The Complete Stories of Flannery OConnor: Fiction RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-07-29 | Some thoughts about the short stories of Flannery O'Connor.The book: "The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Conner"Farrar, Sraus and GirouxNew York, 1971 (paperback)
8 Questions...A CLARIFICATION RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-07-23 | Thank you to all who have responded, I appreciate your attention and interest, but I'm not conducting a survey, though I think it would interesting if someone did.
8 questions for readers, but questions which have nothing to do with reading (or books) RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-07-21 | Dear reader: we are a special breed, perhaps a vanishing species. In some not-too-distant future, there might be a generation which will live in a dystopian hellscape where there are no readers, where no one reads books anymore, and if there is any memory of us, we will be as mysterious to them as the stone heads of Easter Island. And so here are eight very common questions which will be made unique because of how we readers answer them, and which might help those poor future souls understand what we once were. Here 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?To all you readers out there: I await your reply.
T. S. Eliot in August RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-07-20 | T.S. Eliot in August is a BookTube event planned and organized by Thomas @art.and.lit.matters Week 1: "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" Weeks 2 and 3: "The Wasteland."Week 4: "Four Quartets" and "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats."Recommended Text:Eliot, T.S. The Complete Poems and Plays of T.S. Eliot. Faber & Faber, 1969.Here is the direct link to the T.S. Eliot in August discord discussion group: @discord Hosts and co-hosts:@art.and.lit.matters @readandre-read @royreadsanything @BookChatWithPat8668 @scallydandlingaboutthebooks @aaronfacer @hardbooks770 @HannahsBooks @jennyjaybles @RobertGReaderofBooks-r3p @RaynorReadsStuff @anotherbibliophilereads @apoetreadstowrite @poetrycrone @LiterateTexan Thomas McCarthy@TootightLautrec @Wes_LeVoLibrary
Im him, but hes not me. RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-07-19 | Some thoughts while reading Naomi Klein's "Doppelganger".
VII: The Roman Emperors Reading Challenge: Claudius RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-07-14 | Some thought about the emperor Claudius. Authors and Books mentioned.Ancient Sources:SuetoniusTacitusJosephusDio CassiusSenecaModern Sources:“Claudius” by Barbara Levick“Nero” by Anthony Everitt“Nero, The End of a Dynasty” by Miriam T. Griffin“Rome Is Burning” by Anthony BarrettHistorical Fiction:“I, Claudius” by Robert Graves“Claudius the God” by Robert Graves“Quo Vadis” Henryk Sienkiewicz
5 Things You Should Never Say To A Reader (because these things are insulting and stupid): A Rant RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-07-07 | Some thoughts about these 5 statements which are as insulting as they are stupid:1) "I wish I had as much time to read as you."2) "I would rather live life than read about it."3) "Do you re-read books?"4) "If you've read one book about [fill in the blank] why read another book about [fill in the blank]?"5) "Why do you have so many books?"Feel free to add to the list.
The Quarterly Report: Books Read during The 2nd Quarter of 2025 RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-06-30 | Books read during the 2nd quarter of 2025 (listed in the order they were read):"The Dance Most Of All" by Jack Gilbert"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius (translated by Gregory Hays)"All The King's Men" (Restored Edition) by Robert Penn Warren"The Uncommon Reader" by Alan Bennet"Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety" by E.R. Dodds"Caligula" by Aloys Winterling (translated by Deborah Lucas Schneider, Glenn W. Most, and Paul Psoinos)"Augustine, Philosopher of Freedom" by Mary T. Clark, R.S.C.J."Four Quartets" by T.S. Eliot"Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver"Unsalted Blue Sunrise" by Kathryn P. Haydon"On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt"The Hours" by Michael Cunningham"The Trip to Echo Spring" by Olivia LAing
An Iliad. A one-man play by Lisa Peterson and Denis OHare, starring Timothy Edward Kane RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-06-27 | Some thoughts on the one-man play "An Iliad" based on Robert Fagles' translation of Homer's "The Iliad", written by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare, and starring Timothy Edward Kane as 'The Poet'.
