As a Danish person Tove D has always been part of the curriculum both in School and highschool. She wrote some lovely middle School books as well. Both movies and Music about her has been made here, and it is so wonderful that she gets international recognition albeit post hume (what is the word.... sorry for my Danish accent 🙂). Fun fact - for many years she gave advice on life in a womens Magazine, and they came out in a huge collection here some years ago. So interesting, honest and thougtfull. Also - peoples problems don’t change a lot over the years... Thank you from Hanne in Denmark
I love your videos like this and also the cover comparisons. If I feel I’m going to love a book I sometimes go out of my way to purchase one edition over another. I have the three volume Copenhagen Trilogy but with the colored covers of the different faces. I read and enjoyed a lot of these books and share some of your feelings about the Women’s Prize shortlist.
Oh my goodness, If These Walls Could Talk - that's a throwback. Love that you are watching Cher movies. Mask, Mermaids, and Burlesque are among my faves. This is a great list. Many are on my TBR so I'm glad they are already making the "Best Books" lists already. I tend to be drawn to UK covers more than US covers. 😊💙
Great video. Currently reading Klara and the Sun. I've got No One is Talking About This and Detransition, Baby coming my way soon. I'm keen on Ditlevsen's memoir. Hopefully, it makes to Australia as well.
So interesting that you think about the UK vs US covers. I’m in the US and hated the Hamnet cover here. The UK cover was gorgeous. Same with Ariadne. I held out to get mine from Waterstones. That cover in the UK is stunning.
Hot Stew is definitely next. Loved Elmet. I shall go through the list again and no doubt will choose a few more. The Frankenthaler book sounds very curious! Thanks again for a good 30 minutes. I agree with Larry about the Ishiguro book Read it and can't get to grips with the idea of a robot with feelings.
I think the point of Klara is that she doesn’t have feelings but the reader projects feelings onto her - at least I did when sympathising with her position and situation. So, if I were Klara the ending of the novel would be desperately lonely and sad. But, because she’s a robot, the ending for her is positive because she’s fulfilled her function. So it makes me wonder what it means to be conscious without having those feelings which make us human.
What an eclectic list! I’ve read six of these and am about a quarter of the way through Libertie. I agree very much with having the Lockwood and the Kolbert on the list, and liked the others. I’m really eager to read Hot Stew. I think I would add Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny to the list if I could.
I have read the The Copenhagen Trilogy and found it astonishingly open about herself and beautifully written. I didn't love No One is Talking About This or Detransition, Baby, perhaps both are too far from my life though I found them interesting. Looking forward in particular to Hot Stew and Klara and the Sun but damn the rest sound good too!
Hey Eric, I love watching your videos and I always read books that you’ve reviewed because your selections are amazing! I wanna know, do you annotate when you read?
Best books I have read so far are Abigail Dean - Girl A Kazoo Ishiguro- Klara and the Sun Edmund de Waal - Letters to Camondo Kathleen McMahon - Nothing but Blue Skies Patrick Raddon Keefe - Empire of Pain
I really liked Maylis de Kerangal's earlier novel Mend the Living, a novel set around heart transplant surgery. Painting Time sounds great, and the UK cover is stunning!
I bought the Copenhagen trilogy ( the U.K. penguin edition) based on your opinions on it..I hope to read it soon. I dropped my gorgeous edition of Klara and the Sun in the bath last week and your pristine edition brought that horror back 😳 I didn’t love that book, tho I wanted to. Maybe the bath incident spoilt it for me.
I'm excited for the Frankenthaler book! My parents have a piece by her and I've always found her interesting. Also Painting Time. I'm an art historian so books about art are my jam.
After watching your video I had to sample 'In the quick'. After reading the first few pages (digital) I'm willing to risk disappointment. It's out in Hardcover 25 May.Thanks.
@@EricKarlAnderson I'm trying not to read it yet (just a short chapter). I must finish one book before I start the next! So far her style reminds me a little of Octavia Butler's unfussy approach, which I really warmed to. I'll see how it goes and get back to you.
