Massive Book Haul | October 2017

[@nymsands]

It's so nice to see the Gemma Doyle series get some love, I feel like it's one of the most underrated YA series out there and I wish more people knew about it! I picked up A Great and Terrible Beauty at the library in 2007-ish and instantly fell in love with it. Probably my favorite YA series ever, it's very thought provoking at times and bittersweet but it's so incredibly amazing I can't put it into words.

[@JeansThoughts]

Praise to Gemma Doyle! I was not expecting it to be that brilliant but I'm so pleased. I can't wait to read more Libba Bray.

[@NotYourLibrarian]

I LOVE Wildwood Dancing, it was one of the first books I read after moving out of the middle-grade level. Marillier's worlds are so lovingly crafted, you're going to love it.

[@lethewade2345]

Oh! A Wrinkle in Time was one of my absolute favorite books as a child. I think you are really going to love that one, it seems up your alley. If you do enjoy it, the following novels are also worth a read.

[@ifimjuliet]

I've read Wildwood Dancing MULTIPLE times - it's been years since I last read it, but I remember that I used to check it out every time I saw it at the library growing up! I loved it. Time for a reread, I think.

[@theshadishow9255]

"life sometimes calls for book hauls" ain't that the truth 😂

[@Lee-ey2mu]

The Diviners is a brilliant series. I found it to be very atmospheric and absorbing. I'd highly recommend the audiobook for the series too. The narrator does a really good job of different voices, which is always helpful when you have a cast of characters. Plus, the third book just came out too, so it's a good time to start it!

[@rosemannering]

That naked velvet hardback of Wicked is beautiful! 😍

[@louiselangton]

I have only read the first three, but Temeraire! Master & Commander is a favourite film and I love the books that I have read of the series and unless I'm mistaken Temeraire began as M&C fanfiction

[@Liz86000]

You're SO lucky! I really can't wait to get my hands on "The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock"! "The Wicked Cometh" looks really gorgeous as well. I also have got to read some Michel Faber... "Under the Skin" seems really interesting, but I'm hesitating between this one and "The Crimson Petal And The White" or The Book of Strange New Things"... And finally, like you I've never read "A Wrinkle in Time" but I wanted to do it before seeing the movie... I had never heard of "Wildwood Dancing", but wow, what a gorgeous cover! Makes one want to check what's inside! Thanks for the video and enjoy ALLLL your books! :)

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Oh how I love a book haul, and especially a Jean book haul, you always have so much good shit. I have just listened to the audio of How Not to be a Boy and it's narrated by Robert himself, and I LOVED IT. Also, not shown but I have been wondering whether Black Eyed Susans would be any good and maybe I shall try it now I have heard that you quite enjoyed. Good find Jill, I just want all the dragon books for you babes xxxx

[@juliequick5526]

I haven't read that Liane Moriarty, but I have read her previous novels and enjoyed them all. I'm sure you will love her work. So many of these books sound amazing, but I've bought 7 books already this month and my bookshelves are bursting already. Great video as always!

[@xThisCityisatWarx]

I also loved Big Little Lies, and I recently got one of her other books The Hypnotist's Love Story.

[@biblioobscura]

Along the lines of historical fiction (Victorian London) and mythical beings (drakon -- dragons that can shift between human and smoke and back), there is Smoke Thief by Shana Abe. It used to be one of my favorites although upon reading it again it has become a problematic favorite. So, definitely some things to improve upon, but sounds like something you'd like. :) Also, Under the Skin is amazing! I also read it because of Jen's recommendation & it was totally worth it!

[@MegBookishRamblings]

I was so excited for Heart Stone too! I was able to get a gently used copy :D

[@KateriRansom]

I'm so glad to see you've discovered Libba Bray!!! She's been a top favourite of mine since I first read AGaTB way back in the day. I've read all of her books and I definitely think you'll really enjoy the other ones. Beauty Queens is my personal favourite and is also quite political I think. It's definitely heavily satirical so you will have to prepare yourself for a very unique style for a YA novel, but I love it for that! Oh and Diviners is really scary so if you can manage to get to it near Halloween you will not regret it!

