Simon, the welcoming light in your videos is YOU! 😎 I’m committed to reading my shelves for the rest of the year and one book that I’ve been meaning to read is WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys. The perfect counterpart for Nonfiction November will be Gilbert and Gubar’s THE MADWOMAN IN THE ATTIC AFTER THIRTY YEARS. This is an essay collection acknowledging the impact of the authors’ groundbreaking 1979 work, THE MADWOMAN in the WOMAN WRITER and the NINETEENTH CENTURY LITERARY IMAGINATION, which was an analysis of Victorian women writers. ✍️
What a perfect autumnal top you have on for November 1st! I really wish you had filmed your reaction to dropping the ten “periphery” books and I’m going to sit with Instagram as foreplay for some time now, I think. I have Leg on the top of my TBR for the same reason as you do, and am also reading Stanley Tucci’s memoir What I Ate in One Year and have Dan Jones’ biography of Henry V up next so there’s some nonfiction to start off the month. I think you know that H Is for Hawk is probably my favorite work of nonfiction (and yes please make a video of yours). I’m also a big Bill Bryson fan, especially A Short History of Nearly Everything and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, and I adore Ann Patchett’s essays.
As you will see from a vlog soon, it was a sweat top with matching jogging bottoms, absolute leisure wear hahaha. That is what autumn is about right?I have the Tucci memoir, well I have bought it for Chris for Christmas so I can read it! Hahaha. H is for Hawk is wonderful, had the pleasure of interviewing Helen back when I did an author interview podcast.
I didn't realize it was non-fiction November, but I do have a few non-fiction titles to dive into, including "Diane Arbus: Portrait of a Photographer" by Arthur Lubow. It's chunky. Just over 600 pages, which I didn' t realize when I ordered it, and not many of those pages contain photos, which is odd considering the subject.
"The five" by Hallie Rubenhold was one of the best non-fiction books I've read this year, which I know you also loved. Another that I would recommend is "Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley" by Charlotte Gordon. First of all, these two women and their lives were beyond fascinating but also Charlotte Gordon wrote it in a way that it read as a total page-turner. It's a chunkster but what a feast... I think it can be especially interesting to an UK reader (I'm in Poland) as it shows a wide literaly scene of that time and many famous poets, philisophers that you'd know better than me. I highly recommend! :)
The Five is one of my favourite non fiction books of all time. That would feature in that video. I’ve seen Romantic Outlaws here and there and been slightly tempted, now I’m very tempted. Ps. I don’t think I would know the poets or philosophers better. Hahaha.
interested by the museum of lost and fragile things and the abandoners -- thanks for mentioning them. i should finally get to the observable universe this month, too!
Love the pumpkin-coloured-ish jumper. Think non-fic recs or your non-fic past reads would be really ace to hear about. I’ve really enjoyed loads of non-fiction on audio this year. It’s even more special when the author narrates it themselves imo. Some People Need Killing from the women’s prize longlist is one I’m keen to listen to soon. Say Nothing, Freedom is a Constant Struggle and Between the World and Me were just a few standouts for me this year. I could go on though 😅
I shall see what I can do about a favourite non fiction books video. I would agree with you on the author and non fiction... though recently I have tried two non fiction books where the author most definitely shouldn't have been the reader of the audio book. Ha.
@@SavidgeReadsoh no! Well, that makes sense though. I loved Emma Dabiri for example but I was glad with Say Nothing that they went with a Northern Irish narrator instead as the author is from the US. It just makes sense for the voice to match the content, you know. Oh, realised I forgot to mention What My Bones Know which I read in physical form and really loved, it’s spectacularly sharp and just brill imo.
NF books on my periphery this month (all of these are audio holds on Libby that say they’ll be delivered soon): - Everything I learned, I learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin - Powers and Thrones by Dan Jones - In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larsen - My Mama, Cass by Owen Elliot-Kugel - Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Julie Smith Yes! If you’re not enjoying a book, DNF! Especially a NF book lol.
I loved the library book by Susan Orlean which discussed the history of the Los Angeles public library and the little known arson fire in 1986 at the library which destroyed several thousand books and materials and no one was ever arrested for.
