respectfully i disagree on to kill a mockingbird and i don't think you should recommend it. it's well written but incredibly incredibly outdated, if someone wants to read something that deals with racism there are so many better texts that don't enforce bad stereotypes and the white savior complex. TKAM is white-authored and also very much white audience intended which isn't the best in my opinion, especially when we live in a modern age where we could be giving our attention and money towards POC and things that aren't written for a white audience since we overwhelmingly have *enough* of that. i hope this is all taken respectfully though, as that's my intention! :) also some POC authored classics recs that deal with racism are sister outsider by audio lorde (or zami but I haven't read that yet), anything by toni morrison but my fav so far is sula, and the fire next time or giovanni's room by james baldwin. also the color purple, invisible man, and americanah, are all good. and i really like angela davis, roxanne gay, miki kendall, and bell hooks. :)
my mother recently purchased to kill a mocking bird as a christmas gift for me and because she wanted to read it as well. i had no idea that this was the case! thank you for educating me
It's still a book worthy of recommendation along with the others you've listed, as a white person's perspective on racism is still valid in its own unique way. The question of ignoring such an issue or challenging the issue (against societal norms) from a position that could potentially enact positive change in another's life who, at the time, was not legally able to do so, is a story worthy of being told, and capable of inspiring others to do the same in similar situations in their own lives
I think you can get them into reading if you gift them a book that’s easy and caters to their interests! I love to read but I’ve had people gift me books that weren’t my thing/boring after 30 pages
Please consider replacing 'To Kill a Mockingbird' with one of the options I've listed below, courtesy of the pinned comment, authored by POC and dealing with racism: -sister outsider by audio lorde -anything by toni morrison -the fire next time or giovanni's room by James baldwin -the color purple, invisible man, and americanah -angela davis, roxanne gay, miki kendall, and bell hooks. :) My intentions were pure but I see how I could've researched this recommendation much better - I'm truly sorry, and I will do better. I love you all.
No need to apologize. Controversial classics should still be read. Many classics were controversial in their time. Also, we too much make judgements based on our current perspective. How can we truly progress if we won’t listen to the voices at a given time whether they are good or bad? So, I wouldn’t recommend replacing, just add to the list. Great job and keep going strong.
@@thebasedgodmax1163 I just recall as an English major serious debate about classics and whether certain books should be at all. I also recall the common “in it’s time, this book was controversial.” I am extremely open minded to read any book. Not saying it will get a second read or stay in my library (which has rarely happened) but to a certain extent almost any book written a hundred years ago or longer is outdated by our standards and norms. It doesn’t mean it has little or no value. Always looking at all sides is what I teach my students and then you make your opinion fully. I’m more being supportive than contrary because all these books should be read or at least authors.
if any artsy queer boys are hanging out around these parts, i recommend Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. an italian and an american experience a brief but passionate and ultimately tragic love in paris. all of Baldwin's writing is exquisite and impactful, and i'd recommend Another Country next if you enjoy Giovanni's Room.
I would get mad about Les Misérables not getting a spot but I can understand not recommending a book where you get forty pages about this random bishop at the beginning. Nevertheless, amazing book for anyone who likes flowery language.
as an Indonesian, i was so happy that you brought up our literature! My go-to authors are pramoedya ananta toer and eka kurniawan (i'm positive a couple of their books are translated into english) so I hope you'll enjoy their books!💖
Read the Kitchen Curse collection from Eka Kurniawan a few months ago and LOVED it so I totally second this! Very gripping, both raw and cheeky. Will definitely explore more.
I don't know why but I just want to cry out loud. The piano, the white noise, your voice... It transported me a few years back to my old house... I don't know why... I so dearly wish I was there so I could stop stressing about today and tomorrow... Thank you, Dakota for your videos and for you.. I'm watching from Pakistan. Sending you support and I hope everyone or anyone sends me prayers because I need them... I do.. thank you...
Another great writer in the Burroughs-y vein is Hubert Selby Jr., particularly Requiem for a Dream and Last Exit to Brooklyn. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is another absolute classic. Notes From Underground is a phenomenal novel, but I would caution away from calling it a critique of capitalism. While it does find a lot of fault in capitalism, it is actually a direct, withering response to communism and utopian socialism, especially the idea that there is such as thing as an ideal society because we will always find fault with any type of society, even (and especially) the kind in which our every need is cared for because then we will no longer feel human. This makes a lot of sense especially if you know Dostoyevsky's life and the context of Russian politics during the time the book was written, too.
Also for the fantasy fanatic, I think reading the texts that inspired Tolkien is a great idea! Beowulf, the Eddas, Volsunga saga and the Icelandic sagas such as Njal's Saga and Grettir's Saga are super fun and action packed while still being poetic and full of historical worth.
