Ranking All The Classics I've Ever Read 🫖🏛️ | The Book Castle | 2024

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Hi! My name is Alice and I love books! I read just about everything from classics to contemporary fiction, adventures to mysteries, fantasy to all kinds of non-fiction - and I love reviewing and recommending books, and just generally having a chat about literature. I also adore baking, hot chocolate, crafts and basically everything cosy, soft and peaceful. I currently live in Oslo, Norway.
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[@michalaharesnape5434]

I loved this video, thank you Alice. For the ‘altered my brain chemistry’ section I would add ‘The grapes of wrath’ by John Steinbeck. I read it when I was at university years ago and I remember it really altered my worldview. It gave me such a deep understanding of what it is to be oppressed, to be poor, to be homeless. The way that the family in the book struggle to survive and try so hard to stay together and care for one another just broke my heart. I also love Virginia Woolf like you do, I’m going to visit her house in Sussex later this week, can’t wait.

[@bebebrownsdollhaul6444]

Master and Margarita altered my brain chemistry because I realized what I don’t know about Russian History The Awakening altered me because I began to understand the feminist novel Siddhartha altered by making me think deeply about the Buddha Handmaid’s Tale altered Frankenstein altered because I realized how young Love in the Time of Cholera altered me at twenty because I understood all the different types of loves Shakespeare-many of the plays altered me by showing me what you could learn about life from a book Sophie’s World altered by showing the love of learning and mentors These are some. I can’t really think of What is This books besides The Master and Margarita. Sometimes the Bible gives me that feeling and sometimes it delights or compels me. The Road was so horrific I would place it in What is This This was a fun video as always. Thanks

[@BaileeWalsh]

hmmm, I think I would put Brideshead Revisited in "altered my brain chemistry." It IS one of my favorite books but it didn't start that way. After I finished it it was a solid 3/5. I really liked the writing but the direction the novel took didn't line up with what I would have preferred to happen. But I could not stop thinking about it, especially after I watched the 1981 miniseries adaptation. After I finished the miniseries I thought about the book again just accepting what happened, taking the book for what it is- not what I wanted or may like more, and I realized how much I appreciate it, which then turned to liking it more, and continuing to think about it and it being a favorite :) Plus, I a couple years later I watched Downton Abbey, which I absolutely loved, it took over my life, and I later recognized the similarities between BR and DA, both being about changing society and being present in history to an extent. Also for me personally The Haunting of Hill House would be here. And I agree with The Color Purple being here, too. I would put Candy by Maxwell Kenton and The Girl With The Golden Eyes by Balzac in "what is this." Candy is a wild ride and honestly I'm confused about the history and writing of it, like the full context of everything. But it's also one that I like that I have on my shelves. I did like The Girl With The Golden Eyes, minus a couple aspects. I loved the writing (the first part of the book may be more accurate to be put in the "altered my brain chemistry" category now that I think about it). But it is surely one that is like, 'huh?,' at times when you're reading it. These would more so be in, _"wtf_ is this," rather than just, _"what_ is this", lol

[@jenniferrosebruce6385]

Underrated for The Ice Palace is definately in the correct category. I commented on it last week. Still think about that book. Thanks a lot Alice for recommending it years ago ❤😊

[@TheBookCastle]

I’m glad you love it too! 🥰🥰

[@sandyokey1019]

This was such fun. I think most of the books I read in high school would fit in the can’t remember category. Like Hemingway, Hawthorne, Orwell, Crane. Probably considered more American classics. Loved most ardently claims The Age of Innocence, The Great Gatsby, Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie. And I think I’m in the minority with What is this being claimed by Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. For altered brain chemistry, Dust tracks on a road, Passing, catcher in the Rye, grapes of Wrath, Little Women, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Agatha Christie also fits here because I discovered my love for mystery writing thanks to her.

[@bujobyfilo]

My cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier and Anna Karenina are probably my favorite classics. I'm so in love with Du Maurier's writing and brain that I'm slowly reading all of her books. Adding HG Wells and some of the sci fi you mentionned here to my tbr, thanks!

