Thanks for watching everyone! If anyone has any Russian classics authors that I haven’t mentioned please let me know! I’d also love to read more classics from authors around the world so any recommendations would be highly appreciated!⬇️
Would highly recommend Maxim Gorky “The Mother”, and his autobiographical trilogy, really love his works. Ivan Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons” is another great one. “A Hero of Our Time” by Mikhail Lermontov - truly a classic. Hope it was helpful!
@@garywatters11 great suggestions, I have actually read both doctor zhivago and Anna karenina. And I do own the brother karamazov I just haven’t managed to read it yet.
Finally I found some people who love classics! I love fantasy and all, but there is just something about picking up a book written a century ago and relating to the authors and characters. I read Animal Farm in middle school and was completely blown away.
@@davida715 Knowledge = fact. Wisdom = insight. It means that it's just a simple fact that Frankenstein wasn't the monster, as many people mistakenly believe. However, in a metaphorical sense, Frankenstein *was* the monster, because it was his actions and poor decisions which led to tragedy after tragedy.
@@davida715 I suppose you got his explanation, but for those who didn't: (Dr.) Frankenstein is the man who built the creature. The creature is actually nameless, but many ppl think that the creature is named Frankenstein. So in that sense Frankenstein is not the monster. However, in a metaphorical way Dr. Frankenstein IS a monster because of his motivations and actions.
Wow, I was actually very surprised about Jay's choice! I'm russian and lots of Russians don't like 'Master and Margarita' or 'War and Peace', so seeing you guys reading these huge books is amazing!
I’m German and for a long long time I hadn’t heard of the Master and Margarita until my aunt gifted it to me and it was so interesting, I really really liked it and I think it’s super sad that I almost never hear people talk about it.
Ciara: *talks about British and US classics* Jay: "Yes, alright but let's focus on Russian lit, shall we?" Loved the video so much! Have a nice 2021 everyone!
I haven’t finished watching the video, but I just had to come and say that you guys are so cute and this is such a great idea for a video!!! it’s so interesting to see different people’s favorite classics! great video! (so far) haha
@@ciarascorner just finished watching it & yep loved it haha I’m currently reading Emma per your recommendation and I’m loving it so far!! nice to see that it was your #1 favorite classic 😂😂
I’ve seen a lot of couples on TH-cam, and you both by far have one of the most authentic, kind and respectful relationships I’ve seen. Wishing you both all the best! Love the recommendations ☺️
Such a fun exercise! Upon reflection, I think my favourites are: - Alamut by Vladimir Bartol - Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut - Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - 1984 by George Orwell - Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
You and Jay have made a very positive impact in our lives in quarantine, thank you so much for being friendly and sharing your favorites! Additionally, I think this channel is such a boost of vocabulary for anyone who wants to speak English better.
The BBC series of War and peace is soooo good. My favorite scene of the series is near the end, when Pierre sits alone at the table and and eats a potato. This is such a sad but beautiful moment, because of what this little piece of vegetable symbolises and how it makes him happy and sad at the same time.
After reading "Crime and Punishment" for the first time, I was thrilled by the characters and the plot itself. But when I started discussing the novel at school, so much depths got revealed to me that I forgot that the plot even existed, to be honest. Dostoyevsky became extremely religious after being almost executed and being exhiled instead. All his works are soaked with Biblical references, either in names or deeds, or even in the whole story. "Crime and Punishment" is definitely not an exception, so if you decide to read or re-read it, try to seek those religious aspects hidden here and there throughout the story. Initially, it was disheartening for me to see how much I failed to comprehend the writer, but understanding his crucial philosophical views did bring more pleasure to reading Dostoyevsky.
Yeah I feel the same, I think I’m a very surface level reader when it comes to Dostoyevsky and other Russian authors. But I love that there are deep layers and meaning behind the texts.
My top 5 classics are probably: 1) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (it’s just so good) 2) Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers (because of the nostalgia I have with it and it’s just such a sweet story). 3) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 4) Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (despite the length lol) 5) And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Honorable Mentions: Little Women, Sense and Sensibility, LOTR series. (Because I love them all and can’t leave the list without them 😂)
I hated the count of monte cristo with a passion. Hate-read it, despised the main character, and then couldn't care less about the rest of the story. Still finished it.
@@annemontgomery3890 Nooo, lol!! I mean I can understand hating the count himself--I'm not sure we are supposed to like him (in the later parts of the book)--but I just really enjoyed watching his descent into "darkness" for lack of a better word 😂. I love the ride this book takes you on, but to each their own.
@@ciarascorner This is out of context but Orwell wasn't criticizing Communism (he himself was a Libertarian Communist and fought with the communists in Spain, you can read about it in his Homage to Catalonia), he was criticizing Stalinism.
Cute couple. I need to read more classics. I need that as my reading goal. My all time favorite is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I just love Elizabeth so much and Mr Darcy. I have read it about 10 times. I never get sick of it.
Such a great video. My favourite classics are Frankenstein, Eugene Onegin, Mrs Dalloway, Animal Farm and Tess of the Durbervilles 🧡 And I’ve read Matilda by Marry Shelley and enjoyed it.
I read for school and into my early adult years but gave up reading when I got married and family happened. I’ve now started again in my 56th year and retired. I had forgotten how much I adore reading. Thankyou for your channel x
It's such a pleasure to hear how many russian books and authors in general you appreciate and mention in your top classics. Being russian and living in Saint-Petersburg i can't be more grateful to be able to read russian classic in original. I caught myself thinking about that a couple weeks ago while rereading Crime and Punishment which is by the way I'M OBSESSED WITH. Even for me, russian, this book was full of old, not-used today words, can't comprehend how hard that must be to read it in english. Frankenstein is also my all-time favourite. I read it this autumn upon your advise and THANK YOU SO MUCH for that, and for all that you do. You're a huge inspiration and incredibly exquisite young lady. xo
Oooh wow, it is really amazing that you can read them as they were written! But yes, so many amazing Russian books - so many more we still want to read! And yaaaaaay I’m SO glad you enjoyed Frankenstein! Thanks so much for watching!
oh this is so so wonderful seeing Jay talk about his favorite books too! I would love to see him in more videos. you & Jay have a lovely heartwarming vibe:)
Finally I found people who love to read classics as much as I do! I could relate to Jay more on his choices. I'm currently reading Crime and Punishment. (I have Dracula and The Master and Margarita in TBR list.)