IMO the best part is the scene from "Mephistopheles' " ball. I enjoyed that one a lot. Also the ending leaves you a little puzzled: is it a good end or is it a terrible end? The way it portrays the reality of the Russian 30s is also interesting (housing crisis, telling on your neighbours and friends) and the religious motifs (the guy in the beginning, when he was carrying only the icon on his chest and was wearing some undergarments, he looked like a yurodiviy, a person who basically gets revelations from god or what not). I, personally, didn't enjoy it though. One can see all the interesting parts and all the fine writing and not enjoy it and find it overrated, that's completely valid. I still feel a little bitter aftertaste as it just didn't live up to my expectations (and I can tell you I have read a lot of Russian books and other books, but this one just didn't hit the spot for me).
@@Alex-wl9xw Sure, there are a lot of classics that I feel didn't live up to my expectations, including *gasp* Pride and Prejudice. I'll probably give this one another try, and if I don't like it, I don't like it. Too many books, too little time.
I feel like I’m totally missing the point of it, I bought the audio book as I have adhd and struggle to concentrate on a physical book and I read about half and I couldn’t stand it any more it was way too religious for me, so many people rave about it and I’m obviously completely missing the point of it 😭💔
My favorites of these: Notes from the Underground, The Master and Margarita, Crime and Punishment, The Stranger (Myth of Sisyphus is my bible) The implications: anarchy, chaos, artsy intellectualism, and constant brooding W
Phantom of the Opera: for the music lovers, whether they make music or just listen to it, especially classical, as well as getting really deep in psychology, you’ll love it! You might know the Webber musical, the infamous love triangle, mask, and music, but the original book is *chefs kiss*. You really dive a lot into Christine and the Phantom (Erik)’s characters, learning all about how they see the world. Raoul is still shallow as ever, and always will be. It’s the first classic I read, and I read it when I was twelve. It’s a bit of a difficult read, but it’s truly wonderful and has taught me to _never_ judge a book by its cover.
I understand where people are coming from, but I’m kind of frustrated with comments shaming her for having recommended TKAM. In my eyes, the whole point of the book is to acknowledge the stereotypes and the “white savior complex” of that time period. That’s kind of the whole point. If you acknowledged how fucked up it is, you’ve successfully read the book (in my opinion). The book wasn’t really supposed to be educational or a guide to morals and values, it was supposed to point out the skewed mindset of a white child growing up in the south. It’s a piece that provides historical context to the mindset of people back then and shouldn’t be “erased” because you don’t like what it’s saying. Unfortunately, it’s the truth and that’s the most important part. If it makes you uncomfortable, GOOD, it’s supposed to. That may have not been the goal when it was written, but literature and analysis of it develop over time, that’s what’s so great about it. Also the characters in the book aren’t inherently “good people”. That judgement is deemed by the reader, so if you are going into the book thinking so, that’s kind of an individual experience. I understand why people are upset about it, but I don’t think it should be erased and I don’t think you should shame people for liking it.
Every time I thought "Hey, I kind of am this person", you have chosen a book that I had already read and loved. So apparently you really know what you're doing :) Great video (as always)!
would love to see you as an Australian booktuber use your platform to highlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and novels as they are truly paving the way in the Australian literature scene.
For the theatre kid, I would also recommend Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. Not a play, but the fact that it is an epistolary novel makes it seem like a series of monologues. The characters are delightfully accurate and vibrant, and the themes of scandal, sex and manipulation make it so entertaining you won’t want to put it down!
I feel like i fit in most of these categories Also, you should do a video on latin american writers, there's so much magic in this continent. Cortázar, Borges, Sábato, Márquez, Neruda, Quiroga, Allende, Paz, etc. They are all so good
Yess, Cortázar, Allende, Márquez, Neruda... I wasn't interested on my culture's litterature, but now that i'm older.. man, they deserve recognition. Dakota, go and read One Hundred Years of Solitude ot The House of The Spirits, please~~ I would appreciate comments on those
I’m Argentinian and Julio Cortázar is one of my favorite authors ever. I highly recommend start with his short stories if interested in Latin American literature! :)
Not gonna lie, I really doubt anyone who prefers movies over books would like to read the great gatsby haha! But I really love your list, I disagree with a few ones (e.g. Gatsby and especially TKAM), but I love seeing someone promote classic literature and your videos just feel so...cozy! I snuggle up with a cup of tea and my dog in the morning to watch them before university starts :) (currently reading Hamlet and The Turn of The Screw for literature class). I would've loved to see another classic fantasy book. LOTR is kind of an obvious choice and there are sooo so many gems in classic fantasy literature, before and after tolkien! The inclusion of a classic scifi novel would've been great to see as well! Maybe some Jules Verne (not a fam of Lovecraft personally) or others! Hoped to see some russian literature and wasn't disappointed! Love the Dostoyevsky one haha Overall I loved your recommendations and thought a lot of books you recommended were a perfect fit for each category! (Master and Margerita for the chaotic, the poetry of sappho, catcher in the rye was a fun one, dostoyevsky, frankenstein, dantes inferno!!) I will definetly buy your twilight fan recommendation for a friend of mine who adores the series.
loved holden as a hurt teen, love holden now as a hurt adult lol. I have a low tolerance for certain types of characters but holden caulfield has always had my heart and he always will..
