Belated April Book Haul | 2024

I know, I know, it’s midway through May and yet here I am with my April #BookHaul oops. Better belated than never right - no don’t mention wrap ups hahaha. So as always I’m chatting about some of the books sent by publishers, all the books I got myself and, for a change, start with a special selection of books I was spending by some lovely folk. I hope you enjoy. #BookTube #BookChat
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[@MJ-in-Canada]

There should be a blurb on the cover of Khaled Alesmael’s “Selamlik” that simply says: “Phoar!” - Simon Savidge.”😆

[@SavidgeReads]

I completely agree hahaha.

[@grrrumpypanda]

Can't wait for the Women's Prize video with your lovely mum! 🫶

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh you will be getting two, fiction here, non fiction on mums channel.

[@kathleenwalsh3556]

Fair enough!

[@benreadsgood]

I neeeeeed to finally read Glorious Exploits because it’s been sitting on my bedside table for *months* and I’ve still not picked it up! Fab haul as ever 👏

[@SavidgeReads]

You do. It’s a corker. I still think about it a lot. And know mum thought it was brilliant too.

[@rebeccamaclean6242]

Loved Clear by Carys Davies!

[@SavidgeReads]

It is brilliant isn't it, I have loved all of her books. Clear is one of my favourites.

[@zara6472]

Currently reading The Housekeepers by Alex Hay and enjoying the heist premise. I'm looking forward to learning everyone's secrets as they try to pull off the grand scheme

[@SavidgeReads]

I really, really enjoyed that book.

[@katrinaandallthebooks7993]

Amazing bookhaul, I want so many of them. Completely agree about book covers, I also get thrown when the America/paperback/hardbacks have a completely different vibe for example the Daisy Jones paperback looked like a holiday romance not a book about a famous musician. Or Remarkably Bright Creatures, the little horse cover makes me think it’s a very different story. Sorry for the rant 😂

[@SavidgeReads]

Not a rant at all, well didn’t come across as one anyway. I find the whole different covers all over the world thing really interesting.

[@onourpath]

I read The Need by Helen Phillips recently, and it was so completely creepy and delicious!

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh. I feel like she’s an autumn author. Though as I love autumn and wish it was mostly autumn all the time I should read those books all year round.

[@onourpath]

@@SavidgeReads I always want it to be autumn as well!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Green is always a great colour on you Simon ❤

[@SavidgeReads]

💚

[@nathansnook]

love me a haul video! had no idea there was a new Aciman book. and keeping my eyes peeled for Hum!

[@SavidgeReads]

I really want to read Enigma Variations after I saw you talk about it. So it’s one too look out for. His new one is quite different, short, magical/uncanny with one scene I feel hugely unsure about 🤔

[@SueWard]

The housekeepers was soooooooo enthralling

[@SavidgeReads]

Yes it was quite the corker. I have heard he has just signed a new book deal and something will be coming summer 2025. I will be getting it.

[@kathleenwalsh3556]

Hi Simon what a haul! I read The Need as recommended by Jen Campbell but, oh dear not for me. Am reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and just finished Abigail Dean's Day One, both reading copies from work and both excellent.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oh well, we can’t all like the same things. That would be very boring. I don’t get Ann Patchett for example. But am thrilled you do 😉

[@woodlandbunny]

Lovely haul as always 😊 Adding so many to the ever growing wishlist!

[@GreenBitterfly]

Big Sky is my favourite Jackson Brodie novel of the series and I think it's now in my favourite books of all time list. I'm really looking forward to the new Jackson Brodie book.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooooh that’s got me all the more excited for Blue Sky. I didn’t read it on holiday in the end but will be soon.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

I’ve watched 1:44 of this video and already I feel compelled to voice my appreciation for your use of the simple but to the point word: frankly. Oh the joy! The wonder and awe of a varied vocabulary! One can only hear so many hoooonestly, to be honest, or even tbh, until one’s soul starts to shrink a little and lose some of its colour. Not to mention the ngl:s. I’m obviously guilty of reusing the same expressions over and over again as well, and I am not one to judge others who appear to be doing their best. But hearing that frankly made my little brain cells do a jiggle and a dance, and my soul can once again be called vibrant. Thank you.

