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Rambling Raconteur
United States
Приєднався 1 січ 2020
Welcome! I am an avid reader, and I enjoy discussing books and ideas even more than I enjoy reading. In the analog world, I teach College Mathematics and AP Statistics at an alternative high school in a southwestern oasis. I also do a fair amount of hiking and trail running, the positive side of "rambling". My reading interests span most time periods and genres, and I try to stay balanced in my reading life as in all aspects of life.
My older daughter's first three syllable word was, "Barricade," so we like to read together! My younger daughter's favorite book is now Dragons Love Tacos 2, which she calls “Taco Tuesday”, primed for a vocabulary explosion. Thanks for joining the ramble.
Instagram: rambling_raconteur_jack
Goodreads: Rambling Raconteur
Peloton: flyingdutchmanj
-Jack
My older daughter's first three syllable word was, "Barricade," so we like to read together! My younger daughter's favorite book is now Dragons Love Tacos 2, which she calls “Taco Tuesday”, primed for a vocabulary explosion. Thanks for joining the ramble.
Instagram: rambling_raconteur_jack
Goodreads: Rambling Raconteur
Peloton: flyingdutchmanj
-Jack
Відео
Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin 🇹🇼 🐊
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The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace, Failures of Language (and Excess)
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Those are the thinnest books I ever saw on vedas and Upanishads.
In my teenage years in the mid-1970's I discovered Michael Moorcock, I think it was via his Elric stories, and began reading what I could get my hands on. From the mid-70's to the early-80's it was remarkably hit-and-miss tracking down books from genre authors who were not in the mainstream. Every time I encountered a new Moorcock tale I grabbed it regardless of how it looked. The main Eternal Champions that I liked were Elric, Cornelius & Carnelian (it was quickly apparent that any of these characters with initials JC - Jerry Cornelius, Jherek Carnelian, Jhary-a-Conel, Jaspar Colinadous, et al. - were all specific aspects of Jerry Cornelius in their respective reality, Hawkmoon, Corum and others. My all-time favorites were any of his stories where he had multiple of his Eternal Champions encounter each other, and the fact that for some characters their previous meeting was in the others futures. It is a shame that collections of Moorcock lock out Jerry Cornelius due, somewhat to the sex, but mostly to his single (but prominent) appearance in the Whoniverse via a Doctor Who-licensed novel.
God bless you. Thanks
If you learn these this you become super....
Jawahar Laal Bhatt Also wrote a Book on LAL DED Glory to Kashmir Shaivism
Thanks for this! I'm really looking forward to the upcoming film series that's in pre-production. I'll struggle to replace Crowe-Bettany, we can only hope that they really get the casting right. I look forward to seeing which actresses play Sophie and Diana too.
It has always puzzled me that although we have excellent novels about The Napoleonic Wars and the British Navy during the colonial era but no great novel about the War Of Independence. ?? I wonder why..? There has been no shortage of great American novelists : Hawthorne / Dreisser / Twain / Melville Steinbeck....etc etc....?? And yet the subject has barely been touched..?
William James was an intellectual Titan compared to most of our current crop. This book ranks alongside the very greatest ever written. The depths of his research and analysis have hardly been matched to this day..! There should be a statue of James in every City in US and UK....!!
I played Vershinin in college. The play was hilarious.
to put your potential misogynistic worries concerning the author at rest: ua-cam.com/video/XW9e2oMeaXc/v-deo.html
Just saw this video after finishing L.A Confidential, lol. Figured I’d pick up this book after my first watch of the movie. I’ll have to read the other three books.
I've just finished my 5th time reading this novel, and I can't express how much I love and appreciate it. It truly is a masterpiece. I like how you say that this is the height of her artistic vision because although The Waves is this vision on steroids (🤣), Lighthouse is the mastery of her writing philosophy as a whole, much in the way that Beloved is to Morrison, Slaughterhouse to Vonnegut, Ulysses to Joyce, Fences to Wilson, Streetcar to Williams or Salesman is to Miller. There are other masterpieces by these writers and maybe other favorites, but objectively I'd argue they are the epitome of their overall oeuvre. For me, however, with Woolf, this is also my favorite of all her novels (and I love almost all of them). I agree with you that it should be revisited, but for me once a decade is too little. 🤣I'd also agree that it isn't the best place to start with due to its difficulty, but I would definitely argue that it's worth the effort and there is so much more to gain each time it's revisited. I wouldn't discourage someone from listening to the audiobook though because my first time trying to read this, I was completely lost and the audiobook read by Juliet Stevenson oriented me and saved me from abandoning the book altogether. I felt as she was reading that the shift in perspective made much more sense and that the thoughts were my own going through my mind as I multitasked, feeling much more connected to the characters. It may be different per person but it could be worth checking out. Overall, I'd suggest starting with another novel to ease you into her style as you progress (Jacob's Room or Mrs. Dalloway) and trying the audiobook if you want to. With 5 reads and 2 audiobook listens, I think it's clear I'm an advocate for the novel in any form. 🤣
You cover some interesting titles - I'm looking through your videos.A very indepth and captivating review. Ordering the book now. Thank you
Very nice! You have GOT to read the new 2014 translation that integrates decades of research. Fascinating background and among other things I learned was that the mysterious gentleman happened to be the most famous musician of his era, Minamoto no Sukemichi, as master of biwa among other instruments.Takasue no Musume Sugawara no, The Sarashina Diary, trans. “with an introduction, by Sonja Arntzen and Itō Moriyuki (Columbia, University Press, 2014.)
