Komentáře •

  • @livzyful
    @livzyful Před 2 lety +2696

    I am 75, a clinical psychologist who started out with a bachelors in English. When I watch your videos, especially this one, I see myself. I was young, articulate and very well read. That you have found Khalil Gibran, Tolstoy and Turgenev brings me joy. I read these in high school…. I ran our family grocery store in high school so could have hours for reading. I’m trying to speak to you from your future self if I could be so bold. This vibrant reading passion will never waiver and will carry you through the great complication that is a whole long life. You will always be able to lean into it when you need to. One difference between us is that you possess a lovely quiet confidence which I have now but not when I was your age. Your channel is becoming my fave book place to go, so thank you for this. Sending you such positivity.

  • @LastMinuteGuess
    @LastMinuteGuess Před 2 lety +316

    Emmie, I absolutely adore the range of books that you read. You'll read science fiction to middlegrade to poetry and you'll read Latin American, Russian, or South Korean. Absolutely love hearing about what you're reading!

  • @MellFerraz
    @MellFerraz Před 2 lety +488

    As a Brazilian reader, I am so happy to see you mentioning The Alienist, by Machado de Assis. Actually, I am rereading this in this moment.
    Great list!

  • @GabrielLopes-dz6xr
    @GabrielLopes-dz6xr Před 2 lety +208

    "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is my favourite of the year.
    I will need to go back to Macondo constantly.
    An UNBELIEVABLE book! 🤯 🦋

    • @bookoffholicbookwart5945
      @bookoffholicbookwart5945 Před 2 lety +5

      Currently 100 pages in and I can totally understand

    • @chumkrimson8161
      @chumkrimson8161 Před 2 lety +1

      You've been to Macondo? How is it? I've been thinking of traveling to Colombia and taking a trip there

    • @jfarmerswatermelon6061
      @jfarmerswatermelon6061 Před 2 lety +1

      planning to start it can't wait

    • @GabrielLopes-dz6xr
      @GabrielLopes-dz6xr Před 2 lety +7

      @@chumkrimson8161 Unfortunately Macondo only exists within the boundaries of the book. But it reflects many realities, which makes it real at some level.
      There must be a lot of personal things for Márquez, related to the city he was born in and the people he met as a child.

    • @sealisa1398
      @sealisa1398 Před 2 lety

      I read that book in 1989 had no idea of its fame when I picked it up, loved it. Still one of my all time top 10 lifetime favorites.

  • @steph_pirouette
    @steph_pirouette Před 2 lety +85

    Top 3 of the year: "Daisy Jones and the Six" "One to Watch" "Giovanni's Room" | Very different but all super relatable to me in different ways

  • @estadoagridulce
    @estadoagridulce Před 2 lety +172

    i read “war and peace” this past year too, because of your tolstoy diaries…and yeah, everything you said i stand by it too, it’s true, i never thought in a million year that a book that long and about something so distant from me could make my heart and soul scream, what a piece of art.

    • @nat2057
      @nat2057 Před 2 lety +3

      I've been trying to read more classics since the start of last year. So far I've only read Brave New World, 1984, To Kill A Mockingbird, Fahrenheit 451 and now, Emma. I do want to read stuff like War and Peace but idk, Tolstoy has always intimidated me a bit. Would you recommend it for someone who's just getting back into reading again, and who's not super familiar with tons of classics?

    • @Scottlp2
      @Scottlp2 Před 10 měsíci

      @@nat2057war and peace is easy to read, just printout list of characters to refer to because they all have several names and there are many.

  • @curiouslanguage2032
    @curiouslanguage2032 Před 2 lety +57

    I'm so glad you loved Anne of Green Gables! It is one of my favorite books of all time, and my go-to comfort book. It was first gifted to me by my grandmother, so it also reminds me of her whenever I read it. Anne is who I always aspired to be, and she reminds me the world is beautiful during the times when it seems the most dark.

    • @sridarao6930
      @sridarao6930 Před 2 lety +2

      Literally the same! I discovered it at the age of 11, and it has comforted me so much through the years; I love the brightness Anne sees the world with and the joy she takes in all things. Always such a pleasure to revisit!

  • @MrSunglasses
    @MrSunglasses Před 2 lety +128

    My favorite of the year was In the dream house, which is a memoir written in a very creative way, using horror and fairy tale tropes. It reads like fiction and the audiobook is narrated by the author herself. Highly recommend it!

    • @emmiereads
      @emmiereads Před 2 lety +33

      Ah I still have that one on my shelf to read, maybe I’ll make sure to get to it this year then!

    • @MrSunglasses
      @MrSunglasses Před 2 lety

      @@emmiereads I think you’ll love it! It’s written so beautifully!

    • @andreahenderson3565
      @andreahenderson3565 Před 2 lety +1

      That was one of my favorites this year too!

    • @lputube123
      @lputube123 Před 2 lety

      In the Dream House was fantastic!