It depends how you define postmodern. I think the tricksy narrative of The Employees by Olga Ravn could qualify as well as being a literary sci-fi book.
Haven't read any of the books mentioned. Seen some on Netgalley and passed on them . Some of ones I've read that I enjoyed. Snowflake by Louise Nealon. Coming of age story. Small Things like These by Claire Keegan. Set in an Irish town in 1985
"The High House", "The Octopus Man", "The Performance" & "Little Scratch" were all published this year I think and would all be in my top reads of the year so far
@@lianevoelker9845 It's not doing anything experimental if that's what you mean, and it's a ally good treatment of the point of view of someone with schizophrenia, entirely credible
In the Quick was fine. I didn't know about the Jane Eyre-esque slant before I read it and had been expecting more of a badass lady astronaut adventure. I understand why reviews are so hit and miss for this book. I ended up with a middle of the road feeling overall. I didn't love it, but I certainly didn't think it was awful. The author also made the choice to not include quotation marks anywhere (which isn't my favorite choice) but many folks were slamming that in the review section.
I really enjoy comparing US and UK covers. I find I like the UK covers better most of the time, but that makes it a pain because of shipping costs. I read a lot of YA and a lot of fantasy, and the US covers can often be downright tacky compared to the more artistic and classy UK covers. Look at any Robin Hobb book for example. The US covers are SO hokey.
Yeah, I feel quite lucky to live in the UK as I usually prefer the covers here. Although the recent US editions of Marilynne Robinson's series are beautiful and I'd like to get them.
My picks of covers (for the sake of algorythm): Klara - tie No One... - US Libertie - US Detransition - UK Fruit - UK Aftershocks - UK Hot Stew - US Empire - US Painting - US
I have only just realised from watching this video that The Copenhagen Trilogy wasn’t written by Tove Jansen- I kept on seeing those books in shops, and my brain just saw ‘Tove’ and filled in the rest from there. I did think the blurb sounded like quite a tonal shift from The Moomins! 🤦
Your description of The Fourth Child made me cringe. No more heavy duty religion books for me!!! Painting Time sounds very promising. The UK cover is pretty, but this time, the US cover is spectacular. I’d definitely do a cover buy on that! 😂😉 Infinite Country is fantastic. It’s in my top 5 this year.
Great video, good list but maybe a little bit predictable...many books that received lots of publicity. Putting the climate change one by Kolbert on my TBR.
i really don't think klara and the sun would have got all this praise and attention if it hadnt had the name ishiguro on the cover... i found it really underwhelming
I don't agree. Certainly the book wouldn't have gotten such attention immediately if it weren't for his name but I think it'd have found an audience as I found it really powerful.
@@EricKarlAnderson i don't know i guess my expectations were too high maybe, i've loved some of his old books so much that this seemed very mediocre to me, we'll have to agree to disagree :-) thanks Eric
I'm shocked that I actually liked the US cover of Libertie more... I have actually refrained from purchasing books because the US tends to have such dumbed-down, unaesthetic, bland covers. *cough *cough *Ariadne
I've read three from this list, and yes I too thought Detransition, Baby was amazing. I have been reading a lot of Australian literature this year, The Performance by Claire Thomas was very good. The overall standout for the year though remains The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
I like the US cover better for Libertie, the UK cover better for Aftershocks, and dislike both DeTransition Baby covers. Pink on book covers is mostly awful, in my opinion. I haven't heard of a lot of these books on this list. Very interested in the Copenhagen trilogy and I'll be getting a signed copy of Infinite Country in the mail next week.
@@EricKarlAnderson I don't dig it. That's why it's a good thing we are all different! I did a book cover aesthetics video (to analyze my own aesthetic) and it seems I lean very much toward oranges and nature themes.
I have the Copenhagen Trilogy but I was unaware of The Faces. Thanks for the heads up! I'll grab a copy.
Fab! Hope you enjoy it. 📚
This has to be one of my top 5 books so far of 2021 - loved the language , phrasing , of this most moving memoir
The book of difficult fruit sounds amazing. Great concept! Have to wait till it comes out as a paperback but it's no on my endless TBR list.
