i loved V. it was my introduction to Pynchon and to postmoderism in general. I've grown a little tired of the literary movement a little over the years since then, but i have great memories of V. i still distinctly remember the scene in sewer where the priest preached to the rats. I loved that. i marked a few of these other books on my Goodreads TBR, so thanks a lot! good luck with this channel!
I hear you on postmodernism...it can very easily become over played...I think it plays to writer's own interest in process and structure, which can sometimes lead to laziness...but it can be fun too in the right doses.
What a great way to share important books in your life! I always struggle to think of my "favorite books" - and I bet that's because I'm a butterfly reader too. Thanks for sharing!
Stones for Ibarra is a golden book for me. Both it and Doerr’s other book, Consider This, Señora, were translated into beautiful English prose. The author was definitely well-read, and spun a gorgeous tale. It felt magical indeed. 😺✌️
That's so cool. I hadn't really heard the book mentioned in a long time...even though it one a big award I didn't really know if many people had encountered it.
This is the first video of yours I’ve seen. As soon as I saw the Jaguar Hunter sitting on the couch, I knew I was in the right place. And then you not only referenced Gene Wolfe, but Castle of Days of all things! Shepard and Wolfe are two of my all-time favorites. I feel that Shepard in particular is criminally unknown these days; some of his short fiction is nothing short of masterful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I’ll surely be tuning in moving forward.
That's really cool. Lucius Shepard is definitely a huge favorite of mine...and the Jaguar Hunter was in my pile of books I was going to mention, but I felt I needed to pare the list and that volume didn't quite fit my idea of a "golden book" quite as well as the others. I wondered if anyone would spot the book behind me...but it seemed pretty out of focus, heh. It is sad that he's pretty forgotten these days...for what ever reason he didn't seem as comfortable focusing on novels and his novellas and shorter work seemed to keep him restricted to the magazines and small press...but those works are fantastic and it's quite a shame.
I can’t guarantee they’re all worth reading! Different ages for different books! But I appreciate your listening to me babble on all those different ages and books.
I enjoyed this video very much. I'm dragging myself through Gravity's Rainbow right now. Only because I feel compelled to step outside the 19th century once in awhile... before retreating back inside those grand novels.
Wow ! Those old covers gave me the impression that I'm time travelling with you to ur younger days ❤ and a big heart for u sir for gifting us the lifetime worth of recommendations ❤
Great video. Thank you for sharing some of your most impactful books. I’m intrigued about Steps; I can vividly remember reading Painted Bird many years ago, it left a mark. I will also look for Four ways to Forgiveness. Le Guin is amazing, just a couple of days ago I finished the Word for world is Forest.
Thanks. So sorry that I didn’t answer sooner! Steps is a wilder, weirder book than Painted Bird, but at the same time less harrowing and upsetting. Word for World is Forest was great, I good reminder to add that to my reread list.
Always glad to find people who appreciate Wolfe...or even know who he is, lol. I will be checking out your channel as soon as I can. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Each to their own with literature ,but what this made me think of is how we change over time /experience/reading different genres. I remember being petrified out of my wits as a 12/13 year old reading HP Lovecraft-Mountains of Madness /Innsmouth etc. I have re read and enjoyed, but I cant match that huge feeling I got when I first read the tales. Similar with other books (from Herman Hesse/Patrick White/Dickens and Eric Ambler) -that initial huge hit cant (for me) be re visited
That's a great point. Some of us, more than others, I think, chase that feeling that books gave us in the past...I'm pretty guilty of it at times but also find it interesting when those golden moments of the past are faded cloudy impressions. I guess the question is can we get that "huge hit" again from some new book we haven't experienced yet...I think we can because in recent years I've had that experience with some newer indy comic book/graphic novels.
Hi Grammaticus. Thanks for checking out the video...The appearance of your channel was definitely one of the factors in me pulling the trigger to try out this booktube thing. Although my memories of Viking's Dawn are very blurry...I would think it's something for you to look into. Cheers!
Great passage by Gene Wolfe. You impressed me right out of the gate with that. Your balloon moment made me laugh. That P G Wodehouse edition is gorgeous. Love the nostalgia you create. You’re putting me to shame as I haven’t read many of the books you mention. I would’ve liked getting xeroxed copies! Excellent and inspiring video!
