0:00 If you had to distill down every book you've read meaningful bits into a proverb 0:21 Intro / Music / Infos 1:38 Where do you get your literary t-shirts ? 2:06 What is your reading speed ? 2:50 What other books have you read that deal with terrorism ? 3:47 Will you be reviewing soon another obscure tome ? 5:04 What big books are you planning to read and talk about ? 5:23 Do you find yourself thirsting for a smaller novel ? 7:32 How do you find so much time to read ? 9:05 What recurring themes are you drawn to ? 10:00 What YA fiction have you considered picking up ? 10:45 Have you ever read works by Joseph McElroy ? 11:41 What are the 5 desirable qualities or habits for a modern day (distracted) reader ? 12:30 Which books did you read to your child ? 13:29 Do you plan to return to the western classics (Homer, Shakespeare, etc.) 13:41 how many Shakespeare plays have you read ? 15:21 How do you typically develop your reading list/plan ? 15:49 Is there any author whose oeuvre you plan on reading entirely ? 17:05 Which literary character would you most like to meet, and why ? 17:28 How do you feel about big youtubers promoting great literature ? 17:54 Have you seen Oppenheimer, what did you think of it ? 18:33 Do you think that one day you could say that "the best book I have ever read was written by AI" ? 19:36 What 5 books would you recommend a high school AP language student to read ? 21:47 Do you think being an author is something you can achieve if you try ? 23:26 Advice on making literary online content ? 26:36 What role does religion play in your life ? Have your beliefs changed throughout your life ? Has reading literature/philosophy challenged your beliefs ? 27:54 How has becoming a father affected your reading habits ? 29:10 Are you familiar australian author with Gerald Murnane ? 29:59 How do you choose the books you want to read ? 2024 reading plan ? 30:48 Tips to improve reading retention ? 32:32 Which books would you recommend for a long time reader who wants to start writing ? 33:26 Do you plan on covering Faulkner, Kesey, Steinbeck, Conrad ? (see Q&A #4) Favorite short stories ? 34:48 Artists you currently like 34:54 Contemporary artist you like 35:06 What websites/magazines do you read/follow ? 36:04 Monthly budget for books ? 36:20 What percentage of your personal library have you read ? 36:50 Thoughts on commonplace books ? 37:05 Mindset while reading a book (immerse youserlf or stay objective) 38:54 How to recommend books that are objectively interesting 39:00 How you research/find new books ? 40:17 Reading advice for your 21 year old self 40:34 Opinion on the Shakespeare authorship question 42:43 library books VS owned books, paperback VS hardback, e-book VS printed book, light VS heavy, reading environment 45:00 most difficult fiction book you've ever read 45:29 Which book has affected you the most emotionally ? 45:53 Likes and dislikes about american literature, where do you see it going ? 47:48 Have you considered leading a reading group ? 49:00 Plans on doing Biblical content ? 49:43 Interests in North Carolina 49:52 Would you ever consider starting your own literary conference, what would it be about ? 50:22 Ratio of read/unread books in your library 50:31 Would you ever consider annotating a copy of a favourite book and make a giveaway/auction for it. 51:05 Favourite book of yours no one seems to talk about 51:15 Have you ever read Hunger's Brides by Paul Anderson ? 51:22 Link between reading, memory and context 53:33 How to enjoy Infinite Jest 57:12 Thoughts on Bob Dylan as a Nobel Prize laureate for literature, novel VS lyric poetry 58:46 Thoughts on Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) by José Rizal, plans on covering Les Rougon-Macquart by Zola 59:30 Favourite genre fiction, comfort reads ? 1:00:05 Plan on doing 10 hours videos on Against day, Mason & Dixon, other Pynchon works 1:00:31 Plan on reading asian themed books, eastern canon 1:01:04 Filipino literature 1:01:18 Book requests BLITZ QUESTIONS: 1:02:19 First memory of being blown away by words 1:02:55 Thoughts on covert art 1:04:01 Thoughts on Stefan Zweig, Joan Didion, Shirley Jackson, Louis Ferdinand Céline, John Kennedy Toole Tony Morrison, JD Salinger, James Baldwin, J K Huysmans, Henri Michaux, Richard Powers, Phillip K Dick, Don Delillo, George Perec, Witold Gombrowicz 1:05:27 Have you read Mars by Fritz Zorn 1:05:31 If you could only ask 1 question to a deceased author 1:05:41 Disappointing reads 1:05:46 Do you buy more than you read ? 1:06:19 Have you ever read the complete works of an author in chronological order ? 1:06:29 Favourite artists aside from writers 1:06:50 Have you ever considered launching your own literary review ? 1:06:55 Advice for someone who a non-reader to keep them hooked 1:08:29 Have you ever read Flatland 1:08:53 Do you have a secret stash of old books 1:09:18 Which original manuscript would you like to own (?) 1:09:24 Favourite African authors 1:09:32 Bad book you still love 1:09:38 Good book you dislike 1:09:44 Weirdest book you own 1:09:54 Favourite publisher 1:09:59 Things that rub you the wrong way when reading fiction 1:10:02 Books you own that you can't read a word of 1:10:12 Authors who deserve the Nobel Prize, but will likely never get it 1:10:20 Will you ever answer Marcel Proust's questionnaire in a video ? 1:10:26 Have you ever met one of your favourite authors 1:12:04 Outro
I am somehow glad to hear you’re a Christian . Us Christians are often considered very close minded and you’re a great example of a practicing Christian who is not afraid of exposing himself to a variety of philophies which question and often attack our faith. In my case, everything I’ve read, from Camus to Beckett, only managed to strengthen my faith without as much as a drop in my fondness for these writers who had strong arguments against religion. Keep up the good work and God bless you.