‘Notes From Underground’ wouldn’t have been my first choice for the anarchist, but it fits. My mind goes to Ursula LeGuin’s ‘The Dispossessed’ first, but ‘Homage to Catalonia’ (by George Orwell) might be a better choice. He’s not perfect, but that book has such an important spot as an accessible, readable account of what the world might look like and the struggles required to get there, while remaining non-fiction
A comprehensive and well thought out list, to be sure. The only genre, I think, you're missing is, 'mystery-thriller'. For that, Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, comes to mind.
i think the catcher in the rye is the only book i've ever actually hated, and you're the first person i find that shares the same sentiment. i'm so glad to not be alone :')
May i ask you to explain a little more what problem you have with holden caulfield. I do very much admit hes flawed and short sighted in many ways but i thought that was the point. His character imo seems to serve the story and what salinger seems to be going for perfectly. Love the video and am here for the camus rec 😎
from my own perspective and from what I've heard from other people,many as myself thought that he was very annoying and was making certain things problematic for no reason,he was just increasing and increasing the amount of bad things that he not only saw in humans but the world itself. it just seemed too depressive for some
Loving your channel & so proud of how fast you’ve popped off!! One minor comment, would you be able to make the music a bit quieter next time? it’s a bit distracting toward the middle of the video 😬
I have been watching countless Book Tubers for more than a year and you are the first to mention William Burroughs, so thanks 👍 Clearly he has been "canceled" for one dumb reason or other, but he will be back as groundbreaking writing can never be kept down
@@Kiki-oo3bwi disagree with OP and think that burroughs simply doesn't appeal to a lot of booktubers and that's why he's never mentioned, but i disagree with your point. for a start i hate the term 'cancelling' anyway because it's either used when someone has done something so foul they deserve more than 'being cancelled' or when someone does something bad but doesn't at all deserve to be 'cancelled' i.e. tell a bad joke or just be old. cancelling someone from burroughs' era for having outdated ideologies or whatever isn't exactly a good reason to act like their influence is non existent.
@@thebasedgodmax1163 I mean, would you play William Tell with a gun if you weren't okay with hurting, even killing, the other person? Being drunk doesn't mean a person isn't culpable, either. It's also lame how he retracted and then changed and changed again his account. But I fully believe you can like work produced by bad people (I do), to the OP's original point. I just thought it was kind of funny how they hand-waved the shocking, horrible things Burroughs did as nothing reasons to dislike/cancel him.
As a pre-Raphaelites art girl, I was so amused when I realized that was a category, and then felt a bit called out when you recommended not just my favorite play, but my favorite Thing of all time. Consider this a testimonial that your recommendations are On Point.
Every time you described someone and I thought 'Ok, that sounds like me', you gave a book I had read :DDD Let's just say this list definitely bares a lot of accuracy.
perhaps the true crime lover might like the hardboiled surreal crime novels of jim thompson, the acid tongued wit could do with some dorothy parker and/or h.l. mencken and people who think they want to live out in the woods could try reading the beans of egypt maine by carolyn chute. nice video!
please we want you to talk about books and give us reviews themes and the literary devices this is very enjoyful to watch especially if it you who make such videos!
Hi, I discovered your channel this week and I'm in love with your content! I just read The dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin for anyone wanting to read about anarchy. For a book written in the 70's it still holds up, and offers a unique perspective on anarchism. Both the good and bad. It's really captivating and refreshing. I highly recommend ! Cheers from France. See you in the streets of Paris, maybe one day with perhaps a glass of red wine ;)
Tolkien mentioned in one of his letters that he could not remember a time of his life when he was not building his world and languages. I read The Lord of The Rings in the first half of last year and it was mesmerizing. I have not yet read The Silmarillion because it is too much for me.
no its US only. I really hope they're going to open international shipping soon. They keep sponsoring booktubers from Aus and the UK so that better be a hint but at the moment it sucks that they're willing to advertise to audiences who can't even use their service.
