Ben Reads GoodA 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.
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Books mentioned: ๐ Not a River, by Selva Almada (translated by Annie McDermott) ๐ Simpatรญa, by Rodrigo Blanco Calderรณn (translated by Noel Hernรกndez Gonzรกlez and Daniel Hahn) ๐ Kairos, by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated by Michael Hofmann) ๐ The Details, by Ia Genberg (translated by Kira Josefsson) ๐ White Nights, by Urszula Honek (translated by Kate Webster) ๐ Mater 2-10, by Hwang Sok-yong (translated by Sora Kim-Russel and Youngjae Josephine Bae) ๐ A Dictator Calls, by Ismail Kadare (translated by John Hodgson) ๐ The Silver Bone, by Andrey Kurkov (translated by Boris Dralyuk) ๐ What I'd Rather Not Think About, by Jente Postuma (translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey) ๐ Lost on Me, by Veronica Raimo (translated by Leah Janeczko) ๐ The House on Via Gemito, by Domenico Starnone (translated by Oonagh Stransky) ๐ Crooked Plow, by Itamar Vieira Junior (translated by Johnny Lorenz) ๐ Undiscovered, by Gabriela Wiener (translated by Julia Sanches)
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00:00 Longlist thoughts 03:33 First sentence ranking
Judging the International Booker longlist based on first sentencesBen Reads Good2024-03-27 | 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.
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Books mentioned: ๐ Not a River, by Selva Almada (translated by Annie McDermott) ๐ Simpatรญa, by Rodrigo Blanco Calderรณn (translated by Noel Hernรกndez Gonzรกlez and Daniel Hahn) ๐ Kairos, by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated by Michael Hofmann) ๐ The Details, by Ia Genberg (translated by Kira Josefsson) ๐ White Nights, by Urszula Honek (translated by Kate Webster) ๐ Mater 2-10, by Hwang Sok-yong (translated by Sora Kim-Russel and Youngjae Josephine Bae) ๐ A Dictator Calls, by Ismail Kadare (translated by John Hodgson) ๐ The Silver Bone, by Andrey Kurkov (translated by Boris Dralyuk) ๐ What I'd Rather Not Think About, by Jente Postuma (translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey) ๐ Lost on Me, by Veronica Raimo (translated by Leah Janeczko) ๐ The House on Via Gemito, by Domenico Starnone (translated by Oonagh Stransky) ๐ Crooked Plow, by Itamar Vieira Junior (translated by Johnny Lorenz) ๐ Undiscovered, by Gabriela Wiener (translated by Julia Sanches)
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00:00 Longlist thoughts 03:33 First sentence ranking
#books #booktube #internationalbookerprizeBOOK NEWS ๐๏ธ Big Intermezzo sales for Sally Rooney โข Tilted Axis needs you! โข Prize shortlistsBen Reads Good2024-10-04 | Another month, another round of news. Some huge sales for recent releases, plus some indie outfits in need of support. Plus, a prize shortlist bonanza and tonnes of new releases.
#books #booktube #booknewsBook prize predictions โข Goldsmiths Prize and Nobel PrizeBen Reads Good2024-09-29 | You know I love a prize prediction video, so here's another couple to throw in the mix!
The Goldsmiths Prize shortlist is looking for 'fiction at its most novel' and its shortlist will be announced on 2 October.
The Nobel is awarded for a body of work, and we'll find out this year's recipient on 10 October.
#books #booktube #bookprizesI ranked the Booker Prize longlist from worst to best (and predicted the shortlist)Ben Reads Good2024-09-14 | For the second year in a row, I managed to read all of the books from the longlist ๐
In this video I've shared some reflections on the reading experience, common themes I noted, and I take a look at some Goodreads stats to see what the longlist might look like if Goodreads loggers were in charge.
I've also ranked the books from worst to best, with the top six making up my dream shortlist, plus I take a guess what I think the judges will pick.
Books mentioned ๐ Wild Houses, by Colin Barrett ๐ Headshot, by Rita Bullwinkel ๐ James, by Percival Everett ๐ Orbital, by Samantha Harvey ๐ Creation Lake, by Rachel Kushner ๐ My Friends, by Hisham Matar ๐ This Strange Eventful History, by Claire Messud ๐ Held, by Anne Michaels ๐ Wandering Stars, by Tommy Orange ๐ Enlightenment, by Sarah Perry ๐ Playground, by Richard Powers ๐ The Safekeep, by Yael van der Wouden ๐ Stone Yard Devotional, by Charlotte Wood
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00:00 Longlist thoughts 04:01 Goodreads shortlist 06:58 Ranking and personal shortlist 16:05 Judges shortlist prediction
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Thank you so much for watching.
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
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#booktube #bookerprize #readingBooker Prize book reviews โข Enlightenment, Creation Lake, Wandering StarsBen Reads Good2024-09-12 | My final batch of Booker reviews! Ranking and shortlist predictions coming very soon.
If you haven't seen my other reviews of the longlist, here are the other videos where I cover them:
#booktube #bookerprize #readingBooker Prize book reviews โข The Safekeep, Playground, This Strange Eventful HistoryBen Reads Good2024-09-08 | Here's another batch of Booker reviews - I'm having a pretty great time with the list so far! Let me know how you're getting on.
