Book Haul | November 2017

[@annabaillie-karas1100]

I love the Moomins! Beautiful, imaginative books and Tove Jansson’s art so quirky and whimsical. I would start with Finn Family Moomintroll.

[@literarydiversions]

I am glad you started with the most important *nod nod* BUT... hiya, Who Let the Gods Out! I so hope it's as good as it looks. I wanna. Yes yes. Also, that jumper is the shizzle. It makes you look all warm and wintery. 💗 xxx

[@JeansThoughts]

The jumper is from Asos :D it has fluted sleeves! xx

[@cerim9339]

My day gets so much better when I get a notification of a Jean book haul video! Yaaaaay!

[@JeansThoughts]

+Ceri Boyd ❤️

[@The0nlyProdigy]

Yes! Another Lupin fan. Lupin is my favourite too but every time I tell someone that they don't get it 😭 He's amazing

[@JeansThoughts]

+RachelKitten Team Lupin! 💕

[@katrinatruksne]

Let's start with the most important book in the haul *picks up Harry Potter* glad to see your priorities are in order 😂❤

[@JeansThoughts]

+Katrina Truksne I definitely don’t ‘need to sort out my priorities’ 😉😉❤️

[@OpheliaVert]

I’d love to see a video about how to get relatively cheap books while still supporting the book industry. Morally, I always want to buy things in bookshops but as a student, it’s not always possible. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Lovely video as ever!

[@JeansThoughts]

+Ophelia Vert I think the best way to support authors and the book industry inexpensively is genuinely libraries. Unlike buying second hand books authors still make something from the lending of their book. Cheap bookstores are iffy, occasionally I buy from fopp because I like them as a record and film store but I’m not sure how much it supports the book industry.

[@GreenBitterfly]

I always wonder about The Works for example, I wondered whether the hardback biographies they have there are bought as excess stock from when the key period of peak buying of that type of book is over? If that makes sense!

[@OpheliaVert]

That's really helpful, thank you!

[@JeansThoughts]

It's definitely something worth researching as I'm not sure I'm well versed enough to explain everything but I do know the author etc make far less from books sold in shops like The Works. Sometimes cheap bookshops buy the right to print some of their own copies for a set fee.

[@jamesholder13]

Autobiography of Red is amazing!

[@JeansThoughts]

+James Holder I’m so excited to read it!

[@atousa5752]

the more of your videos I watch, the more I crave getting back into reading! and those moomin books are so cute, I want to collect for the covers if nothing else!!!

[@JeansThoughts]

Yay! Join us ;) I had a massive reading slump for about 3 years and got back into it in 2012 when I started watching people review books on youtube. It was such a wonderful re-discovery.

[@biblioobscura]

The Crimson Petal and the White has been on my TBR for so long! I really want to read it but then I remember it is eons long! Also, the list you read off for Sisters of the Revolution is such a great group of writers. Thanks for mentioning that book! :)

[@Viki-cq6rd]

Your selection is so interesting! Definitely going to pick up sisters of the revolution!

[@JeansThoughts]

Glad you enjoyed it and found something that caught your eye :D

[@ornleifs]

Witches and Tea shop - sound fun :-) I think you're going to like the Moomins - the TV shows are basically just kids shows - But the books have so much old soul wisdom hidden in the stories that they are a delight to read as an adult.

[@joreads8782]

I have Anne Carson’s Autobiography of Red on my shelf but haven’t got round to it yet. Now I know more about it!

[@JeansThoughts]

I hope we both enjoy it ^_^

[@MikeyF]

So I adooooore those editions of the Moomins books. I own all of them in Spanish. I might need those editions in English for my collection.

[@JeansThoughts]

How could you resist aha

[@govikings26]

I've had the Crimson Petal and the White on my shelves for years and I keep going back and forth over it because I want to read it, but I know it will be a few years until I will be in the mood for it - as odd as that sounds lol! Will definitely be checking out And Still I Rise and Sisters of the Revolution ~ Happy Reading!

[@SpinstersLibrary]

I got the previous two illustrated Harry Potter books for Christmas the last two years, so here's hoping.... and The Book of Dust is also on my list for November! We are going to see Philip Pullman talk soon and I can't wait!

[@JeansThoughts]

That's awesome, enjoy! I'm sure he'll be amazing.

