Goodness what a haul and what a wonderful few months you’ve had!! I think the Toibin novel you read was House of Names. Brooklyn is quite different, which speaks to Toibin’s amazing skill. His whole backlist is worthy. I think The Gathering may be my favorite Enright novel (it’s the only one of hers I’ve read twice so far). Reading Enchanted April made me rewatch the glorious movie adaptation. Reigning in book buying is tricky but I have found that having a good library nearby helps a lot!
New to your channel - we saw Three Inch Fools - Comedy of Errors - recently in the north of Scotland - absolutely loved it - so funny and well done. We also saw Illyria last night doing The Hound of the Baskervilles - also very funny and I would recommend - they are doing shows all over the UK this summer.
Wow, you've got some great book and film combos there: Brooklyn, Carol, Rosemary's Baby, and The Enchanted April. I envy you getting to experience them all for the first time.
What a fantastic haul !! I have read three of these. Burnam Wood...wow! I loved it, be prepared for a thrilling ride. The story builds so subtly and then....no spoilers, but I had to sit and stare out the window for a while when I finished the last few pages!! Brooklyn was sadly a disappointment fir me, but I hope you love it. And finally The Bee Sting!! Again, what a novel!! One of my favourite books that I have read this year! Enjoy your stack of wonderfulness!
Brooklyn is really great, and if you like stories with a religious focus, I'd recommend The Testament Of Mary by Colm Toibin. I'd also recommend Nora Webster, also by him. I bought The Son years ago and then unhauled it, unread! The gathering was quite good from what I remember. Carol was pretty good, but I've not gone on to read more Highsmith. Great haul!
@@louisesavidgemuses4135 also - you say to let you know when I've read one of your recommendations. I did a buddy read of the first Boudica book with a friend and we both absolutely loved it!! Can't wait to read the rest of the series, so thanks so much for recommending it - an incredible book! X
It looks like Simon and you are both ready for a fantastic fall reading season! I'm not familiar with the books you've shared, so I'll be happy to hear your musings about them once you have read them. The only book/movie I'm familiar with is Rosemary's baby and after your summary being "I don't know much about this book, I guess she has a baby"... I'm really looking forward to hearing your impressions and review once you get to reading this onel 😉
Ahh. I love these videos. The Enchanted April is my mother's favourite book - it's soft and sunny but not saccarine. If you can read it before autumn, do!
What a lovely and varied haul. So nice to see some older books coming onto your shelves. Brooklyn and Long Island - good reads but I feel they don't compare with his The Master or The Magician or The Heather Blazing. Read Sky Burial some years ago and it stayed with me afterwards for some time. I hope you enjoy it.
*Raises hand* I know! I know! The cover art on damascus, your first book, is a painting by Caravaggio (created 1601). The painting has three titles: The Conversion of St. Paul; The Conversion of Saul; and, most fittingly, Conversion on the Way to Damascus. It's one of my favorites. Regarding The Enchanted April, I recently bought the same volume. It was a fantastic movie and I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic book as well.
Hi again Louise 👋🏻🤓 First, I agree “there’s something about Irish ☘️ writing” 😌👏🏻 Sorry if someone else has already mentioned this, but The Bee Sting was a ‘23 Booker shortlisted title (I raced through those 600+ pages 🤗) Guess which one was the winner - Prophet Song !! 👏🏻😉 This year I’ve started the Booker longlist & our library has conveniently supplied many of the books 📚 👍 (I have bought 3 though 😬) Reading is such a joy 💓📖 TC x
Louise I'm the same, I love that hefty weight of a novel sometimes and crave those big books to get lost in during the summer months (I just read Lonesome Dove for that reason) and I also sometimes just dive into a book without reading the blurb, I've found books take me more by surprise and sometimes that's exactly what I want.
Louise please read the black dress soon, I’d love to know your thoughts on it. I read it recently and it’s wild! Not what I expected at all. Love your videos ❤
Carol is an excellent film with Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, I’d recommend it although I vaguely remember it being slightly different to the book (may well be misremembering). I picked up Twelve Caesars in Waterstones on sale a year or so ago and it’s sat waiting for me on my shelf since, I’m inspired to pick it up again!
Hi Louise, Lovely video. The Bee sting was short listed for the booker last year when the Prophet song won. It is a brilliant novel that I just couldn’t put down and was my pick to win the prize. Equally the prophet Song is an incredible book.
