New bookshelves, BOOK HAUL and other updates ✨

In this video, I'm going to show you my new bookshelves, a few books I got second hand lately and I'll talk about Shakespeare, my studies and seasonal depression. Enjoy!
00:00 Cozy stuff
01:08 New bookshelves
03:23 What I want to read in the holidays
06:58 Book haul (2nd hand)
15:00 Winter depression and MACBETH
20:00 Study update
contact: [e-mail]

[@fredkrissman6527]

I'll follow you & the crowd in agreeing that THIS was a very cozy chat! Thanx for that on a dark&stormy day in the far north of coastal California. To avoid my own seasonal depression I walk to a community garden where I have a raised bed whenever the clouds part a bit. I'm currently slowly harvesting my exotic winter crop of yacon. I think I already wrote that Sound&Fury is my very fav lit book... I'm a bit sad that you were "spoiled" about the fact that there are several diff voices talking from its pages. I had no clue, and when I figured it out @ 50 pgs in, I was so exhilarated!!! I'm sure you'll love it nonetheless.

[@literalna_aleks]

I love listening to you, your channel has such a nice and cozy atmosphere, and your soft voice and the way you articulate yourself brings me so much comfort!! And this video is just the epitome of that 🥰 I studied English philology as an undergrad so it's nice to see some books I had to read back then and reminisce over that time.

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you ❤

[@j4BnSPUgdu]

So delightfully wonderful to have a fresh video from you to enjoy.Thank you for taking the time to share a bit of your life with us. I envy you the sense of cosiness I remember from winters inside with the family, growing up in the north. These days I find the bright sun and piercing blue Carolina sky here strident and taxing. Some days I lower the blinds part way to soften the light. I hope you're receiving supplemental vitamin D each day. The things you find interesting are also interesting to me: books, ideas, language, poetry, people, history. I find your voice and videos quite grounding. They infuse a sense of comfort, relaxation, and peace. Which are all things we ought to value highly indeed; there is not nearly enough in the world. What is it that Shakespeare says about friendship and hoops of steel? All the best to you and your loved ones.

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you so much for this kind comment. I really appreciate it 🙏 I'm wishing you all the best as well! "But do not dull thy palm with entertainment / Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd comrade"

[@kl0pper]

Ice Palace! Perfect winter read

[@filipsmit5497]

Many thanks for another lovely and genuine insight in your thoughts, feelings and your walk through life. So good to keep exploring and connecting. I can feel with you that bewildering excitement. I guess I’m trying to say you are a wonderful person. Be well

[@strange.lucidity]

Too kind... ❤

[@Cevin.]

On seasonal depression… I feel you, I am one of those people that live with depression on a daily basis, I have BPD as well, so it’s much harder to navigate, it’s more of a symptom. Yesterday was one of my lowest days in a while, and I think the only way I can try to get to the end of each day is by reading something that feels familiar, or writing, forcing myself to find the sun, or just plain masking the feelings with negative behaviors. Like you said, in that moment it can feel like nothing matters, so imagine trying to find something to matter every moment in order to breathe. Anyway, your videos help me, as I use them to disassociate, so thank you! Also, I also just found a beautiful leather bound copy of Madame Bovary, so I hope you read it soon

[@musingsunfiltered]

Ayy fellow BPD girlie haha

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you for sharing that. I'm wishing you all the best and I'm glad writing, reading and to an extent my videos can help you through the tough times ❤

[@Lisa-qt4hh]

I understand what you mean with the second hand books! I do love second hand books though, especially because of all the inscriptions and trinkets you can find in them. It is lovely but sometimes it feels a bit wrong too to take something so personal with you. I am curious about how you will like This is Water. I have not read it but I have read and listened to the speech that the title is taken from. I think it is beautiful, definitely the audio of Wallace actually delivering the speech. Love your sweater by the way, it looks really nice on you, and so does this hairstyle (you're super pretty always though) :) I also wish you a nice time with the holidays and a cosy and nice end of the year

[@strange.lucidity]

Yes I've listened to that speech to and loved it. It made me want to get the book. "This is water, this is water, this is water..." And thank you. I stole it from Erik :D And that compliment is too kind 🙏 I'm wishing you a lovely end of the year as well ❤

[@musingsunfiltered]

You’re so relaxing ❤

[@musingsunfiltered]

I wish for you to escape from your SADS ❤❤

[@strange.lucidity]

Oh thank you ❤

[@Ricky-es9vg]

Hunger is one of my favorite books I read in 2023! It has a very similar ‘feeling’ to Crime and Punishment, though much shorter of course. It is an excellent psychological novel, fast paced, dark, yet its themes are some that can be thought about for a long time.