An Iliad A one-man dramatization of Homer RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-06-22 | "An Iliad" is a re-telling of Homer's Iliad as a one-man stage show, performed by Timothy Edward Kane, and written by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare.
The Hours: A Novel by Michael Cunningham RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-06-18 | Some thoughts about Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer winning novel "The Hours"
Music to Read By...Or Not (An Original Tag) RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-06-16 | Music to Read By…or Not. (An Original Tag)This is a variation on a prompt which often shows up in tags about reading habits. I though I would expand on it a little. I'm looking forward to your reactions.The Prompts:1) Do you listen to music while you read? Is it a necessity? Why? 2) Is there a special kind of music you prefer when reading – rock, classical, jazz, etc.? 3) Is there a particular kind of music you would NEVER listen to when you read? 4) Do you read in silence? Is the quiet necessary? Why? 5) A scenario: you’re reading in a public place (a café, the park, on public transportation, in a plane), and someone begins playing music, or a live band begins to play. What’s your reaction? 6) Does it matter to you at all, whether music is playing or not?Tags (If I've haven't tagged you, you can assume you are anyway):@BookChatWithPat8668 @kevintowle9665 @BookReviewsWithBecky @daubiebooks63 @davidnovakreadspoetry @LiterateTexan @HannahsBooks @ToriTalks2 @Uncommon_Reader@M-J @stalkingkafka @BookishTexan @readandre-read @booksimnotreading @saintdonoghue @anotherbibliophilereads @GreatBooksProf @greatbooksbigideas @BobCanRead @TheHistoryShelf @TheGentlemanScholar @Bookishtravels1 @Lifeonbooks
The Secret History A Novel by Donna Tartt RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-06-09 | Some thoughts about Donna Tartt's "The Secret History". Not great but not bad.
The My Book Confessions Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-21 | My Book Confessions TagThis tag originated with @BookReviewsWithBecky Prompts: 1. What is an unpopular book opinion/preference you have? 2. Has your reading taste changed over the years? How? 3. What genre do you read to get out of a book slump? 4. What are some of your automatic buy authors? 5. How many chances do you give an author before you won't try them again? 6. Do you have anything you like to do/listen to, while you read? 7. How far do you read, before DNF'ing? 8. Do you ever find yourself making the same faces as the characters in the book? 9. Re-Reading? Yes? No? Depends? 10. Tag other Booktubers. If you're not listed, consider yourself tagged anyway: @GhostReadersintheSky @ronrutstein3440 @Sara-Reads@kevintowle9665 @ToriTalks2 @davidnovakreadspoetry @Uncommon_Reader @daubiebooks63@LiterateTexan @HannahsBooks @GreatBooksProf @booksimnotreading@BookChatWithPat8668@stalkingkafka @saintdonoghue
The Whats Next? Original Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-19 | How do you choose your next book? Prompts1) Is your decision for choosing your next book based on random chance, or is there method to your madness? 2) Do your criteria for choosing fiction differ from how you choose non-fiction?3) Do other people influence your next choice?4) Aside from other people, what other influences might impact your choice?5) Tag friends!If you're not listed here, consider yourself tagged anyway: @GhostReadersintheSky @ronrutstein3440 @Sara-Reads@kevintowle9665 @ToriTalks2 @davidnovakreadspoetry @Uncommon_Reader @daubiebooks63@LiterateTexan @HannahsBooks @GreatBooksProf @booksimnotreading@BookChatWithPat8668@stalkingkafka @saintdonoghue
Poetry Thursday: A dinner with friends and poets RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-15 | A great dinner with friends and poets. A good time was had by all.Book mentioned:"Unsalted Blue Sunrise: Poems of Lake Michigan" by Kathryn Haydon
To DNF or Not To DNF: Demon Copperhead RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-14 | Something thoughts about completing Barbara Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead".
Poetry Thursday: Little Gidding from Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-08 | The fourth and final of Eliot's 'Four Quartets': "Little Gidding". And not even my stumbles in reciting this one can obscure Eliot's genius.