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Books mentioned ๐ The Safekeep, by Yael van der Wouden ๐ Playground, by Richard Powers ๐ This Strange Eventful History, by Claire Messud
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00:00 The Safekeep 03:42 Playground 08:08 This Strange Eventful History
#booktube #bookerprize #readingBook bans and a STACKED month of new books (Tokarczuk, Rooney, Powers) โข This Month in Book News โจBen Reads Good2024-09-04 | Happy start-of-autumn month! It's September and here's the book news, including some book ban-related developments, an absurd number of hot new releases (including Sally Rooney, Olga Tokarczuk, Richard Powers, and more) and all the usual bits and bobs.
The word of the month, apparently, is 'particularly'. Please don't count how many times I say it ๐
#books #booktube #booknewsSome books I read this summer โข 6 book reviewsBen Reads Good2024-08-27 | Is it a wrap up? Are these book reviews? Well, yes and yes. But it's also not my usual wrap-up as I left out a bunch of things I read in July. Don't worry, I'll get to them soon. But here is a mixture of reading recommendations... and a few unpopular opinions on much-hyped books.
Books mentioned in this video: ๐ Greta and Valdin, by Rebecca K (not R!) Reilly ๐ Evenings and Weekends, by Oisรญn McKenna ๐ First Love, by Gwendoline Riley ๐ Monstrilio, by Gerardo Sรกmano Cรณrdova (apologies for pronouncing 'Gerardo' wrong in the video) ๐ Anyone's Ghost, by August Thompson ๐ Goodnight Tokyo, by Atsuhiro Yoshida (translated by Haydn Trowell)
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00:00 Summer reading 01:35 Greta and Valdin 04:50 Evenings and Weekends 07:19 First Love 10:55 Monstrilio 13:47 Anyone's Ghost 16:24 Goodnight Tokyo
#books #booktube #readingwrapupBooker Prize book reviews โข Stone Yard Devotional, Held, My FriendsBen Reads Good2024-08-16 | Hello friends! I've been busy working my way few this year's Booker Prize longlist, and hereโs my first set of book reviews. Definitely some solid reading recommendations here if you're looking to get stuck into this year's list and not sure where to start.
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Books mentioned ๐ Stone Yard Devotional, by Charlotte Wood ๐ Held, by Anne Michaels ๐ My Friends, by Hisham Matar
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00:00 Stone Yard Devotional 03:50 Held 07:20 My Friends
#booktube #bookerprize #readingHugo Awards drama, Edna OBrien, and new book releases โข This Month in Book News โจBen Reads Good2024-08-08 | We're a week in to August, but it's 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.
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
#books #booktube #booknewsBooker Prize 2024 longlist reaction (...as predicted by the formula? ๐งช)Ben Reads Good2024-07-31 | It's that time again! Very excited for this longlist, and the judges have recommended us some wonderful-sounding books.
Couple of video corrections: 1. Graphics for 'The Formula' accidentally use the Headshot cover where it should be The Safekeep. 2. The Booker Bigwigs are not all 'imprints of huge publishers', some are independent of the biggest publishers. They're actually just the most successful at getting on the Booker longlist over the last decade.
Other channels mentioned: @rororeads (a truly joyful cameo) @SavidgeReads
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Books mentioned ๐ James, by Percival Everett ๐ This Strange Eventful History, by Claire Messud ๐ Orbital, by Samantha Harvey ๐ Headshot, by Rita Bullwinkel ๐ Wild Houses, by Colin Barrett ๐ Wandering Stars, by Tommy Orange ๐ The Safekeep, by Yael van der Wouden ๐ Held, by Anne Michaels ๐ Stone Yard Devotional, by Charlotte Wood ๐ Enlightenment, by Sarah Perry ๐ My Friends, by Hisham Matar ๐ Playground, by Richard Powers ๐ Creation Lake, by Rachel Kushner
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Thank you so much for watching.
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
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#booktube #bookerprize #readingOlympics book recommendations (even if you donโt like sports)Ben Reads Good2024-07-27 | The Olympics is here again! Two weeks of high drama across hundreds of sports that don't usually grace our screens. I love it, but I know it's not for everyone. That said, it's fun to read something thematically aligned to what's going on in the world, so here are some book recommendations that feature sports, but which you can enjoy whether you're a sports fan or not.
Books mentioned: ๐ The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach ๐ Godwin, by Joseph O'Neill ๐ Carrie Soto is Back, by Taylor Jenkins Reid ๐ Grimmish, by Michael Winkler ๐ Chlorine, by Jade Song ๐ Stephen Florida, by Gabe Habash ๐ Kick the Latch, by Kathryn Scanlan ๐ Headshot, by Rita Bullwinkel ๐ Western Lane, by Chetna Maroo
#books #booktube #olympics8 Booker Prize contenders youve (probably) never heard ofBen Reads Good2024-07-19 | The Goodreads list is all the books, right? Right?! WRONG!!!! Sorry pals, but here are some extras to throw in the ring.
#books #booktube #bookerprizeBooks I read in June โข Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2024-07-15 | Here are book reviews of the 8 novels I read in June, including quite a few Booker contenders.
I had a great reading month, with almost all of these 5 star reads, and recommended reading from me!