[@strange.lucidity]

Sounds amazing 💥

[@weenyboyscott6222]

I can highly recommend J.R.R. Tolkien's poetry and songs, particularly Elven-Songs are great as standalone pieces, enjoyable for their total originality of the Elvish language, translated or not are lyrically ethereal. They possess and deliver a timeless and ancient mythological heritage of the World of Arda/ Middle Earth, do seek them out, you'll love his language creation that is so very thorough and evolved to be able to form Poems, brief, Epic and even the riddles between Bilbo Baggins and Golum/ Smeagol! A true Treasure...

[@randomcinemaniac4303]

Go for history , no second thoughts. We would love some history content here🙃

[@strange.lucidity]

Actually planning a very history inspired little series for January 🤞

[@mmedoe]

all the books you mentioned would be great reads, but especially the ice palace is lovely in the winter time. (& if you like podcasts, there's also a backlisted episode on it.) (glad the humming is gone. :) )

[@strange.lucidity]

🙏

[@ocdtdc]

Been on a Shakespeare kick, myself. King Lear is strongly recommended. If you're interested in different movie adaptations of Shakespeare works, I recommend some of Kurosawa's films. Ran is an adaptation of King Lear and Throne of Blood is his adaptation of Macbeth--both are masterpieces.

[@strange.lucidity]

Thanks!! 💥

[@weenyboyscott6222]

"The Hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared", plus the other two that complete Jonas Jonasson's trilogy have been hotly recommended to me. I have them but cannot give any more personal insight than that I'm very drawn to the idea and am intrigued, because I am yet to read the copies I was gifted. Great for Fiction/ Historical context.

[@tavern.keeper]

I think studying classics might be exactly what you're looking for. With classics you get some literature, some history, and some philosophy. What poets or kind of poetry do you like? Do you think you could make a video about poetry or a particular poem you like? Robert Frost is my favorite poet. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening is a seasonally appropriate one of his that I think about a lot this time of year.

[@strange.lucidity]

More people have said that, yeah :D I'm just not sure whether that is offered at my university. And I do also love modern and some postmodern literature. So I think maybe I'm good where I'm at and I'll just take some extra curricula in history :D I like Emily Dickinson and Rainer Maria Rilke for example. I could make a video about it, yes. I just feel very uneducated in that area I have to say. I'm hoping on taking some courses about Rilke and Celan soon... then I'll for sure make videos about that :-) All the best to you!

[@mortadaabbas9889]

.The recording passed so quickly, that I didn’t feel the minutes passing. Thank you

[@strange.lucidity]

Oh thank you 🙏

[@reaganwiles_art]

There is so much love in The Sound and the Fury. So much hatred and spite, too. One of the greatest moments of Redemption I've ever read. The Eternal is continually breaking through in Faulkners' novels and stories. Go Down Moses is likewise enchanted. Faulkner alternates between raw material existence and sublime brif moments of Rapture. The characters themselves may pass through these transitional events without awareness while the reader is made aware. Faulkner was a conduit of something True.

[@strange.lucidity]

Beautiful words. I heard that he's somewhat difficult to get into though. Have you found that to be true? Where would you start?

[@reaganwiles_art]

@strange.lucidity the sound and the fury is as good a place as any to start. It was Faulkner's favorite of all of his books, it was one of the first books he ever wrote and he never stopped writing it, he continued to revise it until he died. There are easier books, but having read almost all of Faulkner, his entire oeuvre is one work with a few tangents.

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

Madame Bovary is so beautifully written. I hope you will enjoy it. :) I'm reading The Letters of Gustave Flaubert, and this author is just fascinating! Have a great Sunday.

