IMPROMPTU VIDEO | A Mini BOOK HAUL & This Week in Books

In this impromptu video, Jen shares a mini book haul and discusses her recent reading experiences. She introduces two new acquisitions from Persephone Books and highlights several other purchases made with a Barnes & Noble gift card, including classics and modern retellings. Jen discusses books she's finished, like 'Darling' by India Knight, and 'Cards on the Table,' comparing it to her experience acting in its stage play. She also mentions two books she did not finish, explaining why they did not resonate with her. Finally, Jen talks about the books she's currently enjoying, including a nostalgic return to 'Anne of the Island' and a reread of 'Shine on Bright and Dangerous Object.'

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is an impromptu book haul and reading update by Jen, due to a busy week.
• 🎉 Persephone Books, a publisher based in England, is celebrated for its 25th anniversary with two book purchases by Jen.
• 🤩 Jen bought 'The Homemaker' by Dorothy Canfield Fisher and 'One Afternoon' by Shawn James from Persephone Books, influenced by Miranda Mills' recommendations.
• 🛍️ A Barnes & Noble gift card and reward dollars led to the purchase of additional books, including volume six of an unnamed series.
• 📚 'Heidi' by Joanna Spyri and the Wordsworth edition of 'Emma' by Jane Austen were bought for their beautiful editions.
• 🕵️‍♂️ 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle was also purchased to fill a gap in Jen's mystery reading collection.
• 📚 'Darling' by India Knight, a modern retelling of 'The Pursuit of Love' by Nancy Mitford, was finished and highly recommended by Jen.
• 🃏 'Cards on the Table' by Agatha Christie was enjoyed by Jen, who has a personal connection to the story through a play version she starred in.
• 🚫 'The Fountains Overflow' by Rebecca West and 'Mothering Sunday' by Graham Swift were both DNFs (Did Not Finish) for Jen.
• 📖 Currently, Jen is reading 'Ann of the Island' by L.M. Montgomery and rereading 'Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object' by Lori Ostlund.
• 📚 Jen plans to start 'Something Fresh' by P.G. Wodehouse for her book club and 'Lark Rise to Candleford' for the Quiet Classics group on Instagram.

Q & A

What is the title of the video that the speaker is discussing?

The title of the video is 'IMPROMPTU VIDEO | A Mini BOOK HAUL & This Week in Books'.

Why did the speaker decide to share a mini book haul in the video?

The speaker decided to share a mini book haul because they had been very busy and hadn't had time to plan a video, so they decided to 'wing it' and share some books they recently purchased.

Which publisher does the speaker admire and buy books from?

The speaker admires and buys books from a publisher called Persephone Books.

What is the name of the first book the speaker purchased from Persephone Books?

The first book the speaker purchased from Persephone Books is 'The Homemaker' by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

What is unique about the cover of 'The Homemaker'?

The cover of 'The Homemaker' is unique because it features beautiful artwork printed on it, specifically 'Crackas in Bed' by Norman Rockwell.

What is the second book the speaker purchased from Persephone Books?

The second book the speaker purchased is 'One Fine Day' by Shawn James.

Which book series is the speaker looking forward to starting?

The speaker is looking forward to starting the sixth volume in the MM Lion Series.

What is the name of the book that the speaker considers a retelling of 'The Pursuit Of Love' by Nancy Mitford?

The book the speaker considers a retelling of 'The Pursuit Of Love' is 'Darling' by India Knight.

What is the title of the book that the speaker starred in the play version of?

The title of the book that the speaker starred in the play version of is 'Cards on the Table' by Agatha Christie.

Which book did the speaker not finish (DNF) because they felt the characters were stressing them out?

The speaker did not finish 'The Fountains Overflow' by Rebecca West because the characters were stressing them out.

What is the title of the book the speaker is currently reading and enjoying?