This is such an amazing guide, Love listening to you talk ab them through out the video. Just to share, I recently received a book as an early Christmas gift called “sailing through claret” From Amazon I believe. I personally enjoyed it, the illustrations and cover is amazing. So yeah I would confidently say I like it. Just a book recommendation if you’re looking for new books to read you know, maybe you’ll enjoy it who knows… Love ur vids btw 💕
ive been struggling with what kind of books to read since my exams for this year + semester is over now.. so thank you for the helpful recommendations:)
Ooohhhh, I just finished The Moon and Sixpence by W Somerset Maugham and I’d recommend it for ✨The Artist✨ (it’s LOOSELY based on the life of Paul Gauguin)
RE: Kafka. You might enjoy a song based on a story of his: *Isabel - A Report to an Academy* ua-cam.com/video/0rBGDJC7Sjc/v-deo.html (by Norwegian band, *Major Parkinson* - but they sing in English). Even if you don't like that (it gets quite gritty, eventually, and that's not everyone's cuppa), you might still appreciate their bookworm concert (online concert - these kids! ... ) : *A Night at the Library* ( and many of the songs themes are from literature). It's "unplugged". Grand piano, violin, drum kit, Jon. Nothing more. Enjoy the dark blue midnight coldness of the setting, and see if you can spot more of the books than I can. (I "spot" the books Jon directly introduces as inspirations.) I'm guessing UA-cam will suggest it to you. If not, well if you don't like the idea of a bookish concert, just move on, I suppose.
I like how the pick for short attention spans is by the same author who wrote a 700 page book about nothing edit: Burroughs is amazing, didn't expect to hear his name!
You mentioned something about Indonesian literature. I'm Indonesian but can't say I've actually read anything by Indonesian authors which is unacceptable and needs to change ASAP! :( Could you recommend some?
For us chaotic fellows it will be an indescribable moment when you'll open a book about "Devil, naked witch and cat named Hippo who loves chess and vodka" and find text about life of Jesus Christ.
respectfully i disagree on to kill a mockingbird and i don't think you should recommend it. it's well written but incredibly incredibly outdated, if someone wants to read something that deals with racism there are so many better texts that don't enforce bad stereotypes and the white savior complex. TKAM is white-authored and also very much white audience intended which isn't the best in my opinion, especially when we live in a modern age where we could be giving our attention and money towards POC and things that aren't written for a white audience since we overwhelmingly have *enough* of that. i hope this is all taken respectfully though, as that's my intention! :) also some POC authored classics recs that deal with racism are sister outsider by audio lorde (or zami but I haven't read that yet), anything by toni morrison but my fav so far is sula, and the fire next time or giovanni's room by james baldwin. also the color purple, invisible man, and americanah, are all good. and i really like angela davis, roxanne gay, miki kendall, and bell hooks. :)
this is so valid, thank you for this! I really appreciate this comment
Ahaha I was just about to comment this. But yeah, anything by James Baldwin is amazing
also whoops it autocorrected "audre lorde" to "audio lorde" lol and won't let me edit it. don't worry im not a fake audre lorde fan
my mother recently purchased to kill a mocking bird as a christmas gift for me and because she wanted to read it as well. i had no idea that this was the case! thank you for educating me
It's still a book worthy of recommendation along with the others you've listed, as a white person's perspective on racism is still valid in its own unique way. The question of ignoring such an issue or challenging the issue (against societal norms) from a position that could potentially enact positive change in another's life who, at the time, was not legally able to do so, is a story worthy of being told, and capable of inspiring others to do the same in similar situations in their own lives
I hate that none of my friends read because books are such a wonderful and easy gift.
Well I mean you could still guilt them into reading by giving them a book then talking about it. It a bit deceitful but may work.
@@CatherineDoII Then self publish it.
I think you can get them into reading if you gift them a book that’s easy and caters to their interests! I love to read but I’ve had people gift me books that weren’t my thing/boring after 30 pages
Same. Books are the best gifts to give and receive imo
Couldn't agree more!! Books are the best things that have happened to me. It changed me completely. 💛
Please consider replacing 'To Kill a Mockingbird' with one of the options I've listed below, courtesy of the pinned comment, authored by POC and dealing with racism:
-sister outsider by audio lorde
-anything by toni morrison
-the fire next time or giovanni's room by James baldwin
-the color purple, invisible man, and americanah
-angela davis, roxanne gay, miki kendall, and bell hooks. :)
My intentions were pure but I see how I could've researched this recommendation much better - I'm truly sorry, and I will do better.
I love you all.
i'm reading invisible man rn and it's great!
I've recently finished "A Mercy" by Toni Morrison and it is incredibly powerful. I definitely recommend
No need to apologize. Controversial classics should still be read. Many classics were controversial in their time. Also, we too much make judgements based on our current perspective. How can we truly progress if we won’t listen to the voices at a given time whether they are good or bad? So, I wouldn’t recommend replacing, just add to the list. Great job and keep going strong.
@@jeremymcmullan9928 put it into words better than i ever could. both should be promoted alongside each other with context to the dated texts
@@thebasedgodmax1163 I just recall as an English major serious debate about classics and whether certain books should be at all. I also recall the common “in it’s time, this book was controversial.” I am extremely open minded to read any book. Not saying it will get a second read or stay in my library (which has rarely happened) but to a certain extent almost any book written a hundred years ago or longer is outdated by our standards and norms. It doesn’t mean it has little or no value. Always looking at all sides is what I teach my students and then you make your opinion fully. I’m more being supportive than contrary because all these books should be read or at least authors.
if any artsy queer boys are hanging out around these parts, i recommend Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. an italian and an american experience a brief but passionate and ultimately tragic love in paris. all of Baldwin's writing is exquisite and impactful, and i'd recommend Another Country next if you enjoy Giovanni's Room.