Thanks, Louise!🌷I love bookhaul videos! (and …buying books😅)The Bee Sting is a roller coaster of a novel and, for me, the ending is pure genius. I must admit I DNF Enchanted April (must be the only reader in the whole world who did so), but I’ve heard so many good things about it since that I may give it another try.
We were recently on holiday and stayed in Bewdley I loved one of the charity shops it was almost like a library and bought few books from there. We also stopped in York for a few days on the way back to Scotland and bought a few books from some independent book shops as well. In the end I had a book haul of 13 books to add to the ever growing tbr! 😂
I'd be up to getting a local library tour with you, that sounds like an interesting video to watch! I've joined my local library a year and a half and it's been a real revelation. I really thought I'd miss having the books being my own, but I discovered that most of the books I've borrowed are in really great shape and pretty much feel brand new anyway. Then, the price of a book does not factor into my choice on what to read next, which is very liberating, and having a due date can be a great motivator to get through a book. (But it can also add some stress, so it is a double-edged sword.) I'm catching up on a lot of back publications, though, so most books I borrow can be renewed more than once so I have plenty of time to read them in a leisurely way. Sorry for the long-winded answer, there was just something very appealing about the idea of getting a tour of English libraries with you! 😁
Love your thoughts on this. I used to rely on the library for most of my reading so many of your observations are very familiar. One of the things I love about library books is the fact that others have read them before me. 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
I just finished Glorious Exploits and can't say enough good about it. Just Beautiful. Prisoners putting on a greek play in a quarry. One of my favorite books ever.
I’ve been enjoying my summer reading. Especially glad to have recently read Prophet Song and it will no doubt be one of my top reads of 2024. Read my first John Boyne - All the Broken Places and William Boyd’s Any Human Heart. Now reading Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran and Beatriz Williams The Secret Life of Violet Grant. I have been sticking to library with only very few book hauls this summer. Got to watch the pennies. Thanks for another fab vid.
A great book haul Louise! What a shame you missed Kate at Harris & Harris, it was through her ‘What’s in the box Mrs Harris’ stream that I discovered yours and Simon’s channels😊 I used to live in Saffron Walden and agree Harts bookshop is a real treat!
Hi Louise 👋🏻☺️ I’m just checking in first at this point (otherwise I’ll forget!!) I purchased The In-Between on Simon’s recommendation 👍😉 (yet to read & I too have only read The Slap - a long time ago & really enjoyed ); coincidentally , I recently picked up The Black Dress in a charity shop! What a racy rollercoaster !! DM writes engagingly/well & much I found very readable, but 😬 some parts imho a bit far fetched 🤔 I read The Khan 3 years ago & thought it rather good 👍 xx
I too loved Tulip Fever and have recently read The Black Dress and The Carer by the same author . Love her writing . The Khan is excellent - very gripping .
Oh he knows she’s lived. But there’s living and there’s… well! Ooh I how you enjoy Brooklyn. I just read the sequel, now want to go back to Nora Webster which is in the same world, village actually. Ha. I’m glad you didn’t show the Sri Lanka books. I might have blocked you 😂 I’m still contemplating it… especially as you went to Harris and Harris without me 😒 Great Haul though!
I’ve read Birnam Wood, I have The Son on my shelves having meant to read it long ago. Speaking of Essex, I’ve read two Sarah Perry novels: The Essex Serpent and her latest, Enlightenment both set in Essex. Enchanted April is a lovely movie from the book, that is a delight as is the book I imagine. I have The Bee Sting on my TBR list. I’m now interested to read the Modern Middle East History. Thanks, Louise.
💕😀xx thanks Louise. Oh, yes, you’ll LOVE Rosemary’s Baby. Also the enchanted April. I’ve read many of her books and love them. Carol too. I’ve also read quite a lot of Highsmith in the past. Lots of love. 🥰p.s. memory of animals and bee sting both 5 stars for me!! pps. I’m getting all my books from the library as I can reserve for free so have full choice from the county. (I’m over 65)
Very enjoyable musings - much appreciated, as always. Just a comment - From what I understood, the Gordimer book takes place in post-apartheid South Africa, but it sounds like the type of book that you would immensely enjoy.
