I really liked Enter Ghost. I do think some knowledge of Hamlet helps later on in the novel. The format choices the author made - dialogue in play form and the paragraphs introducing the characters, etc.- I would argue serve a thematic purpose, but that certainly doesn’t mean you have to like those choices as a reader.
First time watching your channel. Great set of reviews. Really agree with you about Restless Dolly Maunder. I think it's a book lacking ambition. Loved both Enter Ghost and Nightbloom. Pity the writing style didn't work for you with Enter Ghost, it really is brilliant, but when the style doesn't work, it doesn't work. Happy reading the rest of the longlist, I think it's a brilliant one this year.
I've read Nightbloom (very good, I love two perspectives on the same events), River East River West (very easy to read, I zoomed through it, very enjoyable), And Then She Fell (mixed feelings on that one, could be frustrating but paid off in the end to an extent) and currently reading Restless Dolly Maunder and nearing the end of Enter Ghost on audio. I feel the quality of writing of Enter Ghost is quite good, but agree that it's not enthralling.
I finished And Then She Fell recently and I totally agree. It was a little frustrating to read but I do think it paid off (unsure about the ending though), and I think the way the author explored and tackled the themes in the book was very well done. Thank you for sharing your thoughts x
Hey there! I just found your channel and I'm so happy I did! I'm reading through the women's prize longlist as well. So far I've read Ordinary Human Failings which was just okay, Nightbloom which I loved, Soldier Sailor which I loved, Hangman which was impressive, but difficult, and Western Lane which was so-so. I just started Trickster and In Defence of The Act, both of which I'm enjoying so far! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the rest of the books. I've subscribed and look forward to more videos soon!
Can recommend the audiobook of Enter Ghost, which is brilliantly read by the author and brings the energy of the characters to life including the uptight nature of the main character
Very intrigued to hear that you enjoyed Nightbloom so much. I may still pick that one up. I've read In Defence of the Act (Loved it! Raved about it on my channel), The Blue Beautiful World, Brotherless Night (so moving; highly recommend), Ordinary Human Failings, And Then She Fell, and 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster. I DNFd The Wren the Wren. Next up is Soldier Sailor (after I get around to finishing Doppelganger).
Nightbloom is next, based on your 4.75 rating. Have you read Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare? Story takes place in a Nigerian village. Our book club really liked it. Also, my Syrian recommendation is As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows by Zoulfa Katouh
I read The Girl With in the Louding Voice back in 2022 and As Long As the Lemon Tree Grows last year. From memory I gave them both 4/5. Both fantastic recommendations!
I an currently reading 8 Lives right now and I think it will be a three star. I'm definitely a character/prose reader. So far I've loved Nightbloom, Enter Ghost and And She Fell. (I was looking at the content warnings and almost every book has sexual abuse in it). I definitely felt that Nightbloom could have had a longer ending. I really wanted to see Selasi and Akorfa going forward. Enter Ghost without Shakespeare love definitely sounds hard. Hamlet is one of my favourite plays and it is really cool to see the way they adapted it and changed it. It made me feel so inspired. If it does get shortlisted, I'd say watch a performance of it. There's ones that modernize it which can cut through some of the Old English but (in my totally biased opinion) I think Hamlet is such a cool play and what she did with it is really cool. The character paragraph is definitely playing on the cast list. At the beginning of Shakespeare's plays, he has a list of who the characters are and who they are related to and I thought it was so cool that she took that and combined it with who these characters are in real life and who they are portraying. It's completely fair that something can be doing something but it still grates on you and doesn't work.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Enter Ghost! I can totally see why it’d be a favourite if you enjoy Shakespeare. I can’t wait to read to read And She Fell!
Many of the books you recommend are not only great, they have great covers! I love them.
I’m stuggling with blue beautiful world I loved nightbloom to and trace of sun just started after fell I’ve read 8 so far
Wow 8! That’s so impressive. I can’t wait to read trace of sun x
I really liked Enter Ghost. I do think some knowledge of Hamlet helps later on in the novel. The format choices the author made - dialogue in play form and the paragraphs introducing the characters, etc.- I would argue serve a thematic purpose, but that certainly doesn’t mean you have to like those choices as a reader.
I've heard similiar things about Enter Ghost since, and it's definitely making me want to pick it back up again!
