#224

The end of the year is here and it's time to reveal our favourite books of the year, how many books we read, and a LOT more!!
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[@writerchic676]

If anyone else wants to go back to the episode where they both read their favorite books of the year, it’s episode 195! Merry Christmas 🎄

[@lexiscardinale6186]

Ariel’s laughter brings me joy 😂

[@bfranklin1052]

This has been so fun to listen to! Love how much fun you two have with each other and your lifelong friendship! Love that your read aloud together! Hubs & I have been reading books aloud together since the first Harry Potters. We've roamed through each of our fav genres. It's been so fun.

[@faroenblanco]

Pleaseee share this spreadsheet! I love keeping track but there's a lot to keep track of. Been listening to your podcast last couple years, and you've become my favorite, cozy, hope of inspiration to reading

[@gl0winginthedark]

They shared it a couple years ago, I think it's still on their website somewhere

[@AdventuresInPages]

I found it! If you go to their website (linked in description) and go to the Stuff tab, it's the first thing listed.

[@Michelle15556]

it would be so nice to see the pie charts on the screen as you discuss them! great episode🎉❤

[@circleofleaves2676]

Agreed!

[@theautumnreader327]

I read 22 books this year so far. 14 of them were first time reads. Out of those I had 7 favourites. I didn't reach any of my goals. But I'm still happy to have read so many good books. Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year. Thanks for the pod Ariel & Raeleen. 💜💜

[@isobelandrews6588]

What a shock reveal near the end that Ariel read one more book than she thought! 😂

[@aksez2u]

Spoiler alert! 😆

[@shake_ikura_mentaiko.]

timestamps for rewatching ↓ 9:10 Raeleen's fave books of the year 14:28 Ariel's fave books of the year

[@rivwilson9330]

Discovering the podcast is one of the best parts of my year hands down

[@withlove_nikki]

I read Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac as a teenager! I remember having a "what world have I stepped into" moment because at the time, I was spending a lot of time in my library and reading through Gabrielle Zevin's books, and I was also watching a lot of Japanese dramas. I stumbled across the movie adaptation of the book soon after I read it, and was shocked to see an actress I was watching a lot of dramas for, Horikita Maki, in it, but also my favorite J-pop idol at the time, Tegoshi Yuya, but *also* Emma Roberts??? I remember almost nothing of the viewing experience other than disbelief and confusion lol.

[@isidorag.k.8022]

Perfect christmas watch ❤

[@maryammahmoudigharaie]

Very random, but I love Raeleen's makeup here!! It's giving the marvelous Mrs.Masel (don't know if I spelled it right).

[@michellehoehne]

Absolutely historical that all Ariel’s spreadsheet reports are skewed because she forgot a book! 😂 this is how reading should be. A little bit loosey goosey and all for the joy.

[@swedish_malin]

2023 has already been full of veery popular cozy fantasy titles, like Bookshops & Bonedust (sequel to L&L), The Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, The House Witch by Delemhach, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne, Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, Beware of Chicken by CasualFarmer, Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens, Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen... the list goes on. 😃

[@haley.canter]

I’ve come to realise how important re-reading books are. It’s guaranteed book happiness and just so so fun

[@petalfaery]

If you haven’t seen the film 84 Charing Cross Road, with Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, I would highly recommend it! I rewatch it 2 or 3 times a year. It is such pleasure!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Yes, this is a case of where the book and the film are equally good.

[@Larissa_KD]

Cozy fantasy definitely took off already this year!

[@haley.canter]

Guys this production quality is insane!!!

[@megbern2416]

i read 25 this year and it happened only because i felt really interested in what i was reading, last year i read five books hehe as long as we get to enjoy what we read it doesn't matter if you read five or hundered books

[@bugs1729]

Happy Holidays and thank you for all of the great content. This is my favorite Podcast. Best wishes and many thanks to all involved in the production of Books Unbound!!!

[@Ashmont27]

As a Blues fan, I let out a little "whoop!" for the Brett Hull card 😂

[@TheVinceGamer]

I almost made this episode and the next some mash potato videos as I wanted to watch these episodes with my full attentiveness but I managed to make time and eat these potatoes while they're still hot! Thanks for sharing your reading wrap ups!

[@JasonAlexander-c7i]

True Grit may not be repeatable, but 2 that might get close by stellar authors: (1)Butcher's Crossing by John Williams, & (2)In the Distance by Hernan Diaz

[@alicecingari5799]

This year I'm doing a book bingo with my friends and one of the prompts is to read a book with a cat!😺 I need recommendations🙌😌📚💌

[@meganbookish_adventurer]

Woo so excited for this video 🎉🎉 thanks for another year of the pod!! 🙌

[@underhypedandoverrated]

I am the messenger slaps so hard, one of the most underrated books of all time

[@Nattreads]

I was about to type the same! People are sleeping on it! Such a great story!

[@VanillaEarlGreyinAutumn]

This is the best Christmas present💕

[@melissalincourt7261]

I’m So Freakin’ excited for this!!!! I’ve waited all years to have the wrap up in video form! 🎉

[@knitnkitten]

A year of Canadiana wouldn't be that hard... Margaret Atwood, Tomson Highway, Wayne Johnston, Lee Maracle, Farley Mowat, Gabrielle Roy, Thomas King, Stephen Peacock, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Mordecai Richler, Miriam Toews, Michael Ondaatje, Alice Munro, Malcolm Gladwell, Leonard Cohen, Dionne Brand... And that's just scraping the surface🍁

[@swedish_malin]

I don't think finding enough Canadian authors is the problem, it's to not read books from other countries - the ones that really call to you. 😊 Maybe 90% Canadian could be an alternative. And that's one great list!

