🕯☕️ a cozy book haul because waterstones decided to choose violence

hey besties, so waterstones decided to have a three-day boxing day of getting hardbacks for 50% off (apart from paul mccartney's book ofc), so after some convincing from all of you over on instagram, i decided to treat myself to ten wonderful books and so i'm excited to share them with you today!
let me know if you got any new books recently!
with love,
joel 🗡
- help the world, friends!
✨ do the right thing | dotherightthing.carrd.co/
✊🏽 black lives matter | blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
🙅🏽 stop asian hate | anti-asianviolenceresources.c...
- things mentioned
✨ round about ceramics | / roundaboutceramics
- books mentioned
📖 frankenstein
📖 don quixote
📖 the colour of magic
📖 reprieve
📖 in every mirror she's black
📖 the book of form & emptiness
📖 the witcher: the last wish
📖 the call of cthulu & other weird stories
📖 jade fire gold
📖 a marvellous light
- social links
✍🏽 blog | fictionalfates.com
🐦 twitter | / joelrochesterr
📷 instagram | / joelrochesterr
📸 bookstagram | / fictionalfates
📚 goodreads | / joelrochesterr
📌 pinterest | pinterest.co.uk/joelrochesterr
☕ ko-fi | ko-fi.com/joelrochesterr
- music credits
🎼 namoo nara - back in time | thmatc.co/?l=AAD418C5
🎵 louie zong | louiezong.bandcamp.com
🎼 synae - wild world | thmatc.co/?l=21E731DF
- business enquires
✉️ [e-mail]
- disclaimer
🌻 This video is not sponsored.

[@livsommers]

ty for (1) the cozy vibes (2) teaching me the word 'ceramicist' and (3) "he's DEAD, so who cares what he thinks?" (4) always saying 'penultimate'

[@fictionalfates]

honestly, these are the highlights of the video oasijidfjio take care too!

[@SaraSmed]

Am a Waterstones employee who is completely drained as a result of this massive sale and came on youtube to zone out, but still felt the need to watch this for unknown reasons 😂 Also thank you to everyone who came in stores and managed to be patient and nice to us while our overtired brains fought to keep up with demand, this sale truly felt violent 😅

[@readbystarlight4205]

thank you for your service 😂❤️

[@savinaking8637]

Yes I love Waterstones, unfortunately the Christmas season has so many people who don't rarely buy books at other times and so many books that are really couldn't be sold at any other time. The staff are very enthusiastic about helping but sometimes this is lost in the crowds and madness of the season.

[@username4261]

We appreciate you

[@SaraSmed]

Awwh thanks for the support guys ❤️

[@niamhmassey6172]

literally same - need to channel the peace everyone making these seemed to find shopping that we didn’t selling 😂

[@charityyoder9028]

No books from family but I got the BEST Jane austen inspired mug. It says "society of obstinate headstrong women. Seriously displeasing people since 1813." ... it's perfect. It really is. I did buy a bunch of books for myself, though.

[@maxy9540]

just wanted to say that you've been my newest comfort booktuber and that i finally got around to finishing trials of apollo over the holidays because of your videos!! hope u had and continue to have a restful holiday

[@livsommers]

i honestly did the exact same thing lol

[@erykah8720]

AHHH YOU read the toa! IS IT GOOD? i had only read the first book but i dunno if i wanna continue! should i?

[@ferventfei]

do my eyes deceive me or do i see a really long book pile in the reflection of the window

[@fictionalfates]

we don’t talk about the pile(s) bestie 😭

[@kamryndold2279]

I bought 6 books at Barnes and noble and 5 books with a gift card a got for Christmas and I got 11 books from family members!!! So excited, so many great new books!!

[@Louise_E]

The way my ears perked up when I heard the words “The Untamed” hahaha literally my fave tv show of all time and I’ve read the first volume of the English release already - though kind of wishing I had the patience to binge! Really looking forward to your future reading vlog of the novel!

