modern classics i should read | 2023 TBR
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2023
- Hello!
Ben here. These are the modern classic books I'd like to get to this year!
Books mentioned:
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
Tar Baby
Jazz
Paradise
No Longer At Ease
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
The Magic Mountain
The Trial/Metamorphoses
Lolita
Atlas Shrugged
As I Lay Dying
The Invisible Man
The House of Mirth
Catch 22
Thanks for watching!
Ben
doomantidote@gmail.com
linktr.ee/benfensome
Dang I'm glad I found this channel.
Dubliners was on my English literature A level syllabus. (40 yrs ago!) My favourites are A Painful Case and The Dead. I’d go the audio route for the gorgeous Dublin accent 🍀👋☘️
Thanks for the recs. I havent heard of those two :)
Being from Mississippi, Faulkner was required reading in high school. As I Lay Dying is a good one to start with because it gives off those Southern gothic vibes and quirkiness, being told from the perspective of the deceased. I am attempting to read from more Mississippi authors this year, especially Eudora Welty and Richard Wright (modern classics). The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is on my list, too.
I've read the goldfinch, it's an interesting read, people either love or hate it. But I'm interested in getting to faulkner and reading something with Southern gothic vibes :D thanks!
Do read Lolita! I made myself read it in January this year after it's been on my shelf for xx years, not expecting anything. But it IS amazing! Sucks you in. Deeply literary and imaginative. I don't know why, but it gave me joy (not that kind of joy🥴). A classic for a reason.
Also, man I need to get to Catch 22 too. If you do a casual read a long…I may jump on board. 😊
JOYCE! Modernist scholar here so I adore Joyce. I would actually start with Dubliners. I think his use of stream of consciousness is more difficult than Woolf’s and I found it better to start with Joyce’s short stories to acclimate myself, but that’s just me. Any Joyce is a joy💕.
I always heed the advice modernist scholars so Dubliners it is! 😄
I really enjoyed this video. I’m LISTENING to The Magic Mountain and LOVING it. Whenever I’m in the car or going for a walk…so in dribs and drabs. The narrator, David Rintoul, really brings this story to life. And it’s FUNNY, 😂 so funny.
For Faulkner, I'd recommend starting with Light in August. It deals with race much more directly, it's less experimental in terms of form (and I don't think it's bad for your first Faulkner). That's where I started personally and it blew my socks right off! The way he talks about race is obviously quite outdated now but I still think it's an important landmark. Just remember, whatever you do, don't start with Absalom!
Haha OK, no absolom! Absolom! That's good to know thank you! Haven't heard of Light in August so will check that out :)
@@doomantidote I too vote for Light in August. The Sound and the Fury is harder, but a great introduction to his experimental style.
If you're not subscribed to Bookish, he's a big Faulkner fan and has commented/ read almost all of Faulkner on his channel and you can get a good start with Faulkner from his channel. As for Magic Mountain, it's not hard it's just incredibly boring and you'll realize "OMG I just slept through the last 12 pages!" and it didn't matter!
I really enjoy Brian at Bookish! That's a good shout to watch his vids on faulkner. And thanks for the warning re magic Mountain lol
@@doomantidote I feel the obligation to jump in and disagree with this comment. The Magic Mountain is by no means a boring read. It is slow-paced, as the emphasis is not on the plot, but on the character(s) and their development, especially spiritual. Upon the introduction of certain characters, it all takes a rather philosophical turn and these chapters of their heated arguments are just wonderful ( and maybe a little painful) to read.
I also strongly suggest you read The Buddenbroocks. It's easily one of my favourite books of all time. And it's way lighter than TMM(in terms of complexity).
Ohh Ben words are inadequate to describe how joyous this video is and how happy it made me nevertheless I shall endeavor to herewith.
I’m also in very similar shoes as you where this yr i want to read more modern classics, and will shortly make my own vid on this as soon as I can stop momming for a bit. But your Faulkner is my Wharton, and I really want to read Custom of the Country this yr. I was considering reading the lotr quartet as well, but more inclined to save it for another time UNTIL you mentioned numerous chapters detailing lunch so now my interest is piqued.
