Its sad that John Williams is not there. For me, underrated is an euphemism to describe him. His books changed my life. Also just wanna say that I love your work and the fact that we share the same passion for literature, which makes me wanna be a better reader. Keep going!!
@@williampdozier I dont have enough words to describe that book. Great, great choice. I believe you are going to love it too. PS: Butucher's crossing is also very good.
I live in Russia. I know the Russian language. I can confidently say that I am proud of it. I am very surprised and delighted that in countries other than Russia they read Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. It's amazing. Thank you, William, for such a wonderful video. P. S. I highly recommend Dostoevsky's "White Nights." It's very short. This is an unusual work of Dostoevsky, it is not so dark, combines elements of romanticism and sentimentalism. A great book to start reading Dostoevsky.
My favorite author is Dostoevsky. My favorite book is Brothers Karamazov This book has everything, crime, murder, philosophy, psychology, spiritual, it's an amazing book!!❤
Thank you for igniting my passion for literature your guidance and enthusiasm have enriched my life in ways i never imagined grateful for the journey we're embarking on.
Dostoevsky is love ❤️ Crime and punishments was masterpiece but I felt a strange connection with Notes from underground. I really felt he was talking about me 😅. And you introduced me to Camus and many more so thank you very much ❤️
Glad to see Faulkner at 10. Could have been higher, but oh well Murakami as an author is so incredibly easy to read, I don't think I've burned through a book that fast before purely because the language was so accessible. So honestly, save his work for like if you're in a reading slump or just need something super easy to read. Norwegian Wood is good, but he's written a lot, and you can't go wrong with starting most anywhere (except 1Q84) Do be prepared for rampant, casual misogyny though.
I would say Of Mice and Men is the current most popular book of Steinbeck. The short length has helped it be put in schools, and it has great characters.
Top 3 are perfect. Makes me happy to hear. Currently reading east of eden and I HIGHLY recommend. Im deeply in love with this. Ive not cried over a character death in a long time since this book and im not even half way though. Dostoyevski is my love, my life. Took me 3 winters to finish crime and punishment. I never wanted it to end. I think about it often
In my early twenties I went through a Vonnegut phase. But it wasn’t till going back to school in my thirties and rereading Slaughterhouse-Five that I was able to fully appreciate it and Kurt. Mother Night was my favorite from that first go around. It sparked the questions: at what point to we become what we pretend to be? and, do the ends justify the means? But that was now almost twenty years ago! 🫣 Maybe time for a reread to see if it’s held up.
@@williampdozier recently found your TH-cam video's after enjoying many of your TiKTok or was it Instagram shorts. Great recommendations. Look forward to reading your book Fumes. Just ordered.
Diving into Donna Tartt as I type. So far, Secret History’s prose is magnificent. How she dances that line between someone punchy like Hemingway and someone more verbose like Salter. I’ll definitely be reading more of her in 2024.
She was a complex character as well. Purely evil, but near the end of her own life it appeared she yearned for the ability to empathize. That's what I got from her Alice in Wonderland connection, at least.
I knew he wouldn't be up there but I was still sad to not see Erich Maria Remarque. Only author I decided to read every book by. If you like moody prose and unapologetically flawed characters I recommend.
My vote wasn't for Vonnegut, but Cat's Cradle led me back to reading again in high school and made me want to be a writer. It will always be one of my favorite books because of that and Vonnegut will always have a special place in my heart.
Terrific video! I've been missing your polls because I'm not on IG or FB, and YT doesn't give notifications about pists that aren't videos. Would you mind posting video announcements about these polls to TH-cam, so that subscribers will get notified and then get to participate? For my late vote, I would have said CS Lewis. I'm curious how many votes, if any, he got.
@williampdozier thanks for the quick answer! I love Lewis because he wrote so broadly on deep themes, fiction and non, and especially for his fiction. Til We Have Faces is a brilliant, mature novel that I highly recommend, and The Great Divorce is a great, short allegory that you can read in an evening.