I am several months late to this party but here are my top five classics. 5) Dracula (I was thrilled to see it, Jay). 4) The Art of War 3) The Lord of the Rings 2) A Christmas Carol 1) Oliver Twist In the honorable mentions (i.e. threatening at any whim to overturn the entire list) I have: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Prince, Macbeth, The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Silas Marner, the Ryhme of the Ancient Mariner, Pilgrim's Progress, and Nicholas Nickleby.
I watched War and Peace with my sister last year and we both were completely mesmerized. I bought the book right afterwards, but I think I'll watch it again to get a refresh of the story. I am most excited to get to know Pierre better in the book, his philosophy on life is so interesting as he navigates his wealth, personal relationships, and the war. I think my favorite part of the miniseries was how the rules and culture of the upper class was dismantled by war and invasion and the way that quickly illuminated each character's true priorities.
Ahhh I’m so glad you both enjoyed, it really was such an amazing tv adaptation! I’ve rewatched the series so many times now and just love it so much each time! Pierre is definitely the main character in the book and you get such a great insight into his development! And totally agree, it was so interesting to see how the movement between war and peace influenced people’s choices and actions!
Jay is so relatable for me! Because I, too, aways liked reading, but not too much and just a few specific books. But than, in 2019, I read the Diary of Anne Frank and it really changed me. I started reading more books, and classics. I dont read tooooo much, but I try to enjoy what I decide to read. And I try to read classics because usually they're really really good.
Mary Shelley had another novel called Valperga which I read in university. It was a classic Gothic story set in medieval Italy, as I remember. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Frankenstein, but it was interesting to study the two side-by-side.
My top 5 classics are: 1. Little women 2. The great Gatsby 3. Jane Eyre 4. Pride and prejudice 5. A christmas carol I also love To kill a mockinbird, Hamlet, The picture of Dorian Gray, The little prince and A doll's house/Nora
Love this, thanks One of my faves is lord of the rings. And my fave Austen novel is persuasion. I haven't read 1984 yet, but looking forward to it soon.
Oh god how I wish Dracula was just from Jonathan's perspective the whole time lol that first part where he's at the Dracula's castle is one of the best text's I've ever read, but then it just goes downhill a bit after...
so true...such a great book, who became schmaltzy vaudeville romance when they come back to London ...its was so unbelievable...the first Sherlock Holmes too, had the same problem....good story and then, bam...the mormon story in the middle...weird weird
@@pouetpouetdaddy5, the "Mormon story" was the first Sherlock Holmes that A.C.D. wrote. That is why it moves from first person to third person omniscient in narration. A.C.D. never again utilized such a device in Holmes and it was because he was as dissatisfied with the result his readers.
You guys have great taste! My top 5 classics are... 5. Crime and Punishment 4. Tess of the D'Urbervilles 3. Les Miserables 2. Jane Eyre 1. A Tale of Two Cities
Will you be doing a rundown of all the books you read this year? Also the most anticipated/ releases your looking forward to reading next year? Any let downs and favourites of the year? And of course goals for the next year? x I watch more booktube than I actually read 😬 each book you recommend I want to read and my tbr is long enough to fill my lifespan already. For Christmas, I’d like the ability to read books in seconds like the brother in Halloweentown 4💖
Rundown of all books plus favourites is definitely coming! I need to research new releases because I’m so bad at keeping up with them😂 and oh my goodness, we’d all love that reading ability hahaha
Good job. Admirable choices. Mine: 5) A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway 4) Typee by Herman Melville 3) No Name by Wilkie Collins 2) Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham 1) War and Peace by Tolstoy / Honorable Mention: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
1. The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien ( tempted to just say LOTR cause I feel like I change my mind on which is the best but this book started it all ) 2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee 3. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery ( which I loved so much that I also read it in the original French ) 4. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 5. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux ( which I also loved so much I also read it in the original French )
Loved this video, guys! One thing I liked is that I really could relate to Jay on his reading skills, cause I also really started a reading habit in the last three years and I am still creating and improving my reading abilities hahahah
There's an animated Animal Farm movie that doesn't have any words in it. All there is is animals grunting and doing different animal noises and acting out the scenes from the book and when I was a kid it used to be my FAVORITE movie. I used to watch it over and over again even though there's literally not a single word spoken through the whole movie.
This was a lot of fun:) I now have added The Master and Margarita to my TBR and will bump up Emma (I've had the book for years, but never read it). War and Peace is one of my top 5 books so it was cool to see it as Jay's number one pick. I have a beautiful Everyman's Library edition that is split into three hardcovers in a slipcase. Having it as three volumes made it feel less daunting to read:) Thanks for all the fun videos over the holidays. Happy New Year to you both. Oh, and check out the original, Russian produced film of War and Peace. It’s considered a classic film and is part of the Criterion Collection.
I love classics, so I'd love more videos with Jay!! Emma is my favourite as well ☺️ I'm also gonna take your advice and watch the bbc series first, war and peace has been on my tbr for far too long
Yay - will definitely be getting Jay involved with more videos! And I hope you enjoy the bbc series, it’s literally one of the best things I’ve ever watched!
Hi You might enjoy The Other Bennett Sister by Janice Hadlow. It is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It focuses on the events of the original story from Mary's point of View. Reading this book reminded me how hilarious P&P is !!
