Love you so much, Simon. Your encyclopedic knowledge of books is incredibly impressive. Also, I love your asides during the vlogs, when the screen switches to black and white. Great editing.
Not me going “Yes!!” every time you enjoyed one of my faves 😂 I love your little stars ⭐️They are like little consolation hugs⭐️❤Great picks for both your wish lists and your predictions. Can’t wait to find out what makes it.
Fun! Just watched your previous vlog and then this, and loved them both. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos. I am rooting for Western Lane and Enter Ghost to be shortlisted.
I very much agree with you that Soldier Sailor will be shortlisted. So glad to hear you’re enjoying Brotherless Night, Simon! Very exciting to be finding out tmrw morning. Will look for your video on it of course 🥰 Also very much looking forward to you and your mum reuniting for a chat on the two shortlists and doing your personal order of preference, what an absolute treat 💛 I completely understand that it must have felt a bit strange doing this video by yourself as you said, but just want to say that you did a fab job as always
It’s slightly cyclical. I used to do it on my own and now I’m back to doing it on my own… will be lovely to reunite for the shortlists to winner predictions/preferences video. Though I’m actually seeing her on Friday. Woohoo.
Great *predictions* for your shortlist Simon and agree on your selected books 😁 I’m presently reading Brotherless Night which you probably know recently made the CS prize shortlist…next to read and which I have on my tbr is the wren the wren and River East River West. The latter intrigued me because our daughter taught in Shanghai for a term and our family has hosted Chinese students who came to Canada to study. Have really enjoyed following along with you and your mom and your reviews for these women’s fiction and nonfiction prizes. 📚
I do indeed know it’s on the Carol Shields Prize shortlist. Lol. I’m reading the shortlist, hence why patreon book club is Birnam Wood, I need the support of heading back to a Catton. Lol. Hope you enjoy your reads ahead. I’m getting ready to pack a bunch of books to read by whim when I am on holiday. Woohoo.
My shortlist will be Soldier Sailor, Ordinary Human Failings, Nightbloom, Enter Ghost, A Trace of Sun and In Defence of the Act (although I haven’t read that one). Currently I am reading The Maiden (totally rompy) and then I will read 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster. Got a feeling that the three I haven’t got Hangman, In Defence of the Act and Brotherless Night will be on the shortlist.
It always fascinates me that we’re all so different and have such varies choices. I think I’ve seen most of these books on different short list predictions and then there’s the judges and who knows what they’ll pick. I really enjoyed reading this long list
What a FUN video! Bravo on all the reading/research. I am cheering for Western Lane. I think you are correct about The Wren and Ordinary Human Failings. Beyond that, I haven't a clue. :)
I loved this final wrap up Simon. I'm always off with the Judges picks but I think you have given a wonderful and thoughtful list of your own and the judges. I share with you that any of them could be on the short list. I haven't read them all yet but I feel 'Enter Ghost' is one that will be on the short list, mainly because it resonates with what is going on in the world at the moment. 'Brotherless Night' also sound like a short lister to me, the rest of the short list is 'wobbly' for me. Excited to find out what they pick. See you on the flip side, I hope you'll have a final thought on the final pick coming up.
Your two guesses were correct though. So you were onto something. Mum and I will be ranking both the shortlists before the winners are announced of the two prizes.
If the winners are being announced at 8:00 a.m. in the UK, that means they’re being announced at 3:00 a.m. my time. I’ll either have to stay up very late or wake up very early.🛌⏰😀
I ended up just doing one prediction list as I hadn’t read them all, but I’ve got 4 in common with your personal shortlist and 5 in common with your prediction. Excited to see how it shakes out. Leaving Soldier Sailor out of the personal shortlist though… shocked, crying, screaming. How could you!!! 😂😂😂
Hahaha. I thought Soldier Sailor was really good. It’s just not my super duper top favourite. I won’t be mad *if* it makes the shortlist. It’s a banging year for Irish authors this year. Lol.
Lovely video as always! Could have been longer, 30 minutes is almost short-ish for my taste... I want to see Ordinary Human Failings and Enter Ghost making the shortlist. Very excited for your take!
Hahahaha. I was technically longer but after soooo many long videos I wanted to have something shorter (though actually not as short as I wanted!) to mix it up a bit and kind of have a highlights video. Not long to go until we find out!