Currently reading "The Notebook; A History of Thinking on Paper" by Ronald Allen, and loving it. Being the stationery geek that I am it's ticking that box hugely, but it's also teaching be about Florentine business models and how they were the fore-runners for today's financial record keeping. I'm not a numbers person at all, but it's all fascinating stuff ☺️
I totally understand how the term "tbr" then feels like a requirement and I rebel emotionally. I am planning to call my 2025 yearly plan, "Reading Ideas" or something similar.
Since I'm a mood reader, I don't really commit to TBR lists either, but here a few non-fiction that are on my radar: - Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives (Anne Michaud) - Tell Me Everything (Minka Kelly - biography) - Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography (Rob Wilkins) - Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant: How Nannying for the 1% Taught Me about the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America (Stephanie Kiser) - Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career (Kristi Coulter) - Women Without Kids (Ruby Warrington) - Why we read: on bookworms, libraries and just one more page before lights out (Shannon Reed) I just finished "Un Noël cathodique" today, a very short essays book about the history of Ciné-Cadeau, a Holiday movie marathon tradition that we've had for over 40 years on French-Canadian television. The book was okay, I was hoping to just reminisce about it, but some of the authors went very deep into the bushes and it was not as light and entertaining as I was hoping.
It’s nice to have a selection of books, not using the term TBR hahaha, that you’ve got to pick from is y it. Sounds like you have quite the list there. Lovely stuff.
The first non-fiction books I loved were also in the paranormal realm as well, beginning with ‘Chariots of the Gods’. Loved that stuff. 😁 I’ve since moved onto more mainstream topics, especially nature writing and memoirs. Cheers!
I don't have much non-fiction in my reading diet, but I loooove a good narrative non-fiction. Empire of Pain and Bad Blood are both ones I loved, and I need to get to Radden-Keefe's Say Nothing at some point soon.
Because I read the Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson and loved. It made me interested to read more on the subject so I have Stasiland by Anna Funder and Beyond The Wall by Katja Hoyer to read looking forward to these once I pick them up! 🤣 A non fiction I have enjoyed recently was Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan.
I was bought Stasiland by a colleague I worked with on a project a couple of years ago, she raaaaaaaved about it. I have still not read it, but I must.
For nonfiction November I’m planning to read: The Nature Fix, The Riddle of the Labyrinth, Cultish and Patient Zero. A couple of favorites are The Feather Thief and The Art Thief. And going waaay back is The Right Stuff about the early space program. In the past, if I read, it was exclusively in that very specific niche.
Immediately reserved The Scapegoat from the library as soon as you mentioned it - sounds brilliant. I've read about George Villiers before, but you can never have too much 😊
I’ve not read much about him though I’ve had The Kings Assassin, which I think Mary and George was based on, on my shelves for a while. This for some reason just appeals more.
@ yeah, I wouldn’t bother with The Kings Assassin 😂 It’s fine, but I didn’t find it particularly well written or engaging, and I left the book kind of hating everyone featured (but not in a good way).
Last month I read The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara Franklin. Excellent. Another excellent nonfiction book I read this year was Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and her Daughter Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon. Both I'd recommend. Currently I'm reading a nonfiction that isn't in that league writing-wise, but I was interested in the topic: The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan. It's about everything that led up to a 1970s fashion show with French and American designers. Some nonfiction possibilities from this year's "tbr" (titles I've jotted down that think I might like, if that's even a tbr) are Thunderclap, The Wide Wide Sea, and maybe Art Monsters. From your video, I'm interested in the Villiers book, and from the comments, Dorothy Parker in Hollywood. To be released in early December, I'm looking forward to Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film by Julie Gilbert.
I have had a few recommendations of Romantic Outlaws, so I think I will have to try and get my mitts on that. Sounds like you have some treats on the TNR non fiction wise.
A couple of those sound fascinating and I've added to my next haul list. I am planning to read Knife by Salman Rushdie, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and Committed by Suzanne Scanlon. I love non fiction November.
I read Knife earlier this year. It’s a weirdly/grimly fascinating read and also kind of terrifying yet hope inducing, if that makes any sense. Well it hopefully will when you’ve read it. I’ll say no more for now lol.
@@SavidgeReads Just finished. Yes I see what you mean with how your priorities change once you've been through that experience. Love is the main thing. Though I'm not sure the imagined interview with the assailant was necessary but hey ho.