Books mentioned in this video: ๐ England is Mine, by Nicholas Padamsee ๐ Breakdown, by Cathy Sweeney ๐ Headshot, by Rita Bullwinkel ๐ Brotherless Night, by V V Ganeshananthan ๐ Boy with a Black Rooster, by Stefanie vor Schulte (translated by Alexandra Roesch) ๐ River East, River West, by Aube Rey Lescure ๐ The Coast Road, by Alan Murrin ๐ Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
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00:00 England is Mine 04:05 Breakdown 06:09 Headshot 08:47 Brotherless Night 12:09 Boy with a Black Rooster 14:46 River East, River West 17:43 The Coast Road 19:51 Orbital
#books #booktube #readingwrapupRemembering Alice, and the regular news segments โข This Month in Book News โจBen Reads Good2024-07-10 | Hi everyone. For part of this video, I wanted to remember a BookTube friend, Alice from @AliceandtheGiantBookshelf, who suddenly and tragically passed away a few weeks ago. This was difficult to film, but I wanted to pay my respects to a really wonderful person. I hope you join me in wishing the very best to her friends and family.
00:00 Remembering Alice 01:36 Future release announcements 03:03 Book news 05:46 Prize news and dates 08:27 New book releases 12:56 Books on screen 15:13 Deals 16:39 Feelgood story
#books #booktube #booknewsBooker Prize 2024 longlist predictions ๐ฎBen Reads Good2024-06-30 | It's Booker season!!! And this time, I've taken a vaguely scientific approach to my longlist predictions... ๐จโ๐ฌ
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Books mentioned: You'll have to watch and see ๐
#books #booktube #bookerprizeMy reading year so far โข Mid-year book freakout tagBen Reads Good2024-06-23 | Always fun to check in on the reading year so far, so here's the mid-year book freakout tag!
The tag originator, IsThatChami, is no longer on YouTube.
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Questions: 1. Best book youโve read so far 2. Best sequel you've read so far 3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year 5. Biggest disappointment 6. Biggest surprise 7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you) 8. Newest fictional crush 9. Newest favourite character 10. Book that made you cry (or saddest book you've read) 11. Book that made you happy 12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year 13. Favourite video you have made so far in this year 14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received) 15. Books do you need to read by the end of the year
#books #booktube #booktagHeres my reading pile of shame... which books are on yours?Ben Reads Good2024-06-15 | If you're following along with the Read Good Challenge, you'll know June is Reading Shame Forgiveness Month. It's a chance to read those books that you've been ruminating about and agonising over -- maybe for years -- no questions asked.
To give you some inspiration, I thought I'd share my reading pile of shame, based on some different 'flavours' of shame that you might recognised in your own reading life.
*If you'd like to do this as a tag, there are questions in the pinned comment.* Fancy doing it? Consider yourself tagged!
(Shame about reading is, of course, very silly. This is just a bit of fun!)
Books mentioned: ๐ The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy ๐ The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown ๐ A Quiet Belief in Angels, by R J Ellory ๐ Impossible Creatures, by Katharine Rundell ๐ Wool, by Hugh Howey ๐ Shift, by Hugh Howey ๐ Annihilation, by Jeff Vandermeer ๐ Authority, by Jeff Vandermeer ๐ Giovanni's Room, by James Baldwin ๐ Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontรซ ๐ Freshwater, by Akwaeke Emezi ๐ The Death of Vivek Oji, by Akwaeke Emezi ๐ You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty, by Akwaeke Emezi
Books mentioned in this video: ๐ Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie ๐ Mongrel, by Hanako Footman ๐ Diary of a Void, by Emi Yagi (translated by David Boyd and Lucy North) ๐ Confessions, by Kanae Minato (translated by Stephen Snyder) ๐ In the Miso Soup, by Ryu Murakami (translated by Ralph McCarthy) ๐ Strange Weather in Tokyo, by Hiromi Kawakami (translated by Allison Markin Powell) ๐ The Offing, by Benjamin Myers ๐ Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers
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00:00 Home Fire 03:20 Mongrel 05:37 Diary of a Void 07:03 Confessions 09:58 In the Miso Soup 12:24 Strange Weather in Tokyo 14:11 The Offing
#books #booktube #readingwrapupBook prize winners, a savage Cusk review, and millions of pages saved โข This Month in Book News โจBen Reads Good2024-06-03 | It's my birthday today, so a short description here as I'm short on time... but here's the book news for June!
00:00 Book news 03:02 New book releases 07:45 Future release announcements 08:23 Prize news and dates 11:37 Books on screen 13:21 Deals 15:04 Feelgood story
#books #booktube #booknewsA big indie press book haulBen Reads Good2024-05-18 | I was very lucky to go along to the inaugural Indie Showcase with @BobTheBookerer recently. Here are all the books I came away with!
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Books mentioned: ๐ I Died at Fallow Hall, by Bonnie Burke-Patel ๐ American Spirits, by Russell Banks ๐ Above Us the Sea, by Ania Cain ๐ The Boy with the Black Rooster, by Stefanie vor Schulte (translated by Alexandra Roesch) ๐ My Favourite, by Sarah Jollien-Fardel (translated by Holly James) ๐ The Museum of Lost and Fragile Things, by Suzanne Joinson ๐ A Person is a Prayer, by Ammar Kalia ๐ Grimmish, by Michael Winkler ๐ The Body in the Library, by Graham Caveney ๐ Sunburn, by Chloe Michelle Howarth ๐ Blue Hour, by Tiffany Clarke Harrison ๐ Placeholders, by James Roseman ๐ Isaac, by Curtis Gardner ๐ The Way the Day Breaks, by David Roberts ๐ Amma, by Saraid de Silva ๐ The Pages of the Sea, by Anne Hawk
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00:00 The event! 02:25 Bedford Square Publishers 04:40 Dead Ink Books 05:55 The Indigo Press 09:00 Oldcastle Books 10:26 Peninsula Press 12:05 Verve Books 16:24 Weatherglass Books
#books #booktube #bookhaulBooks I read in March and April โข Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2024-05-11 | 9 books in March and 8 in April... but don't worry I'm not doing 17 book reviews in this video ๐ Lots of interesting stuff in here though, including International Booker Prize shortlisted books, and some great recent releases.
