Watching your videos while I work and I’m all caught up now and then I see this gem uploaded! Finding such comfort in your channel at the moment as I go through pregnancy woes. Been a silent watcher for a few years but felt compelled to comment. Condolences on your pup. Been hugging mine a little tighter lately. Thank you. ❤️
Wow, my list of books to read is getting longer and longer bc of you😅 I have read so far 3 books of Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and to be honest with each book i am always surprised how good and engaging it is. I had few years gap between the books (so, not the way to read them) and still they manage to wow me and draw me back in very fast. Still need to read the last one 😊
Apropos the Neapoletan Quartet: I am amazed how someone can put so much socio-political commentary in a novel, without it seeming to be forced, I love it! Your comment on the italian dialect is fascinating- I wasn't aware of the fact until I read My brilliant friend, and yet I had friends from Puglia for years that spoke a dialect I barely understood, having learnt Italian at school. A suggestion: they made it into a tv series, so instead of re-reading the first book, you could watch the first season! It gets you reacquainted with the (plenty😊) characters and what had happened. As with most screen adaptations, a lot gets lost, but nothing is added, so it is like a summary of the book.
Sir, you've touched my heart. Finally, someone is making literally literal videos rather than stupid ya romance drama. Can you please suggest me best short story writers in English language.(other than carver and Hemingway)
Thank you! Short story writers I love are Jhumpa Lahiri, John Cheever, Deesha Philyaw, Denis Johnson, and Morgan Talty. I also think J.D. Salinger's story collection Nine Stories is very underrated--and I love a story collection by Ha Jin called Ocean of Words.
I loved the entire Neapolitan quartet! I think the things that made it slow are what made it so so good. I read through all 4 at once. Bad Muslim Discount is sitting on my shelf waiting to be read so I was excited to see it on your list!
Thank you for the recommendation of The Gifts of the Body. I was a new nurse in 1993 and worked with people with AIDS in a large Chicago hospital. Later, I became a hospice nurse briefly on the east coast. I am always looking for books about the AIDS epidemic.
I feel like I don't recommend Joyce's "Ulysses" nearly enough. 😉 An author I don't recommend nearly enough is Alice Munro. I was all about her winning the Nobel, which she did; but then she retired and my fervour waned. But I definitely recommend "Lives of Girls and Women". It's interconnected stories about a single character, so the short story haters needn't panic.
LOL, I've had a copy of "The Book Thief" on my shelves for YEARS and it's still untouched. One of these day I'm gonna have to blow all the dust off it and just dive in. I always hear good things about it so I have no idea why I haven't read it yet. Oy! Soooo many books, so little time!
This is such a great list! I think I only knew of a few on this list. The Gifts of The Body is one I remember wanting to read when it came out but somehow forgot about over time. I am definitely going to try to track that one down.
Rebecca Brown had a new nonfiction book come out last year (you tell the stories you need to believe) so I think she’s still around. Love the gifts of the body
These are some that I don't recommend enough. Firmament by Simon Clark, Sanctions What Everyone Needs to Know by Bruce Jentleson, Changes in the Land by William Cronon, Scars on the Land by David Silkenat, Kingdom of Nauvoo by Benjamin Park, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, Women's Work by Elizabeth Wayland Barber, The Red Prince by Timothy Snyder, Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen
I just discovered your channel and now I’m binging your videos. I just wanted to say I really like your takes on things and I like your personality, you seem so genuine and like you’d be a good conversationalist. I’m so happy to have found your channel!! Thank you for your videos ❤
I am so surprised I do not hear about Sheri Reynolds books recommended more. The Rapture Of Canaan was an Oprah Selection. I no longer follow her list but did when I was younger. I have been so moved by her books and she is an auto buy author for me. I decided to try and read all the books you mentioned on The 25 Best Books of the Last 25 Years video. That's my project kinda like your Pulitzer prize project 😉🤓📚 I read The Power of the Dog, Thomas Savage and enjoyed it. I have found so many good books from your channel. I will never run out of fantastic books to read thanks to you!
I looked up Rapture of Canaan when you mentioned it and it sounds very interesting. I'm so glad you've found so many books that you enjoyed through my channel! It means a lot to know that.
