Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 21 minutes ago
A good first impression is critical, even when you're reading a book, so I decided to get to know the International Booker Prize 2024 longlist by reading, judging and ranking their first sentences.
β
Books mentioned:
π Not a River, by Selva Almada (translated by Annie McDermott)
π SimpatΓa, by Rodrigo Blanco CalderΓ³n (translated by Noel HernΓ‘ndez GonzΓ‘lez and Daniel Hahn)
π Kairos, by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated by Michael Hofmann)
π The Details, by Ia Genberg (translated by Kira Josefsson)
π White Nights, by Urszula Honek (translated by Kate Webster)
π Mater 2-10, by Hwang Sok-yong (translated by Sora Kim-Russel and Youngjae Josephine Bae)
π A Dictator Calls, by Ismail Kadare (translated by John Hodgson)
π The Silver Bone, by Andrey Kurkov (translated by Boris Dralyuk)
π What I'd Rather Not Think About, by Jente Postuma (translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey)
π Lost on Me, by Veronica Raimo (translated by Leah Janeczko)
π The House on Via Gemito, by Domenico Starnone (translated by Oonagh Stransky)
π Crooked Plow, by Itamar Vieira Junior (translated by Johnny Lorenz)
π Undiscovered, by Gabriela Wiener (translated by Julia Sanches)
β
00:00 Longlist thoughts
03:33 First sentence ranking
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
π Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #internationalbookerprize
A good first impression is critical, even when you're reading a book, so I decided to get to know the International Booker Prize 2024 longlist by reading, judging and ranking their first sentences.
β
Books mentioned:
π Not a River, by Selva Almada (translated by Annie McDermott)
π SimpatΓa, by Rodrigo Blanco CalderΓ³n (translated by Noel HernΓ‘ndez GonzΓ‘lez and Daniel Hahn)
π Kairos, by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated by Michael Hofmann)
π The Details, by Ia Genberg (translated by Kira Josefsson)
π White Nights, by Urszula Honek (translated by Kate Webster)
π Mater 2-10, by Hwang Sok-yong (translated by Sora Kim-Russel and Youngjae Josephine Bae)
π A Dictator Calls, by Ismail Kadare (translated by John Hodgson)
π The Silver Bone, by Andrey Kurkov (translated by Boris Dralyuk)
π What I'd Rather Not Think About, by Jente Postuma (translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey)
π Lost on Me, by Veronica Raimo (translated by Leah Janeczko)
π The House on Via Gemito, by Domenico Starnone (translated by Oonagh Stransky)
π Crooked Plow, by Itamar Vieira Junior (translated by Johnny Lorenz)
π Undiscovered, by Gabriela Wiener (translated by Julia Sanches)
β
00:00 Longlist thoughts
03:33 First sentence ranking
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
π Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #internationalbookerprize

![A rather big book haul
I havent done a book haul recently, but I have been picking them up. Heres a bunch of books that have come into my possession over the first half of the year, including library books, books from publishers, indie bookshops, and more.
β
Creators mentioned:
@amuchneededbreak
@SavidgeReads
β
00:00 Library books
06:53 THE UK IS HOT
07:17 Book events
10:43 Sent by publishers
18:52 Indie showcase
28:56 Books from Ev
30:55 Indie bookshops
36:04 Everything else
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2026:
https://youtu.be/i50Tr4zRexg
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3717542a-a44b-452b-bbc1-046ae5ec8fab
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #bookhaul A rather big book haul](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m8bCuP9FEGM/mqdefault.jpg)

![5 books in 5 days β’ Reading vlog π
Thought Id start the year off with a fun little challenge, and a chance to vlog the first few days of 2025.
Reviewing the books as I go (which chimes with one of my reading goals) but of course theyβre all shorties (which doesnβt). Definitely some books here that I would recommend you to read!
β
Books mentioned:
π Celebration, by Damir Karakas (tr. Ellen Elias-Bursac)
π Shy, by Max Porter
π A Room Above a Shop, by Anthony Shapland
π The Practice, the Horizon and the Chain, by Sofia Samatar
π Maud Martha, by Gwendolyn Brooks
π Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr
β
Music by Stream Cafe, licensed via Ko-fi
βͺ stream cafe - cherry blossoms
link: youtu.be/ivVQYpGGvuc
website: streamcafemusic.com
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2025:
https://youtu.be/sl6NEuMRXF4
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/b9e80f78-e8d0-464e-b460-c2e1034dc707
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #readingvlog 5 books in 5 days β’ Reading vlog π](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nGfF2xi4jwU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Hugo Awards drama, Edna OBrien, and new book releases β’ This Month in Book News β¨
Were a week in to August, but its not too late for the news! Some interesting occurrences at the Hugo Awards, another great author lost, and recommendations for all the latest book releases.
