The 12 big books I’m reading in 2023 📚

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  • Опубліковано 14 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 44

  • @doberman_hund
    @doberman_hund 9 місяців тому +9

    I really suggest reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man before Ulysses. Ulysses is technically a sequel.

    • @shelf-reflections
      @shelf-reflections  7 місяців тому

      ahhh, well I’m pretty sure I’ll be rereading Ulysses in a few years so when that time comes I’ll definitely treat it like the sequel it is and read Portrait first! thanks for your comment 😊

    • @doberman_hund
      @doberman_hund 7 місяців тому

      @@shelf-reflections if you didn’t get to Ulysses yet i strongly urge you to not read it before A Portrait. It will only make the book more difficult to follow, especially the first three chapters. You need to understand who the secondary protagonist is and where he is coming from. It’s basic stuff, and A Portrait is not hard to read at all.

  • @Where4_Art_Thou
    @Where4_Art_Thou 15 днів тому

    Great picks!

  • @Secret413
    @Secret413 Рік тому +1

    The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois is surprising a fast read. I loved it

  • @macrosense
    @macrosense Рік тому +2

    I mostly read non-fiction. There are about half a dozen contemporary fiction readers I read regularly. And I get a kick out of the old Nero Wolfe books.

  • @michaelwright6702
    @michaelwright6702 Рік тому +5

    Dombey and Son is great. It's one of my favorite novels.

  • @hyacinthh6900
    @hyacinthh6900 Рік тому +3

    ♥️ DOMBEY and SON ♥️ A wonderful story! 💐

  • @libraryofbabble
    @libraryofbabble 2 роки тому +3

    Cool list! You will love Middlemarch.
    1Q84 is a kind of divisive Murakami book I think. It definitely amplifies some of his... weirder... tendencies. But if you're drawn to it that's cool, check it out! You could also check out The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I wouldn't call Murakami wacky either, he's got more of a downtempo, melancholy, kind of dreamy but in a sad way vibe.

    • @shelf-reflections
      @shelf-reflections  Рік тому +1

      I was so close to choosing The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle!! If I for some reason can't stand 1Q84 (fingers crossed that isn't the case) I might switch to that one ☺

  • @dianedulin6599
    @dianedulin6599 Рік тому +1

    Good luck!
    I have placed Almanac of theDead, Betty, 1Q84 on my list.

  • @wadejohnston4305
    @wadejohnston4305 Рік тому +1

    Pretty decentish audio for an onboard camera. Great video man!

  • @LaurieInTexas
    @LaurieInTexas Рік тому +1

    I'm new to your channel and I just saw your video. I wish you good luck on reading your 12 chunky books. I set the same goal this year and it is daunting. I have read 3 of your books and I loved two of them. Middlemarch takes a while to get into as it starts slowly, but it is worth the length. Dombey and Son is so good. Definitely an underappreciated Dickens novel. Ulysses I didn't like but I am proud to have read.

  • @Giggra
    @Giggra Рік тому +1

    I just added Roots to my TBR list, I read The Love Stories of W.E.B. Dubois earlier this month. I am currently reading A Clash of Kings. I've been thinking about 1084. I have the Illiad on my shelf but I'm not ready lol

  • @annedixon7609
    @annedixon7609 7 місяців тому +1

    I love foods I read it a while ago I would love to read it again but I'm not sure when I will be able to

  • @carlrenzi
    @carlrenzi Рік тому

    First congratulations on your courage! Not many people would try doing this. I also enjoy reading big books🙂I live in a small town about 2 hours from Rio de Janeiro. When I moved here I realized that if I didn't create a Bloomsday event no one else would. After doing this for a few years a group of people asked me if I couldn't organize a "Ulysses study group" which would meet once a month. Things were going well until the pandemic struck.
    I'd like to point out I am not a Ulysses experto but I just enjoy reading it (again and again). May I make some suggestions? Before tackling Ulysses read "The Dubliners" and "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man" as a kind of prep work. Also you might get in touch with The James Joyce Center in Dublin for information, discussions and readings. Shakespeare and Company put out a podcast (I don't know if it is still available) of people reading Ulysses. Good luck

  • @passmethatbook
    @passmethatbook Рік тому +1

    Just found your channel, really liking it, I've subscribed! 📚 Excellent 12 picks and good luck! 🤞

  • @moss1788
    @moss1788 7 місяців тому

    I just found your channel and I really love your vibe!!

  • @deadlizardreads1937
    @deadlizardreads1937 Рік тому

    Wow I feel so inspired. My goal this year is to read more pages, but less book. The Idiot is on my list- I read 1Q84 a couple years ago. A few of these sounds so good, I might have to add them to my list too!

  • @26vertigos
    @26vertigos Рік тому

    Betty is a tough read but it’s sooo good! Just found your channel and subscribing. Good luck with your challenge!