I think I'm going to have to go back through Western Lane to find that page you're referring to! Anna has also referenced that scene in her and Eric's prediction video. I found the whole book so boring, and no particular scene stands out - I've clearly missed something! I was so hoping to enjoy it... maybe it was the wrong time for me to pick it up. Love the video as always Simon ❤️
Looking forward to the announcement tomorrow! We have similar thoughts on some and I found it so hard to predict! I’ve only tried 10 of them so far and completed 6, but my favourite so far is In Defence of the Act. However, I don’t think it will be on the judges shortlist. I hope I’m wrong! 😊📚
Not long to go until we find out! I am pleased it’s been harder to pick a shortlist than I was expecting as for me reading it was a slightly ropey experience this year. I am glad I’ve the non fiction shortlist to head to at some point in the coming weeks though. I do love these prizes.
Thank you , Simon your video was very interesting I am so confused this year I am just waiting for the short list 🎉 I enjoyed A Trace of Sun but thought it a simple story can I say that ? Then I read and liked , River East , River West and I am intrigued by The 8 lives of a century old trickster that I haven’t read but will do regardless of it being on the short list.
I’m so glad you ended up liking Soldier, Sailor! ☺️ it’s funny because I didn’t get on with The Wren, The Wren and I’m wondering if it’s because I listened to it on audio
I’d heard the audio was really good, Anne Enright reads some of it herself doesn’t she? We can’t all love the same books, that would be very boring. Lol.
Yours is close to mine. I pick Ordinary Human Failings, Soldier Sailor, Enter Ghost, Brotherless Night then possibly In Defence of the Act and the 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster. I was surprised to have enjoyed 8 Lives so much, I hadn't heard very much about it but I loved the story telling. Now let's see what the judges think.
Wonderful shortlist, Simon! I can really get behind it. Mid-way through 8 Lives and the prose is quite lyrical at times, the writing voice is fresh and stands out as brilliant for me, particularly since the story portrays the horrors of war. Definitely deserves the shortlist.
I thought it did too. I think the judges had some tough choices. I am glad I’ve read them all, even if some just in part. Ha! I am ready to have a change of reading scene. I was going to read the Carol Shields shortlist but decided to read by whim instead. And I’ve picked up a book by a man… that rarely happens.
I would encourage you to read the second half of Night Bloom. I’m 3/4 through and loving it. I’m also trying to finish And Then She Fell The Maiden Western Lane 8am tomorrow morning we will know. Looking forward to seeing you and Louise together again and what you think of the nonfiction shortlist. 🍀👋☘️📕📚📖☕️💐🇮🇪
If it’s shortlisted I’ll get to Nightbloom. If it’s not… I don’t know. I standby my point that a book can’t be great just by having an amazing second half to save it, if you didn’t really want to get to that second half.
I've managed to read 12 of the books on the longlist and I'm still planning to read the final 4. My shortlist would be: Soldier Sailor, Brotherless Night, Ordinary Human Failings, In Defence of the Act, The Wren The Wren and. And Then She Fell, I think. BUT, I actually think it'll be very different.
@@SavidgeReads I'm pretty sure the judges will be big fans of Nightbloom so I would punt for that and from what I've heard, Enter Ghost. But I'm not sure which of mine would be switched out for it. I kind of feel that Soldier Sailor and And Then She Fell both cover similar topics with post-partum mental illness so potentially one of those would be cut.
My hopefuls are Brotherless night, Enter Ghost, Soldier Sailor, Ordinary Human Failings, Hangman and 8 Lives of a Century old Trickster! I DNFd The Wren the Wren and haven’t read In defense of the act yet, can see both of those on the shortlist too!
I really loved both of those, well as I say. Hahaha. So would be thrilled to see them on the shortlist long with Brotherless Night, 8 Lives, Enter Ghost and OF COURSE Ordinary Human Failings.
If it’s shortlisted I will head to it. But I stand on my point that for a final third of finale of a book to be brilliant… you have to want to get there lol.
If you swap Soldier Sailor for Enter Ghost, you and I have identical personal shortlists (no surprise there, In Memoriam notwithstanding). 😂 In terms of what will be on the actual shortlist, I am not sure I even want to guess because I would have put together an entirely different longlist. Having said that, I will be shocked if Enter Ghost and Brotherless Night are not shortlisted.
