Reading for Joy vs Efficiency | Are Ryan Holiday’s Reading Rules Worth It? @alisontalksbooks RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2026-09-18 | Reading for Joy vs Efficiency | Are Ryan Holiday’s Reading Rules Worth It? @alisontalksbooks
The Perfection of Reading TAG #BookTube #WarAndPeace #TagTuesday #BookRecommendations RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-10-07 | THE PERFECTION OF READING TAG#tagtuesday #booktag #booktubecommunity This tag is inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist six perfections — generosity, ethical discipline, patience, joyful effort, concentration, and wisdom — but with a BookTube twist. I’ll share meaningful reading experiences, book gifts, my habits as a reader, and books that have challenged and enriched me most.Original tag created by Lekden at Reading From the Depths @arockinsamsara . I was tagged by Pat at @BookChatWithPat8668 - her video is here youtube.com/watch?v=ILaFHNlIjrA&t=50sHere is what Lekden says about the original tag:"The Tibetan Buddhist instruction to live a meaningful life is to try to live the life of a bodhisattva, a person or being who has totally dedicated their life to benefitting others. The six perfections, known as the pāramitās in Sanskrit, are six types of enlightened activity that make up the bodhisattvas’ conduct which ordinary people are encouraged to try and realize in their own lives. This original book tag is celebrating those six and exploring how they might be reflected in our reading lives. In addition to answering each prompt also recommend a book that you feel embodies that particular perfection (as you understand it). (It is okay if it is the same as your answer to the prompt)."Prompts: 1. The perfection of generosity: What is an experience of either book gifting or book receiving that was meaningful or memorable for you? 2. The perfection of ethical discipline: * What are your best and worst reading habits? 3. The perfection of patience: * What is a book that you anxiously waited for, and did it live up to the expectations you set for it?4. The perfection of joyful effort: * What is a book or series that you found difficult to complete but found to be ultimately worthwhile? 5. The perfection of concentration: * What do you do, if anything, to get in a “reading zone”? What is your ideal reading environment? 6. The perfection of wisdom: * What is a book where you learned something, especially something unexpected (whether profound or mundane)? *Please tag and share with others! Chapters00:00 Welcome01:11 1. The Perfection of GENEROSITY02:54 2. The Perfection of ETHICAL DISCIPLINE05:28 3. The Perfection of PATIENCE09:50 4. The Perfection of JOYFUL EFFORT11:07 5. The Perfection of CONCENTRATION15:44 6. The Perfection of WISDOMBooks mentioned:WAR & PEACE - Leo TolstoyANNA KARENINA - Leo TolstoyTHE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV - Fyodor DostoevskyCRIME AND PUNISHMENT - Fyodor DostoevskyMIDDLEMARCH - George EliotMOBY DICK - Herman MelvilleDETERMINED (Life Without Free Will) - Robert SapolskyPRISONERS OF GEOGRAPHY (How Maps explain global politics) - Tim MarshallJETHRO TULL 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION BOOKS SERIES:This Was (1968)Stand Up (1969)Benefit (1970)Aqualung (1971)Thick as a Brick (1972)A Passion Play (1973)War Child (1974)Minstrel in the Gallery (1975)Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die! (1976)Songs from the Wood (1977)Heavy Horses (1978)Stormwatch (1979)A (1980)The Broadsword and the Beast (1982)Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoyed this journey through books and ideas. Let me know your answers to the Perfection of Reading Tag in the comments!
Spy Secrets Hidden In Books! (Dr No-vember 2025) RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-10-05 | This November, I’m joining the incredible lineup of booktubers co-hosting Dr. NoVember — an event celebrating spies, secrets, espionage, and intelligence thrillers across both fiction and non-fiction. Time to explore a world of spies, secret messages, and hidden identities in books! We'll be looking at spy terminology, how these concepts appear in literature, and diving into mystery and intrigue created by the authors. In this video, I share my recommendations for the best spy novels and espionage non-fiction to read this month — from Ken Follett’s Eye of the Needle to Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal, John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, and Ben Macintyre’s The Spy and the Traitor.You’ll also hear about the official group read — The Quiet American by Graham Greene — and how you can join the Dr. November reading event hosted by Mark from Book Time with Elvis and an all-star group of bookish co-hosts. Join me for some thrilling reading! Let me know in the comments what you are planning to read for this exciting event. Enjoy your reading!THE EVENTRead any spy or espionage-themed book (fiction or non-fiction) and tag your videos/posts with #DrNovember so we can find each other’s content.THE CO-HOSTSJim - Mystery and Mayhem youtube.com/@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nnRandy - The Literature Texan youtube.com/@LiterateTexanSteve - Steve Donoghue youtube.com/channel/UC1B9FfvVLRt8s6scUa79oagJack - The Rambling Raconteur youtube.com/@ramblingraconteur1616Farrah - Bookstalgic youtube.com/@bookstalgicEmily - Emreads youtube.com/@emreads25Greg - Another Bibliophile Reads youtube.com/@anotherbibliophilereadsAlan - Alan’s Reads youtube.com/@AlansReadsMike (me) -Riffraff’s Reading Renaissance youtube.com/@RiffRaffReadsMark - Booktime with Elvis youtube.com/@BookTimewithElvis QUESTION FOR YOU: What’s YOUR favorite spy or espionage novel?Drop it in the comments — I’d love to discover more Cold War thrillers and modern spy reads!CHAPTERS0:00 – Intro & what Dr. November is all about1:10 – The all-star host lineup1:30 – Group Read: The Quiet American by Graham Greene2:00 – My Top Spy Fiction Recs (Ken Follett & Frederick Forsyth)3:15 – Best Non-Fiction Spy Reads (The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre)4:30 – My Dr. November TBR (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold)6:00 – Bonus: Hidden gems like I Lie for a Living & The Outsider7:30 – How YOU can join the eventBOOKS MENTIONED:The Quiet American — Graham GreeneEye of the Needle — Ken FollettThe Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Kill List — Frederick ForsythThe Spy and the Traitor — Ben MacintyreI Lie for a Living — International Spy MuseumThe Outsider — Frederick Forsyth (Autobiography)The Spy Who Came in from the Cold — John le Carré#espionage #thriller #spy #spymaster #jamesbond #kenfollett #thespy #SpyStories #booktok #booktube #whattoreadnext #booklovers #bookcommunity #espionagethriller #BookTube #SpyNovels #DrNovember #EspionageThriller #BookRecommendations #ColdWarFiction #SpyFiction #ThrillerBooks #BookCommunity #BookishEvents