Thanks so much, truly. The way I look at it is this: reading the literature I read keeps me humble and teachable as a Christian, and being a Christian keeps me humble and teachable as a reader. If that makes sense.
Your reasons for resisting becoming a content creator are precisely why your videos are the best on the Tube. You’re not here for the clicks, or the brand. You’re here for the BOOKS. Almost nothing ever remains sacred in this world, but your channel is a beacon. And I thank you for that, friend.
Thank you so much for that encouragement and affirmation! Everything becomes commodified in our culture, of course, and I do want the authors to get paid so they can do what they do. But what I don’t want is for people to continue to BUY books; I want them to READ books! I’m trying to think of a way to really drive this point with the channel.
Regarding the question at around 54 minutes, everyone is entitled to their opinion etc etc, but it blows my mind that anyone can think Infinite Jest is boring, pretentious nonsense. I don't care much for anything else Wallace wrote, but Infinite Jest stands out as simultaneously one of the most compelling, entertaining reads of the 20th Century, a beautifully written and constructed encyclopedic novel in which every detail matters to the plot, and a devastating indictment of both postmodern irony and the poisonous notion that the self/ subjectivity is just an illusion. Also, just personally, Don Gately (AKA Sir Osis of Thulliver; AKA the Bimster) is one of my favourite characters in all of literature.
I was just watching your past Q & A videos while at work from a few years ago and thinking to myself, I really wish he’d still make these. What a great surprise lol
Really happy to hear your answer about reading speed. I thought you had some super speed reading ability given the sheer amount you've read, glad to hear that we read at the same speed!
Hahaha! I love that. Whenever someone expresses not feeling "production ready" to start a channel, I show them my early videos. They always feel much better and more confident. :) Thanks for the kind words and support!
I love hearing this: when a reader has found _their_ book. It really is something else. I cannot fathom how Cartarescu has reached this level of writing.
Thank you for your insight - I look forward to your videos on why you enjoy Infinite Jest, your end of year book awards, and your next Q&A. It was brutal hearing the importance of rereading while seeing both 'My Struggle' and 'In Search of Lost Time" on your shelves - Life is finite
Your knowledge and your thoughts are outstanding, you are my favorite person on UA-cam, you are effortlessly make great and worth my time content, the best UA-camr without being concern to the popularity, just outstanding!!!
Spring '75, sitting in the Curry cafeteria in Yosemite Valley I looked over a few tables to see a woman wearing a Byron the Bulb tee-shirt. Had to compliment her on it.
After watching a good chunk of your videos, my gut says you'd like Céline's Death on Credit even better than Journey. I think there's something about it being pulled from earlier memories that gives his writing more of a transportive quality there. Dunno, it's been more than a decade, but when I see it on the shelf it feels more like a "portal" than Journey
I can't believe I haven't read that one yet, but you are not alone in recommending it to me over the more widely known work (the only of his I've read). Your articulation of seeing it and it being more like a portal than a journey is going to take on deeper meaning with my next Why Do We Read Fiction episode, by the way.
Always enjoy these from you! I believe I see A Dance to the Music of Time behind you. Have you read those books or do they belong to the unread 5%? Would love to see you cover them someday.
Thanks for doing another Q&A, these are very enjoyable. I read Bubblegum on your recommendation this year and it’s definitely been my favorite book of 2023 (though White Noise is quite the contender).
I was thinking and talking about that book once again the other day. Levin really outdid himself. It's a shame that the masses don't read like they used to or else it would be much more appreciated. So glad you connected with it!
my question got answered! your answers were very satisfying, especially the idea of moving to book criticism working for you. the second one was a long shot, and your answer is fair. who knows how the weird internet algorithms work? what you said helped though!
Thanks so much! I'm a bigger fan of his short fiction than his novels. The first story of his I read was "Up in Michigan" and it disturbed me, rattled me, wrecked me. How could a writer effect so much emotion in so few words? The next one I read (because, after read "Up in Michigan" I immediately bought a paperback of his complete stories and this was the first one) was "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" and it had the same effect but on a deeper, more complex emotional level, and, unlike "Michigan," it was imbued with a dark humor and irony that I liked. "The End of Something" and the "Big Two-Hearted River" stories have stayed with me. If I had to pick a novel, it would be _A Moveable Feast_ .
