In another one of your videos I mentioned Let's Go Play at the Adams' by Johnson. I think of it as a cross between Lord of the Flies and The Girl Next Door. Taking place in 1970s in rural America the parents hire a college girl to babysit their kids while they are in Europe for 2 weeks. Along with some neighbor kids they decide to prank the babysitter by making her their prisoner of war. But as the days go on the kids take their prank more and more seriously.
Yes, I just responded to your comment! It sounds very interesting, and intriguing, but for me it’s definitely something I would need to be ready for. I think knowing what to expect from the book and what might trigger/annoy/upset you is very helpful. Because when I was reading Lord of the Flies, I didn’t know what I’m getting into, and it definitely made the experience more difficult.
@@Merryreads As I commented for the other video, the first half of the book is a slow burn as the writer spends time in each of the characters heads. I still think the book is well written. The book was out of print for 40 years so it's obscure and hard to find people who have read it is the book was hard to find. Used copies were going for hundreds of dollars. But it's back in print for about $20.
Excellent video. I was a bit worried reading A Song of Ice and Fire book series because there's something like 800 characters. The writing was so good though that it wasn't confusing.
@@TheGiantAdventurer Thank you! And wow, I agree, a lot of characters can easily make reading very hard. I had situations like that. As you said, it very much depends on the writing. If the author is able to clearly distinguish the characters and “bring them to life”, it stops being confusing. But I had situations where there weren’t even that many characters but I was still getting lost in them, because the author didn’t clearly explain who is who and why we need them.
Very common sentiment. There’s lots to read and very little time. I’d have to check out The Second Sex; sounds lovely, thanks for the recommendation(that was probably not your intention though lol). I’m also in the same situation with Dostoevsky, loved both novels of his I’ve read but you’re right; there’s something “depressing” in general about the Russian classics. I think it’s all the pondering and self-doubt these characters experience. But definitely worth it. Hopefully you’re able to read the bulk of these. Love your videos.
Oh I’m always happy when I can recommend a book, even when it’s something I’m personally scared of😂 And what Dostoevsky’s novels did you read? I agree that Russian classics can be “depressing”, but I’m actually not sure why exactly that’s the case. Obviously, not everything is “depressing”, but a lot of novels/stories are. I wonder when it started. Is it just people’s culture in general, or maybe some historical events made people think more about life/death types of questions, or maybe both? And thank you so much! That’s so great to hear!
@@Merryreads I read Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. I’ll read more Dostoevsky but for now I’m stuck with In Search of Lost Time so I’ll probably not be able to read another book until next year. I agree it’s something about the culture and their “land”. Vast and cold……That being said, I also think that we’re over generalising it. The overall tone does come off as depressing but I believe during the actual reading there are numerous moments of joy and laughter, it’s just that they’ve always been accurate with descriptions of human emotion and the “human condition”. It could also be the translation of Russian into English. Maybe we’re losing the lightheartedness during translation. Either way, I personally need more Russian reads before I can be confident enough with the feeling.
@@macephrufus6538 I’ve never heard about In Search of Lost Time. I’ll check it out! And agreed. I’ve read a lot of Russian literature because that’s where I’m originally from and most of our school program is Russian authors, and I think there really is an element of “heaviness” and “seriousness” to the plot, which sometimes makes it depressing, but you are right about some of the moments being happy and cheerful, just like in our lives, there are both happy and sad moments :)
You should read It! You will not get lost at all. But if you want a Stephen King that is horror but not so long and with less characters try The Shining!
I’ve heard so much about The Shining! This one is definitely on my list! I also really want to read Misery, which I also think is horror, and Shawshank Redemption. But from my understanding Shawshank Redemption is not horror, it’s more like The Green Mile. I might be completely off though, I try not to read anything about any of his books cause specifically with Stephen King, I want to step into the book not knowing any details about the plot.
