Hey bookworms and literary classic lovers! After talking about a handful of classics I didn't care for, I thought it was only appropriate to discuss the greater majority of classics I did love. There are some "controversial" picks on here, so I've included the time stamps in the description if you'd prefer not to hear me gush about a particular book you find insensitive. I hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
I would never tell anyone to not read a book, but I do hope that Gone With the Wind and Huck Finn aren't the only books you've read about the antebellum South. I've been thinking a lot lately of "A Danger of A Single Story." www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en Let me know if you've read books told from the perspective of enslaved people. Have you read Kindred by Octavia Butler? It involves time travel so you might like it. My husband has many of her science fiction books, so I'm looking forward to reading those also. I've not read the following yet but am interested in learning more about our history: www.thoughtco.com/classic-slave-narratives-1773984
For some more reference material on "revenge books" I suggest the Icelandic saga called "Niall's Saga". It's a pretty epic "novel" written some time during the 1200s that tends to broaden people's horizon. PS -- it's an interesting part of the Mary Shelley's story that she was the daughter of William Godwin (of anarchism fame) and Mary Woolstonecraft (of feminism fame).
When reading a book, one has to always remember the time when it was written and take that into account. We should not ban or dismiss a book because of ideas we now consider problematic in 2020.
What about the books that are pushing harmful ideologies like the suppression of women, the condoning of the African Slave Trade (or even the White Slavery that was prevalent in the time of the Ottoman Empire)... Or books that were published in the medieval ages that pushes for the ethnic cleanse of non-Christians? Sure, we can say that the mindset of these authors don't line up with the thoughts of the 21st century, but it doesn't mean that these books deserve to remain in publication just because of their age and the author who penned such disgusting things.
Book banning is dangerous. When you allow a government to ban a certain book, you essentially allow them to ban ANY book, and it’s only a matter of time until they ban all books. Also on a side note: Dracula is effing amazing.
I'm ok with banning books. There's children's books promoting some pretty horrible things (don't wanna name them here for the channel's sake). Some shouldn't have been published in the first place.
@@MaxCadyS here’s the thing, you have the liberty to pick any book you like, you read what you want. I don’t want a group of offended people nor the government to tell me what I can read and what I cannot.
Don't be afraid to talk about classics!! Just because a group of elite, self-important academics enjoy cutting down real artists because they can't create anything themselves doesn't mean that normal, intelligent, adults, who understand context and nuance can't keep having important conversations.
I don't know about the rest of you fine folks, but I honestly don't care whether Mike likes or dislikes any particular book. What I love about Mike and why I come here is that he can articulate a nicely rational explanation for why he did or did not like the thing, and he does it objectively. That's so rare today it's godrotting superpower! So thanks Mike, for being cool like that.
I don't get why so few people have read, or talk about Jack London's novels: "Whitefang" and "Call of the wild". Two of my all-time favorite stories, no doubt.
I think they associate those novels with middle school assignments. I read them both recently and they blew me away. But my favorite Jack London so far is The Sea Wolf.
@@chrisw6164 I'm from Europe. So I didn't read those books at school, but I understand the reasoning for it. The Sea Wolf is on my to-read list. I will try to read it soon.
Jack London is one of my favorite authors too. He is also considered right wing with his Nationalist-Socialist views. We live in an age of liberal pansy soyboys who hate strong masculine authors and writing.
My favorite book of all time hands down is The Count of Monte Cristo. Ugh, my heart. I also love To Kill a Mockingbird, Gone With the Wind, and Dune. I'm new to your channel but am so glad I found it.
I personally agree that Scarlet O'Hara is a finely crafted, complex character, who is bratty and entitled, but is also incredibly persevering. She has will and strength, and loyalty that are impossible not to admire, while you also kind of hate her childish desire for things that she can't have and constant attempts at being the center of attention. The romance is also not a sugary soap opera, but a great exploration of the big and small mistakes people make every day. One of my favorite books.
I really appreciate you voicing your opinion despite the whole “cancel culture” bs. Your the first booktuber I’ve come across that doesn’t dismiss a book bc of modern day controversy and I’m just like ugh FINALLY 🙌🏽
I don't understand cancel culture when it comes to booktubers who are discussing controversial books. Unless it is something bad like condoning books written and/or endorsed by figures like Hitler and his Nazis... I mean... the hate that people who like Mark Twain's work (which I think has a message of anti-racism and anti-slavery?) is just baffling to me. With the first, I'd understand the cancel culture but the second... let people read what they want to and say whatever they want about it.
Love finding your old videos! To me, banning books and censorship are useless and always backfire. The best thing I’ve read about cancel culture frenzy was by Brendan O’Neill after a school in Scotland wanted to cancel To Kill a Mockingbird. “It often feels like we’re living through the revenge of the talentless. Cancel culture is essentially a war of no-marks against high achievers. Think of all those faceless furious people on Twitter who want the Harry Potter books thrown in the dumpster of history just because JK Rowling thinks biological sex is real”
I’m definitely okay if folks folks some of these things dated. I’ve always had the attitude of look at these things in the time they were written. Regardless, banning books is something I will NEVER be on board with.
Thanks! It would be quite hypocritical of me to base my channel on discussion and agreeing to disagree and then shouted my political beliefs at everyone. I am old enough to remember when it was fine ti disagree on things, even politics, and still be friends.
@@bookmistress7142 Nice. I have a similar situation with a friend of mine. We disagree on many things and I’m sure he thinks I’m a bit out there which I possibly am but we still get on very well and it never gets in the way. I need a place to go to avoid politics if I can. I read, I paint and I walk my dog. Most Social media is absolutely toxic if you ask me. When I quit Facebook I read 70 books in the following year. I’ll never look back.
One of my fav things about the Count of Monte Cristo is the romance. It would have been so easy for Dantes to win back X (censored for spoilers), but instead Dumas takes the much more satisfying bittersweet route.
Considering your list, I’m really surprised to not see Brave New World. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it. The long debate is BNW vs 1984, I’m a BNW guy. Huxley was just a genius overall and the predecessor to Orwell. Don’t judge it based on this upcoming show which will certainly blow.
'Far From the Madding Crowd' by Thomas Hardy is a book worth reading as an adult, not when they make you at school. It has complex characters and the most extraordinary prose. Speaking of which, 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler. If you've never read that you only know the many sad parodies of it. The original is breathtaking.
I really liked all Raymond Chandlers books. I thought The Big Sleep was the best though. So many different threads all pulled together by the time you get to the end.
I think Scarlett O'Hara is my favourite character of fiction ever. Other top favourite classics for me would be Count of Monte Cristo, War & Peace (surprisingly easy read just very long), 1984, and The Count of Monte Cristo.
