30. 1984 29. The Hobbit 28. Piranesi 27. Harry Potter series 26. War and Peace 25. Song of Achilles 24. Normal People 23. The Bell Jar 22. The Catcher in the Rye 21. A Little Life 20. Les Miserable 19. The Master and the Margarita 18. The Night Circus 17. The Little Prince 16. Crime and Punishment 15. The Brothers Kalamazoo 14. Pride and Prejudice 13. East of Eden 12. Anna Karina 11. Little Women 10.The Book Thief 09. The Secret History 08. Anne of Green Gables 07. Wuthering Heights 06. The Fellowship of the Ring 05. The Count of Monte Christo 04. Jane Eyre 03. The Picture of Dorian Grey 02. Frankenstein 01. One Hundred Years of Solitude
I have told this story before on other posts, and channels, maybe yours, but here it is again. East of eden is everything to me. I am visually impaired, a braille reader. back when I grew up braille was hard to come by. you had to rely on what the libraries decided to print. certain popular books took years to come out, and you had to borrow them. one braille book is several volumes, and they were too expensive to buy. they had to be shipped in huge boxes, and sometimes because of mail issues only parts of them would come. I cried many tears when I was younger about not being able to just read. I hated audiobooks, and I wanted books in braille. east of eden was one that was hand copied. these books are only loned in limited numbers and for a few weeks. you have no idea how excited I was to get this book borrowed. I devoured it. I loved every page. when I sent it back I was devastated. now happily braille is easy to come by with technology, books to download, and braille displays to read books on. I can now read my favorite book anytime I want. east of eden has everything, great characters, a multigenerational story, good characters who sometimes do horrible things, and bad characters who you sometimes root for and wonder why. It is quite simply a masterpiece.
I've been wanting to read Jane Eyre since forever. But I'm kinda scared by the thought that would this book be okay ( like in terms of language difficulty and all) for someone like me who haven't read any classics before but desperately want to get into them!?
My Brilliant friend - Elena Ferrante Frankenstein - Mary Shelley Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy The Island of the missing trees - Elif Shafak Circe - Madeline Mille [Song of achilles too] Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brothe The housekeeper and the professor - Yoko Ogawa All the lovers in the night - Miko Kawakami All of Jane Austen really And most recent addition to the list: Things you may find hidden in my ear - Mosab Abu Toha
I voted Jane Eyre! I mean honestly, the writing, Jane’s resilience, spiritual themes and personal growth are themes that flow together so naturally. Also, finding one’s worth after so much trauma is probably what drew me in❤
@@juliaash5866 I've been wanting to read Jane Eyre since forever. But I'm kinda scared by the thought that would this book be okay (like in terms of language difficulty and all) for someone like me who haven't read any classics before but desperately want to get into them!?
@@hadiyaishaq4894 I find Jane Eyre to use quite a couple of terms that most people wouldn’t know (ex: old British terms), but they are defined in the back of the book. There also are phrases in French, but they are translated in the back! Definitely get the penguin classics version (that’s the one I purchased). It was the only book I cried over, and the language is definitely beautiful and worth reading. Definitely read it! Whatever you do though, don’t google any plot descriptions no matter how confused you are. The plot gets explained bit by bit, and your reading experience will be so much better by just reading and enjoying! The plot twist was FABULOUS, so definitely read it :)
Also you and Carolyn should be proud, I think this list is the way it is because you two have pushed us to read some of these intimidating monsters. Your first version of this was my first video of yours, and so many of these on this list I believe are influenced by your viewers much more than they were before. It’s really cool to see!
One of the things I like the most about you, Emma, is how you’ve made a lot of people around the world get to know books that aren’t just the typical recommendation. You read from contemporary YA to classics and the work you do here is remarkable. But beyond that, I always get so thrilled that you give them the chance to know and read Latin American literature: Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, etc. and I think that is just amazing. Time will go by and the work you’re doing here and the mark you’re leaving on people is just always gonna be so precious ❤ thank you for loving books from my country and Latin America in general so much, I really hope you get to do what you love forever ❤
I don't know how much deliberation I will require to be able to express how Frankenstein, almost overnight, transformed from a novel which I had a complete misunderstanding of became my obsession. There is something within this novel that I have never been able to forget. I still do not know what it is xx
OMG this one is a book that ages like fine wine. I loved reading Frankenstein and the more i think about it after the fact I love it even more. It was one of my favorite classics read to date :)
I'm also one of the people who voted Frankenstein and I just think the story has so many layers that make it so intriguing, so it's hard to get tired of it. Also hi to all the fellow enjoyers who voted with me!!
@@luciaaa1313 I’ve tried explaining the story to others but its one that you have to read yourself to find out. It’s so true about this story having so many layers. I cant wait for my reread of it, i think about this one all the time. I went into the book pretty blind i just happened to pick it up and devoured it and im so thankful i did.
Frankenstein is my all-time favorite book. I have six copies: two penguin black classics 1831 ed., one PBC 1818 ed., one Barnes & Noble classics, one Royal classics collector's edition, and a french e-book edition (in three volumes). I've read it 11 times since 2022, and every November I read it again and annotate my already-way-too-annotated firstborn PBC copy, of course in a different pen color than last time (this year is green). It's so annotated I read my notes more than the actual text. I'm always on the lookout for more copies, preferably with beautiful or exciting covers. When my current PBC copy starts to fall apart I'll probably bind it into either a cloth or leather-bound copy, after practicing enough to make sure I don't mess it up, on other books (like the ugly copies i have of hunger games...). I'm glad to see that so many other people are enjoying this novel too. The story around it, Mary's life and how it interacts and interweaves with the story, interests me so much; the (bio)ethical questions, the story of its conception at Byron's house, the year without summer... I've even read a couple academic papers on some different topics tied to Frankenstein, and I also want to write some essays on it myself. I just think its a little underrated outside the reading community, especially if you only half-heartedly read it in high school english class, but really it's very accessible and a great story. I'm so upset to see how pop culture has really screwed over the Creature, and even Victor; i'm nervous about the new Guillermo del Toro adaption, especially after Andrew Garfield quit the project...
so glad Piranesi made the list!!! its my all time favorite, I even plan on getting a tattoo for it! also, The Starless Sea deserved all the love The Night Circus was getting... Piranesi may be my favorite, but I think The Starless Sea is the most stunning collection of words I'll ever read
One Hundred Years of Solitude ruining every other book for you is so real because I literally DNF'd Allende's House of the Spirits because the whole time I was like, "I wish this was One Hundred Years of Solitude, actually". 😂
Pity to hear. Because One hundred years of solitude is my favorite book ever, but The House of spirits is also on my top 5. My native language is Spanish and I’m so thankful to enjoy both of them in their original form.
