So happy to hear you’ve finished Elodie Harper’s trilogy! I haven’t heard anyone talk about it but I love it and I wish it was more popular. I have never read anything that takes place in Pompei and I found the slavery/prostitution aspect fascinating as I didn’t know much about it. I am reading book 3 soon!

Was Laura made into a Hollywood film starring Gne Tierney?

I love your channel Louise, you’re a voice of calm in this mad world. Have added The Victorian Chaise-Longue to my list, sounds interesting.

Han Kang’s book sounds intriguing. Reminds me of Vassili Alexakis Foreign Words, after his father’s death he finds he cannot say ‘my father is dead’ so he decides to learn a foreign language in order to say it first in a strange language. It’s quite beautiful, I think you’d like it. Thank you for another great video. I’m eagerly anticipating the Booker videos! Can’t wait to hear what you think of Held and Orbital. I was sad My Friends didn’t make it!

Yay you are such an antidote to all the madness in the world Thank you This made my day and lots of new titles to hunt for including a William Trevor I too have never read. I love Trevor’s writing. Stay well

Thanks for another fun review. I always discover new titles I've never heard about. The last month has been a slow reading month, but there are two notable finishes amongst the books I read: Annie Bot from Sierra Greer, a thought-provoking look at the place AI is slowly taking into our lives, and Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend from M.J. Wassmer, on the funnier side.

Oh no, more purchases! Getting my love of reading back after having two little ones and zero time. Your reviews are so brilliant. Thank you 😊

It always makes my day when you upload a post, Louise. A real tonic after endless Middle East and US presidential election podcasts

I loved the books of William Trevor, one of the first authors I used my own earned money to buy in 1966, The Old Boys. I had a summer job and I have read several others by him but not Felicia's Journey. I did read that creepy book, The Collector by John Folwes and I think they made an old sixties film. I read Laura and love the old movie.

I have bought Nineveh based on your recommendation Louise. Thanks.

I’m pleased you like Mark Twain’s works. I would like recommend some of his “not so widely read”. Letters from the Earth, etc. for example. In grad school I did a mini-study of Mark Twain’s works. If you can find a copy of Mark Twain tonight with Hal Holbrook as M.T. Please give it a watch. Looking forward to reading James - so far it isn’t challenged or banned like Huckleberry Finn. I enjoy reading the first line or first chapter when choosing or ordering books on my pile of possibilities. I do find interesting reads doing this in a used books shop. Do enjoy this reading project. If you have time eventually Mark Twains “back list”. Always enjoy you and Simon together. More please.

Something about the camera angle made me think you had an absolutely enormous copy of James 😂 definitely plan to read Orbital and Creation Lake.

Ignore Simon’s comment read James first!!!! I wasn’t really interested in held until you read the first sentence now I’m intrigued… I thought the Safekeep was a great book for a debut.

The shortlist is very appealing this year. I want to read them all.

I'm so excited to hear you and Simon discuss each of these books. I've read James, Held, The Safekeep, and Creation Lake. Still awaiting Oribital and Stone Yard Devotional from my local library, but should be able to read them before the Booker award ceremony. I LOVED the opening line from James too! I still chuckle about it because I'd call those boys little bastards too (and being American, Huckleberry Fin and Tom Sawyer are part of my childhood). Happy Reading!

Wonderfully done, Louise. So happy you and Simon are reading the shortlist. I’ve read four of these and they did not disappoint. Such beautiful writing in this group thus far. Nice to see some appreciation and understanding of Held just based on the first sentence. Stone Yard Devotional and Creation Lake are on my TBR list. Thanks for doing this!❤❤❤

I’ve enjoyed The Safekeep and James. The beginning of Safekeep is a bit rough, but please hang in there for the unfolding of the whole story. 📚🍂🍃

This year I managed to read the long list and this shortlist is brilliant. The shortlist is magnificent. I want to read James and Orbital once more before they announce the winner. Happy reading Louise x

Love this first line approach! It's something I always do with contenders in bookstores. I so enjoy your videos, Louise ❤

I feel like you're teaching me when you can draw so much out of those first lines! Looking forward to all your reviews.

It’s a very solid shortlist. I understand how you came up with the order that you did, but I am taking a guess that you won’t finish the books with that order of preference! Can’t wait to see watch you and Simon make your way through the six books!