Oscar Wao is one of the books I’ve really hated while working on my Pulitzer project. I’m just done with all the misogyny. I did enjoy Middlesex though.
a heads up re: the neapolitan novels, the second is amazing 5 stars, the last two kinda of taper off with the main arc of the narrator basically is she becomes a TERF.... have found it hard to recommend overall knowing that's the outcome, you may feel similarly!
I am very interested in “Gifts of the Body” for many reasons. My mother and I cared for my brother as he was dying with AIDS. He died in 1990 when the disease was fairly new and a death sentence. I am that woman…trying to care for him as he loses everything…and trying to control my grief as it was happening. Im almost 70 now and the grief is here now. He was my best friend as a child and he died at the age of 34 on my 36th birthday. I know that our mother suffered terribly also. Im sure that I will feel kinship with this book. Thank you for suggesting it.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Grief never does go away, does it? As difficult as it was for you and your mother, it's nice that you were able to be with him at the end. Gifts of the Body may be a difficult read for you but I hope you find beauty in it.
@@SupposedlyFun I know it will be a difficult read, but I’m ok with crying. I ordered a signed copy by the author that is to a caregiver from that time, which is appropriate for me too. My therapist at the time taught me how to cry. She said that my grief was so deep that I needed to cry from my stomach. It was very true…and that difficult depth of sadness has to be acknowledged. My love for him was deep and I am thankful to have had that love returned for that time.
@@SupposedlyFun thank you for your kindness. I am really ok. I’m like an existential history book but I weathered the tragedies. I have not forgotten the details…the political piece was not the best. I’m the pissed off grandma at protests.
They changed the ending of the movie, which made it a *much* better story. That hardly ever happens, so it was really notable! For years, I've been telling people it's the only instance of the movie being better than the book, that I know, at any rate. 🤷🏻♀️
@@onourpath Wow, I did not remember that! I was thinking about movies that are better than the book since I mentioned it in this video but i hadn't put together a list yet--so thank you!
Whatever you think about My Beautiful Friend will be true of the rest of the series- same characters, same wonderful writing etc. I liked but not loved all 4 books. They should be read together otherwise you’ll lose track of all the characters
I still love Raymond Carver. My copy doesn't have creepy Raymond eyes on the cover so that helps! Adding Instructions for Cleaning Ladies and Bad Muslim Discount to my list.
I acquired The Gifts of the body when I was looking for books about HIV/AIDS but haven't picked it up yet. I tried The Book Thief 3x but couldn't finish it. I guess it's not for me.
I didn't like Oscar Wao at all, and my problem with it is not the way Junior treats women, is the way Junot treats women. Also, I still don't understand what's so wonderous about Oscar's life.
I can’t access it, but I see The NY Times has posted an article that the Pulitzer has been expanded to eligibility for non citizens. I don’t know if fiction is included in that.
I read The brief wondrous life of oscar Wao years ago and yeah, Junior was an asshole towards women - but how is that an argument against the book? I dont understand why this is relevant? Should the book be more didactic and outwardly say that it's wrong to be an asshole (which i think it kind of did? That was a huge plot point that he lost the woman he loved because of the way he couldnt deal with relationships). I can understand Diaz' frustration because the book is about something completely different and women are portrayed in multiple different ways in the story, yet the argument about Junior is based on the fact that he's a stand-in for the author, therefore the athor is bad at relationships. Which, yeah, sure, is a bad thing for him and his life, but how does that affect his writing? Junior in the novel is not a likable character, but hes definitely not written as if he was supposed to be. And the argument that it's wrong he's sexist suggests that (main) characters in books may be flawed only in very specific ways that don't offend the reader?
I'm not sure if you heard the part about there being allegations of harassment against him--that's really the crux of it. It's like Woody Allen making movies about adulterous men obsessed with young women--it's difficult to separate art from artist when the art turns out to be who the person is (or may be). That's why I say it would need re-examination.