Books mentioned in this video: ๐ James, by Percival Everett ๐ Julia, by Sandra Newman ๐ True Grit, by Charles Portis ๐ What I'd Rather Not Think About, by Jente Posthuma (translated by Sarah Harvey Timmer) ๐ The Details, by Ia Genberg (translated by Kira Josefsson) ๐ The Borrowed Hills, by Scott Preston ๐ The Spoiled Heart, by Sunjeev Sahota ๐ Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie
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00:00 Intro 00:39 Julia 03:24 True Grit 05:59 What I'd Rather Not Think About 08:56 The Details 10:56 The Borrowed Hills 14:11 The Spoiled Heart
#books #booktube #readingwrapupHorror sales boom, PEN awards cancelled, and Booker contender releases โข This Month in Book News โจBen Reads Good2024-05-02 | We're back with the latest news for May, with SO MANY new book releases, TOO MUCH book prize news, and a lot of news stories that are, to be honest, all just a little depressing.
Correction: the Dylan Thomas Prize is for writers 39 and under, not for writers under 35.
New releases Bookshop.org list: uk.bookshop.org/lists/new-releases-for-may-2024 (If you buy via this list, I'll benefit a small amount, but if you'd prefer your local indie bookshop to benefit instead you can change the storefront.)
00:00 Book news 05:58 New book releases 10:39 Future release announcements 11:47 Prize news and dates 15:19 Books on screen 17:19 Deals 17:53 Feelgood story
#books #booktube #booknewsPredicting the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction ๐ฎBen Reads Good2024-04-26 | On 6 May 2024 we'll find out (completely out of the blue!) which book has won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and and which books were the finalists. It's a shot in the dark to predict, but last year I got it right. I don't expect to repeat that, but let's give it a go!
#books #booktube #pulitzerprizeWomens Prize for Fiction book reviews and shortlist predictions ๐ฎBen Reads Good2024-04-21 | I haven't made a specific effort to read the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist this year, but have ended up reading over half of it! So here are my reviews, my rankings of the books (although, to be honest, there is so little between some of these books for me that it's been hard to nail down a definitive order) and of course my guess at the shortlist.
Let me know which ones you've read, how you thought about them, and what you're expecting to see on the shortlist.
00:00 Giveaway 01:45 9th place 04:09 8th place 07:08 7th place 07:56 6th place 10:35 5th place 13:17 4th place 16:26 3rd place 19:15 2nd place 20:00 1st place 20:43 Shortlist predictions
#books #booktube #womensprizeJames by Percival Everett | Spoiler-free book review ๐Ben Reads Good2024-04-12 | They're maybe few and far between on this channel, but James by Percival Everett is so good it deserved a standalone review.
I one hundred percent recommend reading this book. In fact, I can't recommend it enough. What a novel.
#books #booktube #bookreviewI judged a book prize! ๐ | BookTube Prize book reviews and rankingBen Reads Good2024-04-07 | I was very excited to have judged the Octofinals for the BookTube Prize! My thoughts on these books have been kept under lock and key since the start of February, but now the round is over I can share my book reviews and my final ranking. I'm also going to see which books from my ballot progressed based on rankings from all the judges, and react to the result.
Books mentioned: ๐ August Blue, by Deborah Levy ๐ The Rachel Incident, by Caroline O'Donogue ๐ Witness, by Jamel Brinkley ๐ I Have Some Questions For You, by Rebecca Makkai ๐ Enter Ghost, by Isabella Hammad ๐ Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett
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00:00 The BookTube Prize 05:04 August Blue 06:07 The Rachel Incident 08:12 Witness 10:28 I Have Some Questions For You 14:23 Enter Ghost 18:40 Tom Lake 22:25 Final rankings 22:55 Reaction to results
#books #booktube #booktubeprizeHuge new releases, sad Booker nominee news, and a book of human skin | This Month in Book News โจBen Reads Good2024-04-03 | You said it sounded good, so I did it! Here's the first ever This Month in Book News video, covering some news in the book world, hot new book releases, prize news and dates for your diary, and some notable TV and film adaptations.
When I scripted I thought this video was going to be VERY LONG. But it was not, in fact, long at all. I do speak pretty quickly though.
*Correction:* The adaptation of A Gentleman in Moscow stars Ewan McGregor, not Kenneth Branagh!
Huge shout out to @TheDiscoKingOfficial who features in the feelgood story. Go subscribe to his channel and watch the BookTuber quiz here: youtube.com/live/jo-KMWKMlpU
Credit to @SkillUp from whom I liberally borrowed this idea. If you're into video games, his 'This Week in Video Games' videos are excellent, as are all his reviews.
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00:00 What's this all about? 00:25 Book news 02:17 New releases 04:27 Recent announcements 05:29 Prize news and dates 06:38 Books on screen 07:49 Deals 08:36 Feelgood story
#books #booktube #booknewsBooks I read in February | Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2024-03-16 | 9 books this month and so many 5 star reads that I would absolutely recommend you to pick up!
Severance and some other post-apocalyptic fiction reviewed in this video: youtu.be/hA27Cz9xf48
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Creators mentioned in this video: @katiejlumsden @SavidgeReads (for the 'Anton Hun' nickname!) All the other wonderful BookTubers I met at the meet-up!