Love this video - I have to say I have not read many classics so my top 5 are most of the classics I have ever read 1. Pride and prejudice - Jane Austen 2. Ann of Green Gables - L M Montgomery 3. The Go-Between - L P Hartley 4. The Road to Wigan Pier - George Orwell 5. The Jungle - Upton Sinclair But then I also thought of 6. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath 7. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll 8. A Childs Christmas in Wales - Dylan Thomas
Little Women is one of my all time favorite books ever! An international classics author that I really love isYukio Mishima, I love the book Thirst For Love. Would love to see more videos with you and Jay, you guys are awesome!
i love this SO MUCH!!! more please!!! this may be the final straw of inspiration for me to start my own penguin deluxe classics collection... thank you as always for fighting the great gatsby fight and thank you to jay for getting me fired up for russian classics ☺️
Cait - I’m telling you now, you WON’T regret it, they are the most gorgeous books ever! You know I’m always there for that Gatsby appreciation😂 and Jay will be very happy to know he’s inspiring Russian classics readers!😂
For sure buy some deluxe classics, there are at least 90 to choose from. The first RC I read was crime and punishment so I think it could be a good jumping off point .
I really enjoyed this video, you guys are so cute together! Wish I could share my love for books with my boyfriend. But now I‘m even more excited to read Emma than I already was!✨🧚🏻♀️
absolutely love seeing people talk about frankenstein, i never get tired of it! im glad to leave with some new tbr additions, specifically “a country doctor’s notebook” ☺️
I was searching for a video on classic books that was relatable and not dull and I was glad when I found yours to be exactly that! Ciara all the books you chose were some of my favourite classics too so I was very keen to see familiar titles! Keep up the good content. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺✌🏼
So cute! Loved this. More classics videos together, please! I'd never read any Russian lit until I read Anna Karenina during the first lockdown. Amazing! You've definitely inspired me to pick up War and Peace. I recently read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and I thought it was incredible. Jane Eyre would definitely be in my top 5, and also Far from the Madding Crowd.
You two are so cute together! The way you look at eachother is beautiful. I loved this video and now I have so many classics on my TBR for next year. Lol.
I came here from the yoga corner videos, such a pleasant surprise to see you have a booktube channel! I really enjoyed your discussion and yes, would definitely love to hear more from Jay as well
I need to read War and Peace! I have watched the BBC 2016 series twice through now and I love it! War and Peace is definitely on my list. You might have convinced me to invest some time into it! And I{ve only read Pride and Prejudice from Austen, which I adore, but Emma is definitely on the list. I adored the recent Anya Taylor Joy version.
If you enjoy the BBC War and Peace, you should definitely enjoy the book - it's definitely a time commitment but worth it in my opinion! And yes, I loved the new Emma adaptation, Anya Taylor Joy was a perfect Emma - hope you enjoy the book!
2:46 the great gatsby . 4:31 country doctor's notebook . 6:15 animal farm by george orwell . 8:21 dracula . 10:04 little women . 12:00 crime and punishment . 14:28 frankenstein . 18:16 .
Yes, I did enjoy it, so tyvm for posting. The scene where Pierre helps load the cannons, I liked that very much, and of course when he's wandering around Moscow thinking about numerology. However, I've always thought he is ill-suited to be a hero. Thus, reading about NIck and his Cossacks was very enjoyable. And Marie Bolkonski, well, she's lovely.
Thanks for watching! I’m not sure if you’ve read Anna Karenina but I found Levin the ‘hero’ of that story to be very similar to Pierre so I think Tolstoy just liked those types of characters! However I agree, Nikolai and Marya’s storyline was one of my favourites!
This was a great video! I am always looking for more content on classics because they are my favorite area of reading. With the increasing popularity of fantasy, classics content feels hard to find. I would love to hear you both talk more about classics!
really enjoyed this. What a wholesome watch. Also, thank you for portraying reading War and Peace as an attainable goal! I will definitely watch the bbc mini series first 😁
this is so cute! after much deliberation my top favorite classics are: 1. jane eyre 2. david copperfield 3. pride and prejudice 4. a room with a view 5. emma i am reading anna karenina right now though, and it will definitely breach the top five when i'm finished!
ooooh great list - David Copperfield is on my tbr, I really need to read more Dickens! And totally agree, Anna Karenina is great, it's definitely in my top 10!
Also thanks for the recommendation on the war and peace mini series I didn’t even know that was a thing. Watching Anna Karenina helped a lot with getting the characters straight in my mind and getting past all the titles and similar names I feel like that’s what I need to get through war and peace thank you 🙏
If you liked crime and punishment, you'll absolutely adore his Notes From the Underground. It's almost a short story i think, and it's about this guy who doesn't feel at home, but tries to pretend. He's restless, and you get to follow his mind throughout the story (not unlike crime and punishment). However, this is very much like Lolita from Nabokov in that they both try to make you feel really grossed out or furious at the main character you follow (notes of the underground is much more PG, though!). Both are good books to feel uneasy. Another one is Dead Souls by Nikolas Gogol. I highly suggest getting an annotated version, so you understand what a dead soul is from the start, and really get the humor from the start. It's a funny book, and you would never have guessed from the covers, i think, as they make it seem so boring. Another classic you might like, is Ender's game by orson scott wells. It's meant to be a teen book, but it's clearly a classic. It's about a future wherein a boy called Ender plays videogames and gets good at it. The twist is awesome. I wish I had read it as a teen. Another easy to read classic, is catch 22: super funny, set in WW2 (i think). An entirely different classic would be fear and loathing in las Vegas by hunter s thompson (or anything by him, actually). It's not PG, but the writing style is utterly different from what we are used to reading, and he's the founder of that type of gonzo journalism. Recommended (but has lots of drug use, language, etc). Another different type of classic is The Most Dangerous Game. It's a short story. Don't read ANYTHING about it or the fun will be spoilt: just download for free and read it in an hour. I also loved Flowers for Algernon. It sounded like some kind of drama to me, or maybe adventure. But it's not any of that: it's about a mentally handicapped man who is given a new chance at life when he participates in an experiment... Or should we say a different chance at life? He's the narrator, so you struggle through his writing attempts at first. It's beautiful
Thanks for all the recommendations, I have read notes from the underground and did enjoy it. I’ve also been looking into buying dead souls so I’ll take your suggestion about the annotated copy. And I’ll add the rest to my list.
