Mania, a novel by Lionel Shriver/ this video is for my bookish subscribers

A trip to the library after work.
I don’t usually read modern novels but this was very tempting. Satire.

[@LilyGazou]

The main character is betrayed by her best friend and nearly destroys her life while pretending to be a true believer in “the current thing”. She writes of this: Only one thing have I firmly concluded from her turnabout: over a sustained period of time, it’s veritably impossible to promote a falsified viewpoint in a cynical spirit of pure self-interest, while simultaneously maintaining a private viewpoint diametrically at odds with the public one. It’s too exhausting. It’s too much mental labor to erect a Chinese wall in your own head….. I failed a cost benefit analysis. Professionally and socially, standing by me would have been priced too highly in comparison with the marginal advantages of shared box wine. I’m pinning this because it may be easier to read than to hear.

[@tigereye508]

Thank you, Lily❤ Sure appreciate your reading.

[@watkinsinc.7147]

Thank you Lily

[@LilyGazou]

So glad you stopped by!

[@rosehippyguy3402]

👌🌱

[@krosskountrykaspar]

Bam Pow Lily💥💥💥Her words speak to many....Thank you for picking that out😁

[@LilyGazou]

I just found a short interview with her on The New Culture Forum. I just got on the waiting list to read another of her books.

[@krosskountrykaspar]

@@LilyGazou Excellent👍😁🏆🏆

[@BluemoonTraveler]

So interesting sharing friend. Full view and like...👍👍

[@LilyGazou]

Thanks to you travelers!

[@alainlc9953]

Hello my friend Beautiful vidéo ❤❤❤ Like 13 Friendships Alain

[@LilyGazou]

Merci bien, Alain. I’m enjoying your music, much of it is new to me.

[@getschannel]

Hi my dear Lily, is wonderful your video and book presentation, i like very much 👍🙏 Have good day and a blessed weekend with health and lots of smiles with warm greetings from me and Greece 🌹 George 👍🙏🌹❤📖🌺💖🎁💯💯💯🇬🇷

[@LilyGazou]

Hello George. I’m so glad to hear from you. I’m hoping to go to some Greek festivals here this summer.

[@Traveler_Greg]

Nice book. Greetings and thanks for sharing. Have a great week. 👍

[@LilyGazou]

Maybe it will be a movie on Netflix!

[@manfredweber2841]

hey my friend 🤝very nice video 👍

[@LilyGazou]

Thanks. Very much appreciated.

[@manfredweber2841]

@@LilyGazou sehr gerne 👍

[@janetchungNKen]

Dear Lily, a lovely Saturday morning greetings from me. Thank you for sharing, I'm listening here. Love and hugs from me 🙏❤️

[@LilyGazou]

Keep sharing your music, Janet. It’s how I first found you- your ukulele.

[@janetchungNKen]

I will Lily, I will sing you more songs with my ukulele. Thank you dear Lily, I appreciate you 🙏💖

[@walverden1]

Those words ring true today as they did long ago. Have a wonderful weekend 👏👍🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@LilyGazou]

Keep us up to date on those creatures in your garden. I have an ongoing battle with possum lately. 😆

[@viatranquilla]

So true, and your tonality makes it all that more inviting and convincing.. Thank you Lily and be well my friend.. 😊 ❤

[@LilyGazou]

I just got a book today by Randall Sullivan. The Devil’s Best trick: How the Face of Evil Disappeared You might want to order it at your local library. It’s a sort of cultural history plus personal reporting. It really makes me look at what we are seeing now in our culture in a different way. You would have a better knowledge of the Bible parts that are discussed. ❤️

[@viatranquilla]

@@LilyGazou Ho Lily, it's always so good to hear from you, and thank you for the head's up concerning Randall Sullivan's book.. imo, The Devil's best trick was convincing the world that he doesn't exist, and his 2nd best trick was to convince the world that God does not exist.. lol.. I'm glad I'm not of this world.. Again, thank you for the head's up my friend, and ML.. 😊 ❤

[@LilyGazou]

@viatranquilla Mr Sullivan took the title from that sentence by Charles Baudelaire 👍. I think the book is going to be hard to read- because he has to talk about evil acts to prove the evil is real. I might have to skip over.

[@viatranquilla]

@@LilyGazou Oh evil is real, and some enjoy those sorts of "juicy reads", and to see you bowing out to that sort of occasion, well that speaks volumes about you, as one cannot "unread" something.. You're the best Lily, I hope you know that my friend.. 😊❤

[@TrueTributes13]

This was fantastic, such a great listen🙌! An instant like from me☺️👍! I hope you have an amazing week!