It looks like your reading is being done from English texts. Do you think about the books you're reading in your first tongue or in the language you are reading it? Can't help but love everything Rutherford puts out. I haven't run into the two Ireland epics yet but I know for certain that I'll return time and again to his Paris. Such a rewarding ending after the author put a couple of his most endearing characters through so much sadness.
@@whyimsmarterthanyou Yes, Paris was very good! It took me a while to understand who the characters are though. The family tree in the beginning is definitely a huge help! As for the language I think about the books in, I mostly think about them in my native tongue, no matter what language I read in, but interestingly enough, since 95% of time I’m speaking English, once in a while I notice that I’m thinking in English too.
Dostoevsky, in my opinion, is better when read in the non-classics... They are shorter and less ponderous, although heavy in content... Try "Notes from the Dead House", a autobiographical novel about his time in prison in Siberia... "Democracy in America" can be a tough read, but is worthwhile... Whatever you do, enjoy what you read... There are so many great books out there, and never enough time to read them... Don't spend too much time on anything that you feel obligated to read... Where do you live in Vermont? I used to live in Barre...
Thank you for the suggestion! I will definitely read it! Another book that I’m very interested in reading (you mentioned prison, and I thought about it) is The Gulag Archipelago. I’ve been looking at it for quite some time now. And I will definitely read Democracy in America. It sounds so interesting! Just need to find time to actually sit and read it. And we just went to Vermont on vacation to see the solar eclipse. We stayed right outside Burlington. I would love to come back at some point, it’s beautiful there!
@@williamward446 oh I agree. What I meant was more that it’s not one of those books you can sit and read on the subway on your way to work. It’s something I would like to sit with and focus on for a couple hours straight, maybe with a notebook
And you will no problem with De Tocqueville either - he was French and very clear.
In another one of your videos I mentioned Let's Go Play at the Adams' by Johnson. I think of it as a cross between Lord of the Flies and The Girl Next Door. Taking place in 1970s in rural America the parents hire a college girl to babysit their kids while they are in Europe for 2 weeks. Along with some neighbor kids they decide to prank the babysitter by making her their prisoner of war. But as the days go on the kids take their prank more and more seriously.
Yes, I just responded to your comment!
It sounds very interesting, and intriguing, but for me it’s definitely something I would need to be ready for. I think knowing what to expect from the book and what might trigger/annoy/upset you is very helpful. Because when I was reading Lord of the Flies, I didn’t know what I’m getting into, and it definitely made the experience more difficult.
@@Merryreads As I commented for the other video, the first half of the book is a slow burn as the writer spends time in each of the characters heads. I still think the book is well written. The book was out of print for 40 years so it's obscure and hard to find people who have read it is the book was hard to find. Used copies were going for hundreds of dollars. But it's back in print for about $20.
Excellent video. I was a bit worried reading A Song of Ice and Fire book series because there's something like 800 characters. The writing was so good though that it wasn't confusing.
@@TheGiantAdventurer Thank you!
And wow, I agree, a lot of characters can easily make reading very hard. I had situations like that.
As you said, it very much depends on the writing. If the author is able to clearly distinguish the characters and “bring them to life”, it stops being confusing. But I had situations where there weren’t even that many characters but I was still getting lost in them, because the author didn’t clearly explain who is who and why we need them.
Your English is incredible for not being a native speaker. Arguably better than mine! Keep up the great content!
Thank you so much! That means a lot!
Very common sentiment. There’s lots to read and very little time. I’d have to check out The Second Sex; sounds lovely, thanks for the recommendation(that was probably not your intention though lol). I’m also in the same situation with Dostoevsky, loved both novels of his I’ve read but you’re right; there’s something “depressing” in general about the Russian classics. I think it’s all the pondering and self-doubt these characters experience. But definitely worth it. Hopefully you’re able to read the bulk of these.
Love your videos.