I think Lolita will surprisingly take your breath away, or at least i hope it does, and it was a book i used to reread annually but haven’t for the past few, so I think it’s time to this year.
As always, watching your videos makes me smile broadly, and this one in particular made me do exceptionally so. I guess it’s bc it’s a MODERN CLASSICS PARTY 🎉💃🏻🎊🍾
🥰🥰 thank you!
Now you AND Alex have recommended lolita I need to bump it up the list quick! I'll be really interested to hear what you're thinking of reading this year so will look forward to your own MODERN CLASSICS PARTAAAAYYYY
No longer at ease is great.
I read Lolita twice in my life; once as an impressionable 16yo who was mesmerized by Humbert's web of lies and second as a 23yo who hated him like you hate a masterfully crafted piece of human trash. Loved it both times! Can't wait to hear from you on that & Kafka! 😄
I'm planning to reread House of Mirth this year. I love Wharton; hope you enjoy that one. Invisible Man is really fascinating and strange. I love the Tolkien but not the Faulkner...I still have my high school copy of As I Lay Dying, or as we called it As I Die Reading.
"As I die reading" 😂😂
I'm in the 'I want to read everything' camp. (Time permitting, however)
The Trial is a really rough book, I’d recommend you to start Kafka with Metamorphosis, people usually say this is sort of a more “simple” book of Kafka, although I’ve only read The Trial. Glad that you’re giving a chance to Lord of The Rings, my favorite book of all time 💚
Good to know with the trial, thanks! And I've started the hobbit and already enjoying it ☺️
A few days ago I got the exact same copy of The Hobbit! Can't wait to read it. 🤗I bought the LOTR trilogy last year, but since English is not my native language it just felt too much for me at that time. Lots of food names I don't even know in Spanish started appearing.😂But this year I'm going to give them a second chance, I swear!
I'm currently reading George Orwell's 1984, and I think Kafka's Metamorphosis is probably going to be an interesting reading too after that one. I found your channel while looking for a Jane Austen book to start reading some classics (ended up buying Emma), and I can't wait to hear what you think about these books in your TBR list.
Happy reading!! 🌸
I read lolita when my daughter was 8, not knowing what the book was about. 1/3rd into the book put me in some deep mental and physical gloom. I dnfed it but can't forget the pain.
2023 is going to be a fantasy year for me 😁
I'm sorry you had that experience. Man, I keep hearing such mixed things about it, I'll have to proceed with caution but thanks for sharing
I read Lolita years ago and enjoyed if I remember well ... I also read the Hobbit and found it quite "juvenile" ... Can't wait to hear your impressions about Tolkien!!
Meanwhile I'll carry on with 19th century authors :)
I've started the hobbit and it definitely reads for a younger audience but I'm enjoying it so far :p
You want to read what must be my favourite section. Also, I really appreciated lolita.
Ha! I'm intrigued by lolita now I have to say
I think you’ll like Lolita! It has one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever read, it’s a funny and peculiar book. I think between Lolita and Frankenstein, they both have the most pop culture effect in regard to how its public perception has surpassed its origin stories, making it fun to read and follow along 🧐📚🤓
Ooo that's good to know! I would never have thought it would have funny bits but we will see how I get on....
Dubliners before Portrait! Because it’s a collection of short stories, it’s a nice way of sampling Joyce in small little bites, before moving on to the other, chewier works. That said, Portrait is also a nice read, and is also like a prequel to Ulysses (not in style, just in subject!), so could be a good choice if you’re planning on Ulysses at some point…
Thanks! I'm looking forward to reading Dubliners :)
“The House of Mirth” is excellent. For me, it ranks a notch above “The Age of Innocence”. Lily Bart trying to hold on to her social position is the main character, the girl who stayed at the party a little bit too long. Her story has a very dramatic arc. It has been known to induce tears. (The Pulitzer did not yet exist at the time it was written.)
The only Joyce I’ve read so far, is “The Dubliners”. Of that story collection, for me, “The Dead” ranks far above the others. [Anjelica Houston was remarkable as Greta in the film adaptation, the last film her father directed. ]
“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison is a powerful story of a young southern black college student encountering a series of betrayals on his journey to the north as well as to adulthood. It’s not the promised land. There is an excellent audio version by the deeply voiced Joe Morton.
