I have about 50 pages left of Stoner and I have to agree that it's a sad novel, but It's been incredibly comforting to me in a way that I can't explain.
I respect that you are willing to admit to yourself and to us when you don't understand something. From rumors, Being and Time seems like the kind of book to stump many lol. Something I have quite recently learned from this more academic side of booktube is that it is okay to give up something you don't get and.try again later after you are more familiar with what they are talking about.
Hi, there! I recently discovered your channel. I've picked up some of your recoomendations. I've also noticed that you enjoy psychologically-charged novels. I don't know if you have read "Death and the Dervish" by Meša Selimović. If you haven't, I highly recommend it. P.S. I think you should give a try to "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin. "1984" is inspired by it, but I think "We" does a better job than Orwell's novel. Best regards.😉
About Winston and Julia, everything you said you had an issue with, just re-listen to everything you say from 10:00-10:50… especially, “they don’t even try!” *that’s the point* 🙃
If you didn't like 1984 very much, you should totally check out We by Yevgeny Zamyatin; my favorite dystopian novel -- and a precursor to Orwell's landmark piece. Fantastic video!
I agree, I started my dystopian trio with We by Zamyatin, then A Brave New World, then 1984. I agree that 1984 was a bit eh for me. I much prefer a great audiobook of 1984 though.
@@TheActiveMind1 To the Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway are fantastic prose works by Woolf. If you want something a little more like commentary -- and a slightly shorter read -- you should definitely check out A Room of One's Own. It's an essayesque short-novel. Orlando is also a great piece, handling both gender- and class-fluidity -- something very rare for the time of publication.
I loved the question changes you made to this tag and appreciated your hot takes! I read Ursula K. Le Guin and Philip K. Dick for the first time this year and was not disappointed. My heart beams anytime I hear someone speak favorably about Stoner. It’s one of my all time favorite books!
Great that you got "The Tin Drum" - and let us know, how you liked it. Sure, it will take some time, coz you have so many books on your list. Wish you a good summer reading! Greets from Düsseldorf.
Your take on 1984 really surprised me. I don’t expect everyone to like it, as it’s all very subjective, though I do believe everyone should at least give it a try. Expecting 1984 to have the plot of Star Wars Rogue One or another Hollywood blockbuster, however, misses the point, in my opinion. Orwell was a journalist, war correspondent who clearly well understood what he was writing about and how it all works. There are many parallels with events of the 20th century that inspired Orwell, which clearly made the novel relatable for many readers. Still, rereading this novel after February 2022, as a Russian, and witnessing almost identical scenarios from the book unfold in my country gave me shivers, to say the least. I guess that’s what makes such novels timeless. I underlined many passages after finishing it and was amazed by Orwell’s style-so simple yet precise. In just a few words, he’s able to capture the psychological complexity of people living in such world. And of course, it’s not just Russia nowadays, that’s why I think 1984 doesn’t read anymore (and probably never did, for some) as a dystopian sci-fi novel, but more as a (maybe) slightly exaggerated description of the present day many of us live in, whether we are able to realize it or not. Anyhow, thank you for the great content you are producing and good luck with learning Russian!
Thank you and I appreciate your thoughts. To be clear, it's not that I thought the book doesn't have its merits. The dystopian ideas, concerns raised, and originality is noteworthy, but the plot and characters left much to be desired. In my opinion that book could've operated better as a novella or short story
This was so good that I'm going to do a second mid-year freakout tag but call it the "classics edition" and use your adopted questions! Obviously, I'll give you all the credit. This was my first year doing this tag and I also found it difficult to answer the questios and that they didn't all reflect my reading. Thanks for sharing!
The Master and Margarita is one of my favorite novels. I love that book so much. I first read the Ginsburg translation a few years ago, but I plan to read it again but this time I’ll read the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation.
Blasphemy that some people don't like The Master and Margarita! I loved it so much that I became a Bulgakov completist, and I now have The White Guard (adapted I believe into the play The Days of the Turbins, which was loved by none other than Joseph Stalin), Heart of a Dog, Black Snow, a collection of short stories : The Diabolids, and A Country Doctor's Notebook. If there are any others, I need to know. Some of these titles may now be difficult to get as I acquired them when TMAM was making a big splash. I'm with you on And Quiet Flows the Don. It's both epic yet intimate and sweeps along like a best seller and maybe that's why it's not so highly rated : people think that Russian literature shouldn't be that easy to read. Apparently its sequel The Don Flows to the Sea is a bit of a let down so I've avoided it.
