Charity Shop Book Haul!

The Guardian 1000 Books Everyone Must Read;
www.theguardian.com/books/200...
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/ grantlovesbooks
0:00 - Intro
1:31 - Book 1 Silas Marner
3:47 - Book 2 Benjamin Button
4:28 - Book 3 White Teeth
6:17 - Book 4 Perfume
7:41 - Book 5 The Informers
11:17 - Book 6 The Jade Peony
13:01 - Book 7 Cold Comfort Farm
15:40 - Book 8 The Vivisector
18:47 - Charity shop scumbags

[@deborahwager5883]

I picked up a copy of Silas Marner when my son and his wife named their son Silas. Had to find out what the only other instance of the name I'd ever heard of was all about! They pronounce it s(eye)lus. Sounds like a great set of books to work your way through!

[@grantlovesbooks]

Thanks for writing Deborah, your grandson will certainly have a unique name. I was pretty happy with this odd collection of books! Somehow there are usually plenty of treasures in that ugly little shop.

[@TheSalMaris]

Good haul. Again I've read most, but not quite all of those. Really enjoyed The Vivisector. I didn't like the Solid Mandala so much and I haven't been able to finish another Patrick White. I've The Eye of the Storm on my self for many years, but haven't got around to it yet. Perhaps I never will. Even though I've read The Great Gatsby 3 times I think, I still don't know what all the fuss about Fitzgerald is all about. And yes, I've read his short stories too and felt much the same way. Read Less Than Zero when it was new and all "abuzz". Didn't like it. Thought it was childish inanity, and haven't read any Ellis since. Silas Marner was required reading in college. While good enough, I can't say as I'm taken with much 19th Century literature outside of Melville--but that's just me, and I had to take many starts at Melville. Maybe someday I'll come to love the Victorian--and maybe not. Thank you as always with this survey of Thrift Store Treasures--there's a title for as yet untaught college course. All the best as always. BTW, I've B negative blood, which I believe is more rare, I can't donate any longer as I once had hepatitis. So it goes.

[@grantlovesbooks]

Thanks for the update Sal! I've never read any Patrick White nor have I read and George Eliot. God knows when I will get round to reading them, but at least they are there. I'm already planning boxes shipped to Japan for when we move. It will cost a fortune, but at least I will have my books. I don't ever want to get stuck again like I was in Budapest. Hope you are doing well!

[@doctor1alex]

The first book I bought in a charity shop a few years ago was… Silas Marner. I knew nothing about books but liked the penguin edition. I should probably try reading it…

[@grantlovesbooks]

You might find something you like about it. The nice thing about charity shop books is that they're not too expensive if you end up not liking them.

[@cussot]

Thanks for donating blood! 🅾🩸 I think you're going to enjoy "White Teeth."

[@grantlovesbooks]

I remember it caused a big stir when it was published, and I like modern British novels. I think it will be good to read something written by a different voice. Almost all the British novelists I've read have been white men who find themselves very clever and witty. I hope White Teeth will show me something a bit different.

[@1russodog]

Ty for the video Going to my local indie bookstore and getting Silas Can’t wait to dive into it

[@grantlovesbooks]

It's going to take me a while to get there, I've got a pile of books to read in 2024, but I'm looking forward to getting to it some time soon! Let me know how you like it!

[@timhrklittimothyherrickvid169]

highly enjoyable video, the thrift store stuff was really interesting, a lot of people in this area who have good taste in books who just died -- charmingly observed -- the good news is somebody in town also loves literature, the bad news is they're dead! I also love the teal Penguins, finally somebody said there's different penguin imprints. Babylon Revisited is my favorite F. Scott short story one hopes it is in that collection, although I believe The beautiful and damned to be better than Tender is the Night. Brett Easton Ellis is a funny case for me, Less Than Zero I liked but did not love but it was fresh and new, the next book Rules of Attraction was insipid nonsense I actually threw it across the room but American Psycho was getting so much chatter when it was published I had to decide for myself and I liked it, it reminded me of Chants De Maldoror by Lautréamont and liked it enough to read The Informers, which was fun enough but as a writer, he's a bit of a poser. He seems to be commenting on our materialistic culture but he seems as vapid as the culture and lacks a self awareness to know it. Ironically, the American psycho film is more significant than the novel culturally, while the films of LTZ, ROA, The Informers are awful, barely watchable. He's a fizzy writer whose era has passed but his books do tell us something about the era.

[@grantlovesbooks]

Hello Timothy, thanks for a great comment filled with information! This collection of stories does NOT have Babylon Revisited, but you've put it on my radar, and I will keep my eyes open for it in the future. As well the Chants De Maldoror, good job on the obscure stuff I've never heard of! Easton Ellis is a strange one. He's become too much of a pop culture icon to do anything about. He's like Justin Bieber of the literary world. Not good, but too big to ignore, just king of hanging around. I feel the same way about Damien Hirst. He is the world's biggest fraud and conman, and now he is unstoppable because credulous people have overestimated his ability, and his vast wealth makes him beyond the point of failure. But... I've only read American Psycho, and even though I dislike the subject matter, I recall the writing was good. So I am hoping to find good writing, but not so disgusting and indulgent stuff in The Informers. Hope you are doing well!

[@timhrklittimothyherrickvid169]

@@grantlovesbooks oops The Lost Decade is my favorite F, Scott I always get them mixed up I love Fitzgerald. How can one not think of Gatsby now that it's summer again. I keep this quote from the Lost Decade which is about a reporter interviewing a famous I think musician who resurfaces after a 10 year drunk, it's an end of a Jazz Age requiem around "What do you want to see most?” “Well-the back of people’s heads. Their necks-how their heads are joined to their bodies. I’d like to hear what those two little girls are saying to their father. Not exactly what they’re saying but whether the words float or submerge, how their mouths shut when they’ve finished speaking. Just a matter of rhythm-Cole Porter came back to the states in 1928 because he felt there were new rhythms around."

