The Empusium sounds wonderful. I'm going to pre-order it. I finally read The Magic Mountain a couple of years ago and I can't stop thinking about. I have a bit of an obsession about tuberculosis. It killed my grandfather in 1922 and traumatized my mom for the rest of her life. I inherited the trauma. It seems like such a slow and gentle disease yet it affects me over 100 years later.
Wow. Amazing that it's still afecting people to this day. I must read The Magic Mountain! I went into this video hoping to add new releases to my TBR, but aside from Empusiam, I think it's The Magic Mountain that goes to the top of the TBR.
I agree with the views you express so succinctly in your video. I adore the horror genre. I love well-written characters and stories that scare me. I've been struggling to find modern scary stories within the horror genre. Last year, I purchased twenty, highly-rated horror novels. I've read six novels in a row written by men. In each case, the male author wrote in first person through a female character. My complaint? The female protagonists felt, thought, and acted like men. I experienced two creepy moments spread over six horror novels. It's not all bad. I found modern Nick Cutter, Adam Nevile, and Ronald Malfi novels well-written with numerous creepy and scary moments.
I share your frustration! I haven't read Ronald Malfi yet, but he's on my radar. Don't miss my conversation with Nick Cutter coming soon to this channel! (Coincidentally, his latest is 1st person from a female perspective. But I think it's pretty good...)
Library: I have a hold on Creation Lake. Ficciones is in my grubby little hands and I'll start it as soon as I'm done with The Train (Roger Wheatley). 1 (one) Q84: Knocked Pillars of the Earth off the #1 spot for my favorite book of all time. Can you set up "Buy-Me-A-Coffee" where you are or is that an *American thang*?
OK, one more VERY strong vote of 1Q84. Yes, I must get around to that. And I'm excited for you reading Ficciones! I look forward to your reaction😁I'll look into 'buy-me-a-coffee'. I hadn't heard of it, but I'll look into it. Thanks
@@Michael_Wertenberg "What, what? Who. Richard Medden, Medden. My voice, human voice. Speak. I always thought he was tirqyertianm. Royal fleet is there." Introduction and timeline take up 53 pages. "TLON,UQBAR,ORBIS TERTIUS". I'm still not sure if this book is fiction or non-fiction. Jaromir Hladik, Third Reich entering Prague, bank of Moldau, Lonnrot abstained from smiling, Commissioner Treviranus, chapters of Ts'ui Pen, Ireneo, Mithridates EUPATOR. If you got something out of this collection of sentences/name dropping tale, you have my respect.
@@Michael_Wertenberg You are discerning Michael, I certainly don't blame you for what 's out there, not your fault! maybe it's just me, I must be an inverted book snob, give me genre over "literature" any day of the week.
"that seems a bit redundant" 😂 Navigating the dysfunctional american health care system? Nope, see that every day. pass. For some reason, I can't see you liking the Midnight Library. Subtle it is not. The Empusium! Finally one of these piqued my interest. I've never read from this author before. Whoa, that cover of Absolution! Adding the original trio to my books to check out list. Not too many here for my tastes in reading, though I'm also interested in the Mariana Enriquez. I have Our share of night by her though, and I need to read that one first.
I'm with you on the Empusium! Lots of people love Mariana Enriquez'es work. Not me, though, the grouch that I am. But I hope it works on you, and I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on it.
@@Michael_Wertenberg The book I have is quite the chonker, so I'm intimidated to get into it. I will probably wait until after Halloween to dive in so I can give it the time it needs. Maybe just the one you read was a stinker?
🥱good grief. What else ya got Michael? None of these piqued my interest except maybe the Annihilation sequel/prequel. I haven't read them yet but Annihilation has been on my radar for a while now!
Yep, I'm with you. I'm in a bit of a rut, been in one for a while now... I blame the publishing industry! I keep trying, and I keep getting disappointed. I can only assume part of the blame...
That was interesting, and you are one of my favourite booktubers now, but I stopped reading contemporary fiction 3 years ago and never looked back. I do have access to the most recent releases, but never get past the first pages/chapters. They are just awful. I am younger than you, but consider that I cannot waste my time on that rubbish anymore. I wish I had your enthusiasm, though. Sure, I loved Drive Your Plow, but consider The Empusium just an insult, milking the concept of the greatest book of all time for personal promotion and making money. It's like any film remake, or Demon Copperfield or James books, these "modernised" retellings have no shame. "For those who love Mann (Empusium), for those who *hate" Twain (James), for those who love/hate Dickens (Demon Copperfield). Why don't they write their own stories?
Thank you😊On the other hand, I've yet to read Thomas Mann. I'll most likely read Empusiam before going back to the source. Maybe it will encourage me to check out The Magic Mountain (especially now that you've qualified it as the greatest book of all time, my curiousity is piqued). It might have that postive effect. Maybe...
@@Michael_Wertenberg Virginie Despentes has a new title out - Dear Dickhead - not sure if it's your cup of poison, but you'd be able to read it in the original French.
The Empusium sounds interesting.
Clean by Alia Trabucco Zeran is on my radar. I am looking forward to that. The Empusium is going on my TBR.
I just looked it up. It sounds intriguing and it's been getting good reviews!