Frankestein was a total and very good surprise....another one who was way more philosophical and intelligent than I thought it would be (and quick read)... from Robert e. Stevenson...give it a try
That was super fun to watch! I love most of the books you both mentioned 🖤 I hope Jay is going to be in more videos! It was super cute and fun watching you two talking about books 🤗
Loved your picks guys! You named some of my favs - Crime and Punishment, Master and Margarita, The Great Gatsby 😍 I still have to read War and Peace yet, I've been reading it for the past 2 years now and I stopped on book 3 and now there's no coming back, because I don't remember what I've read 😂 My top 5 classics would be: 1. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 3. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo 4. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 5. Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov ☺️
I'm back because I'm SO surprised that frankenstein isn't your number one! Didn't expect that at all 🤣 But Emma is amazing so I completely understand your choice 💕
I don't know if anyone already mentioned it in the comment section, but Mary Shelley actually wrote at least one other novel, The Last Man. It's set in 21st century and it's dealing with a plague (it sounds familiar, doesn't it?) I myself haven't read it yet, but as Frankenstein is my favourite book, I'm so excited about reading it sometime in near future.
I don't think that's true about Animal Farm being commissioned by the UK government - in Orwell's introduction he outlines how hard it was to find a publisher because no one wanted to criticise the USSR.
The taste! 🖤 I love all of the books you both mentioned! 😆 I read W&P this year and now I have to reread Anna Karenina to be able to decide which one is my favourite 😬
Jay, check out the film “Pilate and Others” by Andrzej Wajda. It’s based on Master and Margarita but concentrates on the Pilate subplot. It may change your mind about that part of the novel. I saw it as a teenager, and it made a huge impression on me.
Thanks for watching everyone! If anyone has any Russian classics authors that I haven’t mentioned please let me know! I’d also love to read more classics from authors around the world so any recommendations would be highly appreciated!⬇️
Would highly recommend Maxim Gorky “The Mother”, and his autobiographical trilogy, really love his works. Ivan Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons” is another great one. “A Hero of Our Time” by Mikhail Lermontov - truly a classic. Hope it was helpful!
The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak(haven’t read this one but it’s on my list)
Oblomov from Ivan Goncharov is really good , i highly recommend it.
@@gizemy8293 thanks for the suggestion, I do have this book I just haven’t managed to start it yet.
@@garywatters11 great suggestions, I have actually read both doctor zhivago and Anna karenina. And I do own the brother karamazov I just haven’t managed to read it yet.
I think I’ve pulled my cheek muscles from smiling for so long, love you two🥰
awwww Emma - love you too 🥰
Finally I found some people who love classics! I love fantasy and all, but there is just something about picking up a book written a century ago and relating to the authors and characters.
I read Animal Farm in middle school and was completely blown away.
Knowledge is knowing that Frankenstein wasn't the monster.
Wisdom is realizing he was.
My fave book of all time. The pinnacle of literature for me.
Okay, wow, you just totally summed up my thoughts - love this quote!!
@@ciarascorner Aww, thnx! :)
explain the wisdom bit for me pls
@@davida715 Knowledge = fact. Wisdom = insight. It means that it's just a simple fact that Frankenstein wasn't the monster, as many people mistakenly believe. However, in a metaphorical sense, Frankenstein *was* the monster, because it was his actions and poor decisions which led to tragedy after tragedy.
@@davida715 I suppose you got his explanation, but for those who didn't: (Dr.) Frankenstein is the man who built the creature. The creature is actually nameless, but many ppl think that the creature is named Frankenstein. So in that sense Frankenstein is not the monster. However, in a metaphorical way Dr. Frankenstein IS a monster because of his motivations and actions.
“And then I read Emma and everything changed” girl SAME 🙌🏻
Desi, you know it!! It’s just a superior book🥰 can’t wait for your book club to read Emma this month / next month!💕
Wow, I was actually very surprised about Jay's choice! I'm russian and lots of Russians don't like 'Master and Margarita' or 'War and Peace', so seeing you guys reading these huge books is amazing!
I’m German and for a long long time I hadn’t heard of the Master and Margarita until my aunt gifted it to me and it was so interesting, I really really liked it and I think it’s super sad that I almost never hear people talk about it.
я тоже была приятна удивлена. никогда не думала, что за рубежом русскую классику действительно любят♥
@@daryiii Согласна, приятно видеть как за рубежом реагируют на непривычную для них литературу и сюжеты, как будто совсем другой мир
really? Russian authors are really popular in my country
yellow kakadu - I recently read THE MASTER AND MARGARITA. The Pontius Pilate segments were terrifyingly realistic. Planned to skip them, but didn't.
So cute the intro with Jay imitating you hahaha
Hahahah glad you enjoyed that!
Ciara: *talks about British and US classics*
Jay: "Yes, alright but let's focus on Russian lit, shall we?"
Loved the video so much! Have a nice 2021 everyone!
You can tell they respect each other so much!! Such a lovely relationship ☺️
Aw thank you so much!
I haven’t finished watching the video, but I just had to come and say that you guys are so cute and this is such a great idea for a video!!! it’s so interesting to see different people’s favorite classics! great video! (so far) haha
Aww thanks so much!! I always love hearing people’s favourite classics too! Glad you’re enjoying the video (so far😂)
@@ciarascorner just finished watching it & yep loved it haha I’m currently reading Emma per your recommendation and I’m loving it so far!! nice to see that it was your #1 favorite classic 😂😂
I’ve seen a lot of couples on TH-cam, and you both by far have one of the most authentic, kind and respectful relationships I’ve seen. Wishing you both all the best! Love the recommendations ☺️
Aww thank you so much, this is such a lovely comment 🥰
Such a fun exercise! Upon reflection, I think my favourites are:
- Alamut by Vladimir Bartol
- Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
- Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Like I could watch you for a long time and not get bored with it. You’re two seems a genuine people and really fun to be with.