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Books mentioned in this video: ๐ Your Utopia, by Bora Chung (translated by Anton Hur) ๐ I Have Some Questions for You, by Rebecca Makkai ๐ Remember Remember, by Elle Machray ๐ Severance, by Ling Ma ๐ Julia, by Sandra Newman ๐ 1984, by George Orwell ๐ The Rachel Incident, by Caroline O'Donoghue ๐ Witness, by Jamel Brinkley (apologies, in the video I say 'James') ๐ The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, by Deesha Philyaw ๐ Pet, by Catherine Chidgey ๐ The House of Broken Bricks, by Fiona Williams ๐ The Night Alphabet, by Joelle Taylor ๐ C+nto and Othered Poems, by Joelle Taylor ๐ Erasure, by Percival Everett ๐ James, by Percival Everett ๐ Martyr!, by Kaveh Akbar
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00:00 Intro and BookTuber meet-up 02:08 Books Iโm not reviewing here 03:11 The Secret Lives of Church Ladies 06:12 Pet 08:28 The House of Broken Bricks 11:41 The Night Alphabet 15:11 Erasure 19:30 Martyr!
#books #booktube #readingwrapupMy reaction to the Womens Prize for Fiction 2024 longlistBen Reads Good2024-03-09 | It's here, and my reaction is basically summed up by the Kombucha meme. Initial disappointment, but I've come around!
HUGE apologies that my microphone basically decided to give up 30 seconds into the video.
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Books mentioned: ๐ Soldier Sailor, by Claire Kilroy ๐ Western Lane, by Chetna Maroo ๐ The Wren, The Wren, by Anne Enright ๐ Brotherless Night, by V V Ganeshananthan ๐ The Restless Dolly Maunder, by Kate Grenville ๐ Enter Ghost, by Isaballa Hammad ๐ Ordinary Human Failings, by Megan Nolan ๐ 8 Lives of a Century Old Trickster, by Mirinae Lee ๐ Hangman, by Maya Binyam ๐ River East, River West, by Aube Rey Lescure ๐ Nightbloom, by Peace Adzo Medie ๐ The Blue, Beautiful World, by Karen Lord ๐ In Defence of the Act, by Effie Black ๐ A Trace of Sun, by Pam Williams ๐ The Maiden, by Kate Foster
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BookTubers mentioned: @AliceandtheGiantBookshelf
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00:00 Thoughts on the longlist 04:04 Ones I've read 05:49 Ones from previous WP authors 08:33 Ones I've heard of 12:31 Ones new to me 16:14 Final thoughts
#books #booktube #womensprizeInternational Booker Prize 2024 longlist predictions ๐ฎBen Reads Good2024-02-24 | The book prizes are coming thick and fast, and so are my predictions. Here are 13 books I think we could see make the longlist this year - and I can't possibly get it more wrong than last year when I only predicted 2 correctly... or can I? ๐
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Books mentioned: You'll have to watch and see ๐
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00:00 Intro and eligibility rules 02:26 The Reserved Spots 05:20 Colonial Asshattery 07:01 The Never-ending Struggle of Women 09:41 Secret Histories
#books #booktube #internationalbookerprizeWomens Prize for Fiction 2024 longlist predictions ๐ฎBen Reads Good2024-02-17 | The Women's Prize for Fiction longlist is nearly here. Are you excited? BECAUSE I'M EXCITED. Here's my stab at guessing the 16 books that might make it. Can I beat last year's tally of getting 4 right?
Honestly, I don't think so... there are so many incredible books written by women, so many recommended reads, that it felt truly impossible to narrow it down.
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Books mentioned: You'll have to watch and see ๐
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00:00 Intro and eligibility rules 02:51 2024 judges 03:58 Blood Ties 06:38 Hidden History 09:10 Retellings 11:06 Careering 12:33 Bodies Bodies Bodies
#books #booktube #womensprize5 dystopian novels (ranked by plausibility)Ben Reads Good2024-02-11 | Dystopian books? Apocalyptic books? Post-apocalypic books? Whatever you call them, these 5 novels play out the end of the world and how that might look. I read and ranked these books, and judged how realistic their depiction of the downfall of society felt to me. And a few are definitely recommend reading.
Funnily enough, I read all of these mostly by chance recently. So this also serves as a bit of a reading wrap-up.
I didn't mention this in the video, by @AliceandtheGiantBookshelf did a great video comparing the book and movie of The End We Start From, which you can check out here: youtube.com/watch?v=YaEaOSiYtmo
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Books mentioned: ๐ Delphi, by Clare Pollard ๐ Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam ๐ The Doloriad, by Missouri Williams ๐ The End We Start From, by Megan Hunter ๐ Jungle House, by Julianne Pachico ๐ Severance, by Ling Ma ๐ Station Eleven, by Emily St John Mandel
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00:00 Why is there so much apocalyptic fiction? 02:37 5th place 05:49 4th place 08:38 3rd place 10:55 2nd place 13:36 1st place
#books #booktube #dystopianbooksBooks I read in January | Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2024-02-04 | I read a ridiculous 11 books this month... not sure how. Quite a few that surprised me, and some that I'd definitely recommend you to read. 4 of the books I read I'll wrap-up separately as part of a themed video on apocalypse fiction, so look out for that soon.
