Mid-Month Reading Chat - Women's Prize & more

[@still-reading]

I'm reading Young Queens now. I don't know much about the topic, but it's giving me the background I need as it goes along. I read a fair amount of history and so far this is stellar. Pacing is good, the transitions read like a novel, it pulls you along. Every time I need to stop I think, "Man, I want to keep reading!" Also especially interested in The Brittanias, All That She Carried, Shadows, Eve, Matrescence, Dictionary People. Im so thankful for this prize helping us find great nonfiction by eomen!

[@Ihearbooks]

I did start The Last Hours on audio and gave up as it was a slow start and looked soo long. I have read Walters mysteries and do love her. I'm even less inclined to read this book as it is part of a duo? I know there is at least one more book. Good to hear it picks up toward the halfway. I am tempted to go back to another Walters mystery now. Just finished The Doppelganger by Naomi Klein --can't say too much since I read it for the BTprize. It is nominated for the Womens Prize non-fiction. Great video. I do find your channel so great

[@mradcaqbdb]

I bought a copy of Laura Cumming’s Thunderclap right away. I absolutely adored her book On Chapel Sands. It was my favorite book of 2019, fiction or non-fiction. I’m not really into art, but I think she will be making it interesting and accessible for me by blending in parts of her father’s life as he was also a painter. Then, last night, I went and fished out the audiobook of The Vanishing Velasquez on Scribd and started listening to that. I think I am going to need a physical copy to look at with the audiobook though. I will definitely be listening to Tiya Miles’s book. Just waiting for it to be available at the library. I didn’t think Doppelganger was going to be of interest to me, but I read more about it and listened to the audiobook sample and have definitely decided to read it. So those are the ones I am starting with. I really want to read Among The Trolls now! Sounds fascinating. Actually, I want to listen to it, but who knows when it will be available over here across the pond, so I may need to read the physical copy. Thanks for the heads up on that one!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I definitely think Winter Love is less about Red's relationship with Mara specifically and more about her reactions to what that relationship means for her and who she is. It's a fascinating, prickly book and I'm so glad someone else finally read it so I could hear someone else talk about it! Marianna Spring's work sounds really intriguing. I had never heard of her or her work before. I definitely have anxiety around those topics, though, so I might be best staying away for now. I would be very curious to hear your thoughts about the Women's Prize nonfiction longlist, however you decide to format the videos. I enjoyed your thoughts on the first books you've read/been reading.

[@GemofBooks]

I have that Minette Walter’s on my TBR! Really looking forward to hearing all your thoughts and reviews on the WP NF longlist 🤩

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

ooooh, Among the Trolls is right on my TBR ♥️ I really want to read A Flat Place but my library is really lacking some of the books on the Nonfiction longlist. will have to keep my eyes peeled x

[@bookinwithdebra]

I have the Why Do You Hate Me podcast saved on my BBC sounds app to listen to. You've peaked my interest. Among the Trolls sounds interesting. The scale of the threats are terrifying. I think what she says about not being pushed out of a space because of hate, is actually really important. Because leaving then leaves the space for the haters, potentially with no voices of reason. Although we should all feel okay to remove ourselves from these situations.

[@jenniferf4471]

Among the Trolls sounds really interesting! I wonder if The Last Hours is based on the story of Eyam at all, sounds like it could be from your description.

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I think when are reading historical fiction it doesn’t need to be completely accurate as long as it’s not so over the top that it doesn’t take you out of the narrative. I might need some persuading to read Vulture Capitalism but there’s enough other people interested in it that can get to it instead. Really want to read A Flat Place!! Always great to hear your reading natter😊

[@ariannefowler455]

I was surprised to see Vulture Capitalism on the list. I was confused who the target audience was and had doubts about how accessible it would be. I'm most interested in Shadows at Noon which is the biggest book on the list, I think. A Flat Place also sounds good.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

A flat place is on my TBR. I've lived in lots of flat places and am in the fens now. I also read.lots of books that examine trauma. It does sound a bit niche, but i hope to get on well with it 🤞looking forward to your final thoughts on it.

[@ameliareads589]

I have no problem if historical fiction is inaccurate. If I want facts, I get them (hopefully) from nonfiction. What I do have a problem with, is with people reading historical fiction and then running around and telling everybody how things happened or have been in certain times. It really baffles me how many people actually believe that historical fiction must be historically correct. I only watch stand alone reviews after I have read a book or not at all if I have no interest in reading it. I rarely do otherwise, maybe when I am on the fence. So I would prefer to hear you talking about the books in your wrap-ups/catch-ups.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

I feel the same as you about historical fiction. I do like it to have the essence of historical fact so the setting feels realistic, but if I want fact I wouldn’t be reading fiction! Thanks for the feedback on videos, I’m thinking I may just do wrap ups on batches of women’s prize books, maybe once I’ve read half of them I’ll do one ☺️

[@BookishTexan]

The flea thing would have probably been a deal breaker for me with Last Hours. Big things that are wrong really bother me. Small things not as much. I had the same impression when reading a description of Vulture Capitalism.

[@mildrumpus]

Scott from @GunpowderFictionPlot brought me here! 😎📚👍

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Welcome! Glad you found me ☺️

[@BellesBooksbyCarly]

Glad you’re reading the Women’s Prize for non-fiction longlist, I’m going to be reading the ones that appeal to me and Vulture Capitalism and A Flat Place were on my list so it’s interesting to hear your thoughts so far!

[@curatoriallyyours]

The only book from the longlist I’ve read is Wifedom and it was a 5 star read for me! I’m keen to hear your thoughts on it when you get to it.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

I’m very excited to get to Wifedom, that had been on my radar for a while so I’m glad the prize is encouraging me to read it.

[@annegibson6072]

Have you read Julia 1984?

[@thoroughlyenjoyedbooks8565]

Among the Trolls sounds fascinating! I'm going to look into getting that one. I really want to read more nonfiction. The Women's Prize daunts me though, so I'm thinking of just reading the short list and some of the ones I'm more interested in.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Some of the titles on the longlist are definitely more daunting than others, just go with what you’re really interested in, I think that’s the best way if you want to read more nonfiction, without putting yourself off for life 😅

[@BookishAdventuresInWellbeing]

Intrigued but the flat place hearing you talk about it.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Definitely give it a try, it’s a really interesting book, and quite short so a quick read.

[@sarah-roadworthy]

Having worked in medicine, it does drive me a little nutty when historical fiction gets medical info incorrect. I can usually forgive it, but it does pull me right out of the story. I also hate when the main character understands germ theory before it was widely accepted. Of course there were some people who washed their hands before everyone else, but its always the main character! It feels manipulative. Like as a reader, I can't get behind a character just because they don't wash their hands regularly. This annoyed me in Pull of the Stars. I also couldn't stand that every woman coming in to deliver had a complication. Some of them quite unusual. I just felt like Emma Donoghue needed to share all of her ob/gyn research. I could NOT read that book.