I’ve been wanting to read Life and Fate for so long but I was told you’re supposed to read Stalingrad (by Grossman) first to properly understand the story and meet the characters! Also, love this video, finally someone doing a Mid Year Freakout with my type of books 😆
Life and Fate was issued here long before Stalingrad, so I've read that first, but I didn't think that I missed anything by not doing it the other way round. I intend to read Stalingrad at some point, however.
Dostoyevsky is my favourite author by far. Just finished Insulted and Injured- very moving. Reading Eternal Husband now. P.S. You have some good genes, haha!😅 (Sorry)
Also, you should definitely check out a collection of short-stories by Haruki Murakami called "First Person Singular". I've started reading them, and I think they are fantastic, richly filled pieces of fiction that perfectly capture the style and story-telling of Murakami. A popular story in the collection is the story "Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova". Other than that, I totally agree with your Stoner take, I think it's a phenomenally sad piece of literature -- but one that is more sad in the nuance of wanting, rather than the expression of sorrow itself. My last recommendation is (if you wish to read something from the later half of the twentieth century) The World According to Garp by John Irving.
Have you read Animal Farm by George Orwell? If you haven't, you might want to give it a try since you like Russian literature. I loved Fahrenheit 451 as a teenager and loved it. I recently reread it and wondered why I had liked it so much. I too found it disappointing. I love your channel since your focus is primarily classics. In college I took a lot of Comparative Literature courses and one Russian Lit class. I am due for a Master and Margarita reread. Congratulations on your 100 mile achievement!
I have and I found Animal Farm to be a lot better! I think 1984 would've worked better as essay because the ideas, criticism, and warnings are great yet when told through weak characters, it fell flat for me. Definitely give M&M a re-read and thank you very much!
And Quietly Flows The Don I read in college; I don’t remember what it’s about, but I do remember not reading all of it: I was a party boy! What I do find interesting is that it’s written a little after Stalin’s death, and I always wonder what criteria the writer had to adhere to in order for it to get published.
It's remarkable what got published despite the mass censorship of the Union of Soviet Writers. Yet literature seemed to thrive in that region of the world regardless!
The book that surprised me or kinda disappoint me was "Franz Kafka's - The trial" It didn't really disappoint me, it is a brilliant book, but while reading it I realized that I have read this, back when I was in school, like more than a decade ago in my "Urdu Language" class. And it was a surprise for me - so the disappointment factor really came with my experience as I knew what was going to happen next and I just lost the interest - I did complete it anyways and loved it!! But I just wished to have read it for the first time as an adult!!
I thought i was the only one who didnt like 1984. Everyone else seems to love it. Its got its merits, especially theses days, but it is booooring. As for Heidegger, you have to llearn an entirely new vocaubulary for his stuff. He invents new terms and uses old ones in new ways with no explanation. Havent completely cracked that one yet myself. You might want to read his introduction to metaphysics first
May I make a suggestion? There are some books on here that I would love to read, and apart from freezing the frames, I cannot really understand what you’re saying, because you’re speaking so quickly about them. May I suggest that you put them below in the comments so that we can look into them?
Yes, my apologies! Sometimes my camera does too good of a job at focusing on me when the books are more important. I will add them to the description now
Your devotion to reading literature is inspiring.
Finally a super smart man on Book Tube!!! Excellent video. You have excellent taste. I just subscribed!
I actually can't shutup about The Dream of a Ridiculous Man. It's phenomenal.
I have about 50 pages left of Stoner and I have to agree that it's a sad novel, but It's been incredibly comforting to me in a way that I can't explain.
You nailed it. I feel the same way
I respect that you are willing to admit to yourself and to us when you don't understand something. From rumors, Being and Time seems like the kind of book to stump many lol. Something I have quite recently learned from this more academic side of booktube is that it is okay to give up something you don't get and.try again later after you are more familiar with what they are talking about.
Hi, there! I recently discovered your channel. I've picked up some of your recoomendations. I've also noticed that you enjoy psychologically-charged novels. I don't know if you have read "Death and the Dervish" by Meša Selimović. If you haven't, I highly recommend it. P.S. I think you should give a try to "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin. "1984" is inspired by it, but I think "We" does a better job than Orwell's novel. Best regards.😉
Wonderful! Thank you for the support and the recommendation!
