A Reading Diary | Spring, 2023

[@SherdsTube]

I will soon be making Parts III & IV of my Q&A video series. If you have anything burningly bookish to ask me, feel free to leave a comment here.

[@iiling7]

Looking forward to another Q&A. I have always been curious to know the journey of other readers. How would you describe the evolution of your reading arc over time as a mature reader? Have there been notable shifts in the types of books that you choose to explore that may run in parallel with the way your life has panned out? Can you share a memorable reading experience that significantly changed your perspective, impact you or shaped who you are today? Hope that's not too much to ask!

[@kieran_forster_artist]

Love this diary style

[@kieran_forster_artist]

You’re even incorporating urban exploration now, and I’ve seen that video. Your photography composition is great Sam

[@kieran_forster_artist]

Modulating between registers is the core of all art

[@iiling7]

An enjoyable sharing this is, Sam - the seemingly informal and casualness of it that simply gives us who you are, the tranquil landscape juxtaposed against the grainy text, the montaged media and extracts of gorgeous passages, the unwrapping of books and the anticipation of new works. I'd say keep the experimentation going! Thank you.

[@SherdsTube]

Thanks so much for the encouraging words! Very kind of you. I enjoyed making this one so much, so I'm really keen to make more.

[@InnaEffress]

Brilliant, as always

[@SherdsTube]

Thanks so much for all your support, Inna! :)

[@MovieBirthdays]

Really great work. Beautifully filmed and your presenting style just seems effortless. The pacing of this piece is just perfect, what an amazing journey of discovery.

[@SherdsTube]

Thanks so much. That's high praise coming from you, mate! Really appreciate the encouragement.

[@chrisgomes5048]

Terrific video. I always learn something new from you. I will add Gordon Burns to my tbr list. Thank you for the care and time you devote to these videos.

[@SherdsTube]

My pleasure, Chris. Thanks for the kind words.

[@semiote]

I like the more informal style of this video! I'm reading Solenoid, and am constantly bowled over by it. My progress has been slow because of my workload (I'm only just past haflway through), but this has allowed me to savor it all the more!

[@SherdsTube]

Thank you, Mandel. Maybe it's time I loosened up a little. :) Glad to hear you're still enjoying Solenoid. I'm finding it endlessly surprising -- so many peculiar & fascinating shifts of focus. It's quite the ride. I'm only about 140 pages in, but still loving every second of it.

[@danielprice6387]

Really enjoyed this. Would love to see more videos in this style. Always a pleasure to see what you are currently reading.

[@SherdsTube]

Ah thanks, Daniel. Yes, I'd really like to make more like this, too. It was quite freeing, in a way. Thanks for the kind words.

[@siljeblomst1]

This was amazing, Sam, I completely adored it - hearing your thoughts about the books while you were reading them, the footage of the gorgeous nature, Warsaw and the abandoned hospital - and your cats! I’d love to see more reading diaries 🤗 Also, very happy you are enjoying Solenoid - it’s my favorite read of the year so far.

[@SherdsTube]

Thank you, Silje! Really happy you liked it! Wouldn't have made it without your inspiration.

[@siljeblomst1]

@@SherdsTube I’m glad I inspired you 🤗

[@ForrestAguirre]

Well done, Sam! I liked the casual intimacy of this format. It makes me appreciate the work you put into your more "polished" videos, as well. And truth be told, I love the opening of book-packages here. Maybe I'm just a voyeur of book porn, but it's rather titillating, the anticipation of what's beyond the wrapping. And I like hearing about your forays, as well. All told, this was brilliant.

[@SherdsTube]

Thanks so much, Forrest - never thought I would be making 'un-boxing' videos, but here we are! Really pleased you enjoyed it. :)

[@rottenfralort]

I would absolutely encourage you to keep exploring this experiment of yours. As much as I have enjoyed your more 'formal' content, I find the casual style refreshing and engaging, almost friendly in a way. I came to your channel (the podcast originally) either for insight on books I know and like, or to be intrigued to read to material I have not yet heard of. But every time I end up enjoying the company more than anything. I have read a couple of books this year that you put me onto, and I am happy to report that both Mountainhead by New Juche and Morbid Tales by Quentin S. Crisp were right down my alley. Justin Isis is next on my list, so I can hardly keep my expectations in check :) In "non-Sherd books" I have recently been impressed by 'At Night All Blood is Black' by David Diop, a quick but intense read with a captivating voice. PS. Solenoid really is the talk of the town at the moment. Curious to hear your thoughts sometime down the line. /Andreas Copenhagen

[@SherdsTube]

Thanks for the encouragement, Andreas. So glad you enjoyed it. I really hope to continue exploring this style from time to time in the future. Very happy to hear that New Juche and Quentin S. Crisp worked for you. They're two of my favourites. Intrigued to hear what you make of Justin Isis. Looking forward to starting the 'Neo-Decadence Evangelion', which contains a new story by him. David Diop is completely new to me, but looks very interesting. Thanks for the tip.

[@TheSalMaris]

I've never heard of Burn. I always learn something new in your fabulous videos. This one an odd, contrasting between travelogue and as you put it, folk horror. I almost want to pick up Burn to study his style, but I probably won't as I just can't stomach, nor finish reading these kind of In Cold Blood narratives. Thank you non the less. Poland, despite the pall you've unknowingly cast upon it with these gruesome tales, appears inviting. I must visit some day. Thank you for this walk in the country. You continue to do great work.