Arthur Miller is propably my favourite writer along with Hemingway, but I just wanted to ask if anyone in this comment section has heard/read the Finnish writer Jörn Donner?
Massive Vonnegut fan here, I've read 7 or 8 of his novels. I've lost count. Cat's Cradle is fantastic, so is Mother Night (My personal favourite) and Mr Rosewater. Slaughterhouse-5 was life-changing. The film is excellent too. I really didn't like Breakfast of Champions as much as I thought I would, same with Bluebeard and Happy Birthday Wanda June. I found those to be his most disappointing works. Player Piano is good too, though Vonnegut himself kind of dismissed it. His early stuff is really where he peaked imo, and I think he himself agreed with that. You can really start wherever you would like with his works.
A bit late to the party but The Brothers Karmazov is definitely my favorite Doestoyevsky novel. Crime and Punishment is an extremely good novel with the worst epiloge I have ever read, I wished I'd skipped it, it really dragged the book down for me. Also for any anime fans Crime and Punishment gave me some real Death Note vibes.
A shame John Steinbeck didnt make it on the list, his book made me cry. East of Eden to be exact and it is the only book to have made me cry which is why im biased.
the data gathering must've been a nightmare! next time just use a shared excel or anything that would easily do the job :D btw, what's stopped you from reading Murakami so far? Any particular reason?
He is american, most of his followers are americans, it's perfectly normal. If a french did the same thing there would probably be mostly french writers.
@@simonemasetti6114 He speaks English. Not the same with those who speak non-world languages. He make videos about American writers mostly that's why algorithm shows his videos to the Americans. He should also be doing reviews about Russian/French/Japanese/German etc. writers so that he can't expand into international #booktok
@@PurpleRhino1388 honestly i'm glad he talks about american writers, i must admit i know NOTHING about classic american literature, i've never read anything by hemingway steinbeck faulkner...
Glad I’m not the only one who thought this, East of Eden is a good book, probably a very good book, but not a great one . Maybe because I read a ton of Dostoevsky right after finishing it so all other literature just dissipated for me after that
All i gotta say: I hear good things about Murakami as well so I read Norwegian Wood to start off with this summer and I found it to be the cheesiest most sexist (possibly lesbian fetish and very r*pey fetishes that murakami has shine through!) book I’ve read. Plus the characters all are knobs.
Its sad that John Williams is not there. For me, underrated is an euphemism to describe him. His books changed my life.
Also just wanna say that I love your work and the fact that we share the same passion for literature, which makes me wanna be a better reader. Keep going!!
Appreciate you!! I’m planning to read Stoner later this year
@@williampdozier I dont have enough words to describe that book. Great, great choice. I believe you are going to love it too.
PS: Butucher's crossing is also very good.
*Butcher's
@@williampdozier phenomenal book, phenomenal writer. really interested to see what you have to say about it
William if you see this comment, Cormac McCarthy is my favorite author.
I live in Russia. I know the Russian language. I can confidently say that I am proud of it. I am very surprised and delighted that in countries other than Russia they read Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. It's amazing. Thank you, William, for such a wonderful video.
P. S. I highly recommend Dostoevsky's "White Nights." It's very short. This is an unusual work of Dostoevsky, it is not so dark, combines elements of romanticism and sentimentalism. A great book to start reading Dostoevsky.
White Nights destroyed me and I loved it
This is a really pleasing rank! And Donna Tartt has become an unexpected favorite of mine as well!
My favorite author is Dostoevsky. My favorite book is Brothers Karamazov
This book has everything, crime, murder, philosophy, psychology, spiritual, it's an amazing book!!❤
Thank you for igniting my passion for literature your guidance and enthusiasm have enriched my life in ways i never imagined grateful for the journey we're embarking on.
Right back at you. Operating this channel brings me so much energy. Thanks for this kind note. Glad you’re getting something out of these videos!
Dostoevsky is love ❤️ Crime and punishments was masterpiece but I felt a strange connection with Notes from underground. I really felt he was talking about me 😅.