Graham Greene The Quiet American: Buddy Read & discussion on Americas role in International Affairs RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-10-03 | Join Mike from Riff Raff’s Reading Renaissance and Emily from Em Reads - A Continuing Education as we dive into Graham Greene’s The Quiet American and discuss the role of America in International affairs. #GrahamGreene #TheQuietAmerican #booktube Emily (Em Reads - A Continuing Education) youtube.com/@emreads25Mike (Riff Raff's reading Renaissance) youtube.com/@RiffRaffReadsCHAPTERS00:00 Intro to Buddy Read01:33 Historical Context of the book04:12 The Author Graham Greene10:17 The Characters & the Writing29:56 The Films of the book35:49 America's role in a changing world41:21 The emergence to two Americas43:21 Social media's impact on perspectives44:15 Thoughts on cross cultural awareness45:45 America's cultural, economic & sociological footprint48:20 Is education responsible for a lack of understanding54:38 Challenges of multi cultural interactions 56:56 The Reading Experience of the bookBOOKTUBERS MENTIONED:Steve Donoghue - @saintdonoghue youtube.com/@saintdonoghueShelly Swearingen - @Shellyish youtube.com/@ShellyishBOOKS MENTIONED:Graham Greene - The Quiet AmericanGraham Greene - Collected novelsGraham Greene - The Heart of the MatterGraham Greene - The End of the AffairGraham Greene - Complete Short StoriesGraham Greene - Monsignor QuixoteJohn Le Carre - The Spy Who Came In From The ColdRory Stewart - The Places In BetweenPODCASTS MENTIONED : The Rest Is Politics (Rory Stewart & Alastair Campbell)FILM VERSIONS:1958: The Quiet American (Michael Redgrave, Audie Murphy) dir Joseph L Mankiewicz2002 The Quiet American (Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser) dir Phillip Noyce
SHORTY SEPTEMBER REPORT BACK & VICTOBER TBR RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-30 | I report back on my reading in September - Shaketember, Shorty September and Framed in September. From Shakespeare to Orwell, Wharton to Hemingway, and even the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, it’s been a month packed with thoughtful, challenging, and surprising reads.#GeorgeOrwell, #ErnestHemingway, #EdithWharton, #Shakespeare, #VanityFair, #Rubaiyat, #OmarKhayyam, #Booktube #SeptemberWrapUp #ShortySeptember #ShakeTember #Victober #ReadingWrapUp #ClassicLit #Shakespeare #Orwell #Hemingway #EdithWharton #BookRecommendations #LiteratureLovers #BookCommunity #RiffRfReadingRenaissanceChapters00:00 Intro00:54 Framed in September01:21 Shake-tember03:15 A Buddy Read04:18 George Orwell08:25 Edith Wharton10:49 Ernest Hemingway14:16 The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam18:34 Vic-Tober TBR PlansBooks Mentioned:The Girl With A Pearl Earring - Tracy ChevalierIn Search of Shakespeare - Michael WoodShakespeare - Bill BrysonNothing Like The Sun - Anthony BurgessThe Quiet American - Graham GreeneFascism and Democracy - George OrwellThe Reckoning - Edith WhartonThe Old Man And The Sea - Ernest HemingwayThe Rubaiyat of Omar KhayyamVanity Fair - William Makepeace ThackerayHow To Be Well Read - John SutherlandEnglish Literature - Anthony BurgessBooktubers referenced:Emily @EmReads25Hannah @HannahsBooksAaron @AaronReadABookWhat did you read in September? Have you read any of these books? Share your thoughts in the comments!
SHAKE TEMBER! Act 2 #shakespeare RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-28 | #Shaketember #shakespeare #booktubeWelcome back to Act 2 of Shake-tember, all about engaging with the Bard – through plays, biographies, retellings, adaptations, and critical works. In this video, I share my experience of a BBC documentary series, Bill Bryson's biography, Anthony Burgess' novel Nothing Like The Sun, o Nesbo's homage to Macbeth and David Mitchell's brilliant Upstart crow comedy series. Let’s celebrate the timeless genius of William Shakespeare together! Share your ShakeTimber exoeriences in the comments below!CO-HOSTS:Kelly @booksimnotreadingJason @OldBluesChapterandVerse Nicole @adayofsmallthings Chapters00:00 Recap pf Act 101:14 In Search of Shakespeare07:11 Bill Bryson Biography12:25 Nothing Like The Sun17:20 Jo Nesbo's Macbeth19:15 Upstart CrowBOOKS discussed:In Search of Shakespeare - Michale Wood (BBC)Shakespeare - Bill BrysonHamnet - Magie O'FarrellNothing Like the Sun - Anthony BurgessShakespeare The Invention of the Human - Harold BloomShakespeare - Anthony BurgessHag-Seed - Margaret Atwood (The Tempest retold)New Boy - Tracy Chevalier (Othello retold)Macbeth - Jo Nesbo (Macbeth retold)
FRAMED IN SEPT Part 3 Cartoons & DIY Music #FramedInSeptember #framed #Punch #newyorkercartoons RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-26 | Welcome back to Part 3 of Framed in September — a celebration of all things art, even beyond books. Join me as I explore the art of great cartoonists; a new book on Classical Music for everyone, and the song I wrote and performed at South Africa's oldest Music Festival. Ideal for those who love books, art, and music! Framed In September is Hosted by Elizabeth @bouquinsbooks Greg @anotherbibliophilereads Hannah @HannahsBooks Heather @heathergregg9975 Prompts1. Read a book (fiction or nonfiction) focusing on art2. Experience a work of art3. Bonus prompt: Create art or tell us about a work of art that is important for youBOOKS MENTIONED:The Cartoon Century (Modern Britain Through the Eyes of Its Cartoonists) - Tiimothy S BensonThe Best of Punch Cartoons (2008 Edited by Helen Walasek)The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker (2004 edited by Robert Mankoff)Zapiro - Cartoon Annual collection Year of Wonder (Classical Music For Every day) - Clemency Burton-HillI referenced: Pete Seeger's Vietnam protest song "Waste Deep In The Big Muddy" - Watch it here:youtube.com/watch?v=2fUF6RctQvg&ab_channel=ashokhandigolCHAPTERS:00:00 Welcome01:57 Cartoonists as truth tellers05:52 Jock Leyden = South Africa's greatest cartoonist10:56 Theatre cartoons12:33 Jock draws me!13:19 Zapiro - political cartoons16:02 Year of Wonder (Classical music)18:36 Splashy Fen Music Festival20:06 I wrote a song...21:48 Soldier Boy Blues26:38 Framed Summation Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to join me on my Reading Renaissance journey!Thank you
