A "book crush?" Pretty funny idea. Good to see you James. I've read a few King short stories and the Mist novella. His style, which is liked by millions, doesn't appeal to me. It becomes especially ponderous when he gives backstory to the characters. I like how Henry James does it, whose appeal isn't close to King's, and for many is ponderous. To each their own. Chekhov is excellent. He was a favorite of Shelby Foote, Nabokov, and Vasilly Grossman, who read his short stories during the war in Stalingrad.
Thanks GV. The "book crush" reminds me of the "book fetish" video that Bookish Texan did last week. A little too personal for comfort. I've read a smattering of Chekhov and seen productions of most of his plays, but I feel like a read-through of all the hilights might be fun.
That is certainly plenty of reading for the rest of the year 😊. Oh I’m a weirdo still watching and I think Chekhovember sounds brilliant. Love Chekhov. I’m definitely in 😊. Great video. Love the tag 😊
Thanks for watching, Deb. Sure seems like enough for six months. After Gabepril, Chekhovember seems almost too reasonable. I have a reputation to uphold!
Always a treat to find a signed copy in the wild (though “a television set showing a static picture of a cornfield” is the stuff of nightmares). Chekhovember may be just the ticket to get my unthumbed Viking Portable Chekhov down off the shelf at last.
Good for you remaining composed. 👍🏼 You got this. I looked it up. I will read Blood Done Sign My Name, because of you. Thank you for bringing that one to my attention.
What I read in Proust today: "Trembling like a recruit in front of a bullying sergeant...making his words occupy the smallest possible space so as to have a better chance of avoiding the blows." On the next page: "...you don't dine out if you can no longer articulate."
Thanks for watching Renee. Orlando, to me, is a lot less intimidating than Portrait of a Lady, but we'll see. Wouldn't want to hang my head in shame if I didn't read what I said I would.
Great video, James. I think I want to do this tag too. I really like these prompts. I, too, was very disappointed by my re-read of CARRIE, fifty years after I read it for the first time. I love that you love Bleak House. It's one of my favorites of Dickens too. I think that the first time I made you laugh was in comment about Bleak House. I don't remember the context, but it had something to do with spontaneous combustion. I am very impressed that you have made such progress with Proust. I am feeling inklings of curiosity with all the talk about Proust on BookTube nowadays, but I just don't know....Anyway, terrific video, James.
Thanks for watching Pat. I remember exactly the comment--I was hinting at spoiling that one weird thing that happens in the middle of Bleak House but felt guilty for spoiling all kinds of other plot points in a previous video. You said that you'd spontaneously combust if I did so!
Did I hear somebody say Czech November? Czech November or Chekhov November? I could use something to encourage me to spend some time with AC, but not the plays please. Maybe some short stories! 🎉
Nice one, James! Have you read the collected novellas of Chekhov? I found an omnibus of them from Everyman. I haven’t heard much booktube commentary on them! His stories and plays are brilliant though, aren’t they? I have high hopes for the novellas (some might argue that they’re just 5 short stories of +/- 100 pages each-but “novella” sounds more exciting!)
I've read a handful of his short stories and (I think) three of the plays, but always heard that the longer prose is not as good. If I found an Everyman omnibus of the novellas out in the wild, I'd definitely bring it home, though.
I've always been disappointed by Carrie, too, and I've given it multiple chances. I'm almost finished with Dune, and I'm loving it just as much this time as the previous times I've read it.
@@JamesRuchala In no particular order: Billy Summers 11/22/63 Misery The Dead Zone Salems Lot When he's good, he's very good, but when he's bad, he's horrid.
I'll be honest, I never do anything because Steve Donahue tells me to, but I am intrigued enough to try reading Three Men in a Boat, which I've heard him recommend a few times. I'll read it very soon now! I've never read Carrie so you're ahead of me on that, and on In Search of Lost Time... which I might read next year with the readalong event. No spoilers! I enjoyed Gabe-April and reading Ibsen for the first time. YES to Mattie Ross - I just finished reading True Grit yesterday. Now I want to watch one of the movies. I've also got The Good Soldier on my TBR. I'm interested in reading Chekhov in November, especially since I scheduled a break for my McCullough reading during that month. Works perfectly for me.
A "book crush?" Pretty funny idea. Good to see you James. I've read a few King short stories and the Mist novella. His style, which is liked by millions, doesn't appeal to me. It becomes especially ponderous when he gives backstory to the characters. I like how Henry James does it, whose appeal isn't close to King's, and for many is ponderous. To each their own. Chekhov is excellent. He was a favorite of Shelby Foote, Nabokov, and Vasilly Grossman, who read his short stories during the war in Stalingrad.
