This list is great because it's not the same 10 best that all the other internet lists and book tubers recommend. You gave me some brand new books to add to my list, thank you!
Love this video bro. I got goosebumps when you announced your number 1. I just knew you'd say it based on your taste of classics. And I just happen to be reading it for the first time time right now. And I can that I can already tell it's gonna be one of my favourite novels. It started real slow but came to life. Love it.
@@markwilliams7475 thank you so much. I appreciate the cool comment and to be honest I needed to hear something good this morning. Please keep in touch....and thanks for watching.
Subscribed! Great list :) going to now binge your other videos. My top ten would have to be… 1. Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry 2. All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy 3. Stoner - John Williams 4. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë 5. As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner 6. True Grit - Charles Portis 7. Beloved - Toni Morrison 8. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë 9. The Metamorphosis- Franz Kafka 10. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Great comment and your top 10 list rocks. I almost put Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy on the list and few people have said they would add Lonesome Dove. I haven't read it yet but I think I have to. Thanks for watching and subscribing. Please keep in touch.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 I really hope you get around to it. It’s so worthwhile. You can even watch the miniseries on TH-cam when you’re done. It’s very faithful to the book. Outer Dark is a fine book too! Really all McCarthy’s work (ignoring the Road😬) is excellent. Looking forward to your future vids.
I just added the mini series to my watch list and ordered the book from Pango. Not sure when I'll get to it but I certainly will. And.....I hate to say it but I didn't like The Road either.
Absolutely loved the vibe of this video and you as a person! I’m trying to get into reading after my finals in three weeks, and this video was so helpful and inspiring. I’ll definitely be watching more of your videos during my study breaks-I just subscribed! Also, from what I gathered and heard you mention at the start, your son is so lucky to have you as a dad. I wish my dad had this kind of passion for books and a recommendation list to share with me! (I’ll definitely do that for my future kids!) love from Iceland
That's beautiful. Thank you so much. You really made me happy. Respect to Iceland. An amazing country full of amazing people. I was there years ago. I loved it and you all are well read. Thanks again, please stick around and keep in touch.
You said timing is important on when you read and I couldn’t agree more, plays a massive role in how you take things in and also how your view can be shaped going forward. Thank you for a sharing your thoughts and opinions. Great video. Definitely gained a new Subscriber!
dude your content is awesome !! subscribed. if you got a good mic i think it would help your channel a bunch. thanks for adding some new books i haven’t heard of to my tbr. cheers to morning beers
Great video and list. I’ve added your insights and reasonings to my own lists. I was impressed by both your ability to read widely (standard advice for writers) and your ability to understand the complexities of genres and styles. Some readers name drop, but you mentioned a literary term: “inversion.” That piqued my interest. You’ve either read literary reviews or studied examples directly through courses. Is so, consider doing a video discussing literary techniques that are used in books that you have read. It would be a good example of critical reading and what to look for in a book.
Hey man. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a cool comment. Concerning inversion...I use it in my own work and really came across it studying the non fiction work of Zacheria Sitchin. And then I purposely studied it in grad school. What are some of your favorites? Id love to hear. I can tell you know your stuff. And I'll take your good advice and do more craft related videos. Keep in touch my friend.
Stumbled upon this video, I have read and enjoyed two of your books, Tale of Two Cities and The Count of Monte Cristo. Loved them both. But most of all as a nightshift worker I salute you having a beer at 10am !
Both are amazing books, right. I'll probably read A Tale of Two Cities again at some point. I really dig that book. Ha, right on....here's to you. Keep in touch.
What a great list besides a few books none were on my radar. Thanks. Also I read your second book Laughing is Forever. Although it was over my head in some spots, like when you talk about the Annunaki and Sumerians and stuff, I really think it's funny and engages the reader. Good work. I'll have Blameforest in a few days. On this list I Iike Confederacy of Dunces best.
That's a great list. Sadly I haven't read any of the books on your list! I know, right. But I see a few that I am going to put on my TBR list. I would have to really do some thinking to put together a top ten. Great video. -James
It took me a long time to come up with the list, too. I had a hard time just deciding between the Faulkner books. All the books on my list left me with something that never went away. Some message or other that I couldn't shake. And they're the books I found myself recommending more than others. You'd probably really dig Raymond Chandler. He was a minimalist, like Hemingway.
Yes. Chandler and Confederacy of Dunces I want to check out. My list would be embarrassing compared to yours. My would be books like a Louis L'amour book or Larry McMurtry. But, like you say it would be my list. -James
Hey Mike, good to hear from you and thanks a lot for subscribing. There are so many incredible books out there that it was really hard putting the list together. And I didn't want to show the same ol books everyone else shows. Reach out anytime.
