Best and Worst Reads of 2016

Subscribe for weekly videos! Expand for Links!
Books Mentioned:
Bleak House: bit.ly/1zb369d
Shirley: goo.gl/RLc2hC
David Copperfield: goo.gl/V4TyTg
The Return of the Native: goo.gl/D9cbqx
Doctor Thorne: goo.gl/g0n1ws
Find Me Elsewhere!
Tumblr: nineteenoone.tumblr.com
Twitter: @alysiamansfield
Goodreads: goo.gl/Ap63BH
If you want to support me you can use my affiliate link to make your purchases on Book Depository (it costs you nothing but gives me a commission off of everything you buy… which means I can buy more books!)

[@natashathebooklover]

I got so excited when I saw this video in my subscription feed! Far From The Madding Crowd is one of my favourite books of all time and I've been wanting to read another Hardy and tried with Tess but just couldn't get through it. After your author spotlight and now this video I'm convinced that my next will be either Return of the Native or The Woodlanders. Happy reading in 2017!

[@exlibris-fromthebooks]

+Natasha Monty ❤❤❤ Tess is a tricky one, it took me ages to get through it. The ending makes it worth it though so come back to it.

[@juliegoonie9924]

OMG!!!! I love your new short hair! Love this video💗

[@JulianneBenford]

I just finished reading my first short story by Trollope and I loved it. You know when you read an author for the first time and you know you're going to devour all their works? That. The most delicious feeling.

[@charminglife22]

I read David Copperfield in high school and just did not like it at all because I was new to the English language, but now I am looking forward to giving it another shot!

[@mapykaksim]

I've been on the fence about reading Vinegar Girl. Thanks for helping me make up my mind. Also, I'm so jealous that you have that edition of Shirley. I'm on a quest to find one that isn't $50.

[@exlibris-fromthebooks]

I was lucky and bought mine right before it went out of stock. It can happen though, I did eventually track down a copy of Nicholas Nickleby!

[@mapykaksim]

I'll keep my eyes peeled!

[@BohoBookworm]

Your hair looks lovely. Change is as good as a holiday!? haha I have The Bell Jar on my list of books I must read this year! Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Oh NOOOO so sad to hear your thoughts on Vinegar Girl! It's one of the books also on my to read list! Best Book: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Worst Book: After You by JoJo Moyes or It by Stephen King New subscriber, hope to keep in touch x

[@josiesparling7426]

not entirely convinced by your review of "ariel" - having done some basic research of plath's context i believe it is more nuanced than simple anti semitism. In "Daddy" she uses the relationship between the Nazi and the Jew to demonstrate her relationship between she and her father, who was very right wing and in support of the persecution of Jews; I'm fairly sure she was critical of this and in using the nazi/jew metaphor shes both demonstrating this and the way in which she felt a victim of her father. Perhaps it is insensitive for her to have related her largely privileged position to the plight of German Jews, but at the end of the day it seems her intention in this respect did not come from a place of hatred or intolerance for the Jewish community. Please let me know of your take on this so we can develop our interpretations together 🌼😊📚

[@Sam-iu4wt]

What did Atwood do?

[@exlibris-fromthebooks]

goo.gl/uA4WeL goo.gl/8OYqv5 Basically, her and a bunch of other prominent Can Lit authors co signed a letter in support of an accused rapist and Professor getting treated to a fair trial. Given the other major sexual abuse trial in Canada this year (Jian Ghomeshi) and its outcome it's safe to say rape culture is alive and very well in Canada at this time. It's disappointing that such a prominent figure in the Canadian feminist movement made such an error in judgement to align herself against the victims. After the statement was released and there was backlash Atwood just doubled down on her stance.

[@katiejlumsden]

Hoorah for all the Dickens.

[@BluInfinity]

I am in complete agreement about Vinegar Girl. I was incredibly underwhelmed by the entire thing. Tyler really phoned it in.

[@sarahhall4107]

Betsy Trottwood is my absolute favourite character! Words can not express the respect I have for her!

[@My.Curiosities]

I really want to read Dickens and Hardy this year with all the great things you've said about them. I've already read a short stories collection by Hardy (Little life ironies I think the title was) and it was wonderfully written. Speaking of books we don't like, I've just read "Mansfield Park" and I couldn't remember if you had read it and talked about it. I found it problematic, and wanted to know what you thought about it :)

[@exlibris-fromthebooks]

+Matilda I've read all of Austen's works. Mansfield Park is a tricky one. It's Austen's favourite but I've only read it once and found it lacked the charm of her other works. I should try and reread it as it's been years.

[@My.Curiosities]

I didn't know it was her favourite. I think I should reread it also in a few years, with other expectations, as this time I was quite disappointed.

[@exlibris-fromthebooks]

+Matilda Fanny Price is not an easy heroine to love. I think the side story's are to me the most interesting and scandalous.

[@Recovery82]

Best: the brothers karamazov Worst: the executioners song

[@margaretg7773]

Best: "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern Worst: "The Wives of Los Alamos" by Tarashea Nesbit Last book of 2016 "The Old Curiosity Shop" Dickens (but of course I don't have to mention the author to you in this case) :-) Great video and love your hair.

[@exlibris-fromthebooks]

+Margaret G thank you! I remember enjoying the night circus when I read it a couple of years ago ☺

[@NallyGene]

I would recommend not to give up on Atwood. She is a highly intelligent woman whom I've met twice, and she cares deeply about human/equal rights and her books reflect that. People can be quick to accuse people without all of the facts, and being in support of proper legal processes doesn't make someone pro-rapist. Just my two cents.

[@robotnic]

The only one of these I've read is The Dud Avocado aaand.... yeahhhh. It just promised so much and didn't deliver.

[@MrTttvideo]

Why its ok to say people of colour ,but wrong to say coloured people? Its the same thing!!! Btw ,white isnt a colour anymore???

[@LanaDelReyLover]

I appreciate your opinion but you do seem to dismiss books that focus on the topic of misogyny, racism and anti semitism. Don't you find those opinions interesting (and extremely stupid) since they reflect the mindset of the author and the times they were written in?