I love that the reason I read several of these books this year is that you recommended them so highly because they’ve been some of my faves of the year too. 🧡
North and South. So good. Despite my best efforts (and at some cost to my intellectual pride! 😳🙈😂), I have found myself generally underwhelmed/bored by a good majority of 19th century classics. However, I LOVE North and South - so much so that I’ve already read it twice this year! I think it may be because Gaskell so skilfully uses the personal interactions between the book’s characters to illuminate key socio-political themes of the time. Despite living outside the UK for more than two decades, I grew up on the south coast of England so this book is a great reminder of the shifting historical fortunes of (the) North and (the) South! I’ve also listened to the audiobook (not sure if there is more than one?) and the narrator does a fantastic job-highly recommended! Favourite character: Mrs Thornton! 😄 Interesting list of books as usual, Olive. 👍🏻 Look forward to the next video. 😊
I'm so happy I ordered Lab Girl on your recommendation in a previous video. Since I'm a Bachelor or Science myself, I'm super interested in reading it. I've not read many non-fiction works but am interested in expanding my reading habits and diving more into the different types of non-fiction.
I love Caitlin Doughty. I follow her channel on RUclips and somehow I always end up watching them while eating lunch. I read the curse of the boyfriend sweater after I saw your review earlier in the year, it was great! I liked the way she discussed crafting and how it "wove" with her personal life. I also bought the book Amber from your bookhaul back when you were travelling for work, it sounded really cool, but my goodness is it ever chunky! I have a feeling I'll put it off because of its size
I'm just reading the final chapter of 'Smarter Faster Better'; I picked it up after having heard you rave about it. It's a simply fantastic book. I read the Power of Habit last year after you reviewed it and loved that too. And hell yeah to Gaskell! I adored Lab Girl, it was so beautifully and vulnerably written. And the Unseen World was such a melancholic and beautiful read. Fantastic list! And here's to a great second half!
I read another Taylor Jenkins Reid novel in June and it wasn’t until I had finished it that I realised she is the same person who wrote The Seven Husbands... I was excited to get my hands on that book before, but now that I’ve tried out some of her other work and LOVED it, I’m even more hyped! Great to hear about all these amazing books, and I hope the second half of your reading year brings just as much brilliance 😊
Try "A Glimpse Beyond The Aether" by Susan Frances Pegasus publishers It is about a future where we know exactly what happens to us when we die. Think of the implications? More Sci Fi / Romance coming from this author. Wonderful ending, best ever.
The 2004 mini-series is excellent and modern in direction and camera work - the 1975 version which is also on DVD is excellent too for the acting but there are too many locked off studio shots from an earlier time. Weirdly Tim Pigott-Smith in the 1975 version played Frederick Hale (Margaret's brother) and in the 2004 version he played Richard Hale (Margaret's father).
North and South is almost definitely going to be in my top ten for this year. There was just something really appealing about Mr. Thornton's character arc-- he goes from being every callous business executive to understanding the humanity of the people he employs. Also the BBC miniseries is gorgeous.
I will be rereading North and South next month and I cannot wait! I adored it so much the first time and have an inkling I will love it, even more, the second. I'm sure you've heard this from others already but the BBC Miniseries of North and South is also great! I still need to get around to Lab Girl, after reading The Signature of All Things (my favorite book thus far this year, alongside Jane Eyre) I thought it would be a perfect pairing with a modern female scientist. Happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
Love your reviews and immediately placed holds on "The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater" (avid knitter), North and South and the Evelyn Hugo book which I have had to return twice unread to the library after my loan expired, ugh! I read the Female Persuasion and my book club and I all agreed that while we loved the concept we did not like how she executed the novel. I also like Duhigg's books and preferred the "Power of Habit" because this one reminded me more of an academic business case study book.
Your conversation on your favorite non-fiction Lab Girl guided me to a starting point for my next non-fiction book. I will find you on social media... I think you're a book critic but also a Muse!!
