Great update, Joshua! I read Going to Meet the Man, a short story collection by Baldwin, a little earlier this year. I really liked his writing and really need to read some more soon!
Thanks, Aaron! I can’t wait to try reading that short story collection. It will be interesting to find out how Baldwin writes in a shorter form. Happy Holidays, Aaron!!!!
Congrats on finishing finals man! I'm stoked for you that you'll have more time to read now. It's great hearing about your enjoyment of the Odyssey, I'm thinking that when I finish the Tale of Genji I'll go through the Iliad and the Odyssey in sequence, maybe the Robert Fitzgerald translations. Can't wait to hear your thoughts when you finish this second-read through of yours!
Thank you, Denson!!! I will be curious as to your thoughts on the Tale of Genji. I actually have that same Penguin edition that you showed us in one of your videos, though I have never read it. Awesome to hear about your plans for Homer! I’ve heard good things about the Fitzgerald translations (no less than from Steve!). I hope you enjoy them! Danke!
I read Robinson Crusoe a few years back and I was surprised how good an author Defoe is. I loved it. Speaking of Woolf, her essay on Robinson Crusoe is almost as entertaining as the book itself. Wow you recall a lot of the history you’ve been reading! Once you get hooked onto history, there’s no going back. It’s such a treasure trove on knowledge.
I really must go back to Woolf now! I read “The Common Reader” this summer, but it seems I’ve forgotten many of her essays. After Moll Flanders, maybe I’ll read Robinson Crusoe, and then return to Woolf’s essays on both novels. Ah, I know, it’s so exciting! I’m just getting into history now, but it feels like an entire world in opening up to me.
Great update, Josh! Interesting to hear your thoughts about Chapman's Homer, a version that I really only know about from Keats' sonnet. I've only read more modern versions of Homer. Your discussing the argument or summary that Chapman writes before each book of The Odyssey made me think of Milton's arguments at the beginning of each book of Paradise Lost. I loved Moll Flanders but read it so long ago and have never re-visited it. Yes, Virginia Woolf did indeed write about Daniel Defoe. I'm glad your semester has wrapped up. I am sure that you did well on your exams. Congratulations on completing another semester. Enjoy your break! Happy Holidays, Josh. I'm so grateful for you!
Pat, I’m so grateful for you too! Thank you so much for your kind words! Yeah, I was thinking of Milton’s Paradise Lost when I mentioned the arguments, as it’s one of the only other places I’ve seen an author do that. Maybe Spenser does it in The Faery Queen as well? I can’t quite remember. I hope I did alright on my exams! One never knows with these things, but as it’s the holidays now, I’ll just let things be without worrying too much. Happy holidays to you too, Pat!!! 🎄😁🎅
I hope you enjoy your break and get plenty of reading done. Giovanni's Room is on my TBR, I can't believe I haven't got to it yet - I've heard so many good things. I find WW2 such a difficult subject. Here in the UK we study it extensively, as you can imagine. It is so important we never forget but I have never known such an unsettled time, in my lifetime, as now. Ending positively, Merry Christmas! I've enjoyed your videos this year.
I’m also finding it a difficult subject. It’s fascinating reading, and very educational for me, but it does remind me of certain parallels which we need not get into. I hope you enjoy Giovanni’s Room whenever you get to it. I’ve really enjoyed your comments this year, and I’m glad to be able to converse with you and so many other bookish people through this medium. Merry Christmas, and thank you so much, Helen!
What dramatic lightning! Meant to ask you, when you talked about Baldwin, if you've read "Giovanni's Room' -- well, now I know! I remember being completely bowled over by GR and writing a long and involved paper about it in my last year at uni. Very intense. Intrigued that you like Homer's description of 'things' -- that was a standard trope in ancient literature (called 'ekphrasis', I think) -- the detailed description of a physical object (incl. e.g. a cityscape) -- meant to show off the author's skill. Most famous example is Virgil's description of Aeneas' shield, but even historians used this device (e.g. Livy). 'Moll Flanders' is such fun! Perfect reading for this time of the year. 18th-century novels are just absolutely delightful, brimming with *life* and enthusiasm for all that is new. I like MF much more than 'Robinson Crusoe'. 'Roxanne' is also fun! Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your reading!
Have a wonderful holiday too, Gerald! “Giovanni’s Room” bowled me over too. I hope “Another Country” does the same. I could honestly live in Baldwin’s prose forever. It’s just a delight to read. Ah, yes, I think you’re right about the Ekphrasis thing. I haven’t read Virgil, but your mention of a shield reminded me of Homer’s description of Achilles’ shield in the Iliad. I can’t wait to get to the Romans like Livy and Virgil. I’m planning to do a read-through of ancient classics, starting with Homer. Enjoy your reading too!
Congrats on finally being done with class, Joshua. Sort of jealous how you're able to juggle so many books at once. I hope you enjoy your holiday break!
@@joshuacreboreads Two at most, sometimes one. Sometimes I get really busy with work at the drop of a hat and I have to stop reading for as long as a few weeks. When I'm just reading one book, I feel less guilty about losing the narrative thread and having to re-start the book. If I did that regularly with 4-5 books at a time, I'd go insane and never finish anything.