  • @maryamalatawi
    @maryamalatawi Před 2 lety +153

    OMG! Emma idk if you gonna able to read this but anyway, you become my favourite one on CZcams I’m not joking like I’m waiting for the day you upload 🥲😔🤍🤍!! I love you so much and I’m sending you visual hug 😔🫂♥️.

  • @brookebecker4785
    @brookebecker4785 Před 2 lety +30

    I'm so happy to see The Girl Who Drank The Moon get the recognition it deserves. I am a teacher and I can't wait to do a novel study of this book with my students someday!

  • @charleypatterson9956
    @charleypatterson9956 Před rokem +3

    Hi, Emma. I have no idea if you'll ever see this, but I wanted to share with you how good you feel to my little reader self. Your satirical and enthusiastic personality brings me so much joy! I've watched you for a little over a year now...I was with you when you introduced Calcifer to us, I was with you when you were getting used to Toronto. Your inner light shines so bright, Emma. Thank you, thank you so much for being you and fervently taking the time to show us your fire spark.

  • @cooper712
    @cooper712 Před 2 lety +139

    My favorite read of the year was absolutely Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore.” Such a fascinating novel that manipulates reality so much. Can’t wait to read it again!

    • @frittaten
      @frittaten Před 2 lety +9

      i have sort of a love-hate relationship with it, it confused me so much and i audibly said 'what' and 'why' so many times but i still enjoyed the writing/the story a lot hahaha

    • @toliyeptho3313
      @toliyeptho3313 Před 2 lety +9

      Kafka on the shore,was my first Murakami's book,i read on 2019 and ever since after that He's one of my fav author.

    • @duyguacar2504
      @duyguacar2504 Před 2 lety +1

      It was the first book i read by murakami. Then i have bought many books by him. I rea 5 more books of him. Cant wait to read 1q84. I Adore his using music in his books. It is kind of magical listening to songs while reading. And the way he doesnt care about rules of planet earth. Ahahha but i am mad at him. At the end of every book he leaves me lost of question marks in my mind.

    • @Sara-hc5km
      @Sara-hc5km Před 2 lety +1

      This was my first book of the year and I LOVED IT

    • @Pursuitsofmybookishheart
      @Pursuitsofmybookishheart Před 2 lety +1

      That's my book of the year as well. Adored it

  • @moritzschafer3977
    @moritzschafer3977 Před 2 lety +5

    I love the atmosphere of your videos so much. I really appreciate you. I’m currently getting into reading proactively for the first time, you’re helping a lot!

  • @Viki-me8mc
    @Viki-me8mc Před 2 lety +32

    “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah!!! My favourite book for 2021! (probably for all time) I cried a lot because of this book, it was very emotional🥺

  • @straylog
    @straylog Před 2 lety +4

    you're easily my new favorite channel when it comes to book recommendations! i love how you branch out into so many different and unique types of genres and recommend books ive never heard of before or wouldn't have picked up otherwise. my personal favorite book of 2021 was 'we were liars', i read it twice and i loved it so much more the second time it totally blew me away :)

  • @mquint00312
    @mquint00312 Před 2 lety +2

    Adding a few of these to my ever-growing TBR! I’ve started reading again in the last 3-4 months after probably 8 years of barely reading any books at all, and passionate readers like you on CZcams make me feel so excited to explore new books. Thank you 😊

  • @katechappell3668
    @katechappell3668 Před 2 lety +40

    my top read this past year was “jane eyre”, i read it twice and it was so magical to me! and a nonfiction, “quiet” by susan cain. ❤️

  • @SyakiraAzam
    @SyakiraAzam Před 2 lety +73

    My favourites of the year are hugely influenced by you, Emma, and for that, I am eternally grateful!
    The books are:
    - The Night Circus
    - The Picture of Dorian Gray
    - The Girl who Drank the Moon
    - The Prophet (Kahlil Gibran)
    - Little Women
    - The Great Gatsby
    - Beloved
    - Circe

    • @SyakiraAzam
      @SyakiraAzam Před 2 lety +2

      @@songofmari I didnt see it coming tho! Hahahaha

  • @becksfizz
    @becksfizz Před 2 lety +10

    I am so looking forward to the next 51 minutes of my life. The cosiest time of day ☕️ thank you! ♥️ oh, and not a first read but I was absolutely *consumed* by Alex Garland’s novels this year; The Beach has been my go-to rec for the last 6 months+ and the audio book got me through *many* a stressful coursework sesh

  • @seyma1509
    @seyma1509 Před 2 lety +11

    Yayy we have some overlap in our favorites list, I also ADORED The Girl Who Drank the Moon and The Enchanted Sonata. I picked up The Enchanted Sonata based on your recommendation and I'm so glad I did, it's one of the best YA books I've ever read. I can't wait to read Entwined now! My other absolute favorites of the year were;
    1) A Snowfall of Silver by Laura Wood, which is a historical romance set in 1930s London, it's about this young girl who dreams of becoming an actress and she goes on tour with a theatrical troupe. It was sooo cozy, it's literally hot chocolate in book form!😭
    2) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, this is hands down the best gothic novel I've ever read and has become one of my all time favorite novels in general. This is one of those books that once you start reading it you physically can't stop reading. It was like going into a trance, Diane Setterfield must be a witch or something.
    3) The Fruit of Knowledge by Liv Strömquist, this one's nonfiction and it's a graphic novel about the history of the vulva. I learned so much from this book, it was such an empowering read and it's also seriously one of the funniest books I've ever read. I think this should be required reading for everyone.