About Winston and Julia, everything you said you had an issue with, just re-listen to everything you say from 10:00-10:50… especially, “they don’t even try!” *that’s the point* 🙃
If you didn't like 1984 very much, you should totally check out We by Yevgeny Zamyatin; my favorite dystopian novel -- and a precursor to Orwell's landmark piece. Fantastic video!
I agree, I started my dystopian trio with We by Zamyatin, then A Brave New World, then 1984. I agree that 1984 was a bit eh for me. I much prefer a great audiobook of 1984 though.
My favorite read so far this year was Virginia Woolf's Orlando. Evocative prose and truly unique.
Woolf is another author high on my list to read soon! I’m not sure where to start with her or if it even matters
@@TheActiveMind1 To the Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway are fantastic prose works by Woolf. If you want something a little more like commentary -- and a slightly shorter read -- you should definitely check out A Room of One's Own. It's an essayesque short-novel. Orlando is also a great piece, handling both gender- and class-fluidity -- something very rare for the time of publication.
The Russians really gifted us some amazing literature!
Totally with you on Emma. Try Sense and Sensibility next. I think you'll like it.
I loved the question changes you made to this tag and appreciated your hot takes! I read Ursula K. Le Guin and Philip K. Dick for the first time this year and was not disappointed. My heart beams anytime I hear someone speak favorably about Stoner. It’s one of my all time favorite books!
That excites me to read both of them! And also happy to hear you loved Stoner as well 🙌🏼
Brilliant selection (I feel you on Heidegger)!
Great that you got "The Tin Drum" - and let us know, how you liked it. Sure, it will take some time, coz you have so many books on your list. Wish you a good summer reading! Greets from Düsseldorf.
Your take on 1984 really surprised me. I don’t expect everyone to like it, as it’s all very subjective, though I do believe everyone should at least give it a try. Expecting 1984 to have the plot of Star Wars Rogue One or another Hollywood blockbuster, however, misses the point, in my opinion. Orwell was a journalist, war correspondent who clearly well understood what he was writing about and how it all works. There are many parallels with events of the 20th century that inspired Orwell, which clearly made the novel relatable for many readers. Still, rereading this novel after February 2022, as a Russian, and witnessing almost identical scenarios from the book unfold in my country gave me shivers, to say the least. I guess that’s what makes such novels timeless. I underlined many passages after finishing it and was amazed by Orwell’s style-so simple yet precise. In just a few words, he’s able to capture the psychological complexity of people living in such world. And of course, it’s not just Russia nowadays, that’s why I think 1984 doesn’t read anymore (and probably never did, for some) as a dystopian sci-fi novel, but more as a (maybe) slightly exaggerated description of the present day many of us live in, whether we are able to realize it or not. Anyhow, thank you for the great content you are producing and good luck with learning Russian!
Thank you and I appreciate your thoughts. To be clear, it's not that I thought the book doesn't have its merits. The dystopian ideas, concerns raised, and originality is noteworthy, but the plot and characters left much to be desired. In my opinion that book could've operated better as a novella or short story
This was so good that I'm going to do a second mid-year freakout tag but call it the "classics edition" and use your adopted questions! Obviously, I'll give you all the credit. This was my first year doing this tag and I also found it difficult to answer the questios and that they didn't all reflect my reading. Thanks for sharing!
Haha perfect! Good to know I wasn't alone in my reading interests. I'll be sure to give yours a watch!
The Master and Margarita is one of my favorite novels. I love that book so much. I first read the Ginsburg translation a few years ago, but I plan to read it again but this time I’ll read the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation.
I look forward to re-reading it myself in the future!
Blasphemy that some people don't like The Master and Margarita! I loved it so much that I became a Bulgakov completist, and I now have The White Guard (adapted I believe into the play The Days of the Turbins, which was loved by none other than Joseph Stalin), Heart of a Dog, Black Snow, a collection of short stories : The Diabolids, and A Country Doctor's Notebook. If there are any others, I need to know. Some of these titles may now be difficult to get as I acquired them when TMAM was making a big splash.
I'm with you on And Quiet Flows the Don. It's both epic yet intimate and sweeps along like a best seller and maybe that's why it's not so highly rated : people think that Russian literature shouldn't be that easy to read. Apparently its sequel The Don Flows to the Sea is a bit of a let down so I've avoided it.
One more great vídeo!
I highly recommend some Philip Roth.
Human Stain could be a good start.
