reading vlog 📖 fantasy dark academia, Babel & a book haul ~

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Welcome to another reading vlog! This one was a bit all over place (but, honestly, when are my videos ever not hahah). In this vlog, we read Babel by R.F. Kuang. This book has been so, so hyped already. It's a fantasy dark academia, that's supposed to be a tonal response to Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell and a thematic response to The Secret History. You all know I love fantasy books and I, so far, have loved most of the dark academia books I've read, and those two--The Secret History and Jonathon Strange--are two of my favourites of all time.
Anywho, in this vlog we went book shopping, visited a cozy cafe, had a little book haul and read a whole bunch of this wonderful fantasy dark academia book. I hope you all enjoy the vlog 💛
P.S. DON'T FORGET WE'RE GOING TO JAPAN IN 2023!!
Travel to Japan with me! May 2023 trip: bit.ly/3NoyR5G
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The cafe I went to ~ / cielo.adl
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[@christy-anne-jones]

I hope you all enjoy this spoiler-free Babel reading vlog as much as I enjoyed reading it 💛 Take care everyone and thank you so much for being here! P.S. Don't forget we're going on a group trip to Japan in May 2023! More info: bit.ly/3NoyR5G

[@Aditi5harma]

Hey Christy! Is this trip open for people from India?

[@christy-anne-jones]

​@@Aditi5harma Absolutely! Anyone from anywhere can attend 😊💛

[@nerd26373]

Hi Christy. I'm new to your channel, and so far, it seems like you have a vibrant personality. You communicate effectively to your audiences in a sense that anyone could listen to you speak for the whole day. The vibes that I'm getting so far from your videos are peaceful and stunning. I hope you continue to succeed. All the best of luck to you and this channel.

[@christy-anne-jones]

Awwwh thank you so much for this beautiful comment!

[@flamingaish]

it's a bot 💀

[@christy-anne-jones]

@@flamingaish maybe you're a bot 👀

[@flamingaish]

@@christy-anne-jones why the slander, mademoiselle? 😩

[@GalaxyElfJess]

I'm one of those! I have ADHD and during one of my hyperfixations I watched her videos religiously for a week straight. I got a lot of book recommendations! But I also ran out of money in the process. Don't do that.

[@MicronautMaia]

The lady who asked if you liked your croissant 😂❤ That was so sweet

[@christy-anne-jones]

The staff there are so lovely 💛

[@molly2343]

I'd heard about Babel for months before it actually came out, and I didn't even know it wasn't out yet 💀 I went to my local bookshop and found it, but it had a massive rip where someone had cut it while opening the book, so I managed to get the book for half price!! I read it in a week and cried at the end, it's one if my favourited now

[@prasanna7382]

i also put my hand on my heart whenever there's a real heartbreaking scene or a death in the book, it helps me connect more I guess, and I cry very easily watching movies or reading books. its just really nice to feel that connection to the characters I think. and I absolutely love your vlogs Christy! I've been watching your videos since about 3 years now and I'm always looking forward to a new one and get inspired all over again. don't exhaust yourself too much tho! take care!

[@YourTrueShelf]

I am listening to Babel on audible, and part way in, I knew it was such a special book that I had to own it, so I went and bought a special edition. When I saw this vlog, I was so happy!! It's a work of genius. So so special. I'd really recommend watching R F Kuang giving the Tolkien lecture at Oxford, it's on KZbin, and she is so interesting, and stunningly intelligent. I want to read everything she's written now! Thank you for such a beautiful vlog x

[@ghostlymyfriend]

I followed your advice and watched the lecture!!!! Omg it was sooo good. Thank you 🙏

[@agustina0110]

"Cielo" in spanish is literal is the sky but also means the place in "heaven" where the angels are, or when you refer to a love one "darling". I didnt know that autor, I'm going to read that book. Thanks! 😘

[@nolanol7094]

If you ever get your book A Year in Tokyo publish in physical book i’m going to buy it the same second it comes available. That cover alone is a reason to buy it, so stunning 💕 Also greetings from another side of the world (Finland) I just recently found your channel but fell in love right away.

