A reading update plus some pickups from little libraries and local library sales, featuring Barbara Tuchman, French Decadent writers, May Sarton, William James, John Irving, and Stephen Baxter.
The on e sitting on the shelf is The Proud Tower. I am actually feeliing its going to be a bit of a challenge because history not quite my thing but I find that my views on history books has changed a bit since I restarted reading. So its all good @lucieMe-zj4vb
I've been collecting Decadent books from the end of the 19th century. They are excellent, deeply psychological in tone and wonderfully disturbing. The Russian Decadent writers in particular.
@@greatbooksbigideas2851 There is a nice collection available, The Dedalus Book of Russian Decadence: Perversity, Despair, and Collapse. It's a good place to begin.
I really enjoyed this post. It seemed as if you were sitting in the room here with me and sharing your amazing finds. What treasures! And it seems we have something in common. I, too, have a fairly good reading/writing knowledge of French but speaking it or understanding a native francophone remains quite a challenge for me. I finished Chairlift some time ago and some of the scenes and characters still stay with me. It will be a strong addition to your collection when you are finished.
I like reading journals too. I read Desert Solitaire in February. He has a good writing style. I could say more but I don't want to ruin the surprise for you.
Just discovered your channel. I liked your presentation in this video. The book that caught my eye when I was initially skimming through your video was the Tuchman work. I've never met anyone else who has read it much less presented it in a RU-vid video so it naturally amazed me to see it represented here. It was/is indeed a good book as are all of Barbara Tuchman's works, so, naturally I stayed to see your entire presentation based upon the aforementioned qualification. I keep my subscription list very lean and streamlined, but I'm going to take a shot and subscribe because I think we need more channels like yours. I wish you success with your channel.
@@greatbooksbigideas2851As the essays contained in that book bookended the year 1900, and thus just preceded World War One, I thought her choice of that title was priceless. As you probably already know it was taken from Poe's poem _The City By The Sea_ and the operative line in that poem was, "While from a _proud tower_ in the town Death looks gigantically down." .... Leaves one with the image of a vulture patiently waiting. [EDIT] I think mine was _The Guns Of August_ - the book that just might have saved us from World War III.
@@greatbooksbigideas2851 THANK YOU so much for reminding me of _The March Of Folly_ . I own the book, as I do the others we've discussed, but have not yet read it. I am moving it on to my "soon to be read" list.
Sorry. I tend to send comments as I listen instead of listening to end. Stephen Baxter. I was sure that somehwere on out shelves we had a book by him but I am not sure. If I do. Will add it to my ever growing tbr and let you know.
