BEST to WORST books of 2023 so far 📖
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2024
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Welcome to another favourite books video! This time, I'm actually including my least favourite books of the year so far. This is my first time making a best to worst books video, so I hope you enjoy it. Fingers crossed you find some lovely new books to read ~
00:00 - intro
01:08 - DNFs
04:42 - Required Reading
05:49 - 5 Stars
07:56 - Thank you, Squarespace~
08:39 - 4 Stars
13:20 - 3 Stars
19:51 - 2 Stars
People mentioned~
0 : 44 - Leonie - @TheBookLeo
6 : 15 - Jen - @jenvcampbell
14 : 57 - Cindy @withcindy
~ Cindy's wonderful review of Yellowface: • The problem with “Yell...
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I would be ALL ABOUT the Secret History inspiration video.
That book literally saved my writing. Around the time I was in college, all the writing articles I was coming across _insisted_ that short, direct sentences and tight, driven plots were the only way to write a book these days, and I just wasn't interested in doing that. Eventually I became unsure the style and subjects that interested me were even possible to turn into a novel - certainly not one that would be published in the 21st century, from the sound of things! So I let the hobby fizzle out.
The Secret History singlehandedly proved to me that what I wanted to write could be written - and not only written, which would have been enough, but could also be sold and published to commercial success! I started trying to write again immediately after I finished that book, and even better it has since led me to more books in the genre which have been further encouragement. Now I'm well on my way to finishing the first draft of a novel for the first time in almost a decade, and I LOVE IT! All the passion is back, and I owe it to Donna Tartt - so I would love to see what inspired her.
P.S. I did once try to read American Psycho, since I read that Bret Easton Ellis was the basis for Bunny, but it was far to R-rated for me, even within the first three chapters. Curious if that would be one of the books on the list?
I hadn’t heart that about Bret Easton Ellis before, but after reading part of his memoir, White, that makes a LOT if sense!
They’re an interesting pair of friends
I really love the energy Christy brought to this video haha
same ❤
Me too!!!!
I would love a video on all the books that inspired The Secret History! I loved it too, I’m also currently reading The Goldfinch ☺️
I agree with some of the things mentioned about Tomorrowx3, but the story is set on the 1990s (I think it begins on 1995, when Sadie is developing her game and thus Dov says to her that they have to make their own engines), it's not set on 2010 or 2012 (i agree with the mmorf thing). But also, it isn't miscomunication! Maybe it's my opinion but a miscommunication trope is when the characters purposefully hid their feelings from the other, and while sometimes Tomorrow does that, the characters do in fact communicate, the problem is that they don't think the same. That's why they get angry with each other, or they interpret their silences and know what to think about them? Maybe that's my opinion, though. I generally do not care about miscommunication if it's not too force, because I tend to think that we, as humans, are miscommunicating all the time. That's why we have problems with other humans, not because we don't communicate, but because we only say 10% of the things we speak, but that's normal...
What I really loved about Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was how it showcased chronic pain and disability as a part of the story not the whole story or the whole person and I feel like that is very rare at least among popular books today. That's what I loved about it. I DNF'd it on a reread, so probably down to a 3 for me now. The inaccuracy didn't bother me too much partly because I didn't know and partly because I was reading it like I read Ready Player One, so I wasn't taking it as accurate/realistic. The miscommunication didn't bother me as much because it felt realistic for their characters, but I don't love it. And there's one character who felt less like a character and more like a prop/plot tool for the whole book which I really didn't like.
I would 1000% love to watch a video about the inspiration for A Secret History! I was recently trying to research the references and inspiration myself but decided it was too much work haha.
i would love to watch a reading vlog of all the books that inspired the secret history!
I had the same issue with Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow! It might be such a petty detail to get hung up on, but it just took me out of the experience completely! I had the same issue reading historical fiction sometimes 😅
Yay! I've been waiting for a video from you, Christy!
Nice to see you ❤️
Yay! I was so excited when I saw the new video from Christy❤
Thank you for saying what you said about Tomorrow x3 😭 The inaccuracies were a bit much plus the miscommunication trope that never got better drove me CRAZY!!! 😭
I love this video!! Your book rants are so fun 😂💜
Christy always inspires me to read more and more. I feel like my brain is growing! Thank you always
Beautiful top! Also thanks for the booklist
I love this concept! I never hear about anyone talking about the books they don't like. I appreciate the honesty :)
Emily Henry is the only contemporary romance novelist I read and look forward to, and I thoroughly enjoy her novels when I'm reading them, but if I'm honest I couldn't tell you what happened in any of them, and I just read Happy Place a few months ago.