Me too, maybe I'm biased. The first time I read The House of the Spirits I was 10 years old and I have reread it at least 5 times during my adolescence (I am now 22). I read One Hundred Years of Solitude only 2 years ago because as a Colombian I was afraid that I wouldn't like it or worse yet, that it would ruin La Casa De Los Espíritus for me... But really, both are very different. Allende's book is almost essentially realistic, I would not really say that it is magical realism, and of course the plot is very different... some events are similar, such as the earthquake and the wars (in Allende's book there is the description of the dictatorship of chile) and so on... I'm actually tired of comparing.. they shouldn't do that...
@ShaS-mq3gv OH same. I really wanted it to be my favorite book but I had to stop reading as soon as pedophilia was hinted at or shown. like 😟 I couldn’t believe this was the book everyone’s recommending
I think The Secret History is so many people's favorite because (imo) there's a lot to unpack and a lot to speculate about). ofc i say this absolutely adoring it but its def not everyone's cup of tea!!!
Jane Eyre, of all the fictional characters I've read so far, is the one I relate the most. Because, of course, even if we do not share the exact experiences in life, we share so much of our life's reflections. I can sympathize with her like how I pitied my poor self before. We've thought and felt and desired in similar ways, and I was also learning from her. Her character growth is also well-crafted, Charlotte made the transitions seamless. I felt so many emotions and I was so attached. I have felt her pain, hoped the same hope for her, rejoiced in her successes, had fun and fell in love with their dialogues of Mr. Rochester, and was curious too with the mysteries of the tale. Just amazing 💚
Jane Eyre☺️ I don’t know how to explain my love for this book. I think nostalgia plays a big role at this point, as I’ve been reading it since I was very young, but I guess there are two types of people -those who fall in love with Rochester and those who don’t 😅To me, this book is perfect❤
My personal top 5: 1. Sula by Toni Morrison 2. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James 3. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 4. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson 5. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (shes my favorite author I tried doing one book per writer but I would be lying to myself 😂) On another note though, this video reminded me how many "classics" I have yet to read. I've added a bunch to my tbr!!
I read Never Let Me Go in 2020 once but it grew on me ever since. I find the symbol Norfolk particularly fascinating and it definitely relates. I would also recommend The Remains.
1. The Lives and Loves of a She-Devil - Fay Weldon 2. Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 3. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - Patrick Süskind 4. A Time on Earth - Vilhelm Moberg 5. The Artificial Silk Girl - Irmgard Keun Honorable mentions are Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, Darling River by Sara Stridsberg and Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov ❤❤❤
My book number one is “Gone with the Wind” which I’ve read.. I don’t know even how many times. My second favorite is “Jane Eyre”. And the third is “Game of Thrones”, but I should admit that it’s my favorite because I’m also a huge fan of the show.
I think that the books that got a higher place this time is honestly because when you have recommended them you really sell them. I mean, the amount of books I have on my list because you have talked about them so passionately is huuuge. so thank you Emma! now I feel I have a pretty damn long list of books for the rest of my life thanks to you and I'm so genuinely happy about it I read frankenstein because of you and it changed my life ♡ (i also voted for it so I'm so happy it got 2nd place!!)
Since you mentioned not knowing where it is; I think I spotted the Bell Jar on the top shelf on the left in the last video. I don’t know why I remember that 😅
I’m so happy Frankenstein made it to #2. It literally changed my life and I have never stopped thinking about it since. Also I am currently reading a hundred years of solitude and it is such a well written book omg.
For me Jane Eyre is about liberation and finding your place in life through your own means. It was never the story of Rochester and Jane, that's the gothic freakish part of it, but the story of Jane, a poor unloved girl who finds strenght within herself to keep going, who is put in front of "temptation" and resists it because she feels in her heart she doesn't want her happiness to be at the cost of a lie, she's the one who says "I am no bird and no net ensnares me". That really resounded in me. The first time I read it I was too young and didn't really care, but the second time... Oh God, did I feel it.
Jane Eyre changed my brain chemistry. I was moved by Jane’s faith, independence, and resilience. The way Charlotte Brontë writes is like being lulled to sleep by soft grass and sunshine.
For me my top 5 would be: 1. Memoirs of Hadrian - Marguerite Yourcenar 2. Death in Venice - Thomas Mann 3. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh 4. Autobiography of Red - Anne Carson 5. Orlando - Virginia Woolf Honorable mentions: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin and We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson :))
Next time you should do a survey in google forms or something like that :) so you don't have to spend a lot of time checking instagram answers (which mut have been very difficult)
I’m sure she got this data from her Goodreads survey- if you want to add her as a friend on there, u have to answer a survey about what your favourite book is
1. Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky 2. Idiot - Dostoevsky 3. War and Peace - Tolstoy 4. Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde 5. East of Eden - John Steinbeck
Today I did a deep dive on Booktube. Watched about 30 videos. Then I see this young woman who has 408K subscribers. What makes her so special. Well after watching this video it is obvious. You are so honest and passionate about books. And you are funny. Really enjoyed the video. Keep up the great work. Signed your newest subscriber.
When you were introducing The Catcher In The Rye I actually thought you were referring to Lolita. Love the idea of a top 30. Unfortunately my favourite To Kill A Mockingbird was not there
Fun list My top 10 - not in order East is East - TC Boyle 1984 - George Orwell Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien The Stand - Stephen King Hyperion - Dan Simmons Boys Life - Robert McCammon Cryptonomicom - Neal Stephenson Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert A Heinlein The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck The Secret History - Donna Tartt
I loved the first half of Les Miserables. The complex emotions, the beautiful wordiness were breathtaking. That moment Jean Valjean stood accidentally on a young boys coin but he couldn't process it because his mind was so locked up in thought and worry. That deer in the headlights felt so raw and true. I always said it was my most favorite book until I learned that he wrote it with the assistance of a spiritualist. That is a real problem since biblically we are to have nothing to do with mediums or the "spirit" world.
I am a Jane Eyre lover. It’s so incredibly romantic. I don’t find Rochester disgusting, just very flawed and the whole story is about Jane’s unconditional love, her resilience, her strength, her virtue. It’s got the romantic love story of Jane Austin but much more gothic and dark. I always love those vibes. It’s just a cozy love story mixed with some mystery and sadness and feels like real life. Real life is messy and people are flawed. I dislike immensely Wuthering Heights though so I may have to return back to it and see if I warm up to that one.
