I'M BACK! Update & What I've Been Reading

[@LiteraryGladiators]

It is great to see you back on your channel! I missed you and your videos, for you among one of the most unique and one of the most intellectually motivated channels in this community. I hope you are doing well with your job and getting ready to study abroad in the upcoming year. It took me awhile to learn how to drive as well and there were moments where I felt I would be better off not driving. I definitely think that learning the basics and everything you need to know in order to pass the road test is essential, for once you pass the test, you can determine what kind of pace you take when it comes to how far and in what conditions you want to drive. Only in the last year or so have I really broadened my driving ranges and I still will not drive on highways, interstates, and turnpikes that make me nervous. I really find interest in existentialism and absurdism and would like to explore it even more. I read four of Camus' novels, but The Stranger is the only one I was really enthralled by. I thought The Plague, The Fall, and A Happy Death were just okay. I felt with those three, I plodded through them and their plot was a bit dry, but The Stranger is brilliant in the strategies Camus took in order to portray Meursault the way we and others saw him. Jorge Luis Borges is quite a remarkable writer. He really makes you think outside of the box and after studying Borges & I for a discussion, it really made me think beyond the text. It really makes you think about the way you perceive yourself up against the way others perceive you. I will need to check out The Collector and The Man in the High Castle, for a good "what-if" story and anything that plays to the tune of Flowers for Algernon is bound to be attention-grabbing. Thank you for sharing and I really hope you keep making some videos on a consistent basis (or at least when you get the opportunity to do so)! :) -Josh

[@RuffledRuby]

Thank you! I always appreciate your comments. I have been having a similar experience with driving, where my goal right now is passing and not being a danger to other drivers, and then I can really practice once I have my license. I hope to broaden my horizons, but I don't see myself being a driver, really. I have heard The Stranger is better! I mostly listened to The Plague because it was a free audiobook, but I will have to keep from being deterred from Camus. Existentialism and absurdism are such interesting areas! and I am surprised by how often I see it crop up.

[@LiteraryGladiators]

I think that the extended discussions with other Booktubers are the best part of this community. I enjoy talking about common works and everything else everyone is reading. I would say that with driving, just take your time and do what you are comfortable with. I questioned myself regarding how far I would want to go, but I kept broadening my horizons and doing what I felt made me comfortable as a driver. The Plague was the first Camus novel that I read as well and getting it for free is definitely a bonus. You have nothing to lose! The Stranger is Camus' finest by a longshot, for it really sets the stage for what one should expect in a work of existentialism. Once readers have the attention of existential or absurd works, they are bound to be amazed by all it has to offer, the works of Franz Kafka and Lewis Carroll are just a few examples.

[@TheDevilBurning]

Being a fellow infrequent youtube uploader I welcome you back and it's nice to hear from you again! Sounds like you've definitely had your hands full. I enjoy your channel much more than the average channel due to the multiple layers of interests. Thank you opening up my awareness and interest in cognitive science. I'm not always able to comment but I am watching and appreciate your efforts! I'm not sure if I or anyone else has given you this recommendation but I would suggest looking into "The Incal" and other related works by Jodorowsky. I suppose if there was one other recommendation I'd like to make, it would have to be "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race" by Thomas Ligotti and any other of his works. I would really love to hear what you have to say about Ligotti and Jodorowsky but I also think you would get a lot out of both. "Wednesday is Indigo Blue" sounds like an interesting read and "The Brain" also seems like a good watch, thank you for the recommendations. see you next update!

[@SleepFan771]

Borges is amazing. I read him quite a bit back in college. Glad you're back!

[@finickityreader5274]

It makes sense to try and get your driving licence before you come over, because I heard it's easier to get there. Also, I love The Collector and I'm really looking forward to reading Perv. :-)

[@AndrewTheRed1]

Back on goodreads too?