  • @BellatrixVanDettaZwarts
    @BellatrixVanDettaZwarts Před 2 lety +32

    I just finished Frankenstein in Bagdad. I really liked it: the writing, the stories, the atmosphere, the characters and their relationships... Really beautiful book. I never would have picked it up if it wasn't for your recommendation. Thank you so much!

    • @duyguacar2504
      @duyguacar2504 Před 2 lety

      It was one of the best for me too this year. I bought it after emmie recommended but then i totally forgot until one of my friends mentioned about it. I believe that it is huge success to write smt about so devastating but not dramatize it and as readers we get how horrible situation out there.

  • @CathyFrontier
    @CathyFrontier Před 2 lety +57

    My favorite book of 2021 was Dante’s ‘The Divine Comedy’. I read ‘Inferno’ in January and then ‘Purgatorio’ and ‘Paradiso’ in November. Life changing!! You can definitely read them separately, but the experience of all three is just... I have no words! So beautiful! Everyone should read it!

    • @jamesduggan7200
      @jamesduggan7200 Před 2 lety

      Yes, I agree. It is what we used to call one of the desert island books.

    • @FinleySelzer7
      @FinleySelzer7 Před 2 lety +1

      I read inferno this year and hated it??? what made you love it so much? I’m so curious, bc I genuinely don’t get it lmao

    • @eduardojefferson8736
      @eduardojefferson8736 Před 2 lety

      same, i read them all last year and loved it

  • @Rachel-nb4mx
    @Rachel-nb4mx Před 2 lety

    this video really makes me wish i found your channel sooo long ago. some of the books that you have talked about that i didn't recognize made me realize there was so much of you and your channel that i missed. you have become one of my fav youtubers and truly inspire me to read more and expand my reading. thank you for popping up on my recommended this year because it has been a highlight. cannot wait for 2022.

  • @veerajakamthe3983
    @veerajakamthe3983 Před 2 lety +1

    Aahh I've been watching your videos for almost a year and a half now and it's been such a joy to see this little corner of the internet grow so wonderfully in 2021! I love your videos so much, can't wait to see how you grow this new year

  • @marthalagunes8281
    @marthalagunes8281 Před 2 lety +6

    Thank you Emma for sharing your passion for the books! It’s so contagious and cozy! I really love you videos. My favorites of 2021 was “tender is the flesh” and gone with the wind. I already bought the iliac crest thanks to your comments 😉 feliz Año Nuevo from México 🇲🇽

  • @caroline912
    @caroline912 Před 2 lety +4

    there is something about watching the pure joy you have for these books that not only makes me so genuinely happy, but also makes me want to pick up every book I own and not stop till I've finished them. also, my favorite books of 2021 were The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Phantom of the Opera, Malibu Rising, The Song of Achilles and Horrid! 🖤

  • @geegee6752
    @geegee6752 Před 2 lety +2

    Thank you emma for staying dedicated with reading and books no matter how big your channel gets. And also, you delicately "forced" me to read classics. I also have to thank you for that. ❤️

  • @danieladamico5485
    @danieladamico5485 Před 2 lety

    Thank you for your hard work throughout the year, Emma! You made 2021 better. Hope you have an amazing 2022 ❤

  •  Před 2 lety +5

    Anne of Green Gables made it to my top 10 last year as well! I think you should definitely read the whole series, although there are some books that aren’t as good as the first one, I absolutely love the brilliance of LM Montgomery writing and detailed description of nature elements, ughhh, so adorable ❤️

  • @quert45
    @quert45 Před 2 lety +3

    Thanks to you for being in our lives

  • @kimbarbeaureads
    @kimbarbeaureads Před 2 lety +1

    I read The Secret Garden and A Little Princess this year. I loved the movies as a kid so it was about time.

  • @meg659
    @meg659 Před 2 lety

    You have the most beautiful descriptions of books and it makes me so happy, I've already added most to my list!

  • @hyemiyah
    @hyemiyah Před 2 lety +16

    happy new year, emma!
    I absolutely love kick starting this year listening to you rant about your favourite books of the year. my favourite books of 2021 are (in no particular order) untold night and day, the crocodile (this is a short story by dostoevsky but I loved it nonetheless), dog songs, dombey and son, the girl who wrote loneliness, and the band played on, and a pale view of hills.