Oh I’m always happy when I can recommend a book, even when it’s something I’m personally scared of😂
And what Dostoevsky’s novels did you read? I agree that Russian classics can be “depressing”, but I’m actually not sure why exactly that’s the case. Obviously, not everything is “depressing”, but a lot of novels/stories are. I wonder when it started. Is it just people’s culture in general, or maybe some historical events made people think more about life/death types of questions, or maybe both?
And thank you so much! That’s so great to hear!
@@Merryreads I read Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. I’ll read more Dostoevsky but for now I’m stuck with In Search of Lost Time so I’ll probably not be able to read another book until next year.
I agree it’s something about the culture and their “land”. Vast and cold……That being said, I also think that we’re over generalising it. The overall tone does come off as depressing but I believe during the actual reading there are numerous moments of joy and laughter, it’s just that they’ve always been accurate with descriptions of human emotion and the “human condition”.
It could also be the translation of Russian into English. Maybe we’re losing the lightheartedness during translation. Either way, I personally need more Russian reads before I can be confident enough with the feeling.
@@macephrufus6538 I’ve never heard about In Search of Lost Time. I’ll check it out!
And agreed. I’ve read a lot of Russian literature because that’s where I’m originally from and most of our school program is Russian authors, and I think there really is an element of “heaviness” and “seriousness” to the plot, which sometimes makes it depressing, but you are right about some of the moments being happy and cheerful, just like in our lives, there are both happy and sad moments :)
You should read It! You will not get lost at all. But if you want a Stephen King that is horror but not so long and with less characters try The Shining!
I’ve heard so much about The Shining! This one is definitely on my list! I also really want to read Misery, which I also think is horror, and Shawshank Redemption.
But from my understanding Shawshank Redemption is not horror, it’s more like The Green Mile. I might be completely off though, I try not to read anything about any of his books cause specifically with Stephen King, I want to step into the book not knowing any details about the plot.
It looks like your reading is being done from English texts. Do you think about the books you're reading in your first tongue or in the language you are reading it?
Can't help but love everything Rutherford puts out. I haven't run into the two Ireland epics yet but I know for certain that I'll return time and again to his Paris. Such a rewarding ending after the author put a couple of his most endearing characters through so much sadness.
@@whyimsmarterthanyou Yes, Paris was very good! It took me a while to understand who the characters are though. The family tree in the beginning is definitely a huge help!
As for the language I think about the books in, I mostly think about them in my native tongue, no matter what language I read in, but interestingly enough, since 95% of time I’m speaking English, once in a while I notice that I’m thinking in English too.
Dostoevsky, in my opinion, is better when read in the non-classics... They are shorter and less ponderous, although heavy in content... Try "Notes from the Dead House", a autobiographical novel about his time in prison in Siberia...
"Democracy in America" can be a tough read, but is worthwhile...
Whatever you do, enjoy what you read... There are so many great books out there, and never enough time to read them... Don't spend too much time on anything that you feel obligated to read...
Where do you live in Vermont? I used to live in Barre...
Thank you for the suggestion! I will definitely read it! Another book that I’m very interested in reading (you mentioned prison, and I thought about it) is The Gulag Archipelago. I’ve been looking at it for quite some time now.
And I will definitely read Democracy in America. It sounds so interesting! Just need to find time to actually sit and read it.
And we just went to Vermont on vacation to see the solar eclipse. We stayed right outside Burlington. I would love to come back at some point, it’s beautiful there!
@@Merryreads Books like Democracy in America can be read in parts as it is non-fiction and there really isn't a plot...
@@williamward446 oh I agree. What I meant was more that it’s not one of those books you can sit and read on the subway on your way to work. It’s something I would like to sit with and focus on for a couple hours straight, maybe with a notebook
Your English is excellent and Simone de Beauvoir is not an abstruse writer; you will not have any trouble with her.
So I guess "The Power Broker" by Caro is not on your list.
@@skeetermegamoto You know, I just checked it out, and it sounds very interesting.
But the number of pages does scare me a bit😂
Ready to start your education with pre Piter’s Russian history
I need to read about pre Peter’s history! I don’t remember anything