The BookTube Behind the Scenes Original Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-01 | This is an original tag about BookTubers and their posting habits. Some of the prompts are about the mechanics of posting (editing, graphics, sound effects, etc.), while others focus on the “politics” of posting (responding to comments, avoiding certain topics, self-censoring, etc.). I look forward to your responses. The Prompts: 1) When recording a post, do you read from a prepared script, or do you refer to notes or a broad outline, or do you speak extemporaneously?2) Do you edit before you post, deleting “hems and haws”, misspeaks, mispronunciations, and other common public speaking foibles. Do you remove things you didn’t mean to say, or off-topic thoughts, or comments you think might be misunderstood 3) Have you ever edited a post after posting? Have you ever deleted an entire post?4) Are there certain topics you avoid, things you regard as too personal or too controversial? 5) Do your posts include graphics, special lighting, music, fast cuts, or other design enhancements? 6) Do you have a target number of posts each week? 7) Are there certain themed posts you contribute to regularly, such as “Poetry Thursday”, or “What Are You Reading Wednesday”? 8) How important to you is the number of your subscribers? Is there a target number you’re hoping to reach? If you don’t hit your target, would you consider dropping out of Booktube? Are your posts designed to attract new subscribers? Are you distressed if you lose subscribers? 9) Do you always respond when tagged? 10) Do you respond to viewers’ comments? Are your responses lengthy or only a thumbs up (or down)? 11) Have you ever blocked anyone from viewing or commenting on your posts?12) Tag some BookTube friends Some tags (If I've haven't tagged you, you can assume you are anyway):@BookChatWithPat8668 @kevintowle9665 @BookReviewsWithBecky @daubiebooks63 @davidnovakreadspoetry @LiterateTexan @HannahsBooks @ToriTalks2 @Uncommon_Reader@M-J @stalkingkafka @BookishTexan @readandre-read @booksimnotreading @saintdonoghue @anotherbibliophilereads @GreatBooksProf @greatbooksbigideas @BobCanRead @TheHistoryShelf @TheGentlemanScholar @Bookishtravels @Lifeonbooks
Poetry Thursday: Dry Salvages from Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-01 | Not a perfect recitation, but heartfelt and sincere.
The BookTube Embarassment Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-05-01 | This is an original tag created by Andy @ReallyRandomReads . I was tagged by Pat @BookChatWithPat8668, and maybe by Kevin @kevintowle9665 1. A book that someone or something made you feel embarrassed about liking… 2. A book you’re embarrassed about completely missing the point of… 3. A book you’ve been embarrassed or would be embarrassed to be seen reading in public… 4. A book you’d be embarrassed or hesitate to buy in person… 5. A book you’ve been embarrassed not to like… 6. A book cover you find embarrassing… 7. A book or books you feel embarrassed not to have read… 8. An author or genre you’re embarrassed to like (or have been embarrassed to like)… 9. Show us or tell us about an embarrassing bookish object. 10. What words, sounds or phrases do you feel embarrassed about over-using on BookTube / in life? 11. Tag others.If you're not on this list, consider yourself tagged anyway.@RaynorReadsStuffBook @ShawnDStandfast @GenreBooks23 @davidnovakreadspoetry @MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH @joshuacreboreads @BeyondBooks-wt5il @saintdonoghue @HannahsBooks @readandre-read @bookssongsandothermagic@daubiebooks63 @LiterateTexan @JessicasLibraryCard @revenantreads @stalkingkafka @faithbooks7906 @HannahsBooks @BobCanRead @TylerSmith @takingteawithcatherine @TheHistoryShelf@bimbobookshelf
The Would You Rather Book Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-29 | I was tagged by Kevin @kevintowle9665 , who was tagged by Beckey @BookReviewsWithBeckyPrompts: 1. Would you rather read a psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator or a mystery with a twist ending? 2. Would you rather be trapped in a locked room mystery or be part of a cat and mouse chase across a foreign city? 3. Would you rather read a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat but has a disappointing ending, or a slower paced thriller with a perfect and satisfying ending? 4. Would you rather uncover a major secret halfway through the book, or wait until the last chapter for the big revel? 5. Would you rather follow a detective with a dark past, or a criminal mastermind who is always one step ahead? 