Have a good reading year and I hope you enjoy the books you choose.
Thanks for all this! I'm looking forward to reading house of mirth, and looks like dubliners is the one most people are recommending so ill robs start with that :)
I used to have a second hand hatred of James Joyce because a guy I didn't like in university studies him but then one day I realised it wasn't Joyce's fault (poor guy) and decided to read Dubliners. I really enjoyed (some stories more than others but overall I had a great time) and it led me to buying Portrait of the Artist which I also plan on reading this year. Idk, but Dubliners felt a bit lighter to start with :)
Have fun with Tolkien! After a while the lunch descriptions stop lol
Haha that's good to know. And thanks for the dubliners rec I might start with that one then.
Kafka is one of my absolute favourite writers 😍 I would actually recommend you start with Letter To His Father first, so that you get a bit of an understanding for him and then The Metamorphosis. After that The Trial and then Letters to Milena. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! 😃
Also, I got so excited about Kafka that I paused the video before hearing the rest 😅 Lolita is brilliant and a must read. And yes, please read Invisible Man, absolutely loved it, it's great! And Wharton is another favourite writer, have read House of Mirth, The Age of Innocence, and Ethan Frome, and loved them all. Also, I really recommend Steinbeck.
Ooo never heard of that one! Seeing as a lot are quite short I might ne able to get through a few of his works.
Completely forgot Steinbeck! I've only read of Mice and men.
I wanted to read Lolita last year. I bought the least inappropriate cover I could find. I don't really enjoy audiobooks much, but everyone (2 people) said, "You MUST get it on audio". I tried to do an audio + text combo... NO NO NO. I was haunted. I made it to page 3.
I picked it up sans audio, made it to page 4 (starting again from page 1). This is a long winded way of saying, I think the writing is gorgeous, but I will have to get out of my head before being able to read it. Eager to see how you get along with it. I feel like I will need a bit of a support group in order to read it. Great list ❤
I think there's no shame in leaving a book if it really isn't a good experience reading it. I'll see how I find it... I am interested though :)
I like you grew up with the LOTR films and I tried to read them and just can't- so much description and all the singing. However I do appreciate his craft, it just wasn't for me.
Making that declaration (I prefer the films) is definitely one of those bold statements where you need to know where the nearest exit is first.
Haha, I'll see how I go with fellowship...
Thanks for the highly entertaining and thoughtful videos! 🌻
Great picks for 2023. I've read both Dubliners and A Portrait and definitely preferred Dubliners, but I'm sure I missed something essential in Portrait so I'm looking forward to hearing what you think about it. I read Buddenbrooks last year and it was one of my favorites from 2022, so I'm planning on reading The Magic Mountain possibly this year as well. Thanks for pointing out that "kafkaesque" possibly comes from The Trial, I'm also clueless as to what it means. :) Metamorphoses was very much worth reading, even though I picked it up just because I wanted to get it over with. As for Faulkner, we did The Sound and the Fury in uni and I can highly recommend it, but I would imagine As I Lay Dying is probably a better one to start with. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Lolita, I tried to read it but was so grossed out by it that I stopped.
I'm nervous with lolita haha. I'm excited to get to Joyce!
Yesss House of Mirth is amazing! ❤I would say Dubliners... Not a big fan of Joyce but the story The Dead is really good. Lolita is definitely worth reading just to see Nabokov's amazing writing style.
There's a gorgeous movie version of The Dead as well.
I'd never heard of story of the dead! There's a whole load of Joyce I need to get round too...
@@doomantidote I'd probably recommend starting with Portrait instead of Dubliners, but you should seek out the movie version of The Dead regardless. Anjelica Huston, directed by John Huston (his last?). Great flick.
@@doomantidote The Dead is the last story in Dubliners, it reminded me a lot of Woolf 😊 some stories are better than others there... Had no idea there's a film! I DNFd portrait of an artist tbh but that was many years ago, maybe I wasn't ready😅
As someone who has a project to read Ulysses this year, I think Portrait is good, but I do prefer Dubliners. Also, Lolita's prose is gorgeous it's a masterpiece. The protagonist is SUPPOSED to be horrible and unreliable and someone you should hold at a distance. But the themes, obsession and possession and all that are the real meat of the story.
