Writing, Reading, and traveling to LONDON - a happy vlog :)
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- ✨The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/carolyn...
Hi friends!
I'm extremely excited about this video for so many reasons!
(1) It is sponsored by the wonderful Skillshare!
(2) I love talking about my writing process, and I can't believe I'm almost done with the first draft of my novel!
(3) I've read some incredible books recently, and I can't wait to tell you about them!
(4) I went to London and had the best time :)
(5) I'm feeling very inspired and excited to keep going on my creative journey and continuing to build my creative career!!!
Thank you all so much for your continued support and kindness!!! You're helping make my creative dreams come true and for that I'll always be grateful :)
Best wishes,
Carolyn Marie :)
***Check out curated lists of my recent reads and all time favorite books in my Amazon Storefront - www.amazon.com...
**The live show for The Brother Karamazov and The Stranger will be on July 29th at 12pm EST (on Emma's channel)**
My Social Media: CarolynMarieReads
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***Want to write to me or send something?
Carolyn Castagna
P. O. Box 773
Greenlawn NY 11740
United States
**Please don't feel like you need to send me anything, but if you'd like to I would be honored!!!** :)
***About me -
I'm a freelance illustrator and writer who recently graduated from college at the Fashion Institute of Technology with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration with a minor in English/Writing.
My greatest passion in life is combining my love of illustrating, writing, and reading!
Happy Reading :)
#booktube #writingcommunity #bookreview
It's always so fun to listen to people talking about things that make them happy. The way their tone shifts and their eyes light up. It's immediately noticeable
I couldn't agree more
We can tell that you are so excited and exude so much happiness! I am glad for you!
Aw, I'm very glad to hear that! Thank you so much :)
I agree completely! When you read Tolstoy is like having a conversation with him (which I love), but with The Brothers Karamazov is like Dostoyevsky is inviting you to have a conversation with yourself... I'm loving this novel but is taking me a while to read 😄
So glad to hear you agree! Yes, exactly :)
I'm so happy for you, Carolyn. You have worked so hard to create a brilliant life for yourself. You deserve all of the extraordinary successes coming your way.
I'm so glad you loved London! We do have so many excellent bookshops here. 😊📚
And Orlando is so magical! Great that you're getting immersed in it.
Good luck with finishing your first draft!
Thank you so much Eric! I really did, and you really do :)
I'm very glad to be reading it after my trip as well, because it has made the descriptions of London even more vivid!
Again, thank you so much!!
I hope you're doing well, and sending my best wishes!
I’m glad that you’re loving Orlando. It’s one of my all time favorite books. It was ahead of its time when it was written but I feel as if its still ahead of our time in some ways. Another lovely video 😊
Absolutely!!!
For everyone reading Orlando, I hope they realise it's a mock-biography of Vita Sackville West. Understanding a bit about VW's life, about Knole/Sissinghurst and especially the nature of her relationship with Harold Nicholson, their agreements, and their sexuality and gender expression will add so much more to the reading experience. I think this was my fourth time reading Orlando.
...and bonus points for getting the latin references ;)
Hi Carolyn, I saw that in one of your previous videos you said you want to read more books by italian authors and I think "Captain Blood Odyssey" by Rafael Sabatini is amazing.
The main character of this book is an irish doctor who gave up on his adventurous life in order to pursue his career, but he is condemned to ten years of slavery on a plantation even though he's not guilty.
This book has adventure, romance, suspense and characters you'll start to love and care for from the beginning of the first pages.
I also recommend "Hatter's Castle" by A.J. Cronin
I recently finished A Man Called Ove, thanks to your recommendation - it was beautiful, moving and funny.
I could hardly put it down.
Thank you, I would not have chosen this book without watching you.
yay, it's you!
i checked your channel last night to see if i missed a post
great to see you 🩵🩵🩵
An instant classic IMHO
I'm so glad to hear you loved it!! It's such a special read :)
London is a great place. My spiritual home. Lived there for 7 years.
I love the review of TBK. The complexity of human emotions is beautifully shown. I hope you noticed the small characters as well. So lively!
Dear Carolyn, i love, i love your Videos🥰👍☺! And „Orlando“ is one Book of my personal List for the 100 best Book of all Time😉👏. I‘m so so happy that i found your Chanel. Thanks alot and ♥Greetings from Berlin, Germany, Susanne🌻🌷
Hi! I'm so glad you enjoy my videos :)
I can definitely understand why Orlando is on that list of yours! It's brilliant!
I'm very happy that you found my channel too! Welcome :)
Greetings from New York!
@@CarolynMarieReads 🥰😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
It’s been about 5 years since I’ve been to London and watching this makes me wanna go back. Such a fantastic place!
Yay I live in London, it's great to hear you enjoyed it 😁
That's wonderful! Yes, I truly loved it :)
Yay! I'm so happy to see you, Carolyn! Glad you traveled to London and loved it! Orlando is fantastic, what a beautiful edition! I finished reading Madame Bovary and i'm going to start reading Huckleberry Finn.
