Mid-Year FREAKOUT Book Tag! 📚😱💜 Best & Worst Books of 2024 (so far)

[@RDsLibrary]

It looks like you've had plenty of great reads so far. I'm looking forward to hearing what you make of Piranesi - it's been almost 4 years since I read it, but I can just about remember it. The Maiden and Stone Blind have me tempted. I liked Yellowface quite a bit than you, particularly the cynical view and dark humour, but totally agree about The Maidens. It had the all the ingredients of a hit, yet missed the mark. I enjoyed his first book, The Silent Patient. I'm glad you 'found' audiobooks. I read so much more than I used to because of their enjoyment and convenience, and agree that the right narrator makes all the difference. And well done for being brave enough to start a channel - I've enjoyed your content. I'll be sticking to the sidelines, though :) I hope the rest of the year is as good, if not better.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

Yes I’m very happy overall ! I am catching up on a lot of the popular books that I’ve missed in recent years, so that’s part of it, but that’s definitely not a guarantee that I will like them. I think the audiobook for Yellowface made it worse for me. I just felt it was so whiny and this sort of arrogant or condescending tone the whole time, while being in the wrong, so even though I enjoyed parts of it, the reading experience did not make me feel good. It felt like having a “friend” who just calls you to complain for hours without so much as asking how you are ^^ And maybe that was part of the intention, and if so it’s well crafted, but I just didn’t enjoy it. I’m open to trying the Silent Patient, but I’m in no rush 😊 Thank you for being so kind and I’m glad you are enjoying yourself here! The sidelines are a great place to be as well! Whatever works for you. I would love to hear your thoughts on The Maiden and/or Stone blind if you get to them!

[@RaspberryReads]

I'd like to get to Piranesi and 7 Husbands soon!

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@RaspberryReads Any time is a good time for either of them! 😊

[@Curious-Cat]

Ooooh so glad Circe made it to your top! I loved it as well 💛 I'm also in the camp that didn't like Yellowface. As an aspiring author, it felt too disheartening and made me want to give up on my writing dreams completely... Not really the kind of experience you want 😅 Ahah, I was an audiobook snob for the longest time, and only got into it by listening to audiobooks in Swedish to maintain my language level when I left Sweden. It's been 5 years and now, I just love audiobooks!!! Yeaaah, so happy you started your channel ^^

[@ellenmadebookclub]

Haha oh no, I hope you were able to shake it off! It was a very special circumstance. But a sensitive topic of course. I didn't really think of audiobooks at all before, but they just seemed like added work, and so expensive. I mean the physical audiobooks you can buy or borrow from the library. I don't know if they're cassettes or what. Seemed really old school to me. But playing it on your phone with the click of a button? Well narrated? Portable? Multi-tasking? Yes please! :D And great for keeping language fresh as well! Me too, and that you started yours! 🥰

[@MyMessyBookshelf]

I love how you said qualitative over quantitative! Circe was one I loved as well. Stone Blind looks interesting just based on the cover haha. Glad you enjoyed Piranesi and I was confused too! 😂 I always really love your magical book recommendations. I will be checking out The Maiden and Rewitched.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@MyMessyBookshelf It’s definitely the way to go for me! 😊 Haha yes I like that cover too! I liked the book as it was a mix of different linked myths, Medusa is at the center of it but there many different stories and perspectives. I thought it was a good mix of emotional and pure fun adventure! And the audiobook was very well narrated. Piranesi was so confusing, but in the best way! Like solving a puzzle. Or trying to! 😂 Oh I would love to hear your thoughts on The Maiden! I think Rewitched will be so cozy and heartwarming for fall. Thank you for watching 😊💜

[@BookishTexan]

Enjoyed your answers.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@BookishTexan Thank you for watching 😊

[@BonnieNicoleWrites]

Ooh I'm really intrigued by Rewitched!! I'm so happy you started on KZbin too!!

[@ellenmadebookclub]

It's such a good concept! I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but I'm so curious to read it! Thank you 🥰💜 You're one of the reasons I am too!

[@BonnieNicoleWrites]

@@ellenmadebookclub ♥♥

[@LibrariesandLattes]

I’m so glad you loved Piranesi!! I wasn’t sure based on your comment on my freakout tag video, haha, so I’m very relieved! I’m excited to read Stone Blind in August for my in-person book club! And I was disappointed by The Maidens too (read it several years ago), it was so promising but so underwhelming to me… And I guess our only difference I can think of is how often we cry at books and in general 😂😂

[@ellenmadebookclub]

It was great! I had so many questions the whole way through, but I very much enjoyed it! And I have to be a little bit ambiguous ^^ I hope you'll like Stone blind! 😬 Yes, The Maidens had everything I could want in a thriller, but as soon as I started reading it I was telling my boyfriend about things that annoyed me, and they just kept coming. Haha I'm such a puddle! It comes and goes, but it depends on what's going on in life as well. And what I choose to read of course, misery is like a magnet to me. I kind of wish it wasn't but I can't help it! 😂 (

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

What a delightful video! I enjoyed hearing your responses to all of the prompts. I think I need to read Piranesi. I'm awfully glad that you have a BookTube channel and that we've met here! 🥰

[@ellenmadebookclub]

Thank you Pat! 🥰 So am I! I think you would enjoy Piranesi! After Ulysses, you will breeze through it in an afternoon! 😄 If you do read it, I would recommend going in as blind as possible, don't even read the back. I'm glad I didn't.

