i read my subscribers FAVORITE books! 📚 year of recs ep2
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- Опубликовано: 30 май 2024
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Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - amzn.to/3IjsVuA
All The Hidden Monsters by Amie Jordan - amzn.to/49Q0O1M
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura - amzn.to/48BQFVi
The Feast by Margaret Kennedy - amzn.to/3wHQ4UJ
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00:00 intro
01:34 choosing the books
10:21 book one
27:20 book two
37:05 book three
besties i appreciate all the well meaning comments but I am not pressuring myself too much with my reading (i just felt a bit of pressure around reading a book that was a 5+++ star prediction!) 🫶 i've really been enjoying my reading lately (think of how successful the goodreads winners vlog was!) and so i don't think any deeper meanings need to be read into my reaction to the books in this vlog! i just want to remind people that i've said so many times that making tbrs and making concept vlogs is as much as a hobby to me as reading is, and i've never been a mood reader (even before i started my channel) so i'm probably not gonna start now! lots of love and i'm excited for all my reading coming in March!
i thought this was a great video meg, i love seeing you read a variety of books, including ones on your tbr and some you've never heard of
Maybe you could try other genres that you don't really read, it's possible that you're changing and your taste changes.
you do you I didn't think once you were pressuring yourself until I saw this comment. it's no one's business. you're killing it
Agree with the other comments saying you need to stop pressuring yourself to have more 5 stars. If you go in expecting perfection it's easy to be disappointed by a book regardless of how good it is!
I feel like books are like meals. We have a handful of meals that are our favorite, but we don't or wouldn't eat them everyday. We read lots of books, but only some are going to be five stars, and only some are going to be all-time favorites. I don't think we go into every meal thinking this one is going to be a favorite. We take it as it comes. While I enjoy these videos, I wonder if it would be helpful for you to just take the books as they come instead of putting pressure on yourself to like them. That pressure might be taking away from your enjoyment if the books.
I feel like you're really pressuring yourself with your reading. I don't wanna cross any boundaries but I think you should maybe take a step back from the standard booktube content and just go to the library and pick out just random books that sound good or reread some favourites to remind yourself why you love reading. I love your videos but atm reading seems like a chore for you.
I recommended Lonely Castle in the Mirror (I swear this comment is not me being salty 😂) and one of the reason I loved it so much is bc I just picked it up with no expectations and tried something new
I agree with the comments about not pressuring yourself! I think rating books is fun, but it should not stop us from having fun while reading. You have so many videos where you talk about having books that you want to read so badly, I think it would be fun and light for you to just pick a book you really want to read with no pressure for it to have any kind of rating or fitting in any kind of video and just read it! Although you joke about being burnt out I think it's very likely that you are and giving yourself some slack might be helpful! I love your videos and it pains my heart to see you feeling bad about something that you love and enjoy so much.
The best time to pick up Piranesi is when you're just here for the vibes. Its so introspective and quiet it feels like a warm blanket while sitting by a window watching the rain.
are there any other books like that? I love that vibe.
Okay hot take but I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself with this series. You'll read what, 3 for every video? 3 books a month for a year is 36 books - there's no way they're all going to be 5 stars! How many 5 stars did you have ALL of last year?
On the other hand you could have just picked wrong, Piranesi, Never Let Me Go etc could've been 5 stars. My rule is I always want a book to be 4 stars, I always want to enjoy them but never ever expect a book to be a 10/10. If they exceed expectations, great it's a 5 star! If I'm disappointed slightly it's a 3.
Anyways, love the videos as always Meg :) x
That’s how I rate my books ! 😂
that's how I rate mine too! (:
i'm always so reluctant to give recs when booktubers ask, even if ive watched ALL their content because i still dont feel like i *get* their reading taste because *i* haven't read everything so i dont have context for most of their reviews/responses. meanwhile i've not seen nearly anyone read most of my 5 star reads so i feel directionless when giving recs 🙃
I do think you would have preferred Piranesi. But also, it is kind of your fault for not picking Veronica Speedwell 😂 I had the same issue with Everyone in my Family and I couldn’t get past 25% before it returned to the library though I do still have it on hold and plan to give it another try when it comes up in my queue.
