JULIO CORTÁZAR: Hopscotch, 62: A Model Kit, Cronopios and Famas, & Letters from Mom

[@anasofiabracamonte]

Julio querido❤, he is an essential part of our sentimental education. Greetings from Argentina 🇦🇷

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I love Argentina and its culture!!!

[@forr2007]

I have a Master's degree in Literatura Hispanoamericana. Rayuela by Julio Cortázar started it all. Great breakdown.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I'm certain that degree was a rich and exhilarating experience!

[@PlayWaves1]

Read hopscotch for my Writing 120 class. Really enjoyed it.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I'd say you're in a great writing class!

[@thekeywitness]

Best review of Hopscotch I’ve ever heard (I read it once 30 years ago). I’ve never seen 62: A Model Kit in the wild, only online but haven’t read it. I have Cronopios and Famas and other works by the great Cortazar. Wonderful imagination and terrific short stories too.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much! It’s tough to do a genius like Cortázar justice.

[@va35bn]

Intriguing; have not read his short stories but now will have the on my list. Thanks

[@LeafbyLeaf]

My pleasure!

[@burke9497]

Hopscotch has been on my shelf for years. I should probably read it. Thanks Chris.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

It is quite a book, and I'm certain you'll enjoy it! All my best to you!

[@timkjazz]

One of my favorites, Julio Cortazar's great novel 'Hopscotch', well done sir, awesome choice. Can't wait to read the others, Cortazar is a truly great writer.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much! Cortazar is a master, indeed!

[@rjd53]

For years I could not decide if I should read Hopscotch, I didn't hear from anybody who had read it or read anything by Cortazar. Your video now led to the decision. I even got a hardbound edition online, used but in excellent condition, the German translation "Rayuela. Himmel und Hölle" with a title painting by Joan Miró, for 11 Euros. Was in the mail today. You see, i love the physicallity of books, always happy to get beautiful editions.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

That's great! I, too, love the physical product of a book: from the cover design, to the color of the stitching, to the typeface, etc.

[@jayjohnson5868]

My absolute favorite aspect of your videos is the cold open excerpt before the review. You, sir, are great at what you do!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Very kind of you! Thanks so much!

[@Librarypencils]

What a phenomenal breakdown. I'm going add Cortazar to my stack.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much! Happy Reading!

[@danielallred1926]

So appreciate the work and thought you put into your videos. Your gravitys rainbow video convinced me to do my first read through last month and this video has me excited for a first reading of hopscotch!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thank you very much. It is a real pleasure to be able to do this!

[@johnpatowary]

What a great channel...you were a blessing in the form of a youtube recommendation, so happy to hear you speak so lucidly about Julio Cortázar Instant subscribe 👍

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much! 🙏🙏🙏

[@alexschmidt2589]

Thank you so much for this, Mr. Leaf. Cortazar is my fav. Author; Hopscotch my fav. novel. I don’t have very many friends who enjoy literature so your videos provide that little sense of community around great art that we all so crave but often struggle to ever find. Thank you again. Now to brew some mate and enjoy.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Yes, indeed--yerba mate and Cortazar makes for a fine life!

[@adelabartolomei1656]

What a surprise! I'm so glad you decided to talk about Julio Cortazar. Your video was like a reminder for me. I have read some of his work, but unfortunately not finished Rayuela; not exactly an easy read. Maybe I will give it another try.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Happy to be of service! :)

[@GIMMEDANGERX1]

Just want to say that I appreciate the time and effort you put into your channel. Great work as always, thank you from a fellow bookworm.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

It really is a pleasure! Thanks! 🙏

[@vitomania04]

He is THE writer.

[@christopherpaul7588]

I love Cortazar! My favorite works of his are La Carraterra del Sur (The Southern Thruway), which inspired Jean Luc Godard's "Weekend", and La Noche Boca Arriba (The Night Face Up) is one of my favorite short stories!

[@Gabriel-to8uo]

La autopista del sur is incredible. It lives rent free in my head ever since I read it

[@Pantano63]

La autopista del sur*

[@christopherpaul7588]

@@Pantano63 Gracias! Se me olividó el titulo!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I can't wait to read more of his work!

[@rjd53]

Very interesting. I love Godard's movies, didn't know though that Cortazar inspired him. Will read the two stories, hope I'll find out in which short story collection they are included.

[@azianguitarplaya]

I’m so glad you’re talking about Hopscotch. Funny enough I found a copy at a local Goodwill and when I looked at the structure and read a couple chapters, I thought to myself “Yeah, Leaf-By-Leaf would definitely read this.” Glad to know you loved it and your passion for the work moved me to read it further. Thank you, and continue to spread your love and analysis on this platform - it’s absolutely infectious as it is intellectually stimulating!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Ahhh, thank you so much for your kind and generous words! It is thrilling to know these videos inspire more and more passionate reading! All my best to you!

[@the3rdpillblog934]

While I love Cortázar's novels, I still prefer his short stories. For me he is one of the best writers of all time. By the way, if you want to read something "different" by him, this is a fun book: Around the Day in Eighty Worlds (1967) - (can't speak for the English version, though. I hope it is as good as the German ...).

[@cstz]

"Around the Day in Eighty Worlds" is fantastic! Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in Cortázar.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thank you so much for this! Danke schon!

[@shizahkhalid9893]

can you recommend some of his short stories that you liked best?

