glad my algorithm brought you to me! enjoyed your video, thank you for the new reccomendations- i'm most excited to read master of reality :D also will be taking part in your book event! can't wait!
Invisible Man was on my first draft of 12 books I want to reread but I eventually had to cut it. The Magic Mountain was an incredibly deep and profound novel. It won’t make it on my 12 translated books to reread but it could fit right in.
I just got recommended your video and I love the books you showed and the question you ask. I always find re reading books to be a very rewarding experience, I often find I understand book, and the writers intentions much clearer on a second read. And in my personal experience I have comfort books, like some people have comfort movies, it can be quite relaxing to read a book again. Often it can be a mood and event money dependent thing as well for myself, if I choose to re read a book, or read a new one. That is my opinion on the topic, and I am sorry if my English isn't clear enough, it isn't my first language.
This is a finite amount of time question else we would read and reread them all! I seem to almost always lean towards reading a new one by the same author even though I would love to reread some of my favourites that I read 30 years ago as I am such a different reader now. Given your dilemmas I would go for Buddenbrooks with Mann but I think you argued well for a reread of Crime and Punishment before a new Dostoevsky - but you could read a different translation!
Good day, James. I sighed with relief when you didn't mention a Dickens book for a re-read since I've yet to read a book by him. I enjoyed the 33 1/3 edition of The Ballad of Melody Nelson, the notorious Gainsbourg album. I"m also one who returns to Dubliners often and Joyce, also something to do with being raised Catholic. Buddenbrooks was the first Mann book I read. Enchanted by his books and short stories ever since. Carlos Fuentes wrote about seeing him at a restaurant but too shy to approach him, which is surprising given Carlos' bravado.
I'll be old and gray before I consider re-reading Dickens. What's that? I already am? I think it'll probably be Buddenbrooks before a reread. Carlos Fuentes I know from "The Campaign." Can you recommend another?
@@JamesRuchala Aura and The Death of Artemio Cruz, which were written back to back, and made him a literary star are a good place to continue with him. A Change of Skin is another one I enjoyed very much. The first Fuentes novel I read though was Diana or The Goddess Who Hunts alone, a fictional account of his real life affair with actress Jean Seberg.
Your sentiments really resonated with me. I debate with myself the idea of rereading old favourites vs reading other works by the same author vs books by other authors. I lean towards reading books I’ve never read before, some by authors I’ve read before and others by new to me authors. Currently I have Great Expectations on the go, Poe for the first time, nod to your channel, The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy as well as books I’ve set aside for Victober including the Iliad and Dune. How wonderful to be spoiled for choice like that! I haven’t read most of the books you mentioned but I have read and reread Crime and Punishment and Dubliners at least three times each. Great books. So, no answers here, only more books 😅.
We have a lot of overlap in our reading, that's certain. I also meant to mention the possibility of swapping a re-read for a book by a "similar" author: re-read Flannery O'Connor, or read some Eudora Welty, which I haven't read? Embarrassment of riches, really.
I have decided that I want to reread Steinbeck and Hesse novels as it has been approaching 50 years since I read them. Along with the books I've read, I want to read deeper into their works. They both (especially Hesse) were influential to my young mind. I am interested to see how they resonate now
I've not read any of these books James so that's for the mention. I may have tried Dubliners many many years ago. Great books always worth a reread. New or old reads, I hope you are reading great. Best wishes.
The Waves and Woolf in general is one of my favorites, and always worth a reread. I need to do my first read of Magic Mountain before trying The Empusium. I read The Professor's House last month and was surprised. It could have been more fleshed out, but maybe that would've pulled at its fabric a little too much. It somehow reminded me of both Stoner and Butcher's Crossing, and in the last quarter turned into a Cesar Aira novel. Which is to say I really like it.
Thanks for watching. I really thing Woolf might be one of the authors I'd get the most out of re-reading, but to date, I've not revisited any of her books. Maybe I'll put that on my list of goals for next year.
My thinking is that you should reread a book you enjoyed in the past IF you have forgotten what it was about. For example, in the 1970s I read Walter Miller, Jr.'s A Canticle for Liebowitz because it was popular at the time. Since then it has disappeared pretty much from our consciousness. I didn't even recall my initial impression of the book but found more current reviews on UA-cam that were very favorable. So I reread it and was very glad I did. By the way, I read The Professor's House recently and liked it very much. I think The Song of the Lark is even better.