About the popularity of Jane Eyre: I think Rochester-like romantic interests have become more prevalent in popular media in recent years. I don't mean the attic stuff - I mean that he is impassioned, emotional, quick to get attached and has a penchant for grand gestures. He is quite an interesting personality to read.
you'll love east of eden!! for me, the book allowed me to understand myself so much deeper. it's like a study on character and overcoming/succumbing to the evil inside you. family and parent-child, sibling relationship are a major theme too
My favourite will always be LOTR, I've reread it so many times since I was a child. Also, I will admit, I read the Count of Monte Cristo for your book club and I am obsessed! I'm already doing a reread to annotate it. One of my new favourites for sure
The video you made 3 years ago is actually the first video of yours I ever watched!! So I hold a very special place in my heart for it, since you've helped me a lot to get back to reading
First video of yours I ever watched was the one three years ago asking 1000 people for their favorite book! Don’t think I’ve missed any of your videos in past three years!
Speaking of great opening lines, Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior is my current favorite-“ A certain feeling comes from throwing your good life away, and it is one part rapture.”
Engaging with books has significantly elevated my perspective on investing. True wealth isn't built through mere savings; financial freedom stems from strategic investments. I've learned that accumulating wealth hinges on making prudent investment decisions|
Books have also changed my perspective on investing. Understanding that real wealth is built through strategic investments rather than mere savings is crucial. Working with an adviser has pointed me in the right direction.
*me for the entirety of the list* "Oh? Well, it is good, I give you that, but the best?" *me seeing the first place* "Let's goooo!!!!!" I think it shows that I'm not here by accident, that the winner here is the book that... maybe saying "reignited my love for reading" isn't quite right, because there wasn't a time that I wouldn't love reading, but for years I would read a few pages, then put the book away, then maybe read the next few chapters, then never finish. And then--maybe it was the right book at the right time, maybe it really is everything a book can be. It still took me two weeks to finish, during which I literally never put it down: eating and sleeping with the book, opening it in every free second of my time. And just like that, the spell was broken.
Wuthering heights! It's my top book!! The writing, charecter development, descriptions of the moors, the plot... it's all so good. I think it really shows you what it means to be a human in a way that's never told before. Nothing has ever made me feel something so intense.
Can I read it as someone who haven't read any classic before but desperately wants to get into classics. (Like in terms of language difficulty and all)
@@hadiyaishaq4894 I think so! I've never read it in English (only in my native language), but I think if I was new to classics, I'd rather start here than with something very long and intimidating. Pride and Prejudice is a good start too, and that's not as heavy (content wise).
@@kittikovacs9093 I've already read that but as an audiobook and I personally love Jane austen. But thought of getting into other authors as well and that's why I'm pretty confused where to start from!
@@hadiyaishaq4894 I don't think you'd have a problem with the language, to be honest. I read Wuthering Heights back in high school for the first time, and while I didn't enjoy is at deeply as I do now, I still loved it. And I enjoyed it more than Frankenstein or The Picture of Dorian Gray (but that's just personal preferance).
I'm about to start my Master's thesis on Frankenstein because that book is truly singular and its cultural misunderstanding has fascinated me ever since, I will literally never stop yapping about its glory
Thissssss. Thank you for doing work that needs to be done! I adore it. It overwhelms me. I hate how people think the monster is so different to how he is, I think it’s partly the fault of the film 😭👀
Also I cannot say East of Eden is my favorite anymore bc I read it when I was 15 and hardly remember it but Grapes of Wrath I do remember and that was 👌🏻
100 Years of Solitude has been on my shelf since Christmas and ive been putting off reading it until i had a full weekend to dedicate to it and now the time has finally come. So excited to dive in
I think the best is classify the novels for theme. For example: the best for bad marriage is Anna Karienina, the best for revenge is count of mount christ, the best for magic realism and family problems is one hundred years of solitude, the best for a poor girl winning in life after lot of struggle is jane eyre, the best with dragons, orcs, fantasy is hobbit and lord of the r, and so on... this way the reader can read a something they are interested.
Wow, just found your channel. This is a great video! And I agree with your take on the catcher in the rye, such an amazing and beautiful book! That ending had me almost crying. So sad the Iliad never gets picked haha
This was delightful. I was particularly happy to see The Count of Monte Christo so high. It was serialized when first published and people ran through the streets waving it and crying out, "He has escaped from the Chateau d'If!" Many of my top 10 were in your collection, like Frankenstein and Dorian. The Lord of the Rings and Bros. K are my top 2. One that didn't make it at all is Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize winner, All The King's Men. I think you'd love it, it's both raw and poetic, almost incantatory. And it's as politically relevant now as when it was written.
I’m thrilled to see Jane Eyre in the top 5 and basically…you’re wrong. Lol Really though, it’s a favorite because it’s a story of self-discovery that meditates on people’s roles in society, the nature of free will and personal sovereignty, and transcendental love of the self and others. That, and it’s about two freaks who simultaneously make each other better and worse.
I recently found your channel from the original video - as I was trying to get back into reading after falling out of love with it after university. So happy to see there’s a recent edition :)
I also fell out of love with reading these past two years during university and am finding my way back by watching Emmie's videos and slowly reigniting my relationship with books and feeling something again! Hope you rediscover your love for reading ☺️
I loved 100 years it’s one of my favorite books of all time but really disliked love in the time of cholera for some reason, I hated Florentino and found the whole thing kind of boring and I felt like it lacked the magic of 100 years, maybe I gotta reread it though
i really can never chose one, but some books that come to mind that left quite an impression are: Atonement where the crawdads sing greenwood the giver of stars the truth about the harry quebert affair the baltimore boys the glass castle the book of lost friends violeta stay away from gretchen (don't know if thats available in english, its german originally, by susanne abel)
I was so happy to see the master and margarita here, i feel like its so underated but every person i know that read it loved it (and my family is ukranian so a lot of people) because it really is a masterpiece, and if you find yourself a copy with many footnotes youre gonna have a great time discovering all the little details.
This was awesome! Thanks for the recs. Would you be interested in doing a your top 10 must reads? Kind of like those lists of …must read before you go. You opened my eyes to more classics. Thank you.
I'm half-way through reading The Count of Monte Cristo and I can't put it down!! The story is so captivating, I'm enjoying every second of it. Also, a French movie adaptation is coming out this Friday (June 28) and that was what motivated me to read this book. I wish I did it sooner! What was my life before that???
Loved your words about Catcher in the Rye. It changed my life last December! I’m not sure if it’s my favorite favorite but Collected Fiction by Jorge Luis Borges might be it!
I am here to try to convince you that you are absolutely right about the Secret History instead. The suspension of disbelief? Impossible. The meat of the story happening "off screen" to the main character where he is a largely reactive instead of active character in most of the story? No thank you. So much telling instead of showing. I wanted to like it and Donna Tartt in general so much but I simply cannot. Most of the other ones that I've read are great though. I am also confused about the low ranking of 1984, especially compared to come of what it is up against, but it takes all kinds.