The Empusium sounds wonderful. I'm going to pre-order it. I finally read The Magic Mountain a couple of years ago and I can't stop thinking about. I have a bit of an obsession about tuberculosis. It killed my grandfather in 1922 and traumatized my mom for the rest of her life. I inherited the trauma. It seems like such a slow and gentle disease yet it affects me over 100 years later.
Wow. Amazing that it's still afecting people to this day. I must read The Magic Mountain! I went into this video hoping to add new releases to my TBR, but aside from Empusiam, I think it's The Magic Mountain that goes to the top of the TBR.
I agree with the views you express so succinctly in your video.
I adore the horror genre. I love well-written characters and stories that scare me. I've been struggling to find modern scary stories within the horror genre. Last year, I purchased twenty, highly-rated horror novels. I've read six novels in a row written by men. In each case, the male author wrote in first person through a female character. My complaint? The female protagonists felt, thought, and acted like men. I experienced two creepy moments spread over six horror novels. It's not all bad. I found modern Nick Cutter, Adam Nevile, and Ronald Malfi novels well-written with numerous creepy and scary moments.
I share your frustration! I haven't read Ronald Malfi yet, but he's on my radar. Don't miss my conversation with Nick Cutter coming soon to this channel! (Coincidentally, his latest is 1st person from a female perspective. But I think it's pretty good...)
Library:
I have a hold on Creation Lake. Ficciones is in my grubby little hands and I'll start it as soon as I'm done with The Train (Roger Wheatley).
1 (one) Q84: Knocked Pillars of the Earth off the #1 spot for my favorite book of all time.
Can you set up "Buy-Me-A-Coffee" where you are or is that an *American thang*?
OK, one more VERY strong vote of 1Q84. Yes, I must get around to that. And I'm excited for you reading Ficciones! I look forward to your reaction😁I'll look into 'buy-me-a-coffee'. I hadn't heard of it, but I'll look into it. Thanks
@@Michael_Wertenberg "What, what? Who. Richard Medden, Medden. My voice, human voice. Speak. I always thought he was tirqyertianm. Royal fleet is there."
Introduction and timeline take up 53 pages. "TLON,UQBAR,ORBIS TERTIUS". I'm still not sure if this book is fiction or non-fiction. Jaromir Hladik, Third Reich entering Prague, bank of Moldau, Lonnrot abstained from smiling, Commissioner Treviranus, chapters of Ts'ui Pen, Ireneo, Mithridates EUPATOR. If you got something out of this collection of sentences/name dropping tale, you have my respect.
Yeah, I like my Birthday list better - Lady MacBeth, Immortal Dark, and Nightingale's Castle.
😁
None of these books do it for me michael. Next installment please?
Fair point
I normally say "Great list Michael" but that was just an awful slog! The only one I'm interested in is the Vandermeer, can't wait for it.
Yeah, fair point. I need to be more discerning imy lists. Publishers are sure making it tough for me though!
@@Michael_Wertenberg You are discerning Michael, I certainly don't blame you for what 's out there, not your fault! maybe it's just me, I must be an inverted book snob, give me genre over "literature" any day of the week.
"that seems a bit redundant" 😂 Navigating the dysfunctional american health care system? Nope, see that every day. pass. For some reason, I can't see you liking the Midnight Library. Subtle it is not. The Empusium! Finally one of these piqued my interest. I've never read from this author before. Whoa, that cover of Absolution! Adding the original trio to my books to check out list. Not too many here for my tastes in reading, though I'm also interested in the Mariana Enriquez. I have Our share of night by her though, and I need to read that one first.
I'm with you on the Empusium! Lots of people love Mariana Enriquez'es work. Not me, though, the grouch that I am. But I hope it works on you, and I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on it.
@@Michael_Wertenberg The book I have is quite the chonker, so I'm intimidated to get into it. I will probably wait until after Halloween to dive in so I can give it the time it needs. Maybe just the one you read was a stinker?
🥱good grief. What else ya got Michael? None of these piqued my interest except maybe the Annihilation sequel/prequel. I haven't read them yet but Annihilation has been on my radar for a while now!
Yep, I'm with you. I'm in a bit of a rut, been in one for a while now... I blame the publishing industry! I keep trying, and I keep getting disappointed. I can only assume part of the blame...
That was interesting, and you are one of my favourite booktubers now, but I stopped reading contemporary fiction 3 years ago and never looked back. I do have access to the most recent releases, but never get past the first pages/chapters. They are just awful. I am younger than you, but consider that I cannot waste my time on that rubbish anymore. I wish I had your enthusiasm, though. Sure, I loved Drive Your Plow, but consider The Empusium just an insult, milking the concept of the greatest book of all time for personal promotion and making money. It's like any film remake, or Demon Copperfield or James books, these "modernised" retellings have no shame. "For those who love Mann (Empusium), for those who *hate" Twain (James), for those who love/hate Dickens (Demon Copperfield). Why don't they write their own stories?
Thank you😊On the other hand, I've yet to read Thomas Mann. I'll most likely read Empusiam before going back to the source. Maybe it will encourage me to check out The Magic Mountain (especially now that you've qualified it as the greatest book of all time, my curiousity is piqued). It might have that postive effect. Maybe...
Re: Mad Woman: I misheard, and thought you said Kabbalist husband at first... That might've made it worth checking out. Alas, no.
😅
@@Michael_Wertenberg Virginie Despentes has a new title out - Dear Dickhead - not sure if it's your cup of poison, but you'd be able to read it in the original French.