  • @WellTraveledBooks
    @WellTraveledBooks Рік тому

    I read 1Q84 many years ago and really enjoyed it. I am currently reading Middlemarch and enjoying it a lot! You've got a great list for this year =)

  • @toniblessing4624
    @toniblessing4624 Рік тому

    An impressive list! Best wishes.

  • @user-yg6ft1iu1i
    @user-yg6ft1iu1i Рік тому

    Kind of late to the party and what a great list of books. I like the idea of one big book each month. I had decided to read this year about 9 books that I had piled up. Trying to do them in a row. Just finished A Suitable Boy , recently Finished The Last Chairlift and The Tale of Genji. Love Songs of WEB , Betty ( I enjoy Tiffany McDaniel as an author) are on my TBR. I’ve meant to read Middlemarch sometime and what a nice discovery Almanac of the Dead I hadn’t heard of it.

  • @discipulussimplex
    @discipulussimplex Рік тому

    Excellent choices and justification! Glad I found your channel.

  • @waynetork504
    @waynetork504 Рік тому

    Great video. Authentic.

  • @michellesvintagelibrary
    @michellesvintagelibrary Рік тому

    Interesting list. So many good books! I like the variety. You read across many different genres. Subscribed 😊

  • @lilianagalvan5042
    @lilianagalvan5042 2 роки тому

    Excited to hear what you think of the savage detectives ! It’s on my list as well 😊

  • @Abuamina001
    @Abuamina001 7 місяців тому

    I can recommend "Hadji Murad" by Leo Tolstoy and "Death and the Dervish" by Mese Selimovic.

    • @shelf-reflections
      @shelf-reflections  7 місяців тому +1

      Thanks so much for the recs! I actually have a little plan for the Tolstoy this fall 🤫

    • @teakara
      @teakara 5 місяців тому +1

      Thank you for recommending Selimovic, I definitely didn’t expect to see someone writing his name here. It’a a great novel. Greetings from Bosnia

    • @Abuamina001
      @Abuamina001 5 місяців тому

      @@teakara Those two novels, plus "My Name is Red" by Orhan Pamuk, are amongst my top three favourites.
      It would be good to see more Selimovic translated into English.

  • @lindaleehall
    @lindaleehall Рік тому

    I own all of these books except IQ84 and have read most of them, twice for Ulysses and Middlemarch. Betty is on the top of the stack next to my chair. I think you are in for an interesting year of reading.

    • @shelf-reflections
      @shelf-reflections  Рік тому

      Wow, Ulysses and Middlemarch twice--that's quite impressive! Though my January pick wasn't quite to my taste, I'm loving the February pick and can't wait to get to the rest on the list :)

  • @zubooks
    @zubooks Рік тому +1

    I just found your channel through my recommended videos and I'm glad I did, what an interesting (and brave) list! Subscribing now and looking forward to hear your thoughts :)

  • @Thepeejay
    @Thepeejay Рік тому

    Whew! Uou have some thick books im interested in your thoughts of roots

    • @shelf-reflections
      @shelf-reflections  Рік тому +1

      It hurts my soul to say I didn't love Roots 😢For such a big book I found that Haley's writing style sort of glossed over the complex issues and relationships it was trying to deal with (mainly the way Kunta Kinte perceived the other slaves...it sort of gave me Kanye-West-slavery-was-a-choice vibes idk). But I'm thinking of giving one of the tv adaptations a go just to compare how it handled those issues

  • @jennamakesbugs
    @jennamakesbugs Рік тому

    That's an impressive list. I have read one and have 3 more on my list. I don't think you will have trouble picking up Clash of Kings if it has been a while since you read book 1. In fact I found the reminder of certain details from the first book a little annoying. 2 is as far as I have gotten, though. I need long breaks between all that violence.

  • @annedixon7609
    @annedixon7609 7 місяців тому

    I want to read middle of March someday

    • @shelf-reflections
      @shelf-reflections  7 місяців тому

      Thanks for your comment! I hope you enjoy it more than I did lol. It really does fit the early spring/March vibe, so when you do get to it I’d recommend reading it then 😊

  • @fabiancalderon6729
    @fabiancalderon6729 Рік тому +2

    What's the point of counting the pages if one is also using the audiobook version?

    • @shelf-reflections
      @shelf-reflections  Рік тому +7

      I always listen to the audiobook as I read the physical copy, and I determine how much I'm going to listen in one day based on the total number of pages divided by the days in the month...weird system I guess lol but it works for me 🙂

    • @karendale9926
      @karendale9926 Рік тому

      I’m so happy to discover your channel and look forward to your thoughts on these books. Challenges me a bit to choose some literature over escapism this year. I read Ulysses in grad school in a ten-week seminar with scholar Jim McMichael in 1985. 😂 😮 I could understand and somewhat enjoy parts, but sadly maybe only 10% of it. Literally threw the book in the recycle bin outside the classroom door after the last meeting.
      Betty, Almanac of the Dead, and Dombey and Son are now my TBRs. I dnf’ed IQ84 five or so years ago. Just ✋🏼 not for me. Thanks for your content 👍🤗