Book #1 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells Book #2 1984 by George Orwell Book #3 Dracula by Bram Stoker Book #4 Lord of the Flies by William Golding Book #5 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Book #6 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr Book #7 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Book #8 The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Book #9 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Book #10 At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft Book #11 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Book #12 Frankenstein: by Mary Wollstonecraft Book #13 Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Book #14 Dune by Frank Herbert Any particular reason not to put the names of the books?
I was with you until Lord of the Flies. I agree with your thoughts on the book but I definitely did not care for this book at all. Other than that, enjoyed the list!
I think reading texts and watching films from the past not only provides an interesting insight into the mistakes of the past, but also show just how far we come, progressively. Not just in history, but in media as well. You can watch Casablanca or Gone with the Wind and still see why it’s considered iconic and get enjoyment from it, while acknowledging some of the dated flaws of it. I’m 20 (as of writing) and have watched Vertigo, while I enjoyed watching it with Hitchcock’s plot unraveling, it had some very creepy and somewhat manipulative undertones in the main characters relationship. Point being, you can still enjoy a piece of media while acknowledging its more heinous flaws.
I LOVE classics! Give me all the grit, all the stuff that this modern day is trying to erase. I want it all! Life is hard, folks. It's really really hard and insulating ourselves from painful truths and uncomfortable literature, art, and ideas will only make us weaker. I find it distressing to see Mike getting pushback for his feelings on classics and how "problematic" they are...so much so that he nearly didn't make this video. Ugh. I just have one question: how do we learn to do better if we aren't shown examples of where we went wrong as a culture/people? Plus, putting our 21st century lens on things written in the 18th and 19th century(and prior) is grossly unfair. To me, it's easy...if you don't like something because you feel it's offensive, then just don't read it. But for the rest of us who have a nuanced view of the world and how it works, the classics are a perfect representation of a genre that runs the gamut on what it is to be human; the best of humanity and the worst of humanity are on display and it all teaches us so much about who we are...if we are patient enough to learn.
Great video! My top 5 classic books are: The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Of Mice and Men, Tales of the South Pacific and Gulliver's Travels.
Have you read it yet? You should. It really is one of the best of all time. The only flaw is that now, so much has been ripped off/stolen or inspired by its story, and how it is told, that it may seem "unoriginal" when in fact, it's more original, the prototype if you will, than just about everything out there like it.
I absolutely loved the first Dune but hated the saga. I stopped reading mid-book (it was either by the end of the third or beginning of the forth in the saga), I just gave up, it was becoming tedious instead of enjoyable (it was around the time I was discovering Lem too). I thought it was overcomplicated and pretentious. The first one was on point. It was complex but it was still fairly easy to follow. The second I still like a lot. Then for whatever reason I lost all interest, didn't even bother to read analysis to learn how it ends.
2/3 as a pair are decent. God Emperor is a lot to wrap your head around. After that, they're really unforgettable. I really treat Dune as a stand alone for the most part. He set the bar too high.
I just finished Children of Dune and have little interest to read God Emperor. I agree with everything you said. Very tedious and too cerebral. I loved the first one.
Mike, I've suspected it before but am now sure, we would be great friends if we ever met. Great list and thanks for sharing. To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book and I had a similar experience to you; I had to read it for class and we were assigned chapter chunks to read but it was one of those that once I started I found it difficult to put down. The story just flowed so organically that I had to shove the rest of my homework aside and just keep going. Finished it in 2 sittings and it's the one book I've re-read the most (and yes it's going to come around again sometime soon). I have thoroughly enjoyed revisiting some classics that were assigned in school and discovering ones that weren't. Picked up Gone With the Wind for the first time a few years back and was surprised how much I loved it, and for a lot of the same reasons you did. Really enjoy your channel ✌️
I had to read Lord of the Flies in 6th grade, and I'm convinced that is entirely too young to appreciate that book. Also. I FINALLY added Dune to my TBR. It'll be awhile before I get there, but it's there! I kept pushing back, but you've convinced me 😂
To Kill a Mockingbird Bird is my favorite book of all time. Actually live south of Monroeville that the town is based on. Reread it every year or so. Love it.
The Count of Montecristo is a true masterpíece. It is so big but it reads so easily, that the size simply is not there. It is fluent, it is also a good history lesson, and it is just so entertaining and inspiring also. And it goes beyond revenge because it also shows how these evil characters, at least one of them, also brought evil to themselves from their own actions, not all coming from Edmundo Dantes...
@@mikesbookreviews Literally owe my publisher Book2 at the end of the month. I pitched the series as Robotech meets C'thulhu. Lots of space squids, mecha, and tentacles :p
I like to read classics if it’s not for school. I like talking about classics, if it’s not for school. I like analyzing classics if it’s not for school. I love classics, but school ruined my enjoyment of them. However I love Catcher in the Rye. (I know he doesn’t like his book) School made Catcher in the Rye my favorite classic. Holden Caufield is so annoying, my class descended into madness over our hate of Holden. My favorite thing is this phrase from my English teacher “Those who hate Holden Caufield, are Holden Caufield” If u say this to anyone who dislikes Catcher in the Rye, they will immediately go into a angry frenzy. My boy Holden does it again 😂
@@stspapergenius >read Fahrenheit 451 That isnt about how book burning is bad >Consider why There is nothing to consider, the why is obvious...The only reason a state would sanction book bans would be to decrease the power of dissident ideas and increase state power. Duh.
@@thethingthatshouldnotbe7221 I never said it was bad. there's a lot of discussion surrounding f451 regarding censorship. it's not the paramount of this issue, buts its a nice, short place to start. I'll consider the fact here that you just wanted to be argumentative, and I'll ecort myself and my r/whoooosh experience out of here
I also tend to reply to older comments for other people - not expecting someone to really get notifications and reply to them when they're several months old. sorry for bothering you bro, I just don't understand sarcasm and jest :P
I have not read many classics but Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame has always stuck with me since I read it in high School. I have Les Miserables on my tbr list, love the Musical and have very high expections on the book. Crime and Punishment by Dostojevskij is another good one.
I love Victor Hugo as both an author and poet, but I will forever hold a grudge against him for that horrific info dump chapter about Gothic architecture. I had to read Notre-Dame de Paris in both English and French (Books in Translation and French Literature classes). I did not appreciate the English translation whatsoever. A lot was omitted by Victorian English translators because it was too unclean. Glad to hear that Everyman's Classics did a recent translation to include as much of the problematic 'unclean' parts that make the book as well.
