My reading year so far • Mid-year book freakout tag
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Always fun to check in on the reading year so far, so here's the mid-year book freakout tag!
Booktubers tagged:
@LydiaLostthePlot
@rororeads
@ToBeBlackandLoved
Booktubers running Savidge Prompts:
@SavidgeReads
@louisesavidgemuses4135
See more about the Read Good Challenge (not the 'Good Read Challenge' like I said in the video lol):
• Read Good Challenge 20...
And join the Storygraph challenge here:
app.thestorygr...
The tag originator, IsThatChami, is no longer on RUclips.
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Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far
2. Best sequel you've read so far
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
5. Biggest disappointment
6. Biggest surprise
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
8. Newest fictional crush
9. Newest favourite character
10. Book that made you cry (or saddest book you've read)
11. Book that made you happy
12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year
13. Favourite video you have made so far in this year
14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
15. Books do you need to read by the end of the year
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Thank you so much for watching.
📚 Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: • Read Good Challenge 20...
✉️ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
📸 Instagram: / benreadsgood
📊 Storygraph: app.thestorygr...
🎁 Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): www.amazon.co....
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#books #booktube #booktag
If you spot the editing errors... they're being fixed but RUclips is taking its sweet time to process the cuts 😂
The funniest thing with literary fiction readers doing this tag is watching the astonishment about the fictional crush question 🤣
We can't cope!!!
Yesss Ben!! Leave The World Behind should forever be banned to the Hall of Shame lol
I want my money (and more importantly my time) back 😭
I love your monthly book news. It's how I found you and I think sets you apart from other book tubers. And honestly, the insight you give is great for someone who doesn't necessarily follow all that so a wrap up per month is great!
Really glad you hear you like it! Trying to keep it manageable so they can keep coming every month 😊
I loved Glorious Exploits! The cover with googly eyes to me is a better choice considering it is not all tragedy (though there is plenty), and also it is a good reflection of the protagonist.
I am so annoyed at myself for not reading it yet, because it has all the ingredients to be a favourite!
Completely agree with the feeling of not reflecting enough on the books I’ve read. I sometimes grapple with whether reading goals are beneficial because I get too obsessed with them and then try to read books for the sake of meeting my goals rather than for enjoyment. I took about two months off from reading earlier this year and now I’ve just been reading books back to back to back trying to catch up without really taking the time to appreciate them. At this point, I still feel reading goals do help me read more which is ultimately my real goal, but I definitely fall into the trap occasionally of reading for reading’s sake.
On an additional note, I had the same feelings about Leave the World Behind. I thought the premise was great and the final product was really unsatisfactory. I was shocked it was a National Book Award finalist.
I think I'm with you - the reading goals are useful and motivating, but I need to figure out some tactics for holding myself back and taking my time. Clearly just setting it to one book a week isn't working!
I get FOMO and faux panic about the neverending flow of new books, recommended backlists, and all the books i think I'm going to reread. James tops my list as well. I really need to read True Grit. Great video!
Thanks for watching! That steady flow of new books never stops, does it 😅
I remember only 4 or 5 years ago when I would *only* read backlist stuff. How times have changed!
Especially the last few years I haven’t leaned into film the way I did most of my life, but I’m convinced that Zone of Interest is the best movie of the 21st century so far.
It truly is a masterful piece of cinema.
Totally agree!
You can definitely have a crush even if it’s not a romance book 😂 The fictional crush I talked about this year is from a literary fiction book. It’s like real life, you can have a crush on someone even if they’re not saying romantic things to you 😆
Loved your choices! Hadn’t heard of several. I just discovered your channel through this tag 🤓
Haha yeah for sure, although most of the characters I read in literary fiction are NOT crush material!! 😂
Glad to have you here!
Mattie Ross! I was absolutely blown away by True Grit when I read it last year. My new author crush is Portis. MTO Press and White Nights! I am keen and intrigued to read it because Honek mentioned Breece D'J Pancake's story Trilobites in a Booker interview. I began reading the Booker longlist in 2018 and Milkman was the portal by which I discovered I knew nothing about what a novel is or what it could be.