I was going to pick up Killing Lincoln by Bill O' Reilly but decided not to being this close to election day and that stress. Going with Under the Banner of Heaven. It's still heavy read but I'm fascinated by that subject and heard great things. Private Revolutions sounds incredible. I had to pause your video and immediately listen to Buffalo Stance, so good!🎶
There is one book I adored this month and have been talking to everyone about it, The Garden Against Time : in search of a common paradise, by Olivia Laing it is not a gardening book but a history of Eden and Arcadias and some horrors also and gardens in literature. It is a fabulous read. I also bought , Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton which is so beautifully written🎉and not just about raising a hare.
I’m planning on getting The Garden Against Time for Chris this Christmas… as then I can read it too. Ha! I have loved the Olivia Lang books I have read so far.
Not sure if it will be for November, but I recently picked up Henry V by Dan Jones and I’m very excited to read it. Ever since I saw Kenneth Branagh’s film Henry V back in the day, I’ve loved his story. That’s the only one currently on my radar, although I still plan to try to get through Leg again for Wednesday. It didn’t grab me first time around, but I’m giving it another go. Hope you’re doing better soon!
Book club is moving date, post on patreon incoming. I have stretched myself too far with work and reading and need to make some sacrifices... well do some rescheduling.
There are times when one wants fiction with the imaginative stretch it offers or fact with the often sobering, disturbing take on our fellow humans ... I am always reading two books, I fiction & I non-fiction. I have a copy of The Museum of Lost and Fragile Things in my to-be-read stack, a gift from my sister-in-law. The Private Revolutions book sounds quite enticing, must add it to my list. I quite like biographies of authors whose work I like & have a fair few about the place. Am nearly finished Lulu Miller's Why Fish Don't Exist which I love.
How lovely your sister in law got you what sounds lime it will be a brilliant book. I think Private Revolutions is a book I need to read this month, an almost definite for November.
I've just started reading Beyond the wall: East Germany 1949-1990 by Katja Hoyer, my favourite living historian. I really like her writing style, but of course with a history book you have to be interested in the time period.
I think there are some non fiction authors who as I’ve loved so much of their work, or really loved a particular work, that if they wrote about historic time periods I’m not so fussed on… I would still read because I like their writing so much. If you know what I mean.
It is so satisfying when you hold up a book and I’m that Leo meme pointing at the screen because I have a copy too 😂 for my periphery, I’ve also got leg but because I’m on a nautical kick at the moment (thank you, Black Sails 🏴☠️), I’m hoping to read The Last Slave Ship, by Ben Raines and Poxed and Scurvied, by Kevin Brown. I’ve got to say though, watching the artist formerly known as your mother really enjoy the nonfiction Women’s Prize list has been so motivational in getting me to pick up more and more nonfiction - you’re right, unfortunately: school can ruin us 😢 Edited to add: The life and death of Anne Boleyn, by Eric Ives (since you enjoy the Tudors😊)
Sociopath. I read it. Of course we're being manipulated by the author; she's a sociopath, so you know that going in. She's the very definition of an unreliable narrator, but I'm really glad I read it all the same. "Abandoned" sounds incredibly interesting. It's something so out of the norm and abhorrent and unimaginable to me, but if I'm being honest, I'm a little bit afraid to read it. "The Five" is still on my book shelf, not my book cart, and it's calling out to me at every turn. I like what's on your back shelf now, and you're looking very dapper in this video, Simon.
@ haha he’s one of those that although I adore him I can understand why his writing isn’t for everyone! I think I came to him at just the right time in my life so it struck a chord and stayed with me
I started In the Shadow of the Empress, Maria-Theresa and her daughters, The Splendid and the Vile, the Churchills during the Blitz by Erik Larson (so not for you but he authored my favorite Wake, the sinking of the Lusitania), The Receptionist, an Education at the New Yorker by Janet Groth, The China Mirage by James Bradley and What Lips My Lips have Kissed, the loves and love poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay by Daniel Mark Epstein. I have finished Mary and Mr. Eliot, T.S. Eliot does not come off very well. He seems a needy pain in this pretty much one-sided sort of love story. Mary should have gotten a grip and stopped being used and been thankful she dodged that bullet. I enjoyed it very much and would never have made him as good a pal as Mary. Old man marrying a 38 years younger woman, sounds more like Palm Beach than London.😂 Thanks for the tip on Sweetpea.
I want to recommend a book for you that’s not non fiction by Syou Ishida called We’ll Prescribe You a Cat. I have not read it but I have a feeling you’d love it.