Fab, hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
Thank you for sharing these! I preferred the UK covers mostly.. except the difficult fruit- it's US cover is beautiful!
Yes, it is! 📚
Now I want to read Clara and the Sun! I usually prefer the UK covers. I just discovered your channel and will be back!
📚💕
painting time sounds really really good i looked the french title and i'm so looking forward to read it
Hope you enjoy it!
As a Danish person Tove D has always been part of the curriculum both in School and highschool. She wrote some lovely middle School books as well. Both movies and Music about her has been made here, and it is so wonderful that she gets international recognition albeit post hume (what is the word.... sorry for my Danish accent 🙂). Fun fact - for many years she gave advice on life in a womens Magazine, and they came out in a huge collection here some years ago. So interesting, honest and thougtfull. Also - peoples problems don’t change a lot over the years... Thank you from Hanne in Denmark
I love your videos like this and also the cover comparisons. If I feel I’m going to love a book I sometimes go out of my way to purchase one edition over another. I have the three volume Copenhagen Trilogy but with the colored covers of the different faces.
I read and enjoyed a lot of these books and share some of your feelings about the Women’s Prize shortlist.
Thank you! Yeah, I treasure the beautiful editions of the books that are most important to me.
Oh my goodness, If These Walls Could Talk - that's a throwback. Love that you are watching Cher movies. Mask, Mermaids, and Burlesque are among my faves. This is a great list. Many are on my TBR so I'm glad they are already making the "Best Books" lists already. I tend to be drawn to UK covers more than US covers. 😊💙
Yes, I watched Mask for the first time recently. So good and love Cher’s rebellious, strong-willed, independent mother character.
Love a book list!! Thanks Eric!
Great video. Currently reading Klara and the Sun. I've got No One is Talking About This and Detransition, Baby coming my way soon. I'm keen on Ditlevsen's memoir. Hopefully, it makes to Australia as well.
Hope you're enjoying Klara!
@@EricKarlAnderson I did. I ended up appreciating Ishiguro's restraint and that he didn't insert himself in the story. (4*)
So interesting that you think about the UK vs US covers. I’m in the US and hated the Hamnet cover here. The UK cover was gorgeous. Same with Ariadne. I held out to get mine from Waterstones. That cover in the UK is stunning.
Yeah, I usually prefer UK covers - especially for Hamnet.
Hot Stew is definitely next. Loved Elmet. I shall go through the list again and no doubt will choose a few more. The Frankenthaler book sounds very curious! Thanks again for a good 30 minutes. I agree with Larry about the Ishiguro book Read it and can't get to grips with the idea of a robot with feelings.
I think the point of Klara is that she doesn’t have feelings but the reader projects feelings onto her - at least I did when sympathising with her position and situation. So, if I were Klara the ending of the novel would be desperately lonely and sad. But, because she’s a robot, the ending for her is positive because she’s fulfilled her function. So it makes me wonder what it means to be conscious without having those feelings which make us human.
@@EricKarlAnderson She was always considerate. which must show some feeling or maybe just very good programming, I suppose.
What an eclectic list! I’ve read six of these and am about a quarter of the way through Libertie. I agree very much with having the Lockwood and the Kolbert on the list, and liked the others. I’m really eager to read Hot Stew. I think I would add Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny to the list if I could.
Oh yes, I’d like to get a copy of Heiny’s book.
Tove ended up taking her life. I went on a deep dive of information after reading her trilogy and falling in love with the books and Tove herself.
Yes, I remember reading about that around the time I started her memoir. What a fascinating person.
I have read the The Copenhagen Trilogy and found it astonishingly open about herself and beautifully written. I didn't love No One is Talking About This or Detransition, Baby, perhaps both are too far from my life though I found them interesting. Looking forward in particular to Hot Stew and Klara and the Sun but damn the rest sound good too!
I hope you enjoy Klara as much as I did!
A good selection of fiction and nonfiction here, but I am intrigued by the Copenhagen trilogy, as well as Elizabeth Kolbert and Patrick Radden Keefe.
