I loved Through a Glass Darkly. Memorable characters richly described. One of my all time favorites. I probably read this 20 years ago and still remember some of the spiritual truths it awakened.
I have City of Thieves on my Shelf, unread also. I have heard wonderful things about it. Enjoyed Rules of Civility, but my favorite is still the quiet, noble, gracious Gentleman in Moscow. The Good Earth I didn't enjoy my reread of as much as I liked it initially. I have Baudolino, & A God of Small Things on shelf & unread too. You may have felt like it was not working but, once again, I am feeling accomplished vicariously!
@@MargaretPinard I feel like you would really enjoy Rules, Margaret. Old New York, rags to riches, the ebb and flow of friendships… still a slower pace story.
I just read Rules of Civility because of Olive. Such a fun read! I ended up buying a copy for my sister halfway through because I was enjoying it so much.
I loved seeing your process, especially as a historical fiction lover! You’re actually tempting me to reorganize my shelves… City of Thieves is a favorite read of mine and Revolution of Marina M is on my TBR!
I think you could maybe have another category for Literary Fiction for those genre defying novels such as The Blind Assassin and The Passion by Jeanette Winterson. Some excellent novels in your reading future. Historical Fiction is a favourite genre of mine. A word of warning, Sarah Waters novels are really hard to put down, start reading early in the morning on a day where you can keep reading. I've read right through the night with a couple of hers, was practically holding my eyes open with toothpicks the next day
Rules of Civility was really great, all his other books I’ve found a bit wanting though. Lots of good ones! Fun reorg Heh it would be kinda fun to read through them all chronologically, if one had the time.
I read the Devil's Arithmetic about thirty years ago, and it was very powerful. The Forsyte Saga is among the many books I have in storage 900 miles away, bought from a used bookstore in downtown Albany but never read yet. When it comes to Chaim Potok's books, my favorite read to date is The Chosen. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the sequel The Gift of Asher Lev more than the first book, despite only being seventeen at the time and thus having no personal experience with any of the very adult, mature concerns depicted. I also have The Revolution of Marina T., from a local used bookstore, but haven't read it yet either. Just FYI: Greenwich is pronounced GREN-itch. The W is silent. Another nonintuitive-looking pronunciation from New York City is Houston Street, which is HOUSE-ton, not like the city in Texas.
I remember loving The Blind Assassin. I have Commonwealth on my shelf to get to. Started (barely) Rules of Civility this month. The Paying Guests was good.
Shelly, you are truly “The Renegade Librarian”, organizing your fiction by time period. It’s an interesting exercise. I simply put my general fiction together by author without regard to historical vs contemporary vs classic (placing Anton Chekhov next to Susanna Clarke). I think the only “historical” fiction I have is represented by _Dream West_ and _The Blind Assassin._
As a word of encouragement, I am an Edward Seidensticker loyalist. I read his _Genji_ and _Snow Country_ not to mention other of his Heian classic translations and _Master of Go_ also. In fact you’ve just reminded me that I have two books by him about the city of Tokyo on my TBR which I really must get to. Unless I missed it I was surprised not to see a copy of _Romola_ in there. (Obviously if you have it there’s no question of where to put it.) I’ve only read that and _Middlemarch_ of Eliot and for me, as I was just spouting elsewhere recently, if _Middlemarch_ for me is a four star _Romola_ has to be a five. (I don’t really give star ratings.) Most people feel the opposite-but I’ll tell you what really made the book for me. Over my life I’ve heard-sporadically and in passing, but frequently enough -mention of the historical figure Savonarola but could never quite figure out who he was. Eliot created the world so thoroughly that now I have little doubt. You have a great collection of historical possibilities! I’ll rewatch the video when I’m on the prowl for some new historical fiction. Thanks for the shout out. I spout then can’t remember what I said, & on another day it might be different.
That's wonderful! Thank you so much, David! I do have a copy of Romola, but it's shelved with my Barnes and Noble editions. I cannot wait to get to more Eliot. She's amazing.
