Marian HIn November 1887, Sherlock Holmes made a first, underwhelming appearance in Beeton's Christmas Annual. This tale of murder and the Wild West makes for an unlikely Christmas story, but it was the first glimmer of Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic character and many adventures to come. Let's step back in time to talk about the story and its themes. (Pray ignore the motorcars scuttling by - some of Mr Verne's imagination must have escaped from his pages!)
A Study in Scarlet Revisited - Sherlock Holmes 1Marian H2023-08-12 | In November 1887, Sherlock Holmes made a first, underwhelming appearance in Beeton's Christmas Annual. This tale of murder and the Wild West makes for an unlikely Christmas story, but it was the first glimmer of Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic character and many adventures to come. Let's step back in time to talk about the story and its themes. (Pray ignore the motorcars scuttling by - some of Mr Verne's imagination must have escaped from his pages!)
TAG PROMPTS 1. Magic of Discovery– share a book you found while browsing that you may not have discovered otherwise 2. Expanding World- share a book that has made you view things from a different perspective or exposed you to new ideas. 3. Open to Change- share a book that has changed who you are as a person or altered your day-to-day habits. 4. Browse a bookstore, library, or a friend's shelves (and talk about a book that you found there). 5. Tag People!
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsidered10 Reasons You Should Read A Canticle for Leibowitz (no spoilers)Marian H2024-09-16 | Political intrigue and nuclear war disturb the lives of a group of monks in this post-apocalyptic classic by Walter Miller Jr. My boyfriend and I share our reactions to A Canticle for Leibowitz and discuss what makes it unique among sci-fi classics.
00:00 Hi everyone 00:38 Who was Walter Miller Jr.? 01:56 What is this book about? 04:08 1 - Faith 05:40 2 - Worldview 09:07 3 - Humanity 10:20 4 - History & timeline 13:59 5 - Role of technology 14:58 6-7 - State & myth(-making) 18:05 8 - Humor 21:00 9 - Geography 21:49 10 - Fresh Ideas 24:23 Our overall ratings
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredThis Book Scared Me... Review of Anna Kavans IceMarian H2024-09-14 | In this mid-century dystopian thriller, the misery of a defenseless woman is reflected in the descent of a new ice age and a world at war. Ice by Anna Kavan is a short but challenging novel, and in this review I take a close look at her life and the themes that mattered to her.
00:00 Hi everyone 00:52 Who was Anna Kavan? 03:00 Content warnings 04:34 Is Ice Kafkaesque? 05:32 The story of Ice 08:29 Kavan's beautiful prose 10:36 Other literary qualities 12:38 War and ice 15:10 SPOILER TIME
00:00 What is autofiction? 01:40 Joseph Conrad 02:42 WG Sebald 04:32 Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett 07:18 Why I love autofiction 09:28 Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au 12:47 Other Autofiction
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredC.S. Lewis Fan Fiction? - Review of Susanna Clarkes Piranesi (SPOILERS)Marian H2024-08-16 | My boyfriend and I discuss our top 5 likes/dislikes for Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, which we read together this summer. This whimsical fantasy novel takes inspiration from CS Lewis and was nominated for the Hugo Award. Does it live up to the hype - or its classic literature influences?
*Apologies for the bad audio quality.. made the mistake of recording this on my laptop :P
1. Have you ever lied about reading a book? 2. Have you ever avoided a book because of controversy around the content/author/? 3. Have you ever been sent a book for free and not disclosed it? 4. Have you ever bought a book with no intention of reading it? 5. Have you ever got caught up in Booktube drama? 6. Have you ever had a hate comment and did you respond? 7. Have you ever made a video just because you knew it would get views? 8. If you could go back to the beginning of your channel, would you do anything differently? 9. Are there any channels you wish you could be more like? 10. What's something you love about your channel? 11. Tag some people.
1. What book has been on your shelf the longest without being read? 2. Are there any books outside your comfort zone that you’re desperate to read? 3. Are there any series you’d like to finish but haven’t? 4. Are there any books related to your background/heritage/history that you feel like you should have read? 5. Which book does it feel like everyone has read, but you haven’t? 6. Is there an author you’re ashamed not to have read anything by them yet?
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredBetter than The Great Gatsby? - A Review of Passing by Nella LarsenMarian H2024-03-23 | In this book review, I go over some themes and characters from the lesser-known novella Passing. It's a classic of the Harlem Renaissance and American literature at large, and I was not disappointed.