I feel as though forcing someone to analyze something for an assignment really can take the fun out of a story; even with how much how I love The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path, having to skim, analyze, write essays, various reports, and explain the novel to a T had killed a lot of fun I would've had if I were to read it in my free time. Also, poor Sylvia Path, she went through far too much in her life; she deserved far better in life. Anyways, there are far too many classics that are good, so I'll just state the top 5 ones I love below: 1) The Book of Disquiet: A novel that I related to on so many levels, and struck so many chords within me when it came to depression and just feeling so.... worthless in life. Best prose I've ever read, Bernardo Soares is a man I am just fascinated by, and a living example that a truly masterful author can make even the most dull of life exhilarating. So many quotes that just hit me so hard, especially this one: "My soul is a hidden orchestra; I know not the what instruments, what fiddlestrings and harps, drums and tamboura I sound and clash inside myself. All I hear is the symphony." - Fernando Pessoa 2) No Longer Human: Depression incarnate. The author, Osamu Daizai, pretty much wrote everything from the perspective of himself, a sort of confession on why him and his wife ended up taking their own lives. He was a man in suffering, one who felt a great disconnect to humanity, and with it, fell into vices to try and escape the traumas he endured in his youth, the crime committed upon him. And I related so much with that feeling of disconnect to reality, to people, to humanity. 3) The Count of Monet Cristo: Beautiful on every level. Great comedy, great prose, great symbolism, great drama, plot, action, everything about this book is damn near perfect, and deserves the title of masterpiece and classic. 4) Pretty much everything Lovecraft: Read him when I was eleven, and been in love ever since. Everything about Lovecraft's writing is just magnificent, and really did change my perspective back when I was little about my place in the world. Humbled me quite a bit, making me realize just how small I truly am compared to everything else, and that I should stop being a brat. Cosmicism hit me hard, man. 5) Sea of Fertility and Sun and Steel.: A beautifully written penology about Post-Russo War Japan, with some very fascinating commentary about Post-World War 2 Japan, and an author that surpasses his work with just how infamous he is (seriously, look him up after you've read his work, as his actions tend to supersede his work). Great symbolism, rather interesting insights into philosophy, and also the nature of humanity. Yukio Mishima's work is just beautiful, and deserves it's status of classic over in the Land of the Rising Sun.
I’m a sucker for good prose. A few of those I already know and are on the list. Lovecraft, Mishima, Dumas. The others I haven’t heard of. I’ll check it out.
Slaughterhouse-Five & 1984 have to be my favorite classics! I reread Slaughterhouse-Five a few months ago again and I’m still pulling new thoughts and themes from it.
Great List! If I could recommend though two of the Russians: Tolstoy and Dostoevsky? While Tolstoy has the big boppers (War and Peace and Anna Karenina), Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is fantastic, and I really loved The Idiot and Brother's Karamazov. Entertaining while also pretty philosophical and great explorations into human psyche. And, while not a classic, still a great, great read: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.
I've read everything on this list except Slaughterhouse Five. Even read the Dumas in French ( not from choice ) How about Animal Farm or Brave New World?
I instantly go check download size of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' at Project Gutenberg. Yikes! 5.1 MB without images in MOBI format. oO. For perspective The War of the Worlds is 791 kB.
I read dune when I was 20, and it blew my mind and elevated me to dizzing heights and transformed my entire being. It was my BIBLE. not only the first book, but the whole entire thing. Even heretics and chapterhouse, Bible! now I started to reread, just finished the first - dune. I'm almost 40 now. it's still chilling and dizzing and piss your pants awesome. but I gotta say that it's true, it really depends at which point in your life this book finds you. I'm discovering stuff that annoys me, bores me, makes me roll eyes, makes me skip pages. but nevertheless, jawdropping and ENDLESSLY EPIC!! p.s. unpopular opinion: heretics and chapterhouse are much better than pt.1. there I said it.
My favorite classics irregardless of genre. 1.Dune 2.1984 3. Fahrenheit 451 4. The Time Machine 5. Animal Farm 6. To Kill a Mockingbird 7. Starship Troopers 8. Lord of the Flies 9. Sherlock Holmes series 10. Around the World in 80 Days 11. Of Mice and Men 12. The Great Gatsby 13. The Hobbit 14. Charolette's Web
@@mikesbookreviews there is this weird thing about it that every man I recommended it to absolutely loved it and no female friend of mine actually finished the book, they hated it so much. Definitely the best novel I've ever read (I've read it in 3 languages, in English and Polish multiple times). It's mind-boggling how mediocre Heller's other books are.
Knowing now you're from Atlanta, Georgia, I'd like to have your take on a horror book set there. It was highly praised by Stephen King and that's why I've decided to read it: Anne River Siddons' The House Next Door'. Personally, I thought it was subpar. Still, it's an ok summer read.
1984, I really enjoyed it. It’s kind of eerie how a lot of what is happening today is part of today’s society in some countries. Slaughterhouse 5 has been something I’ve planned to read for a while now. I think I’ll throw it in for my July reads. Dude, that’s a great t shirt. R.I.P Chester 🙏🏼
@@JZETH_ Brave New World is a great book but first ? 50 pgs difficult to get through. Ira Levin’s This perfect Day is almost as good and more recent so easier to read.
moving to an Orwellian time? we've been here for 20+ years, remember when you didn't have to fear what you said? edit: i also find some heavy irony in 4:39 "stretching it a bit" after having spent a 2 minute and 11 second introduction apologizing and give bookmarks to people so that they can avoid sensitive topics LMAO. was your intro stretching it a bit too? ;-)
Frankenstein was published in 1818. Not 1823. (Still waiting for a faithful movie adaption.) People who never read the book, may not know that the creature isn't a simple minded, stiff walking monster. But speaks several languages. Uses fancy words and is actually more agile than a human.
TKAM was the first book I read that made me think about maturing and what I later found out was called empathy. I wonder if HL wrote "The Great American Novel" and stopped writing for publication because of that. Stephen King took ideas from Dracula and ran with them in Salem's Lot. Hehas talked about how SHirley Jackson influenced him. He liked the idea of a place being a battery that stored psychic/emotional energy. Thanks for the list.
I tried to get into Dune, but I ended up hating the hell out of it. I wanted to like it -- even invested in a nice leatherbound copy -- but just couldn't get into it. But, tastes vary. Wish I could like it, but I just don't. Anyway, good list! Try Wuthering Heights... I was surprised that that one was so good. And my favorite classic is Tarzan of the Apes. Yeah, it's preposterous, but damn it's a great story.
Thanks, Mike. Have not read all of these (and I'm an old guy), but all your reasons for your recommends are sound and well explained. My mother was born in the 20's and lost her father at an early age. Gone With the Wind was her favorite books (read it multiple times and wore out the seat in the theatre when the movie came out). She was a tough cookie, as were her mother and grandmother. Books matter, and banning books because the author's views were flawed or out of step with modern sensibilities is beyond evil. We need to see all sides of this creature we call human beings. Yeah, we're all steeped in evil, but that's because we're slightly lower than angels, and at least a third of them were rotten right out of the box.
I can’t believe schools have banned huckleberry Finn. Like if the book has a good overall theme and message, what’s the point in hiding it simply due to culturally different times. I feel like the fear of having it in schools is going to cause misconceptions about the story, and it’s honestly just not fair.. some people fear history way too much.
