Glad to hear another positive review of “Stoner”. I picked it up at a library sale several months ago. You have reminded me it’s time to read it. A few favorite early to mid-20th C novels: East of Eden, The Age of Innocence, Brideshead Revisited, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Winds of War (Wouk),Revolutionary Road (Yates) All Quiet on the Western Front, The Group (McCarthy), The End of the Affair (Greene). I just came across your channel and subscribed.
Another great video, Bart. I've read some Kafka including The Castle, but not Metamorphosis so might try that one day. The Great Gatsby and Lolita both great books, but a very long time since I read them. It's The Old Man and the Sea for me so I need to read A Farewell to Arms as think I missed that one. This has brought up many more memories of modern classics and authors for me like Orwell, Huxley, Fowles and Steinbeck etc and all the science fiction and fantasy books you mentioned - it certainly was the era for those. Happy reading memories! Still so many more to read..
Oh, quite, there are so many good books in the category! I could see why you would go with Old Man and the Sea, but I have the tendency when having to pick one of two books, I often go with the lesser known/least famous. I’m strange like that 😉
I read Stoner and Lolita earlier this year. The title ‘perfect novel’ is absolutely correct re Stoner. I loved it, from start to finish. Enthralling! As for Lolita I put off reading it for decades due to the subject matter. And there were sections obviously that are very contentious. But I have to say that it’s beautifully written and my take on Humbert was one of him being delusional. Brilliant writing
I think a lot of people put off reading Lolita for that reason: because it's 'that book', which is a shame, because it is so well crafted and shows the delusion of Humbert so clearly. And Stoner, yes, Stoner is indeed something special.
@@cafeaulivre I just remembered, I also read A Farewell To Arms this year! Another thoroughly enjoyable read. Hemingway’s writing style seems so basic in comparison to many other ‘classic authors’. But he just draws you in and is so accessible. Reminds me of Steinbeck a little but maybe Steinbeck is more literary?
Steinbeck feels a bit more literary to me, but I get the comparison. Hemingway is the master of ‘basic’ really: why use twenty words if you only need five, but he does it so masterfully. He will always remain on that strange edge between being a writer and a journalist for me.
@@cafeaulivre yes that could easily account for his writing style for sure. Re John Williams, I read Butcher’s Crossing immediately after Stoner. Much different but another enthralling read
Please make one on anthologies as well! As far as Ulysses, I managed to read 50 pages... I heard they're notoriously difficult, but then it gets better... I loved Kafka's The Castle. If I find the time (haha), I'll read The Lighthouse and The Mark On the Wall by Virginia Woolf. Nice video!
I was introduce to The Little Prince by a late & much missed friend in Spanish ( he was American & had been to Spain where he got the book & I'm English). He later bought me an English copy. I tried Metamorphosis & got about 40% of the way through it & gave up. Read The Old Man & the Sea at school so maybe I should try some more Hemingway. I'm sure Martin Amis could make a list in future. Have you read any from the Booker Prize list? I enjoyed the Siege of Krishnapaur by J G Farrell. Possession by A S Byatt is rated highly. I have recently bought Kafka on the Shore, If on a Winter's night a traveller ( to try Calvino again) and The Left Hand of Darkness.
Contemporary classic. I like that. That's my lifetime too and yeah. Also yes, The Great Gatsby is such a great book. It is just so good. A farewell to Arms is the only Hemingway I enjoy. Hills Like White Elephants scarred me.
I've only read two of these (Little Prince & Metamorphosis) but a number of them are on my list - and a few more have made it on there just now. I want to read "Reading Lolita in Teheran" this year and from what I heard it discusses The Great Gatsby, Lolita and Pride and Prejudice so I should read those first probably 😅 And yes, please do a video on Fantasy & SciFi classics! If I get reminded often enough that I've never picked up Dune I might even end up reading it 😂
Oh can you maybe compare tv/movie adaptations of famous classics with the novels themselves? Like how fateful adaptation it is and so on. I think that would be very interesting!
For me, there is no such thing as a contemporary classic, only contemporary, and I consider a book to be a modern classic for up to 70 years as after that they go into the public domain Have not read many modern classics but some which I remember would be Lolita, On The Road, Naked Lunch, Master and the Margharita, and A Confederacy of Dunces
I am afraid that I stopped your video prematurely. Given your accent, I was hoping you would hit on some European Modernist classics: Hamsun, Celine, Gide, Broch, Musil, Huysmans, &c. Oh, well. My search continues.
… Why? The concept offends you? You don’t believe it’s possible that a strictly gendered patriarchal society may generate certain unhealthy and antisocial traits in a portion of its men?
What is your favorite Mordern Classic? Which book should you include in an All-Time Favorites list? Let me know and we'll talk some more!
Does One Hundred Years of Solitude counts? I think it is at top of my All-Time Favorite list!
I thought The Luminaries was a great book.
@@nepenthereads Oh, it sure does! Not the easiest one, but cetainly a modern classic!
@@Alpha-Andromeda Havn't read it yet myself...it is a bit modern to be a modern classic though ☺
Great recommendations, thank you.
Glad to hear another positive review of “Stoner”. I picked it up at a library sale several months ago. You have reminded me it’s time to read it.
A few favorite early to mid-20th C novels: East of Eden, The Age of Innocence, Brideshead Revisited, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Winds of War (Wouk),Revolutionary Road (Yates) All Quiet on the Western Front, The Group (McCarthy), The End of the Affair (Greene).
I just came across your channel and subscribed.
Thank you, and there are some great titles in that list of yours!