Keep going!
dope selection brother 🔥
I’ve been wanting to read Life and Fate for so long but I was told you’re supposed to read Stalingrad (by Grossman) first to properly understand the story and meet the characters! Also, love this video, finally someone doing a Mid Year Freakout with my type of books 😆
Woohoo! Glad you enjoyed the video. Maybe I'll end up starting with Stalingrad first too....we'll see
Life and Fate was issued here long before Stalingrad, so I've read that first, but I didn't think that I missed anything by not doing it the other way round. I intend to read Stalingrad at some point, however.
@@tonybennett4159 oh that’s good to know! Thank you for sharing that
Dostoyevsky is my favourite author by far. Just finished Insulted and Injured- very moving. Reading Eternal Husband now. P.S. You have some good genes, haha!😅 (Sorry)
For an earlier dystopian novel than Orwell's "1984", try Eugene Zemiatin/Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We"
I’ve heard of that one before! Can’t seem to be find it at my local stores but I’ll keep looking or might get it online some time
@@TheActiveMind1 And if you want to go back further, try When The Sleeper Wakes by HG Wells.
Life and Fate is a sequal to Grossman's Stalingrad. Do read that before you dive into Life and Fate
Also, you should definitely check out a collection of short-stories by Haruki Murakami called "First Person Singular". I've started reading them, and I think they are fantastic, richly filled pieces of fiction that perfectly capture the style and story-telling of Murakami. A popular story in the collection is the story "Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova". Other than that, I totally agree with your Stoner take, I think it's a phenomenally sad piece of literature -- but one that is more sad in the nuance of wanting, rather than the expression of sorrow itself. My last recommendation is (if you wish to read something from the later half of the twentieth century) The World According to Garp by John Irving.
Shoot, I was just at the bookstore and saw a number of books by Irving but I was unfamiliar with him. I'll keep an eye out in the future!
Have you read Animal Farm by George Orwell? If you haven't, you might want to give it a try since you like Russian literature. I loved Fahrenheit 451 as a teenager and loved it. I recently reread it and wondered why I had liked it so much. I too found it disappointing. I love your channel since your focus is primarily classics. In college I took a lot of Comparative Literature courses and one Russian Lit class. I am due for a Master and Margarita reread. Congratulations on your 100 mile achievement!
I have and I found Animal Farm to be a lot better! I think 1984 would've worked better as essay because the ideas, criticism, and warnings are great yet when told through weak characters, it fell flat for me. Definitely give M&M a re-read and thank you very much!
I haven't read Emma yet but I really enjoyed Persuasion, as a fan of classics and Pridr & Prejudice
I’ve heard great things about Persuasion so maybe that’s what I should go to next!
if you haven't already
one of my favorite books is the unbearable lightness of being by kundera
i think it's right up you alley and you'd love it
You've piqued my interest. Added it to my list!
And Quietly Flows The Don I read in college; I don’t remember what it’s about, but I do remember not reading all of it: I was a party boy! What I do find interesting is that it’s written a little after Stalin’s death, and I always wonder what criteria the writer had to adhere to in order for it to get published.
It's remarkable what got published despite the mass censorship of the Union of Soviet Writers. Yet literature seemed to thrive in that region of the world regardless!
The book that surprised me or kinda disappoint me was "Franz Kafka's - The trial"
It didn't really disappoint me, it is a brilliant book, but while reading it I realized that I have read this, back when I was in school, like more than a decade ago in my "Urdu Language" class. And it was a surprise for me - so the disappointment factor really came with my experience as I knew what was going to happen next and I just lost the interest - I did complete it anyways and loved it!! But I just wished to have read it for the first time as an adult!!
I enjoyed The Trial more than The Castle - granted TC is unfinished
Great to hear you give the thumbs down to some famous classics, such as 1984 and Emma.
it´s a hot take 😅
I thought i was the only one who didnt like 1984. Everyone else seems to love it. Its got its merits, especially theses days, but it is booooring. As for Heidegger, you have to llearn an entirely new vocaubulary for his stuff. He invents new terms and uses old ones in new ways with no explanation. Havent completely cracked that one yet myself. You might want to read his introduction to metaphysics first
Haha yeah Heidegger just invents a ton of terms and expects you to follow along for the wild ride
May I make a suggestion? There are some books on here that I would love to read, and apart from freezing the frames, I cannot really understand what you’re saying, because you’re speaking so quickly about them. May I suggest that you put them below in the comments so that we can look into them?
Yes, my apologies! Sometimes my camera does too good of a job at focusing on me when the books are more important. I will add them to the description now
If you want to really learn about Soviet culture and daily life you should try The Soviet Century by Karl Schlogel.
I'll check it out!
The Icon and the Axe is another.