North and South is such a wonderful novel! One of my favorites from the Victorian era. It is similar to Pride and Prejudice but is certainly darker in tone and theme.
@@jmsl_910 can be read in one day - touching story - the main character deserves sympathy through the entirety of his journey not just at its end, imho
Flowers for Algernon for sure. This book is incredibly deep, I’ve read it first at 13-14, and reread recently at 26 - both times were spectacular, yet different
The Kite Runner without a doubt should be the book you should read!One of my favorites of all time!It will break your heart in the most beautiful way possible!!!
I don't know. I think perhaps I enjoyed And the Mountains Sing more than Kite Runner, which I thought a little too graphic in its depiction of violent sexual abuse. Of course you may argue the absolute necessity of it to bring out the point of the novel but I was trained to make your point without gratuitous violence or gratuitous sexuality. Part of my criticism was I had to teach the book to hs juniors. I thought it a little too much. Perhaps in another situation I wouldn't feel the same. idk
I respectfully disagree. The Kite Runner was a lot like how I imagine A Little Life will be - that is, its author mostly just accomplishes one thing outside of the plot or characters. Here, it was "educating" the reader about Afghan history and culture. Likely like ALL, he also tries to do the trauma porn/tear-jerker thing. I appreciated how immersive TKR was at times (although not nearly enough), but there wasn't enough here. Show me Afghan culture and history in a story or characters that can stand on their own. Much like I don't like how some authors use their characters as tools to express their philosophy (like Kundera), I didn't like how TKR told the story. We need more books by Afghan authors, or set in Afghanistan, that are translated into English, but not this.
Love that book! Yeah it’s a challenging topic but so important to be aware. I read that book as a teen maybe 15 years ago and it’s stayed with me all these years ❤
@@jamesduggan7200 the thing about people who write about such scenarios who are not from the environment and who don't express themselves the same way is that there is this softening of the brutality- because they cannot know how living a certain way changed even your language. It happens when people write for conflict in africa as well, even news articles do this. It resonated for me, there was nothing gratuitous about the way violence was presented- it was as is, the casual nature of it is exactly how it is for people who live it. There is this idea of 'beauty' very much framed according to western language, when writing about the ugly- but perhaps, the beauty is in presenting the ugliness as horrific- and in that one has survived to tell.
@@officialmkamzeemwatela of course I cannot argue with you, as it's mostly an aesthetic criticism on my part. I think that a writer should be able covey to the audience the brutality of the Taliban without resorting to explicit descriptions. Additionally, because it is so critical of the Taliban offered to a largely sympathetic audience, I am inclined to suspect it's graphic to satisfy its visceral longings. If - for example - on the other hand the narrative was softened to present an alternative narrative to the American audience I might be inclined to weigh its impact against what I've come to believe. In this case I start from an anti-Taliban perspective and the narrative just throws more weight on it. Perhaps after 20 years fighting them in Afghanistan Americans can be viewed as sympathetic to Hossieni's perspective? I don't know, but generally I prefer telling rather than showing when it comes to sex and violence.
I've read only two books mentioned: Flowers for Algernon and North and South. They are both so good! I finished Flowers for Algernon in 4 days and that was the book that got me out of a reading slump. But North and South is one of my favourite books ever and I can't recommend it enough! The fact that it shows the lives of people from different social classes. And the love story there is just one of my favourites ever!
I haven’t read any of these but they’ve been on my TBR list for a while! 😂 I watched the play of The Kite Runner and it broke me. So I’d say that would be my pick if you are in the right headspace. Or A Gentleman in Moscow. Ooh in terms of five books that have been on my shelves the longest that I’d like to prioritise: The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami Roots by Alex Haley 1984 by George Orwell Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy Maybe this could be another video - where you read out people’s lists and then pick one out of that five and then tell us why you did so!?
1984 should be a must read for everyone. Maybe not the best in terms of pure literary merit, but probably none better in terms of being an important book for content. I really liked Tess, which is great in terms of pure literary merit; Hardy is such a great writer.
omg please read flowers for algernon, i had to read it in middle school and sobbed. The style of writing for this particular story is absolutely brilliant!
Hi Carolyn, I believe this is my first time commenting. I really enjoy your videos. I think you should choose The Kite Runner. It is devastatingly good. It is the type of book that stays with you long after you've finished reading it.
