Read this masterwork about a year ago, was waiting patiently for you to review it, the wait was well worth it, spot-on review, the most enjoyable book review of 2025, hard to figure any other review will beat this one. It's been an absolute pleasure listening to you through the years, on a rainy Friday here in Pittsburgh on the last day in January having this pop up brought a huge smile to my face and had me reaching for the Iced Tea pitcher so I could settle in and listen intently.
Ahhhh, thanks so much for the affirmation from one who has scaled this mountain. And from someone who has been with this channel for quite a while. Great to hear from you. I need to get back up to Pittsburgh sometime soon. It’s been too long since I had a sandwich at Primanti Brothers!
Before watching it, I thought your new video was about Joseph, not Michael. What a difference a name makes. I'll get my feet wet with one of his collection of short stories, but boy, do I envy your deep dive head(& heart)first into Invidicum. As always, thanks for your service, Chris. And yes, a shout out to TOUGH POETS PRESS, indeed :D
Love you Chris. As much as one can love someone one has gotten to know mostly one-sidedly through a screen haha! But I just adore this kind of sit-down format. You always reinvigorate my desire to go read thanks to the effort of research and screenplay writing for these videos that reveal your own love of the written word.
Ah, thank you so much for that kind, affirming, and encouraging feedback! It really is a pleasure to do this. Also--I actually talk about Rorty and his concept of the Final Vocabulary in this video! Though, I can't remember exactly where.
@@LeafbyLeafhey chris I read the preview of this book and was wondering what you thought of this kind of exerpt? Kind of reads like a radfem parody of what is hated by postmodern maximalist male writers: Things are falling into place too easily, he feels too well-disposed even toward the women whose breasts are tumbling out of their blouses at every streetcorner but who manage nonetheless to look primly affronted at every chops-licking leer, etc. He is becoming too much at home in this, the Boobozoic Era. Does this kind of happen often and is it every complicated and reads as a critique of that kind of pov? Is it just a gross character thinking that way?
Bravo, Chris! You and I have been talking about reading this book for some months now. You've truly inspired me to carve-out space in my life for this chunker! I'm grateful for your careful, thoughtful attention to it.
Just re-watched and have some more thoughts: 1. I’m loving this desk format. Not only visually, but this slightly less edited/cut style draws out an even more natural, lecturing feel from you. It all fits well together! 2. In some sense, I’m glad you addressed/mentioned the Dalkey/Deep Vellum issues. I adore them as well, and will always support their efforts. However, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wait with clenched teeth to receive each new order. Marshland’s page 43 was particularly upsetting. Here’s hoping for improvements in the future! 3. I’ve got this beast sitting on my shelf. I have a habit of ordering books of this magnitude as soon as I learn of them, regardless if they fit into my reading plans or not. But this video (along with the thoughts offered up by Leaf by Leaf royalty, Dylan) has left me feeling much more confident about taking a stab! I think 2026 will be the year for me, as i dedicate 2025 to my first reads of Infinite Jest and Moby Dick. Thank you again, Chris!
1. Thanks so much for the affirming feedback. I'm trying to go for as little editing as I can possibly stand (as opposed to my usual ruthless cutting). This results in even longer videos, but I'm hoping the natural feel of it is better than the herky-jerky style. 2. Yeah, a lot of people are stirring about this. Let's indeed hope for improvements! I mean, like you, I'm still gonna be content with _Marshland_ but I'll still squirm. 3. I'm so thrilled you're interest in this tome has been conclusively snagged! All best to you and yours! Chris
Bought this BEHEMOTH in 2023 when it came out and I’ve been daunted in the attempt. Can’t wait to finish this vid to find some motivation in your prose
I love your new long form analysis. Sitting at the desk, as with Austen. So good. I finished Against the Day in December and it is my new favorite, just delicious as you said. Put on your radar Joshua Cohen either The Netanyahus or the Book of Numbers. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these.
Thanks so much for the feedback! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed that Pynchon! I quite enjoy Cohen, perhaps especially those two books. I’ll put it in my plans!
Hello leaf. This is likely an impossible question for you but I’m curious, if you had to provide someone who has amnesia and couldn’t remember a single book, a blanket list of literature to read, what would be your go to’s? As in top books that one has to read or prioritise in one’s lifetime. Outside of your videos have you ever created such a list or answered that previously? If not would love to hear.
Obviously, this is highly subjective, so I'll skip all my preamble about that. It's also all western lit. I would say it's the following: 1. _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_ 2. _KJV Bible_ 3. _Divine Comedy_ 4. _Canterbury Tales_ 5. _Hamlet_ 6. _Don Quixote_ 7. _Paradise Lost_ 8. _Pride and Prejudice_ 9. _Faust_ 10. _Wuthering Heights_ 11. _Moby-Dick_ 12. _Leaves of Grass_ 13. _To the Lighthouse_ 14. _Ulysses_ 15. _In Search of Lost Time_ This is leaving out a great many masterful books. But the list is an attempt at a bare minimum.