[@strange.lucidity]

Cool. Yeah I read "mémoires d'un fou" before, which are his teenage letters. I found them really revealing. Is that the same ones you read? 🙂

[@ProseAndPetticoats]

@@strange.lucidity It's a book with his complete letters from 2023 (recent release), so they're probably in there! It indeed starts in his teenage years.

[@evamatlach1986]

Das Video war gerade so richtig für mich, so cozy, intersting and calming in einer sehr anstrengenden Zeit! Ich leide schon länger unter der Dunkelheit dieser Jahreszeit, aber genau solche Videos tun mir dann gut. Du hast so eine angenehme Art zu sprechen, dass ich mich direkt entspanne! Ich liebe es Second Hand Bücher zu durchstöbern, vielleicht noch eine alte Karte darin zu finden. In Geschichte habe ich riesige Lücken, die ich auch gerne füllen würde. Wünsche dir schöne Feiertage und uns allen bald wieder mehr Licht! ☀️

[@romy4777]

This hedgehog picture just made my day! 😂

[@strange.lucidity]

:P

[@kseniyasbooknook4172]

Looks like a great list! I read Hunger this year and it was amazing, such an original voice. Very different and memorable despite the simple plot. I didn't think I would like it but trying to expose myself to Scandinavian literature, I felt like I should read it. It turns out I like its weirdness and strange complexity.

[@strange.lucidity]

Aw amazing to hear that! I ended up ordering it yesterday and I can't wait to get in...

[@annedebthune3084]

What a great haul, kind of poignant to pick over the remains of another’s life, we’re all heading down that road, but great library! Knut Hamson growth of the soil is beautiful and epic especially if you want to do Norwegian studies, the hunger is pretty maniacal stay away if your feeling down, Charles Bukowski always claim Knut Hamson his favorite writer

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you for leaving your thoughts here. You words on Knut Hamsun now sort of make me want to read it even more though :D

[@reaganwiles_art]

Poetry? T.S. Eliot. Despite his reputation as a conservative and a royalist and worse, some of which is true, there was no greater sorcerer of verse in the English language in the 20th century. He is so great. His own poetry totally contradicts his criticism. This guy was truly a lightning rod for daimonic forces, a magus. The Waste Land, Four Quartets, to name his two longest "poems."

[@ocdtdc]

That is very interesting. I've read his works many times but had no idea he was conservative. Totally wouldn't have guessed by his literature.

[@Darinsss]

I'm re-reading Hunger right now. I think for similar reasons you mention with Macbeth. There's a catharsis to witnessing what can go awry in the locked room of a mind. It belongs to a genre which I enjoy where lonely people are propelled around European cities by their own disturbed pyschology. WIll they or won't they drag themselves out of their existenial funk. See also: Nausea by Sartre. It takes skill to craft something compelling from characters who are contrary and powerless agents and where no great events, besides internal ones, take place.

[@strange.lucidity]

Oh, that description now instantly makes me want to read it 😅 Sounds exactly like something I'd love. Thank you ❤

[@jontyslade101]

Trilby by Du Maurier, then Stoker's Dracula; they have to be read as a pair to get all the 'history' you need

[@karllundkvist5443]

Recently read Hunger and enjoyed it a lot! It made me want to read more of Hamsun in the future, and I’m especially looking forward to read Growth of the Soil. And I’ll be reading the Birds by Vesaas this Christmas in nynorsk. I think it will be a good transitional book to Jon Fosse’s literature, which is also written in nynorsk. And I have to say, your videos are great! They’ve made me want to read Goethe, Dürrenmatt and Thoreau!!

[@strange.lucidity]

Amazing! Norwegian is your mother tongue then? I'd be very curious if I understand some of Hunger even in the original language, as I do speak German and Dutch and they're very similar. And that is fantastic to hear! They're all amazing authors ❤

[@simon.voggeneder]

I am surprised by your dislike of used books. I love the little signs of a previous life a book has led. As for the depression, have you tried vitamin D supplementation? Most people in our region are deficient in the darker months of the year. As for your studies, I would suggest history above the others named, since, as you mentioned, it broadens your context so much. But beware that history studies come with a lot of courses about scientific work, from what I have read and heard. It can be different from what one might imagine. But I only have second hand information about this. I guess there is no harm in trying!

