Відео

Hi & thx for your video. I’ve read both Les Miserables (Julie Rose’s translation) and Count of Monte Cristo (Robin Buss’s translation). Both great. I’d rank Les Mis a tad higher in terms of philosophical depth and literary significance, but both are worthwhile. Is Mysteries of Paris just good fun escapism? Or does it have what would be called depth and significance? Is it great literature?

soap opera

One of the most moving stories I've read in a long time. Great video.

Dear Matthew, it's always a joy when one of your videos pops up in my feed. I can totally relate when I see you going back to certain books on a yearly basis as you would to an old friend you get something new out of each time you go to visit. You're a really interesting person and your lists and reviews are always insightful, happy new year from Italy!

Great group of books! Have you read TE Lawrence's prose translation of The Odyssey?

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Esta muito explanado sobre o grandioso Poeta. Gostei da perspicácia sobre o assunto e de como a forma verdadeira explicada. Tô inscrito por aqui. Do Brasil. Obrigado.

most of it was incomprehensible for me. i loved the parts I was able to focus and grasp something from and I understand why a lot of people adore the book. I also loved the first story very much. Maybe on a reread I'll understand it more just like you said, after gaining some reading experience as I am fairly new to books.

"the conversations feel dangerous, they have these scary ideas..."

I love that you read a book and let that book influence further reading. I also love doing that. I've always been too intimidated to read Joyce, but if I ever give it a go, I'll start with A Portrait. :)

Tough book to review but you did a great job I thought! I really enjoyed Stepan’s character as well as how close of a relationship the narrator had with him.

"Karamazov Brothers". Is this the new title translation trend? I thought "The Brothers Karamazov" was pretty entrenched!

My 'nuansed' assesmemt of this discussion is that Spinoza's concept is that God is not above us, He is a made up concept. Natural Law (science) is God. There is no 'God' only karmic interactions with nature, which includes us as we are part of nature. Our life doesn't matter any more than that of a tree or a snail. Did i miss something?

Just found your channel today because I want to read Dr. Faustus this year. Love the way you talk about books ❣️

Thanks for taking the time to make this report out. Happy New Year!

Didn’t know it was based on real people until I saw this! Definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read. The writing is perfect and flows from decade to decade with so much character development, plot, world events, details - so much packed into only 200 pages! Absolute masterclass in writing while being a delight to read.

Prince Lyov Nikolayevitch Myshkin

Happy new year! Lovely video as always. It is so great to hear about numberphile and Brady’s channels. You have great taste.

the title is translated to serbian as "evil ghosts", wich makes you think if it reffers to the evil ideas or the characters themselves

Every year I read a common theme for my personal reading and this year I’m getting into French Lit and what I’ve learned is that translators are everything. I’ve researched this in great detail, but I still haven’t been able to find many of whom you recommend. Thank you kindly! Also, is there a Part 2? because you’ve done such an amazing job here

I've enjoyed not a few of your videos, Matthew-thanks for sharing your passion. Some of my "best books" of the year (in no particular order): "The Notebook/The Proof/The Third Lie" by Agota Kristof, "Journey by Moonlight" by Antal Szerb, "Turtle Diary" by Russell Hoban, "The Liar" by Martin A. Hansen, "Villa Triste" by Patrick Modiano, "Kapo" by Alexandar Tišma, "The Trouble With Being Born" by E. M. Cioran, "The Silent Angel" by Heinrich Böll. The reader is blessed-so much life-affirming literature to discover and experience. Here's to another year of exactly that.

What scene in "Annihilation" did you find so memorable? I agree-the book is largely disappointing. Maddeningly so, perhaps. I found it hermetic and limp. The various threads, outside of the touching renewal of Raison's marriage, just peter out. I finished the book with an overwhelming desire to get rid of it, and did. Houellebecq-I hate to say it-has made a wise decision to "hang it up."

There’s this notion I’ve heard about the book in different places that the messiness of the focus or efficiency of all the pieces, is Houellebecq deliberately seeking to emulate the disconnectedness of life or life in the end, versus that he’s “losing his touch”, the more common critique by outlets. I’m not sure if you or others felt any gravity toward one direction or the other I’m stuck square in the center.

Lmao what publisher did this first book go thru? The punchline is the horrible editorial blunder 😂 holy hell.

