the books i want to read this month (my TBR)

main channel: / thejackexperience
instagram: / jackbenedwards

[@lauravsthepage]

I can’t do proper monthly TBR lists haha my next book is chosen by throwing runes and reading the stars. In fact telling myself I’m reading a particular book next is probably the best way to ensure I don’t read it next.

[@berenicethegirl]

Same

[@anavargas2837]

This couldn't describe me better😅

[@maheen8869]

ME

[@lauvargas9327]

Same😂😭

[@autumnmoen2041]

Never related to a comment more

[@Jennikreads]

The guy behind the move to ban All Boys Aren't Blue recently was arrested for alleged child sexual abuse, and that book puts a really specific spotlight on that particular issue and the fact that if children and teens don't know what sexual abuse is, they are more likely to internalize what is happening than to tell someone or to blame their abuser.... so like so many books banned in the United States, its small minded people who don't want children and teens to be educated.

[@BetteDavis19]

My middle school teacher taught a course on banned books. I love him :)

[@OverlyAverageBen]

The Bluest Eye and Maus are both absolutely stunning, heartbreaking stories. So looking forward to your thoughts!

[@rachaelm7084]

I love those two!

[@kayla.7766]

I remember one night my dad read Maus to me and my sister late at night on the couch, and he imitated my grandfather’s polish/yiddish accent when the old man is supposed to be speaking. Maus taught me about my history and gave me cultural context for who and what I come from! I hope you enjoy it

[@katieh1752]

What a great memory 💓 I definitely have Maus on my tbr!

[@lynseypeters]

A Man Called Ove is one of my favourite books, I loved it. I cried a lot too, Fredrick Backman's books always make me cry.

[@wanpulway]

how do you always manage to make me feel better when i'm having a shitty day???

[@jack_in_the_books]

sending you a big hug

[@TheFlowerGirl77]

Hi Jack: Looking forward to hearing about all these, especially Elektra and The Transgender Issue but ESPECIALLY the banned books. It is crucial people understand that just because a book is banned doesn’t mean it is not worth reading. Quite often it is the EXACT opposite situation but some group of individuals don’t want them read for their own personal view limitations. Love and Excitement, 🌹 (on her own today)

[@gabriellepaffumi6793]

Speaking of band books, if you haven’t read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky I would highly recommend it. I read the book for my philosophy of censorship class in college, and it’s easily become one of my all-time favorites. The writing style is so frank and refreshing when it comes to really serious topics, and it really does just scream adolescence. Though, huge trigger warning for SA, unalive, depression, and anxiety. But if you’re in a good mental space, it’s easily a 10 out of a 10 book!

[@PriyaaanshuThakur]

It was my first ever fiction book and i cannot find a book that can top that honestly i wish stephen chbosky wrote more YA

[@julie-tx9uw]

the perks of being a wallflower is banned ??

[@gabriellepaffumi6793]

@@julie-tx9uw not federally, but it’s one of the top books to be banned in schools across the USA. 😊

[@julie-tx9uw]

@@gabriellepaffumi6793 whaatttt i didn’t know that ! i checked it out from my middle school’s library when i read it! thank you for answering :)

[@dreamingofthemoon]

@@gabriellepaffumi6793 omgg WHAT

[@sleantia]

For banned books, I can wholeheartedly recommend the graphic novel 'Gender Queer' by Maia Kobabe. I recently read it, I immediately felt like buying twenty copies so I could give it to everyone I know. Its autobiographical and tells the story of Maia's growing up and learning about how ey want to express eir gender. Is has been the book that has most clearly explained gender queerness for me, and I'm exceptionally grateful for it, for that. highly, highly recommend!

[@booksandwine6245]

sounds really good, I'll add it to my tbr😊

[@PinkiePie7hpdw]

YES

[@maypasifiki9360]

Read it because I was curious as to why it was banned. I get why children shouldn't read it but I think it should be made available to teenagers. Apart from some scenes it clearly outlined what gender queerness is

[@Idontneedadevil]

I second this! It's so good, and really helped me understand what being gender queer (can) mean.

[@mannnitsann]

i feel like this is jacks first monthly tbr vid n im living for ittt!!!

[@jack_in_the_books]

i think i'll make it a monthly thing!!