6. Would you rather read a thriller set in a remote, isolated location, or one set in a bustling city full of hidden dangers? 7. Would you rather have a main character who is constantly making the wrong decisions but ultimately survives, or a character who makes all the right decisions but still ends up in danger? 8. Would you rather read a book with a villain who has a personal vendetta against the protagonist, or one with a villain who is completely unknown and mysterious? 9. Would you rather read a thriller with intricate, mind-bending puzzles to solve, or one with high-intensity action scenes? 10. Would you rather read a thriller with multiple points of view or one that focuses solely on the protagonist's perspective? 11. Would you rather read a book written in first person point of view or third person point of view? 12. Tag Others! If you're not listed here, consider yourself tagged anyway: @GhostReadersintheSky @ronrutstein3440 @Sara-Reads@kevintowle9665 @ToriTalks2 @davidnovakreadspoetry @Uncommon_Reader @daubiebooks63 @LiterateTexan @HannahsBooks @GreatBooksProf @booksimnotreading
The Bookish Secrets Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-28 | I first saw this posted by MJ @M-J, who noted the tag was created by Becky @BookReviewsWithBecky .Here are the prompts: 1. Have you ever pretended to like a book, when you really didn't? 2. Have you ever re-read a book that you liked, and didn't like it the second time? 3. Do you ever skim through a book? 4. Have you ever bought a book without realizing you already owned it?5. Have you ever read a book you wouldn't normally picked, because your book club chose it? 6. Is there a book everyone loved, but you hated?7. Have you ever liked a movie BETTER than the book?8. Have you ever borrowed a book, and not returned it, or has anyone ever borrowed a book from you and not returned it?9. Have you ever read a series out of order?10. Have you ever spoiled a book for someone?11. Tags @MillennialBookJunkie @crisreads @bookburgerreadsIf you're not listed here, consider yourself tagged anyway: @GhostReadersintheSky @ronrutstein3440 @Sara-Reads@kevintowle9665 @ToriTalks2 @davidnovakreadspoetry @Uncommon_Reader @daubiebooks63 @LiterateTexan @HannahsBooks @GreatBooksProf @booksimnotreading
The most mini of mini book hauls... RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-26 | Augustine, Seneca, and Bart D. Erhman
Poetry Thursday: East Coker from T.S. Eliots Four Quartets. RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-24 | The stumbles and misspeaks are all on me. Mea culpa. As noted in the post, Part I, lines 30-34, were written in Middle English:"In daunsinge, signifying matrimonie -A dignified and commodiois sacrament.Two and two, necessarye coniunction,Holding eche other by the hand or armWiche betokeneth concorde. Round and round the fire..."The French phrase in Part V, line 2 is:..."l'entre deux guerres" Translated it means, "Between the wars"
The Dragon Book Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-22 | I first saw this tag as it was posted by Pat @BookChatWithPat8668 . It's an original tag created by Elaine @Cobaltdragon Prompt 1 - The Hobbit - Smaug loved gold and shiny things. What book or series you enjoyed features gold, shiny items or has a shiny cover? Prompt 2 - Dancing with Dragons - Dragons and cats go together - do you have cats? A favourite book or series that features cats? Prompt 3 - Dragonology - What crafts or hobbies do you enjoy? Do you have books about crafts and hobbies? Prompt 4 - Dragon Art - Do you have a favourite artist? Books featuring artists? Answers can be about any type of artists (musicians, authors, painters, etc) Prompt 5 - How to Live with Dragons - Do you cover buy and what are your favourite colours? What book or series did you enjoy that features dragons? Prompt 6 - Star Magic - Do you have a favourite constellation? A favourite astronomy book? Prompt 7 - Chinese Horoscope - Book about astrology or astronomy? Book or series that features the movement of stars and planets? Prompt 8 - Tag others and remember to tag Elaine @Cobaltdragon so she can come and watch your answers. If you're not listed here, consider yourself tagged anyway: @GhostReadersintheSky @ronrutstein3440 @Sara-Reads@kevintowle9665 @ToriTalks2 @davidnovakreadspoetry @Uncommon_Reader @daubiebooks63 @LiterateTexan @HannahsBooks @GreatBooksProf @booksimnotreading
21 April RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-21 | 21 April, from the founding of the city to the death of a pope.
