Big review of everything I've read while I've been away!

[@booklover847]

Love having you back. Catching up on your videos. I listened to then there were none on audio it was fantastic it was my first Agatha Christie and I loved it.

[@salmaa7794]

We missed you Lauren. Congrats on the baby!!🥰🥰

[@clairesaunders3919]

I love how your videos are like you're just chatting to us 💜 xx

[@rickmills2323]

So glad to see you back Lauren, looking forward to more book reviews :-)

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

Glad you are back and your looking really amazing as a new mum please stay safe and enjoy your reading love your beautiful family channel love your number one Australia fan John xx

[@demi6275]

So glad you’re back!

[@1Koriander]

Yes, Piranesi touched all my senses too. I thought it was quite intriguing.

[@julierogers1155]

Welcome back. It is nice to hear you talk about books again. Baby is beautiful, and I enjoy a bit of posting about that experience as well. I have not read one book from your list on this post. I do LOVE the MOVIE, Brooklyn. Saoirse Ronan is excellent in it, as is Domhnall Gleeson. Really ALL the actors deliver good performances. I recommend the movie. I may attempt to read the book now because I am curious how the movie is good while the book may be lacking. I bought Shuggie Bain months ago. I wanted to read a book set in Glasgow. Began reading and abandoned it in the first chapter. Not much of an effort, and I plan to attempt it again sometime. Based on your review, I am not hopeful. Again, welcome back (& welcome to parenthood!). ps. oh yes, you are looking for recommendations on new/upcoming books ... will think about it and circle back around.

[@SarahAsYouWish]

Welcome back! You look lovely. I enjoyed Ariadne but listening to the audiobook may have contributed to my enjoyment. I agree with you about Transcendent Kingdom and Clap When You Land. I was hoping to love them both, but they were just decent for me.

[@moonesdayd8304]

So glad to hear your voice, love your videos.

[@dianarabadan]

So glad you are back! Congrats on your beautiful baby 😊

[@jenawsomesbookshelf8900]

I read Ariadne last month. It was a Book of the Month pick in the states so I’m sure lots of people have read it now. I also found it way too tell and not enough show. I’m in the middle of Unsettled Ground right now and am enjoying it so far.

[@linguagemdoslivros]

yay you're back

[@elementarymydear]

I read Ariadne last month, I was quite disappointed by it! She spent the whole second half of the book building up her own version of Dionysus only to undo all the character building at the end to complete the original story of the myth, and there were so many background characters set up really nicely but nothing ever happened with them. I do have Hot Stew on my TBR and I’m more excited to read it now! :D

[@milanalysenkova7821]

I love long reviews over anything else :) If is really nice to have you back. Congratulations, with love

[@misskit123]

The film of Brooklyn is wonderful, Saoirse Ronan is a DREAM. It's very cosy and charming and I would definitely reccoment it. Welcome back! :)

[@sarabyrne6495]

The film version of Brooklyn is absolutely amazing, I would recommend 100 times over the book. It made my little Irish heart break thinking of all the people who felt they needed to emigrate and very grateful that I'm privileged enough to have a good life on our lovely island.` On Clap When You Land, I enjoyed it well enough, it didn't blow me away but I LOVED The Poet X. I felt the verse worked really well to it and really helped build an atmosphere for it.

[@taaptee]

True! Something so special about Brooklyn, it's one of my most favorite films ever.

[@samanthalee444]

"Off its rocker" is the most accurate description of Piranesi haha. I adored it, so pleased it won the Women's Prize!

[@VP-tg8kd]

Brooklyn was a fabulous film, but I haven’t read the book. Also if you enjoyed the Agatha Christie you may enjoy a book called The Feast by Margaret Kennedy, which I have heard a lot about lately - that is an old fashioned mystery type book too. I have only read one Agatha Christie myself ‘Halloween Party’ which I did enjoy and which would be apt for this time of year. Am currently reading ‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid - this is the last of her three books for me to read - Daisy Jones and the Six was great but I really loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - I would recommend reading any of her books though - Is so great to catch up and see that you have had your lovely little girl - Congratulations X

[@emmagodridge285]

Completely agree about Shuggie Bain. I got over half way and had to put it down in the end. Didn't connect with it at all. I found that there were so many voids there. Like you say, I may have been purposely written that way, but I just could not get on board with it at all. Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None is on my TBR list for 2022 :)

[@LaChicaMadrilena]

So good to have you back! I'm currently waiting for my copy of Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, but I guess it's not the most original answer as it has been EVERYWHERE lately. I'm also excited about the third book by Evie Dunmore, the continuation of Bringing Down the Duke which you read.

