The Caretaker is a beautiful book. I really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed The Orchard by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry.

Omg I just bought The Orchard ^_^ . Gonna read it as part of a challenge where i pick books whose covers feature fruit

Oh! I see that Three is on Everand as a audiobook! All of these sound amazing!

Fresh Water for Flowers is even better than Three. You should start with Fresh Waters 🎉❤

@sarahs7763

4 ай бұрын

Ps it is set in a cementary

I'm not the only one to mention it but as soon as you metionned enjoying cemetery setting, my mind jumped immediately to Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin. (It follows the life of a woman with a troubled past that is now a cemetery groundskeeper) so that was weird when Three by the same author came up. I haven't read Fresh Water for Flowers yet but it is THE best seller in France and everyone seem to love it. I use Kindle sample all the time since I read 80% in english and live in a non english speaking country. Sometimes, I use it to compare the french translation with the original

what a fab project and the books you choose provide such a great range!

Writing style is so important to me too. I really, really need to do this for The Women's Prize Long List.

Someone already mentioned before me in comments, but I can only agree. I am currently finishing reading another Valerie Perrin book Fresh Water for Flowers, set a lot in cemetery, and its fantastic! And I am the person who doest even like that type of books, but this one from first pages made me care about main character, would recommend that one for sure.

Half a Lifelong Romance is really good. Definitely worth reading.

Great project, I really need to read samples as I often know in a few pages if I’ll get on with it.

LOVED Scarborough it is truly devastating in all the right ways. Also; I'm not sure if you're aware of this but there is a screen adaptation - not sure if its a movie or tv. series. It was on a streaming network here in Canada, not sure about the availability everywhere else. I haven't watched it yet, but I want to. Hope you enjoy this book, she's an amazing author as you said.

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Oh, no I wasn't. I'll have to check if it's available here.

This is such an exciting project! I'm intrigued by basically all of these, so can't wait to see how they pan out.

Great recommendations but many unavailable here in Ireland. Still I will look for them on websites. There is a terrific novel on elderly female friendship by Australian writer Charlotte Wood .its called The Weekend.

Love the idea of this project ☺ x

Can’t wait to see the next video of you narrowing these down! 😊

Loved & Missed by Susie Boyt Loved it!

If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. What massively helped me is getting an e-library card from the Queens public library in New York City. It's $50 a year, and you can immediately add it to your libby.

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

I actually have a kindle sample of that one so will have to give it a go :) I've never used libby - maybe I should

I grew up near the neighbourhood where Scarborough is set. If you end up liking it, you might try Brother, by David Chariandy. It is set in the same part of Scarborough (as I recall, as it’s been a few years) and feels a bit like a companion novel. It’s a coming-of-age story featuring the Trinidadian immigrant experience in Toronto. What a great list of books - I am looking forward to watching the progress of this project!

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation. That does sound interesting.

Great project idea 😊

Eva’s man is amazing

I read I Have Some Questions for You as well as The Damages. I think I Have Some Questions for You was a stronger book. I didn’t love either of them.

Love this idea!!

Fantastic and exciting project!!

Liked Ordinary Human Failings Although found it a bit depressing

Writing style can also make or break a book for me, so I am a big user of the kindle samples. In terms of what I choose to buy/take a risk on, I am always more willing to take a chance on books from indie publishers, because even if I end up not liking the book, I feel less bad about 'wasting' money if it has gone to support an independent business.

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

I completely agree!

Storygraph recommended me Little Monsters due to adoring Paper Palace (thanks to you). That's my top pick out of these, but...per usual, you always illuminate titles I've never heard of before. Great video!

I have loved your last few videos Mercedes. Thank you for speaking about books that are different to everyone else. I too bought Half A Life Long Romance after Claire’s review so I look forward to your take as it remains unread on my shelves. I eagerly await your next video. Happy Reading.

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much - I'm glad to hear that!

I use Kindle samples all the time. I use them to keep recommendations from booktube, or when I know I have a book at home that I'd like to start while I'm out. I'm trying to cut back on buying books as I have so many to read. I figure if I start them and don't like them, I don't have another unread book on my shelf. Great video! 👍

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Using samples for recommendations is a good idea! The sample option is definitely helping me not to buy books.

I read The Caretaker and The Road To Dalton, loved and recommend them both! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This sounds exciting. I am curious to know which ones end up making the cut. Oh, it’s hard if my library or Hoopla or cheap on kindle doesn’t pan out. I have to say I wait and see if I can find it later for sale or to be honest I just don’t read it. If, I can have some certainty that I will like it I might then buy it. Kindle samples are a brilliant idea. I have used them in the past, but not as frequently as I could. Happy reading!

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Trying to find it on sale is a good idea. I tend to try find a second hand copy online

This sounds like a great project! If I can't get a book from the library (and can't ask them to buy it) then I will look for a used copy online. I do sometimes buy full price books but only ones that I'm super keen to read and think I will get on with (that doesn't always work out!)

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Same! I look for a used copy on abe books. I only pay full price for preorders from authors I love.

This is a great idea and a great list! Not to scare you...but I just finished a book that I though had an awful first chapter, but I adored the book by the end! 🤫 But I'm sure that's pretty rare!! I still think this is a brilliant project. Good luck!

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Hahaha, let's hope so!

I’ve just finished The Caretaker on audio. Loved it . 4.5/5 stars. Supposedly based on a true story. The Road to Dalton Little Monsters were in my top ten of 2023. I should warn you that Edinburgh was a book hated by some booktubers. If I remember rightly, Eric Karl Anderson threw it across the room. Three more recommendations for you Greta & Valdin ❤ Hello Beautiful 💐 Ordinary Human Failings ☘️ I use kindle samples & booktube recommendations ☘️☕️🍀📖👋📚🇮🇪💐📕

I hated The Caretaker, it had too many POVs and the titular Caretaker is not even the protagonist, he's in my opinion only a tool for the wealthy white man to get his life back. The first chapter is great but it went downhill from there. Ans then the climax happens off page

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that you didn'y enjoy it!

@laurakuhlmann1626

4 ай бұрын

@MercysBookishMusings I just started another novel from your list "Between Dog and Wolf" (I'm reading the American version so it's "The Orchard" for me) and chapter one just blew me away. I grew up right after the collapse of the Iron Curtain in Romania and aparently there was a decent overlap between Romania and Russian culture. Hoping the rest of the novel maintains the level of accuracy and enjoyment

@MercysBookishMusings

4 ай бұрын

@@laurakuhlmann1626 I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much :) I bet it's even more interesting to read with that context.