@@Caleb328 Ask the Dust, A Tale of Two Cities, Silas Marner, Johnny Got His Gun, Outer Dark, Crime & Punishment, Confederacy of Dunces, Wise Blood, and Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison)....so far.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 Nice list! My list definitely has some over lap. C&P and A Tale of Two Cities for sure. Many of the titles you listed, I've not read though. Cheers!
Man, I resonated so much with your list (esp Raymond Chandler and Monte Cristo) - im currently reading a Confederacy of Dunces - I would add Lonesome Dove, that book is incredible. And I was actually at the Uruguay match in KC.
@@ccoope02 holy shit, welcome. I hope you're enjoying Confederacy. Lonesome Dove is an amazing add. What was it like being at the game? Cool atmosphere?
@@Sunnyvalereject24 yeah, the atmosphere was amazing. I think the crowd was 55k. I was a little bummed though - I'm a massive Leeds United fan so I was so stoked on seeing Marcelo Bielsa, but he was suspended from the match 😩 haha... And the refs were so bad. Getting boo'd every 5 minutes
Hey my friend. If you haven't read A Tale of Two Cities give it a shot. You really care about the characters and there's a lot at stake. The tension too is off the charts. Happy 4th.
I really liked this video, great delivery. I've only read two, Toole and Faulkner. I think Light in August by Faulkner, Suttree by McCarthy are my favourite books. I am trying to get through Crime and Punishment but it's tough going.
I love your selection! your #1 is my #1 as well. I think you'd also like Cloud Cuckoo Land, The Book Theif, Piranesi, and The Beautiful and Damned. Especially those last two. Obviously I don't know if you've read them or not - this is my first time seeing your channel, but I'm a new subscriber and look forward to getting to know you!
@@NovelFindsByKassi thanks for checking out my videos. I just subscribed to you too:) I've never read Cloud Cuckoo Land but I hear good things about it all the time.
Love the vibe and love the selection! Added a lot to my tbr. I have the same copy of Monte Cristo 😂 i read it for the first time last month..loved it! I highly recommend Sushako Endo's Silence
Great list, I remember reading A Confederacy of Dunces in high school but I honestly don't remember much about it. The Count of Monte Cristo is definitely a book I would like to read soon I've heard great things about it, it's just a super long book lol. I love soccer and it sucks that USA has been eliminated but I'm hoping Argentina wins the tournament.
I was so disappointed to see the USA lose last night. They were playing pretty well till Uruguay got the goal. I'm married to a Colombian so now I have to root for them:). You're high school must have been pretty cool if you read Confederacy of Dunces there. Yeah....Count of Monte Cristo is long as hell, but so worth it.
I love booklists and I'll be adding some of these to my "want to read" list. Always interesting to see what other people find compelling. One of my favourite books that I reread periodically is 1984 by Orwell, not because he is a great writer, but because I truly found the story, well, "compelling". I remember loving The Count of Monte Christo, I know I started Crime and Punishment but didn't get through it, now I think I will give it another go, and I'm adding A Tale of Two Cities, so thanks for your list. Lately, I've been catching up on all the LeCarre books, _The Little Drummer Girl_ is quite apt at this time (Israel/Palestine conflict). I find I really have to focus with LeCarre because there are often many characters who have aliases and I lose track of who is who, but his writing is what makes his stories so satisfying. LeCarre is a very eloquent writer and he is an astute observer of the human condition, (I think Agatha Christie had that quality as well) I find it difficult to read other authors in that genre afterward.
@@cosmicmauve Hey there. Thank you so much. And thank you for the awesome comment. I hope you like A Tale of Two Cities. It really left a lasting impression on me. I've never read anything by LeCarre but you made his work sound interesting as hell so the next time I see one of his books I'll pick it up. Stay 😎 cool.
Great video man, take my sub! I’ve got to read Dostoevsky, also I like your more obscure picks like “A Confederacy of Dunces.” I’ll have to check that out I live novels set in the south, especially the Voodoo City of New Orleans.
@@seppuku- hey man thank you so much for taking the time to write such a cool comment. Welcome. You'll love Confederacy of Dunces. He also wrote the Neon Bible when he was 16.
You mention having a “good literary foundation”. That could make for an interesting video. What is a good literary foundation? What is yours? How does that improve/impact your reading experience, movies, life, etc.
That was a great and interesting group of books. War novels are hard to read because the soldiers brought the war home. I read As I Lay Dying so long ago for a class. I wrote a short paper on the book making the characters into a wheel because someone pointed that out to me before I read it just like you did. Many years ago, I read some long books like War and Peace translated into English or in Spanish El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha por Miguel de Cervantes. And right now I'm reading a book that I won't even mention because "somebody" handed it to me. It's a sort of relationship thing too.