@@LeafbyLeafThank you very much for such a thoughtful answer. Especially after just watching the part of the video where you say you don’t like to list favorites! Had I finished the video before reaching out, I wouldn’t have asked, but I was curious because you had mentioned Hemingway earlier, but I don’t recall you ever making a video about his work✌️
I don't read as much as you do but I really agree with your idea of reading serious literature as a form a of spiritual activity. (this also applies to other high arts like music and visual art)
You mentioned SE Hinton, and The Outsiders, but one book that Hinton wrote for young people that I think might deserve your take is Rumble Fish. The film adaptation of Rumble Fish by Coppola is lacking, but that’s because film cannot accomplish the interesting thing that Hinton does with POV. The entirety of Rumble Fish describes the mental breakdown and death of an older brother through the pov of his younger brother looking back, through miles of brain fog, and after years of head injuries and jail stints. The younger brother’s memory has faded but the entire story has a Greek tragedy element baked in by Hinton, who believes Rumble Fish to be her best book. Also, ofc, I’d love your take on Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events. But that’s just me :)
Wow! I had no idea. This book sounds excellent. Thank you so much for the recommendation! Regarding the Lemony Snicket, we are watching the Netflix series as a family now and loving it. I can tell just by the wealth of literary allusions in the show that I would probably love the books!
Highly suggest Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere - it's a profound look at what structured religion (notably, Catholicism) and all its politics can do to affect all stages of a developing and fractured society. I've heard that Rizal was inspired by Victor Hugo, which makes sense since Rizal went to study in Europe before coming back to the Philippines, and then getting martyred in the country's revolutions. I'm hoping Philippine literature finds a niche in popular culture; I'm currently on a journey to devour as much of my culture's writing (in English) as I can!
Regarding the question about books that deal with terrorism, I can highly recommend The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. Chilling fact: it was a favorite of Ted Kaczinsky! For a great nonfiction book about the ugliness of insurgency and counter-insurgency, there’s A Savage War of Peace by Alistair Horne. It’s an in depth but very readable account of the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962.)
Thanks for picking my question. I will definitely follow that. Great video as always and I will wait for that Infinite Jest video as I plan to reread it.
Regarding Oppenheimer being like a novel- you have to see A Brighter Summer Day by Edward Yang. It is *the* novelistic movie for me. I won’t spoil the literary tie in, but it might surprise you.
I'm an attentive reader myself, currently immersed in 'The Recognitions.' It's been a year since I reignited my reading habit, and I quickly found myself drawn to so-called postmodernist works. It's a bit of a cruel irony that, despite being a slow reader, I'm drawn to these often massive novels. Anyway, this may seem like a superficial question, but how many hours do you spend reading each day? There are numerous hefty books I'd love to delve into, but I find it challenging to maintain a consistent reading momentum.
I’m actually in the same boat: a slow reader who is drawn to huge, dense books. For a very long time, I read 4 hours per day, but lately it been more around 2-3 hours a day. It takes a good while to get through such books, but the value is equal to 10-15 other books in most cases. A lot of people read a handful of shorter books in between. I’ve got a video out here called “On Reading Big Books” that may be of interest.
Thank you for this video! I really enjoyed it. I'm going on a trip to Ireland in about a month, and I want to familiarize myself with some of their literature before I go, so I am curious to hear about some Irish books that you think are essential to read? :)
Ahhhh, I’m jealous! So many literary luminaries. James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, W. B. Yates, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Flann O’Brien, Eimear McBride. I’d also check out the book Dublin: A Writer’s City by Christopher Morash.
As a fellow Moby-Dick obsessive PLEASE track down Zoellner’s ‘Salt-Sea Mastodon’. I’ve read Moby-Dick 9 times (I think?) and Zoellner’s close, close reading stunned me. (I also have found most of the secondary literature pretty underwhelming. It usually feels reductive to Melville’s scope.)
@@LeafbyLeaf I remember loving the Olson, but haven’t reread it-and the initial read was maybe 13-14 years ago? I will soon, though. Zoellner took I think 15 years on & off to track down. Much easier to get now, however! It’s a wonder. I can’t remember the last time I set a work of criticism down and was so emotional.
Have you considered reading This Census Taker by China Mieville? I think it would be right up your alley. Themes of memory, identity, and unreliable narrative. Very reminiscent of Krasznahorkai, Nadas, and Fosse! Strong recommend. Thanks for your channel!
I have been recommended Mieville many, many times. But now that you're thrown in 3 mega luminaries, you've _really_ caught my attention. Bumping Mieville up in priority now!
No, I haven't. George Salis of The Collidescope, and Ryan Alexander and Jordan Rothacker of Vollmannia, have pulled it off recently to a marvelous degree. As for myself, I feel like I would just seize up into paralysis because of starstruckness and inferiority complex. I mean, who knows what could happen. But at present I just don't have the skills to meet such project. As for the finally-published two volumes of his art, they arrived yesterday and I'm settling in with them in just a few minutes!
@@LeafbyLeaf enjoy the books! They’re gorgeous. Don’t sell yourself short. I think you’d do an excellent job but I totally get the reservations. I’d be the same way, but Bill is so down to earth and kind. I did listen to the Vollmannia episode. It was great!
Of those I’ve read (KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, NASB, CEB, and Passion), I still hold the KJV in highest regard. But if I had to choose one to recommend to people as a go-to daily reading translation, it’d be ESV.
