10 Books Everyone Should Read! (according to a comp lit student) 🤓📚

Hey guys 💫💫 i'm back with another book video wooooo!! in today's episode i'm recommending some books which I think EvErYoNe should have read!! They're also very useful to have read, in general, but particularly as a student, and most specifically as a comparative literature student. I'm in my last year and can tell you these text have come up. a. lot.
i love my degree
💗My Recommendations! 💗
00:00 Intro
01:39 Homer - Iliad/ Odyssey
03:59 Virgil/Ovid - Aeneid/Metamorphoses
06:03 Dante - Divine Comedy
08:22 Shakespeare - Hamlet
11:44 Alexander Pope - Selected Poems
16:02 Samuel Richardson - Pamela
18:29 Goethe - Sorrows of young Werther
21:06 Leo Tolstoy - War and Peace
22:31 Lampedusa - The Leopard
23:52 James Joyce - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
25:04 Outro
MY GOODREADS 👉 / emma-angeline
💛Your recommendations! 💛
Stephen Chbosky - Perks of Being a Wallflower
Gibran - The Prophet
Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid’s Tale
Emma Cline - The Girls
Kafka - Metamorphosis
Elif Shafak - 3 daughters of Eve
Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Donna Tartt - The Goldfinch
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Bookshelf Tour: • BOOKSHELF TOUR // 2018
What I Read This Summer: • What I Read This Summe...
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[@edengraceedwards8898]

You’re making me fall in love with books again. 2nd year English literature student... I get so lost in my texts and the degree that I forget all the classics and just my love for literature. THANK YOU EMMA!

[@GoldyGoldy222]

My 2 braincells reading the thumbnail: Who's Ever Yone??

[@evaivic7718]

Hahaha same!

[@sarcastic_fish]

I had to stop half way though making the thumbnail and when I came back to it I did the same I’ll admit 😂😅

[@Mut11]

I really understand how suffocating it is to only read English literature, the other European authors are great and their perspective and way of thinking is so refreshing. Also being an Arab myself i would recommend nobel prize winner Najib Mahfoz trilogy: it's a trilogy about the life of a character through three generations. Honestly the development of the character in the novel is one of the best

[@chloewilliams3053]

This is the first ever video I've seen of her's and I'm not even three minutes into it but I love her soooo much already

[@user-pw6pz5pj7x]

"there are two ways to dislike poetry; one is to dislike poetry, the other is to read Pope." - Oscar Wilde (or something like that)

[@sarcastic_fish]

Oscar Wilde is just bitter he got left off my list 😉 Dorian who?? (but in all seriousness analysis the homoerotic subtext in class with mainly boys is still one of my fave school memories hahah)

[@BoguraTV]

Your expression is very nice! I like it!

[@verenaseiberth910]

to the fact about the word rape: since im learning latin, i am aware of the fact that the original meaning is "to steal" because the word "rapere" is the origin of "rape" and it definitely made me think a lot about how, sadly, well the word suits the act...

[@apracity7672]

Ok?

[@__sara__.]

OMG honestly I could write a whole essay on the correlation between the word rapio and rape and I never found anyone else among the people I know who found the correlation weird and significant and now I'm satisfied

[@Faareeha99]

​@@__sara__. this came up in one of my seminars at uni, on the Sabine Women and the foundations of rome. I also found it quite interesting, but wanted to add that their perception of 'rape' is very different to ours. They may not even have had a perception of rape

[@WateryFire]

Verena Seiberth Yes, very much suits.

[@valentinagrillini7608]

I love that you included the Illiad and the Odyssey, I read them in Italian (I'm Italian) when I was a child, and in high school, I studied them in ancient greek and I used to translate them...they are so dear to my heart, together with the Aeneid, and not many people appreciate them and I think it's crazy!!

[@alpi2479]

As an Italian student of humanities I've really appreciated you recommending such milestones for both latin/ancient greek and italian literature! Thank you!

[@rudra150]

I would like to add 10 more to this list:- 1. Macbeth by William Shakespeare 2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo 3. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling 4. Non-Sense Rhymes by Sukumar Ray (translated by Satyajit Ray) 5. Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol 6. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf 7. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 8. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (translated by Robert Fagles) 9. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank 10. The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipan Veda Vyasa (Many abridged translations are available but I would recommend the abridged version of Devdutta Pattanaik - "Jaya" and the unabridged version of Bibek Debroy in 10 Volumes )

[@tejasdeepsingh456]

I personally would recommend Ramesh Menon's Mahabharata ( I haven't read it but many if my friends have and say it's really good If you have read it please lemme know how was it I am planning to read it

[@folksurvival]

Haha, gotta laugh at 2, 3 and 9.