Interesting... I'm looking forward to it ha
Omg, Dubliners is a better option!! Portrait is a good "stepping stone" into Ulyses only in that it is just a hair shy of being as difficult! For the love of all that's holy, start with Dubliners.
Haha OK OK, dubliners it is 😋
I’ve only read Metamorphosis of Kafka so far, but it was such a joy and finished it in one sitting, so I would recommend that!
In regards to Lolita there is a limited 10 episode podcast called Lolita Podcast which is utterly incredible. It goes through every major adaptation of Lolita and has many interviews with survivors. Highly recommended!
Thank you! Will check that podcast out.
I'm also planning on reading The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Metamorphosis (and Other Stories) this year! Good luck with your goals, this looks like a fantastic list. I did study Invisible Man in high school, so you're right about it being a very American book, and I remember enjoying it quite a bit! I also read As I Lay Dying in a class at college, and don't let its size fool you... it's a difficult (but ultimately rewarding) one to get through. Very strange, but I ended up falling in love with it by the end. Happy 2023!
Ooo I'm excited to read as I lay dying now! Thanks for watching ☺️
Edith Wharton is AMAZING! House of Mirth is an excellent book, but the story's a downer. I'd start with Age of Innocence. Aside from it being a great story, her writing is spot-on, superb! The last time I read it (I've read it twice) I remember thinking I had been engrossed in 300-pages (or so) of pure art! Her writing just blows me away. I am a first-timer to your channel and a I love your humor! 😆 Yousofunny. I can't believe all of the books you've listed that I too want to read: Lolita, Atlas Shrugged, The Invisible Man and Catch 22. I'm thinking I should probably subscribe to your channel, huh? 🤔 😁 I'm currently reading "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and the short stories included in the volume, and then onto Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth." I've never read anything by her before and am looking forward to it.
Looking forward to the Joyce. I've been on a hiatus from Ulysses as I've been editing a book but now there's no excuse. If I can remember anything about it when I've finished it, I'll consider that a win.
Kafkaesque describes anything that focusses on labyrinthine bureaucracy that crushes the ordinary man. If you've seen Terry Gilliam's Brazil, that's kafkaesque. I would start with The Trial over Metamorphosis. The Castle is also worth reading (get a good translation).
That's good to know, and thanks I'll start with the trial then :p
I suggest reading Metamorphosis.
I think kafkaesque refers to that kind of dark and illogical stuff that develops in Kafka’s work, for me it is like that thing he does that makes go “ what?how? Am I reading this right? What is going to happen know? It is irreversible, tell me this is a nightmare”
Haha I shall look forward to saying that when I read his work 😂
I love the first paragraph of The Invisible Man. It's stuck with me for 30+ years since I read it. For Faulkner, I think As I Lay Dying is a good place to start. Good luck with Ayn Rand. I couldn't get through it.
That's good to know re faulkner, thanks!
American chiming in that yes, Invisible Man is excellent and wonderful, highly recommend. For Joyce, I would go for Dubliners first because the short story element helps you grasp the writing style before jumping into Portrait (I listened to the audio and drove in the dark during the fire and brimstone speech which was terrifying). Thoughts and prayers for when you read Atlas Shrugged😂 I did a project similar to this in 2014 and also read To Kill a Mockingbird, On the Road, The Bell Jar, and The Grapes of Wrath (would recommend all except On the Road unless you feel the need; I can't remember which of those you've talked about before!)
I've never read the bell jar or grapes of wrath and I definitely need to read more steinbeck! And that's good to know re invisible man! Thank you!
Portrait of an Artist as a young man, I 'did' for O level. Totally killed it for me. The invisable Man is Ace.
Yeah I might start with dubliners then, looking forward to Ellison!
I would read The Trail first. Because… why not 😂
😁
I also want to read Lolita. I’m currently reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I loved his book Of Mice and Men, it’s a great American modern classic.
Oooo yeah I need to get to more Steinbeck. I've only read of mice and men too...
I did not know that Beloved, Jazz, and Paradise had the Divine Comedy connection. Super interesting. I will look forward to your thoughts.