OMG another coincidence !! 🤗 I purchased The Son recently (still waiting to be read); having come across the drama adaptation (via catch-up, can’t remember the channel) - it was imho so compellingly good & pretty brutal 😬 I must read it soon 📖 😘
I’ve read Birnam Wood , such a good read . Also I loved Brooklyn and the sequel, such a brilliant writer. I think the book cover is from the film Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan and that’s her on the cover. Well worth a watch as well 😊
Lucky you, so many discoveries ahead! Enchanted April is absolutely wonderful, when you’re done reading watch the film, it’s gorgeous (it’s one of the films I rely on to pull me out of the blues!). Same with Carol, Cate Blanchet is magnificent. I love Michael Ondaatje’s writing, this may not be my favourite of his but it was still fascinating to read. Nadine Gordimer is amazing, I’ve not read the one you mentioned and I’m curious to see what you think of it. I taught her short stories once and the one called Once Upon A Time has stuck with me ever since. I read The Son when my husband’s work took us to Texas, I found it extremely violent, but it did help me have a better understanding of the place and its history. All I can say is I was glad to return home to Europe. (Sorry, don’t mean to offend, it’s just nice to be home). I’ve not read Christos Tsiolkas and I’m curious to hear what you say about the book. Sky Burial sounds intriguing! As does the Memory of Animals. I agree with you about keeping up to date with what is happening around the world, the book you mention sounds like an excellent way to do so. I too admire war correspondents immensely! Have you read Perez-Reverte The Painter of Battles? My haul high lights: Claire Messud This Strange Eventful History; Elif Shafak There are Rivers in the Sky; and Martin Mcinnes In Ascension. Most of my other purchases are for the classes I’m preparing for autumn. Finally, (sorry, I’m waffling too!), I agree about sometimes wanting to dive into a book without reading anything about it. After all, fiction is a form of enchantment and I like to let writers weave their web! Thanks as always for your fantastic videos!
I was in Sri Lanka in 2018 and loved it - I’m sure you will too! 😊 I’d like to recommend last year’s Miles Franklin winner Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran. Set in a Western Sydney nursing home revamped by a Sri Lankan couple. 😊 I also loved Carol - yes there is a film with Cate Blanchett which is brilliant!
There are some lovely titles in the list, Louise . 🎉 I have just finished the new novel , There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak and I loved it so much . The story follows three different characters in different timelines and it is based on the history of the epic poem , Gilgamesh and the tablets in the British Museum from Nineveh. A brilliant and clever read. 🎉 Thank you 🤩
Of those I've only read The Bee Sting and I absolutely loved it. Others are on my TBR - really want to read The In-Between. If you really don't know anything about Rosemary's Baby, it won't be anything you've guessed 😂
Love your top 🥰 I’m halfway through The In Between. Then got distracted by Booker reading. From books recently read I highly recommend The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes Wild Houses by Colin Barrett The Coast Road by Alan Murrin I’m currently listening to My Friends ( which is great) The Safekeep ( which is a struggle) ☘️👋🍀📕📚📖☕️
The Black Dress is going on the list. I read Brooklyn and watched the movie, your cover is a still from the film. The Son by Phillip Meyer is a great Texas family saga book and was also a terrific series with Pierce Brosnan as the central titular character. The series follows the book well, which is not always the case. I loved it. I loved Ira Levin's books, took an old book on the flora and fauna of Florida to trade at a Florida used and rare bookshop, traded it for a first in fine jacket of Rosemary's Baby. I had read the book years before in paper, my favorites by him are The Boys From Brazil and The Stepford Wives. Read The English Patient, liked the book, the film could have used a film editor not so fond of endless shots of sand, just my opinion, also too long. Liked The Gathering by Anne Enright. Elizabeth von Arnim is terrific, Vera, let that be a lesson to husband's who hack off women with the ability to write novels, Enchanted April, wondefulbook and movie. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, a bit of a snooze for me. I'm enjoying The Rain Heron and Madly, Deeply, the Diaries of Alan Rickman at present.
Louise, if you do audio books, this is one to listen to....(also North Wood!). Each character is read by a different person which gives the story the depth it intends....600 pages will fly by I your ears!
Michael Ondaatje is an exquisite writer - try the sort of prequel to The English Patient , In the Skin of a Lion. Colm Toibin is also brilliant but Brooklyn is the most commercial of his novels and to my mind not his most interesting. I’d recommend The Heather Blazing, The South and The Blackwater Lightship and his short stories.