The infamous YT algorithm just recommended your video. Likely because I viewed Greg’s “reread” video a few days ago. I appreciate you sharing your ruminations on what to reread. “The Buddenbrooks” is an excellent and engaging family saga of the fate and fortunes of a prosperous 19th C German family. It could probably be read in less time than “The Magic Mountain” since it doesn’t have a lot of the philosophical subtext. I hardly ever re-read but revisiting “Crime and Punishment” might be a plan in 2025. I’m now much more comfortable with Russian names than I was when I read it decades ago.
I'm a big fan of Greg's channel too. Thanks for your thoughts on Mann. Greg and some others on this part of booktube are talking about a Brothers Karamazov read-along in the new year too. Might be something to that.
I forgot about those 33 and a third books. The one you mention sounds very interesting. I have The Velvet Underground and Nico which was written by Joe Harvard a very friendly acquaintance of mine who passed away from cancer a few years ago. I enjoyed his book but he was such a funny kind and sweet person. I met him through a local artist and musician scene I used to be a part of. I miss him. He loved the velvet underground and had so many colorful stories from a time period before I was born. But I should get some more of those books sometime. Thank you for reminding me about this.
I've never been able to get into a reread. But listening to a good audio version of a past read, especially on a road trip, can add another dimension to the original experience. Did this recently with Steinbeck's To a God Unknown.
We've got all the time in the world to get to the bros. Some of the people in my part of booktube are talking about a group read of it in the new year. I think I'll participate--consider it.
Great video, James. I think I’d like to try to do a version of this video too. I really love many of the books you are contemplating rereading here. I am definitely a fan of re-reading, but I also am all for reading the works of my great authors that I haven’t read yet. For example, I am reading a lot of Dickens these days as I haven’t come close to reading all of him, but I also do re-read Bleak House every couple of years. I’ve read Magic Mountain, but not since I was in college. I think a re-read of that would feel like a first-time read at this point in my life. Speaking of Dostoyevsky, our Ulysses 6 group has decided to read The Brothers K in February and March, and we will change our name to the Brothers and Sisters Karamazov. Would you like to join us? I can add you to the group if you’re interested. Let me know. Oh, and I, too, have read and re-read Dubliners many, many times. I recommend it to people all the time. Hope you’re doing well, my friend. 😊
Thanks for watching, Pat. There's so much in Magic Mountain that it could be one of those perennial re-reads. If I do it again I promise I'll follow all the Settembrini-Naptha debates and not just skim them--honest!
Masters of Reality sounds like an interesting read, and I didn't realize there were so many books in the 33 1/3 series. I wanted to read Warren Zane's Dusty in Memphis but the reviews I've read say it isn't very good and has next to nothing to do with the album. I read The Professor's House last year, it was the first of Cather's novels I'd read, and I came away from it with mixed feelings. Cather's writing was great, I liked the plot and the characters, but it reads as if Cather took two separate novellas, neither one fully fleshed out, and stuck one inside the other. The change from one narrative to the other is abrupt and totally unexpected, and I think she could have found a much better way to have tied the two stories together. I'm glad I read it because it led me to read O Pioneers, and I liked it overall, but it was still frustrating. I wish she'd stuck with the professor's story more than she did.
33 1/3 has been going for a long time, so it's a huge collection by now. There's also a famous one about Celine Dion's "Let's Talk about Love" where the author really doesn't like the album but uses it as a springboard to discuss aesthetic taste in general. I imagine a fan of Dion would be pretty irate to pick that up unprepared.
I’m laughing but feel the angst also! I sometimes say these things to my husband ( who’s not a reader) and he just looks at me . There are too many books and not enough time New books ! Old books! Rereads! Oh my !
glad my algorithm brought you to me! enjoyed your video, thank you for the new reccomendations- i'm most excited to read master of reality :D also will be taking part in your book event! can't wait!
Thanks for watching and for your interest in Chekhov.
Invisible Man was on my first draft of 12 books I want to reread but I eventually had to cut it. The Magic Mountain was an incredibly deep and profound novel. It won’t make it on my 12 translated books to reread but it could fit right in.
I just got recommended your video and I love the books you showed and the question you ask.
I always find re reading books to be a very rewarding experience, I often find I understand book, and the writers intentions much clearer on a second read. And in my personal experience I have comfort books, like some people have comfort movies, it can be quite relaxing to read a book again. Often it can be a mood and event money dependent thing as well for myself, if I choose to re read a book, or read a new one.