Happy New Year, Matthew! I always thoroughly enjoy your videos and reviews. Thank you so much and to another great year of reading! :) All the best from Germany, Felix

I just bought a copy of Everyman Dies Alone based on your suggestion. Thanks so much for the video!

the generations are made of Adolescents, that's part of the human conundrum, especially in a world in spasms of goods and ideas and technology; that new humans are continually rushing into the maddening fray - living, exploring, partaking - that is what humans do. how do we gird and direct it properly? always the question

was unaware of this, ty ... impressive summary of the book; i was also reading about Demons (The Devils) on wikipedia while listening to this

This is great, thank you

Fallada is great. My favourites of his are The Drinker or A Small Circus. I’ll read everything by Will Self but I put Elaine aside - the voice didn’t seem real to me. Thanks for the Houllebecq heads up - totally missed that one but the fact I can’t buy it yet means it’s really new in my region.

Ah a fellow Kafka man, happy new year. Subbed!

What a wonderful surprise to see you again !! HIYA !! I grabbed a bottle of water and cuddled into my chair to hear what you had been up to and your thoughts on books !! I was so delighted to find that we have been on sorta the same wave length and I have read many of the ones that you have! I totally agree about Count of Monte Cristo! I refused to move and just kept reading, then I picked up Three Musketeers and when I next looked up it was morning again !! Just plain WOW now you need to find some of his others like Twenty Years Later and see what happens to each of the guys! Hope to see you again soon

Did you read Ian Flemming?

Hello, first of all 600 pages in a day....I am jealous. Also I remember you were reading an Emily Wilson translation of The Iliad, so how was that? Also, it would be really cool to see your reading stats with the app of The Story Graph. It's an app that gives you analytics of your reads and its also a reading tracker. Would love to see your stats.

Don't be deceived by legerdemain true knowledge cannot be brought to the mind the mind must be brought to it the truth is only visible to the eye capable of seeing it Park your ego and open your mind don't hang to much in the bookish knowledge experience is the best teacher the refuge you seek is not found in the pages of books

Teenage angst yes

Thanks Matthew, always an inspiration to see what you're reading. Have a great new year, see you in 2025!

I am always bothered by not “ getting” Ulysses. I do enjoy Portrait and Dubliners. I may try the Burgess book. Will it help to understand Ulysses?

Hans Fallada's Everyman dies alone or Alone in Berlin as i read it as. Was so chilling , full of such utter terror it really moved me alot .Oddly it helped me to understand Herr Bonhoeffer's story a little better too.

Hey Matthew - thank you I am a writer, or a student aspiring writer, learning to write, for the past few years - in that time, I've written thousands of pages, of practice writing, learning to write - and I cannot tell you how much of an incredible learning experience it has been to go through all of your videos.... I think I've watched just about almost all of them - (though I saved a few of them, for a rainy day, so I can have something to look forward to, you know) But, It was like a fast track through all of literature, to get an overview - and to know that I'm into Maupassant, French decadence in general, Cervantes, Kafka, and Dostoyevsky, and all these other maybe more obscure books and the classics - nothing could have been more valuable, or good for my writing, creativity and imagination.... it sparked so many ideas for me, and gave me a plan and a road map.... or greatly greatly helped, in such! Very much so.... I studied structure under some teachers, and went in depth into some stories - and just about nothing helped more than watching your channel, man.... just want you to know how incredibly valuable it all is.... that's all I've always had trouble getting into fiction (nasty business, for someone who loves writing, hey lol) - but this just helped me in that, like nothing else did - so, thanks man Thank you Matthew, could never thank you enough - bless you, happy new year As a hungry and greedy fan, always always welcome to see you.... I know you've got to read, and have stuff to do, and what not - but it's always a breath of fresh air, so thank you endlessly - thanks Matthew, peace ✌️ (I have a habit of saying too much.... so forgive if I've probably done that, just ignore that maybe if you can - and throw it out wherever needed please please, but anyways, thank you, peace) Ps, hey and these look like good reccomendedations, too:) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, man, thanks :)

Good to see you Matthew. Thank you and have a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to The Mayberry Bookclub!

i really like Inherent Vice

So glad I found this channel. Happy New Year.

Hello Matthew, good video, thanks for making it. Thanks to you i now want to read 1985 and Inherent Vice.

I relate with your disappointment.

Happy New Year, Matthew. Always a treat whenever you post a video

Looks like you had a great reading year! The Count of Monte Cristo was a treat 😊

Love it. Thank you sir. I would like to clarify that War by Céline is a prequel to Mort à crédit.

My first year on book tube. Nice to make your acquaintance this year! Here's to a grateful year of reading in 2025! Best wishes.