I really like your videos because you make them in the way we made them at the beginning of booktube, without any thought for monetization or branding or whatever. Just people being themselves talking into a camera with no production, sharing thoughts with each other and making friends. Tldr don't change the eye rolls.
Quality children's books are soooo important. I love Grimes' quote "How can we heal as a society when everyone's earliest artistic experience is completely devoid of humanity or beauty? Half joking but kinda not" Kate DiCamillo the woman that you are. The Tale of Desperaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane were so formative for me😹 🤝
amen grimes, amen. adults need to get on their children books grind. i think i read tale in elementary school. a sweet sad book unless im misremembering
@@meisbanana6170 I'm sorry, you said pick up a new language? That's so much work?! Learning a new language is so difficult in my opinion. The book is in danish, I think it's more nostalgic than a literary masterpiece
During the pandemic when I taught online we had to record every session and I realised how much I unconsciously roll my eyes while talking, explaining, telling kids off etc. And I'm also so fidgety, moving my hair around or touching my face or whatever. I mean, I never knew these things about myself until I had to actually record them 😂
RELATABLE. i didn't realize how much i rolled my eyes until i made my channel. recording yourself and then watching it back really is an odd experience
I 100% agree I don’t like audiobooks, but sometimes because I am stuck in the lab for hours and I would be already consumed all the episodes of my favourite podcasts I go and listen to an audiobook but it’s rarely I find an audiobook that is not boring to listen to it.
The strongest case for audiobooks is for those old poems like paradise lost and the divine comedy imo. Very enjoyable to listen to while you're following along with the book as opposed to reading those long ass poems by themselves
So hyped for your childrens book era😤 Genuinely good childrens books that respect the minds of kids and actually tackle serious issues (or are at least beautiful and heartfelt) are so so so important and can touch anyone. My childrens book era was kickstarted by finally reading the Velveteen Rabbit as an adult and fully sobbing about it. Its Watership Down next and Im greatly enjoying myself so far 🐇
I like using audible for books that I love but don’t feel like rereading , like I can clean my house and everything and still be engaged. Now when I tried to listen to a book that I never read before it was a messs. I could not focus at all.
So, I'm working my way through your videos, rather randomly, and out of the 7 I've watched in their entirety, so far, *this is hands down, my favorite!*
Your take on audiobooks is 100% how I feel about them. I seriously have to lie down and stare at the roof to pay attention without zoning out. And that’s not enjoyable at all nor feels like reading.
The clickbait worked on me, so this was probably a good business decision... personally I enjoy this channel regardless of the topic, but I especially appropriate current chaotic mood
greetings from germany! watching your videos feels like witnessing the early days of a widely known celebrity, it somehow messes with my perception of time.
You're so right about the audiobooks. Also, don't listen to those silly people calling you an actor. lol "My goal is to read only kids book and Nietzsche." Lol. Also not hot kindles is true.
audiobooks for me are just not it. something about the voice acting i can't ignore. it can be the voice of a character, their reading speed idk. i only use audiobooks when i'm cooking selecting a book which i don't care if a miss sentences
I’ve started buying audiobooks of physical books I’ve already read, listened to The Secret History and it really helped deepen my appreciation for the text.
OMG, you have the most marvelous and varied facial expressions (!). I wanted to say this before, but I think you'd make a great college professor (if you can stand the politics of academia), because your enthusiasm for literature is infectious. Facial expressions and eye rolls included.
I’ve been wondering why isn’t there more fantasy talk on your channel and I thought that it might be intentional.. Here is a recommendation: Joe Abercrambie. Not a lot of magic, but amazing characters. Very sarcastic, very dark humor, great commentary on life in general..
@@bribripollock the first law trilogy is where I started and I feel like most people did as well (and it is where you should start because we get introduced to some characters that will appear later on..) But my personal favorite is the standalone novel Best served cold First book in the first law trilogy is a little bit slow but still very enjoyable
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman is a book that crosses two of your 'want to read more' categories - children's books and fantasy. It's the first book in a trilogy (His Dark Materials), which tbh goes off the rails a little by the third book, but the first book is really excellent. Well-written, fast paced, and entertaining. I read it for the first time as an adult and it was a page turner for me. I couldn't put it down after the first couple of pages. I could not agree more with your Zeitgeist take. I read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow because so many people whose taste I thought I respected wouldn't shut up about it and I hated it so much. And I bought the damn hardcover. I'm still mad hahah
omg since you said it that was one of the books i was talking about OOP! oop OOP OOP. i think i heard somewhere that the golden compass trilogy wasnt supposed to be for kids but the publishers thought it would do better with that marketing! i read some of the first one years ago. they have been on my mind recently with the whole childrens revival
For fantasy you have to read Legendborn !! It is YA but it’s soo much more than that and I think that even if you’re not typically a YA reader you might totally enjoy it. Sure, it got some chlichés in it but it’s a really smart book that talks about grief, racism, sexism, etc in such a reader-friendly way
My favorite horror novel is Swan Song by Robert McCammon. Another good one I read recently was A History of Fear by Luke Dumas. A History of Fear isn’t fast-paced, but I enjoyed it. It’s a creepy mystery/horror thing. I’ll probably read it again. Swan Song is kind of like The Stand, but much better.