One of the things that intrigued me about the film "Roadhouse" was that Patrick Swayze's character was reading a Jim Harrison novel. Harrison was popular with women I knew in the late 80's and early 90's. A friend of mine collected 1st edition and rare Bukowski books when he could find them when I lived in Austin. I'd help him since I frequented used bookstores weekly and new many booksellers. Never read a Pynchon book even though I've known about the writer for as long as I can remember. Great seeing you discuss these books.
Hey hey Gore! I assume that Bukowski was, or is, extremely collectible given his huge cult and long history of small press editions. Two interesting data points on Jim Harrison. He was supposed to be the tough guy, wilderness author, but I guess he did have a good eye for female characters. Also he was a respected poet before the novels and novellas took off.
Thanks for the list Damian - I'm reading my uncle's copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude and I'm loving the surrealism. Gonna dip into Marquez's short stories too from your recommendation. Cheers from Montreal!
I hope you enjoy those short stories too. The call this style Latin American Magical Realism, but they might just as well call it Latin American Surealism (I hadn't thought of that before). I've heard other people say it's really just another style of fantasy. I think I've read Marquez saying it's just the way people from the places he comes from see the world!
Great list! I've read Gravity's Rainbow by Pynchon and have wanted to check out V, but I already received Mason & Dixon as a gift so feel like I have to read that first.
You and I share many favorites (Garcia Marquez, Gene Wolfe, Pynchon, LeGuin, CS Lewis.) The reason I am writing, however, is to inquire about your final pick (27:19). Your description of this unpublished tale has piqued my curiosity, to put it mildly. Do you mind me asking what college it was? I wonder if anyone at the college might be able to check the records of what theses were submitted. A bit of sleuthing might turn up the author's name. There's a good chance he might still be alive. I'm sure he would be tickled to know that you remember his story.
Thanks for checking out my video and commenting; much appreciated, Vladimir. The college was Wesleyan in Middleton Connecticut (I think there are several Wesleyans around the country) and I really am not sure what year it would have been...perhaps anywhere between 1967 and 1973! I guess I could ask around about records of senior thesises and see if they have a record of which ones my dad had graded back then...I should have looked into this when he was still alive...sigh.
@@SleepyBookReader-666 There's bound to be some legwork involved in tracking down the lost story but, in my opinion, the endeavor would make a great topic for a future video. Consider John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces." The story of how you found the manuscript might end up being as interesting as the story itself.
Platonic Ideal! Wish I thought of that. There’s probably room to play with platonic ideals in a later video some day, I suppose. Thanks for stopping by.
Sleepyreader666, a great comic book tuber, btw. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year sir! Hopefully you’re doing very well & love hearing your thoughts on GrEaT bOoKs. I’ve enjoyed a good amount of James Rollins Sigma Force novels & find them to be particular page turners in the action/sci-Fi realm over the last years.
Hey hey, thanks for that...I've certainly put in the hours on comics youtube, lol. I have not heard of James Rollins. I'll have to keep an eye out for those. Cheers.
That’s my literal brother & he saw suggested video on CZcams here + said GET WELL ASAP sir Dune is excellent - one of the best + CZcams NEEDS more of that simple vibe we once held down. The easier going & happier the fans, the more likely they are to watch the videos (CZcams goal) How’ve you been Damien? I’m just drinking a (Mi IPA) Oberon Eclipse & celebrating + gotta love the home town or state goodies! I caught the couple posted videos & happy New Years Sleepy!
I discovered Wodehouse several years ago around the age of 18 but I worry very much about his work fading out amongst readers now. Try my best to recommend him lol
@@SleepyBookReader-666 Very much so, yes. Humor from that period doesn’t sound appealing to many but his word choice is often perfect the work holds up really well.
I’d be happy to see your nonfiction golden books. Most of what you’ve read (here) I haven’t - and much haven’t heard of before. (Yeah, I can’t stand CSL so I voice support for your daughter there. 😂)
There's just a few nonfiction books that had that golden glow about them...several by George Orwell...but eventually I should delve into the nonfiction that has effected me the most. Lewis seems to slow and perhaps pleased with himself for my daughter. I suppose for me his Narnia books were my introduction to immersive fantasy worlds, so I can't experience them objectively. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting...much appreciated.