@2:06 aaah lovely Louise being a little cheeky.. love it 😂
🤣🤣🤣
Oh my, what a lovely shoutout! It was such a fab morning when you and Tim popped in xx
Always such a joy to see you. Thanks again for the reading recs 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
Goodness what a haul and what a wonderful few months you’ve had!! I think the Toibin novel you read was House of Names. Brooklyn is quite different, which speaks to Toibin’s amazing skill. His whole backlist is worthy. I think The Gathering may be my favorite Enright novel (it’s the only one of hers I’ve read twice so far). Reading Enchanted April made me rewatch the glorious movie adaptation. Reigning in book buying is tricky but I have found that having a good library nearby helps a lot!
Tha Gathering seems to be a popular Enright. Am planning on spending a lot more time in libraries this Autumn 😊🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
The Enchanted April is one of my top 5 favorite classics ever. Take your time with it, it wants to be savored. It’s such a lovely little book.
Thanks for the slow reading tip 👍🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
I live near Saffron Walden, i will look that bookstore out, and thank you for your musings always enjoy them!
Do let me know what you think of Harts Books 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Hello Louise 👋 so sorry to miss you.
I loved all of Claire Fuller’s books and this one is VERY good. Xx
Was sorry to miss you too… but I’ll be back 😊❤️❤️❤️
With Brooklyn you are in for a treat! Colm Toibin's prose is amazing! Hope you enjoy all these books!
Thank you. Looking forward to them 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
New to your channel - we saw Three Inch Fools - Comedy of Errors - recently in the north of Scotland - absolutely loved it - so funny and well done. We also saw Illyria last night doing The Hound of the Baskervilles - also very funny and I would recommend - they are doing shows all over the UK this summer.
Thanks so much for the recommendation and lovely to have you on board 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
This was lovely to listen to while I worked this afternoon. Kept the stress levels down ❤
Perfect! 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Wow, you've got some great book and film combos there: Brooklyn, Carol, Rosemary's Baby, and The Enchanted April. I envy you getting to experience them all for the first time.
And then a load of lovely films to watch 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
What a fantastic haul !! I have read three of these. Burnam Wood...wow! I loved it, be prepared for a thrilling ride. The story builds so subtly and then....no spoilers, but I had to sit and stare out the window for a while when I finished the last few pages!!
Brooklyn was sadly a disappointment fir me, but I hope you love it.
And finally The Bee Sting!! Again, what a novel!! One of my favourite books that I have read this year!
Enjoy your stack of wonderfulness!
Good to know I have some exciting reading adventures ahead 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Brooklyn is really great, and if you like stories with a religious focus, I'd recommend The Testament Of Mary by Colm Toibin. I'd also recommend Nora Webster, also by him.
I bought The Son years ago and then unhauled it, unread!
The gathering was quite good from what I remember.
Carol was pretty good, but I've not gone on to read more Highsmith.
Great haul!
Thank you. Wonder what I’ll make of these books. 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
@@louisesavidgemuses4135 also - you say to let you know when I've read one of your recommendations. I did a buddy read of the first Boudica book with a friend and we both absolutely loved it!! Can't wait to read the rest of the series, so thanks so much for recommending it - an incredible book! X
@@YourTrueShelf Am absolutely thrilled that you and your friend loved it and thanks so much for letting me know ❤️
It looks like Simon and you are both ready for a fantastic fall reading season! I'm not familiar with the books you've shared, so I'll be happy to hear your musings about them once you have read them.
The only book/movie I'm familiar with is Rosemary's baby and after your summary being "I don't know much about this book, I guess she has a baby"... I'm really looking forward to hearing your impressions and review once you get to reading this onel 😉
Ooo! What a teaser! 😂🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Loved The Son, read it in 2013 when I was in a book group run by an American here in CH. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did
Thank you - hope so 🤞
Exciting book haul! Lovely, as always, Ms. Savidge! 😁
Thank you! 😁
Ahh. I love these videos. The Enchanted April is my mother's favourite book - it's soft and sunny but not saccarine. If you can read it before autumn, do!
That’s good to know as I was worried it might be a bit saccharine 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
What a lovely and varied haul. So nice to see some older books coming onto your shelves. Brooklyn and Long Island - good reads but I feel they don't compare with his The Master or The Magician or The Heather Blazing. Read Sky Burial some years ago and it stayed with me afterwards for some time. I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you! 😊 I’m sure I will 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Read Cereus Blooms at night and Birnam Wood for Simon’s book club online, and loved them both.