The only thing I use audiobooks for is old and excessively long epics (I’m looking at you Paradise Lost), where they’re in verse so it’s nice to have it read out loud while you read. And it’s like 30 hours so you get ur credit’s worth lol
For horror books, I would recommend Gollitok by Andrew Najberg (posh writing style but also very good at vivid descriptions and creating atmosphere) and Thin Air: A Ghost Story by Michelle Paver (historical fiction about climbing Kangchenjunga and being paranoid by weird things going on)
Me frantically switching from listening to an audiobook to your videos back to audiobook back to your videos 😭🤣 ... kids books are IT. Your take to read only kids books and Nietzsche is the ultimate goal. love the vivacious chaotic energy!
For fantasy similar to A Song of Ice and Fire I'd recommend Joe Abercrombie's First Law series. There's the original trilogy, 3 standalones, a short story collection and another trilogy. All in the same world, and building upon each other (short story collection is kinda skippable if u want to). It sounds like a lot but I loved it so much that I didn't read anything else until I finished all 10 books. The author loves ASOIAF so you can find some inspiration from it in the books if you look for it but the world and characters are very unique (some of the best, most complex and developed characters in fantasy), it's definitely not a clone. Oh and I almost forgot the best aspects: It's extremely dark but also hilarious (not in a forced way) at the same time and it's multigenerational (there's a time skip between the trilogies) which sounds exhausting but it's so much fun.
I'm totally with you on audiobooks. I've tried to get into them but between physical books, my kindle, podcasts, tv and movies it was just too much. Love the channel 👍🏼
King shit 👑👑👑cause I hate audiobooks too!! I just can’t pay attention if I’m doing something else I’m not listening to the book, if I’m listening I feel restless like I should be doing something I “read” Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas via audiobook and cleaning my room. I couldn’t tell you anything that happened but I did try paying attention I listened to the whole thing but none of it registered to me. So many better things to listen to especially with long form content, and reading is just a very specific experience that doesn’t feel the same while just listening
I feel the same way about audiobooks. If I’m listening to one, it usually means I didn’t like the book enough to keep reading it. Plus, I would rather be listening to a podcast or a UA-cam video at that point
For Fantasy, I second someone's suggestion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Also for a unique epic fantasy .. The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez.. haven't read yet it but it's on my soon-TBR!
yesyesyes try with jade city! You should also check out the broken earth trilogy by nk jemisin or every heart a doorway(this one’s more like fairytale but it’s sooooo creative and hilarious)
I'm definitely not an audiobook fan - I want to hold / smell / feel a book when I'm reading it. Having said that, I used to be a distance runner and audiobooks saved my life back then - the time would fly by if I went on a run and listened to a book. I usually reserved "easy" reads for my runs, things that didn't require much thought or analysis.
mmm agreed. ive thought about listening to audiobooks when i run but i love a good song too much 🫣 if i do long long distances more often maybe ill give audiobooks a shot
ok so Hozier said one of his favorite novels was Oscar Wilde's collected fairytales. that might be a place to start for children's lit. Also big fan of Emily St John Mandel. she does literary scifi well
@@cs0p honestly I was like 3.5-3.75 on Station Eleven but I still think about it to this day which is a mark of a good writer for me. I also heard Ted Chiang is another one to go to for lit sci-fi and I don't think I've seen anyone give him a bad review
For horror, I'd recommend "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" by Iain Reid! It's one of the first psychological thriller/horror novels I read, and I ATE IT UP. It's confusing, but in the best way possible--it makes you question reality, fear, and consciousness. It's a fun little fever dream
I'm basically pro audiobook but I also very much agree with yr take re concentration/using audiobooks to just plow thru a book you don't like. I really try to avoid overly passive listening, bc then what's the point. (then again, I find it's possible to have passive eye-reading experiences too) surely you're going to be *shocked* (shocked!) but I too was never a YA kid, and am not a YA adult. and you know how I feel about zeitgeist books 💀
lolll no i would have bet money youve never touched a YA book. when i catch myself passive eye reading i get frustrated and just put the book down. i would say in general im pro audiobook they just dont work for me usually
I am really trying to like audiobooks but as an ADHDer, I zone out and keep having to rewind the audio yet I can hyperfocus when I read a physical book so. I would love to hear your Wuthering Heights analysis even if it’s negative. I really tried to like WH and I could not get into it for the life of me. I also cannot do Jane Austen either - I wish I could appreciate Austen like everyone else does but I don’t get the fascination unfortunately! Lol! I feel like I’m missing out. 🙃
same same about zoning out and rewinding he audiobook. it usually ends up taking more work than just reading the book. if you're not enjoying a book, you're not missing out!! read what you like 😘
omg i looove those books (only read the first two and a bit so far). youre so damn right too. i remember reading the first and being like THIS is how you do a gd coming of age story
Kate DiCamillo is everything!! There is an incredible interview of hers from the On Being podcast called “The Eight-Year-Old In You” that I highly recommend! It is so wonderful 💕
I found that Doris Lessing title at Second and Charles and it’s been sitting on my shelf for a few months … I’m trying to squeeze it in before the end of the year. I too dislike audiobooks … feels like undergoing a lobotomy.
"audiobooks *pan up, pan down, up, down* that was me checking you out baby you look gorgeous" my guy! The laugh that escaped my face was definitely not gorgeous
Charles my biggest pet peeve is people caring so much about second hand books and looking like they’ve never read the book they own and it looking brand new and judging people for folding the page as a bookmark
@@cs0p like girl it’s a book, its not that deep, I feel like it still plays into the classism that books where it’s still something that only you’re able to do if you have money
God bless you for existing! I needed this soooo much. You got "Hercule Poirot" perfectly right. I also hate zeitgeist! Re Victorian: you should maybe try the Gothic sub-genre: Maturin's "Melmoth the Wanderer", Wilkie Collins's "Armadale"...