@maldoso76 I wish I had spoken directly to that in the video. It took me about 200 pages to finally calibrate to the cadence. Then it became like a natural language.
I got it at a shop in the Nordstan in Göteborg! Having worked for a Swedish company for the last 22 years, I've been to Sweden many times. Lovely place, lovely people!
Brodsky is a strange very secretive person… something about the UN… almost ghost like but I had suspicion that the person who was supposedly Brodsky was in fact a stand in with no admitted address … I am Published by his current publisher but not a question to ask
I began the original version of it, learned he expanded it years later, got that version, began reading it-then abandoned everything for his magnum opus. Now I’m going back to the beginning of his oeuvre. 😁
Read this masterwork about a year ago, was waiting patiently for you to review it, the wait was well worth it, spot-on review, the most enjoyable book review of 2025, hard to figure any other review will beat this one. It's been an absolute pleasure listening to you through the years, on a rainy Friday here in Pittsburgh on the last day in January having this pop up brought a huge smile to my face and had me reaching for the Iced Tea pitcher so I could settle in and listen intently.
Ahhhh, thanks so much for the affirmation from one who has scaled this mountain. And from someone who has been with this channel for quite a while. Great to hear from you. I need to get back up to Pittsburgh sometime soon. It’s been too long since I had a sandwich at Primanti Brothers!
Before watching it, I thought your new video was about Joseph, not Michael. What a difference a name makes.
I'll get my feet wet with one of his collection of short stories, but boy, do I envy your deep dive head(& heart)first into Invidicum.
As always, thanks for your service, Chris. And yes, a shout out to TOUGH POETS PRESS, indeed :D
Yeah, I'll get round to Joey at some point. For his distant cousin Mikey, I recommend _Three Goat Songs_ !
The Leaf by Leaf Discord has been eagerly anticipating this one! What a way to kick off the year
It was nothing short of a landmark read! Thank you all for your support and encouragement!
Love you Chris. As much as one can love someone one has gotten to know mostly one-sidedly through a screen haha! But I just adore this kind of sit-down format. You always reinvigorate my desire to go read thanks to the effort of research and screenplay writing for these videos that reveal your own love of the written word.
By the way the early part of the video had me thinking about Richard Rorty who I never see you mention but think you’d really love reading!
Ah, thank you so much for that kind, affirming, and encouraging feedback! It really is a pleasure to do this. Also--I actually talk about Rorty and his concept of the Final Vocabulary in this video! Though, I can't remember exactly where.
@ oops! Let me finish the video then mb!!
1:46:22 :)
@@LeafbyLeafhey chris I read the preview of this book and was wondering what you thought of this kind of exerpt? Kind of reads like a radfem parody of what is hated by postmodern maximalist male writers:
Things are falling into place too easily, he feels too well-disposed even toward the women whose breasts are tumbling out of their blouses at every streetcorner but who manage nonetheless to look primly affronted at every chops-licking leer, etc. He is becoming too much at home in this, the Boobozoic Era.
Does this kind of happen often and is it every complicated and reads as a critique of that kind of pov? Is it just a gross character thinking that way?
Bravo, Chris! You and I have been talking about reading this book for some months now. You've truly inspired me to carve-out space in my life for this chunker! I'm grateful for your careful, thoughtful attention to it.
Indeed! It is very demanding of one’s time. But you begin to get accustomed to its idiosyncratic cadence and it becomes a lot of fun.
Added to my list. Thanks for introducing me to what will probably be yet another chapter in my life!
My pleasure!
Just re-watched and have some more thoughts:
1. I’m loving this desk format. Not only visually, but this slightly less edited/cut style draws out an even more natural, lecturing feel from you. It all fits well together!
2. In some sense, I’m glad you addressed/mentioned the Dalkey/Deep Vellum issues. I adore them as well, and will always support their efforts. However, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wait with clenched teeth to receive each new order. Marshland’s page 43 was particularly upsetting. Here’s hoping for improvements in the future!
3. I’ve got this beast sitting on my shelf. I have a habit of ordering books of this magnitude as soon as I learn of them, regardless if they fit into my reading plans or not. But this video (along with the thoughts offered up by Leaf by Leaf royalty, Dylan) has left me feeling much more confident about taking a stab! I think 2026 will be the year for me, as i dedicate 2025 to my first reads of Infinite Jest and Moby Dick.
Thank you again, Chris!
1. Thanks so much for the affirming feedback. I'm trying to go for as little editing as I can possibly stand (as opposed to my usual ruthless cutting). This results in even longer videos, but I'm hoping the natural feel of it is better than the herky-jerky style.