Thanks alot man. Howve you been? It's official I'm going thru a Faulkner phase again. Getting ready to read AS I Lay Dying and the Wild Palms again. What did you think of Faulkner? Yes indeed soldiers brought the war home. That memory lives on where I'm from in Vicksburg, MS, 1000s of men died 1000s injured and the city decimated. Did you study literature in college. Forgive me if you mentioned it before. If not you sure did read some damn good books.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 Every day, I'm hangin' in there. I liked Faulkner but it's been over 30 years ago I read As I Lay Dying for a community college course. Quijote was for a college class too. It's hard to say much here but my life was not in a straight enough line for me to earn good degrees like you have. I'm really happy that you got to get your MFA! I still go down that twisting path. I'm not sure how my reading will go with appointments coming up. I should read the Raymond Chandler one.
I understand. My path was crazy too. I wanted a degree cause no one in my family ever went to college. But I was wild and crazy and it was tough coming up. I got my degrees as an adult. Honestly, at the point where I literally couldn't f-off anymore. I was running out of time and money cause I used to live off the refund checks. Keep writing man one day your work will be in hard print. I can tell you have much to say.
@@muhametlajqi2344 The one I showed is a newer copy. I bought it about 6 months ago. But my old copy has writing in it, cover creases, and yellow pages for sure :)
I had no idea “Johnny Got His Gun” was a book. I knew of the movie only because of the clips from Metallica’s music video for “One” and the similar theme between the song and movie. I definitely plan on adding the book to my ever growing tbr list. I’ll probably add some others, but that one for sure.
I haven't read a lot of "the best" books, but two that I enjoyed was All Quiet on the Western Front and Lonesome Dove. Both were assigned reading for me in school way back when.
Love this list. A Confederacy of Dunces and As I Lay Dying would both probably be in my top 10 as well. Confederacy is the funniest book I've ever read.
Confederacy of Dunces is so good. And John Kennedy Toole wrote the Neon Bible when he was about 15. He was a massive talent and he was terrified that folks wouldn't appreciate either books and there were other issue but he took his own life. He was the first person to win the Pulitzer Prize posthumously.....I think.
A fun list, thanks. Though I haven't read "Tale of Two Cites," Dickens would have to make my Top Ten, either with "Oliver Twist" or "David Copperfield" or "Great Expectations." He excels at so much including coming up with secondary characters who threaten to steal the show. A wise old woman once told me: "The older I get, the more I see that Dickens isn't an exaggerator but a realist." (Bonus: Nobody's better at naming characters.) Instead of "As I Lay Dying," my Faulkner of choice might be "Absalom, Absalom!," but both are worthy of course. (For pure fun, however, I might even go with "The Reivers.") I'm in the tiny minority that thinks "A Confederacy of Dunces" is clumsy & overrated, but anyone who has the insight to include Raymond Chandler in his Top Ten impresses & is forgiven.
Hello, and thanks for your wonderful comment. Very insightful. I struggled with which Faulkner book to put on the list and Absalom, Absalom would have been a great addition/replacement. And yes, Raymond Chandler is the man, right. I love his gritty, straightforward prose and his unique use of simile. I read almost all of Dickens work when I was younger and reread it as an....older.....more mature adult and was able to glean so much more from the texts. Meaning, I guess, they are really layered and ....age fairly well. I have David Copperfield but haven't read it yet. Most folks believe it's autobiographical. Thanks again and please stay in touch.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 P.S. And I 100% agree that Dickens shouldn't be taught too early. Forcing Dickens, & Shakespeare, on the young trains to hate reading. You would think educators could grasp that.
Count of monte cristo is the GOAT! My sister and i are going to start les mis together and I'm a bit intimidated by that book 😅 but i do plan on reading war and peace and crime and punishement next year.
Sounds like you read a lot of great books. I'm impressed.... I've never read Les Mis but I've heard it's quite the endeavor. I loved Crime and Punishment though. It was a dense read but so worth it.
You're right -- you have to read the certain books at the right time, otherwise it can entirey effect or taint your experience and on-going perception of an author!
@@Sunnyvalereject24 I've been on the hunt for faulkner around local libraries, i don't purchase online i like the old school hunt for physical media. There's only one faulkner book at my closest library it's a short stories compilation, I believe "Old Man" is one of the stories. Looked interesting... it's high on my list to check out next visit.
Right on. I can understand that. Here's an option too. I have some Faulkner books for sale myself. I have a bookstore on PangoBooks. It's called House of Horrors @left-hook-books. If interested I'll drop the price of them to $1 for you. You'd just have to pay shipping. It's like $4.99. just an option. I have the Portable Faulkner, As I Lay Dying. Both have some underlining. I also have Absalom, Absalom listed.
I hear you man. No worries at all. I'd love to hear some of your favorites if you don't mind sharing. And heck yeah, I love Dickens. I'm reading the Mystery of Edwin Drood right now.