I liked V, despite its weird plot or lack of. Keep wondering how it managed to keep interest, having an apparently chaotic structure. But, yes, I liked it.🆗 😔🙏
That’s very cool. I'll have to see if our library has that book…i confess I have never heard of that author. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
Well, you were definitely a more precocious reader than me. I think the earliest books I sought were lurid trash, but there was a point when I was still in elementary school that I went right in over my head on books I perceived as important, not always getting very far. I've read maybe half of the books you covered, but I hope you go back to all of them eventually on this channel. Here's an idea I'm not sure I've ever seen on YT, and is not always applicable. Were there books or particular authors that inspired you to write stories of your own? As a deluded youth I would spend peaceful weekends tormenting my characters in notebook paper novels, a Lord Foul in the making.
I'm curious about the lurid trash of your youth...I think there was plenty that in my paperback explorations of the 70s. There were lots of "important" books that my rather snobbish parents tried to get me to read that were a real struggle for me...Dickens and Conrad for a 13 year old? No thanks. Though at some point I did enjoy my mom's Somerset Maugham story collections. My youthful attempts a writing rarely got past about 3 pages...though I certain fantasized about being a famous author. The writers that I would imitate in my brief attempts at stories included Bradbury and Zelazney and perhaps Moorcock. I made more extended attempts to be a writer inspired by Hemingway, Orwell and Henry Miller in my twenties...
Did I say I met Gene Wolfe? My mistake! I did pass him in a hotel bathroom at a con once , in the 80s, lol. Also, I did have a friend from Chicago who was in a writing group with him for a while, which was surprising to hear. She wasn’t even familiar with his work!!
For me, The re-readability is the most important factor.. maybe that is the collector in me. Great video
Reread-ability is definitely a major feature of a favorite book - perhaps the ideal book, for you, gives you more with each reread?
i loved V. it was my introduction to Pynchon and to postmoderism in general. I've grown a little tired of the literary movement a little over the years since then, but i have great memories of V. i still distinctly remember the scene in sewer where the priest preached to the rats. I loved that. i marked a few of these other books on my Goodreads TBR, so thanks a lot! good luck with this channel!
I hear you on postmodernism...it can very easily become over played...I think it plays to writer's own interest in process and structure, which can sometimes lead to laziness...but it can be fun too in the right doses.
What a great way to share important books in your life! I always struggle to think of my "favorite books" - and I bet that's because I'm a butterfly reader too. Thanks for sharing!
We butterflies have a right to shift and switch as the mood strikes!!!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
Some authors I've reread: Buckminster Fuller, Laird Barron, James Hilton ( _Lost Horizon_ ), Cormac McCarthy ( _Blood Meridian_ ), Arthur Machen, H P Lovecraft, Christopher Lasch ( _The Culture of Narcissism_ ) Roberto Calasso ( _The Unnameable Present_ ).
Cool list, including a number of authors I've been meaning to check out. Thanks for a great comment.
@@SleepyBookReader-666Thank you.
Great video with lots of interesting books. Another reason for me to read the Amber books on my pile of shame here.
They should be a quick fun read!!!
Stones for Ibarra is a golden book for me. Both it and Doerr’s other book, Consider This, Señora, were translated into beautiful English prose. The author was definitely well-read, and spun a gorgeous tale. It felt magical indeed.
😺✌️
That's so cool. I hadn't really heard the book mentioned in a long time...even though it one a big award I didn't really know if many people had encountered it.
Excellent video, thank you.
Thanks very much for stopping by and commenting. Much appreciated.
This is the first video of yours I’ve seen. As soon as I saw the Jaguar Hunter sitting on the couch, I knew I was in the right place. And then you not only referenced Gene Wolfe, but Castle of Days of all things! Shepard and Wolfe are two of my all-time favorites. I feel that Shepard in particular is criminally unknown these days; some of his short fiction is nothing short of masterful.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I’ll surely be tuning in moving forward.