[@chloeryder3080]

I’ve been wanting to read this since I first heard about it! And I’ve been so excited for you to post :) so excited for this!

[@jadepittman4623]

This vlog was so good I didn't want it to end xx

[@craftyreads]

I love watching your reading vlogs, it gives me inspiration to read Babel and more dark academia!

[@AdrianasWonderland]

every vlog of yours i watch makes me so happy and calm, thank you for that

[@chiaraperri9983]

my aunt gifted me a copy of Babel yesterday!! can’t wait to read it 🤍 such a wonderful and comforting vlog as always dear Christy

[@wednesdaypoetryclub]

I just adore everything you post, it genuinely feels so cozy and like you’re coming home after a difficult day. So excited to read Babel soon! ❤

[@jesangeladventures2930]

Your vlogs are so relaxing.. I watch your channel when I needed some peace of mind ❤

[@natfrog]

I’ve never seen anyone eat a croissant with knife and fork!! 😂 loved how cosy the video is, Babel is on my tbr. also adore the pompom cardigan! x

[@amrspereira]

I was watching and laughed to tears just imagining the agony of any french as Christy carefully sliced a little piece of the croissant! 😂 Have no fear though! I tottally understand the need for two clean hands when handling a book! Christy, you are forgiven! Proceed with the knife and fork!

[@Anu-dl6ub]

Your vlogs are my comfy space nowadays. I wait for them eagerly to get into this happy space. Thankyou christy for all the hardwork you put in.

[@extraordinarilyalli7848]

Hello! I just found your channel, and I love how you talk about books! I've been wanting to read Babel, and now I'm even more excited to read it after watching this. Love your content so far!

[@DD-si1gv]

For such a big book, i finished this in about two days. I just couldn't stop reading. So good!

Babel has been on my radar for quite some time now, and this vlog has made me want to pick it up even more!

[@everausten]

Vicariously enjoying getting swept up in an amazing new book find. Cosy and heartwarming vlog 💛🌙🌟✨

[@tawnyachristensen7310]

My reserved copy just came in at our library, so excited to read it!

[@saleenashagufta8021]

Christy ! Ur vlogs just make my day , such an aesthetic ND beautiful vlog . Excited fr project teacup

[@shuwei9420]

You're so conscientious, it makes me feel so bad for buying so many books but I love them so much! I also absolutely need to read Babel, it sounds incredible! I was initially intimidated because it sounds very academic but I'll take your seal of approval of its easy readability 💖

[@ellie2285]

Another lovely video!! I'm so so happy you enjoyed Babel, Christy, definitely adding it to my tbr now. Take care! ☺️🌼

[@bettyswitchedhomerooms]

Love this vlog and the mood! Babel is such a hyped book written by a wellknown author that’s why I’m afraid to pick it up but after this I definitely will read Babel. I feel like it’s what I need right now.

[@kaitlyng7850]

I really enjoyed it! I feel like Rebecca Kuang stepped up her writing game with Babel. I enjoyed it more than Poppy War. I thought Poppy War was also good but there was definitely a difference in writing style with Babel and I felt it was a lot stronger :)

[@atouchofmagic1244]

Just found your channel, I really enjoyed this video and I love your accent 🥰 made me cry watching you read the end of the book 📚😩

[@rocksocks300]

Love the effort you put into your videos, Christy! With love, from Malaysia.

[@christy-anne-jones]

Thank you so much!! 💛💛

[@amandasimms8609]

Yay love the shout out for Wise Children! Bloody LOVE that book xo

[@amomentofwonder]

How come I haven't heard about this book until now? It sounds great! Thanks for the recommendation and the wonderful book vlog 🤗❤️

[@livmilesparanormalromanceb6891]

I still need to read Midnight’s children! Thank you for the reminder 😍📚📖

[@laurarobinson1508]

It's so exciting to see a KZbinr in Adelaide! I love the new Dymocks and cannot wait to try Cielo!

