Favorite books of the year (so far)

[@EricKarlAnderson]

So glad you read Tides and found it so powerful AND coincidentally I’m watching this in Lyon while on my way back to London. Also I agree how excellent Olga is - I loved The Employees and still need to read My Work. While I’ve been in France I’ve been reading Tell Me Everything aloud to my husband and it’s been great fun using different voices to dramatise the many different characters conversations. I agree Strout’s writing gives such a warm feeling.

[@benjaminjournal]

Tides was so so powerful. Omg no way, you being in Lyon! You reading Tell Me Everything to your husband might me the most incredible thing I have ever heard. I would love to be a fly on the wall!!!!!!!

[@sim444n]

i love your new haircut!! suits you so well

[@benjaminjournal]

thank you so much!

[@z111.01]

Clarice Lispector mentioned? I'm here for it.

[@sarahg9280]

Loving the new tattoos, Ben!! You look STUNNING XX

[@benjaminjournal]

Thank you so much!!! xxx

[@kiranreader]

ahh!! i can't wait for the if only vlog!!

[@benjaminjournal]

it’s coming along slowly but surely!!!!!!

[@casskrug]

okay the hair? stunning!! tides is such a good one, super underrated. the maylis de kerangal and the mark doty sound really interesting thank you for putting them on my radar!!

[@gabooshi]

“what is funny?!” 😭

[@benjaminjournal]

haha right????

[@Bonitolibro]

All these sound amazing! excited to add My Work and Wound to my immediate TBR/soon-to-be-shopping-cart :D

[@benjaminjournal]

both so good! I hope you enjoy them!

[@jameskatie]

ohh i really need to get to my work by olga ravn!! especially after how much we enjoyed the employees. i also loved tides! i think the book i'm most excited to get to-at the moment-is private rites by julia armfield x

[@bad-girlbex3791]

I bought 'Tides' recently, but then soon forgot all about if after hauling about 30 books since the last few days in May. I immediately forgot all about most of them, the minute they got filed away in bookshelves, or squirreled away into their respective Kindle categories''. Out of sight truly is out of mind, when we're talking about books; but I'm glad to hear you talk about it here today, thus giving my memory a much needed jolt. 👍

[@kailienatsu]

ok first) looking absolutely radiant here im actually in awe. second) way back when i actually picked up a used copy of still life w oysters and lemon (which is actually signed lol). its been sitting on my shelves and you just motivated me to read it asap so tysm for inspiring me to shop my tbr

[@benjaminjournal]

oh my you are so kind! Thank you so much. And that is so lovely, a signed copy of oysters and lemon! definitely get to it! I remember it being really beautiful and just had me underlining like a madperson.

[@kirsten0929]

I'm so enjoying your new-to-me channel but my TBR is suffering! I just added Eastbound it sounds great, and I read and loved de Kerangal's The Heart. You may enjoy it too, as I think I remember your saying in a previous video that you like stories that take place in a single day, which The Heart does.

[@benjaminjournal]

hehe oops! I love finding my online friends here who just keep my never ending TBR constantly growing. I need to get to Kerangal's The Heart! Thank you for sharing that :)

[@burnerphone-c4z]

Love that Olga Ravn is getting recognition on youtube. My work is probably her best book since her debut poetry collection. Hopefully that gets translated to english soon!

[@benjaminjournal]

Oh I am burning with hope that we are graced with her poetry collection in English soon!!!!!

[@seesararead]

Love Vigdis Hjorth! That new one sounds great!

[@benjaminjournal]

me too! I find the way she writes so intriguing.

[@zhengstahh]

I read olga because you recommended her!!! was blown away immediate faves

[@benjaminjournal]

oh I am so happy to hear this!!!!!

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone was brilliant!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

This was really fun to watch. It’s cool to be reminded of My Work. It brought me back to my reading experience of it when it was Winter. Nice. It was so difficult in parts, unrelenting but tender. Yaaay! Vigdis Hjorth. Im a big big fan and may not bet able to wait any longer to start it! My book I’ve been waiting to start and finally have…that’s a real banger….Giovannis Room. I’m speechless. Fingers crossed on your knee situation. Hopefully nothing serious serious.

[@benjaminjournal]

I am so happy you enjoyed it!! Definitely My Work is unrelenting but tender, a perfect way to describe it. Yay Hjorth fans! Have you read Will & Testament? I am ashamed to say I have never read Giovanni's Room. Thank you for the wishes toward the knee, I seem to be almost back to full recovery. Hugs!!!!

[@germainelo3369]

Hello, first time viewer here. I enjoy this more stream of conscious delivery of content. I think you might enjoy ‘Diary of a void’ by Emi Yagi. It is in a diary entry format. I enjoy the candid and witty writing style from the author. I enjoy literature celebrating slice of life/ domestic life. I recently finished ‘Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’, A book about friendship, self-searching and grief.

[@janethansen9612]

I really need to read Olga Ravn. You read a really interesting range of books.

[@benjaminjournal]

thank you! and yes I would highly recommend her

[@ameliareads589]

I would recommend Happy Stories, Mostly by Norman Erikson Pasaribu. It is a queer, really powerful collection of stories.

[@benjaminjournal]

I have never heard of Pasaribu! Thank you so much!

[@robertorantucci]

I think you would love Greek Lessons by Han Kang!

[@benjaminjournal]

i love Han Kang! i’ve got that one on my kindle and haven’t gotten to it yet. thank you!

[@zhengstahh]

also please read lanny by max porter! curious on your thoughts

[@benjaminjournal]

I will try!! I've seen that one around so much. I haven't read any Max Porter.

[@Manfred-nj8vz]

Have you ever heard about the novel "What Lot's Wife Saw" by Ioanna Bourazopoulou? I believe that it would be something for you to read and maybe review.

[@benjaminjournal]

Never heard of it, thanks for putting it on my radar!

[@Manfred-nj8vz]

@@benjaminjournal Thanks for the reply! It's a pleasure! I'm currently reading her marvelous trilogy "The Dragon of Prespa", an ambitious literary project that she completed between 2014 and 2023; three extremely powerful novels according to readers and critics as well. However, the only work of hers that's been translated into English is "What Lot's Wife Saw", which still is one of her most read and critically acclaimed novels in Greece and abroad. Therefore I thought that it might be something for you to check out.

[@IAmWillJR]

👍

[@grreeeeee]

maybe it’s glossier

[@benjaminjournal]

actually (strangely because I love them) no Glossier on this face today!

[@grreeeeee]

@@benjaminjournal your lips look like cake or leo 😍

[@benjaminjournal]

@@grreeeeee i loooove Leo. this is actually a makeup forever pencil

[@Lauratrenzas673]

Hola guapa , que cambiarias en el mundo