I am a third into The other side of Mrs Wood and loving it so far. My favourite quote, "Mrs Busby was a woman who had a lot to say about nothing and took her time in saying it." I think we've all known someone like that. Looking forward to your next wrap up. 😁
Hahaha. This is what I loved about that book so much. The brilliant, slightly snarky, summing up of characters and situations. Whilst also being an absolute romp. Hope you carried on enjoying it!
I feel like my Christmas wish list is sponsored by SavidgeReads… so many great books, and your reviews just make them even more coveted! Mrs Wood, Prophet Song and The Golden Mole are now top of my ‘virtual’ TBR.
Hahahaha. I love that. Maybe supported by rather than sponsored as sadly I haven’t the funds to sponsor all your lovely wishlists, imagine. Hahaha. The Golden Mole I would put as priority.
It’s interesting that the book made you think about your tuna sandwiches - so many animals which end up on our plates are just as intelligent, beautiful and interesting as those we fear may become extinct. Thanks for the video Simon, hope you have a lovely restful Christmas 🧡
It has made me think a lot. I guess it was the almost, without sounding weird or callus, every day nature of tuna (which didn’t resonate when I read it but did when I filmed weirdly) that struck me filming this. Though this book doesn’t really touch on that in an obvious. I loved it because it made me think without preaching too, which could have been so easy to do. Have a lovely festive season yourself! 🎄
A Victorian romp, yes please! The Other Side of Mrs Wood sounds fab. I finally read Things in Jars by Jess Kidd in November and have been missing it ever since. I miss the people in it, spending time with them. Do I dare watch your book shop video... May end up with more books I want to read this minute, before the end of the year. Good thing I'm fortunate enough to have a Christmas break but may have to cancel Christmas in favour of reading 😆
Simon, I've been following your channel for years and years and I absolutely adore your content and manner! I never comment, but I do so now to extend my heartfelt thanks for keeping this channel a safe space. I was born and raised in Israel and the October 7th events have cut my life in half to a "before" and an "after". So many content creators who commented on the current war do it with such vehemence. I understand their viewpoint, aasuming their only source of information about the conflict are foreign news channels, who frankly do a very poor job at diving deep into the roots of the conflict. I feel so personally attacked when watching these booktubers, and I'm here to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. When you've uttered the words "the conflict in Israel and Gaza" my heart wrenched, but after listening to you I really do feel safe here. Thank you (and your mother, too, who was so gentle in her last video)!
I am sorry to hear you feel personally attacked by some other channels. I’ve only seen a few talk about the conflict and they’ve handled it admirably. I’m really pleased you feel this is a safe space, because that’s exactly what it is. A safe bookish space to escape for a bit I hope.
“Blackouts” won the National Book Award this year here in the states. I requested the book from the library weeks ago, and I still have 16 weeks before I actually get it. I am glad I got to hear your endorsement. I just received “Prophet Song” from the library. The concept is very intriguing.
Blimey that is a long wait, but guess that’s what happens when you win the big prizes. I am so chuffed it’s finding so many readers through that award. I already had it when it won, it pushed it up the pile a fair bit for me though.
Ooooouuuhh 👀 forward to finding out what book you read this month that made the cut to favorites & the one sentence review of every 📚 is an excellent idea IMO 📖🪱💚
So so happy to hear that your weekend at Harris & Harris was the absolute treat we all hoped and thought it would be🎄 What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo and Minor Detail by Adania Shibli we’re stand outs for me in November. Started the month by finally reading Rebecca though which was such a bucket list thing (bc of you) and I really enjoyed it!
It was such a wonderful weekend. And so busy! Too busy to film. We had to make content after hours. Lol. Minor Detail is a very powerful read. Rebecca is one of my all time favourites.
I don't usually buy new books but have heard you "whang on" about On The Red Hill so many times now and I'm not able to get it at my library here in Ontario so I'm biting the bullet and buying it! I also wasn't sure about the classics focus of the video you did with Miriam but watched and really enjoyed it and she is indeed very lovely! I hope more people check it out.
You’ve helped me with some Christmas gift ideas from this video. I’m hoping some friends & family don’t see this video because they’d guess ( quite accurately) what their gift is going to be. 🤩
Was just able to grab the ebook of The Other Side of Mrs. Wood from my library...can't wait to read it. Thank you for all of your great recommendations!
I have 2 books I read in Nov. that I'd highly recommend to read in tandem. "Absolution" by Alice McDermott and "The House of Doors" by Tan Twn Eng. Both books are told from the viewpoint of expat women in South Asia. "Absolution" is told from the viewpoint of an American woman married to an "engineer" (read CIA) in Vietnam just prior to Vietnam War. "The House of Doors" is told from viewpoint of an English woman living with her lawyer husband in 1920's Malaysia when Somerset Maugham and his lover/assistant come to stay adding a real twist into their lives. Good vlog, Simon!