I’d love a discussion of your fave nonfiction books.😀 I’ve kicked off Nonfiction November by listening to “Jokes Jokes Jokes: My Very Funny Memoir” by comedian, Jenny Éclair. I’ll follow this with the upcoming “Cher: The Memoir, Part One” and “Songbird: An Intimate Biography of Christine McVie.”
I like that as an idea. I have piles of possibilities, though they’re the unsolicited books I think I might like but am not sure so at some point swear I will try to get to and try out.
I would love to see a video on your favorite nonfiction books! If you do a reel, you could also post it as a shooooort, just saying. Another word for love sounds interesting. And I think what you said about masculinity is true for hetero women as well. Of course masculinity can be attractive, but there are a lot of different definitions of what that can entail, and the toxic kind is still yucky! (I get that some people are attracted to the yucky toxic elements too, but I wish they would ask themselves why and go a different route, not blaiming any victims, this is too big of discussion for a comment so I will stop myself here!) I've said it before, but as you are a contrary Mary, I will say that I would be most unimpressed and disengaged and almost bored and annoyed if you were to read Sociopath in November because I just couldn't bare to hear your thoughts on it. Happy weekend and happy reading! PS. I remember you've mentioned wanting to read more about the trans community, and there are two titles that I came across as I was looking for books for a readathon about neurodiversity that might interest you. Uncomfortable Labels by Laura Kate Dale, a memoir by a gay trans woman on the autism spectrum, and then an anthology called Spectrums by Maxfield Sparrows, which is a collection of essays written by trans people on the autism spectrum all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds etc. Haven't read them, but just in case they sound interesting to you. PPS. Sorry, just about the light in the background: Get one of those LED bulbs that you can set to whatever, then you can have a warm dimmed glow in the background for winter. Ok now I'm done!
Thank you for the recommendation of the books from the trans community, noted those. I will see what I can do about the 'favourite non fiction books video'. I totally get that women have the same/similar things with masculinity, however I do think it is a different toxic (just as bad but different and I don't think should be lumped together) within the queer male community. I may talk about it more at some point. Hahaha, your sociopath comment made me laugh.
How odd, I had an early obsession with spontaneous combustion and the Bermuda triangle as well. With this and the nuns and Highgate Cemetary, I think we may have been separated at birth, Simon. Nevermind that I'm your mother's age..... 🤔
Simon, the welcoming light in your videos is YOU! 😎
I’m committed to reading my shelves for the rest of the year and one book that I’ve been meaning to read is WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys. The perfect counterpart for Nonfiction November will be Gilbert and Gubar’s THE MADWOMAN IN THE ATTIC AFTER THIRTY YEARS. This is an essay collection acknowledging the impact of the authors’ groundbreaking 1979 work, THE MADWOMAN in the WOMAN WRITER and the NINETEENTH CENTURY LITERARY IMAGINATION, which was an analysis of Victorian women writers. ✍️
Oooh you charmer 💡 lol. Shopping your shelves for the rest of the year is a great idea! Sounds like you’ve quite the project ahead aswell.
What a perfect autumnal top you have on for November 1st! I really wish you had filmed your reaction to dropping the ten “periphery” books and I’m going to sit with Instagram as foreplay for some time now, I think. I have Leg on the top of my TBR for the same reason as you do, and am also reading Stanley Tucci’s memoir What I Ate in One Year and have Dan Jones’ biography of Henry V up next so there’s some nonfiction to start off the month. I think you know that H Is for Hawk is probably my favorite work of nonfiction (and yes please make a video of yours). I’m also a big Bill Bryson fan, especially A Short History of Nearly Everything and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, and I adore Ann Patchett’s essays.
As you will see from a vlog soon, it was a sweat top with matching jogging bottoms, absolute leisure wear hahaha. That is what autumn is about right?I have the Tucci memoir, well I have bought it for Chris for Christmas so I can read it! Hahaha. H is for Hawk is wonderful, had the pleasure of interviewing Helen back when I did an author interview podcast.
I didn't realize it was non-fiction November, but I do have a few non-fiction titles to dive into, including "Diane Arbus: Portrait of a Photographer" by Arthur Lubow. It's chunky. Just over 600 pages, which I didn' t realize when I ordered it, and not many of those pages contain photos, which is odd considering the subject.
Non fiction November is just for fun, no pressure.
