I absolutely loved Intermezzo! You made some really interesting observations! First video I watched of you, but I'm subscribed 😊

If you enjoyed Normal People the show, I would say that you’ll love the book as well! The adaptation is INCREDIBLY well done & faithful to the book 🫶🫶🫶🫶 I liked/loved her other work so much more than this, I think the arc/plot that you were looking for in Intermezzo is delivered in Normal People, the extended time span makes the book much more propulsive

I‘ve been watching your videos for over a year and really enjoy them. Especially this one today, you made me feel a lot calmer and more normal about my towering TBR piles all over my flat. :)

I'm in the haven't read, proooobably won't ever read camp, but like you said I like her as a *person*. She seems so great! But her writing seems like the opposite of my taste. So I'm always watching videos like this to get in on the conversation 😂

Hii! I feel like I've been following your channel for quite a while, even if I'm not the best commenter. I had a look back and I think the first video of yours I watched was a july 2023 wrap up

I finished the audiobook this morning and came straight here haha

I've loved every Sally Rooney book and I just finished Intermezzo last week. With most books, even the ones I am thoroughly enjoying, I try and get through them with some pace because in the back of my mind I am aware of the million other books that I can't wait to read. But with Sally Rooney I savour them and don't want them to end. Intermezzo took me a month to read for this reason. Plus I feel like re-reading all of them and I am not a re-reader at all! I love how her characters are so flawed and nuanced but she writes them with no judgement and in a neutral way. Like "here's these people and their messy relationships, do with that what you will". So I don't even dislike the characters but instead just enjoy the ride of being a fly on the wall. And lol, as I typed that, you just said a similar thing in your video. Anyway, I do understand why people would not enjoy her books and the people who do love them I imagine are the same people (like me!) who love the film Before Sunrise. Spending hours inside other peoples heads and hearts and listening to their conversations isn't for everyone but I love it :D I'd be interested to see how you feel about one of her other books where the main characters are women but then the books do all follow the same style of not loads of plot and back story or world building and whatnot but rather an emotional journey. You said that you have Conversations with Friends on your shelf and I think it's possibly that one you would enjoy more - it's a little more plotty than the others I would say and there's quite a bit of debate and generally expressing opinions and beliefs throughout which, although not exactly essays, might be something you appreciate (warning, if you're not feeling Sally Rooney, it may also just be irritating!).

It's my first Sally Rooney book. I'm at 50%... and I like it but I'm bored... Does that make sense... probably not 😬 but maybe yes...

I love the book Normal People, and like the show. I started and put down Conversations With Friends went back to it a year later and finished it thinking it was ok. I gave up on the show. I only got through the first few pages of Beautiful World, but will go back at some point. I haven't tried the newest one yet.

been watching under a year.

i've gotta say that i while i loved the kite runner i was stunned by a thousand spendid suns..so glad the kite runner led me into it and paved the way. i think you might like it. also loved the old curiosity shop but then i've read and loved all of dicken's novels a couple of times and my least favorite is tale of two cities..

I believe A Thousand Splendid Suns is even better than The Kite Runner, maybe because the story is written through the eyes of two Afghani women in very different situations and the oppression and brutality they were forced to endure in a culture of mysogeny and religious fanaticism. Although I read this book when it was first published, there are still scenes that haunt me to this day. I really think you would be blown away by the reading experience and might want to move it up on your TBR list! Thanks for your thoughtful and fun videos!

i have 85 books on my tbr at the moment - i attempt to keep it under 100 books but it's forever challenging and i have very regular clear-outs 😭 this definitely makes me wanna see how much i've read of my existing tbr over the past year or so... i'm guessing it is similar numbers to yours!

I think its pronounced Eeevelyn War

I read The Secret History in my 30s and its still 👌

Sorrow and Bliss is in maybe my top 5 of this year (there's not been too much competition but still...). I can't even tell you exactly why I liked it so but I wholly recommend it!

As a person who also loved Girls Can Kiss Now and has been on a quest to find a collection that comes at least a tiny bit close to how good that was I think you'd love Against Memoir by Michelle Tea. I feel like she has a very similar sense of humor to Gutowitz but with less of the milennialisms (lol). Each essay in this collection is about some moment in queer history, Tea came of age at the cusp of the 80s and 90s, moved to San Francisco at that time, and the shit she saw makes for essays that you just eat up. Her way of blending memoir with cultural analysis is excellent. Sharp, witty, immersive, funny, literally cannot praise her writing enough. "The 2000s Made Me Gay" by Grace Perry was also a good time, although it's less memoiry and more media analysis (but fun!). I loved "Everything I Need I Get from You" by Kaitlyn Tiffany, even though I was never a 1D fan, I find them fascinating as a cultural phenomenon and I loved the way the author used her own personal story of being in 1D fandom as a starting point of exploring what fandom is to women, what it used to be and what it is now, just amazing stuff. "This Will Be Funny Later" by Jenny Pentland, the daughter of Roseanne (the sitcom one) is not an essay collection but it's a memoir very firmly set in the world of 90s America with its specific cultural climate, Jenny's life was divided between Hollywood filming sets and institutions for "troubled youth" and the story of her life was a real page turner I'll recommend this book to everyone lol. Two more "brainy" collections I also recommend were "Dancing on My Own" by Simon Wu, a queer Whitney museum curator and "Letters to My Weird Sisters: On Autism and Feminism" by Joanne Limburg who examines whether it's okay to look at historical figures in terms of whether they might have possibly been autistic, and just in general explores the concept of normalcy and what it meant to be different as a woman in the span of the past 200 years or so. Gosh that's more than I thought I'd recall jshdgdh honestly if I had to pick just one of these it would be Michelle's book. But I hope any of these will be of interest to you! I stand by them all.

