Next thing, read The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal. Tolstoy was a huge admirer. In fact, Stendhal was in the retreat from Moscow.

Think you know Tolstoy? Then answer this: What thought goes through Natasha's mind when Andrei dies? Who are descendants of Rurik in Anna Karenina?

love this ❤

Your tone is so crisp and comforting and grounded. Can't wait to listen to your album.

I love it

When people tell that one shouldn't watch the TV series based on great books, I always ask myself - why? For sure, read a book first to let imagination create a unique view is much better. But watch TV adaptation is like looking in the bend mirror could be fun, could be weird, no one expects to see a real image.

fan of The Wheel of Time should stop to talk about "THE SLOG" really. That hurts this masterpiece. It is not a slog, there is maybe only one subpar book in the all serie in reality. If you read two or three book a year, very few people will notice what you are talking about. And this is the advice to give : read it in the span of 5 or 6 year ! And reader will be amazed !

The last three books are the best, and the final battle is incredible! So many threads tied up.

I wonder what the long-term effects of short-term attention spans will be.

When I find a book difficult to read, I switch to audio. I read while cooking, cleaning, etc. it’s helped me get through some tough to physically read stuff lol

I read The Wheel of Time a lot during my high school years, so I've read it through except the last two books about 4-5 times and my favorite books in the series more. I don't recommend it much anymore, The Wheel of Time, along with a webnovel called The Wandering Inn, are fantastic stories but are too long for me to recommend lightly. If I recommend books I go for the ones that are fun from the start, The Name of the Wind is a great example. I definitely agree with the skimming suggestion. If you come to a chapter or character you aren't too interested in, skim through it to get to the POV you want.

nice video

Just found your channel. Good work, keep going!

I’m about 20% through my first read. As you mentioned, I’m finding it much more accessible than GR though I miss Pynchon’s zaniness!

You kind of hit every note. Not a big fan of Infinite Jest, Wallace just doesn’t align with my sensibility, but this was a pretty stellar take on it and very fair. I think a lot of the “hostility” towards the book is more about its “fanbase” (the term speaks volumes) than its content. Which is why you don’t see the same aggression towards other complex and very “internet-friendly” (so to speak) books like Gravity’s Rainbow or 2666.

Step 1: Learn to read. Step 2: Read it.

lol. Look i agree man, i advise ppl to audio through the slog if required, and it's no way near as as bad on a re-read as it is in the first take. Also, I agree with you man the show is literal garbage, Sando smashed the ending in a way RJ i'm not sure could have and we a re blessed for getting it - ALL HAIL THE LORD DRAGON.

Read what you love until you love to read. Great advice. All the Light We Cannot See > Cloud Cuckoo Land > All Quiet On the Western Front > East of Eden > The Grapes of Wrath > Shogun Pt. 1 (meh) Some non-fiction mixed in there too. Loving The Stand and looking forward to Infinite Jest.

Absolutely fair takes. Forget where I heard it, but "no one loves to criticize the Wheel of Time more than a fan of the series." All part of the fun, really

In what order should the prequel novel, The New Spring, be read? Before The Eye Of The World?

I just finished the series for the first time early this year. I disagree with the idea of skimming through some books. I really think the “slog” wasn’t nearly as bad as most people think. In fact, Winter’s Heart had some of the most amazing scenes in it including a world changing event near the end. I would recommend just pacing yourself if you’re going to attempt reading this series. There’s no reason to rush and I think 1 book every 2-3 months is a reasonable pace that will allow you to enjoy other literature as well.

Listening to the audio book whilst going on walks and doing chores helped with books 8-10.

Which books have the slog in it?

Favourite series of all time! Read it as it came out! Was hooked with the cover of the first book. Will always picture Lan and Moraine that way. I agree, recommending it is problematic. Too long for most people. The slog while there is overhyped. In a 14 book series there are going to be some that are better than others. As for Sanderson, I think he did a great job finishing it up with Robert Jordan’s notes. Better? Not sure I agree with that. People think he can’t do anything wrong? Once his 10 book opus is finished, will there be some that are better than the others? Of course? I refuse to watch the TV show. People say that the fans should be happy that we got an adaptation, but they totally disregarded the source material. Be well, stay safe.