Hello😊 just found your channel and really enjoyed your reviews! I’m hearing so many good things about Nightbloom, super intrigued by this one!
I’m glad you’re enjoying them x welcome to the channel 🫶🏻
First time watching your channel. Great set of reviews.
Really agree with you about Restless Dolly Maunder. I think it's a book lacking ambition.
Loved both Enter Ghost and Nightbloom. Pity the writing style didn't work for you with Enter Ghost, it really is brilliant, but when the style doesn't work, it doesn't work.
Happy reading the rest of the longlist, I think it's a brilliant one this year.
I totally agree - the longlist is great this year!
I love your videos; I've added so many books to my TBR from them! Thank you for stopping by 😊
I've been binging your videos since afternoon
Thank you for stopping by, I so appreciate it. I hope you like the videos! 💖
I really liked Enter the Ghost and I don’t know squat about Hamlet.
I've read Nightbloom (very good, I love two perspectives on the same events), River East River West (very easy to read, I zoomed through it, very enjoyable), And Then She Fell (mixed feelings on that one, could be frustrating but paid off in the end to an extent) and currently reading Restless Dolly Maunder and nearing the end of Enter Ghost on audio. I feel the quality of writing of Enter Ghost is quite good, but agree that it's not enthralling.
I finished And Then She Fell recently and I totally agree. It was a little frustrating to read but I do think it paid off (unsure about the ending though), and I think the way the author explored and tackled the themes in the book was very well done. Thank you for sharing your thoughts x
Hey there! I just found your channel and I'm so happy I did! I'm reading through the women's prize longlist as well. So far I've read Ordinary Human Failings which was just okay, Nightbloom which I loved, Soldier Sailor which I loved, Hangman which was impressive, but difficult, and Western Lane which was so-so. I just started Trickster and In Defence of The Act, both of which I'm enjoying so far! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the rest of the books. I've subscribed and look forward to more videos soon!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on what you've read so far! Can't wait to read through the rest of the longlist x
Can recommend the audiobook of Enter Ghost, which is brilliantly read by the author and brings the energy of the characters to life including the uptight nature of the main character
Thank you for the recommendation! I’ll keep this in mind if I ever pick it back up again 😊
Very intrigued to hear that you enjoyed Nightbloom so much. I may still pick that one up. I've read In Defence of the Act (Loved it! Raved about it on my channel), The Blue Beautiful World, Brotherless Night (so moving; highly recommend), Ordinary Human Failings, And Then She Fell, and 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster. I DNFd The Wren the Wren. Next up is Soldier Sailor (after I get around to finishing Doppelganger).
Currently reading Brotherless Night and I’m enjoying it so much! And then she fell is next up on my list x
@@readwithbell Oh, I'm so glad! I hope you enjoy And Then She Fell too. It's a very unusual book. Looking forward to your thoughts!
Nightbloom is next, based on your 4.75 rating. Have you read Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare? Story takes place in a Nigerian village. Our book club really liked it. Also, my Syrian recommendation is As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows by Zoulfa Katouh
I read The Girl With in the Louding Voice back in 2022 and As Long As the Lemon Tree Grows last year. From memory I gave them both 4/5. Both fantastic recommendations!
I an currently reading 8 Lives right now and I think it will be a three star. I'm definitely a character/prose reader.
So far I've loved Nightbloom, Enter Ghost and And She Fell. (I was looking at the content warnings and almost every book has sexual abuse in it).
I definitely felt that Nightbloom could have had a longer ending. I really wanted to see Selasi and Akorfa going forward.
Enter Ghost without Shakespeare love definitely sounds hard. Hamlet is one of my favourite plays and it is really cool to see the way they adapted it and changed it. It made me feel so inspired. If it does get shortlisted, I'd say watch a performance of it. There's ones that modernize it which can cut through some of the Old English but (in my totally biased opinion) I think Hamlet is such a cool play and what she did with it is really cool.
The character paragraph is definitely playing on the cast list. At the beginning of Shakespeare's plays, he has a list of who the characters are and who they are related to and I thought it was so cool that she took that and combined it with who these characters are in real life and who they are portraying.
It's completely fair that something can be doing something but it still grates on you and doesn't work.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Enter Ghost! I can totally see why it’d be a favourite if you enjoy Shakespeare. I can’t wait to read to read And She Fell!