That's really cool. Lucius Shepard is definitely a huge favorite of mine...and the Jaguar Hunter was in my pile of books I was going to mention, but I felt I needed to pare the list and that volume didn't quite fit my idea of a "golden book" quite as well as the others. I wondered if anyone would spot the book behind me...but it seemed pretty out of focus, heh.
It is sad that he's pretty forgotten these days...for what ever reason he didn't seem as comfortable focusing on novels and his novellas and shorter work seemed to keep him restricted to the magazines and small press...but those works are fantastic and it's quite a shame.
Pretty good choices! Some of which, as a non-American, i've never heard of and i'll certainly try to acquire!
I can’t guarantee they’re all worth reading! Different ages for different books! But I appreciate your listening to me babble on all those different ages and books.
I really enjoyed this journey through your golden books and One Hundred Years of Solitude is also one of mine!
Nice. That's one that has stuck with me most over the years! Thanks for checking out the video and commenting. Much appreciated.
I enjoyed this video very much. I'm dragging myself through Gravity's Rainbow right now. Only because I feel compelled to step outside the 19th century once in awhile... before retreating back inside those grand novels.
I am guilty of never getting very far into Gravity's Rainbow...perhaps I'll try again some day!
Wow ! Those old covers gave me the impression that I'm time travelling with you to ur younger days ❤ and a big heart for u sir for gifting us the lifetime worth of recommendations ❤
It definitely is a kind of time travel, great point.
Thank you for the kind words and checking out my video. Very much appreciated.
Great video. Thank you for sharing some of your most impactful books. I’m intrigued about Steps; I can vividly remember reading Painted Bird many years ago, it left a mark.
I will also look for Four ways to Forgiveness. Le Guin is amazing, just a couple of days ago I finished the Word for world is Forest.
Thanks. So sorry that I didn’t answer sooner! Steps is a wilder, weirder book than Painted Bird, but at the same time less harrowing and upsetting.
Word for World is Forest was great, I good reminder to add that to my reread list.
A great quote to go off of, I immediately connected with it when I first read it. Maybe because I’m such a Wolfe fan and a Vance fan.
Always glad to find people who appreciate Wolfe...or even know who he is, lol. I will be checking out your channel as soon as I can. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
From your videos today them very nice and relaxing to listen to and a lot of the books your talk about look nice
Thanks Trent. I know I ramble on a bit long. So I'm glad it was worth a listen. I appreciate you checking out the video.
Each to their own with literature ,but what this made me think of is how we change over time /experience/reading different genres. I remember being petrified out of my wits as a 12/13 year old reading HP Lovecraft-Mountains of Madness /Innsmouth etc. I have re read and enjoyed, but I cant match that huge feeling I got when I first read the tales. Similar with other books (from Herman Hesse/Patrick White/Dickens and Eric Ambler) -that initial huge hit cant (for me) be re visited
That's a great point. Some of us, more than others, I think, chase that feeling that books gave us in the past...I'm pretty guilty of it at times but also find it interesting when those golden moments of the past are faded cloudy impressions. I guess the question is can we get that "huge hit" again from some new book we haven't experienced yet...I think we can because in recent years I've had that experience with some newer indy comic book/graphic novels.
Good video Sleepy! Viking's Dawn, I may have to check that one out (if I can find a copy). And I love Amber Chronicles!
Hi Grammaticus. Thanks for checking out the video...The appearance of your channel was definitely one of the factors in me pulling the trigger to try out this booktube thing.
Although my memories of Viking's Dawn are very blurry...I would think it's something for you to look into.
Cheers!
Some great choices there. New subscriber. Best wishes with your reading gin 2024 and to your channel.
Thanks for checking out the channel ReadingIdeas...I've just discovered your channel also and look forward to more of your videos. Cheers.
Awesome video, very inspirational
Thank you Person! I appreciate you stopping by.
Great passage by Gene Wolfe. You impressed me right out of the gate with that. Your balloon moment made me laugh. That P G Wodehouse edition is gorgeous. Love the nostalgia you create. You’re putting me to shame as I haven’t read many of the books you mention. I would’ve liked getting xeroxed copies! Excellent and inspiring video!