[@bookishnatie9614]

Babel is one of my favorite reads of this year it's honeslty what Harry Potter should have been for me. It's so good

[@DannalrOfficialSite]

I never comment but I just need to let you know how happy my sundays are because of you ✨

[@harshharchandani5340]

I was waiting for your vlog Christy☺️you are my favourite book tuber

[@christy-anne-jones]

Awwh--thank you so much! 💛💛

[@harshharchandani5340]

@@christy-anne-jones You’re Welcome 😇

[@shybunnymia]

I miss your reading vlogs!

[@vivianwakoff]

Your vlogs always put me in a good mood! It's pure magic! I have an unpopular opinion: Dark academia as a aesthetic is great, but it annoys me as a book genre. I guess it's because it was such a struggle for me to go through college. I was going through a ton of personal stuff and it was hard even to pay for it. So when I tried reading dark academia I was immediately annoyed by every single character and by how entitled they are. But I do wish I could like it, though. For all the hardships and the things I wish I had done differently, I loved going to college. I love learning. So if you have any recs for people who want to get into the genre but are annoyed by it, I'm all ears!

[@singingsanja167]

Christy! I didn't wqant to buy any new books! And now I just had to order it, LOL! 🤣 Thanks so much for another inspiration that sounds absolutely amazing. 💕

[@roguetwo1786]

Such a cozy vlog ☺️ loved it, thanks Christy! That croissant looked AMAZING. Also, where did you get your Totoro plush, it is so stinkin’ cute!

[@halamahmoud9058]

You are my new favorite youtuber🥰

[@brianwashines2645]

Eating ramens around books is what I call living dangerously, LoL! Love the recommendation and the book hall.

[@victorlira26]

Hello, just found out your channel today, and i'm already in love with your content, sending love from Brazil 😊😊

[@maryshimp2664]

New subscriber, love your calming vibe! I feel your angst about buying more books! But the books keep calling me! A true addiction! I did force myself to not go to a used book sale to support a local cat rescue agency. I did donate books so I did help their cause just knew I didn’t need to add more books to my shelves at this time. Looking forward to reading Babel!

[@mymomantailife4790]

Loved the video! Couldn't stop staring at your World of Warcraft collection and wondering which ones are those and if you read them and liked them 😅 Anyways, hope you're having a wonderful week! Lots of love from Argentina! And happy Spring! ♥

[@rachu816]

I finished Babel on Friday and I've still been thinking of it every day since. It's dark and heavy and brilliant and aah! So, it was so nice to watch you know Babel as well! ♥ I also wanted to point out that I think the tower of Babel is pronounced differently depending on where you're from. In the US, we say babble but I think the UK says bay-bel. (But someone please correct me if I'm wrong haha!)

[@wandering0wonderland]

Yes, Canadian here and it's "babble" here too

[@jaroslavaart]

Liked an idea of ribbon as a bookmark.

[@Purzius]

Lovely vlog as always

[@coleo1356]

Haha the mirror in the coffee shop made it look briefly like you’d gotten to the end of the book in one coffee shop sitting 🤪 I was shocked.

[@richarddelanet]

Have to wonder when you will be reading 'Midnight's Children'? A group read or something would be a good thing.

[@angelaprentice8055]

Love your vlogs

[@Jay-du1ms]

Your channel is amazing, not like others ❤❤❤

[@VictoriaPichel]

Hi! The name of the Café, Cielo, means sky in Spanish. It doesn't sound like cello, the instrument. It's just /si-e-lo/ ha! I wish I could insert an audio bite! Beautiful place!!! I love it when you go to bookshops and cafés :))

[@christy-anne-jones]

Ah! Right--thank you so much. I kept stumbling on the 'ch' sound because I thought it was Italian not Spanish 😅 Thanks for letting me know 💛💛

[@VictoriaPichel]

@@christy-anne-jones ah, now that you mention it, yes, it also might be italian! It's the same spelling as in Spanish! and yes, it's 'chelo' in Italian. You'll have to ask the owner :P

[@christy-anne-jones]

@@VictoriaPichel I found an article! It is indeed Spanish not Italian. Si-e-lo it is 😊💛 citymag.indaily.com.au/habits/plate-and-cup/cielo-tea-room-opens-in-adelaide-arcade/

