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These are the last two books I have read. I enjoyed them so much, and could relate to both of the main characters because I too have a strong desire of late to disappear. Thank you for this.

you may want to try clarice's crônicas! her short stories are also great

TH-cam Music will completely replace Google Podcasts from June 13, 2024. TH-cam Music is much more convenient than TH-cam as screen-off mode is available and listeners can opt to do other things either on the phone or not. Could you please make your channel available on TH-cam Music as well? Thanks 💖

For NYRB collection, I would recommend Hard Rain Falling by Don Carpenter, The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, and In The Cafe of Lost Youth by Patrick Modiano

It's crazy how many things we have in common: Mitski, Malissa, NYRB, and Penguin Modern Classics are all buzzwords that get me as excited as a dog hearing their favorite words LOL.

Thank you for this indept review! I just finished this read and been curious how others interpret those lofty dicussions of world history ~ that somehow didn't seem to matter to the characters in their actual lifes at all -- And now I'm looking forward to reading The Waves ;)

It makes me so happy to see you continue making videos! Love your channel 😍

I heard great things about Life with Picasso by Françoise Gilot and Carlton Lake, and Arabesques by Anton Shammas.

i read beware of pity because of malissa! never realized how pretty the book was until u showed it 🫣 i might have to buy that and a bunch more u mentioned

Bro’s mewing.

I have so many NYRBs and adore them. Thank you for sharing your collection. They are stunning, artistic editions of less well known classics. And I am gearing up for Indie Bookstore Day too. I love supporting our local indie! Can’t wait to see what you find.

wow ur back :D

Happy belated 30th, Alex! I will keep you posted on all my W&P thoughts, don’t you worry 😅 I am also back into classics for the first time in a few years - what a joy they are! And I downloaded a sample of Lies & Sorcery on my Kindle…do I dare?! I trust your taste, so maybe I’ll add it to my TOMES tbr for this year

I share your attitude toward Swimming in the Dark... my nickname for that book was "Cockblocked by Communism".

last year I bought a secondhand copy of Elsa Morante's novel History and it's on my list to read this summer. omg props to you for editing 40 minutes down to 16! Happy (belated) Birthday! 🎉

manifesting!!! what a lovely reminder that i need to get to get to Miaojin and Chang! also if you haven't yet, Rebels of the Neon God is a yummy Ming-liang!

I recently bought the living thoughts of Kierkegaard. It hasn’t arrived yet but judging from the reviews on Amazon it seems a good title.

Thank you for your little review on lies and sorcery. I’ve been thinking of getting this one but the size looks quite daunting that I need someone ensure it is worthy the time😊

Count of monte cristo is getting me back to classics

Yay an Alex video!! Happy birthday!! The NYRB books are so pretty I wish they were available in Australia! We do get Penguin Modern Classics here though and I love them, I will buy any I find second hand! I'm planning on going to Japan in November and also hoping to see Nathan on that trip!

Beware of Pity is one of the book that left me hangover for yearss..soooo gooooddddd

These are beautiful!

You may enjoy stories and essays by Elizabeth Hardwick in NYRB editions. A favorite is The New York Stories of Elizabeth Hardwick. Happy reading.

So happy to see your classics. I have a number of NYRB since they are the only editions to get works in translation for several titles. I also have a very large collection of Everyman Classics. They are my favorite to read. Wish a cute 30 year old guy like you was in my book club (queer male here).

i have a big stack of NYRBs that i need to get to and this is giving me motivation!! notes of a crocodile was so good!! i tried to pick up lies and sorcery earlier in the year and couldn’t get into it - good to know it’s worth it as you get further in!!

wonderful video - much love for lies and sorcery and beware of pity :)

I also want to read Another Country as my next Baldwin. I'm just VERY intimidated by it. I was telling my friends in Spain that the modern classics aren't available in the US, and they didn't know. Aesthetically pleasing tbh

These are some great classics. I don’t own a lot of penguins classics myself but they are iconic. I hope you will have great time traveling to Japan!

I want them all! 😎📚👍

The king posted😭😭

thank you Alex 💓 what a stunning collection can't wait to pick up Notes of a Crocodile, The Door, and Stoner! also i highly recommend strolling around Jimbocho book town in tokyo, it's difficult to find english bookshops but it's there, it's so worth to see! ooh checkout Shimokitazawa for cool coffee shops (Ogawa Coffee Laboratory is a fave) and really nice thrift stores.

I read both nyrb Qiu Miaojin books last year. I haven’t seen any for years but I used to be a big fan of Hou Hsiao Hsien’s movies - particularly _City of Sadness_ and _Good Men Good Women, Goodbye South Goodbye_ and earlier. I first read Eileen Chang last year too and liked her stories, _Fallen City_ better than the collection _Lust Caution._ Have fun in Japan!

LOVE NYRB and Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions!

Happy Birthday! Love Iceland! Kyoto is one of my top 3 favorite cities in the world! Chime in here if you go there, I have a great recommendation for a place to stay! Loved this video! Can’t wait to hear more from you!

I'm always keen on seeing one of your videos in my subscription feed and on listening to your recommendations of books/other channels. Belated happy 30th birthday 🎉

wait they don’t sell penguin modern classics in the us?

the book is so brilliant, beauty does not need any reason to exist! The book made me laugh, it made me cry, some pages literally made me pause because of his effective beautiful metaphors. His economy of the word use, everything is just so excellent. I have just found this book and he has won a new big fan in Indonesia, me. Ha ha

A really great list. Thank you. P.S. You are darn smart.

'Promosm' 😇

Hi Alex! Hope you're well :) A big YES to Fernanda Melchor - I love Paradais. Going to read Hurricane Season this year!

We never do abrillant litterature with good feeling.I ask from artist an to punch my mind, to disturb me and to shake my convictions;. In conclusion ythnhking better.Pooor little guy with your weakness ans sensibility.

A girl's story is definitely my favourite Ernaux ! It has stayed with me so much through the years, I'm glad you loved it as well :) I have tried The Birthday Party but never got past the first 20 pages... I'll try again !

In 2022 I read 52 books in 52 weeks. Then in 2023 I read 73 books and 14 of them fell in my top 40 of all time so the best reading year of my whole life in 2023 and so I figure take it easy in 2024.

also discovered Karl Ove Knausgaard this year, he is such a genius !!

Missed your videos all year, wishing you all the best for 2024, happy reading! thanks for the list!

Your quip about The Birthday Party has totally sold me on it! I'm sorry it hasn't been an easy year, and I'm thrilled to see you here on booktube.

🫶the blueprint

It's so lovely to see you back, Alex! I'd like to read The Birthday Party this year. Swimming Home sounds great. Just added to my list of books to read ☺

I so agree with you on Swimming Home making such a good series! Would love to see that adapted. Definitely my favorite Levy so far.