Couldn't you use Libby for your libraries? Because that app allows to add all the library cards at once and you have access to all the borrowed books at the same time. I liked Cusk's nonfiction book about Motherhood, but couldn't get the hype about Outline, so I've no interest in continuing with the series. Happy to see you liked Places I've Taken My Body. I didn't go on with this Nick Cave book, I think it was too religious for my taste and also the interview format doesn't really work for me in books, I prefer to listen to a talk or watching a documentary instead.

I have cerebral palsy and I can confirm my sense of direction, as well as my distance and depth perception are shocking! I often go the wrong way then just have to turn around as nonchalantly as possible when I realise, and I still don't know my way around my home estate after nearly 30 years as it's so twisty-turny! Hotel corridors are also a nightmare- I have to look both ways to know where I'm going every time! 😅

OMG there are so many great essay collections I could recommend. So I just throw in some of the author's names and you can look up what you're most interested in. Rebecca Solnit, Alicia Elliot, Mary Ruefle, Deborah Levy, Lucy Ellmann, Virginie Despentes, Melissa Febos, Alice Wong, Emer O'Toole, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Molly McCully Brown, Audre Lorde

"I was very optimistic about the sort of person I would be"... this is what causes 99% of my problems in life 😂😂

For some reason I enjoy hearing about non-fiction titles more than reading the books. Great video, thanks.

I enjoyed watching this:)))

I read hotel du lac a number of years ago and I hated it, so disappointed. I'd had to critically evaluate the first chapter in eng lit a level and was intrigued enough to want to try it, which I did many years later...nope ..did NOT like, would not recommend to anyone (ok clearly some people probably like it but not me.) I thought pat barker was Redcar not Durham...likely me who has got that wrong though, but her book union street is based on the street, same name, in Middlesbrough, it's literally round the corner from where my mum was born. I think that there's a film extremely loosely based on it (so moved to America with Robert de niro in it I think ....frankie and Johnnie? Maybe) if I'm wittering nonsense and completely misremembering, apologies, surviving on little sleep and using booktube to unwind.

Unvarnished Hannah is wonderful!

This is the first video of yours I have watched, and I loved your expressiveness. I've just binge watched Seasons 2 and 3 of Heartstopper, overcoming my chronic fear of 3rd seasons. I agree with you about the pacing of 3 being a bit off. I felt there was too much telling and overt teaching, not enough showing. And not having read the books, I need to ask, how old is Michael supposed to be? He looked well into his twenties, which made me quite worried for Tori.

Please get hold of Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer. I’d love to hear your views on it. Light hearted adult fiction with a strong emotional twist!

thank you for being the one to say that about Elle's art....

Loving this tbr auditing you're doing. I wish I had the time and drive to do something about mine. So many of these ones you are listening to I have as physical or ebooks and has reminded me I have them and should read them. For grown up, yes lots of people initially but it's the end at the start and then you go back and get introduced to them all so not as massive a person dump (if I'm remembering correctly, but then I read it physically, good thing about this one, I would imagine it easier to find it in second hand charity shop than some of the others)

Every time one of this series comes out I'm confronted by the fact that I haven't done anything about my own out-of-hand list since your last video prompted me to at least start on the last step.....HOWEVER we've just moved house last weekend and I have a lot of unpacking to do this weekend so maybe this is some perfect timing to do some audiobook sample listening on my library ones because I'm similarly fussy with narrators 🙈

So cute. So beautiful

I've only read There, There so far, but I think if I would pick up Wandering Stars, read the first part, then re-read There, There and the part two of Wandering Stars. But I agree, I think a book on a prize list should stand on its own feet completely.

I just read and reviewed The Mercies and found your video looking up other reviews about it. I loved this book. So many great themes and things to think through. I had no idea the author wrote children's stories! I'll have to look up more by her.