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Books mentioned in this video: ๐ Eastbound, by Maylis de Kerengal (translated by Jessica Moore) ๐ How I Won a Nobel Prize, by Julius Taranto (gifted) ๐ The Storm We Made, by Vanessa Chan ๐ The Guest, by Emma Cline ๐ Good Material, by Dolly Alderton ๐ Redhead by the Side of the Road, by Anne Tyler ๐ Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann
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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
#books #booktube #readingwrapupA rather big book haul ๐Ben Reads Good2024-01-28 | Ok there are a *lot* of books in this video and I am mildly ashamed, but hear me out... this covers 6 months of book buying / receiving / begging! Hopefully you find some fun book recommendations here and it gives you a good idea of what I'm planning to read in the coming months.
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Books mentioned: ๐ The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, by Deesha Philyaw ๐ Nonfiction, by Julie Myerson ๐ Pet, by Catherine Chidgey ๐ North Woods, by Daniel Mason ๐ Same Bed Different Dreams, by Ed Park ๐ Bewilderment, by Richard Powers ๐ The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafรณn (translated by Lucia Graves) ๐ Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison ๐ Heartstopper Volume 5, by Alice Oseman ๐ Beyond the Door of No Return, by David Diop (translated by Sam Taylor) ๐ Zorrie, by Laird Hunt ๐ Julia, by Sandra Newman ๐ The End We Start From, by Megan Hunter ๐ Pleasantview, by Celeste Mohammed ๐ The Friend, by Sigrid Nunez ๐ The Rain Heron, by Robbie Arnott ๐ Tell Me How to Be, by Neel Patel ๐ Hell of a Book, by Jason Mott ๐ A Burning, by Meghan Majumdar ๐ Earthling, by Sayaka Murata (translated by Ginny Tapley Takamori) ๐ The Rabbit Hutch, by Tess Gunty ๐ Skippy Dies, by Paul Murray ๐ The Shards, by Brett Easton Ellis ๐ On the Savage Side, by Tiffany McDaniel ๐ Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward ๐ Strangers, by Taichi Yamada (translated by Wayne P. Lammers) ๐ Constance, by Joseph Zigmond ๐ The Country Will Bring Us No Peace, by Matthieu Simard (translated by Pablo Strauss) ๐ The Blue Mask, by Joel Lane ๐ Beasts of England, by Adam Biles ๐ Orbital, by Samantha Harvey ๐ Three Fires, by Denise Mina ๐ Glorious Exploits, by Ferdia Lennon ๐ The Land of Milk and Honey, by C. Pam Zhang ๐ Impossible Creatures, by Katherine Rundell ๐ Family Meal, by Bryan Washington ๐ The Black Eden, by Richard T. Kelly
Books gifted by publishers: ๐ The Night Alphabet, by Joelle Taylor ๐ Mongrel, by Hanako Footman ๐ The Borrowed Hills, by Scott Preston ๐ Martyr!, by Kaveh Akbar ๐ James, by Percival Everett ๐ Cinema Love, by Jiaming Tang ๐ How I Won A Nobel Prize, by Julius Taranto ๐ Anyone's Ghost, by August Thompson ๐ The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
The first 5 of those books are covered in more detail in this video: youtu.be/Kil6qPajufo
#books #booktube #bookhaulMy most anticipated books coming out in 2024 ๐ | 16 book recommendationsBen Reads Good2024-01-21 | 2024 publishing schedules are being locked in... which means lots of books to get excited about! Here I talk through 15 books I'm looking forward to slated for 2024, plus a bonus longshot/wish/prayer ๐
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Books mentioned: ๐ Mongrel, by Hanako Footman ๐ The Night Alphabet, by Joelle Taylor ๐ The Dark Side of Skin, by Jeferson Tenรณrio (translated by Bruna Dantas Lobato) ๐ Butter, by Asako Yuzuki (translated by Polly Barton) ๐ Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar ๐ The Fruit of the Dead, by Rachel Lyon ๐ The Borrowed Hills, by Scott Preston ๐ James, by Percival Everett ๐ Fast by the Horns, by Moses McKenzie ๐ Great Expectations, by Vinson Cunningham ๐ The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley ๐ Long Island Compromise, by Taffy Brodesser-Akner ๐ Toward Eternity, by Anton Hur ๐ Rare Singles, by Benjamin Myers ๐ Playground, by Richard Powers ๐ Our Evening, by Alan Hollinghurst
#books #booktube #bookrecommendationsEvery single book I read in 2023 (and some reading stats)Ben Reads Good2024-01-14 | A rundown not just of my favourites of 2023, but *every* book I read.
The twist? Each book is only described using the same number of words as the star rating I gave the book.
I did this last year and found it a really fun way to reflect on my year of reading, and it was just as much fun this time.
I've also included some reading stats, which are a bit more detailed this year thanks to my recent switch over to The StoryGraph.
Hopefully you will find some good book recommendations among these!
#books #booktube #readingwrapupBooks I read in December | Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2024-01-07 | First reading wrap-up of the year, and last wrap up for 2023 books - somehow I managed 8 books this month, though admittedly lots of shorties!
Books mentioned in this video: ๐ Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers ๐ Loot, by Tania James (gifted) ๐ Rizzio, by Denise Mina ๐ Delphi, by Clare Pollard ๐ Wild Houses, by Colin Barrett ๐ Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas, by Adam Kay ๐ The Mouse and His Child, by Russell Hoban ๐ God's Children Are Broken Little Things, by Arinze Ifeakandu
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00:00 Intro 00:31 Cuddy 01:23 Loot 04:03 Rizzio 06:43 Delphi 09:53 Wild Houses 12:30 Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas 14:06 The Mouse and His Child 16:20 God's Children Are Broken Little Things
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
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#books #booktube #readingwrapupRead Good Challenge 2024 | Reading prompts for every month of the yearBen Reads Good2024-01-01 | Happy New Year ๐ฅณ I'm sure your reading plans are already well underway, but if you're in search of some prompts for your 2024 reading, here are some that I'll be doing this year. Feel free to join in!