@SupposedlyFun yeah, I get your stand on it now, I was referring only to the part where you said that people kept asking Diaz about Junior on his tour after This is how you lose her was released. I hadn't heard about the allegations and now I'm conflicted; do you think I'm obliged to read up on it (I really don't feel like knowing will make my life better) or is it morally OK if I remain blissfully unaware, considering I'll probably forget about it soon and will be able to enjoy This is how you lose her once I finally get to it on my TBR in the distant future (I'll also add I never buy books, I'll probably get it from a library so no money will go towards Diaz)
@@GugaJMW My memory is that the articles about it were inconclusive. I had been hoping that something would come out one way or the other, but it's been pretty quiet and he has largely disappeared from the public. I'm sure if he releases a new book something will come up. I don't think you have to become an expert on his life, but I do think it provides some useful context for when you read more of his work. I'm not sure if that's helpful, but hopefully it gives you an idea.
![Origin of an Icon | Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson | Book Review [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4CH_NpfKdO0/mqdefault.jpg)
An episode with books you want to reread and those you do reread would be fun.
Loved Power of the Dog too.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Watching your videos while I work and I’m all caught up now and then I see this gem uploaded! Finding such comfort in your channel at the moment as I go through pregnancy woes. Been a silent watcher for a few years but felt compelled to comment. Condolences on your pup. Been hugging mine a little tighter lately. Thank you. ❤️
Thank you so much. I'm glad my videos have been able to help you through a tough time. Hopefully it will get better in time. 🥂 ❤️
Wow, my list of books to read is getting longer and longer bc of you😅 I have read so far 3 books of Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and to be honest with each book i am always surprised how good and engaging it is. I had few years gap between the books (so, not the way to read them) and still they manage to wow me and draw me back in very fast. Still need to read the last one 😊
Apropos the Neapoletan Quartet: I am amazed how someone can put so much socio-political commentary in a novel, without it seeming to be forced, I love it! Your comment on the italian dialect is fascinating- I wasn't aware of the fact until I read My brilliant friend, and yet I had friends from Puglia for years that spoke a dialect I barely understood, having learnt Italian at school.
A suggestion: they made it into a tv series, so instead of re-reading the first book, you could watch the first season! It gets you reacquainted with the (plenty😊) characters and what had happened. As with most screen adaptations, a lot gets lost, but nothing is added, so it is like a summary of the book.
Sir, you've touched my heart. Finally, someone is making literally literal videos rather than stupid ya romance drama.
Can you please suggest me best short story writers in English language.(other than carver and Hemingway)
Thank you! Short story writers I love are Jhumpa Lahiri, John Cheever, Deesha Philyaw, Denis Johnson, and Morgan Talty. I also think J.D. Salinger's story collection Nine Stories is very underrated--and I love a story collection by Ha Jin called Ocean of Words.
I loved the entire Neapolitan quartet! I think the things that made it slow are what made it so so good. I read through all 4 at once.
Bad Muslim Discount is sitting on my shelf waiting to be read so I was excited to see it on your list!
I hope you like Bad Muslim Discount as much as I did.
Thank you for the recommendation of The Gifts of the Body. I was a new nurse in 1993 and worked with people with AIDS in a large Chicago hospital. Later, I became a hospice nurse briefly on the east coast. I am always looking for books about the AIDS epidemic.
I picked Berlin and Masood because of your channel. Thanks for sharing more titles!
That makes me feel good--thank you!
I feel like I don't recommend Joyce's "Ulysses" nearly enough. 😉 An author I don't recommend nearly enough is Alice Munro. I was all about her winning the Nobel, which she did; but then she retired and my fervour waned. But I definitely recommend "Lives of Girls and Women". It's interconnected stories about a single character, so the short story haters needn't panic.
I need to reread Munro. I read Hateship Friendship Courtship Loveship Marriage when it published but suspect I was too young to properly vibe with it.
I am so glad I found your channel about a month ago! I have been binge watching to catch up
How nice! Thank you.
LOL, I've had a copy of "The Book Thief" on my shelves for YEARS and it's still untouched. One of these day I'm gonna have to blow all the dust off it and just dive in. I always hear good things about it so I have no idea why I haven't read it yet. Oy! Soooo many books, so little time!