@@LeafbyLeaf The fact that there are so many versions of Holy Scripture proves to me that all are incomplete and erroneous to some degree, and which is which, unfortunately, we’ll never know, especially because the Vatican Library doesn’t allow scholarly studies of original scrolls. The popes themselves had a say in what was or wasn’t included in their own Catholic Bible. Add the Talmud and Qur’an into the mix, and the whole universe of scripture seems, to me, to be completely fubar. King James then had his scribes rewrite the Catholic Bible to reflect his own personal beliefs and opinions, removing what he disliked and editing as he saw fit. Thereby the word of God became diluted and perverted at the hands of men. Considering that every book or story was written hundreds of years after the crucifixion, and based solely on oral history, before being translated into many other languages over the centuries, it seems to me that none of these holy books are relevant or even necessary in the modern world. God knows that most Christians only use His words to justify their own bigotry and self-righteousness, anyway, which He knew before he sent his Son to relieve us of original sin. So the mess humans have made of the situation can really be ignored, and God’s message can be summed up in one sentence and guiding principle: Treat others with love and respect, as you would expect them to treat you. I don’t think any God would want us to live according to our current Bibles. I think He would be satisfied with that. 😸✌️
At 8, they likely could still enjoy being read to if there aren't any distractions (this is why bedtime is so popular). So definitely do that. But make them a part of picking out the books for reading time. Take them to the bookstore and peruse the books. Look at the covers, read the blurbs on the back, get them involved in discovering what interests them. As they get older, you'll have to mandate device-less reading time (as we do with our daughter). Be prepared: you may have to cycle through quite a few books to find what attracts them. Libraries are great for keeping the discovery phase light on your wallet. I hope this helps.
Looking at the list of names--no, I can't say I have. I've read _about_ them in books of church and biblical history. And I've read the sayings of the dessert fathers. Is there anything in particular I should check out?
@@LeafbyLeaf if possible I would highly recommend looking at them chronologically because they quote and build off each other. If you just want some greatest hits I would recommend: Justin Martyr's Apology and Dialogue with Trypho, Clement of Alexandria's Miscellanies, Epistle to Diognetus, and Shepherd of Hermas. The Holmes Apostolic Fathers is a really great collection, but you can find everything in public domain too.
@@LeafbyLeafalso I'm reading through them with a friend right now and made up a whole spreadsheet reading plan and I'd be happy to share it with you if you were interested.
@@LeafbyLeaf amigo Scholia to an Implicit Text, watching your video I realised something, this guy Gomez Davila says something similar about your religious beliefs and also he was a great reader like you, anyway if you have the opportunity and the time give him the opportunity. Un abrazo
Random questions I had 1. Do you think the use of AI is beneficial or negative in terms of reading? For example you can have it summarise complex texts but at the same time it also takes some of the charm out of reading and it’s also maybe a crutch. Some kind of Amazon Kindle in the future could be really interesting if it was connected to ChatGPT 2. would you ever sell T-shirts like the Walden? Would love to buy one of them?
0:00 If you had to distill down every book you've read meaningful bits into a proverb
0:21 Intro / Music / Infos
1:38 Where do you get your literary t-shirts ?
2:06 What is your reading speed ?
2:50 What other books have you read that deal with terrorism ?
3:47 Will you be reviewing soon another obscure tome ?
5:04 What big books are you planning to read and talk about ?
5:23 Do you find yourself thirsting for a smaller novel ?
7:32 How do you find so much time to read ?
9:05 What recurring themes are you drawn to ?
10:00 What YA fiction have you considered picking up ?
10:45 Have you ever read works by Joseph McElroy ?
11:41 What are the 5 desirable qualities or habits for a modern day (distracted) reader ?
12:30 Which books did you read to your child ?
13:29 Do you plan to return to the western classics (Homer, Shakespeare, etc.)
13:41 how many Shakespeare plays have you read ?
15:21 How do you typically develop your reading list/plan ?
15:49 Is there any author whose oeuvre you plan on reading entirely ?
17:05 Which literary character would you most like to meet, and why ?
17:28 How do you feel about big youtubers promoting great literature ?
17:54 Have you seen Oppenheimer, what did you think of it ?
18:33 Do you think that one day you could say that "the best book I have ever read was written by AI" ?
19:36 What 5 books would you recommend a high school AP language student to read ?
21:47 Do you think being an author is something you can achieve if you try ?
23:26 Advice on making literary online content ?
26:36 What role does religion play in your life ? Have your beliefs changed throughout your life ? Has reading literature/philosophy challenged your beliefs ?
27:54 How has becoming a father affected your reading habits ?
29:10 Are you familiar australian author with Gerald Murnane ?
29:59 How do you choose the books you want to read ? 2024 reading plan ?
30:48 Tips to improve reading retention ?
32:32 Which books would you recommend for a long time reader who wants to start writing ?
33:26 Do you plan on covering Faulkner, Kesey, Steinbeck, Conrad ?
(see Q&A #4) Favorite short stories ?
34:48 Artists you currently like
34:54 Contemporary artist you like
35:06 What websites/magazines do you read/follow ?