10 American faves in zero order: A Canticle For Leibowitz Deliverance Giovanni's Room Maltese Falcon Cannery Row Appointment in Samaria Great Gatsby Sun Also Rises Tobacco Road Moby Dick
Yes!!!! Very cool. I love PKD. Not too long ago I read Valis. I read Do Androids Dream years ago. I like his short stories too. I never read Miller but most of my friends read and liked Tropic of Cancer. Aside from fiction I read alot of mythology, especially Sumerian, Dogon, and, Navajo.
Sorry but too USA orientated, love of course crime and punishment but prefer Les Miserables to the Count of Monte Cristo but no mention of perhaps, my favourite Cormac McCarthy at least Hemingway is left out and rightly so in my opinion. However, and this will alienate many, my all time favourite is “ The Wounds of Hunger” by Luis Spota, yes, it is about bullfighting but has so much more to offer.
I’ve been creating my own list of best books to read to learn author voice and writing styles that stand out. One category is visceral writing that is intense and “Fight Club” is known for that style of writing. I’m awaiting my copy to read it with a critical eye to see if it truly is an immersive style of writing. My work in progress could benefit from some good examples.
This list is great because it's not the same 10 best that all the other internet lists and book tubers recommend. You gave me some brand new books to add to my list, thank you!
You're very welcome. Glad you liked it. And thank you...for the cool comment. Happy reading.
That was a really cool comment. Good man.
Love this video bro. I got goosebumps when you announced your number 1. I just knew you'd say it based on your taste of classics. And I just happen to be reading it for the first time time right now. And I can that I can already tell it's gonna be one of my favourite novels. It started real slow but came to life. Love it.
Thank you so much. What an incredible comment. Please keep in touch. Let me know what you think after you finish it.
I have been watching a lot of book reviews and yours was the best i felt. The enthusiasm with which you talked about each book was good to watch.
Thank you so much. That's very cool to hear.
Love your style and picks , very unpretentious which is refreshing
@@markwilliams7475 thank you so much. I appreciate the cool comment and to be honest I needed to hear something good this morning. Please keep in touch....and thanks for watching.
Food for thought. So many books and so little time. Happy reading, and here's to the next ten.
To the next 10! Happy reading. Thanks.
Subscribed! Great list :) going to now binge your other videos.
My top ten would have to be…
1. Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry
2. All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy
3. Stoner - John Williams
4. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë
5. As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner
6. True Grit - Charles Portis
7. Beloved - Toni Morrison
8. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë
9. The Metamorphosis- Franz Kafka
10. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Great comment and your top 10 list rocks. I almost put Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy on the list and few people have said they would add Lonesome Dove. I haven't read it yet but I think I have to. Thanks for watching and subscribing. Please keep in touch.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 I really hope you get around to it. It’s so worthwhile. You can even watch the miniseries on TH-cam when you’re done. It’s very faithful to the book.
Outer Dark is a fine book too! Really all McCarthy’s work (ignoring the Road😬) is excellent.
Looking forward to your future vids.
I just added the mini series to my watch list and ordered the book from Pango. Not sure when I'll get to it but I certainly will. And.....I hate to say it but I didn't like The Road either.
First video I’ve watched on your channel! Loved this list, “Johnny Got His Gun” really got my attention and I’ll be definitely reading it sometime
Thanks a lot and welcome. Johnny Got His Gun is a gut wrenching read but so incredible. You'll love it.
Absolutely loved the vibe of this video and you as a person! I’m trying to get into reading after my finals in three weeks, and this video was so helpful and inspiring. I’ll definitely be watching more of your videos during my study breaks-I just subscribed! Also, from what I gathered and heard you mention at the start, your son is so lucky to have you as a dad. I wish my dad had this kind of passion for books and a recommendation list to share with me! (I’ll definitely do that for my future kids!)
love from Iceland
That's beautiful. Thank you so much. You really made me happy. Respect to Iceland. An amazing country full of amazing people. I was there years ago. I loved it and you all are well read. Thanks again, please stick around and keep in touch.
Gotta stop watching these book lists. My must read list is getting out of hand.
😄 I totally understand
@@Sunnyvalereject24me too😅
So is mine…
You said timing is important on when you read and I couldn’t agree more, plays a massive role in how you take things in and also how your view can be shaped going forward. Thank you for a sharing your thoughts and opinions. Great video. Definitely gained a new Subscriber!
@@Kalebmstewart Thank you so much, my friend. Welcome.
dude your content is awesome !! subscribed. if you got a good mic i think it would help your channel a bunch. thanks for adding some new books i haven’t heard of to my tbr. cheers to morning beers
Hey man, thanks a lot. And thanks for the good advice. My wife said the same thing. I'll look into getting a good mic. Cheers! Keep in touch.
I discovered your channel through this video. Great selections - Happy Reading! 😎📚👍
Thanks a lot. Happy reading to you too and keep in touch.
Great video and list. I’ve added your insights and reasonings to my own lists.