00:53 How many books will you be able to read before you die, considering your age and statistical life expectancy? 02:17 How does this number affect your choice of books? 03:53 What will happen to your book collection once you have passed away? 05:46 Is there a book that helps you to cope with the disturbing fact of a limited life-span? 09:47 Which book on this topic do you consider the most witty or entertaining one? 10:33 Do you have a specific non-fiction book on the topic of death that you’d like to recommend? 11:26 Humor can be helpful to confront death. Do you have a favorite witty quote on this topic? 12:25 Does this tag make you feel uneasy or are you quite relaxed about this topic?
I'll tag @CourtneyReads and @marianneguevara8279 (if you want to do it, no pressure)
*** GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredWhat Im Reading + Channel UpdatesMarian H2024-01-15 | Here's my current thoughts on Noli Me Tángere (José Rizal), The Samurai (Shūsaku Endō), and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Rules of the tag and the list: Try to be fast and on topic. There can always be exceptions and "it depends" explanations, but go for the gut reaction to the prompt in general terms, pick either Hot or Not. A - Audiobooks B - Bildungsroman. Dealing with a person's formative years or spiritual education. C - Children's Books D - Digital E - Experimental F - Fantasy G - Graphic Novel H - Horror I - Inspirational J - Journalism K - Kitsch. Has a popular or sentimental appeal. L - Library M - Mystery N - Non-Fiction O - Omnibus P - Poetry Q - Quests. When the protagonist goes on a quest physical or spiritual. R - Romance S - Science Fiction T - Translation. Books translated from one language into another. U - Übermensch. The superman or the extraordinary human. Characters who can everything. V - Victorian. Literature from 1837 to 1901. W - Western X - X Rated Y - Young Adult Z - Zeitgeist. Spirit or mood of the times.
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredJosé Rizal was a funny guy #classicliterature #bookquotesMarian H2023-11-18 | ...pov: youve been reading a book for far too long #beowulf #classicliteratureMarian H2023-11-12 | ...cheshire cat mug #aliceinwonderlandMarian H2023-11-10 | @PhilosophersGuildEast of Eden - My Unfiltered ThoughtsMarian H2023-11-05 | As promised, here is my review of John Steinbeck's East of Eden, one of the most celebrated novels in American literature. In Steinbeck's words - "It has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years." I doubt this very much... I have reason to believe his shorter works are the superior ones. Still, I managed to finish this 600-page tome, in hopes that any criticisms I offer will at least be from the perspective of one who completed it. I seriously considered withholding my review, due to the enormous love there is for this book, but I feel it is better for booktube's (and one's own) integrity to be sincere than to be in step with majority views.
CORRECTION: Adam and Charles are half-brothers, and Charles is the younger one. However, they are both raised by the second Mrs Trask.
00:00 Expectation 03:18 Reality 05:00 The Story 09:40 Some Positives 14:11 Plot Structure 17:07 Cathy de Vil 24:05 Timshel 32:43 Aron and the Ending 40:05 Conclusion
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredTrauma and Triumph in Henry Jamess Washington SquareMarian H2023-11-02 | I stayed up til early morning to finish this book, then spent another insomniac hour thinking about it. There is so much more I'd like to say about Washington Square, but I am limited by time and circumstance. I shall be reading more Henry James, for sure.
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredThe Sign of Four - Sherlock Holmes 2Marian H2023-10-25 | Book review of the second Sherlock Holmes novel, featuring a lovesick Watson, lost treasure, and (more!) historical tangents. Arthur Conan Doyle was still finding his feet with this series, but The Sign of Four brims with locked-room thrills and Holmesian quirks.
00:00 Intro 02:06 A tale of two covers 03:32 Manhunt in Mexico 07:20 Character sketches 09:57 Moral dilemmas 14:56 A girl named Coral 16:56 Greene's layered writing 20:58 Unexpected Protestants 23:00 Some central themes 26:07 Legend versus life
00:00 Intro 00:55 Cold War review 10:01 Light in August update 11:21 East of Eden first impressions
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredThis (Weird) Book Made Me CryMarian H2023-08-26 | For fans of HP Lovecraft, The Man Whom the Trees Loved is a botanical horror story about a man who... well, just really, really loves trees. Algernon Blackwood is best known for his short stories "The Willows" and "The Wendigo," but this obscure novella left a deeper impression on me I will not soon forget.