Here are some resources you can use to read along with the challenge ๐
00:00 Intro 01:44 January 02:47 February 03:41 March 04:36 April 05:25 May 06:11 June 07:03 July 07:39 August 08:45 September 09:34 October 10:41 November 11:53 December
#books #booktube #readingThe best books I read in 2023 (and you should read them too)Ben Reads Good2023-12-22 | Well this has come around fast, hasn't it? Here are my favourite books of 2023 (that I read, not that were released).
Last year I only did a top 5, but I read so many great books in 2023 that this time around I've gone for a top 10. And even that was tough to narrow down, so you get 5 honourable mentions at the end as well.
Hopefully you find some recommendations worth reading in here. Let me know if you've read any, and what your favourite reads of the year have been!
00:00 Reflections on my reading year 02:10 Rank 10-5 08:17 Rank 5-1 15:10 Honourable mentions
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#books #booktube #readingwrapupCuddy by Benjamin Myers is extraordinary | Spoiler-free book review ๐Ben Reads Good2023-12-20 | Channelling my inner @rororeads to bring you a standalone review of this absolutely wondrous book: Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers.
I highly, highly recommend reading this book. Don't be intimidated by the start: it's a rich and rewarding experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. A true gem that probably should have been nominated for the Booker Prize.
I don't consider anything in this review a spoiler, so Iโve marked it โspoiler-freeโ. But I'm not sure of people's tolerance for plot summaries so please tread carefully!
This video is kindly sponsored by the word 'arc' which I think I use about 3000 times ๐
For more ficton book recommendations, subscribe today!
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Thank you so much for watching.
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood ๐ My Amazon wishlist of books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK: amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #bookreviewShort book recommendations (to help hit your reading goals)Ben Reads Good2023-12-15 | Do you need a few short book recommendations to help hit your Storygraph or Goodreads reading goal? I got you!
These are 10 books I think could make for a wonderful short book December, and help you go into 2024 feeling good about your reading, and not crap because Goodreads told you youโre a failure.
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00:00 Reading goals 01:56 ITโS NOT A COMPETITION 02:54 The ones Iโve read 10:02 The ones I havenโt read
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Booktubers mentioned: @louisesavidgemuses4135
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Thank you so much for watching.
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood ๐ My Amazon wishlist of books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK: amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #bookrecommendationsBooks I read in November | Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2023-12-08 | Last reading wrap-up of the year, with 7 books to tell you about. Most of them are quick reads as I've been poorly with a cold lately (still trying to shift it!) but some really great reads in here that I'd heartily recommend.
Here's my full review of Britney Spears' memoir The Woman in Me: youtu.be/ctAUT75AhzY
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Books mentioned in this video: ๐ Clear, by Carys Davies (released in January, thank you to Granta for the eARC) ๐ The Woman in Me, by Britney Spears ๐ Heartstopper Volume 4, by Alice Oseman ๐ Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, by Satoshi Yagisawa (translated from Japanese by Eric Ozawa) ๐ Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes ๐ Upgrade, by Blake Crouch ๐ Aliss at the Fire, by Jon Fosse (translated from Norwegian by Damion Searls)
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00:00 Intro 01:15 Clear 03:20 The Woman in Me 03:56 Heartstopper Volume 4 06:00 Days at the Morisaki Bookshop 08:44 Flowers for Algernon 11:33 Upgrade 13:45 Aliss at the Fire
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Thank you so much for watching.
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
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#books #booktube #readingwrapupBooker Prize 2023 shortlist thoughts and my winner predictionBen Reads Good2023-11-25 | It's been months since I did a video on the Booker, but on the eve of the winner's ceremony, I wanted to reflect a little on the Booker Prize shortlist and share my thoughts on who is going to win.
If you'd like to see my more in-depth reviews of all the books on the shortlist, check them out below.
Books mentioned: ๐ This Other Eden, by Paul Harding ๐ The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray ๐ If I Survive You, by Jonathan Escoffery ๐ Study for Obedience, by Sarah Bernstein ๐ Western Lane, by Chetna Maroo ๐ Prophet Song, by Paul Lynch
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
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Clip from Titanic used under fair use, copyright Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox.
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#booktube #bookerprize #readingBookshelf organisation and a big book unhaul ๐Ben Reads Good2023-11-19 | Join me for a mini bookshelf tour, some bookshelf organisation (or organization for my North American pals), and an unhaul of some books I've decided not to keep.
Hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed making it!
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00:00 I have too many books 01:05 Bookshelf tour 04:40 Unloading the shelves 09:29 Unhaul 20:03 Restacking the shelves 21:06 Final results
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#booktube #bookshelf #bookunhaulI read Britney Spearsโ memoir and it broke my heartBen Reads Good2023-11-13 | Here's my book review of Britney Spears' memoir The Woman in Me, which I think it is a fascinating portrait of a public figure we feel like we know so well, but is only now able to tell her side of the story.
I don't think there are too many spoilers here, I don't really mention anything that hasn't been widely reported on already, but be warned some of the topics mentioned are very heavy. I don't discuss these in detail but I do mention them in passing.