Thank you mighty Garage Geek. I am pretty sure you can out match me when it comes to cool books read, though.
I am utterly puzzled by those balloons!
I guess my ideal novel is Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.
@@garagegeek4863 Ah, see, I have not read that one! A horrible thing about me is if I have seen the movie, I will not read the book.
@@SleepyBookReader-666 I wouldn’t say horrible. More like defect.
What I great idea for a video, I am looking for video ideas for my new channel and this has just given me one. Great video
Cool, I look forward to seeing what you do with it!
One of the things that intrigued me about the film "Roadhouse" was that Patrick Swayze's character was reading a Jim Harrison novel. Harrison was popular with women I knew in the late 80's and early 90's. A friend of mine collected 1st edition and rare Bukowski books when he could find them when I lived in Austin. I'd help him since I frequented used bookstores weekly and new many booksellers. Never read a Pynchon book even though I've known about the writer for as long as I can remember. Great seeing you discuss these books.
Hey hey Gore! I assume that Bukowski was, or is, extremely collectible given his huge cult and long history of small press editions.
Two interesting data points on Jim Harrison. He was supposed to be the tough guy, wilderness author, but I guess he did have a good eye for female characters. Also he was a respected poet before the novels and novellas took off.
Good day, D. I did not know that about Harrison. I wonder who reads him now?@@SleepyBookReader-666
Thanks for the list Damian - I'm reading my uncle's copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude and I'm loving the surrealism. Gonna dip into Marquez's short stories too from your recommendation. Cheers from Montreal!
I hope you enjoy those short stories too. The call this style Latin American Magical Realism, but they might just as well call it Latin American Surealism (I hadn't thought of that before). I've heard other people say it's really just another style of fantasy. I think I've read Marquez saying it's just the way people from the places he comes from see the world!
Very insightful. You have great taste!
Thanks! While these things are all relative, I'm guessing I'd think you have great taste too, heh.
Great list! I've read Gravity's Rainbow by Pynchon and have wanted to check out V, but I already received Mason & Dixon as a gift so feel like I have to read that first.
I haven’t read Mason Dixon…it sounds more straightforward than Pynchon's earlier books…but I might be wrong
You and I share many favorites (Garcia Marquez, Gene Wolfe, Pynchon, LeGuin, CS Lewis.) The reason I am writing, however, is to inquire about your final pick (27:19). Your description of this unpublished tale has piqued my curiosity, to put it mildly. Do you mind me asking what college it was? I wonder if anyone at the college might be able to check the records of what theses were submitted. A bit of sleuthing might turn up the author's name. There's a good chance he might still be alive. I'm sure he would be tickled to know that you remember his story.
Thanks for checking out my video and commenting; much appreciated, Vladimir.
The college was Wesleyan in Middleton Connecticut (I think there are several Wesleyans around the country) and I really am not sure what year it would have been...perhaps anywhere between 1967 and 1973! I guess I could ask around about records of senior thesises and see if they have a record of which ones my dad had graded back then...I should have looked into this when he was still alive...sigh.
@@SleepyBookReader-666 There's bound to be some legwork involved in tracking down the lost story but, in my opinion, the endeavor would make a great topic for a future video. Consider John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces." The story of how you found the manuscript might end up being as interesting as the story itself.
Great stuff, keep it up
Thank you Literally. Glad you took the time to check it out. Much appreciated.
An interesting list. I like the idea of a search for, essentially, the Platonic Ideal of the the novel.
Platonic Ideal! Wish I thought of that. There’s probably room to play with platonic ideals in a later video some day, I suppose. Thanks for stopping by.
@@SleepyBookReader-666 Not a problem. This was a fun video that makes a reasonable case for why people should reread books.
Sleepyreader666, a great comic book tuber, btw. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year sir! Hopefully you’re doing very well & love hearing your thoughts on GrEaT bOoKs.
I’ve enjoyed a good amount of James Rollins Sigma Force novels & find them to be particular page turners in the action/sci-Fi realm over the last years.
Hey hey, thanks for that...I've certainly put in the hours on comics youtube, lol.
I have not heard of James Rollins. I'll have to keep an eye out for those.
Cheers.
