Reading All The Women’s Prize Winners with My Mum | Part Four | September 2020

[@denisediamond9313]

I love that you film on your iPhone. Every time a you tuber buys a fancy camera and makes an announcement about it...I literally can’t tell the difference!

[@leabhairagustae7279]

Me normally: 😢 Me, when Simon and Louise film a video: 😃 😃

[@audreyh7892]

I really enjoyed "The Lacuna". I like her other books but "The Lacuna" is my favorite. I liked all of the history.

[@sararichards518]

I loved The Lacuna. I really learnt a lot about that particular place and period. You have to push through and get into it. I love Frida Khalo so this was a treat. I loved all these books and reread them with you. I had never read The Tigers Wife and enjoyed it so thank you for making this Women’s Prize winners project. Your Mum is a great teacher. I would love to sit in on her classes!! Thank you Simon and Mum.

[@pamelajarvis7728]

The Road Home is one of my favourite books. It stands rereading many many times. Agree that all her books are so different but so brilliant. Just finished Islands of Mercy...fantastic too. Love The Colour, The Gustav Sonata in particular. Enjoyed her enlightening autobiographical book “Rosie” very much and it endeared her to me even more. Brilliant writer who should be talked about more!

[@mrsmilkybarkid3318]

These videos with your Mum are always my favourites! The Lacuna has been on my TBR for years, after your Mum’s review I really want to read it and also Rose Tremain’s books have been added to the list. I hope that the students your Mum teaches realise how lucky they are in having such an engaging and insightful person with such a passion for reading as their teacher. I could listen to you both talk about books all day, thank you for continuing to upload despite the poo-fest this year has been ❤️!

[@heatherkirkland9056]

Found back list Simon ❤❤ Your mum made me laugh with her when reading Beauty, enjoying your reviews together . xx

[@lisab2856]

This was lovely and funny...I love your videos with your mum. ❤️

[@user-iu4ws6vh5s]

I love your review with your mom. Her assessment of the Tiger’s Wife was spot on. It was a great book for me. I’ve only read one Kingsolver, Unsheltered, and found it heavy handed and didactic. Just discovered your channel and find you so down to earth and engaging.

[@emmatarran3241]

Love your videos with your mum and love this series. Also...fantastic pastels.

[@deerose4220]

Your mum is adorable just like you. 💖

[@rachaellundy-davis7957]

I absolutely love Barbara Kingsolver, but I felt the same way you did about the Lacuna. I couldn't finish it, because it was too slow for me. I recommend Poisonwood Bible, Pigs in Heaven, and The Bean Trees. These books are so beautifully written.

[@Georgesmomsu]

Your mum is a delight.

[@YourTrueShelf]

I've got the lacuna and the road home & have read neither! So loved hearing your thoughts, and love the duo as always ☺️

[@ReadABookGem]

This challenge is so brilliant and I had a fantastic time reading the winners too. I loved The Road Home and am now reading through Rose Tremain's back catalogue. I didn't like The Lacuna either or Home so glad I am not alone there 😆

[@sonfederman8212]

I want to do that too if her other books are as great as this one was - The Road Home.

[@victoriaclark4913]

I have a few of these books, this has given me a kick up the proverbial to read them 😂. Rose Tremain is now on my to read list

[@dianacameron167]

I just love you both so much! So many books here I’ve wanted to read so great to hear your thoughts on them. I need to read Rose Tremain now x

[@sonfederman8212]

I have just finished The Road Home and thought it was absolutely wonderful. And, Simon, if the part that disturbed you is what I’m thinking of, if you place that in the context of his rejection and it’s confirmation, and take into account his mental state, then I think it’s understandable - not acceptable but intensely understandable. He’s generally a ‘decent bloke’.

[@juliewoan298]

I adore Rose Tremain - my favourites are Sacred Country about a young girl who feels like she was born into a boy's body....was published in 1992 but is just as relevant today as it was in 1992, one could argue even more so. But agree with your Mum that she writes very different books each time. I loved The Gustav Sonata which is set in Switzerland in WW", but giving to a Swiss person to read, they did not buy into the profile of their fellow Swiss depicted in the book!

[@cynthibook]

I would be interested to see a video about the favorite books of your grandmother and your mother.

[@sallyandbooks545]

Love your videos with your Mum 😍

[@teanlit2949]

Yay! I love the vids with your mum.

[@mpsensha]

The Tiger's Wife sounds good, that's on my wishlist now, thank you.

[@enidlacob1157]

Lovely to have your mum back. I loved Housekeeping by Robinson but had trouble with the others. I will try again maybe like you the religious aspect didn’t grab me. I liked Lacuna and your mum is right about the historical events being interesting. It does teach you about history. I confess I didn’t finish The Tigers Wife

[@JenniMReads]

I guess I should check out Rose Tremain. Because who am I to argue with three generation of Savidges.

[@paulawilliams9645]

Rose Tremain is a star. Islands of Mercy is fabulous. Simon you must read Music and Silence I agree with your mum that it is her best book. I have just read Jack by Marilynne Robinson which I was not sure about while reading it but now think it was really well written and the characters are amazing it also deals with very difficult subjects.

[@mitchrapp9727]

You should really read Dances with Wolves for a good western.

[@susprime7018]

I loved The Tiger's Wife and The Lacuna.

[@kimswhims8435]

I've read The Road Home by Rose Tremain and The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, meant to read Home by Marilynne Robinson earlier in the year but mistakenly picked up Housekeeping instead (also wonderful). Still haven't read any of Tea''s, hope to soon. The Lacuna is my more a favourite of mine rather than The Road Home but I did enjoy the sympathetic handling of the characters in The Road Home.

[@skeletonkeybooks]

I meant to read The Tiger's Wife for my neighborhood book club this month but just didn't manage it. I will definitely keep it on deck, though, in hopes I can get to it soon.

[@lindaleehall]

I really enjoyed The Tiger's Wife and The Lacuna-well, Frida. I haven't read any Marilyn Robinson except Gilead which made me feel trapped in a lecture about religion. I wish it had just been the touching, personal messages left for a child who would be fatherless while still very young. That would have been more than enough for me.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Rose Tremain was interviewed on Open Book BBC radio4 today. Her new book sounds really great. Have you got a copy yet from publisher?? I have ordered Home on Audible to make myself finally Home. I’ve had it on kindle unread for years. Lila is the one you can’t remember. So I haven’t read any of these four ...yet. I did read Inland, but found it weird. Brilliantly written and with unforgettable ending but you find yourself asking, “ what did I just read?” 👋☘️📚🦋📖🌈🤩

[@paulawilliams9645]

Thank you for mentioning the Rose Tremain interview I will listen on BBC Sounds thank you, I had a copy of Islands of Mercy from Netgalley earlier in the year and it is fabulous

[@CharlesHeathcote]

I am also a person who read The Lacuna and went to research whether the protagonist actually existed, despite the fact it tells you in the beginning that he does not. I did actually thoroughly adore that one and, when you eventually get to it, I will be interested to hear your thoughts. The Tiger's Wife is a book that I re-read a couple of years ago and didn't end up liking upon a second read. However, I think this is purely due to my tastes having changed in that time. The Road Home and Home are books I have recommended regularly and imagine I will read one day. (side-note: great jumper 👍)

[@judybrown1624]

I can see why Gran didn't like The Lacuna. It's very different from her other books. It read a bit too much like nonfiction for me, but there is a lot of good history in there. I just got Tremain's new book. This project was my introduction to her. I want to read her entire backlist.

[@heatherkirkland9056]

Hi Simon can you link part 1- 3 below as can't find them ?? xx