VI. The Roman Emperors Reading Challenge: Caligula RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-21 | Some thoughts about the emperor Caligula, and a revisionist view.Book Mentioned:"Caligula" by Aloys WinterlingAncient Sources Mentioned:Dio CassiusSuetoniusTacitusSenecaJosephusPhilo of Alexandria
Poetry Thursday: Burnt Norton from T.S. Eliots Four Quartets RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-17 | "Burnt Norton" from T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets", with only a few gaffes.
All The Kings Men A novel by Robert Penn Warren RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-14 | Some thoughts about the 1947 Pulitzer Prize winning novel "All The King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren
A Cure for Readers Slump RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-12 | A short post but a big thumb's up for "The Uncommon Reader" by Alan Bennett. Funny, wise, insightful, and a pure joy. (Did I mention funny?)Booktubers mentioned:Hannah@HannahsBooksSteve@saintdonoghue
Poetry Thursday: 3 Poems by Jack Gilbert RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-03 | Three poems from Jack Gilbert's "The Dance Most Of All":'Infectious', 'The Secret', and 'Ovid in Tears'
The To Re-read or Not To Re-read tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-02 | A perennial topic among BookTubers, and readers in general, is whether it's worthwhile to re-read a book or is it just a waste of time. It’s a question I don’t think has ever received its own proper, 'formal' post, i.e., one with prompts. If it's already been done, no offense intended, I'm not trying to take the wind from anyone's sails. Here's my take. The Prompts:1) Do you re-read fiction? Why or why not?2) Do you re-read non-fiction? Why or why not?3) If you re-read fiction, what kind of fiction are you most likely to choose: bestsellers, classical literature, genre fiction (fantasy, science-fiction, mysteries, romance, westerns, adventure stories)? What is your reason(s) for the choice(s) you’ve made.4) If you re-read non-fiction, what kind of non-fiction are you most likely to choose: histories, biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, philosophy, science, theology, travelogues? What is your reason(s) for the choice(s) you’ve made. 5) If you’ve read a book which has been translated from another language, would you re-read the same book in a newer or different translation?6) How many times would you re-read the same book?7) What’s the most recent book you’ve re-read? 8) Tag some friends. @BookChatWithPat8668 @sueysbookbanter @arockinsamsara @AaronReadABook @Uncommon_Reader @BookBuds @ThatReadingGuy28 @JamesRuchala @MustReadMore @davidnovakreadspoetry @MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH @joshuacreboreads @BeyondBooks-wt5il @saintdonoghue @HannahsBooks @readandre-read @daubiebooks63 @kevintowle9665 @LiterateTexan @JessicasLibraryCard @revenantreads @stalkingkafka @BobCanRead @takingteawithcatherine @TheHistoryShelf @bimbobookshelf@BookishTexan
The Quarterly Report: Books read during the 1st quarter of 2025 RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-01 | A list of the books I read during the 1st quarter of 2025, with brief comments.The Books:"St Luke's Gospel""The Acts of The Apostles""The Living Thoughts of St Paul" by Jacques Maritain"Shakespearean" by Robert McCrum"An Unquiet Mind" by Kay Redfield Jamison"Selected Poems" by Edwin Arlington Robinson"Martyr!" by Kaveh Akbar"Pro Caelio, De Provinciis Consularibus, and Pro Balbo" by Cicero"Pensees" by Pascal"Augustus" by Adrian Goldsworthy"The Love Poems" by Ovid"An Imaginary Life" by David Malouf"Ghosts of a Holy War" by Yardena Schwartz"Butcher's Crossing" by John Williams"Letters to a Doubter" by Paul Claudel"The Chrysalids" by John Wyndham"Broken Mary" by Kevin Matthews"Selected Prose" by T.S. Eliot"Tiberius" by Robin Seagar"A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation" by St Thomas More
Recommending A Fellow BookTuber RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-04-01 | ToriTalks has posted a brilliant response to those who ask "Do BookTubers Even Read That Many Books or Is It Fake?" Here's the link to the post:www.youtube.com/watch?v=5puMj9AQfX4&t=75sTori is a voice of reason and clarity. Something we all need right now.And don't forget to subscribe. Here's her link:@ToriTalks2
V. The Roman Emperors Reading Challenge: Tiberius (Part 2) RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-31 | This is the second of two posts about the emperor Tiberius.Book mentioned:"Tiberius" by Robin SeagerAnother 'Warts and All Production', featuring my hacking cough and the sounds of the city coming through an open window.