I haven't read any of these Olive but I think Lab Girl is the one I want to get to the most. It sounds like it would be a great companion to Richard Powers The Overstory which also has a strong environmental theme. I think you are also possibly single handedly reviving the career of Elizabeth Gaskell or at least making her far more widely read than she was!
I have Evelyn Hugo on my TBR and I just... I just need to read it. I read Lab Girl at the end of last year and also loved it. Listening to it on audio was such a great experience and it got me super interested in science memoirs.
Great list! I loved "The Female Persuasion", too. I'm hoping to get to "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" before the end of the year. I'm definitely going to pick up "Lab Girl". It sounds very interesting.
I love memoirs on audiobook! I’ve been looking for a new one, too. Last month I finished The Art of Vanishing, and I don’t think it would have been as compelling if not on audio.
I really enjoy that Female Persuasion made me ponder about what it means to leave a legacy, but I wished/felt that actually Zee was the protagonist/star of the book. I wish the entire book was taken from her perspective since, I think, she adapted the most in ways. Absolutely loved the Unseen World, glad you liked it too! Excited to pick up Namesake as well since loving Interpreter of Maladies earlier this year.
I was so surprised at how good Smoke Gets in your Eyes was it's such a well constructed book- it balances formal research and anecdotal incidents in such a wonderful way
I loved the namesake, it was such a great book, so interesting reading about what it is like to be an immigrant. If you want a recommendation for a book similar (immigrant experience in America) you should check out Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
I read both The Namesake and The Female Persuasion this year and really enjoyed both of them as well. In my opinion, all of Jhumpa Lahiri's other books are just as good as The Namesake!
Evelyn Hugo I love to read lab girl sounds interesting to . I thinking more reading north and south I started it but stop am not sure about why I did that .
The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was amazing and I was so worried the hype had inflated it. Do you know of any other books like it featuring a romance like this one? And YESSSS I adored North and South so much I wish it was talked about more on booktube.
Lab Girl is so amazing! I have yet to read any Elizabeth Gaskell even though it sounds right up my alley and I have two of hers on my ereader. Must remedy that.
I've gotta read Evelyn Hugo! I don't think I've heard one person say anything bad about it. I think Lab Girl may have to be my next audiobook read. Thanks for the recommendations! -Sue
I’ve never read any Gaskell so will have to change that! I loved Evelyn Hugo too! Have you read any of the other books by the author? I don’t hear much about them but I’m intrigued after enjoying Evelyn so much
I just checked out The 7 Husbands of Everlyn Hugo from my library! I am very excited to see if I love it. I was also in the mood to re-read North and South strangely enough, I just re-watched the mini series! However my favorite non-fic so far has been Homo Deus by Yuval Harari. He really makes you think of history and current events in many different ways - even if you don't always agree with him. I read his Sapians last year and adored it too~ My favorite fiction was a sci-fi Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee. Hard sci-fi but so epic!
I love that the reason I read several of these books this year is that you recommended them so highly because they’ve been some of my faves of the year too. 🧡
North and South. So good.
Despite my best efforts (and at some cost to my intellectual pride! 😳🙈😂), I have found myself generally underwhelmed/bored by a good majority of 19th century classics. However, I LOVE North and South - so much so that I’ve already read it twice this year! I think it may be because Gaskell so skilfully uses the personal interactions between the book’s characters to illuminate key socio-political themes of the time.
Despite living outside the UK for more than two decades, I grew up on the south coast of England so this book is a great reminder of the shifting historical fortunes of (the) North and (the) South!
I’ve also listened to the audiobook (not sure if there is more than one?) and the narrator does a fantastic job-highly recommended!
Favourite character: Mrs Thornton! 😄
Interesting list of books as usual, Olive. 👍🏻 Look forward to the next video. 😊
I'm so happy I ordered Lab Girl on your recommendation in a previous video. Since I'm a Bachelor or Science myself, I'm super interested in reading it. I've not read many non-fiction works but am interested in expanding my reading habits and diving more into the different types of non-fiction.