[@ionacampbell2591]

My Mum got me Becoming by Michelle Obama as a gift, and what she thought was an adult nonfiction about Rosa Parks that turned out to be a kids’ picture book 😂😭

[@AceIsInLastPlace]

first time stumbling across one of your videos and the vibes are.... *immaculate*

[@twilover89]

I really want the cloth bound of The Picture of Dorian Gray and Emma. Also Dracula is gorgeous 😍

[@Saena]

I have no idea how this video came onto my radar- it was probably recommended on my homepage because of other booktube accounts I follow- but I just chose it from my Watch Later queue and by minute 5 I had subscribed to you. The general vibes and book choices were already good, but the second you started talking about the formation of the early novel I was like "Ohhh, this is the person for me." 😂 I loved that a lot of these were picks that I'm not seeing every other account post about- there's a LOT of title repetition on Booktube, lol- and also that you shouted out nearly every book jacket/cover art designer in your description of each book. Can't wait to watch more videos and see what else 2022 has in store for us as readers! (P.S. "A Marvellous Light" is at the TOP of my TBR as well. I'm planning to pick it up from Barnes & Noble today or tomorrow and prioritize it as one of my January reads. I've come across a bit of Freya Marske's shorter works and her writing style is addictive!)

[@Books_and_Raye]

I'm currently reading A Marvellous Light and can confirm it is gay 🤣 the romance is really cute, plot is taking a while to get going but am enjoying it.

[@Misssugar164]

Its my current read too :)

[@hfollman98]

I LOVE that Frankenstein cover! It's my all-time favorite classic :))

[@katiejacksonbooks]

I got 15 books over the Christmas period. 11 as gifts and everyone who got me books did so well, but I did give them a wish list! I the picked up 3 in Waterstones with a voucher and one of them was a hardback which was We Are Not Like Them, which I have heard such incredible things about!

[@parimundra1680]

oml you are so lucky! i hope you enjoyed the books💗

[@aaronhaceves]

The cloud sweater! And I'm looking forward to A Marvellous Light too.

[@ashlynhale3369]

Ah Frankenstein is one of my favorites! The late night book club is the perfect reason to re-read it! 😊 I am also really interested in A Marvelous Light and can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

[@luvxli6333]

oh my godh i bought the frankenstein clothbound version :o ! seeing ur notif made my day ahhhhhh

[@alisarobles8000]

You are absolutely radiant! I love getting notifications that you posted a new video. You always make me smile and laugh. I was having a difficult time all morning and watching your video has definitely increased my mood. I hope I can meet you one day because you are a beautifully incredible human. 💖 Have a wonderful and safe New Years! 🥰

[@fictionalfates]

Happy New Year to you too!

[@sunflowersandstorms5608]

i wished i had your confidence in your writing, I just want to be someone who dares to dream about how the physical copies look like... also no books secured during the holiday but money secured that just might go to books

[@bethshepherd9427]

nabbed a few but most excited to finally read Luster! had a flick through when I was in store and honestly hooked already 🥰

[@abriltorresvassallo2558]

As a lit student from Argentina, it's so exciting to see a booktober from the other side of the world looking foward to read Don Quijote de la Mancha!!! My Spanish literature professor would be proud of you lol

[@anne7188]

Oh god, I actually gasped when you called jade fire gold a heterosexual version of the untamed. I absolutely love that book and I'm currently half way through the untamed and loving it as well, so i guess it fits

[@RamblingsOfAnElfpire]

I bought about 10 books over Christmas (thanks Waterstones!). Was feeling guilty as I have loads unread but I've now finished two so I'm excited for this new year of reading!

[@vrudolphi7656]

The title is everything 💛💛💛

[@zumi7067]

I adore your esthetic

[@sunpi]

Love your jumper!

[@dorothypersall1319]

I would love to see you do a video on cozy winter reads that make your heart warm up when it's negative degrees outside :)

[@crystalrayne2170]

When you said “heterosexual version of The Untamed”, my interest was PIQUED because I LOVEEEEE that drama! Probably my fav c-drama that I’ve seen so far. Also, the books you picked up are absolutely beautiful!!❤️

[@melisosh]

Was just in London for a week and went to FOUR bookstores, so happy with everything I picked up, but now have to add a few to my TBR list from your haul. 🥳

[@PippityBop]

'He's DEAD so who cares what he thinks?' OMG HAAA I am COLLAPSED

[@FaithAlexiss]

Grateful u bought so many books it makes me feel less crazy

[@lyannastarkweather]

The entire video was such a mood. Cozy vibes and the joy of a great book haul! I learned about the Barnes & Noble equivalent of this sale around noon on Boxing Day and was in the store within two hours. There was no stopping me from getting my hands on some half-priced hardcovers! My local B&N was pure chaos. I emerged with five books that I'm super excited about and a super cute reusable bag. I picked up hardcover copies of Our Violent Ends, A Dark and Hollow Star, and If This Gets Out, which just adds to my already ridiculously long TBR. I also got paperback versions of Circe and A Discovery of Witches since those were BOGO 50%. Best after Christmas sale ever! Bless B&N and Waterstones employees everywhere for powering through such an event at the end of the holiday season. I do not envy them!