From what I understand (remember from school), under the system of primogeniture the landed estate (along with the rental assets it generates) went to the eldest son. Thus, second sons sometimes would enter a monastery, which often required a large donation, and additional sons might enter military service. I may have that backwards, unless Dimitri is the youngest, I'm not sure. Illegitimate sons were sometimes recognized but typically not and were on their own (altho it was not unusual for their father to bestow gifts on them, while alive).
Sounds right to me. Illegitimate sons often weren't recognized, unless there was no other male heir, or no other heir, and then sometimes not.
yay! it's you
🩵🩵🩵
I was just thinking of you. Thanks for posting today. Love from India.❤
Aw, thank *you* for thinking of me and watching 😊
My grandson, wife and children live in London. They have been there for about 6 years and love it. They travel a lot and the access they have to Europe is wonderful!
I'm so glad they're happy there :) It's such a lovely place!
So happy for you ❤ thanks for sharing!!!
waterstones is really amazing shop, i could stay there for the rest of my life
It is and me too 😂
Beautiful and inspiring video Carolyn! Thank you for sharing all you have been up to. This is the happiest I have ever seen you ❤
Simultaneously I'm ablaze with excitement and also envious of your writing a book. My hands have not yet dared to accept that kind of a valiant plan drawn up by the boundless dreams of my head. I'm so much eagerly looking forward to having it some day! Well, take your time! (translated into my language: is it ready now? What about now?) 😁
I’m really glad I watched this after reading The stranger because I wouldn’t like to hear anything from it, I didn’t love it but I found the absurd completely well done and it got me feeling quite down at the end, which is something I definitely didn’t want at the moment lmao but I think I enjoyed it!! My favorite part was definitely the beginning which I think never happens! Also I can’t even say how much I loved Orlando!! Loved the video, Carolyn!
Your videos are so comforting Carolyn ❤❤
I'm so glad :)
I'm also a strong believer in God and hopeful about life, but I'm intrigued by people who think differently than me. I recently bought Demons by Dostoyevsky, but I need to finish Brothers Karamazov. I'll be going to London in September. The two things I want to do most are go to Waterstones and visit Bath.
The first time I read The Stranger, it was because I had to for my French classes in high school. I didn't particularly enjoy it, mostly because the focus was on the language/translation. I went back to it a few years ago and I have absolutely loved it ever since!
Oh, interesting that it's studied in school (makes sense). Yes, that's exactly how I felt about a lot of the American classics I read in school. That's wonderful! The same thing happened to me and "The Catcher in the Rye." I always encourage people to go back and re-read the books they read in high school, because (usually) you'll enjoy them much more the second time around :)
On the contrary, I would love to see the grocery shopping list of Carolyn haha! So happy your back safe :)
hahaha my next vlog: come grocery shopping with me :P (and thank you so much)
i’m so excited for you that you’re progressing so well with your book! can’t wait to read it and get my little brother to read it :)
I’m so glad you had a fantastic time in England! Next time you come to London check out the Waterstones on Gower street if you haven’t, they have published their own edition of Orlando in a collaboration with Bloomsbury, there is also a bust of Virginia near by. Also if you travel outside of London, Oxford is beautiful, but I may be bias
Thank you so much! I didn't go to the Waterstones on Gower Street, but it looks *stunning*...I'll add it to my "next time I'm in London" list hahaha
How lovely! I'll make sure to look for that edition and the bust of Virginia :)
Yes, I've heard wonderful things about Oxford! From the photos and videos I've seen, it does look incredibly beautiful!
I don't usually leave a comment, but I have always loved your videos. I have to say that you have shown me that my love for writing, literature, and creativity can be my future. Thank you for this ❤.
I'm so glad you commented! Your kindness and support mean the world!! Thank you very much
Hey Caroline!
Do you have a date for your book’s release?
I’m not asking to pressure or anything but I’m just so excited and want to be ready for the pre-order !🥳
As soon as you showed the bookshop, I knew it was Waterstones. It’s exactly the same as the one in my town in Ireland. It’s a great shop, but I always find it a tiny bit expensive. Although, from what I’ve seen, I think books tend to be more expensive again in the US in general. I hope you enjoy Earthsea. I have that same edition!
Very excited for you for going to London! I've never been but would love to go. I am reading the Brothers Karamazov early next year, and thanks to you I have added The Stranger to my list. I think I will fit it in before I start War and Peace.
I look forward to your London book haul!
Thank you! I definitely recommend you go, if you get the chance :)
That's wonderful! I hope you enjoy both (and War and Peace)!
I'm so glad!
happy for you, carolyn!!!! 🫶🏻
Thank you so much :)
The Stranger was a reread for me. I felt the same way : 1st part OK, and then, boom ! The 2nd part was mindblowing. How well it shows the absurdity and meaninglessness of life... I wish I'd had the time and energy to read the Brothers Karamazov before the live show but I DNFed it... it wasn't the right time for such a dense classic for me. Oh well, I'll catch up with Game of Tomes later, for Orlando and the Awakening, and I'll come back to Brothers K when I'll be ready ! Looking forward to discover the book you're writing and your illustrations.
Yes, so glad you agree! Exactly!
I completely understand. I've often put books aside for a later date because it wasn't the right time. There's no rush :)
Thank you very much!!