Some great recommendations here, thanks. And, although I know you don't give too much weight to subscriber numbers, congrats on hitting 10k! 🎉
Loved Evelyn Hugo...fun read and finished, poolside, in Marrakech last week. Perfect holiday read.
Laura F. *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
EVELYN HUGO!! I have The Unseen World in my TBR and cant wait to get to it. Really wanting to read Lab Girl now.
I love Caitlin Doughty. I follow her channel on RUclips and somehow I always end up watching them while eating lunch. I read the curse of the boyfriend sweater after I saw your review earlier in the year, it was great! I liked the way she discussed crafting and how it "wove" with her personal life. I also bought the book Amber from your bookhaul back when you were travelling for work, it sounded really cool, but my goodness is it ever chunky! I have a feeling I'll put it off because of its size
Infinite Text *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I'm just reading the final chapter of 'Smarter Faster Better'; I picked it up after having heard you rave about it. It's a simply fantastic book. I read the Power of Habit last year after you reviewed it and loved that too. And hell yeah to Gaskell! I adored Lab Girl, it was so beautifully and vulnerably written. And the Unseen World was such a melancholic and beautiful read. Fantastic list! And here's to a great second half!
I read another Taylor Jenkins Reid novel in June and it wasn’t until I had finished it that I realised she is the same person who wrote The Seven Husbands... I was excited to get my hands on that book before, but now that I’ve tried out some of her other work and LOVED it, I’m even more hyped! Great to hear about all these amazing books, and I hope the second half of your reading year brings just as much brilliance 😊
Try "A Glimpse Beyond The Aether" by Susan Frances Pegasus publishers It is about a future where we know exactly what happens to us when we die. Think of the implications? More Sci Fi / Romance coming from this author. Wonderful ending, best ever.
I'm adding these to my TBR. You make every book you love, a book I want to read as well
Runwright Reads *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Im catching up on these types of midyear videos and unsurprisingly, yours is the most interesting :)
Insert Literary Pun Here *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Definitely check out the BBC's mini-series of Gaskell's North and South. It was so VERY good!
The 2004 mini-series is excellent and modern in direction and camera work - the 1975 version which is also on DVD is excellent too for the acting but there are too many locked off studio shots from an earlier time. Weirdly Tim Pigott-Smith in the 1975 version played Frederick Hale (Margaret's brother) and in the 2004 version he played Richard Hale (Margaret's father).
*I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Almost all of these books are high on my TBR which makes me even more excited to read them!
North and South is almost definitely going to be in my top ten for this year. There was just something really appealing about Mr. Thornton's character arc-- he goes from being every callous business executive to understanding the humanity of the people he employs. Also the BBC miniseries is gorgeous.
Chelsea Spencer *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I will be rereading North and South next month and I cannot wait! I adored it so much the first time and have an inkling I will love it, even more, the second. I'm sure you've heard this from others already but the BBC Miniseries of North and South is also great! I still need to get around to Lab Girl, after reading The Signature of All Things (my favorite book thus far this year, alongside Jane Eyre) I thought it would be a perfect pairing with a modern female scientist. Happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
Amy Pool *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Love your reviews and immediately placed holds on "The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater" (avid knitter), North and South and the Evelyn Hugo book which I have had to return twice unread to the library after my loan expired, ugh! I read the Female Persuasion and my book club and I all agreed that while we loved the concept we did not like how she executed the novel. I also like Duhigg's books and preferred the "Power of Habit" because this one reminded me more of an academic business case study book.
Tensy Marcos-Bodker *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Your conversation on your favorite non-fiction Lab Girl guided me to a starting point for my next non-fiction book. I will find you on social media... I think you're a book critic but also a Muse!!
