Brock I only recently discovered your channel. I am enjoying your videos a lot. To answer your question at the end of this video, I recommend that you run out and buy a William Faulkner novel. My favorite is Absalom, Absalom. But it might be better to start with As I Lay Dying. Also, I recommend reading Don Quixote as soon as you can! Thanks for your honest takes on books! Jeff
First, thank you immensely for the support. Grateful to hear you’re enjoying the content! Second, I’ll make an effort to grab a work of Faulkner soon. I’ve been putting him off for some reason but I’ll pick up one real soon!
@@TheActiveMind1 thanks for getting back to me. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Faulkner someday. If there is another link to support you a little, besides thanks on TH-cam, let me know. I couldn’t find anything on your sight. 👊🏻
Kafka's The Trial is fantastic. Such an intense atmosphere of claustrophobia, frustration, bemusement and sense of injustice. I remember the character Jesse Pinkman in the mini-series Breaking Bad saying, "It's totally Kafkaesque!" at every opportunity. I do the same when up against complaints departments, property managers, government officials. The novel is almost like one long nightmare.
Man I can't wait to have a nice bookshelf like this to showcase the thing i'm passionate about. Really enjoyed hearing you go through and talk about each of the works on your shelf.
From your recommendation I purchased 'Solenoid' from the Kindle bookstore. It was $11.99 that day. I didn't realize I had so much in delayed shipping credits on Amazon and got the book for .99 cents. I'll aim to read it later this year. After I read the current book I'm reading and then one more, I'm jumping into 'War and Peace'-my only reading goal this year.
Nice tour my friend! I think its smart how you dont own an excessive amount of unread books, and try not to buy books you know you wont get to in a long time. Im also quite new to reading and have bought around 300 books but only read around 15% 😅 It makes it intimidating knowing it will take years to catch up with my shelf but hey we have our entire lives to read!
Absolutely! There’s no shame or problem with a ton of unread books, but I do try to maintain a balance and incentivize myself to “finish my plate” before I start piling more on
Ah, The Scarlet Letter. That book was such a chore, especially being assigned as summer reading for school! 😫It’s okay, but def something you need to be in the mood for.
Actually, I didn't mind The Scarlet Letter so much. Yes, it could be turgid and pretentious at times but, at least unlike Moby Dick it didn't drag on at interminable length.
You have an excellent library so far, not too big but well curated! I'm sure it will grow organically as you get in touch with more authors and titles. If I can add few suggestions, it would be The Tartar Steppe, a story about a soldier at a distant, desolate stronghold. The other would be The Tunnel by Argentinian writer and a friend of Borges - Sabato. It's a short novella (with a memorable opening line :D) about a crime from passion, that reads similar to Dostoevsky's Underground. Love your videos, keep them coming!
Another Vid , another hit !!! keep on the good work . As a Portuguese , besides Pessoa i recommend to you Luis de Camões (Os Lusíadas) and Eça de Queirós (Os Maias).
Even having read The Myth of Sisyphus before The Stranger, I felt the same way you did about the latter work. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really stick with me as the prior did. I'm currently reading The Rebel, and to be honest, I favor it over TMOS. One book I recommend getting is Escape From Freedom by Erich Fromm. Essentially, it is about how individuals claim to want true freedom, but at the same time, they do not want the responsibility of it. Because of this, there is a tendency in society to fall into authoritarianism. A second book I would recommend, since you've read and liked Animal Farm and 1984, is Orwell in Spain. The book is a complication of his writings on the Spanish Civil War that deeply influenced his ideas.
For what it's worth, I liked the Iliad much better than the Odyssey and I would read it first. It's essentially the ancient version of an action movie--The Trojan War was absolutely crazy if it happened like Homer told it
You have a lot of interesting books that not many people have such as the house of government, envy and the knight in the panther's skin, netocka nezvanova and william gass' short stories. Sorokin is a great russian author.