Thank you!
I would rather read the whole of flipping In Search of Lost Time four times than the Middleearth thingy once. There I've said it.
😂😂
I read Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man last year (in fact this work can serve as a stepping stone to Ulysses) along with Joyce's Dubliners, this year I'm going to try to read Ulysses as my brother and a mutual friend set out to read it together. But the real challenge will be left for 2024, with the reading of Finnegans Wake, Joyce's incomprehensible book. Three years ago I read Magic Mountain and I love it. I read several kafka books and I would start with Metamorphosis.
I didn't know there was a book MORE difficult that ulysses 😄 but thanks for the rec, I'd like to try out Joyce's work soon
@@doomantidote Ohhh, but there is, Finnegans Wake. And about Faulkner, his books talking about racism, he was not racist. I read Sound and Fury, a very difficult book.
If/When you do read The Trial, I'd recommend checking out the 1993 film adaptation as well (written by Harold Pinter!!). Oh, you're probably going to love Lolita judging by how much you like Donna Tartt haha. Great list, good luck with it and happy reading!
Interesting! I'm gonna try and get to lolita very soon.....
Ooo! I just finished the Lord of The Rings trilogy for the first time four days ago! It was really good except for the traveling parts. They were sooo long!
I’ve only read Kafka’s Metamorphosis, thanks for bringing up The Trial as I’ve wanted to read that too. Just downloaded it from Project Gutenberg.
I found Atlas Shrugged to be a great story and no, I’m not a right-wing capitalist!
Catch-22 has a slow first half but stick with it and you will be rewarded.
Hope you have a great reading day!
Thank you! Ooo maybe I'll enjoy atlas shrugged then, who knows haha. It's high time I got round to Catch 22 so that's good to know. Thanks!
What an exciting (and inspiring!) list :) 20th century classics have become one of my favourite genres. I've read two of Toni Morrison's later books in the last couple of years, A Mercy and God Help the Child, and I found them both very interesting. The second one, in particular - I still think about it, and the metaphors I believe it contains, very often.
I loved reading The Magic Mountain, but indeed it requires some work ;) very satisfying in the end and a truly interesting reflexion on time in it, though (and some humor! I though it was very funny).
I remember reading both The Metamorphosis and The Trial in highschool because, like you, I wanted to figure out what kafkaesque means ;) I remember them as nice, short reads, the kind that you can pick up and finish within one afternoon.
My list this year includes (for now) Albert Cohen's Belle du Seigneur (I started it last year, and I really need to finish it, but it's a lot), 100 Years of Solitude, and the last 6 books of the Virago Modern Classics' 20th Anniversary collection that I still have to read.
I LOVE 100 years of solitude! I'll be very interested to read kafka so hopefully I can get to it soon
Their was a good channel4 TV series of Catch-22 made a few years back it was quite funny might still be on 4 on demand it was produced by George Clooney I think.
Oh wow I'd never heard if that! Will check it out :p
I was also tempted to make a video of 10 modern classics you must read, but instead I ended up making a list of 100 I hadn’t read. Unsurprisingly, I can’t help you decide which Joyce or which Kafka to read, because I haven’t read them. (Ok, not quite true. I read The Trial in college years ago, and it gives a pretty good idea of the meaning of kafkaesque. But I can’t say if it’s "better" than Metamorphosis, because I haven’t read that one.) Good luck with your list! It looks full of great books.
Thank you! I will check out your video too 😃
Fantastic list! Quite a few here I'd also like to get to this year (Kafka and Lolita especially). I've only read Dubliners by Joyce and tbh found it a bit of a slog - I suspect it just wasn't to my taste though and I'd still be interested in reading Portrait of the Artist at some point, can't wait to hear your thoughts too.
Thank you! I might try dubliners first and see what happens...
Loved that you are giving Tolkien another chance! The books are so good (in my opinion :))
Would recommend that you start Kafka with Metamorphosis.
Magic mountain! Also on my 2023 list...But I also really want to read "Anna Karenina" and "The count of Monte Cristo". I don't know if everything will fit in a year 😅
About the Catch-22, I had a good laugh with it!