@@cs0p Super hot first name, king! These two books are super long, though... plus, they must be in antiquated English. Also check out "The Monk" (1796) by Matthew Gregory Lewis.
(Have you read Collected Stories by Eudora Welty? I think you MIGHT enjoy it. There's an edition that has an introduction by Ann Patchet that's very interesting. Okay, now I'm going to watch your video a second time.)
@@cs0p I've only read a handful of her stories, but I can imagine they're something you might enjoy. I should really read more of her work. But you should DEFINITELY try Katherine Mansfields collected stories. I looooved those when I first read them. Okay, now I'll stop recommending you books. I wouldn't want to fall out of your grace when it turns out you actually dislike the books I'm recommending. 😄 My copy of 'I capture the castle' has finally arrived. REALLY excited. Will start reading tomorrow. X
Re experimental: struggling with Prophet Song, Booker prize winner by Paul Lynch. Good story, absolutely essential subject matter, but no paragraph breaks or lines of dialogue . Really takes me out of the flow to reread, go back and parse who is saying what. Very annoying, and now I’m irritated and doing my 10 pages a day to finish😡. After saying all that, I do think the book is important.
book recs: horror- cosmetology of monsters (ABSURD!!!) Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones (my besties fav its a GOOD coming-of-age) Carmilla by LeFanu (classic short lesbian vampires) Dracula - genuinely riveting classic ---- childrens: Small Spaces by Arden (fire halloween childrens book) ok I cant remember anymore but I work at bn and I go in tomorrow so Ill scope out the kids section --- this winter you should really read Compulsion by Meyer levin (its part true crime, part fiction, part gay part straight, just look it up) and read Vicious by VE Schwab its a like winter dark academia homoerotic fantasy about 2 utter rivals trying to kill each other--based on like comic book lore
ugh my library doesnt have compulsion..i might just buy a used copy it sounds fun. i need to read carmilla! i hate dracula tho i cant front with a loyal fan... (the beginning is fun tho). ive nvere given Schwab a shot...maybe i will...
@cs0p THE PRESSURE 😭😭😭 no no I really enjoyed it--it really shows a good psychological portrait into the mind of two young murderers!!! I got inspired to read it cause one of the reviews at the front of the Secret History (my fav book ofc) mentions it and Tartt cites the murder itself as inspiration for the book !!!
GRRM has to finish a few books as well so you have time. I love ASOIAF but not much fantasy, but it may just be because fantasy is a very saturated genre. I love horror in theory but so few horror books work for me. Maybe you’d like Iain Reid? It’s horror-ish but not. “Victorian is not hot,” he says with Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell behind him. 😂
me too about horror in theory! HAHAH my fans are getting too good at stalking my background. ive thought about trying iain reid for years. ive stopped holding out hope for another game of thrones book ;(
when you said you only read books originally written in english a part of my soul died but its okay i guess its because you get the ick from translations(? hope you get over that some time soon, when you do check out Julio Cortazar's work!
have you ever read jacqueline wilson? (love love love ‘the illustrated mum’, ‘clean break’ and ‘lola rose’) she, cathy cassidy & roald dahl were my childhood. wish i could revert back to those carefree moments lying in bed and reading till my eyes felt leaden. shall stop rambling now, have a good day!
@@cs0p I did the A-Z tag a few months ago I think if you wanna take a peek at those questions since they're a bit different (some seemed to be the same but think most were different if I'm remembering correctly). I listed them in the Description. Just happened to be the A-Z tag I was tagged for.. didn't even know there was variation!
ROBIN HOBB is the queen of well written fantasy: well rounded characters, political intrigues, feelings centered and not only action. If you like games of thrones you should definitely check out her Farseer trilogy.
Audiobooks are for nonfiction and nonfiction only (because it makes me feel like I’m listening to a podcast). Bonus points if it’s a memoir read by the author. Fiction audiobooks? Absolutely not. Cringey.
i do care for beautiful writing!! i was just saying that for a fantasy, it's not a criteria, i just want deeeecent writing (like not cringe). i bought a copy of wilde's stories! im looking forward to them...
I’m kind of upset there are thousands of people who’ll be watching this, it should be just me and you baby. Btw you should read / reread The Chronicles of Narnia, so camp mama!! ;*
HAHAH i read the first part expecting a bad bad hate comment. i tried reading narnia when i was a kid and could never get into it. but i like the idea of reading it as camp...im going to buy them and try.
Charles, I love you! ❤😅 You and Jennifer Brooks are my favourite Booktubers! Please, please make the video on Wuthering Heights! I love that book 😅 So I would love to hear your thoughts on it and why you didn’t like it. Because I have some similar literary tastes as you - I hate Jane Austen; I don’t get on with poetry; I don’t do audiobooks but I love podcasts; and I love Agatha Christie! Oh and you totally pronounced Poirot correctly 😌
@@cs0p I just learned of Jennifer’s sudden passing and I am so shocked and heartbroken 💔 I remembered that only a few short weeks ago I had mentioned on here that she was my other favourite booktuber 💔
dude the eyerolls are the number one reason I watch you, no offense to the books
Me too 🤣
Same!!
still no eyeroll counter though unfortunately
Right!