36:04 Monthly budget for books ?
36:20 What percentage of your personal library have you read ?
36:50 Thoughts on commonplace books ?
37:05 Mindset while reading a book (immerse youserlf or stay objective)
38:54 How to recommend books that are objectively interesting
39:00 How you research/find new books ?
40:17 Reading advice for your 21 year old self
40:34 Opinion on the Shakespeare authorship question
42:43 library books VS owned books, paperback VS hardback, e-book VS printed book, light VS heavy, reading environment
45:00 most difficult fiction book you've ever read
45:29 Which book has affected you the most emotionally ?
45:53 Likes and dislikes about american literature, where do you see it going ?
47:48 Have you considered leading a reading group ?
49:00 Plans on doing Biblical content ?
49:43 Interests in North Carolina
49:52 Would you ever consider starting your own literary conference, what would it be about ?
50:22 Ratio of read/unread books in your library
50:31 Would you ever consider annotating a copy of a favourite book and make a giveaway/auction for it.
51:05 Favourite book of yours no one seems to talk about
51:15 Have you ever read Hunger's Brides by Paul Anderson ?
51:22 Link between reading, memory and context
53:33 How to enjoy Infinite Jest
57:12 Thoughts on Bob Dylan as a Nobel Prize laureate for literature, novel VS lyric poetry
58:46 Thoughts on Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) by José Rizal, plans on covering Les Rougon-Macquart by Zola
59:30 Favourite genre fiction, comfort reads ?
1:00:05 Plan on doing 10 hours videos on Against day, Mason & Dixon, other Pynchon works
1:00:31 Plan on reading asian themed books, eastern canon
1:01:04 Filipino literature
1:01:18 Book requests
BLITZ QUESTIONS:
1:02:19 First memory of being blown away by words
1:02:55 Thoughts on covert art
1:04:01 Thoughts on Stefan Zweig, Joan Didion, Shirley Jackson, Louis Ferdinand Céline, John Kennedy Toole
Tony Morrison, JD Salinger, James Baldwin, J K Huysmans, Henri Michaux, Richard Powers, Phillip K Dick,
Don Delillo, George Perec, Witold Gombrowicz
1:05:27 Have you read Mars by Fritz Zorn
1:05:31 If you could only ask 1 question to a deceased author
1:05:41 Disappointing reads
1:05:46 Do you buy more than you read ?
1:06:19 Have you ever read the complete works of an author in chronological order ?
1:06:29 Favourite artists aside from writers
1:06:50 Have you ever considered launching your own literary review ?
1:06:55 Advice for someone who a non-reader to keep them hooked
1:08:29 Have you ever read Flatland
1:08:53 Do you have a secret stash of old books
1:09:18 Which original manuscript would you like to own (?)
1:09:24 Favourite African authors
1:09:32 Bad book you still love
1:09:38 Good book you dislike
1:09:44 Weirdest book you own
1:09:54 Favourite publisher
1:09:59 Things that rub you the wrong way when reading fiction
1:10:02 Books you own that you can't read a word of
1:10:12 Authors who deserve the Nobel Prize, but will likely never get it
1:10:20 Will you ever answer Marcel Proust's questionnaire in a video ?
1:10:26 Have you ever met one of your favourite authors
1:12:04 Outro
You're hired!
thanks here you dropped this 👑
You're making it harder for me to go to work on Fridays...
Hahaha!
I am somehow glad to hear you’re a Christian . Us Christians are often considered very close minded and you’re a great example of a practicing Christian who is not afraid of exposing himself to a variety of philophies which question and often attack our faith. In my case, everything I’ve read, from Camus to Beckett, only managed to strengthen my faith without as much as a drop in my fondness for these writers who had strong arguments against religion.
Keep up the good work and God bless you.
Thanks so much, truly. The way I look at it is this: reading the literature I read keeps me humble and teachable as a Christian, and being a Christian keeps me humble and teachable as a reader. If that makes sense.
@@LeafbyLeaf not only does it make sense, it’s also a phenomenal way of putting it.
Im not sure what it is, but a simple humble guy just talking about books for an hour or more always does it for me.
Very kind. Hope you get/got something from this one.
Like someone else said, what a treat! Now there is another Q&A that i can watch thirty times!
😜
Your reasons for resisting becoming a content creator are precisely why your videos are the best on the Tube. You’re not here for the clicks, or the brand. You’re here for the BOOKS. Almost nothing ever remains sacred in this world, but your channel is a beacon. And I thank you for that, friend.
Thank you so much for that encouragement and affirmation! Everything becomes commodified in our culture, of course, and I do want the authors to get paid so they can do what they do. But what I don’t want is for people to continue to BUY books; I want them to READ books! I’m trying to think of a way to really drive this point with the channel.
For African Literature I'd recommend Ayi Kwei Armah, Wole Soyinka, Amos Tutuola and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o - for some metaphysical delights
Thank you so much!