What a nice TBR of historical fiction! I have read Penman's historical mysteries and love them! She is a very readable author. Many decades ago, I read The Good Earth and enjoyed it. Buck lived in China and based her fiction on the lives she observed. Mao banned the book in China when he came into power because the life depicted by it was not a complimentary one. It won the Pulitzer in the early 1930s. Enjoy!
I heard wonderful things about Penman's work. I cannot wait to read her work. I have a special interest in Pulitzer Prize winning women writers. :) I'm glad to have Buck in my TBR pile.
Lauren Groffs Matrix is the last book I‘ve just finished and I loved it so much. It is not comparable to any other book I read so far - except maybe a marriage portrait by Maggie O‘Farrell. It gives us an inside look into mediaval life but it is full of woman power and it has a very special and fantastic fresh look on religion (I am not a religious person) I loved the writing style which I am sure is not for everyone but I think it was great. Love to hear your thoughts about it whenever you read it. Thank you for being here 🤗💖 Claudia
You have some really good books in your collection. The Makioka Sisters should definitely be shelved as a classic and not WW II which plays a very minor part.
The organizing of my library is a never ending process, but so much fun. Great content
Thank you!
I loved Through a Glass Darkly. Memorable characters richly described. One of my all time favorites. I probably read this 20 years ago and still remember some of the spiritual truths it awakened.
How wonderful!
I have City of Thieves on my Shelf, unread also. I have heard wonderful things about it.
Enjoyed Rules of Civility, but my favorite is still the quiet, noble, gracious Gentleman in Moscow.
The Good Earth I didn't enjoy my reread of as much as I liked it initially.
I have Baudolino, & A God of Small Things on shelf & unread too.
You may have felt like it was not working but, once again, I am feeling accomplished vicariously!
Loved Gentleman In Moscow too! On the fence about trying Rules of Civility...
@@MargaretPinard I feel like you would really enjoy Rules, Margaret. Old New York, rags to riches, the ebb and flow of friendships… still a slower pace story.
@@novelideea it’s eyeing me from my shelf right now, Deea… 🤨😂
HA! Thanks, Deea! maybe we ought to buddy read City of Thieves sometime. I heard it's a ton of fun (not a bad word about it).
@@Shellyish I would love that ♥️
Does it feel like a cold weather story to you?
Thank you Shelley
You are so welcome!
Historical fiction is my favorite! 😁
me too! 😍
Same! :)
I just read Rules of Civility because of Olive. Such a fun read! I ended up buying a copy for my sister halfway through because I was enjoying it so much.
Wonderful!
I loved seeing your process, especially as a historical fiction lover! You’re actually tempting me to reorganize my shelves…
City of Thieves is a favorite read of mine and Revolution of Marina M is on my TBR!
I cannot wait to read City of Thieves! :)
I think you could maybe have another category for Literary Fiction for those genre defying novels such as The Blind Assassin and The Passion by Jeanette Winterson.
Some excellent novels in your reading future. Historical Fiction is a favourite genre of mine. A word of warning, Sarah Waters novels are really hard to put down, start reading early in the morning on a day where you can keep reading. I've read right through the night with a couple of hers, was practically holding my eyes open with toothpicks the next day
HAHA! What a sell for a Sarah Waters! I want to pick something up by her tomorrow! :)
this was such a fun watch :) thank you
You are so welcome!
I really like these videos
Thank you, Deb!
❤️📚❤️...I've read "The Good Earth" and really liked it!
How wonderful!
Rules of Civility was really great, all his other books I’ve found a bit wanting though. Lots of good ones! Fun reorg
Heh it would be kinda fun to read through them all chronologically, if one had the time.
Hm.... don't get me thinking about an amazing sounding project... Reading through my collection chronologically makes my heart flutter. :)
I read the Devil's Arithmetic about thirty years ago, and it was very powerful. The Forsyte Saga is among the many books I have in storage 900 miles away, bought from a used bookstore in downtown Albany but never read yet. When it comes to Chaim Potok's books, my favorite read to date is The Chosen. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the sequel The Gift of Asher Lev more than the first book, despite only being seventeen at the time and thus having no personal experience with any of the very adult, mature concerns depicted. I also have The Revolution of Marina T., from a local used bookstore, but haven't read it yet either.