Little women, Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre, Les Miserables and Agatha Christie(and then there were none) great choices
I totally agree with Little Women and Jane Eyre - the other three books are on my tbr!
Yes! Anne of Green Gables series is amazing! Jane Eure and Little Women are also great!
You and Jay have made a very positive impact in our lives in quarantine, thank you so much for being friendly and sharing your favorites! Additionally, I think this channel is such a boost of vocabulary for anyone who wants to speak English better.
Aww this comment has made me so happy, I’m so glad we’ve made some kind of positive impact on your lives!☺️
We need more book recommendations from Jay
agreed!
The BBC series of War and peace is soooo good. My favorite scene of the series is near the end, when Pierre sits alone at the table and and eats a potato. This is such a sad but beautiful moment, because of what this little piece of vegetable symbolises and how it makes him happy and sad at the same time.
After reading "Crime and Punishment" for the first time, I was thrilled by the characters and the plot itself. But when I started discussing the novel at school, so much depths got revealed to me that I forgot that the plot even existed, to be honest. Dostoyevsky became extremely religious after being almost executed and being exhiled instead. All his works are soaked with Biblical references, either in names or deeds, or even in the whole story. "Crime and Punishment" is definitely not an exception, so if you decide to read or re-read it, try to seek those religious aspects hidden here and there throughout the story. Initially, it was disheartening for me to see how much I failed to comprehend the writer, but understanding his crucial philosophical views did bring more pleasure to reading Dostoyevsky.
Yeah I feel the same, I think I’m a very surface level reader when it comes to Dostoyevsky and other Russian authors. But I love that there are deep layers and meaning behind the texts.
My top 5 classics are probably:
1) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (it’s just so good)
2) Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers (because of the nostalgia I have with it and it’s just such a sweet story).
3) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
4) Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (despite the length lol)
5) And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Honorable Mentions:
Little Women, Sense and Sensibility, LOTR series. (Because I love them all and can’t leave the list without them 😂)
The Count of Monte Cristo is on our shelves - haven’t been brave enough to attempt it yet! Sense and Sensibility is an honourable mention for me too!
I hated the count of monte cristo with a passion. Hate-read it, despised the main character, and then couldn't care less about the rest of the story. Still finished it.
@@annemontgomery3890 Nooo, lol!! I mean I can understand hating the count himself--I'm not sure we are supposed to like him (in the later parts of the book)--but I just really enjoyed watching his descent into "darkness" for lack of a better word 😂. I love the ride this book takes you on, but to each their own.
I loved the count too, but I read the abridged version lol
Count of monte Cristo be fiiiiire but damn probably will never Re-Read that.
You guys are literally every booklovers' relationship goals😍😍
This is my favorite video you’ve ever done! It’s so fun to see people’s favorite classics :)
Aww thanks Abbie - so glad you enjoyed!!
These are amazing books! Frankenstein and Crime and Punishment are some of my favorites!
Aw I love this! I love seeing and hearing Jays perspective on his favourite books. You guys are like couple goals and I love it!
So glad you enjoyed!!
this might have been the cutest thing ever!!! you're both angels 🥺💘
Awww thanks so much, this is such a lovely comment!💕
@@ciarascorner This is out of context but Orwell wasn't criticizing Communism (he himself was a Libertarian Communist and fought with the communists in Spain, you can read about it in his Homage to Catalonia), he was criticizing Stalinism.
absolutely love all the book recommendations but the way he LOOKS at you... omg you guys are so adorable together
Ugh these covers. My weakness is a new edition with a beautiful cover. My bank account trembles when I enter Waterstones. I cannot be stopped.🤣
Hahahah we are so weak when it comes to beautiful books😂
I loved this! I hope Jay's in more videos in the future! Emma is my favorite classic, too!
Aw thank you - will definitely be getting more Jay videos in future! And yay - Emma is just amazing!
The Great Gatsby is in my TBR for this year!! Looking forward to reading it
Cute couple. I need to read more classics. I need that as my reading goal. My all time favorite is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I just love Elizabeth so much and Mr Darcy. I have read it about 10 times. I never get sick of it.
Aw thank you - I’m always trying to read more classics!
I love both of your sweaters, they're so cute and cozy😍
Aw thank you ahah!💕
Love how honest your boyfriend is. Such an encouragement to all readers.
War and Peace!!!! #inspirational
Such a great video. My favourite classics are Frankenstein, Eugene Onegin, Mrs Dalloway, Animal Farm and Tess of the Durbervilles 🧡 And I’ve read Matilda by Marry Shelley and enjoyed it.
Tess of the D’urbevilles is one of the next classics I’m planning to read!
I read for school and into my early adult years but gave up reading when I got married and family happened. I’ve now started again in my 56th year and retired. I had forgotten how much I adore reading. Thankyou for your channel x
It's such a pleasure to hear how many russian books and authors in general you appreciate and mention in your top classics. Being russian and living in Saint-Petersburg i can't be more grateful to be able to read russian classic in original. I caught myself thinking about that a couple weeks ago while rereading Crime and Punishment which is by the way I'M OBSESSED WITH. Even for me, russian, this book was full of old, not-used today words, can't comprehend how hard that must be to read it in english. Frankenstein is also my all-time favourite. I read it this autumn upon your advise and THANK YOU SO MUCH for that, and for all that you do. You're a huge inspiration and incredibly exquisite young lady. xo
Oooh wow, it is really amazing that you can read them as they were written! But yes, so many amazing Russian books - so many more we still want to read! And yaaaaaay I’m SO glad you enjoyed Frankenstein! Thanks so much for watching!
oh this is so so wonderful seeing Jay talk about his favorite books too! I would love to see him in more videos. you & Jay have a lovely heartwarming vibe:)
Aw thank you - so glad you enjoyed! Hopefully Jay will be in lots more videos!
The Master and Margarita is one of my favorites. It actually made me laugh out loud.