I’ve chronically started rolling my eyes now because of how much I enjoy it when he does it. I can’t help it.
I really like your videos because you make them in the way we made them at the beginning of booktube, without any thought for monetization or branding or whatever. Just people being themselves talking into a camera with no production, sharing thoughts with each other and making friends. Tldr don't change the eye rolls.
also horror - shirley jackson stories, nobody does it better.
eek! thank you
yess like no "today's sponsor is..." like i would skip that
LMAO the moment when you said I just want to come to a point where I’m just reading children’s books and nietzsche KILLED me
check back with me in 5 years...
“It’s me checking you out, you’re gorgeous” you crack me up 😂😂😂
THE FACT THAT IM WATCHING WITH MY MOM AND DAD AND BROS CHECKING ALL OF US OUT 👁️ 👄 👁️
HAHAH geeked imaging you guys sitting on on your couch watching this 😭
I was stuffing my face with a mcdonalds chocolate chip cookie when he said that 😔
“and i love silence.” amen
also in cold blood was my FAVE required read in high school. definitely influenced my decision to major in journalism in college.
!! that book alone makes me want to be a journalist too... if you ever write a book i want to read it.
I can only handle audiobooks if it’s nonfiction. They’re fine to listen to on walks or when you’re cleaning.
true true a nonfiction audiobook is basically a podcast of sorts in a way
you’ve quickly become my new favourite booktube channel
thank you....i appreciate you...🫶🥺🫣
Quality children's books are soooo important. I love Grimes' quote "How can we heal as a society when everyone's earliest artistic experience is completely devoid of humanity or beauty? Half joking but kinda not"
Kate DiCamillo the woman that you are. The Tale of Desperaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane were so formative for me😹 🤝
amen grimes, amen. adults need to get on their children books grind. i think i read tale in elementary school. a sweet sad book unless im misremembering
Some childrens books are amazing even as an adult! I have one I reread alot!
spill spill
drop the name don't be shy now
@@meisbanana6170 It's in my native language and it's not translated
@@dianaisme well... I was thinking of picking up a new language one of these days 👀
@@meisbanana6170 I'm sorry, you said pick up a new language? That's so much work?! Learning a new language is so difficult in my opinion. The book is in danish, I think it's more nostalgic than a literary masterpiece
I feel like audiobooks are great for memoirs and nonfiction but for fiction I think it's a chop.
true true true. i need to try listening to the viola davis one
You're my virtual bestie and you don't even know it , I love being delusional
i like my broads delusional.
good sci-fi: frankenstein! the one that started it all lol
i cant believe i havent read it yet..im a fraud..
not enough eyerolls in this one for me
good. gotta keep you wanting more
GOTTA LOVE THE EXPRESSIVENESS
thank you.....
During the pandemic when I taught online we had to record every session and I realised how much I unconsciously roll my eyes while talking, explaining, telling kids off etc. And I'm also so fidgety, moving my hair around or touching my face or whatever. I mean, I never knew these things about myself until I had to actually record them 😂
RELATABLE. i didn't realize how much i rolled my eyes until i made my channel. recording yourself and then watching it back really is an odd experience
Weirdly enough, I felt like watching a video of yours today. I made a mental note to go do that later, then you post. I swear it's like magic
i want to be a magician when i grow up so this is promising evidence of my nascent career
@@cs0p I admire your magical abilities and I hope to experience more magic in the future 👌
I 100% agree I don’t like audiobooks, but sometimes because I am stuck in the lab for hours and I would be already consumed all the episodes of my favourite podcasts I go and listen to an audiobook but it’s rarely I find an audiobook that is not boring to listen to it.
I can’t do audiobooks for the most part. I need to be exclusively focused on the book because I get distracted or start daydreaming.
if i could focus on them while multitasking id prob use them more
@@cs0p same, my brain just doesn’t work that way haha
The strongest case for audiobooks is for those old poems like paradise lost and the divine comedy imo. Very enjoyable to listen to while you're following along with the book as opposed to reading those long ass poems by themselves
So hyped for your childrens book era😤 Genuinely good childrens books that respect the minds of kids and actually tackle serious issues (or are at least beautiful and heartfelt) are so so so important and can touch anyone. My childrens book era was kickstarted by finally reading the Velveteen Rabbit as an adult and fully sobbing about it. Its Watership Down next and Im greatly enjoying myself so far 🐇
AGREED im hype too hahah
lets get a humble room tour
HAHAH MAYBE
I like using audible for books that I love but don’t feel like rereading , like I can clean my house and everything and still be engaged. Now when I tried to listen to a book that I never read before it was a messs. I could not focus at all.
oo audiobooks for rereading would be really nice cuz you can just dip in and out without worry. will try.
So, I'm working my way through your videos, rather randomly, and out of the 7 I've watched in their entirety, so far, *this is hands down, my favorite!*
I love the sassy queen energy 😮💨✨
good. 😌🤝
Your take on audiobooks is 100% how I feel about them. I seriously have to lie down and stare at the roof to pay attention without zoning out. And that’s not enjoyable at all nor feels like reading.
no agreed. i end up being like...why am i not just reading a book rn...?
