I found your comments about Dickens interesting in light of my impression of you as a kind of Dickensian character in many ways, particularly in your manner of speech.
Wolf Hall is fantastic. The writing style takes a lot of people by surprise, though, I will say that. It’s very … unique. You’ll see what I mean once you start reading it. I hope you enjoy it! Edited to add: I just finished reading The Body In the Library last night! I was surprised by how snide and rude it was haha!
You could comment about a book for review like Steve does, a mail haul, and perhaps leave a link to your review. I'm sure a publisher's PR department would love that. You could ask Steve's advice too, he seems keen on getting you started in reviewing. He has helped lots of others, so I'm sure he has answers to any questions you have.
I bought a copy of The Warden by Anthony Trollope yesterday based solely on your enthusiasm for Trollope. I can only hope that it will be on the future Spivanian government's list of approved literature.
I keep meanng to read Don Quixote, but then I pick it up and see the size of the font and I quietly slide it back on to the shelf. Even the contents are 12 pages long. However, that is just over 3 pages a day for the rest of the year so.... maybe?
HI Joe, how's the reading going? War and Peace is delightful reading once you get going, no worry there but I'm curious about your thoughts on Wolf Hall. I'm in the vast minority of not enjoying it - I gave it a go twice when in 2009 and both times never fell into its rhythm. Good luck with the mysteries and the mammoth.
I am doing a re read of war and peace this month with a friend. I had the same edition you have, but I couldn't read it. The print was far too small. I read the anthony briggs translation (1399 pages) from penguin and loved it. I hope you enjoy it.
i have been cleaning and reorganizing my library last month and I have 'discovered' some books that I didn't remember I had, one of them is Wolf Hall. I am pretty sure I have read it but don't remember anything about it. I will probably put it on my TBR list as well.
It's just Fink, not Finkle... poor old Gussie. You will find that the Sittaford Mystery is nothing like the so-called 'adaptation' at all. I think I have Crooked House in that Crime Club edition. I like the papery dust jackets. Don't bother with Our Mutual Friend! Hopefully your translation of W&P is more engaging than mine was.
Nice to hear you're planning on reading Wolf Hall and War and Peace this month! I'm actually about half way through both of them right now lol, and I'm really enjoying them (loving War and Peace). Excited to hear your thoughts :) Also curious to hear which characters you'll like in War and Peace, my favorite is Anatole lmao
Never read PG Wodehouse,though I was very thoroughly entertained by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in those roles. As it is March,which means St.Patrick's Day here in the United States, I think back to roughly the same time period as the appearance of Wooster and Jeeves, and fondly recall the series, The Irish RM,which is a dramatization of the book by Somerville and Ross. I am feeling that should make it's way on to my lists eventually as I see nothing wrong with a good laugh. Dickens is daunting, and I don't know why I feel that way. I do like A Tale of Two Cities,though. Eventually I will read more from him. But at the moment I can not commit. Congratulations on the 3k. I am sure you will get to 5k fairly soon.
I adore the Wolf Hall trilogy and I can't wait to hear your review. 🤓 I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on Our Mutual Friend, if you choose to read it. Love Dame Christie so much and you made some very wise choices. 📚 Wodehouse is delightful, isn't he?! Congrats on 3k and on the book review _gig!_ 👏🏻
I cackled aloud at the ‘Adam’s apple of a Portuguese cyclist’. Having grown up in the cycling world as well, there certainly is a Look. Was quite the shock when I learned that not all men had gaunt faces, necks like a snake attempting to digest a small rabbit, shaved legs and padded crotches. Very much looking forward to your thoughts on Mantel. I’m reading Mirror and Light this month along with Steve’s channel, having adored Wolf Hall and A Place of Greater Safety last year. Her writing is the Nutella of historical fiction prose, I hope you end up one of us throngs of Mantel groupies and not one of those unfortunate souls that thumbs their nose at her unusual style of writing.
I just finished my first read through War and Peace and absolutely loved the experience. I think I've read fewer intimidating classics than you have, and I didn't find it challenging at all, so I'd say you're probably going to be just fine. I also can't really point towards any significant dull stretch in the thing (except that second epilogue, which felt like a massive indulgence on his part) but I'm curious what you'll think.
Seconded. It's my favourite book. I even enjoy the second epilogue. I'd also add that I'm a big fan of the Maude translation. I own a few different ones. The more fashionable modern translations read more smoothly and are probably a bit less rough and ready, but the Maude one has a kind of old-world grandeur that the new ones lack.