I highly recommended North and South. Is one of my favorite classics. For me it's a mix of Pride and prejudice and Brontës sisters books. By the way, wonderful video.
It sounds like you can't go wrong with any of these choices! I haven't read any of the others, but I would vote for The Kite Runner. It's a beautiful book❤
North and South had been on my TBR for ages until I read it last February and I absolutely LOVED it! My favourite reading of the year so far! I highly recommend you read it asap!
Kite Runner! I love all of Khaled Hosseini's books, he's one of my favorite authors so you should definitely read the Kite Runner. Flowers for Algernon is also a good choice. Both are emotional and heartbreaking but beautiful and unforgettable
Flowers for algernon, an amazing book, a classic but soo easy to cry. I read it a day because It was weekend, but en 2-3 days you finish because it's relly short. I never cry in books, I cry sooo much. My favourite book of 2023. At the beginning you can "WTF I'am reading" because the writting it's a kind a weird, because in a couple of pages you understand why and get used to ^^
Was really hoping East of Eden would make the list. Then again, it is a longer classic, so it might be tough to fit in as a side book during Game of Tomes. Of the five, I'd say Flowers For Algernon. Happy reading!
Flowers For Algernon! I read this in middle school and our entire 8th grade class cried in unison. It's an amazing book and one of the few mandatory reads I LOVED
This is such a good idea! I also have a lot of books on my shelves I can't wait to read soon 😁 Out of these, I've heard so many great things about north and south!!
you just have to read the kite runner, its one of my all time favorites. Khaled hosseni never fails to amaze me by how he can craft such heartwrenching yet heartwarming tales. A thousand splendid suns is also a must read
I looove The kite Runner! 💚 it is such a though provoking book… I brought up in Iran, and we always had Afghan refugee kids living with us. This book made me think more about Afghans, and think about refugees in general. Also, I loved the characters in the book. Can’t recommend it enough
North and south is the only one in the stack that I have read, love it! Flowers of Algernon, Madame Bovary and gentleman in Moscow are on my list now! I’m thinking flowers of Algernon is my pick! Maybe we will read it together.
Madame Bovary pleasee! I’ve wanted to reread it for ages. I read a bit of it in school and i’ve felt it might be an important book for me, but i thought i should reread it one day to understand and feel it better. Now i can’t convince myself to do it, so you reading it would be a great possibility to finally do it!
There's a miseryMay readathon on Flowers for Algernon is one of the books recommended. I love A Gentleman in Moscow, it's wonderful. The Kite Runner is such a compelling novel, I think I stayed up all night reading that one. North and South had a great TV adaptation decades ago, I've been meaning to read it. Madam Bovey is still on my TBR too. Happy Reading
North and South gets my vote. It may be my favorite book of all time. I also love P&P, but they are NOT similar! Very different in themes, tone, and style. I've read all of these except Madame Bovary, which is in my tbr. GiM was my favorite book the year I read it. Kite Runner is moving. We read Flowers for Algernon in High School. It goes fast, and is a story you won't forget. They're all good, but I hate to think that you haven't read North and South. It's so moving! You'll fall in love with the characters, and I think it reads pretty quickly, too.
I think the one that you would love the most is Flowers for Algernon. I watched the play at the University of Oklahoma City back in the seventies and it was very good. It is very touching and I think it would appeal to your sensibility.
I vote for the Kite Runner! It is an excellent read, and I feel like I couldn’t put it down so I finished it so quickly. It might be a good one to read while you’re reading other larger books ❤
I'll pick A Gentleman in Moscow because it's the one I'm most interested in reading and I would love to hear your thoughts on it before picking it up myself. As for me I'm trying to choose my next classic read and I can't decide between Siddartha, Heart of a Dog, and Frankenstein
The Kite Runner. It's sad but such an impactful story. A Thousand Splendid Suns is also incredible, but read Kite Runner first, then let yourself heal for awhile (and maybe read a few light and happy books) before Splendid Suns. The others books mentioned are all great choices too.
Flowers for Algernon- read it many years ago in high school; wanting to do a reread. You are inspiring me to read Madame Bovary as Anna Karenina is my favorite too.