Get To Know Your Taste TAG #Booktube #booktuber #tagtuesday RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-23 | The Get to Know My Taste tag — exploring what shapes my reading life. I share passages from Flaubert, Baldwin, and Damon Galgut, rant about the price of books in South Africa, and celebrate writing that stops me in my tracks.Tag created by @mynameismarines & @ThoughtsOnTomes I was tagged by Angelina at Books Do Things To Me. Her tag video is here youtube.com/watch?v=dRe58tpS7Io&ab_channel=BooksDoThingsToMe . Consider yourself tagged and join in!BOOKS MENTIONEDMadame Bovary - Gustave FlaubertSonny's Blues - James BaldwinThe Promise - Damon GalgutDetermined - Robert SopolskyAnd The Roots of Rhythm Remain (A Journey through Global Music) - Joe BoydPrisoners of Geography - Tim MarshallChapters00:00 Intro00:34 Q1 Rating Books01:54 Q2 Reviewing Books04:00 Q3 First Favourite Book05:01 Q4 Favourite Genres05:57 Q5 Character-driven or Plot-driven stories06:29 Q6 A Book You Love08:22 Q7 Aligning Reading Tastes09:00 Q8 Trashy Books - GarbAugust09:33 Q9 Dealbreakers in books10:17 Q10a Strong Opinion - A Book That Blew My Mind12:47 Q10b Strong Opinion - The High Cost of Reading in SA19:15 Q11 What I Look For In Books19:50 Q12 Deciding What To Read Next20:56 Q13 Inspiration for BookTube22:15 Q14 A Book That Should Go Viral25:25 Q15 BookTubers with Similar TasteBOOKTUBERS I ADMIRE & WATCH REGULARLY:@AaronReadABook youtube.com/@AaronReadABook@anotherbibliophilereads youtube.com/@anotherbibliophilereads@BookTimewithElvis youtube.com/@BookTimewithElvis@BookChatWithPat8668 youtube.com/@BookChatWithPat8668@BookishTexan youtube.com/@BookishTexan@BooksDoThingsToMe youtube.com/@BooksDoThingsToMe@booksimnotreading youtube.com/@booksimnotreading@bookssongsandothermagic youtube.com/@bookssongsandothermagic@ChristopherRussellReads youtube.com/@ChristopherRussellReads @davidmurphy5142 youtube.com/@davidmurphy5142@TheProvincialLady youtube.com/@TheProvincialLady@emreads25 youtube.com/@emreads25@HannahsBooks youtube.com/@HannahsBooks@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p youtube.com/@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p@scallydandlingaboutthebooks youtube.com/@scallydandlingaboutthebooks@Shellyish youtube.com/@Shellyish@saintdonoghue youtube.com/@saintdonoghue@thefoxedpage youtube.com/@thefoxedpage@tristanandtheclassics6538 youtube.com/@tristanandtheclassics6538@WillowTalksBooks youtube.com/@WillowTalksBooksTHE TAG QUESTIONS1) How do you rate books? Give a quick rundown of how you do your star ratings (or if you don’t use star ratings, how you evaluate books). 2) How do you approach reviewing books? What’s your review style? Are you analytical, emotional, casual, or structured? 3) What’s the book that made you a reader? Whether it was your first favorite or the one that got you hooked, what book started it all? 4) Do you have a genre niche? Are there certain genres you gravitate toward? Or do you read widely across genres? 5) Do you generally prefer character-driven or plot-driven stories?6) What’s a book you love so much that you don’t care if others don’t like it? What’s that one book you love enough for everyone? 7) What’s a book you love so much that if someone doesn’t like it, you know your reading tastes don’t align? The book or books where a difference of opinion is a strong indicator of different reading preferences. 8) What’s in your “trash pocket”? What books, tropes, or themes that you know are bad but you love them anyway? 9) Do you have any dealbreakers in books? Something that, if present, immediately turns you off from a book. 10) What’s a strong opinion you have about a book released within the last year? Whether it’s overrated, underrated, or just a take you need to share. 11) What do you look for in writing? What makes a book stand out to you? Is it prose style, themes, voice, structure, or something else? 12) How do you decide what to read next? Do you plan ahead, mood read, or follow external factors (hype, recommendations, ARCs)? 13) Where do you get inspiration for your BookTube content? What sparks your video ideas—other creators, trends, personal reading experiences? 14) If you could make any book go viral right now, what would it be? A book you think deserves more attention and why. 15) Who are some BookTubers with reading tastes similar to yours?16) Tag others.Paul Simon & Miriam Makeba sing Under African Skies. This song gave Joe Boyd the title of his book "And The Roots of Rhythm Remain". Enjoy! youtube.com/watch?v=85rr5SqrCZI&list=RD85rr5SqrCZI&start_radio=1&ab_channel=PaulSimonVEVOIf you enjoy bookish discussions, like, comment, & subscribe for more book chats, reviews, and tags.
FRAMED IN SEPTEMBER Part 2 #FramedInSeptember #ClassicalMusic #HistoricalFiction #Vermeer RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-19 | Framed In September is a Booktube event to celebrate all aspects of Art Appreciation, even beyond books. BookTube meets art! Join me as I attend a classical music concert, pick up fascinating books, and explore a famous artwork and the films about it. Ideal for those who love books, art, and music!Hosted by @bouquinsbooks @anotherbibliophilereads @HannahsBooks @heathergregg9975 Prompts1. Read a book (fiction or nonfiction) focusing on art2. Experience a work of artBonus prompt: Create art or tell us about a work of art that is important for youChapters00:00 Welcome & Intro to part 202:04 The Playhouse History03:33 KZN Philharmonic Orchestra04:47 The Playhouse Complex06:43 The Programme, Composers & Performers09:26 The Concert12:28 Choosing an Art related Book14:13 Vermeer & his works15:11 The Painting (Girl With A Pearl Earring)16:40 Tracy Chevalier's Book 19:56 The Film of the book20:46 The Documentary of the Exhibition21:47 Tim's Vermeer 23:09 Summing It All Up24:13 Teaser for Part 3 - Creating Art!Link to Saint-Saëns Concerto n. 5 in F major op. 103 | Keigo Mukawa - Queen Elisabeth Competition 2021 is here: youtube.com/watch?v=KOupMMY4E8k&ab_channel=QueenElisabethCompetition