What a wonderful list! So great to see all these titles. Many I haven’t read but want to, but also plenty of those that I would love to reread because it’s been so long! I keep thinking about reading stuff again, but it’s so hard to fit those in among the neverending TBR of new titles 😭😭🤪
My favourite one is the shadow of the wind then there are a lot like night train to Lisbon, Paula and of course as long as the lemon trees grow Also I am reading if on winter’s night a traveler and i am really enjoying it
When I first read a little life I was a little jarred but still enjoyed the hype and joined that train like the rest. Since then I've heard a little bit more about Yanagihara and her research (or lack thereof) regarding trauma, mental illness, depression etc (a few of many triggering concepts she includes in A Little Life). It was very eye opening and I wouldn't be as adoring as I was when first reading. Eager to hear your thoughts!
East of Eden is so so good. It's my favorite book ever, you should definitely give it a go! It's about good and bad and hope and humanity wrapped in an epic family saga.
I liked the list. To be honest, I expected more contemporary works. After listening, I thought there was an excellent balance between the old and the new. Thanks : )
Les miserables is so good I liked it better than the count of monte cristo! (if considering french thick tomes) Definitely give it a go, I promise you it's so much more than Waterloo and Parisian sewers. :) Also curious if Emma has read classics like the Phantom of the Opera in french? That would be an interesting comparison.
I LOVE East of Eden. I love family generational stories and I love the biblical allusions and the characters feel so real. The antagonist character will send shivers down your spine. And the beautiful descriptions of California.
It's as impossible for me to name an absolute favourite book of all time than for parents to choose their favourite kid lol. I don't know how people do that.
I love how you express yourself. When you talk, we hear and realize that you know exactly what you mean and that you take the care necessary to express it, and you do so in multiple articulate ways, i.e. phrases and sentences, the mark of a wordsmith.
Well, I was so happy to see that "Cien Años de Soledad" was voted favorite and that it's also your favorite, because it's my favorite too. I also had the luxury of reading it in Spanish, since Spanish is my native language. A true master piece. If you like that style, I also recommend "La Casa de los Espíritus" (The House of the Spirits) from Isabel Allende
I'm SO pleased to see a fellow lover of The Waves here. The Waves is my favourite book of all time. Voting for the purposes of this video wasn't on my radar, otherwise I absolutely would have put my vote in for The Waves. I've read it through in its entirety 6 times now, plus reading random or tabbed sections here and there. I own 8 different editions of the book. A tad obsessive? Perhaps. I prefer the expression "passionately leaning in". 😊 You have great taste, so I'm interested to hear what are some of your other favourite books and favourite authors? ~ Jensha 💚🌿
One Hundred Years of Solitude is also my favorite, followed by The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Windup Bird Chronicle. I'm currently reading Love in the Time of Cholera and it is astounding so far.
There's a Chinese writer, Wang Xiaobo, whose books... I just can't get enough of. It's unfortunate that his works are not known by many outside of China. But if you can get a copy, highly recommend! Guarantee it'll be different from anything you've read before! He's got quite a legendary life as well. Went through the Cultural Revolution, worked in a factory, and eventually became a college professor. Studied sociology and was even a programmer in the early 90s China.
Ahhh you MUST read The Book Thief!! It’s probably my favorite YA novel of all time. I answered 1Q84 for my fave book in the poll 😎 Could you do another poll but for specific genres, like top historical fiction, top manga, etc.?
30. 1984
29. The Hobbit
28. Piranesi
27. Harry Potter series
26. War and Peace
25. Song of Achilles
24. Normal People
23. The Bell Jar
22. The Catcher in the Rye
21. A Little Life
20. Les Miserable
19. The Master and the Margarita
18. The Night Circus
17. The Little Prince
16. Crime and Punishment
15. The Brothers Kalamazoo
14. Pride and Prejudice
13. East of Eden
12. Anna Karina
11. Little Women
10.The Book Thief
09. The Secret History
08. Anne of Green Gables
07. Wuthering Heights
06. The Fellowship of the Ring
05. The Count of Monte Christo
04. Jane Eyre
03. The Picture of Dorian Grey
02. Frankenstein
01. One Hundred Years of Solitude
🙏
Thank you!
May god send you to heaven😂
"The Brothers Kalamazoo" lol, amazing typo.
@@philipheubeckI came here to say the same. Kalamazoo😂
The Book Thief ❤ It's about reading, writing, and the importance of words. And how those three things can change, nourish and even save your life.
One of my favorites!
Made me cry uncontrollably it is so good
You may like The Shadow of the Wind… also about books and literature. Instant classic
literally reading it rn, i'm at part 10, and i'm terrified to finish it
How young would you say is old enough to read this book?
I have told this story before on other posts, and channels, maybe yours, but here it is again. East of eden is everything to me. I am visually impaired, a braille reader. back when I grew up braille was hard to come by. you had to rely on what the libraries decided to print. certain popular books took years to come out, and you had to borrow them. one braille book is several volumes, and they were too expensive to buy. they had to be shipped in huge boxes, and sometimes because of mail issues only parts of them would come. I cried many tears when I was younger about not being able to just read. I hated audiobooks, and I wanted books in braille. east of eden was one that was hand copied. these books are only loned in limited numbers and for a few weeks. you have no idea how excited I was to get this book borrowed. I devoured it. I loved every page. when I sent it back I was devastated. now happily braille is easy to come by with technology, books to download, and braille displays to read books on. I can now read my favorite book anytime I want. east of eden has everything, great characters, a multigenerational story, good characters who sometimes do horrible things, and bad characters who you sometimes root for and wonder why. It is quite simply a masterpiece.
This was beautiful to read 🤍 thank you for sharing this wonderful story!
Woww ❤what a unique story😊
I love all John Steinbeck's books, esp. this one.
Jane Eyre is in my top books of all time because it’s a story about two people meeting each other’s freak❤
Are they each-other’s freak? 😄
@@rubyanddelilahandnani of course lol😌
Absolutely right!
Every time I reread it I love it more, Rochester as the gypsy is my Roman Empire
I've been wanting to read Jane Eyre since forever. But I'm kinda scared by the thought that would this book be okay ( like in terms of language difficulty and all) for someone like me who haven't read any classics before but desperately want to get into them!?
My Brilliant friend - Elena Ferrante
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
The Island of the missing trees - Elif Shafak
Circe - Madeline Mille [Song of achilles too]
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brothe
The housekeeper and the professor - Yoko Ogawa
All the lovers in the night - Miko Kawakami
All of Jane Austen really
And most recent addition to the list: Things you may find hidden in my ear - Mosab Abu Toha
I loved My Brilliant Friend and the entire series!