The clickbait worked on me, so this was probably a good business decision... personally I enjoy this channel regardless of the topic, but I especially appropriate current chaotic mood
im glad to hear you are easy to trick. as well. i appreciate you as my loyal fan.
i randomly found this channel and just love the raw vibes 😭 eye rolls n all. keep goin
welcome to the ape fest ;)
@@cs0p THE KING REPLIES
@@lni9446 always baby, always
greetings from germany! watching your videos feels like witnessing the early days of a widely known celebrity, it somehow messes with my perception of time.
omg i texted this to my siblings and we agree it is a great compliment...thank you....
You're so right about the audiobooks. Also, don't listen to those silly people calling you an actor. lol "My goal is to read only kids book and Nietzsche." Lol. Also not hot kindles is true.
i wish i could appreciate audiobooks and my kindle more buttalas...
audiobooks for me are just not it. something about the voice acting i can't ignore. it can be the voice of a character, their reading speed idk. i only use audiobooks when i'm cooking selecting a book which i don't care if a miss sentences
i loveee listening to memoirs in audiobook form when its the actual author, but ur so right other than that the voice acting always throws me off
amen. the voice acting can get on my nerves too. at this point audiobooks are majorly for hyped up books i want to take the temperature of
I’ve started buying audiobooks of physical books I’ve already read, listened to The Secret History and it really helped deepen my appreciation for the text.
oooo i like that idea. and then i wouldnt be stressed about catching all the details
OMG, you have the most marvelous and varied facial expressions (!). I wanted to say this before, but I think you'd make a great college professor (if you can stand the politics of academia), because your enthusiasm for literature is infectious. Facial expressions and eye rolls included.
i could never stand academia...but i appreciate it
@@cs0pmood. I quit uni cuz I hated academia lol
What a delightful way to start the day!
indeed it is 😌🫶
Read Piranesi. A wonderful fantasy novel that's not too long or a part of a series.
I LOVE Piranesi !!
ok i have pulled piranesi off my shelf....
this took me actual days to watch cause finals week, but slay charles, the eyes rolls honestly give me life, ten minute eye-rolling video when?
omg i hope you ate them up. 10 minute eye roll vid dropping soon and then im disappearing off the internet..
I’ve been wondering why isn’t there more fantasy talk on your channel and I thought that it might be intentional..
Here is a recommendation: Joe Abercrambie. Not a lot of magic, but amazing characters. Very sarcastic, very dark humor, great commentary on life in general..
What book would you recommend to start with of his? I’ve heard tons of good things about his books
@@bribripollock the first law trilogy is where I started and I feel like most people did as well (and it is where you should start because we get introduced to some characters that will appear later on..)
But my personal favorite is the standalone novel Best served cold
First book in the first law trilogy is a little bit slow but still very enjoyable
it's not intentional! i just dont know where to dive in. i might just try the first law trilogy...
I love the way your mind works
i love how hot you look complimenting me
"Cut all that, let's not kill the vibe" is what I say in my head after saying anything ever
please 😭
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman is a book that crosses two of your 'want to read more' categories - children's books and fantasy. It's the first book in a trilogy (His Dark Materials), which tbh goes off the rails a little by the third book, but the first book is really excellent. Well-written, fast paced, and entertaining. I read it for the first time as an adult and it was a page turner for me. I couldn't put it down after the first couple of pages.
I could not agree more with your Zeitgeist take. I read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow because so many people whose taste I thought I respected wouldn't shut up about it and I hated it so much. And I bought the damn hardcover. I'm still mad hahah
omg since you said it that was one of the books i was talking about OOP! oop OOP OOP. i think i heard somewhere that the golden compass trilogy wasnt supposed to be for kids but the publishers thought it would do better with that marketing! i read some of the first one years ago. they have been on my mind recently with the whole childrens revival
Ok that would make sense. I'm sure the criticism of religious institutions goes over most kids heads lol
For fantasy you have to read Legendborn !! It is YA but it’s soo much more than that and I think that even if you’re not typically a YA reader you might totally enjoy it. Sure, it got some chlichés in it but it’s a really smart book that talks about grief, racism, sexism, etc in such a reader-friendly way
mmm it looks fun and the covers are very cool...
@@cs0p they do, I think they look so cool
Yes I threw everything just to come watch your video! Happy St. Lucia day :P
omg i had to google what St. lucia day is. do i give off virgin martyr vibes?
@@cs0p 🤣
My favorite horror novel is Swan Song by Robert McCammon. Another good one I read recently was A History of Fear by Luke Dumas. A History of Fear isn’t fast-paced, but I enjoyed it. It’s a creepy mystery/horror thing. I’ll probably read it again. Swan Song is kind of like The Stand, but much better.
mmmm swan song sounds intriguing. i havent tried any stephen king apart from misery 🫣
The only thing I use audiobooks for is old and excessively long epics (I’m looking at you Paradise Lost), where they’re in verse so it’s nice to have it read out loud while you read. And it’s like 30 hours so you get ur credit’s worth lol
true true true. i need to get an audiobook for the count of monte christo....
CHARLES JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU. MY WEEK IS SAVED
shut up. calm down. i love you.
For horror books, I would recommend Gollitok by Andrew Najberg (posh writing style but also very good at vivid descriptions and creating atmosphere) and Thin Air: A Ghost Story by Michelle Paver (historical fiction about climbing Kangchenjunga and being paranoid by weird things going on)
ooo ok thank you i will look into these..