That is my opinion on the topic, and I am sorry if my English isn't clear enough, it isn't my first language.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. Your English is clear to me.
This is a finite amount of time question else we would read and reread them all! I seem to almost always lean towards reading a new one by the same author even though I would love to reread some of my favourites that I read 30 years ago as I am such a different reader now. Given your dilemmas I would go for Buddenbrooks with Mann but I think you argued well for a reread of Crime and Punishment before a new Dostoevsky - but you could read a different translation!
Thanks for your thoughts. It was probably ol' Constance Garnett's C&P that we read back in high school.
Good day, James.
I sighed with relief when you didn't mention a Dickens book for a re-read since I've yet to read a book by him.
I enjoyed the 33 1/3 edition of The Ballad of Melody Nelson, the notorious Gainsbourg album.
I"m also one who returns to Dubliners often and Joyce, also something to do with being raised Catholic.
Buddenbrooks was the first Mann book I read. Enchanted by his books and short stories ever since. Carlos Fuentes
wrote about seeing him at a restaurant but too shy to approach him, which is surprising given Carlos' bravado.
I'll be old and gray before I consider re-reading Dickens. What's that? I already am? I think it'll probably be Buddenbrooks before a reread. Carlos Fuentes I know from "The Campaign." Can you recommend another?
@@JamesRuchala Aura and The Death of Artemio Cruz, which were written back to back, and made him a literary star are a good place to continue with him. A Change of Skin is another one I enjoyed very much. The first Fuentes novel I read though was Diana or The Goddess Who Hunts alone, a fictional account of his real life affair with actress Jean Seberg.
Your sentiments really resonated with me. I debate with myself the idea of rereading old favourites vs reading other works by the same author vs books by other authors. I lean towards reading books I’ve never read before, some by authors I’ve read before and others by new to me authors. Currently I have Great Expectations on the go, Poe for the first time, nod to your channel, The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy as well as books I’ve set aside for Victober including the Iliad and Dune. How wonderful to be spoiled for choice like that! I haven’t read most of the books you mentioned but I have read and reread Crime and Punishment and Dubliners at least three times each. Great books. So, no answers here, only more books 😅.
We have a lot of overlap in our reading, that's certain. I also meant to mention the possibility of swapping a re-read for a book by a "similar" author: re-read Flannery O'Connor, or read some Eudora Welty, which I haven't read? Embarrassment of riches, really.
I have decided that I want to reread Steinbeck and Hesse novels as it has been approaching 50 years since I read them. Along with the books I've read, I want to read deeper into their works. They both (especially Hesse) were influential to my young mind. I am interested to see how they resonate now
I've not read any of these books James so that's for the mention. I may have tried Dubliners many many years ago. Great books always worth a reread. New or old reads, I hope you are reading great. Best wishes.
Give Dubliners another try--you may like it. Have a good one!
The Waves and Woolf in general is one of my favorites, and always worth a reread. I need to do my first read of Magic Mountain before trying The Empusium.
I read The Professor's House last month and was surprised. It could have been more fleshed out, but maybe that would've pulled at its fabric a little too much. It somehow reminded me of both Stoner and Butcher's Crossing, and in the last quarter turned into a Cesar Aira novel. Which is to say I really like it.
Thanks for watching. I really thing Woolf might be one of the authors I'd get the most out of re-reading, but to date, I've not revisited any of her books. Maybe I'll put that on my list of goals for next year.
My thinking is that you should reread a book you enjoyed in the past IF you have forgotten what it was about. For example, in the 1970s I read Walter Miller, Jr.'s A Canticle for Liebowitz because it was popular at the time. Since then it has disappeared pretty much from our consciousness. I didn't even recall my initial impression of the book but found more current reviews on UA-cam that were very favorable. So I reread it and was very glad I did. By the way, I read The Professor's House recently and liked it very much. I think The Song of the Lark is even better.
Canticle for Liebowitz, Song of the Lark, Professor's House... List is getting longer for first time reads.
The infamous YT algorithm just recommended your video. Likely because I viewed Greg’s “reread” video a few days ago. I appreciate you sharing your ruminations on what to reread. “The Buddenbrooks” is an excellent and engaging family saga of the fate and fortunes of a prosperous 19th C German family. It could probably be read in less time than “The Magic Mountain” since it doesn’t have a lot of the philosophical subtext.