The lighting looks great in this video!
I've noticed that short books tends to be a common thing with Japanese fiction, or at least for Japanese fiction translated into English. Christy, with your knowledge of and experience with Japanese culture, do you think there are things within the culture that have this influence? Like some sort of minimalism? Or is Japanese to English harder to translate accurately than perhaps other languages which makes it a much bigger task, therefore shorter works are more commonly translated? Really interested to know your thoughts!
Please finish the video about the secret history. The idea sounds very interesting
Babel should have been an auto win for me, loved the writing, loved the language info, loved the setting and concepts but I could not get past the flat characters, the absurd plot conveniences and massive plot craters. So so disappointing.
I was same as you on Nettle and Bone, it was sweet but I couldn’t get the crazy hype
My 2023 read that surprised me was a YA trilogy enemies to lovers fantasy Bring me their hearts, surprisingly I read all 3!
My other fun find was Australian JC Rycroft’s The Blood-Born Dragon, an SPFBO 9 entrant. Des and Squid are adorable. The “romance” part was a lot of fun.
I also enjoyed Philip Chase’s The Way of Edan
Also a surprise were the Murderbot audio books. So much fun
Looking forward to Demon Copperhead ❤
Love your channel. I gasped when I saw this video drop.
We will support you no matter what. Keep working hard.
I love the withcindy shoutout, the two booktubers I watch regularly
I'm so relieved to see a couple books on your DNF that I really had to force myself to finish. House on the Cerulean Sea, The Cruel Prince... these were books that EVERYONE seems to love, and when I was disappointed in them I felt like I was missing something. I'm not alone! 😅
editing to add that we had to read The Sun Also Rises for my high school english class and I don't remember anything about it other than not liking it!
The Cruel Prince series were just all right to me, solid 3 stars. The main thing I liked was the cruel whimsy of the fae which is usually not shown in many books about them. The love story wasn't as believable to me, Carden is straight up torturing Jude the first book then they kiss and it's ok. I actually enjoyed The Stolen Heir much more.
Yes, I really wanted to love ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’. And there was much that was very charming about it. But it ended up having significant plot holes, and I felt like the world building wasn’t fleshed out enough. So I did not love the book.
Yes! I finished it but it was just so bland for me. I had the same criticisms about it but everyone I’ve seen, has only hyped the book.
The magic system bothered me so much because it was so mediocre… I get that it was a soft magic system but there was hardly any explanation for it
I personally liked 'Tomorrow...' and grew up with old school gaming (dating myself here) but did not continue gaming into my 20s when internet expanded and WOW came out and the gaming world really exploded. So, for me, the inaccuracies did not detract from the overall story. I simply enjoyed the sequence of time bc their childhood was my childhood. However, I can relate to your point. When a book contains something that interrupts my ability to suspend disbelief and immerse myself in the story, I tend to dislike it--or at least, don't love it. So if a book contains inaccuracies on something I'm well versed in, it would prevent me from fully immersing myself in the story, and that would def alter my experience and opinion. I think in this case, if you aren't a game developer (or associated with that specialty), you're probably not going to get hung up on those details... and that's probably the majority of the 4 and 5 star readership for that book. But I get you.
Love the secret history inspiration idea - I’ve got brideshead on my list to read so was excited to see it here! Also have you done a video about books written in the 20s?
I DNFed Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow 1/3 of the way through and agree with a lot of your statements wrt accuracy and programming. But also the relationships just also…. Not it for me.
YES to the secret history inspiration! I want that video 😍🤩
Oh yay my comfort local (Aussie) youtuber is back!❤
Please power through The Little Friend! It took me a solid 8 weeks, but it's one of my all time favourite books now, and was such a memorable reading experience. Definitely worth it!!!
Christyyyy!! Youre looking gorgeous!! Just glowing!!!😊🌸🌟💖✨️
Finally someone else who didn’t enjoy Tomorrow x3 😂 I was so angry and annoyed the whole time I read it! All the characters were pretentious, annoying and infuriating. Their great lack of communication skills drove me up the wall (miscommunication is one of my most hated writing tropes). Just not for me 🙈
lol right, thought i was the only one who couldn't get through this book
I felt the same. They acted like kids their entire lives, it's like they never grew up emotionally.
Agree! Pretty prose, sure, but the characters were the worst! Absolutely infuriating.
Please film the books that inspired the secret history!!❤
I really, really would love to see a video about the books that inspired The Secret History!! Its my favorite novel. Also I love Brideshead. Love all of EM Foresters books. The little friend just didnt click with me. I have tried, but.... So you are not alone in loving Donna Tartt and not clicking with it.
it was so intersting to hear you talk about the books, especially the 'famous and popular ones'. you are very educated in literature and in culture and i always take your opinion into consideration when i buy new books
Absolutely yes to a Secret History inspired video!!