Me frantically switching from listening to an audiobook to your videos back to audiobook back to your videos 😭🤣
... kids books are IT. Your take to read only kids books and Nietzsche is the ultimate goal.
love the vivacious chaotic energy!
thank you ;))
For fantasy similar to A Song of Ice and Fire I'd recommend Joe Abercrombie's First Law series. There's the original trilogy, 3 standalones, a short story collection and another trilogy. All in the same world, and building upon each other (short story collection is kinda skippable if u want to). It sounds like a lot but I loved it so much that I didn't read anything else until I finished all 10 books. The author loves ASOIAF so you can find some inspiration from it in the books if you look for it but the world and characters are very unique (some of the best, most complex and developed characters in fantasy), it's definitely not a clone. Oh and I almost forgot the best aspects: It's extremely dark but also hilarious (not in a forced way) at the same time and it's multigenerational (there's a time skip between the trilogies) which sounds exhausting but it's so much fun.
ok this sounds like i could have a blast. i have added it to my amazon wish list..
I'm totally with you on audiobooks. I've tried to get into them but between physical books, my kindle, podcasts, tv and movies it was just too much. Love the channel 👍🏼
thank you thank you 🙏 there really is just too much other media to fit in audiobooks
King shit 👑👑👑cause I hate audiobooks too!! I just can’t pay attention if I’m doing something else I’m not listening to the book, if I’m listening I feel restless like I should be doing something
I “read” Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas via audiobook and cleaning my room. I couldn’t tell you anything that happened but I did try paying attention I listened to the whole thing but none of it registered to me.
So many better things to listen to especially with long form content, and reading is just a very specific experience that doesn’t feel the same while just listening
omg i almost bought fear and loathing at barnes a couple weeks ago...heavy heavy agree on the last point
I feel the same way about audiobooks. If I’m listening to one, it usually means I didn’t like the book enough to keep reading it. Plus, I would rather be listening to a podcast or a UA-cam video at that point
liiiiiterally
new content with new haircut!
my day is made CHARLES!
aww be quiet!! im blushing you noticed!
For Fantasy, I second someone's suggestion of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Also for a unique epic fantasy .. The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez.. haven't read yet it but it's on my soon-TBR!
ok ok ok everyone is bullying me into picking up piranesi. ill do it. Spear looks fun and has a super cool cover 👀
@@cs0p ok if you don't like Piranesi 🙉🙉 lol. Omg yes Spear cover is gorgeous!
When you said you dont read translated works that hurt me physically 😭 you’re missing out!
got you!! tricked you!!!
He was joking in the book-snobby, sarcastic way 💙
finally someone who can agree with me on poetry
im too much of an ape to enjoy the finer things in life
yesyesyes try with jade city! You should also check out the broken earth trilogy by nk jemisin or every heart a doorway(this one’s more like fairytale but it’s sooooo creative and hilarious)
im almost done with jade city rn and im having a blast...the earth trilogy has been added to my fantasy tbr...
you're so chill :) good vid
thank you ;)
I'm definitely not an audiobook fan - I want to hold / smell / feel a book when I'm reading it. Having said that, I used to be a distance runner and audiobooks saved my life back then - the time would fly by if I went on a run and listened to a book. I usually reserved "easy" reads for my runs, things that didn't require much thought or analysis.
mmm agreed. ive thought about listening to audiobooks when i run but i love a good song too much 🫣 if i do long long distances more often maybe ill give audiobooks a shot
ok so Hozier said one of his favorite novels was Oscar Wilde's collected fairytales. that might be a place to start for children's lit. Also big fan of Emily St John Mandel. she does literary scifi well
ok ok i need to kick 2024 off with his stories, ive been itching to read them. im worried i might not like emily!! ill try to give her a shot in 2024
@@cs0p honestly I was like 3.5-3.75 on Station Eleven but I still think about it to this day which is a mark of a good writer for me. I also heard Ted Chiang is another one to go to for lit sci-fi and I don't think I've seen anyone give him a bad review
For horror, I'd recommend "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" by Iain Reid! It's one of the first psychological thriller/horror novels I read, and I ATE IT UP. It's confusing, but in the best way possible--it makes you question reality, fear, and consciousness. It's a fun little fever dream
omg is there a netflix movie based on it...i think i may have seen it....maybe ill pick up the book now
@@cs0p yes! The movie is definitely weird, but still good. I personally enjoyed the book more though!
I'm basically pro audiobook but I also very much agree with yr take re concentration/using audiobooks to just plow thru a book you don't like. I really try to avoid overly passive listening, bc then what's the point. (then again, I find it's possible to have passive eye-reading experiences too)
surely you're going to be *shocked* (shocked!) but I too was never a YA kid, and am not a YA adult. and you know how I feel about zeitgeist books 💀
lolll no i would have bet money youve never touched a YA book. when i catch myself passive eye reading i get frustrated and just put the book down. i would say in general im pro audiobook they just dont work for me usually
I am really trying to like audiobooks but as an ADHDer, I zone out and keep having to rewind the audio yet I can hyperfocus when I read a physical book so. I would love to hear your Wuthering Heights analysis even if it’s negative. I really tried to like WH and I could not get into it for the life of me. I also cannot do Jane Austen either - I wish I could appreciate Austen like everyone else does but I don’t get the fascination unfortunately! Lol! I feel like I’m missing out. 🙃
same same about zoning out and rewinding he audiobook. it usually ends up taking more work than just reading the book. if you're not enjoying a book, you're not missing out!! read what you like 😘
Charles video! Oooh, Bad Blood, yes! “So the zeitgeist is not shite!” 😂😂😂. I needed this today.
bad blood was so much fun. i hope you enjoyed the ride...