Pick North and South! Im reading that one right now! And I think you would like it. Also I think you will like madame Bovary. I personally didn’t like that one but I also didn’t like Anna Kareninna so I think you will like it
I've read Madame Bovary, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Kite Runner -- you really can't go wrong with any of these! If you forced me to pick one, I'd have to go with Madame Bovary. 💚
The oldest book on my shelves is Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke =20 years. Yes 20! It's fine though, it just sits there happily lol. Going to be reading it this Winter (June-July here) and I'm looking forward to it 🙂 For your books, just read the one that you FEEL like reading, however I vote for Flowers For Algernon as it is a truly beautiful book and yes, you will cry!
Difficult to know where to start. I inherited a collection of history books published in 1920 when I was in my early teens so they have moved with me throughout my life, I am in my 8th decade and I still haven't read them. The Amor Townes book is a gem and I hope we hear your take on it.
Flowers for Algernon. I went in to reading the book knowing it would be sad and was determined not to cry. I held it together until I read the very last line in the book and it broke me. I had a very good cry after that, it was a very moving story.
Please read Flowers for Algernon. I read it a few years ago and I still think about it. I also have your other picks on my TBR as well. If I had to choose for myself, it would be A Gentleman in Moscow because I want to read it before watching the adaptation.
I read the The Kite Runner in February this year and I cried the whole way through, I don’t think anything else I’ve read has had that effect. Read it in 4 sittings because I needed to get off the constant crying rollercoaster 👀🤦♀️
I vore for A gentleman in Moscow. Such a good book. Actually most of them are, I haven’t read Madam Bovary but the rest of them is great😊 Since you are reading a lot of big classics this year, I vote for a more contemporary book.
I have read all of them and have enjoyed all of them so this is tough. I will have to vote for North and South, but which ever one you pick I hope you enjoy.
Was waiting for you to say East of Eden! If you read it I will😊. Loved Gentleman in Moscow, has lots of literary references as well. North and South is in my TBR as well!
To be perfectly honest, I was unaware of North and South in particular and E. Gaskell in general until hearing some passionate reviews of it on another channel. I had no idea how widely loved is North and South.
North & South is on my TBR as well, albeit I added it last year (so not one of my oldest, but I also have some that have been on my TBR embarrassingly long 😅). What if you did a readathon of oldest TBR? I would suggest North & South and take it as a challenge for me to read my kindle copy as well 😉 just an idea. Love your vlog and channel!
Definitely Madame Bovary, Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns I loved them! And I have Flowers Of Algernon on my book shelf which i haven't read yet either! :)
A Gentleman in Moscow and The Kite Runner are both incredible books! I think you'll enjoy both of them, but right now maybe prioritise The Kite Runner 💛
OMG - you wont believe what happened. The moment you picked up Madam Bovery, I jumped from my seat to type that this is the one you must read. Interestingly all the books that you showed earlier have a little corner in my house as the books that if you can read in this life, that is okay but they are not MUST and I tried all of them and stopped reading. So you can imagine. Some books are not that needed to be read. :D
Flowers for Algernon is the first one you should read. There is also a musical, same name, based on the book with Michael Crawford, the original Phantom. After you read the you should listen to the musical. They are both fantastic in their own way.
I read both Flowers for Algernon and North and South and loved them! I think you'll enjoy them too ❤ I would also like it if you decided to read A Gentleman i Moscow sometime this year, as I have recentyly bought this book for myself and it would be so fun to read it alongisde you! But maybe not too soon, my current tbr is way too long 😅
I can very much recommend Flowers for Algernon. Like many books with original ideas, it suffers a bit from the fact that the basic idea has been 'reused' by other authors since and so if you read it after encountering the idea in another context, maybe it would fall a bit flat. And that would be a shame because I don't think anyone else has done it better.
❤📚 I just read A Gentleman in Moscow this year. A five star book for me! I still need to read Kite Runner as well, it's on my shelves. My sister gave it five stars.
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North and South! That's my vote, but honestly you can't go wrong with these.
I love North and South personally, so that would be my vote. It reads quite quickly to me even though it's not a short book.
North and South is such a wonderful novel! One of my favorites from the Victorian era. It is similar to Pride and Prejudice but is certainly darker in tone and theme.
North and South! I love the ending…different from the adaptation but so good too. Love the book and the show. Read it, I am glad I did.😊
Read "North and South", it is splendid!