I was impressed by both your ability to read widely (standard advice for writers) and your ability to understand the complexities of genres and styles. Some readers name drop, but you mentioned a literary term: “inversion.” That piqued my interest. You’ve either read literary reviews or studied examples directly through courses. Is so, consider doing a video discussing literary techniques that are used in books that you have read. It would be a good example of critical reading and what to look for in a book.
Hey man. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a cool comment. Concerning inversion...I use it in my own work and really came across it studying the non fiction work of Zacheria Sitchin. And then I purposely studied it in grad school. What are some of your favorites? Id love to hear. I can tell you know your stuff. And I'll take your good advice and do more craft related videos. Keep in touch my friend.
Fante is one of the most underrated American writers. He's so good and sensible
Agreed. Well said.
Fante was Bukowskis hero
He sure was. Fante's 1933 Was a Bad Year is a great little book.
Stumbled upon this video, I have read and enjoyed two of your books, Tale of Two Cities and The Count of Monte Cristo. Loved them both.
But most of all as a nightshift worker I salute you having a beer at 10am !
Both are amazing books, right. I'll probably read A Tale of Two Cities again at some point. I really dig that book. Ha, right on....here's to you. Keep in touch.
thank you for sharing your top books, i love finding out about books I have never heard.
Thank you ...for your cool comment. Keep in touch.
What up what part of Florida u from ? Im from Palm Beach 🔥 and have u ever checked out Catcher in the Rye ?
What's up my friend. I'm actually in West Palm Beach. And I loved Catcher and the Rye.
What a great list besides a few books none were on my radar. Thanks. Also I read your second book Laughing is Forever. Although it was over my head in some spots, like when you talk about the Annunaki and Sumerians and stuff, I really think it's funny and engages the reader. Good work. I'll have Blameforest in a few days. On this list I Iike Confederacy of Dunces best.
@@LenChaneyIII thank you so much. I sincerely appreciate it.
That's a great list. Sadly I haven't read any of the books on your list! I know, right. But I see a few that I am going to put on my TBR list. I would have to really do some thinking to put together a top ten. Great video. -James
It took me a long time to come up with the list, too. I had a hard time just deciding between the Faulkner books. All the books on my list left me with something that never went away. Some message or other that I couldn't shake. And they're the books I found myself recommending more than others. You'd probably really dig Raymond Chandler. He was a minimalist, like Hemingway.
Yes. Chandler and Confederacy of Dunces I want to check out. My list would be embarrassing compared to yours. My would be books like a Louis L'amour book or Larry McMurtry. But, like you say it would be my list. -James
@Littlebiglibrary hey man those authors are great too.
New subscriber here. You’ve given me at least 4 books to be on my TBR. Thanks man! Mike aka, Siegfried
Hey Mike, good to hear from you and thanks a lot for subscribing. There are so many incredible books out there that it was really hard putting the list together. And I didn't want to show the same ol books everyone else shows. Reach out anytime.
I'd be interested in your completed book package for your son. I am working to do something similar for my kids.
@@Caleb328 Ask the Dust, A Tale of Two Cities, Silas Marner, Johnny Got His Gun, Outer Dark, Crime & Punishment, Confederacy of Dunces, Wise Blood, and Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison)....so far.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 Nice list! My list definitely has some over lap. C&P and A Tale of Two Cities for sure. Many of the titles you listed, I've not read though. Cheers!
Man, I resonated so much with your list (esp Raymond Chandler and Monte Cristo) - im currently reading a Confederacy of Dunces - I would add Lonesome Dove, that book is incredible. And I was actually at the Uruguay match in KC.
@@ccoope02 holy shit, welcome. I hope you're enjoying Confederacy. Lonesome Dove is an amazing add. What was it like being at the game? Cool atmosphere?
@@Sunnyvalereject24 yeah, the atmosphere was amazing. I think the crowd was 55k. I was a little bummed though - I'm a massive Leeds United fan so I was so stoked on seeing Marcelo Bielsa, but he was suspended from the match 😩 haha... And the refs were so bad. Getting boo'd every 5 minutes
Wow! Lots of classics! I really should read some of these… I’m terrible when it comes to the older stuff 😢
Hey my friend. If you haven't read A Tale of Two Cities give it a shot. You really care about the characters and there's a lot at stake. The tension too is off the charts. Happy 4th.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 Thanks for recommending a place to start! Happy 4th to you as well!
I really liked this video, great delivery. I've only read two, Toole and Faulkner. I think Light in August by Faulkner, Suttree by McCarthy are my favourite books. I am trying to get through Crime and Punishment but it's tough going.
Thanks a lot my friend. Good to hear from you. Yeah Crime and Punishment can be tough to get thru....but so worth it. I have to read Suttree.
Love your enthusiasm! New subscriber here. 🇨🇦😀📚
Hey there. Welcome. Thank you so much for the cool comment and positivity. Keep in touch. Respect to Canada!