I’ve got two Autobiographies for non-fiction November - Straight Outta Crawley by Ramesh Ranganathan and Wham! George and Me by Andrew Ridgeley
Oooh they sound like they’ll both be a lot of fun.
"The five" by Hallie Rubenhold was one of the best non-fiction books I've read this year, which I know you also loved. Another that I would recommend is "Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft & Mary Shelley" by Charlotte Gordon. First of all, these two women and their lives were beyond fascinating but also Charlotte Gordon wrote it in a way that it read as a total page-turner. It's a chunkster but what a feast... I think it can be especially interesting to an UK reader (I'm in Poland) as it shows a wide literaly scene of that time and many famous poets, philisophers that you'd know better than me. I highly recommend! :)
The Five is one of my favourite non fiction books of all time. That would feature in that video. I’ve seen Romantic Outlaws here and there and been slightly tempted, now I’m very tempted.
Ps. I don’t think I would know the poets or philosophers better. Hahaha.
LOVE to see The Museum of Lost and Fragile Things on your TBR among so many other fab books 😍
Reeeeeeeally looking forward to reading it.
interested by the museum of lost and fragile things and the abandoners -- thanks for mentioning them. i should finally get to the observable universe this month, too!
Well if you fancy a buddy read of The Observable Universe you let me know!
Love the pumpkin-coloured-ish jumper. Think non-fic recs or your non-fic past reads would be really ace to hear about. I’ve really enjoyed loads of non-fiction on audio this year. It’s even more special when the author narrates it themselves imo. Some People Need Killing from the women’s prize longlist is one I’m keen to listen to soon. Say Nothing, Freedom is a Constant Struggle and Between the World and Me were just a few standouts for me this year. I could go on though 😅
I shall see what I can do about a favourite non fiction books video. I would agree with you on the author and non fiction... though recently I have tried two non fiction books where the author most definitely shouldn't have been the reader of the audio book. Ha.
@@SavidgeReadsoh no! Well, that makes sense though. I loved Emma Dabiri for example but I was glad with Say Nothing that they went with a Northern Irish narrator instead as the author is from the US. It just makes sense for the voice to match the content, you know. Oh, realised I forgot to mention What My Bones Know which I read in physical form and really loved, it’s spectacularly sharp and just brill imo.
NF books on my periphery this month (all of these are audio holds on Libby that say they’ll be delivered soon):
- Everything I learned, I learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin
- Powers and Thrones by Dan Jones
- In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larsen
- My Mama, Cass by Owen Elliot-Kugel
- Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Julie Smith
Yes! If you’re not enjoying a book, DNF! Especially a NF book lol.
Sounds like a great list of books on your periphery.
Private Revolutions sounds really intriguing, thanks for the recommendation!
A pleasure. I need to make sure I get to it this month.
I loved the library book by Susan Orlean which discussed the history of the Los Angeles public library and the little known arson fire in 1986 at the library which destroyed several thousand books and materials and no one was ever arrested for.
I have a copy of that on the shelves. Why oh who oh why have I still not got to it!
Currently reading "The Notebook; A History of Thinking on Paper" by Ronald Allen, and loving it. Being the stationery geek that I am it's ticking that box hugely, but it's also teaching be about Florentine business models and how they were the fore-runners for today's financial record keeping. I'm not a numbers person at all, but it's all fascinating stuff ☺️
Ooooh I love stationery too so that could be right up my street.
I totally understand how the term "tbr" then feels like a requirement and I rebel emotionally. I am planning to call my 2025 yearly plan, "Reading Ideas" or something similar.
That's a nice idea. I think I might just have piles/shelves of periphery next year... aka my book shelves and shop them more randomly next year.
Since I'm a mood reader, I don't really commit to TBR lists either, but here a few non-fiction that are on my radar:
- Why They Stay: Sex Scandals, Deals, and Hidden Agendas of Nine Political Wives (Anne Michaud)
- Tell Me Everything (Minka Kelly - biography)
- Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography (Rob Wilkins)
- Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant: How Nannying for the 1% Taught Me about the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America (Stephanie Kiser)
- Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career (Kristi Coulter)
- Women Without Kids (Ruby Warrington)
- Why we read: on bookworms, libraries and just one more page before lights out (Shannon Reed)
I just finished "Un Noël cathodique" today, a very short essays book about the history of Ciné-Cadeau, a Holiday movie marathon tradition that we've had for over 40 years on French-Canadian television. The book was okay, I was hoping to just reminisce about it, but some of the authors went very deep into the bushes and it was not as light and entertaining as I was hoping.