I am also concentrating on classics ,so I vote for either North and South or Madame Bovary!
MB...100%
Flowers by Algernon is beautiful. I cried
Yes, it really is a beautiful novel, and so easy to read too! Cliff Robertson was wonderful as Charley, in the movie version.
Me too!!
oh wow. i was not a fan. maybe i need to re-read it?
@@jmsl_910 maybe :)
@@jmsl_910 can be read in one day - touching story - the main character deserves sympathy through the entirety of his journey not just at its end, imho
Flowers for Algernon is so good! I just finished. It will make you cry but you will love it.
I loved the Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Madame Bovary is also waiting for me 😅
I think you will really enjoy North and South!
READ THE KITE RUNNER!!!!!! OMG it's such a masterpiece you need to read it please read it. Can't wait for your review.
Flowers for Algernon for sure.
This book is incredibly deep, I’ve read it first at 13-14, and reread recently at 26 - both times were spectacular, yet different
Definitely North and South I am currently trying to work my way through classics and currently reading that one.
The Kite Runner without a doubt should be the book you should read!One of my favorites of all time!It will break your heart in the most beautiful way possible!!!
I don't know. I think perhaps I enjoyed And the Mountains Sing more than Kite Runner, which I thought a little too graphic in its depiction of violent sexual abuse. Of course you may argue the absolute necessity of it to bring out the point of the novel but I was trained to make your point without gratuitous violence or gratuitous sexuality. Part of my criticism was I had to teach the book to hs juniors. I thought it a little too much. Perhaps in another situation I wouldn't feel the same. idk
I respectfully disagree. The Kite Runner was a lot like how I imagine A Little Life will be - that is, its author mostly just accomplishes one thing outside of the plot or characters. Here, it was
"educating" the reader about Afghan history and culture.
Likely like ALL, he also tries to do the trauma porn/tear-jerker thing. I appreciated how immersive TKR was at times (although not nearly enough), but there wasn't enough here. Show me Afghan culture and history in a story or characters that can stand on their own. Much like I don't like how some authors use their characters as tools to express their philosophy (like Kundera), I didn't like how TKR told the story. We need more books by Afghan authors, or set in Afghanistan, that are translated into English, but not this.
Love that book! Yeah it’s a challenging topic but so important to be aware. I read that book as a teen maybe 15 years ago and it’s stayed with me all these years ❤
@@jamesduggan7200 the thing about people who write about such scenarios who are not from the environment and who don't express themselves the same way is that there is this softening of the brutality- because they cannot know how living a certain way changed even your language. It happens when people write for conflict in africa as well, even news articles do this. It resonated for me, there was nothing gratuitous about the way violence was presented- it was as is, the casual nature of it is exactly how it is for people who live it. There is this idea of 'beauty' very much framed according to western language, when writing about the ugly- but perhaps, the beauty is in presenting the ugliness as horrific- and in that one has survived to tell.
@@officialmkamzeemwatela of course I cannot argue with you, as it's mostly an aesthetic criticism on my part. I think that a writer should be able covey to the audience the brutality of the Taliban without resorting to explicit descriptions. Additionally, because it is so critical of the Taliban offered to a largely sympathetic audience, I am inclined to suspect it's graphic to satisfy its visceral longings. If - for example - on the other hand the narrative was softened to present an alternative narrative to the American audience I might be inclined to weigh its impact against what I've come to believe. In this case I start from an anti-Taliban perspective and the narrative just throws more weight on it. Perhaps after 20 years fighting them in Afghanistan Americans can be viewed as sympathetic to Hossieni's perspective? I don't know, but generally I prefer telling rather than showing when it comes to sex and violence.
I've read only two books mentioned: Flowers for Algernon and North and South. They are both so good! I finished Flowers for Algernon in 4 days and that was the book that got me out of a reading slump.
But North and South is one of my favourite books ever and I can't recommend it enough! The fact that it shows the lives of people from different social classes. And the love story there is just one of my favourites ever!
Flowers for Algernon is great, an unique story.
I absolutely love North and South!
North and South was great read (also watch the movie!) but for you "Flowers for algernon" 1st. Kite runner was also good book
I haven’t read any of these but they’ve been on my TBR list for a while! 😂
I watched the play of The Kite Runner and it broke me. So I’d say that would be my pick if you are in the right headspace. Or A Gentleman in Moscow.
