Castles! Cake! Candelabras! Chris! Cats! Cream tea! Congratulations!

My dad bought me Acts of Desperation when I went to visit him during Covid in Ireland and it was the last book he treated me to before he passed away. I was so nervous to read it because of that but finally took the plunge last week and adored it. I am planning on getting to Ordinary Human Failings soon, Nolan feels like a favourite author in the making. ❤

42 is the answer to “the question of life, the universe and everything”! Happy birthday Simon🎉😂❤

Chris singing was just adorable. I wish my husband sang to me like that! Happy happy birthday! 🎂

Of the Women’s Prize that I’ve read all have been great Enter Ghost ( I predict it will win) Solider Sailor The Wren,The Wren Ordinary Human Failings All were on audio. The narrator for Enter Ghost was particularly excellent.

Enjoyed Chris singing happy birthday. The cake topper was much fun.

Happy belated birthday! Biscuit is a lovely new addition to the family😸Enjoyed the vlog. Thanks for the recommendation of Ordinary Human Failings.

came for the womens prize books, stayed for the happy birthday song.

Love the Marilyn birthday rendition!

Happy belated birthday glad you had a wonderful day.Icing on the cake Chris singing 🎂🥳

Thanks for this delightful video, Simon!🌷

Restless Dolly Maunder - I feel completely the same. I've given up at half way. I'm really surprised this is on the longlist.

This was a real smorgasbord of video venues to watch--enjoyed this video a lot! It was so great of you to adopt a 9-y/o cat!

Well that was an amazing video, so much to enjoy!!! ❤

Absolutely fantastic video Simon, I love stately homes and ruins and some bookish content was just perfect. Looks like you’ve had a fabulous birthday week

I love videos like this! Ordinary Human Failings has been added to my tbr 😃

Thrilled to see another of your wonderful vlogs 🎉

Loved this video Simon! And just seen that conveniently part 2 is up now so I can watch that tomorrow 🥳

You have me very interested in Megan Nolan’s book. Knowing me I will probably purchase it today. I have absolutely no impulse control. I always look forward to what you and your mum think about the longlist. I am really enjoying your vlog, and I look forward to more in the future. Happy belated birthday 🎂 🍰🎈

Thank you so much for Swayze’s bottom. I didn’t realise how much I needed that ❤

Loved this vlog!! A very happy belated birthday to you 🎉 I haven't read any of these yet ( have read 3 different ones) but you have sold me on the Megan Nolan. It was one I have been least interested in but you have changed my mind 😮

OMG The Castle The Views The Birthday Song THE CAKE CANDELABRA 😍😍 And I haven't even gotten to the books yet. Thank you for sharing that Simon and Happy Birthday in after shot, as we say in Sweden.

The best part is Chris singing. love it. Happy belated birthday!

Happy belated Birthday 🎉I’m in the last months of being 42 and it has been a great year of getting back into reading. Love the name Biscuit, my lab is also called Biscuit and randomly also 9 and very playful, a great reading companion❤

Congratulations, Powys Castle looked amazing and definitely on my to visit list. 🎉

Simon, it’s your birthday but we’re getting a present! So excited for April Vlogs! 🎉

Happy birthday. I love Chris so much.

I absolutely loved Ordinary Human Failings and it has such a good title. I'm glad you loved it as well.

Happy birthday! Also, you have a really lovely garden!

I love all the sweet animal content 🫶🏽

I used your favourite fish and chip shop in my last novel and actually had a compliment from my editor for my description which was in part from seeing your videos of it over time, although I do know the areas as my aunt and uncle lived there. Ordinary Human Failings sounds like my cup of tea - maybe. I've ordered that one. Thank you for Patrick Swayze's bum I appreciated that. Aw you poor thing. I'm glad you were getting better. Great vlog

Biscuit is a great name. When my daughter was little, we had a story we used to tell each other about a group of cats living together - one was called Biscuit! Love the vlog!

what's weird is that Kate Grenville already wrote a "faction" book about her grandmother called Always Greener: The Restless Life of Dolly Russell, which was an Audible original. i think Restless Dolly Maunder is basically the same book again just with... even more conjecture? lol just bizarre

It looks like you had a lovely birthday. I agree that there are other Australian books that could have made the list. I have read and enjoyed Grenville but not this latest book yet. All the best to you 😊

What a complete joy this was! I just love these vlogs (and let’s be honest, anything you post). So glad you had a lovely birthday! ☀️ Yes, Megan Nolan! Happy to hear you enjoyed it, I can’t wait bc it very much sounds like my kind of thing. (And Enter Ghost) - It’s so interesting when ppl have the need to sort of insert themselves critically in other ppl’s lives. Bc it seems that thinking about why and what they expect to gain from it is not happening… And we don’t know each other but parasocially feel like we do apparently. Anyway, we can’t control other ppl. But glad you point it out bc it would be great with some self-reflection on this 😅 Have to say the non-fiction shortlist got the same reaction from me! (Listened to A Flat Place and it was brill imo) - Sorry for going on and on!!

