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Frank, this comment makes me so happy. It touches me to think my videos could actually have an impact on your reading. Happy holidays to you too, and thank you for everything! -Joshua

Thank you so much, Frank! That is what I love about James Merrill’s poetry, but also what intimidates me. It’s often conversational, personal and mellifluous; but it is also filled with wordplay and difficult vocabulary. Thank you again.

Hi Isaiah! I usually read poetry at least once a day, whether it is an old favourite or something new. It’s nice because most poems are short, so I can weave poems into my daily reading, while tackling bigger and more long term works.

@@joshuacreboreadshmm I should make more of an effort to read more poetry daily. Funny as it seems, I am far more likely to commit to a long epic poem instead of an anthology of smaller poems. Not sure why.

Haha, I know! I could hear someone cuss in Italian and would still find it beautiful. 😂

Yeah, I’m very thankful for the dual-language editions, otherwise I wouldn’t know how to even approach foreign poetry. The penguins are awesome! I love the way they look, and they are always portable. Steve Donoghue did a daily penguin video series some years ago, which first alerted me to the publishing line. Thanks, as always, Helen, for your comments!

Thank you, Pat!!! I’m glad you liked it. I seem to return to Merrill a lot here - I guess because he’s just a favourite of mine.

@@joshuacreboreads He's a great poet to have as a favorite!

I’ve heard so much about Rilke, partly from Aaron Facer’s channel, but I still haven’t gotten an edition of his poetry. I’ve actually had my eye on a dual-language edition for a while now, but I haven’t yet pulled the trigger on it. Perhaps your wonderful comment will be a prompt to do just that! I will also look into Goethe’s poetry - any mention of Schubert will win me over, haha.

@@joshuacreboreads Like you I only have fairly basic German but I find that with a translation one can easily grasp how beautiful Goethe's language is. Rilke's life was almost as astonishing as his poetry, so it is well worth looking into his prose, especially his letters, diaries etc. Same goes for Kafka. That generation of central Europeans was just so filled with creativity and vision.

I do own the collected stories of Kafka, and I remember seeing his diaries on Steve’s channel. Nothing by Rilke though - now I must change that!!! One thing I enjoy about learning German is that I can somewhat understand the classical music I listen to. All of those songs by Schubert or Brahms German Requiem feel more familiar now!

Wow, awesome. I’m glad I passed the vibe check, haha. Welcome!

Yeah! It’s quite exciting to see how poetry might work in another language, though it is also intimidating.

@@joshuacreboreads: Yes, reading poetry in translation is a real pickle, the language impediment to access...

Haha, I’m sure I don’t deserve that name! As usual, I heard about many of these poets from Steve!

Thank you for your kind words!!!

Hmm, this may be a strange answer - but I honestly have no idea! I mean, I can track which poets I’ve read, and how my knowledge of poetry has grown thus far, but I can’t exactly say what initially drew me to it. But maybe I’ll make a video talking about this subject?

@ I would find it interesting, even just the tracking.

Oh haha, thank you!

I’m sure I could do some digging around to find those reviews! I would love to see what you have written about Leopardi.

Update: I found your writing on the Zibaldone! So I’m reading that now!

Brilliant! I hadn’t even considered that, but it makes absolute sense. The no man’s land and the combines and chemicals, all fit into that interpretation. And you referred to ME as the poetry expert! I think not.

Thank you, Helen! I had a lot of fun reading it all, especially the Merrill poem! 😁😁😁

Yeah, conversational is the perfect adjective; I think that is what makes me at times prefer modern poetry to older poetry. Just the immediacy of the language. I’ve never heard of that movie, but thank you for the recommendation! I like hearing about all these movies that you mention. And yeah, Boland has been very interesting. My knowledge of modern poets is still limited, but it has been slowly expanding as I’m getting into the habit of reading more modern poetry.

@@joshuacreboreads: That is great. I mostly read & review modern poetry. I have been very lucky to have made it my job.

(Not mumbling incorrectly btw.)