[@ReadingNymph]

Ooh great haul! I love the Penguin Deluxe editions

[@dudamartins1245]

reprieve sounds really good!!

[@parnikajain3151]

Yes a video! I will make sure to watch in the next like 2 hours. Feeling anxious on what my ‘religion in American history’ final grade will be. Mind you my semester officially ended on Dec 20th and this class hasn’t been updated yet. Hopefully the final exam grade won’t fuck up the b+ I have.

[@fictionalfates]

i hope you got a good grade!!

[@peggingmothman]

I am also attempting 100 books next year and highly curating my first books of 2022 to get a good start. Good Luck!

[@laurabellereads]

Great video and I love the cozy vibes

[@lydiabell7304]

Jade Fire Gold is AMAZING!!! June is such a beautiful writer

[@sofiaismael530]

A marvellous light was such a cute read ❤️🥺

[@beetay4397]

JOEL!! You chose so well :) I only had a limited time in the store when I visited and got: The Manningtree Witches, Wicca by Harmony Nice and the new Richard Osman book 😂 wish I'd had time to rootle out more fiction HBs though, they have such gorgeous editions! Also Happy New Year when it comes 😊😊

[@ProspectivePlans]

These books are all worth reading, thanks so much for sharing! 💫 Keep rising to be who you want to be! 💫 #keeprising #risingtobe #aswerise #riser

[@niamhmassey6172]

i love watching people’s waterstones boxing day hauls because they all sound like they had such a lovely calm time shopping meanwhile i worked those three days and did not have a calm time lol

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Love how you say you can’t trust your family to buy books for you anymore after buying you the 2nd book in a series you’ve not read. And I’m so sad I missed the in store sale because your bargain buys are gorgeous! 📚💕

[@AddieSu]

I love your videos so much I am very happy I’ve found you this year cause you’ve brought back a lot of my love for books!! I got my sister a special edition of Pride and Prejudice as it is her fave Jane Austen story and she got me a special edition of Little Women!! The book is absolutely huge but I’m hoping to be able to read it by the end of 2022 Happy holidays and happy new year!!! ✨

[@kiranreader]

excited to hear your thoughts on don quixote - i went to town at the barnes and noble hardcover sale! i got are you enjoying (a collection of short stories) by mira sethi, jhumpa lahiri's Whereabouts and sea state by tabitha lasley. i read the first 3 in the witcher series and just finished up season 2 on netflix. the show really does deviate from the books. not going to lie, i lost a bit of steam in the books and don't think i'll return to them but i'm glad i can still be in the witcher world courtesy of the show :)

[@annac4383]

I stumbled across A Marvellous Light about a month ago thinking that it was just another standard gay historical magical realist novel (that sounds very niche but there are a surprising amount of them out there), and was absolutely blown away. It was incredible and I 100% recommend !!

[@carolinaroveroni8101]

Oh my, I never new there was a niche like that. Now I'm interested! Do you know another books like that?

[@KitAE0]

With the Christmas book gifting from the family thing, that used to be the case with me too. Now, I give out a list of loads of books I want, and my family pick and choose 2 or 3 between each of them, so I'm still surprised and happy with the books because you don't know who's gonna get what 👌

[@Miyake_Shikai]

love your vibe！

[@ximenavazquezramirez5514]

They all look so interesting!! I am about to purchase some of them lmao. It would be interesting if you do a video of the unhaul. Send you so much love and stay safe.

[@charliebeare2605]

Didn't get anything in the hardback sale as I prefer paperbacks but I did have a Waterstones shop recently. I got The Gold-Rimmed Spectacles by Giorgio Bassani (already finished reading!), Real Life by Brandon Taylor (currently reading!) and Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez (tbr!) I aim to read 50 books this year (fiction and non-fiction) and 2022 is the 1st year I have set a reading goal for myself!

[@grff_]

I was also gonna buy all the untamed books at once but there's actually 5 books and the last one comes out in 2023! I now decided to get them as they come out so i don't overwhelmed myself and my bank account + i read the unofficial translations so i already know how the books go and is definitely better than the show and so worth reading

[@katiemarsh4970]

The Last Wish was an incredible reading experience for me and I hope you love it too…Happy Holidays! ❤️

[@m69nlight]

I LOVE YOUR VIBE

[@fictionalfates]

eee thank you!