While I found Fahrenheit's themes and ideas extremely powerful, I also thought it was borderline unreadable on a prose level. And, even though someone could headcanon some thematic significance with this "style", finding out that he wrote it in one weekend in one go sort of lends no credibility to that theory
You attacking people suspicious of government is a joke. Just goes to show you can have a room full of books and yet still be completely ignorant. Not impressed.
Mike, not quite popular enough to be a true classic, but god it should be, is 'Johnny Got His Gun' by Dalton Trumbo (1939). One of the most difficult and uncomfortable books I've ever read, and I freaking love it. This is one of those books that almost made me man-cry all over the place. Highly recommended.
i'll admit that i was disappointed by not seeing any Heinlein on this list. is that because you don't like him that much, or because you haven't read any of him. i'd recommend stranger in a strange land as a good place to start
How did he miss that 1984 was about communism, and it’s still about communism the meaning hasn’t changed, and Orwellian only refers to communist dystopias
*To Kill A Mockingbird* is probably my all-time favorite, but I adore *Frankenstein,* too. I recently picked up the 1818 edition which I'm excited to read. Also love *Dracula* and *The Haunting of Hill House.* I have *The Count of Monte Cristo* and *Gone With the Wind* on my shelf, but have yet to read either. Such a great list, thanks for sharing!
Late comments here. I read Dune at roughly 16-18. I then followed up with a few of the prequels. I came away thinking that it was interesting but not my thing. Years later I saw the movie and was fascinated by their interpretation. Probably not something I will reread though. Almost all of my books are self selected because I was homeschooled and did not have a required reading list. This is in order of thought only. Tom Sawyer The Hobbit The Chronicles of Narnia (I am putting all seven under one heading). The Lord of the Rings Ender's Game Macbeth A Christmas Carol (I attempt to read it once a year.) Silas Marner Dracula The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (I have both volumes of mysteries published by Barnes and Noble.) The Art of War White Fang Call of the Wild Oliver Twist Nicholas Nickleby Pilgrim's Progress The Prince There were a couple of nonfiction works in that list, but they were still great works and remain among my favorites.
I think we have to learn from history or we risk repeating it. Books are a way to sort of travel in time and be able to gain an understanding of how it was to live during different timeperiods. Banning books are only helping us forget things we better remember. Cancel culture is horrible. A book is not it's author and I don't feel like I have to agree with an authors views to be able to enjoy his or her work.
Hey bookworms and literary classic lovers! After talking about a handful of classics I didn't care for, I thought it was only appropriate to discuss the greater majority of classics I did love. There are some "controversial" picks on here, so I've included the time stamps in the description if you'd prefer not to hear me gush about a particular book you find insensitive. I hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
I would never tell anyone to not read a book, but I do hope that Gone With the Wind and Huck Finn aren't the only books you've read about the antebellum South. I've been thinking a lot lately of "A Danger of A Single Story."
www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en
Let me know if you've read books told from the perspective of enslaved people. Have you read Kindred by Octavia Butler? It involves time travel so you might like it. My husband has many of her science fiction books, so I'm looking forward to reading those also.
I've not read the following yet but am interested in learning more about our history: www.thoughtco.com/classic-slave-narratives-1773984
You didn't put them in the description I think haha
@@elizabethgardner6832 - just can’t help yourself
For some more reference material on "revenge books" I suggest the Icelandic saga called "Niall's Saga". It's a pretty epic "novel" written some time during the 1200s that tends to broaden people's horizon. PS -- it's an interesting part of the Mary Shelley's story that she was the daughter of William Godwin (of anarchism fame) and Mary Woolstonecraft (of feminism fame).
There are no time stamps though 😥
Count of Monte Christo is the best revenge story of all-time. There is no question about this. Fact
Yuuup
My Dad got me to read it. Said it was the best book he had ever read. It is pretty close to my top read.
And was written in 1844.
I will 100% agree.
Indeed!
When reading a book, one has to always remember the time when it was written and take that into account. We should not ban or dismiss a book because of ideas we now consider problematic in 2020.
Nor should we believe that 2020 is somehow more enlightened about human nature and deprivation than people who lived in real poverty and cruelty.
What about the books that are pushing harmful ideologies like the suppression of women, the condoning of the African Slave Trade (or even the White Slavery that was prevalent in the time of the Ottoman Empire)... Or books that were published in the medieval ages that pushes for the ethnic cleanse of non-Christians? Sure, we can say that the mindset of these authors don't line up with the thoughts of the 21st century, but it doesn't mean that these books deserve to remain in publication just because of their age and the author who penned such disgusting things.
@@TiffWaffles absolutely
tho I do think they should be archived for the sake of history
other than that, remove them from publication all you want
Your right, slippery slope!
My favourite classic author is definitely Jack London
Book banning is dangerous. When you allow a government to ban a certain book, you essentially allow them to ban ANY book, and it’s only a matter of time until they ban all books. Also on a side note: Dracula is effing amazing.
From your lips to gods ears. We need to get back to not only talking to one another, but also listening.
It’s the same with words that are spoken if you allow someone to tell you what you are allowed to say then they can change the world
I'm ok with banning books. There's children's books promoting some pretty horrible things (don't wanna name them here for the channel's sake). Some shouldn't have been published in the first place.
@@MaxCadyS Nobody should destroy ones art because said persons personal bias.
@@MaxCadyS here’s the thing, you have the liberty to pick any book you like, you read what you want. I don’t want a group of offended people nor the government to tell me what I can read and what I cannot.
please do the “books that made me cry”, that’ll be fun!
I second this! Would be a really interesting vid.
It'll happen, for sure.
Ohh awesome ... i was thinking about doing this too 😉
Where the Red Fern Grows has to be on there. Unless Mike hasn’t read it, of course.
And books that actually made you LOL
Linkin Park shirt is fire
I'm just about out of rock shirts ha ha
@@mikesbookreviews time to buy some more :)
Don't be afraid to talk about classics!!
Just because a group of elite, self-important academics enjoy cutting down real artists because they can't create anything themselves doesn't mean that normal, intelligent, adults, who understand context and nuance can't keep having important conversations.
FINE, I'll read Dune, Mike. You wore me down.
I just read it so you don't have to. Just tell people it is about sand and spice.
My work here is done.
I have tried, but I will try again!
I don't know about the rest of you fine folks, but I honestly don't care whether Mike likes or dislikes any particular book. What I love about Mike and why I come here is that he can articulate a nicely rational explanation for why he did or did not like the thing, and he does it objectively. That's so rare today it's godrotting superpower! So thanks Mike, for being cool like that.
Thanks so much for saying so. I do appreciate it.
I completely agree. First time here; it won’t be the last.
@@mikesbookreviews Reading Shelley now! Absolutely better than Jackson!
Reading the Count of Monte Cristo for the first time now. What a treat it has been.
