Reading Horizons with Mum | Last Reads, Current Reads, Next Reads | February 2024

Mum and I have a chat about our #ReadingHorizons, the last books we read, what we are currently reading and what we plan to read next. PLUS we have a chat about the last books we bought at two fabulous independent bookshops. #BookTube #BookChat
You can support me on my Patreon here / savidgereads
And follow me on my Instagram here / savidgereads
Channels Mentioned…
Mum ‪@louisesavidgemuses4135‬
Kayla ‪@BooksandLala‬
Ben ‪@benreadsgood‬
Books Mentioned…
All The Wide Border by Mike Parker
Ours by Phillip B Williams
The Incarnations by Susan Barker
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
House of Names by Colm Toibin
Polite Society by Mahesh Rao
My Father’s House by Joseph O’Connor
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite
Dr. No by Percival Everett
Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
Me Elsewhere…
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[@dewdropsatdawn]

The videos with the two of you together heal my soul. I lost my mother in 2020 and she was my ultimate bookish companion. I cannot describe the warmth and fondness your videos fill me with. You are both so lovely and delightful 🩵 Thank you for sharing 😌

[@SavidgeReads]

So please you enjoy the videos together. We filmed two this weekend and you will be getting one a week as Women's Prize season starts over the next fortnight!

[@annie-mz9956]

I’d love to come across the pond and attend a reading retreat

[@SavidgeReads]

They may happen. There may be a conversation about that very soon.

[@benreadsgood]

I did not know February was actually named for fevers, I just thought I was doing a stupid pun 😂 Every day is a lesson, thanks Louise! Thanks for giving the prompts a shout out, and thrilled you’re catching up ❤

[@SavidgeReads]

A pleasure, sorry for being so rubbish at replying to this comment though. Not sure why 2024 is being so busy and kicking my butt! You should have said you knew about 'fever' and February the whole time, we would never have known. Hahaha.

[@HarrisHarrisBooks]

Ooo wait till you read the first chapter of Cecily. It’s great. The lovely Annie Garthwaite is returning to H&H in July

[@SavidgeReads]

I am sooooooo looking forward to heading to it. I have the second one already, Annie had kindly sent me a lovely parcel of books to Storyhouse, so now have two Cecily's. Ha.

[@phoenixjones660]

"Everybody Knows your Mother is a Witch " 😮 oh, how I chortled 😂. I wish everyone shared a relationship with their mum like you have ❤ Sending Louise a 🪭 to waft away all that bookish rudeness..... Oh the Smashing Gorgeousness of a 🤓 retreat hosted by the two of you 🥳

[@SavidgeReads]

I think the reading retreats will be happening, we have been chatting about it over the last few days when mum came for a bit. We may announce something in the spring ;)

[@clairethackraytarot]

Yes to reading retreats ❤

[@SavidgeReads]

Fingers crossed!

[@leeh4343]

I’m playing catch up - this was so much fun to watch with some great recommendations thrown in! 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

Glad you enjoyed it 🥳

[@cindyhaiken5644]

Yes to a reading retreat in the new AirBnB!! And the envy is massively real that you are opening up that WP for nonfiction longlist box! Love Colm Toibin and have recently been discussing House of Names because I am reading Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey with a group and the fate of poor Agamemnon comes up quite a lot. I just finished reading Hard by a Great Forest, a debut novel by Leo Vardiashvili. I know very little about the Eastern European history it grapples with and it was pretty dark, I must say. My February Savidge prompt pick is Charlotte by Helen Moffett, which gives us Pride & Prejudice from the perspective of Charlotte Lucas. Fun!

[@juliewoan298]

Can I reserve for the reading retreat too please with Louise and of course you too Simon!

[@janedolman6691]

Oh yes please to a reading retreat…although would we end up talking books

[@SavidgeReads]

Fingers crossed some reading retreat announcements may come in the spring! House of Names is great, I must get back to more of Toibin's books. The Vardiashvili is the latest West Kirby Books book of the month, I picked it up on Thursday. He is one of the most handsome authors I have ever seen, I have been asked to host and event with him but think I would just spend the whole time blushing!

[@cindyhaiken5644]

@@SavidgeReads Ha! I confess I have stared at that author photo a bit myself!

[@angelawebb7676]

“I pushed button.” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. Also, good to know about the meaning of February!!

[@SavidgeReads]

She is full of insight is the artist formerly known as my mother, hahahaha.

[@halfmanhalfbook]

Great to see non-fiction on here, Simon. I have read On The Read Hill and Map Addict, but not got to read All The Wide Border, yet. Hopefully seeing him in London this month

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh hope you enjoy All the Wide Border and his event. Mike is such a lovely, lovely man.

[@doreene11]

❤ this video, you two made me chuckle, good fun! Keep these up, please 🙏 💯👌🙌🙌

[@SavidgeReads]

We’re seeing each other this week so we might film something fun then.