If I Owned A Bookstore TAG #booktube #tagtuesday #bookstore #bookshop #tag RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-16 | In this tag, I imagine what my dream bookstore would look like: the hours of operation, whether there’s coffee (spoiler: yes ), live readings, music, comfy chairs, and even a space for readers to make their own BookTube content! What would YOUR ideal bookstore be like? Let me know in the comments and feel free to do the tag yourself!Tag Creator: Robert G, Reader of Books youtube.com/@RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p I was tagged by Emily at Em Redas - A Continuing Educationyoutube.com/@emreads25 Chapters00:00 Intro00:51 Question 1 Operating Hours01:21 Question 2 Music Playing?02:03 Question 3 Coffee & Alcohol02:19 Question 4 Setup of store03:11 Question 5 Live Entertainment & community events04:02 Question 6 Store Location04:37 Question 7 External Appearance05:19 Question 8 Book Specialties: used vs new, genres, etc.06:11 Question 9 Naming the Store06:27 Question 10 Tags
Shake-tember! Celebrating the Bard in September #Shaketember #shakespeare #booktube RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-12 | Shake-tember is about engaging with the Bard – through plays, biographies, retellings, adaptations, and critical works. In this video, I share my approach to ShakeTimber in two parts: 1. Accessibility to Shakespeare – editions, guides, retellings, and biographies that make his works easier to enjoy. 2. Deconstructing Shakespeare – books that reinterpret Shakespeare through cultural, political, and feminist lenses. Let’s celebrate the timeless genius of William Shakespeare together! Share your ShakeTimber TBR in the comments below!Co-hosts:Kelly @booksimnotreadingJason @OldBluesChapterandVerse Nicole @adayofsmallthings Chapters00:00 Welcome00:59 Books on Accessibility02:30 Biographies of Shakespeare04:19 Guide Books06:49 Retelling the Stories10:24 Shakespeare for All Time11:44 Deconstructing Shakespeare12:51 Shakespeare against Apartheid17:41 African Tales from Shakespeare20:15 Three Feminist takes on Shakespeare26:08 Shakespeare's Love Life27:39 SummationThe books discussed:William Shakespeare - The Complete Works (Magna Books)The Illustrated Stratford Shakespeare (Chancellor Press)Shakespeare (Peter Ackroyd)In Search of Shakespeare (Michael Wood)Shakespeare (Bill Bryson) Shakespeare - The Invention of the Human (Harold Bloom)The Nation’s Favourite Shakespeare (BBC) The Cambridge Shakespeare GuidePenguin Shakespeare DictionaryShakespeare Stories (Leon Garfield & Michael Foreman) Lamb's tales from Shakespeare (Charles & Mary Lamb)Stories from Shakespeare (Marchette Chute) Exit, pursued by a bear (Louise McConnell) Shakespeare against Apartheid (Martin Orkin)African Tales from Shakespeare (Geoffrey Haresnape)Shakespeare Division of Experience (Marilyn French)Women of Will (Tina Packer) Shakespeare's Wife (Germaine Greer)Nothing Like The Sun (Anthony Burgess)
WOULD U RATHER TAG #tags #tagtuesday #booktubecommunity RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-09 | This is the WOULD YOU RATHER Book Tag--CURIOUS Edition. Join me on 16 fiendish dilemmas to discover some of my reading preferences, philosophies, and quirks.It was created by @Curious-Cat and @ellenmadebookclub. I was tagged by @BookChatWithPat8668Her video of the tag is here youtube.com/watch?v=j6H2yRbeXNc&t=52s&ab_channel=BookChatWithPatChapters00:00 Intro01:03 Question 101:53 Question 203:01 Question 304:10 Question 405:31 Question 506:14 Question 607:24 Question 708:39 Question 8 10:01 Question 911:25 Question 1013:53 Question 1115:57 Question 1219:19 Question 1320:44 Question 1422:53 Question 1525:43 Question 1627:33 Question 17The Prompts: 1. Never read more than one book from the same author (you can’t re-read either) OR read only books from one author of your choice 2. Read a book with an unlikable main character OR your favorite character dies 3. Start your library from scratch (but you can’t re-buy any of the books that were on your shelves before) OR never be allowed to add a new book to your current library 4. Your favorite author never publishes anything new OR only publishes bad books from now on 5. Read only one of your favorite genres OR read as widely as you want, except in that one favorite genre 6. Be stranded forever on a deserted island with a full library OR still live in society, but books have disappeared 7. SFF - Read only 5* series, but they’re unfinished OR read only thick standalones with a bunch of info dumping 8. MYSTERY - Always get book twists spoiled OR they all have an open ending/the killer isn’t caught 9. HISTORICAL ROMANCE - A great love story but with historical inaccuracies OR a toxic or meh love story, but great historical world building 10. Read a book that has the best characters / plot / writing (YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE), but none of the others 11. Have a friend who loses your books OR mistreats them (stains them, breaks the spine…) 12. Never be allowed to visit a bookstore again OR be banned from all the libraries in the world 13. Everyone hates your favorite books OR everyone loves the books you hate 14. Only listen to audiobooks narrated by the worst narrator (eg. Mickey Mouse) OR only read physical books in terrible lighting 15. Books from the same series/collection that don’t match OR read books printed in a tiny font 16. Never post another YouTube video OR never watch YouTube ever again ... and of course, 17. Tag your booktube friends! I am tagging anyone who is watching who would like to give this one a go and Steve Donoghue @saintdonoghue if he hasn't already done it.
Framed in September Part 1: Appreciating Art #FramedinSeptember #Booktube #ArtVlog RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-09-05 | Framed In September is a Booktube event to celebrate all aspects of Art Appreciation, even beyond books. BookTube meets art! Join me as I tour a local gallery, pick up fascinating books, and explore illustrated classics and unique finds. Ideal for readers who love books, art, and collecting!Hosted by @bouquinsbooks @anotherbibliophilereads @HannahsBooks @heathergregg9975 Prompts1. Read a book (fiction or nonfiction) focusing on art2. Experience a work of artBonus prompt: Create art or tell us about a work of art that is important for youChapters00:00 Intro00:55 KZNSA Art Gallery visit03:02 The Exhibit06:30 Book 1 Alice's in Wonderland11:31 Book 2 The Road 12:28 Book 3 Diary of an African Journey15:04 Two Thinkers 16:55 Art Books - 1001 Paintings17:46 The Story of Art19:45 Illustrated History of Art20:30 The Great Artists23:36 Album Cover Art24:22 Album Cover Album25:37 Collectable Album Art