Ooh in terms of five books that have been on my shelves the longest that I’d like to prioritise:
The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Roots by Alex Haley
1984 by George Orwell
Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Maybe this could be another video - where you read out people’s lists and then pick one out of that five and then tell us why you did so!?
1984 should be a must read for everyone. Maybe not the best in terms of pure literary merit, but probably none better in terms of being an important book for content.
I really liked Tess, which is great in terms of pure literary merit; Hardy is such a great writer.
Yes, Flowers for Algernon is amazing! It's a must read book!
omg please read flowers for algernon, i had to read it in middle school and sobbed. The style of writing for this particular story is absolutely brilliant!
Hi Carolyn, I believe this is my first time commenting. I really enjoy your videos. I think you should choose The Kite Runner. It is devastatingly good. It is the type of book that stays with you long after you've finished reading it.
A gentleman in Moscow is one of my all time favorites 🥹🫶🏼 definitely try to prioritize it !!
My vote is for North & South! I also own it and want to finally read it after loving the miniseries.
Kite Runner is amazing! You'll love it for sure!!! But Flowers for Algernon is in my TBR and I'd love to hear you talking about it as well!
I highly recommended North and South. Is one of my favorite classics. For me it's a mix of Pride and prejudice and Brontës sisters books. By the way, wonderful video.
I loved Flowers for Algernon. I still think about it and I read it 20 years ago. It’s such a gentle and wonderful story.
North and South - beautiful romance. I think, you would enjoy it.
It sounds like you can't go wrong with any of these choices! I haven't read any of the others, but I would vote for The Kite Runner. It's a beautiful book❤
North and South had been on my TBR for ages until I read it last February and I absolutely LOVED it! My favourite reading of the year so far! I highly recommend you read it asap!
Oh my gosh PLEASE read Flowers for Algernon. It is so good. One of my favorite books of ALL TIME 💗 I hope you read it and love it
I loved flowers for algernon so much!
flowers for algernon is so fascinating!!! quick read too tbh!!
Madame Bovary!
It’s been on my TBR shelf for years and I need the encouragement to read it!
Kite Runner! I love all of Khaled Hosseini's books, he's one of my favorite authors so you should definitely read the Kite Runner. Flowers for Algernon is also a good choice. Both are emotional and heartbreaking but beautiful and unforgettable
A Gentleman in Moscow is such a pleasure to read, like a fine wine 🍷. I would suggest you read it and get it off your TBR ❤ 😊
The Kite Runner!! I've been meaning to read it and if you pick it up, I might be motivated to do so too!! 💚💚
Flowers for algernon, an amazing book, a classic but soo easy to cry. I read it a day because It was weekend, but en 2-3 days you finish because it's relly short. I never cry in books, I cry sooo much. My favourite book of 2023. At the beginning you can "WTF I'am reading" because the writting it's a kind a weird, because in a couple of pages you understand why and get used to ^^
The Kite Runner and Flowers for Algernon are easily in my all time top 5. Amazing stuff
Was really hoping East of Eden would make the list. Then again, it is a longer classic, so it might be tough to fit in as a side book during Game of Tomes. Of the five, I'd say Flowers For Algernon. Happy reading!
Flowers For Algernon! I read this in middle school and our entire 8th grade class cried in unison. It's an amazing book and one of the few mandatory reads I LOVED
This is such a good idea! I also have a lot of books on my shelves I can't wait to read soon 😁 Out of these, I've heard so many great things about north and south!!
The Kite Runner, Flowers for Algernon and North and South are all among my absolute favourites! You have to read them all, they’re all so great! 😊
I just read A Gentleman in Moscow, and it was incredible!
North and South ‼️✨
a Gentleman in Moscow was such an amazing read! One of my all time favorite books.
All are great reads. Read them all! BTW Flowers for Algernon was made into a movie with Cliff Robertson -many years ago
I am also voting for The Kite Runner! Very fast to get through but so powerful at the same time.
I'm team Mme Bovary !! Hopefuly you have fun with your reading no matter what you choose 🥰 Love you Carolyn !