And you introduced me to Camus and many more so thank you very much ❤️
Great video, just finished reading Fumes and really enjoyed it, would love a longer novel with more depth of characters in a similar style
Thanks for reading! Full-length novel is in the works now. Can’t share details, but I’m focused and making progress
@@williampdozier good to hear, good luck!
Glad to see Faulkner at 10. Could have been higher, but oh well
Murakami as an author is so incredibly easy to read, I don't think I've burned through a book that fast before purely because the language was so accessible. So honestly, save his work for like if you're in a reading slump or just need something super easy to read. Norwegian Wood is good, but he's written a lot, and you can't go wrong with starting most anywhere (except 1Q84)
Do be prepared for rampant, casual misogyny though.
I would say Of Mice and Men is the current most popular book of Steinbeck. The short length has helped it be put in schools, and it has great characters.
I was about to write a negative comment but you mentioned dostoyevsky. Lucky you
Top 3 are perfect. Makes me happy to hear. Currently reading east of eden and I HIGHLY recommend. Im deeply in love with this. Ive not cried over a character death in a long time since this book and im not even half way though. Dostoyevski is my love, my life. Took me 3 winters to finish crime and punishment. I never wanted it to end. I think about it often
I just started reading this year and you’ve been a great guide to many books. hats off to you!
Hell yeah! Glad you’re getting something out of these videos 🙏🏻
In my early twenties I went through a Vonnegut phase. But it wasn’t till going back to school in my thirties and rereading Slaughterhouse-Five that I was able to fully appreciate it and Kurt. Mother Night was my favorite from that first go around. It sparked the questions: at what point to we become what we pretend to be? and, do the ends justify the means? But that was now almost twenty years ago! 🫣 Maybe time for a reread to see if it’s held up.
Do it! Sounds like it’s time
Thanks!
Thank you! 🙏🏻
@@williampdozier recently found your TH-cam video's after enjoying many of your TiKTok or was it Instagram shorts. Great recommendations. Look forward to reading your book Fumes. Just ordered.
Diving into Donna Tartt as I type. So far, Secret History’s prose is magnificent. How she dances that line between someone punchy like Hemingway and someone more verbose like Salter. I’ll definitely be reading more of her in 2024.
Hey William love your channel just ordered your book can’t wait to read it keep up the good work 👍🏻
Right on! Hope you enjoy it 🙏🏻
East of Eden is a masterpiece. Cathy Ames is one of the greatest villains in all of literature, up there with judge Holden
She was a complex character as well. Purely evil, but near the end of her own life it appeared she yearned for the ability to empathize. That's what I got from her Alice in Wonderland connection, at least.
Interiority? I had to look that one up. Learn something new every day. 😊
Learning is for life 📚
I knew he wouldn't be up there but I was still sad to not see Erich Maria Remarque. Only author I decided to read every book by. If you like moody prose and unapologetically flawed characters I recommend.
Great video! I'm surprised Salinger didn't crack the top 20
Yet another great video, William.
A lot of big names didn't make the top 20!
TONS
Any Poe on the list?? He’s my all-time favorite!
My vote wasn't for Vonnegut, but Cat's Cradle led me back to reading again in high school and made me want to be a writer. It will always be one of my favorite books because of that and Vonnegut will always have a special place in my heart.
Terrific video! I've been missing your polls because I'm not on IG or FB, and YT doesn't give notifications about pists that aren't videos. Would you mind posting video announcements about these polls to TH-cam, so that subscribers will get notified and then get to participate?
For my late vote, I would have said CS Lewis. I'm curious how many votes, if any, he got.
Thanks! CS Lewis got 4 votes. Pretty close to the top 20
@williampdozier thanks for the quick answer! I love Lewis because he wrote so broadly on deep themes, fiction and non, and especially for his fiction. Til We Have Faces is a brilliant, mature novel that I highly recommend, and The Great Divorce is a great, short allegory that you can read in an evening.
Great Video. My favorite author is Khaled Hosseini. He should have been on that list. :)
Sirens of Titan is my personal favorite Vonnegut and science fiction novel in general of all time
The first Vonnegut novel I read was Cat’s Cradle. I think if you’re starting Vonnegut then you should pick up Cat’s Cradle first
hey William, have you read any Norman Mailer?