Good to know! A part of the reason I’m reading Moll Flanders is to learn exactly that. I didn’t know where to really start - Defoe? Swift? Sterne? Fielding? - so I just chose Defoe at random.
I have been trying to fill in my gaps of knowledge in history as well. I have spent most of my time on Russian history (up to 1917) and WW1, but I'm ready to move onto WW2. I'm also curious about the state of Europe in the years between WW1 and WW2 and then post WW2. I also just started a book about Yugoslavia between WW1 and WW2. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is on my list to read, so I look forward to following along to see how you get on with it.
How fascinating! I haven’t read anything on those subjects, but would really like to in the future. Shirer gives an account of the interwar years in Germany, however brief. I imagine a dedicated book on the subject would go far more in depth, but Shirer’s account already interests me greatly. I will be sure to provide updates on The Rise and Fall. Thanks, Arianne!
I never read _Go Tell It._ His _Giovanni_ seems so much more well known, at least judging from BookTube. I never went beyond _Another Country_ because I didn’t care for it; and I wound up preferring his essays by a lot. Good on you with Chapman. I couldn’t get through it and got rid of it. 😢 What you read sounded great. _Moll Flanders_ is on my list. I’ve read about it a lot, and I like Defoe. I’m on the fence about whether I want to read about WWII at this time - I have books at the ready but incline toward other regions and times - but if you keep talking about Shirer, who knows, it might sway me. I guessed you had already begun your break.
Yeah, it seems like Giovanni’s Room is the more famous one. I wonder why, as both of these novels were equally good, in my opinion. Looking at my edition, Another Country looks like it’s going to be much lengthier than the previous two - I’m curious as to how different it will be in content. I was tempted to throw Chapman aside when I came across a couple confusing passages, but I’ve stuck through it, and overall I think it has been worth it for me. I don’t know if I’ll revisit this translation again, however. Happy holidays, David! I’m glad you are my booktube friend!
Great update, Joshua! I read Going to Meet the Man, a short story collection by Baldwin, a little earlier this year. I really liked his writing and really need to read some more soon!
Thanks, Aaron! I can’t wait to try reading that short story collection. It will be interesting to find out how Baldwin writes in a shorter form. Happy Holidays, Aaron!!!!
Congrats on finishing finals man! I'm stoked for you that you'll have more time to read now. It's great hearing about your enjoyment of the Odyssey, I'm thinking that when I finish the Tale of Genji I'll go through the Iliad and the Odyssey in sequence, maybe the Robert Fitzgerald translations. Can't wait to hear your thoughts when you finish this second-read through of yours!
Thank you, Denson!!! I will be curious as to your thoughts on the Tale of Genji. I actually have that same Penguin edition that you showed us in one of your videos, though I have never read it. Awesome to hear about your plans for Homer! I’ve heard good things about the Fitzgerald translations (no less than from Steve!). I hope you enjoy them! Danke!
I read Robinson Crusoe a few years back and I was surprised how good an author Defoe is. I loved it. Speaking of Woolf, her essay on Robinson Crusoe is almost as entertaining as the book itself.
Wow you recall a lot of the history you’ve been reading! Once you get hooked onto history, there’s no going back. It’s such a treasure trove on knowledge.
I really must go back to Woolf now! I read “The Common Reader” this summer, but it seems I’ve forgotten many of her essays. After Moll Flanders, maybe I’ll read Robinson Crusoe, and then return to Woolf’s essays on both novels.
Ah, I know, it’s so exciting! I’m just getting into history now, but it feels like an entire world in opening up to me.
Great update, Josh! Interesting to hear your thoughts about Chapman's Homer, a version that I really only know about from Keats' sonnet. I've only read more modern versions of Homer. Your discussing the argument or summary that Chapman writes before each book of The Odyssey made me think of Milton's arguments at the beginning of each book of Paradise Lost. I loved Moll Flanders but read it so long ago and have never re-visited it. Yes, Virginia Woolf did indeed write about Daniel Defoe. I'm glad your semester has wrapped up. I am sure that you did well on your exams. Congratulations on completing another semester. Enjoy your break! Happy Holidays, Josh. I'm so grateful for you!
Pat, I’m so grateful for you too! Thank you so much for your kind words! Yeah, I was thinking of Milton’s Paradise Lost when I mentioned the arguments, as it’s one of the only other places I’ve seen an author do that. Maybe Spenser does it in The Faery Queen as well? I can’t quite remember.
I hope I did alright on my exams! One never knows with these things, but as it’s the holidays now, I’ll just let things be without worrying too much. Happy holidays to you too, Pat!!! 🎄😁🎅
@ I’m thinking that those arguments are a function of the time period. I have Spenser upstairs….will have to check. Happy Holidays, dear Josh!
I hope you enjoy your break and get plenty of reading done. Giovanni's Room is on my TBR, I can't believe I haven't got to it yet - I've heard so many good things. I find WW2 such a difficult subject. Here in the UK we study it extensively, as you can imagine. It is so important we never forget but I have never known such an unsettled time, in my lifetime, as now. Ending positively, Merry Christmas! I've enjoyed your videos this year.