Top 15 SONGS & the Books that tell the stories TAG #booktube #bestsongs #tagtuesday RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-31 | A tag created by Greg at Greg @anotherbibliophilereads . Readers choose their favorite music.LISTEN TO MY SONG CHOICES HERE:(RIFF RAFF'S READING RENAISSANCE RECOMMENDED RECORDS):HEAR THE WHOLE LOT ON YOUTUBE AT:youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlpN8mmVl6oEeCnbn_ChmFpEKZmWSvb5i&si=i3uFHSH_x2d26bXlHEAR THE WHOLE LOT ON SPOTIFY AT:open.spotify.com/playlist/1EHPWCLGEdfZdCbvDRqNuh?si=q7g0vfT2Trux5Px1jc_1Ng(Sorry - I don't do Apple Music)INDIVIDUAL LINKS TO YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE:Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell - youtu.be/_AIRdU6CPf0?si=4zW6VOjB98Mwqxd-Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing - youtu.be/h0ffIJ7ZO4U?si=y7TyrxiLSyPQltk-Edi Niederlander - Ancient Dust of Africa - youtu.be/4-kwxI05Nek?si=LtkO_F82Ovp7u8ghGordon Lightfoot - Canadian Railroad Trilogy - youtu.be/NjoU1Qkeizs?si=5zsNvuF3tpRYX5hvJanis Ian - Tattoo - youtu.be/UevO0c3z1kU?si=b6itcKW1b5GQ8cVyJuluka - Impi - youtu.be/jNAxa-qNkvI?si=ItNWScoVP3KTk00wMary Black - Song for Ireland - youtu.be/iqhncaC9FHI?si=k_ubUkMglnU1p_xDMick Maloney, Robbie O’Connell & Jimmy Keane - Kilkelly, Ireland - youtu.be/gRcywqPJXQE?si=NeZYd5eMTLTiOfj2Paul Simon - American Tune - youtu.be/AE3kKUEY5WU?si=ieIy7UWrslwwH5YjPeter Gabriel - Biko Playing For Change | Song Around The World = youtu.be/jWNEr4eHL18?si=BqXFDAhChSk98S_DRodriguez - This Is Not A Song, It's An Outburst - youtu.be/PqlIrjkpi3Y?si=JYmhkfgN7qgyK-X-Simon & Garfunkel - Bleecker Street - youtu.be/m5uYeg3gBKg?si=VFHQl2BncfvE2fkVStan Rogers - White Squall - youtu.be/pRtO3vfUbPY?si=7bJGbdsm3EPsYRqJThe Who - However Much I Booze - youtu.be/o8Zy3LRWHYY?si=hsg3Y1SHCAW5Wg2PDavid Olney - Jerusalem Tomorrow - youtu.be/8bMaaac032k?si=jc039FR-zG8Nbl5jChapters00:00 Intro04:13 1. Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell08:47 2. Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing12:06 3. Edi Niederlander - Ancient Dust of Africa15:16 4. Gordon Lightfoot - Canadian Railroad Trilogy16:44 5. Janis Ian - Tattoo18:58 6. Juluka - Impi22:20 7. Mary Black - Song for Ireland25:37 8. Mick Maloney - Kilkelly, Ireland 27:51 9. Paul Simon - American Tune30:05 10. Peter Gabriel - Biko Playing For Change32:00 11. Rodriguez - This Is Not A Song, It's An Outburst36:48 12. Simon & Garfunkel - Bleecker Street40:13 13. Stan Rogers - White Squall42:40 14. The Who - However Much I Booze45:06 15. David Olney - Jerusalem Tomorrow47:44 Summation of ChoicesSONGS (RIFF RAFF'S READING RENAISSANCE RECOMMENDED RECORDS):Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTellDire Straits - Sultans Of SwingEdi Niederlander - Ancient Dust of AfricaGordon Lightfoot - Canadian Railroad TrilogyJanis Ian - TattooJuluka - ImpiMary Black - Song for IrelandMick Maloney - Kilkelly, IrelandPaul Simon - American TunePeter Gabriel - BikoRodriguez - This Is Not A Song, It's An OutburstSimon & Garfunkel - Bleecker StreetStan Rogers - White SquallThe Who - However Much I BoozeDavid Olney - Jerusalem TomorrowBOOKTUBERS MENTIONED: Greg @anotherbibliophilereadsRobert @RobertGReaderofBooksDebs @RaynorReadsStuffBrian @BookishTexanGareth @bookssongsandothermagic BOOKS (RIFF RAFF'S READING RENAISSANCE RECOMMENDED READING):1a. CHRONICLES VOLUME 1 - Bob Dylan1b. WHY DYLAN MATTERS - Richard F. Thomas1c. THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG - Bob Dylan2. MY LIFE IN DIRE STRAITS: THE INSIDE STORY OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST NADS IN ROCK HISTORY - John Illsey3. COMPOSING APARTHEID: MUSIC FOR AND AGAINST APARTHEID - Grant Olwage (EDITOR)4. LIGHTFOOT - Nicholas Jennings5. SOCIETY'S CHILD - Janis Ian6a. SCATTERLING OF AFRICA : MY EARLY YEARS - Johnny Clegg6b. THE WASHING OF THE SPEARS: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ZULU NATION - Donald R Morris7. BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME: THE INFLUENCE OF IRISH MUSIC - Nuala O'Connor 8. Ditto9. PAUL SIMON: A LIFE - Robert Hilburn10. I WRITE WHAT I LIKE - Steve Biko11. SUGAR MAN: THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF SIXTO RODRIGUEZ12. SINGING FROM THE FLOOR, A HISTORY OF BRITISH FOLK CLUBS - JP Bean13. MOBY DICK - Herman Melville14. WHO I AM - Pete Townshend15. THE BIBLE - Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha (Oxford World Classics)Happy reading & listening!Cheers,MikeRiffRaff's Reading Renaissance
GarbAugust Week 4 Apocalyptic Trash #garbaugust RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-29 | Join me in my Report back on Week 4 of GarbAugust - Apocalytic Trash, - Kafka, Bugs, Killer Animals, Financial disasters and a cartoon strip - it's all here in an apocalyptic week's reading! I also reflect on a month's Trashy reading and look forward to what's coming up on Booktube in SeptemberChapters00:00 Intro to Week 401:14 A Bug & A Cockroach09:55 Zoo (James Patterson)13:53 At Bonus Time, No One Can Hear You Scream (David Charters)16:45 The Full Alex (Cartoon Collection)19:16 GarbAugust Reflections21:24 Final Bingo Card22:30 A Question for You23:40 Plans for SeptemberBooks mentioned:The Metamorphosis - Frans KafkaThe Cockroach - Ian McEwanZoo - James Patterson & Michael LedwidgeAt Bonus Time, No One Can Hear You Scream - David ChartersThe Full Alex - (Cartoon Collection) Charles Peattie & Russell TaylorRivals - Jilly CooperThe World's Greatest Sex And ScandalsMcSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales (editeb by Michael Chabon)Once Is not Enough - Jacqueline SusannBear - Marian EngelLolito - Ben BrookesWhite Trash - Terry AngelosErotic Vagrancy - Roger LewisUpcoming September Events:Shaketember 2025: Announcement video by @booksimnotreadingyoutube.com/watch?v=1FraKb9rkgk&ab_channel=BooksI%27mNotReadingFRAMED in September: Announcement video by @HannahsBooksyoutube.com/watch?v=zi7EE4Nz-yA&ab_channel=Hannah%27sBooksShorty September Reading Event 2025: Announcement video by @bookssongsandothermagicyoutube.com/watch?v=ILororZYEUQ&t=551s&ab_channel=BooksSongsandOtherMagicBooktubers mentioned:@booksimnotreading@HannahsBooks@bookssongsandothermagic@ReginasHauntedLibrary
HEAVY HORSES #booktube #poetrythursday RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-28 | My 1st Poetry Thuirsday post - let me know what you think of it.