I haven’t, no
I really enjoyed An American Dream, definitely worth checking out if you have time, love your channel btw!@@williampdozier
Great video! ❤
Thank you!
Mother Night by Vonnegut is a great read - eager to give Breakfast of Champions a try too :)
Arthur Miller is propably my favourite writer along with Hemingway, but I just wanted to ask if anyone in this comment section has heard/read the Finnish writer Jörn Donner?
Massive Vonnegut fan here, I've read 7 or 8 of his novels. I've lost count. Cat's Cradle is fantastic, so is Mother Night (My personal favourite) and Mr Rosewater. Slaughterhouse-5 was life-changing. The film is excellent too. I really didn't like Breakfast of Champions as much as I thought I would, same with Bluebeard and Happy Birthday Wanda June. I found those to be his most disappointing works. Player Piano is good too, though Vonnegut himself kind of dismissed it. His early stuff is really where he peaked imo, and I think he himself agreed with that. You can really start wherever you would like with his works.
Appreciate this insight!
Much love from Ethiopia ❤️❤️
Thank you for watching!! Hope you enjoy
A bit late to the party but The Brothers Karmazov is definitely my favorite Doestoyevsky novel. Crime and Punishment is an extremely good novel with the worst epiloge I have ever read, I wished I'd skipped it, it really dragged the book down for me. Also for any anime fans Crime and Punishment gave me some real Death Note vibes.
I still like as my favorite, Robert C Bauer, "The Kid Gallagher Story ".
Where’s Juan Rulfo ?!
Only got a few votes :/ Love Rulfo
A shame John Steinbeck didnt make it on the list, his book made me cry. East of Eden to be exact and it is the only book to have made me cry which is why im biased.
NEVERMIND HE MADE IT! I COMMENTED TOO SOON!!
Let me be the third vote for Shakespeare
the data gathering must've been a nightmare! next time just use a shared excel or anything that would easily do the job :D
btw, what's stopped you from reading Murakami so far? Any particular reason?
No particular reason - too much to get to, not enough time
The great god pan/the hill of dreams/the white people by Arthur machen and Arthur Rimbaud good also heart of darkness by Joseph Conrad
Think the Jonathan Franzen 1 vote is kinda accurate 🌚
Wish Brett Easton Ellis, Frederick Douglas, and Mark Twain made top 20. Pablo Neruda, Chinua Achebe, and Joseph Conrad as well.
Charles Dickens
My favorit Vonnegut is Galapagos
You need to expand your territory into the international #booktok That list is more like a : "Your top 20 American Novelists who changed your life..."
He is american, most of his followers are americans, it's perfectly normal. If a french did the same thing there would probably be mostly french writers.
@@simonemasetti6114 He speaks English. Not the same with those who speak non-world languages. He make videos about American writers mostly that's why algorithm shows his videos to the Americans. He should also be doing reviews about Russian/French/Japanese/German etc. writers so that he can't expand into international #booktok
@@PurpleRhino1388 honestly i'm glad he talks about american writers, i must admit i know NOTHING about classic american literature, i've never read anything by hemingway steinbeck faulkner...
Wow where the fuck is Proust 😰 haha where is Joyce? Again where is Proust?
Proust and Joyce only got a couple votes each. I was surprised!
Vonnegut and Murakami are quite overrated. East of Eden is not Steinbeck's best.
Glad I’m not the only one who thought this, East of Eden is a good book, probably a very good book, but not a great one . Maybe because I read a ton of Dostoevsky right after finishing it so all other literature just dissipated for me after that
All i gotta say: I hear good things about Murakami as well so I read Norwegian Wood to start off with this summer and I found it to be the cheesiest most sexist (possibly lesbian fetish and very r*pey fetishes that murakami has shine through!) book I’ve read. Plus the characters all are knobs.
Reading fiction books is a waste of time
Reading this comment was a waste of time.