Thank you, David. You are really kind.

Thank you for the info! I thought that scene was fascinating, and also how it comes back near the end with John in the center. I agree that Baldwin is difficult - a lot of commas and very long sentences. Morrison is on my list to read sometime in the future. Thank you for an amazing comment!

Library tour! Library tour! Library tour! This is me pressuring you to do one. I want to see all your books! But, thanks, Justin, for your comment. And no actual pressure on the tag or tour. 😃

Yes, I’m afraid I risked the wrath of Steve by showing Finnegan’s Wake. I haven’t actually read it, and I’m not sure that I will for many years. I agree with you that the Wake cover is uglier - the Blake cover actually isn’t as bad as I thought.

Thank you!

Thank you so much, Frank. I really appreciate all of your comments. They are so wonderful.

What an interesting idea! Having a catalogue of every single book one has read… it would be like looking back at one’s entire reading life and getting to reminisce about it. That sounds like a wonderful dream.

Yeah, I was able to get most of her books in the divorce. It was great.

No pressure, John! If the tag doesn’t speak to you, don’t worry about it. I tagged people, partially because I’m curious about their shelves, but also as a gesture of friendship! Participation is not necessary.

I’m glad you found it fun, Phillip. Happy reading to you too! I appreciate your comment here. 🙂

Thank you, Helen. I’m glad you enjoyed. I realized after making this that most people wouldn’t be too interesting in such a straight forward book report. So I’m very glad you got something out of it.

@joshuacreboreads I definitely enjoyed it - especially incorporating facts about the author and his life, too.

Do you mean that I should take a break from Baldwin and come back to him later? Ah, yes, I must find a print of Schiele’s work. I have to thank you for tipping me off to him, as I find his self-portraits to be very memorable. And thank you for the well wishes! I hope you enjoy the Tale of Genji when you pick it up.

@ Ah, you have the Klimt poster and I suggested Schiele. My mistake. It might be beneficial to read some other authors now, so you can savor Baldwin’s more complex work later, because there are so few. I’m looking forward to your thoughts on Genji! 😺✌️

Ah, but that’s the problem! By saying he is complex, I am only more tempted to read his later works and see what it’s like! Maybe you are right, however. We’ll see what happens after Giovanni’s Room.

@@joshuacreboreads Whatever you decide, just remember that you can only read a book for the first time once. 😉

Thanks, Emily!

Thanks Justin! Yeah, I’m excited to get to The Once and Future King at some point. I’ve heard so much praise for it.

Haha, I am exactly the same way. Depending on how you look at it, the sheer number of books is either despairing or exciting. But I’m determined to find it exciting. You are exactly right, so much to look forward to! Thank you, Helen!

Yeah, I tape them with packing tape, following Steve’s example from one of his older videos. I suppose I should feel guilty, but in most cases I’m glad I made them more durable.

@@joshuacreboreadsno, they are your books! No need to feel guilty. I’m only fascinated that you were willing to do it.

Do you tape your books? For me, especially if they are used, I find it helpful to keep them in good condition when I shove them into my backpack, for example.

@@joshuacreboreadsno I don’t. I rather like the distinct feeling of each book, and taping them would give them all the same glossy feeling to them. It’s a small thing but one I’m fond of when it comes to books.

I’m impressed they were even able to fit it into a single volume! It’ll be hard to lug around with me, but I’ll manage.

Interesting. I might seek out your video on Greek Tragedy. I heard Pat talk about it, so it would be interesting to get another viewpoint. One of these days I want to get into Aristotle too. I find it fascinating how influential he was, both for the sciences and the arts. I really appreciate your comment, Phillip. Thanks!

@@joshuacreboreads: Aristotle is the ultimate genius outsider, totally unique, but also compassionate & (I suspect) gentle.

Wow, nice! I hope your reading of The Tale of Genji goes well, and I’ll be fascinated to hear your thoughts about it. I think you would like Mishima. He writes incredibly beautifully. Thank you, Emily!!!