[@toribrooks7308]

Have you read Ninth House?? I am so excited for the follow-up next year. And just started Babel last night since I finally finished East of Eden! So good 😭

[@joanahenriques8863]

I'm so curious to read this book now! Also as a random p.s I hope you get a haircut again, I think short hair suited you so well 🥰

[@lenadesouza]

Omg, Christy yeah! For many years in my life I wasn't able to buy lots of books, and every now and then, when I buy more than two books in a month I feel like I am wasting money. 😅

[@simob7862]

New to the channel really enjoy, I sort of hop around and grab materials on the fly. Also have time and management issues in that I can’t manage to find space for personal stuff. So that’s my new challenge, also journal every morning and completed two books and half way through Mark Manson subtle art of not giving a schnauzer Journal (for studying) I have to submit a report on in in two weeks

[@brokenremedy7821]

I have the same marble lamp from Kmart! Love the bulb you chose - where did you get it from? ♥

[@raymondhodgson1190]

Have that book on my shelf and I've been too busy to read it! Need to make time now :D :D

[@elessar8057]

I ordered Babel because the cover looks so pretty. Normally i read on e-reader

[@christy-anne-jones]

The cover is stunnning! It's a beautiful book 💛

[@Claire-f]

The answer is yes inflation in the US at least is absolutely out of control. Just ordered Babel because of your vlog 🎉

[@andrea-dd4jm]

warning- Spoilers- I skipped the torture scene- so can I say I read it? The second half reminded me of Zola's Germinal- I read that in sunny Paris on the Seine so it didn't make me want to die. Unfortunately, I read this under the constant cloud cover of mucky late winter. I think that is why some people in beautiful counties can read/write such sad books- too much beauty around to be bothered by a sad book. Only happy books for next Feb/March! And at least two characters didn't end up in a sibling incest relationship like a Secret History- the four main characters were on the whole more likable. Midnight Children is one of my favorites of all time! Hope you like it! I tried another one by him- wasn't good.

[@clintbrown2583]

Yes, inflation is just as crazy over here in the U.S. My wife and I recently moved from a part of the country with a very high cost of living to an area with a lower one but due to inflation, we haven’t noticed as much of a difference. Keep up the great work and awesome videos!

[@Fons00]

Wait. She has the Warcraft books!! Omg. 💜💫🤯

[@zyzzlduck7755]

Hi Christy! If you’re comfortable sharing, I was wondering where your leather purse is from? It’s beautiful!

[@zohalarbabzada9654]

Recently read Babel too and I loved it!!! Interestingly, the British pronunication is Ba-byl but the American pronunication is Babble

[@thesamuraiman]

I wonder if they say "Tower of Bay-Ble" as well

[@TheWordN3rd]

I think it depends on American English vs British English? Like, we say "ba-ble" over here because Babel is where you get the verb "babble" from.

[@nerdmaid1240]

Babel doesn’t seem to be my kind of thing but I do like magic elements in a story. I’ve just finished Threadneedle and it was superb. I think you’d like it. 😊

[@haleylquinton]

I think you've convinced me to read Babel! I'm afraid of being disappointed by it. I love the whole dark academia aesthetic, but I'm often disappointed by books that people say are "dark academia" (with the exception being The Secret History, which I enjoyed).

[@megreads9]

I still until now couldn't afford buying books due to the expensive prices that we are facing here in Lebanon, which is frustrating me so much and i have a deep anger inside myself. I was yearly buying books on a daily basis but this year i only bought 15 books of my little English book corner library and if i have the choice to go anywhere else rather than Lebanon i will not Hesitate to move right a way for only one reason buying more books because i am an author too and authors always needs to keep their libraries updated, and yes like you said it's bad everywhere... Haha economic crises everywhere.

