Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I'm Mike - this is Riff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
After returning from vacation and real life reasserting itself, I wanted to share a January reading update, reflect on a BookTube milestone, and talk through several reading projects currently underway.
In this video, I discuss:
• Reaching 500+ subscribers and the overwhelming kindness of the BookTube community
• Teaming up with Steve Donoghue for a Q&A and ongoing Iliad discussions
• My project to read The Iliad – all 24 books in 24 days, with daily vlogs
• Why reading the Iliad feels like a before-and-after life experience
• Launching Read the Beloved Country, a project exploring South African literature
• Reading André Brink’s Looking on Darkness, the first novel banned under apartheid
• Finding joy and relief in Ben Elton’s autobiography What Have I Done?
• Exploring short story fiction with Kazuo Ishiguro’s Nocturnes
• Finishing J.L. Carr’s A Month in the Country – a quiet, restorative classic
• Honoring Shawn D Standfast (The Standfest) by reading Clifford D. Simak’s “Desertion”
• Thoughts on science fiction, BookTube community, and reading outside comfort zones
This channel is about slow reading, big books, powerful writing, and thoughtful reflection. If you’re reading along with the Iliad, exploring classics, or simply trying to make more room for reading in a busy life—you’re very welcome here.
👉 If you enjoy this video, please consider liking, subscribing, and ringing the bell so YouTube actually lets BookTube find each other.
As always—please keep reading.
Booktubers mentioned:
Steve @saintdonoghue
Angelina @700poodles
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome & Return from Vacation
00:48 500 Subscribers, Steve Donoghue Q&A
01:48 Project 1: The Iliad: 24 Books in 24 Days
03:50 Project 2: Read the Beloved Country (South African literature)
05:29 André Brink – Looking on Darkness
06:57 Ben Elton – What Have I Done?
08:18 Short Stories - Ishiguro’s Nocturnes
10:39 A Month in the Country – J.L. Carr
14:00 Remembering Shawn D Standfast
15:55 Clifford D. Simak – Desertion
18:35 Thoughts on Science Fiction
19:25 What’s Next
20:03 Closing Thoughts & Thanks
And for the almight algorithm:
#BookTube
#ReadingUpdate
#TheIliad
#Classics
#SlowReading
#SouthAfricanLiterature
#BookCommunity
#ReadingProjects
#LiteraryLife
I'm Mike - this is Riff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
After returning from vacation and real life reasserting itself, I wanted to share a January reading update, reflect on a BookTube milestone, and talk through several reading projects currently underway.
In this video, I discuss:
• Reaching 500+ subscribers and the overwhelming kindness of the BookTube community
• Teaming up with Steve Donoghue for a Q&A and ongoing Iliad discussions
• My project to read The Iliad – all 24 books in 24 days, with daily vlogs
• Why reading the Iliad feels like a before-and-after life experience
• Launching Read the Beloved Country, a project exploring South African literature
• Reading André Brink’s Looking on Darkness, the first novel banned under apartheid
• Finding joy and relief in Ben Elton’s autobiography What Have I Done?
• Exploring short story fiction with Kazuo Ishiguro’s Nocturnes
• Finishing J.L. Carr’s A Month in the Country – a quiet, restorative classic
• Honoring Shawn D Standfast (The Standfest) by reading Clifford D. Simak’s “Desertion”
• Thoughts on science fiction, BookTube community, and reading outside comfort zones
This channel is about slow reading, big books, powerful writing, and thoughtful reflection. If you’re reading along with the Iliad, exploring classics, or simply trying to make more room for reading in a busy life—you’re very welcome here.
👉 If you enjoy this video, please consider liking, subscribing, and ringing the bell so YouTube actually lets BookTube find each other.
As always—please keep reading.
Booktubers mentioned:
Steve @saintdonoghue
Angelina @700poodles
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome & Return from Vacation
00:48 500 Subscribers, Steve Donoghue Q&A
01:48 Project 1: The Iliad: 24 Books in 24 Days
03:50 Project 2: Read the Beloved Country (South African literature)
05:29 André Brink – Looking on Darkness
06:57 Ben Elton – What Have I Done?
08:18 Short Stories - Ishiguro’s Nocturnes
10:39 A Month in the Country – J.L. Carr
14:00 Remembering Shawn D Standfast
15:55 Clifford D. Simak – Desertion
18:35 Thoughts on Science Fiction
19:25 What’s Next
20:03 Closing Thoughts & Thanks
And for the almight algorithm:
#BookTube
#ReadingUpdate
#TheIliad
#Classics
#SlowReading
#SouthAfricanLiterature
#BookCommunity
#ReadingProjects
#LiteraryLife