All excellent choices. Well done!
Finally I found people who love to read classics as much as I do! I could relate to Jay more on his choices. I'm currently reading Crime and Punishment. (I have Dracula and The Master and Margarita in TBR list.)
Jay did have a great list! Glad you enjoyed the video!
What are the new literature books ?
I am several months late to this party but here are my top five classics.
5) Dracula (I was thrilled to see it, Jay).
4) The Art of War
3) The Lord of the Rings
2) A Christmas Carol
1) Oliver Twist
In the honorable mentions (i.e. threatening at any whim to overturn the entire list) I have: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Prince, Macbeth, The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Silas Marner, the Ryhme of the Ancient Mariner, Pilgrim's Progress, and Nicholas Nickleby.
I watched War and Peace with my sister last year and we both were completely mesmerized. I bought the book right afterwards, but I think I'll watch it again to get a refresh of the story. I am most excited to get to know Pierre better in the book, his philosophy on life is so interesting as he navigates his wealth, personal relationships, and the war. I think my favorite part of the miniseries was how the rules and culture of the upper class was dismantled by war and invasion and the way that quickly illuminated each character's true priorities.
Ahhh I’m so glad you both enjoyed, it really was such an amazing tv adaptation! I’ve rewatched the series so many times now and just love it so much each time! Pierre is definitely the main character in the book and you get such a great insight into his development! And totally agree, it was so interesting to see how the movement between war and peace influenced people’s choices and actions!
Jay is so relatable for me! Because I, too, aways liked reading, but not too much and just a few specific books. But than, in 2019, I read the Diary of Anne Frank and it really changed me. I started reading more books, and classics. I dont read tooooo much, but I try to enjoy what I decide to read. And I try to read classics because usually they're really really good.
Mary Shelley had another novel called Valperga which I read in university. It was a classic Gothic story set in medieval Italy, as I remember. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Frankenstein, but it was interesting to study the two side-by-side.
Ooh interesting - I’m definitely keen to read that and see what I think of it!
My top 5 classics are:
1. Little women
2. The great Gatsby
3. Jane Eyre
4. Pride and prejudice
5. A christmas carol
I also love To kill a mockinbird, Hamlet, The picture of Dorian Gray, The little prince and A doll's house/Nora
That is a such a great list - love all of your top 5! Also a big fan of The Picture of Dorian Gray!
Love this, thanks
One of my faves is lord of the rings. And my fave Austen novel is persuasion. I haven't read 1984 yet, but looking forward to it soon.
I'm getting so many signals that I should read War and Peace!
Love this idea- his and hers favorites. What a good idea!!
Oh god how I wish Dracula was just from Jonathan's perspective the whole time lol that first part where he's at the Dracula's castle is one of the best text's I've ever read, but then it just goes downhill a bit after...
Agreed, the very beginning and the end of Dracula are definitely the best bits!
so true...such a great book, who became schmaltzy vaudeville romance when they come back to London ...its was so unbelievable...the first Sherlock Holmes too, had the same problem....good story and then, bam...the mormon story in the middle...weird weird
@@pouetpouetdaddy5, the "Mormon story" was the first Sherlock Holmes that A.C.D. wrote. That is why it moves from first person to third person omniscient in narration. A.C.D. never again utilized such a device in Holmes and it was because he was as dissatisfied with the result his readers.
You guys have great taste! My top 5 classics are...
5. Crime and Punishment
4. Tess of the D'Urbervilles
3. Les Miserables
2. Jane Eyre
1. A Tale of Two Cities
Thank you!! Lots on your list that I still need to read - Tess of the D’Urbevilles is high on my tbr!
Will you be doing a rundown of all the books you read this year? Also the most anticipated/ releases your looking forward to reading next year? Any let downs and favourites of the year? And of course goals for the next year? x I watch more booktube than I actually read 😬 each book you recommend I want to read and my tbr is long enough to fill my lifespan already. For Christmas, I’d like the ability to read books in seconds like the brother in Halloweentown 4💖
Rundown of all books plus favourites is definitely coming! I need to research new releases because I’m so bad at keeping up with them😂 and oh my goodness, we’d all love that reading ability hahaha
You guys are just the sweetest couple ❤️
Aww thank you!!💕
Good job. Admirable choices. Mine: 5) A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway 4) Typee by Herman Melville 3) No Name by Wilkie Collins 2) Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham 1) War and Peace by Tolstoy / Honorable Mention: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
1. The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien ( tempted to just say LOTR cause I feel like I change my mind on which is the best but this book started it all )
2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
3. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery ( which I loved so much that I also read it in the original French )
4. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
5. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux ( which I also loved so much I also read it in the original French )
Oooh LotR is a great pick! I still need to read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, although I loved the Narnia movie when I was younger!
Loved this video, guys! One thing I liked is that I really could relate to Jay on his reading skills, cause I also really started a reading habit in the last three years and I am still creating and improving my reading abilities hahahah
aww so glad you enjoyed and that you could relate to jay! The main thing is just that you're reading and enjoying it!x
There's an animated Animal Farm movie that doesn't have any words in it. All there is is animals grunting and doing different animal noises and acting out the scenes from the book and when I was a kid it used to be my FAVORITE movie. I used to watch it over and over again even though there's literally not a single word spoken through the whole movie.
Ooooh that’s really interesting ahahah
This was a lot of fun:) I now have added The Master and Margarita to my TBR and will bump up Emma (I've had the book for years, but never read it). War and Peace is one of my top 5 books so it was cool to see it as Jay's number one pick. I have a beautiful Everyman's Library edition that is split into three hardcovers in a slipcase. Having it as three volumes made it feel less daunting to read:) Thanks for all the fun videos over the holidays. Happy New Year to you both.
Oh, and check out the original, Russian produced film of War and Peace. It’s considered a classic film and is part of the Criterion Collection.
Thanks....... With some funny discussion we r getting some great book summary.... 👍👍
Glad you enjoyed!