The speaker is currently reading and enjoying 'Ann of the Island' by L.M. Montgomery and 'Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object' by Lori Ostlund.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Impromptu Video and Mini Book Haul

The speaker, Jen, begins by explaining that due to a busy week, she's decided to do an impromptu video. She plans to share a mini book haul and discuss her recent reading experiences. She introduces herself as a book enthusiast and dives into the first part of her haul, which includes two books from Persephone Books, a publisher she admires. She mentions Persephone's focus on reprinting forgotten works by mostly women writers and celebrates their 25th anniversary. The first book she shares is 'The Homemaker' by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, a story about role reversal between a husband and wife in 1924. The second book is 'One Afternoon' by Shawn James, which is compared to the works of Rosamunde Pilcher. Jen also discusses her excitement about these new additions to her library and her use of a Barnes & Noble gift card to purchase more books, including continuing volumes in a series and some classic literature.

05:01

🎨 Beautiful Editions and Literary Treasures

Jen continues her book haul by discussing her purchases from Barnes & Noble, where she acquired a new volume in the MM Lion series, which she's eager to read but is trying to pace herself. She also bought 'Heidi' by Joanna Spyri, which she fell in love with after listening to the audiobook and wanted a beautiful copy for her shelf. Additionally, she's collecting Wordsworth editions of Jane Austen's novels, including 'Emma', and she's looking forward to rereading it. Lastly, she purchased 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle, wanting to fill a gap in her mystery reading experience. She then transitions into discussing her reading progress, including books she has finished and those she is currently reading.

10:04

😂 Humorous Characters and Mystery Reviews

Jen talks about a book she finished called 'Darling' by India Knight, a modern retelling of 'The Pursuit of Love' by Nancy Mitford. She praises the book for its humor and the reimagined character of Uncle Matthew, who is portrayed as a former rock star. She also discusses 'Cards on the Table' by Agatha Christie, which she has a special connection with, having starred in a play version of the story. She enjoyed the mystery and the involvement of several Christie sleuths. However, she also mentions two books she did not finish (DNF): 'The Fountains Overflow' by Rebecca West, which she found stressful and unenjoyable, and 'Mothering Sunday' by Graham Swift, which she felt lacked believability and did not live up to her expectations for a romantic story.

15:06

📚 Currently Reading: Anne of the Island and Grief's Aftermath

Jen shares her experience reading 'Ann of the Island' by L.M. Montgomery, which she is slowly making her way through, enjoying the author's world once again. She also discusses 'Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object' by Lori Ostlund, a novel she is rereading. The book follows the story of Elizabeth (Olly), a young widow dealing with the aftermath of her husband Sam's death. It explores her grief, her life as a widow, and her interactions with various people in her life. Jen appreciates the author's writing style and the depth of character development.

20:06

🗓 Upcoming Reads and Engaging with the Book Community

Lastly, Jen mentions her plans to read for her book club, including 'Something Fresh' by P.G. Wodehouse and starting 'Lark Rise to Candleford' for a reading group on Instagram. She encourages viewers to share their thoughts on the books she discussed, ask questions, or talk about their own recent reads. She expresses her gratitude for the engagement and support from her viewers and looks forward to sharing more bookish content in the future.

Keywords

💡Impromptu video

An impromptu video refers to a video that is created without much planning or preparation. In the context of this video, the host, Jen, mentions that due to a busy week, she did not have time to plan a video and decided to 'wing it,' which means to improvise or perform without preparation. This relates to the video's theme as it sets the tone for the spontaneous and casual sharing of her recent book purchases and reading experiences.

💡Mini book haul

A 'mini book haul' is a term used in the book community to describe a smaller collection of books that one has recently acquired. It is often a subset of a 'book haul,' which is a larger collection. In the video, Jen shares a few books she has purchased, which she refers to as her 'mini book haul,' indicating that it's not an extensive collection but still noteworthy.

💡Pany books

Pany books is a publisher that specializes in reprinting forgotten 20th-century novels, short stories, cookery books, and memoirs, predominantly by women writers. The term 'Pany books' in the video is significant as it introduces the audience to the publisher from which Jen has bought two new books to celebrate their 25th anniversary. It also highlights Jen's support for lesser-known works and her interest in promoting diversity in literature.

