago, and I am hoping to read this books before Christmas is gone. This is such a wonderful review and discussion, you insight both inspires and illuminates readers.
I think this is my favourite video you’ve ever made, which is fitting given the book it discusses :) so careful and eloquent and intelligent. I loved it xxxxx
Could you make a video analysing your books in depth like this? I love how you find meaning in all the little things that most people would miss. Sometimes I feel like I am reading and it's only entertainment when actually there is an underlying subtext that I am completely blind to. x
Thanks but I would feel weird making a video analysing my own books because, once they're out in the world, they belong to everyone, so making a video where I (as the author) am saying 'this is what this means...' etc would feel a little wrong. x
Ah I was literally just about to start this tonight!! I will come back when I have read it & compare thoughts
Cfr Ellen Jones
Your review of this gave me shivers. I wasn't going to try her because I thought it may make me even more depressed about the election (yes, even now, unfortunately) but thanks to you, I will try her. Happy New Year and thank you, Jen. Off to check out your author spotlight video. 💙
Getting my first Ali Smith book for Christmas! 'The Accidental', and I am superlatively excited!
+Christopher Morrall an excellent place to start ☺️ x
I’m halfway through this book and was finding it a bit confusing, I knew there was a lot of clever things going on I just couldn’t make sense of it. I’m not that well read if I’m honest and only recently started reading more (so am feeling a bit out of my depth with stories I feel too stupid to understand..!) but your review has been so helpful to my appreciation of this novel. I’m glad I decided to watch a review while I’m still reading this book, feel like now I can really appreciate it. Thank you!
I haven't yet read Ali Smith... but this makes me want to!
I recommend starting with The Accidental :) xx
Thanks for such a great review of a brilliant novel. I have just finished reading Winter. Spotted some of the themes you mention, but missed a lot more! Previously read Autumn, but did not spot which character reappears in Winter.
cleave does mean sever... but it also means cling to, and it seems that Sophie is clinging to a delusion...
(cleave is a contronym - a word that has two opposing meanings)
+quinterbeck ah, I bloody love etymology.
Ooh, now I really want to read Winter. I will have to buy it at a Boxing Day sale, since it is too late to add it to my Christmas list.
Oh this reminds me a lot of Keats' To Autumn. Interesting!
Did you find the image of the rosebud print in the folio of Cymbeline? I tried searching but couldn't :(
I really wish you did reviews like this more often
I did another one last week th-cam.com/video/1YsGyweHtkM/w-d-xo.html I plan to do more in the new year, as well as more academic videos on the history of fairy tales, I just haven't had time to do them while I was on book tour.
I use my computer as a typewriter, more than anything else. Can you tell me how I find the "links at the bottom" you speak of? Ali Smith brought me to you. Now I've fallen a little in love with what you're doing here. You are fairly brilliant!
+Susan Wyler under the video click ‘show more’ and the links will appear :) hello and welcome! xx
thank you!
The moment you showed the book I actually said "I knew it!" out loud XD
Ha! x
Very interesting !
Can I ask where you got the spiral bound copy of this book?
It's from the publisher, an ARC (advance reader copy). They sometimes make spiral bound copies ahead of publication for reviewers.
I haven't read the book, but when you mentioned: 'a severed head' I immediately thought of that title by Iris Murdoch. Would that be another reference to literature, do you think?
Absolutely! “I feel half faded away like some figure in the background of an old picture.” (from A Severed Head)
Çok tatlısın💜
Winter has come. Frozen time oh yes isnt that a level in hell. Read Authum liked it. Thanks for the recommend. Have order Winter. You havent steered me wrong. On a side note I never knew that Paddington was a book series until later in life. Knew what Paddington was the bear in the jacket and could recognize him on sight but Ive never read the stories. My childhood was lacking in some things but not in others.
I really liked this book too, I have only read 4 of Ali Smith's novels, but want to read them all. The first part of things that are dead, especially the first 'God was dead' also made me think of Friedrich Neitzsche and the destruction of cultural values.
+Susannah C indeed! “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”
I really liked your review and I'm intrigued to read the novel. However I'm afraid that I'm to stupid to understand literary fiction and all the references you talk about are in the novel. :-/
Autumn was one of my favorites I read this year, cannot wait to pick this up.
I hope you love this one, too x
Why have I not read Ali Smith yet?!?
I do not know. Go forth and read! x
I am not smart or well read enough to read this one.