Here's @jack_edwards video on ghostwriting, if you want to dive more deeply into that topic: youtu.be/c6mGnXnSVo8
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00:00 intro 00:35 on my radar (what it means to me) 01:39 it's britney bitch... or is it? (ghostwriting) 06:16 born to make you happy (early life) 08:19 not a girl, not yet a woman (relationships) 11:47 overprotected (conservatorship) 13:35 her prerogative (justice)
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#booktube #bookreview #readingBooks I read in October | Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2023-11-05 | 5 books this month - back to my usual speed after racing through all of that prize reading ๐
Here's the podcast episode where Jaylen from @TheBarandtheBookcase interviews Justin Torres about Blackouts - a really great listen: youtu.be/qlZvBZFMv5w
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Books mentioned in this video: ๐ The Fraud, by Zadie Smith ๐ Dinosaurs, by Lydia Millet ๐ Blackouts, by Justin Torres ๐ Between Dog and Wolf, by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry ๐ The Factory, by Hiroko Oyamada (translated by David Boyd)
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00:00 Giveaway 01:08 The Fraud 05:12 Dinosaurs 08:07 Blackouts 12:18 Between Dog and Wolf 14:40 The Factory
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Thank you so much for watching.
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#books #booktube #readingwrapupMy reading plans for the rest of the year | End of the Year Book TagBen Reads Good2023-10-28 | Loved doing this BookTube tag last year, and when I saw @charlottemolloy and @AliceandtheGiantBookshelf had done this this year I couldn't resist.
Consider yourself tagged if you'd like to join in - either in the comments or in a video of your own!
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Tag started by @ArielBissett
Questions: 1.Are there any books you've started this year that you still need to finish? 2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year? 3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for? 4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year? 5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year? 6. Have you already started making reading plans for next year?
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Books mentioned:
๐ This Ragged Grace, by Octavia Bright ๐ Blackouts, by Justin Torres ๐ Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley ๐ North Woods, by Daniel Mason ๐ Loot, by Tania James ๐ The Portrait of a Mirror, by A. Natasha Joukovsky ๐ Study for Obedience, by Sarah Bernstein ๐ Playground, by Richard Powers ๐ Private Rites, by Julia Armfield ๐ Day, by Michael Cunningham ๐ Martyr!, by Kaveh Akbar
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Thank you so much for watching.
๐ If you enjoyed this video, give it a like! ๐น Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week โ๏ธ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com ๐ธ Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
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#books #booktube #tagYour questions about books and Booktube (and some fun stuff too) | 2k subs Q&ABen Reads Good2023-10-22 | Finally edited together part 2 of the 2k Q&A - hopefully I got to every single question that was asked.
It is a super long video, so apologies for that, but if you want to prioritise just one part of it, I think the Booktube section is my favourite (timestamps below).
You don't need to have watched Part 1 to watch this video, but if you do want to check it out, here's the link: youtu.be/JCMfsMNzvHU
Here's the video from @sunnykimreads that inspired me to just get on with it and create a Booktube channel: youtu.be/nzij3ZwcElA
Thank you all for the questions, and for the continue support. It's been a blast.
And my three underrated Booktube stars, who you should all 100% go and subscribe to RIGHT NOW: @DogEaredMusings @nathansnook @rororeads
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Books mentioned:
๐ Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver ๐ The Overstory, by Richard Powers ๐ Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernadine Evaristo ๐ The Promise, by Damon Gadget ๐ The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead ๐ My Phantoms, by Gwendoline Riley ๐ One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey ๐ Story of Your Life and Others, by Ted Chiang ๐ Fifty Shades of Grey, by E L James ๐ A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking ๐ Trust Exercise, by Susan Choi ๐ Love and Other Thought Experiments, by Sophie Ward ๐ Recursion, by Blake Crouch ๐ Study for Obedience, by Sarah Bernstein ๐ The Secret History, by Donna Tartt ๐ Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn ๐ I'm A Fan, by Sheena Patel ๐ Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir ๐ Franny & Zooey, by J D Salinger ๐ Bewilderment, by Richard Powers ๐ Mayflies, by Andrew O'Hagan ๐ Red Dragon, by Thomas Harris ๐ Misery, by Stephen King ๐ Empire of Pain, by Patrick Radden Keefe ๐ The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North ๐ Between Dog and Wolf, by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry ๐ This Ragged Grace, by Octavia Bright ๐ Shuggie Bain, by Douglas Stuart ๐ Young Mungo, by Douglas Stuart ๐ Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy
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Thank you so much for watching.
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#books #booktube #qandaEvery book I read in September (and August) | Reading wrap-upBen Reads Good2023-10-16 | My first reading wrap-up in a while! Okay across the last two months I read 19 books, which is kind of unsustainable, but it was hugely driven by Booker Prize reading.
As mentioned, I don't share any Booker thoughts in this video, but you can see my Booker videos here ๐
Books mentioned in this video: ๐ Mouth to Mouth, by Antoine Wilson ๐ The Dry Heart, by Natalia Ginzberg ๐ Crudo, by Olivia Laing ๐ Open Throat, by Henry Hoke ๐ This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amar El-Mohtar and ๐ Idol, Burning, by Rin Usami (translated by Asa Yoneda) ๐ The Swimmers, by Julie Otsuka
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00:00 Stuff I'm not reviewing 01:41 Open Throat 03:33 This is How You Lose the Time War 06:29 Idol, Burning 09:35 The Swimmers
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