I mostly use the library, so I only own about 300 physical books. I don't like my Kindle nearly as much as I like physical books, but they do come in handy enough that I'm glad I have one.

Such a fun review as always!

Damn girl you are absolutely right the east coast is too hot, and your boy does not like it hot. That being said, as a bald man, I would love to have a hand knitted hat for fall/winter. Judging by your beautiful sweater, I'm sure you would make an equally beautiful hat. Also, I am exactly the same about curating my stuff, with the marked exception of my books, I collect and keep all my books because it's a dream of mine to eventually own a huge home library. Everything else though, if I forgot I had you for more than a few weeks, bye!👋

Girl!! you made those sweaters?! OMG! amazing! I have about 20 books sitting on my bottom shelf that I'm going to try a chapter of and then get rid of them if I don't like them! I haven't been buying as many book as before. If I do its either from an author I read before or a book I read from the library that I gave 4 or 5 stars.

I starting reading this novel this summer and my first mistake was doing so in public, the contents made me feel extremely uncomfortable at first (granted) to the point where I kept putting the book down for a breather since I genuinely couldn’t believe Humperts perverted audacious nature. It’s definitely not for the faint hearted, but one can’t deny Nobokov’s addictive writing style. It’s so great yet so sad. Truly the definition of bittersweet.

i read normal people and felt the same way about her writing i hated it so much

I am trying not to buy books until I read the piles that I already own. Sometimes I buy books and they sit for a long time and then I wonder why I bought it because now I have no interest in reading it. Plus I want to use the library more because it’s free 😊

Hi fellow New Englander)l’m doing the same…figuring out which books are Kindle worthy. I only read on my Kindle for travel-otherwise I prefer physical. If I believe if I won’t read a book again-then I’ll donate! I love purging-especially during the summer😂

Oshaqhennessy get me everytime. I had to call someone for work and they had this last name, and it took everything in me not to say Oshaqhennessy. 😂😂😂

The Iliad and the odyssey copies look wonderful. Older Gen X loves older books. Great head on your shoulders in regards to money. A 75 thousand dollar car wrecks just as well as a 30 thousand dollar one. Not to mention the insurance for it.

That brown jumper @7:45 looks so good on you I love the vibesss

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I keep very few books now. My father had surgery a few years ago. His hospital roommate had no visitors, no smart phone, and was just sitting there alone reading the oldest, most decrepit book I’ve ever seen because it was all that was available for him to read. I gave him the book that I was reading at the time (Brooklyn), and have donated almost every book I’ve finished reading to our local hospital ever since. I understand everyone has their thing, and if collecting books is their thing that’s wonderful! But reading is my thing, clutter isn’t, and if I’m not going to read it again, there is no point in letting a book collect dust on my shelf when there are people down on their luck who could be enjoying it

We *agree* on a book! I really liked Jane Eyre, though I haven't re-read it. I have promised myself I'd read the Ali Smith Quartet this year, though... You're an extremely disciplined individual: I'd consider I was doing well if I only bought five books in a month (used to be a week, mind, so I'm getting better).

Laughed so hard at the Key & Peele joke.🤣

I totally get it. I’ve been unhauling books, yarn and clothes too, ‘streamlining’ what we have in the last 2 years. I reduced my collection by a third.

Loved this 👌💕 & girl i never would have had you down for a 'revhead' 😆🛻👍 I so agree with your wrap up i had a 100% bonafide shopping/ books (no sh*it) addiction for 4 yrs (stressful time). For the first time i also feel like i have everything i need. I have both read & purchased faaaar less books in 2024 as life has just taken on a different flavour/ priorities & interests. Im hoping/ trusting ill get back into reading more at some point.. life cycles y'know 🤷‍♀ Your knitting is fabulous btw 💖😊

What an inspiration. It hurts to donate and part ways with my books. Not because I like them per se but because they were once money. But need to let go for sure. I outgrew some and some are trashhhh

The humidity is unbearable and revolting!

I purchased the Alison weir first book in Tudor series after watching your book shelf tour. I haven’t read it yet. Was hoping to see your review. 😬 WhatvictoriaRead has a great video on the entire series.

Have you ever read any Ann Radcliffe books? She is the first female who wrote gothic literature

I agree with most of these, except I dunno, maybe Duolingo will add ancient Greek one day!!! 😒

Do NOT get rid of the Loebs! :P If you learn the Greek alphabet you can glance back and forth across the page at what you're reading and pick out many of the words. Also, you're getting a different translation than the Penguin, which is in and of itself well worth it. And, of course, they're just the coolest books to have, appearance-wise. Compact and sturdy too. Keep them, send them to your dad, send The Odyssey to me (I already have The Iliad).

Between the pollen and the heat this summer is absolutely killing me! 🥵 You've reminded me that I really need to do an unhaul by the end of the year. I'm trying to buy less and only buy when I know I'll really like the book.

I just went a book sale and filled up a bag for $3 with several books including “Innocent Traitor” lol😏 Normally I’m a less is more but books are my weakness right now. I do however keep “fluff” and library books to the kindle. I don’t often buy books unless I know they are books that I have serious interest in. Thanks for sharing!