Thank you! T and t and t drove me nuts!
I really enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. It’s a great fun read when one’s mood is a bit low. I can see how this book might not appeal to everyone though.
I loved this video. I appreciate that you cut through hype.
I’d love to see the books that inspired the Secret History video 😍
Thank you always for the wonderful video!
The first time I tried The Cruel Prince, I DNF it after a few chapters. Not enjoying a bit about the story. However, the second time around after I pushed through maybe half or 2/3 of the book, it just hit me. It quickly becomes one of my favorite YA fantasy novels. (I really liked how each character has their own motive and could kill for the thing they desire). But I totally understand why people don't like it. The first few chapters are really hard to get through! (I kinda admire Holly Black for starting her story with these chapters)
The Cruel Prince is a 4 star for me, but it's true that the main characters are pretty unlikable at the beginning. I think that's what ends up making it so interesting, though. Plus, I just love faery stories and Holly Black does them really well. They aren't just prettier, stronger humans with pointy ears. They are the sometimes whimsical, often terrifying creatures of folklore.
Yeah, both Jude and Cardan, even at their "best" are not good people, they do operate under a medieval court mindset, in which everyone is kinda rivals/enemies for power, and betrayal is always expected. (surprisingly, many books about court politics water this down).
I loved this video! I’m adding some to my TBR. And I fully support the annoyance with the 6 month game development!
Loved it ❤❤❤❤
2:48 yes! Please do a video on The Secret History! Which books inspired it and which were inspired BY it. Asking for a friend 😅
Hello, Christy. I am glad to subscribe your channels, and I also subscribe Leonie channel. I always happy to watched you both review talking about books, even the worst ones, because I gets vibes kind of academic lecture. So happy!
Definitely will like to see the video about books that inspire The Secret History. I love those kinds of vids.
YES to the books that inspired Secret History! (and maybe make it a series with other books you love? just a thought) but ALSO ALSO the way you said don't come at me literature bros i felt that in my core
you're looking exceptionally pretty in this red top ♥ ...
I was honestly expecting Stardust to be as good as it was, nice to not be disappointed in life ☺
I genuinely loved listening to you rant lol
I completely understand what you were saying about Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I read a book once that had a suspect being picked up from a ferry port that went out of business ten years before the book was set. I couldn't read the rest of the book the mistake drove me nuts. Great video as always.
hii chirsty, love your videos, would you like to make more books about writing? I'm a first time writer and that content of yours is like pure motivation to me, love it sm!
I'm also interested in a video about Secret History inspiration. Sometimes, I'm reading an author and I have such strong Donna Tartt vibes that I can't give up until I find evidence that Donna Tartt likes that author :D
I loved to hear an opinion on "Tomorrow and..." that isn't positive. I haven't read this particular one, but I'm often in the position of the person who profoundly dislikes the most popular books. This makes me feel less alone 😂❤
i was so surprised by your 2 star review! im definitely removing it from my tbr lol. and i'd love a video about the secret history!
I’d love to see a review on one of Sally Rooney’s novels!
I have the same strong emotions about A Little Life that you have about Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, haha.
A video about the books that inspired The Secret History would be awesome! I had no idea other books inspired it other than Bridehead Revisited
Love your takes here. The Very Secret Society of Witches was such a let down, But The Perks of Being a Wallflower was one of my favorites last year! And definitely an all time favorite. I've also been wary about reading Tomorrowx3 precisely for the reasons you said. So I may trust my gut on this one after your review. I also really struggled with The Poppy War, which is why I haven't given Babel or Yellowface a try. I think I may just not vibe with Kuang's writing.
I always enjoy your videos, but don't usually comment. This one was great, and I had a very similar experience with The Little Friend.
Like many, many people, I loved every word of The Secret History, it's up there with my favourite novels of all time, and I have read it many times. I first read it soon after it came out. I was lucky enough to attend a reading by Donna Tartt, from The Little Friend, when that came out. She read it beautifully, even including singing a snatch of a song, in a tuneful and pleasant voice. I still remember the warm, lengthy applause that greeted her when she first took the stage - obviously a tribute to the Secret History, as few people would have read her second novel at that point. The Little Friend sounded so good - the writing beautiful, as always, and, naturally, I bought a copy and was immensely looking forward to reading it.