Mattie is such a legend! And you have me so hooked on the idea of reading Milkman now. I think that one is definitely locked in for November!
Great predictions. I'd love to see Hisham Matar's My Friends on the longlist.
I think a lot of people are hoping to see that one. It has a great chance!
YES to the monthly book news videos, we love ‘em! ♥️
Thanks Amelia! Next one coming up next week ♥️
I totally agree about Tom Lake - I didn't expect much from it and absolutely loved it.
I also thought that The Zone of Interest was absolutely outstanding.
I've been loving your book news videos!
It was such a pleasant surprise (Tom Lake, that is, not The Zone of Interest).
Glad you like the book news vids!
I have embarrassed myself in front of two authors at signings, so take heart! I was also really not a fan of Leave the World Behind. And True Grit and Tom Lake are so good!
Haha well glad I'm not the only one. There's so much pressure on those 30 seconds of saying hi and I tend to crumble somehow almost every time 😂
Glorious Exploits is a banger. Very funny but also very moving too. I had a very special reading experience with that book, reading it where it was set. The Offing is amazing. Loooooove that book so much. I need to watch Zone of Interest have been meaning to for ages. I have some Claire Kilroy hot ☕️, I won’t be reading her again and neither will mum. Speaking of whom, thank you for mentioning the Savidge Prompts, I am soooo behind on all the prompts in all the places. Lol. I think you’ll love Mr Loverman sooo much.
I'm so excited for Glorious Exploits and Mr Loverman! Get ready to feel uncomfortable with The Zone of Interest (but absolutely worth it).
I did hear something Kilroy said at the WP readings... but then someone else said it was a point badly made and didn't mean what it sounded like. But I would trust your judgment!
And not to make you feel bad but I've nailed my July prompt for Savidge Prompts already!!! I'm better at doing your ones than I am my own 😂
Totally agree about Glorious Exploits
Hi Ben. I LOVE these prompts. I've got so many tags to do that I've actually been tagged on, but I really like these prompts. I may have to do this one. I have loved a lot of the same books that you are talking about here, especially JAMES, TOM LAKE, and TRUE GRIT. And I, too, adored DEMON COPPERHEAD. Great video, Ben! I really enjoyed hearing your responses.
Thanks very much for watching! Hope you have fun answering if you do the tag 😊
Oh gosh your thoughts on Leave the World Behind.... priceless! I haven't got to that one yet, but am still keen despite your hilarious take down. I think you're the only truly positive thoughts I've heard on Restless Dolly Maunder too, good to hear.
It doesn’t happen all that often, but sometimes just got to go against the grain 😅
You always make me feel better for reading at a glacial pace, Ben. I'm at 19 books so far this year, and I have so much FOMO. Booktube, while it has helped me hone in on what I want to read and now get swept up in all the hype, has not helped cure the FOMO.
I'm also impressed with MTO Press. I accidentally ordered two copies of White Nights and they emailed me to see if I really wanted two copies. I thought that was so decent of them, and it gave me a chance to tell them how much I love their catalog and their philanthropic commitments. I'll definitely keep an eye on them.
That’s so nice of them! Good guys MTO 👏
Great video Ben! Thank you ❤️ I have massive FOMO with regards to James at the minute, hearing nothing but glowing reviews. Very excited to read that when I find time. I also have Mr Loverman sat on my shelf, thanks for the reminder about it. I absolutely adored The Offing, such a wonderful and unique novel. Milkman is SO good and was the book that really got me into following The Booker more seriously. Hope you enjoy it, in due course.
I am getting so excited for Milkman after all the comments praising it. And you will have a blast with James if you decide to give in and read it!
Laughed when I heard your comment about Irish writers. I feel exactly the same. I actually can't think of an Irish writer I've not thoroughly enjoyed reading. Another great vlog, Ben. Still amazes me how professional your vlogs are and just how much you manage to fit into them. Also, despite the ending to his last novel being what it was, I can not wait until the new Richard Powers hits the shelf!
I actually loved the ending of Bewilderment - absolutely destroyed me and cemented it as an all-time favourite. Can’t wait to dive into the new one when I have time!