[@marsaig7633]

I read deeplight and the worldbuilding is amazing

[@runhigh123]

Do you read by E Books (using a ebook reader like kindle or table pc like ipad), because books do take space and are quite heavy (thick book series esp). I tend to only buy physical copies only when they are personal favorites or meaningful, has rereading value, great cover or illustrations, otherwise mostly ebooks. (saved so much space)

[@mireyagabbini6795]

Hi Christy, I just want you to know that "cielo" is the italian word for "sky" 🌞🌌 I love yours videos, they are so comfortable and cozy for me 💕

[@ClaudiaDCD]

The only book haul that makes me feel like I really indulged myself is from the library! At least they're free!

[@christy-anne-jones]

Saaaame! There's absolutely no guilt, and if I don't like the book, there's no pressure to finish it. Libraries are so special 💛

[@reactorre]

Hi Christy, I'm a fellow book lover and I'm loving your videos. You are so pretty and funny. I could listen to you for hours. Bye

[@stayhydrated3271]

Have had a packed day and it's so nice to chill and watch your vlogs to wind down!

[@mateip2918]

just bought Babel two days ago , it finally arrived in my country's bookshops too and I'm so excited to start it also , this was , as always , an amazing video🥰

[@eriyush]

How were you able to find babel in paperback?? Over here it’s only in hardcover!!

[@christy-anne-jones]

Publishing in Australia is weird--the hardback doesn't come out until October for us. Maybe they start with paperback here bc it's so expensive to ship all the way to Australia? I'm not sure!

[@danielavaldes3301]

"Cielo" is "Sky" in spanish and its pronounced si(like the musical note)- e-lo. That croissant looks amazing.

[@sims2lovealot]

Oohh I see on your shelf World of Warcraft collectors editions! Do you play?

[@67PenZ]

Went to 5 different bookstores in Stockholm and no-one had it in stock. It seems like it's already become a hyped seller. I warned every clerk that they should stock up on it before the hype spreads even more!

[@labeba]

I really see you all wounder how to pronounce it, the second one is the Iraqi/ Arabic pronounce 》》and Iraq Where is the original Babylon located. So I think it should be (b"A"bel)

[@veroxas10]

See-eh-loh, Cielo it's "Sky" in Spanish :) loved the vlog! 💜

[@andreac.6779]

Your life seems so cool and lovely for we humans who suffer.

[@meghancarlson1360]

how did you become a travel writer? That sounds really interesting and something that I would be totally into.

[@cdal1621]

“Pots on the counter “ haha . That’s a coffee table Christy! 🤪 And why where the pots on the coffee table ?! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@atuljoshi1990]

do you remember that Seinfeld episode where George ate his snickers bar w/ a knife and fork.......thanks for pointing me to Babel!

[@BlancaVarguesArt]

Nice video😍

[@MaryAmongStories]

💛🌻

[@emilychian3785]

Cielo means star in Italian (I think) ~

[@eertyuiuytr]

Inflation indeed exists where I'm from. But you still get 2 cucumbers for 1 USD on a bad day.Australia is mad expensive

[@Goodday-nm7zp]

Cielo is Spanish for "sky" (: love ur vids btw

[@richarddelanet]

Interesting footnote. Of course the British Empire or trade empire wasn't much of a colonial empire during the 1700s (apart from the thirteen youthful colonies of America). So the point in the footnote is not really overly relevant. By the time it is relevant, in the 1800s, the British establishment tended to favour "free trade". Much like or at least related to the world as it is today. German companies were operating in British Cameroun, but it was America only shipping contracts between Hawaii and the west coast of the U.S.A.

[@digvijay3302]

I m watching from india 👀 🇮🇳

[@ellen2642]

I pronounce Cielo “see-ello”

[@teresak2022]

Lovely video 🤍 'cielo' is Italian for 'sky' 😘 phonetically like tshelo 😘 inflation is also really bad here 🇮🇹

[@Erika-pq7ip]

Im in the midst of book 2 and I'm not liking it that much. Like I'm engaged but its doesn't have the same spot secret history does. Hopefully I like it more as I keep reading but I just feel distanced from the characters

[@bambina1800]

why is yassified maya hawke talking to me about books

[@officialmkamzeemwatela]

It’s Babel, as in Babylon. The hard a not the ay

[@rosianedonascimento5470]

🇧🇷😘

[@taity8807]

私服可愛いすぎます☺️