[@SherdsTube]

Thanks for the very kind words. Yes, I feel I perhaps sullied the landscape with my morbid preoccupations ;) I completely understand - it's a very emotionally challenging book. If you wanted to sample his style, you might just try the first three chapters. Still very much worth reading, I think. Thanks again. :)

[@TheSalMaris]

@@SherdsTube well I would never go so far as to say you sullied the landscape, which is beautiful, but I did wonder if you weren’t so preoccupied with the book subject you were unable to enjoy it as you might have under better, brighter circumstances. It’s all good.

[@BookStopsHere]

If you don’t fancy his two serial killer non-fictions, then try either Best and Edwards, his unconventional football biography; or Born Yesterday, which turned the news of 2007 into a fiction, drawing connections between the stories that made the headlines. It was published in Feb (or March) of the following year, so a very quick turnaround.

[@Arsenal.N.I7242]

Great video as always. Going to pick up Negative Space by B.R Yeager. Its been on my tbr for ages now.......Loved the reading diary idea to be honest...might be to much for you every month with editing and stuff but very interesting and some great sights and camera work. 👍🏻

[@SherdsTube]

Ah thanks so much for the encouragement! Yes, I would probably lean towards making videos like this from time to time rather than every month. Really hope you enjoy B. R. Yeager's work.

[@iamthelabhras]

Enjoyed this experiment immensely, Sam! Keep them (& every other sort of video you'd like to make) coming. Thrilled to see Apocalypse Party, who are based here in Philadelphia, get a shout out on your channel. If you're looking for another AP title to dip into, I recommend Gary Shipley's Terminal Park. I read it a few months back & still find myself thinking about it at odd moments throughout the week.

[@SherdsTube]

So glad to hear it. Thanks for saying so. I'm hoping to make it a regular thing. Ah, that's good to hear about 'Terminal Park' - there's a copy burning a hole in my bookshelves right now. Will try to get to it soon. :)

[@KulchurKat]

Sam, absolutely your most compelling video to date. I loved the format, with your more immediate and off the cuff impressions of the books - and those beautiful Polish landscapes. Solenoid is on my to read list. The Gordon Burns book sounds amazing, but I’m afraid it’s beyond my readerly constitution. I’m still haunted by the newspaper reports of West’s crimes when they all came to light back in the 90s. Seeing you visibly shaken as you summarised the literary merits of the book was all I needed to know that unfortunately I won’t be able to stomach it.

[@SherdsTube]

Ah thanks so much, Shaun! I really appreciate the encouragement as I felt quite uncertain about it. Perhaps I can turn it into a regular thing. Completely understand your decision not to read the book - I don't think I've been shaken up quite so much by anything else I've read. Such powerful writing. Thanks again for all your support. :)

[@Emiljep2509]

Amazing diary video. I Always love The length and the details of your videos, when it comes to your literature discoveries. Looking forward to hear your opinion on solenoid. I read it last year after it got published in danish, which is my native tongue, and I couldn’t stop reading it, amazing weird and funny book🌻

[@SherdsTube]

Thanks for saying so! I was quite nervous about putting this one out, so your words are very encouraging. Yes, I hope to speak more about Solenoid at some point. Still absolutely loving it. :)

[@himangshusarma7649]

I don't know why I am feeling this strange engagement with the book that I'm reading now that I want you to try read it. An Enigma of Arrival by Naipaul

[@SherdsTube]

Oddly enough, I recently ordered a copy of this book. More oddly still, 'The Enigma of Arrival' is one of the books that Gordon Burn lists as essential to his writing process at the end of 'Happy Like Murderers'. :)

[@himangshusarma7649]

@@SherdsTube a few months ago, I was listening Karl Ove Knausgard reading from "The Enigma of Arrival" in the fiction podcast of the Newyorker. Later when Deborah Smith discusses the piece with Karl, he was telling that it's an entirely different kind of Naipaul and he couldn't just belive in the narrative energy the book seems to extert upon if a patient reader goes on reading.. now I'm reading and knowing your kind podcast and your preferences (atleast a little) I think you'll get emerged in the book.

[@SherdsTube]

Yes, I listened to that very reading quite some time ago now. Had always meant to give it ago, and then Gordon Burn was the tipping point. Very curious to try it.

[@maddssmithy]

Nice video. Are you like an English teacher in Poland? For youth?

[@rebeccalloyd6681]

I think l might have read this book some time ago, the way you describe it sounds right, but suddenly in the middle, the author just can't go on with his generosity any longer, and after that, the 'style' and pace changes. It feels as if he got really depressed about the subject matter, but had to finish the book and get it out there. Other books about the Wests are much more journalistic and with no style.

[@SherdsTube]

Ah that's interesting. I found the style equally attentive throughout, but the book certainly darkens increasingly as it progresses.

[@flaviusdoomicus7555]

Loved the book diary, more of it please, and if you can kill 2 birds with one stone, turn the audio into a podcast, a lot easier to listen to on the go, cheers

[@SherdsTube]

More to come, for sure! Thanks so much. :)

[@PenangGalAntics]

You look deeply disturbed by this book! I don’t think I’ll read it.