Well, I tried. I have started it three or four times, over the years, getting a fair way into it. It's a few years ago now, so I can't remember a lot about it - I know the writing was superb. However, I just couldn't finish it. I know there was a set-up of the intriguing central premise, and then a long, long introduction to various characters. I did not dislike the setting, or the characters - I'm still not sure why I DNFed it. Normally, like yourself, I don't need lots of plot if the writing is engaging, but somehow, this novel did not keep me turning the pages. I wanted to love it, but it just wasn't happening.
So it was with some trepidation that I bought The Goldfinch, but come on, I thought, it's Donna Tartt! Anything she writes is worth reading. I am happy to say I loved it, and and got through it like a hot knife through butter, though it is another long book. Well, maybe I will try TLF again. I'd love to know if you do finish it, and what you think of it. I'd also enjoy a video on TSH and its influences - so many books have been influenced by it, it would be interesting to see the other end of that process.
Glad to have found your channel.
Thank you. Was fun. I tried THE last book and after first chapter it was a no go.
I'm also fond of Paddington ❤
I really felt that your problem with “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” is so similar to the one that I had with “legends and lattes”! I believe when we have a more palpable knowledge of the area (tech or business) you know what does not makes sense and it really annoys you hahaha
Anyway, thank you always for your content ❤
I dnf’ed the cruel prince audiobook too but ended up really enjoying it when i picked up the physical copy!
Would also love a list of books that inspired Donna Tartts The secret History. That is one of my favorite books.
Please make a video about all books that inspired The Secret History, thanks! ❤
Once you finish reading Brideshead Revisited, you should watch the 2008 TV adaptation starring Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Ben Wishaw (and then tell me his performance didn't make you think of Bunny), and Hayley Atwell.
With you that DNF doesn't automatically mean "this book is crap." I've DNF'd audiobooks because the book has a format that is annoying to listen to or the narrator gets randomly super quiet at times and that means actively managing the volume and rewinding. I DNF'd Bullet Train recently because I love love love Tangerine in the movie, and the character's personality is immediately so much meaner toward Lemon in the book and I didn't enjoy that.
I was watching the video, was really paying attention and invested, then all of a sudden.... TOTORO! 😍
I finally finished reading The Master of Djinn the other day (it took me 2 months, although not entirely by the book's fault but more what was happening in my life) and I was so disappointed... I'm looking forward to hearing what you thought of it!
Yes, I really want a vlog about books that inspired The secret history
Awesome vlog‼️💯 what are your favourite fantasy books ?
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell is one of my favorite books. Would love to hear your thoughts when you ever get to finishing the book :)
Please do the Secret History books video! I would love that so much!!❤
Brideshead Revisited is actually my favorite book of all time. I will say, i dont think i would have enjoyed it as much when i was younger, but where im at in my 30s it resonates with me soooo much. I will admit i read it after learning it inspired The Secret History too but it was also already on my TBR lol
Ernest Hemingway comes off as sounding like such a turd in the way he either writes about women, or has his male characters talk to/about or treat the women, or him completely failing to give the female characters any agency whatsoever and recognise they have whole, complete and complex lives and minds. Maybe the "arrogance" of his writing style comes in the short choppy sentences - kind of like "yep, those 5 words were a whole and complete sentence that no one can argue with because I'm superior and right... aaand FULL STOP... aaaaand repeat". I read A Farewell To Arms earlier this year and his crappy views were a thorn in my side the whole time. Murakami is definitely problematic in how he writes women (and you'd think that he would have heard that opinion enough by now to... do better). But holy cow, Hemingway is so much worse. I also don't completely buy the "it's a sign of the times thing" because there are other male authors who give their female characters a whole lot of page time and complexity.
It’s really interesting how taste differs on each person. For example, Happy Place was a solid 3 stars for me (almost risking falling in the 2-star category) because there were some things about character building that I couldn’t wrap my mind around. However, the book I’ve enjoyed most from Emily Henry so far has been Book Lovers, I felt it was a very compelling and solid story, with characters that really felt deep and real, with more dimensions than just being romantic interests. I wonder what your opinion would be on that one!
I 100% agree with Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. EVERYTHING about it annoyed me. I work in games and the inaccuracies annoyed me, but the character relationships and the characters themselves and how the narrative was written annoyed me soooo much. DNFed that hard.
i REALLY wanted to like tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow too and there definitely are some really gorgeous and brilliant moments (depictions of chronic pain are well done, I think, and some game concepts themselves were poetic and striking) but i even just felt it dragged on and had too many mini-plots and felt a bit on the nose (namely, when his dog also has a disability/is misunderstood just like how he feels). it's such a sad feeling when a book that's so hyped falls a bit flat. huge respect to zevin, though, and i agree, definitely not a one star for all the things it does do right.