I can relate to that problem!
It is wonderful!
Another great video. I need to pick Woman In The Dunes. I’m glad you mentioned Carver and good insight. I hope it helps to get him rediscovered
I hope it does!
This is such a great list! I think I only knew of a few on this list. The Gifts of The Body is one I remember wanting to read when it came out but somehow forgot about over time. I am definitely going to try to track that one down.
I hope you love it if you can track down a copy!
Rebecca Brown had a new nonfiction book come out last year (you tell the stories you need to believe) so I think she’s still around. Love the gifts of the body
Oh how cool! Thanks for telling me.
These are some that I don't recommend enough. Firmament by Simon Clark, Sanctions What Everyone Needs to Know by Bruce Jentleson, Changes in the Land by William Cronon, Scars on the Land by David Silkenat, Kingdom of Nauvoo by Benjamin Park, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, Women's Work by Elizabeth Wayland Barber, The Red Prince by Timothy Snyder, Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen
I just discovered your channel and now I’m binging your videos. I just wanted to say I really like your takes on things and I like your personality, you seem so genuine and like you’d be a good conversationalist. I’m so happy to have found your channel!! Thank you for your videos ❤
That's very kind of you to say--thank you! ❤️
Same regarding Book Thief and middlesex . Well said 📖🪱💚
I am so surprised I do not hear about Sheri Reynolds books recommended more. The Rapture Of Canaan was an Oprah Selection. I no longer follow her list but did when I was younger. I have been so moved by her books and she is an auto buy author for me. I decided to try and read all the books you mentioned on The 25 Best Books of the Last 25 Years video. That's my project kinda like your Pulitzer prize project 😉🤓📚 I read The Power of the Dog, Thomas Savage and enjoyed it. I have found so many good books from your channel. I will never run out of fantastic books to read thanks to you!
I looked up Rapture of Canaan when you mentioned it and it sounds very interesting. I'm so glad you've found so many books that you enjoyed through my channel! It means a lot to know that.
@@SupposedlyFun I think my favorite of hers is Bitterroot landing. Take care
I read the first two books of the Neopolitan series and they just didn’t hold my attention. I wanted to love them!
I get it!
‘Bad Muslim Discount’ needs all the extra attention. I have been recommending it since I first read it.
It's such a good book.
I read this based on your recommendation and loved it. So you must have mentioned it at some point, and I appreciate you for that!
@@FeelToBelieve I'm so glad you liked it!
Oscar Wao is one of the books I’ve really hated while working on my Pulitzer project. I’m just done with all the misogyny. I did enjoy Middlesex though.
I'm currently reading Rabbit, Run, so I totally get it.
I'd never heard of The Bad Muslim Discount. My library has the audio. Thanks.
I hope you like it!
a heads up re: the neapolitan novels, the second is amazing 5 stars, the last two kinda of taper off with the main arc of the narrator basically is she becomes a TERF.... have found it hard to recommend overall knowing that's the outcome, you may feel similarly!
Oh WOW. That's very good to know--thanks.
I am very interested in “Gifts of the Body” for many reasons. My mother and I cared for my brother as he was dying with AIDS. He died in 1990 when the disease was fairly new and a death sentence. I am that woman…trying to care for him as he loses everything…and trying to control my grief as it was happening. Im almost 70 now and the grief is here now. He was my best friend as a child and he died at the age of 34 on my 36th birthday. I know that our mother suffered terribly also. Im sure that I will feel kinship with this book. Thank you for suggesting it.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Grief never does go away, does it? As difficult as it was for you and your mother, it's nice that you were able to be with him at the end. Gifts of the Body may be a difficult read for you but I hope you find beauty in it.
@@SupposedlyFun I know it will be a difficult read, but I’m ok with crying. I ordered a signed copy by the author that is to a caregiver from that time, which is appropriate for me too. My therapist at the time taught me how to cry. She said that my grief was so deep that I needed to cry from my stomach. It was very true…and that difficult depth of sadness has to be acknowledged. My love for him was deep and I am thankful to have had that love returned for that time.