I love the housekeeper and the professor ❤
I second Mosab’s book. One of the most incredible works of poetry I’ve ever read, and now one of my favorite authors. ❤️
I voted for The Picture of Dorian Gray and the way I SHRIEKED when it made it to third place!!! It was like watching a football match LOL
Yayy lets gooo ive been waiting for a sequel for the “Iasked 1000 people their favorite book” for over two years
It was a long wait I’m so sorry😂
me too 😅
I voted Jane Eyre! I mean honestly, the writing, Jane’s resilience, spiritual themes and personal growth are themes that flow together so naturally. Also, finding one’s worth after so much trauma is probably what drew me in❤
❤❤❤
@@juliaash5866 I've been wanting to read Jane Eyre since forever. But I'm kinda scared by the thought that would this book be okay (like in terms of language difficulty and all) for someone like me who haven't read any classics before but desperately want to get into them!?
@@hadiyaishaq4894 I find Jane Eyre to use quite a couple of terms that most people wouldn’t know (ex: old British terms), but they are defined in the back of the book. There also are phrases in French, but they are translated in the back! Definitely get the penguin classics version (that’s the one I purchased). It was the only book I cried over, and the language is definitely beautiful and worth reading.
Definitely read it! Whatever you do though, don’t google any plot descriptions no matter how confused you are. The plot gets explained bit by bit, and your reading experience will be so much better by just reading and enjoying! The plot twist was FABULOUS, so definitely read it :)
@@isabellasong1697 Thanks. I really appreciate it!
Also you and Carolyn should be proud, I think this list is the way it is because you two have pushed us to read some of these intimidating monsters. Your first version of this was my first video of yours, and so many of these on this list I believe are influenced by your viewers much more than they were before. It’s really cool to see!
You are absolutely right. And these books are a masterpiece
emma and the book clubs definitely influenced my reading over the years and I’m so happy about it ❤
One of the things I like the most about you, Emma, is how you’ve made a lot of people around the world get to know books that aren’t just the typical recommendation. You read from contemporary YA to classics and the work you do here is remarkable. But beyond that, I always get so thrilled that you give them the chance to know and read Latin American literature: Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, etc. and I think that is just amazing. Time will go by and the work you’re doing here and the mark you’re leaving on people is just always gonna be so precious ❤ thank you for loving books from my country and Latin America in general so much, I really hope you get to do what you love forever ❤
Don't mind Emmie literally knowing pretty much all the books' starting sentences off the top of her head?! YOU'RE LITERALLY AMAZING ILYYY
I don't know how much deliberation I will require to be able to express how Frankenstein, almost overnight, transformed from a novel which I had a complete misunderstanding of became my obsession. There is something within this novel that I have never been able to forget. I still do not know what it is xx
OMG this one is a book that ages like fine wine. I loved reading Frankenstein and the more i think about it after the fact I love it even more. It was one of my favorite classics read to date :)
I'm also one of the people who voted Frankenstein and I just think the story has so many layers that make it so intriguing, so it's hard to get tired of it. Also hi to all the fellow enjoyers who voted with me!!
@@luciaaa1313 I’ve tried explaining the story to others but its one that you have to read yourself to find out. It’s so true about this story having so many layers. I cant wait for my reread of it, i think about this one all the time. I went into the book pretty blind i just happened to pick it up and devoured it and im so thankful i did.
the book thief truthers rise!!!!
Frankenstein is my all-time favorite book. I have six copies: two penguin black classics 1831 ed., one PBC 1818 ed., one Barnes & Noble classics, one Royal classics collector's edition, and a french e-book edition (in three volumes). I've read it 11 times since 2022, and every November I read it again and annotate my already-way-too-annotated firstborn PBC copy, of course in a different pen color than last time (this year is green). It's so annotated I read my notes more than the actual text. I'm always on the lookout for more copies, preferably with beautiful or exciting covers. When my current PBC copy starts to fall apart I'll probably bind it into either a cloth or leather-bound copy, after practicing enough to make sure I don't mess it up, on other books (like the ugly copies i have of hunger games...). I'm glad to see that so many other people are enjoying this novel too. The story around it, Mary's life and how it interacts and interweaves with the story, interests me so much; the (bio)ethical questions, the story of its conception at Byron's house, the year without summer... I've even read a couple academic papers on some different topics tied to Frankenstein, and I also want to write some essays on it myself. I just think its a little underrated outside the reading community, especially if you only half-heartedly read it in high school english class, but really it's very accessible and a great story. I'm so upset to see how pop culture has really screwed over the Creature, and even Victor; i'm nervous about the new Guillermo del Toro adaption, especially after Andrew Garfield quit the project...
You’re literally glowing in this video. You can tell it’s something that you really care about. Makes the video that much more enjoyable imo
so glad Piranesi made the list!!! its my all time favorite, I even plan on getting a tattoo for it! also, The Starless Sea deserved all the love The Night Circus was getting... Piranesi may be my favorite, but I think The Starless Sea is the most stunning collection of words I'll ever read
Happy it made it to the list as well😃 and waiting for the day that Emma reads it!
@@chiarabertoldi2992 and Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrel!!!
100% agreed!
One Hundred Years of Solitude ruining every other book for you is so real because I literally DNF'd Allende's House of the Spirits because the whole time I was like, "I wish this was One Hundred Years of Solitude, actually". 😂
Pity to hear. Because One hundred years of solitude is my favorite book ever, but The House of spirits is also on my top 5. My native language is Spanish and I’m so thankful to enjoy both of them in their original form.
@@tatianasaugar9246 nothing like reading Garcia Marquez in Spanish! ❤️
Me too, maybe I'm biased. The first time I read The House of the Spirits I was 10 years old and I have reread it at least 5 times during my adolescence (I am now 22). I read One Hundred Years of Solitude only 2 years ago because as a Colombian I was afraid that I wouldn't like it or worse yet, that it would ruin La Casa De Los Espíritus for me... But really, both are very different. Allende's book is almost essentially realistic, I would not really say that it is magical realism, and of course the plot is very different... some events are similar, such as the earthquake and the wars (in Allende's book there is the description of the dictatorship of chile) and so on... I'm actually tired of comparing.. they shouldn't do that...