I love your selection! your #1 is my #1 as well. I think you'd also like Cloud Cuckoo Land, The Book Theif, Piranesi, and The Beautiful and Damned. Especially those last two. Obviously I don't know if you've read them or not - this is my first time seeing your channel, but I'm a new subscriber and look forward to getting to know you!
@@NovelFindsByKassi thanks for checking out my videos. I just subscribed to you too:) I've never read Cloud Cuckoo Land but I hear good things about it all the time.
Love the vibe and love the selection! Added a lot to my tbr.
I have the same copy of Monte Cristo 😂 i read it for the first time last month..loved it!
I highly recommend Sushako Endo's Silence
Thank you so much. I'll check out Endo's Silence.
Great list, I remember reading A Confederacy of Dunces in high school but I honestly don't remember much about it. The Count of Monte Cristo is definitely a book I would like to read soon I've heard great things about it, it's just a super long book lol. I love soccer and it sucks that USA has been eliminated but I'm hoping Argentina wins the tournament.
I was so disappointed to see the USA lose last night. They were playing pretty well till Uruguay got the goal. I'm married to a Colombian so now I have to root for them:). You're high school must have been pretty cool if you read Confederacy of Dunces there. Yeah....Count of Monte Cristo is long as hell, but so worth it.
I love booklists and I'll be adding some of these to my "want to read" list. Always interesting to see what other people find compelling. One of my favourite books that I reread periodically is 1984 by Orwell, not because he is a great writer, but because I truly found the story, well, "compelling".
I remember loving The Count of Monte Christo, I know I started Crime and Punishment but didn't get through it, now I think I will give it another go, and I'm adding A Tale of Two Cities, so thanks for your list.
Lately, I've been catching up on all the LeCarre books, _The Little Drummer Girl_ is quite apt at this time (Israel/Palestine conflict). I find I really have to focus with LeCarre because there are often many characters who have aliases and I lose track of who is who, but his writing is what makes his stories so satisfying. LeCarre is a very eloquent writer and he is an astute observer of the human condition, (I think Agatha Christie had that quality as well) I find it difficult to read other authors in that genre afterward.
@@cosmicmauve Hey there. Thank you so much. And thank you for the awesome comment. I hope you like A Tale of Two Cities. It really left a lasting impression on me. I've never read anything by LeCarre but you made his work sound interesting as hell so the next time I see one of his books I'll pick it up. Stay 😎 cool.
That’s a real enlightening list of books.
Cool, thanks.
Great video man, take my sub! I’ve got to read Dostoevsky, also I like your more obscure picks like “A Confederacy of Dunces.” I’ll have to check that out I live novels set in the south, especially the Voodoo City of New Orleans.
@@seppuku- hey man thank you so much for taking the time to write such a cool comment. Welcome. You'll love Confederacy of Dunces. He also wrote the Neon Bible when he was 16.
Added some of your recommendations. Appreciate the video.
@@dennispratt5926 right on. Very cool.
You mention having a “good literary foundation”. That could make for an interesting video. What is a good literary foundation? What is yours? How does that improve/impact your reading experience, movies, life, etc.
That's a great idea. Thanks for the cool comment. That might be something my students could/would tune in for and get a lot out of.
Crime and Punishment and the Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky are my two favorite books. Great video and book recommendations 👌🏾 👍🏾
@@damienphoenix1843 Hey my friend, thanks for the cool comment. I love both books. Dostoevsky was a master.
That was a great and interesting group of books. War novels are hard to read because the soldiers brought the war home. I read As I Lay Dying so long ago for a class. I wrote a short paper on the book making the characters into a wheel because someone pointed that out to me before I read it just like you did. Many years ago, I read some long books like War and Peace translated into English or in Spanish El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha por Miguel de Cervantes. And right now I'm reading a book that I won't even mention because "somebody" handed it to me. It's a sort of relationship thing too.
Thanks alot man. Howve you been? It's official I'm going thru a Faulkner phase again. Getting ready to read AS I Lay Dying and the Wild Palms again. What did you think of Faulkner? Yes indeed soldiers brought the war home. That memory lives on where I'm from in Vicksburg, MS, 1000s of men died 1000s injured and the city decimated. Did you study literature in college. Forgive me if you mentioned it before. If not you sure did read some damn good books.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 Every day, I'm hangin' in there. I liked Faulkner but it's been over 30 years ago I read As I Lay Dying for a community college course. Quijote was for a college class too. It's hard to say much here but my life was not in a straight enough line for me to earn good degrees like you have. I'm really happy that you got to get your MFA! I still go down that twisting path. I'm not sure how my reading will go with appointments coming up. I should read the Raymond Chandler one.