I also DNF'd Everyone in My Family, couldn't get past the writing
I struggled with the first 25% but ended up loving it, I think the audiobook really helped make the writing flow better
I really hope you read both Piranesi and This is How You Lose the Time War! Both were 5 stars for me. The writing 🔥
Same!! I was so sad when Meg chose the only one of the three I hadn't read (and loved) 😢
Oh I think you would LOVE Piranesi! And as a Never Let Me Go lover...I'm not sure it would be your thing? All of Ishiguro's novels are really slow and they took me a while to appreciate, so I'm not positive you'd love it
Yes, definitely redo the video! (I’m only saying this because my book didn’t get picked 😂😂). For the book in your tbr you NEED to read love theoretically!! You love Ali and love theoretically is a banger! And my rec which was hooky could be picked out maybe as well idk 👀👀
I found that Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was much smoother for me than Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone - I loved it quite a bit more! I also had a bit of an issue with the writing not flowing well in the first one so I was so excited to find that the writing was better this time around! So I'm glad you are thinking of continuing the series!
Honestly i loved this video, i wish you'd have had better luck but i think the fact you're exploring so many avenues to up your star rating is brilliant and there's gonna be successes and times where things don't work out as well! Excited to see you continue this ❤
My gasp when you said 3.5 for Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. But I am glad you gave it a chance. I've been waiting for you to read, and get your opinion on this, since I loved it in 2023.
I found it interesting that you compared Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone to The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Both are 5 star all time favourites for me. I always say that Evelyn Hardcastle is Agatha Christie meets Black Mirror, which I loved, since I am a mystery and horror reader, especially fantasy-horror or sci-fi-horror, so that may be why. That may be information for who will like it and who won’t.
I think you should do a vlog rereading your favourite books. Sometimes the rereading experience brings up new nuances or emotions. I've actually made it a goal of mine this year to reread favourites more and I've just finished rereading The Secret History, I had such a good time. It would help your rating goal and expectations are not an issue because you already know u love it
I also liked Everyone on this Train is a Suspect more, so I highly highly recommend picking up the sequel. However, I also think the audiobooks are so much fun! I need more books of this style.
it made me soooo happy that you picked my book rec even if it wasn’t a 5/5 for you! it’s hard with recs because even if the book has the ingredients that you like, it might just be the way they were cooked together that disappoints you. hope there are better books for you next time!! 💕
I hear you on what your pinned note says! I think for me even if I suspect that a book may be 5 stars, I try to always go into it with low expectations. There’s a million reasons books may not work for me and any book might not. When they really do work, it’s a pleasant surprise! I can never really tell ahead of time when that will happen :)
I hope you have a month coming up where you just read what ever the heck you are in the mood for. I think 'heavy is the head that wears the well constructed TBR'.... not sure who said that, but give yourself a break ❤
I love these year of recs videos you’re doing so much, I’m looking forward to them every month!! 👏
Piranesi is so interesting and unique. You should give it a try in a different video. The beginning can be a bit confusing, but it is such a wonderful book. I just loved it!
I think of the options that you showed in the video, my picks for you would have been: Piranesi, Murder at Spindle Manor, and Love, Theoretically.
I agree with Everyone in my family has killed someone, I also gave it 3.5. I felt like it had so much potential and was fun in theory but something with the writing made me feel disconnected from the story and I just couldn't get invested like I wanted to. I've heard good things about the second one so I'm also planning on trying it!
#1 -- your honesty is so appreciated and so vital. The books it seems were decent, good, not great. You made the video a lot of fun. Where you went for a walk looked fantastic. The edits were tremendous as ever. Better luck next time! 😊
I agree with others. I think you should do a redemption video for books you didn’t pick as like a bonus video. Maybe your reading has changed and maybe it’s time to explore the reads that only a handful of people enjoyed. Maybe also do a try a chapter before you decide on a pick.
I agree with you about the writing style of Everybody in my Family. I tried to physically read it and listen to it, but couldn't get past the way it was written. It just felt off to me.
Perhaps you could do a vlog reading the books you almost read for this vlog… (this is totally not an unsubtle hint to please read Piranesi……..)
Great vlog, and I enjoyed your reviews on each of the books . It is a great idea to see if your subscribers can pick books for you .