Regarding the question at around 54 minutes, everyone is entitled to their opinion etc etc, but it blows my mind that anyone can think Infinite Jest is boring, pretentious nonsense. I don't care much for anything else Wallace wrote, but Infinite Jest stands out as simultaneously one of the most compelling, entertaining reads of the 20th Century, a beautifully written and constructed encyclopedic novel in which every detail matters to the plot, and a devastating indictment of both postmodern irony and the poisonous notion that the self/ subjectivity is just an illusion. Also, just personally, Don Gately (AKA Sir Osis of Thulliver; AKA the Bimster) is one of my favourite characters in all of literature.
I was just watching your past Q & A videos while at work from a few years ago and thinking to myself, I really wish he’d still make these. What a great surprise lol
Excellent timing! I'm going to try to regularly answer questions throughout videos and/or do one of these each year.
My Carver phase during my late teens (late 2000s) will remain one of my favorite reading moments
🙏🙏🙏
Really happy to hear your answer about reading speed. I thought you had some super speed reading ability given the sheer amount you've read, glad to hear that we read at the same speed!
Oh, no, definitely not a speed-reading talent. This is roughly 30 years of constant reading.
Love to see how your channel has grown. I stumbled upon it when you were just a young UA-cam pup. Keep up the good work
Hahaha! I love that. Whenever someone expresses not feeling "production ready" to start a channel, I show them my early videos. They always feel much better and more confident. :)
Thanks for the kind words and support!
Thank you. Your calm answers have brightened this difficult day for me
Terribly sorry to hear you're having a difficult day. I hope that turns around (or, better yet, has already turned around) for you!
The only book that has made this 40-year-old man cry like a baby (including rereadings) is Solenoid. For me it is the best novel ever written.
I love hearing this: when a reader has found _their_ book. It really is something else. I cannot fathom how Cartarescu has reached this level of writing.
Thank you for your insight - I look forward to your videos on why you enjoy Infinite Jest, your end of year book awards, and your next Q&A.
It was brutal hearing the importance of rereading while seeing both 'My Struggle' and 'In Search of Lost Time" on your shelves - Life is finite
Thanks so much!
Yep-the life of the bookworm is one of selectiveness. Sigh.
Your knowledge and your thoughts are outstanding, you are my favorite person on UA-cam, you are effortlessly make great and worth my time content, the best UA-camr without being concern to the popularity, just outstanding!!!
Wow, I’m really taken aback by your generous words. I’m honored. Thank you.
Spring '75, sitting in the Curry cafeteria in Yosemite Valley I looked over a few tables to see a woman wearing a Byron the Bulb tee-shirt. Had to compliment her on it.
That is amazing! I typically don't engage with people in public, but, I, too, would have had to compliment that!
My Friday treat has arrived!
Tu es très gentil !
Haven’t watched the whole Q&A yet, my observation of against the day has merit, I am so excited for what’s to come. Thanks for your content!
:):):)
Excited for AtD. It's up there with my favourite Pynchons, and even in my favourite books of all time, rivaling GR itself.
😁😁😁
After watching a good chunk of your videos, my gut says you'd like Céline's Death on Credit even better than Journey. I think there's something about it being pulled from earlier memories that gives his writing more of a transportive quality there. Dunno, it's been more than a decade, but when I see it on the shelf it feels more like a "portal" than Journey
I can't believe I haven't read that one yet, but you are not alone in recommending it to me over the more widely known work (the only of his I've read). Your articulation of seeing it and it being more like a portal than a journey is going to take on deeper meaning with my next Why Do We Read Fiction episode, by the way.
Always enjoy these from you! I believe I see A Dance to the Music of Time behind you. Have you read those books or do they belong to the unread 5%? Would love to see you cover them someday.
Unfortunately, they do belong to the 5%. This needs to be corrected!
Thanks for doing another Q&A, these are very enjoyable. I read Bubblegum on your recommendation this year and it’s definitely been my favorite book of 2023 (though White Noise is quite the contender).
I was thinking and talking about that book once again the other day. Levin really outdid himself. It's a shame that the masses don't read like they used to or else it would be much more appreciated. So glad you connected with it!
Against The Day?!?!? Dreams do come true!!!!
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my question got answered! your answers were very satisfying, especially the idea of moving to book criticism working for you. the second one was a long shot, and your answer is fair. who knows how the weird internet algorithms work? what you said helped though!
Wonderful and inspiring. I’m curious to hear what’s your favorite novel or story by Hemingway?
Thanks so much! I'm a bigger fan of his short fiction than his novels. The first story of his I read was "Up in Michigan" and it disturbed me, rattled me, wrecked me. How could a writer effect so much emotion in so few words? The next one I read (because, after read "Up in Michigan" I immediately bought a paperback of his complete stories and this was the first one) was "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" and it had the same effect but on a deeper, more complex emotional level, and, unlike "Michigan," it was imbued with a dark humor and irony that I liked. "The End of Something" and the "Big Two-Hearted River" stories have stayed with me. If I had to pick a novel, it would be _A Moveable Feast_ .