Our tastes align nicely (although there's one on this list that reveals a strong disagreement; best to draw a veil over that one). Love that you love OPEN THROAT. I was delighted to learn that next month in NYC there will be a staged reading of the novel performed at a large outdoor arena on the Hudson River. Can't wait. And just returned from a dog walk having listened to Chapter One of GLORIOUS EXPLOITS. Read by the author. Which is (so far) glorious. Thanks!
Ooh now I want to know if the disagreement is me like Dolly Maunder or hating Leave the World Behind 😂
I am so jealous of that Open Throat production, and *so* curious about how they’ll do it!
Curses, Ben R.G!! This video 'forced' me into ordering 4 new books to add to my already overflowing TBR list! :) But seriously, excellent and fun video. My answer to questions 1, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are all the same: Adam Haslett's forthcoming new novel - his first since 2016 - Mothers and Sons - not out till Jan 2025, but I snagged an early ARC (and am so far the only review on Goodreads!) ... so, so brilliant and I have a mad crush on the MC, Peter. #2 - favorite sequel is probably Toibin's Long Island, even though it's only half as good as Brooklyn. Wayyyy too many candidates for #3 & 4 - again, not out till Oct., but the one I'm probably most excited about is Our Evenings, Hollinghurst's new one. # 5 is The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas - dreadful! #6 & 7 - biggest surprise and new author (to me) was the entire canon of Francis King, which I read over 2 months - 32 novels, most of them stunning. #12 is All of Us Strangers/Strangers. Not a vlogger, so no answer for #13. #14 is the new 20th anniversary edition of Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, a really beautiful book. #15 is same answer as yours - the entire Booker longlist - will be my 11th year reading the whole shebang. Finally, my sympathies for your impending read of Milkman, notoriously my most detested book in at least 25 years!! My 1-star Goodreads takedown remains the most liked review of it on there, with currently 1161 likes. Good luck and cheers!
Thank you for sharing your answers!
I haven't heard of Adam Haslett so I'll have to check him out, but like you I am excited for the new Hollinghurst. All of Us Strangers is great, isn't it? Not sure if it would top The Zone of Interest, but it would be up there (out of the running for the question though as I managed to see it last year at the London Film Festival).
That edition of Cloud Atlas is certainly stunning... but £30 🫠
A decade of reading the entire Booker longlist is so impressive! 👏
@@benreadsgood Thanx! Haslett has been nominated twice for both the Pulitzer Prize and the NBA - and this is only his 4th book! I'd definitely suggest reading his 3rd one, Imagine Me Gone, which was my favorite book of 2016! :-) Haven't seen or read Zone yet, but both are on my radar! I bought myself the Atlas edition for my birthday! :-O
Just subscribed. U have excellent taste! I also loved James. And I also have Glorious Exploits on my bedside table.
And I also did not like Leave the World behind!
Thanks so much for the kind comments, and the sub. Always happy to welcome a fellow Leave the World Behind hater 😂
Hello fellow book adventurer!
I've been questioning if I want to do the midyear book freakout tag, so while viewing some others, I found your channel!
You have a tone of lovely books to share and definitely a fantastic selection of books I've not seen on youtube often, which is super!
Regarding feeling the need to keep reading and the fear of FOMO, I fall in this group so often it makes me worried I'm not enjoying the books I have read as much as I should...but that is the hard part of loving books so much!
Delighted that I found you and Subscribed to keep up with the wonderful recommendations 😊
In addition, Open Throat sounds so interesting and I also don't have a crush on any of the characters I've read...they are all a bit...not my type 😅
Thank you so much for the kind comment! So pleased you found your way here, and to find another FOMO sufferer 😅
And yes I think those of us in the literary reading corner of Booktube definitely have less to work with when it comes to crush potentials... 😂
I second Zone of Interest! Incredible movie. I have not read the book though.
So good isn't it! I hear the book is quite different, and a little more plot-driven, but definitely intrigued.
