The 2022 Mid Year Book Freakout Tag

TL;DR

In this video, the speaker discusses their favorite books, disappointments, surprises, and future reading goals for the year.

Transcript

i don't know what to say listen i've been reading a lot it's not like i've hit some sort of slump i'm still averaging about a book a week getting a lot of enjoyment out of my books and sure there are times where you sort of go through phases and you read a couple pages and it seems to have slipped by you mostly but otherwise i'm mostly engaged but ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧔‍♀️ "Invisible Women" highlights the hidden gender biases in data collection and its impact on women's lives, raising awareness about the need for change in various sectors.
• 😑 "The Book of Form and Emptiness" explores themes of grief, creative expression, and the significance of objects in our lives.
• 🍂 The speaker's interest in Asian-inspired stories, such as "Jade City" and "When We Fell Apart," suggests a desire for diverse narratives and perspectives.
• 💄 "Mercury Pictures Presents" combines Hollywood history, World War II, and engaging storytelling, making it an anticipated release for the speaker.
• 😱 The speaker's enthusiasm for Junji Ito's horror manga demonstrates the power of visual storytelling and the popularity of the horror genre.
• 🙈 The speaker appreciates books that challenge societal norms, as seen in their interest in "The Sea of Tranquility" and "The Trees."

Questions & Answers

Q: What is "Invisible Women" by Caroline Criado Perez about?

"Invisible Women" examines the gender data gap and how patriarchal biases in data collection affect various areas of society, such as car safety, healthcare, and urban planning. It sheds light on the shocking disparities and inequalities faced by women due to this bias.

Q: Can you elaborate on the plot of "The Book of Form and Emptiness" by Ruth Ozeki?

"The Book of Form and Emptiness" follows the story of Benji, a 13-year-old boy whose life unravels after his father's death. His mother's hoarding tendencies and his ability to hear objects speaking add to the complexity of the narrative. The book explores themes of grief, creativity, and the relationship between humans and objects.

Q: What is "Mercury Pictures Presents" by Anthony Marra about?

"Mercury Pictures Presents" is set in a Hollywood studio during World War II. It follows a woman working at the studio as America prepares to join the war. The author weaves in historical details about the industry's involvement in creating camouflage for military targets and the impact on everyday life.

Q: Why was "Love in Big City" by Sun-young Park a disappointment for the speaker?

While "Love in Big City" is a Korean bestseller and an international Booker nominee, the speaker found it uninteresting and struggled to connect with the main character's love life. Additionally, the book's slower pace and contemplative nature didn't align with the speaker's preference for plot-driven, page-turning reads.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker's favorite book of the year so far is "Invisible Women" by Caroline Criado Perez, which explores the patriarchal data bias and its impact on various aspects of society.

• They also enjoyed "The Book of Form and Emptiness" by Ruth Ozeki, which follows the story of a 13-year-old boy dealing with the loss of his father and his mother's hoarding tendencies.

• The speaker expresses interest in reading "When We Fell Apart" by Soon Wai-yi, a story about a Korean-American man investigating the death of a girl he met in South Korea.

• They are eagerly anticipating the release of "Mercury Pictures Presents" by Anthony Marra, a novel set in a Hollywood studio during World War II.

• The speaker's biggest disappointment was "Love in Big City" by Sun-young Park, a Korean bestseller that didn't resonate with them.

• "Jade City" by Fonda Lee was a pleasant surprise for the speaker, as they usually don't enjoy fantasy but found this Asian-inspired mob novel engaging.

• Their favorite new author is Junji Ito, a horror manga artist and writer whose works have captivated the speaker.

• A literary crush is the concept of "bad chickens" mentioned in Emily St. John Mandel's book "The Sea of Tranquility."

• Bernie Gunther from Philip Kerr's series set in World War II Germany is the speaker's newest favorite character.

• The speaker hasn't found a book that made them cry this year but recommends "CQ" by Kristen Radke as a book that explores themes of loneliness.

• The speaker found "The Trees" by Percival Everett enjoyable for its satirical take on racism and politics.

• The most beautiful book they received this year is a collection of Janji Ito's horror manga with stunning packaging.

• The speaker aims to read the books nominated for the Booktube Prize and hopes to participate as a judge in the finals.