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha, a pleasure. Though I do use the other ones quite a lot too, not gonna lie... frankly. Hehehe.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@SavidgeReads Of course, otherwise there would be no variety! 😊

[@marjoriedybec3450]

I recently finished a 5-star NF book which I can't wait to share with your mum's channel (shhh, don't tell her.) "Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent" by Dame Judi Dench is incredible. Its quite an important book IMO--something scholars and actors will reference for decades. At the same time, Dench is not scholarly or academic. In fact she is bawdy, humble, saucy. Brendan OHea and she have a series of conversations about her many roles. She recounts stories and remembers every vivid detail. The stories seem ordinary until you think about what she is describing and they you realize how extraordinary they are! I can't wait to read Shakespeare's many plays now. I have never read one in its entirety. Its not necessary to fully enjoy this book. Also I would strongly recommend the audiobook rather than print--or maybe both together. So good; so fun.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh, mum and I saw Judi Dench last year at Hampton Court Palace and thought she was wonderful, she read (from memory) and performed quite a lot of Shakespeare that night and even I, who is not a fan of Shakespeare at all, really enjoyed it. Funnily enough I am doing an event on Shakespeare in June in Oxford.

[@marjoriedybec3450]

@@SavidgeReads audioread her book first!

[@marjoriedybec3450]

Also I wish I could be there!

[@karenmoore4430]

Some great books here Simon thanks. Just bought Disobedience for my never ending tbr

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha, that's how TBRs should be IMHO.

[@amyschmelzer6445]

Hum was one of my favorites so far. I had an ARC. It was weird all along. Then when I hit the last page I realized what it was about. I don’t see you reading a lot of speculative fiction, so I hope you like it as much as I did.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh sounds very promising.

[@RovingReader]

Omg!!! Downton Abbey meets a heist?!! I’m staying with Sarah again so so soon! Can’t wait 🎉🎉🎉

[@SavidgeReads]

It was sooooooo lovely to meet Sarah in real life after about 14 years of chatting online. A lovely lovely time. You’ll have to pinch The Housekeepers off her. Hahaha.

[@RovingReader]

@@SavidgeReads Yeah, I knew you'd been close for years, but didn't realized until this video that you'd never met IRL! I love that so so much that you finally connected :)

[@melissafirman1962]

OMG, I didn't know there was a new Julia Armfield! I loved Salt Slow. Could there be anything more divine than a book spa retreat? Yes, please. You and SJP need to do a book event. It must happen. What a great book haul. I know you said no sympathy, but hopefully you'll be feeling 100% soon.

[@SavidgeReads]

I would literally love to do an event with SJP. IMAGINE!!! I’m very behind with Julia Armfield. Haven’t read her last novel yet. So need to get to that soon.

[@triciapearce8545]

Just pre-ordered the new Evie Wyld. Thanks 🙏 and would love a blog on award winners ❤👍👏

[@SavidgeReads]

I can confirm that the new Evie Wyld is an absolute corker!

[@Nastya-readsandlifts]

There is a bird singing in the video about 9’20’’+. And it took me a minute to figure out it is not in my backyard :D Thank you for the video! Happy reading! I do hope to grab some of these from a local library.

[@SavidgeReads]

The birds have been on form recently, they even sang through a storm over the weekend. Lol.

[@whatraereads]

Currently reading Doppelgänger by Naomi Klein on audio and really enjoying it! Very intrigued by Sociopath btw, i almost picked it up the other day (thinking i'll give it a go 🤔). So many great books here i don't know how you pick your next read haha

[@SavidgeReads]

ZOMG. My new favourite person on KZbin has commented. I die! I may not r(a)ecover. Ha! I didn’t love Naomi’s narration but that’s the one I’m most scared of and so that may be one of the one I do on audio… plus can copy you. Ha. Picking the next book, now there’s a whole thing. Though I’m about to have a mega unhaul, park up and fill your boots, well your car boot. Ha.