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

@@ellenmadebookclub Good advice! We just finished the longest Ulysses chapter/episode (150 pages) and had another live discussion. I feel like I need to read something just for fun tonight.😄

[@JessicasLibraryCard]

I am a fellow book crybaby and I'm not ashamed! Your video reminded me that I really need up get up "Before the Coffee Gets Cold"soon! Lovely video, thank you!

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@JessicasLibraryCard Thank you so much! Haha glad I’m not alone! It’s good to have a good cry every now and then! 😊 And I’m glad to remind you, it’s really worth a read, in my humble opinion!

[@awebofstories]

Welcome to the world of short stories! It's a slippery slope!

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@awebofstories Haha thank you! 😄

[@elmossy]

Hello! I'm glad to see you take on this tag! 😊 You're on target for the year, and most of all enjoying what you're reading and learning what you like, which is a great goal when returning to reading. There's so many book club reads you've selected that I'd love to read. I know you've mentioned Stolen before, it sounds good, I'll have to look into it Rewitched sounds fun! I love supporting debut writers, Ill have to preorder it too! Ah, Yellowface. I have many thoughts on that book but I haven't finished it yet. I can totally see why people wouldn't like it, the protagonist isn't entirely... personable 😅 That's interesting about short story collections. I don't think I realised how many collected stories or poetry collections I have until you mentioned it. In my mind it's just 'book' 😂 I'm so glad you started this channel. Its a wild crazy journey and youve taken the first step! :D I've been meaning to read some Natalie Haynes. I'll have to see if my library carry a copy 👀 same with The Burnings! As long as the lemon trees grow is such a beautiful looking book! And the illustration style on the Ours cover looks so cool! You flatter me 😊 great video as always! ❤️

[@ellenmadebookclub]

I’m very happy so far! 😊 I think I thought you’d read Stone blind, but if you haven’t I think you’d really enjoy it! Audiobook was fantastic. The Burnings is a lot more bleak but also really good. Rewitched might not be what I would pick up from anyone else, but the concept hit me so hard in the feels and I can’t not read Lucy’s novel! There will be a sequel as well, double deal! Do you follow her channel as well? I feel like you would like her sense of humor. I can’t wait to hear what you think of Yellowface, get on with it! 😂 How many do you have then? ‘books’ And yes, I love the look of Ours! So cool! Lemon trees is a beautiful story as well. I hope more people find your channel, I think it’s great 😊 And it really is a crazy journey! So much fun! 💜

[@itsmimiduong]

TIL Circe is ser-see, I was thinking it was supposed to be ser-que LOL. I'm surprised about Yellowface! I haven't actually read it but I've heard a lot people talking about it so I had a bit of high hopes for it 😩 Especially with all the drama surrounding author debut and whatnot I've been reading up on 😅 I'm kind of the opposite of you -- I read a lot of books that makes me feel giddy and happy but not so much books that'll make me cry 🤣

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@itsmimiduong Haha that’s just how I hear everyone else saying it, so I go with that! I saw the Swedish translation in a second hand store yesterday and it said Kirke. So I have no idea 😂 I didn’t think Yellowface was bad! I just didn’t enjoy it. I don’t think you’re meant to enjoy it and some people like that..? I appreciate what the author is saying and I think it’s written well, it just wasn’t fun for me. If that makes sense. Haha good for you for choosing giddy! I want to include a bit more happy in my reading, I think that will do me good. I just can’t help myself. I have to stop myself sometimes, I’ll pick up a book that draws me in and I’ll read the back and just be like I don’t need more of that kind of misery 😂

[@itsmimiduong]

@@ellenmadebookclub HAHA, yeah I wouldn't know a thing about correct pronunciation. I'll never live down how I pronounced Descartes in my philosophy class 💀 aka Des-Cre-Tes instead of de-cart. 🙃🙃 Still haunts me to this day. Ahhh I see! That makes sense; I also like to read books that I enjoy so maybe I won't be reading it. I just thought the timing of the book & some of the drama surrounding the publishing it'd be an interesting read! I think it's just different genres and you enjoying that is so cool -- I always find it hard to feel emotional/teary with books. I'm planning this tag and I don't think I've gotten teary in any of the books I've read 🥲

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@itsmimiduong Hahaha oh no 😂 I remember we had these marigolds to grow in class, and they’re called tagetes in Swedish but I said diabetes… 🤦‍♀️ Yes I think it’s worth reading as a reference! The topic is interesting, or important is maybe a better word. And some people love it, so don’t let me stop you 😊 The tears come and go for me but there’s been other things in my life so that’s probably a reason why I might be more emotional as well. But I’m a sensitive little soul either way, always have been. Pros and cons ^^

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

Rewitched sounds so good! Adding it to my wishlist

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@TheLinguistsLibrary Right? It’s not my typical type of book but the premise sounds so good, and I can’t not read Lucy’s book 😊 Can’t wait!

[@mandysetterfield415]

Just found you, hello! I loved short stories by Carys Davies, she has two collections and they were fab, do try. Piranesi I loved too. Mandy

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@mandysetterfield415 Hello! Welcome! 😊 I’ll look that up, thank you. Piranesi was so great!

[@books_and_bocadillos]

💜

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@books_and_bocadillos 💜😊

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@books_and_bocadillos I have an email on my profile now btw, if you want to discuss our Marina collab :)

[@FreelancerRubeln]

very nice video thank you very much mam i always watch your video i like it very much your content is very nice ❤❤❤

[@ellenmadebookclub]

@@FreelancerRubeln thank you

[@FreelancerRubeln]

Most welcome mam thank you very much, your content is very nice, It would be great if you create and upload 3 content a week, I will always help you if you have any problem with your youtube channel video, I am a freelancer and a digital marketing expert. I am KZbin Channel and Video SEO Expert ❤❤❤