[@jessicarose5032]

I tried to look up Lullaby by Leila Slimani because it sounded really interesting but here in Canada, it’s called The Perfect Nanny! Not sure if that’s how it’s like in the US too but yeah! Just if anyone has trouble looking it up 😊

[@MegBookishRamblings]

You may like The Glamourist Series by Mary Robinette Kowal, the first book is called Shades of Milk and Honey also possibly A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

[@Usernamethingy1]

Ooh I was already intrigued by Lullaby and now I'm going to have to read it!

[@italianbookworm]

I hope you like A Wrinkle in Time. I adored the series as a kid. My favorite was actually the last one of the four in that series, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, which has a dash of time travel via unicorn. I'm a bit nervous about the new movie adaptation coming out, partially because it was a childhood favorite and partially because I really have some doubts about their casting choices. Cheesy as it was, the tv adaptation from ten years ago did a great job (I thought) of casting Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit. I think Chris Pine looks promising as (Mr.) Dr. Murray though.

[@thaliayliztolentino1374]

I just stumbled upon your video and YOUR ACCENT IS GIVING ME LIFE. Love your books xx. 😊

[@LeanneRose]

Robert Webb's book sounds amazing! I picked up two copies from the library so my boyfriend and I can buddy read it. Hopefully I can fit it into Non-Fiction November :) Really intrigued what you make of Truly Madly Guilty. I have so so many Liane Moriarty novels on my shelves but haven't yet picked one up! Great haul :)

[@angelah9690]

Loved the diversity of this book haul from historical, young adult to non-fiction many added to my tbr.

[@JeansThoughts]

Got to have a bit of everything :D keeps things interesting. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@han_mag]

I definitely recommend Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho, if you haven't read it already! Regency fantasy novel (first in a series, I think) with lots of diverse characters (including the two main characters being poc) and a kick-ass leading lady.

[@Maggiezhaohy]

I found Lullaby in Amazon US, but it has a different name called The Perfect Nanny. TBH Lullaby sounds a lot better and makes me want to read it.

[@julietyuk7386]

I have so many issues reading Under the skin. Looking forward to your review on it

[@ametrinemoon]

Thanks to my local library, I have read a book called Death at the Alma Mater by G M Mallet. I have never seen a mystery novel mention a blow up all before? It was interesting with its use of interviews in the text. But the last 2 chapters destroyed the book for me. The book is set in a fictional college of Cambridge Uni.

[@ronniebessling6802]

Such a great, diverse set of books. They all look so good.

[@JeansThoughts]

Glad you saw some things that interested you :D

[@ornleifs]

"Fizzy Juice" - Ha Ha that term is so funny - and it's the reason why I subscribed to your channel, you used it in one of Lauren's videos and I laughed so much.

[@JeansThoughts]

Aha that's what everyone in Scotland calls it.

[@ornleifs]

"How not to be a boy" sounds very interesting, Mitchell and Webb made many very funny sketches in their show about gender stereotypes like this one for ex.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6TafH6QrpV2ea8

[@meganngeorge]

You make me want to read All the books.

[@JeansThoughts]

+Meggie Spaghetti aha same!

[@HannahCassieBooks]

Wow Lullaby sounds really cool and creepy, also it reminds me of a movie that I once saw but now cannot remember the name of! Def reading it soon! Hmm maybe I could even get it for spookathon...

[@HannahCassieBooks]

Also it looks like this book has two titles Lullaby and Perfect Nanny, at least covers are same so I guess it's same story

[@JeansThoughts]

+P.S. I love that book! I think Perfect Nanny is the US edition ^_^

[@Xenu]

You really are on a role, Jean! :) The film version of "Under the Skin" is one of my favorite movies this decade. It's the only film I've seen twice in the theaters since I was a teenager. The novel, to my understanding, is almost completely different. I haven't read it. Michel Faber has a pretty committed cult following, it would seem.

[@dorkabrain]

The more popular term for that type of period fantasy is Fantasy of Manners; you might have an easier time finding some more books you like if you search that. Have you read Temeraire by Naomi Novik? You might enjoy that as it heavily involves dragons. I adore Richard Ayoade too. He wrote another book a few years ago that had a really similar premise to the one you showed.

