Every book I read in April (and much more!) | Reading wrap-up

[@benreadsgood]

Pop any questions for the 1k Q&A in the comments! Thank you all for your support ❤

[@rebecca.reader]

Congratulations on 1k subs! Your channel is great! It always brings a smile to my face when one of your videos pops up on my screen. My question would be: What books did you love as a child? As a teenager? And also a younger adult ? Which are your milestone books?

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Rebecca - that’s so kind of you to say! And thank you for your questions 🙏

[@bandkh90]

Really enjoying your reviews and channel. Cool, calm, concise delivery which is right up my alley. Thanks for what you do!

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you for your kind comment, and for watching! Glad the way I've been doing it works for you. When I first started I was a bit worried that it was a little boring, but it has been nice to see what I'm doing is what some folks out there are after 🙏

[@mradcaqbdb]

I’ve never had an interest in reading A Little Life until listening to your review of the stage production. I don’t really want to read it, of course, but I want to fill in some of the blanks you left unsaid. I love Norton and saw him at the Donmar a couple of years ago and I still wouldn’t go to see this. Perhaps Wikipedia is my friend here… 🫢 I loved Black Butterflies. I loved Wandering Souls too and wish both had made it. I think so many of us have a book they would have preferred to see on the shortlist to Pod. Anyway, those two were five star reads for me. I still haven’t read The Marriage Portrait, but I will. I will. And I’d like to read or listen to The Bandit Queens. The list at the library is quite long though. Another five star read was… Riambel! But you know this from my reply to Louise’s video the other day. I will say that I know I missed the point of much of the poetry, but I still think it’s a beautiful, heartbreaking novel with a great sense of place. And… I thought This Other Eden was fantastic as well. Listening to your review, I think my experience wouldn’t have been quite so good had I read it instead of listening to it. Congratulations on 1K! Now 1.25K! Well deserved! Yours is my favorite new channel. I think I’ve been watching for maybe two months.

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you for such a great comment! If you don't want to watch or read A Little Life, perhaps Wikipedia is the way to go. Or perhaps there's a spoilery reading vlog out there someone has done? Could be fun. Glad we're on the same page on Black Butterflies and Wandering Souls. I'd definitely prioritise The Bandit Queens over The Marriage Portrait, unless you're on a quest to complete the shortlist. I am so glad you loved Riambel! I actually found out the other week that the author saw the review and was really pleased, which amazed me 🤯 Meant to mention it in the video. Interesting on This Other Eden - makes sense that someone reading aloud would make those sentences easier to digest. I actually do wonder if I'm doing the book a disservice. I tend not to go too deep on plot in my wrap-ups, but there are many moments that will stick with me. I just wish I jived more with the writing style. Thank you for your support 🙌

[@joanamarques6184]

Just wanted to leave a quick comment of appreciation. I’ve discovered your channel a few days ago and proceeded to watch all your videos. Thank you for the great content! I love the perspective you give, the calmness of your voice, the quality of videos and the topics/books you feature. If you ever doubt if there are people out there who love your work, doubt no more!

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Joana, that’s so kind of you to say! Thanks so much for watching - I’m really glad you hear you have liked it so far. It’s actually really interesting to imagine all the videos being seen in just a few days. It’s been 6 months of making them, and it feels like I have (hopefully) got a bit better at distilling my thoughts and putting the videos together. My first videos seem so long ago now! I’d be curious to know if the older videos seem ‘different’ at all to the newer ones 😅

[@joanamarques6184]

@@benreadsgood I’d say you have definitely become more comfortable and brought some good different ideas since staring. Also, I think you mentioned some other booktubers like Eric Karl Anderson? and I’ve definitely seen their influence in your videos… it’s always great to see art in conversation with one another

[@benreadsgood]

@@joanamarques6184 Thanks Joana! I have been a long time viewer of Eric’s videos 😅

[@MartinMagovsky]

thanks for your kind reply...do keep up your excellent reviews for all the book prizes...i follow all the prize from here in italy....

[@nicolesquires141]

Great channel Ben. Thanks for sticking with it!

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks Nicole - and thank you for sticking with me! 😅

[@mildrumpus]

Congrats on reaching 1K subs. When I saw "A Little Life" at BAM last year, a woman seated in the row in front of me (on stage) passed out during the first disturbing scene.

[@benreadsgood]

Wow, some drama to go with the drama! To be fair, stuff like that often makes me feel a bit queasy. Going to a close-quarters theatre performance of Trainspotting was not my finest hour.

[@lozzyjohnson85]

Great review of A Little Life, such a powerful play!

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks Lauren! It was really well put together, and I enjoyed it a lot. Glad you did as well 😊

[@Bront-ki2im]

Thanks for your sharing, i enjoy your reviews.. ☺️☺️☺️

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@gailhewitt1467]

Congratulations on 1000 subscribers! You're already one of my top go-to channels for books. My favourite read of April was I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti which was featured on Between the Covers.

[@benreadsgood]

That's so nice, Gail - thank you so much! ❤️ I'll have to watch the Between The Covers episode that features I'm Not Scared. I find that show a real comfort watch, Sara Cox's terrible puns included 😂

[@readandre-read]

Congratulations on 1000 subscribers!