Poetry Thursday: 4 Poems by William Carlos Williams RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-27 | 4 poems by William Carlos Williams:"The Red Wheelbarrow""The Widow's Lament in Springtime:"Landscape with the Fall of Icarus""Arrival"The link to the Brueghel painting "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus":en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscape_with_the_Fall_of_Icarus#/media/File:Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_Landscape_with_the_Fall_of_Icarus_-_Brussels,_Royal_Museums_of_Fine_Arts_of_Belgium_-_Google_Arts_&_Culture.jpgMany apologies for my clumsy pronunciation of Brueghel's name.
Poetry Thursday: Ash Wednesday (Parts 5 and 6), by T.S. Eliot RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-20 | Parts 5 and 6, the conclusion of Eliot's "Ash Wednesday".
March of The Mammoths tag. RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-19 | This is an original tag that was created by Jim @jimsbooksreadingandstuffJim says, "March of the Mammoths is a Booktube event for promoting the reading of big books. A mammoth is a book of over 800 pages. I have created a tag for this event. It is not a mammoth tag by any means; there are just 9 prompts. I hope as many people will do this as possible."Prompts: 1. Are you currently reading a mammoth? 2. What is the biggest book you have ever read? 3. What is the smallest book you have read? 4. Is the size of a book intimidating? 5. Is size a consideration when deciding what to read next? 6. How many pages long is the book you are reading now? 7. What is the average length of the books you read? 8. Do you think humans will bring back mammoths from extinction? 9. Do you think they should? 10 Tag some people@sueysbookbanter @arockinsamsara @AaronReadABook @aaronfacer @Uncommon_Reader @BookBuds @ThatReadingGuy28 @JamesRuchala @MustReadMore @RaynorReadsStuffBook @ShawnDStandfast @GenreBooks23 @davidnovakreadspoetry @MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH @joshuacreboreads @BeyondBooks-wt5il @saintdonoghue @HannahsBooks @readandre-read @bookssongsandothermagic@daubiebooks63 @kevintowle9665 @LiterateTexan @JessicasLibraryCard @revenantreads @stalkingkafka @faithbooks7906 @BobCanRead @TylerSmith @takingteawithcatherine @TheHistoryShelf@bimbobookshelf
Again: NOT an advertisement for The Folio Society RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-19 | Like I said before, this is NOT an ad for The Folio Society. It's just me showing appreciation for their latest edition of "The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri. A thing of great and horrible beauty.