I don't get why so few people have read, or talk about Jack London's novels: "Whitefang" and "Call of the wild". Two of my all-time favorite stories, no doubt.
I think they associate those novels with middle school assignments. I read them both recently and they blew me away. But my favorite Jack London so far is The Sea Wolf.
@@chrisw6164 I'm from Europe. So I didn't read those books at school, but I understand the reasoning for it. The Sea Wolf is on my to-read list. I will try to read it soon.
Oh, I just loved Whitefang when I was a child. I might have to read it again. The Call of the Wild was a good one as well.
Jack London is one of my favorite authors too. He is also considered right wing with his Nationalist-Socialist views. We live in an age of liberal pansy soyboys who hate strong masculine authors and writing.
I'm not a mutt lover so I don't read mutt lover books
The way you explain books make me want to read them.
That’s the goal!
The Time Machine and 1984 are also two of my favorite. They make wonder "Where we headed as a race?" "Where are we going?" Awesome, awesome reads.
My favorite book of all time hands down is The Count of Monte Cristo. Ugh, my heart. I also love To Kill a Mockingbird, Gone With the Wind, and Dune. I'm new to your channel but am so glad I found it.
How is the book dune?
I personally agree that Scarlet O'Hara is a finely crafted, complex character, who is bratty and entitled, but is also incredibly persevering. She has will and strength, and loyalty that are impossible not to admire, while you also kind of hate her childish desire for things that she can't have and constant attempts at being the center of attention. The romance is also not a sugary soap opera, but a great exploration of the big and small mistakes people make every day. One of my favorite books.
I really appreciate you voicing your opinion despite the whole “cancel culture” bs. Your the first booktuber I’ve come across that doesn’t dismiss a book bc of modern day controversy and I’m just like ugh FINALLY 🙌🏽
I try to keep the focus on just the books. Thanks for watching!
Geeks and Gamers is also opposed to book banning, but their focal points are elsewhere.
I don't understand cancel culture when it comes to booktubers who are discussing controversial books. Unless it is something bad like condoning books written and/or endorsed by figures like Hitler and his Nazis... I mean... the hate that people who like Mark Twain's work (which I think has a message of anti-racism and anti-slavery?) is just baffling to me. With the first, I'd understand the cancel culture but the second... let people read what they want to and say whatever they want about it.
Love finding your old videos! To me, banning books and censorship are useless and always backfire. The best thing I’ve read about cancel culture frenzy was by Brendan O’Neill after a school in Scotland wanted to cancel To Kill a Mockingbird. “It often feels like we’re living through the revenge of the talentless. Cancel culture is essentially a war of no-marks against high achievers. Think of all those faceless furious people on Twitter who want the Harry Potter books thrown in the dumpster of history just because JK Rowling thinks biological sex is real”
I’m definitely okay if folks folks some of these things dated. I’ve always had the attitude of look at these things in the time they were written. Regardless, banning books is something I will NEVER be on board with.
A great Count of Monte Christo science fiction re telling is The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester...a sci fi classic! Great list Mike.
I’ve heard this before. Sounds really cool.
Have you read "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde? Considering the Genre...you would totally LOVE it!!!
I love that you don’t touch politics. That makes you the best booktube in my opinion
Thanks! It would be quite hypocritical of me to base my channel on discussion and agreeing to disagree and then shouted my political beliefs at everyone. I am old enough to remember when it was fine ti disagree on things, even politics, and still be friends.
@@bookmistress7142 Nice. I have a similar situation with a friend of mine. We disagree on many things and I’m sure he thinks I’m a bit out there which I possibly am but we still get on very well and it never gets in the way. I need a place to go to avoid politics if I can. I read, I paint and I walk my dog. Most Social media is absolutely toxic if you ask me. When I quit Facebook I read 70 books in the following year. I’ll never look back.
I absolutely love Gone With the Wind. Scarlett is my role model for her strength and gusto
She’s an icon.
19k gonna happen! Way to go, Mike!
Tonight or tomorrow!
Todaaaay! Let’s share the video
You picked 3 of my faves! I love Dracula, To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone With the Wind! I am against banning books and even worse - burning books!
Lord of the flies is a dark but excellent book.
One of my fav things about the Count of Monte Cristo is the romance. It would have been so easy for Dantes to win back X (censored for spoilers), but instead Dumas takes the much more satisfying bittersweet route.
Considering your list, I’m really surprised to not see Brave New World. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it. The long debate is BNW vs 1984, I’m a BNW guy. Huxley was just a genius overall and the predecessor to Orwell. Don’t judge it based on this upcoming show which will certainly blow.
Going through these comments seeing all the praise for Orwell and 1984 waiting for someone to bring up BNW. BNW is superior to 1984.
I had to read Fahrenheit 451 in 9th grade and I loved it. It's one of my favorite books.
Hold it. You can't talk about classic because of pushback? What kind of channel is this? You read 1984 right?
Ha. Folks are always big mad about something these days.
'Far From the Madding Crowd' by Thomas Hardy is a book worth reading as an adult, not when they make you at school. It has complex characters and the most extraordinary prose. Speaking of which, 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler. If you've never read that you only know the many sad parodies of it. The original is breathtaking.
Chandler is on the list. Will check out the other. Love good prose.
I really liked all Raymond Chandlers books. I thought The Big Sleep was the best though. So many different threads all pulled together by the time you get to the end.
Hey Mike, you don't have to apologize to us for liking books that have controversial material. We get it. No one book is going to please everyone.
Definitely not an apology. But I do accept others have reasons for not liking some of these titles and I want to respect their right to that opinion.
I think Scarlett O'Hara is my favourite character of fiction ever. Other top favourite classics for me would be Count of Monte Cristo, War & Peace (surprisingly easy read just very long), 1984, and The Count of Monte Cristo.
Expected Don Quixote by Cervantes unabridged version in English ...
One of the best comedy novel of 19th century
Still haven’t read it.
@@mikesbookreviews try it bro ...
Great pick!
correction is from 17th century
Book #1 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Book #2 1984 by George Orwell
Book #3 Dracula by Bram Stoker
Book #4 Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Book #5 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Book #6 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr
Book #7 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Book #8 The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Book #9 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Book #10 At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
Book #11 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Book #12 Frankenstein: by Mary Wollstonecraft
Book #13 Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Book #14 Dune by Frank Herbert
Any particular reason not to put the names of the books?
Thank you, I hate that he doesn't split the video every time he mentions another book
I was with you until Lord of the Flies. I agree with your thoughts on the book but I definitely did not care for this book at all. Other than that, enjoyed the list!
That’s fine. My wife HATED Lord of the Flies and shook her head that I included it on here.
