I can so relate to this... also was devastated to hear about Alice 💔 Sorry to hear you had harder year, but I am really happy you came up with the plan 🤗 sending hugs, happy to see you again Jack!

Brilliant video, Jack. What you said about being kind to your present self really resonated with me so thank you☺️

📚🎃

Very sorry to hear you've had such a tough year - taking that time to recalibrate and reassess what's important in your life and how you use the time you have is such a sound approach. Really appreciate your thoughts on that side of things. So much of what you talk about re. reading difficulties resonates for me. My reading has taken a hit recently too, for a variety of reasons - a bout of seasonal depression, time pressures, and the fact I'm now reading so much more for work (I'm retraining as an editor) - all this has really affected my focus and drive to read for pleasure. I'm completely with you on the search for 'bookish excellence' - that's my current policy, and will be for the remainder of the year, and possibly just into the beginning of 2025 when I know the seasonal blues will hit hardest (completely agree about this approach not being sustainable though - I too have had some incredible experiences with books that really took some work to get into, but knocked my socks off by the end). I love BookTube but it has affected how and what I read, and I needed to just step back for a bit and reassess. And acknowledge that it's okay to NOT want to read! So far it's working great - I've had a joyous re-read of my favourite book, and then I randomly picked up another Adrian Tchaikovsky (who I know I can trust for a good time!) and I loved that one too. It's strange (and probably completely predictable), but as soon as I gave myself permission to just read what I want, whenever I want (or not), and to DNF(Y) if I wanted to, my urge to read started to come back! For me, audiobooks have been the way to go - I don't have to focus as much with them, and there's something inherently comforting about having someone tell you a story. So you've started (and are enjoying) PHM - fantastic! I hope it keeps you hooked throughout like it did me 😀 Great video, Jack - am totally here for the existential 'waffle' too, by the way 😉 Here's to a fabulous winter of enthralling reads!

18:04 🎉 hooray for the returning spark ✨️ 💜📚

17:16 - i lo e chatty videos whete people explain their current connection to bokks readibg, what is isn't working..learning about other human experiences that are different but an relate to on some level, or learn from, or just acknowledge we are not the same is what draws me to read in the first place. I want to walk in other peoples shoes 💜📚

12:37 🎉🎉🎉 yes Keedie!!!!! 💜💜💜💜📚🫂

10:33 - 😂😂😂 I get you Jack I do enjoy reading projects and goals and challenging myself and exploring why something doesn't work or hit. It expands my reading life and helps me really know my reading tadtes and styles better as I definitely dabble amid the ages and genres. 💜📚

I made a plan of the books I intended to read at the start of the year. I've finished some of those and only dnf one, because I'm terrible for not dnf books. Once I've started something I'm that personwho has to finish it, even if I'm not loving it. Some of the books I've ended up reading this year have been ones that people were giving away and were threatened with the recycle bin, so I'm glad to have saved those as well as fallen down the Anna Jacobs rabbit-hole. Hahah! I've also joined another book group in my local area, so one or two books have been ones I've read for that. I've so far read 24 books this year, although 2 were ones I started last year. My reading goal was 28 books and that's going a fair amount off my list, but I'm ok with that because the list was a guideline of sorts. Do you go to many author events? I got to meet my favorite crime fiction author, Peter May in September 2024. I was so happy with that.

0:54 🫂🫂🫂🫂💜💔😢🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂💜📚

Great video as always 👍 Big hugs 🫂 and sorry to hear you have had such a tough go lately. Glad you are taking care of yourself and making yourself a priority. You are right it is okay to not read every day and enjoy doing other things 🤓 A number of people seem to be struggling at the moment with reading and concentration , myself included. We all have different strategies that work and nice to hear other people’s ideas and give them a try. Thank you Jack 🥰

I love “bookish excellence”. You hit it. And I love your plans. I’m following your lead! 😊❤

Good you came up with this plan. The most important thing is to do what works for you.

I loved everyone moment of this!

I'm with you on this. I read 6-8 books a month usually, and some are disappointing I admit. I have cancer and have been in hospital this summer, when I came out my concentration was gone. It's back now, but I've changed my view on reading completely, I need to read books I really want read, not ones I pick on a whim or because they're a bargain. I loved Alice, miss her very much, I seemed to always associate her with Saturday mornings, don't know if that was when she uploaded, or just when I made a point of watching her.

Aaah, a winter of bookish excellence. Sounds excellent! 🤩 A big hug 🫂 from me to you, Jack! I have been mood reading a lot this year (my season of sorrow) which has always been my reading nature. I love your plan, and I loved hearing your thoughts. I appreciate you sharing. 😊 Happy Reading for Fun! 📚 🎉

So much of this resonated with me Jack! I set myself some bookish goals at the start of the year, which have in turn become "assigned reading" and they've completely sapped the joy out of reading for me this year. I've had 12 books I truly loved out of 50 and that such a waste of time!! Thank you for this wonderful video and I wish you all the best bookish excellence this winter ♥️

Interesting, I find AI narration on KZbin videos, I find the pronunciation of some words strange, particularly with proper nouns.