Heard of this comics v for vendetta? It was adapted to a movie but graphic novel is so much better i love it so much😭
i dont think...i will look into it. more graphic novels in 2024 would be kinda hot
Not YOU flipping us off in the thumbnail 😔
my favorite parasocial relationship
i thought this said paranormal and i said mmm yes in a way...in a way
Read the Neapolitan Novels! Excellent example of a well-done Bildungsroman.
omg i looove those books (only read the first two and a bit so far). youre so damn right too. i remember reading the first and being like THIS is how you do a gd coming of age story
Kate DiCamillo is everything!! There is an incredible interview of hers from the On Being podcast called “The Eight-Year-Old In You” that I highly recommend! It is so wonderful 💕
👀i will check it out thank you. im looking forward to her a bunch
you always know the perfect time to post
thank you...
I found that Doris Lessing title at Second and Charles and it’s been sitting on my shelf for a few months … I’m trying to squeeze it in before the end of the year. I too dislike audiobooks … feels like undergoing a lobotomy.
LOL amen on the lobotomy front. next time im at 2nd ill pray they have it. tell me if you read it...
"audiobooks *pan up, pan down, up, down* that was me checking you out baby you look gorgeous" my guy! The laugh that escaped my face was definitely not gorgeous
😏
Charles my biggest pet peeve is people caring so much about second hand books and looking like they’ve never read the book they own and it looking brand new and judging people for folding the page as a bookmark
i was your biggest pet peeve when i was in middle school 😭 dont worry ive gotten over myself...
@@cs0p like girl it’s a book, its not that deep, I feel like it still plays into the classism that books where it’s still something that only you’re able to do if you have money
God bless you for existing! I needed this soooo much.
You got "Hercule Poirot" perfectly right. I also hate zeitgeist!
Re Victorian: you should maybe try the Gothic sub-genre: Maturin's "Melmoth the Wanderer", Wilkie Collins's "Armadale"...
im glad you had fun
@@cs0p Super hot first name, king! These two books are super long, though... plus, they must be in antiquated English. Also check out "The Monk" (1796) by Matthew Gregory Lewis.
idk why but the thought of middle school you reading dan brown makes me giggle
no its so silly. and i took his books so so seriously. i begged my mom to buy me religious history books. she was not amused
we all have our kinks, babes. no judgment 🙂@@cs0p
Idk what that person was talking abt. I have to pause the vid every 5 seconds bc ur expressions r a gag💀 u give us so much Charles 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
HAHA good.
Ok, taking the Auctioneer off my TBR list. Thank you, Charles
i wanted it to be good so bad smh. the first 50 pages were the exact same thing over and over and over again
We need that wuthering heights review
ugh ok
@@cs0pyeahhh i am literally not gonna read it anyway now lol because you convince me so easily and we literally have the same taste
(Have you read Collected Stories by Eudora Welty? I think you MIGHT enjoy it. There's an edition that has an introduction by Ann Patchet that's very interesting. Okay, now I'm going to watch your video a second time.)
ive had the book youre talking about for years!! i havent read a page 😭 ill try and read a story and get back to you...
@@cs0p I've only read a handful of her stories, but I can imagine they're something you might enjoy. I should really read more of her work. But you should DEFINITELY try Katherine Mansfields collected stories. I looooved those when I first read them. Okay, now I'll stop recommending you books. I wouldn't want to fall out of your grace when it turns out you actually dislike the books I'm recommending. 😄 My copy of 'I capture the castle' has finally arrived. REALLY excited. Will start reading tomorrow. X
I LOVE In Cold Blood, no book in that genre can top it. Have you read any more Capote?
amen. i havent! ive been thinking of trying breakfast at T.. have you?
you look like an entirely different person every video i watch lmfao love it tho
i have to keep you on your toes ;)
Read venenous lumpsucker by Ned Beauman. My favorite speculative fiction book. So funny and freakishly plausible, and will make you want to read more
ok added to tbr bc of name alone.
Re experimental: struggling with Prophet Song, Booker prize winner by Paul Lynch. Good story, absolutely essential subject matter, but no paragraph breaks or lines of dialogue . Really takes me out of the flow to reread, go back and parse who is saying what. Very annoying, and now I’m irritated and doing my 10 pages a day to finish😡. After saying all that, I do think the book is important.
lol no i get it. theres a time and place to be experimental and people usually butcher it
dude if I have to resort to an audio book to try and finish a book there's like a 100% I'm gonna DNF it lmao, I honestly can't stand them
no same. i rarely finish the audiobooks when i switch to them from reading. the narrators usually piss me off too
book recs:
horror-
cosmetology of monsters (ABSURD!!!)
Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones (my besties fav its a GOOD coming-of-age)
Carmilla by LeFanu (classic short lesbian vampires)
Dracula - genuinely riveting classic
----
childrens:
Small Spaces by Arden (fire halloween childrens book)
ok I cant remember anymore but I work at bn and I go in tomorrow so Ill scope out the kids section
---
this winter you should really read Compulsion by Meyer levin (its part true crime, part fiction, part gay part straight, just look it up)
and read Vicious by VE Schwab its a like winter dark academia homoerotic fantasy about 2 utter rivals trying to kill each other--based on like comic book lore
ugh my library doesnt have compulsion..i might just buy a used copy it sounds fun. i need to read carmilla! i hate dracula tho i cant front with a loyal fan... (the beginning is fun tho). ive nvere given Schwab a shot...maybe i will...
back to let you know i just bought a used copy of compulsion on amazon IM TRUSTING YOU BABY
@cs0p THE PRESSURE 😭😭😭 no no I really enjoyed it--it really shows a good psychological portrait into the mind of two young murderers!!! I got inspired to read it cause one of the reviews at the front of the Secret History (my fav book ofc) mentions it and Tartt cites the murder itself as inspiration for the book !!!