    • @emmiereads
      @emmiereads Před 2 lety +4

      happy new year!! ah amazing untold night and day made it to your list too and ah that makes me so much more excited for Dombey and Son this year haha

    • @hyemiyah
      @hyemiyah Před 2 lety

      @@emmiereads i think about untold night and day at least once a day. aaah i hope you end up liking dombey and son ♡

  • @maeiscompletelyfine
    @maeiscompletelyfine Před 2 lety +18

    I LUV U EMMA!!! My favorite reads of this year are: Piranesi, The Death of Vivek Oji, Tender is the Flesh, Strange Weather in Tokyo, and The Housekeeper and the Professor!
    Here’s to another wonderful reading year 💖💖💖 all the best in uni!!!

    • @emmiereads
      @emmiereads Před 2 lety +4

      So much love to you Mae🥰 Ooh so happy Tender is the Flesh made it on your list, can’t wait to pick it up this year! Thank you so much lovely, happy new year💕

  • @Bonobo_JoJo
    @Bonobo_JoJo Před rokem +2

    The Three Body Problem (the entire series) was my favorite read of this year by far! I know I'm a bit late, but was super happy to see someone else talking about this book!

  • @danielconnolly4738
    @danielconnolly4738 Před 10 měsíci

    Thank you for your insights, enthusiasm, and knowledge. Watching your postings reveals that you are a grand soul.

  • @EmmaSophieChannel
    @EmmaSophieChannel Před 2 lety +12

    I've had such a great reading year, too! I think War and Peace and Les Misérables might've affected me the most, but there's so many! About Les Mis I wanna say that I think a lot of ppl go into the book expecting the musical which is such a shame! It rly is a very different kind of story. I think if people went into it not expecting anything they'd get to love it much more than they would otherwise. It's the story of Paris as a living being and one of hope despite hope lost. I simultaneously felt like comforting the book and comforted by it. It sustained me emotionally in a big way all year. I don't know how it manages to be so beautiful and hopeful despite all the tragedy. The musical is very different in that. (And it's also valuable, just super different!) It's now almost a year since I finished it and it's one of those books I've been wanting to reread since i first read them.

  • @myrtolefk
    @myrtolefk Před 2 lety +38

    my absolute favourite book of the year was "on earth we're briefly gorgeous" by far like i adore this book with my whole heart but i also really really loved (in no particular order) "the priory of the orange tree" by samantha shannon, "normal people" by sally rooney, "human acts" by han kang, "autobiography of red" by anne carson (which i read after your recommendation), "the fifth season" by n k jemisin and "mister impossible" by maggie stiefvater!! and another general favourite of my reading year was reading romance and even though this list is lacking on it it's only because i haven't found a romance novel that is as beautifully written as these books here (even though a lot of them include or mainly revolve around romance and genre isn't a monolith anyway)!

    • @showmethelight01
      @showmethelight01 Před 2 lety

      thats so funny because I found Ocean Vuong's on earth we are briefly gorgeous" to be one of the worst books Ive read two years ago. I found him trying to hard to have a sophisticated and poetic prose and his writing seemed too scattered to me. I see why people may find his writing to be wonderful but I thought him overrated. I might have to read some of his poetry though but my opinion still stands on his memoir.

  • @humyrahfatima
    @humyrahfatima Před 2 lety +2

    Your way of describing each book is so convincing that i feel restless untill i can get my hands on all of them! Cannot wait to read.
    Much love, x

  • @morganreads
    @morganreads Před 2 lety +1

    ahhhhhh i could listen to your voice all day

  • @user-pq5qx4kz3s
    @user-pq5qx4kz3s Před 2 lety +15

    Read the three body problem in Chinese last year as well. I've heard of this book before, there was a CZcamsr who said this was top of the list of books borrowed at Tsinghua university (most prestigious university in China) library, and then saw that Emma was reading it too, so I went and read it as well. It is way beyond my expectation, especially since I'm not usually into Sci Fi and this is my first one. The trilogy is Sci Fi, but not simply Sci Fi, to me it's more like putting humanity and human society under the extremes and imagining how it would behave, like projecting the human history into the future under this Sci Fi backdrop. The science part is very fun to read as well, my high school physics came back to me a bit. Towards the end, the story almost felt like it was going in a direction I didn't like, but it worked for me in the end, it was gentle and cruel at the same time. There are certain aspects of the book that I don't fully like, but I'm totally willing to ignore cuz this trilogy is just amazing! It opened me up to seeing the world beyond how things are today, and ultimately makes me love humanity and this blue marble that we have more than before.

  • @paulaarenas6894
    @paulaarenas6894 Před 2 lety +11

    My favorite read from this year was One Hundred Years of Solitude, I am Colombian and this was one of the books that intimidated me, but it is a beautiful masterpiece. Another magic realism book that I loved and recommend is Like Water for Chocolate by Mexican author Laura Esquivel, it is wonderful and beautiful. Love from Colombia

  • @1OldPacman
    @1OldPacman Před 2 lety

    I love your description of stuff and the way you describe how things feel without giving away spoilers. i love your excitment. everytime i watch your videos i'm sold on a different book. the castle in the clouds sounds incredible. and so does 3 body problem and girl who drank the moon. thank you and happy new year!