Have you read Maurice by E.M. Foster? It’s on my TBR, but I thought the description might fit as well
Just finished giovannis room last week - sooooo good
Thank you this is exactly what I wanted
giovanni’s room broke my heart but yes, a beautiful story indeed
Thank uu!!
I would get mad about Les Misérables not getting a spot but I can understand not recommending a book where you get forty pages about this random bishop at the beginning. Nevertheless, amazing book for anyone who likes flowery language.
les mis is my favourite book ever. it set my standards for books so high. the count of monte cristo is also very good.
omg I too ADORE Les Mis! The writing is just too gorgeous!!
as an Indonesian, i was so happy that you brought up our literature! My go-to authors are pramoedya ananta toer and eka kurniawan (i'm positive a couple of their books are translated into english) so I hope you'll enjoy their books!💖
Which novels do you recommend from these author's?
Read the Kitchen Curse collection from Eka Kurniawan a few months ago and LOVED it so I totally second this! Very gripping, both raw and cheeky. Will definitely explore more.
@@howloudcansilenceget8884 I think Kurniawan's Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash is a great way to start (sorry to chime in I cannot help it :< )
@@howloudcansilenceget8884 "This Earth of Mankind" by Pramoedya Ananta Toer is a must-read!
I feel like Phantom of the Opera would've been a great choice for "the theatre kid"
i agree
As a literature student, your channel is a delight. Binging all your videos!!
so happy that christmas is also a time to gift things to yourself, soooo these recommendations where amazing and I will absolutely get some for myself
I don't know why but I just want to cry out loud. The piano, the white noise, your voice... It transported me a few years back to my old house... I don't know why... I so dearly wish I was there so I could stop stressing about today and tomorrow... Thank you, Dakota for your videos and for you.. I'm watching from Pakistan. Sending you support and I hope everyone or anyone sends me prayers because I need them... I do.. thank you...
sending you nothing but love and warmth. thank you for your support.
YOU CAME IN SO CLUTCH WITH THIS VIDEO, I was literally googling this today trying to get ideas!!
Another great writer in the Burroughs-y vein is Hubert Selby Jr., particularly Requiem for a Dream and Last Exit to Brooklyn. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is another absolute classic.
Notes From Underground is a phenomenal novel, but I would caution away from calling it a critique of capitalism. While it does find a lot of fault in capitalism, it is actually a direct, withering response to communism and utopian socialism, especially the idea that there is such as thing as an ideal society because we will always find fault with any type of society, even (and especially) the kind in which our every need is cared for because then we will no longer feel human. This makes a lot of sense especially if you know Dostoyevsky's life and the context of Russian politics during the time the book was written, too.
Also for the fantasy fanatic, I think reading the texts that inspired Tolkien is a great idea! Beowulf, the Eddas, Volsunga saga and the Icelandic sagas such as Njal's Saga and Grettir's Saga are super fun and action packed while still being poetic and full of historical worth.
I have The Master and Margarita, and I started it and somehow put it down (in true chaotic fashion), but you have convinced me to pick it back up.
IMO the best part is the scene from "Mephistopheles' " ball. I enjoyed that one a lot. Also the ending leaves you a little puzzled: is it a good end or is it a terrible end? The way it portrays the reality of the Russian 30s is also interesting (housing crisis, telling on your neighbours and friends) and the religious motifs (the guy in the beginning, when he was carrying only the icon on his chest and was wearing some undergarments, he looked like a yurodiviy, a person who basically gets revelations from god or what not). I, personally, didn't enjoy it though. One can see all the interesting parts and all the fine writing and not enjoy it and find it overrated, that's completely valid. I still feel a little bitter aftertaste as it just didn't live up to my expectations (and I can tell you I have read a lot of Russian books and other books, but this one just didn't hit the spot for me).
@@Alex-wl9xw Sure, there are a lot of classics that I feel didn't live up to my expectations, including *gasp* Pride and Prejudice. I'll probably give this one another try, and if I don't like it, I don't like it. Too many books, too little time.
I feel like I’m totally missing the point of it, I bought the audio book as I have adhd and struggle to concentrate on a physical book and I read about half and I couldn’t stand it any more it was way too religious for me, so many people rave about it and I’m obviously completely missing the point of it 😭💔
My favorites of these: Notes from the Underground, The Master and Margarita, Crime and Punishment, The Stranger (Myth of Sisyphus is my bible)
The implications: anarchy, chaos, artsy intellectualism, and constant brooding
W
my god so many similar tastes, that's epic
Phantom of the Opera: for the music lovers, whether they make music or just listen to it, especially classical, as well as getting really deep in psychology, you’ll love it! You might know the Webber musical, the infamous love triangle, mask, and music, but the original book is *chefs kiss*. You really dive a lot into Christine and the Phantom (Erik)’s characters, learning all about how they see the world. Raoul is still shallow as ever, and always will be.