💡The Homemaker

The Homemaker is a book by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, which is part of the Pany classics editions. It is mentioned in the video as one of the books Jen has purchased. The book is significant to the video's theme as it represents a historical piece of literature that explores gender roles and societal expectations from the 1920s, which is a topic of interest for Jen and her audience.

💡One afternoon

One afternoon is a book by Shawn James, which Jen compares to the works of Rosamunde Pilcher, a beloved author among Jen's audience. The mention of this book in the video serves to pique the interest of viewers who are fans of Pilcher's style and to showcase the diversity of Jen's reading preferences.

💡Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble is a well-known bookstore chain in the United States. In the video, Jen mentions using a gift card and reward dollars from Barnes & Noble to purchase books. This keyword is relevant as it provides insight into Jen's shopping habits and the resources she uses to acquire books, which is of interest to her audience of book lovers.

💡DNF (Did Not Finish)

DNF is an acronym used in the book community to indicate that a reader has decided not to finish a book. In the video, Jen discusses two books that she 'DNFed,' which means she stopped reading them before completion. This keyword is important as it reflects the honesty and personal nature of Jen's reading experiences and her willingness to share both successes and disappointments in her literary journey.

💡Ann of the Island

Ann of the Island is a novel by L.M. Montgomery, which is part of the Anne of Green Gables series. Jen mentions that she is currently reading this book at a leisurely pace. This keyword is significant as it connects Jen's current reading list to a beloved classic series, indicating her appreciation for timeless literature and her desire to revisit familiar stories.

💡Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object

Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object is a novel by Lori Ostlund. Jen discusses rereading this book and its exploration of grief and personal relationships. This keyword is important as it showcases Jen's appreciation for contemporary literature and her interest in themes of loss, personal growth, and the complexities of human connections.

💡Book club

A book club is a type of social group where participants read and discuss books. Jen mentions needing to read a book club selection, 'Something Fresh' by P.G. Wodehouse, and starting 'Lark Rise to Candleford' for a reading group. This keyword is relevant as it highlights Jen's engagement with the broader literary community and her commitment to shared reading experiences.

💡Reading life

The term 'reading life' refers to an individual's personal journey and experiences with reading and literature. Jen uses this phrase to describe her own experiences, which is central to the video's theme. It encapsulates the essence of the video, which is about sharing her recent literary acquisitions, her reading journey, and the joy she finds in books.

Highlights

The video is an impromptu mini book haul and discussion about recent reads.

Jen shares her recent purchase from Persephone Books, celebrating their 25th anniversary.

The first book from Persephone Books is 'The Homemaker' by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, a story of role reversal between a husband and wife in 1924 England.

The second book from Persephone Books is 'One Afternoon' by Shawn James, compared to Rosamunde Pilcher's works.

Jen uses a Barnes & Noble gift card and reward dollars to purchase several books, including the next volume in the MM Lion Series.

She expresses her excitement for owning a beautiful copy of 'Heidi' by Joanna Spyri after listening to the audiobook.

Jen is collecting Wordsworth editions of Jane Austen's novels and is looking forward to rereading 'Emma'.

The last book in her haul is 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle, which she plans to read to fill a gap in her mystery reading.

Jen finished reading 'Darling' by India Knight, a modern retelling of 'The Pursuit of Love' by Nancy Mitford.

She found 'Darling' to be a delightful read with a particularly humorous portrayal of Uncle Matthew.

Jen's pick for Read Christie 2024 for May was 'Cards on the Table', which she has a special connection to, having starred in its play version.

She discusses her decision to DNF 'The Fountains Overflow' by Rebecca West due to unenjoyable tone and characters.

Jen also DNF 'Mothering Sunday' by Graham Swift, finding the main character unbelievable and the narrative disappointing.

She is currently enjoying 'Ann of the Island' by L.M. Montgomery, slowly reading it chapter by chapter.

Another book Jen is reading is 'Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object' by Lori Ostlund, which explores themes of grief and widowhood.

Jen plans to read her book club's book 'Something Fresh' by P.G. Wodehouse and 'Lark Rise to Candleford' for the Quiet Classics group.

She invites viewers to discuss books in the comments and to subscribe for more bookish content.