Excellent 👌 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
*Raises hand* I know! I know! The cover art on damascus, your first book, is a painting by Caravaggio (created 1601). The painting has three titles: The Conversion of St. Paul; The Conversion of Saul; and, most fittingly, Conversion on the Way to Damascus. It's one of my favorites. Regarding The Enchanted April, I recently bought the same volume. It was a fantastic movie and I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic book as well.
Thanks so much for identifying the painting and for the positive info about Enchanted April 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Hi again Louise 👋🏻🤓
First, I agree “there’s something about Irish ☘️ writing” 😌👏🏻
Sorry if someone else has already mentioned this, but The Bee Sting was a ‘23 Booker shortlisted title (I raced through those 600+ pages 🤗) Guess which one was the winner - Prophet Song !! 👏🏻😉
This year I’ve started the Booker longlist & our library has conveniently supplied many of the books 📚 👍 (I have bought 3 though 😬)
Reading is such a joy 💓📖 TC x
It is pure joy. Thanks for the Booker info 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
Louise I'm the same, I love that hefty weight of a novel sometimes and crave those big books to get lost in during the summer months (I just read Lonesome Dove for that reason) and I also sometimes just dive into a book without reading the blurb, I've found books take me more by surprise and sometimes that's exactly what I want.
Absolutely 👍 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Louise please read the black dress soon, I’d love to know your thoughts on it. I read it recently and it’s wild! Not what I expected at all. Love your videos ❤
Ooo! Intriguing 😂🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Carol is an excellent film with Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, I’d recommend it although I vaguely remember it being slightly different to the book (may well be misremembering). I picked up Twelve Caesars in Waterstones on sale a year or so ago and it’s sat waiting for me on my shelf since, I’m inspired to pick it up again!
Hope you enjoy it 🤞🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Hi Louise, Lovely video. The Bee sting was short listed for the booker last year when the Prophet song won. It is a brilliant novel that I just couldn’t put down and was my pick to win the prize. Equally the prophet Song is an incredible book.
Excellent to know 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Thanks, Louise!🌷I love bookhaul videos! (and …buying books😅)The Bee Sting is a roller coaster of a novel and, for me, the ending is pure genius. I must admit I DNF Enchanted April (must be the only reader in the whole world who did so), but I’ve heard so many good things about it since that I may give it another try.
Am getting very excited about Bee Sting. If Enchanted April didn’t work for you, I’d pick up something else instead 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
We were recently on holiday and stayed in Bewdley I loved one of the charity shops it was almost like a library and bought few books from there. We also stopped in York for a few days on the way back to Scotland and bought a few books from some independent book shops as well. In the end I had a book haul of 13 books to add to the ever growing tbr! 😂
The shop you mention In Bewdley is fantastic 👍🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
So many (probably amazing) books! 😍
Hoping so! 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
I'd be up to getting a local library tour with you, that sounds like an interesting video to watch! I've joined my local library a year and a half and it's been a real revelation. I really thought I'd miss having the books being my own, but I discovered that most of the books I've borrowed are in really great shape and pretty much feel brand new anyway. Then, the price of a book does not factor into my choice on what to read next, which is very liberating, and having a due date can be a great motivator to get through a book. (But it can also add some stress, so it is a double-edged sword.) I'm catching up on a lot of back publications, though, so most books I borrow can be renewed more than once so I have plenty of time to read them in a leisurely way. Sorry for the long-winded answer, there was just something very appealing about the idea of getting a tour of English libraries with you! 😁
Love your thoughts on this. I used to rely on the library for most of my reading so many of your observations are very familiar. One of the things I love about library books is the fact that others have read them before me. 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
I just finished Glorious Exploits and can't say enough good about it. Just Beautiful. Prisoners putting on a greek play in a quarry. One of my favorite books ever.
Thanks for letting me know. So glad you enjoyed it 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
I’ve been enjoying my summer reading. Especially glad to have recently read Prophet Song and it will no doubt be one of my top reads of 2024. Read my first John Boyne - All the Broken Places and William Boyd’s Any Human Heart. Now reading Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran and Beatriz Williams The Secret Life of Violet Grant.
I have been sticking to library with only very few book hauls this summer. Got to watch the pennies. Thanks for another fab vid.