[@francisedward8713]

@@folksurvival My thoughts exactly!

[@luciefrance7545]

Please could you do a video on what being a comp lit student entails? Like what the course is like etc. I’m thinking of doing it and am always interested whenever you talk about it! Love this video by the way x

[@sarcastic_fish]

Thank you!💕 i plan on making a video on it sometime in the new year!

[@luciefrance7545]

Emma Angeline oo I look forward to it! xx

[@theurbanfox1994]

So inspiring how u are dyslexic as well. I also have dyslexia but however adore English, especially the literature side. I have always taken a great interest into Tolkien’s work as it has always struck me in the ways of detail and pure dedication as to how he portrays his stories and lore. It is rich with language, geography which is in my opinion vital for a good read. It was because of his work that I decided to look at the ancient classics and therefore began to teach myself Latin (which is going great). Hoping to study English lit or classics at uni.

[@margarettaylor473]

Never clicked on a video so fast! Love your opinions, Emma!

[@sarcastic_fish]

aww fanks 🥰🥰

[@Beril_.]

I would love to study comp. lit and your channel is everything I have ever wanted!So informative and genuine.

[@vanimaduray5473]

The Odyssey is excellent... Odysseus is one of my absolute favourite characters of all time!

[@chrisflynneuph]

Paradise Lost is definitely a commitment, but I would definitely recommend reading it! It's a wonderful poem!

[@katarinastadler519]

Wait omg I don’t know how I’ve missed that your a comp lit student omg I’m so happy haha I have never seen anyone even knowing what comp lit is, I study it at the university of Vienna and your selection is really good! I’d add some classics to it but I guess my list is endless 😂 Might I ask what you plan to do as a job with that degree? I’m about to get my bachelors degree in comp lit and I’m kinda lost 🙈

[@sarcastic_fish]

OH HI COMP LIT REPRESENT!! and lol story of my life, but everyone I tell I do comp lit always seems so impressed (I reckon bc they don’t know what it is haha, you must get that) I make fiiiiiilms, I’m applying for Masters degrees in management atm (shhh it’s a low-key secret?) because basically I’m gunna grown my film company 👍🏼👍🏼 essentially you can do anything with it because of the transferable skills. I know people on my course and going into publishing, events management, fashion, lots of the arts, further study. I’ll defo make a vid on it sometime early next year and ask around what everyone plans to do bc I reckon that would be really helpful

[@zar3125]

hii this is a weird question but i really want to study comp lit in vienna next year and would you mind if i ask you a few questions? 😅

[@katarinastadler519]

Z D hiii wow I totally forgot about that comment, yes sure, if you want, message me at @katarina_stadler on Instagram, I’d love to help ☺️

[@zar3125]

@@katarinastadler519 thank youuu, just requested!! i'm @travnickahronika

[@johnmandrake8829]

first suggestion The Illiyad/Oddysey...finally my type of list

[@heyitsbea7149]

so funny to see a comp lit student because I feel like I don't know of many idk ahah (also my mom did comp lit at university hence why she chose the name beatrice bc Dante and I swear it follows me everyone even people I KNOW haven't read the book still reference it haha)

[@NatalieVChaves]

I think everyone should read some Seneca, The second sex and The real life of Sebastian Knight by Nabokov (also Lolita because i'm only human). This is SO hard Emma and when I read the divine comedy I felt a little cornered by mister Dante so thanks for the video!

[@anneramones2923]

We should do a challenge and read a book for every “f*ck” word you’ve said in this video

[@languagesenrose5934]

LOVE THIS

[@mmm-3737]

My favorite books so far are Dracula, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Night (Eliezer Wiesel), The Secret Life of Bees, and Paradise Lost. Clearly working on reading more.

[@languagesenrose5934]

How long does it take you to read something? I find it so hard to focus and finish on a book, it legit takes MONTHS unless I am addicted to it, which is rare.