Spellow Lane Library GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/books-for-spellow-lane
My Booker longlist reaction video:
https://youtu.be/YC09DI2cPio?si=UI5tG-wazKWtBZYL
Curated Kindle deals list:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3TVIFMVNIAEM1
β
00:00 Book news
01:36 Prize news and dates
04:03 Future release announcements
04:43 New book releases
09:51 Deals
10:27 Books on screen
11:47 Feelgood story
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #booknews Hugo Awards drama, Edna OBrien, and new book releases β’ This Month in Book News β¨](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nIobMAAtPf0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Taking a (short) break from Booktube
Hey pals, just a short video about a break Im going to be taking from Booktube for a few months.
During this time, you can still find me here on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
See you in a few months for some Booker predictions!
β
00:00 Whats happening
01:55 Why this is a video
03:37 Why Im taking a break
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2025:
https://youtu.be/sl6NEuMRXF4
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/b9e80f78-e8d0-464e-b460-c2e1034dc707
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #reading Taking a (short) break from Booktube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nacmDOPpC-8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Books I read in January | Reading wrap-up
I read a ridiculous 11 books this month... not sure how. Quite a few that surprised me, and some that Id definitely recommend you to read. 4 of the books I read Ill wrap-up separately as part of a themed video on apocalypse fiction, so look out for that soon.
β
Books mentioned in this video:
π Eastbound, by Maylis de Kerengal (translated by Jessica Moore)
π How I Won a Nobel Prize, by Julius Taranto (gifted)
π The Storm We Made, by Vanessa Chan
π The Guest, by Emma Cline
π Good Material, by Dolly Alderton
π Redhead by the Side of the Road, by Anne Tyler
π Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann
β
00:00 Intro
00:56 Eastbound
02:44 How I Won a Nobel Prize
06:04 The Storm We Made
08:26 The Guest
10:25 Good Material
13:39 Redhead by the Side of the Road
15:29 Killers of the Flower Moon
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #readingwrapup Books I read in January | Reading wrap-up](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nbpK3YrflMI/mqdefault.jpg)
![We Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill Brown | Spoiler-free book review π
A standalone book review of a wonderful novel I read recently - Id urge everyone to pick it up.
Clips used:
1) MC Devvo (E4)
2) Salad Fingers
3) Top Gear (BBC)
4) Have I Got News for You (BBC)
5) Game of Thrones (HBO)
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2025:
https://youtu.be/sl6NEuMRXF4
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/b9e80f78-e8d0-464e-b460-c2e1034dc707
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
β
#books #booktube #bookreview We Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill Brown | Spoiler-free book review π](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nl2V3H5e8qs/mqdefault.jpg)
![Reviewing the Booker Prize 2023 (spoiler-free) | Part 1
Hereβs my first reading wrap up from the Booker Prize longlist. There are three book reviews in this video, and two of the three come as solid reading recommendations from me!
You dont need to have watched the parts in order before watching this, but Ive linked them below if you havent seen them yet.
Part 1: This video
Part 2: https://youtu.be/AW5O3gq61g0
Part 3: https://youtu.be/zfUGToe0FVE
Part 4: https://youtu.be/223d6RZClVE
β
Books mentioned
π Old Gods Time, by Sebastian Barry
π Western Lane, by Chetna Maroo
π If I Survive You, by Jonathan Escoffery
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#booktube #bookerprize #reading Reviewing the Booker Prize 2023 (spoiler-free) | Part 1](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nx2caL3ekGM/mqdefault.jpg)
![So... I joined Booktube π | Booktube Newbie Tag
Here I am talking about myself, doing the Booktube Newbie Tag before its too late.
If you enjoyed watching this and didnt come away thinking Im a megaloser, please consider liking the video and subscribing to my channel.
β
Tag questions:
1οΈβ£ Why did you start this channel?
2οΈβ£ What are some fun and unique things you can bring to Booktube?
3οΈβ£ What are you most excited for about this new channel?
4οΈβ£ Why do you love reading?
5οΈβ£ What book or series got you into reading?
6οΈβ£ What questions would you ask your favourite Booktubers?
7οΈβ£ What challenges do you think starting a Booktube channel will be the hardest to overcome?
8οΈβ£ When did you start reading?
9οΈβ£ Where do you read?
π What kind of books do you like to read?
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #booktubenewbie So... I joined Booktube π | Booktube Newbie Tag](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o4_47aEZoIM/mqdefault.jpg)