Real range of reading there! 🤗🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
A great book haul Louise! What a shame you missed Kate at Harris & Harris, it was through her ‘What’s in the box Mrs Harris’ stream that I discovered yours and Simon’s channels😊 I used to live in Saffron Walden and agree Harts bookshop is a real treat!
I’m sure I’ll catch Kate before too long 😊🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Hi Louise 👋🏻☺️ I’m just checking in first at this point (otherwise I’ll forget!!) I purchased The In-Between on Simon’s recommendation 👍😉 (yet to read & I too have only read The Slap - a long time ago & really enjoyed ); coincidentally , I recently picked up The Black Dress in a charity shop! What a racy rollercoaster !! DM writes engagingly/well & much I found very readable, but 😬 some parts imho a bit far fetched 🤔 I read The Khan 3 years ago & thought it rather good 👍 xx
Interesting about The Black Dress. Wonder how I’ll get on with it… 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
I listened to The Black Dress on audio and loved it
Good to know 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
I too loved Tulip Fever and have recently read The Black Dress and The Carer by the same author . Love her writing . The Khan is excellent - very gripping .
Excellent news 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Oh he knows she’s lived. But there’s living and there’s… well! Ooh I how you enjoy Brooklyn. I just read the sequel, now want to go back to Nora Webster which is in the same world, village actually. Ha. I’m glad you didn’t show the Sri Lanka books. I might have blocked you 😂 I’m still contemplating it… especially as you went to Harris and Harris without me 😒 Great Haul though!
Rude! Don’t block me 🥲❤️❤️❤️
I’ve read Birnam Wood, I have The Son on my shelves having meant to read it long ago. Speaking of Essex, I’ve read two Sarah Perry novels: The Essex Serpent and her latest, Enlightenment both set in Essex. Enchanted April is a lovely movie from the book, that is a delight as is the book I imagine. I have The Bee Sting on my TBR list. I’m now interested to read the Modern Middle East History. Thanks, Louise.
I loved the Essex Serpent but not read her latest yet 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
💕😀xx thanks Louise. Oh, yes, you’ll LOVE Rosemary’s Baby. Also the enchanted April. I’ve read many of her books and love them. Carol too. I’ve also read quite a lot of Highsmith in the past. Lots of love. 🥰p.s. memory of animals and bee sting both 5 stars for me!! pps. I’m getting all my books from the library as I can reserve for free so have full choice from the county. (I’m over 65)
You’ve made me feel very positive about my future reading. Thanks 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Very enjoyable musings - much appreciated, as always.
Just a comment - From what I understood, the Gordimer book takes place in post-apartheid South Africa, but it sounds like the type of book that you would immensely enjoy.
You may be right. I need to check 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Sky burial a 5/5 read ❤ you will love it Louise
Excellent 👌
OMG another coincidence !! 🤗 I purchased The Son recently (still waiting to be read); having come across the drama adaptation (via catch-up, can’t remember the channel) - it was imho so compellingly good & pretty brutal 😬 I must read it soon 📖 😘
Hope you enjoy it! Am looking forward to it 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
The son is superb. The TV series is brilliant too 😊
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I’ve read Birnam Wood , such a good read . Also I loved Brooklyn and the sequel, such a brilliant writer. I think the book cover is from the film Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan and that’s her on the cover. Well worth a watch as well 😊
Am sure I’ll turn to the film once I’ve read the book 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
You’ve just reminded me that I have ‘Girl with the Louding Voice’ and need to get to it.
Don’t think you’ll regret it 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
Lucky you, so many discoveries ahead! Enchanted April is absolutely wonderful, when you’re done reading watch the film, it’s gorgeous (it’s one of the films I rely on to pull me out of the blues!). Same with Carol, Cate Blanchet is magnificent. I love Michael Ondaatje’s writing, this may not be my favourite of his but it was still fascinating to read. Nadine Gordimer is amazing, I’ve not read the one you mentioned and I’m curious to see what you think of it. I taught her short stories once and the one called Once Upon A Time has stuck with me ever since.
I read The Son when my husband’s work took us to Texas, I found it extremely violent, but it did help me have a better understanding of the place and its history. All I can say is I was glad to return home to Europe. (Sorry, don’t mean to offend, it’s just nice to be home).
I’ve not read Christos Tsiolkas and I’m curious to hear what you say about the book. Sky Burial sounds intriguing! As does the Memory of Animals. I agree with you about keeping up to date with what is happening around the world, the book you mention sounds like an excellent way to do so. I too admire war correspondents immensely! Have you read Perez-Reverte The Painter of Battles?