I loved Anna Karenina! And I'm in the middle of Cristo atm 😊 thanks for the rec re Metamorphoses!
I'm also reading The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings this year!
☺️☺️
I loved listening to the Lord of the Rings but couldn’t read it. As I Lay Dying is written in such an interesting but intense way.
That's interesting to hear, thanks!
i just have two observations from my reading and the first is that i read the magic mountain for the first time last year and there were some sections i found boring but i didn't find it difficult...and i did enjoy it...and the other is with faulkner you might want to start with a light in august because it's very accessible.
Thanks for the rec, hadn't heard of that faulkner one. :)
Definitely read The Metamorphosis first. You'll find out what the term "Kafkaesque" means very quickly. It's wild that you didn't encounter this literary gem in school. I think you'll like it.
Yeah kafka passed us all by in school lol
As I Lay Dying was my first Faulkner. Loved it. I'd recommend that most people start with Dubliners. But you'd be ok starting with Portrait. I love that one too. Characters from Dubliners show up in Portrait and Ulysses, but the books can be read in any order. Some recommend starting with Ulysses, but I think that's asking a bit much.
Thank you! I think dubliners is the way to go. I didn't know there were characters who showed up elsewhere so that's fascinating :)
@@doomantidote Someone named Michael Groden has a list online of "Characters in Dubliners who reappear in Ulysses". He lists 24 that cross over. I guess none of it is consequential to the plot, just adds some atmosphere and Easter eggs for the geeks. Joyce used a fair bit of real life people and conversations in his novels, so it makes sense he would reuse characters.
YOU WANT TO READ WHAT???
OMG I love you 😂
I read house of mirth, Lolita and The sound and the fury (Faulkner) in 2022 and the latest were definitely two of my best books of the year!!!
I also read Mann in 2022 but I went with The Buddenbrooks for starter.
Ulysses is on my 50 years old plan for now 😂
I also need to check Kafka off my list!
As someone who had to DNF Lolita due to past trauma (I tried and tried until I was sobbing while reading it and couldn't go on). still recommend it. It's beautifully written and you get inside the mind of the horrible narrator. It's an interesting character study, particularly if you enjoy dark literature.
I kinda want to read Atlas Shrugged too, as abhorent as I think it will be. I think I'll do the audio book.
I'm so sorry you had that experience. Good that you decided to dnf, but interesting that you still recommend it. Thanks for watching :)
Can we read House of Mirth together? Like friends? Like pals? Like buddies?
Omg 🥰🥰🥰 yes
But not before you have finished War & Peace, Kieran. The trolls are everywhere, I know.
I only know James Joyce by reputation with the exception if Dubliners which I quite enjoyed and found completely accessible without the need of footnotes or marginalia. I listened to The magic mountain as an audiobook unabridged and in its entirety. I desperately wanted to find a redeeming quality in that novel but I could not do it. There is a lot of dialogue and philosophizing in the book and just when you think you might get to an interesting point you get the rug pulled out from under you as a reader. I simply don't get it. I would be very interested to know your thoughts on it and see whether or not you find whatever it is I missed about it.
Great list of books! So you didn’t get to the elvish poetry in LOTR? I thought the films were an improvement but I know that’s heresy!
Lolita is magnificent and deeply uncomfortable. Apparently Nabokov wanted the book published in a plain cover as he knew what publishers would try to do - after his death it turns out he was right.
I started Faulkner with As I Lay Dying and it worked for me - Brian at Bookish has a great video on where not to start with Faulkner.
I would read The Trial by Kafka first, but in the end they are all the same kind of weird. 😜
Haha good to know!
How about adding some Umberto Ecco. One of our Book Tubers was supposed to go through them all. Now If I could just remember which one. I know he is Irish, does that help?
Good shout! I loved name of the Rose and I do have one of his other books on my shelves...
His name and channel name is Jason Harrigan. He said he would start in February and go through all of Eco’s novels.
I have Portrait on my tbr this year as well. I've read Dubliners and yes, the writing, but overall I was a bit meh about it.
Fair enough, I'm intrigued any case :p
I want to read Invisible Man too. Maybe I will join Benjamin McEvoy’s deep reading club for this one.