  • @vickymaldonado7761
    @vickymaldonado7761 Před 2 lety +2

    Hi Emma! Soo glad you're reading Latin American works :')) I'm starting Pedro Páramo this month, which is a Mexican novel that I've had on my tbr for a while and I'm really excited. I'm also reading And Then There Were None and 1984. I hope you have a great 2022!! Love your videos; your channel made me get back into reading 🌻

  • @ioanachis7899
    @ioanachis7899 Před 2 lety +59

    ''The secret History" by Donna Tartt, is my favourite of the year. I LOVEEE ITTT! Highly recommend it!

    • @VampireHeart518
      @VampireHeart518 Před 2 lety +6

      It's in my top of the year as well. Enjoyed it a lot more than I expected honestly :)
      It read like a classic to me

    • @Laura-ir8kx
      @Laura-ir8kx Před 2 lety +4

      I'm reading this now!

    • @sealisa1398
      @sealisa1398 Před 2 lety +1

      That is a really good one…read it years ago when first published. Creepy too.

  • @LeylaKaratas
    @LeylaKaratas Před 2 lety +18

    here's my top 5 of 2021 (in no particular order)
    - the song of achilles
    - entwined
    - empire of sand
    - the hunger games trilogy
    - the bear and the nightingale
    honorable mentions:
    - the witcher - sword of destiny
    - unholy blood
    - little women

    • @nataliedavis8675
      @nataliedavis8675 Před 2 lety

      I’m so glad u liked the Bear and the Nightingale! I wanted so badly to love it and just couldn’t, I’ll have to reread it some time soon!

  • @amnahmuneer7369
    @amnahmuneer7369 Před 2 lety +1

    I just love your videos and sometimes I read and watch your videos at the same time and you made me get back to reading and sometimes when I watch your videos I just want to read and it’s an amazing thing!! Love ya

  • @kelleyiswriting
    @kelleyiswriting Před 2 lety +1

    Ahhhh so many great books in this video!! Thank you for sharing, I loved hearing you talk so passionately about your favorites for the year :) I am definitely going to be reading The Three Body Problem this year and hopefully I can squeeze in Anne of Green Gables and The Enchanted Sonata. I've also added A Castle in the Clouds, Untold Night and Day, and the Iliac Crest to my TBR hehe.
    I noticed that I've been finding a lot of joy in reading books that I thought were hard to read, and I think it's what you said. Reading books that are challenging is rewarding, and I also learn a lot from them too. I also like it when you talk about writing, I'd love to hear some of your story ideas ❤️🥰

  • @Cubehead27
    @Cubehead27 Před 2 lety +17

    I think my favourite read of 2021 was either Borges' "Ficciones" or Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia". Probably Borges because he basically lifted my brain out of my skull and twisted it into a balloon animal, but Orwell's account of his experiences in the Spanish Civil War is really fascinating and his prose is just gorgeous.

  • @annah7648
    @annah7648 Před 2 lety +30

    I loved Evie Wyld’s The Bass Rock - set in Scotland, witchiness (not fantasy, but a mixture of historical settings and present day), I thought the whole thing was brilliantly done!

    • @emmiereads
      @emmiereads Před 2 lety +3

      Ooh this sounds amazing gonna go look it up👀

  • @rangerartemis9579
    @rangerartemis9579 Před 2 lety +2

    Thank you, Emmie, for so many wonderful videos and countless great recommendations this year! My top five books were The Secret Life of Bees, The Phantom of the Opera, Girl in Landscape, Trainspotting, and the Shining! Honorable mention to The Gunslinger

  • @jacquichimes
    @jacquichimes Před 2 lety

    Your videos are wonderful. I am 64 years old and have been an avid reader all my life. Anne of Green Gables is a re-read favourite from childhood and I love the whole series. This year I finally tried more L M Montgomery and loved Emily of the New Moon (a trilogy) and The Blue Castle (a stand alone novel). Thank you for your enthusiasm and for introducing me to many more authors and books.

  • @emilymarshman1261
    @emilymarshman1261 Před 2 lety +27

    as a reader who consumes books from all different genres I always get so many good recs from you - happy new year!!

  • @ohmyoswald
    @ohmyoswald Před 2 lety +4

    "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is my favorite book of 2021. it keeps coming back to me and i still get random sentences from the book stuck in my head even though i've read it months ago. psychological horror is one of my favorite genres to read and this book tackling the subjects of loneliness and getting old in such a profound way is really special to me! also, the movie adaptation of this book was really good for entirely different reasons and i loved that too

  • @lollipopsky8941
    @lollipopsky8941 Před 2 lety +1

    what an enjoyable video! i can feel the love you have for these books so clearly and it just makes me want to read them even more. also, what a range! it's one of the things i mostly admire in a reader, the ability to admire different genres and topics! i really enjoyed this, i felt like we had a nice hour long chat that left us both feeling more enriched, if that makes sense. much love, emma!