Just FYI: Greenwich is pronounced GREN-itch. The W is silent. Another nonintuitive-looking pronunciation from New York City is Houston Street, which is HOUSE-ton, not like the city in Texas.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the pronunciation help. I've heard Potok's writing is just gorgeous! :)
I remember loving The Blind Assassin. I have Commonwealth on my shelf to get to. Started (barely) Rules of Civility this month. The Paying Guests was good.
I'm glad I have good books on my shelves! :)
😊❤
❤️❤️❤️
Shelly, you are truly “The Renegade Librarian”, organizing your fiction by time period. It’s an interesting exercise.
I simply put my general fiction together by author without regard to historical vs contemporary vs classic (placing Anton Chekhov next to Susanna Clarke). I think the only “historical” fiction I have is represented by _Dream West_ and _The Blind Assassin._
I just did this too! Haha, I was trying to get a sense of where I'm Heavily Unread... verdict: WWII, what else 😝
Ha! The Renegade Librarian - I should rename my channel to this! :)
As a word of encouragement, I am an Edward Seidensticker loyalist. I read his _Genji_ and _Snow Country_ not to mention other of his Heian classic translations and _Master of Go_ also. In fact you’ve just reminded me that I have two books by him about the city of Tokyo on my TBR which I really must get to.
Unless I missed it I was surprised not to see a copy of _Romola_ in there. (Obviously if you have it there’s no question of where to put it.) I’ve only read that and _Middlemarch_ of Eliot and for me, as I was just spouting elsewhere recently, if _Middlemarch_ for me is a four star _Romola_ has to be a five. (I don’t really give star ratings.) Most people feel the opposite-but I’ll tell you what really made the book for me. Over my life I’ve heard-sporadically and in passing, but frequently enough -mention of the historical figure Savonarola but could never quite figure out who he was. Eliot created the world so thoroughly that now I have little doubt.
You have a great collection of historical possibilities! I’ll rewatch the video when I’m on the prowl for some new historical fiction. Thanks for the shout out. I spout then can’t remember what I said, & on another day it might be different.
That's wonderful! Thank you so much, David!
I do have a copy of Romola, but it's shelved with my Barnes and Noble editions. I cannot wait to get to more Eliot. She's amazing.
Gathering by Ann Enright is a great book. She’s a great writer. One of my favourite authors.
Wonderful!
What a nice TBR of historical fiction! I have read Penman's historical mysteries and love them! She is a very readable author. Many decades ago, I read The Good Earth and enjoyed it. Buck lived in China and based her fiction on the lives she observed. Mao banned the book in China when he came into power because the life depicted by it was not a complimentary one. It won the Pulitzer in the early 1930s. Enjoy!
I heard wonderful things about Penman's work. I cannot wait to read her work. I have a special interest in Pulitzer Prize winning women writers. :) I'm glad to have Buck in my TBR pile.
I love The Forsyte Saga! they are great
I cannot wait to get to it! :)
Lauren Groffs Matrix is the last book I‘ve just finished and I loved it so much. It is not comparable to any other book I read so far - except maybe a marriage portrait by Maggie O‘Farrell. It gives us an inside look into mediaval life but it is full of woman power and it has a very special and fantastic fresh look on religion (I am not a religious person) I loved the writing style which I am sure is not for everyone but I think it was great. Love to hear your thoughts about it whenever you read it. Thank you for being here 🤗💖 Claudia
Claudia, I cannot wait to read Matrix! :) I've heard such lovely things about it.
God of Small Things, I think is concidered Colonial Literature. I haven't read it, but I've heard good things about it.
Oh! Thank you so much! :)
@@Shellyish You are welcome! : )
You have some really good books in your collection. The Makioka Sisters should definitely be shelved as a classic and not WW II which plays a very minor part.
Oh! Thank you, Laurie! :)