Thanks for this enjoyable second instalment. You provide much food for thought. I am so impressed by your enthusiasm for Solenoid that I intend to buy it after I've finished my current book. I think I'll also go back to The Magic Mountain which I started decades ago but floundered because it was at a very busy time for me and I let it go. Subsequently I read and very much enjoyed Buddenbrooks, and also read Colm Toibin's novel about Mann "The Magician", so it will definitely happen at some point. I read Eichmann in Jerusalem at the beginning of the year and was intrigued by some of the relevance for our times. This is particularly the case here in the UK as charges of antisemitism have been used recently to discredit progressives in an attempt to destroy them politically, so understanding these events is very important. In pursuit of this I've also read the non-fiction books East West Street, and The Ratline by Phillip Sands, and Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad by Daniel Finkelstein, as well as taking in the film Zone of Interest. Naomi Klein's recent book Doppelganger also looks at the issues of Jewish identity and why that and Zionism are not necessarily the same thing.
Lyn coffin translated the book of rustaveli excellently. Best translation ever written and read. Since it is almost impossible to find it, I sent an email to lyn who kindly sent me a paper copy. It has also a gorgeous cover.
Do you keep every book you buy/read? I note you’ve kept some you don’t even like… just curious. I only keep books that I know I will definitely read again (so just a handful), non-fiction, and TBRs.
Great question! At this time, I'm keeping pretty much every book for two reasons 1) Some I dislike now but think merit a re-read or another visit in the future and 2) I'd like to grow a personal library for my future children to utilize. With that said, if I come across books I definitely do not like or find unnecessary, I will likely donate/sell a big batch every few years
Brock I only recently discovered your channel.
I am enjoying your videos a lot.
To answer your question at the end of this video, I recommend that you run out and buy a William Faulkner novel. My favorite is Absalom, Absalom. But it might be better to start with As I Lay Dying.
Also, I recommend reading Don Quixote as soon as you can!
Thanks for your honest takes on books! Jeff
First, thank you immensely for the support. Grateful to hear you’re enjoying the content! Second, I’ll make an effort to grab a work of Faulkner soon. I’ve been putting him off for some reason but I’ll pick up one real soon!
@@TheActiveMind1 thanks for getting back to me. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Faulkner someday.
If there is another link to support you a little, besides thanks on TH-cam, let me know. I couldn’t find anything on your sight. 👊🏻
@@burke9497 My Substack is also a great place to read/support my work. Thank you again!
Kafka's The Trial is fantastic. Such an intense atmosphere of claustrophobia, frustration, bemusement and sense of injustice. I remember the character Jesse Pinkman in the mini-series Breaking Bad saying, "It's totally Kafkaesque!" at every opportunity. I do the same when up against complaints departments, property managers, government officials. The novel is almost like one long nightmare.
Man I can't wait to have a nice bookshelf like this to showcase the thing i'm passionate about. Really enjoyed hearing you go through and talk about each of the works on your shelf.
From your recommendation I purchased 'Solenoid' from the Kindle bookstore. It was $11.99 that day. I didn't realize I had so much in delayed shipping credits on Amazon and got the book for .99 cents. I'll aim to read it later this year. After I read the current book I'm reading and then one more, I'm jumping into 'War and Peace'-my only reading goal this year.
Nice tour my friend!
I think its smart how you dont own an excessive amount of unread books, and try not to buy books you know you wont get to in a long time. Im also quite new to reading and have bought around 300 books but only read around 15% 😅
It makes it intimidating knowing it will take years to catch up with my shelf but hey we have our entire lives to read!
Absolutely! There’s no shame or problem with a ton of unread books, but I do try to maintain a balance and incentivize myself to “finish my plate” before I start piling more on
Ah, The Scarlet Letter. That book was such a chore, especially being assigned as summer reading for school! 😫It’s okay, but def something you need to be in the mood for.
Actually, I didn't mind The Scarlet Letter so much. Yes, it could be turgid and pretentious at times but, at least unlike Moby Dick it didn't drag on at interminable length.