Also I love your love for the penguin deluxe classics - they are my favorite editions as well!!!
I love classics, so I'd love more videos with Jay!!
Emma is my favourite as well ☺️
I'm also gonna take your advice and watch the bbc series first, war and peace has been on my tbr for far too long
Yay - will definitely be getting Jay involved with more videos! And I hope you enjoy the bbc series, it’s literally one of the best things I’ve ever watched!
This was SO enjoyable - loved seeing the conversation and dynamic between you and Jay. It’s so sweet that you share a literary love ❤️
That 2016 War & Peace was SO good! Fantastic book!!!
Hi You might enjoy The Other Bennett Sister by Janice Hadlow. It is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. It focuses on the events of the original story from Mary's point of View. Reading this book reminded me how hilarious P&P is !!
Ooh this sounds fun, thanks for the recommendation!
Love this video - I have to say I have not read many classics so my top 5 are most of the classics I have ever read
1. Pride and prejudice - Jane Austen
2. Ann of Green Gables - L M Montgomery
3. The Go-Between - L P Hartley
4. The Road to Wigan Pier - George Orwell
5. The Jungle - Upton Sinclair
But then I also thought of
6. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
7. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
8. A Childs Christmas in Wales - Dylan Thomas
Oooh, quite a few on your list that I haven’t read yet! Anne of Green Gables is high on my tbr!
Little Women is one of my all time favorite books ever! An international classics author that I really love isYukio Mishima, I love the book Thirst For Love. Would love to see more videos with you and Jay, you guys are awesome!
Little women is wonderful! And ooh thank you so much for the recommendation, I’ll check that one out!
i love this SO MUCH!!! more please!!! this may be the final straw of inspiration for me to start my own penguin deluxe classics collection... thank you as always for fighting the great gatsby fight and thank you to jay for getting me fired up for russian classics ☺️
Cait - I’m telling you now, you WON’T regret it, they are the most gorgeous books ever! You know I’m always there for that Gatsby appreciation😂 and Jay will be very happy to know he’s inspiring Russian classics readers!😂
For sure buy some deluxe classics, there are at least 90 to choose from. The first RC I read was crime and punishment so I think it could be a good jumping off point .
I really enjoyed this video, you guys are so cute together! Wish I could share my love for books with my boyfriend. But now I‘m even more excited to read Emma than I already was!✨🧚🏻♀️
Aww thank you so much! And yay, I hope you enjoy Emma (I clearly love it ahahh)
Such a cute couple! Would love to see jay again!
Aww yay - I’ll let him know!
absolutely love seeing people talk about frankenstein, i never get tired of it! im glad to leave with some new tbr additions, specifically “a country doctor’s notebook” ☺️
im also inspired to pick up anna karenina again.. gotta master that russian lit
I was searching for a video on classic books that was relatable and not dull and I was glad when I found yours to be exactly that! Ciara all the books you chose were some of my favourite classics too so I was very keen to see familiar titles! Keep up the good content. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺✌🏼
So cute! Loved this. More classics videos together, please! I'd never read any Russian lit until I read Anna Karenina during the first lockdown. Amazing! You've definitely inspired me to pick up War and Peace. I recently read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and I thought it was incredible. Jane Eyre would definitely be in my top 5, and also Far from the Madding Crowd.
Definitely more classics video coming! Hope you enjoy War and Peace! The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Far From the Madding Crowd are both on my tbr!
Did Jay ever hear of the Broadway musical, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet. I think he'll be humored by the opening number "Prologue".
Dudeeeeee that musical got me interested in reading war and peace
You two are so cute together! The way you look at eachother is beautiful. I loved this video and now I have so many classics on my TBR for next year. Lol.
Aww thanks so much! And yay - I hope you enjoy the classics you read next year!
I love classics but I haven’t read many. I got a lot of good recommendations thank you both ❤️
Ooh I hope you enjoy these recommendations!
I came here from the yoga corner videos, such a pleasant surprise to see you have a booktube channel! I really enjoyed your discussion and yes, would definitely love to hear more from Jay as well
Ooh thanks for joining me on both channels! And so glad you enjoyed the video - Jay will definitely be back for more videos in future!
I need to read War and Peace! I have watched the BBC 2016 series twice through now and I love it! War and Peace is definitely on my list. You might have convinced me to invest some time into it! And I{ve only read Pride and Prejudice from Austen, which I adore, but Emma is definitely on the list. I adored the recent Anya Taylor Joy version.
If you enjoy the BBC War and Peace, you should definitely enjoy the book - it's definitely a time commitment but worth it in my opinion! And yes, I loved the new Emma adaptation, Anya Taylor Joy was a perfect Emma - hope you enjoy the book!
2:46 the great gatsby
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4:31 country doctor's notebook
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6:15 animal farm by george orwell
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8:21 dracula
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10:04 little women
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12:00 crime and punishment
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14:28 frankenstein
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18:16
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Yes, I did enjoy it, so tyvm for posting. The scene where Pierre helps load the cannons, I liked that very much, and of course when he's wandering around Moscow thinking about numerology. However, I've always thought he is ill-suited to be a hero. Thus, reading about NIck and his Cossacks was very enjoyable. And Marie Bolkonski, well, she's lovely.
Thanks for watching! I’m not sure if you’ve read Anna Karenina but I found Levin the ‘hero’ of that story to be very similar to Pierre so I think Tolstoy just liked those types of characters! However I agree, Nikolai and Marya’s storyline was one of my favourites!
My top five classics are Pride and Prejudice, The Good Earth, Rebecca, Frankenstein, and Wuthering Heights.
Oooh a great list!
That ' I can't believe I won ' was soooooooo cute🙈
Hahhaha thank you!!💕
This was a great video! I am always looking for more content on classics because they are my favorite area of reading. With the increasing popularity of fantasy, classics content feels hard to find. I would love to hear you both talk more about classics!