SHORTY SEPTEMBER SELECTION #ShortySeptember RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-26 | I need your help to choose books for Shorty September. My "longlist" is (in the order of the pile in the picture):The Reckoning - Edith WhartonThe Communist Manifesto - Karl Marx & Friedrick EngelsA Room Of One's Own - Virginia WoolfMy Side of the Matter - Truman CapoteThe [prime of Miss jean brodie - Muriel SparkAdd A Dash of Pity - Peter UstinovThree men In A Boat - Jerome K JeromeThe Ballad of the Sa Cafe - Carson McCullersExperiment on Criticism - C S LewisThe Prince - Niccolo MachiavelliFascism & democracy - George OrwellWhy I Am So Clever - Friedrich NietzscheSlaughterhouse 5 - Kurt VonnegutNothing Like the Sun - Anthony BurgessSir Gawain and the Green KnightHeart of Darkness - Joseph ConradThe Outsider - Albert CamusThe Epic of Gilgamesh - UnknownHeat & Dust - Ruth Prawer JhabvalaI Who have Never Known men - Jacqueline HarpmanFahrenheit 4511 - Rau BradburyBrave New World - Aldous HuxleyAnimal Farm - George OrwellThe Frontiers of the Sea = Peter Ustinov
GARBAUGUST WEEK 3 COSY TRASH #garbaugust RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-22 | We're diving into Week 3 of Garb August! 📚 This week’s theme is Cozy Trash, and I’m sharing three fun and unusual books:The Cat Chronicles – a charming children’s book exploring nine adventurous lives of a cat throughout history. 🐱The Power of the Pride – lessons from a pride of lions for teamwork and leadership in the business world. 🦁Lady Chatterley’s Lover (Spike Milligan edition) – a zany, humorous take on a literary classic with clever illustrations and satire.I discuss cozy cat books, middle-grade trash, celebrity novelizations, and even some left-field literary humor. Whether you love cats, lions, or classic literature with a twist, there’s something here for every reader!Let me know in the comments which of these books you’d pick up, and share your own Garb August progress!Chapters00:00 Intro01:03 Book1 The Cat Chronicles - Tom Howard03:22 Book 2 The Power of the Pride - Ian Thomas05:43 Book 3 Lady Chatterley's Lover - DH Lawrence07:56 Book 4 A Children's Treasury of Milligan - Spike Milligan08:53 Book 5 Lady Chatterley's Lover According to Spike Milligan 12:11 Book 6 Zoo - James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
25 Bookish Questions in 5 Minutes TAG #booktubetag RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-18 | 25 Bookish Questions in 5 Minutes TAG #booktubetag I was tagged by Catharine @theliterarylatte - check out her channel.Her tag is here youtube.com/watch?v=4i5Xk0vsLXk&ab_channel=Catharine%E2%98%95%EF%B8%8FI tag @Shellyish to do this tag as one of her 50 in 50 series (if she likes)youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtC_w7mkdBBylbDYg1NLcGXSXlZ8dhKKvQuestions: 1. E-Book or Physical Book?2. Paperback or Hardback?3. Online or In-Store Book Shopping?4. Trilogies or Series?5. Heroes or Villains?6. A Book You Want Everyone to Read?7. Recommend an Underrated Book?8. The Last Book You Finished?9. The Last Book You Bought?10. Weirdest Thing You’ve Used as a Bookmark?11. Used Books: Yes or No?12. Top Three Favorite Genres?13. Borrow or Buy?14. Character or Plot?15. Long or Short Books?16. Long or Short Chapters?17. Name the First Three Books You Think Of.18. Books That Make You Laugh or Cry?19. Our World or Fictional Worlds?20. Audiobooks: Yes or No?21. Do You Ever Judge a Book by Its Cover?22. Book to Movie or Book to TV Adaptations?23. A Movie or TV Adaptation You Preferred More Than the Book24. Series or Standalones?25. Tag others
GarbAugust Week 2 Shock Value #garbaugust RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-15 | Report back on GarbAugust Week 2 SHOCK VALUE! #garbaugust #shocking #shockvalue Chapters00:00 Intro00:44 Book 1 Bear - Marian Engel05:14 Book 2 Lolito - Ben Brooks09:38 Book 3 The Lure of the Limerick - W S Baring-Gould13:16 Book 4 Erotica for Beginners - Errol Selkirk
Are You Like Jane Austen TAG by @Shellyish #janeausten RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-12 | #janeausten #janeaustenjuly How much are you like Jane Austen? A tag originally by Shelly Swearingen @Shellyish You get a point for each similarity to jane Austen on Shelly's list. Her original tag is here youtube.com/watch?v=B23u5XMdF_E&ab_channel=ShellySwearingenQuestions00:00 Intro00:58 Q1 Writer or Author01:21 Q2 Large Family01:40 Q3 Enjoyed school02:04 Q4 Dark Humour02:44 Q5 Single or Married02:55 Q6 Mental Health03:15 Q7 Lived Away From Home03:33 Q8 Vanity03:57 Q9 Hair04:11 Q10 Hot Weather04:35 Score
200 SUBSCRIBERS! RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-10 | Celebrating a small milestone a reaching 200 subscribers to my channel.