[@Magicme79]

Yay, my fav booktuber is back with books! I mean, not that the baby video wasn’t lovely.

[@LaurenWade]

Hahaha! 💜

[@stephanielake183]

Nice to have you back Lauren. I found it so hard to get back into fiction after having a baby - I read nothing but non-fiction for years, but it does all come back eventually. My favourite new release has been We Need To Talk About Money by Otegha Uwagba and I really love everything by her, including her podcast. I think she'd be up your street.

[@milanalysenkova7821]

I think it might be an idea to talk about the feelings around reading. I am really interested in the difference between reading aloud and to yourself. How does the way you read affect your reading experience? What do you prefer and why? What about reading in crowded places?

[@susanlawton9592]

Welcome Back and congratulation 😀 I have just finished reading The last thing he told me ..liked it but to me it’s not a must read in my opinion I have just started reading Still Life by Sarah Winman which I already feel is going to be amazing ,it’s been a best seller here in Australia Look forward to your next Vlog when you have time .I know life will be busy for you

[@kristinclark8843]

I read And Then There Were None over the summer, and I really enjoyed it!

[@krissyn.3366]

So glad you are back! Hats off to you for remembering this much about the books you read so long ago. 💗📚📖

[@anettiski8607]

It's so good you are back, I've missed you ❤️

[@snamorsixteen]

I miss your book reviews Lauren! Hope you come back soon :)

[@ScullyPop]

Great reviewing, Lauren 🔥

[@LadyofLetters]

The film of 'Brooklyn' is very good, would definitely recommend.

[@LeanneRose]

I've missed your reviews! Loved hearing your thoughts on these xx

[@josefinemai5836]

Really lovely to see you back Lauren! The film adaptation of Brooklyn is beautiful and one of my favourites, while I really really didn't enjoy the book when I read it - so do give the film a go when you have the time! I've just gotten Transcendent Kingdom out from my library, but I have heard that if you liked Homegoing it won't be the case for Transcendent Kingdom... and I adored Homegoing so I'm a bit hesitant about TK but we'll see 😅

[@FullyBookedMelissa]

I have so missed listening to you talk about books! I agree about Clap When You Land. I enjoyed it, but I felt it was pulled in too many directions. I also preferred the first half to the last, but I have an interest in grief and how we process it, so I suppose that section appealed to me more. I preferred The Poet X as a whole. I haven't read any Yaa Gyasi, but my impression from hearing others is that if you liked Homegoing, you won't like Transcendent Kingdom, and vice versa. Love your review of Piranesi and makes me want to read it all the more!

[@LaurenWade]

I’d really like to try The Poet X! Felt like there was a lot to her writing but just didn’t *quite* pull it off in Clap When You Land

[@janicemacdougall1844]

I have never read Brooklyn but I saw the movie quite a few years ago with my Mom at a little independent theatre and we both loved it!!! Saoirse Ronan plays Ellis Lacey. I love And Then There Were None as well as Five Little Pigs. I hope to read Unsettled Ground in the new year.

[@LaurenWade]

I can really imagine the movie being great!

[@valdeane6435]

Lovely to have you back Lauren! I liked both Homegoing and Transcendent Kingdom! I think I would like anything that Yaa Gyasi writes. I don't think anyone will ever persuade me to read Piranesi! I have The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak to read and am waiting for Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead and Still Life by Sarah Winman to arrive.

[@0LauraRubio0]

I've missed you so so much, Lauren!!!!!

[@kimwilliams2815]

Missed u so much love your videos so much xx

[@CoynieReads]

YES, I also didn't really like Ariadne either and I was very disappointed because I usually love Greek myth retellings! The writing and pacing was so off for me.