  • @jacksontalley1983
    @jacksontalley1983 Před 2 lety +1

    My year of rest and relaxation! I needed this during a very difficult second quarantine.

  • @fatimareda9466
    @fatimareda9466 Před 2 lety +22

    Pachinko by Min Jin Lee is by far my favorite book that I've read in 2020. I highly highly highly recommend you read it if you haven't already! It was the type of book that I had to put down every now and then just so that I don't finish because it was too good.

    • @fatimareda9466
      @fatimareda9466 Před 2 lety +1

      omg 2021 oops LOL! Can't fathom the fact that it's already 2022 :')

  • @denisefreitas6727
    @denisefreitas6727 Před 2 lety +11

    Emma, first of all : your blouse is gorgeous! Second: Yes, The Enchanted Sonata is a dream. I loved it, thanks for the recommendation. And third, others of my best books of 2021: Les Miserables (Victor Hugo), The Phantom of the Opera (Gaston Leroux) and Daughter of the Forest (Juliet Marillier). 😘💖✨

  • @eduardojefferson8736
    @eduardojefferson8736 Před 2 lety +1

    i added the iliac crest to my reading list because i literally fell in love with your description

  • @manzhanilla
    @manzhanilla Před 2 lety

    u had me hooked as soon as u described the first book. amazing descriptions i’m definitely following u

  • @Warloser360
    @Warloser360 Před 2 lety +8

    I picked up Nevernight on a lark and ended up falling in love with the world myself. I've heard a lot of readers don't care for the footnotes, but I adore them.

  • @gabona0
    @gabona0 Před 2 lety +14

    my favorites of the 2021 are definitely "Despair" by Nabokov (I read this in January and I still think about it 👀), "Kafka on the shore" by Murakami and "Never let me go" by Ishiguro! 🌻🌞

  • @RileyyyClark
    @RileyyyClark Před 2 lety +1

    Alright. You've convinced me to add your top 3 to my tbr even though they're not really my style. Your excitement over explaining them is infectious! I might try out the three-body problem and first love too.. They all sound so good!

  • @rachelwilliamsx1202
    @rachelwilliamsx1202 Před 2 lety +1

    i have been waiting SO excitedly for this video!! i have gotten so many of your recommendations over the last few months, and am overwhelmingly excited to read them, thank u for ur channel and the books and reviews you have graced us with this year

  • @MilenaReads
    @MilenaReads Před 2 lety +3

    The Iliac Crest really sounds like my kind of book! You describe it so wonderfully.

    • @emmiereads
      @emmiereads Před 2 lety

      ah Milena I think you would absolutely love it!!

  • @cooltureencounters9486
    @cooltureencounters9486 Před 2 lety +10

    I loved Jane Eyre, the book is famous, I new already a lot about it but I did not expect it to be so good. The internal monologue is amayzing.

  • @rajeshwari3662
    @rajeshwari3662 Před 2 lety +1

    Not me watching this video and aggressively adding the books to my cart. I was just mesmerised by your description of the books, had to add all of them to my tbr. Thank you for existing in our lives too Emma, much love.🥰❤

  • @honkyytonkbri
    @honkyytonkbri Před 2 lety

    You’re so soft spoken and I love your reviews! You make me want to check these books out.

  • @agreencrabshell
    @agreencrabshell Před 2 lety +4

    If you like L.M. Montgomery as a writer, I can not more highly recommend The Blue Castle. It has been a favourite of mine since I first read it, I have bought three copies of it, it is the first book I ever annotated... it's just phenomenal. Her prose blows me away every time, and I have never fallen in love with characters more than in this book. I've written three essays about it, that's how much I adore this book.

  • @NatalyaVins-blueflower775
    @NatalyaVins-blueflower775 Před 2 lety +13

    I think I'm going to add "The Iliac Crest" and "First love" to my TBR list. I know Russian, but I've only read "Mumu" by Turgenev for school.
    I adore Anne of Green Gables. It's one of my favourtie books to reread.
    My favourite books from last year were a biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera, "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini and "And then there were none" by Agatha Christie.

  • @ClumsyCharlott
    @ClumsyCharlott Před 2 lety +1

    I love the range of books that you're talking about and you are selling me on every single one! So many books I'm adding to my want to read now that I never expected I would want to read. Thank you!

  • @shann_on04
    @shann_on04 Před 2 lety +1

    your voice is so calming, I loved the way you described every book :)

  • @horcrux97
    @horcrux97 Před 2 lety +6

    I think my favorite was the house in the cerulean sea. Thank you for all the lovely videos and book recs last year; as a librarian I am never short of books I want to read but you have made my tbr list grow so much. And thank you for creating such a safe and comforting place :)

    • @antonellabassi3466
      @antonellabassi3466 Před 2 lety +3

      Cerulean is a fluffy blanket of a novel. Confort for the soul in paper format.