You really need to go for Piranesi! I genuinely think it will be a success for you. It's such a hard book to describe without giving away too much but the writing, like everyone else says, is what makes it really shine. ✨
I really enjoyed your nature walk. 🌲
this was super entertaining & the Trina Vega meme made me laugh out loudddd. 100% you should’ve picked A Curious Beginning.. but I think you mentioned that you have other plans to read it.
I only read Lonely Castle in the Mirror from these three books and remember being surprised seeing it get recommended so much in the comments to your post asking for recs. It's a good book, I gave it a 4 or a 4.25, but it's not some modern masterpiece, the final third of the book can only do so much. I fully agree with your overall assessment of the book and I think it's always going to be hard to predict which ones will work when you take recs from a comment section. You seemed to enjoy the books enough, even if they aren't new favorites this was a fun video and thanks for your efforts!
Lonely castle in the mirror was my first 5-star of this year and I also bawled my eyes out (and this is from someone who never cries in books), it helped me through so many of my inner struggles
Oh I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy it more! But books are just like that, it’s so subjective that you don’t have to feel bad about loving it 🥺🥰
definitely don't blame yourself! something could tick all the boxes but writing style matters so much. I think you should read "Good Neighbors" by sarah langan, but maybe listen to the first chapter on audio to see if you like the style. I'm not sure if you can classify it as mystery or thriller, but I loved this story that combined time jumps, news articles, a community on edge because of a sink hole with added issues of class - i was on the edge of my seat! I know some people rate it low, but I personally gave it 5 stars!
Wait, you live in Essex? No way, me too. I had no idea!!
you look gorgeous on those nature clips (:
I missed this original call out, but I really think you would enjoy How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent. Its a 'good for her" thriller with a dash of humor.
I love when my channel name has a cameo in a booktuber's video 😂
Comparing everyone in my family has killed someone to the 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn hardcastle makes me want to buy it right now! 😄 I gave the hardcastle book 5 stars! Loved it.
Pointless is the best trivia show!
I vote for redoing with your almost-picks! I loved both Piranesi and This is How You Lose the Time War, but just as a warning, they're both really disorienting at first, and I think they work best when the reader is in that very open, just go with it sort of mood.
I’ve never even heard of murder at spindle manor but that sounds really good 👀
5-Star Benjamin Stevenson for me! Just got the sequel at the library.
I would still recommend Piranesi. It is my favourite fantasy book and I do think you'll love it ❤
I feel the same for Parable of the Sower. It was such an anticipated read for me, but I did not enjoy it. I was so disappointed because everyone else seems to loves it. Also, that is my favorite T Kingfisher, so I hope it's a 5 star for you.
Meg, just remember -- all the ones you didn't get to in this video you can read in the future -- that's good news!
omg i cannot wait until the day you read piranesi, it is one of those "i'm deeply confused and then suddenly i'm NOT!!" books and i adored it. also, i am on a mission to suggest andrew joseph white to everyone because both of his books are incredible. YA books that had me going "i cannot believe this was allowed to be YA and i'm so happy it was." hell followed with us has stuck with me for the past year and i think about it all the time, i would be soooo curious to hear your perspective as someone who isn't from the very christian american south (like me) because the scariest part for me is how accurate and,, realistic it all felt. just be aware of some heavy body horror!!
Do try and read Piranesi especially the audio read by Chiwetel Ejiofor which is terrific.
i still think you’d LOVE the witch’s heart 🫶🏻
I’m late to the party but I highly recommend the Barker & Llewelyn historical mystery series by Will Thomas- very good!
I really like Everyone In My Family Has Killed Somone. But i feel like youre gonna predict it cause youve got so much more experience with mysteries than j did 😂 but! Did you know the parts of the book where the author mentions page counts and etc, it changes for audiobooks and ebooks! I listened to it and he made a comment about being the type of person who speeds up the listening speed 😅 im that type of person! Just a fun touch, I thought.
the castle book makes me think of MirrorMask but MM has like an overall goal/plot that we are going towards. it's this very interesting and weird film by neil gaiman. it does have a book too. so to anyone who has enjoyed it i would say maybe check it out.
Spirit bares its teeth I think you will really like!
That PR box is top level shit
This may be weird, but it made me really happy when you mentioned having to go to speech therapy for s's when you were a kid because I did too, for s's and r's 😭
If you end up doing one based on random comments, I really think you’ll like The Tainted Cup. A fantastical sherlock holmes murder mystery that reminded me of Veronica Speedwell a bit
I enjoyed Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone but my review was similar.. "the writing and editing could have been much stronger". 3.75. I am reading the second one this month.. and like you, that will determine if I keep reading him.