[@salliesones9506]

I loved how you said that we are all allowed to like different things. Because it is so true. I usually tend to like what others don't and don't like what others do...and it all comes down to your own preference. 💜💜💜

[@avsambart]

Ohhh it's nice to see our taste match up quite a bit.

[@eileennielsen5165]

This was great Alice, thank you. I discovered Poe as a teen also and STILL like him. I have that exact collection. So does my 18 yr. old granddaughter (I bought it for her). Sense And Sensibility is my fave Austen. I agreed w/all your most ardently loved choices. I did really like A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, read it twice sometime ago!

[@TerryJ950]

I just finished reading Atonement by Ian McEwan, and it definitely altered my brain - what an absolutely devastating book. Two classics I love very much that weren’t mentioned are The Razor’s Edge and East of Eden. I ordered Youth Without God from my library based on your recommendation from another video and it’s ready to pick up. I loved watching this video and hope you’ll do more tier rankings in the future!

[@TheBookCastle]

❤️❤️❤️

[@ReadingNymph]

I feel the same about We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I went in with super high expectations 😅

[@TheBookCastle]

Glad it wasn't just me 😅

[@AbiofPellinor]

I just read Greenbanks from Dorothy Whipple and I'm so glad to see someone else who's read from her and enjoyed her work!! I'm hoping to get some more of her books to read in the future

[@TheBookCastle]

Love Whipple!! 🥰 Really recommend They Were Sisters by her ❤️

[@AbiofPellinor]

@@TheBookCastle I'll push that one to the top of my to-buy list!

[@natalied3279]

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte altered my brain chemistry.

[@anastasiariley2414]

Hi Alice, thank you for the video. I have discover some new book and authors 😊 Also happy some Russian books made it to the top of your chart ❤📚

[@danieleigh6468]

I just love your videos! I haven’t read a ton of classics and really want to! I’m so glad you made this

[@Belladonna_Q]

I loved The Ice Palace! We even got a new translation recently, but I haven’t read that one yet. And I do agree with Lolita being in the "what is this" category. I would put Forefathers’ Eve part II in the "altered my brain chemistry" category. I liked part III ok enough, but part IV goes straight into the "what the hell is this" territory. This whole poetic drama by Mickiewicz is kind of funny, actually, because he first published part II, then part IV, then part III, and the last one was part I, but only after his death. The Bride of Corinth also altered my brain chemistry and I'm now a gothic stan. I read it in my Poe/Dracula/European Gothic phase.

[@shellkay]

Loved/Altered Brain: Gatsby, Walden, Secret Garden, Velveteen Rabbit , Narnia books, Watership Down, Flowers for Algernon & EB White’s children’s books What is This: As I Lay Dying

[@emiliepaquet5159]

Lovely video! I kept thinking about where I would put the classics I've read while watching. Two books that I would put in "altered my brain chemistry": Rebecca and The Bell Jar. Both books I went in with low expectations for different reasons, and they've stayed with me ever since.

[@TheBookCastle]

I reeeeeally need to read both of those 😍

[@danieleigh6468]

Do you like classic movies? I absolutely love old movies! The Ghost and Mrs Muir I love it! Bell Book and Candle another one I love! I love all of Cary Grant movies as well.

[@danieleigh6468]

I love Edgar Allen Poe! I love the movies they made from the books

[@jenniferrosebruce6385]

Hi Ive never read his novels, but if Alice highly recommends him, Ill pop by the bookstore tomorrow😊

[@TheBookCastle]

Haven’t seen any movie adaptations, but maybe I should! 🥰

[@nedmerrill5705]

Informative video. Enjoyed it. Ever read (or see performed) Ibsen's _Hedda Gabler?_ My favorite of the Ibsens I'm familiar with. Love it ardently. I just read F. Scott Fitzgerald's _Tender is the Night._ I think it is Fitzgerald's best; I recommend it if you are up for it. No Dickens?