[@inessamaria2428]

I hope you make a review about Who Let the Gods Out. #fingerscrossed

[@exlibrisdabarai8773]

On cheap, lovely, easy to do meals - slowcooker is my saviour, I use it all the time and it is sooo convenient and food is delicious. Also, Moomins are massive in Poland, so I know all these books, but haven't read the diaries. I would recommend Fin Family Moomin troll as a starter, although the Comet is the one Iintroducing characters, I think.

[@MaijaReads]

The order of those Moomin books is Comet in Moominland, Finn Family Moomintroll, The Memoirs of Moominpappa, and Moominland Midwinter. But it's not a really strict reading order, since they do work as standalones - some new characters might just come to live in Moomin Valley and then stay for the next book. My favourite is Finn Family Moomintroll, but I also love Moominsummer Madness.

[@JeansThoughts]

Everyone seems to be raving about Finn Family Moomintroll. It's between that and Comet in Moominland, I guess I'm going to have to go with my gut. Order has never terribly bothered me if the story lines aren't greatly connected. Thanks for the clarification ^_^

[@MaijaReads]

I'd go with Finn Family Moomintroll. :) Happy reading!

[@bookowlie4376]

I love Moomin😍. I think “Finn Family Moomintroll” was the first one translated into English, but in Sweden “Comet in Moominland” is considered the first book in the series☺️

[@JeansThoughts]

+BookOwlie ah that’s really clear! Thanks for explaining that. I might for comet then

[@CUTIEE109]

Your book hauls are so diverse and unique! I want to buy literally every book in this video lol

[@JeansThoughts]

Thank you! I do enjoy a bit of everything aha. I'm glad you enjoy it.

[@KendraWinchester]

I read THE BOOK OF STRANGE NEW THINGS last Christmas and just hauled THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE. Perhaps I'll read Faber again this Christmas...? And I am so, SO excited for THE BOOK OF DUST. I think I am going to get to it on audio VERY soon.

[@JeansThoughts]

A Faber for Christmas aha, sounds like an excellent plan. I definitely need to read one before the year is out. I'm thinking I'll start with the shortest one though aha.

[@Iry951]

Cook books with illustrations are the best! I love those :) I myself have quite a few of them now :)

[@JeansThoughts]

+Beautiful pages yes! I need to see what I’m cooking is supposed to look like

[@BorichaConsumer]

Turtles is different, and yet still feels VERY John Green. I think it stands up well with the rest of his bibliography.

[@JeansThoughts]

I'm definitely intrigued to see how it compares. I think he has a very distinctive/standard way of writing that you can expect from his books but then this plot sounds so different.

[@danecobain]

The Amber Spyglass is the only book that's ever made me cry, that ending though. I think you should read that first because I haven't read The Book of Dust yet so you can keep me company :D

[@JeansThoughts]

Damn I ned to get to it then.

[@danecobain]

SO MANY BOOKS SO LITTLE TIME

[@miereads4377]

The moomin books are so great, I really hope you will enjoy them. The TV series based on them was also lovely, but very simplyfied and made for younger children than the books themselves. They are so much more sophisticated,atmosferic,funny,scary and heartwarming than the TV show. Hope you will let us know what you think of them once you have read them :)

[@inessamaria2428]

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is my fave Harry Potter book, I saw the illustrated one at the bookstore, but it is very expensive.

[@JeansThoughts]

+Inessa Maria I noticed it’s half price in Sainsbury’s the supermarket :)

[@Xenu]

After thousands of videos and many years of watching your channel I have to say that that is probably the cutest thumbnail of you I've seen yet. The combo of the colorful, pretty sweater and the way you and the books positioned: great thumbnail. :-) I don't read much contemporary YA but I've heard great thumbs of Philip Pullman. Does the fact that you've never completed the trilogy mean you're not the biggest fan of the series? What do you think of the Rick Riordan "Percy Jackson" books. For obvious reasons I've found those intriguing possible to-be-reads.

[@JeansThoughts]

I only read the first two in the past couple of years and I just haven't gotten around to book 3 yet but will. I guess I'm not in love or I would have desperately wanted to finish them but they are enjoyable. Perhaps if I'd read them when I was younger I would have fallen as deeply in love as some people have. I haven't read Percy Jackson for some reason I've never felt drawn to them but maybe I'll change my mind after Who Let the Gods Out aha.

[@JustCHICHI]

Jeannnnn, I'm so gonna bug you by requesting for more university and study related videos / updates on the phd. I'm planning to apply to a phd program, but I'm currently pregnant and not sure if it's an advisable commitment. What do you think?