You have one of my favourite authors on your chest😹😸😹 Yes to Brotherless Night, Enter Ghost and hoping 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster will be on the list too, Enjoyed your shortlist and am looking forward to seeing what the judges have picked tomo. 🕗🕗🕗
As people, I do not want you to crack on. I enjoy the rambling as much as I enjoy your thoughts. More of you is never a bad thing for me!
I agree 👍
Hahaha. Thank you, that’s lovely to hear. Though sometimes I start to bore myself and sometimes if I don’t stop myself I just go on forever. Lol.
Love you so much, Simon. Your encyclopedic knowledge of books is incredibly impressive. Also, I love your asides during the vlogs, when the screen switches to black and white. Great editing.
Awwww that’s very kind. What a lovely comment to wake up to on a Friday morning!
I totally agree!
Oh, Simon! Your videos bring me an enormous feeling of comfort.
Awww thank you so much. I’m so pleased. That’s lovely to hear.
I love your reading room. The wallpaper is perfect
Thank you. Though it’s actually getting a make over. Ha!
@@SavidgeReads, I am excited to see your new room, which I am sure will be as lovely, if not more.
Love your t-shirt! 💚💚💚
A women’s pride tshirt indeed!
Excellent summing up. Meg Nolan's book appeals the most.
Sadly it didn’t make the list, it’s totally worth a read though, one of my favourite books of the year.
Thanks Simon, excellent video! Really enjoyed your predictions! Can’t wait to hear what the judges pick.
Less than twelve hours to go. Eek. Exciting.
Enter Ghost is the only one I’ve read but absolutely amazing on audio. I think it enhanced the theatrical element!
Oooh interesting. I sadly can’t do fiction on audio. I absolutely zone out. Ha.
Not me going “Yes!!” every time you enjoyed one of my faves 😂 I love your little stars ⭐️They are like little consolation hugs⭐️❤Great picks for both your wish lists and your predictions. Can’t wait to find out what makes it.
Great video Simon, always a pleasure to see!
Amazingly, your Judges selection is exactly my shortlist.
See you this very afternoon :)
💜📚
Fun! Just watched your previous vlog and then this, and loved them both. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos. I am rooting for Western Lane and Enter Ghost to be shortlisted.
Awww thank you. And thank you for watching them!
Watching the long list reading experience for you and this shortlist vid has been ace! Thank you x
PS 8 lives!!!
Awwww thanks so much and thank you so much for watching.
I very much agree with you that Soldier Sailor will be shortlisted. So glad to hear you’re enjoying Brotherless Night, Simon!
Very exciting to be finding out tmrw morning. Will look for your video on it of course 🥰
Also very much looking forward to you and your mum reuniting for a chat on the two shortlists and doing your personal order of preference, what an absolute treat 💛 I completely understand that it must have felt a bit strange doing this video by yourself as you said, but just want to say that you did a fab job as always
It’s slightly cyclical. I used to do it on my own and now I’m back to doing it on my own… will be lovely to reunite for the shortlists to winner predictions/preferences video. Though I’m actually seeing her on Friday. Woohoo.
Great *predictions* for your shortlist Simon and agree on your selected books 😁 I’m presently reading Brotherless Night which you probably know recently made the CS prize shortlist…next to read and which I have on my tbr is the wren the wren and River East River West. The latter intrigued me because our daughter taught in Shanghai for a term and our family has hosted Chinese students who came to Canada to study. Have really enjoyed following along with you and your mom and your reviews for these women’s fiction and nonfiction prizes. 📚
I do indeed know it’s on the Carol Shields Prize shortlist. Lol. I’m reading the shortlist, hence why patreon book club is Birnam Wood, I need the support of heading back to a Catton. Lol. Hope you enjoy your reads ahead. I’m getting ready to pack a bunch of books to read by whim when I am on holiday. Woohoo.
My shortlist will be Soldier Sailor, Ordinary Human Failings, Nightbloom, Enter Ghost, A Trace of Sun and In Defence of the Act (although I haven’t read that one). Currently I am reading The Maiden (totally rompy) and then I will read 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster. Got a feeling that the three I haven’t got Hangman, In Defence of the Act and Brotherless Night will be on the shortlist.