I love you videos, including this one! I have a request--some of the books you have the book on the screen and it's really easy to see the cover and the title and the author. Other books you said the title and the author and were kind of waving them around and i had to back up and try to hear what the book was. Can you please. Always have a picture of the book on one side of the screen, even if you are waving it around. A link to each book on Amazon would also be super. Thanks!!
I now want to read THE FOREST OF WOOL AND STEEL, LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR, and BABEL. Since you said you loved ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, I would recommend the EMILY OF NEW MOON trilogy. It's darker than Anne, but I love this series so much. And Emily wants to be a writer.
And since you love Virginia Woolf (who is amazing) I assume you've read Kiwi writer Katherine Mansfield, the only writer whose work Virginia Woolf expressed any jealousy over. Her writing is beautiful.
Ok but the rant about Tomorrow x3 was amazing 😂
It was interesting to hear your thoughts on tomorrow by zevin as someone who grew up a gamer and has been playing games over 20 year now. I loved the book but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to game development so it was intersting to see how a lot of that info wasn't accurate which is disappointing for me as a gamer! I didn't even pickup that they made the game in 6 months LOL.
I felt the Exact same way about Nettle and Bone, I was so hopeful and on paper it was right up my alley. I’m not normally an audiobook listener but I had to switch to listening to it because reading felt too much like being told a story without experiencing any of it. I feel like at least the audio book having “and then this happened and then this happened” being said out loud felt a bit more appropriate in my opinion
When your favourite youtubers mention each other 🥲🧡
Finished reading Idol, Burning immediately before watching this, it's really good!
Im so glad you’ve shared your thoughts on Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. I’ve seen most people rave about it, and as a software developer myself I would probably get really annoyed at this book😅
Would 100% be here for the secret history video!
If you want a good enemies to lovers, The Darkness Outside Us is a really solid book with those sort of vibes that has a lot more going on thematically than just the romance. It's YA, which I normally don't like, but this is like, actually very good YA.
Edit: And yes, I'd love to see the Secret History video!
I know this comment has been here for months, but oh my God I love, love The Darkness Outside Us! Like it's a solid scifi AND a solid romance, and even the writing is compelling! I was taken aback by how well-crafted it is. Been on the hunt for more YA books like this!
You are soooo generous with your rating, I absolutely hated ‘the sun also rises’ by Ernest Hemingway. I think I didn’t even give it stars at the time that’s how I hated it, it was horrible😂.
I actually felt disappointed that I hated it that much because a few year back I’ve read ‘the old man and the sea’ and I really loved it, it was one of my favourite books by him
As someone whose favourite book is The Secret History, I'll say The Little Friend is a book to read only if you're a die hard Donna fan who wants to see her cosplay as Flannery O'Connor. The Little Friend is a book with an identity crisis. Some people say it's Donna's misunderstood middle child but it's also a brat that can't be arsed to explain itself. It forgets halfway through that it's a mystery. The characters are unpleasant. The story is convoluted. I was frustrated through it all. I loved it so much
I totally understand why you felt not too great about Cardan from The Cruel Prince as a love interest, but I urge you to try it again!
He and Jude are nasty and mean, but, as Leonie mentions in a few of her videos, this is what makes Cardan and Jude true enemies -to-lovers. Their relationship is brutal and there is so much betrayal, but oh it is so good and such an interesting take on blue-orange morality.
Perhaps reading it instead of listening to it will be a more enjoyable experience?
(I can't wait to read YOUR fantasy novel! xoxo love from Toronto)
Strong advice: The first few (like maybe 4) chapters of The Cruel Prince might not be the most catchy but trust me, go forward. You'll find it better maybe
22:25 I would love to hear your 1920s book recommendations! :)
how many books do you own btw
Hemingway was a masochistic man in his lifetime and it shows in his work. I’ve read plenty of classics, some with touches of anti semitism, racism, misogyny, etc. But Hemingway just pushes it. I didn’t find the subject matter of this book interesting in the first place and the writing was uppity as you said. As for Tomorrow x3 I’ve seen this book everywhere but will not be reading it because I’m not into video games lol.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow was so boring to me!! I got that to get me out of a reading slump because of what everyone was saying about it. I kept waiting for something to happen and it never really did. I just really didn’t like it.
Would love the video on the secret history if you haven’t done it yet
In the book TOMORROW TOMORROW TOMORROW was mentioned that Sam was born in 1974, therefore, they were developing games in university around age 20-21 - which is 1994-1995. So maybe it can explain the simplicity of game development with languages and platforms?