Flowers for Algernon - stunning book
I have a feeling Flowers for Algernon would become one of your favorites!!
North and South!!!!! ❤
you just have to read the kite runner, its one of my all time favorites. Khaled hosseni never fails to amaze me by how he can craft such heartwrenching yet heartwarming tales. A thousand splendid suns is also a must read
I also have had Flowers for Algernon on my shelf unread for way to long so I vote for that and maybe you can then motivate me to read it as well
The Kite Runner and Flowers for Algernon. I can’t pick between these two.
I looove The kite Runner! 💚 it is such a though provoking book… I brought up in Iran, and we always had Afghan refugee kids living with us. This book made me think more about Afghans, and think about refugees in general. Also, I loved the characters in the book. Can’t recommend it enough
i get so giddy any time anyone mentions north and south, such a wonderful book, very worth of ur time
Kite runner is really unforgettable, I read it 9 years ago and still remember almost all of it, of also has a movie adoption.
North and south is the only one in the stack that I have read, love it! Flowers of Algernon, Madame Bovary and gentleman in Moscow are on my list now! I’m thinking flowers of Algernon is my pick! Maybe we will read it together.
You are going to love the kite runner. It is such an impacting book
Madame Bovary pleasee! I’ve wanted to reread it for ages. I read a bit of it in school and i’ve felt it might be an important book for me, but i thought i should reread it one day to understand and feel it better. Now i can’t convince myself to do it, so you reading it would be a great possibility to finally do it!
There's a miseryMay readathon on Flowers for Algernon is one of the books recommended. I love A Gentleman in Moscow, it's wonderful.
The Kite Runner is such a compelling novel, I think I stayed up all night reading that one.
North and South had a great TV adaptation decades ago, I've been meaning to read it.
Madam Bovey is still on my TBR too. Happy Reading
North and South gets my vote. It may be my favorite book of all time. I also love P&P, but they are NOT similar! Very different in themes, tone, and style.
I've read all of these except Madame Bovary, which is in my tbr. GiM was my favorite book the year I read it. Kite Runner is moving. We read Flowers for Algernon in High School. It goes fast, and is a story you won't forget.
They're all good, but I hate to think that you haven't read North and South. It's so moving! You'll fall in love with the characters, and I think it reads pretty quickly, too.
I think the one that you would love the most is Flowers for Algernon. I watched the play at the University of Oklahoma City back in the seventies and it was very good. It is very touching and I think it would appeal to your sensibility.
I vote for the Kite Runner! It is an excellent read, and I feel like I couldn’t put it down so I finished it so quickly. It might be a good one to read while you’re reading other larger books ❤
I recommend Flowers for Algernon, a great hook that will make you cry
I'll pick A Gentleman in Moscow because it's the one I'm most interested in reading and I would love to hear your thoughts on it before picking it up myself.
As for me I'm trying to choose my next classic read and I can't decide between Siddartha, Heart of a Dog, and Frankenstein
The Kite Runner. It's sad but such an impactful story. A Thousand Splendid Suns is also incredible, but read Kite Runner first, then let yourself heal for awhile (and maybe read a few light and happy books) before Splendid Suns. The others books mentioned are all great choices too.
It's funny how many books you've had on your tbr forever are also on mine. 😂 I even have the dvd of North & South for afterward lol.
I vote for North and South. 👍
Flowers for Algernon- read it many years ago in high school; wanting to do a reread. You are inspiring me to read Madame Bovary as Anna Karenina is my favorite too.
Bovary and Karenina are nothing alike besides both being Adultery novels, adjust your expectations if you don't want to be sorely disappointed
Read either Flowers for Algernon or The Kite Runner. But I'd read Flowers for Algernon for the tears. So wonderful.
Pick North and South! Im reading that one right now! And I think you would like it. Also I think you will like madame Bovary. I personally didn’t like that one but I also didn’t like Anna Kareninna so I think you will like it
I've read Madame Bovary, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Kite Runner -- you really can't go wrong with any of these! If you forced me to pick one, I'd have to go with Madame Bovary. 💚
The oldest book on my shelves is Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke =20 years. Yes 20! It's fine though, it just sits there happily lol. Going to be reading it this Winter (June-July here) and I'm looking forward to it 🙂
For your books, just read the one that you FEEL like reading, however I vote for Flowers For Algernon as it is a truly beautiful book and yes, you will cry!