Oooh interesting choices there Karen. Not long until we find out.
It always fascinates me that we’re all so different and have such varies choices. I think I’ve seen most of these books on different short list predictions and then there’s the judges and who knows what they’ll pick. I really enjoyed reading this long list
It’s been an interesting experience this long list. I am glad I did it… I am also glad it’s over hahahaha.
What a FUN video! Bravo on all the reading/research. I am cheering for Western Lane. I think you are correct about The Wren and Ordinary Human Failings. Beyond that, I haven't a clue. :)
Sadly no Ordinary Human Failings or Western Lane. An interesting mixture though.
I loved this final wrap up Simon. I'm always off with the Judges picks but I think you have given a wonderful and thoughtful list of your own and the judges. I share with you that any of them could be on the short list. I haven't read them all yet but I feel 'Enter Ghost' is one that will be on the short list, mainly because it resonates with what is going on in the world at the moment. 'Brotherless Night' also sound like a short lister to me, the rest of the short list is 'wobbly' for me. Excited to find out what they pick. See you on the flip side, I hope you'll have a final thought on the final pick coming up.
Your two guesses were correct though. So you were onto something. Mum and I will be ranking both the shortlists before the winners are announced of the two prizes.
Well done! Excellent “presentation” KIDDING!!! I’ve learned my lesson
Hahahaha. Phew. Lol.
If the winners are being announced at 8:00 a.m. in the UK, that means they’re being announced at 3:00 a.m. my time. I’ll either have to stay up very late or wake up very early.🛌⏰😀
Eek. Good luck either way. Hahaha. ⏰
Enjoy your sleep and find out in the morning!
@@benreadsgood Good point, Ben.😴
I ended up just doing one prediction list as I hadn’t read them all, but I’ve got 4 in common with your personal shortlist and 5 in common with your prediction. Excited to see how it shakes out.
Leaving Soldier Sailor out of the personal shortlist though… shocked, crying, screaming. How could you!!! 😂😂😂
Hahaha. I thought Soldier Sailor was really good. It’s just not my super duper top favourite. I won’t be mad *if* it makes the shortlist. It’s a banging year for Irish authors this year. Lol.
Lovely video as always! Could have been longer, 30 minutes is almost short-ish for my taste... I want to see Ordinary Human Failings and Enter Ghost making the shortlist. Very excited for your take!
Hahahaha. I was technically longer but after soooo many long videos I wanted to have something shorter (though actually not as short as I wanted!) to mix it up a bit and kind of have a highlights video. Not long to go until we find out!
We have three books in common. It will be interesting
Oooh which three?
@@SavidgeReads Brotherless Night, Enter Ghost and In Defense of the Act
I think I'm going to have to go back through Western Lane to find that page you're referring to! Anna has also referenced that scene in her and Eric's prediction video. I found the whole book so boring, and no particular scene stands out - I've clearly missed something! I was so hoping to enjoy it... maybe it was the wrong time for me to pick it up.
Love the video as always Simon ❤️
Ha. Don’t force yourself to go back to it if you don’t want to. Some books just aren’t for us and that’s fine. It’s also about mood isn’t it?
Looking forward to the announcement tomorrow! We have similar thoughts on some and I found it so hard to predict! I’ve only tried 10 of them so far and completed 6, but my favourite so far is In Defence of the Act. However, I don’t think it will be on the judges shortlist. I hope I’m wrong! 😊📚
Not long to go until we find out! I am pleased it’s been harder to pick a shortlist than I was expecting as for me reading it was a slightly ropey experience this year. I am glad I’ve the non fiction shortlist to head to at some point in the coming weeks though. I do love these prizes.
Keep reading trace of sun it’s my top 6 with night bloom 8 lives the act brotherless night solider sailer xx
I may well go back to A Trace of Sun. Well, I definitely will if it’s on the shortlist. Ha.
I devoured Ordinary Human Failings - I hope it does well.
Thank you , Simon your video was very interesting I am so confused this year I am just waiting for the short list 🎉 I enjoyed A Trace of Sun but thought it a simple story can I say that ? Then I read and liked , River East , River West and I am intrigued by The 8 lives of a century old trickster that I haven’t read but will do regardless of it being on the short list.