Yeah, really interesting to survey all these titles.
Hey Eric, I love watching your videos and I always read books that you’ve reviewed because your selections are amazing! I wanna know, do you annotate when you read?
Thanks so much! I never write in books I’m reading but keep notes in a word doc or on my phone.
Can’t believe 2021 is already almost halfway done!
Btw congrats on 20K!
Thanks Sam!
@@EricKarlAnderson No problem! Here’s to 30K and 2022!
I'm really looking forward to reading Klara and the Sun!
Hope you love it as much as I did!
Best books I have read so far are
Abigail Dean - Girl A
Kazoo Ishiguro- Klara and the Sun
Edmund de Waal - Letters to Camondo
Kathleen McMahon - Nothing but Blue Skies
Patrick Raddon Keefe - Empire of Pain
I really liked Maylis de Kerangal's earlier novel Mend the Living, a novel set around heart transplant surgery. Painting Time sounds great, and the UK cover is stunning!
Oh good! Glad to know you think highly of her writing.
I’m really excited to read Empire of Pain. It sounds very interesting.
Yeah it sounds like he dedicated himself to a lot of research that must have been quite difficult.
I bought the Copenhagen trilogy ( the U.K. penguin edition) based on your opinions on it..I hope to read it soon. I dropped my gorgeous edition of Klara and the Sun in the bath last week and your pristine edition brought that horror back 😳 I didn’t love that book, tho I wanted to. Maybe the bath incident spoilt it for me.
Hope you enjoy the trilogy! Oh no, poor Klara. This is partly why I never read in the bath. 😅
I'm excited for the Frankenthaler book! My parents have a piece by her and I've always found her interesting. Also Painting Time. I'm an art historian so books about art are my jam.
Wow, that's cool. Good to have a piece by her when she's coming into more public attention again.
After watching your video I had to sample 'In the quick'. After reading the first few pages (digital) I'm willing to risk disappointment. It's out in Hardcover 25 May.Thanks.
Oh good, let me know what you think if you get a chance to read it.
@@EricKarlAnderson I'm trying not to read it yet (just a short chapter). I must finish one book before I start the next! So far her style reminds me a little of Octavia Butler's unfussy approach, which I really warmed to. I'll see how it goes and get back to you.
Very informative. Could you please recommend any 2021 postmodern fiction
It depends how you define postmodern. I think the tricksy narrative of The Employees by Olga Ravn could qualify as well as being a literary sci-fi book.
Haven't read any of the books mentioned.
Seen some on Netgalley and passed on them .
Some of ones I've read that I enjoyed.
Snowflake by Louise Nealon. Coming of age story.
Small Things like These by Claire Keegan. Set in an Irish town in 1985
Oh yes, I'd be really keen to read Snowflake.
Might Painting Time be on next year’s Booker International lists?
It very well might!
"The High House", "The Octopus Man", "The Performance" & "Little Scratch" were all published this year I think and would all be in my top reads of the year so far
How is the Octopus Man written? It's a bit expensive still to get here in Australia but I am so intrigued.
@@lianevoelker9845 It's not doing anything experimental if that's what you mean, and it's a ally good treatment of the point of view of someone with schizophrenia, entirely credible
Great, I'll try to prioritise reading those later three. 📚
Love your videos!! 💖
Thank you!
Amazing! 😊
In the Quick was fine. I didn't know about the Jane Eyre-esque slant before I read it and had been expecting more of a badass lady astronaut adventure. I understand why reviews are so hit and miss for this book. I ended up with a middle of the road feeling overall. I didn't love it, but I certainly didn't think it was awful. The author also made the choice to not include quotation marks anywhere (which isn't my favorite choice) but many folks were slamming that in the review section.
That’s interesting, thanks. I suspect I’ll probably feel similar to you.
I really enjoy comparing US and UK covers. I find I like the UK covers better most of the time, but that makes it a pain because of shipping costs. I read a lot of YA and a lot of fantasy, and the US covers can often be downright tacky compared to the more artistic and classy UK covers. Look at any Robin Hobb book for example. The US covers are SO hokey.