I sometimes feel pressured to read as much as possible because I spent over a decade reading almost nothing - which led to me buying and buying and buying and now I have a backlog of hundreds of books. But I allow myself to take breaks as needed (so far I've rad 84 books this year). I want to read 1984 and then Julia (surprisingly horny cracked me up). Your story! Omg definitely an easy mistake but I would've also felt so embarrassed. I'm so sad about the book cover for Glorious Exploits - I have the googly eyed one and it's wonderful. Please note that I will absolutely be using the "square root of fuck all" as a phrase from now on - that cracked me up. I think that crushes are way easier if you read adventure/fantasy/romance/sci-fi. Great video, glad I found your channel and will be watching more!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! The bright side of that is that you’re back into reading, and have a wonderful library of options to choose from. 84 books this year is huge!
I’m really wanting to give Ann Patchett a try too!
Tom Lake has utterly convinced me I need to read more!
Thank you so much for the tag! Super excited to get stuck in to these questions, love your channel ! Think I agree about Cyrus and Zee from Martyr being slight crushes !
Yay, glad to hear you’re going to do it! I’ll look forward to watching 👀
Oh The Offing 💕 forever in my top 10! 😊
It's a beautiful novel! I can't wait to read even more Myers.
@@benreadsgood I finished Cuddy recently and loved it too - thanks for the recommendation! 😊
@@leeh4343 glad to hear that - it’s brilliant!
I’ve added the offing to my wish list. Anything compared to still life sounds like a winner to me
It’s such a gem! Hope you enjoy it when you get to it 😊
Prioritize Bel Canto. Patchett’s prose is transcendent. I read it on a recommendation. It’s totally not “my thing,” but I ended up loving it so deeply.
What a recommendation! I loved the writing in Tom Lake, so now I’m even more excited for Bel Canto.
Thanks for another great video, Ben!
My favourite reads this month have been Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors and The Safe House by Yael van der Wouden.
I only feel pressure to read when my library book is due back and has been requested by others 😅
Reading and returning your library books is all part of being a good citizen 🫡
'square root of bugger all' made me snort my brew out! 😂
Not too much mess I hope 😂
Mr. Lover man is very touching. And it has some laugh out loud moments.
Really looking forward to it!
Ah, another great video from you, Ben! 😍
Thank you so much for watching! 🙌
Best book ? Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
Surprised by? Fayne by AnnMarie MacDonald
No sequels
New release I’m looking forward to ? I’ve preordered The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
A new Richard Powers !
Looking forward to seeing what’s on the Booker Prize.
Best new author? Rebecca K Reilly writer of Greta & Valdin
Favourite character ? Hal from Henry Henry
Cried ?
How To Build A Boat by Elaine Feeney
Adaptation? A Gentleman in Moscow, Ripley
Beautiful book? This is Love by Liz Moore
Thank you for sharing your answers! I haven’t seen the Gentleman in Moscow adaptation yet but glad to hear you like it.
Great video, Ben, thanks!🌷I watched The Zone of Interest a couple of months after reading Primo Levi’s If This is a Man, with his harrowing tale of what was happening in Auschwitz on the other side of the wall. It made the characters in the film even more horrifying. I want to read Martin Amis’s novel next. I’ve not disliked Dolly Maunder, but I find it difficult to accept that it was shortlisted instead of Ordinary Human Failings. Tom Lake narrated by Meryl Streep is unforgettable. By the way, I’m currently listening to a favourite by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer, read by the author and loving it. Looking forward to your Booker-related contents!😊📚
That must have been quite the double-whammy experience. It's a lot to hold in your head and your heart.
I loved Open Throat as well, and that would fall into number 9, newest favorite character. I listened to the audiobook while hiking in Griffith Park! Didn’t see a mountain lion though.I’ve just started reading last year’s Booker Prize winner, Prophet Song.
Yes! Heckit would be a great answer for that one. Probably my number 2 behind Mattie.
I’ve been tagged! Great video Ben. I’m off to Glastonbury festival this week with my theatre company. But, if I have the time when I’m back / when I’ve recovered, (takes more and more time the older I get)… I’ll give this a go!
I shall also be diving back into the entire booker longlist again this year. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. However, I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be an outstanding longlist this year.