[@mannnitsann]

@@jack_in_the_books omg yesss thatd be amazing!! looking forward to them

[@jasminejelly6882]

We actually read Maus in 9th grade English classes. Quite a lot of my class were really into it and we had many deep talks about it, especially because many of my classmates could not think that graphic novels/comics could depict very sad and historic subject matter

[@lila4609]

I have the exact same copy of East of Eden!

[@jo8249]

I highly recommend reading Carmen Maria Machado! Her memoir "In The Dreamhouse," and her short story collection "Her Body and Other Parties" are absolutely stunning (and in the dreamhouse has recently made it onto lots of banned books lists in the U.S.)

[@thescorpio903]

Wow I didn’t know that in the dream house is banned? It’s one of my favourite books ever

[@LuluST-nc6us]

I have read The Bluest Eye at the beginning of this year and absolutely loved it! It was really fast paced, stunning prose and super interesting! I'm excited to hear your thoughts. I think you're gonna love it!

[@BigE4419]

John Steinbeck is my favorite classical writer. East of Eden is a masterpiece of literature! It's basically Steinbeck's retelling of the Cain and Abel story from the Bible.

[@lesbiangoddess290]

My god my tbr is even longer now!

[@brooklynnbutterfield1951]

jack always gets me out of a reading slump just by watching his videos

[@meganrockey8290]

Jack! You bring so much joy to books and reading. I have read some incredible books based of your recommendations, thank you for sharing

[@Bridget-oi8gd]

So excited you're reading maus! It is arguably the most classic graphic novel and also counts towards your educational/non fiction books of the year. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. Would actually love it if you did a graphic novel review video

[@nicolel9802]

love having a sneak peek into coming videos and a more candid explanation of them

[@prerza]

i love tbr's so much * *adds everything to amazon's cart* * happy reading jack:)~!

[@atikahhappypillzxc]

The bluest eye was part of my literature reading list and I was HEARTBROKEN. So excited for you to be reading it

[@JackalopeHope]

The Bluest Eye is fantastic, and absolutely broke me when I read it. It was required reading for a class I took, and I'm so glad it was

[@abbyscuto2547]

I picked Up "None of this is serious" on a trip to London, and I am only a few chapters in, but i am in love with the way the author writes characters and how she makes them feel like they are actually real people, so I highly recommend 🥰

[@PokhrajRoy.]

The scariest thing is that ‘Maus’ has been a study material for many people to learn about the Holocaust. My Question is: Schools, what are you doing?

[@localabsurdist6661]

I’m from Austria and we studied this book in history class. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

@@localabsurdist6661 That’s great!

[@maggiefelisberto5281]

We're having a genuine crisis in the United States about education. Conservative politicians keep trying to give parents with fringe beliefs the right to remove things like the holocaust from public school curriculum entirely and to sue the school if things like basic human sexuality are taught. Meanwhile there's an entire group of kids who are so far behind developmentally because of covid that we have first graders who aren't potty trained. It's really distressing

[@katharina_r]

We also got the chance to read this book in 4th year in Ireland

[@marielinossi6842]

I read this book in middle school and loved it so much I did an oral presentation on it (it was 25% of my diploma, to tell you how much I loved it). It can't believe it is banned, this is such an important learning material !

[@bertagalindo1392]

i'm so happy you loved east of eden! i acc have a tattoo from that book. aaaand i also love love love the razor's edge!

[@fearless3313]

i love the "buh-byee" at the end so much

[@3lolo377]

I’m a Parisian English lit student and I feel your pain. I spent my undergrad years scavenging Paris’ bookshops for cheap English books. It was a hustle and it’s even worse now, a bunch went down during the lockdowns.

[@anap2650]

I loved loved loveeed reading A man called Ove so much!!! It was just such a pure, sweet book. I am sure you’re really gonna enjoy it.

[@gabrielacordova4450]

i was doing my tbr when i saw you just uploaded this, talk bout perfect timing

[@sukhnaazsidhu7002]

At this point I just find comfort in his videos

[@angelalam5949]

This is the earliest i have been to a video...also thanks for getting me out of my reading slump, read 70 books this year(mostly manga).