My haul high lights: Claire Messud This Strange Eventful History; Elif Shafak There are Rivers in the Sky; and Martin Mcinnes In Ascension. Most of my other purchases are for the classes I’m preparing for autumn.
Finally, (sorry, I’m waffling too!), I agree about sometimes wanting to dive into a book without reading anything about it. After all, fiction is a form of enchantment and I like to let writers weave their web!
Thanks as always for your fantastic videos!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. I’m grateful for the warning about violence in The Son.
Happy reading 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
I was in Sri Lanka in 2018 and loved it - I’m sure you will too! 😊 I’d like to recommend last year’s Miles Franklin winner Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran. Set in a Western Sydney nursing home revamped by a Sri Lankan couple. 😊 I also loved Carol - yes there is a film with Cate Blanchett which is brilliant!
Thanks for the tip! Adding it to my to read list 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Enjoy your haul.
Thank you! 🤗
There are some lovely titles in the list, Louise . 🎉 I have just finished the new novel , There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak and I loved it so much . The story follows three different characters in different timelines and it is based on the history of the epic poem , Gilgamesh and the tablets in the British Museum from Nineveh. A brilliant and clever read. 🎉 Thank you 🤩
I did enjoy The Bee Sting it was a great read 🎉
I can’t wait to read it. Elif is amazing 🤩 📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛
The Bee Sting 🤩
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The Gathering 🤩
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Please take us on a library tour!😃
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Of those I've only read The Bee Sting and I absolutely loved it. Others are on my TBR - really want to read The In-Between. If you really don't know anything about Rosemary's Baby, it won't be anything you've guessed 😂
Ooo… 😳🤣
Love your top 🥰 I’m halfway through The In Between. Then got distracted by Booker reading. From books recently read I highly recommend
The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes
Wild Houses by Colin Barrett
The Coast Road by Alan Murrin
I’m currently listening to
My Friends ( which is great)
The Safekeep ( which is a struggle)
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Jacqueline, I also love Louise's top and I REALLY love that necklace and earrings. She knows how to accessorize.
Thank you for your lovely recommendations 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
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The Black Dress is going on the list. I read Brooklyn and watched the movie, your cover is a still from the film. The Son by Phillip Meyer is a great Texas family saga book and was also a terrific series with Pierce Brosnan as the central titular character. The series follows the book well, which is not always the case. I loved it. I loved Ira Levin's books, took an old book on the flora and fauna of Florida to trade at a Florida used and rare bookshop, traded it for a first in fine jacket of Rosemary's Baby. I had read the book years before in paper, my favorites by him are The Boys From Brazil and The Stepford Wives. Read The English Patient, liked the book, the film could have used a film editor not so fond of endless shots of sand, just my opinion, also too long. Liked The Gathering by Anne Enright. Elizabeth von Arnim is terrific, Vera, let that be a lesson to husband's who hack off women with the ability to write novels, Enchanted April, wondefulbook and movie. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, a bit of a snooze for me. I'm enjoying The Rain Heron and Madly, Deeply, the Diaries of Alan Rickman at present.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. Happy reading 👍🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Louise, if you do audio books, this is one to listen to....(also North Wood!). Each character is read by a different person which gives the story the depth it intends....600 pages will fly by I your ears!
Which one? 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Birnam Wood 🤩
Brooklyn 🤩( look for the movie with Saorise Ronan)
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“Adunni is Back”? Is that an American version? My UK copy, and the only title I have seen is “And So I Roar”.
I think you’re right about the title. The other is the tag line 😊🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
Michael Ondaatje is an exquisite writer - try the sort of prequel to The English Patient , In the Skin of a Lion. Colm Toibin is also brilliant but Brooklyn is the most commercial of his novels and to my mind not his most interesting. I’d recommend The Heather Blazing, The South and The Blackwater Lightship and his short stories.
I have that edition second hand of Brooklyn and don’t like it either. There are definitely better ones. I usually hate tv/film tie in edition covers.
Thank you for your thoughts. Much appreciated 🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
Prophet Song won the Booker, I loved Bee Sting and wanted it to win.
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Prophet Song won the Booker but I liked the Bee Sting more. Enjoy! The ending is shocking and you will either hate it or accept it :)
That’s piqued my interest 👍🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛📚📚📚
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