It’s nice to have a selection of books, not using the term TBR hahaha, that you’ve got to pick from is y it. Sounds like you have quite the list there. Lovely stuff.
The Scapegoat sounds like a great read! Will wait for that to come out in paperback though, hardback's $80 here in NZ!
Blimey, that is A LOT! Though don't forget your library might have it in.
The first non-fiction books I loved were also in the paranormal realm as well, beginning with ‘Chariots of the Gods’. Loved that stuff. 😁 I’ve since moved onto more mainstream topics, especially nature writing and memoirs. Cheers!
Paranormal non fiction is clearly an in for younger readers... and some older ones too, I actually fancy some now.
Yes the book Private Revolutions does sound absolutely fascinating !
@@janebowell3985 I think it’ll be quite the eye opening read.
@ I loved your video ending by the way ……:)
I don't have much non-fiction in my reading diet, but I loooove a good narrative non-fiction. Empire of Pain and Bad Blood are both ones I loved, and I need to get to Radden-Keefe's Say Nothing at some point soon.
I fancy Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, the size of the latter (and I feel like the former) put me off though.
Because I read the Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson and loved. It made me interested to read more on the subject so I have Stasiland by Anna Funder and Beyond The Wall by Katja Hoyer to read looking forward to these once I pick them up! 🤣 A non fiction I have enjoyed recently was Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan.
I was bought Stasiland by a colleague I worked with on a project a couple of years ago, she raaaaaaaved about it. I have still not read it, but I must.
For nonfiction November I’m planning to read: The Nature Fix, The Riddle of the Labyrinth, Cultish and Patient Zero. A couple of favorites are The Feather Thief and The Art Thief. And going waaay back is The Right Stuff about the early space program. In the past, if I read, it was exclusively in that very specific niche.
Ooooh, I shall have to look all of those up as I don't think I have head of any of those. I am intrigued.
No idea what nonfiction I’ll be reading this month, but I think it’ll be something light.
That’s fair enough. Hope it’s a corker whatever it is.
Immediately reserved The Scapegoat from the library as soon as you mentioned it - sounds brilliant. I've read about George Villiers before, but you can never have too much 😊
I’ve not read much about him though I’ve had The Kings Assassin, which I think Mary and George was based on, on my shelves for a while. This for some reason just appeals more.
@ yeah, I wouldn’t bother with The Kings Assassin 😂 It’s fine, but I didn’t find it particularly well written or engaging, and I left the book kind of hating everyone featured (but not in a good way).
Last month I read The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara Franklin. Excellent. Another excellent nonfiction book I read this year was Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and her Daughter Mary Shelley by Charlotte Gordon. Both I'd recommend.
Currently I'm reading a nonfiction that isn't in that league writing-wise, but I was interested in the topic: The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan. It's about everything that led up to a 1970s fashion show with French and American designers.
Some nonfiction possibilities from this year's "tbr" (titles I've jotted down that think I might like, if that's even a tbr) are Thunderclap, The Wide Wide Sea, and maybe Art Monsters.
From your video, I'm interested in the Villiers book, and from the comments, Dorothy Parker in Hollywood.
To be released in early December, I'm looking forward to Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film by Julie Gilbert.
I have had a few recommendations of Romantic Outlaws, so I think I will have to try and get my mitts on that. Sounds like you have some treats on the TNR non fiction wise.
I’m a nature lover and am a big fan of the birds series by Stephen Moss. The owl and The swan are on my tbr.
Oooh I’ve not heard of these. I shall look them up!
A couple of those sound fascinating and I've added to my next haul list. I am planning to read Knife by Salman Rushdie, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and Committed by Suzanne Scanlon. I love non fiction November.
I read Knife earlier this year. It’s a weirdly/grimly fascinating read and also kind of terrifying yet hope inducing, if that makes any sense. Well it hopefully will when you’ve read it. I’ll say no more for now lol.
@@SavidgeReads Just finished. Yes I see what you mean with how your priorities change once you've been through that experience. Love is the main thing. Though I'm not sure the imagined interview with the assailant was necessary but hey ho.