That candelabra on your birthday cake was almost as amazing as Chris’ singing? The Biscuit footage was a treat! I have read all 3 of the WP for Fiction longlisted titles you read in this vlog and would order them the same way you did. Having said that, River East River West was a bit too YA for me and whilst I really liked Ordinary Human Failings, it did not linger with me for very long. Eager for more WP content!!!!

Thank you for adopting an older cat. That is wonderful. 😺

Fab vlog Simon! 😊 (apart from the fact you were sick for some of it 😔) the cover of my copy of Restless Dolly Maunder from the library is horrific (yes it has a face on it) I much prefer yours. I’m going to pick it up next - it’ll be my first Kate Grenville. I’ve also read Western Lane from the longlist. So happy that there is at least one Aussie book on the list!

I loved Ordinary Human Failings too. A 5 star for me and my favorite book of the year so far.

Ordinary human failings, just blew me away, loved the writing, so much I have just bought acts of desperation. Megan is an author I will now keep an eye on and hopefully there will be more to come.

I’m expecting Chris to sing like that to me in November 😂 I, too, loved Ordinary Human Failings 🎉❤

Loved this video Simon and was waiting to hear what you thought of River East, River West. Like you I rather enjoyed this one but having read three more books from the longlist it is now my third favourite. Will read the Nolan book next following your recommendation. Thanks 🎂

Oh my. Foster is the spitting image of my sweet Oliver, who was my soulmate before he passed away few years ago. Seeing Foster made my day!

Hi Simon V enjoyable! Llandudno - where Alan Bates of the UK Post Office scandal was underpostmaster. The scandal 'ignorance and arrogance' is on all media here in NZ. Def want2 read the Nolan but book not reached the city library yet (sigh). Reading Day One, Abigail Dean's follow up to the remarkable Girl A. Also trauma-centred but only a few pages in. Glad ur feeling bettr. Biscuit is a super name, so there naysayers!

Your husband is too adorable and he can sing me happy birthday anytime he wants!!!! ❤

Happy Birthday!!! (It’s still timely because I firmly believe in extended celebrations). May I hire Chris to sing for all our family birthdays??? He sounds waaaay better than we do. …Such a beautiful castle! The Peacocks! Oh wait…I guess the 2nd one was a proper castle-anyway, loving the vlog style and taking us to such gorgeous places. Biscuit under the couch. 🥹♥️ And what a gorgeous view while enjoying fish n chips. …Haha, the 🍑 shot!!!! 😳😍😂 Have fun falconry-ing!!! 👑 🧔‍♂️ 🦅 You have me excited to read more from the fiction list. So far I’ve read Hangman, The Wren The Wren, and Western Lane. I will be taking a pause from this list to read some possible Pulitzer contenders, but intend to read the long lists for both nonfiction & fiction eventually. Thank you for a very fun video!

Omg Chris’ (MM Mr President) “Happy Birthday” & cake bringing-in was fabulous 😁👏🏻 I 💛 the candelabra 🎂 🤗 As a ‘Peacock’ pleased to see those stunning birds amongst the lovely scenery ☺️ ……… (commenting on these points now in case I forget !!)

hope you had a wonderful time at Powis. It's onmy short list of places to visit.

Chris has a lovely voice and I enjoyed his Happy Birthday. I hope you had a lovely day. Your Fish and Chip maker is very good by the looks of it . Here in Australia, where I live it's hard to find a good Fish and Chip shop.

HAPPPPPPYYYYYY BIRTHDAYYYYYYY SEASON ( bc I’m tardy to the party ) 📖🪱💚💚💚💚

Great vlog! Also...that is solidly the best reason for not shaving a beard that I have ever heard!

Peacocks 🦚 are beautiful crazy cat man 🐈🤣🤣🤣 Enjoyed Meg Nolan’s first book 📖

Happy belated birthday! Reading this list as well. I’ve taken a stab at six of them and finished five. One I couldn’t quite join the ride. Like you, I’ve read River East, River West and Ordinary Human Failings. I thought they were both lovely reads and I would not be mad if they showed up on the short list. Really similar reaction to you about Alva and Lu Fang. I was intrigued by Lu Fang’s story the whole way through and Alva had to grow on me, but she did. Ordinary Human Failings is brimming with sensitivity and humanity. Her writing isn’t too shabby either. High marks for these two. I haven’t got ahold of the Grenville book yet. I may just skip this one as I’m finding quite a difference in the quality of the books on this list and it doesn’t sound very compelling. May check out her other novels, though. Half way through the Blue, Beautiful World and kind of wished I’d put it down sooner. However, I’ve gotten this far…Hope your next read is enjoyable and glad to see you are feeling better.

I've also just finished Ordinary Human Failings and it's the best book I've read in years. I hope it wins- although that is very unfair to say since it's the only one on the list that I've read! Loved the extra long video and especially seeing more of cheeky Biscuit. 🐱💗🎂🎉

Happy belated birthday

Totally agree with you about River East, river West. I absolutely preferred Lu Fangs story line. But I also enjoyed reading abaout the mother-daughter relationship between Alva and Sloan. Sloan is in a way the third main character here, but we are not allowed her perspective and that makes her a riddle to solve in a way. Enjoyed that!