What happened to "The winners" by Fredrik Backman? On goodreads it says you've been reading this for months! 😂
Hey, when you're with winners you stick with them, right?
Yes, I have been reading it for months hahaha oops!
I was reading it for a while and then put it to the side, because I didn't feel like I was giving it my full attention. I'm hoping to pick it back up soon :)
I loved Left Hand of Darkness by Le Guin!!! It was a really interesting exploration of gender nonconformity (kind of similar to the themes in Orlando, actually!) and such an cool world.
I hope you and Emmie go deeper into the books than you normally do with your debate. I want to hear more than just surface things. ❤❤❤
I NEED A MAKE UP TUTORIAL FOR THIS EYE MAKE UP!! ❤
hahaha I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Nouveau Eyeshadow Palette (specifically the colors: paloma, fleur, and metro)
I hope I get to sit in on the live show! As well as time zone differences (I'm in Australia), I'll be in hospital for the last week of July, 24-28, so if it's on then I might have to wait for the playback version. Fingers crossed. I'm glad you had such a lovely time in London, Carolyn! :)
I hope so too, and good luck with everything. I hope all goes well!
Thank you so much :)
Hi Carolyn 👋 I recently discovered your channel through Emma . I just binge watched your videos and absolutely in love 🤗
Hi Samantha! Welcome, I'm so glad you found me through Emma! Very happy to hear you've been enjoying my videos
As a booktube community member, this is the first time I’m Actually interested in signing in for skillshare 😂❤
Two-plus week vacation? Lucky you!🤗
Glad you loved it in london. I live just outside of london. 🙂
How lovely :)
You’re making me want to read the brothers karamazov even though I’ve had a bad time with Russian classics so far 😂
I'd definitely recommend you giving it a try or reading a sample of it online. It may be a matter of finding the "right" Russian classic for you :)
I am going to visit Virginia Woolf's house in east Sussex this Summer.
that blue leather bookmark in your urusla le guin book isn't a beatrix potter bookmark is it? i wouldn't be surprised if they sell similar bookmarks in other places but i visited her house when i went to the uk and bought a similar bookmark. i really hope you were able to visit because as a writer and illustrator i'm sure you'd love it there! are you a beatrix potter fan? (wait lol i'm seeing you have a similar bookmark in your copy of orlando.... i really need to know what's on them now. i love how you coordinated them with the book covers!)
You discussed two of my fave books. 🎉
I'm curious to see your thoughts on the Brothers K in the livestream. Specially about the chapters "Rebellion" and "The Grand Inquisitor" as well as the entire trial sequence and the ending. I'm agnostic so the religious themes didn't affect me as deeply as some people but I still consider this book to be a masterpiece!
Yes, those were great chapters. I definitely think it's interesting how the religious themes affect different people (and their own beliefs). Like I keep saying, it was so thought provoking.
I’m 400 pages into Brothers K. And I either haven’t got to the murder yet or am losing my mind… haha
I wasnt a huge fan of The Stranger. I loved that first line, but I think audiobook maybe wasnt the move. I would say I tend to agree more with Camus (less optimistic haha), so I didn’t really find anything new that wowed me. I’m also studying for the bar exam, so when the second half became a trial I was not having it😅
I wish you good luck, and hope you graduated a school better than mine was, where one day a classmate asked the professor if testimony to what was seen in a dream can be admissible.
@@jamesduggan7200 This comment made my day! haha I was trying to think of some out of pocket things my classmates have said, but nothing beats that!
@@chelleandpoppy6379 Yeah, Law School is a trip. It must be this weekend, or next? Good luck and do your best to get some sleep.
Missed you ❤
It was so good to see the clips of your travel and how happy it made you. It's one of my biggest dreams to visit London or any place in England or Scotland, especially book related ones, so I feel your excitement. I can't wait to hear your opinion about Orlando. Virginia Woolf is amazing, I love everything I read from her. Good luck to the writing, I hope we can read your own book soon. 😍
Sending love from Hungary ❤
Thank you, and I hope you get the chance to go! I'm sure you'll love it :)
I'm halfway through Orlando now, and I think it's brilliant! Yes, Virginia is a genius.
Thank you (again), I hope you can read my own book soon too
How nice to listen in English about Russian classics. Dostoyevsky is my favorite, now I read the Karamazovs too. But Idiot and Demons I like more. Too much religion. However, already the third set of bookmarks ends
I'm reading The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford and I think you and Emmie should read it for the bookclub
I'm so glad you're enjoying the book! I'll make a note of it :)
Please read Fathers and Sons from Turgenev as well, with good translation.
It's on my shelves, so hopefully I'll get to it soon :)
How many books do you have in total. 1000 books gives you the status of a library.
I've never counted, but now I want to hahaha
Hello
Just to point out Carolyn that here in Scotland we get highly annoyed when people mix up England and Britain and ignore the rest of the country. (wags finger) Don't do it again.
Please more vlog on different places. I am bored of seeing you at your usual sitting place and talking. 😅
Ohhhh Im so happy to see your video. What a sweet surprise in UA-cam 🫶🏼.