I think you will enjoy War and Peace, I think you should read Duckens too, if you have time. If you think his characters are gargoyles, you are partially right, but for real gargoyles, you should read Mervyn Peake's Gorgmenghast, a great book.
I've got a dense reading month too. I'm reading Nightwalking by Matthew Beaumont, Johnson and Boswell's Adventures in Scotland and the Hebrides, and Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco.
This may be a foolishly stupid question. Are the Agatha Christie books able to be read as stand alone, or are they all in a series to be read in order?
His simple inability to admit there was no intrinsic difference between white Britons and foreigners from abroad. He fanned the flames of antipathy towards immigrants that now sees its dirty cousin in the callous headlines of the Daily Mail
@@JoeSpivey02 thanks for your reply! Out of interest, would you say there are any differences, broadly speaking, between Britons today and Britons who lived 100 years ago? In respect of education level, religious values, attitudes towards women, attitudes towards LGBT people or any other cultural factors you can think of?
@@pauliewalnuts2727 It would be cack-handed of me to pontificate about the British people as an entirety, but I'd say that feminism, multi-culturalism and LGB movements (whilst occasionally overcorrecting as many social causes tend to do) have won their rightful place and improved the tolerance of many millions. We still have as many xenophobes as ever, but they can only be found in the public houses and the urns of surviving relatives.
@@JoeSpivey02 it’s interesting you concede there are significant intrinsic differences between modern British culture and that of previous generations but do not think the same type of differences do not exist from one culture to another when looking at different cultures globally. I wouldn’t endorse everything Enoch Powell said but equally I think it is profoundly dishonest to deny intrinsic differences between cultures or that some people will inevitably find it difficult to integrate and assimilate into a culture which is very different to their own, whether those differences be religious, legal or social. With your malt whiskey drinkers for example, I suspect they might have some difficulty integrating into many other cultures, if a few hundred thousand decided to leave the UK and move to Saudi Arabia, for example Anyway, I wish you all the best with your reading in the coming weeks
@@pauliewalnuts2727 What do you think is the most instructive and important 'intrinsic difference' between the cultures arriving at our shores and our own? Whenever I provoke anyone on this topic they fail to produce any answer besides nonsense about 'the sanctity of the individual' or something laughable like 'Judeo-Christian' virtues! I have seen with my own eyes that integration by means of kindness and patient encouragement leads to a great deal more assimilation than maligning every immigrant as a malefactor from birth without any hope of ever being a virtuous individual.
Interesting reading times ahead. Enoch Powell would not have been “un mes fans” methinks, originating as I do from a country considered, very probably , by him, to be a part of the great unwashed ! 😂
You obviously presume a lot of things, and do have a lot of presumptions, but you are wrong about initial statement, as you probably call it, that is behind the intro and all the other elements that appear throughout the video. Behind initial statement, well, we do not have anything to discuss.
And now you’re making me search for words in the dictionary! You know I was kidding 😅😂 but that’s good to know. I enjoy your content by the way. It helps me with my English ✨
I found your comments about Dickens interesting in light of my impression of you as a kind of Dickensian character in many ways, particularly in your manner of speech.
Which Dickensian character do I most resemble?
Mr. Micawber
I was not aware that there was any individual, alien to this tenement in your sanctum. . . Sir, you are exceedingly obliging. I am in status quo.
Love your British accent and books you recommend us.
'War and Peace' is an easy and enjoyable read. You will wish it was longer.
I thought so, a pleasant aperitif before sinking ones teeth into a lengthier, more challenging read.
I'll take your word for it and probably make it my mammoth for March!
Quite agree.
Wolf Hall is fantastic. The writing style takes a lot of people by surprise, though, I will say that. It’s very … unique. You’ll see what I mean once you start reading it. I hope you enjoy it! Edited to add: I just finished reading The Body In the Library last night! I was surprised by how snide and rude it was haha!
I've had the Wolf Hall trilogy for ages and keep meaning to get around to reading it. Maybe one day I will actually start it.
Joan Hickson was the best Marple! As for Our Mutual Friend, late Dickens is best and this is wonderfully dark.
You could comment about a book for review like Steve does, a mail haul, and perhaps leave a link to your review. I'm sure a publisher's PR department would love that. You could ask Steve's advice too, he seems keen on getting you started in reviewing. He has helped lots of others, so I'm sure he has answers to any questions you have.