[@the3rdpillblog934]

@@shizahkhalid9893 Hello there. Not an easy task. I have to find the English titles (I've read them in German), and it is a long time since I've read the stories. But a few that come to mind: House Taken Over South Highway Blow-Up The Pursuer End of the Game Secret Weapons Manuscript Found in a Pocket (not sure about this one, maybe I mean another story ...) And if I remember correctly, every story in "We Love Glenda So Much". If I may, I would recommend a look into Jorge's video "Top 10 Julio Cortázar Short Stories". The channel name is "Jorge's Corner". I hope that was helpful.

[@sventhemoose1218]

The story of the family taking over a wake... one of the funniest pieces of literature I ever read.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Seriously! And it’s really difficult to achieve real humor in writing (I think). Cortázar nails it!

[@jackwalter5030]

I read Cortazar's novel The Winners, about a group of people who have won a free cruise. I'll just say it all goes wrong from the start.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

That sounds interesting! And I'll read anything from Julio at this point. Thanks!

[@marinellamaccagni6951]

Hi, chris! It's been a while...I' m reading all the books I can find about latinoamerican literature. Among them I' m reading rayuela by cortazar. Yesterday I started reading mandibula by Monica ojeda. Great book. I suggest you read it if you haven't read it yet.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hey, hey! Great to hear from you! It looks like Coffee House Press has a copy of the Ojeda. I'm going to order immediately. As a bonus, this looks like it will be my first read from an Ecuadorian! Thanks so much!

[@marinellamaccagni6951]

@@LeafbyLeaf ,thank you for your videos!!!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

😁

[@mudgetheexpendable]

..."the profound uselessness of being serious..." is the best take-away from Cortázar's entire oeuvre. I really rang like a bell when I read 62: A Model Kit.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

:-)

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

Started “Hop.” Gotta restart. Got lost so easily.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Sometimes I have the same experience. I know pretty quickly when I'm not ready for a given book yet and need to come back later. Happy reading!

[@rickharsch8797]

This book answers all critics of experimental\maximalist writing in that characters and scenes are indelible.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hear, hear!

[@darthstarch]

Had you ever considered reading through Jerusalem by Alan Moore? I have a feeling that it might resonate with you.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

As it happens, that is one of my books in my 10 Books that Defeated Me video. But I’ve received so much feedback to give it another go, that it will happen. Thanks so much for your affirmation!

[@darthstarch]

@@LeafbyLeaf That must be an odd thing to find balance in; deciding which books to read for your channel based on personal interest versus the interest of your viewers.

[@benjaminblancodirusso2671]

idk if they are translated to english but "alguien que anda por ahí" (someone´s who´s out there) and "deshoras" (after hours) are among cortazár´s greatest short ficcion books. you should really try them if you liked what you read.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks for the recommendations! I need to read much more--really ALL of Cortazar!

[@WattCine]

Hey good video, i reccomend to you two authors i want to hear your toughts about, Leopoldo Marechal is one with Adan Buenosayres and the other Barry Hannah with Geronimo Rex or Ray

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for these recommendations! I have the Marechal on my shelves awaiting me, but I'll have to get round to Hannah.

[@Librarypencils]

Do you know of any Peruvian authors worth reading? My stepson, Latino, is obsessed with the Peru documentary on Netflix. He wants to expand his understanding...as do I!

[@bungle.mr81]

Mario Vargas Llosa

[@Librarypencils]

@@bungle.mr81 Thank you! I just bought Death in the Andes to start.

[@bungle.mr81]

@@Librarypencils I haven't read that one. Captain Pantoja and the Special Service (1978) is his most acclaimed work. I myself read "The notebook of Don Rigoberto" which was good but very erotic so be careful with that one.

[@Librarypencils]

@@bungle.mr81 I'll add that one. Probably makes sense to start with it as well. And thank you for the heads up about the erotic tendencies of Notebook... I would like to stray away from that. I do feel that sort of thing should be discovered on his own later in life.

[@bungle.mr81]

@@Librarypencils in that case I would advice to beware, I haven't read "Captain Pantoja and the Special Service" which it seems to have prostitution in the plot, but I don't know if it is erotic or not.

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

Extraordinary writer, a passionate intellectual and consummate artist of the kind Latin America produces regularly, but the US/UK struggles to match. His short story, "The Continuity of Parks" is a brilliant creation. This interview is great: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3PYdqCDfq51htE

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for this! I have to agree with William H. Gass who said that the Latin Americans took over the novel for good.

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

@@LeafbyLeaf Yes. And each national literature on this continent has some real treasures. You probably know of Miguel Angel Asturias, the Guatemalan Nobel winner who wrote El Señor Presidente (and lots of good short stories), but even better is I the Supreme (Yo el supremo) by the Paraguayan, Augusto Roa Bastos; it's a phenomenally well-imagined historical novel that centers on the relationship between power and language. Well worth your time. Eduardo Galeano also wrote lots of exceptional books, but is still not that well-known in the Anglosphere, you might like them as they merge different genres, journal, short story, travel writing, etc. into a form uniquely his own.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much! I ordered I the Supreme immediately!

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

@@LeafbyLeaf Be interested to hear what you make of it.

[@depotemkin]

Cortazar pronounce CortaSar in Spanish

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Ahhh, thanks!

[@depotemkin]

@@LeafbyLeaf 🤝🤝