Aw thanks so much - so glad you enjoyed! And yay, I’ll definitely try and make more classics content!
really enjoyed this. What a wholesome watch. Also, thank you for portraying reading War and Peace as an attainable goal! I will definitely watch the bbc mini series first 😁
So glad you enjoyed! And absolutely, it's a challenge but totally achievable!
Love “Little Women”
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” my other favorite classic ..
this is so cute! after much deliberation my top favorite classics are:
1. jane eyre
2. david copperfield
3. pride and prejudice
4. a room with a view
5. emma
i am reading anna karenina right now though, and it will definitely breach the top five when i'm finished!
ooooh great list - David Copperfield is on my tbr, I really need to read more Dickens! And totally agree, Anna Karenina is great, it's definitely in my top 10!
I loved this video and I’m so jealous of this beautiful version of The Master and Margarita!!!
Aw thank you - and ahahha it is a beautiful copy’
I love this channel sooo much! This is one of my favorite videos, your dinamic is lovely. Brazilian fan here ❤️
The 2016 BBC adaptation of war and peace is amazing!! It's so beautiful! Just as good as the book:) you guys have great taste!
Great video. I love that man’s sweater!
Also thanks for the recommendation on the war and peace mini series I didn’t even know that was a thing. Watching Anna Karenina helped a lot with getting the characters straight in my mind and getting past all the titles and similar names I feel like that’s what I need to get through war and peace thank you 🙏
oooh the mini series is so good - I hope you enjoy it & I definitely think it will help you to connect with all of the characters in the book!
If you liked crime and punishment, you'll absolutely adore his Notes From the Underground. It's almost a short story i think, and it's about this guy who doesn't feel at home, but tries to pretend. He's restless, and you get to follow his mind throughout the story (not unlike crime and punishment). However, this is very much like Lolita from Nabokov in that they both try to make you feel really grossed out or furious at the main character you follow (notes of the underground is much more PG, though!). Both are good books to feel uneasy.
Another one is Dead Souls by Nikolas Gogol. I highly suggest getting an annotated version, so you understand what a dead soul is from the start, and really get the humor from the start. It's a funny book, and you would never have guessed from the covers, i think, as they make it seem so boring.
Another classic you might like, is Ender's game by orson scott wells. It's meant to be a teen book, but it's clearly a classic. It's about a future wherein a boy called Ender plays videogames and gets good at it. The twist is awesome. I wish I had read it as a teen.
Another easy to read classic, is catch 22: super funny, set in WW2 (i think).
An entirely different classic would be fear and loathing in las Vegas by hunter s thompson (or anything by him, actually). It's not PG, but the writing style is utterly different from what we are used to reading, and he's the founder of that type of gonzo journalism. Recommended (but has lots of drug use, language, etc).
Another different type of classic is The Most Dangerous Game. It's a short story. Don't read ANYTHING about it or the fun will be spoilt: just download for free and read it in an hour.
I also loved Flowers for Algernon. It sounded like some kind of drama to me, or maybe adventure. But it's not any of that: it's about a mentally handicapped man who is given a new chance at life when he participates in an experiment... Or should we say a different chance at life? He's the narrator, so you struggle through his writing attempts at first. It's beautiful
Oooh wow, thank you so much for all of these recommendations - I haven’t read any of these yet so my tbr just got a lot bigger!
Thanks for all the recommendations, I have read notes from the underground and did enjoy it.
I’ve also been looking into buying dead souls so I’ll take your suggestion about the annotated copy.
And I’ll add the rest to my list.
Frankestein was a total and very good surprise....another one who was way more philosophical and intelligent than I thought it would be (and quick read)... from Robert e. Stevenson...give it a try
That was super fun to watch! I love most of the books you both mentioned 🖤 I hope Jay is going to be in more videos! It was super cute and fun watching you two talking about books 🤗
Aw thanks - glad you enjoyed! I think Jay will definitely be making more appearances in future!
the intro was the cutest thing ever 😂
I can't stop smiling, you two are adorable - loved this so much 💕
Ahaha aww thank you so much Mary!!💕🥰
Loved your picks guys! You named some of my favs - Crime and Punishment, Master and Margarita, The Great Gatsby 😍 I still have to read War and Peace yet, I've been reading it for the past 2 years now and I stopped on book 3 and now there's no coming back, because I don't remember what I've read 😂
My top 5 classics would be:
1. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
4. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
5. Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov ☺️
This was lovely! It was incredible to hear Jay's favourites as well. I love knowing more about diferent reading experiences 💖 great video Ciara!
Aw thanks so much - glad you enjoyed hearing about our favourites! Thanks for watching!💕
I'm back because I'm SO surprised that frankenstein isn't your number one! Didn't expect that at all 🤣 But Emma is amazing so I completely understand your choice 💕
This was such a great video and seeing the different classics you both love. I loved that Jay did the intro as well 😊
Aww thanks so much - so glad you enjoyed!💕
I found 1st edition of master margarita at local thrift store.. i am blessed.
Wow that’s incredible!
I don't know if anyone already mentioned it in the comment section, but Mary Shelley actually wrote at least one other novel, The Last Man. It's set in 21st century and it's dealing with a plague (it sounds familiar, doesn't it?) I myself haven't read it yet, but as Frankenstein is my favourite book, I'm so excited about reading it sometime in near future.
I don't think that's true about Animal Farm being commissioned by the UK government - in Orwell's introduction he outlines how hard it was to find a publisher because no one wanted to criticise the USSR.
After seeing this I looked into it and you’re 100% correct, not sure where I got that from.
The taste! 🖤 I love all of the books you both mentioned! 😆 I read W&P this year and now I have to reread Anna Karenina to be able to decide which one is my favourite 😬
Jay, check out the film “Pilate and Others” by Andrzej Wajda. It’s based on Master and Margarita but concentrates on the Pilate subplot. It may change your mind about that part of the novel. I saw it as a teenager, and it made a huge impression on me.
You guys are so cute together! And so well read too, some great choices in both your lists.
Aww thanks so much Sadie!
Enjoyed seeing both of your reactions after the rock paper scissors