First time I've owned more of one of these series than your good self; I've more than 100 and the fact the artwork fills the entire cover elevates them, for me, over the other Penguin classics. Still saw a few titles I'd never heard of previously, so many thanks for that.
I agree that the full cover art can be fantastic on these, Jason. Is there a favorite title or author from the Twentieth Century Classics for you? I hope you’ve had a nice weekend. Best, Jack
Hahahaha, right? It really is such a good idea for a book, but the execution and characterization are disasters. I thought it was interesting that you all grouped The Octopus as a modernist work as I had always considered Norris part of the realist/naturalist groups, but it linked to ideas the modernists pushed on. A writer who was deeper into modernism might have really produced something interesting in The Octopus. I hope this weekend is starting well for you, Margaret! Cheers, Jack
@Rambling Raconteur Yes, the theme and style do pull it backwards to Naturalism, I agree, but the date...I suppose what brings it into Modernism for me is the politics and the link to the Progressive Era, as ambitious as it was!
Always enjoy your episodes, and the enviable amount of work that goes into even just the reading of it all. I think you will find the Pirandello a particular treat and reward. If I were to change anything, I might suggest that having the book be relatively stationary as you talk about it might serve to give the viewer an opportunity to visually burn it onto the mind's retina. My ancient ears, in their flight, might not be catching the titles or authors quite as easily as might have been the case at earlier stages of the dance. I look forward to checking out some of today's offering, whilst bidding you a fine weekend with the raconteuse. Peace through reading.
Really good episode. I was amazed at how many of them I had read, actually I read that particular version of Hadrian probably once a year it is that good. I have tried to read Cold Comfort Farm twice and just cannot get into it nor have I found it at all funny, I finally tossed the book into the Used Book unhaul container. Bummer !!!Thanks for all of the information, hope you are having a great road trip !!
Thanks, Lee! Memoirs of Hadrian is a fascinating work. I always juxtapose with Graves’ I, Claudius and especially Claudius the God and the real-life Meditations from Marcus Aurelius. Hope you’ve had a nice weekend. Best, Jack
Is it the oversize edition that is larger than the standard Penguin classic, Lukas? I think I showed my copy on the third shelf tour I did. Great book!
@@ramblingraconteur1616 There's Jane Austen July, GarbAugust, Preptember, Victober, Indigathon...when seems most open to you?? lol At least it's not a long book!
I was so torn on heart of darkness. I thought it had some brilliant writing going on but wow are the depictions of African people hard to take seriously
Heart of Darkness taps into some amazing aspects of human psyche and the destruction that can occur both internally and externally, but I really do have to pair it with a work from Africa to make sure I’m not ignoring the horrifying way Africans were viewed (and sadly still are, in many quarters). The Heinemann African Writers Series is a great antidote. Cheers, Jack
I do remember Cold Comfort Farm with exactly that mint green spine! lol well-spotted!
First time I've owned more of one of these series than your good self; I've more than 100 and the fact the artwork fills the entire cover elevates them, for me, over the other Penguin classics. Still saw a few titles I'd never heard of previously, so many thanks for that.
I agree that the full cover art can be fantastic on these, Jason. Is there a favorite title or author from the Twentieth Century Classics for you? I hope you’ve had a nice weekend.
Best, Jack
Ooh! Did you like our buddy read of The Octopus for May of the Moderns then? Fun was had at Norris' expense.
Hahahaha, right? It really is such a good idea for a book, but the execution and characterization are disasters. I thought it was interesting that you all grouped The Octopus as a modernist work as I had always considered Norris part of the realist/naturalist groups, but it linked to ideas the modernists pushed on. A writer who was deeper into modernism might have really produced something interesting in The Octopus.
I hope this weekend is starting well for you, Margaret!
Cheers, Jack
@Rambling Raconteur Yes, the theme and style do pull it backwards to Naturalism, I agree, but the date...I suppose what brings it into Modernism for me is the politics and the link to the Progressive Era, as ambitious as it was!
Always enjoy your episodes, and the enviable amount of work that goes into even just the reading of it all. I think you will find the Pirandello a particular treat and reward. If I were to change anything, I might suggest that having the book be relatively stationary as you talk about it might serve to give the viewer an opportunity to visually burn it onto the mind's retina. My ancient ears, in their flight, might not be catching the titles or authors quite as easily as might have been the case at earlier stages of the dance. I look forward to checking out some of today's offering, whilst bidding you a fine weekend with the raconteuse. Peace through reading.
Thanks! That’s a hard habit to break, so I try to always list the titles and authors in the description notes as well.
Best, Jack
Really good episode. I was amazed at how many of them I had read, actually I read that particular version of Hadrian probably once a year it is that good. I have tried to read Cold Comfort Farm twice and just cannot get into it nor have I found it at all funny, I finally tossed the book into the Used Book unhaul container. Bummer !!!Thanks for all of the information, hope you are having a great road trip !!
Thanks, Lee! Memoirs of Hadrian is a fascinating work. I always juxtapose with Graves’ I, Claudius and especially Claudius the God and the real-life Meditations from Marcus Aurelius. Hope you’ve had a nice weekend.
Best, Jack
My copy of Finnegans Wake is in this kind of edition!
Is it the oversize edition that is larger than the standard Penguin classic, Lukas? I think I showed my copy on the third shelf tour I did. Great book!
@@ramblingraconteur1616 You finished it?
@@aclark903 yes, last December.
@@ramblingraconteur1616 I finished Ulysses. Didn't attempt Wake. I guess you're more of a Joyce fan than me. Prefer #Tolstoy.
I have been TRYING to read Six Characters for DECADES--would you be open to a buddy read in the next few months, Jack? :)
Sure, that could be fun!
@@ramblingraconteur1616 There's Jane Austen July, GarbAugust, Preptember, Victober, Indigathon...when seems most open to you?? lol At least it's not a long book!
I have a few readings set up for the next two months, so either September or October should work well for me.
I was so torn on heart of darkness. I thought it had some brilliant writing going on but wow are the depictions of African people hard to take seriously
Heart of Darkness taps into some amazing aspects of human psyche and the destruction that can occur both internally and externally, but I really do have to pair it with a work from Africa to make sure I’m not ignoring the horrifying way Africans were viewed (and sadly still are, in many quarters). The Heinemann African Writers Series is a great antidote.
Cheers, Jack