[@MB-hc9tk]

You would probably love classical studies ❤ I appreciate you speaking out on your feelings, it really does help others not to feel so alone in their feelings/emotions. We must remember to treat the low times with kindness towards ourselves. I studied Mac Beth in secondary school but haven’t looked at it for many decades now , it might be time for a revisit very soon because I know I did enjoy it too! ❤ I know what you mean too about the book recommendations , I get them and there’s a few that I instantly want to just absorb 😂 but when it comes to what to prioritise or read next I’m like 🤔 or I’ll not be in the mood for one and I’ll jump to something completely different … Out of your list I’ve read the ice palace. It was a very interesting story , I did enjoy it however, I think if you can read it in its original language it would be a lot better, I feel the translation in the penguin modern classic may not be the greatest/do it justice. Perhaps I’m wrong about that, others may feel different but I couldn’t help but think that reading it.. it was like some things were just translated directly and could have been structured much better.

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you for leaving your thoughts and recommendations here! I really appreciate it. ❤

[@pedrodavila9270]

I strongly recommend Madame Bovary-it is long, but not a slow read. Incredible book. Also, Hermann Hesse is always a nice light option. Might be a bit adolescent, but so are we sometimes. You mentioned learning a foreign language: have you considered Portuguese? Since you already speak French, it shouldn’t be too hard. It is a beautiful and sonorous language, and Brazilian literature is so precious… :)

[@strange.lucidity]

I have considered it yes! It's actually pretty high up on my list of languages to learn. I find it such a wonderful, fun and soft language. Plus when I was in Portugal, people were exceptionally chill and friendly, I immediately felt at home... ❤

[@pedrodavila9270]

@@strange.lucidity then you should definitely learn it! In my opinion, Brazilian and Portuguese poetry is so rewarding (Fernando Pessoa, Vinicius de Moraes, Manuel Bandeira, Cecília Meireles…), and romances and novels originally written in Portuguese are a must (you’d probably be interested in “Grande Sertão: Veredas”, by Guimarães Rosa, which was heavily influenced by Faust, but extremely original at the same time). And, c’mon, the language just sounds sexy (the Brazilian accent especially, although I might be biased…) Anyway, you’re doing a wonderful work with your channel! :)

[@strange.lucidity]

Ahh! I actually have a video about Grande Sertao coming up. And I don't know how to pronounce it exactly. It's gonna be a video about translation and I'm gonna take the translation history of Grande Sertao as an example. If you want to, you could send me an audio file of you pronouncing it, so I know for the video. Or read a view lines of the books in the original? 😇 (my email is in the description boxes of my videos) I just love having some of the original language sprinkled in my videos. And in this case I can't do it myself. Anyways, no pressure. I just thought it would be cool 🙂@@pedrodavila9270

[@susandevine3907]

I think we’d call this an “estate sale” in the US 😊. So perfect that the lady had been an English teacher.

[@weenyboyscott6222]

Perhaps you're SADS feelings could be the balance of the scales of your buzzing enjoyment and excitement, what with also hidden stress, of your studying so intensively. Just a thought. I get down in Winter, despite genuinely preferring the night like season generally, as you say you do too. Stick it out, and always confide in/with Eric. Take care

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you. And you could be very right. I've had that thought before 🙏

[@gusriley9785]

good point weenyboy!

[@gusriley9785]

Hi again Strange Lucidity :) Pleased to hear your SAD has passed, apart from a brief spell yesterday, - the poster below who mentioned the emotional highs of starting your passion of studying followed by a dip could well be right, given it's a first for you, may it be the last 🙏 I could relate to quite a few things you said, - my main passion is music, and although I'm a life long learner from home, I give myself some pretty tough schedules sometimes, I'm just wrapping one up which has taken several months of an area of music listening, and it was pretty demanding, so for the holiday period I'm gonna dissapear into music I love and know it will recharge my batteries, - some classic jazz from the fifties, - a brilliant decade! Re your considering studying some history, - ditto, - I dip into a fair amount of history but with no real structure, so for 2024 I have decided on a deep dive of World History, starting with Mesopotamia as the cradle of civilisation and working through what followed, - pretty excited about it :) You and Eric have a wonderful holiday period, and take care of each other :) He did a good job with your new shelves too :) Namaste, Gus from England :)