Tan Twan Eng, why have I not read that yet. I have had it on my shelves, it was one of my favourite books to win the Booker (without having read it hahaha) I really wanted to… I guess it’ll be a 2024 read.
Glad you loved Blackouts and Prophet Song - seems like we had very similar thoughts! And glad I am not the only one who found that font in The Marriage Portrait to be a little bit wasteful of paper 😂
Currently reading The Golden Mole and agree - it is a DELIGHT! Also cannot stop 'wanging on' about it and broadcasting a litany of animal facts to anyone within ear shot.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman is a children's book that I am reading and enjoying now, my own children were grown when it was published, they had the Maurice Sendak books with illustrations and some illustrated by Steven Kellogg. I have collected pop-up books for myself for many years, like works of art, one on Gutenberg's printing press. I also enjoyed discovering juvenile books by Joan Aiken (thanks to Louise), turned out she was the sister of Jane Aiken Hodge, who wrote Gothic/Romance themed books that I enjoyed in high school, similar to Mary Stewart, Dahne du Maurier and others.
I am so glad you really loved All the Wide Border. I did too, and I’ve been waiting to see how you felt about it. I must read The Golden Mole and now I really want to read The Other Mrs. Wood too. I confess that Prophet Song was a disappointment to me. I thought it started off very strong and just unraveled. Not my Booker year this year. But what a great reading month you had!
There was some pressure on Mike’s new book, I think that’s why mum has held off too, what I told myself was that it wasn’t and couldn’t be On The Red Hill 2, that meant I read it and enjoyed it for what it was and it’s ace. Can’t believe I’m acknowledged, as is Chris. You MUST read The Golden Mole. It’s so good, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned 🤣
I’m glad you liked ‘The other side of Mrs Wood’, I loved it. I thought it was just delicious, can you think of any books which might be similar? I’m having a good reading month so far, my favourites have been ‘Fifteen Wild Decembers’ by Karen Powell, about Emily Brontë. Also, I’m getting in to Persephone books and I really enjoyed ‘The home-maker’ by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Do you have a favourite Persephone book you would recommend?
Hmmm similar books to Mrs Wood. I will have a think. I mean any sensation novel from the era is going to scratch the itch a bit. I’m trying to think of something contemporary. I’ve the Fifteen Wild Decembers high on the TBR. Favourite Persephone? The Shuttle.
It sounds like you had a good reading month in November. I feel like I'm also finishing the year strongly. I do like the sound of The Other Side of Mrs Woods but it looks like it's not available here. I will keep an eye out for it, perhaps it will be available next year. My top November read was probably North Woods by Daniel Mason.
I am quite shocked at myself that I haven’t read North Woods this year. I sooooo thought it was going to be a favourite, yet it’s not ended up being read… and it’s on my shelves. You may have inspired a video 😉
It turns out that was good that I couldn’t make it to H&H this past weekend. I tested positive for COVID last night and would have been very distressed to share that particular gift with you all.
@@SavidgeReads Missing the weekend was a transport thing. I could’ve taken an Uber up there from London, but there was no way to be sure of a ride back. I think you saw the challenges of going from London to Clare yourself. I really wish I could’ve been there. Thanks for the healing thoughts. 😘
I just finished Her Majesty's Royal Coven and I loved it. With all the twists at the end, I wondered if you read The Shadow Cabinet afterwards and how it was ??? Or if not, if you'd heard. I am nervous it won't be as good.
I have The Shadow Cabinet. I haven’t read it yet so can’t say and am avoiding speaking to anyone about it in case they spoil anything… even my mother. She went from the first straight to the second. I think.
You perfectly described Prophet Song 🥹 👏🏻 so pleased it won. I’d read a library copy before I attended the shortlisted readings event; at which I purchased a copy & got it signed by the charming Mr Paul Lynch 😌
![George Orwell - Animal Farm [Audiobook] HD COMPLETE](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iosHzNmVYbA/mqdefault.jpg)
I am a third into The other side of Mrs Wood and loving it so far. My favourite quote, "Mrs Busby was a woman who had a lot to say about nothing and took her time in saying it." I think we've all known someone like that. Looking forward to your next wrap up. 😁
Hahaha. This is what I loved about that book so much. The brilliant, slightly snarky, summing up of characters and situations. Whilst also being an absolute romp. Hope you carried on enjoying it!
“It’s very festive downstairs.” Oooh Matron!
Hahaha. Baubles out everywhere. Hahaha.
I feel like my Christmas wish list is sponsored by SavidgeReads… so many great books, and your reviews just make them even more coveted! Mrs Wood, Prophet Song and The Golden Mole are now top of my ‘virtual’ TBR.