[@mfidds8338]

Can't wait for the banned books video!! Also just a heads up for anyone with The Bluest Eye on their tbr: while it's a really important, powerful story it also contains some potentially VERY triggering subjects. I recommend checking out the content warnings listed on Storygraph or another source before reading to make sure you have the mental energy to handle that content. Wish I had done that before reading haha.

[@arobinreads]

Very glad you're enjoying A man called Ove, it's one of my favs. All boys aren't blue is so great. Hope you love it

[@ppeachygee]

SO excited for the video of u reading banned books!! hope u have an amazing time travelling too

[@tess5617]

You're probably not gonna read this, but it would be great if you could consider adding subtitles or leaving open the option for people to add them. I have hearing problems and I struggle to follow what you say because the automatic subtitles are wrong more often than not, so most of the times I just look at the cover of the book trying to guess what you are saying

[@kaitlynflint5600]

I read the Bluest Eye in either my first or second year of college, it was really cool, and one of the first books of its kind that I had ever read. I've been meaning to read more of Toni Morrison's work but just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[@zoiesev]

All boys aren’t blue is such a beautiful book, I am so happy you are going to read it! Highly recommend the audio book as well!

[@eliza3986]

thank you so much for reading maus. i'm really glad.

[@JAKandtheBookStack]

Ove is an all time favorite, I can’t wait to see what you think. It just may break my heart if you fall short of loving it!

[@hecatesson]

I just read Maus I recently and need to read Maus II next. WWII Historical Fiction books are some of my favorites, and I have learned a lot from them, but the Maus books definitely opened my eyes in a different way. I have a few other books you mentioned on my TBR shelf. I just need to stop working so much OT and start reading. Thankfully I work in a bookstore so I get to talk about books for a little bit since I can't read them hahaha.

[@queencymae8145]

you're officially one of my comfort youtuber 🥺💕 i subscribed to your channel in january and since then i've been watching your past videos and recent uploads. you never fail to lift up my mood, thank you jack! 💖

[@mollypetter9639]

100% recommend another Fredrik Backman book, Anxious People !! This book is very repetitive, but for the best. This book will leave you on the edge of your seat as you constantly ask yourself questions all throughout. Things that might not seem important at the time start developing more as you read. As well as the characters themselves, some aren't completely developed up until the last couple chapters. As im not a big reader myself I found myself enjoying this book more than I thought. Although it is mind boggling it's a true adventure 💓💓

[@raphaelalexander3692]

Moving East of Eden to the top of my TBR because you liked it too. I've already seen a ton of praise, but this does it.

[@DD-zi8lw]

Yay! I’m so excited you’re doing a graphic novel review soon!

[@saanvisoni5976]

I cannot explain my love for “Man called Ove”🥺🥺 I just can’t

[@spookyskeleton8352]

Hi Jack! Every time I heard you say you're coming here for the past few weeks, my heart kept skipping a beat! There's a high chance you're going to Angkor Wat for your project, but I hope I get to run into you in our capital city! Safe travels!!

[@michelletu2978]

I read the bluest eye in my freshman year of high school and it has stayed with me since… it’s incredibly haunting and sad and traumatizing to read but also very very rewarding. can’t wait to see what you think!

[@gee111.]

can't wait to hear your thoughts on maus, i found it in my uni library the week after the banned and took it as a sign that i needed to read it and I'm so glad i did because wow! i learnt so much from it but it was heartbreaking too

[@katieh1752]

A Man Named Ove made me cry for sure. Such a good one!

[@mourninggirll]

Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl is such a good movie!!!! You must watch after you read the book.

[@an24327]

My favorite since high school is East of Eden! I was born in Salinas where Steinbeck is from, shoutout to Salinas!

[@vaxxable]

Currently reading ‘The Bluest Eyes’ and I’m absolutely loving it! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it.

[@emilynix3441]

I studied Maus at school in Year 8, truly one of the most incredible books I've read, it has stuck with me ever since!

[@thescorpio903]

I’m interested in reading some more banned books, I might look into these! I’m currently reading The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen, The Passion by Jeanette Winterson and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke… absolutely loving all of them so far

[@JessTalkingBooks]

I loved Elektra. 5 stars for me. Thankfully I got an ARC. Buying new English books are so expensive here in Germany. Some are cheap through Medimops (second hand online shop) but not all. However Elektra sets Saint coming into her own as a writer.