[@whatraereads]

@@SavidgeReads You're too kind 💗seeing the amount of books you own makes me feel a tiny bit better about my own book buying addiction lol !

[@katiechatseyeshadow4394]

I’m reading a Kate Atkinson for your prompt of the month (a god in ruins)🙂 Also went to Mowgli in Glasgow last week after you had mentioned it in a previous blog, was lovely.

[@SavidgeReads]

Mowgli is the best sooooooo pleased you went. The Glasgow one is a particularly lovely one.

[@alisonsarahcarroll6063]

I’m reading the house keepers Simon, and I’m enjoying it did you enjoy the book

[@SavidgeReads]

Oh yes, I wouldn’t have shared the paperback if I hadn’t as I talked about it quite a bit last year when it came out in hardback.

[@sabinagruden2702]

Oh, Sociopath is an amazing book! I listened to it as an audiobook read by the author. Those kind of books are very important in my opinion. It's very educational and interesting.

[@SavidgeReads]

I am really looking forward to it, just have to read all the Women's Prize for Non Fiction shortlist first.

[@sabinagruden2702]

@@SavidgeReads looking forward to your thoughts on all the books! I really adore your videos 🥰

[@susprime7018]

At the moment, my favorite read is Magnificent Rebel, Nancy Cunard in Jazz Age Paris by Anne De Courcy, I also enjoyed her book The Vice Roy's Daughters. Night and Day by Virginia Woolf is getting more interesting. Thank you.❤

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh I’ve not heard of a those. I’ll have to do some digging!

[@bookquilteraz]

Lots of wonderful books; Currently reading Sleeping Giants by Rene Denfeld

[@onourpath]

I found that book so beautiful and so terrifying, at the same time.

[@bookquilteraz]

@@onourpath I have 50 pages left and there are times I can't put it down and times I don't want to pick it back up.

[@onourpath]

@@bookquilteraz Denfeld is just so good! She somehow manages that blending of gorgeous with dread. All of her fiction is like that.

[@lindaleehall]

Crooked Plow was translated by Johnny Lorenz. Wonderful book

[@SavidgeReads]

Oops did I miss the translator out, naughty me.

[@amy_harboredinpages8272]

☀️📖😌📚

[@SavidgeReads]

🥳📚

[@cindyhaiken5644]

Yowsa! What a haul! Saw Sarah Perry at Toppings in Edinburgh. She was amazing and I can’t wait to read Enlightenment. Also did the 3 for 2 thing in Blackwell’s twice so six books. No self control at all. You’ve made me desperate for the new Evie Wyld and also so keen for a new Kate Atkinson. Finally got and read The Golden Mole by Katherine Rundell and loved it. And on Table for Two, you can try 1-2 of the short stories and see what you think without making a big commitment. Just saying. It’s got a very different tone from Gentleman in Moscow. So many great books, so little time!

[@SavidgeReads]

Soooooooo pleased you loved The Golden Mole. You know I need to know what those six books were, right? You can’t leave me hanging like this. Lol

[@cindyhaiken5644]

@@SavidgeReads Ha! Windmill Hill by Lucy Atkins, The Chosen by Elizabeth Lowry, Uncle Paul by Celia Fremlin, 73 Dove Street by Julie Owen Maylan, Dead Man’s Creek by Chris Hammer and Lord Jim at Home by Dinah Brooke. Whew!

[@donnismonk]

That was overwhelming to watch, let alone read! How do you even begin to choose?

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha, well I have read a few but mainly it is 'do I have a work deadline for any of these' and then just by what I fancy. I am actually about to have a real shelf sort out... and I am going to be tough.

[@iamtherealjulia]

About Amor Towles, try Rules of Civility set in NYC in the late 1930s. Flows better than A Gentleman from Moscow. The main characters I believe re-appear in Table for Two.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh ok. Maybe I’ll try that at some point. Thanks.

[@LiteraryLife]

Definitely recommend reading Rules Of Civility first. Eve is a great character and you appreciate her so much more in Table For Two @SavidgeReads

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

You’ll have to come to Donegal to meet SJP. She has a holiday home there.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha, I am back in Ireland in July, though Dublin this time.