Is he featuring it? That'll be interesting
@@doomantidote Yes, in August - September. There will be additional reading and lectures on jazz.
You're going to read WHAAAAT?!?! Where is the "Fun-Factor" in this TBR? I have some Joyce on my TBR; I thought I would just read and leave it there. 😆 I've read years ago and it was a bit long, but then I followed up with Ayn Rand's other works afterwards. I really liked T I think you're going to love Edith Wharton, that's my prediction!
I know, they're all a bit heavy arent they 😄
I liked Age of Innocence much more than House of Mirth. Age of Innocence was really great.
Ooo good to know, thanks!
@doomantidote both are excellent, Wharton is amazing. Age of Innocence was the first novel to win the Pulitzer 😊
Sorry, that was wrong, she was the first woman to win the Pulitzer with that book. (Having issues with the edit button)
Of the Lord of the Rings books my favorite is The Hobbit. I read The Lord of the Rings during a Christmas break in university (many more years ago than I would like to admit.) I read them one after the other. I unfortunately found that I was really more that ready to be through with them about a quarter of the way through the last volume. I think that Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man is really an incredible read. I cannot bring myself to read Ulysses. I have a question for you. I will be traveling to Britain in May in which I will be doing an eight-day hike in Dorset. Theee days prior and three days after I will be in London. Do you have any independent bookstores that you would recommend.
Oooo well, Snoob near Russell Square is a fabulous second hand book shop. Daunt books is nice and although it's not independent always worth visiting foyles on charing Cross Road and the massive waterstones on park Lane too :)
@@doomantidote Thanks!!
I read The Magic Mountain last year. Worth a read but pretty dense... I actually heard the Vintage transl is not the best. (I read it in Polish)
That's good to know thank you! It's always the nicest covers with the worst translations 😄
@@doomantidote so true!!! I first wanted to read it in English but that other translation was harder to get, don't remember the name. That book has a lot of boring parts but it also has really really brilliant ones and is actually funny sometimes! :) It is not as difficult as people say, just long and has some conversations which get quite tiring (and aren't that interesting imo). I don't know if it really is a must read but it is a memorable experience for sure. I finally read it last year as Tokarczuk's latest novel (only came out in Polish so far) has some references to it so it was a final push to try😅
It's not exactly a modern classic, Ben, but you seriously need to read Emma Who Saved My Life. Don't make me beg.
Haha just googled it... looks like it's something I may relate too 😅
Middle Earth and Lolita be on my list for this year too. Also any Toni Morrison because I haven't read any yet x
Ooo Beloved is immense!
If we are going to keep up with you - what order??😂
Oh gosh who knows haha I've started the hobbit if that helps!
@@doomantidote Helps a bit😂😂😂
magic mountain is great and way too long. but I loved first 60% a lot!
That's good to know thank you! 😊
Every book by Thomas Mann is way too long. 😉
@@ameliareads589 ahaha. but really the beginning was so brilliant. why didn't you stop while it was good?!?!
@@Nastya-uj9bg I did. 😂
@@ameliareads589 🤣
The book became too popular when I was 18 and I sometimes feel a bit put off when too many people talk about a certain topic. Rings of Power came out last year and my interest in LOTR was renewed. No, I didn’t watch the ROP series because I didn’t have the time. It just served as a reminder that after more than 20 years since my initial curiosity about LOTR, I should finally satisfy that curiosity. Anyway, there was something about the ROP trailer that I didn’t like. I might sound mean but it’s the blonde woman. I don’t know why I find her annoying
When you read The Lord of the Rings skip the prologue, it's boring and useless. Just start at chapter 1. There's nothing in that prologue that the story won't present to you as you read along.
Start with The Metamorphosis.
Even though you're gonna like Lolita for the writing itself, you're gonna hate that Nabokov convinces you to like the main character. At least that's what people say.
I couldn't get into Atlas Shrugged, not because of politics or anything, but because Ayn Rand is a quite bad writer. I feel bad for right wing people that regard this as their bible, because they actually have to read it.
And I hate James Joyce, he just bores me. But maybe you'll find something to like.
Happy readings!
Thanks for the tips! I need to read lolita very soon, my interest is piqued!