Difficult to know where to start. I inherited a collection of history books published in 1920 when I was in my early teens so they have moved with me throughout my life, I am in my 8th decade and I still haven't read them. The Amor Townes book is a gem and I hope we hear your take on it.
MB is a very quick read! i'd start there!
Flowers for Algernon. I went in to reading the book knowing it would be sad and was determined not to cry. I held it together until I read the very last line in the book and it broke me. I had a very good cry after that, it was a very moving story.
Please read Flowers for Algernon. I read it a few years ago and I still think about it.
I also have your other picks on my TBR as well. If I had to choose for myself, it would be A Gentleman in Moscow because I want to read it before watching the adaptation.
I read the The Kite Runner in February this year and I cried the whole way through, I don’t think anything else I’ve read has had that effect. Read it in 4 sittings because I needed to get off the constant crying rollercoaster 👀🤦♀️
I vore for A gentleman in Moscow. Such a good book. Actually most of them are, I haven’t read Madam Bovary but the rest of them is great😊 Since you are reading a lot of big classics this year, I vote for a more contemporary book.
I have read all of them and have enjoyed all of them so this is tough. I will have to vote for North and South, but which ever one you pick I hope you enjoy.
I’d say you should read The Kite Runner!
Was waiting for you to say East of Eden! If you read it I will😊. Loved Gentleman in Moscow, has lots of literary references as well. North and South is in my TBR as well!
To be perfectly honest, I was unaware of North and South in particular and E. Gaskell in general until hearing some passionate reviews of it on another channel. I had no idea how widely loved is North and South.
I read East of Eden last year and it became one of my favorites of all time!
East of Eden is officially being read in the following months, she said it like 2 videos ago
North & South is on my TBR as well, albeit I added it last year (so not one of my oldest, but I also have some that have been on my TBR embarrassingly long 😅). What if you did a readathon of oldest TBR? I would suggest North & South and take it as a challenge for me to read my kindle copy as well 😉 just an idea. Love your vlog and channel!
Definitely Madame Bovary, Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns I loved them! And I have Flowers Of Algernon on my book shelf which i haven't read yet either! :)
A Gentleman in Moscow and The Kite Runner are both incredible books! I think you'll enjoy both of them, but right now maybe prioritise The Kite Runner 💛
I think you should read North and South. I will be reading it in May for the first time. 😊
OMG - you wont believe what happened. The moment you picked up Madam Bovery, I jumped from my seat to type that this is the one you must read. Interestingly all the books that you showed earlier have a little corner in my house as the books that if you can read in this life, that is okay but they are not MUST and I tried all of them and stopped reading. So you can imagine. Some books are not that needed to be read. :D
Flowers for Algernon is the first one you should read. There is also a musical, same name, based on the book with Michael Crawford, the original Phantom. After you read the you should listen to the musical. They are both fantastic in their own way.
I have the same problem! The Joy Luck Club and Huckleberry Finn have been on my TBR list forever. I don't think I'm ever gonna get to them. 😆
North and South
Don't wait anymore to read the Kite Runner Carolyn, it's absolutely great.
I love North and South. I've read it twice after watching the adaptation.
The Kite Runner is good too but I don't think I can read it again.
I read both Flowers for Algernon and North and South and loved them! I think you'll enjoy them too ❤ I would also like it if you decided to read A Gentleman i Moscow sometime this year, as I have recentyly bought this book for myself and it would be so fun to read it alongisde you! But maybe not too soon, my current tbr is way too long 😅
Of the five books, I have only read A Gentleman in Moscow, but it is definitely worth a read. It's one of the few books I have read more than once.
I can very much recommend Flowers for Algernon. Like many books with original ideas, it suffers a bit from the fact that the basic idea has been 'reused' by other authors since and so if you read it after encountering the idea in another context, maybe it would fall a bit flat. And that would be a shame because I don't think anyone else has done it better.
Flowers for Algernon. I'm still afraid to reread it as I literally cried for hours back then, but it's... it's powerful and unforgettable.
❤📚 I just read A Gentleman in Moscow this year. A five star book for me! I still need to read Kite Runner as well, it's on my shelves. My sister gave it five stars.
Flowers for Algernon is a MUST!