2K Q&A Part 3 | Your Final Questions Answered!

[@klefk9235]

Wonderful video! At 64 yrs young you gave me new books to find and read!!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you! I’m so glad! 🥰

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

Thanks for the nice words Jen! I’m honored to be mentioned in the same video as Miranda, Kate, and Krista ❤

[@jensreadinglife]

You are so welcome! I just love your channel and want to come peruse your bookshelves every time I watch your videos! 🥰

[@MJ-in-Canada]

I’m glad you found my question about “The Four Doorways” intriguing.😀Many people I know choose CHARACTER & STORY as their most appealing doorways, just as you did. I choose SETTING & LANGUAGE as my most appealing doorways. Therefore, when I recommend a book to someone, I have to think about the other person’s preferred doorways, and whether the book would bring as much pleasure to them as it did to me. Thanks for taking the time to answer my very long-winded question.😁

[@jensreadinglife]

I loved your question and didn't find it long-winded at all! It was so thought provoking...and I love Nancy Pearl so that made me even more excited to know it came from her! I would love to know some of the books where SETTING & LANGUAGE are what made them favorites for you. It's so fascinating to me how readers are so different in the way they take in the information from novels.

[@MJ-in-Canada]

@@jensreadinglife I enjoy books where the setting almost becomes a character in the story such as the Manderley estate in Daphne DuMaurier’s “Rebecca.” I’m happy to spend time with any good novel that’s set in the English countryside, preferably in a quaint village such as D. E. Stevenson’s “Miss Buncle’s Book.” Old houses and interesting landscapes and scenery are very important to me. Even weather plays a character, in my opinion, as far as setting is involved, such as the stormy conditions on the Yorkshire moors in Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights.” There are many types of settings that I can easily immerse myself in for hours, and then dream about for years after I’ve read them. Oh dear, I’ve run out of steam and haven’t answered about the language doorway. Some other time!

[@MJ-in-Canada]

When you said, “I love my reading life!” it brought a smile to my face because I love mine, too.😃Before I started watching BookTube videos, I never lacked for good books so I was surprised that BookTube enhanced what was already a rich and rewarding reading life. I’m grateful for all the hard work that folks like you put into your channels.

[@jensreadinglife]

I’m so glad you love your reading life too! Thank you for being here. 🥰

[@katnissfire5605]

Hi Jen! Thank you for the wonderful videos. I do share the same sentiment, the love of a reading life, and finding your KZbin channel 📚🙂

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you so much!!! 🥰

[@emmareads734]

Thanks for sharing! It was fun to hear your answers. I liked hearing about the librarian’s reading theory. I would have said story like you but I think it’s the characters that stay with me longer.

[@jensreadinglife]

I initially thought story too but the more I considered it, characters are what stick with me the most. 😊

[@michaelmccarty]

Great job, Jen!! Your copy of Black Beauty is lovely! I agree about Heidi -- I can't stop recommending it to people. And I just added Hester's Story to my TBR (thank you). Did you see Annie Barrows when she was at the Walnut Creek Library? I was there! 🙂

[@jensreadinglife]

No I didn’t! I saw her not long after Guernsey first came out…I can’t even remember where it was! 😂 We are going to turn everyone into Heidi converts! Maybe we need to read it for CRBC next year!

[@miriamelizabethreads]

I so enjoyed your Q&A videos! 🥰

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you Miriam! 🩷

[@kathleencraine7335]

As a kid I took out Caddie Woodlawn from the library over and over and over again! I don't know why I didn't ask my parents to buy me my own copy. Interesting what you remember about Jamaica Inn. I read it for the first time last year and all I remember about it is that it was very, very dark. Haven't seen the TV series and probably won't watch it.

[@jensreadinglife]

I should’ve asked for my own copy of Caddie Woodlawn too because I did the same thing. 😁 And definitely skip the Jamaica Inn miniseries.

[@allisonryder4781]

I'm looking forward to 6 who the winner is!