[@rubabakeer]

I’ve read “A man called Ove” recently, and it quickly made its way to the favorites list. I’ll just say that: yes, there is a lot more to it than what the first 24 pages have given you, and yes, it’ll make you cry at some point.. I cried my eyes out in the chapter before last, I think, and literally stopped reading it one night with only two pages left in it so that I can dedicate more attention and respect to its ending the following day..

[@amysrambles6748]

That last chapter took me so long to read, I could barely see from crying.

[@christinacampbellbooks]

Definitely interested in Me, Earl and the Dying Girl. I haven't heard many people talk about it!

[@wonderwoman5528]

Wishing you well in Cambodia ☺ The book covers are so pretty

[@JennieGarciaN]

I loved All Boys Aren’t Blue! I actually listened to the book read by the author. He is a a really good narrator, he sounds like a friend telling you a story.

[@GretaZewe]

East of Eden is on my TBR I literally have it checked out from the library and it's just waiting to be read lol. But On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is first priority!

[@naomionyeanakwe2903]

So Jack, I read "Vagabonds!" over the weekend. I remember I saw the book in one of your book mail (I think) videos, and more than a few times while reading the book, I kept thinking, "Jack would love this!" So yeah my point is...read it. This year too, if you can. I very much think it's something you would really like. Thanks 🙃

[@lururu]

The banned books category sounds super interesting!

[@potatis2035]

i'm really looking forward to hearing what you think about cleopatra and frankenstein

[@bernadettemary2135]

A man called ove was one of my favourite books of 2021. Can’t wait to hear ur thoughts!!

[@kiranreader]

maus is very moving!! excited for you to read it!

[@queenofcamp832]

good luck with the bluest eye! it's brilliant but so so harrowingly sad

[@sakkvowhite6526]

Love all of the choices, hope to hear your thoughts on them soon!

[@Carmen-cl5ny]

Love your videos, specially when you recomend translated fiction. I am from Spain, and here a lot of people don't read this books cause unfortunately they don't translate'em to Spanish (or they take a lot of time) so your YT Channel is very important for me. I think you'll like Cleopatra and Frankenstein, it's a unique book. This month I finished Confident women, a book about con women artists, and I'm currently reading Vanity Fair (Big book fear who? Lol).

[@zeanna5034]

OMG I read A Man Called Ove because I remember seeing it on your channel before and it is quite possibly the best book I've read this year. It made me feel all the emotions, and I hope you love it!!

[@gailz8150]

Yes, A Man Called Ove will probaby make you cry haha! I'm hoping to read Beartown from the same author soon.

[@FuzzyMonkey95]

I had to read The Bluest Eye for school. It is very well written, but you are definitely in for a ride.

[@allysonleblanc59]

Jack on Maus: “It’s recently banned…in America, I’m sure…” Me: “Hey!…I mean…he’s not wrong.”

[@RaetheSaint]

I just read All Boys Aren’t Blue a few weeks ago. It’s so good!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Back to our regularly scheduled programming where Jack plans how unhinged they are going to be with their future reading.

[@laurenschenck5355]

Have a amazing great trip tomorrow so excited for you! 😀🧡

[@pa-trycja]

A man called Ove is one of my favorite books, it had me laughing and crying in the same sentence!! The movie is also phenomenal of you don't mind foreign films with English subtitles! Highly recommend.

[@nightcited1600]

Jack, you are responsible for my ever-expanding Pinterest "Books of Interest" page where I keep an expanding list of books, I truly do want to read, but may never get around to. At least the books are not in the stack at the side of my bed or on the floor of my poor excuse for a library. Thanks.

[@niamhfranklyn4345]

I managed to pick up a signed copy of elektra in london last week after adoring ariadne :) very excited to read it!!

[@francescakyanda9182]

I'd love to see you do a video on banned books, maybe even a little series on it for Banned Books Week (September 18-24, 2022)!

[@yoyoioana16]

Hello, Jack. As a part of your translated fiction, can you also read some Romanian authors? Herta Müller is a german-romanian writer that wrote a lot about the prosecution of the german minority in Romania under the Communist rule. Other praised books would be Little Fingers by Filip Florian, , The Sixty-year-old Woman and the Young man by Nora Iuga, Life Begins on Friday by Ioana Pârvulescu, The Forbidden Forest by Mircea Eliade.