I understand. My path was crazy too. I wanted a degree cause no one in my family ever went to college. But I was wild and crazy and it was tough coming up. I got my degrees as an adult. Honestly, at the point where I literally couldn't f-off anymore. I was running out of time and money cause I used to live off the refund checks. Keep writing man one day your work will be in hard print. I can tell you have much to say.
great list friend, you’re a miller guy? earned my sub for that
Right on, Steven!!! Thank you and....welcome.
Good selection. I enjoyed the commentary.
Thank you so much.
You are amazing. Love your list
Thank you so much. That means a lot to me. Have a wonderful day.
How is your monte cristo not yellow already? Haha my pages turned old pretty quick
@@muhametlajqi2344 The one I showed is a newer copy. I bought it about 6 months ago. But my old copy has writing in it, cover creases, and yellow pages for sure :)
@@Sunnyvalereject24 Yeah it’s too hard to keep them new, especially when one likes to read on a sunny day outside!
I had no idea “Johnny Got His Gun” was a book. I knew of the movie only because of the clips from Metallica’s music video for “One” and the similar theme between the song and movie. I definitely plan on adding the book to my ever growing tbr list. I’ll probably add some others, but that one for sure.
Awesome. I hope you love it. And the video by Metallica was great too. It's a powerful anti war novel. Heartbreaking and beautiful.
I read it my senior year in highschool 35 years ago. I still think about it 👍
It's such a good book. Powerful. It stuck with me too. I try to tell folks but they don't believe me:)
Is the fight club movie based on this book?
Yes, it is. The 1999 film starring Brad Pit and Edward Norton. I really liked the movie too. In fact I saw the movie before I read the book.
I think i like you now. Thanks for the future reads :)
Thank you
0:37 so true, it was wasted on us back then
@@possessedslig right!
The recommendation that speaks to me the loudest here is John Fante. Gotta add it to the list!
Awesome. I know you'll love it. His other books 1933 Was a Bad Year and Road to Los Angeles kick ass too.
Refreshing list!
Thank you my friend.
Saved the best for last
I've read it 3 times abridged and once unabridged. Great book.
Hello my friend. Yes indeed, it's one hell of a good book, right!
I haven't read a lot of "the best" books, but two that I enjoyed was All Quiet on the Western Front and Lonesome Dove. Both were assigned reading for me in school way back when.
There's so many great books out there. I've never read Lonesome Dove.
@Sunnyvalereject24 it's the only Western I've ever read, except for the rest of the series that I read afterward.
@bonanzabrandon6877 I don't think I've ever read a western.
Any love for "Wait Until Spring, Bandini"? The best coming of age novel, imho.
Yes, you're right. That's a great one. I really like the Road to Los Angeles too. Fante rocks.
Love this list. A Confederacy of Dunces and As I Lay Dying would both probably be in my top 10 as well. Confederacy is the funniest book I've ever read.
Confederacy of Dunces is so good. And John Kennedy Toole wrote the Neon Bible when he was about 15. He was a massive talent and he was terrified that folks wouldn't appreciate either books and there were other issue but he took his own life. He was the first person to win the Pulitzer Prize posthumously.....I think.
Do you like Cormac McCarthy?
@@joshuawilliams8079 hey man. Yes I do. I loved Outer Dark. Really reminded me of Faulkner. I need to read more.
A fun list, thanks. Though I haven't read "Tale of Two Cites," Dickens would have to make my Top Ten, either with "Oliver Twist" or "David Copperfield" or "Great Expectations." He excels at so much including coming up with secondary characters who threaten to steal the show. A wise old woman once told me: "The older I get, the more I see that Dickens isn't an exaggerator but a realist." (Bonus: Nobody's better at naming characters.)
Instead of "As I Lay Dying," my Faulkner of choice might be "Absalom, Absalom!," but both are worthy of course. (For pure fun, however, I might even go with "The Reivers.")
I'm in the tiny minority that thinks "A Confederacy of Dunces" is clumsy & overrated, but anyone who has the insight to include Raymond Chandler in his Top Ten impresses & is forgiven.
Hello, and thanks for your wonderful comment. Very insightful. I struggled with which Faulkner book to put on the list and Absalom, Absalom would have been a great addition/replacement. And yes, Raymond Chandler is the man, right. I love his gritty, straightforward prose and his unique use of simile. I read almost all of Dickens work when I was younger and reread it as an....older.....more mature adult and was able to glean so much more from the texts. Meaning, I guess, they are really layered and ....age fairly well. I have David Copperfield but haven't read it yet. Most folks believe it's autobiographical. Thanks again and please stay in touch.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 P.S. And I 100% agree that Dickens shouldn't be taught too early. Forcing Dickens, & Shakespeare, on the young trains to hate reading. You would think educators could grasp that.
@marcsmirnoff936 💯
Cool comment
Count of monte cristo is the GOAT! My sister and i are going to start les mis together and I'm a bit intimidated by that book 😅 but i do plan on reading war and peace and crime and punishement next year.