GarbAugust Week 1 Anything Goes #garbaugust RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-08 | Report back on Week 1 of GarbAugust - Anything Goes #garbaugust Chapters00:00 Intro00:53 Book 1 The Diamond Wager02:46 Book 2 White Trash05:39 Book 3 Erotic Vagrancy The book sare:The New Mammoth Book of Pulp Fiction White Trash - Terry AngelosErotic Vagrancy - Roger LewisListen to Richard Burton's magnificent narration of Jeff Wayne's musical version of HG Wells' The War of the Worlds here - youtube.com/watch?v=6YwFvmnbj3E&list=PLFV_pTSMduaURY4rVeOeWDCIWcgdAW7PZ&index=1&ab_channel=JeffWayne-Topic
THE BIG BOOK TAG WORTH EVERY PAGE #Shellyish RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-04 | I was tagged by Shelly Swearingen to talk about Chunkers - Big Books worth every page.youtube.com/watch?v=JSPRHIfg4uU&ab_channel=ShellySwearingen Chapters00:00 Intro01:28 The Big 4 Russians02:11 Reading Anna Karenina03:56 Reading War and Peace (with tips)06:27 Reading Dostoyevsky 08:26 33 Revolutions per Minute -A History if Protest Songs11:28 Reading ChunkersThe books:War & Peace - Leo TolstoyAnna Karenina - Leo TolstoyCrime & Punishment - Fyodor DostoyevskyThe Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky33 Revolutions per minute – A History of Protest Music - Dorian LynskeyTags: #Chunkers #BigBooks #warandpeace #annakarenina #leotolstoy #protestmusic
GarbAugust 001 RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-02 | My GarbAugust journey begins! #garbaugust
DALLYING AWAY THE HOURS WITH MRS DALLOWAY #VirginiaWoolf #MichaelCunningham RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-08-02 | Response video to Robert G on reading The Hours & Mrs DallowayRobert G;s original video - youtu.be/-qljWraUklc?si=4iwWgDOhIZGdgz6BChapters00:00 Intro 01:34 My Reading Journey02:16 My Methodology03:15 Excerpt from Mrs Dalloway04:37 Comparing the novels and timeframes07:13 SPOILER WARNING07:52 THE ACTUAL SPOILER (Black & White)08:58 No more SPOILERS10:21 Excerpt from The Hours12:15 Final thoughts
8 Questions for readers Tag #RobertG RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-07-27 | Response to Robert G Reader of Books tag of 8 questions for readers which have nothing to do with reading. Robert's original video is here - youtu.be/5q77oDf1pFk?si=qyKrjlOjFazUz5y2Chapters:00:00 Intro00:38 Q1. Favourite Food00:59 Q2. Favourite Music02:24 Q3. If you were prevented from reading, what would you do?03:40 Q4. Favourite City04:49 Q5 & 6. Favourite beverages: alcoholic & non-alcoholic05:06 Q7. Favourite time of day06:07 Q8. Favouite Season07:02 OutroHere are the questions:1) What is your favorite kind of food?2) What is your favorite kind of music?3) If you were prevented from reading ever again, what would you do? 4) Favorite city?5) Favorite beverage: alcoholic?6) Favorite beverage: non-alcoholic?7) Favorite time of day?8) Favorite season?TRAVEL VIDEOS for armchair travellers for my 3 favourite cities - DURBAN, South Africa is here - youtube.com/watch?v=qP4GaGF-lp0&ab_channel=TRIPXTREMEVOORBURG, Netherlands is here -youtube.com/watch?v=UI2FvKQEnLI&ab_channel=BeautifulNetherlands MUSIC: LINKS for artists mentioned :Miriam Makeba – Pata Pata (live in Germany 1972)youtu.be/6POvoRqHYEc?si=zS6LzLHUUiWGp-br Nduduzo Makhathini - Omnyama (from the album In the Spirit of Ntu)youtu.be/KGMXPHU-F5o?si=uOC4h6oaOEaD_IJL Juluka - IMPI (live in Cape Town in 1983) youtu.be/AXHzi6bXQf8?si=YJxu9cSCadcPBS67 Celtic Airs & Ballads – Moira Craig (The Boatman)youtu.be/-cvq8YFjexE?si=iOrZyqoZLreHdOqk Hildegard von Bingen (by Sequentia) O Virga ac Diadema Purpurae Regisyoutu.be/NCkHC4CkW2Y?si=2JRSTXzPtvCekxTJ Jethro Tull = The Whistler (from Songs From The Wood)youtu.be/ygYe0Y_z800?si=ji9OK_T9U_cLu9dHEthiopian musicyoutu.be/OnUL3pZYXK4?si=MLH4m-8ugiIspXQF Frank Sinatra = In the Wee Small Hours youtu.be/j7Jfs9MY0hg?si=6w80sq_ysIVFF7rQ The Dropkick Murphys - My Eyes Are Gonna Shine (from Okemah Rising)youtu.be/vYQ5hCCn24w?si=4Eizmk1gSZ_CZgGV
The Muppet Book Tag RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-07-20 | A Muppet tag based around 10 Muppet characters, with a book prompt that goes alongside the personality of that character...Here is the original by Gareth - youtube.com/watch?v=u5mo_a5MDcA&ab_channel=BooksSongsandOtherMagicAnd I was tagged by Aaaron - youtube.com/watch?v=OSLP6u9WExc&ab_channel=AaronReadABookChapters00:00 Introduction (Hi! I'm Mike)01:05 Book 1 - LONG WALK TO FREEDOM – Nelson Mandela02:24 Book 2 - THE CRICKLEWOOD DOME – Alan Coren04:41 Book 3 - THE SHORTEST HISTORY OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE – Michael Scott-Baumann 06:03 Book 4 - 100 YEARS OF SOLITUDE - Gabriel Garcia Marquez07:48 Book 5 - MY DARK VANESSA – Kate Elizabeth Russell 09:10 Book 6 - PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT – Philip Roth10:10 Book 7 - THE PROMISE - Damon Galgut12:50 Book 8 - PRIDE & PREJUDICE - Jane Austen13:25 Book 9 - A BEAR CALLED PADDINGTON - Michael Bond14:06 Book 10 - TENDER IS THE NIGHT – F Scott FitzgeraldBooktubers mentionedGareth Howell - youtube.com/@UCPd4pe4aaUW2ViQxNstsrzg Aaron - youtube.com/@UCfGxCZEoVD-4n5yU2p2L3Jg The Muppet TAG Prompts:1) Kermit - Name a book with a great leader2) Fozzie Bear - Name a book that makes you laugh3) Animal - Name a book that is unpredictable4) Statler and Waldorf - Name a book that had to "win you over"5) Ernie - Name a character that is innocent or naive or both6) Gonzo the Great - Name a book that defies simple genre definitions7) Dr Bunsen Honeydew - Name a book with a great concept8) Dr Teeth - Name a character that lights up the scene and makes you smile9) Rowlf the Dog - Name a character that's laid back and copes with the chaos around them.10) The Muppets! - Name a book with a great "found family".