Ugghhhhh SO JEALOUS. I try to get to Glasto most years but didn't get tickets this time around 😭
Enjoy the week and fingers crossed for a speedy recovery!
(Also, honestly, no pressure if you don't get a chance to give this a go.)
I know for certain that you aren’t the only reader whose newly acquired, much anticipated books end up buried under other books… because that happens at my place too. (Glorious Exploits sounds fun.) As for the “Newest fictional crush”? I will just lop that off the list when I do this tag, which will be soon. Thanks for another great video.
It feels good not to be alone in that... every time I pick up a 'new' book from my bedside table only to realise it's been there so long it's covered in dust, I feel a small pang of guilt. Love that you've done the tag! I have started watching it but need to finish it off ❤️
I have reading Fomo as well as travel Fomo. I've read many of your recommendations; (some also happen to be Sarah's and Bob's, as well). May/June "River East, River West", "The Rachel Incident" "Brotherless Night", "The House of Doors", "In the Miso Soup" , and now "My Friiends", "Ordinary Human Failings" and "Glorious Exploits". With several more on my TBR. Also, like your monthly book news. And looking forward to Japan Vlog.
So glad that you have enjoyed some of the recommendations! Next monthly book news and the Japan vlog are both coming up soon 😊
The Miso Soup! Wow I have read his Transparent Blue, many moons ago and thought that was horrific
I agree with your assessment of Dolly. I loved this book.
It's so underrated!
Im the same when it comes to love interests 😅 I tend to skip out certain questions in this tag that just don't work for me as a reader
That's a sensible approach. I am such a stickler for rules/structure though so I just moan about the question instead 😂
I too loved open throat
For me Milkman was a really difficult reading experience but ended up being one of the best things I've read.
I'm expecting it to be a little tough, but also very much looking forward to it!
Hi Ben, Really enjoyed that! Even though I hadn't read any of them. I don't always read newly published books (just read Runaway by Alice Munro) Also, my work involves lots of reading so my reading rate often depends on workload.
I will definitely read James though! Thanks.
Thank you so much for the kind comment - glad you enjoyed it!
And James is absolutely a no-regrets read. I'm sure you will love it 😊
what cracks me up about Leave the World Behind is that its defenders love to be like “the language is pretentious on purpose because the characters are pretentious” but if you take a glance at his first two novels Alam was just as thesaurus-obsessed in those ones too. he just writes like that! lmao
...honestly the most shocking thing here is that Leave the World Behind wasn't his debut 😬
I often add titles to my TBR after your videos, Ben, but my big takeaway from this one is: how soon can I put "the square root of bugger all" to good use. 😂
Haha, I've got to admit that I had to record that bit a second time, as first time around it came out with a much stronger word than 'bugger' 😅
was waiting for this one! and still cannot WAIT for the japan vlog!!!
ok, i have not seen that cover of James before and reminded me i finally need to do it! do you recommend this as a good first Everett?
Thank you king!!!
I've only read three Everetts, and to be honest I think any of them would be fine to start with. I have a feeling Erasure might be really up your street though.
Glorious Exploits is EXCELLENT. I really think you'll love it. Also, I find the fictional crush thing really cringey, I never have a crush on fictional characters. It makes me feel icky!😂
Feel the ick!!!! 😂
Glorious Exploits is high on my TBR for July!
I know it defeats your purpose for reading it, but Milkman Is incredible on audio. Definitely one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to.
Thank you for the recommendation! Maybe it'll be worth doing that one as a read/listen combo.
I just picked up Tom Lake. I’ve never had a fictional crush but my heart did go out to Demon Copperhead and I wanted to adopt him. 😊I love your Book News videos too! ❤
Hope you love Tom Lake - it's a really delightful novel!
Exactly my reaction to Leave the World Behind. But I did like the movie, which took many liberties with the book. I liked the acting, and it was stylistically creative.
Oooh that's interesting - I have heard people hating both of them, but I am a fan of Sam Esmail so I was looking forward to the movie. Maybe I should still watch it!
@@benreadsgood It has the same style and vibe as Mr. Robot, so if you liked that show you should definitely watch it!