You have an excellent library so far, not too big but well curated! I'm sure it will grow organically as you get in touch with more authors and titles. If I can add few suggestions, it would be The Tartar Steppe, a story about a soldier at a distant, desolate stronghold. The other would be The Tunnel by Argentinian writer and a friend of Borges - Sabato. It's a short novella (with a memorable opening line :D) about a crime from passion, that reads similar to Dostoevsky's Underground.
Love your videos, keep them coming!
Someone else recommended Sabato’s The Tunnel before so I’ll move it up the queue! Thank you!
Another Vid , another hit !!! keep on the good work . As a Portuguese , besides Pessoa i recommend to you Luis de Camões (Os Lusíadas) and Eça de Queirós (Os Maias).
Thank you! I’ve made a note of both!
My favorite of all time is Watership Down by Richard Adams. I'd love to hear your thoughts about it! A must-get IMO.
Even having read The Myth of Sisyphus before The Stranger, I felt the same way you did about the latter work. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really stick with me as the prior did. I'm currently reading The Rebel, and to be honest, I favor it over TMOS. One book I recommend getting is Escape From Freedom by Erich Fromm. Essentially, it is about how individuals claim to want true freedom, but at the same time, they do not want the responsibility of it. Because of this, there is a tendency in society to fall into authoritarianism. A second book I would recommend, since you've read and liked Animal Farm and 1984, is Orwell in Spain. The book is a complication of his writings on the Spanish Civil War that deeply influenced his ideas.
I'll check out both of those!
Solenoid made Cartarescu instantly one of my favourite authors. His other works are also great.
I’m planning to get Nostalgia soon! (And Blinding when it’s back in print or I’ll get it digitally)
@@TheActiveMind1 Nice, I'm sure you'll enjoy Nostalgia a lot!
For what it's worth, I liked the Iliad much better than the Odyssey and I would read it first. It's essentially the ancient version of an action movie--The Trojan War was absolutely crazy if it happened like Homer told it
I love both epics but feel, like you, that the Illiad is the best. I read them both aloud and find that adds depth and excitement to the stories.
You have a lot of interesting books that not many people have such as the house of government, envy and the knight in the panther's skin, netocka nezvanova and william gass' short stories. Sorokin is a great russian author.
Thanks for this enjoyable second instalment. You provide much food for thought. I am so impressed by your enthusiasm for Solenoid that I intend to buy it after I've finished my current book. I think I'll also go back to The Magic Mountain which I started decades ago but floundered because it was at a very busy time for me and I let it go. Subsequently I read and very much enjoyed Buddenbrooks, and also read Colm Toibin's novel about Mann "The Magician", so it will definitely happen at some point.
I read Eichmann in Jerusalem at the beginning of the year and was intrigued by some of the relevance for our times. This is particularly the case here in the UK as charges of antisemitism have been used recently to discredit progressives in an attempt to destroy them politically, so understanding these events is very important. In pursuit of this I've also read the non-fiction books East West Street, and The Ratline by Phillip Sands, and Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad by Daniel Finkelstein, as well as taking in the film Zone of Interest. Naomi Klein's recent book Doppelganger also looks at the issues of Jewish identity and why that and Zionism are not necessarily the same thing.
🔥
Please provide link for bookend busts
Just added it to the description!
Lyn coffin translated the book of rustaveli excellently. Best translation ever written and read. Since it is almost impossible to find it, I sent an email to lyn who kindly sent me a paper copy. It has also a gorgeous cover.
I'd be open to reading a new translation in the future! It's an interesting work and as an epic poem, I'm sure a lot is lost in translation
Do you keep every book you buy/read? I note you’ve kept some you don’t even like… just curious. I only keep books that I know I will definitely read again (so just a handful), non-fiction, and TBRs.
Great question! At this time, I'm keeping pretty much every book for two reasons 1) Some I dislike now but think merit a re-read or another visit in the future and 2) I'd like to grow a personal library for my future children to utilize. With that said, if I come across books I definitely do not like or find unnecessary, I will likely donate/sell a big batch every few years
Also, I would recommend Jośe Saramago (Blindness) and for politics (Democracy in America by Tocqueville - warning: it is a chunker).
Those look interesting! Thank you!