[@JeansThoughts]

Ah I had heard that term before but it never even crossed my mind to google. I need to start searching for 'dragon fantasy of manner' books I think (and fantasy of manner in general). I don't know what it is but I really enjoy it especially when most fantasy is set in a sort of faux medieval time. I actually have Temeraire and for some reason have yet to read it. I always forget it's set in that sort of time period. That should be one I read this year.

[@april-janerowan]

I hope you enjoy Wildwood Dancing! : ) Its one of my favourite books. Have you read Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen cho? It's historical fantasy and has a few dragons in it.

[@JeansThoughts]

I haven't no but thank you for the recommendation! I will definitely check that one out :D

[@FairyAl]

I love your videos, you convinced me to pick the gemma doyle series. Hopefully you'll like all the books you bought :)

[@JeansThoughts]

Amazing, I hope you're enjoying it!

[@JustEssayIt]

For period fantasy, have you heard of the Shades of Milk and Honey series by Mary Robinette Kowal? It's supposed to be Jane Austen with magic. Haven't read them myself, but I listen to a writing podcast with Mary Robinette Kowal and she seems to really know what she's doing :)

[@JeansThoughts]

I do vaguely recall the name from a while ago on booktube but I never really looked into it. Thanks for reminding me! It does sound great.

[@debbiealexander9313]

Love book hauls.. Love your accent...

[@laureb7697]

hahaha a great and terrible beauty, a friend let me borrow the first book and I never gave it back because it was soooo good. The main female characters are so well written :) and the "evil" characters so well rounded (especially Circe)

[@JeansThoughts]

Aha I feel bad for your friend but I also understand ;)

[@lollinsshnei384]

I have been slowly making my way through the Temeraire series by Naomi Novak and really enjoying it! Dragons in the Napoleonic era...not bad :)

[@JeansThoughts]

I do actually own the first one! I always forget they're from a more recent historical period than a lot of the faux medieval settings of fantasy/dragon books. I'll need to pick it up soon!

[@sofieborglund3325]

I´ve read Temeraire and loved it! But I haven't continued with the series. I need to fix that! :)

[@paulwinchell6904]

That Wicked Cometh cover is stunning

[@JeansThoughts]

I know right!?

[@headinherbooks]

The Wicked Cometh is absolutely stunning - I don’t even know that much about it and I want it anyway 😂

[@JeansThoughts]

+headinherbooks i know right aha, that's some good design at work there ;)

[@IonaReads]

Have you read A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan? I think you would like it as it's about dragons set in an alternative 1800's.

[@JeansThoughts]

I read the first half and was really disappointed that it wasn't really about magical dragons and they were more like overgrown lizards. I like my talking, magical dragons aha. Although I've heard maybe they get more magical as the series goes on? So I might try picking it back up.

[@IonaReads]

They get a little more sentient as the books go on but essentially it stays very much about them being a fascinating animal that Lady Trent attempts to observe the way David Attenborough might. Unfortunately, from the first few that I've read so far, they don't become characters in their own right so maybe not one for you after all.

[@IonaReads]

Seraphina is amazing. So wonderfully written.

[@JeansThoughts]

Yes, I loved Seraphina! I particularly enjoyed book two. I liked seeing them move around the world. That would have been an amazing series to continue but at the same time I did enjoy the ending.

[@josephinewinter]

always been interested in assata shakur, she still in refugee status in cuba?

[@josephinewinter]

i heard 'period fantasy fiction' as in 'menstruation fantasy' i was a bit huh?

[@JashanaC]

Omg that Heart Stone sounds SO FUN!!! HOLY CRAP that The Wicked Cometh cover is... stupid gorgeous! I have Because You Love to Hate Me coming in the mail soon - I've heard mixed things, but I'm hoping I enjoy it overall. :D

[@JeansThoughts]

I've read it now and it was great fun, if you like Jane Austen and you like fantasy you can't really go wrong with it. Hopefully some of the stories at least, it's always tricky with anthologies of different authors isn't it.

