An Exceptionally Amazing Reading Month - Eleven 5 Star Reads!

Hey there and welcome to my channel! I’m Kaitlin Bandy of Bandy’s Books, a mid-30s book lover who reads just about every genre! I post TBRs, reading updates, BOTM & Aardvark predictions, Little Free Library Road trips, book hauls, and more! This video is my reading wrap up for May 2024. I read for AAPI Heritage, Misery May, and Mental Health May.
Some Other Videos You Might Enjoy:
Books Mentioned:
The Underworld - Susan Casey
Notes On Grief - Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
Master Slave Husband Wife - Ilyon Woo
Orbital - Samantha Harvey
Why Fathers Cry At Night - Kwame Alexander
We Were Once A Family - Roxanna Asgarian
Lapvona - Otessa Moshfegh
Little Rot - Akwaeke Emezi
Interesting Facts About Space - Emily Austen
Brave The Wild River - Melissa Sevigny
Annie Bot - Sierra Greer
The Adventures of Huck Finn - Mark Twain
Morning And Evening - John Fosse
Built From The Fire - Victor Luckerson
James - Percival Everett
Grown Ups - Marie Aubert
Mirrored Heavens - Rebecca Roanhorse
Goodnight Irene - Luis Alberto Urrea
Bolla - Pajtim Statovici
Friday Black - Nana Kwame Adjei Brenyah
Trust - Hernan Diaz
Whale Fall - Elizabeth O’Connor
Weyward - Emilia Hart
The Husbands - Holly Gramazio
The Wager - David Grann
Tender Is The Flesh - Augustina Bazterrica
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro & Stats
01:30 - 3 stars
07:40 - 4 stars
23:55 - 5 stars
Hashtags:
#readingwrapup #readingupdate #bookrecommendations #smallbooktuber #books #reading #book
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[@meganmadkour9328]

What a great reading month! I am so jealous! 😂😂. You exploded my TBR!

[@BandysBooks]

Thank you! It really was exceptional! Let me know what you end up reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts. :)

[@readandre-read]

I've had Annie Bot on my list for awhile and ainstill need to fit it in. So glad you loved James! One of my viewers recommended We Were Once a Family to me recently and it looks so good but heartbreaking. What a great month!

[@BandysBooks]

Yes! Loved James. I second that recommendation for We Were Once A Family. It’s brutally sad, but so well written. And yay for Annie Bot! I hope you enjoy it!

[@MargaretPinard]

Weyward feels like a good seasonal read.... and magic?! YES

[@BandysBooks]

Yes! It definitely has fall vibes!

[@Michelelynnreads]

Wow, what great reading! I enjoyed Interesting Facts About Space, and Notes on Grief definitely hit me in the emotions because I’ve lost both my parents. I’ve started We Were Once A Family on audio and was so angry I stopped listening. I need to go back to finish it. I’m interesting in so many you read!

[@BandysBooks]

I could see how Notes would hit more for someone who had lost their parents. I think for me, when I compare it to some of the memoirs I’ve read, it just felt like it could’ve gone a little deeper maybe. I also was very angry during We Were Once A Family and I wish I could say it gets less rage inducing, but unfortunately it stays pretty frustrating. It is so well researched and written though.

[@jaimee-kate]

What a great reading month! I can't wait to pick up James very soon!

[@BandysBooks]

@@jaimee-kate it was a good month! I think you’ll enjoy James, but read Huck Finn first.

[@LibrariesandLattes]

What an amazing reading month!! So glad you liked Weyward, I agree that the two older storylines were stronger than the modern one! I’ve heard such mixed things on Annie Bot, so I’m glad you loved it! James and Tender Is The Flesh sound interesting too 😊 My favorite books I read in July were The Things We Cannot Say, Just For the Summer, and Parable of the Sower!

[@BandysBooks]

@@LibrariesandLattes thank you! Yeah. That always seems to be the case for me. I like the older timelines better than the current ones. Huh. We must follow different people because most of the reviews I’ve seen of Annie Bot have been positive. I enjoyed Parable of The Sower.

[@RaspberryReads]

Good to hear that you loved James! It was such a good read. The Donut Dolly book sounds intriguing- I hadn't heard that term before.

[@BandysBooks]

It really was! I think if you like historical fiction, you’d enjoy GoodNight Irene (the donut dolly story). It’s really an interesting read. I recently picked up a nonfiction book on the same subject.

[@rachelebandy8405]

I'm so glad James and Annie Bott were a 5⭐️ for you as well! All your top rated books sound fantastic, and I like that there are so many NF options.

[@BandysBooks]

Yes! It really was a spectacular month! I think you’d like any of the NF options

[@krisreviews]

Wow so many great books!!! 😍

[@BandysBooks]

Yes! It was a good month!

[@MargaretPinard]

Ooh, I love your shirt! 🥳

[@BandysBooks]

Aww thank you! 💜

[@savagereads]

The change in tone and voice as the perspectives switch was one of my favorite things about Trust. It was a 5 star for me! You had such an amazing reading month! I am adding all the 5 stars to my TBR (the list really didn't need it but I can't help it) I am going to leave off Tender is the Flesh though. Anything that touches on cannibalism makes me feel physically ill for weeks after 😭

[@BandysBooks]

@@savagereads yes! It worked well for me too. I liked how it shifted focus. I don’t usually do this, but I’m going to suggest that you to skip Little Rot. I don’t think it’s a book you’ll like and I think the subject matter will be potentially triggering for you.

[@savagereads]

@@BandysBooks Thank you for the heads up! I will take it off my list

[@kalilah-o7y]

Great video. Thanks. Found several books for my tbr.

[@BandysBooks]

@@kalilah-o7y I’m so glad to hear it! Thank you for watching!