[@teodoradumitrascu2004]

yes!! so happy to see a fellow romanian over here

[@Lorena9090]

@@teodoradumitrascu2004 same :)))

[@MacBeth21]

If you do end up enjoying Greenwich Park, I recommend reading The Dinner Guest by B P Walter. Also a thriller. Also set in London. Also features a girl called Rachel. (I don't know what Rachels are doing nowadays, but the authors are not liking it 😂) It was a 5 star read for me. 😍

[@sumeyye4768]

oh i really like me and earl and the dying girl & i never knew that it was banned! that's really interesting to know, i hope you like it and have a good time with it! (also the vibes are VERY different from tfios)

[@alexisnunes4636]

Totally late to this but Cleopatra and Frankenstein is seriously one of my new favorites. Can't wait to see what you think!

[@louisfry8236]

I just finished a man called ove and its so good easily one of my favourites i have read this year!!

[@leafleafkris]

my goal this month is to finish 1Q84 which is soooooooo long i’m like 40% through and it’s good but i’m not used to 900+ pages. i took a break from it to read I Kissed Shara Wheeler which was cute and quirky but definitely didn’t live up to the mcquiston hype. oh i also want to read loveless by alice oseman this month too since i LOVED the heartstopper comics and netflix show :)

[@leilajaafari8436]

“Do I want to sob?” A very specific subset of mood reading. 😂😂😂😂 I just read Elektra and it was crazy.

[@emieloo76]

A high school one town over from us recently banned The Bluest Eye and I was just flabbergasted. What a tragedy to deny students (and again, high schoolers, so 14/15 and up) the opportunity to read such an amazing piece of literature. So sad and quite disheartening as it seems the books being banned are often authored by POC. Side note, I really enjoyed Fake Accounts (4 stars) and thought Greenwich Park was fine (3 stars). I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of None of This is Serious.

[@edtaylor6341]

Yes Hay Fest! Might see you there!

[@sabrinaoliveros1815]

I absolutely loved a man called ove, I felt so much

[@robnessvic]

Time to bulk up my TBR as if it’s not already overflowing!!

[@Idontneedadevil]

If anyone's interested in reading danish literature in translation, I can recommend these: The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen, Speed of Life by Michael Strunge, Wild Swims by Dorte Nors, Marble by Amalie Smith and Vivian by Christina Hesselholdt. Happy reading!

[@scribblees]

I read Maus in my English 10 class back in high school, I was lazy and didn’t want to read assigned book but even when I did have to read it, I was interested in it. Might pick it back up again now that I’m older to make a proper opinion on it And yeah, I’m the US so I’m quite surprised it’s banned now, especially because it’s been less than 10 years since then

[@moaandersson5223]

East of Eden was also banned so you could mention that one in the banned books video too (also so glad that you enjoyed it, it’s my favourite book)

[@fazeblackbean]

I read The Bluest Eye about a month ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since, I hope you enjoy it too! Looking forward to your thoughts on it. (Fun fact: my mom used to see Toni Morrison around the campus she taught at, which i only found out about because my mom recognized her photo on the back of my sisters copy of Jazz)

[@Mariamox]

That's amazing, she seemed like a great woman

[@ReadingNymph]

Elektra is one of my favourite books of the year so far. So powerful

[@user-qk2qn9vj7e]

I can't stop recommending Joanne Harris to people. That woman is a true goddess! I would love for you to read The Strawberry Thief (the fourth book in a series that began with Chocolat, though I really think that if you read it as a standalone it still works) and Five Quarters of the Orange, honestly, anything of hers is just absolutely amazing! If you hadn't had the opportunity to read her books so far, I strongly recommend you do so!

[@swedish_malin]

Maybe you should get a fabric book jacket (or faux leather) for when you don't want to display a book cover in public. ;) I have one that I love to use to protect special edition books when I'm reading them.

[@audiolect6303]

Maybe this will motivate me to actually read. I'm so behind on my tbr 😭

[@eviness12]

Omg omg finally OVE I cried so hard at the end … can’t wait to hear your opinion