[@strange.lucidity]

Thank you so much Gus for this kind comment 🙏 I read it out loud to Erik and we both appreciate you! Also how exciting that you're learning so much on your own terms. I find that admirable! Keep up the good work ❤

[@gusriley9785]

@@strange.lucidity Thanks to you both ❤❤ - NOW . . . enjoy some quality chill time together ✌- Gus

[@davidpardocossio8995]

We could give you we all.sommany advice about readings 🤭🤭🤭 I hope you will like Madame Bovary; from Mr Flaubert I also liked Une vie. I am also very curious about Scandinavian literatures. By the way, apart from German and English, in which languages you can read already? Please, keep recommending us readings. Maybe you can make us selections about German/Swiss/Austrian classic books recommendations? Happy readings. I wish you a recharging and quiet holiday!

[@strange.lucidity]

Thanks a lot for your comment 🙏 I speak French and Dutch as well. And yes, I would love to do a video about German-speaking authors I just don't feel quite like I have the right overview yet. I feel there's more do discover before I can confidently make a video about it. But I'm probably taking a course soon where I hope that will change 🙂 Wishing you a great holiday as well!

[@davidpardocossio8995]

@@strange.lucidity for French, I do greatly recommend you the Québécoise literature. Michel Tremblay is a very good novelist, short-story writter and theather play writer. I can recommend you many more!

[@susandevine3907]

Langston Hughes (1901-1967) is an American poet you should read.

[@celebrityauthor7942]

Who are some of your favourite poets?

[@strange.lucidity]

Emily Dickinson and Rainer Maria Rilke

[@SheepandOak]

Your sweater looks hand-knit, is it? I'm a knitter... I want to make that sweater! I love everything about this video and your channel. You are doing amazing things, and I'm so excited to keep watching.

[@strange.lucidity]

Hi thanks so much for your kind comment ❤ So I asked Erik (it's his sweater) and he said no, he bought it ages ago. But I do agree it looks handmade. It's unfortunately pretty rough so I can't wear it without a long-sleeve shirt underneath. I just checked your channel btw and wow! Amazing the kinds of sweaters you knit. I have a lot of respect for that! Where can I order one!? 🙂

[@motoole3200]

Thanks! Is was relaxing listening to your about English Lititure. Being in the flow.. is a ❤️ thing. Books and people cross paths when the student is ready, The pain is hard to Put into words, if we can name it, we can frame it. Self-talk, and Communicating our feelings is a necessary process in the healing process. We all are searching the meaning of Suffering Humanity. We can have heroes and stories about history. His-story. Their-story. But there is an economic aspect that is hidden. and not being taught as it should that hungry people starts wars and uprising with the basic theme we need food and a healthy lifestyle. It is interesting that Western standard of living increased with the invention of the plow and the Goten--burg parenting press? When to he common people learn to read and had easy access to litititure.

[@yolandasilverio1205]

Try Albert, Lord Tennyson one of the greatest Victorian Poets.

[@bertanyaberpendapat]

Nice thumbnail!

[@GazmendCeno]

What’s happen to Goethe project ?!?

[@strange.lucidity]

It's still going I'm just taking breaks in between to make other videos 🙂

[@aleavril]

Can I ask how old you are🥰 your life seems so well put together!

[@strange.lucidity]

Oh thank you! I'm 28 🙂

[@weenyboyscott6222]

How were your Exams?

[@strange.lucidity]

Good good! Already got the results so it's all good! :-) Thanks for asking!

[@none8680]

Don't waste your time on Madame Bovary. It's one of the few books I have ever DNFed. It was revolutionary and fresh at its time but nowadays, it's just boring.

[@strange.lucidity]

Interesting take. Haven't heard that one before :D

[@enaravaz]

I recently discovered your channel and love all your videos. There's something very soothing about them, as if I was talking to a friend. 🤍 I studied spanish literature and I'm currently doing my masters but I always wondered if I should've studied comparative literature instead. Your videos about uni make me so happy because I get to experience it a little bit

[@strange.lucidity]

Yeeeeyyy that is lovely to hear ❤ How cool! On that note, my next video is on Don Quixote. So I'm curious what you're gonna think of it :D All the best!