I’m also finding it a difficult subject. It’s fascinating reading, and very educational for me, but it does remind me of certain parallels which we need not get into. I hope you enjoy Giovanni’s Room whenever you get to it. I’ve really enjoyed your comments this year, and I’m glad to be able to converse with you and so many other bookish people through this medium. Merry Christmas, and thank you so much, Helen!
Wonderful update! Happy Holidays to you and your family 😊
Thank you, Summer!!! Happy holidays to you too, and I hope you are doing well! 🎄😃
Nice, enjoying from England 👍
Thank you! I’m glad you are enjoying and welcome!
What dramatic lightning! Meant to ask you, when you talked about Baldwin, if you've read "Giovanni's Room' -- well, now I know! I remember being completely bowled over by GR and writing a long and involved paper about it in my last year at uni. Very intense.
Intrigued that you like Homer's description of 'things' -- that was a standard trope in ancient literature (called 'ekphrasis', I think) -- the detailed description of a physical object (incl. e.g. a cityscape) -- meant to show off the author's skill. Most famous example is Virgil's description of Aeneas' shield, but even historians used this device (e.g. Livy).
'Moll Flanders' is such fun! Perfect reading for this time of the year. 18th-century novels are just absolutely delightful, brimming with *life* and enthusiasm for all that is new. I like MF much more than 'Robinson Crusoe'. 'Roxanne' is also fun!
Have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your reading!
Have a wonderful holiday too, Gerald! “Giovanni’s Room” bowled me over too. I hope “Another Country” does the same. I could honestly live in Baldwin’s prose forever. It’s just a delight to read.
Ah, yes, I think you’re right about the Ekphrasis thing. I haven’t read Virgil, but your mention of a shield reminded me of Homer’s description of Achilles’ shield in the Iliad. I can’t wait to get to the Romans like Livy and Virgil. I’m planning to do a read-through of ancient classics, starting with Homer. Enjoy your reading too!
Congrats on finally being done with class, Joshua. Sort of jealous how you're able to juggle so many books at once. I hope you enjoy your holiday break!
Thanks, John! I’m juggling them, but I’m not sure that I’m doing it well. Do you tend to read only one book at a time? Happy holidays to you too!
@@joshuacreboreads Two at most, sometimes one. Sometimes I get really busy with work at the drop of a hat and I have to stop reading for as long as a few weeks. When I'm just reading one book, I feel less guilty about losing the narrative thread and having to re-start the book. If I did that regularly with 4-5 books at a time, I'd go insane and never finish anything.
Oh strike, I haven't read Defoe since Uni, wow - what memories (& why haven't I found my way back, always enjoyed him, thanks for the generous prod).
He’s such a good storyteller. I had no idea he would be this engrossing. I’m glad my words could have been a reminder! Thanks, Phillip!!!
@@joshuacreboreads If you're enjoying Defoe (& the origins of the novel as a medium) you'd also love 'Tristam Shandy' by Laurence Sterne.
Good to know! A part of the reason I’m reading Moll Flanders is to learn exactly that. I didn’t know where to really start - Defoe? Swift? Sterne? Fielding? - so I just chose Defoe at random.
@@joshuacreboreads: Leap in, & enjoy.
I have been trying to fill in my gaps of knowledge in history as well. I have spent most of my time on Russian history (up to 1917) and WW1, but I'm ready to move onto WW2. I'm also curious about the state of Europe in the years between WW1 and WW2 and then post WW2. I also just started a book about Yugoslavia between WW1 and WW2. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is on my list to read, so I look forward to following along to see how you get on with it.
How fascinating! I haven’t read anything on those subjects, but would really like to in the future. Shirer gives an account of the interwar years in Germany, however brief. I imagine a dedicated book on the subject would go far more in depth, but Shirer’s account already interests me greatly. I will be sure to provide updates on The Rise and Fall. Thanks, Arianne!
I never read _Go Tell It._ His _Giovanni_ seems so much more well known, at least judging from BookTube. I never went beyond _Another Country_ because I didn’t care for it; and I wound up preferring his essays by a lot.
Good on you with Chapman. I couldn’t get through it and got rid of it. 😢 What you read sounded great.
_Moll Flanders_ is on my list. I’ve read about it a lot, and I like Defoe. I’m on the fence about whether I want to read about WWII at this time - I have books at the ready but incline toward other regions and times - but if you keep talking about Shirer, who knows, it might sway me.
I guessed you had already begun your break.
Yeah, it seems like Giovanni’s Room is the more famous one. I wonder why, as both of these novels were equally good, in my opinion. Looking at my edition, Another Country looks like it’s going to be much lengthier than the previous two - I’m curious as to how different it will be in content.
I was tempted to throw Chapman aside when I came across a couple confusing passages, but I’ve stuck through it, and overall I think it has been worth it for me. I don’t know if I’ll revisit this translation again, however.
Happy holidays, David! I’m glad you are my booktube friend!
The feeling is likewise, Josh. Happy holidays.
Now I’ve got get busy writing a new poem, “On sitting down to throw Chapman aside” 🤔
😂😄