Ten Untouched Books Tag #booktags #tbr #bookbuying RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-07-17 | This Tag is about books you haven't read yet, but should have !Original tag by @Rainierbooks. There is only one prompt:Present ten books from your shelves that have been there at least a year or more and present them. This is about creating awareness to read from our shelves, enhance sustainability and maybe even saving some bucks. Chapters00:00 Intro & welcome01:05 Book 1 Ray Bradbury - FAHRENHEIT 45101:42 Book 2 Aldous Huxley – BRAVE NEW WORLD02:34 Book 3 Anne Frank – THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL03:16 Book 4 J M Coetzee – WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS04:19 Book 5 Homer – THE ILIAD05:24 Book 6 Salman Rushdie – THE SATANIC VERSES05:51 Book 7 William Makepeace Thackeray – VANITY FAIR06:08 Book 8 Marcel Proust – SWANN’S WAY (In Search of Lost Time Book 1)06:37 Book 9 Niccolò Machiavelli – THE PRINCE07:10 Book 10 Nicholas Jennings - LIGHTFOOTBooktubers mentioned : Steve Donoghue - youtube.com/@saintdonoghueShelly Swearingen - youtube.com/@UCk-jilp_VucStY1kA8W1JtA Gareth Howell at Books Songs and Other Magic -youtube.com/@bookssongsandothermagicRainierbooks - youtube.com/@RainierbooksThe music I recommend you listen to is as follows :Gordon Lightfoot:Canadian Railroad Trilogy - youtu.be/Yzo6Otpgj-E?si=eYTyg3W_0JwCR2nZDon Quixote -youtu.be/IMeXQUojkGU?si=RsXXsMLeeiafC2LB
My Epic Quest to conquer MOBY DICK RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-07-09 | Join me on my epic quest to read the elusive novel of the great White Whale Moby Dick.Chapters00:00 Intro00:19 Welcome to RiffRaff's Reading Renaissance01:22 What 5 experts think we know about Moby Dick05:54 Decision Time - I Set Sail06:27 The Reading Experience12:17 New Words discovered12:40 And done! 650 pages later13:18 Analyzing the experience and post mortem16:07 Poetry Thursday pre-emptive strike17:11 Summation 17:34 Music recommendations18:12 Thanks and goodbyeThe 5 reference books I refer to are :Books that changed the World - Andrew TaylorHow To Be Well Read - John SutherlandBeowulf on the Beach - Jack MurnighanHow To Read and Why - Harold BloomThe Western Lit Survival Kit - Sandra NewmanThe songs I recommend you listen to is as follows :Stan Rogers:The Last Watch - youtu.be/k5nNie0Enss?si=hWmm3ZWoSHx728LV White Squall - youtu.be/2iMChiaADn0?si=v6b_de0uBoZgsqyZ Free In The Harbour - youtu.be/PlYRjLsEfnQ?si=zrZyf1-2Zg4SvnJGNorth West Passage - youtu.be/tbEDwW9ZKPo?si=dRpFjJMpWUwSLl4bThe Wellerman (modern) - youtu.be/90Oc9Xl5Aps?si=EgfYZrNl_Ahbd3OIThe Wellerman (Traditional) - youtu.be/6U-VKN_GTmc?si=2i-NAt08DxfluSQt
BookTube Newbie Tag - An oldie from South Africa begins RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance RiffRaffs Reading Renaissance (Mike) 2025-07-01 | First time out for a South African "oldie"/Newbie who's been enjoying Booktube for ages and wants in! @RiffRaffReadsChapters0:00 Beginning0:22 Hello! I'm Mike (Introduction)0:55 Q1 Why did you start this channel?1:41 Q2 What are some fun and unique things you can bring to Booktube?2:21 Q3 What are you most excited for about this new channel?3:41 Q4 Why do you love reading?4:32 Q5 What book or series got you into reading?5:31 Q6 What questions would you ask your favourite booktubers?7:16 Q7 What challenges do you think starting a booktube channel will be the hardest to overcome?8:20 Q8 When did you start reading?8:56 Q9 Where do you read?9:55 Q10 What kind of books do you like to read?10:48 Q11 What does your book collection look like?12:21 Thank youBooktubers mentioned : Steve Donoghue - youtube.com/@saintdonoghueShelly Swearingen - youtube.com/@UCk-jilp_VucStY1kA8W1JtA Benjamin McEvoy Hardcore Literature - youtube.com/@UCJPpE22GR3Tt8TJQmFtQjwQ Tristan and the Classics - youtube.com/@UCi6NV8iNdtixG7Q2kOzbnnQ Aaron Read a Book - youtube.com/@UCfGxCZEoVD-4n5yU2p2L3Jg Bren Booth-Jones - youtube.com/@UCkOptTY3_9svRO-aicOr8nQ Randy Ray The Literate Texan - youtube.com/@UCfBp2Zpc_rKXAIgAKLDg4eA HannahsBooks - youtube.com/@UCoZWZSc556UqWLoAQDNKLhg Books referenced War & Peace - Leo Tolstoy1001 Books You Must Read before you DieHow to Be Well Read - John SutherlandRevolution In The Head - (The Beatles Records & the Sixties) - Ian McDonaldMan's Search for Meaning - Viktor FranklLiberalism and its Discontents - Francis FukuyamaThe Ascent of Man - J Bronowski12 Books That Changed the World - Melvyn BraggThe Modern Library (200 Best Novels in English since 1950) - Carmen Callil & Colm ToibinA Short History of the World in 50 Books - Dan SmithEnid Blyton series - Noddy, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Magic Faraway TreeJust William (series) - Richmal CromptonBilly Bunter (series) - Frank RichardsAlice in Wonderland - Lewis CarrollThe Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre DumasAdam Bede - George EliotAgatha Christie mysteries (series)Frederick Forsyth novels (The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Dogs of War et al)50 Great Short Stories - Editor Milton CraneThe Allies - Winston GroomThe Presidents - Richard Calland & Mabel SitholeErotic Vagrancy - (Everything about Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor) - Roger LewisThe Bell Jar - Sylvia PlathMiddlemarch - George EliotTender Is The Night - F Scott FitzgeraldThe Complete Works of Oscar WildeOne Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia MarquezThe Promise - Damon GalgutThe Mayor of MacDougal Street - Dave Van RonkPolitics On The Edge = Rory StewartCountdown to SocialiSm - Anthea JeffreyI Alone Can Fix It - Carol Lenning & Philip RuckerCaptured In Time (5 Centuries of South African Writing) -compiled by John ClareThe Hidden Thread (Russia & South Africa in the Soviet Era) - Irina Filatova & Apollon DavidsonThe Death of Democracy - Benjamin Carter HettTwilight of Democracy - Anne ApplebaumThe Story of Music = Howard GoodallA Little History of Music - Robert PhilipWhy Dylan Matters - Richard F ThomasLightfoot - Nicholas JenningsTravelling (Joni Mitchell) = Anne PowersPaul Simon A Life - Robert HilburnDusty (Springfield) - Lucy O'BrienThe Philosophy of Modern Song - Bob DylanYou Have Not Yet Heard Your Favourite Song - Glenn McDonaldThe Western Canon - Harold BloomNervous Conditions - Tsitsi DangarembgaThe Hours - Michael CunninghamNational Populism (The Revolt against Liberal Democracy) - Roger Eatwell, Matthew GoodwinThe Best of Times, The Worst of Times - Michael BurleighThe Rise of Fall of South Africa - Frans CronjeRainbow Nation My Zulu Arse - Sihle KhumaloThe Super Cadres - Pieter Du ToitThe Newbie Tag questions:Why did you start this channel?What are some fun and unique things you can bring to Booktube?What are you most excited for about this new channel?Why do you love reading?What book or series got you into reading?What questions would you ask your favourite booktubers?What challenges do you think starting a booktube channel will be the hardest to overcome?When did you start reading?Where do you read?What kind of books do you like to read?