@@LeafbyLeafThank you very much for such a thoughtful answer. Especially after just watching the part of the video where you say you don’t like to list favorites! Had I finished the video before reaching out, I wouldn’t have asked, but I was curious because you had mentioned Hemingway earlier, but I don’t recall you ever making a video about his work✌️
I don't read as much as you do but I really agree with your idea of reading serious literature as a form a of spiritual activity. (this also applies to other high arts like music and visual art)
You mentioned SE Hinton, and The Outsiders, but one book that Hinton wrote for young people that I think might deserve your take is Rumble Fish. The film adaptation of Rumble Fish by Coppola is lacking, but that’s because film cannot accomplish the interesting thing that Hinton does with POV.
The entirety of Rumble Fish describes the mental breakdown and death of an older brother through the pov of his younger brother looking back, through miles of brain fog, and after years of head injuries and jail stints. The younger brother’s memory has faded but the entire story has a Greek tragedy element baked in by Hinton, who believes Rumble Fish to be her best book.
Also, ofc, I’d love your take on Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events. But that’s just me :)
Wow! I had no idea. This book sounds excellent. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Regarding the Lemony Snicket, we are watching the Netflix series as a family now and loving it. I can tell just by the wealth of literary allusions in the show that I would probably love the books!
Highly suggest Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere - it's a profound look at what structured religion (notably, Catholicism) and all its politics can do to affect all stages of a developing and fractured society. I've heard that Rizal was inspired by Victor Hugo, which makes sense since Rizal went to study in Europe before coming back to the Philippines, and then getting martyred in the country's revolutions. I'm hoping Philippine literature finds a niche in popular culture; I'm currently on a journey to devour as much of my culture's writing (in English) as I can!
This was a wonderful Q&A. Thank you for posting this!
It was, as always, a real pleasure. 🙏
Regarding the question about books that deal with terrorism, I can highly recommend The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. Chilling fact: it was a favorite of Ted Kaczinsky!
For a great nonfiction book about the ugliness of insurgency and counter-insurgency, there’s A Savage War of Peace by Alistair Horne. It’s an in depth but very readable account of the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962.)
Have you finished Pychon's oeuvre? I didn't hear it being mentioned on your list of writer's complete works
I have, yes. Everything available as far as I know. My list wasn’t complete-just what came to mind.
Thanks for picking my question. I will definitely follow that. Great video as always and I will wait for that Infinite Jest video as I plan to reread it.
It was a great question! 🙏
Regarding Oppenheimer being like a novel- you have to see A Brighter Summer Day by Edward Yang. It is *the* novelistic movie for me. I won’t spoil the literary tie in, but it might surprise you.
Thanks for the recommendation! 🙏
I'm an attentive reader myself, currently immersed in 'The Recognitions.' It's been a year since I reignited my reading habit, and I quickly found myself drawn to so-called postmodernist works. It's a bit of a cruel irony that, despite being a slow reader, I'm drawn to these often massive novels. Anyway, this may seem like a superficial question, but how many hours do you spend reading each day? There are numerous hefty books I'd love to delve into, but I find it challenging to maintain a consistent reading momentum.
I’m actually in the same boat: a slow reader who is drawn to huge, dense books. For a very long time, I read 4 hours per day, but lately it been more around 2-3 hours a day. It takes a good while to get through such books, but the value is equal to 10-15 other books in most cases. A lot of people read a handful of shorter books in between. I’ve got a video out here called “On Reading Big Books” that may be of interest.
Thank you for this video! I really enjoyed it.
I'm going on a trip to Ireland in about a month, and I want to familiarize myself with some of their literature before I go, so I am curious to hear about some Irish books that you think are essential to read? :)
Ahhhh, I’m jealous! So many literary luminaries. James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, W. B. Yates, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Flann O’Brien, Eimear McBride. I’d also check out the book Dublin: A Writer’s City by Christopher Morash.
Just picked up a Byron the Bulb shirt, as well as The Pale King one :) thanks!
Excellent! I want that Byron one, too!
I'm only 17 minutes in this video and absolutely love it.
As a fellow Moby-Dick obsessive PLEASE track down Zoellner’s ‘Salt-Sea Mastodon’.
I’ve read Moby-Dick 9 times (I think?) and Zoellner’s close, close reading stunned me. (I also have found most of the secondary literature pretty underwhelming. It usually feels reductive to Melville’s scope.)
Whoa--I've not even heard of this one! Thank you so much! One of my favorites is Charles Olson's _Call Me Ishmael_ .
@@LeafbyLeaf I remember loving the Olson, but haven’t reread it-and the initial read was maybe 13-14 years ago? I will soon, though.
Zoellner took I think 15 years on & off to track down. Much easier to get now, however! It’s a wonder. I can’t remember the last time I set a work of criticism down and was so emotional.
How many books have read in languages other than English? I remember that you’ve read L’Étranger, anything else?
Only French books, and very few at that. Madame Bovary, La peste, La nausée, Candide, Á côté du chez Swann. I really wish I was more multilingual.
Have you considered reading This Census Taker by China Mieville? I think it would be right up your alley. Themes of memory, identity, and unreliable narrative. Very reminiscent of Krasznahorkai, Nadas, and Fosse! Strong recommend. Thanks for your channel!
I have been recommended Mieville many, many times. But now that you're thrown in 3 mega luminaries, you've _really_ caught my attention. Bumping Mieville up in priority now!