Hi there. A friend shared this with me and I just wanted to say thank you so very much for the deep, engaging reading of RG. It really means a lot. I'm so happy you saw the parallels with Don Quixote as well! Take care, Mark
Thanks, I took your recommendation Saint Sebastian's Abyss and enjoyed it very much. I'll search this one out too.
I love Corum the most ! I love The Warhound and the World's Pain very much ! That would make a brilliant film !
Thanks for your video! Been diving into Maupassant and it’s so difficult to find coverage on his work in the UA-cam world.
Thanks for doing this video. I’ve slowly been collecting these.
Do you have any favorite titles or authors in the series? I am always on the lookout for more. Cheers, Jack
Well shit, I started with LA Confidential. I guess I'm boned. Still loved it, I think it's one of the finest crime novels ever written. Great video. You got yourself a sub.
LA Confidential is an excellent book. There's no "wrong" place to start, so I hope you enjoy reading more Ellroy! Cheers, Jack
Thank you for this. I just finished reading the book, and I’m still digesting my thoughts.
How did you find it compares to other dystopian works? Cheers, Jack
Please help me I want to know about diaspora elements of Ama Ata Aidoo s short stories
What a good book
It's a perfect concoction of so many disparate element in myth, romance, history, and poetry!
Been reading taking care since I watched this video. It’s great.
I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it. Williams has a pretty good novel called Breaking and Entering if you want to try one of her longer books. Cheers, Jack
Br'er just means brother. It's meant to express interconnectedness. Rabbit is our trickster, our mental self. At times the ego. The talking self. John/Jack and the Rabbit are in some way two sides of the same coin.
I devoured the Elric series when I was like 10, 11 years old and then would take trips with my dad to the used bookstore and snag all the other eternal champion books. Did periodic rereads even through college.. just wildly inventive multiverse he created, and it's just so blatantly obvious how things like the Witcher and game of thrones are heavily influenced by this. It's a bummer to me that this IP has never been itself developed into animation or for the screen... The other have been a lot of great comic books and graphic novels. By the way, I'm remembering an eternal champion incarnation by the name of count brass? Can't remember if those were just in stories or had any books but I liked them as well
I suspect that at some point in the next decade we will finally have film or animated adaptations of Elric. It's just a fantastic series of stories. Count Brass is an interesting one. He's in the same universe as Dorian Hawkmoon, who is the manifestation of the Eternal Champion in that universe, but he does have a few stories where he is taking center stage rather than Hawkmoon. Cheers, Jack
I enjoyed your commentary on one of the books that really got me immersed into the literary catalogue of NYRB! Also from NYRB, have you read Christopher Priest's "Inverted World"? If not, I'd highly recommend it as its quite intense at times- but also very human with how peoples' "truth" is often tied to their perception. Love the channel!
Thanks for the kind words! I have a copy of Inverted World but have not yet read it. I'll have to move it up to the near future. Thanks for the recommendation. Cheers, Jack
I preferred _Crocodile_ to _Montmartre_ because it still felt that there was some hope left.
I had the same reaction, David. Last Words feels essential because it is so raw and true, but Notes preserves the excitement of possibility. Cheers, Jack
I really enjoyed this one. Especially the relationships with the 2 male friends.
It's interesting that Miaojin crafted so many accurate and three-dimensional friendships and relationships throughout the novel. They are so well-drawn. Cheers, Jack
Great video Jack, cool to hear your thoughts on such diverse readings! I'm curious to know whether you have read Minor Detail by Adania Shibli - a video on that in the future would be really interesting.
Thanks, Paul, I'm not familiar with Minor Detail, so I'll will have to look that up. Cheers, Jack
I’ve read “A&P” but don’t remember it. It sounds like your reading was weighted toward stalwart old white guy literary figures - I like Darwish a lot but haven’t seen that.
I definitely went down a US lads' rabbit hole, but safely emerged in August to wider readings.
I believe the best way to read is to read all the books of an author with explanatory texts which include graphic novels and cliff notes-all together. I did this for Austen's, Trollope's, Dickens' and Hardy's books. I also read "Ulysses" during the pandemic with eight explanatory texts as my father who had worked as a professor until he was 91, said.
I prefer Wallace's A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again essay collection, however primarily for E Unibus Pluram and Ticket to the Fair. But Consider the Lobster is just as comical, insightful and probably more well-rounded as a collection. Enjoyed hearing this July wrap up!
