Another Q&A: could you elaborate more on what you consider literary fiction vs. not? I ask because you seem very literary, being that Dickens is your favorite author, and I'm always surprised when you say you're not. 😅
Yes, I want to do a whole separate video on this at some point! It's been on my list for ages. I don't really consider Dickens literary. He's just old. If we're mapping literary vs commercial onto the Victorian period, then George Eliot would be a literary (theme and premise-led) writer, where Dickens would be a much more commercial (plot-led) writer.
Katie you are a phenomenon! Thank you so much for digging so deep into our longlist and shortlist this year (and every year!) You help so many more people discover the superb books on the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction lists, and it's just wonderful.
My personal shortlist would be Cuddy, Cuddy, Cuddy, Cuddy, Cuddy and finally Cuddy. Like you I was distraught it didn’t make the shortlist. It’s the best book I’ve read this year and I won’t be surprised if it’s my top read of 2024. Also really enjoyed The New Life and For Thy Great Pain…
The purpose of these reviews being their relationship to the Walter Scott Prize, this is perhaps not the best time and place to mention it, but of all of your reviews it is The Thirteenth Tale that absolutely blows me away because it is obvious the book blew YOU away. I now look for that feeling whenever I listen to any of your reviews and even though there was only a glimer of it in your review of Music in the Dark, coming from you it is enough for me to seek out that book. In The Secrets of Hartwood Hall I found it interesting to read about the main character NOT experiencing this: I had tried to drown my thoughts in words, and I had failed. while I WAS experiencing it! I was in the midst of being swept away by the power of your story, so much so that when I was greeted with this set of your reviews this morning, I had to postpone finishing your book to let you know how I was responding while the experience was still fresh. Thank you for that. In reading your book I wanted to be carried away and I was! The Thirteenth Tale broke a spell for me: I had read for such different purposes for so long while completing my doctorate and going on to teach in a university that I was pretty sure I had lost the ability to be swept away. I am retired now and have the leisure to read for pleasure but wondered if I was just too jaded to get lost in a book the way I could before so much pleasure in reading had been schooled out of me. First, I appreciate your recommendation of Diane Setterfield and next, I must thank you for continuing in her footsteps. I hope I can look forward to many more books from you. So far your second one is not yet available in the US.
Thank you! The Thirteenth Tale is completely amazing, and I'm so pleased to hear you liked my first book. Yes, unfortunately I don't have a US publisher at the moment for my second novel.
Hi Katie! Well as usual I want to read all of these! As someone with known black and indigenous abolitionists in my family tree, In the Upper Country appeals to me. And I'm sold on Music in the Dark because it checks off so many boxes for me. Interesting that you prefer more popular book club fiction as you are so known for your wonderful reviews of classic literary works! Perhaps you mean only when it comes to modern lit? Great editing in this video, btw. Thank you. 😊
I think my taste in classics is often on the more plot-lead end than the literary end (I'm not a fan of George Eliot or Virginia Woolf or James Joyce, for example, but I love Dickens, Gaskell and Trollope, who are more plot-led). I do need to make a video talking about what I mean when I talk about literary vs commercial at some point!
I’ve read The New Life and loved it. I’ve heard abridged versions of The House of Doors and My Fathers House as they were books of the week on BBCradio4. For Thy Great Pain was one of those books you read and you can’t forget. I could imagine myself in that cell with Julian of Norwich . Cuddy is on my TBR. Everyone who has read it has sung its praises. It’s a great list this year.
Another good video
Thank you Katie!
I'm adding some of these to my TBR. MY favourite book from last year was "House of Doors" so I would like to see it win.
I love library books, even when they're shiny .
Me too! But they do glare a bit on camera.
