The only book I read from the longlist (and now shortlist) is What I've rather not and I am very happy about my intuition, to read this first. I really enjoyed it, 4 stars, impressed.
Great video, Charlotte. And congrats on predicting so many correctly!! The only one I have read is Not a River and controversially to you, I really loved it. But I can also totally see why people wouldn't like it. For me the sparceness of tthe language really worked and I am generally not a fan of minimalism either. I guess I also read it in between two large books and so it was refreshing. Looking forward to your best books of the year so far video ❤
Ok your enthusiasm is infectious, there's quite a few in front of me at the library for those two books but I'll add my name to the list. I've only read Crooked plow and was a bit meh, and reading A Dictator Calls which I'll finish, I'm finding it sort of interesting. I hadn't really intended to read the international booker list but have been a bit drawn in despite myself 🙂
You have sold me me on What I’d rather not think about. Your reaction to it being shortlisted was so cute!! Hot Snow 😱😂😂😂That whole bit was 🤢 Well done for your predictions 👏👏
“The only thing intense about this novel is my hatred for it.” 😂 Brilliant that you managed to do your reading for the prize before the shortlist. 🎉 You have me interested in What I’d Rather Not Think About.
I'll be reading Kairos because I am interested in the history. Your review of what I'd rather not was helpful because I was definitely thinking it sounded too heavy for me but now I'll check it out
Selva Almada is a really loved author, but I've dnf'ed Dead girls, mostly due to the style, not the topic and I really hesitate to pick up Not a river, have a feeling I would not enjoy it (and your review has the same conclusion).
Thank you for this. The two of your favourites are on my TBR. Have not read them yet though, but the only ones I am interested in, plus maybe Lost on Me. Hot Snow is something I came up in another context before. It is a title of a book by a Russian author Yuri Bondarev about the second world war and a film adaptation of that book. It refers to battlefield that turns snow into hot mess from all the blood that is shed. Not what is evoked in the book you mentioned :)
It’s great that Kairos is getting some love at last - I saw Jenny Erpenbeck talking about it last May and she spoke about growing up in GDR just by the wall, knowing there was another world on the other side of it. But it seemed to disappear completely with some reviewers just dismissing it as some inappropriate age gap relationship thing that wildly missed the point. Your comments renewed my love for this book and I really hope it wins!
If you are interested in Kairos it would be good to read the classic book Stasiland and watch the excellent film The Lives of Others. I have ordered Kairos on pre order due to your enthusiasm and loving the two mentioned above.
Crooked Plow is my favourite read of the year so far. I have Kairos and What I’d Rather Not Think About is on my TBR!
The only book I read from the longlist (and now shortlist) is What I've rather not and I am very happy about my intuition, to read this first. I really enjoyed it, 4 stars, impressed.
HOT SNOW!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Thanks for sharing that nonsense 😂 Thanks Charlotte. Really enjoyed this round-up.
My pleasure!! Still laughing at it! 😂😂
CHARLOTTE!! You crack me up , appreciate the video Hot ❄️ 😂
💚💚
I admire people who read books.
I am in the middle of Kairos at the moment. I see what you mean about it. I have got The Details and Crooked Plow on my kindle to get to.
Great video, Charlotte. And congrats on predicting so many correctly!! The only one I have read is Not a River and controversially to you, I really loved it. But I can also totally see why people wouldn't like it. For me the sparceness of tthe language really worked and I am generally not a fan of minimalism either. I guess I also read it in between two large books and so it was refreshing. Looking forward to your best books of the year so far video ❤
Thanks Rebecca! Glad you enjoyed Not A River! Were the two chunky books you read it in between Starnone's and Mater 2-10?! 😁
Ha,ha, no, they were Burnam Wood and The Adventures of Almina-al-sarafi ( a fantasy)
Ok your enthusiasm is infectious, there's quite a few in front of me at the library for those two books but I'll add my name to the list.
I've only read Crooked plow and was a bit meh, and reading A Dictator Calls which I'll finish, I'm finding it sort of interesting.
I hadn't really intended to read the international booker list but have been a bit drawn in despite myself 🙂
Thanks Kim! I'd definitely get drawn in by a few more, they are worthy of it! And the 2 you read are actually 2 of my least favourites!
You have sold me me on What I’d rather not think about. Your reaction to it being shortlisted was so cute!!
Hot Snow 😱😂😂😂That whole bit was 🤢
Well done for your predictions 👏👏
😍😍😍
This is the best video ever!
Thank you for saying! 😊
you have supreme literary taste! :) Loved Karios, and currently loving the What I’d Rather Not Think About.
🎉 we're on the same wavelength!
“The only thing intense about this novel is my hatred for it.” 😂 Brilliant that you managed to do your reading for the prize before the shortlist. 🎉 You have me interested in What I’d Rather Not Think About.
Ooo! Yes out of all the books I definitely think you'd enjoy that one the most! 😍
Thank you, Charlotte, for yet another entertaining video.
Glad you enjoyed it Greg!
I'll be reading Kairos because I am interested in the history. Your review of what I'd rather not was helpful because I was definitely thinking it sounded too heavy for me but now I'll check it out
glad to hear it Ellen! I hope you love What Id Rather Not! 😁
I put both on my library holds list. 😊
Wonderful! 😍
Selva Almada is a really loved author, but I've dnf'ed Dead girls, mostly due to the style, not the topic and I really hesitate to pick up Not a river, have a feeling I would not enjoy it (and your review has the same conclusion).
Thank you for this. The two of your favourites are on my TBR. Have not read them yet though, but the only ones I am interested in, plus maybe Lost on Me. Hot Snow is something I came up in another context before. It is a title of a book by a Russian author Yuri Bondarev about the second world war and a film adaptation of that book. It refers to battlefield that turns snow into hot mess from all the blood that is shed. Not what is evoked in the book you mentioned :)
You're welcome :)
It’s great that Kairos is getting some love at last - I saw Jenny Erpenbeck talking about it last May and she spoke about growing up in GDR just by the wall, knowing there was another world on the other side of it. But it seemed to disappear completely with some reviewers just dismissing it as some inappropriate age gap relationship thing that wildly missed the point. Your comments renewed my love for this book and I really hope it wins!
Yeah I couldn't agree more, focusing on the age gap isn't the point! We're rooting for the same novel to win!
If you are interested in Kairos it would be good to read the classic book Stasiland and watch the excellent film The Lives of Others. I have ordered Kairos on pre order due to your enthusiasm and loving the two mentioned above.
Lives of Others is amazing!
Kairos is my library book this week
Amazing! 😍
yes disco king hated undiscovered too and for the same reasons⚛😀
yes i saw his video too! glad we're on the same page!
I'm still offended by the exclusion of Ædnan, but maybe it wasn't considered a novel. How does the writing of Ædnan compare to Not A River?
oh there is no comparison! Not a river fails as a poem and as a novella imo x
I’m reading Simpatía in Spanish, it is not a translation thing, he did indeed write ‘hot snow’ 🤦🏻♀️
🤣🤣 I love it!!
Simpatia = cringe! Initially I thought this sounded the most interesting but the more I hear about it the less inclined I am to read it.
@@charlottemolloy no the sex scene was enough for me.