standing heavy by gauz reviewThe 2023 International Booker Prize Longlist booker baby

[00:00:00]hello guys welcome back it's me Karen hello guys welcome back it's me Karen hello guys welcome back it's me Karen your favorite booktuber and today your favorite booktuber and today your favorite booktuber and today we're here because it's an exciting time we're here because it's an exciting time we're here because it's an exciting time of the year it is Booker season and I'm of the year it is Booker season and I'm of the year it is Booker season and I'm reading the entire long list the first reading the entire long list the first reading the entire long list the first book that I want to talk about is book that I want to talk about is book that I want to talk about is standing heavy by Gauss translated from standing heavy by Gauss translated from standing heavy by Gauss translated from French into English by Frank Nguyen who French into English by Frank Nguyen who French into English by Frank Nguyen who I believe was a former I believe was a former I believe was a former International Booker judge now this book International Booker judge now this book International Booker judge now this book very short is a political satire giving very short is a political satire giving very short is a political satire giving commentary on migrants commentary on migrants commentary on migrants globalization colonization but with a globalization colonization but with a globalization colonization but with a very specific lens we're looking at very specific lens we're looking at very specific lens we're looking at security guards in France and we're security guards in France and we're security guards in France and we're following about two to three men we have following about two to three men we have following about two to three men we have we have our first guy Ferdinand who we have our first guy Ferdinand who we have our first guy Ferdinand who comes to Paris in the 1960s then we jump comes to Paris in the 1960s then we jump comes to Paris in the 1960s then we jump forward to the 1990s where we have osiri forward to the 1990s where we have osiri forward to the 1990s where we have osiri and kosum who are two young guys who and kosum who are two young guys who and kosum who are two young guys who become friends with each other and then become friends with each other and then become friends with each other and then we flash forward to the 2010s and we're we flash forward to the 2010s and we're we flash forward to the 2010s and we're tracing their time in Paris tracing their time in Paris tracing their time in Paris interjecting those narrative moments are interjecting those narrative moments are interjecting those narrative moments are these happy these happy these happy observations from a security guard observations from a security guard observations from a security guard observing primarily women shopping the observing primarily women shopping the observing primarily women shopping the observations really detracted from the observations really detracted from the observations really detracted from the novel For Me Maybe in French they read a novel For Me Maybe in French they read a novel For Me Maybe in French they read a lot funnier more clever but in English lot funnier more clever but in English lot funnier more clever but in English they didn't really feel that novel or they didn't really feel that novel or they didn't really feel that novel or funny funny funny that could also be because I have spent that could also be because I have spent that could also be because I have spent not gonna lie I've spent a lot of time not gonna lie I've spent a lot of time not gonna lie I've spent a lot of time at the mall I've spent a lot of time in at the mall I've spent a lot of time in at the mall I've spent a lot of time in Sephora and this novel does follow a Sephora and this novel does follow a Sephora and this novel does follow a security guard in Sephora because our security guard in Sephora because our security guard in Sephora because our author previously been a security guard author previously been a security guard author previously been a security guard in Sephora and so some of the in Sephora and so some of the in Sephora and so some of the observations that are made just to me a observations that are made just to me a observations that are made just to me a young person in 2023 young person in 2023 young person in 2023 who has spent a lot of time in shopping who has spent a lot of time in shopping who has spent a lot of time in shopping centers uh working in fashion and centers uh working in fashion and centers uh working in fashion and I don't know these this just didn't hit I don't know these this just didn't hit I don't know these this just didn't hit for me those moments really detracted for me those moments really detracted for me those moments really detracted for example there's this there's there's for example there's this there's there's for example there's this there's there's a few things that I can point out but a few things that I can point out but a few things that I can point out but one of them is the security guard one of them is the security guard one of them is the security guard earlier in the scene not at Sephora is earlier in the scene not at Sephora is earlier in the scene not at Sephora is talking about how now you know girls go talking about how now you know girls go talking about how now you know girls go to the stores they try clothes on and to the stores they try clothes on and to the stores they try clothes on and they take photos with their phones and they take photos with their phones and they take photos with their phones and how you know cell phones pixels have how you know cell phones pixels have how you know cell phones pixels have replaced the retina and replaced the retina and replaced the retina and I don't know I just like didn't find I don't know I just like didn't find I don't know I just like didn't find that funny or interesting it was like that funny or interesting it was like that funny or interesting it was like who cares who cares who cares what's what's wrong with that you know what's what's wrong with that you know what's what's wrong with that you know like what does it matter like what does it matter like what does it matter however however however if you take out those moments and if you take out those moments and if you take out those moments and unfortunately that would probably be unfortunately that would probably be unfortunately that would probably be about half a book about half a book about half a book um the moments were actually rooted in um the moments were actually rooted in um the moments were actually rooted in narrative where we are following oh Siri narrative where we are following oh Siri narrative where we are following oh Siri and his journey and how difficult is it and his journey and how difficult is it and his journey and how difficult is it it is to find a job and how when you're it is to find a job and how when you're it is to find a job and how when you're working these very boring jobs where you working these very boring jobs where you working these very boring jobs where you have to just stand hence the title have to just stand hence the title have to just stand hence the title standing heavy standing heavy standing heavy um you know it's not stimulating it's um you know it's not stimulating it's um you know it's not stimulating it's not interesting you either have to have not interesting you either have to have not interesting you either have to have as is pointed out in the novel a really as is pointed out in the novel a really as is pointed out in the novel a really active inner life or the ability to just active inner life or the ability to just active inner life or the ability to just turn things off not think about anything turn things off not think about anything turn things off not think about anything if we had had more time spent with osiri if we had had more time spent with osiri if we had had more time spent with osiri and seeing him you know working his jobs and seeing him you know working his jobs and seeing him you know working his jobs but also exploring the city because as but also exploring the city because as but also exploring the city because as his friend kosum finds out like oh Siri his friend kosum finds out like oh Siri his friend kosum finds out like oh Siri is actually traveling in the city and is actually traveling in the city and is actually traveling in the city and experiencing a world different than the experiencing a world different than the experiencing a world different than the one he was brought up then he's one he was brought up then he's one he was brought up then he's not just being a migrant he is traveling not just being a migrant he is traveling not just being a migrant he is traveling I would have loved to have seen more of I would have loved to have seen more of I would have loved to have seen more of that that that I would say as a whole I I don't really I would say as a whole I I don't really I would say as a whole I I don't really think that this this book is going to think that this this book is going to think that this this book is going to get shortlisted I don't think it's going get shortlisted I don't think it's going get shortlisted I don't think it's going to be for many people but it is a very to be for many people but it is a very to be for many people but it is a very quick little weekend read yes okay this quick little weekend read yes okay this quick little weekend read yes okay this is a very quick video but these are my is a very quick video but these are my is a very quick video but these are my thoughts on standing heavy would love to thoughts on standing heavy would love to thoughts on standing heavy would love to know if you've read it if you're going know if you've read it if you're going know if you've read it if you're going to read it what your thoughts are happy to read it what your thoughts are happy to read it what your thoughts are happy to have a longer conversation in the to have a longer conversation in the to have a longer conversation in the comments and thank you guys for watching