2. Yeah, a lot of people are stirring about this. Let's indeed hope for improvements! I mean, like you, I'm still gonna be content with _Marshland_ but I'll still squirm.
3. I'm so thrilled you're interest in this tome has been conclusively snagged!
All best to you and yours!
Chris
Bought this BEHEMOTH in 2023 when it came out and I’ve been daunted in the attempt. Can’t wait to finish this vid to find some motivation in your prose
Same
It was my primary aim in this video to set people up for a less daunting experience, so do let me know!
A masterclass in literary evaluation and appreciation.
I'm printing this comment, framing it, and putting it on my wall!
It would be an interesting and highly ambitious project to pick an exciting publisher like this and try to review their whole catalog.
No kidding! Like what Unburied Books are doing with the NYRB catalogue.
Will begin to hunt down a copy. Thanks Chris!
My pleasure! I hope your hunt is successful. Let me know.
Found a copy online and bought it with gift card. It arrives Feb 11
I love your new long form analysis. Sitting at the desk, as with Austen. So good.
I finished Against the Day in December and it is my new favorite, just delicious as you said.
Put on your radar Joshua Cohen either The Netanyahus or the Book of Numbers. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these.
Thanks so much for the feedback! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed that Pynchon! I quite enjoy Cohen, perhaps especially those two books. I’ll put it in my plans!
it's good to see you do this book, i thought it might not get covered by anyone.
I, too, was appalled at how little attention it received. A shame. It immediately called me to attention!
Always good to be introduced to an unfamiliar author via a 1,200 pg or so future reading endeavor.
I agree! 🙏
Awesome video 👏
Thanks! 🙏
This book sounds crazy.
It is absolutely is!
Eeesh. That's a sizable book. I don't even know what this is, so now I'd like to dive deeper.
Yeah, it’s a whopper is every way!
What a great video. This has nothing to do, but is that Antagony, on the bookshelf? Such a great book.
Thanks! It sure is. I need to get round to it soon!
Interesting and intriguing
Indubitably.
Hello leaf. This is likely an impossible question for you but I’m curious, if you had to provide someone who has amnesia and couldn’t remember a single book, a blanket list of literature to read, what would be your go to’s? As in top books that one has to read or prioritise in one’s lifetime. Outside of your videos have you ever created such a list or answered that previously? If not would love to hear.
Obviously, this is highly subjective, so I'll skip all my preamble about that. It's also all western lit. I would say it's the following:
1. _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_
2. _KJV Bible_
3. _Divine Comedy_
4. _Canterbury Tales_
5. _Hamlet_
6. _Don Quixote_
7. _Paradise Lost_
8. _Pride and Prejudice_
9. _Faust_
10. _Wuthering Heights_
11. _Moby-Dick_
12. _Leaves of Grass_
13. _To the Lighthouse_
14. _Ulysses_
15. _In Search of Lost Time_
This is leaving out a great many masterful books. But the list is an attempt at a bare minimum.
This is my current read. It is nothing like what I have read before. Enjoying it, though.
It is absolutely a landmark read in my life!
I cannot seem to get a smooth cadence while reading. Between the parenthetical clauses and what not. Any tips? Thanks @LeafbyLeaf
@maldoso76 I wish I had spoken directly to that in the video. It took me about 200 pages to finally calibrate to the cadence. Then it became like a natural language.
Where did you get the Göteborg Coffee cup? Did you visit or did a fan send it?
I got it at a shop in the Nordstan in Göteborg! Having worked for a Swedish company for the last 22 years, I've been to Sweden many times. Lovely place, lovely people!
I’ve been reading Brodsky so since 1977 when Urizen published Detour…the press was run by Michael Roloff sadly dead out west
Brodsky is a strange very secretive person… something about the UN… almost ghost like but I had suspicion that the person who was supposedly Brodsky was in fact a stand in with no admitted address … I am
Published by his current publisher but not a question to ask
I’m very excited to go back and read through Brodsky’s oeuvre now that I’ve started with his latest! I’ve heard great things about the days of Urizen.
46:36 aesthetics and absurdity
54:28
1:15:02
1:18:38
1:52:01 mediocrity
1:58:36
Bring the camera closer!!!
Aw, man--I moved it away in response to so many people saying I was too close! :):):)
@@LeafbyLeafstart zoomed out and slowly zoom in over the two hours
I would suggest incorporate your desk as the bottom of frame and then have top of frame just a bit above the top of your head
Have you read Detour by him?
I began the original version of it, learned he expanded it years later, got that version, began reading it-then abandoned everything for his magnum opus. Now I’m going back to the beginning of his oeuvre. 😁
@@LeafbyLeaf Excellent!... it's well worth it;
Wow
Exactly what I said over and over while reading this book!