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you so much - I can hardly believe it!!!

[@cmleidi]

Congratulations on the 1,000 subscribers. I'm with you on I'm a Fan. I thought it should have been shortlisted and I was so disappointed that other books were chosen instead.

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you so much 🙏 And here's to justice for I'm A Fan! Hope it picks up another of the prizes it has been nominated for this awards season.

[@MartinMagovsky]

really enjoy your programs...please continue....martin from italy

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Martin, that's a really kind thing to say. I appreciate you watching 🙏

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

Congrats on 1k! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on A Little Life. It would definitely be too much for me to watch although I have read the book. My question (if it's not too late!) is what's your favourite cake? 🍰

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks Jennifer! I will be DELIGHTED to answer that question 😁

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

@@benreadsgood haha 😁

[@charlottemolloy]

I'm really looking forward to reading This Other Eden soon! It's on my radar for Booker 2023! Congrats on 1k Ben! 😁

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks Charlotte! I do wonder if I’ve done This Other Eden a bit of a disservice really - there is a heartbreaking story in there, I just didn’t hugely jive with the writing style. Hope you like it!

[@cecilialau_]

Congratulations! How amazing that your channel has grown so much so quickly - well deserved! ☺️ Something that could be fun to know would be what book or experience got you into reading? And maybe you could make a video about you reading “journey” - if there have been highs and lows in terms of your interests, and maybe if there has been a shift in what type of books you enjoy? If you have a “worst” book or a book from each decade/stage in your life (not that you asked for video ideas… lol 😅)

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Cecilia - it's really taken me by surprise! And thank you for your questions, I'll be sure to include some of these 🙌 (and maybe they could become standalone videos if I have too much to say 😂)

[@SavidgeReads]

Congrats on 1k!

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Simon - really appreciated your support 🙌

[@lauracorsi3309]

Congratulations on your success!! 🎉

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Laura! 🙏

[@CharlieBrookReads]

Can’t believe you nearly walked into Kit Connor and also that Hanya Yanagihara was in the audience at the same time as you!! ❤️ Congratulations on hitting 1k very well deserved!! 🎉🎉🎉 Q- Which author would you most like to have dinner with and why? Which is your most precious in your collection? Doesn’t have to be expensive, could be for sentimental reasons ☺️

[@benreadsgood]

I know it's mad isn't it!!! I had just come out of the loos and my hands were still wet and I was very startled 😂 Thank you so much for the congrats and the questions 🙏

[@brittlizzzzzz]

Congrats on 1k! Well deserved! Q- which book or character do you feel the most connected to?

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks Britt! And thank you for your question 🙏

[@joangavrilik3009]

Congrats!

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Joan 🙏

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Congratulations on 1K subscribers 🎉🥳🤩

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks so much - I can hardly believe it!

[@YourTrueShelf]

Am I too late for questions?! If not, which prize would you like to judge, and which 3 fellow judges would you pick? Also what's your day job just cause I'm nosy!! A little life sounds amazing. The last book - this is the kind of thing that you can't believe really happened 💔 very interesting the comment you made about eugenics, that got me thinking.

[@benreadsgood]

To my shame… no you are not too late because I still haven’t filmed the Q&A. Thank you for the questions! And yeah, it’s eye-opening how horribly people used to be treated, and how rife eugenics was.

[@GunpowderFictionPlot]

Congrats on making it to 1k so quickly. What is your process for making a video? I mostly see you reading new release literature, so do you read classics? If so what do you enjoy?

[@benreadsgood]

Thank you Scott! Quite hard to believe really 😅 And thank you for your questions - I’ll add them to the list!

[@joanamarques6184]

If you could learn any language to be able to read the books in that language with no translation, which one would you learn?

[@benreadsgood]

Good question - thank you! 🙏

[@joanamarques6184]

Idk if anyone has asked this, but I really want to know: what books released in the last few years do you think will become classics in the future?

[@benreadsgood]

That’s a great question, which will definitely require a bit of thinking. Thank you! 🙏

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

The best book I read in April was Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton I also read lots of Australian books ( mainly thrillers) White Girl Dead Mans Creek Those Who Perish Outback Dirt Town The Stoning ☘️👋🍀📖📕📚☕️

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks for sharing Jacqueline - any from that list that shouldn’t be missed?!

[@fayesparallelstories]

Congratulations on reaching 1000 subscribers! Tell us what your booktube hghlights were so far in your Q&A 😊

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks Faye! Great question, I’ll add it to the list 😊

[@ameliareads589]

Is there are fictional character you could yourself in?

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks Amelia! Just to double check: are you asking if there is a fictional character I can see myself in?

[@spexi513]

Congratulations on the 1k! I am certain this is only the beginning of the k milestones 📖🪱💚

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks so much - that's so kind! It's been lovely to be part of the community 😊

[@spexi513]

Read Marriage Portrait, Memphis, Bandit Queens, Stone Blind, Demon Copperhead and Pod…. And tbh the latter 2 are my votes. I’m equally majority and minority 😳. I do want to read black butterflies & feel that has the potential to change my votes. Blahdiggityblah 📖🪱💚

[@benreadsgood]

I'd definitely recommend giving Black Butterflies a go!