Happy to hear it! @@LeafbyLeaf
Have you ever tried to interview WTV? I’d love to hear that conversation. Did you get a copy of Shadows of Love, Shadows of Loneliness?
No, I haven't. George Salis of The Collidescope, and Ryan Alexander and Jordan Rothacker of Vollmannia, have pulled it off recently to a marvelous degree. As for myself, I feel like I would just seize up into paralysis because of starstruckness and inferiority complex. I mean, who knows what could happen. But at present I just don't have the skills to meet such project. As for the finally-published two volumes of his art, they arrived yesterday and I'm settling in with them in just a few minutes!
@@LeafbyLeaf enjoy the books! They’re gorgeous. Don’t sell yourself short. I think you’d do an excellent job but I totally get the reservations. I’d be the same way, but Bill is so down to earth and kind.
I did listen to the Vollmannia episode. It was great!
15:52 - list of authors
Left out quite a few. But these are the names that came to mind.
Do you plan on talking about Dostoevsky?
Most definitely! Another one shamefully in absence here.
Which bible translation do you prefer?
Please forgive me if you’ve answered previously.
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Of those I’ve read (KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, NASB, CEB, and Passion), I still hold the KJV in highest regard. But if I had to choose one to recommend to people as a go-to daily reading translation, it’d be ESV.
@@LeafbyLeaf The fact that there are so many versions of Holy Scripture proves to me that all are incomplete and erroneous to some degree, and which is which, unfortunately, we’ll never know, especially because the Vatican Library doesn’t allow scholarly studies of original scrolls. The popes themselves had a say in what was or wasn’t included in their own Catholic Bible. Add the Talmud and Qur’an into the mix, and the whole universe of scripture seems, to me, to be completely fubar.
King James then had his scribes rewrite the Catholic Bible to reflect his own personal beliefs and opinions, removing what he disliked and editing as he saw fit. Thereby the word of God became diluted and perverted at the hands of men.
Considering that every book or story was written hundreds of years after the crucifixion, and based solely on oral history, before being translated into many other languages over the centuries, it seems to me that none of these holy books are relevant or even necessary in the modern world. God knows that most Christians only use His words to justify their own bigotry and self-righteousness, anyway, which He knew before he sent his Son to relieve us of original sin.
So the mess humans have made of the situation can really be ignored, and God’s message can be summed up in one sentence and guiding principle: Treat others with love and respect, as you would expect them to treat you. I don’t think any God would want us to live according to our current Bibles. I think He would be satisfied with that.
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Q&A let's go!
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Dostoevsky's 'Demons' is a great exploration of ideology/ cults/ terrorism
Solid input there!
thanks@@LeafbyLeaf
how I can bring my kid, 8 yrs, to read books?
At 8, they likely could still enjoy being read to if there aren't any distractions (this is why bedtime is so popular). So definitely do that. But make them a part of picking out the books for reading time. Take them to the bookstore and peruse the books. Look at the covers, read the blurbs on the back, get them involved in discovering what interests them. As they get older, you'll have to mandate device-less reading time (as we do with our daughter). Be prepared: you may have to cycle through quite a few books to find what attracts them. Libraries are great for keeping the discovery phase light on your wallet. I hope this helps.
Have you read much of the apostolic fathers?
Looking at the list of names--no, I can't say I have. I've read _about_ them in books of church and biblical history. And I've read the sayings of the dessert fathers. Is there anything in particular I should check out?
@@LeafbyLeaf if possible I would highly recommend looking at them chronologically because they quote and build off each other. If you just want some greatest hits I would recommend: Justin Martyr's Apology and Dialogue with Trypho, Clement of Alexandria's Miscellanies, Epistle to Diognetus, and Shepherd of Hermas. The Holmes Apostolic Fathers is a really great collection, but you can find everything in public domain too.
@@LeafbyLeafalso I'm reading through them with a friend right now and made up a whole spreadsheet reading plan and I'd be happy to share it with you if you were interested.
Highly recommend Sts. John Chrysostom and Augustine. Would love a video on your theological reading!
Hey Mate have you read anything from Nicolas Gomez Davila?
No, I haven't. What do you recommend?
@@LeafbyLeaf amigo Scholia to an Implicit Text, watching your video I realised something, this guy Gomez Davila says something similar about your religious beliefs and also he was a great reader like you, anyway if you have the opportunity and the time give him the opportunity. Un abrazo
did you read something from emanuel carrere? V13?
No, I haven't! I looks like there's no English translation of _V13_ , but I could (slowly) read it in French. This looks really interesting!
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gm sir
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Nah mate, you’ve got to get over the Shakespeare thing.
That’s a joy people have shared for generations and generations.
Do you mean: I need to get over not being so concerned with the authorship question and check into the debates throughout the ages?
Wrong. I would say.....never lie
Random questions I had 1. Do you think the use of AI is beneficial or negative in terms of reading? For example you can have it summarise complex texts but at the same time it also takes some of the charm out of reading and it’s also maybe a crutch. Some kind of Amazon Kindle in the future could be really interesting if it was connected to ChatGPT
2. would you ever sell T-shirts like the Walden? Would love to buy one of them?