God that thumbnail holy shit I was just looking for something to listen to while working out. Please calm down 😂
listen you should be thanking me for getting you angry hype before the workout
I do listen ro audiobooks sometimes but I prefer physical books so I can read while listening to music. Witch Hunt by Syd Moore is a good horror book.
i forgot about that!! another pro of reading is you get to listen to music too agreed. witch hunt ok i understand..
GRRM has to finish a few books as well so you have time. I love ASOIAF but not much fantasy, but it may just be because fantasy is a very saturated genre.
I love horror in theory but so few horror books work for me. Maybe you’d like Iain Reid? It’s horror-ish but not.
“Victorian is not hot,” he says with Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell behind him. 😂
me too about horror in theory! HAHAH my fans are getting too good at stalking my background. ive thought about trying iain reid for years. ive stopped holding out hope for another game of thrones book ;(
i heard about a horror book called the wasp factory
mmm me too im looking forward to it
when you said you only read books originally written in english a part of my soul died but its okay i guess its because you get the ick from translations(? hope you get over that some time soon, when you do check out Julio Cortazar's work!
i tricked you baby. but i did used to get like an anxiety ick per say if that makes sense. ive gotten over myself
have you ever read jacqueline wilson? (love love love ‘the illustrated mum’, ‘clean break’ and ‘lola rose’) she, cathy cassidy & roald dahl were my childhood. wish i could revert back to those carefree moments lying in bed and reading till my eyes felt leaden. shall stop rambling now, have a good day!
i havent heard of her! i will add her to my planned children book revival. never stop rambling...have a gorgeous day
I love this tag! 😄
oh these are different A-Z questions lol
where do ppl find the damn lists to do these tags!!! i googled for like 10 minutes and then just took them from someones description
@@cs0p I did the A-Z tag a few months ago I think if you wanna take a peek at those questions since they're a bit different (some seemed to be the same but think most were different if I'm remembering correctly). I listed them in the Description. Just happened to be the A-Z tag I was tagged for.. didn't even know there was variation!
I do look gorgeous, thank you for noticing
it would have been criminal of me not to
ROBIN HOBB is the queen of well written fantasy: well rounded characters, political intrigues, feelings centered and not only action. If you like games of thrones you should definitely check out her Farseer trilogy.
omg someone else also said robin hobb. you guys have sold me on the farseer trilogy thank you..
Audiobooks are for nonfiction and nonfiction only (because it makes me feel like I’m listening to a podcast). Bonus points if it’s a memoir read by the author. Fiction audiobooks? Absolutely not. Cringey.
agree!! i need to do more nonfiction audiobooks.. youre right it is like a podcast
I just realized you hate my two favorite books of all time: Wuthering Heights and One Hundred Years of Solitude
omg i dont hate wuthering heights!! its complicated.... as for 100 years...i plead the sixth
@@cs0p ok then 😂😂
My children's book recommendation: 'The Happy Prince and Other Tales' by Oscar Wilde
Oh I just got to the part of the video where you said you don't care for beautiful writing lol
i do care for beautiful writing!! i was just saying that for a fantasy, it's not a criteria, i just want deeeecent writing (like not cringe). i bought a copy of wilde's stories! im looking forward to them...
I’m happy to read anything Oscar Wilde has written, I’ll try it!
If you’re trying to get into horror but are more used to thriller/mysteries I would recommend “The Burning Girls” by CJ Tudor
ooo oo o o the cover is hot. sold.
I’m kind of upset there are thousands of people who’ll be watching this, it should be just me and you baby.
Btw you should read / reread The Chronicles of Narnia, so camp mama!! ;*
HAHAH i read the first part expecting a bad bad hate comment. i tried reading narnia when i was a kid and could never get into it. but i like the idea of reading it as camp...im going to buy them and try.
Charles, I love you! ❤😅 You and Jennifer Brooks are my favourite Booktubers! Please, please make the video on Wuthering Heights! I love that book 😅 So I would love to hear your thoughts on it and why you didn’t like it. Because I have some similar literary tastes as you - I hate Jane Austen; I don’t get on with poetry; I don’t do audiobooks but I love podcasts; and I love Agatha Christie! Oh and you totally pronounced Poirot correctly 😌
ok ok ill try and make the video for you... that is quite a bit of similarity otherwise tho. jennifers channel is awesome
@@cs0p Thank you so much! ❤️
@@cs0p I just learned of Jennifer’s sudden passing and I am so shocked and heartbroken 💔 I remembered that only a few short weeks ago I had mentioned on here that she was my other favourite booktuber 💔
So weird I was just watching ur winter books video earlier 😵💫😵💫😵💫
i knew you were and i posted this video just for you 😘
Audio books are not for me either, but I know someone who only consume audio books
it could never be me...i could never be someone...
@@cs0p Everytime I try ebooks or audio books, I just end up abandoning them