The Snob-O-Meter Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-17 | This is a new tag created by @ThatReadingGuy28.I was tagged by Pat @BookChatWithPat8668, who was tagged by John @MustReadMore and by James at Quaint and Curious Volumes@JamesRuchala.Prompts:1. What is your definition of book snobbery? 2. Is there a genre or type of book you would never consider reading? (Such as, would you ever read a romance? Or if you regularly read romance, would you ever try a science fiction novel?) 3. Does erotica count as literature? 4. Is it better to read classic books than popular bestsellers? 5. Have you ever bragged about reading a classic in order to sound smart? 6. Do audiobooks count as reading? What about comic books or graphic novels? 7. Have you ever looked down at someone for reading a popular fluff book (a book with little substance to it; for example, a self-help book or celebrity memoir)? 8. Have you ever been the recipient of someone else’s snobbery? 9. Would you ever be friends with a snob? (Maybe you already are?) 10. Are people who don’t read less sophisticated than people who do? 11. Measure yourself: based on your answers to the previous ten questions, would you qualify as a book snob? 12. Tag some people! @RaynorReadsStuffBook @ShawnDStandfast @GenreBooks23 @davidnovakreadspoetry @MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH @joshuacreboreads @BeyondBooks-wt5il @saintdonoghue @HannahsBooks @readandre-read @bookssongsandothermagic@daubiebooks63 @kevintowle9665 @LiterateTexan @JessicasLibraryCard @revenantreads @stalkingkafka @faithbooks7906 @HannahsBooks @BobCanRead @TylerSmith @takingteawithcatherine @TheHistoryShelf@bimbobookshelf
Poetry Thursday: Ash Wednesday (Parts 3 and 4) by T.S. Eliot RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-13 | Parts 3 and 4 of Eliot's "Ash Wednesday"
12 Books Id Save In The Event Of An Apocalypse RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-11 | This post is a response to videos recently posted on BookTube. First there was Mark @BookTimewithElvis who made a video on the 12 books he would want to save in case of an apocalypse. He made his video as a response to witnessing Trump and Vance’s thuggish treatment Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine. Once on the side of freedom, democracy, and enlightened human liberty, we are now on the side of the bad guys, Putin and the world’s other authoritarians. Later, Greg @anotherbibliophilereads made a response video in which he discussed his 12 books. He tagged some people, including Pat at @BookChatWithPat, who in turn tagged me. This is my response. Both Mark and Greg created some parameters, to include only books that they have read since they joined BookTube, and to not include books in a multi-volume series. Like Pat, I have tried to follow those parameters but wasn’t entirely successful. I haven’t been on BookTube as long as they have been, less than a year, so I chose books that I’ve read and re-read over the years which I think provide genuine insight into the human experience and offer some encouragement to embrace the humane, the merciful, and the justice, rather than the knuckle dragging cruelty of The Trump Administration. These books can act as beacons of hope during The New Dark Ages, which are now upon us. The 12 Books:“The Iliad” by Homer“History of The Peloponnesian War” by Thucydides“The Aeneid” by Virgil“Selected Works” by Cicero“The Psalms”“Confessions” by St Augustine“The Complete Plays of Shakespeare”“David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens“Anatomy of Melancholy” by Robert Burton“The Divine Comedy” by Dante“The Brothers Karamazov” by Dostoevsky“The Consolation of Philosophy” by BoethiusSome tags:@BookChatWithPat8668 @RaynorReadsStuffBook @ShawnDStandfast @GenreBooks23 @davidnovakreadspoetry @MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH @joshuacreboreads @BeyondBooks-wt5il @saintdonoghue @HannahsBooks @readandre-read @bookssongsandothermagic@daubiebooks63 @kevintowle9665 @LiterateTexan @JessicasLibraryCard @revenantreads @stalkingkafka @faithbooks7906 @HannahsBooks @BobCanRead @TylerSmith @takingteawithcatherine @TheHistoryShelf@bimbobookshelf