Hahahaha. I love that. Maybe supported by rather than sponsored as sadly I haven’t the funds to sponsor all your lovely wishlists, imagine. Hahaha. The Golden Mole I would put as priority.
It’s interesting that the book made you think about your tuna sandwiches - so many animals which end up on our plates are just as intelligent, beautiful and interesting as those we fear may become extinct. Thanks for the video Simon, hope you have a lovely restful Christmas 🧡
It has made me think a lot. I guess it was the almost, without sounding weird or callus, every day nature of tuna (which didn’t resonate when I read it but did when I filmed weirdly) that struck me filming this. Though this book doesn’t really touch on that in an obvious. I loved it because it made me think without preaching too, which could have been so easy to do. Have a lovely festive season yourself! 🎄
A Victorian romp, yes please! The Other Side of Mrs Wood sounds fab. I finally read Things in Jars by Jess Kidd in November and have been missing it ever since. I miss the people in it, spending time with them.
Do I dare watch your book shop video... May end up with more books I want to read this minute, before the end of the year. Good thing I'm fortunate enough to have a Christmas break but may have to cancel Christmas in favour of reading 😆
I am a huge huge huge fan of Jess Kidd. Loved that book. She actually gets a mention in my video with Kate from Harris and Harris. Spooky!
Simon, I've been following your channel for years and years and I absolutely adore your content and manner!
I never comment, but I do so now to extend my heartfelt thanks for keeping this channel a safe space. I was born and raised in Israel and the October 7th events have cut my life in half to a "before" and an "after".
So many content creators who commented on the current war do it with such vehemence. I understand their viewpoint, aasuming their only source of information about the conflict are foreign news channels, who frankly do a very poor job at diving deep into the roots of the conflict.
I feel so personally attacked when watching these booktubers, and I'm here to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. When you've uttered the words "the conflict in Israel and Gaza" my heart wrenched, but after listening to you I really do feel safe here. Thank you (and your mother, too, who was so gentle in her last video)!
I am sorry to hear you feel personally attacked by some other channels. I’ve only seen a few talk about the conflict and they’ve handled it admirably. I’m really pleased you feel this is a safe space, because that’s exactly what it is. A safe bookish space to escape for a bit I hope.
“Blackouts” won the National Book Award this year here in the states. I requested the book from the library weeks ago, and I still have 16 weeks before I actually get it. I am glad I got to hear your endorsement. I just received “Prophet Song” from the library. The concept is very intriguing.
Blimey that is a long wait, but guess that’s what happens when you win the big prizes. I am so chuffed it’s finding so many readers through that award. I already had it when it won, it pushed it up the pile a fair bit for me though.
Ooo I almost bought The Golden Mole at the weekend but opted for Impossible Creatures. Might have to go back for it ha. Sounds fascinating!
It’s brilliant. The best non fiction book I’ve read this year. An important one too.
Ooooouuuhh 👀 forward to finding out what book you read this month that made the cut to favorites & the one sentence review of every 📚 is an excellent idea IMO 📖🪱💚
Fingers crossed you enjoy that epic video when it appears at the end of December.
So so happy to hear that your weekend at Harris & Harris was the absolute treat we all hoped and thought it would be🎄
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo and Minor Detail by Adania Shibli we’re stand outs for me in November. Started the month by finally reading Rebecca though which was such a bucket list thing (bc of you) and I really enjoyed it!
It was such a wonderful weekend. And so busy! Too busy to film. We had to make content after hours. Lol. Minor Detail is a very powerful read. Rebecca is one of my all time favourites.
I don't usually buy new books but have heard you "whang on" about On The Red Hill so many times now and I'm not able to get it at my library here in Ontario so I'm biting the bullet and buying it! I also wasn't sure about the classics focus of the video you did with Miriam but watched and really enjoyed it and she is indeed very lovely! I hope more people check it out.
Ooh I hope you enjoy On The Red Hill when it arrives. It’s such a lovely book. And yes I do have a very lovely sister. She’s a treat.
You’ve helped me with some Christmas gift ideas from this video. I’m hoping some friends & family don’t see this video because they’d guess ( quite accurately) what their gift is going to be. 🤩
Hahahaha. Fingers crossed they don’t see this video… which is not something I want to get into the habit of thinking or saying 🤣
Was just able to grab the ebook of The Other Side of Mrs. Wood from my library...can't wait to read it. Thank you for all of your great recommendations!
I hope you enjoy the romp as much as I did!
I have 2 books I read in Nov. that I'd highly recommend to read in tandem. "Absolution" by Alice McDermott and "The House of Doors" by Tan Twn Eng. Both books are told from the viewpoint of expat women in South Asia. "Absolution" is told from the viewpoint of an American woman married to an "engineer" (read CIA) in Vietnam just prior to Vietnam War. "The House of Doors" is told from viewpoint of an English woman living with her lawyer husband in 1920's Malaysia when Somerset Maugham and his lover/assistant come to stay adding a real twist into their lives.