I was going to pick up Killing Lincoln by Bill O' Reilly but decided not to being this close to election day and that stress. Going with Under the Banner of Heaven. It's still heavy read but I'm fascinated by that subject and heard great things. Private Revolutions sounds incredible. I had to pause your video and immediately listen to Buffalo Stance, so good!🎶
hahahaha 'don't get fresh with me'.
Picking up Dorothy Parker in Hollywood tomorrow from the library.
Ooh I haven’t heard of that.
There is one book I adored this month and have been talking to everyone about it, The Garden Against Time : in search of a common paradise, by Olivia Laing it is not a gardening book but a history of Eden and Arcadias and some horrors also and gardens in literature. It is a fabulous read. I also bought , Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton which is so beautifully written🎉and not just about raising a hare.
I’m planning on getting The Garden Against Time for Chris this Christmas… as then I can read it too. Ha! I have loved the Olivia Lang books I have read so far.
@ I think you will both love it then.This is the first of hers that I have read.
Not sure if it will be for November, but I recently picked up Henry V by Dan Jones and I’m very excited to read it. Ever since I saw Kenneth Branagh’s film Henry V back in the day, I’ve loved his story. That’s the only one currently on my radar, although I still plan to try to get through Leg again for Wednesday. It didn’t grab me first time around, but I’m giving it another go. Hope you’re doing better soon!
Book club is moving date, post on patreon incoming. I have stretched myself too far with work and reading and need to make some sacrifices... well do some rescheduling.
@ That helps, actually. I’ve had too much election anxiety to be able to concentrate on reading/listening!
There are times when one wants fiction with the imaginative stretch it offers or fact with the often sobering, disturbing take on our fellow humans ... I am always reading two books, I fiction & I non-fiction. I have a copy of The Museum of Lost and Fragile Things in my to-be-read stack, a gift from my sister-in-law. The Private Revolutions book sounds quite enticing, must add it to my list. I quite like biographies of authors whose work I like & have a fair few about the place. Am nearly finished Lulu Miller's Why Fish Don't Exist which I love.
How lovely your sister in law got you what sounds lime it will be a brilliant book. I think Private Revolutions is a book I need to read this month, an almost definite for November.
I've just started reading Beyond the wall: East Germany 1949-1990 by Katja Hoyer, my favourite living historian. I really like her writing style, but of course with a history book you have to be interested in the time period.
I think there are some non fiction authors who as I’ve loved so much of their work, or really loved a particular work, that if they wrote about historic time periods I’m not so fussed on… I would still read because I like their writing so much. If you know what I mean.
@@SavidgeReads true!
It is so satisfying when you hold up a book and I’m that Leo meme pointing at the screen because I have a copy too 😂 for my periphery, I’ve also got leg but because I’m on a nautical kick at the moment (thank you, Black Sails 🏴☠️), I’m hoping to read The Last Slave Ship, by Ben Raines and Poxed and Scurvied, by Kevin Brown. I’ve got to say though, watching the artist formerly known as your mother really enjoy the nonfiction Women’s Prize list has been so motivational in getting me to pick up more and more nonfiction - you’re right, unfortunately: school can ruin us 😢
Edited to add: The life and death of Anne Boleyn, by Eric Ives (since you enjoy the Tudors😊)
Ooh I love Anne Boleyn, I really struggle reading about her death though.
I love reading history books.
I like history books and I loooove historical books.
Sociopath. I read it. Of course we're being manipulated by the author; she's a sociopath, so you know that going in. She's the very definition of an unreliable narrator, but I'm really glad I read it all the same. "Abandoned" sounds incredibly interesting. It's something so out of the norm and abhorrent and unimaginable to me, but if I'm being honest, I'm a little bit afraid to read it. "The Five" is still on my book shelf, not my book cart, and it's calling out to me at every turn. I like what's on your back shelf now, and you're looking very dapper in this video, Simon.
The Five is AMAZING!!!! Hilarious that you say I was looking dapper. I was wearing jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt... very, very, very casual.
School put me off reading for a few years too. Which probably makes it even funnier that it was Charles Dickens that got me back into reading!
Blimey. Charles Dickens and I… well, let’s say I wish I had the relationship with him that you do now. Hahaha.