[@LilyGazou]

Thanks. That was quite a video you made. I hope you keep that up.

[@TrueTributes13]

@@LilyGazou thank you that means alot☺️

[@TravelHungryForLife]

Wonderful sharing here my friend All the best see you soon

[@LilyGazou]

Welcome, traveler🌺

[@JuruStudio]

Your dedication and passion are evident in every frame. You’re doing an amazing job, and I can’t wait to see more from you! ❤

[@LilyGazou]

Thank you.

[@SamirAbadeer]

Lily 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

[@tuberchat]

This is an interesting introduction to your content. Keep up the good work you've been doing here. Looking forward to much more from you.

[@LilyGazou]

@@tuberchat thanks. I don’t do book reviews ( because people can look those up). It’s more of a reaction to certain books. Other videos - I tend to think in terms of- is this useful or inspiring.

[@jasminmaria2]

Hello from Brazil for beautiful lady ❤. Beautiful video. Excellent presentation. 👏🏼

[@LilyGazou]

Thanks. Always keep dancing. 💃

[@Susanromantic]

You have created a wonderful video... I'll give you a like 👍👍16.. you've done a great job I send you and your loved ones warm wishes. May your home be blessed with love and happiness. Have a happy week 💗💗

[@LilyGazou]

Thank you for your lovely message. I hope you also enjoy the coming week.

[@EpicAdventureCouple]

Nice video on his book My friend 👍👍

[@LilyGazou]

I’m glad you liked it.

[@theblazephotography]

Very nice informative video, thanks for sharing, have a nice day.

[@LilyGazou]

Thank you

[@qaraqishfood2187]

صباح الورد والفل والسعادة عليكم بالتوفيق والنجاح ❤

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

Fax Lily preach it Lily, preach it. Lily love what you said. We live in a clown world today. That's the funny thing about it. I should say sad thing. We live in a clown world today, Lily. Sad, it is what it is though you know.

[@LilyGazou]

We do our best. It’s enough, I hope. Your alternative living is an important part of it. Keep teaching.

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

@@LilyGazou Fax.

[@notafraidtogarden4806]

Hello Lily. I enjoyed your reading. Wow so detailed. This sounds like some details of our daily live. Thanks for sharing. 👏👏👍👍

[@LilyGazou]

I know not everyone has a bit of time to dig around in the library. I think it would Make a good movie.

[@notafraidtogarden4806]

@@LilyGazou I have to agree with you. I would watch it. 👍👍👍👍

[@JimmyFungus]

Whoaaa... I wonder what future generations will think of our times when they read this novel (if there is a future)

[@LilyGazou]

I got another of her books from the library. An assorted collection of her works. Might be interesting. The future will find your videos😆

[@AllenOxendine]

Thanks for sharing.. Interesting. Hope your evening is going well..

[@LilyGazou]

I’m trying to make a video about the guy who broke into my house 😆

[@oldladyluck]

❤

[@NonaMaryGrace1952]

Hello Lily thank you for sharing. 💕NonnaGrace 🐓

[@LilyGazou]

Thank you for stopping by. I’m so relieved your health is improving. It must be so frustrating. Your husband is a treasure to help you as he has.

[@SeanAndersonThe9th]

This is deep, like the narration👏👏👏👏📚

[@LilyGazou]

Thank, Cult of Donuts Wizard!

[@MojoMasteryGold]

Thanks for sharing. While listening, I wanted to breathe in the fresh air and remember how the right aromas can transform your mood and behavior.

[@LilyGazou]

Trees give off beneficial chemicals The Japanese prescribe “forest bathing” to improve health and mood.

[@MojoMasteryGold]

@@LilyGazou Yes, just did some forest bathing near Woods Canyon Lake in AZ and did a video.

[@LilyGazou]

@MojoMasteryGold I’ll check it out!!!

[@CapeCodGlimpses]

new book recommendations! Thank you so much!!!

[@LilyGazou]

You might like The Third Man Factor- some of it may already be familiar from your other reading. I enjoyed it as a mountaineer because of a close call I had. If you read memoirs about sailing, there are many reports of people feeling there was a mysterious person who seemed to be there for them in extreme circumstances. It even relates to a video story I did about a young man who was saved from drowning by a disembodied voice. Don’t you love a mystery?

[@thatway7616]

✨💚✨

[@billyb5057]

most interesting my friend *🥸fully viewed🤖Au🦘☑thumbs up👍👍*

[@LilyGazou]

Your vintage car and truck video was fantastic. The trucks especially- nothing like that here that I know of.