[@GemofBooks]

Thank goodness I’ve read some of these otherwise my TBR would be screwed! Agree on your ratings for Huck Finn and Weyward. I thought Orbital was a snoozefest though 😂 I am also I camp ‘loved it’ for Little Rot - so dark but so good!! Annie Bot is high up my want to read list! I usually don’t like short stories but I’m tempted by Black Friday because I also loved CGAS. Tender is the Flesh is one of my favourite books!! What a reading month!!

[@BandysBooks]

Right?! I feel the same way when I watch your videos! 😅 Ahh I could see how Orbital might be snoozy. It definitely plods along. I loved Annie Bot and I think you likely will too. I feel like it does a good job of going past just the AI concept. Black Friday is definitely a heavy collection. Every story has some theme straight from the news. And yes! Tender was so good! I’m sure it’ll be in my top books this year as well. Thanks for the lovely comment! 💜

[@perfectlycoiffed05]

You read some powerful books! Thanks for sharing your thoughts…adding several to my list.

[@BandysBooks]

Definitely! I love deep themes. Thank you for dropping by and I’d love to hear what you think of the ones you read! 💜

[@AnnArcher-d8b]

The Wave by Susan Casey is fantastic! 🌊

[@BandysBooks]

@@AnnArcher-d8b I actually own a copy of it and am really looking forward to reading it. :)

[@Beaureads24]

Sounds like a handful of 5 ✨ you had.Always good choices of books. Luna love.. Added Wayward to tbr and trust also, sounds good. Enjoy your week

[@BandysBooks]

Thank you! Yes! Lots of Luna cuddles 😅 I hope you enjoy both Trust and Weyward. Wishing you a good week as well!

[@BookishTexan]

Fosse: The quality of his books definitely varies greatly by the amount of care he takes in establishing his characters. The writing is almost always beautiful. James: Great job explaining how reading HF helps make James better. Orbital: Didn’t work for me, but I understand what people see in it.

[@BandysBooks]

@@BookishTexan makes sense on Fosse! This one was lovely writing, but felt like not a lot of substance. Sorry to hear that Orbital didn’t work for you. I can definitely see why. Once again, pretty writing with zero plot.

[@MargaretPinard]

Ah! We read Master Slave Husband Wife in the same month! Interesting narrative nonfiction register for the voice, I thought. The author's note afterwards was interesting too.

[@BandysBooks]

Yes! Did you read it for the booktube prize? It was an interesting approach to nonfiction, but I found it really engaging.

[@MargaretPinard]

@@BandysBooks No, not sure why, but it sounded so good I picked it up twice--ran out of time the first go-round from the library! :P

[@MsBanks-lh5kw]

I live for this channel

[@BandysBooks]

Aww that’s so sweet of you to say! 💜

[@MsBanks-lh5kw]

@@BandysBooksit’s just the truth😊 you’re amazing❤

[@awebofstories]

What a great reading month! I was interested in your thoughts on Whale Fall. I had put a hold on that, but then I couldn't remember WHY I put that book on hold! I'm not sure if it is a priority for me, but I will give it a try eventually.

[@BandysBooks]

It’s a fine read, but nothing amazing honestly. It’s not very long, so you’ll burn through it.

[@lencilenci7408]

New subscriber here... Love you reading selection of fiction and nonfiction and NOO FANTASY...thanks already ordered Built with Fire!!!

[@BandysBooks]

@@lencilenci7408 hey there and welcome! I won’t lie and tell you that I never read fantasy, but out of 30 books it might be a couple of them. I love a good mix of fiction and nonfiction across genres and topics. I hope you enjoy Fire! It’s really an informative read.

[@jaynehunter-ar]

I agree with your comments about James. Reading Huck Finn first to remind myself of the details of the story made reading James an even richer experience

[@BandysBooks]

I’m so glad it worked well for you too! Yes, James definitely does the overall story more justice.

[@ChanelChapters]

Just found your channel x

[@BandysBooks]

Welcome and thank you for stopping by to say hello! 💜

[@bevo98506]

I found We Were Once A Family really powerful.

[@BandysBooks]

@@bevo98506 yes, such a good book!

[@AaronReadABook]

11 five star books is mad, I didn't even read 11 books. Annie Bot and Tender is the Flesh sound really interesting.

[@BandysBooks]

@@AaronReadABook In fairness, I had a lot of extra time due to being out for surgery. After August, my numbers will likely settle back into the usual 20ish books per month. I think both Tender Is The Flesh and Annie Bot are worth checking out.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’ve read three on your list Trust Weyward Orbits I’m currently listening to the audio of James I DNFd Bolla My recent 5 star reads My Friends by Hisham Matar The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes The Coast Road by Alan Murrin I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hapman Wild Houses by Colin Barrett Highway Thirteen by Fiona McFarlane The Burgess Boys & Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout The English Understand Wool

[@BandysBooks]

I hope you enjoy James. Good call on Bolla. I think Statovici’s writing just isn’t for me. I loved I Who Have Never Known Men. It was in my top 23 of 2023. Good to hear about The Alternatives. I’ve been eyeballing that one since it released. :)

[@forevermoodreading]

I also don't understand books with grown "unhinged" women making bad choices. It's very off putting. 🙄

[@BandysBooks]

@@forevermoodreading well definitely skip Grown Ups then because that’s all it was. 😅 Glad I’m not the only one.

[@BookishBaddie]

You have such a beautiful set up! I love that you chose to display it in the thumbnail because I can see we have similar taste and it made me click on the video! 🫶🏻

[@BandysBooks]

Thank you! It makes me happy to hear that you enjoy the bookshelves. They bring me a lot of joy. I see that you’ve got a new channel. I’ve subscribed and will be by as soon as I can to check out some of your videos. 💜