Just letting you know the word gypped is based in the g slur for the Romani people! (I usually assume ppl just don’t know these things so no ill intention on my end at all! 🩷)

Tysm for considering the spoiler aspect of The Sakekeep , as I’m currently reading it 📚🪱💚

For a cold, rest, but to prevent it going on my chest I have extra pillows and half sleep on my side and front hugging a pillow or ideally a microwavable soft toy to sweat it out and keep it away from going into my chest. Slump, I just accept it and don't force it and then eventually I've picked up a book that holds my interest, or a book needs to be back at the library and that gives me the motivation to push through. Hope you're feeling better.

Referring to not passing the bechdel test as a 90s trope as if they did it on purpose 😂 because it truly felt like it was a conscious choice watching back 😅🙃

have a wonderful time in japan.

New hair! ❤❤

I’ve got no cure for the cold unfortunately but my go to remedy for a slump is re-reading my favorites (specifically my shorter or faster paced favorites). Hope you feel better soon!

Looking forward to seeing your Japan adventures

Finally someone doing it at the right time 😭😭

I wouldn’t say Priory of the Orange Tree is particularly autumnal, but the queer rep is great and it’s a fun fantasy stand-alone. The ending is a little rushed, but other than that it’s good fun. I’d love recs on booker backlist titles!

And now for books 1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish? I am always carrying books I didn't finish in my currently.reading, my storygraph is a mess from it and I've accepted it as a way of life now 🤦 but probably 2 for this year, the mirror and the light, as I read wolf hall and bringing up the bodies this year and war and peace, started with the crawlalong but I could do two slow books at the same time and wolf hall won out as i couldn't read it quickly, so i doubt I'll manage war and peace for the end of the year but I want to try and pick it back up beginning of next year. 2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year? Nope Might try for a Victorian in victober as that feels wintery (blame dickens!) but nothing autumnal 3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for? Nope I haven't pre-ordered or anticipated new released to buy an dread immediately since the last discworld book I don't think. 4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year? Other than the two start and not finished above, either assassins apprentice or wheel of time. In the mood for epic long series fantasy and betwixtmas is that for me as before I could afford to preorder and buy the new discworld myself I would get it for Christmas and read it from opening until early hours boxing day every time. And I've been wanting to read the centre for months, but not got to it yet, same with enter ghost. 5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year? Yes because I've not read so many books I loved.or will be favourites, only liked and bests so hopefully for some more loves. 6. Have you already started making reading plans for next year? Other than war and peace, not really...well other than deciding myself that I'll stop buying more books than I read and will stop getting library books to read instead of reading the books I have bought 🤦 and if I do that then that will impact what I'm reading. I have a vague idea of maybe trying to read the women's prize winners eventually, maybe even short list and selective long lists, but that means sticking to a plan, that not me.

Ok so it's been ages since I went to Japan, like 2015.i think, but we did all three of those places. it's amazing, massive culture shock since I can't read kataka or kanji, only romanji. We did Tokyo, stayed in Kyoto one night then Osaka as a base as had the train pass (worth it, bullet train is amazing). Kyoto was wonderful and has tonnes to see. We were lucky as we happened to be there when the main castle/shine place was having a light festival on the night for the cherry blossom season. Best bits of the trip, studio Ghibli museum, would love to visit the new theme park. Nara and miyajima are great but watch out for the deer, will eat anything in your pockets when your not watching (a friend nearly got his passport stolen by one at Nara). Mount inari too gate was fun, we walked to the top too (in pouring rain). Getting to try okonominyaki in a proper non tourist place was great, ramen same. Hiroshima.was impactful, important but also brutal. As we went in cherry blossom season there was just lots was walking around and enjoying seeing Japan, particularly in Tokyo, like shibuya crossing, and the parks and the temples, emperors castle. If you sew and craft then the shops around big tomato in the fabric district nippori. In osaka, don ton bori or food on an evening was vibrant and fun and we also went to Osaka castle and the park around it. Depends on the type of holiday you do, we do walking around, parks, castles, museums, temples and shrines trying out food as we wanted around and crash on the night, so didn't really do any proper night life

Oh I totally relate to the "bed reading", if you have the possibility I'd recommend getting an ebook reader with a backlight display, it's perfect for that. I have an old Pocketbook and I've been using it for years, especially in the evenings or at night.

Hi! I just found your channel and immediately loved the vibes. That's a great idea for a video, would love to see more of those! Also some of the books went straight to my tbr :) Btw the doggo always should get the best place on the couch, so I totally understand. What's their name?

Commenting before I watch the rest of the video and forget this. I used to get frustrated with everand for temporarily making books unavailable that I wanted to read but I found a way round it! Im not sure if this is the same for ebooks but for audiobooks you can download them and then you always have access to them. So I always have my top 10 books I want to listen to downloaded so they cant be blocked. It does mean you need to have an idea of what you want to read next though.

I adored Hex...the first time i read it, it tore my heart out and i picked it up and read it again straightaway 😂 but i entirely get why people wouldn't like it!

Hannah it's me. Can I have some advice on making my own channel please? 🙏