I think reading texts and watching films from the past not only provides an interesting insight into the mistakes of the past, but also show just how far we come, progressively. Not just in history, but in media as well. You can watch Casablanca or Gone with the Wind and still see why it’s considered iconic and get enjoyment from it, while acknowledging some of the dated flaws of it. I’m 20 (as of writing) and have watched Vertigo, while I enjoyed watching it with Hitchcock’s plot unraveling, it had some very creepy and somewhat manipulative undertones in the main characters relationship. Point being, you can still enjoy a piece of media while acknowledging its more heinous flaws.
I LOVE classics! Give me all the grit, all the stuff that this modern day is trying to erase. I want it all! Life is hard, folks. It's really really hard and insulating ourselves from painful truths and uncomfortable literature, art, and ideas will only make us weaker. I find it distressing to see Mike getting pushback for his feelings on classics and how "problematic" they are...so much so that he nearly didn't make this video. Ugh. I just have one question: how do we learn to do better if we aren't shown examples of where we went wrong as a culture/people? Plus, putting our 21st century lens on things written in the 18th and 19th century(and prior) is grossly unfair. To me, it's easy...if you don't like something because you feel it's offensive, then just don't read it. But for the rest of us who have a nuanced view of the world and how it works, the classics are a perfect representation of a genre that runs the gamut on what it is to be human; the best of humanity and the worst of humanity are on display and it all teaches us so much about who we are...if we are patient enough to learn.
Great video! My top 5 classic books are: The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Of Mice and Men, Tales of the South Pacific and Gulliver's Travels.
The Count of Monte Cristo has been sitting on my shelf for a few weeks....I'm super intimidated to get into it.
It’s long but brilliant.
Have you read it yet. You have to. It’s a joy.
Have you read it yet? You should. It really is one of the best of all time. The only flaw is that now, so much has been ripped off/stolen or inspired by its story, and how it is told, that it may seem "unoriginal" when in fact, it's more original, the prototype if you will, than just about everything out there like it.
The Sea Wolf by Jack London. Criminally overlooked these days. Captain Wolf Larsen is an unforgettable character, and you will love to hate him.
I forgot all about Sea Wolf. Thank you
When whales are extinct, Moby Dick will be moved to the fantasy/sci-fi section and become a bestseller.
At this rate, they will certainly ban move dick if the whales go extinct.
"there were about 30 and I narrowed it down"....need a part dos
I discovered Lovecraft as an adult, At the Mountains of Madness is probably his best work. Really recommend the audio book edition.
I just finished “Solaris” amazing classic sci fi with a brilliant take on the genre. I highly recommend if you haven’t read it
I absolutely loved the first Dune but hated the saga. I stopped reading mid-book (it was either by the end of the third or beginning of the forth in the saga), I just gave up, it was becoming tedious instead of enjoyable (it was around the time I was discovering Lem too). I thought it was overcomplicated and pretentious. The first one was on point. It was complex but it was still fairly easy to follow. The second I still like a lot. Then for whatever reason I lost all interest, didn't even bother to read analysis to learn how it ends.
2/3 as a pair are decent. God Emperor is a lot to wrap your head around. After that, they're really unforgettable. I really treat Dune as a stand alone for the most part. He set the bar too high.
I just finished Children of Dune and have little interest to read God Emperor. I agree with everything you said. Very tedious and too cerebral. I loved the first one.
Mike, I've suspected it before but am now sure, we would be great friends if we ever met. Great list and thanks for sharing. To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book and I had a similar experience to you; I had to read it for class and we were assigned chapter chunks to read but it was one of those that once I started I found it difficult to put down. The story just flowed so organically that I had to shove the rest of my homework aside and just keep going. Finished it in 2 sittings and it's the one book I've re-read the most (and yes it's going to come around again sometime soon).
I have thoroughly enjoyed revisiting some classics that were assigned in school and discovering ones that weren't. Picked up Gone With the Wind for the first time a few years back and was surprised how much I loved it, and for a lot of the same reasons you did.
Really enjoy your channel ✌️
Thanks for the kind words!
I’m a huge fan Of Mice & Men
I've still yet to read it, sadly.
@@mikesbookreviews I read it in an afternoon. I think it's about 100 pages, really good story.
So sad
@@mikesbookreviews really quik read, but well worth it.
I had to read Lord of the Flies in 6th grade, and I'm convinced that is entirely too young to appreciate that book.
Also. I FINALLY added Dune to my TBR. It'll be awhile before I get there, but it's there! I kept pushing back, but you've convinced me 😂
Definitely too early to read a book with themes as deep as that.
To Kill a Mockingbird Bird is my favorite book of all time. Actually live south of Monroeville that the town is based on. Reread it every year or so. Love it.
Very cool!
Dune!
The Count of Montecristo is a true masterpíece. It is so big but it reads so easily, that the size simply is not there. It is fluent, it is also a good history lesson, and it is just so entertaining and inspiring also. And it goes beyond revenge because it also shows how these evil characters, at least one of them, also brought evil to themselves from their own actions, not all coming from Edmundo Dantes...
No politics. No controversial content.
But...this is the internet :(
Ha ha I'm sure it'll come up in the comments when I have Twain, Lovecraft, and Gone With the Wind on here.
@@mikesbookreviews Oh, just hit the Lovecraft part!
@@JamesMcCormickIV *tentacles coming out of the screen*
@@mikesbookreviews Literally owe my publisher Book2 at the end of the month. I pitched the series as Robotech meets C'thulhu.
Lots of space squids, mecha, and tentacles :p
No Edgar Allan Poe?
Asimov?
Dickens?
Loved the video and the list. 14 is an interesting number.
I’m doing Poe in October and couldn’t decide on one for this since they’re all mostly 15 pages long. Haven’t read Asimov or Dickens yet.
The Iliad and The Odyssey translated by F. Scott Fitzgerald make the top of my classics list. Some Shakespeare as well. Jane Austen even.
Never gotten all the way through Iliad.
I like to read classics if it’s not for school. I like talking about classics, if it’s not for school. I like analyzing classics if it’s not for school. I love classics, but school ruined my enjoyment of them.
However
I love Catcher in the Rye. (I know he doesn’t like his book) School made Catcher in the Rye my favorite classic. Holden Caufield is so annoying, my class descended into madness over our hate of Holden. My favorite thing is this phrase from my English teacher
“Those who hate Holden Caufield, are Holden Caufield”
If u say this to anyone who dislikes Catcher in the Rye, they will immediately go into a angry frenzy. My boy Holden does it again 😂
Interesting theory. I'm indifferent on Holden. But folks do have strong opinions about the book one way or the other.
Im so happy that I came across your channel
Same here!
Dont burn or ban books!
Why?
@@thethingthatshouldnotbe7221 read fahrenheit 451
@@stspapergenius
>read Fahrenheit 451
That isnt about how book burning is bad
>Consider why
There is nothing to consider, the why is obvious...The only reason a state would sanction book bans would be to decrease the power of dissident ideas and increase state power. Duh.