Love love love Mr Robot, so now I’m feeling excited about it!
Your Leave the World Behind (which I was also really meh about) is my Bewilderment. I already had some ableism issues with The Overstory, but Bewilderment made me absolutely furious with its attitude towards neurodiversity.
It pains me to hear this about Bewilderment, but it's fair enough. I do think it was a character thing rather than something Richard Powers actually thinks, but I get it!
My favourite read of this year so far was 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation' by Ottessa Moshfegh.
Such a fun novel! Although the very end was such a curveball for me 😅
So agree with you about Leave the World Behind. This year it seems if the book had lots of hype (other than James) I generally disliked it.
It's so bizarre that people go out to bat for it so much. Was a big case of Emperor's New Clothes for me!
adding to the chorus of voices (lol) endorsing Lennon's narration of Glorious Exploits! I've glanced at "Leave the World Behind" at the library and its cilantro-reception makes me morbidly curious to read it. Also, have you read Sebastian Barry's Western "Days Without End"? I read it this month (bc its gay) and really enjoyed it
Not a booktuber (yet) but here are some of my own answers to the tag
Best book: Praiseworthy (Alexis Wright)
Most anticipated: Our Evenings (Alan Hollinghurst)
Disappointment: Great Expectations (Vinson Cunningham)
Surprise: I Cheerfully Refuse (Leif Enger; imagine a cross between Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet and The Last of Us)
Fictional crush (maybe a yikes pick lmao, but): Davey (All Fours by Miranda July)
Made me cry: Their Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston), Jazz (Toni Morrison), Treacle Walker (Alan Garner)
Made me happy: Our Strangers (Lydia Davis)
Need to finish: I have 60% of Gravity's Rainbow to endure before the Booker longlist is announced lollllllll
Ok it’s settled I’ll be doing an audio/physical combo for Glorious Exploits.
I haven’t read Days Without End, but I do want to give Barry another go because I just didn’t get on with Old God’s Time at all despite recognising the good writing.
Thanks for sharing your answers! I can’t decide if I want Praiseworthy to get a Booker nod so that it forces me to read it, or if that is going to bring all my other reading to a grinding halt 😅
@@benreadsgood Barry propelling the plot of a violent Western with his writing style was incredible; it was such a page turner (a world of difference from Old Gods haha)
I hope you enjoy Glorious Exploits!
The little girl is not the main character of the book, but Thebes in The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews is my favourite child character in a book of all time.
Thanks for the recommendation! I have only read Women Talking but I do want to read another book by Toews at some point.
Random question -
Where is your t-shirt from? I like the colour and what I can see of the design 😂
It’s from Urban Outfitters! They have awesome whole bunch of really great ones at the moment.
Hey Ben!!! 👋😁
Oh hi! 👋
You (mostly) have great recommendations and I'm glad I found this channel.
JULIA was fantastic.
#PatrickBateman
Glad to have you hear!
So you follow the wainwright prize? I always keep an eye out for that, but notice its not very popular on book tube
I actually don’t read all that much non-fiction to be honest, so it’s not one I look out for. But I did read a winner from a few years ago and loved it - Underland by Robert Macfarlane.
I’m the exact same - I’m on my 53rd book rn (Young Mungo)…… And set my storygraph to 52 but idc about the amount at all. But I’m slightly obsessed with reading so I just keep going, lol.
Auē and the Trouble with Goats and Sheep both have friendships between kids at the fore, and I couldn’t help love them.
I feel like (and hope!) you’ll love Mr Loverman 🤌 I’ll be reading Good Material and The Offing next month, and can’t wait.
Great vid, Ben! Glad you keep doing them even though it’s a lot sometimes
53?! Ok fine you win, I surrender 😂
Had my eye on Auē for a while, so maybe one to keep in mind next time I go book shopping 👀
@@benreadsgood haha, I sort of don’t want that since it’s bc I’m not working atm. So it’s not realistic at all for me 😅
Auē was extra special for me bc it’s nz and I’ve spent a year there but I still thought the story was brill
Richard Powers can do no wrong IMO 📖 🪱 💚
I'm hoping that Playground continues the trend!!!