[@sarcastic_fish]

it takes me ages so don't worry you're not alone in that i'm the same so if i really really love it i'll read it really quickly, if i know i have to read it for class i'll try to organise time to dedicate to reading, so then a couple weeks, if i don't need or want to read it i probably never will

[@effystonem8414]

as an italian I'm SO happy to see greek/latin/italian classics

[@sabrinaash4104]

Thank you for helping me update my To-Read list 😂

[@sarcastic_fish]

Hahaha if this is what they mean by influencer I will take it 🤓🤓

[@Evergladez]

This is the first video on KZbin I've ever had to *slow* the speed down to 0.75x ....#subbed

[@rbrowne2998]

Thanks very much for the recommendations! (I will definitely read the Illiad and the leopard now). There may be some truth in what you say, after all, admittedly, "of mice and men" and "to kill a mockingbird" were pretty paltry, as you say. If I were to list the canons of Western literature, I would have included Euclid's Elements, and the Bible (KJV), too. AN Whitehead said of the Bible (and the Ko..) that they were two books with not an ounce of humour in them. I think he was right: there are no jokes or funnies in either. Similarly for Euclid. My addings: Don Quixote, The Candlemas Rd, Black Ajax, Simplicimus von Grimmelshausen, 1984, Gulliver's Travels, a Treatise on Human Nature (Hume: now he has been cancelled we need to read him more than ever). Sans Famille par Hector Malot (très triste). A Tale of Two Cities.

[@vikik.5704]

The sorrows of young werther isn't a romatic text- it is from 'Sturm und Drang' sth that existed only in germany - so it's a pre-romantic text; at least that's what is taught at german schools

[@ddnauru]

i'm a year laaate! I loved the video!! but no spanish classics for the 16th century?? so many grand poets, like garcilaso de la vega, or "picaresca" litterature (lazarillo de tormes)... Anyway, great great selection!!

[@KevTheImpaler]

I thought I was getting well read, but I have only read one of those: The Leopard, which I found very political and did not entirely understand. My suggestion is The History of Tom Jones, a History.

[@smileforhiba]

I am an Eng Lit major and I have read all of these in my courses ... what i noticed is that every university is different. Here in my country, my public university made us read and analyze a variety of discourses from different time eras while the private universities just studied half of what I read.

[@TriiangleJellyfiish]

Hi I'm having a hard time picking a copy of The Iliad and The Oddessy I'm not quiet sure which translation to get can someone help me out here? Links would be appericated!

[@gaberamirez7246]

Hi Emma, you forget to add the heart of the knight by Gabriel Ramirez

[@sarcastic_fish]

hahah

[@jaceyclarke1700]

I absolutely love that you live your degree so much

[@inco9943]

Sorrows of young Werther !! yes!!

[@mirandapiana9070]

This is probably A LOT of work, but could you pleaseee make a video saying all the books you studied in your degree??

[@sarcastic_fish]

honestly because i did so many that would be tricky but I do have a 2019 bookshelf tour that shows most of them, and then a post on my blog with picture of my shelves so you can zoom in and have a browse at your leisure!

[@kofiarmah8036]

Kwaku Ananse in the garden of Eden is my favorite

[@FatPaps]

Stephen King's Books are awesome :)

[@sarcastic_fish]

See my brother loves them but I’ve always just seen how long they are and been like nope 😅

[@jaredhammonds8255]

@@sarcastic_fish lol me too but I will say that The Stand is well worth it. It's almost prophetic at this point lol. I'm only half joking

[@Mut11]

Where do you get your books from Emma ?

[@ElBelle333]

wow you speak fast... i had to slow it down a tad, but really happy i stumbled on your channel.

[@williamgiovinazzo8523]

EXCELLENT!!! EXCELLENT!!! List. Well done.

[@francescacappai2652]

In Italy we start studying Homer in 6th grade so i’m just a liiittle bit put off 😂

[@user-du7jy8kr3p]

I was wondering, what is the difference between comp lit and eng lit?

[@stargazerlse]

Lovely lipstick colour! What do you wear?

[@moazzamali2920]

Essence of English Intellectual Life. Best book on kindle.

[@shaibaliqbal]

You should really read the Faerie Queene

[@lorabotka1555]

Girl how do you read the Odyssey and the Iliad??? We should have read it for school but it was unreadable. Or is just the Hungarian translation thats this bad?

[@fwomp]

There's multiple translations of Homer's work. There's verse and prose, there's old translations and modern translations. There ar emany different opinions on which is the best but there's videos and articles on it to guide you through options. The english translation I see going around most of the time is by Fagles. Personally I prefer Fitzgerald, just prefer his style.