@ShaS-mq3gv OH same. I really wanted it to be my favorite book but I had to stop reading as soon as pedophilia was hinted at or shown. like 😟 I couldn’t believe this was the book everyone’s recommending
I first read one hundred years 14 years ago and still feel this way 😂
I think The Secret History is so many people's favorite because (imo) there's a lot to unpack and a lot to speculate about). ofc i say this absolutely adoring it but its def not everyone's cup of tea!!!
fr it’s my fav book 💕💕
The writing is good, but I've had it for like three years and only got halfway thru.
yeah I like the shifty behaviour from Henry lol
i like the f’d up characters and the writing
I couldn't finish it, but like, in a good way. I hate them lol
Jane Eyre, of all the fictional characters I've read so far, is the one I relate the most. Because, of course, even if we do not share the exact experiences in life, we share so much of our life's reflections. I can sympathize with her like how I pitied my poor self before. We've thought and felt and desired in similar ways, and I was also learning from her. Her character growth is also well-crafted, Charlotte made the transitions seamless. I felt so many emotions and I was so attached. I have felt her pain, hoped the same hope for her, rejoiced in her successes, had fun and fell in love with their dialogues of Mr. Rochester, and was curious too with the mysteries of the tale.
Just amazing 💚
I love Jane Eyre because I simply relate to Jane at so many levels. Her story captured my heart
this is such a cool way of getting book recommendations, I needed this!!
I can't believe a latin american book is in first place😮. García Márquez es un genio total.
Greetings from Argentina 🇦🇷
Estudio Espanol por ser capaz de leer este libro en el lingua original.
Jane Eyre☺️ I don’t know how to explain my love for this book. I think nostalgia plays a big role at this point, as I’ve been reading it since I was very young, but I guess there are two types of people -those who fall in love with Rochester and those who don’t 😅To me, this book is perfect❤
My personal top 5:
1. Sula by Toni Morrison
2. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
3. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
4. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
5. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison (shes my favorite author I tried doing one book per writer but I would be lying to myself 😂)
On another note though, this video reminded me how many "classics" I have yet to read. I've added a bunch to my tbr!!
We Have Always Lived in the Castle has been a favorite probably longer than any other book I've read. It's just about perfect in tone and pacing.
Never Let Me Go and We Have Always Lived in the Castle are in my top 5 as well!
SULA. Yes. Just because of that, I have to read the others on your list.
I read Never Let Me Go in 2020 once but it grew on me ever since. I find the symbol Norfolk particularly fascinating and it definitely relates. I would also recommend The Remains.
Omgg. We have always lived in the castle, my top favourites ❤
1. The Lives and Loves of a She-Devil - Fay Weldon
2. Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
3. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - Patrick Süskind
4. A Time on Earth - Vilhelm Moberg
5. The Artificial Silk Girl - Irmgard Keun
Honorable mentions are Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, Darling River by Sara Stridsberg and Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov ❤❤❤
My book number one is “Gone with the Wind” which I’ve read.. I don’t know even how many times. My second favorite is “Jane Eyre”. And the third is “Game of Thrones”, but I should admit that it’s my favorite because I’m also a huge fan of the show.
I think that the books that got a higher place this time is honestly because when you have recommended them you really sell them. I mean, the amount of books I have on my list because you have talked about them so passionately is huuuge. so thank you Emma! now I feel I have a pretty damn long list of books for the rest of my life thanks to you and I'm so genuinely happy about it
I read frankenstein because of you and it changed my life ♡ (i also voted for it so I'm so happy it got 2nd place!!)
Since you mentioned not knowing where it is; I think I spotted the Bell Jar on the top shelf on the left in the last video. I don’t know why I remember that 😅
Ahhhh FOUND IT haha thank you😂
I LITERALLY CAME HERE TO COMMENT THIS! See Emma? There's at least one benefit of having us snoop around your bookshelves.
I’m so happy Frankenstein made it to #2. It literally changed my life and I have never stopped thinking about it since. Also I am currently reading a hundred years of solitude and it is such a well written book omg.
For me Jane Eyre is about liberation and finding your place in life through your own means. It was never the story of Rochester and Jane, that's the gothic freakish part of it, but the story of Jane, a poor unloved girl who finds strenght within herself to keep going, who is put in front of "temptation" and resists it because she feels in her heart she doesn't want her happiness to be at the cost of a lie, she's the one who says "I am no bird and no net ensnares me". That really resounded in me. The first time I read it I was too young and didn't really care, but the second time... Oh God, did I feel it.
Jane Eyre changed my brain chemistry. I was moved by Jane’s faith, independence, and resilience. The way Charlotte Brontë writes is like being lulled to sleep by soft grass and sunshine.
For me my top 5 would be:
1. Memoirs of Hadrian - Marguerite Yourcenar
2. Death in Venice - Thomas Mann
3. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
4. Autobiography of Red - Anne Carson
5. Orlando - Virginia Woolf
Honorable mentions: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin and We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson :))
Next time you should do a survey in google forms or something like that :) so you don't have to spend a lot of time checking instagram answers (which mut have been very difficult)
I’m sure she got this data from her Goodreads survey- if you want to add her as a friend on there, u have to answer a survey about what your favourite book is
1. Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky
2. Idiot - Dostoevsky
3. War and Peace - Tolstoy
4. Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
5. East of Eden - John Steinbeck
so nice list.
East 👏🏼of 👏🏼Eden👏🏼
Today I did a deep dive on Booktube. Watched about 30 videos. Then I see this young woman who has 408K subscribers. What makes her so special. Well after watching this video it is obvious. You are so honest and passionate about books. And you are funny. Really enjoyed the video. Keep up the great work. Signed your newest subscriber.
I am actually currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo and loving it. Love the narration, love the pacing, love Edmond, love everything!
It's my favorite book of all time!!!😊
Your passion for these books as the list went on inspires wonder and excitement in me. Makes me want to make more time in my life for books. Thanks!
When you were introducing The Catcher In The Rye I actually thought you were referring to Lolita. Love the idea of a top 30. Unfortunately my favourite To Kill A Mockingbird was not there
Fun list
My top 10 - not in order
East is East - TC Boyle
1984 - George Orwell
Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
The Stand - Stephen King
Hyperion - Dan Simmons
Boys Life - Robert McCammon
Cryptonomicom - Neal Stephenson
Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert A Heinlein
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
I loved the first half of Les Miserables. The complex emotions, the beautiful wordiness were breathtaking. That moment Jean Valjean stood accidentally on a young boys coin but he couldn't process it because his mind was so locked up in thought and worry. That deer in the headlights felt so raw and true. I always said it was my most favorite book until I learned that he wrote it with the assistance of a spiritualist. That is a real problem since biblically we are to have nothing to do with mediums or the "spirit" world.
I am a Jane Eyre lover. It’s so incredibly romantic. I don’t find Rochester disgusting, just very flawed and the whole story is about Jane’s unconditional love, her resilience, her strength, her virtue. It’s got the romantic love story of Jane Austin but much more gothic and dark. I always love those vibes. It’s just a cozy love story mixed with some mystery and sadness and feels like real life. Real life is messy and people are flawed. I dislike immensely Wuthering Heights though so I may have to return back to it and see if I warm up to that one.
I really agree with this comment! 🩷
The Count Of Montecristo is THE book. I love seeing it more and more on sns now a days. Also I really enjoyed this video.