    • @kiranreader
      @kiranreader Před 2 lety +2

      @@antonellabassi3466 such a great description for the book!!! a fluffy blanket - love that!

  • @aya-qo9wg
    @aya-qo9wg Před 2 lety

    I just started being interested in books and reading recently and your video helped me start! Thank you so much, I'm subbing right now :)

  • @kaitlynevans8205
    @kaitlynevans8205 Před 2 lety +1

    I love these videos! I always end up with so many book recommendations!

  • @yuliia5634
    @yuliia5634 Před 2 lety +13

    My favorite book of the year is the second book from “The Scythe” trilogy. I was not much impressed with the first book but the second book was SO good. I was anxious to open the book to read, what the main antagonist will do to the protagonists. I cannot describe it really good but it was one of the best books that gave me emotional tension. I hope the third book will be as good as the second.

  • @stirlingpiano
    @stirlingpiano Před 2 lety +4

    Always love hearing you talk about books you love; I can not wait to read some of these.
    This past year I truly fell in love with classics and read so many that I absolutely loved.
    My favorite books of the year that I read for the first time are:
    17. A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott (A very underrated gothic Alcott novel.)
    16. Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo (Not generally a fan of YA fantasy, but I loved these two books.)
    15. Animal Farm by George Orwell
    14. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Incredibly weird.)
    13. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
    12. Medea by Euripides (Perfect revenge plot.)
    11. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
    10. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (A ton of fun and my introduction to Dumas. Can not wait to try out The Count of Monte Cristo.)
    9. Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (A brilliant Russian novella that focuses on the Lady Macbeth archetype but in Russia.)
    8. The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
    7. The Metamorphoses by Ovid (This is basically the perfect classic collection of Roman myths.)
    6. Passing by Nella Larsen (A very underrated and powerful story by a black woman author.)
    5. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
    4. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
    3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
    2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (Despite being so old, it was surprisingly relatable, humorous, and emotional.)
    1. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (I loved this one so much; it was so emotional, epic, and beautifully written.)

  • @Vikrumm
    @Vikrumm Před 9 měsíci +1

    for the last 2 years i’ve used this as my ultimate cosy relaxed video that i put on and even though i’m behind, i’m slowly but surely working my way through all these books ❤

  • @chelseaseashell22
    @chelseaseashell22 Před 2 lety +2

    Aw I'm so glad that Anne made it on to your list! I think it tops my own list from this year. Either that or The Song of Achilles. They both really made my summer.

  • @writerchic676
    @writerchic676 Před 2 lety +11

    Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones was my favorite of 2021, I’m already contemplating reading it again! It’s definitely a comfort read ❤️

  • @rajeshwari3662
    @rajeshwari3662 Před 2 lety +8

    1984 has to be my best book of the last year. So glad could finally get my hands on it and omg, I loved it and howwww. Special mention to The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, loved to see that you mentioned it in your top 14 too.

  • @anelaperez8552
    @anelaperez8552 Před 2 lety

    Last year was difficult in many ways and sometimes when things get difficult, I turn to my books and just read. I picked up and started a handful but couldn’t finish any of them. 😭😒 I’ve watched a few of these “Best Books of 2021” videos in hopes of finding something inspiring and here you are! I watched your video in entirety and it was such a joy listening to you talk about these books. I came looking for one book recommendation and now I have an entire list! I’M SO EXCITED!! Thank you! ♥️

  • @songeunrae
    @songeunrae Před 2 lety +1

    My favorite books from last year are The mill on the floss and Lonesome dove, two terribly long reads but I enjoyed them both very much felt a lot of emotions during and after reading. My recommendation for anyone who is looking for a tough but humanizing journey to embark on!
    Thank you Emma for your videos! Happy new year!

  • @maanya__742
    @maanya__742 Před 2 lety +3

    For me the top books of the last year were definitely The Picture of Dorian Gray and Anne of green gables. It was through your channel that I finally picked them up and read them. Thank you Emma! 🌼

  • @rooksmuck
    @rooksmuck Před 2 lety +3

    I started the year with Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and finished it with House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - great bookends. Crime and Punishment was very affecting. I also read the Harry Potter series for the first time - I'm 43! What an experience! It's unlocked the world(s) of fantasy fiction for me: currently reading The Hobbit and plan to read the LOTR trilogy this year (I have the same gorgeous box set as you). This channel was such a good find and has inspired me to finally dip into classical mythology. Happy reading.

  • @albah1394
    @albah1394 Před 2 lety +2

    My favourite book this year was John Williams’ ‘Stoner’. Such a beautiful, heart wrenching story about the mundanity but importance of everyday life, following an English professor through his life. This book deserves so much more attention than it receives, I never hear anybody talk about it! The best book I have ever read, please read it!

  • @miladimelow5187
    @miladimelow5187 Před 2 lety

    I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL YEAR FOR THIS!!!! so excited :)) thank you emma for always been so inspiring. you've been a huge part of my life being the only youtuber i enjoy watching.