And happy birthday (or belated birthday) once again!!!

@@joshuacreboreads Thank you☺

Hi Ellen! I know, it’s so tempting to always buy more books, even if I can’t read them all. But I guess that just means I’ll have a great variety in my TBR, and can explore different avenues in my reading. Thanks so much for your comment! I really appreciate it.

@ Exactly, always good to have options! 😊

Hey, Daniel. Thanks for commenting. Yeah, that penguin edition of The Tale of Genji is really nice. I hope to read it soon.

Thank you for your comment, Frank. That’s a really nice quote from The Lathe of Heaven, a book I have not yet read. One of these I’m going to have to jump into her science fiction, and whatever else she has written. She’s an amazing writer. Thank you for recalling my experience with Earthsea back to mind

Joshua, I haven't read The Lathe of Heaven (have heard a couple people say it's their favorite Ursula K. Le Guin) yet either but that quote has stuck with me. I've only read the first two Earthsea books and the captivating "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" short story. As you stated, "She’s an amazing writer," so anything she writes is worth reading like the Newbery winning "The Tombs of Atuan," though maybe that's more my maturity: I did mix up Christmas and Easter and misspell wisdom. The Farthest Shore (and returning to your Earthsea update video) is on deck, or is it in the hole, because, like you, I too want want to read her science fiction. Varsha at Reading by the Rainy Mountain is hosting a group discussion going in order through the SF Masterworks and just recently read "The Disposessed" (also a fan favorite). I'm behind but who but superhuman/canine Steve Donoghue isn't? Varsha (she's more active than me, especially lately) and myself are contributors at Steve Talks Books' (a formative BookTube site for me and generous guy) fun, old-school fantasy forum PageChewing(dot)com where we chatted about Omelas a year or two ago. Cheers, Frank

Thank you for alerting me to Varsha at Reading by the Rainy Mountain. I will check out the channel. And I will also search out the website you mentioned. This is fascinating. The Tombs of Atuan is great. Looking back on the series, it may be my favourite of all the Earthsea novels. Thank you, Frank.

Wow, thank you for your comment on a very old video of mine! Morte d’Arthur is one of my favourite poems. I’m glad I’m not alone in loving it. There’s so much beauty in it, so much emotion, it’s wonderful. I appreciate your words here.

Poetry is a blind spot, so thank you for a seating at Tennyson's round table. I just listened to your reading again and the poem seems to grow though I know it's me. On replay, The Epic's scenes like skating on the thin ice's starry, liminal edge are clearer framing dying Arthur, "take me to the margin" "a dusky barge, dark as a funeral scarf from stem to stern" This haunting yet hopeful poem shall never stop giving. You're so right, Joshua: beautiful, moving and emotional.

Thanks for this kind comment! Yeah, I have Library of America volume of Le Guin’s poetry, but as yet I haven’t purchased any of her other stuff, like her science fiction, for example. Too expensive, for the time being.

Certainly, I will probably do a bookshelf tour fairly soon, as someone else has also asked. Ah, I know, LOA books are amazing to have. They are beautiful, but are still sturdy and portable for reading too.

Thanks, Justin!

I worry that I may not be much help to you, as I only know a couple. But I think you might like Merphy Napier’s channel. She reads both manga and fantasy, and got me into Jane Austen early on. If you are looking for a smaller account, Andrew Watson is pretty good, as well as Aaron Read A Book. And Steve Donoghue has a couple “fantasy essentials” videos, if you are looking for recommendations. I’ll leave off there, so as not to make this comment too long! Thanks, Mellanny!

P.S. I will try to find a way to link my Goodreads to my channel. As it is, I have no idea how to do it.

Thank you for tagging me, Pat! I’m glad to have you as a friend here on booktube.

@ thanks, Josh!

Thank you so much for your kind words, Helen. Yes, I have only one person in my life that I can talk about books with. Other than that, I rely on BookTube for conversations about books. The people here (including commenters like yourself) mean the world to me.

Thank you!