Another great video, Bart. I've read some Kafka including The Castle, but not Metamorphosis so might try that one day. The Great Gatsby and Lolita both great books, but a very long time since I read them. It's The Old Man and the Sea for me so I need to read A Farewell to Arms as think I missed that one. This has brought up many more memories of modern classics and authors for me like Orwell, Huxley, Fowles and Steinbeck etc and all the science fiction and fantasy books you mentioned - it certainly was the era for those. Happy reading memories! Still so many more to read..
Oh, quite, there are so many good books in the category! I could see why you would go with Old Man and the Sea, but I have the tendency when having to pick one of two books, I often go with the lesser known/least famous. I’m strange like that 😉
Really loved your suggestions and how you talk about books❤️✨📚
Thank you very much 🙏
Fernando Pessoa was a great, amazing touch. Very good and precise. An extraordinary example of early XX century poetry.
I read Stoner this year and I loved it.
It’s quite unique, unlike any other book.
I read Stoner and Lolita earlier this year. The title ‘perfect novel’ is absolutely correct re Stoner. I loved it, from start to finish. Enthralling!
As for Lolita I put off reading it for decades due to the subject matter. And there were sections obviously that are very contentious. But I have to say that it’s beautifully written and my take on Humbert was one of him being delusional. Brilliant writing
I think a lot of people put off reading Lolita for that reason: because it's 'that book', which is a shame, because it is so well crafted and shows the delusion of Humbert so clearly. And Stoner, yes, Stoner is indeed something special.
@@cafeaulivre I just remembered, I also read A Farewell To Arms this year! Another thoroughly enjoyable read. Hemingway’s writing style seems so basic in comparison to many other ‘classic authors’. But he just draws you in and is so accessible. Reminds me of Steinbeck a little but maybe Steinbeck is more literary?
Steinbeck feels a bit more literary to me, but I get the comparison. Hemingway is the master of ‘basic’ really: why use twenty words if you only need five, but he does it so masterfully. He will always remain on that strange edge between being a writer and a journalist for me.
@@cafeaulivre yes that could easily account for his writing style for sure.
Re John Williams, I read Butcher’s Crossing immediately after Stoner. Much different but another enthralling read
Great content as always! Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to your new videos!
Thanks a lot!
very interesting choices. Rilke and Pessoa are added to my list of to read.
Enjoy them! :)
A book which almost saved my life was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Think that would be right up there. Too many great books to choose from!
A book which saved my life was 100 years of solitude by GG Màrquez. I absolutely love everything about it
I loved this book too !I was so invested.
Please make one on anthologies as well! As far as Ulysses, I managed to read 50 pages... I heard they're notoriously difficult, but then it gets better... I loved Kafka's The Castle. If I find the time (haha), I'll read The Lighthouse and The Mark On the Wall by Virginia Woolf. Nice video!
Thank you 😊 and Ulysses…I still think it is one of the best pranks in literature and Joyce is laughing uncontrollably somewhere up there 😝
I was introduce to The Little Prince by a late & much missed friend in Spanish ( he was American & had been to Spain where he got the book & I'm English). He later bought me an English copy.
I tried Metamorphosis & got about 40% of the way through it & gave up.
Read The Old Man & the Sea at school so maybe I should try some more Hemingway.
I'm sure Martin Amis could make a list in future.
Have you read any from the Booker Prize list? I enjoyed the Siege of Krishnapaur by J G Farrell.
Possession by A S Byatt is rated highly.
I have recently bought Kafka on the Shore, If on a Winter's night a traveller ( to try Calvino again) and The Left Hand of Darkness.
Contemporary classic. I like that. That's my lifetime too and yeah.
Also yes, The Great Gatsby is such a great book. It is just so good. A farewell to Arms is the only Hemingway I enjoy. Hills Like White Elephants scarred me.
I totally understand why Hills Like White Elephants would scar you 😬
I've only read two of these (Little Prince & Metamorphosis) but a number of them are on my list - and a few more have made it on there just now. I want to read "Reading Lolita in Teheran" this year and from what I heard it discusses The Great Gatsby, Lolita and Pride and Prejudice so I should read those first probably 😅
And yes, please do a video on Fantasy & SciFi classics! If I get reminded often enough that I've never picked up Dune I might even end up reading it 😂
A reminder to read Dune, noted! 🤣
Havn’t read Reading Lolita in Teheran yet, but it sure sounds interesting. I’m going to look into that one.
I really love this channel
Thank you ever so much 🙏
I love your idea of contemporary classic being born in the 1970"s I'm not classic but not modern I can relate.
We are contemporary classics! 😉
Oh can you maybe compare tv/movie adaptations of famous classics with the novels themselves? Like how fateful adaptation it is and so on. I think that would be very interesting!
That's certainly a great idea. I should look into it: can I show any images/clips copyrightwsie and such, but but good idea!
For me, there is no such thing as a contemporary classic, only contemporary, and I consider a book to be a modern classic for up to 70 years as after that they go into the public domain
Have not read many modern classics but some which I remember would be Lolita, On The Road, Naked Lunch, Master and the Margharita, and A Confederacy of Dunces
I am afraid that I stopped your video prematurely. Given your accent, I was hoping you would hit on some European Modernist classics: Hamsun, Celine, Gide, Broch, Musil, Huysmans, &c. Oh, well. My search continues.
Best of luck with your search!
As soon as you said “toxic masculinity” you lost me.
I’m sure there are other channels that cater to your views better then.
@@cafeaulivre surely. I just thought I’d give yours a go since I’m looking fire bookish channels by men.
… Why? The concept offends you? You don’t believe it’s possible that a strictly gendered patriarchal society may generate certain unhealthy and antisocial traits in a portion of its men?