Oh wow! Awesome list. I loved The Unseen World, Evelyn Hugo and Smoke Gets in Your eyes!
That's What She Read *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I haven't read any of these Olive but I think Lab Girl is the one I want to get to the most. It sounds like it would be a great companion to Richard Powers The Overstory which also has a strong environmental theme. I think you are also possibly single handedly reviving the career of Elizabeth Gaskell or at least making her far more widely read than she was!
Jo Smith *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Always glad to add some good nonfiction to my TBR lists. Great video!
Triumphal Reads *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I have Evelyn Hugo on my TBR and I just... I just need to read it. I read Lab Girl at the end of last year and also loved it. Listening to it on audio was such a great experience and it got me super interested in science memoirs.
mynameismarines *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Great list! I loved "The Female Persuasion", too. I'm hoping to get to "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" before the end of the year. I'm definitely going to pick up "Lab Girl". It sounds very interesting.
Michelle *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I love memoirs on audiobook! I’ve been looking for a new one, too. Last month I finished The Art of Vanishing, and I don’t think it would have been as compelling if not on audio.
Scribble Maven *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I really enjoy that Female Persuasion made me ponder about what it means to leave a legacy, but I wished/felt that actually Zee was the protagonist/star of the book. I wish the entire book was taken from her perspective since, I think, she adapted the most in ways. Absolutely loved the Unseen World, glad you liked it too! Excited to pick up Namesake as well since loving Interpreter of Maladies earlier this year.
I was so surprised at how good Smoke Gets in your Eyes was it's such a well constructed book- it balances formal research and anecdotal incidents in such a wonderful way
Tash Talks Tonnes *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I loved the namesake, it was such a great book, so interesting reading about what it is like to be an immigrant. If you want a recommendation for a book similar (immigrant experience in America) you should check out Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
I read both The Namesake and The Female Persuasion this year and really enjoyed both of them as well. In my opinion, all of Jhumpa Lahiri's other books are just as good as The Namesake!
Evelyn Hugo I love to read lab girl sounds interesting to . I thinking more reading north and south I started it but stop am not sure about why I did that .
Grace Taylor *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was amazing and I was so worried the hype had inflated it. Do you know of any other books like it featuring a romance like this one? And YESSSS I adored North and South so much I wish it was talked about more on booktube.
I had Evelyn Hugo out from the library- and it was due back before I could get to it. I think I need to reprioritize it!
Katie's Book Nook *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Lab Girl is so amazing! I have yet to read any Elizabeth Gaskell even though it sounds right up my alley and I have two of hers on my ereader. Must remedy that.
My Reading Life *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I've gotta read Evelyn Hugo! I don't think I've heard one person say anything bad about it. I think Lab Girl may have to be my next audiobook read. Thanks for the recommendations! -Sue
The Restricted Section *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I am really interested in Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.. it sounds so fascinating and exactly what I love to read.
Me, Simone & I *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I’ve never read any Gaskell so will have to change that! I loved Evelyn Hugo too! Have you read any of the other books by the author? I don’t hear much about them but I’m intrigued after enjoying Evelyn so much
Six Minutes For Me *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
Gotta get to North & South!
Oh yes, North and South is just a beautiful book!!!!
If I keep watching your videos, I may go broke. Now I have to buy Lab Girl, North & South, Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater, etc.
ANGELA405 *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*
I just checked out The 7 Husbands of Everlyn Hugo from my library! I am very excited to see if I love it. I was also in the mood to re-read North and South strangely enough, I just re-watched the mini series!
However my favorite non-fic so far has been Homo Deus by Yuval Harari. He really makes you think of history and current events in many different ways - even if you don't always agree with him. I read his Sapians last year and adored it too~ My favorite fiction was a sci-fi Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee. Hard sci-fi but so epic!
Bookish Linguist *I'm an aspiring writer. Check out my literature on the Wattpad app @dxrxngxd*