Love your glasses!

Hi Louise I have read Orbital and have reserved Held, Safe keep and Stoneyard Devotional at the library but big queues for them. Having read Rachel Kushner I am not keen on that one. I do think James will probably win but will wait until it comes out in paperback.

Loved this ❤

I wasn’t all that interested in the Anne Michaels book until you read the opening sentence. Now I have to read it along with Stoneyard Devotional.

I've read all but Creation Lake. My favourites are James and Stone Yard Devotional. My least favourite is Held. Looking forward to hearing you and Simon discuss them all.

I have James and Stone Yard Devotional on the Want to read list, I'll wait for both your reviews before deciding on the others, I did like Trees and loved Amnesty and The Rain Heron, which were both Australia books recommended in the past. Looking forward to the vdeos.❤

It’s as good a way to choose an order as any🤣 I’ve read Held, Orbital and Stone Yard Devotional, I’m a bit nervous to read James in case it doesn’t live up to all the hype, am looking forward to what you think!

I have high hopes for this shortlist and, amazingly, my library has all available. My book club had chosen "James" for later in our year so that will have to wait a bit. Thank you for your reactions and thoughts on the first lines; as always, you have given us a lot to ponder. Hope you enjoy reading them!

📚❤️

Re your comments on “after death there is nothing - and what does that mean”, I have just started reading Percival Everet’s Dr. NO, which is about a college professor whose research is about nothing - I fully anticipate having my brain stretched by that book. Everett is such a clever writer. And - like you - my first introduction to him was THE TREES, still my favourite book of 2023.

I’m sooooo pleased you did this. Super duper interesting. Though you’re not allowed to read James first. Coughs. There’s a schedule to stick to 😉

Of the shortlist , I’ve only read James & Orbital, and while I love both, I feel the former is likely to be a future American classic and remembered decades from now & wouldn’t be surprised if it won, but I personally prefer Orbital and its GLOBAL citizen’s vibe & continue to think about its message & meaning weeks after reading, I’m super hype to read Stoneyard Devotional & The Safekeep - they’re in route in the mail . Had little interest in reading Held … UNTIL you read that 🔥 first line . Blahdiggityblah, excited to see how you 2 feel about all of these! 📕🪱💚

Reading the first line is such a good idea. I always read the first paragraph to see if I will like the book but you do it so well

I suggest NOT listening to Creation Lake on audio. I think I would have liked it better if I had read it in print. I can't wait to see what you think about them all. Happy Reading!

I love that all of them got you excited about reading them, Louise. Even though Stone Yard Devotional might be the sixth choice (one had to be), you still have great experiences with her writing in the past, so I’m not worried at all ☺️🥰 Enjoy! I’m really looking forward to the parallel reads and general Booker musings.

Yasssss , love these book prize videos from you and Simon ( separately and together!) 📕🪱💚

Great choice! ❤

Look up the North American cover for “The Safekeep.” It’s gorgeous.

Saw Simon on Sky Arts book club xx

Louise at about 23:46 Simon mentioned there was another book besides house of sand and fog that you would not read again but I could make it out. What was it please?

Thanks for the recommendation, shall be buying this one soon.

Thanks for this Louise! Just added this to my ever-growing TBR!

I really love this series that you do

Henrietta Rose-Innes is a distant cousin of mine (my mom was a Rose-Innes) and I have her first two books. I haven't read this Nineveh yet.

I am delighted as a South African hat you chose Henrietta Rose Innes There are so many wonderful South African writers. I loved The Rock Alphabet and Homing by Henrietta Rose Innes. Do read them too Come to Cape Town please

Loved The Black Dress, plot twists galore, thank you so much for the recommendation.❤ Nineveh sounds interesting and agree character name does sound Dickensian.

Great recommendation. In my local church yard there is a grave for Hetty Bobbins, I always think it would be a great name for a book character. I have embarked on the Louise Penny Three Pines series and enjoying the first book (lots more to go!) 📚

Thanks for the recommendation, I'm looking forward to reading this book! I have been wanting to read more South African literature, but not been sure where to start.

As a South African I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t read anything by her yet ( she has written a number of other books} - so off to the library to remedy it this week. Thanks Louise, for alerting me to this book.