So happy Lord of the Rings (my vote) ranked so high🥹
About the popularity of Jane Eyre: I think Rochester-like romantic interests have become more prevalent in popular media in recent years. I don't mean the attic stuff - I mean that he is impassioned, emotional, quick to get attached and has a penchant for grand gestures. He is quite an interesting personality to read.
you'll love east of eden!! for me, the book allowed me to understand myself so much deeper. it's like a study on character and overcoming/succumbing to the evil inside you. family and parent-child, sibling relationship are a major theme too
My favourite will always be LOTR, I've reread it so many times since I was a child. Also, I will admit, I read the Count of Monte Cristo for your book club and I am obsessed! I'm already doing a reread to annotate it. One of my new favourites for sure
It's truly beautiful and inspiring how passionate you are about books and reading.....thank you.
The video you made 3 years ago is actually the first video of yours I ever watched!! So I hold a very special place in my heart for it, since you've helped me a lot to get back to reading
First video of yours I ever watched was the one three years ago asking 1000 people for their favorite book! Don’t think I’ve missed any of your videos in past three years!
@@efluvial ah so cool!! Thank you for coming along☺️
Speaking of great opening lines, Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior is my current favorite-“ A certain feeling comes from throwing your good life away, and it is one part rapture.”
Engaging with books has significantly elevated my perspective on investing. True wealth isn't built through mere savings; financial freedom stems from strategic investments. I've learned that accumulating wealth hinges on making prudent investment decisions|
Embarking on the investment journey at 40, I envision a triumphant testimony of significant success by the age of 55.
Books have also changed my perspective on investing. Understanding that real wealth is built through strategic investments rather than mere savings is crucial. Working with an adviser has pointed me in the right direction.
'Angela Lynn Schilling’ maintains an online presence. Just make a simple search for her name online.
1984 and Catcher and the Rye are taught in schools in Canada. They were mandatory readings.
I think your copy of The bell jar on the shelf with the baby yodas, I’m pretty sure I saw it there in your last video haha
*me for the entirety of the list* "Oh? Well, it is good, I give you that, but the best?"
*me seeing the first place* "Let's goooo!!!!!"
I think it shows that I'm not here by accident, that the winner here is the book that... maybe saying "reignited my love for reading" isn't quite right, because there wasn't a time that I wouldn't love reading, but for years I would read a few pages, then put the book away, then maybe read the next few chapters, then never finish. And then--maybe it was the right book at the right time, maybe it really is everything a book can be. It still took me two weeks to finish, during which I literally never put it down: eating and sleeping with the book, opening it in every free second of my time. And just like that, the spell was broken.
Wuthering heights! It's my top book!! The writing, charecter development, descriptions of the moors, the plot... it's all so good. I think it really shows you what it means to be a human in a way that's never told before. Nothing has ever made me feel something so intense.
I am right there with you!! I have to reread it every November. Pure perfection.
Can I read it as someone who haven't read any classic before but desperately wants to get into classics. (Like in terms of language difficulty and all)
@@hadiyaishaq4894 I think so! I've never read it in English (only in my native language), but I think if I was new to classics, I'd rather start here than with something very long and intimidating. Pride and Prejudice is a good start too, and that's not as heavy (content wise).
@@kittikovacs9093 I've already read that but as an audiobook and I personally love Jane austen. But thought of getting into other authors as well and that's why I'm pretty confused where to start from!
@@hadiyaishaq4894 I don't think you'd have a problem with the language, to be honest. I read Wuthering Heights back in high school for the first time, and while I didn't enjoy is at deeply as I do now, I still loved it. And I enjoyed it more than Frankenstein or The Picture of Dorian Gray (but that's just personal preferance).
I also recommend Lonesome dove and Cold Mountain..beautiful books especially if you love words/writing😊
I love this! I also love your ability to pronounce Russian and French names/phrases so eloquently
Impressed!
I'm about to start my Master's thesis on Frankenstein because that book is truly singular and its cultural misunderstanding has fascinated me ever since, I will literally never stop yapping about its glory
Thissssss. Thank you for doing work that needs to be done! I adore it. It overwhelms me. I hate how people think the monster is so different to how he is, I think it’s partly the fault of the film 😭👀
Also I cannot say East of Eden is my favorite anymore bc I read it when I was 15 and hardly remember it but Grapes of Wrath I do remember and that was 👌🏻
100 Years of Solitude has been on my shelf since Christmas and ive been putting off reading it until i had a full weekend to dedicate to it and now the time has finally come. So excited to dive in
I think the best is classify the novels for theme. For example: the best for bad marriage is Anna Karienina, the best for revenge is count of mount christ, the best for magic realism and family problems is one hundred years of solitude, the best for a poor girl winning in life after lot of struggle is jane eyre, the best with dragons, orcs, fantasy is hobbit and lord of the r, and so on... this way the reader can read a something they are interested.
Excellent idea for a future video
Wow, just found your channel. This is a great video!
And I agree with your take on the catcher in the rye, such an amazing and beautiful book! That ending had me almost crying.
So sad the Iliad never gets picked haha
Happy to see Piranesi on here. It may be a newcomer but it's so good and so unique.
This was delightful. I was particularly happy to see The Count of Monte Christo so high. It was serialized when first published and people ran through the streets waving it and crying out, "He has escaped from the Chateau d'If!" Many of my top 10 were in your collection, like Frankenstein and Dorian. The Lord of the Rings and Bros. K are my top 2. One that didn't make it at all is Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize winner, All The King's Men. I think you'd love it, it's both raw and poetic, almost incantatory. And it's as politically relevant now as when it was written.
I’m thrilled to see Jane Eyre in the top 5 and basically…you’re wrong. Lol
Really though, it’s a favorite because it’s a story of self-discovery that meditates on people’s roles in society, the nature of free will and personal sovereignty, and transcendental love of the self and others. That, and it’s about two freaks who simultaneously make each other better and worse.
I recently found your channel from the original video - as I was trying to get back into reading after falling out of love with it after university. So happy to see there’s a recent edition :)
I also fell out of love with reading these past two years during university and am finding my way back by watching Emmie's videos and slowly reigniting my relationship with books and feeling something again! Hope you rediscover your love for reading ☺️
Emma, seriously, I cant WAIT for you to read Love In The Time of The Cholera
I actually loved this more than 100 Years of Solitude
@@lorilimper5429 me too! I love 100 years, but oh god, not how much I love Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza
I remember in one of Emma's bloopers videos she called it "Love in the Time of Corona"
@@circleofleaves2676 i mean, she already has an iconic relationship with this book! Haha
I loved 100 years it’s one of my favorite books of all time but really disliked love in the time of cholera for some reason, I hated Florentino and found the whole thing kind of boring and I felt like it lacked the magic of 100 years, maybe I gotta reread it though
I'm so happy because I've read 20 books from this list and have 5 more on my tbr ❤ Truly a great selection!
i really can never chose one, but some books that come to mind that left quite an impression are:
Atonement
where the crawdads sing
greenwood
the giver of stars
the truth about the harry quebert affair
the baltimore boys
the glass castle
the book of lost friends
violeta
stay away from gretchen (don't know if thats available in english, its german originally, by susanne abel)
Atonement one of my favorite too.