I haven't read too many books that have blown me over this year and I have been figuring it's a me thing. I like your idea of bookish excellence. Looking forward to seeing what you end up reading. 😊💙

This is a me problem too, and I am so in for a winter of bookish excellence!! For me that will consist of series, big fat fantasy and historical tomes and recs from people whose taste is very similar to me you and Scott being at the top of that list!) Alice would have absolutely loved this matey. 🧡

Good luck with the pleasure project,I hope you find some really great new favourites as well as revisiting tried and trusted old friends.😻

Jack, I love this idea. I’m a mood reader but I still have those books I “should” read on my TBR. Like The Only Plane in the Sky. I have a little bit of PTSD around the events of 9-11. (Won’t go into them). Alice’s death hit me, as a subscriber and commenter hard. So I know it was so impactful and horrible for you, Gemma and Charlie. And others who knew and loved her. So your idea is splendid and I’m only going to read books I’m especially drawn to. Thank you for discussing this in your video.

I’m with you when it comes to DNFing books… Some of my favorite books got much better as stuck with them. That’s why I’m thankful for YY. People that share the same reading taste extend their reviews and fav books, and I find my next read through them. Funny thing is I have Lonesome Dove on my shelf due to a friend’s recommendation but never cracked it open. Thanks to your video, now I’m inspired to pick it up ❤

I’m so glad you will be doing this. You have had a hell of a year and loosing Alice affected us in different ways. Jack you are one of the loveliest people I’ve ever known. Reading should be so much fun and you need to do whatever you can to help your reading mojo xxx 💜💜

I would like to social read more, joining group reads got me reading again

It is ok to put aside a book if you are not enjoying it and come back when you are in the right mood.

Thank you for the kind words and interesting waffle 😂. There are few things that interest me more than learning how and why others read.

I've gone and the complete opposite direction. I just crossed 150 books, 50,000 pages, 3 dnf I almost never dnf, I even finished them when I'm mood reading and the choice I made was very very bad. My main stressor being in the United States is political, which at least the main part will be over soon.

Hope you enjoy your reading the rest of the year. If not for pleasure, then what is the point? Take care and wish you all the best!

So sorry for all your losses, it sounds like a rough year. Completely understandable, the need to change your reading to better fit what you need, it sounds like a very self aware and self care approach to get back to loving reading ❤

I’m sorry you’ve had a hard year😢 I’m glad to hear that you’re making time for your own needs as grief can’t be rushed. Hope your winter book reading brings healing and joy🤗

I think a lot of us put pressure on ourselves to read something, which is a bit mad really. I'd do what you want. Occasionally it's worth going out of your comfort zone. There are books which I've studied which I wouldn't have read otherwise and have enjoyed.

I’m am so completely with you on this. I have many days now when I don’t read and I am much more ok with it. A winter of bookish excellence sounds like a great idea ❄️📚

Emotional health and caring for your soul is important, & I’m so happy that you are taking the time to heal more, find joy again, & breathe freely. I’m excited to see where your nose leads you 😉🥰

I understand about needing to kind of curtail the wishlist a little bit sometimes! I do that as well. I really need to read my copy of Jade City which is waiting for me on my shelf as well. It sounds good and my sister enjoyed it as well. Alison is a nice graphic novel read but it didn't blow my mind. It was still a solid read. I really enjoyed this is how you lose a time war at some point. It was fantastic. And I have the audio of the lantern of lost memories for me to dip into at some point. And Julia sounds like such an interesting take on 1984. Anniebot also sounds like an intriguing concept as well. I've heard Lucy Holland talk about her research and she is so passionate and well versed in the lore she writes about. Garlic and the witch is one I would love to get to at some point! Braiding sweetgrass is very insightful. And the lemon trees grow is one I have been meaning to get to for quite a while and it is waiting for me on my shelf as well. When life gives you mangoes is a very sweet middle grade read. So many books to comment on, forgive my long comment!

No expression, just super fast bla-bla . Uninteresting

I would add something else into the equation. Not only is time limited, but as you get older - so is your energy! Especially during times when you happen to get ill, require surgery or have to face an emotional challenge. We don't like to think about that, either as humans, but I have certainly found it to be true!

Put all the Aaron Becker’s books I could find at my library on hold. Excited to look through his work. Also, there’s nothing like a beautiful field of flowers - brings so much joy!

🧡🧡🧡

When Life Gives You Mangoes is fantastic

💖👵🐶🍁🍄🐸🍜🫖📖📦

Gareth is super lovely I agree❤I got lost stories last week for Bookshop day, can’t wait to read it. Love you Jack, you are completely brilliant 📚🧁🌻😘❤️

📚📚🍂🍂