Another Q&A: could you elaborate more on what you consider literary fiction vs. not? I ask because you seem very literary, being that Dickens is your favorite author, and I'm always surprised when you say you're not. 😅
Yes, I want to do a whole separate video on this at some point! It's been on my list for ages. I don't really consider Dickens literary. He's just old. If we're mapping literary vs commercial onto the Victorian period, then George Eliot would be a literary (theme and premise-led) writer, where Dickens would be a much more commercial (plot-led) writer.
Katie you are a phenomenon! Thank you so much for digging so deep into our longlist and shortlist this year (and every year!) You help so many more people discover the superb books on the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction lists, and it's just wonderful.
And thank you for very amazing longlists!
I’m not great with literary fiction and always feel nervous around them
The Upper Country sounds so intriguing I'll have to check it out.
Thank you for these fantastic reviews! I love your personal shortlist, especially Music in the dark.
House of Doors is an amazing read.
🙂👍
My personal shortlist would be Cuddy, Cuddy, Cuddy, Cuddy, Cuddy and finally Cuddy.
Like you I was distraught it didn’t make the shortlist. It’s the best book I’ve read this year and I won’t be surprised if it’s my top read of 2024.
Also really enjoyed The New Life and For Thy Great Pain…
A very sensible shortlist indeed! What an amazing book it was.
The purpose of these reviews being their relationship to the Walter Scott Prize, this is perhaps not the best time and place to mention it, but of all of your reviews it is The Thirteenth Tale that absolutely blows me away because it is obvious the book blew YOU away. I now look for that feeling whenever I listen to any of your reviews and even though there was only a glimer of it in your review of Music in the Dark, coming from you it is enough for me to seek out that book.
In The Secrets of Hartwood Hall I found it interesting to read about the main character NOT experiencing this:
I had tried to drown my thoughts in words, and I had failed.
while I WAS experiencing it! I was in the midst of being swept away by the power of your story, so much so that when I was greeted with this set of your reviews this morning, I had to postpone finishing your book to let you know how I was responding while the experience was still fresh. Thank you for that.
In reading your book I wanted to be carried away and I was! The Thirteenth Tale broke a spell for me: I had read for such different purposes for so long while completing my doctorate and going on to teach in a university that I was pretty sure I had lost the ability to be swept away. I am retired now and have the leisure to read for pleasure but wondered if I was just too jaded to get lost in a book the way I could before so much pleasure in reading had been schooled out of me.
First, I appreciate your recommendation of Diane Setterfield and next, I must thank you for continuing in her footsteps. I hope I can look forward to many more books from you. So far your second one is not yet available in the US.
Thank you! The Thirteenth Tale is completely amazing, and I'm so pleased to hear you liked my first book. Yes, unfortunately I don't have a US publisher at the moment for my second novel.
I send u a hug 🙆🏼♀️🩷 it’s always a joy to watch a video of yours
Thank you for recommending Cuddy . It is one of my favorite books from this years reading.
Hi Katie! Well as usual I want to read all of these! As someone with known black and indigenous abolitionists in my family tree, In the Upper Country appeals to me. And I'm sold on Music in the Dark because it checks off so many boxes for me. Interesting that you prefer more popular book club fiction as you are so known for your wonderful reviews of classic literary works! Perhaps you mean only when it comes to modern lit? Great editing in this video, btw. Thank you. 😊
I think my taste in classics is often on the more plot-lead end than the literary end (I'm not a fan of George Eliot or Virginia Woolf or James Joyce, for example, but I love Dickens, Gaskell and Trollope, who are more plot-led). I do need to make a video talking about what I mean when I talk about literary vs commercial at some point!
@@katiejlumsden That would be a great topic! : )
I will start with Music in the Dark I guess.
I’ve read The New Life and loved it. I’ve heard abridged versions of The House of Doors and My Fathers House as they were books of the week on BBCradio4.
For Thy Great Pain was one of those books you read and you can’t forget. I could imagine myself in that cell with Julian of Norwich .
Cuddy is on my TBR. Everyone who has read it has sung its praises.
It’s a great list this year.
Cuddy is simply wonderful.