I hardly ever re-read but revisiting “Crime and Punishment” might be a plan in 2025. I’m now much more comfortable with Russian names than I was when I read it decades ago.
I'm a big fan of Greg's channel too. Thanks for your thoughts on Mann. Greg and some others on this part of booktube are talking about a Brothers Karamazov read-along in the new year too. Might be something to that.
I forgot about those 33 and a third books. The one you mention sounds very interesting. I have The Velvet Underground and Nico which was written by Joe Harvard a very friendly acquaintance of mine who passed away from cancer a few years ago. I enjoyed his book but he was such a funny kind and sweet person. I met him through a local artist and musician scene I used to be a part of. I miss him. He loved the velvet underground and had so many colorful stories from a time period before I was born. But I should get some more of those books sometime. Thank you for reminding me about this.
The ones I've read, I've liked, but I'm sure it's mixed. It's almost overwhelming how many there are now. Happy reading.
I've never been able to get into a reread. But listening to a good audio version of a past read, especially on a road trip, can add another dimension to the original experience. Did this recently with Steinbeck's To a God Unknown.
Audiobooks are great for revisiting old classics. Can't imaging one for a first read, though.
@@JamesRuchala We're of like mind there.
ive been meaning to reread the brothers k for sooo long tbh. but i guess there's no rush
We've got all the time in the world to get to the bros. Some of the people in my part of booktube are talking about a group read of it in the new year. I think I'll participate--consider it.
@@JamesRuchala oooh peut-être...
Great video, James. I think I’d like to try to do a version of this video too. I really love many of the books you are contemplating rereading here. I am definitely a fan of re-reading, but I also am all for reading the works of my great authors that I haven’t read yet. For example, I am reading a lot of Dickens these days as I haven’t come close to reading all of him, but I also do re-read Bleak House every couple of years. I’ve read Magic Mountain, but not since I was in college. I think a re-read of that would feel like a first-time read at this point in my life. Speaking of Dostoyevsky, our Ulysses 6 group has decided to read The Brothers K in February and March, and we will change our name to the Brothers and Sisters Karamazov. Would you like to join us? I can add you to the group if you’re interested. Let me know. Oh, and I, too, have read and re-read Dubliners many, many times. I recommend it to people all the time. Hope you’re doing well, my friend. 😊
Thanks for watching, Pat. There's so much in Magic Mountain that it could be one of those perennial re-reads. If I do it again I promise I'll follow all the Settembrini-Naptha debates and not just skim them--honest!
Good of Pat to overlook being called miserable….
Masters of Reality sounds like an interesting read, and I didn't realize there were so many books in the 33 1/3 series. I wanted to read Warren Zane's Dusty in Memphis but the reviews I've read say it isn't very good and has next to nothing to do with the album.
I read The Professor's House last year, it was the first of Cather's novels I'd read, and I came away from it with mixed feelings. Cather's writing was great, I liked the plot and the characters, but it reads as if Cather took two separate novellas, neither one fully fleshed out, and stuck one inside the other.
The change from one narrative to the other is abrupt and totally unexpected, and I think she could have found a much better way to have tied the two stories together. I'm glad I read it because it led me to read O Pioneers, and I liked it overall, but it was still frustrating. I wish she'd stuck with the professor's story more than she did.
33 1/3 has been going for a long time, so it's a huge collection by now. There's also a famous one about Celine Dion's "Let's Talk about Love" where the author really doesn't like the album but uses it as a springboard to discuss aesthetic taste in general. I imagine a fan of Dion would be pretty irate to pick that up unprepared.
Why must it be an either/or and instead do both? How interesting it would be to read Magic Mountain side by side with Buddenbrooks!
Magic Mountain AND Buddenbrooks at the same time? You do it--I'll cheer you on from the sidelines.
I can't even imagine rereading either of those. 😂😂
I’m laughing but feel the angst also! I sometimes say these things to my husband ( who’s not a reader) and he just looks at me . There are too many books and not enough time
New books ! Old books! Rereads! Oh my !
Thanks for watching-- I can relate. My wife reads a lot, but in a specific genre and sometimes has a hard time finding something good to read next.
The Waves is a good revisit.
I was thinking of rereading 12 books I hated next year.
I love this idea. But I'd need to be retired to take that on: reading time is too precious right now.
I have reread Moby Dick several times. I just love this book.
Glad to hear it. One of my favorites