Not long to go until all will be clear!
I’m so glad you ended up liking Soldier, Sailor! ☺️ it’s funny because I didn’t get on with The Wren, The Wren and I’m wondering if it’s because I listened to it on audio
I’d heard the audio was really good, Anne Enright reads some of it herself doesn’t she? We can’t all love the same books, that would be very boring. Lol.
@@SavidgeReads yes that’s very true 😅 and yes! Anne Enright reads Carmel’s part
Yours is close to mine. I pick Ordinary Human Failings, Soldier Sailor, Enter Ghost, Brotherless Night then possibly In Defence of the Act and the 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster. I was surprised to have enjoyed 8 Lives so much, I hadn't heard very much about it but I loved the story telling. Now let's see what the judges think.
They were half aliens with me and with you. Hahaha.
@@SavidgeReads I picked 3, I'll live with that.
Wonderful shortlist, Simon! I can really get behind it. Mid-way through 8 Lives and the prose is quite lyrical at times, the writing voice is fresh and stands out as brilliant for me, particularly since the story portrays the horrors of war. Definitely deserves the shortlist.
I thought it did too. I think the judges had some tough choices. I am glad I’ve read them all, even if some just in part. Ha! I am ready to have a change of reading scene. I was going to read the Carol Shields shortlist but decided to read by whim instead. And I’ve picked up a book by a man… that rarely happens.
I would encourage you to read the second half of Night Bloom. I’m 3/4 through and loving it.
I’m also trying to finish
And Then She Fell
The Maiden
Western Lane
8am tomorrow morning we will know. Looking forward to seeing you and Louise together again and what you think of the nonfiction shortlist.
🍀👋☘️📕📚📖☕️💐🇮🇪
If it’s shortlisted I’ll get to Nightbloom. If it’s not… I don’t know. I standby my point that a book can’t be great just by having an amazing second half to save it, if you didn’t really want to get to that second half.
@@SavidgeReads true.
I've managed to read 12 of the books on the longlist and I'm still planning to read the final 4.
My shortlist would be:
Soldier Sailor, Brotherless Night, Ordinary Human Failings, In Defence of the Act, The Wren The Wren and. And Then She Fell, I think.
BUT, I actually think it'll be very different.
Ooooh what do you think will make it?
@@SavidgeReads I'm pretty sure the judges will be big fans of Nightbloom so I would punt for that and from what I've heard, Enter Ghost. But I'm not sure which of mine would be switched out for it.
I kind of feel that Soldier Sailor and And Then She Fell both cover similar topics with post-partum mental illness so potentially one of those would be cut.
My hopefuls are Brotherless night, Enter Ghost, Soldier Sailor, Ordinary Human Failings, Hangman and 8 Lives of a Century old Trickster! I DNFd The Wren the Wren and haven’t read In defense of the act yet, can see both of those on the shortlist too!
I really loved both of those, well as I say. Hahaha. So would be thrilled to see them on the shortlist long with Brotherless Night, 8 Lives, Enter Ghost and OF COURSE Ordinary Human Failings.
📚📚📚
💚📚
Oooh you need the last third of a trace of sun 👀
If it’s shortlisted I will head to it. But I stand on my point that for a final third of finale of a book to be brilliant… you have to want to get there lol.
@@SavidgeReads this is true 😂 I cannot argue
If you swap Soldier Sailor for Enter Ghost, you and I have identical personal shortlists (no surprise there, In Memoriam notwithstanding). 😂 In terms of what will be on the actual shortlist, I am not sure I even want to guess because I would have put together an entirely different longlist. Having said that, I will be shocked if Enter Ghost and Brotherless Night are not shortlisted.
Please note Cindy that In Memoriam didn’t even get longlisted. That’s all I need to say. Hahahaha. 😜
@@SavidgeReads 😂😂😂
You have one of my favourite authors on your chest😹😸😹 Yes to Brotherless Night, Enter Ghost and hoping 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster will be on the list too, Enjoyed your shortlist and am looking forward to seeing what the judges have picked tomo. 🕗🕗🕗
She’s one of my absolute favourite authors too. That’s why I got the tshirt. Lol. Not long to go till the shortlist now.