[@theshadishow9255]

OK OK SO YOU BOUGHT THE DIVINERS Please please please let me know when you get to Lair of Dreams, I listened to the audiobook and need someone to talk to about it

[@aneweliseonlife]

While not exactly fantasy, it is "period" history with dragons. There are actually two series that I really enjoy - Naomi Novik's Temeraire series is the well known one. But The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan is also a love! The last one seems to focus more on being a female scientist at the equivalent of Darwin's era and the struggles of women and minorities to be taken seriously. But also. DRAGONS!

[@JeansThoughts]

I have Temeraire on my shelf and always forget it's set during the Napoleonic wars, I really need to read it soon! I wasn't as keen on A Natural History though, although I don't think it's a bad book, when I read about dragons I want them to be magical, sentient, communicating beings, not more like oversized lizards otherwise I don't see the point. Just personal preference though aha.

[@aneweliseonlife]

I totally understand. I was bummed at first too, and put it down at first. Glad I picked it up again(slight spoiler - things get kinda...crazy...in the last book!!) However I decided to start reading again it because I wanted a powerful scientist woman, not so much for the dragons.

[@macklinloosley-millman9215]

Wildwood Dacning is wonderful! I hope its popularity rises, so that maybe the author could finally write the third one.

[@JeansThoughts]

Oh no an unfinished series, this upsets me greatly!

[@macklinloosley-millman9215]

It's not as bad as an unfinished series as the books are more companions. Each end like a stand alone. It's just the author said she had another one in mind when the publishers dropped it and asked for another series.

[@JeansThoughts]

Ok that makes me less apprehensive to read the first one then aha. I can't deal with massive loose ends/cliff hangers. That is such a shame about her publishers though! We must create demand aha.

[@isolated_matrix]

How come you get sent books by publishers? Also, do you ever read any Australian books? Have you ever read The Book Thief?

[@JeansThoughts]

+Matthew Graneri because I review and talk about them online :) publishers send out review copies to tonnes of places for publicity. I've read The Book Thief but unfortunately it wasn't for me. And I'm not sure I have read any Australian lit, I should probably correct that! ^_^

[@joshjones6400]

yay! great video as usual 😘

[@Kristengervais26]

I just went book shopping yesterday and bought 5 books😂

[@JeansThoughts]

+Kristen G successful trip 💪

[@Kristengervais26]

Jean Bookishthoughts yep lol I have a book problem 😂

[@JeansThoughts]

Could be drugs ;)

[@rosieringlet1]

Hated Beauty Queens but have just bought A great and terrible beauty to give it a try.

[@JeansThoughts]

I hope you enjoy it more, they do seem to be very different stories/settings!

[@OpheliaVert]

what is it about the nineteenth century that interests you? I would love to know because I find the nineteenth century a little depressing overall, with an extreme lack of agency for minorities and a huge emphasis on colonialism and nation-building. what is it that grabs you?

[@JeansThoughts]

I'm not sure I'm super into 19th-century texts? In fact, I've read very little original 19th-century literature I think aha. I think all of the books set in the 19th century I've bought are modern books, just with 19th-century settings and under these circumstances I feel there is a commentary on that lack of agency, oppression of the time. The Gemma Doyle series is a great example of that, it explores women's lack of freedom in the 1800s and is really quite a feminist series. But in general, I am a historian. I read loads of ancient literature and books set in antiquity and if you want to talk about a time of oppression Antiquity has got all areas covered.

[@sykoelf]

Wrinkle in Time is lovely but the others in the series are a bit too muddled for me..

[@JeansThoughts]

Aw that's a shame, I've had that happen with a few sic-fi/fantasy series - I guess it can be hard to know when to rein it back a bit.

[@moonireads]

Omg I swear A Wrinkle In Time is probably the WORST book I've EVER read. It made me so angry... but that cover is gorgeous.

[@TAGMedia7]

Had anyone ever mentioned you look a lot like Karen Gillan?

[@JeansThoughts]

Aha they have.

[@Xenu]

Ha ha. You must be new here. I see the question pop up every couple of months at least on Jean's channel. :-)

[@massm490]

1st one

[@pandattax]

Pretty

[@Aivy2]

2nd one 😂