[@SamirAbadeer]

Great significant novels effect me deeply , unfortunately I have No Enough Time to read regularly

[@LilyGazou]

I understand. Sometimes I listen while I’m working.

[@SamirAbadeer]

@@LilyGazou you listen read novel ? or music and songs ?

[@LilyGazou]

@@SamirAbadeer I listen to some books. I play the ukulele for music.

[@SamirAbadeer]

@@LilyGazou 👍 ok 👌 that’s awesome 👏

[@eternalextrapolations]

Wow, that's very well written, in that quite formal style that reminds me of those kind of books written in the 18th and 19th century. Maybe I'm thinking of Daniel Defoe. I think I remember he actually wrote a book titled something like "Journal of the play gue year". Anyway, it's a kind of matter of fact style, like a formal written account of things but with a subdued humor and self-deprecating style - as in her "I hesitate to exempt myself from that [credulous] category". I was thinking there was no need to include herself among those people willing to believe anything they are told, despite the "transparently lunatic proposition", but then despite her ability to see through all the current thing stuff she then (like so many) defaults to belief in that great slander of the past, that lie so big that no one would dare think that anyone could be so impudent to make it up. Wow, I hope the author has since asked herself "wait a minute, if they lied about this then what other lies have they told previously which we simply adopt wholesale as a starting premise...?" Cheers.

[@LilyGazou]

I was thinking about recommending the book to an old friend whose job is connected to writing- because despite being a leftist, she is frustrated by the meetings and regulations about what words to use. You are no longer allowed to say “hey guys” when joining a zoom meeting, for example. It’s “exclusionary”. There is a lot in the novel about the gradual changes encouraged and then mandated eventually to always be at the cutting edge of political correctness. But this might out me. 😆 We both work in the clothing industry and every time product shows up marked men or women ( one company uses the word ladies). And girls and boys. And I’m wondering when those labels will disappear. I’ve lived for these recent years publicly silent on my blood status. About 15 years ago I blew up my acquaintance circle because I questioned the effects of childhood shots. I was shocked at how angry people got about any questioning of it- I certainly didn’t tell them what to do or email the studies. So after losing lots of work during and after lockdowns, I said nothing more as my savings evaporated. Naomi Wolf has been outspoken but I think she has reserves. So- the main character of the novel was braver than me. I’m uncomfortably aware of being more like her friend- but I would never betray anyone. And yes, I am still reading the Belloc. But I couldn’t finish that book about Flannery O’Connor- I’m just not that smart. A gal has gotta know her limits.

[@eternalextrapolations]

@@LilyGazou Funnily enough, it was not so long ago over this side that if someone said "hey guys", it always and unquestioningly would be used exclusively to address a group of men. Guys were men. Girls were women. There were many "Americanisms" that crept in through corporations gradually introducing American terms (which I now know was a deliberate gradual culture changing and social homogenizing method). It seems things have come full circle if they're now claiming that "Hey guys" is exclusive of girls. It might be fine to give anyone anything if it helps them along the road, but of course the danger might be that they take one of the buried po is on pill aspects in it and veer off that way. Still though, J or dan peter son and other fake conservatives have got many to admire moral courage but left him behind. Speaking of fake conservatives, there are many women who know full well how lucrative that is. All they have to so is say anythjng that complains about how the left have "gone too far" and men throw riches at them. Megyn Kelly seems to have made a 180 in recent times and no one calls her on it at all. It's amazing how easily people forgive and forget what these people have done in the past. As far as I'm concerned, Naomi can be as "based" as she likes, but she has been instrumental in getting us to where we are now. How far are you through the Bell oc book? I only read the chapter summary. I felt like I got the main point which is that everything he said was in 1922 and that despite his best efforts at giving the benefit of the doubt or playing devil's advocate, 100 years more have demonstrated that there is no possibility of negotiation or mutual coexistence. I remember hearing people talk about Flan O'Connor in glowing terms years ago. I assume that's the same as Flannery? I don't think I know who he is or remember what he wrote but it must have been popular for a while. I'll look him up. Will be interested to hear what you have to say about him or his book anyway. Ha! I appreciate the Clint reference. Cheers!