  • @AkwardLogic101
    @AkwardLogic101 Před 2 lety +8

    Omg I just read “the girl who drank the moon” last week and it’s so so good! Everyone should read it. It was way better than I even thought it would be, it just wonderful

  • @mennatu-allahislam562
    @mennatu-allahislam562 Před 2 lety +71

    my favs for the year are "Jane Eyre"
    "davinci code"
    "the little prince" re-read
    "Christ Recrucified"
    "Carmilla"

    • @Rara-zm2ps
      @Rara-zm2ps Před 2 lety +5

      Yesss! So glad to hear about Jane Eyre! I reread it again this year and was able to appreciate more than when I had to study it for school~♡

    • @mennatu-allahislam562
      @mennatu-allahislam562 Před 2 lety +2

      @@Rara-zm2ps I enjoyed it so much and i am sure that someday I'll be reading it again! Maybe in English this time because i read it in Arabic

    • @teajarbiscuits
      @teajarbiscuits Před 2 lety

      Are you even a follower of Emma, she said she felt bad for people who quote Dan Brown's book as their favourite

    • @Thisworldisagoner
      @Thisworldisagoner Před 2 lety +3

      I read Jane Eyre in 2021 as well and it was my favorite as well! I am obsessed with it!

    • @eyes9514
      @eyes9514 Před 2 lety

      @@teajarbiscuits people enjoy different things, we shouldn't care what others think of the books we love. We're all here to talk about books and have fun

  • @larochka1
    @larochka1 Před 2 lety +1

    Thank you for all the books that you are bringing into my life and everything else honestly cause your videos have been a huge and great part of my life! Love you!!!
    ok on my way to read The Iliac Crest right now

  • @lucymbriggs
    @lucymbriggs Před 2 lety

    I love the way you explain books! SO in depth and full of thought.

  • @navarroandrea8484
    @navarroandrea8484 Před 2 lety +3

    My favorite book I have read this year is Anne of Green Gables. I first watched the series Anne with an E and was HOOKED. Unfortunately, that show got cancelled. However, my bestie gifted me the 1st book and I immediately read it. Now I own the whole series (total of 8 books). Currently in book 4. I love this series so much, gave me much happiness and comfort that I definitely needed at that time. Kind of like this channel 😚😚 Love you emma

  • @GlaauAguiar
    @GlaauAguiar Před 2 lety +6

    the girl who drank the moon is one of my favorites for the year! I loved it so so much I got a lil dragon tattooed on my arm so I always have fyrian with me

  • @rrnduxx
    @rrnduxx Před 2 lety

    you are the first person ive ever seen on youtube that talked about the three body problem, i read it back in 2020 and i enjoyed it so much!

  • @spellsofwylde1462
    @spellsofwylde1462 Před 2 lety

    What an amazing reading year! Thanks so much for sharing with us 💕 Happy new year 🤞🏽✨📚

  • @PinkPog
    @PinkPog Před 2 lety +3

    51 minutes of Emma. Splendid!!!

  • @sandra-bd7zs
    @sandra-bd7zs Před 2 lety +42

    aah, my favorite read of this year's definitely been 'No Longer Human' by Osamu Dazai. I wouldn't even really know how to explain it well, it's not really plot nor character driven, mostly feels like following inner thoughts. Very sad and heartbreaking, especially when you learn more about the author, but in the end it can seem hopeful as well

    • @kiranreader
      @kiranreader Před 2 lety +4

      no longer human is on my list for this year! i read dazai's novella schoolgirl and was swept away by his writing

    • @zooopies
      @zooopies Před 2 lety +5

      Yes! “No Longer Human” was one of my favorites that I read this year as well!!! And it’s so hard to describe because it reads like a fictional memoir. It is so beautifully written (albeit could do without the misogyny)

    • @kiranreader
      @kiranreader Před 2 lety +3

      @@zooopies ty for the heads up!! looking forward to reading it soon :)

    • @lucycottam5578
      @lucycottam5578 Před 2 lety +1

      A setting sun by him is so much better than no longer human in my opinion! I recommend it 100%

    • @sandra-bd7zs
      @sandra-bd7zs Před 2 lety

      @@lucycottam5578 thank you for the recommendation! I liked his style of writing so I wanted to read some more of his work, I'll make sure to check it out :D

  • @joanak546
    @joanak546 Před 2 lety +2

    I read the Castle in the clouds because of you and had the exact same feelings. Such a cozy and nice read!

  • @BethStar11
    @BethStar11 Před 2 lety

    Honestly, got into your videos like at Christmas and I love them. I also relate so much to starting the year hungover 🙃

  • @ttttthea
    @ttttthea Před 2 lety +3

    some of my favorites of 2021 are a little life, the picture of dorian gray, the girl who drank the moon and normal people! i also read lots of norwegian books and my favs were kinderwhore by maria kjos fonn, tollak til ingeborg by my fav norwegian author tore renberg and unnskyld by ida hegazi høyer 🥰 great video, as always !!