[@spexi513]

Love these videos 💚

[@SavidgeReads]

Thank you.

[@KirstyPritchard-n2l]

What a great video, really enjoyed, I’ve read Eileen but didn’t get on with it but I think I will enjoy the film 🍿📚

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh I think you will enjoy the film regardless, I hope you do, it was great!

[@caklock190]

Question for Louise: How much does one need to know about Greek myth in order to read and enjoy Colm Tobin’s book? (PS, I just love you both. It just makes my day when either of you post a video ❤❤ )

[@SavidgeReads]

I have asked the artist formerly known as my mother to check comments when she can and respond!

[@hannahlosttheplot]

Oh, I really enjoyed Everyone Knows Your Mother Is A Witch and Cecily. I've 90% of the way through Ours at the moment and I love the writing so much but I did have a big struggle in the middle where it all felt a bit meandering. I do think it's got one of the best opening chapters I've ever read though!

[@SavidgeReads]

I soooooo agree with you on Ours. That makes an appearance in the next vlog which will be later this week as Women's Prize season is almost here and predictions needed predicting, lol.

[@janepeacock3704]

Fabulous 👏🏻😘 xx Now I have 5 more books I’d like to read 🫣😂

[@SavidgeReads]

Hope you enjoy whichever they were Jane 😀

[@janepeacock3704]

😘

[@spexi513]

What I really liked about Everyone Knows Your Mother Is A Witch is how it realistically showed how someone is accused of such a thing - like there was no mysterious or supernatural or spooky vibes as most books on the topic I’ve read have had . Blahdiggityblah

[@SavidgeReads]

I am looking forward to getting to it in due course, probably after Women's Prize season.

[@HunebeeNZ40]

I love when you two collab! I don't read anything like either of you (or a lot of your followers), but I am participating in your prompts (as I did last year). For January's snake on a cover prompt, I read Ninth House and for February's retelling prompt I read Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Sleeping Beauty - I stayed away from myths :))

[@SavidgeReads]

I have stayed away from myths too. Mum has in the end I think as well, Savidge's can be fickle readers. Lol. So pleased you are joining in with the prompts, we don't have to love the same books, or read the same ones... just having that love of books brings us all together!

[@katiehallett9501]

Love your vlogs! I’m going through a tricky time and they really cheer me up 😊 Thank you

[@SavidgeReads]

Awwww I am sorry to hear things haven't been great, hopefully they are picking up. Glad we could cheer you up for a bit!

[@katiehallett9501]

Thank you ☺️

[@HarrisHarrisBooks]

I loved The Trees too.

[@SavidgeReads]

I did too, just not as much as mum hahaha.

[@kathy2539]

The Joy Luck Club was made into a film in 1993, have either of you seen it. You may have seen it Louise? It was directed by Wayne Wang and stars Tsai Chin, Kieu Chinh, Lisa Lu, France Nuyen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom, Tamlyn Tomita, and Ming-Na Wen. It may be available on streaming or dvd if you're interested. I don't know if it follows the novel accurately or not, though.

[@SavidgeReads]

I haven't seen it, though I may well once I have finished the book - I started it but then went off to read other things hahaha.

[@taneesewilson8844]

So enjoyed this video and your reading horizons Simon and Louise😊 I’m presently reading along with the audible, (something new to me and really enjoying that) Polite Society. So many of these excellent authors and their books I want to add to my tbr. I’m learning patience with reading since getting ‘back on board’ last yr 😁 and feel energized for my own reading horizons this new year. As always, love and laugh with you at your ‘banter’ together and look forward to the unboxing of the women’s prize video on Thursday Louise! 📚

[@SavidgeReads]

So pleased you enjoyed this video, hope you enjoyed the Non Fiction unboxing when it went up on Mum's channel. The fiction longest will be being unboxed next week on this channel with mum, it is a corker - oops, I have said too much hahahaha.

[@HarrisHarrisBooks]

AirBnB? How exciting, but Women’s Prize unboxing? Oh yes yes yes 🙌

[@SavidgeReads]

You have the fiction longlist unboxing a week on Tuesday, we have already filmed it... so many secrets. hehehe.

[@emmavd]

Great video again, Simon and Louise! Thanks🌷I look forward to the unboxing on Thursday!📚😍

[@SavidgeReads]

Hope you enjoyed the unboxing? You have the fiction predictions coming here Tuesday and the Women's Prize longlist unboxing coming the Tuesday after... we have already filmed them and have soooooo many secrets.

[@emmavd]

@@SavidgeReads Hi Simon!😊I did enjoy the unboxing very much (you and Louise are a fantastic duo!🥰). I am not much of a non-fiction reader though. I am so looking forward to your WPF predictions and to that unboxing next week!😍📚Listening to booktubers has proved to be a winning strategy in my selection of books from the longlists of the WPF and also the Booker. Last year I read four WPF, three Booker and also three International Booker titles which were perfect for me. Most ended in my top reads for 2023 and not all of them were even shortlisted.