[@TerryJ950]

Excellent video series, Jen - thoroughly enjoyed myself! I didn’t hesitate on the 4 doorways question, character for me hands down. That’s why I enjoyed Happy All the Time, on your recommendation. I don’t remember the story being that compelling, it was definitely the characters that drew me in. And I’ll DNF a book rapidly if I don’t connect with the characters. Why plow through a book when you don’t care what happens to the people? I live in Northern California also, and have a B&N, which I don’t shop at and a Half Price Books very nearby. My favorite place to shop for books is at library sales. The libraries in my area have permanent shops set up and the inventory is always changing and the prices are so reasonable. I’m a retired librarian so I spend a lot of time in libraries. And lastly, yes! Colin Firth as the ultimate brooding Mr. Darcy!

[@jensreadinglife]

I’m so glad you enjoyed Happy All the Time - the characters are so good! And Colin Firth as Darcy forever and ever! 😁❤️

[@thomasceneri867]

South American writer- Jorge Luis Borges

[@jensreadinglife]

Oh yes! Thanks for reminding me of him!

[@mandyc1280]

I just bought Some Writer a few weeks ago and I look forward to reading it.

[@jensreadinglife]

@@mandyc1280 I hope you love it! 🥰

[@shelliclarke5563]

Yes, Some Writer was so good! Thank you for that recommendation ❤

[@jensreadinglife]

You're so welcome! 🩷

[@cassandra3399]

Hi Jen, I think the “doorways “ question is so interesting! Having just read The White Witch by Elizabeth Goudge, I must say I choose setting if that includes description, because she is so wonderful in this. But having said this, character is certainly next. But they are all so important. I love a page turner but at the same time those can be shallow and lack depth. I also love beautiful language, so all four doorways are important. Thank you.😊😊😊

[@jensreadinglife]

I agree that all four doorways are important and it’s really interesting to think about which of them is most important to you when you read. I definitely think it can change over time as your reading tastes evolve. It’s a fun question to consider!

[@MMjones6459]

Good job! I enjoyed all three videos in this series.

[@jensreadinglife]

Glad you like them! Thank you for watching! 😊

[@Imaginetheday1967]

I’ve read quite a few Jeeves books. Love them! While he does make references to former events in the books, I still feel like you could read them in any order. I’m reading them in order, but that’s me. My door would have to be characters. I can forgive a lot of a book’s weaknesses if I like the characters. I’ve read The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo. He’s from Brazil. I’m not sure of others. I’ve really enjoyed this Q&A series.

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you for watching and for the insight about the Jeeves books. I agree that good characters can make or break a book for me too!

[@susanmay4215]

Brava! Well done, you 🎉 that was a lot of questions to answer. I found it very interesting. Thanks, Jen!

[@jensreadinglife]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching, Susan! 😊

[@areadersalmanacwithceleste1366]

Thanks for answering all of these questions and making some great recommendations, Jen! Love Gina's and Kate Howe’s channels and will check out Books and Jams! Yikes, I will very respectfully disagree about the TV adaptation of Jamaica Inn, . . . as I totally embraced the portrayal of the poverty and dirt within the context of that historical setting. I love a good gothic tale and felt the bleakness complimented the time, place, and story line! 😊 But of course, that’s what makes it interesting-each of us sharing our own personal experiences of books and adaptations of our favorite stories. Anyway, I’ve written down several books for my TBR from your videos. I haven't read Heidi in ages. Maybe it's time for a reread! Thank you, and have a great rest of your summer!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thanks for watching, Celeste! And I’m glad you enjoyed the Jamaica Inn tv adaptation…variety is what makes the world interesting! I just want to know how they kept all their white clothes so white in all that mud??? 😂

[@areadersalmanacwithceleste1366]

@@jensreadinglife There was endless mud, LOL! 🤣

[@jillbellaus385]

You are really coming into your own, excellent book tube channel.

[@jensreadinglife]

Wow, thank you! I really appreciate you saying that! 🥰

[@dianesellepedrosa1876]

Jen, What a video! I am thrilled to learn about some new books especially in the “dance” vein. I have two granddaughters tapping and plié-ing and they might love To Dance. 🩰 Blackwells is such a blessing. Usually/not always the prices are less expensive. And the option for the UK edition is always tempting. Thanks again ❤

[@jensreadinglife]

I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I think your granddaughters would love To Dance! Thank you so much for watching. 😊

[@verodunstan7864]

Thanks for answering about South American authors. You may want to try Julio Cortázar, he might be a bit difficult to read but he is great, but worth the try. By the way, I finished The Other Bennet Sister and I loved it, highly recommend it. (Nothing to do with Julio Cortázar).

