Hi Ros, although I didn't love the writing style of "The Twilight Zone" (it was an interesting and educational read), I think a lot of people would enjoy it. I think it was also a lot of brutality for me as I was reading it alongside, "Some People Need Killing," and it all became a bit too much. Jo Smith introduced me to Nona Fernández, and I would still happily try "Space Invaders". As for Kim Thuy's work, I know she's a beloved author, but I personally think that there is much better Asian Canadian works out there. I'm reading "The Details" for Shorty September (a translated work written by a woman), and like you have, if possible, extended WIT to my Shorty September ready :) Happy reading!

What an interesting publishing story Ru has. Ti Amis on my lost of books to get to.

Hi Ros, thank you for introducing the auto fiction books, although I really hate that term. I write Memoir and I’m always interested in how writers decide how to format their stories. I’m most interested in the Vietnamese women’s Memoir only because I’m not in a place where I can read about war or grief. You described all the books very well as usual and I enjoyed your video also as usual. Aloha friend.

What a great start indeed Ros! I’m a big Nona Fernández fan, reading and loving Space Invaders and soon after Twilight Zone which has links with the former. I think growing up in the eighties I appreciated the cultural references and they did give some relief to what was often a suffocating read, I had to put it down while reading several times. I own Ru and so am keen to read that one now and I was conflicted about Ti Amo, the whole time you were talking about it but I think I’ll have to give it a go.

I have been wondering about Twilight Zone for a long time now. I will have to get it now. It sounds really interesting.

I'm so glad you enjoyed The Twilight Zone. I plan to get it soon. I'm reading Ti Amo now and it's beautiful. I read The Pastor by Orstavik last year and enjoyed it.

So glad you loved ti amo. So beautifully written and heartbreaking. Twilight zone sounds so interesting, i may have to try and pick it up.

Hi Roz, I agree with you that Ti Amo is a beautiful book. I read it last year for Women in Translation Month and it has stayed with me. I think that because she writes so clear and without any pathos that it is so good. I liked that she could show her love for her husband but also her frustation and even anger for what was happening and that she found that they were not communicating. I also read Ru a couple of years ago and liked it but it has not really stayed with me. I read Space Invaders by Nona Fernandez again a couple of years ago, but have not read anything else by her. I will look into The Twilight Zone.😊

Thank you for another wonderful video. I own Twilight Zone and Ti Amo so I've now put them on my TBR list for this month. I'm going to track down Ru as well.

When you talked about my video and said “He’s such a sweet young man,”I was delighted. Then I realized you were referring to Elvin, not me. 😂😂😂 This was a delightful conversation. You’ve brought the book back so vividly! Glad you both enjoyed it, and you’ve got me curious to try the audiobook for my second go-around! 🎉🎉❤❤

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on The Rachel Incident. And I finally replied to you on Discord. Somehow I didn't get a notification. 🙄

I’m adding The Second Mrs. Tanqueray for this prompt! I’m a huge theater buff but Victorian drama is a huge blind spot.

In the middle of a re-read of Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard (an Australian author). This time I'm listening to it as an advanced listener copy was sent to me. Its a wonderful book about two sisters who move to England and the different paths they take. The language is entrancing. I highly recommend it in either form though I don't think the audio is to be released till later this month. Hazzard is known for her short stories which are so excellent and this novel is definitely one to read again and again. Next in the pile is Soldier, Sailor by Kilroy and So Late in the Day by Keegan for shorty Sept. The Stone Angel sounded so good--thanks for the alert.

I really liked this year’s prompts, especialy your special prompts ❤ It looks like I will read two books (one being the group read), two short stories for the special prompts and one Oscar Wilde play 🎉🎉

Reading the two translations of The Odyssey side by side must have been so fascinating Ros, to see how different the same words can be interpreted. I’m still working my way through The Magic Mountain, I think I hit a roadblock every time Settembrini and Naphta get into it 😬. August is a busy month for me but I did manage to read a few WIT books, Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Scweblin, which was really good, Tenderloin by Joy Sorman which was less so although I really like her writing and Ramza by Out El Kouloub which was fascinating in its subject at least.