[@FMsukina]

Welcome back, Lauren! I also didn't love "Transcendent Kingdom" as much as many others did. That being said, I haven't yet read "Homegoing". When you mentioned "Piranesi" as a TV miniseries, I immediately imagined Michael Sheen as Piranesi! I don't know why my mind went there. I clearly posted my comment before the end of your video. Here are a few things I've read and really enjoyed this year: Nonfiction: The Nocturnal Brain, Guy Leschziner Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Revolution, Mona Eltahawy The Power of Geography, Tim Marshall (or start with his previous publication, Prisoners of Geography which is also great) The Whole-Brain Child, Daniel J. Siegel Fiction: Snow, John Banville Sula, Toni Morrison Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson Short Story Collections: How to Pronounce Knife: Stories, Souvankham Thammavongsa The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, Deesha Philyaw Hope something in there tickles your fancy!

[@LaurenWade]

Oh my gosh YES to Michael Sheen! How can we get this made? And wonderful, thank you so much for the recommendations! Xxx

[@FMsukina]

@@LaurenWade, I don't have any good connections, but maybe post on Clarke and Sheen's wall about bugging BBC for an adaptation??? No thanks! Happy to share what I loved (Although I'm sure not all of that will interest you because I'm weird and it shows in my reading taste, hahaha!).

[@Abbieh95]

The Paper Palace is so good, would definitely recommend

[@Wolfhailstorm]

I've missed your reviews so much! You have such a calming and engaging way about you that really relaxes me but intrigues me to what you're recommending! I read Clap when you land this year and enjoyed it! I've not read And Then There Were None, but remember really loving the BBC tv show of it. Piranesi went over my head a bit I think - it was just so-so and confusing for me. I think I went into it expecting something different and more literal maybe? But, I agree that it could be a really cool BBC short show! I think I'd enjoy it more that way. I've still yet to read Love in Colour! I'm a bit nervous for Ariadne now! Ahhh hahaha

[@bookishshenanigans4769]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who wasn't clear about the ending to Piranesi! I read Interior Chinatown a few months ago and it's one of the best books I've read this year-highly recommend it.

[@yourssincerelyalm]

Lauren, this was a great review video. Lovely to hear your voice again. My recommendation is The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. It's a beautiful and sensitive read and, as a fellow mathematician, I think you might really enjoy it. Also, it's only 180 pages long!

[@tinaw94]

What I also thought was interesting (and I'm not sure how I feel about it) with Clap When You Land is that the father basically was only together with his NYC wife because the other daughter's mother had died (or something) who was his actual big love, but he couldn't get out of the commitment of his family to divorce his wife or something?? Idk, whatever the actual details were, it sort of humanised him, but also made him worse?

[@Nastya-uj9bg]

omg you said exactly what I thought about Agnes! she is not a good character because in writer's head she is a complex human but it's like he forgot to write her for someone who doesn't know a real agnes, if it makes sense! I had the same feeling

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

I’ve just subscribed. I love your honest reviews. I thought Agatha Christie’s “ And then there were none was none” was scary not cozy. I read a lot of Agatha Christie. This one was a classic because she was the first or almost the first to introduce this kind of trope. Congratulations 🎈 on your bundle of joy. Excuse the old saying but I started my channel at age 70. Lol. Aloha

[@helenhickey3479]

Felt exactly the same as you with Transcendent Kingdom, glad it wasn't just me. I loved Shuggie Bain but my dad is from Glasgow and is a recovered alcoholic so I think I resonated with it in some way. Not good to hear about Ariadne as I've got it on my shelf 🤦‍♀️ Unsettled Ground is one of my favourite books of the year! Nice to see you back Lauren.

[@Ma_BaP]

Lovely to hear your thoughts on books again! Currently reading Pew I think on your recommendations (don't even remember if you liked it!). So far so good I'd say. I've just read Piranesi before that. It's such a strange book to talk about because A/ "WTF just happened" was my final thought - and I felt delighted about it, and B/ "it's a guy, he's in a house, with tides, and statues, and weather, and an albatross and I can't tell you more about it" is all you can say but that makes sense?!^^ I loved how bizarre and unsettling it was, I loved the tone of the narrator, and even if the ending wasn't surprising (I was hoping he'd forget again everything about it and leave us in a frustrating loop or something), well I don't feel like I've totally left the house myself. Quite the experience. No idea what's new in the shop, but if I may recommend my most recent favourite (French) writer? Just read 3 of her books in a row and loved them all so much. The best one isn't translated sadly (it's "Brexit Romance": a young british woman sets up a matchmaking agency to marry off French and English people that are solely after a passport, after Brexit was voted. It's a hilarious look at our differences and the consequences of Brexit at large, very austenesque too.) But the other two were also delicious. One was translated by the author herself: Piglettes. It follows 3 teenagers who were voted ugliest in their high school 'Pig Pageant' as they're off on a summer road trip across France that brings them national fame (and revenge). I absolutely loved her writing, so full of humour and heart, and I actually want to read it in English as well. And then there's a retelling of Eugene Onegin, in modern time and in verse, called "In Paris With You". Again, such beautiful and creative writing. Oh Clementine Beauvais is the author by the way. She actually translated Acevedo in French! :)