@@seasheleyes ❤ ❤ ❤
@@SupposedlyFun thank you for your kindness. I am really ok. I’m like an existential history book but I weathered the tragedies. I have not forgotten the details…the political piece was not the best. I’m the pissed off grandma at protests.
@@seasheleyes 👏 👏
Agree about Little Children! Curious if you've seen the movie, because I have thoughts!
I remember liking the movie, but I saw it when it was in theaters and never again since--so my memory of it isn't the best.
They changed the ending of the movie, which made it a *much* better story. That hardly ever happens, so it was really notable! For years, I've been telling people it's the only instance of the movie being better than the book, that I know, at any rate. 🤷🏻♀️
@@onourpath Wow, I did not remember that! I was thinking about movies that are better than the book since I mentioned it in this video but i hadn't put together a list yet--so thank you!
Whatever you think about My Beautiful Friend will be true of the rest of the series- same characters, same wonderful writing etc. I liked but not loved all 4 books. They should be read together otherwise you’ll lose track of all the characters
Makes sense.
I still love Raymond Carver. My copy doesn't have creepy Raymond eyes on the cover so that helps! Adding Instructions for Cleaning Ladies and Bad Muslim Discount to my list.
I hope you like them!
@@SupposedlyFunOops I was close but not quite there with the title of A Manual for Cleaning Women. 😂
@@readandre-read All good!
I just recently read Middlesex. Maybe I’m wrong, but it’s far from the space of trans/intersex political correctness. It doesn’t feel outdated.
I'm glad to hear it didn't feel outdated.
I acquired The Gifts of the body when I was looking for books about HIV/AIDS but haven't picked it up yet. I tried The Book Thief 3x but couldn't finish it. I guess it's not for me.
I hope you enjoy The Gifts of the Body when you pick it up!
I didn't like Oscar Wao at all, and my problem with it is not the way Junior treats women, is the way Junot treats women. Also, I still don't understand what's so wonderous about Oscar's life.
I can’t access it, but I see The NY Times has posted an article that the Pulitzer has been expanded to eligibility for non citizens. I don’t know if fiction is included in that.
I believe it is because the announcement article refers to 'books' as an umbrella category. How exciting!
I read The brief wondrous life of oscar Wao years ago and yeah, Junior was an asshole towards women - but how is that an argument against the book? I dont understand why this is relevant? Should the book be more didactic and outwardly say that it's wrong to be an asshole (which i think it kind of did? That was a huge plot point that he lost the woman he loved because of the way he couldnt deal with relationships). I can understand Diaz' frustration because the book is about something completely different and women are portrayed in multiple different ways in the story, yet the argument about Junior is based on the fact that he's a stand-in for the author, therefore the athor is bad at relationships. Which, yeah, sure, is a bad thing for him and his life, but how does that affect his writing?
Junior in the novel is not a likable character, but hes definitely not written as if he was supposed to be. And the argument that it's wrong he's sexist suggests that (main) characters in books may be flawed only in very specific ways that don't offend the reader?
I'm not sure if you heard the part about there being allegations of harassment against him--that's really the crux of it. It's like Woody Allen making movies about adulterous men obsessed with young women--it's difficult to separate art from artist when the art turns out to be who the person is (or may be). That's why I say it would need re-examination.
@SupposedlyFun yeah, I get your stand on it now, I was referring only to the part where you said that people kept asking Diaz about Junior on his tour after This is how you lose her was released.
I hadn't heard about the allegations and now I'm conflicted; do you think I'm obliged to read up on it (I really don't feel like knowing will make my life better) or is it morally OK if I remain blissfully unaware, considering I'll probably forget about it soon and will be able to enjoy This is how you lose her once I finally get to it on my TBR in the distant future (I'll also add I never buy books, I'll probably get it from a library so no money will go towards Diaz)
@@GugaJMW My memory is that the articles about it were inconclusive. I had been hoping that something would come out one way or the other, but it's been pretty quiet and he has largely disappeared from the public. I'm sure if he releases a new book something will come up. I don't think you have to become an expert on his life, but I do think it provides some useful context for when you read more of his work. I'm not sure if that's helpful, but hopefully it gives you an idea.