I do love a good POP! I’ve only read Ethan Frome of your pile Ros but can highly recommend. Look forward to your thoughts on A Little Luck as I’ve seen lots of people haul it but don’t think I’ve heard any thoughts on it yet and I loved Elena Knows. I’ll be reading my Shakespeare quota for Shaketember, no new reads although I think Shakespeare can be read again and again and still feel new, I’d actually forgotten I’d already Cymbeline so case in point 😉.

Hi I noticed your KZbin channel and I'm really impressed with the content you're creating - it's engaging and insightful!

You make such an interesting point about female Victorian playwrights, and one I hadn’t considered before. Many moons ago I did a theatre studies and writing degree and we did a module on 19th century playwrights so looked at the likes of Oscar Wilde and Henrik Ibsen, but I don’t recall one single female playwright of any nationality that we studied. Quite sad isn’t it. I am looking forward to delving into your challenge though- I love reading a play in conjunction with some of the hefty novels to break things up a bit xx

so exciting! also perfect as i have a book of plays by George Bernard Shaw that still fall in the victorian era parameters

Hooray for Victober! Might the lack of female Victorian playwrights have to do with the novel becoming seen as more 'respectable', whereas the theater still had more...sleazy connotations? In addition, writing novels could be done at home, in keeping with the Angel in the Home ideal, whereas writing plays and helping them come to fruition in a theater was outside work?

SO many books and so little time! Best wishes.

The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Sing has come up twice today as I visit channels. Okay, okay, adding it to my list!

Hooray for no disappointments! I really enjoyed Eve as well. I’m glad you described it as hybrid nonfiction because that gives me a new way of looking at why certain books appeal to me. I read Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey when it came out and loved it, but until now haven’t felt inclined to pick up the Iliad-all those men in battle, you know? (I’ve read various adaptations, including Eric Shanower’s multi volume Age of Bronze graphic novels.) But I did enjoy Alice Oswald’s excavation of the Iliad, Memorial. And now, hearing you talk about your enjoyment in reading two different translations of the Iliad, my attitude has shifted to being open to it. So, thank you! When I was reading A Tale of Genji, I compared different translations as I went along and appreciated the richness of that experience.

I just found out about Victober 2 days ago 😅so glad I came across the intro videos. I had planned anyway to reread Sherlock Holmes and Dracula but so excited to hear so many additional suggestions for books. I'm looking into reading a play and at some of Katie's suggestions. I think "modern" people forget or are just ignorant of the fact that religion was an integral part of the human experience and life since we began being humans. It's an extremely recent thing to see a society largely disinterested, estranged from religion and it's largely a Western phenomenon too. Africa and Asia outside China w their communist experiment are very different in that aspect.

The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh sounds wonderful. I hope you'll do a proper review! I'm definitely putting it on my TBR.

Hi Ros, Thank you so much for participating in my first reading event phenomenal woman honoring Maya Angelou. I have heard about Clarice Lispector lately and Im eager to see if she will be a phenomenal woman author for me. Aloha Friend

I have had the best reading month in august 🎉🎉

Oh wow, time to get all my William Morris off the shelves - I'm in!

What a fabulous & disparate collection of books, most engaging, thanks for such bookish fun. The Moser bio on Lispector is incredible & Lispector, though a recent discovery for me, is astounding, I just love where she takes stream-of-consciousness. And I am addicted to both the Fagels & Wilson verse-translations of Homer - such warring bliss.

Oh I want to read The Fell too! I've only read Passing, but I'd love to read Quicksand too!

Both Eve and Mrs. Orwell sound fascinating. Really thoughtful video, Ros.

Just realized as you were speaking, “A Month in the Country” by J.L.Carr could be read for shorty September and Framed. It’s short and the main character works on restoring a mural in a country church. Also, “Summer” by Edith Wharton is another short novel. It’s almost a companion piece to “Ethan Frome”. It’s set in a small rural town among the working class. It has shades of Hardy’s “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”.