[@LaurenWade]

Oh my goodness - not feeling like you’ve left the house yourself is such a good way of describing that lingering feeling! What a ride that book was. Thank you for the Beauvais recommendation! I’ll definitely check her out xx

[@christinacampbellbooks]

It's so wonderful to see you back, Lauren! Enjoyed hearing your thoughts on all of these. I DNF'ed Transcendent Kingdom. I found it boring too and I just couldn't get into it at all. I'll definitely have to read Homegoing. I enjoyed Piranesi. It was unlike anything I've ever read before ☺

[@girlwithoneye]

I loved Homegoing and didn’t like Transcendent Kingdom either! I’m so glad someone else found it boring and cold

[@TheBookishLand]

Love to see another of your reviews :D Haha the reaction of Murakami's novel. I read his book when I was small but can't see myself liking them now, but I still are interested every time he came out with new books 😂Glad you liked And Then There Were None - definitely my favorite Christie. "polite kind of rudeness" so accurate 😂Piranesi gives me a Don Quixote vibe and your review makes me want to read it :D

[@pia2902]

I personally loved "Brookly". Though I'm probably very biased because I watched the novel weeks after returning from my year abroad in Dublin, read the novel and wrote my bachelor/undergrad thesis about emigration in contemporary Irish fiction featuring it and "The Light of Evening" by Edna O'Brien. I love Alcevedo's writing style (Though that might be partly due to the lack of novels in verse I've read) but prefered "Poet X". I read "Transcendent Kingdom" in August and thought it was just fine though it didn't stick with me. I can hardly remember what it is about.

[@lucyrutherford]

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder and Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler are my two favourite new releases I've read so far this year! :)

[@willforlife_]

unsettled ground makes me curious to read it and all of that ladys stuff

[@piscespaperbacks]

So sad you didn’t enjoy transcendent kingdom! But also very glad you’re back making videos 😊😊

[@Mariak82]

I am looking forward to reading The Nature of Witches. I just recently brought Piranesi in paperback and it is so pretty. 😍 Have you seen the paperback version? looking forward to reading it. 📚

[@chockycake1]

Great to see you back. I really enjoyed Shuggie Bain, but I listened to it as an audio book. Piranesi, now I can’t get into 😂 good job we’re not all the same 😉

[@whateverdad]

so glad you're back!!!! read the new sally rooney recently, feeling v conflicted, would love to hear your thoughts on that one!

[@LaurenWade]

I’ve just bought it! Looking forward to it, although I’ve seen it everywhere I’ve actually managed to avoid any reviews

[@tasha_kc9]

You've been greatly missed!! So happy for the fresh bookish start 🥰 🎥📚 I've watched the vid with baby Edith too; she's utterly gorgeous/congrats! 😍 Btw, loved the bit here where you said (on books): "if they're not on Insta, they don't exist at all, right?"couldn't agree more 🤣😏

[@elenasanchez9282]

Lauren, it was so nice to listen to your reviews! I totally agree with you about Transcendent Kingdom. It was really boring and there was too much about religion, IMHO. It was a huge disappointment! I adore Agatha Christie’s books. I started reading her books when I was a teenager, first in Spanish, my mother tongue, and then in English. They are so much fun and so English, as you mentioned! Richard Osman’s The Thursday murder club reminded me of her books so I’m looking forward to reading The Man who died twice. BTW, Brooklyn was made into a film some years ago with Saoirse Ronan as the leading actress. So glad you’re back!!