[@jensreadinglife]

It looks like it may be challenging for me to find his books translated into English but he's on my radar now so I will keep an eye out - thanks! I'm so glad to hear you loved The Other Bennet Sister...that's been on my tbr shelf for far too long!

[@starlasell5698]

❤📚📚❤️ I absolutely loved this series of videos. Thank you for sharing! The Borrowers and Pippi Longstocking were the first books I remember loving! I loved Heidi so much that I begged my Mom to change my name for a whole year. 😂😅 I love watching Krista too! So many great recommendations and her series now clearing off and organizing her shelves has been so fun to watch! My shelves are all alphabetically organized as well. I can find my books so easily this way! Margrethe! I've just informed my husband we need to watch Magpie Murders and Maigret asap. 😊 Yes, character, 100%! Great question! Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing my favorite non-fiction this year. Dancing for Degas by Katheryn Wagner is on my tbr list. Looking forward to your next video. Have a great week!

[@jensreadinglife]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I love that you begged your mom to change your name to Heidi!!! And thanks for reminding me about the Shackleton book, I need to add that one to my tbr!

[@starlasell5698]

@@jensreadinglife 🤗👍

[@eileennielsen5165]

There is a good podcast w/ ANNE BOGEL called Modern Mrs. Darcy. Did you happen to ask Annie Narrows why she never wrote another book?. I always wished she had, cause I love Guernsey SO MUCH. I am presently reading Some Writer. Also this week read Days At The Morisaki Bookshop, UNBELIEVABLE! For me. Now a top fave, evoked so many emotions in me and STILL thinking about it! Book tube was ruined ing my pleasure of reading g, making g me think I had to read "x" amt. of bks. in a month. Really bothered me, ALL of them do it, except for Gina I think. Stopped doing that(my life is probably different than most readers). Back to enjoying my reading. Always have a book going, but don't feel a need to read so many per month. My TBR cart is ETERNAL! Lots more comments, but you know I YAK too long.. Thanks Jen!

[@jensreadinglife]

Anne Bogel’s podcast is another good one. Annie Barrows actually writes children’s books. She has a series called Ivy & Bean and a new series coming out soon. I think she may have also written one standalone adult novel. I need to read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. I love Japanese literature!

[@bizpierpaoli7999]

Hi Jen - Love your channel and cozy reading group. I have 2 grandsons ages 8 and 11. They have read the Harry Potter series but do you have any other suggestions for books that boys might enjoy? Thanks

[@jensreadinglife]

Great question! 8 and 11 is a pretty big age spread so all of these might not work for both but some that they might like are The Keeper of the Lost Cities series, the Percy Jackson series, the Narnia books, the Nevermoor series, and the Spy Kids books. For the younger one, maybe Dragons in A Bag and Skunk and Badger. And the Wild Robot series might be good for both of them. 😊

[@bizpierpaoli7999]

@@jensreadinglife Great suggestions. Thanks so much!

[@jensreadinglife]

@@bizpierpaoli7999 you’re very welcome! 😊

[@cassandra3399]

Hi Jen, I am sorry to say I read Happy all the Time, and didn’t finish it. I wanted to like it so much since it is a favorite of yours. I just didn’t get it. I must say I am 77 years old so quite an age gap between us. I passed it on to my daughter and looking forward to what she thinks of it. But that’s ok, right? We don’t always like the same things.😂

[@jensreadinglife]

That’s totally ok! I completely understand that it is not a book for everyone. If you like food memoirs, you might want to try her Home Cooking and More Home Cooking. They are both lovely and she writes about food so well!

[@mandyc1280]

So Blandings Castle is a great place to start with Wodehouse. Also, Leave it to Psmith, Just Enough Jeeves, or The Code of The Woosters. Others probably have different advice of where to begin. Tristan, from Tristan and the Classics has a video on Wodehouse that might be helpful. His channel is fantastic.

[@jensreadinglife]

Oh, I need to go check out Tristan's video on Wodehouse! Thank you for the recommendations on where to start. Hopefully whoever asked the question will see this too!