Hey, Ros! Excited to be back for my 2nd year of Victober. 🤗 Thinking about the group read if I can get a copy through the library. I'd like to also read Armadale and The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Thanks for all your great help & support and advice w The Faulkner Thang low these past years 🤠 I did Marilyn's "The Phenomenal Women" tag, and now we're buddy reading _Near to the Wild Heart,_ sometime soon! Women who fall in love w gangsters/Bad boys 🤔 Good one, Roz🎉

Great to see you are enjoying The Tale of Genji! I absolutely agree with you that reading different translations allows us to contemplate works from various perspectives

I will evangalise about the Eighth Life by Nino Haratchiwili until the day I die. It's a massive book but earns it length

Really like the sound of the Eve book. Have heard of the book about Mrs Orwell - bit worried to read it when I've loved Orwell so much! Yes there does seem to be a movement towards more personal non-fiction and that perhaps contributes to rising non-fiction popularity? Instead of textbooks or long essays, we get something a bit more engaging and likely to either persuade or align with our existing views.

How did you know that I recently picked up cheap (at a library sale) a boxed set of the BBC Video Classics of Shaw from the 1970s-1980s! It's got Arms and the Man with Helena Bonham Carter, The Man of Destiny with Simon Callow, Mrs Warren's Profession with Penelope Wilton, You Never Can Tell with Robert Powell, The Devil's Disciple with Patrick Stewart....and these post Victorian plays: Pygmalion with Lynn Redgrave, The Millionairess with Maggie Smith and The Apple Cart with Helen Mirren. I am all set.

Thank you for posting this video. What exactly distinguishes a "casual" Victorian reader from a "hardcore" reader?

I’ll just be peripheral this year, I’m thinking (just since given the nudge by this and Katie’s videos) either _Woman in White_ on my bucket list for a long time and also because I sincerely want to honor Jennifer, or _Daniel Deronda_ as my fourth Eliot book and the one I most hanker for. I don’t think I will have time for both. 😢

So happy to see the announcements Ros, especially when it’s 36 degrees and we can only dream of Autumn 😉 lovely to see Jennifer and Alice remembered too. I think I’ve read one Victorian play and that’s The Importance of Being Earnest but I’m reading Charley’s Aunt with Kate’s group so happy to hear you enjoyed it. As for female playwrights I remember Katie read Afternoon by Ouida last year and enjoyed it, I also found Marjorie Daw by Mary Elizabeth Braddon and Alan’s Wife by Florence Bell published in 1883 and all three are available on Internet Archive which anyone with a screen can access for free. Not sure what I’ll get to, but the length of plays definitely makes them easier to slot into a no doubt bloated and unrealistic TBR! 😉

Hooray for another Victober!! 🥰

I actually didn't plan to participate this year, but your excitement is infectious! 😂 So I plan to pick up The Awakening and Other Stories by Kate Chopin although I'm fully aware that this choice is a cheat. 😉 But this book is sitting on my shelves for ages and at least it was written in English and published in the right period of time. 😏 And a re-read of some Sherlock Holmes is always an option too! 🕵🏻‍♂️

Yay! I love Victober! I have several books in mind (including Wilkie Collins) and I'm going to see if I can find a play to watch. Now to look for The Doctor's Wife! Update: I paused the video to order the book, lol.

What a lovely surprise to end August with! I think I'll watch The Pirates of Penzance. I've never seen it, but I got a kick out of The Pirate Movie back in the '80s.

Well, this sounds like a great deal of fun. I'm ordering The Doctor's Wife right now.

Thank you for suggesting plays for Victober, as an actor and playwright I have been mad for theater since I was a tiny little girl. I have read or seen most of your suggestions but reading or watching a play fits into my schedule for October. I think women were discouraged from theater because of religious reasons, it was not thought as respectable and that was what it was all about in that time period.

Your challenge is going to bring such lovely variety to our reading! I just remembered that Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a playwright but it looks like her plays are very hard to access 😢

I'd like to find a performance of Our American Cousin, which has a sadly notorious connection to American history...but it was successful at the time!

I’m so looking forward to this. I love Victober 2023 and coincidentally I picked up The Doctor’s Wife a couple of weeks ago 😊