[@GunpowderFictionPlot]

Love And Then There Were None, impossible to guess it, or rather impossible not to guess every character at one point. I felt like I got a very good portrait of Agnes Bain, so much so even though she was horrible and I'm dead inside i was really upset when she died. Loved Unsettled Ground, didn't love Piranesi, wow I feel like I'm disagreeing with you a lot, but it's wonderful to see different books work for different people. 🙂

[@elnrjn]

Very amused that there's apparently more than one smutty lesbian romance novel which has two protagonists competing in a Bake Off style TV competition (I read one called Sweetest Thing a few years ago haha). I'm really looking forward to reading Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt next month when it comes out, and The Service by Frankie Miren. Nice to have you back making videos :)

[@arabellacm]

Everytime you said you hadn't enjoyed a book I was worried it would be Piranesi but I'm so glad you liked it! Otherwise I would worry haha. I also found that murakami book terrible and so so boring but I have enjoyed lots of his others. Recently I really enjoyed Everybody by Olivia Laing, the Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K Le Guin and Snowflake by Louise Nealon. Glad you're back :)

[@bookglutton7151]

I found myself nodding along to a lot of your thoughts on Unsettled Ground! I felt the author did such a great job of absorbing the reader in the story so we would feel upset and frustrated on the behalf of the characters. Very well done and quite thought provoking but not always an enjoyable read as a result! I think I had more tolerance for their stubborn independence than you though - possibly because I'm a little that way myself, but also as it did make sense given their upbringing. I read Hot Stew recently too and found it very readable, but quite purposeless. I much preferred Elmet, which I found more compelling, particularly in the way the latent anger of the sister slowly emerged and then erupted. Have you read The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste? Not a new release, but the book I've enjoyed most from the last couple of months. Beautifully written and a really absorbing, effective story.

[@LaurenWade]

Aaaah purposeless is actually a good way of describing Hot Stew! Enjoyable, but ultimately didn’t really go anywhere. I bought The Shadow King just before baby was born, and haven’t got to it yet! Glad to hear you enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@jozawoza]

Lovely to see your face again Lauren! sounds like you've had a disappointing reading year. But great video nonetheless. Here are some I've enjoyed reading this year: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare, story of a young Nigerian girl who fights for her freedom from child marriage, wanting her education. very emotional and empowering. The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - a women-only village in the most northern point of Norway suffering under the will of a Scottish witch hunter in the 1600s. Atmosphepheric and heartbreaking (also minor queer romance) The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, an adorable wee story about a children's home on an island with unusual magical children and their carer, undergoing an inspection from a buttoned up social worker. Fun and heartwarming, another queer romance. Ones I have not enjoyed and I would tell people to avoid: Panchinko by Min Jin Lee, too long and tangenty, and didn't care about anyone after the first 100 pages. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, better than Artemis but a poor copy of the Martian. The invisible life of Addie La Rue by VE Schawb, "meh" Station Eleven by Emily st John Mandel. I have ranted my dislike of this book to many of my friends. I did not care about a single character. For a book about a pandemic, it spent less than 5 mins talking about the pandemic and far too long talking about the previous life of a dead character. this book needs to GET IN THE SEA.

[@LaurenWade]

This is amazing thank you and YES to Pachinko, what a bloomin drag that was 🤣

[@penhallj]

I've tried Murakami a few times and always find his books boring. I really want to like them as he is beloved by many but I just don't get it.

[@reneevandyk5022]

I'm pretty sure Brooklyn is a movie, with Saoirse Ronan :)

[@LaurenWade]

Haha I know, I meant I can see how it’s probably translated well to the screen - I haven’t seen the movie myself

[@mindupingu]

♥

[@MaryAmongStories]

🌻💛

[@suzannem5446]

With Brooklyn the movie is SO much better than the book!

[@janethansen9612]

You're not the first person I've known to say Ariadne was spectacularly awful, and I've decided to give it a miss. Also like you I'm not a Murakami fan even after reading 3 of his books, and I didn't like Transcendent Kingdom all that much as it felt like it was lecturing me rather than engaging me in a story. I'm going to give Homegoing a try though. Still, that's reading for you...you're going to love some and others not so much.

[@AthynVixen]

Lauren Brooklyn is a film but not a very good 1. I've read the book and that's such a shame because they could have made something really good from it

It feels like everybody is disappointed by that Ariadne retelling. What a shame 😔

[@LaurenWade]

I think the main problem I had with it is that it feels sloppy and rushed - like the publishers were just trying to jump on the female myth retellings bandwagon, without proper due diligence lol