[@LilyGazou]

I’m about halfway through the Belloc- I got a bit distracted by his other books that were on the library shelf like The Path to Rome, the travel book. And this note I took from The Great Heresies: Cultures spring from religions; ultimately the vital force which maintains any culture is its philosophy, its attitude toward the universe; the decay of a religion involves the decay of the culture corresponding to it - we see that most clearly in the breakdown of Christendom today. The bad work begun at the Reformation is bearing its final fruit in the dissolution of our ancestral doctrines - the very structure of our society is dissolving. Imagine what he would think to see our present world. There is a church that was given over to the Mus lims to be a mosque. Built in the 1700s, St John’s in Stoke on Trent. They defiled even the graves. One would think there would be some protection afforded by a historical society. Belloc predicted the return of Islamic power too.

[@MindGarden]

👍unfortunately we are not in the clear

[@hongphuongtrip1]

Hello friend, have a nice day

[@LilyGazou]

Thank you. I hope you have a good week ahead of you.

[@SusansRoadLessTraveled]

In the absence of objective morality, truth is relative. Naomi Wolf’s “The Bodies of Others” is another good book about the author waking up in the midst of newly derived CV authoritarianism. Her latest , which I haven’t read, is “Facing the Beast: Courage, Faith, and Resistance in a New Dark Age.”

[@LilyGazou]

I have her latest- but haven’t read it yet. Preordered so that she could print a larger first run.

[@LilyGazou]

I’ve been reading her Substack for quite a while👍

[@JdubbVlogs]

That’s true

[@LilyGazou]

Much love to your family and Boom Boom Parker❤️

[@eternalextrapolations]

I've just read up on the author, Lionel Shriver. It's not a pen-name exactly. She changed her name from Maria because she was a "tom-boy". She's married to a man though. She has lots of self-contradictions which appear to arise only out of her life being personally disadvantaged by some aspects of the march of wokeness. She wants equality but nott rans in womens sport. She says she agrees with wok eideology, but not the name calling. She wants a "fairer society" but not for people to be published just because they're "at rans from the Carribean who dropped out of school at 7". She says she's a "disaffected registered Democrat" who voted for Joe but now likes Ron DeSantis, to whom she wrote an open letter praising his handling of 20 20/21 but still noting that she disagreed with him on a bor tion (meaning she doesn't want restrictions on it). Sadly, Lily I think this is yet another example of how people are rational and objective until it comes to the things which they are selfishly concerned about and then their pet ideologies must be protected at all costs. She wants to be the heroine who goes valiantly against the madding crowd but not at the expense of examining other troubling aspects of society and her own personal beliefs. The name Shriver is Ger man. It describes an occupation of writing. Schreiben means to write in German. Although some etymology connects it to "confessor", it comes from the base word shrive, meaning to write. It's where the word scribbler comes from. In Irish/Scots Gaelic Scríobh (bh=v) means to write. A scribe was a professional writer. It's not just strangely fitting that she's a journalist, it's likely a family tradition, a genetic heritage. Although it says on her wiki that she was presbyterian, everything about her lifestyle (liberal unless it disadvantages her, equality as long as it promotes her, married a jazz singer, lives abroad, and lots of other cues) I can make a good guess at why she hasn't extrapolated on to dismantling something else that people believe without question (with similar or worse social cost).

[@LilyGazou]

Thank you for doing the research. I saw her mentioned and I ordered her book from the library. I noted on the back she lives in Brooklyn and Portugal- and in an interview she lived over 30 years in the UK. So if her thoughts are split, it is no wonder her residence is also. I grew up working class in a vastly wealthy area- lots of second and third and fourth homes of the political and cultural elite. They never pay the price for what they are pushing. I enjoyed their whining when they couldn’t get services after the plandemic even though they earned billions from investing in those certain companies. The women were furious about having to pay a thousand for a haircut and have to wait for an appointment- it was such a laugh to hear of their struggles. I love the etymology, thanks for sharing that aspect.

[@eternalextrapolations]

@@LilyGazou Cheers Lily. I have come to the inevitable realization that people will be as inconsistent in their world view as they are allowed to be. It might be the ultimate luxury to get to contradict oneself publicly and have no one call them out or ever have to suffer any personal consequences. The "it was real in my mind stuff" is exactly the kind of decadence that sinks civilizations.

[@mst.sharminsultanakona]

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[@LilyGazou]

Thank you for your input. I’m sure you are very knowledgeable in these matters. But I’m ok with a small channel. I’m not trying to make money with it. 🌺

[@guitaristdotcom]

There's a KZbin podcast of Shriver discussing the book, fwiw. Title: The Left's War on Merit. Podcaster: Nick Dixon.

[@LilyGazou]

Thanks. I’ll check it out.