[@azu_rikka]

You two are my dream team, I could watch you for days, so any collab that you have planned is a bonus. Maybe do a themed video, e.g. what books you both love or a discussion about a book related topic? The cover of "Ours" caught my attention first, and your summary definitely sold it to me. I do get the need equivalent to a "China fix", it often happens to me that I read about a topic in a novel, then look for a non-fiction book with the same topic, sometimes the other way around. I loved the House of Names, which is to my knowledge the only retelling I've ever read. I love all of Toibin's books. His writing is exquisite 👌!

[@SavidgeReads]

We recorded a few more videos this very weekend for the start of Women's Prize season, so hopefully you will enjoy those over the forthcoming weeks.

[@tanyam6197]

So nice to see you at your Mums place 😊❤

[@SavidgeReads]

It was lovely to be there!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Louise you need to read Brooklyn and then watch the movie. Also Blackwater Lightship

[@SavidgeReads]

I loved both Brooklyn, the book and the film, very excited for the sequel.

[@andeeheartsbooks7447]

So love watching the tw of you. So many interesting books here!❤

[@SavidgeReads]

Awww thanks. We’ve got to think of something to film later this week.

[@susprime7018]

I read and loved the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan in 1991, I remember because a neighbor in that year loaned me the book so it probably came out in the eighties. I have since enjoyed other books by her. I enjoyed Trees too. Fun video, always a pleasure.

[@SavidgeReads]

What a lovely neighbour to loan you a lovely book.

[@whatsthetemma1308]

Another great vlog plenty to add to my library holds and loads of laughs

[@SavidgeReads]

Glad it brought you lots of laughs and HOORAY for libraries.

[@asajohannesson2012]

I just read Cecily about a month ago. I loved it.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh that has made me all the more intrigued to get to it!

[@katiechatseyeshadow4394]

Great video, love the banter x

[@SavidgeReads]

Thank you!!!

[@mradcaqbdb]

Ooh! I picked up a copy of Cecily after seeing the lovely Mrs Harris go on about it last year. Horror that I haven’t gotten to it yet, but I definitely will over the next couple of months. I can’t wait for the fantastic first chapter Kate has promised! I paused the video to take out the audiobook of House of Names at my library. It sounds great! It will be my next audiobook after I finish listening to The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle by Matt Cain, which I’m loving. Can’t wait to see what the Women’s Prize has in store for us in their inaugural non-fiction longlist! I’ll be watching on Thursday. Oh, and reading retreat at the B&B? Yes! xx

[@SavidgeReads]

That happens to me so often with books, get them in excitement, don't get to them for ages... even though still super duper excited to get to them. Both Women's Prize longlists are soooooo good this year, I can't say more than that though. Reading Retreats may well get announced this spring... maybe!

[@juliewoan298]

Great video…loved hearing about those reading horizons. Like your mum, I read The Joy Luck club not long after it came out. But think I read The Kitchen God’s Wife first which I loved more. Think the Joy Luck Club was her debut which was then made into a film.

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh if I like The Joy Luck Club (I started it then got way laid by other books) I shall look up The Kitchen God's Wife!

[@Penny-ws4mz]

Still remember the feeling I had when reading The Joy Luck Club over a decade ago, that "this is a good book and it's just getting better and better".

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooooh, I stopped reading it but am heading back, so this was lovely to hear.

[@lindaleehall]

Have you read Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati? It is just amazing.

[@SavidgeReads]

I have. I had the pleasure of hosting her event in Liverpool and both she and her book are fabulous.

[@karenmoore4430]

I read Julia and loved it for the prompt. Thanks. Great video😢

[@SavidgeReads]

Sooo pleased you are joining in with the prompts and finding fab books for the,m.

[@joondk]

You would like the Joy luck movie too. And there is a recent bio documentary about the author. Thanks for your great videos!!!

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh I may watch it once I have read the book, I started the book and got waylaid by work reading, oops.

[@katrinamuritala3207]

I just read mongrel and really enjoyed

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh I am really looking forward to it!

[@cecilialau_]

Youse two have such a fun dynamic. Love all the tangents and enthusiasm, you have very charming energy. - Very much enjoyed (innocently though) the sex and balls conversation, thank you for keeping it in 😜😍

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha *innocently* hahahaha.

[@cecilialau_]

@@SavidgeReads 😂

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Alert the World Health Organization - books can cause STIs.🤣

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahahaha, imagine!

[@bookofdust]

You two are looking more like siblings these days!

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahahaha well we aren't that far apart in age, the difference seems less and less as we get older.

[@sniffingthesheets]

A reading retreat would be EPIC.

[@SavidgeReads]

If the people want it… we will make it happen.

[@sniffingthesheets]

@@SavidgeReads the people definitely want it 🙌