Another Tour of my Bookshelf!

[@eb4225]

I love bookshelf tour. Thanks !

[@SalmaSalma-kp3ou]

nice collection

[@uchuflowerzone]

I agree about Pevear and Volokhonsky's translations, they just seem too literal. I've tried reading their version of The Idiot a few times and a lot of the wording just felt unnatural and hard to understand. but for the Iliad and Odyssey, look into Emily Wilson's translations! they're a bit more on the free/dynamic side, but they're really readable and enjoyable. also you mentioned trying to get into poetry, I'd be curious to know what you've read so far and what you thought!

[@andrewbrough5403]

@@uchuflowerzone Thanks, I can't say that they completely ruin my first experience reading the Brothers Karamazov but I definitely prefer the other translations over theirs. I'll definitely look into Emily Wilson's translations! As far as poetry goes I've mainly read or listen to short collections of Valery, Rimbaud's illuminations, some Cavefvy, Yeats, TS Eliot, Rilke and some others but I definitely plan on reading more and I'm open to suggestions.

[@uchuflowerzone]

​@@andrewbrough5403 what did you think of Cavafy? I have a bilingual copy of his poems but haven't gotten around to it yet. might be a good video idea too if you'd ever be interested in reviewing him! as for my own recommendations, I think the best of the best has to be Gerard Manley Hopkins. he was Victorian, but his work wasn't published until 1918 (a couple decades after his death), and in many ways he was a proto-Modernist. the Modernist poets loved him, so he was very influential on them. he was kind of a hinge between the two movements. but what makes him my favorite is his outlook on the world, he was overcome with awareness of the sacredness and beauty that could be found everywhere. he was really a one-of-a-kind person, and his use of language is also mind-blowing. well, this is probably very apparent, but I could talk about him forever! so if you do read him (or if you want to talk in general) please feel free to reach out!

[@andrewbrough5403]

@@uchuflowerzone I liked Cavafy, most of all probably Ithaka the most. The translation I have is by Aliki Barnstone and I believe she did him justice. I have heard of Gerard Manley Hopkins but haven't read him yet but have added him to my wishlist. It's tragic that he didn't get recognition until almost 20 years after his death. Kind of reminds me of Friedrich Hölderlin. I'd like to read more modernist poets as I've mainly focused on the novelists like Joyce, Proust, Woolf and Lawrence. I have read some of the French Symbolists like Schwob and Gide. Thanks for the insights! I have an instagram instagram.com/andbro24/ or email: [e-mail] if you find it easier. Also, a huge Joanna Newsom fan myself! She's one of the best musical minds of today.

[@uchuflowerzone]

​@@andrewbrough5403 (thought I responded to you but I guess it didn't go through!) alright, I went and followed you on Instagram. like I said feel free to reach out any time! Hopkins is one of those people who's just fascinating in himself, and it's so refreshing to get such an individual, unique voice from someone in his time and circumstances. I need to get around to more of the Modernists in general but I loved Orlando by Woolf. I never meet other Joanna Newsom fans! she truly is a genius, especially lyrically. what's your favorite of her work?

[@bhanutripathi4055]

Loved your collection Andrew❤ I still have Dharma Bum and yet to read... currently reading Glass bead game..saw your video on that.. really enlightening...pls do share if you have any piece of advice before reading glass bead game... really value ur content!

[@eb4225]

@@bhanutripathi4055 that's funny i am also currently reading the glass bead game magister ludi by herman hesse ! I read Siddhartha and steppenwolf by the same author. But honestly i'm having a real hard time with the Glass Bead game. It's supposed to be his master piece but i don't get it, it's boring and too abstract. I'm not giving up but i need tools to understand.

[@andrewbrough5403]

Thank you! I really liked Big Sur as dark as it got. The Glass Bead Game is probably one of Hesse's most ambitious, intellectual and spiritually potent works, and since it was the last one before he passed away, you can tell he gave it his all. I would say Steppenwolf spoke a little more to my heart and was personably relatable but Glass Bead Game was so all-encompassing, mind-boggling and indirect at the same time. I plan on rereading it since it's been a few years, but one word of advice would be to take it in gradual strides and be patient with all the Jungian themes especially since it's also futuristic literature. Good luck!