You're flying through these reviews. Well done on another great one. Yes, I loved this book. I was in my last year of school when the event in the book happened around Easter and I must have been partying and studying too hard to take much notice of world events at the time. Which I now find pretty shocking, that I didn't know about what happened in London at that time. Something that happened in my lifetime. I found it compulsive reading, it actually broke me out of a month long reading slump and I read it in two days. It's really impressive how it dealt with difficult issues. It's my current top pick of the 4 I've read on the longlist. Look forward to hearing about the next one you review. Happy Reading 🙂
Thanks, I needed this after a couple of semi-negative reviews. It's the book on the list I am looking forward to the most (having already read James) and I get nervous when people say it didn't live up to expectations 😅 (I skipped the spoiler section, but I'm just going to imagine that you said only good things.)
A top contender for sure! Not just the cultural subject matter but the position the main character is put in, spiritual and emotional, is quite relevent and relateable.
This is the only one I've read so far from the long list and I thought it was absolutely fantastic. The author does a really good job on the audiobook he is very softly spoken and it is somehow very appropriate for the reflective and Melancholic slightly wistful tone of the book
My Friends is on my audio TBR. I’ve started listening to Wild Houses first. I’m trying to guess the shortlist and concentrating on those. My guess James My Friends The Richard Powers book that won’t be published until after the shortlist!!! Wandering Stars Wild Houses The problem with that is that’s it’s an all male shortlist, which I don’t think the Booker will do.
My prediction for the winner. A masterpiece. Bob, this was an exceptionally accomplished review. Your emotion in this video matches the tone of the book. Very very well done. And thank you 😊
I might remember it wrongly and had it out from the library so can't check, but it wasn't Mustafa at the start of the book that Khaled parts with at the train station but Hosam. The blurbs for the book seem to focus on Khaled and his two male friends Mustafa and Hosam, which I find curious, given how big a role Rana plays in Khaleds life, and I'd also include Hanna as one of the friends the title refers to. It is a very well done book, I saw a lot of people got very emotional about it, I just felt like the writing style kept me on an armslength of distance most of the time. I have read 4 books from the longlist, no plans of reading them all, just coincidence that I had already read two (headshot and Orbital), one out from the library (My friends) and one on the way to me (Wild Houses). Thought all four are very good books but no clear shinning winner to me. Will definitly read James (once I get hold of the Huckleberry Finn audiobook), Wandering Stars (after There There), and Creation Lake once it's out too. Looking forward to all your other reviews and happy to be convinced to read any of the other books!
You're flying through these reviews. Well done on another great one.
Yes, I loved this book. I was in my last year of school when the event in the book happened around Easter and I must have been partying and studying too hard to take much notice of world events at the time. Which I now find pretty shocking, that I didn't know about what happened in London at that time. Something that happened in my lifetime.
I found it compulsive reading, it actually broke me out of a month long reading slump and I read it in two days. It's really impressive how it dealt with difficult issues. It's my current top pick of the 4 I've read on the longlist. Look forward to hearing about the next one you review. Happy Reading 🙂
Thanks! And yes, I missed that entirely!
Ooh, I’m glad to hear it broke you out of a slump! It takes a good book to do that!
Just listened to this audiobook. Loved it - beautifully written and beautifully narrated by the author.
Ooh, I’d love to hear how they do this!
Loved this book. I hope it makes the shortlist and maybe wins the Booker.
Very good discussion. 🙏🏽
Thank you! And yes! I feel like this book has the potential to be a very solid winner.
I think im really gonna love this one
Thanks, I needed this after a couple of semi-negative reviews. It's the book on the list I am looking forward to the most (having already read James) and I get nervous when people say it didn't live up to expectations 😅 (I skipped the spoiler section, but I'm just going to imagine that you said only good things.)
Ooh, I’d not seen those, but yes, I think this is almost guaranteed for the shortlist!
I've been in need of hearing a little more about this book, so thanks! It does sound good.
I hope you like it! I think it’s so well done!
A top contender for sure! Not just the cultural subject matter but the position the main character is put in, spiritual and emotional, is quite relevent and relateable.
This is the only one I've read so far from the long list and I thought it was absolutely fantastic. The author does a really good job on the audiobook he is very softly spoken and it is somehow very appropriate for the reflective and Melancholic slightly wistful tone of the book
Oooh, I have to listen to this now! And yes! That’s definitely the tone I felt throughout!
This is one from the list that I really want to read. Happy that you shared your thoughts and experience with it. 😊💙
Thank you so much! And enjoy!
This is definitely one of the ones on the list that I'm super interested in!
Yes! I think it’s very powerful, and I think it’s one of the ones to beat.
This was brilliant, Bob, thank you!🌷I’m currently reading Orbital, but My Friends is up next and I’m very much looking forward to it.
Ooh, I hope you like/liked it!
@@BobTheBookerer Hi Bob😊I’ve enjoyed Orbital very much, but I’m absolutely loving My Friends (I’m one third in).
@@emmavd Yay! Glad to hear it!
My Friends is on my audio TBR. I’ve started listening to Wild Houses first. I’m trying to guess the shortlist and concentrating on those. My guess
James
My Friends
The Richard Powers book that won’t be published until after the shortlist!!!
Wandering Stars
Wild Houses
The problem with that is that’s it’s an all male shortlist, which I don’t think the Booker will do.
This is wonderful, Bob. Toying around with reading this one.
Thank you! And I hope you like it!
My prediction for the winner. A masterpiece.
Bob, this was an exceptionally accomplished review. Your emotion in this video matches the tone of the book. Very very well done. And thank you 😊
Ahhh, thank you so much! And yes, I think this will maybe take it.
I’ve just bought this so I’m not going to watch yet - will read first and then look forward to your thoughts! I loved The Return and A Month in Siena.
Ooh, enjoy! And yes! I need to read more of his now!
I might remember it wrongly and had it out from the library so can't check, but it wasn't Mustafa at the start of the book that Khaled parts with at the train station but Hosam.
The blurbs for the book seem to focus on Khaled and his two male friends Mustafa and Hosam, which I find curious, given how big a role Rana plays in Khaleds life, and I'd also include Hanna as one of the friends the title refers to.
It is a very well done book, I saw a lot of people got very emotional about it, I just felt like the writing style kept me on an armslength of distance most of the time.
I have read 4 books from the longlist, no plans of reading them all, just coincidence that I had already read two (headshot and Orbital), one out from the library (My friends) and one on the way to me (Wild Houses). Thought all four are very good books but no clear shinning winner to me. Will definitly read James (once I get hold of the Huckleberry Finn audiobook), Wandering Stars (after There There), and Creation Lake once it's out too.
Looking forward to all your other reviews and happy to be convinced to read any of the other books!
Ah, yes, I think you might be right, thank you!
And nice, I hope you like the rest of them! I’m mostly enjoying the list so far!
I am judging every other longlisted book against this one. Great review.
Aha, I can totally see why! I think this really is one of the ones to beat’
I passed on buying this yesterday. I just wasn’t sure. It sounds interesting, but…
So great, Brian. I recommend it, too.