[@MatiRL]

Ariel have you read the book about George Orwell's wife? It's called wifedom

[@isobelandrews6588]

i'm also begging for Ariel to read this one

[@frannook]

WHAT A JOURNEY.

[@graceblondell7320]

raeleen- i read a book this year that fits into the idolization sun genre, although i don’t know if you read YA. It’s called I was born for this by Alice Oseman (author of heartstopper)

[@puffmaggie]

i would freaking love it if one of the perks for patrons could be access to these spreadsheet templates!! dying at Ariel's book twist at the end 😂 so many of those DNF'd books i added to my list hahah

[@blueevening]

I think they have the spreadsheet template on their website :)

[@ameerahalgohary]

my favorite podcast ❤

[@OutlanderImagination]

Watched over two minutes of ads and ended up viewing on a massive tv with a soundbar. Already the most intense Books Unbound episode for me.

[@KatieManring]

Re: Cat book collection - I would recommend for this Penny A Graphic Memoir - not only are the illustrations are so cute and quirky, it’s from a cats perspective and I am obsessed.

[@ValMB818]

Merry Christmas you two!! I think for 2024 you should definitely pick an advent read!! A novel 240-300 pages. Read about 10-12 pages a day from Dec 1-24 and vlog it! We could join you! I think that would be so much fun!! ❤

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Viewers, are you looking for a book that combines your love of cats with your love of libraries?😺📚 Try “Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World” by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter. Published in 2008, this is the true story of a kitten who was abandoned at the library, and his relationship of many years with the patrons of that library branch. It’s so heartwarming.

[@cruelaz]

congratulations on getting your physical tbr down raeleen! I currently own 110 something unred books but I finally want to get under 100. The majority where passed down to me, second hand buys or out of our free public libraries. I am very picky with what I keep mostly I just give the books back into the cycle give them to friends or the free public libraries we have all over town. The problem with that is that the unred books outnumber the red books on my bookshelves by a lot and that bugs me. My ideal is to get under 50. I don't think I will achieve that next year but I'll keep on working on it. 50 is usually around the number of books I finish within a year this year its 48 but I also have three books I am currently reading. (don't think with all the holiday events I will finish any of them unfortunately)

[@Amaneeeta]

I do remember The Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac! I loved it when I was a junior in high school, this year I finished The Storied Life of AJ Fikry and next year I plan on starting Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow. 😁

[@blueevening]

Thanks for another fun ep! I always look forward to the end of year trilogy :) Great to hear the charcuterie metaphor return haha 📚 Happy holidays!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Best wishes with your reading in 2024.

[@bernsky]

thanks! ive read all the anne of green gables books but never read the blue castle! if you have never read lolly willowes, it sounds like it has a similar vibe except the womans rebellion ends up with a pact with the devil, which is actually quite innocent and benign. lol. so good.

[@jefwalte76]

Hello! For Raeleen, my favorite chef memoir is Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton. She is the chef/owner of Prune in New York and she is an amazing writer. Hope you check it out if you are still in that zone!

[@loulelou]

I need Raeleen's spreadsheets! lol

[@blueevening]

I believe they have a blank version of the spreadsheet on their website :)

[@NYLeafy.V]

⛄️

[@mim5324]

Hi Raeleen, why not try The Cat by French writer Colette. Written in 1933 it's a love triangle of jealousy between newly weds and His cat. The cat and his wife do not get along. Writren from the new husband's point of view ! I've heard about this book and feel interested to read it in French 😵

[@uguisu-mochi.]

Idk if it's already been translated into English, but Yamada Murasaki has several cat manga too 😺

[@nicholasleonardbookedits-si9ng]

We’re what the stars have spent their pension on; thence why your earlobe never had to shine. Marie Antoinette can’t get her earrings on. Her bIood of purple on the scaffold dries. Our adam's apples fall like guiIIotines, and reascending in refreshing gulps. Paycheck to paycheck, longing to be free. You are a revolution in itself. We, afterall, are funded by the stars. You, human, shouldn’t have to work to live. You truly can from servitude depart, and deep into the queenless palace skip. Who knew this Earth was also meant for you? Who else will free thyself unless it's you. - my name is Nicholas Leonard, and this is a sonnet that I wrote

[@rebecca8366]

I’m trying to watch last years triology episodes, i can’t spot them does anyone know if they’re not on youtube/what their episode number is

[@Mysticalmarsbar]

I love you guys, but this was virtually unwatchable, it felt like there were ads every 5 minutes (and the ads are always blaring 10x louder than the show.) I understand wanting to make money, but this was just too much.

[@ArielBissett]

That’s really interesting feedback! We don’t place the ads, KZbin does! But I’ll look into this 👍🏼👍🏼

[@graceblondell7320]

why are the audio listeners the intelligent ones

[@MJ-in-Canada]

I think Ariel meant that the audio listeners are the intelligent ones [for listening instead of watching] because the audio listeners don't have to watch her messing around with her bangs.😄

[@beliboop]

Raeleen, I recommend Cats of the Louvre by Taiyo Matsumoto!! Cat book, translated graphic novel. One of the weirder books I read this year but I really enjoyed it.