[@PopTheButterfly]

Ok I need to visit a Waterstones when this panini is over cause those bags are AMAZING

[@fluffyluffy9307]

Hey! been watching your videos for about a month now, was excited to hear you mention The Untamed lol I'm a massive fan of that show! Mo Dao Zu Shi (grandmaster of demonic cultivation) will actually have 5 volumes in total. So it'll be in 2023 some time once we finally get all the volumes lol

[@parnikajain3151]

I'm glad for the reminder to drink water haha. just came back from walking my german shepherd and luckily today he barely caused me trouble. regardless he is a big puppy and i'm short so..

[@jae708]

I recently went to Barnes and Noble not to long ago and manage to catch the sale! 🥰 I got Gilded from Marissa Meyer (I loved it!! My favorite author!!!), Dark Rise by C.S. PACAT (Which seems very interesting so far 👀), and Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee (Didn't start yet but I can't wait!).

[@teenathomas7057]

I walked into the sale too and walked out with more books than I expected. I'm excited for 2 of the books: Empire of the Vampire - the end pages and illustrations are to die for And Hyde - it caught my eye because of the cover and it looks like a remained telling of the story sooo excited to read it. When you unhaul, do you donate, take to a used bookstore, sell them? Curious on how you handle your unfailing. I am so glad I found you channel and you have become on of my favorites to watch due to your openness to read from multiple genres and bipoc authors. Can't wait to see your next one.

[@afiaomar5216]

I’ve been wanting to read the picture of Dorian Gray for some time. Hoping to get into it soon. Also is it just me or does everyone think Joel’s accent is so lovely? You’re a solid Brit.

[@AmyTheEarthling]

I did the exact same with that version of reprieve in Waterstones sale 😂

[@kyeoptawerk93ah]

didn't even know that the witcher had books! i only knew the games and then the show

[@samantharose1001]

Okay learning only now that Waterstones bought Barnes and Noble in 2019 🤭 why is Waterstones so much better tho?? 😭 (I live in the US)

[@cryingaboutbooks]

what a haul 🤩💖

[@Warriorten10]

Since I have no self control, I got a bunch of 1st books in series along with others that stood out to me from the B&N sale over here: Persepolis (remember the movie being great) Frankenstein (the neon version beckoned me) Leviathan Wakes (10th anniversary version. The show is great!) The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Mort (Daniel Green said it would be a better entry point into Discworld than the first book) Hyperion (Shout out Quinn) The Three Body Problem ("") The Lies of Lock Lamora (Shout out Merphy) The Bone Shard Daughter ("") The Way of Kings (Shout out Daniel and Merphy) JoJo Part 5 vol 1 (all the other Parts were cleaned out) Persephone Station (cover seemed neat and it was buy 1 get 1 half off with Persepolis) and The Legend of Korra Book 1 art book

[@cleo8587]

I recently tried to read the witcher series but couldn’t even finish half a book. It just oozed sexism and male gaze and i just couldn’t deal. But who knows, mabey it got better as it went on?

[@Damayanti-ml4rp]

It doesn't really, no. Sapkowski is kinda problematic and it shows :/

[@ipshitajee]

Omg I recently bought the penguin classic clothbound collection of Frankenstein too and it's so beautiful 😍 P.s- I so much agree with you ,I personally feel it's a crime when the actual hardcover book is absolutely naked with no illustration or anything when you remove the dust jacket.I just hate the look of it. Circe hardcover did satisfy my taste in hardcover, it's gorgeous 😍

[@funkypenguin3000]

those books look so good! i really spent $73 at barnes and noble last weekend...i was just in a silly goofy mood :P

[@hollyludlow2460]

I got two penguin clothbound editions

[@melissa-fi1iu]

those are some great picks! i only got to waterstones on the last day of the sale but was able to pick up open water by caleb azumah nelson which ended up being signed so feeling very lucky about it, very excited to give it a read in the new year!

[@megankazz8371]

I got Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years: Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times for Christmas! It's a nonfiction book covering textile arts and women's influence over it in ancient societies. That Frankenstein copy looks so cool with the hearts on the cover

[@HakiimSMIITH]

are you familiar with storygraph? It’s basically like goodreads but independent, black owned, created by a black woman, and lets you import your goodreads stats and progress. Im not an ad btw, just thought you might be interested

[@TiaMorrison]

Whaaat...I love the UK version of Jade Fire Gold's cover way more. I'd be happy to swap.