I bought a copy of The Warden by Anthony Trollope yesterday based solely on your enthusiasm for Trollope. I can only hope that it will be on the future Spivanian government's list of approved literature.
Trollope, Eliot, Arendt, Amis and perhaps a few others if they pay their dues.
I keep meanng to read Don Quixote, but then I pick it up and see the size of the font and I quietly slide it back on to the shelf. Even the contents are 12 pages long. However, that is just over 3 pages a day for the rest of the year so.... maybe?
@Hidinginyourcupboard
You are not alone. I have picked up Don Quixote from my shelf thinking I really should only to sigh and put it back down.
HI Joe, how's the reading going? War and Peace is delightful reading once you get going, no worry there but I'm curious about your thoughts on Wolf Hall. I'm in the vast minority of not enjoying it - I gave it a go twice when in 2009 and both times never fell into its rhythm. Good luck with the mysteries and the mammoth.
I am doing a re read of war and peace this month with a friend. I had the same edition you have, but I couldn't read it. The print was far too small. I read the anthony briggs translation (1399 pages) from penguin and loved it. I hope you enjoy it.
i have been cleaning and reorganizing my library last month and I have 'discovered' some books that I didn't remember I had, one of them is Wolf Hall. I am pretty sure I have read it but don't remember anything about it. I will probably put it on my TBR list as well.
It's just Fink, not Finkle... poor old Gussie.
You will find that the Sittaford Mystery is nothing like the so-called 'adaptation' at all.
I think I have Crooked House in that Crime Club edition. I like the papery dust jackets.
Don't bother with Our Mutual Friend! Hopefully your translation of W&P is more engaging than mine was.
Nice to hear you're planning on reading Wolf Hall and War and Peace this month! I'm actually about half way through both of them right now lol, and I'm really enjoying them (loving War and Peace). Excited to hear your thoughts :) Also curious to hear which characters you'll like in War and Peace, my favorite is Anatole lmao
You're the second booktuber I've heard talk about the jeeves series I need to check it out now
Never read PG Wodehouse,though I was very thoroughly entertained by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in those roles. As it is March,which means St.Patrick's Day here in the United States, I think back to roughly the same time period as the appearance of Wooster and Jeeves, and fondly recall the series, The Irish RM,which is a dramatization of the book by Somerville and Ross. I am feeling that should make it's way on to my lists eventually as I see nothing wrong with a good laugh.
Dickens is daunting, and I don't know why I feel that way. I do like A Tale of Two Cities,though. Eventually I will read more from him. But at the moment I can not commit.
Congratulations on the 3k. I am sure you will get to 5k fairly soon.
I adore the Wolf Hall trilogy and I can't wait to hear your review. 🤓 I'll be curious to hear your thoughts on Our Mutual Friend, if you choose to read it. Love Dame Christie so much and you made some very wise choices. 📚 Wodehouse is delightful, isn't he?! Congrats on 3k and on the book review _gig!_ 👏🏻
Wolf Hall was extremely good. I hope you enjoy it
I cackled aloud at the ‘Adam’s apple of a Portuguese cyclist’. Having grown up in the cycling world as well, there certainly is a Look. Was quite the shock when I learned that not all men had gaunt faces, necks like a snake attempting to digest a small rabbit, shaved legs and padded crotches.
Very much looking forward to your thoughts on Mantel. I’m reading Mirror and Light this month along with Steve’s channel, having adored Wolf Hall and A Place of Greater Safety last year. Her writing is the Nutella of historical fiction prose, I hope you end up one of us throngs of Mantel groupies and not one of those unfortunate souls that thumbs their nose at her unusual style of writing.
I'm glad we've both been able to emerge out of the other side of such a bizarre community!
I just finished my first read through War and Peace and absolutely loved the experience. I think I've read fewer intimidating classics than you have, and I didn't find it challenging at all, so I'd say you're probably going to be just fine. I also can't really point towards any significant dull stretch in the thing (except that second epilogue, which felt like a massive indulgence on his part) but I'm curious what you'll think.
Seconded. It's my favourite book. I even enjoy the second epilogue. I'd also add that I'm a big fan of the Maude translation. I own a few different ones. The more fashionable modern translations read more smoothly and are probably a bit less rough and ready, but the Maude one has a kind of old-world grandeur that the new ones lack.