I must be a glutton for punishment because I have an entirely different reaction to the series and honestly wouldn’t have noticed “The Slog” if I hadn’t already been warned. I loved it from beginning to end. That being said, the criticism I’ve heard from other fans is understandable. I can see why many people feel the way they do, I just didn’t experience it the same way. 😅

It's the One Piece of booktube. Veeery loong hahaha

You don't have to read the whole thing without interruption. I wasn't bored. There are definitely things I would change but I never wanted to skim

Subscribed! Hey You are very honest and make a really good video. a person like me who have resume reading books lately, having suggestion in My YT home page is blessing. Keep making honest videos. i wanted to explore hard books. can you make a video where you are covering hard books. i don't know where to explore books. or may be give a suggestion where to find which books to read. like i have read dark matter recently. i am planning to read more mystery books and sci fi combination.

Enjoy reading “kings” books between challenging reads.

Been thinking about reading the Wheel of Time for a while. I think I'll keep it on the backburner lol

I thought you were gonna say you wanted to cut out Nynaeve’s braid…. Cuz I really wish I could just rip that thing right off!😂

I've just finished the 7th book. Bring on the slog!

Good take. I too am in a toxic relationship with the wheel of time.

I gave up after the first book. It appears that the book had no editor. Endless slogging through terrain with very little happening. Mind numbing detail. It was like an assignment in college instead of entertainment. The whole thing could have been done in 150 pages instead of 1000.

"Read what you love until you love to read " . I'm a new reader and this quote makes so much sense. Great video.

I am going to disagree with what you said about the Slog. It isn't overhyped. I am currently reading book #10 [Crossroads of Twilight at 60% mark] and this is my first read-through of the series. I can't tell how impressed I was with this series till Dumai's Well happened. Post that it felt like the series took a bloody nosedive off of a cliff! I went from 5 star rave reviews to a RANT review for book #9 bcz holy shit it made me wanna pull my hair out! The slog is very real and very scary bcz none of these books are short to begin with [shortest being 500+ pages] and it lasts for about 3 book or more depending on the kind of reader you are???!!! I wish to gods that you're right and it turns out to be worth it bcz I am now dreading what is about to come, having sampled the last couple of book! Light burn me!

Would recommend listening to the WOT audiobooks if they are your thing.

I loved your comments! I made it halfway through book 5 when the books came out originally. I was reading the mass market paperback editions where the glue always failed and the covers fell off. A friend and I were both reading it and were getting more and more frustrated as new continents were added, with new casts of thousands of characters. We both quit about the same time, when the book 5 covers fell off. Now I'm thinking about it as personal failure that I might want to try to rectify. I was looking around on book tube to see what other folks' WOT experiences were like. I'm glad I ran across your video.

I'm impressed you read the whole series twice. Now I wonder how a young man finds that much time. Good job again.

Why do you have three different copies of War and Peace behind you?

I might read Anna Karenina. I tend to like simpler works of literature. Not sure if Tolstoy has written one.

Loved the message! I really appreciated the video! btw: What camera do you use?

I actually love this. Well done. Well done. You sang it very well.

Dostoevsky and Tolstoy are both psychologists I would say, to me their methods are pretty similar. what sets them apart and makes them seem so different is writing style... my opinion

Well done! Again

It gives me hope to see more young people / readers promoting not just reading but reading the classic stories like this. Good on ye mate. And thank you.

I have read war and peace 2 years ago, now I might read it again. I have read a lot of fiction but it was Tolstoy war and peace that made me cry from my heart. Love the content, keep up this quality and raw talk👌🏽

I have heard so many people say that Tolstoy is just a conservative old man who writes about family values and nothing else. It always pisses me off to hear that. He's got this ability to understand and convey human things, as you said! And the fist book that I ever read in russian was actually his "The death of Ilia Ilyich" which is short but amazing, so if you haven't read it yet check it out.

I enjoyed your analysis and you brought up a few points I hadnt even considered tbh, but now will. I like that there are no edits or cuts in this, and seeing you ask some questions and not have answers yet, it's more like a discussion or just watching a process than being preached at and feels more human, unscripted, and genuine. This book is just one of those books I could never *not* recommend. I think this story is such a stark contrast from how such a story would be written by an American man today; no doubt that would end with an anti-hero going out in a blaze of glory. Dostoyevsky, as you courageously stated, makes Raskolnikov relatable; not because any of us are dangerous or want to take a life--but because his disturbed mental and physical state (which in today's American fiction might have led to him writing an incel manifesto or whatever), socioeconomic class (okay just poverty), culture (one that isnt run by corporate prisons and one with a very strong sense of community), and remaining humanity despite having made a horrendous mistake are all heavily factored into the book. We're able to see him as a person, not just as what he did, due not only to the factors that led up to it but also because he lived in a culture that was different and could somewhat redeem himself by seeing how everyone around him was also suffering, but that there was also joy to be had after redemption.

I sing a lot when I'm alone, i sing this one often.