It’s the first classic I read, and I read it when I was twelve. It’s a bit of a difficult read, but it’s truly wonderful and has taught me to _never_ judge a book by its cover.
I understand where people are coming from, but I’m kind of frustrated with comments shaming her for having recommended TKAM. In my eyes, the whole point of the book is to acknowledge the stereotypes and the “white savior complex” of that time period. That’s kind of the whole point. If you acknowledged how fucked up it is, you’ve successfully read the book (in my opinion).
The book wasn’t really supposed to be educational or a guide to morals and values, it was supposed to point out the skewed mindset of a white child growing up in the south. It’s a piece that provides historical context to the mindset of people back then and shouldn’t be “erased” because you don’t like what it’s saying. Unfortunately, it’s the truth and that’s the most important part. If it makes you uncomfortable, GOOD, it’s supposed to. That may have not been the goal when it was written, but literature and analysis of it develop over time, that’s what’s so great about it.
Also the characters in the book aren’t inherently “good people”. That judgement is deemed by the reader, so if you are going into the book thinking so, that’s kind of an individual experience.
I understand why people are upset about it, but I don’t think it should be erased and I don’t think you should shame people for liking it.
Tolkien is my life and I have never loved something more as Middle-Earth so it made me so indescribablely happy when u mentioned him. that made my day
Every time I thought "Hey, I kind of am this person", you have chosen a book that I had already read and loved. So apparently you really know what you're doing :) Great video (as always)!
would love to see you as an Australian booktuber use your platform to highlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and novels as they are truly paving the way in the Australian literature scene.
Yes I agree! There are so many books by Aboriginal and TSI authors that I love but are CRIMINALLY underhyped
PLEASE PLEASE recommend me some! :) I love fiction & poetry but I'm open to any genre
The background music selections in your videos are A+
For the theatre kid, I would also recommend Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. Not a play, but the fact that it is an epistolary novel makes it seem like a series of monologues. The characters are delightfully accurate and vibrant, and the themes of scandal, sex and manipulation make it so entertaining you won’t want to put it down!
Your hair is so beautiful! Great guide - I'm continuing to add to my list of classics to read. I think my husband would like many of these too!
I feel like i fit in most of these categories
Also, you should do a video on latin american writers, there's so much magic in this continent. Cortázar, Borges, Sábato, Márquez, Neruda, Quiroga, Allende, Paz, etc. They are all so good
Jajajajaj, no.
She definitely should!! I'll add Onetti, Benedetti and Galeano
Yess, Cortázar, Allende, Márquez, Neruda... I wasn't interested on my culture's litterature, but now that i'm older.. man, they deserve recognition. Dakota, go and read One Hundred Years of Solitude ot The House of The Spirits, please~~ I would appreciate comments on those
Adding Cortazar to this list? Instant follow!
Not to mention.. having Beethoven’s last piano sonata, 2nd movt in the background? AMAZING!
I love how much you love literature and words
If only I had people to gift books to. Alas, anyone who receives one from me just acts like that kid who got an avocado for Christmas 😩
the way you articulate yourself is so beautiful i cry
I’m Argentinian and Julio Cortázar is one of my favorite authors ever. I highly recommend start with his short stories if interested in Latin American literature! :)
Not gonna lie, I really doubt anyone who prefers movies over books would like to read the great gatsby haha!
But I really love your list, I disagree with a few ones (e.g. Gatsby and especially TKAM), but I love seeing someone promote classic literature and your videos just feel so...cozy! I snuggle up with a cup of tea and my dog in the morning to watch them before university starts :) (currently reading Hamlet and The Turn of The Screw for literature class). I would've loved to see another classic fantasy book. LOTR is kind of an obvious choice and there are sooo so many gems in classic fantasy literature, before and after tolkien! The inclusion of a classic scifi novel would've been great to see as well! Maybe some Jules Verne (not a fam of Lovecraft personally) or others! Hoped to see some russian literature and wasn't disappointed! Love the Dostoyevsky one haha
Overall I loved your recommendations and thought a lot of books you recommended were a perfect fit for each category! (Master and Margerita for the chaotic, the poetry of sappho, catcher in the rye was a fun one, dostoyevsky, frankenstein, dantes inferno!!)
I will definetly buy your twilight fan recommendation for a friend of mine who adores the series.
loved holden as a hurt teen, love holden now as a hurt adult lol. I have a low tolerance for certain types of characters but holden caulfield has always had my heart and he always will..
yes!! dystopian lovers would def love 1984 coming from a dystopian lover as well ^___^
Also brave new world
You weren’t joking when u said ur pumping out content this month
LOVE this.