Yeah, I feel quite lucky to live in the UK as I usually prefer the covers here. Although the recent US editions of Marilynne Robinson's series are beautiful and I'd like to get them.
Thank you 😘🙌💫
My picks of covers (for the sake of algorythm):
Klara - tie
No One... - US
Libertie - US
Detransition - UK
Fruit - UK
Aftershocks - UK
Hot Stew - US
Empire - US
Painting - US
That’s fab! Thank you! 📚
I have only just realised from watching this video that The Copenhagen Trilogy wasn’t written by Tove Jansen- I kept on seeing those books in shops, and my brain just saw ‘Tove’ and filled in the rest from there. I did think the blurb sounded like quite a tonal shift from The Moomins! 🤦
Haha! There can only be one Tove! I’m sure I’ve done the same with other authors who happen to share part of their name with another.
Cool books i like these books
Merci 🙏
I'm reading Klara and Sun. Very impressive. In spanish
I'm so glad you're enjoying it!
Your description of The Fourth Child made me cringe. No more heavy duty religion books for me!!!
Painting Time sounds very promising. The UK cover is pretty, but this time, the US cover is spectacular. I’d definitely do a cover buy on that! 😂😉
Infinite Country is fantastic. It’s in my top 5 this year.
It is a beautiful cover.
These books sound really great.
📚📚📚
I don't like hot stew cuisine, but I do like the look of hot stew the book :3
😂
Great video, good list but maybe a little bit predictable...many books that received lots of publicity. Putting the climate change one by Kolbert on my TBR.
It's true a lot of them have been getting a fair amount of attention but the really good ones I've read deserve it I think.
i really don't think klara and the sun would have got all this praise and attention if it hadnt had the name ishiguro on the cover... i found it really underwhelming
I don't agree. Certainly the book wouldn't have gotten such attention immediately if it weren't for his name but I think it'd have found an audience as I found it really powerful.
@@EricKarlAnderson i don't know i guess my expectations were too high maybe, i've loved some of his old books so much that this seemed very mediocre to me, we'll have to agree to disagree :-) thanks Eric
99% of the time the UK cover is better. Which is a bummer if you live in the US and are someone who keeps her books.
I'm shocked that I actually liked the US cover of Libertie more...
I have actually refrained from purchasing books because the US tends to have such dumbed-down, unaesthetic, bland covers. *cough *cough *Ariadne
Yeah, they're two very different styles so I guess its' a personal taste thing.
@@EricKarlAnderson I guess I wouldn't mind as much if there weren't a point of comparison. Haha!
I've read three from this list, and yes I too thought Detransition, Baby was amazing. I have been reading a lot of Australian literature this year, The Performance by Claire Thomas was very good. The overall standout for the year though remains The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
Yes, you've reminded me I really need to get to reading The Performance as I think I'll love it.
2029?
Oops, slip of the tongue.
I like the US cover better for Libertie, the UK cover better for Aftershocks, and dislike both DeTransition Baby covers. Pink on book covers is mostly awful, in my opinion. I haven't heard of a lot of these books on this list. Very interested in the Copenhagen trilogy and I'll be getting a signed copy of Infinite Country in the mail next week.
There are some great pink covers - like Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl.
@@EricKarlAnderson I don't dig it. That's why it's a good thing we are all different! I did a book cover aesthetics video (to analyze my own aesthetic) and it seems I lean very much toward oranges and nature themes.
Eric from the future! Tell us if the world is better in 2029!!! 😂 just a Friday joke
I'm so confused. Where did I slip up and say or write 2029??? I just looked through and couldn't see it. 😅
From minute 3:00 to 3:10 🧡 no worries you’re giving so many info and it made me laugh 😆
When you're talking about going to the book launch for the Copenhagen Trilogy. Just a misspeak for 2019
@@ariannelg oh yeah, haha. I meant to say 2019. That's what happens when I try to read and speak at the same time. Silly me! 😂