@@thethingthatshouldnotbe7221 I never said it was bad. there's a lot of discussion surrounding f451 regarding censorship. it's not the paramount of this issue, buts its a nice, short place to start. I'll consider the fact here that you just wanted to be argumentative, and I'll ecort myself and my r/whoooosh experience out of here
I also tend to reply to older comments for other people - not expecting someone to really get notifications and reply to them when they're several months old. sorry for bothering you bro, I just don't understand sarcasm and jest :P
I have not read many classics but Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame has always stuck with me since I read it in high School. I have Les Miserables on my tbr list, love the Musical and have very high expections on the book.
Crime and Punishment by Dostojevskij is another good one.
I love Victor Hugo as both an author and poet, but I will forever hold a grudge against him for that horrific info dump chapter about Gothic architecture. I had to read Notre-Dame de Paris in both English and French (Books in Translation and French Literature classes). I did not appreciate the English translation whatsoever. A lot was omitted by Victorian English translators because it was too unclean. Glad to hear that Everyman's Classics did a recent translation to include as much of the problematic 'unclean' parts that make the book as well.
I feel as though forcing someone to analyze something for an assignment really can take the fun out of a story; even with how much how I love The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path, having to skim, analyze, write essays, various reports, and explain the novel to a T had killed a lot of fun I would've had if I were to read it in my free time. Also, poor Sylvia Path, she went through far too much in her life; she deserved far better in life.
Anyways, there are far too many classics that are good, so I'll just state the top 5 ones I love below:
1) The Book of Disquiet: A novel that I related to on so many levels, and struck so many chords within me when it came to depression and just feeling so.... worthless in life. Best prose I've ever read, Bernardo Soares is a man I am just fascinated by, and a living example that a truly masterful author can make even the most dull of life exhilarating. So many quotes that just hit me so hard, especially this one: "My soul is a hidden orchestra; I know not the what instruments, what fiddlestrings and harps, drums and tamboura I sound and clash inside myself. All I hear is the symphony." - Fernando Pessoa
2) No Longer Human: Depression incarnate. The author, Osamu Daizai, pretty much wrote everything from the perspective of himself, a sort of confession on why him and his wife ended up taking their own lives. He was a man in suffering, one who felt a great disconnect to humanity, and with it, fell into vices to try and escape the traumas he endured in his youth, the crime committed upon him. And I related so much with that feeling of disconnect to reality, to people, to humanity.
3) The Count of Monet Cristo: Beautiful on every level. Great comedy, great prose, great symbolism, great drama, plot, action, everything about this book is damn near perfect, and deserves the title of masterpiece and classic.
4) Pretty much everything Lovecraft: Read him when I was eleven, and been in love ever since. Everything about Lovecraft's writing is just magnificent, and really did change my perspective back when I was little about my place in the world. Humbled me quite a bit, making me realize just how small I truly am compared to everything else, and that I should stop being a brat. Cosmicism hit me hard, man.
5) Sea of Fertility and Sun and Steel.: A beautifully written penology about Post-Russo War Japan, with some very fascinating commentary about Post-World War 2 Japan, and an author that surpasses his work with just how infamous he is (seriously, look him up after you've read his work, as his actions tend to supersede his work). Great symbolism, rather interesting insights into philosophy, and also the nature of humanity. Yukio Mishima's work is just beautiful, and deserves it's status of classic over in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Absolutely. No one wants reading to feel like work.
Thanks for the recs.
I’m a sucker for good prose. A few of those I already know and are on the list. Lovecraft, Mishima, Dumas. The others I haven’t heard of. I’ll check it out.
My list would have John Carter of Mars.
Yassss!
Slaughterhouse-Five & 1984 have to be my favorite classics! I reread Slaughterhouse-Five a few months ago again and I’m still pulling new thoughts and themes from it.
💯
Great List! If I could recommend though two of the Russians: Tolstoy and Dostoevsky? While Tolstoy has the big boppers (War and Peace and Anna Karenina), Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is fantastic, and I really loved The Idiot and Brother's Karamazov. Entertaining while also pretty philosophical and great explorations into human psyche. And, while not a classic, still a great, great read: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.
C&P is one I've always said I'd get to some day.
Good one!
... and don't forget Anton Chekhov... SO good...
I've read everything on this list except Slaughterhouse Five.
Even read the Dumas in French ( not from choice )
How about Animal Farm or Brave New World?
Both are great pics!
Always preferred Animal Farm to 1984
I’ve yet to read AF or BNW.
I instantly go check download size of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' at Project Gutenberg. Yikes! 5.1 MB without images in MOBI format. oO. For perspective The War of the Worlds is 791 kB.
It’s a thick boy.
@@mikesbookreviews I'm not afraid of 'a lot of book', but it is a bit of a commitment. :)
Highly recommend A Clockwork Orange if you haven't read it already
Never even seen the movie!
I was going to say this. I loved the movie, and I worship Kubrick, but I still loved the book more. Truly surprised me, how much I liked it.
I read dune when I was 20, and it blew my mind and elevated me to dizzing heights and transformed my entire being. It was my BIBLE. not only the first book, but the whole entire thing. Even heretics and chapterhouse, Bible!
now I started to reread, just finished the first - dune. I'm almost 40 now. it's still chilling and dizzing and piss your pants awesome. but I gotta say that it's true, it really depends at which point in your life this book finds you. I'm discovering stuff that annoys me, bores me, makes me roll eyes, makes me skip pages. but nevertheless, jawdropping and ENDLESSLY EPIC!!
p.s. unpopular opinion: heretics and chapterhouse are much better than pt.1. there I said it.
By saying part 1 do you mean the first book of dune saga? Isn't that good?
My favorite classics irregardless of genre.
1.Dune
2.1984
3. Fahrenheit 451
4. The Time Machine
5. Animal Farm
6. To Kill a Mockingbird
7. Starship Troopers
8. Lord of the Flies
9. Sherlock Holmes series
10. Around the World in 80 Days
11. Of Mice and Men
12. The Great Gatsby
13. The Hobbit
14. Charolette's Web
Some great picks!
No love for Catch-22?
Have yet to read it.
@@mikesbookreviews there is this weird thing about it that every man I recommended it to absolutely loved it and no female friend of mine actually finished the book, they hated it so much.
Definitely the best novel I've ever read (I've read it in 3 languages, in English and Polish multiple times).
It's mind-boggling how mediocre Heller's other books are.
@@pawelzietek That last sentence is so true.
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu is a vampire book that heavily inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It is good and only 60-something pages.
Knowing now you're from Atlanta, Georgia, I'd like to have your take on a horror book set there. It was highly praised by Stephen King and that's why I've decided to read it: Anne River Siddons' The House Next Door'. Personally, I thought it was subpar. Still, it's an ok summer read.
1984, I really enjoyed it. It’s kind of eerie how a lot of what is happening today is part of today’s society in some countries.
Slaughterhouse 5 has been something I’ve planned to read for a while now. I think I’ll throw it in for my July reads.