@ haha he’s one of those that although I adore him I can understand why his writing isn’t for everyone! I think I came to him at just the right time in my life so it struck a chord and stayed with me
I started In the Shadow of the Empress, Maria-Theresa and her daughters, The Splendid and the Vile, the Churchills during the Blitz by Erik Larson (so not for you but he authored my favorite Wake, the sinking of the Lusitania), The Receptionist, an Education at the New Yorker by Janet Groth, The China Mirage by James Bradley and What Lips My Lips have Kissed, the loves and love poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay by Daniel Mark Epstein. I have finished Mary and Mr. Eliot, T.S. Eliot does not come off very well. He seems a needy pain in this pretty much one-sided sort of love story. Mary should have gotten a grip and stopped being used and been thankful she dodged that bullet. I enjoyed it very much and would never have made him as good a pal as Mary. Old man marrying a 38 years younger woman, sounds more like Palm Beach than London.😂 Thanks for the tip on Sweetpea.
Wow, quite a selection of books there. NONE of which I have heard of, exciting.
Root of the Riddle - new band name I call it🤩
Ha!
I want to recommend a book for you that’s not non fiction by Syou Ishida called We’ll Prescribe You a Cat. I have not read it but I have a feeling you’d love it.
I’m interested in reading this, too!
I worry with a title like that I might end up with another cat at the end of it... no more cats.
@ there’s no such thing as too many cats. They’re like sugar or salt. They just have a bad rap.
@@CionMohlerI’ve got four cats now. That’s my limit. No more cats.
I’d love a discussion of your fave nonfiction books.😀 I’ve kicked off Nonfiction November by listening to “Jokes Jokes Jokes: My Very Funny Memoir” by comedian, Jenny Éclair. I’ll follow this with the upcoming “Cher: The Memoir, Part One” and “Songbird: An Intimate Biography of Christine McVie.”
Chris is sooooooooo excited for the Cher memoir.
I also can't do a rigid TBR, I do a 'Pile of Possibilities' instead 😅
I like that as an idea. I have piles of possibilities, though they’re the unsolicited books I think I might like but am not sure so at some point swear I will try to get to and try out.
Poor you Simon. I have to get my vaccination. You’re supposed to be able to book it online on the health trust website, but the link doesn’t work.
Oh dear. Can’t help on the tech side but maybe calling them to make an appointment the old fashioned way will work? Fingers crossed.
I would love to see a video on your favorite nonfiction books! If you do a reel, you could also post it as a shooooort, just saying. Another word for love sounds interesting. And I think what you said about masculinity is true for hetero women as well. Of course masculinity can be attractive, but there are a lot of different definitions of what that can entail, and the toxic kind is still yucky! (I get that some people are attracted to the yucky toxic elements too, but I wish they would ask themselves why and go a different route, not blaiming any victims, this is too big of discussion for a comment so I will stop myself here!) I've said it before, but as you are a contrary Mary, I will say that I would be most unimpressed and disengaged and almost bored and annoyed if you were to read Sociopath in November because I just couldn't bare to hear your thoughts on it. Happy weekend and happy reading!
PS. I remember you've mentioned wanting to read more about the trans community, and there are two titles that I came across as I was looking for books for a readathon about neurodiversity that might interest you. Uncomfortable Labels by Laura Kate Dale, a memoir by a gay trans woman on the autism spectrum, and then an anthology called Spectrums by Maxfield Sparrows, which is a collection of essays written by trans people on the autism spectrum all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds etc. Haven't read them, but just in case they sound interesting to you.
PPS. Sorry, just about the light in the background: Get one of those LED bulbs that you can set to whatever, then you can have a warm dimmed glow in the background for winter. Ok now I'm done!
Thank you for the recommendation of the books from the trans community, noted those. I will see what I can do about the 'favourite non fiction books video'. I totally get that women have the same/similar things with masculinity, however I do think it is a different toxic (just as bad but different and I don't think should be lumped together) within the queer male community. I may talk about it more at some point. Hahaha, your sociopath comment made me laugh.
@@SavidgeReadsI’m sure you’re right that it’s different! I would be interested to hear more about it. As long as you don’t talk about Sociopath. 🙃
How odd, I had an early obsession with spontaneous combustion and the Bermuda triangle as well. With this and the nuns and Highgate Cemetary, I think we may have been separated at birth, Simon. Nevermind that I'm your mother's age..... 🤔
Hahahahaha that is spooky, in so many ways. Hahaha.
Love Nothing to Envy, about life in North Korea.
Oooh I think I have that on the shelves.
@ it’s very readable g