Good vlog, Simon!
Tan Twan Eng, why have I not read that yet. I have had it on my shelves, it was one of my favourite books to win the Booker (without having read it hahaha) I really wanted to… I guess it’ll be a 2024 read.
Prophet song best book this year for me made me cry 😢
Yes. It’s a very emotional number.
Glad you loved Blackouts and Prophet Song - seems like we had very similar thoughts!
And glad I am not the only one who found that font in The Marriage Portrait to be a little bit wasteful of paper 😂
I’ve ranted about big fonts all year. Well big fonts and big prices. Sometimes big things can be too big to justify.
Currently reading The Golden Mole and agree - it is a DELIGHT! Also cannot stop 'wanging on' about it and broadcasting a litany of animal facts to anyone within ear shot.
Same, same, same. It’s The Golden Mole effect. Lol.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman is a children's book that I am reading and enjoying now, my own children were grown when it was published, they had the Maurice Sendak books with illustrations and some illustrated by Steven Kellogg. I have collected pop-up books for myself for many years, like works of art, one on Gutenberg's printing press. I also enjoyed discovering juvenile books by Joan Aiken (thanks to Louise), turned out she was the sister of Jane Aiken Hodge, who wrote Gothic/Romance themed books that I enjoyed in high school, similar to Mary Stewart, Dahne du Maurier and others.
I really loved The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aitken. That’s one of my all time favourite books of my youth.
I am so glad you really loved All the Wide Border. I did too, and I’ve been waiting to see how you felt about it. I must read The Golden Mole and now I really want to read The Other Mrs. Wood too. I confess that Prophet Song was a disappointment to me. I thought it started off very strong and just unraveled. Not my Booker year this year. But what a great reading month you had!
There was some pressure on Mike’s new book, I think that’s why mum has held off too, what I told myself was that it wasn’t and couldn’t be On The Red Hill 2, that meant I read it and enjoyed it for what it was and it’s ace. Can’t believe I’m acknowledged, as is Chris. You MUST read The Golden Mole. It’s so good, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned 🤣
@@SavidgeReads Maybe just once or twice!!!
Love when you want on about books.
Hahaha. Thank you Jess!
I’m glad you liked ‘The other side of Mrs Wood’, I loved it. I thought it was just delicious, can you think of any books which might be similar? I’m having a good reading month so far, my favourites have been ‘Fifteen Wild Decembers’ by Karen Powell, about Emily Brontë. Also, I’m getting in to Persephone books and I really enjoyed ‘The home-maker’ by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Do you have a favourite Persephone book you would recommend?
Hmmm similar books to Mrs Wood. I will have a think. I mean any sensation novel from the era is going to scratch the itch a bit. I’m trying to think of something contemporary. I’ve the Fifteen Wild Decembers high on the TBR. Favourite Persephone? The Shuttle.
It sounds like you had a good reading month in November. I feel like I'm also finishing the year strongly. I do like the sound of The Other Side of Mrs Woods but it looks like it's not available here. I will keep an eye out for it, perhaps it will be available next year. My top November read was probably North Woods by Daniel Mason.
I am quite shocked at myself that I haven’t read North Woods this year. I sooooo thought it was going to be a favourite, yet it’s not ended up being read… and it’s on my shelves. You may have inspired a video 😉
It turns out that was good that I couldn’t make it to H&H this past weekend. I tested positive for COVID last night and would have been very distressed to share that particular gift with you all.
We were all wondering where you were. Sorry to have missed you and sorry to hear you’ve got Covid. Sending healing thoughts!
@@SavidgeReads Missing the weekend was a transport thing. I could’ve taken an Uber up there from London, but there was no way to be sure of a ride back. I think you saw the challenges of going from London to Clare yourself. I really wish I could’ve been there. Thanks for the healing thoughts. 😘
I just finished Her Majesty's Royal Coven and I loved it. With all the twists at the end, I wondered if you read The Shadow Cabinet afterwards and how it was ??? Or if not, if you'd heard. I am nervous it won't be as good.
I have The Shadow Cabinet. I haven’t read it yet so can’t say and am avoiding speaking to anyone about it in case they spoil anything… even my mother. She went from the first straight to the second. I think.
@@SavidgeReads Okay, well I think I am about to read it, so I won't be a spoiler. Just thought you might have. Have a Happy Holiday Season. 🎄
Just a hello !
Hello!
You perfectly described Prophet Song 🥹 👏🏻 so pleased it won. I’d read a library copy before I attended the shortlisted readings event; at which I purchased a copy & got it signed by the charming Mr Paul Lynch 😌
Awwww thank you Jane. I’m always a teeny bit worried that giving myself only a few minutes to sum up a book means I don’t do it justice. Glad I did.
☺️👏🏻