Sounds like you read a lot of great books. I'm impressed.... I've never read Les Mis but I've heard it's quite the endeavor. I loved Crime and Punishment though. It was a dense read but so worth it.
You're right -- you have to read the certain books at the right time, otherwise it can entirey effect or taint your experience and on-going perception of an author!
Indeed! How are you doing?
Hugs from Brasil. Sao Paulo
@@majaldinho thank you so much. Respect and love to Brazil.
I love the video, love the books, and love soccer ⚽️
Hey my friend. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Good list .
Thanks
gud collections
Thanks a lot.
random fact ; As I lay dying was one of David Bowie's favorites
@@LamelKendrick That's really cool. I had no idea.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 I've been on the hunt for faulkner around local libraries, i don't purchase online i like the old school hunt for physical media. There's only one faulkner book at my closest library it's a short stories compilation, I believe "Old Man" is one of the stories. Looked interesting... it's high on my list to check out next visit.
@LamelKendrick do you have Goodwills or Salvation Army s around where you live? I've found a few there before.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 indeed that's another good hunting place. I won't go the Barnes & Noble, that's cheating ;)
Right on. I can understand that. Here's an option too. I have some Faulkner books for sale myself. I have a bookstore on PangoBooks. It's called House of Horrors @left-hook-books. If interested I'll drop the price of them to $1 for you. You'd just have to pay shipping. It's like $4.99. just an option. I have the Portable Faulkner, As I Lay Dying. Both have some underlining. I also have Absalom, Absalom listed.
Got some bangers
Thanks a lot.
Only read fight club but it’s also one of my favorites
It's such a great book. I tell everybody. I hear Choke is good too.
A good list. You should add American Psycho to it.
@@philliplipple1799 oh man, what a great book.
this video made me subscribe to you
Thank you so much, my friend. Welcome.
❤
Don't forget to give your son "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.
@@brendaleigh7834 yes indeed
Interesting selection not what you might call main stream.
@@tomfrombrunswick7571 thanks a lot. Stick around and keep in touch.
Florida panhandle here where are you
@@DandJG I'm down south. 50 miles north of Miami.
Respect your choices but would never have chosen these. Different tastes . Dickens is amazing tho.
I hear you man. No worries at all. I'd love to hear some of your favorites if you don't mind sharing. And heck yeah, I love Dickens. I'm reading the Mystery of Edwin Drood right now.
Confederacy of Dunces is an excellent choice.
10 American faves in zero order:
A Canticle For Leibowitz
Deliverance
Giovanni's Room
Maltese Falcon
Cannery Row
Appointment in Samaria
Great Gatsby
Sun Also Rises
Tobacco Road
Moby Dick
A great list.
Monte Cristo is #1!
CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES was a hard book for me to get thru
I do not think it is even a good book
I can understand that, my friend . What are some of your favorite books?
@@Sunnyvalereject24 I am a fan of P K Dick
Henry Miller and Murakami
Eastern classics
and Parable of the Sower
and Snow Crash
Yes!!!! Very cool. I love PKD. Not too long ago I read Valis. I read Do Androids Dream years ago. I like his short stories too. I never read Miller but most of my friends read and liked Tropic of Cancer. Aside from fiction I read alot of mythology, especially Sumerian, Dogon, and, Navajo.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 Tropic of Cancer is more famous but I like Tropic of Capricorn more
@@Pythagoras1963 PKD was a prophet. I'm reading The Man Who Japed right now.
Sorry but too USA orientated, love of course crime and punishment but prefer Les Miserables to the Count of Monte Cristo but no mention of perhaps, my favourite Cormac McCarthy at least Hemingway is left out and rightly so in my opinion. However, and this will alienate many, my all time favourite is “ The Wounds of Hunger” by Luis Spota, yes, it is about bullfighting but has so much more to offer.
I totally understand. Thanks for taking the time to leave a cool comment. I love.... LOVE Cormac McCarthy.
It’s his opinion, no one cares that you prefer Les Miserables
@ of course it is his opinion but can do without your harsh comments!
Fight club wasn’t my kind of writing.. the movie was better to me than the book.. The writing is all over the place to me
I can understand that. I really liked Pitt and Norton in the movie. Hell the movie made me want to read the book. Keep in touch.
@@Sunnyvalereject24 same lol
I. had to read Fight Club to understand the movie. Thought the book was great, recommend it to others.
@paulinelafford4773 right on. That's cool to hear. I tell everyone about it. The movie was done well too
I’ve been creating my own list of best books to read to learn author voice and writing styles that stand out.
One category is visceral writing that is intense and “Fight Club” is known for that style of writing. I’m awaiting my copy to read it with a critical eye to see if it truly is an immersive style of writing.
My work in progress could benefit from some good examples.
I've seen worse lists.
Fight Club? Really? Okay.