[@elizabethhamilton5538]

how much language work do you get to do in your degree??

[@sarcastic_fish]

We were made to take a language module and then whenever we could read something in the original language in a module we were encouraged to, so it’s what you make of it!

[@alexischatterley5889]

Don't know if I am surprised or disappointed by the list. I ust expected for Roxana to be on it and it is no where.

[@lfior]

What red lipstick are you wearing? I'm always looking for a good red one

[@sarcastic_fish]

It’s the Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo by NYX! It’s like £6!!

[@katelyncostello2429]

Just looked up war and peace audio book... 61 Fucking hours.... but ive always wanted to read it.... let's goooooo

[@sarcastic_fish]

Hahah oh my god that’s got to be an experience and a half 😂💕

[@leeryding1943]

And luv you channel

[@sarcastic_fish]

luv u too

[@leeryding1943]

Emma Angeline thanks how old are you

[@donovanmedieval]

They could say 'I don't want to be compared to Neve Campbell in Scream 2'

[@climbingstill9503]

*When To Kill a Mockingbird is sacrilegious for you and you constantly hear for people about how shit it is* - No 😂 I completely understand that some people have their own loves and hates with literature. Like I didn’t really like The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, it wasn’t my thing, didn’t hit right for me. I think that One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest is something everyone should read, but I can see how people would hate it. But I love it 🤗

[@michaelmcgee4804]

I always thought ten was a precise number now I know better.

[@tomk.williams1186]

Read the chamber by John grisham

[@valentinekizito661]

After many vlogs of milk and honey I finally see someone not reviewing Instagram authors 😂

[@plumayray2656]

Tolstoy... Yeasts) I'm Russian

[@jorgelopez-pr6dr]

Forgot Orwell's Animal Farm (specially in times of pc dictatorship)!

[@Mut11]

THE FUCKING CRIME AND PUNISHMENT!!!

[@witchylola3006]

Hello , are you French ? I hope so ,you give me hope for my English abilities and my futur out of France

[@shreiya]

She sounds very British, and very posh too, I don’t think she’s french lol

[@yj6118]

shreiya i believe she’s Belgian actually

[@shreiya]

​@@yj6118 she's Belgian but raised in the UK. I think the op thought she wasn't raised in the UK

[@user-mk2fl3yz6t]

🎉 lisa

[@chrisflynneuph]

I lost faith the moment you said the Odyssey is a continuation of the Iliad....we don’t even know if Homer wrote it

[@effystonem8414]

I think she wanted to say that the story continues cause the Iliad ends with the introdution of the character of Ulisses, who's then the protagonist of Odyssey

[@WateryFire]

Chris Flynn Depends on what camp you’re in. I say we definitely know Homer wrote it.

[@sarahallen7073]

do you dislike all American literature?

[@sarahallen7073]

Because I think Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck is a beautiful symbolic novel

[@sarcastic_fish]

Sadly everything American I’ve read so far I haven’t enjoyed, but I appreciate the recommendation I’ll defo look into it!! 💫

[@kelly2593]

@@sarcastic_fish Everything? Emerson, Thoreau, Hemingway, Whitman, Fitzgerald, Twain, Margaret Mitchell, Faulkner, Melville, Hawthorne. My goodness. How can you write off an entire country of incredible writers?

[@leeryding1943]

First

[@sarcastic_fish]

🥇💫

[@rafisadia1281]

you're so adorable lol x

[@edengraceedwards8898]

*Ulysses... literally just read The Odyssey. 😂

[@user-ll4vr4yr6n]

You forgot the bible

[@valentinekizito661]

Les Miserables

[@mr.zardoz3344]

😴😴😴

[@wrigleyextra11]

This is nice i am tired of enlightenment madness

[@misselder1]

You lost me at the third “fuckin.”

[@lellipop5212]

Wut happened to poor Rebecca :/

[@sarcastic_fish]

Boo who Rebecca

[@lellipop5212]

The incredible novel I recommended

[@christinacascadilla4473]

Given the amount of profanity you use during this video, I’m guessing you go to college on a pirate ship.

[@Archonsx]

What a basic list uh

[@noeditbookreviews]

I can hardly decode a single damn word you're saying.

[@WateryFire]

consciousnick - I was thinking about trying subtitles, self generated captions? For a moment it seemed amusing.

[@felipetejeda7545]

I found it very annoying that you talked about the books without holding them up so that we could see them.