I didn't touch upon the writing style very much, but here is a snippet I especially liked:
"She thinks of herself as already moving, riding again, thinking then it will be as if I were riding for a half mile before I even got into the wagon, before the wagon even got to where I was waiting, and that when the wagon is empty of me again it will go on for a half mile with me still in it."
00:00 My Experience So Far 01:50 Personal Story 03:22 Gurney's Poem for Sad Times 04:50 The Lord of the Rings 06:30 Paul Atreides vs the Plot 10:00 Duke Leto's Caladan 12:02 SPOILERS AHEAD! 12:25 Differences from the Movie 19:01 Paul vs the Plot, Reprise 21:01 Dune Is an Opera
Also, a big thank-you to my recent subscribers! I'm happy to share my love of books with you all, and it encourages me to keep going on YouTube. :)
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsidered“Humanzees” and The Island of Doctor Moreau - podcast / audio-onlyMarian H2023-06-19 | I recently reread HG Wells’s sci-fi horror classic, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and was reminded of an article by someone who thinks chimeras are a great idea. Join my trip back in time as I talk about a Soviet scientist, a British author, and human-chimpanzee people. Recorded May 2018.
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredLets Give This Book a New Cover - Relaxing paper sounds / soft-spoken ASMRMarian H2023-06-12 | Fall asleep (perhaps instantly) as I attempt to construct a dust jacket for this unsightly paperback. Nota bene: whether the final outcome is nicer or uglier than the original is subject to debate and interpretation.
*** BLOG: classicsconsidered.com GOODREADS: goodreads.com/classicsconsidered BOOK LIST: throne.me/u/classicsconsideredsummer reading haulMarian H2023-06-10 | ...My Sherlock Holmes Obsession - podcast / audio-onlyMarian H2023-06-08 | Today I take a nostalgia trip back to the time I first met Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective has impacted my life in many ways, from violin playing to overcoming social anxiety. I also share my thoughts on a number of adaptations, including the Jeremy Brett TV series and Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock. Recorded July 2018.
*** Opening quote read by David Clarke (LibriVox) Opening music - "Ambush in Rattlesnake Gulch" by Brian Boyko (Public domain, FreePD.com)The Little Mermaid - Book ReviewMarian H2023-06-04 | Angels, obsession, and... gore? Here's my brief thoughts upon rereading the original Hans Christian Andersen story.
Shout out again to Marianne, whose review & comparison really inspired me to pick up on nuances between film and book: youtu.be/o0hlDI-k8xk
Thumbnail image: pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-mermaid-merman-7725050Reading The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian AndersenMarian H2023-06-02 | Let's read Andersen's 1837 tale of The Little Mermaid... dark, troubling, and exceedingly bittersweet as only he could write. If you are fond of the Disney film(s), comment with your thoughts on how this version compares!
Thank you very much to the anonymous gifter of this book!
*** Thumbnail image: pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-woman-overboard-7979059life & trials of a booktuberMarian H2023-05-31 | ...The BEST Book Ive Read This YearMarian H2023-05-29 | It's short and (bitter)sweet, just like this review. Here are my thoughts and impressions of John Steinbeck's The Moon Is Down. According to Penguin, there was a death penalty for anyone possessing this book in Italy at the time. It's hard to wrap my mind around the possibility of dying for a work of fiction. But then again, I have never been in a situation so dire, where even the expression of sympathy could be so precious.
Some minor corrections on the setting: I mentioned this nameless European town was representative of Norway - well, technically it was inspired by Norway, Denmark, and France. But the Norwegians were especially drawn to the work. According to the Penguin introduction, one critic from that country went so far as to call it "the epic of the Norwegian underground." Additionally, it was the federal government, not Steinbeck's publisher, who disapproved of setting the book in America.
"...it is always the herd men who win battles and the free men who win wars."
00:00 Reading Updates 02:23 Waiting for Godot 09:10 Possible Spoilers
* * * VLADIMIR: I missed you . . . and at the same time I was happy. Isn't that a strange thing? ESTRAGON: (shocked). Happy? VLADIMIR: Perhaps it's not quite the right word. ESTRAGON: And now? VLADIMIR: Now? . . . (Joyous.) There you are again . . . (Indifferent.) There we are again. . . (Gloomy.) There I am again.
* * * FYI: The notes pictured in this video were from a conversation with my friend who loves Beckett and is well versed in philosophy. I was mainly reading off my phone for my other notes, just didn't want to show my screen. ;)