I also can't stand holden and catcher in the rye
As a dystopian lover myself, I knew it would be 1984 - a must read, really
im so happy to see your channel growing :)
audrey horne is that you?
Your categories were clever. Well done.
Your use of Beethoven’s late sonatas as your background music perfectly fits this video! Brava!
please continue posting regularly!!! These videos make me so happy. (can’t wait to read your book)
‘Notes From Underground’ wouldn’t have been my first choice for the anarchist, but it fits. My mind goes to Ursula LeGuin’s ‘The Dispossessed’ first, but ‘Homage to Catalonia’ (by George Orwell) might be a better choice. He’s not perfect, but that book has such an important spot as an accessible, readable account of what the world might look like and the struggles required to get there, while remaining non-fiction
@Trinity M Oh, apologies. I meant this in a more ‘Pleasantly surprised’ tone, my bad. Thanks for letting me know
A comprehensive and well thought out list, to be sure. The only genre, I think, you're missing is, 'mystery-thriller'. For that, Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, comes to mind.
i think the catcher in the rye is the only book i've ever actually hated, and you're the first person i find that shares the same sentiment. i'm so glad to not be alone :')
May i ask you to explain a little more what problem you have with holden caulfield. I do very much admit hes flawed and short sighted in many ways but i thought that was the point. His character imo seems to serve the story and what salinger seems to be going for perfectly. Love the video and am here for the camus rec 😎
from my own perspective and from what I've heard from other people,many as myself thought that he was very annoying and was making certain things problematic for no reason,he was just increasing and increasing the amount of bad things that he not only saw in humans but the world itself. it just seemed too depressive for some
Loving your channel & so proud of how fast you’ve popped off!!
One minor comment, would you be able to make the music a bit quieter next time? it’s a bit distracting toward the middle of the video 😬
Agreed ;-;; It'd be better
Wow, what a rich seam of a video I have stumbled upon. Delectable. Thank you, Dakota. I can't wait to gift these to myself haha x
i honestly kinda like the ending of the catcher in the rye
The amount of work put to this video… WOW!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I finished all of the Lord of the Rings books...I don't regret it.
I consider myself an artsy intellectual type person, and Crime and Punishment just happen to be my fav book ever. Well done.
I have been watching countless Book Tubers for more than a year and you are the first to mention William Burroughs, so thanks 👍 Clearly he has been "canceled" for one dumb reason or other, but he will be back as groundbreaking writing can never be kept down
Cancelled authors are usually cancelled for a reason, clown.
@@Kiki-oo3bwi disagree with OP and think that burroughs simply doesn't appeal to a lot of booktubers and that's why he's never mentioned, but i disagree with your point. for a start i hate the term 'cancelling' anyway because it's either used when someone has done something so foul they deserve more than 'being cancelled' or when someone does something bad but doesn't at all deserve to be 'cancelled' i.e. tell a bad joke or just be old. cancelling someone from burroughs' era for having outdated ideologies or whatever isn't exactly a good reason to act like their influence is non existent.
"for some reason or other"... You mean like killing his wife?
@@audreyculpepper3585 yeah in an accident. it was a stupid thing to do but it's not like he did it on purpose
@@thebasedgodmax1163 I mean, would you play William Tell with a gun if you weren't okay with hurting, even killing, the other person? Being drunk doesn't mean a person isn't culpable, either. It's also lame how he retracted and then changed and changed again his account. But I fully believe you can like work produced by bad people (I do), to the OP's original point. I just thought it was kind of funny how they hand-waved the shocking, horrible things Burroughs did as nothing reasons to dislike/cancel him.
I just adopted my older sister's copy of the master and margarita and i'm so excited to read it she told me it's one of her favorite books ever
Master and Margarita is awesome. I would also suggest to read the White Guard by the same author
your hair looks like it’s in slow motion, it's amazing
As a pre-Raphaelites art girl, I was so amused when I realized that was a category, and then felt a bit called out when you recommended not just my favorite play, but my favorite Thing of all time. Consider this a testimonial that your recommendations are On Point.
Extraordinary. Was any of this scripted? How does she speak so fluently, eloquently, and intelligently for so long?
Your descriptions are so elegant and detailed, thank you Mme Dakota
oh dakota thank you so much for this!! i'm getting so excited to get back into reading because of your videos ahh!!
maybe your cutest feature is that you say "adaption" instead of "adaptation"🥺
you should do a video about south american lit i love poets and writers from there but my knowledge is limited and would love to see a vid!!