The 6-Course Dinner Book Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-10 | The 6-Course Dinner Book Tag: This is a brand new, original tag created by Dillon @Dillon__Morris. I was tagged by Pat @BookChatWithPat8668 Course 1: Hors d'oeuvre - French for "outside of work," typically a small savory dish served at the beginning of the meal. Depending on the event, served while guests are mingling. List some characters that you find to be especially charming or witty & list some of your favorite "finger foods."Course 2: Soup - A (usually) warm dish served in a broth. What is your go to cozy/comfy read? List some of your favorite soups/stews. Course 3: Appetizer - A small dish or drink taken before the main course of a meal to stimulate one's appetite. List some of your favorite poems/short stories & some of your go-to snacks. Course 4: Salad - A cold dish of various mixtures of raw or cooked vegetables, usually seasoned with oil or vinegar. List some of your favorite fictional regions/environments & your favorite vegetables and how you like them prepared. Course 5: The Main Course - The centerpiece of your meal and typically the course that the rest of the meal is planned around. List some of your favorite protagonists & your all-time favorite food! Course 6: Dessert - A sweet course eaten at the end of a meal. List some of your favorite happy endings in books & your favorite desserts/sweet treats! Course 7: Family Meal - A meal prepared by the kitchen staff for the front and back of house once service is completed. A great time for camaraderie and decompression! Tag your friends/BookTubers that you want to see do that tag! People mentioned:Kurt VonnegutMichel MontaigneMarcus Tullius CiceroWilliam ShakespeareMark TwainOscar WildeRonald SymeMary BeardThomas HollandThomas PynchonJ.D. SalingerHerodotusPliny the YoungerCharles DickensRay BradburyDylan ThomasEdwin Arlington RobinsonFlannery O'ConnerSherlock HolmesHolden CaufieldProsperoVirgilHomerThe Earl of KentCordeliaPortiaThe Author of The PsalmsSatan (from Paradise Lost)The Frankenstein monsterPlaces mentioned:The Shire221B Baker Street18th Century London18th Century Paris18th Century American ColoniesRome in 1st Century BC (advisedly)Rome in the 2nd Century ADTags:@daubiebooks63 @kevintowle9665 @davidnovakreadspoetry @LiterateTexan @JessicasLibraryCard @revenantreads @stalkingkafka @faithbooks7906 @HannahsBooks @BobCanRead @TylerSmith @takingteawithcatherine @TheHistoryShelf@bimbobookshelf
Poetry Thursday, Ash Wednesday (Parts 1 and 2), by T.S. Eliot RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-06 | Parts 1 and 2 of Eliot's "Ash Wednesday"
IV:The Roman Emperors Reading Challenge: Tiberius (Part 1) RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-05 | Here's the latest installment of 'The Roman Emperors Reading Challenge', about Rome's second emperor, Tiberius. This is Part 1 of 2.. Books mentioned:"Tiberius" by Robin Seager"The Successor" by Willemijn VanDijk"Tiberius, the Politican" by Barbara Levick"Tiberius and His Age" by Edward Champlin"The Twelve Caesars" by Suetonius (trans. Robert Graves)"The Annals of Imperial Rome" by Tacitus (trans. by Michael Grant)
The BookTuber Bio Tag RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-04 | This original tag was created by @JessicasLibraryCard . I was tagged by all the usual suspects (Kevin, Pat, etc.). Here are the prompts: 1 - Who are you? Share a little bit about yourself (as much as you feel comfortable). 2 - How long have you been on BookTube? 3 - What kinds of books do you love to read? Has BookTube had an effect on what you read? 4 - What do you enjoy about making BookTube videos? 5 - What do you not enjoy about making BookTube videos? 6 - What video on your channel are you the most proud of? 7 - Is there anything you wish was different about BookTube? 8 - Name three books that you have reviewed on your channel that you feel represent who you are as a reader. 9 - Name three booktubers whose content inspires you! 10 - Share the love! It can be challenging to find your audience; name three booktubers who you think need more hype!Here are some BookTubers who should have more subscribers than they do, and who I wanted to mention just because they deserve to be mentioned for the good and decent people they are: @kevintowle9665 @BookChatWithPat8668 @davidnovakreadspoetry @stalkingkafka @saintdonoghue @LiterateTexan @revenantreads @bimbobookshelf @daubiebooks63
Butchers Crossing, A Novel by John Williams RobertG: Reader of Books 2025-03-01 | Some thoughts about John Williams' "Butcher's Crossing". Other Williams' novels mentioned:"Nothing But The Night""Stoner""Augustus"