Thanks! Wallace's essays are really what I find myself recommending when others ask where to start with him. Infinite Jest is so easy to drop, even at 300 pages in, but his essays really shine. Cheers, Jack
The guy who has the "guest" wasnt alive over 100 years, the "guest" stayed in the home after the owner died of old age, the "guest" was living over 100 years, much over.
My favourite when I was younger was Boy, his autobiography, he had a job as a chocolate tester which I was pretty jealous of.
Apparently there is a copy of Boy at her school library, so she may be reading that soon. Both of us are jealous of that job as a chocolate tester too! Cheers, Jack & JRR
Fantastic. What a well spoken young lady?💕
Thanks, Barbara! We hope you have a nice weekend. -Jack & JRR
What a treat to see the Junior Ranger Raconteur!!! 😊 Roald Dahl is one of my daughter’s favorite too. And Matilda is the best!
I've enjoyed being able to appreciate more and more books with our daughters, and Dahl managed to really speak to children. I was surprised when she didn't name Matilda as her favorite, but I think it's my wife's favorite. Hope you have a great weekend, Kim. Cheers, Jack & JRR
@@ramblingraconteur1616 thanks Jack! 😊
My younger sister will tell you that big brothers can be very, very, very annoying.
She asked, "Really?" when I read this to her and wondered how they could be really, really annoying. I shared a few stories of my three brothers and I with our younger sister . . . We hope you have a nice weekend, Michael. Cheers, Jack & JRR
I have never read Dahl. I do what to pick up his short stories someday. I think you’re going to have a challenger to your channel.😊
My daughter said that she hopes you enjoy the short stories when you read them, Greg. Our youngest daughter is very interested in this idea of a challenger to my channel . . . Cheers, Jack & JRR
This was so nice! But no mention of Matilda?!
I was surprised at that too! I think it is my wife's favorite among Dahl's works. We hope you have a great weekend. Cheers, Jack & JRR
Very wholesome and fun video! Love this 🙌🏼
I was excited when we got to do the video as well! Cheers, the JRR
But I loved George's Marvellous Medicine! So much that I would almost credit it with my choice of career. Sadly no medication I have ever given has made anyone grow or shrink significantly.
Our daughter said to "Keep up the good work and maybe you will find that medicine!" I really enjoy that book, probably a top 3 Dahl title in my reading. It's also the favorite Dahl book for my oldest friend. Is Matilda the favorite for either of your parents, given your name? We hope that you have a great weekend, Tilly, Cheers, Jack & the JRR
@@ramblingraconteur1616 I don't think it was a particular favourite - I believe the name was more linked to the old English Queen - though of course they had both read the book and I had it as one of my first chapter books. I spent much of my early childhood (when the film was quite new) being asked by other very young children if I could move things with my eyes. I couldn't, but I tried many times.
This was so wonderful. Congratulations to Junior Rambling Raconteur for completing such a big reading project! Save the one she mentioned as the next one she wants to read. Hope she finds many delights in her next project. ☀️📚
There is a copy of the book she wants to read and another of Dahl's memoir, Boy, at her school library, so I'm not sure if she'll be able to resist the urge! Cheers, Jack & the JRR
Good job young lady! Also, good job to mom and dad for nurturing her love for reading🩷
Thank you! We are very proud of her and the reader and person she is becoming. Cheers, Jack & the JRR
Best book review on youtube!! Congratulations! 😊
Thanks! We ended up having a lot of fun. I hope you have a great weekend. Cheers, Jack & the JRR
This was great. I’ve never read Dahl so I appreciate the recommendations about where to start.
Perhaps there can be a Bookish and GrandBookish reading project in several years, Brian. We hope you have a great weekend. Cheers, Jack & the JRR
that is really sweet. we need to teach 'em young to love literature.
Thanks for the kind words. It has been a real delight to see her discover how much she loves reading. We hope you have a great weekend. Cheers, Jack & the JRR
I've read a few Moorcock novels over the years, but honestly I've never really gone down the rabbit hole as it were. The ones that stick in my memory most are "Elric of Melnibone" (the most recent one I read), "The Final Programme" and "The Dancers at the End of Time" trilogy, the latter of which is easily my favourite. I also read "The Ice Schooner" around 30 years ago, but it didn't really make so much of an impression on me. Anyway, recently I've had a notion of getting into Moorcock again, so thank you very much for your recommendations. Very Useful 👍
It's great to find a Dancers at the End of Time fan! I'm found a copy of Sailing to Utopia, which includes The Ice Schooner, so I'm curious to see how more of his standalone books hold up. I hope you enjoy dipping back into the multiverse. Cheers, Jack
Not an easy reading, but a really wonderful book. Very fitting for our turbulent times. This year the opera by Marc-Andre Dalbavie was premiered at Berlin State Opera. Valoushka character was incarnated by the one and only Philippe Jaroussky, a wonderful French countertenor.
I'm amazed that works that seem so pessimistic like Satantango and The Melancholy of Resistance have generated film adapations, but I did not realize there was also an opera. I'll have to look that up. Thanks for letting me know! Cheers, Jack
I got one Kafka volume in blue and one in red. It's the same guy, what's that about? Trolling the reader?