Now I have the urge to read all your books you‘ve just recommended
u r spoiling us this December omg 😭
Definitely want to read a couple of these! I love your channel :)
Every time you described someone and I thought 'Ok, that sounds like me', you gave a book I had read :DDD
Let's just say this list definitely bares a lot of accuracy.
the way you hold your books is so fancy
Please do a video recommending ur favorite poetry books
u recommended wonderful russian books! it’s literally THE BEST books from russian literature
Poe my childhood love 🖤🖤
the curled hair !!! I love it
I'd buy this all for me but I don't have any money
Library!! ❤️
@@nickmarcs4802 we don't have a library here 😢
perhaps the true crime lover might like the hardboiled surreal crime novels of jim thompson, the acid tongued wit could do with some dorothy parker and/or h.l. mencken and people who think they want to live out in the woods could try reading the beans of egypt maine by carolyn chute. nice video!
omg u have the same copy of crime and punishment as i do, it’s so pretty
i love that you like hammer horror's Dracula because my grandma was Valerie Gaunt!
please we want you to talk about books and give us reviews themes and the literary devices this is very enjoyful to watch especially if it you who make such videos!
I am obsessed with you!!
dracula is so freaking fun i dont get how people don't like it
I love your recommendations! Please do another! 💝
Hi, I discovered your channel this week and I'm in love with your content! I just read The dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin for anyone wanting to read about anarchy. For a book written in the 70's it still holds up, and offers a unique perspective on anarchism. Both the good and bad. It's really captivating and refreshing. I highly recommend ! Cheers from France. See you in the streets of Paris, maybe one day with perhaps a glass of red wine ;)
Tolkien mentioned in one of his letters that he could not remember a time of his life when he was not building his world and languages. I read The Lord of The Rings in the first half of last year and it was mesmerizing. I have not yet read The Silmarillion because it is too much for me.
Is there a site for fellow Aussie’s to get BOTM? The main site says it’s only for US citizens :(
no its US only. I really hope they're going to open international shipping soon. They keep sponsoring booktubers from Aus and the UK so that better be a hint but at the moment it sucks that they're willing to advertise to audiences who can't even use their service.
God you remind me of Sabrina The Teenage Witch...LOL..Not a bad thing...haha...all that aside...YOUR AWESOME...On so many levels...:) Just say'n...:)
Dakota: **talking intelligence about the Great Gatsby while covering the G and R with her finger**
Me: EAT GATSBY
your voice is so relaxing
This is such an amazing guide,
Love listening to you talk ab them through out the video.
Just to share,
I recently received a book as an early Christmas gift called “sailing through claret”
From Amazon I believe.
I personally enjoyed it, the illustrations and cover is amazing.
So yeah I would confidently say I like it.
Just a book recommendation if you’re looking for new books to read you know, maybe you’ll enjoy it who knows…
Love ur vids btw 💕
ive been struggling with what kind of books to read since my exams for this year + semester is over now.. so thank you for the helpful recommendations:)
Ooohhhh, I just finished The Moon and Sixpence by W Somerset Maugham and I’d recommend it for ✨The Artist✨ (it’s LOOSELY based on the life of Paul Gauguin)
you’re so pretty and thank u for the recs :D
This is probably my favourite yt video so far
RE: Kafka. You might enjoy a song based on a story of his: *Isabel - A Report to an Academy* ua-cam.com/video/0rBGDJC7Sjc/v-deo.html (by Norwegian band, *Major Parkinson* - but they sing in English).
Even if you don't like that (it gets quite gritty, eventually, and that's not everyone's cuppa), you might still appreciate their bookworm concert (online concert - these kids! ... ) : *A Night at the Library* ( and many of the songs themes are from literature). It's "unplugged". Grand piano, violin, drum kit, Jon. Nothing more. Enjoy the dark blue midnight coldness of the setting, and see if you can spot more of the books than I can. (I "spot" the books Jon directly introduces as inspirations.)
I'm guessing UA-cam will suggest it to you. If not, well if you don't like the idea of a bookish concert, just move on, I suppose.
I love the vibe you're radiating. It's the better part of why I come here. :)))
Wonderful recommendations, thank you!
Hi, Indonesian here! I'm quite curious about which Indonesian literature you read that makes you like it! Always enjoyed your vid!
Dakota, you're stunning. Your mind too. Wishing you have a wonderful holiday season!
I like how the pick for short attention spans is by the same author who wrote a 700 page book about nothing
edit: Burroughs is amazing, didn't expect to hear his name!
You mentioned something about Indonesian literature. I'm Indonesian but can't say I've actually read anything by Indonesian authors which is unacceptable and needs to change ASAP! :( Could you recommend some?
DAKOTA I LOVE YOUR HAIR
as a self proclaimed slightly mad party animal i was immediately interested in that book as soon as you started with "gay drug addict"
Looking forward to checking out Carmilla by Le Fanu. Thanks for the recommendation.
You’re amazing for this! Ty!
For us chaotic fellows it will be an indescribable moment when you'll open a book about "Devil, naked witch and cat named Hippo who loves chess and vodka" and find text about life of Jesus Christ.
great video! definitely gonna try these out.
Thank you Dakota for the wonderful recommendation