Hold up! What did you do with the books? (If you said, I somehow missed it.) That's my problem here. I've sold to my local bookstores the ones that might sell. The rest, I don't think they'd want. They just give you a pittance for them anyway, which is depressing. Also, if you know what to do with extra mugs, do tell! I also have way too many. I have no idea what to do with them.

We can sit together in the corner on thinking All the Light We Cannot See is overhyped. I'm not even sure if I got through the whole thing.

It does feel nice to clear stuff out. I don't buy much for myself, but our two little kids keep growing 😊.

I have found resisting the urge to buy up tons of books gives me reread freedom! So many books are better on the 2nd or 3rd pass!

GIRL! I thought *I* was the only person not to have read Little Women. 😅 👏👏👏 YES! definitely been buying less... books and clothes.

I love unhaul videos. It shows just as much bookish personality as haul videos. I had to unhaul a bunch of fantasy books because I went a bit crazy! I love fantasy but the truth I didn’t realize is I’m sooooo picky about my fantasy books 😂. So I decided I mostly have to get those from the library before I buy them.

I admire your confidence. You seem like someone that always shows up as yourself, unapologetically. Also, great vid. As always.

I wish I could stop buying books. Or do I? But, tbh, it's one of my favorite joys in life. I do get most 2nd hand these days bc even Amazon prices are too expensive. And I read a ton, so it makes sense to buy as much as I want but at much lower prices. I moved across the country in 2023 and got rid of loads of books. It broke my heart, but had to be done.

Glad to see Ali YEETED

Alana, I hear you on the kindle. I received mine as a gift and It's great for travel, but I prefer paperbacks. I live in a house with over 1200 books, history, economics, religion, philosophy, poetry, Shakespeare, the classics, and tons of fiction. Like you, I re-read books, so when I have the desire to read something again, I want it on my shelf. (or wherever it lands). BTW, after your review of A Clash of Kings I found your review of A Game of Thrones and I'm enjoying it very much, so thank you for that. My goal is the read the whole series. Anyway, well done...Mark.

So... What happened to that fly?

😊

Firstly, don't fight the hand movements Alana! Let them flow! 😂 I always love watching unhauls. I can't say I have your amazing self-restraint when it comes to books because I have been hauling. However, I have been unhauling regularly so at least there's that.

Thx Alana - not really buying less but certainly reading more of what I buy.

Knitting! Yes, Alana! I’m a new knitter. Besides my Booktube channel, I started a new knitting channel,Adventurer Knits, so I can connect with other knitters. I would love to know more about your knitting. I’m practicing some things that could potentially be gifts. 🥰🥰

The book is great, but why is no one mentioning the EXCESSIVE amount of queerness in this book?? Like gurl make it realistic ffs

I just read it, and fully agree with you. 100%!

I’ve just finished reading it a minute ago and couldn’t wait to hear other people’s thoughts. Boy, was I happy to find your video! Thank you for your awesome review, your words echo with my thoughts exactly…5/5.

I feel like I’m the only one who thought this book was a little repetitive or just slow. It wasn’t until the end that I was like okay. Loved the protagonist and message

Just a minute into your video but wanted to thank you for pronouncing the title the way I thought it was pronounced once I started thinking about it. Didn't start thinking about it until around the end of Part 1 and didn't check the internet until the end of Part 2. I was sure it was going to be Q-Teen, but the concensus was One-Q Eighty Four. I think we are right. I just finished it last week and I was consumed by it for about a month, stressed and depressed a little bit over the welfare of Aomame and Tengo. I was kind of relieved when it was over which means it was having an effect on me, the reader. So I think overall it was an excellent piece of fiction.

I teach ballet. And you just gave the best description of what it was like to be on pointe that I have ever heard.

I know martin has been one of the most popular writers in the world for a long time but I've never read him or watched the tv series the reason being I rarely read these kinds of medieval fantasy type novels and I NEVER read anything that has dragons in it⚛

This is such a great fantasy world. I read the series years ago and have given up on ever seeing another book. The TV series was excellent also (except for how it ended).

I just finished reading this book and I totally agree with your suggestion of reading it when you’re at a particular point in your life. I am at a pivotal point with work, future academic studies and my relationships, so seeing how Stoner lived his life despite so many circumstances that could have broken him touches me deeply.

Alana, this is such a good review. I am so impressed. And, irony, irony, a Canadian writer I never heard of before I stumbled on your channel. I hope you're at least journaling all these ideas. I like your thoughts on how abstract people are to us. I catch people not even really listening to what I say; or, they are listening but somehow hearing/interpreting not what I meant. Language is an imperfect took and our neurology has a lot to do with what we hear. I know b/c I am a completely different person in English than I am in Polish. It's weird to admit this and it took me a long time to realize it was why I hated our immigration. I am a vibrant person in Polish; I'm a very subdued person in English. I really like these ideas of identity you're mentioning Cusk writes about. Definitely my cup of tea.