I like everyone in my family but I like everyone on this train more
Idk if this will be a controversial thing to say... but maybe you should start moving away from ultra popular things and head more in the direction of LitFic. The writing is usually way stronger, the characters are more developed, and themes are satisfied, which leads to the feeling of fulfillment (not always, but usually). To me it sounds like you are just bored with mediocre. Of course there's still some not great LitFic out there, but I think in general you are feeling let down by books that are popular because they have to have somewhat formulaic elements to garner mass appeal. (Again, not *all the time*, but often)
I agree with this. I'd love to see you do some videos like reading the nominees for more literary awards as they're announced like the Women's Prize, Booker Prize, etc. I read a lot of the popular releases and so often they feel like a fast food compared to a fully satisfying gourmet meal of something more literary.
I second this!
On this note I think Megan would like Claire Keegan's books.
@@tanninsandtales5682 Yes! Foster was one of my favourite books last year and it's less than 80 pages!
Yeah, I agree. I think your reading taste is changing and maybe it's time to venture into the somewhat unknown for you. Spread your reading wings and don't be too harsh on yourself.
So sad 😅 have you read what moves the dead by t.kingfisher?
💗💗💗
I’m just about done with Everybody in my Family and I’m more preoccupied with when the main character is finally going to stand up to all the people around him rather than the mystery. Perhaps it’s the audiobook narrator or the writing style, but it’s not really working for me either. It’s interesting to me because it has your standard tropes of a mystery (ex. I won’t tell you this super important explanation, go look in the truck and ~discover~ it for yourself), but the main character’s voice is just so passive that the tropes feel frustrating.
I've been feeling similar pressure with The Thursday Murder Club. There are things I like, but I don't feel compelled to stay with it. I'm only a handful of chapters in and I keep stopping to read other things. On that note, This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno is amazing!
Maybe the rest can be this year unwrap?
NOT SO PERFECT STRANGERS IS THE BOOK! the best thriller i read last year, great social commentary on race and toxic feminism! incredible characterization and such an engaging read
I swear you will love Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen!!
I know you're not doing this exact subscriber recommendation concept again, so I'm late to the party but I think you'd like Deephaven by Ethan M. Aldridge. Middle-grade gothic dark academia with a non-binary protagonist and it's illustrated! (I also really liked the audiobook)
I dnf'd lonely castle in the mirror 💀
I really liked Everyone in my Family but I think I only gave it 3 or 4 stars, it was fun but written kinda weird
I’m pretty sure you’ve mentioned you have seasonal affective disorder before.
I struggle with my mental health between December and February. If that’s also the case for you, don’t be too hard on yourself for not enjoying the books you’re reading right now. It’s harder for me to enjoy much of anything when my mood is low.
Maybe I’m way off base, but wanted to throw it out there because I know you’re cristales with your early 2024 reading enjoyment and that could be a contributing factor.
Yes, I definitely have periods in the winter where I read less because I just don't enjoy it as much, and then I feel in the mood to devour stories.
I feel awful watching you read books you don't like. Please take some time to just mood read or DNF books you aren't enjoying. ❤
👇🏼 Piranesi spam button!
Honey i am telling you just read " a man called ove" you will love it
I demand a redo for your viewers!! I was hoping you’d pick blood over bright haven (since I saw that a lot) and love theoretically. Also a curious beginning since that was my comment and I know it’ll be a hit 😌
I also think you’d love piranesi and how you lose a time war
This feels like you're putting far too much pressure on yourself. Perhaps some rereads of a few favorites are in order. Perhaps a temporary break from your usual genres to try out something completely different. After all, they do say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Its so weird to see your own comment on the screen!
I think you’re just hard to recommend books to. 🤣
I feel like you should stop obsessing over 5 star reads perhaps?
If you are only reading for 5 stars, then maybe take a break. It’s certainly not bringing you joy. It’s Okay to have high standards and to call out books for not being great but if it’s frustrating for you then take a break.
I gave Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone a 4 star - I also felt that the writing caused some distance from the story. But I adored the sequel - I definitely recommend you give it a try