I was so happy to see the master and margarita here, i feel like its so underated but every person i know that read it loved it (and my family is ukranian so a lot of people) because it really is a masterpiece, and if you find yourself a copy with many footnotes youre gonna have a great time discovering all the little details.
1984 is so good that many people swear we are living it!!
Nah, we're way more brave new world. ;)
The way tiktok is with the surveillance of strangers...it's terrifying sometimes how similar the world is to 1984.
This was awesome! Thanks for the recs. Would you be interested in doing a your top 10 must reads? Kind of like those lists of …must read before you go. You opened my eyes to more classics. Thank you.
I'm half-way through reading The Count of Monte Cristo and I can't put it down!! The story is so captivating, I'm enjoying every second of it.
Also, a French movie adaptation is coming out this Friday (June 28) and that was what motivated me to read this book. I wish I did it sooner! What was my life before that???
Yes!! My favorite 😍 😊
East of Eden is such a good juicy complex family drama I cannot wait to hear your thoughts!!! I think you will really enjoy it :)
No books from Khaled Hosseini
The kite runner and Thousands splendid sun deserved to be here 😢
this is such a lovely video to see you make again because your initial video a few years ago was the reason i got back into reading!!
@@bailie2684 :’)
Loved your words about Catcher in the Rye. It changed my life last December!
I’m not sure if it’s my favorite favorite but Collected Fiction by Jorge Luis Borges might be it!
I love Catcher in the Rye so much!!! So glad you defended it so passionately 😭
I am here to try to convince you that you are absolutely right about the Secret History instead. The suspension of disbelief? Impossible. The meat of the story happening "off screen" to the main character where he is a largely reactive instead of active character in most of the story? No thank you. So much telling instead of showing. I wanted to like it and Donna Tartt in general so much but I simply cannot.
Most of the other ones that I've read are great though. I am also confused about the low ranking of 1984, especially compared to come of what it is up against, but it takes all kinds.
I love, love, love The catcher in the rye. He speaks to me. And I understand every bit of it
I wrote my bachelor thesis on Frankenstein! Its title was "Creator and his creation: Frankenstein vs. I, Robot."
What a wonderful list! So great to see all these titles. Many I haven’t read but want to, but also plenty of those that I would love to reread because it’s been so long! I keep thinking about reading stuff again, but it’s so hard to fit those in among the neverending TBR of new titles 😭😭🤪
My favourite one is the shadow of the wind then there are a lot like night train to Lisbon, Paula and of course as long as the lemon trees grow
Also I am reading if on winter’s night a traveler and i am really enjoying it
I loved If on a Winter's Night a Traveler! It was such a unique book, and was written so beautifully!
Commenting to stay on Book Tube. Love this channel.
Thank you, can't believe no catch 22 . Totally agree with you on the first sentences in books they just grab you.
When I first read a little life I was a little jarred but still enjoyed the hype and joined that train like the rest. Since then I've heard a little bit more about Yanagihara and her research (or lack thereof) regarding trauma, mental illness, depression etc (a few of many triggering concepts she includes in A Little Life). It was very eye opening and I wouldn't be as adoring as I was when first reading. Eager to hear your thoughts!
East of Eden is so so good. It's my favorite book ever, you should definitely give it a go! It's about good and bad and hope and humanity wrapped in an epic family saga.
I liked the list. To be honest, I expected more contemporary works. After listening, I thought there was an excellent balance between the old and the new. Thanks : )
Yeah, I was surprised by Dumas too - and I've never heard anyone not love his writing
Les miserables is so good I liked it better than the count of monte cristo! (if considering french thick tomes) Definitely give it a go, I promise you it's so much more than Waterloo and Parisian sewers. :)
Also curious if Emma has read classics like the Phantom of the Opera in french? That would be an interesting comparison.
I LOVE East of Eden. I love family generational stories and I love the biblical allusions and the characters feel so real. The antagonist character will send shivers down your spine. And the beautiful descriptions of California.
It's as impossible for me to name an absolute favourite book of all time than for parents to choose their favourite kid lol. I don't know how people do that.
I love how you express yourself. When you talk, we hear and realize that you know exactly what you mean and that you take the care necessary to express it, and you do so in multiple articulate ways, i.e. phrases and sentences, the mark of a wordsmith.
Watership Down by Richard Adams.
Well, I was so happy to see that "Cien Años de Soledad" was voted favorite and that it's also your favorite, because it's my favorite too. I also had the luxury of reading it in Spanish, since Spanish is my native language. A true master piece. If you like that style, I also recommend "La Casa de los Espíritus" (The House of the Spirits) from Isabel Allende
Let's gooo! I answered The Waves, and I doubt it will make it into the top 30, but here's hoping...
I'm SO pleased to see a fellow lover of The Waves here. The Waves is my favourite book of all time. Voting for the purposes of this video wasn't on my radar, otherwise I absolutely would have put my vote in for The Waves. I've read it through in its entirety 6 times now, plus reading random or tabbed sections here and there. I own 8 different editions of the book. A tad obsessive? Perhaps. I prefer the expression "passionately leaning in". 😊 You have great taste, so I'm interested to hear what are some of your other favourite books and favourite authors?
~ Jensha 💚🌿
What I’ve learned about this video is that y’all are so smart because some of these books give me a headache with the language lol
i miss the plate trick from the first video, that was quite cool honestly 😩
One Hundred Years of Solitude is also my favorite, followed by The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Windup Bird Chronicle. I'm currently reading Love in the Time of Cholera and it is astounding so far.
There's a Chinese writer, Wang Xiaobo, whose books... I just can't get enough of. It's unfortunate that his works are not known by many outside of China. But if you can get a copy, highly recommend! Guarantee it'll be different from anything you've read before! He's got quite a legendary life as well. Went through the Cultural Revolution, worked in a factory, and eventually became a college professor. Studied sociology and was even a programmer in the early 90s China.
Emma!! You MUST read East of Eden!! I adore that book.
Ahhh you MUST read The Book Thief!! It’s probably my favorite YA novel of all time. I answered 1Q84 for my fave book in the poll 😎
Could you do another poll but for specific genres, like top historical fiction, top manga, etc.?