[@Lovefromlea.x]

I was lucky to get the email so did a little online shopping. I picked up Once upon a Broken Heart, by Stephanie Garder and Ariadne, by Jennifer Saint (which was a special ed?) And a couple of new bookmarks, cos you can never have enough, right? Loving your haul! I think I'd preferred to go in person but was still with family during sale.

[@JazzyTeeSings]

I went to Barnes for the sale around 5pm on the first day and I only walked away with 1. I was surprised! But most of the stuff I wanted had only paperback left and I love hardbacks for most fantasy books.

[@madelynford2579]

The next video you should make is a reading vlog bc I absolutely loved your romance reading vlog and I NEED MORE!!

[@aden.e]

i would be aware that reprieve really doesn’t take place in the escape room at all. it’s just in the beginning. it’s more of a social horror with a good bit of character studies. i think you will still really like it!

[@leestewart6719]

Excited to hear what you think of “The Book of Form and Emptiness.” I just read it, and it was one of my favorite reads of 2021.

[@bawling]

~ my christmas book haul ~ bunny - mona awad the poppy war - rf kuang don quixote (twinsies!!) dune penguin galaxy edition siúil, a rún vol. 1 dark rise - cs pascat :~)

[@fictionalfates]

an amazing list!

[@jaylankau]

THE UNTAMED..... stan forever

[@musaacuminata7972]

same feels, I had someone gift a book for me, BUT they got me the THIRD book of a series I have never read nor even known 🤷‍♀️

[@FaithAlexiss]

Took advantage of the Barnes and noble sale, but was stuck in isolation with COVID and my angel mother went on the hunt for me 🥺❤️ got the second two books to a good girls guide to murder triology, under the whispering door, the Barnes and noble exclusive edition of beauty and the beast and then the complete tales of Winnie the Pooh for comfort during this isolation hahaha a blessing

[@Nursegirl7677]

Thanks for the video. I preordered the special edition of Gallant by V.E. Schwab from Waterstones. I snagged The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman, Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen and White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson at my local Barnes and Nobles. Love your edition of Witcher. Thanks again!

[@bexdavison]

oh man i was going to get a couple of these books in the sale but ended up picking different ones but now i've seen this i'm jealous

[@domzongp9523]

The witcher series is awesome! Although it gets better after "the last wish" in my opinion

[@thegalacticzoologist]

I also fell victim to the after christmas book sales. Got myself the two middle grade High Republic books and a couple of manga volumes. Plus some new books like Iron Widow, The Rise of Kyoshi and one of the Mo Xiang Tong Xiu novels.

[@genevievekennedy8117]

as a fellow macbook gamer, happy to hear youre moving to greener pastures

[@tammietriestoread]

sadly the novels for the untamed are going to be 5 volumes, not 3 😭 i think the last one is set to come out sometime in 2023

[@jennaserv]

The pull was so strong to buy books half off, but I hate hardbacks :( If they did this with paperbacks I would be so broke

[@Whtpaper]

I just finished Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and am looking forward to To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara for the new year. Thanks for the fun video. ❤

[@charlottebernhard]

Beasts of Prey (part of the sale) and Mieruko-chan vol. 1 (couldn’t resist) from barnes and noble :))

[@meganryanhughes1118]

Ok but you needed them, it’s completely justified

[@fictionalfates]

so true bestie

[@aflatoxicosis]

My friend and I went to Barnes and Noble together for their sale and I got three books I am excited for 😌

[@slacantez4578]

bestiee I need your sweaters link pleasee :( It's stunning

[@JAGSeFo]

Oh I think we need to know where did you get that lovely jumper!

[@bookishnatie9614]

Family just gives me money at this point to turn them into books. Been saving

[@giigiireadss]

I got some books from Barnes and Noble cuz I have no self control lol

[@fictionalfates]

a mood awihfaaoiefj

[@mya1207]

I tend to prefer books that don’t have anything on the nakedness, I don’t really want my books to look too flashy when I’m reading in public/at school. Mainly because I don’t want too much conversation over what I’m reading I just want to read lol.

[@c.r.e.92]

I just finished A Marvellous Light, and I can confirm that it is indeed very gay. It’s so good!

[@noel5626]

PLEEAAASSEEEE READ A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS IN A VIDEO !!!!

[@spacemono5419]

Im in the US, and although it seems its more common here (at least from what ive noticed from this vid hahah ) to have designs on the hardcovers, i rarely see cool pages like the ones u got! :)