I’d call them as close to visual as any modern great novels & you’re the man Damien + happy new year from Gregor Black!
@@phillipbug958 GB !! Long time no see! Having a flashback to simpler times on CZcams. Glad to know you’re still out there, man.
That’s my literal brother & he saw suggested video on CZcams here + said GET WELL ASAP sir
Dune is excellent - one of the best + CZcams NEEDS more of that simple vibe we once held down. The easier going & happier the fans, the more likely they are to watch the videos (CZcams goal)
How’ve you been Damien? I’m just drinking a (Mi IPA) Oberon Eclipse & celebrating + gotta love the home town or state goodies!
I caught the couple posted videos & happy New Years Sleepy!
@@phillipbug958 Ah, your brother! Very cool.
That’s a great name for a beer…makes me want to visit your great state! 😎
Mentions of Wodehouse and Pynchon was great to see! Fun video, Damian.
I discovered Wodehouse several years ago around the age of 18 but I worry very much about his work fading out amongst readers now. Try my best to recommend him lol
It seems funny to in some way connect those two, but they both are ideals of certain sort.
I am glad that you are trying! It does seem hard to explain why he is so good to people who haven't given him good try.
@@SleepyBookReader-666 Very much so, yes. Humor from that period doesn’t sound appealing to many but his word choice is often perfect the work holds up really well.
I’d be happy to see your nonfiction golden books. Most of what you’ve read (here) I haven’t - and much haven’t heard of before. (Yeah, I can’t stand CSL so I voice support for your daughter there. 😂)
There's just a few nonfiction books that had that golden glow about them...several by George Orwell...but eventually I should delve into the nonfiction that has effected me the most.
Lewis seems to slow and perhaps pleased with himself for my daughter. I suppose for me his Narnia books were my introduction to immersive fantasy worlds, so I can't experience them objectively.
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting...much appreciated.
I liked V, despite its weird plot or lack of. Keep wondering how it managed to keep interest, having an apparently chaotic structure. But, yes, I liked it.🆗 😔🙏
At times i have been drawn to books that defy the idea of plot...it's like a magic trick that some authors can pull off.
My favourite book is a brilliant English victorian book " The Gadfly" by E. L. Voinich which no one read in Great Britain and which I read umty times!
That’s very cool. I'll have to see if our library has that book…i confess I have never heard of that author. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
@@SleepyBookReader-666 If you read it, you'll recommend it to everybody! I am sure you'll like it!
@@SleepyBookReader-666 By the way the author was a niece of Everest after whom tha famous mountain was named.
Well, you were definitely a more precocious reader than me. I think the earliest books I sought were lurid trash, but there was a point when I was still in elementary school that I went right in over my head on books I perceived as important, not always getting very far.
I've read maybe half of the books you covered, but I hope you go back to all of them eventually on this channel.
Here's an idea I'm not sure I've ever seen on YT, and is not always applicable. Were there books or particular authors that inspired you to write stories of your own? As a deluded youth I would spend peaceful weekends tormenting my characters in notebook paper novels, a Lord Foul in the making.
I'm curious about the lurid trash of your youth...I think there was plenty that in my paperback explorations of the 70s.
There were lots of "important" books that my rather snobbish parents tried to get me to read that were a real struggle for me...Dickens and Conrad for a 13 year old? No thanks. Though at some point I did enjoy my mom's Somerset Maugham story collections.
My youthful attempts a writing rarely got past about 3 pages...though I certain fantasized about being a famous author. The writers that I would imitate in my brief attempts at stories included Bradbury and Zelazney and perhaps Moorcock. I made more extended attempts to be a writer inspired by Hemingway, Orwell and Henry Miller in my twenties...
Wow how did you meet gene Wolfe? I just finished book of the short sun and loved the solar cycle
Did I say I met Gene Wolfe? My mistake! I did pass him in a hotel bathroom at a con once , in the 80s, lol.
Also, I did have a friend from Chicago who was in a writing group with him for a while, which was surprising to hear. She wasn’t even familiar with his work!!
@@SleepyBookReader-666 I must have miss heard , a bathroom walk by is still cool though!
Thomas Pinch'un
Heh. Just a little pinch.