[@mildrumpus]

Happy Reading! 😎📚👍

[@grantlovesbooks]

Thanks, I'm going to check out your channel, it looks good!

[@mscrunchy68]

Well, I am loving your content and have just signed up to Patreon. I'm also O negative - perhaps that swung it. Anyway, thank you for all of your efforts here - you are greatly appreciated so please keep going!

[@grantlovesbooks]

Hello Ms. Crunchy, thanks for supporting my little KZbin efforts, I am really glad you enjoy the videos. Did you join Patreon or the KZbin support? It looks like you are supporting me via KZbin. I have a 'Shelf tour #3' video that is available on Patreon. My big problem right now is that when I make a video, I can make it for Patreon-only support, or KZbin-only support, but not both. I think my Patreon supporters have had at least a month preview on the Shelf tour #3, so I don't think they will mind if I make it available for you. I really appreciate any financial support and I want to do my best to make sure people feel they are getting an added bonus for helping me out with some money. If there is anything you would like to write to me about, feel free to send a message to [e-mail] Hope you are well! Thanks again for your kind donation!

[@mscrunchy68]

@@grantlovesbooks I hadn't paid attention to there being two streams of support - I just clicked where it appeared one should click (not techy at all). I am happy to stand you a coffee each month or that it should go into the beer fund.. I remember taking the decision not to read English at university because I thought it would leach all the joy out of reading - stick with it though - perhaps as a more mature student you are better able to recognise and filter out some of the nonsense that goes with academia.

[@grantlovesbooks]

@@mscrunchy68 Thanks for the support, morally I mean. I think the thing I find most difficult, in relation to my age, is how unquestionable the profs feel their opinions are. When I tell them I would rather read Winseburg, Ohio rather than The Great Gatsby because it's better and more obscure, the look on their faces is like "Who the f! do you think you are?" I have had two profs who spent the semester checking my reading credentials. "Who has read On The Road? Grant, have you read On The Road?" I got so tired of this stupid game I just started saying no to everything. They seem to need to protect their fragile egos, and to protect their status as the big brain at the front of the room. I could see the real anxiety in their eyes when I talked about Balzac and Zola.

[@araucaria5173]

I thought that The Vivisector was a very worthwhile read.

[@grantlovesbooks]

That seems to be the consensus. I'm quite looking forward to it!

[@scarba]

Me too universal donor. Fairly common blood in Scotland

[@grantlovesbooks]

Is it? I've never heard that before. Very interesting.

[@scarba]

@@grantlovesbooks I just checked the statistic, it’s 9.5 percent in Scotland. Both my parents were, me obviously. and two of my daughters. It feels really common to me. Maybe you have Celtic blood? There’s a blood type map of the UK which is really interesting.

[@debpalm8667]

Feel like I need Cold Comfort Farm. Laughter is a great passtime. Thanks.

[@grantlovesbooks]

I think it's going to be a quirky one. I might not get to if for quite some time, but I'll let you know when I eventually do!

[@simonmarlow4895]

I'm not a massive Brett Ellis fan but I assumed his intention was indeed to write like a self indulgent, teenage, edge lord as that is basically what Patrick Bateman is. I think it's an ok book, I think whenever a lit-fic author comes out with something graphic and controversial people are falling over themselves to describe it as important, if American Psycho had been written as a genre novel with that level of violence the same people would write it off as trash. He is a poser mind. I'm enjoying your videos, thanks.

[@grantlovesbooks]

Thanks for writing Simon, I'm happy you enjoy the videos. I wish I could take them to the next level with some smother editing and maybe rehearse what I would like to say a few times before recording, but for the moment, this is the best I can do. It must have been a fad. There is always something in pop-culture society that gets elevated a little too highly and seems to stick in the fading zeitgeist. I think it tells a lot that none of his other books seem to have reached the same level of interest, which is strange, because American Psycho is a relatively simple book with a gratuitous amount of violence, and nothing more.

[@simonmarlow4895]

You're welcome. I think a calmly delivered opinion, off the cuff and with no frills is actually very appealing. It really is a very simple book. I think more people than would care to admit love material that used be referred to as exploitation (in the movies). I'm also a genre fan so have no problem with it. But sometimes a spade is just a spade. Good luck with the vids.

[@grantlovesbooks]

@@simonmarlow4895 Thanks a lot Simon! I hope you'll find some others you enjoy on the channel or in the future!

[@JohnTimothyRatliffe]

Capital!

[@grantlovesbooks]

Thanks John!

[@debpalm8667]

No reply necessary. I comment for the algorithm.😂

[@grantlovesbooks]

Thanks Deb!!

[@debpalm8667]

O negative here. 😮

[@grantlovesbooks]

That's nice to know! I hope I am taking care of my health adequately these days so I'll never need a transplant. I have been donating blood so long it has become a routine for me. Every two months on a Friday. It does help that the good second-hand store is across the street so I can see if they've got any books for me!

[@radiantchristina]

Brightly colored lit screams YA or chick lit to me...I'm with you. Not a fan. Also not a fan of movie tie in covers.

[@grantlovesbooks]

Thanks for writing Christina, your comment is music to my ears. It's kind of funny how bright, loud colours are used to market simple trashy things to people who lack discernment. Always happy to hear from you!