I’ve just cancelled my reservation for Ordinary Human Failings from the library and bought a copy instead! Looking forward to it. I’ve read The Maiden which is enjoyable. It’s not anything new but it is a good romp; I liked it. I’ve read A Trace of Sun as well which I thought was really good… almost epic in scope but just great characters and what it means to be family. Loved it. I’ve got Dolly next to my bed from the library but reluctant to pick it up now.

I'm glad I made the decision not to start Restless DM, doesn't sound like it's for me at all. Totally agree with you about the negativity, but I will say the 2nd cat of your neighbours that you showed in the garden is odd looking 😂

Kylie was my fave too in the 80s early nineties Simon ❤ my mom still has the record I used to play over and over , I’d be dancing around the kitchen to I should be so lucky and I’d look at the record (on the cover is kylie with a big huge hat on) and just think she is the most gorgeous amazing woman on earth 😂 ps Chris birthday song was epic , I think if I had that it would have to be replayed every birthday to come ( traditional birthday song not allowed in this house , only the stevie wonder version , except for the year my son requested fleetwood mac randomly🤷‍♀️)

Happy Birthday! You've completely convinced me that I need to read Megan Nolan's novel (I wasn't going to). Great Review! Good to hear an overview of the themes, without giving too much away. Brotherless Night is my fav from the Women's Prize for Fiction LL, so far. I liked Kate Grenville's novel, I don't think that the UK cover gives the right vibe to the writing at all. The Australian cover gives a more appropriate vibe. Yes, I agree there are other Aus Novels that are probably more deserving on a spot on the WP LL. Melissa Lucashenko's Edenglassie might be one. I would say Alexis Wright's Praiseworthy, which is brilliant but maybe the writing is a bit less accessible-it's more allegorical IMHO. Tudor style Falconery sounds very cool! Happy Reading 🙂

Happy Birthday Simon. My bd too, I turned 64!

Nice shirt Simon!

I agree with your thoughts on Restless Dolly Maunder. I thought it was fine, but there have been so many excellent Australian fiction titles in recent years I don't know why some of those aren't being picked up by prizes. I've read five of this year's Stella longlist so far and I've enjoyed them even more than some of the Women's Prize longlist.

Hi Simon I am 6 down 10 to go on the Women’s Prize. I have read Restless Dolly Maunder, good story, not fab, and Ordinary Human Failings which I thought was really good.

I largely felt the same as you about these three books, I did give up on Dolly as I felt that important moments were dealt with in a paragraph which I don’t enjoy and I’m trying to be better at recognising 2/3 star books and not jut reading them because everyone else is.

Great to follow your experience of the list. I'm about two thirds through Dolly Maunder and tbh, I am bored. I agree it reads to me as 'this happened, then this happened, and then they moved here and then this happened'. Found some moments in River East a bit melodramatic (for me more some events in Lou Fang's life) but enjoyed it, it's a very good audiobook. I read Ordinary Human Failings a few months ago and recommend it constantly in tandem with Penance by Eliza Clarke

Had to stop the video early on to make this comment about bookmarks. I have hundreds and maybe more as have been collecting them as longer as I have been a reader…so 50+ years.

I read Dolly and I totally agree with you, I also found the ending very profound and although readable, I didn't feel I got to know her and therefore couldn't always get behind her or her actions. I felt it went too quickly especially through some pretty significant political events. I have enjoyed Soldier Sailor and Enter Ghost. I DNF one so far but I'm not feeling as excited by the books as I was last year

Nearly finished reading the books started non fiction short list

Pausing video to say: my new goal in life is to have an adorable man sing happy birthday to me EXACTLY that way while bearing a candelabra-topped cake. Back to the video.

I can’t believe you showed us an Egret! I don’t like them, how dare you???😂 **this is your dumb comment to piggyback off the peacock one- people are wild. Looks like you had a wonderful Birthday 😊🎉❤

How are you now Simon? I’m currently listening to Restless Dolly Maunder Brotherless Night I have some text copies of The Maiden And Then She Fell How’s your reading going?

So far from the Woman's Prize I have read The Maiden (because it was the only book I actually owned!), Restless Dolly Maunder (because it was the first reservation to come into my library) and Ordinary Human Failings. Ordinary Human Failings was just incredible an absolute 5 star read and to be honest I probably wouldn't have read this if it hadn't been on the longlist. But The Maiden and Restless Dolly Maunder were just fairly average, enjoyable enough historical fiction, and I don't understand how they got on the longlist. They certainly are accessible but I don't thing either is very original and I don't think I would call them execllent either. I won't get to the whole list but hoping to read River East, River West, Enter Ghost, Night Bloom and The Wren, The Wren and then see what's on the Shortlist.

Well this is lovely! Happy belated birthday Simon! 42 is a great number to be. Such neat digits! It's mine tomorrow and if my husband doesn't sing with the same enthusiasm as Chris I will be most disappointed! I'm going to be 33 though and I'm not so much of a fan of an odd number ha! No idea why I have the strong affinity to certain numbers 😆

DROP YOU SKINCARE ROUTINE!!!! I THOUGHT YOU WERE LIKE 28