I think you will enjoy War and Peace, I think you should read Duckens too, if you have time. If you think his characters are gargoyles, you are partially right, but for real gargoyles, you should read Mervyn Peake's Gorgmenghast, a great book.
@@jayck692 War and Peace clearly takes the cake! Are you lot all on commission to make sure it's definitely that option that I choose? 🤣
@@JoeSpivey02How do I apply for the commission?
patiently? waiting :)
Do a read along for War & Peace at a slightly slower pace!!! A month with 4 videos maybe? We’d join along!
Those Agatha Christies are facsimiles of the original editions, I collect them but they’re getting harder to find
I've got a dense reading month too. I'm reading Nightwalking by Matthew Beaumont, Johnson and Boswell's Adventures in Scotland and the Hebrides, and Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco.
Johnson and Boswell in Scotland! Oh how wonderful!
I was watching the Skinner and Mina documentary series where they go to where they went, and it really inspired me to pick it up!@@JoeSpivey02
I watched the documentary series that Frank Skinner and Denise Mina did on the book, and it inspired me to pick it up!@@JoeSpivey02
If you understand Foucault's Pendulum please explain it to the rest of us.
Also, Our Mutual Friend is brilliant.
Conversation between Joe's parents: Mum: "I'm glad he has that RUclips thing to talk to." Dad: "Right. Let someone else take a turn." lol
This may be a foolishly stupid question. Are the Agatha Christie books able to be read as stand alone, or are they all in a series to be read in order?
That’s not a stupid question! They’re all separate books so you can read them in any order you want. 😊
@@Tams1978 thank you! 😊
@@AaronR.Williams You’re welcome! 😊
Which of Enoch Powell’s ideas do you disagree with most strongly and why? (His arguments, not the malt whiskey drinkers you mention)
His simple inability to admit there was no intrinsic difference between white Britons and foreigners from abroad. He fanned the flames of antipathy towards immigrants that now sees its dirty cousin in the callous headlines of the Daily Mail
@@JoeSpivey02 thanks for your reply! Out of interest, would you say there are any differences, broadly speaking, between Britons today and Britons who lived 100 years ago? In respect of education level, religious values, attitudes towards women, attitudes towards LGBT people or any other cultural factors you can think of?
@@pauliewalnuts2727 It would be cack-handed of me to pontificate about the British people as an entirety, but I'd say that feminism, multi-culturalism and LGB movements (whilst occasionally overcorrecting as many social causes tend to do) have won their rightful place and improved the tolerance of many millions. We still have as many xenophobes as ever, but they can only be found in the public houses and the urns of surviving relatives.
@@JoeSpivey02 it’s interesting you concede there are significant intrinsic differences between modern British culture and that of previous generations but do not think the same type of differences do not exist from one culture to another when looking at different cultures globally. I wouldn’t endorse everything Enoch Powell said but equally I think it is profoundly dishonest to deny intrinsic differences between cultures or that some people will inevitably find it difficult to integrate and assimilate into a culture which is very different to their own, whether those differences be religious, legal or social.
With your malt whiskey drinkers for example, I suspect they might have some difficulty integrating into many other cultures, if a few hundred thousand decided to leave the UK and move to Saudi Arabia, for example
Anyway, I wish you all the best with your reading in the coming weeks
@@pauliewalnuts2727 What do you think is the most instructive and important 'intrinsic difference' between the cultures arriving at our shores and our own? Whenever I provoke anyone on this topic they fail to produce any answer besides nonsense about 'the sanctity of the individual' or something laughable like 'Judeo-Christian' virtues!
I have seen with my own eyes that integration by means of kindness and patient encouragement leads to a great deal more assimilation than maligning every immigrant as a malefactor from birth without any hope of ever being a virtuous individual.
Interesting reading times ahead. Enoch Powell would not have been “un mes fans” methinks, originating as I do from a country considered, very probably , by him, to be a part of the great unwashed ! 😂
Don't take it to heart! I don't think he was favourable towards many!
You obviously presume a lot of things, and do have a lot of presumptions, but you are wrong about initial statement, as you probably call it, that is behind the intro and all the other elements that appear throughout the video.
Behind initial statement, well, we do not have anything to discuss.
So you’re saying you’re a far right conservative??? 😮
A conservative in certain ways. But I've made it my duty to skewer the 'far right' wherever possible. Let's not conflate the two positions!
And now you’re making me search for words in the dictionary! You know I was kidding 😅😂 but that’s good to know. I enjoy your content by the way. It helps me with my English ✨