[@ellenannmary]

Finn Family Moomintroll is the best place to start IMO!

[@JeansThoughts]

+Ellen W it seems to be between that and comet... this is tricky aha

[@ReadEatGameRepeat]

I had to read a Crimson Petal and the White for School - its such a great book, I read it about a year and a half ago and the ending still has my head spinning a little ^_^ I hope you enjoy reading it

[@JeansThoughts]

+Annedrie that’s great, especially when school can have a negative effect on books, it must be good!

[@laurawilson8646]

I would say start with comet in mominland.

[@JeansThoughts]

Thanks!

[@gargapurv]

My first video of your channel was on U.Edinburgh and since then I have been watching videos time to time. I have a question which is completely out of context. I was reading a lot about Edinburgh these days and found that Edinburgh is quite spooky. I behave cowardly when it comes to ghosts. Is it really a ghost city or paranormal activities are just confined to few places there? I am really sorry for such a weird and silly question.

[@HannahCassieBooks]

So many great books and somehow you holding the pretty covers is making me really wanna go and buy books but I am on book buying bad :(

[@JeansThoughts]

Aha that's book covers doing there job then, making you want to buy the book.

[@quirkydee45]

Jonathan Pie sounds a bit like the UK's Stephen Colbert :) (Or is Colbert known over there? maybe more now that his talk show's in primetime here.. maybe you could Colbert Report eps the way I sometimes catch Russel Howard's The Good News bits on here?)

[@JeansThoughts]

You can watch him here ^_^ his whole thing is that he is playing the part of a news reporter ranting in-between takes: kzbin.info

[@lauramurphy8989]

You should definitely read Michel Faber!

[@JeansThoughts]

+lauramurphy8989 before the year is out! This shall be my goal ^_^

[@Nerdamania]

Finland mentioned! (...well..almost, anyway..)

[@JeansThoughts]

Aha next time I will make sure to say Finland! ^_^

[@cocoswan3844]

I love your sweater

[@JeansThoughts]

Thank you :D it's from Asos.

[@iamcuriousidiot]

I'm russian and I've been living in UK for 5 years. I am a feminist, I believe in equal opportunities for all and that all people are equal :) Pussy Riot is a joke, and honestly a shame of feminism, i'm not sure what the point of their "protest" was. Being an athiest myself, I don't have particular admiration towards religion. But if that happened in a mosque in UK, people would label this as innapropriate and islamophobic. However, this happening in a church in Russia is "brave". Doing such things in a church is inappropriate: whether it's men dancing half naked or women. They should not have been locked up in prison, it makes them look "legitimate" in their protest, making them look like victims. Yes, some people have a prejudice against women in Russia (just like in many countries, including UK), but who has a bigger effect: a woman engineer, breaking stereotypes and SHOWING that women can do everything that men can do, or a woman dancing half naked in a church, demanding equal treatment for men and women but at the same time demanding special treatment to herself(because what they did is completely inappropriate regardless who does it)...? I believe that doing has a bigger affect than just talking about something.

[@iamcuriousidiot]

BTW, i love your picks apart from the pussy riot book haha especially in love with the illustrated HP book

[@JeansThoughts]

+A K I think the main point is that they were imprisoned though, although they did nothing violent. I think whether racism in someway motivates someone’s interactions with any religion/religious building also changes the dynamic. I won’t comment any further until I’ve read the book however.

[@JeansThoughts]

Aha you can't go wrong with illustrated HP xx

[@JustCHICHI]

I completely agree with Jean when it comes to comparing forms of activism - when you say female engineer, remember that access to education is a class privilege which women have historically been denied. There's nothing inherently superior about privileged women being educated in fields categorically associated with masculinity (ie: science) over women engaging in direct form of activism against dogmatic and sexually oppressive institutions such as the church. Lastly, Catholicism has far more power and superiority in the West that you can't compare a protest against the Catholic church in Russia to a protest against a mosque in the UK. The equivalent would be if Muslim women in a Muslim country protested a mosque in the way that Pussy Riot did. And even then, it's not left for people living in the West and therefore far removed from the context to judge or reprimand the actions of the female protesters in a Muslim context. Just saying.

[@JustCHICHI]

But I also want to add that I empathize with your frustration. Because you're Russian, you have more right than anyone else to find their actions offensive, since you understand the social climate there.