[@markhnk]

What's the problem with Kairos? I thought it was pretty great.

[@SavidgeReads]

I haven't enjoyed Erpenbeack before and this one, an affair in Berlin, just doesn't appeal to me at all. I really want to go to Berlin, I have very little interest in reading books set there which is weird.

[@juditkovacs1205]

Question for the reading for work vlog: Any and all details about if you read it differently than you would read it just for yourself? I am always very curious about this when booktubers talk about reading for work. What is the difference if any? Do you have a method to prepare for an event related to a book?

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooooh. I’ll try and answer this in a forthcoming vlog. Thanks for the lovely questions. Just need to work out how I capture the answers. Hahahaha.

[@tammyripp998]

I am 40 pages into Real Americans and loving it! I had very high expectations for Table for Two and was disappointed (liked 3 of the short stories, not the rest and I love Rules of Civility).

[@SavidgeReads]

Real Americans gives me Women’s Prize for Fiction 25 vibes so I need to get to it at some point. Plus yours and C Pam Zhang’s raves.

[@mradcaqbdb]

Just looked at Glorious Exploits in more detail including listening to the audiobook sample. I will definitely be getting this book! Just trying to decide between hard copy and audiobook. The author narrates it, so it has that plus and he does a great job with the sample. But those googly-eyes are also calling me. Either way, it sounds fantastic! I also reserved Cinema Love at the library. Have you seen the glorious US cover? Speaking of covers! What a dilemma. I very much want to read Helen Phillips’s new one, Hum, having loved her last book, The Need. It comes out in the US four months before the UK, but the US cover is absolutely abysmal and the UK cover reminds me a lot of the great cover of The Need. I think I’ll probably be waiting until November for the better cover. And the new Evie Wyld! OMG! I’ve had it preordered for some time. I’m so excited for this, I can’t even tell you! Lastly, the cover (and description) of the Edmund White has had me intrigued for some time. Great haul!

[@Nastya-readsandlifts]

I’ve just started Glorious Exploits (physical copy), 50 pages in and love it so far.

[@SavidgeReads]

I don't always think that authors narrating novels is a plus, hahaha. I have experienced some duds, sorry Paul Auster RIP. I have a feeling Ferdia will be a great reader of his own work though. I have not seen the US edition of Cinema Love, I shall look it up. The new Evie Wild is great. You have reminded me that I haven't sent my quote for the next proofs!

[@Emelectric1001]

Have you read The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenje? Another gothic historical but I love love loved it. Has Rebecca echoes… Rebecchoes? 😂

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh I haven’t. I shall make a note of it and see if it crosses my path in an indie bookshop. Thank you.

[@MJ-in-Canada]

"Brotherless Night" won the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.

[@SavidgeReads]

Yes, I saw this morning.

[@karenkatz5260]

I saw SJP in Plaza Suite, she was amazing 🤩 I would be very interested to know how libraries choose the books they buy. Think that question might relate to your previous job role. Personally don’t think you’ve missed anything by DNFing Our wives under the sea 🙊

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh now I don’t actually know the answer to that question. I didn’t really understand it when I was in libraries. I gather it’s different in every service because they have different audiences, requests and budgets. Sorry I can’t help more on that one.

[@ahotcupofteaandagoodbook]

Great haul. What is your job and how did you get into?

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha. Now that’s a great question with a very random answer. Hahaha.

[@onourpath]

I looked for the Aciman book but could only find the audio. Could you give me the isbn for the finished copy?

[@SavidgeReads]

I’m sure they’ll have all that info on the Blackwells website… plus free shipping worldwide 😉

[@onourpath]

@SavidgeReads Ah, thanks, will check there. I met Aciman once -- he was the sweetest, most self-deprecating author ever! He seemed genuinely pleased when I trapped him in an elevator and gushed profusely about his books! 💚

[@spexi513]

📖 🪱 💚

[@SavidgeReads]

📚🪱

[@juliagarzarella2113]

quizzical 🪐

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh that’s a good one but not quite it. Isn’t it funny when there’s certain word you can’t quite get. It makes my tongue itchy. Hahaha.