Thanks GV. The "book crush" reminds me of the "book fetish" video that Bookish Texan did last week. A little too personal for comfort. I've read a smattering of Chekhov and seen productions of most of his plays, but I feel like a read-through of all the hilights might be fun.
That is certainly plenty of reading for the rest of the year 😊. Oh I’m a weirdo still watching and I think Chekhovember sounds brilliant. Love Chekhov. I’m definitely in 😊. Great video. Love the tag 😊
Thanks for watching, Deb. Sure seems like enough for six months. After Gabepril, Chekhovember seems almost too reasonable. I have a reputation to uphold!
That moment you realize you're still on question 1. 😂 Been there, do that.
Always a treat to find a signed copy in the wild (though “a television set showing a static picture of a cornfield” is the stuff of nightmares). Chekhovember may be just the ticket to get my unthumbed Viking Portable Chekhov down off the shelf at last.
Would be great to have at least one fellow-traveler to Chekhovinia.
"The stuff of nightmares" is fitting for that book--it's creepy.
Good for you remaining composed. 👍🏼 You got this. I looked it up. I will read Blood Done Sign My Name, because of you. Thank you for bringing that one to my attention.
I did a review of it back in February or March
@@JamesRuchala I’ll check it out.
What I read in Proust today: "Trembling like a recruit in front of a bullying sergeant...making his words occupy the smallest possible space so as to have a better chance of avoiding the blows." On the next page: "...you don't dine out if you can no longer articulate."
Love all of that.
What a fun chat. I read Portrait of a Lady a few mos ago and found it very enjoyable. It was my first James. I too would like to get to Orlando!
Thanks for watching Renee. Orlando, to me, is a lot less intimidating than Portrait of a Lady, but we'll see. Wouldn't want to hang my head in shame if I didn't read what I said I would.
Great video, James. I think I want to do this tag too. I really like these prompts. I, too, was very disappointed by my re-read of CARRIE, fifty years after I read it for the first time. I love that you love Bleak House. It's one of my favorites of Dickens too. I think that the first time I made you laugh was in comment about Bleak House. I don't remember the context, but it had something to do with spontaneous combustion. I am very impressed that you have made such progress with Proust. I am feeling inklings of curiosity with all the talk about Proust on BookTube nowadays, but I just don't know....Anyway, terrific video, James.
Thanks for watching Pat. I remember exactly the comment--I was hinting at spoiling that one weird thing that happens in the middle of Bleak House but felt guilty for spoiling all kinds of other plot points in a previous video. You said that you'd spontaneously combust if I did so!
@@JamesRuchala that’s it! I felt so accomplished because I made you laugh! 😂
Did I hear somebody say Czech November? Czech November or Chekhov November? I could use something to encourage me to spend some time with AC, but not the plays please. Maybe some short stories! 🎉
Czech November? Czech, no! ha.
Plays are optional, for the real heads.
Nice one, James! Have you read the collected novellas of Chekhov? I found an omnibus of them from Everyman. I haven’t heard much booktube commentary on them! His stories and plays are brilliant though, aren’t they? I have high hopes for the novellas (some might argue that they’re just 5 short stories of +/- 100 pages each-but “novella” sounds more exciting!)
I've read a handful of his short stories and (I think) three of the plays, but always heard that the longer prose is not as good. If I found an Everyman omnibus of the novellas out in the wild, I'd definitely bring it home, though.
I've always been disappointed by Carrie, too, and I've given it multiple chances. I'm almost finished with Dune, and I'm loving it just as much this time as the previous times I've read it.
Thanks for watching, Randy. Is there a Stephen King that you'd recommend for a King-skeptic?
@@JamesRuchala In no particular order:
Billy Summers
11/22/63
Misery
The Dead Zone
Salems Lot
When he's good, he's very good, but when he's bad, he's horrid.
@@LiterateTexan thanks Randy!
I'll be honest, I never do anything because Steve Donahue tells me to, but I am intrigued enough to try reading Three Men in a Boat, which I've heard him recommend a few times. I'll read it very soon now! I've never read Carrie so you're ahead of me on that, and on In Search of Lost Time... which I might read next year with the readalong event. No spoilers! I enjoyed Gabe-April and reading Ibsen for the first time. YES to Mattie Ross - I just finished reading True Grit yesterday. Now I want to watch one of the movies. I've also got The Good Soldier on my TBR. I'm interested in reading Chekhov in November, especially since I scheduled a break for my McCullough reading during that month. Works perfectly for me.
You're wise not to take Steve's suggestions-- he's a bad influence haha! I can't spoil Proust--nothing happens in it.
@@JamesRuchala .. If nothing happens in In Search of Lost Time... I might not get through it.
Pretentious? Moi?
Certainly not toi. Now, if you did the tag while simultaneously running over a mountain and drinking a snifter of brandy...