Dude, that’s a great t shirt.
R.I.P Chester 🙏🏼
Its great, also Brave New world and Fahrenheit 451
It’s a crazy read but very good.
Turtle Anton I actually own Brave New World but I didn’t give it a fair shot. I’ll take another look later this year.
It was meant as a warning, not an instruction manual.
@@JZETH_ Brave New World is a great book but first ? 50 pgs difficult to get through. Ira Levin’s This perfect Day is almost as good and more recent so easier to read.
moving to an Orwellian time? we've been here for 20+ years, remember when you didn't have to fear what you said?
edit: i also find some heavy irony in 4:39 "stretching it a bit" after having spent a 2 minute and 11 second introduction apologizing and give bookmarks to people so that they can avoid sensitive topics LMAO. was your intro stretching it a bit too? ;-)
Frankenstein was published in 1818. Not 1823. (Still waiting for a faithful movie adaption.) People who never read the book, may not know that the creature isn't a simple minded, stiff walking monster. But speaks several languages. Uses fancy words and is actually more agile than a human.
Dracula... great novel. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty is also great work literature.
Yes it is!
TKAM was the first book I read that made me think about maturing and what I later found out was called empathy. I wonder if HL wrote "The Great American Novel" and stopped writing for publication because of that.
Stephen King took ideas from Dracula and ran with them in Salem's Lot. Hehas talked about how SHirley Jackson influenced him. He liked the idea of a place being a battery that stored psychic/emotional energy. Thanks for the list.
King talking about Shirley Jackson is what made me look her work up. She’s brilliant.
@@mikesbookreviews I read Haunting of Hill House as an adult because the 1960's film The Haunting made such an impression on me as a young child.
Gone with the wind is also my favourite ! Incredibly written female character.
I tried to get into Dune, but I ended up hating the hell out of it. I wanted to like it -- even invested in a nice leatherbound copy -- but just couldn't get into it. But, tastes vary. Wish I could like it, but I just don't.
Anyway, good list! Try Wuthering Heights... I was surprised that that one was so good. And my favorite classic is Tarzan of the Apes. Yeah, it's preposterous, but damn it's a great story.
no timestamps ....no watch
My Grandma gave me the abridged Count of Monte Cristo...and a little later my other grandmother gave me the full version!:-)
Dracula, Gone with the Wind, Salem’s Lot, Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, the Han Solo Adventures.
I would love to hear about your favorite time travel books. Anything involving time travel is a yes for me.
Thanks, Mike. Have not read all of these (and I'm an old guy), but all your reasons for your recommends are sound and well explained.
My mother was born in the 20's and lost her father at an early age. Gone With the Wind was her favorite books (read it multiple times and wore out the seat in the theatre when the movie came out). She was a tough cookie, as were her mother and grandmother.
Books matter, and banning books because the author's views were flawed or out of step with modern sensibilities is beyond evil.
We need to see all sides of this creature we call human beings.
Yeah, we're all steeped in evil, but that's because we're slightly lower than angels, and at least a third of them were rotten right out of the box.
I can’t believe schools have banned huckleberry Finn. Like if the book has a good overall theme and message, what’s the point in hiding it simply due to culturally different times. I feel like the fear of having it in schools is going to cause misconceptions about the story, and it’s honestly just not fair.. some people fear history way too much.
Totally agree about Scarlet O'hara. Didn't like her, but admired her ability to get things done.
Pretty sure the first book to make me really cry, aside from Watership Down or the Velveteen Rabbit, was Bridge to Terebithia.
While I found Fahrenheit's themes and ideas extremely powerful, I also thought it was borderline unreadable on a prose level.
And, even though someone could headcanon some thematic significance with this "style", finding out that he wrote it in one weekend in one go sort of lends no credibility to that theory
You attacking people suspicious of government is a joke. Just goes to show you can have a room full of books and yet still be completely ignorant. Not impressed.
Mike, not quite popular enough to be a true classic, but god it should be, is 'Johnny Got His Gun' by Dalton Trumbo (1939). One of the most difficult and uncomfortable books I've ever read, and I freaking love it. This is one of those books that almost made me man-cry all over the place. Highly recommended.
I’ll admit to only knowing about it because of a Metallica video.
cant see any timestamps.....pffft
Interestingly, Lord of the Flies actually happened. And it turned out nothing like the book XD
in the mid 70s I read 1984 while playing the Paranoid album by Black Sabbath. A chilling combination!
i'll admit that i was disappointed by not seeing any Heinlein on this list. is that because you don't like him that much, or because you haven't read any of him. i'd recommend stranger in a strange land as a good place to start
Haven’t read Heinlein. But I’ve always had interest in SiaSL.
Vonnegut! I went on a Vonnegut kick years ago. My personal favorite of his is Sirens of Titan.
I love Slaughterhouse Five, I got an ARC of the upcoming graphic novel and It was fantastic
Ooh. I didn’t know this existed.
How did he miss that 1984 was about communism, and it’s still about communism the meaning hasn’t changed, and Orwellian only refers to communist dystopias
*To Kill A Mockingbird* is probably my all-time favorite, but I adore *Frankenstein,* too. I recently picked up the 1818 edition which I'm excited to read. Also love *Dracula* and *The Haunting of Hill House.* I have *The Count of Monte Cristo* and *Gone With the Wind* on my shelf, but have yet to read either. Such a great list, thanks for sharing!
I read the “1818 Text” version.
Late comments here.
I read Dune at roughly 16-18. I then followed up with a few of the prequels. I came away thinking that it was interesting but not my thing. Years later I saw the movie and was fascinated by their interpretation. Probably not something I will reread though.
Almost all of my books are self selected because I was homeschooled and did not have a required reading list. This is in order of thought only.
Tom Sawyer
The Hobbit
The Chronicles of Narnia (I am putting all seven under one heading).
The Lord of the Rings
Ender's Game
Macbeth
A Christmas Carol (I attempt to read it once a year.)
Silas Marner
Dracula
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (I have both volumes of mysteries published by Barnes and Noble.)
The Art of War
White Fang
Call of the Wild
Oliver Twist
Nicholas Nickleby
Pilgrim's Progress
The Prince
There were a couple of nonfiction works in that list, but they were still great works and remain among my favorites.
That is a nice list. A lot of good choices.
I like to watch stuff like this to get stuff to add to my tbr
same man, i read Dune like twice a year. possibly my favorite book ever
Used to be an annual read for me before I started this channel and got bogged down with schedules and stuff ha ha
I wish I could like your video twice, sir!
I think we have to learn from history or we risk repeating it. Books are a way to sort of travel in time and be able to gain an understanding of how it was to live during different timeperiods. Banning books are only helping us forget things we better remember. Cancel culture is horrible. A book is not it's author and I don't feel like I have to agree with an authors views to be able to enjoy his or her work.