[@TheBookCastle]

I’ve read parts of Hedda Gabler but not the whole thing 😊

[@klaire74]

This was so fun, i love it, like always! So for the "altered my brain chemistry" i have 2 - The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco and The Magus by John Fowles. I read them when i was an adolescent so for sure i was under a certain spell. And for "what is this" i also have Inferno - too much for me. But - and is a big one - i am very subjective. If i am talking about classics, if i was forced to read something (for school) i couldn't enjoy the books entirely. I swore that i would never read War and Peace, i cheated for the assignments because our summer vacation was ruined by this one book. And reading at a certain age, before 18 or 20, is quite different that reading later in life. When i read The Picture of Dorian Gray i was like "hm, ok". Intriguing theme, but the writing style did nothing, i found it even very imature. And a few years back i listened as audiobook, a reading by Bob Neufeld - i love it so much! The same with The Secret History by Donna Tartt (which now is considered a classic i guess). I started to read the book and i was so bored, but i needed to know a little bit more, so i listened narrated by her. When it finished i was not able to read another book for 2 weeks. While i was working i was constantly thinking at the darn TSH😄 (And i found When We Were Villains by ML Rio - while i was reading, in my head was in the voice of Donna Tartt 😁 Of course i loved it, i could swear that is a retelling of TSH. Or at least for me it was and made me so happy) After so many years of listening and reading about ranking books i reached the conclusion that is extremely subjective. When i see the ratings from Good Reads of some of my favourite books, i want to scream 😄I am aware that the writing style evolved, because the languages and our way of living evolved and changed. And does nothing for the younger generations. Back in the days, because we were forced to read everything about the Greek myths, everyone hated everything from that direction - chores, not pleasure reading. And now everyone is crazy in love over the retellings, but they also love the old texts. And this is amazing. Are so many things to consider when we rank books and yes, is really personal. But is such a fun and for sure brings more perspective in how we perceive some texts. Thank you for all these reminders of books that are quite special, because the classics are their own kind and deserve to be on our shelves even if we didn't like them. Have a wonderful week ahead!♥♥♥

[@TheBookCastle]

Love to hear your thoughts! 🖤 Hope you have a great week as well!

[@danieleigh6468]

Watch Little women the movie 1994 version with Winona Ryder in it! It’s the best

[@danieleigh6468]

These aren’t classics but they are non fiction and really good! Stiff by Mary Roach, past Mortems by Carla Valentine, Mortuary Confidental undertakers spill the dirt by Kenneth McKenzie and Todd Harra

[@jenniferrosebruce6385]

What is this category: Circe, Dan Brown, The Maidens, fourth wing, A llittle Life, yellowface,, Goldfinch donna tartt (worst ever), midnight library, lessons in chemistry,. Thoughts Alice?

[@danieleigh6468]

The Drowing summer by Christine Herman, Bring me your midnight by Rachel Griffin, Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Farida have u read any of these? They are on my July TBR

[@TheBookCastle]

I haven’t read any of them 🖤

[@danieleigh6468]

@@TheBookCastle you should definitely see if they may interest you

[@cthulhuelena]

I have read The turn of the screw by Henry James. I can’t say “what is this”, it’s not bad but the writing style makes it really difficult to read. I almost did not finish it but I pushed through. I wouldn’t recommend it unless I knew the person loved the style or had insomia. Oops! Yup, I was bored!

[@jenniferrosebruce6385]

Love from Thailand. ❤😊

[@magda_mf]

High five, I also tend to forget a lot of the books I've read 🙈 At least we can re-read them later and feel like it's the first time 😅

[@TheBookCastle]

Hahahah glad it’s not just me 😅

[@BrookeReadsBooks333]

Great video, Friend! I’m reading Circe to get out of my slump, it’s ummm going okayish lol. Im totally in “Summerween” vibes so I might switch to a horror/stephen king. 🎃 P.S. I received my Shop Dixi ring and looooove it!!! 🌙🤍

[@TheBookCastle]

Thank yoooou! 🥰🥰 Oooh I’m so glad you liked the ring, I love mine 🖤

[@joyceredman2136]

The Stranger by Albert Camus was definitely -What is this?

[@danieleigh6468]

I found a book called Classic Horror Stories it’s a Barnes and Noble edition. Are there any Norwegian books that are translated to English you would recommend?

[@TheBookCastle]

The Ice Palace 😊

[@danieleigh6468]

@@TheBookCastle I will definitely look that one up

[@arlievaughn]

I Love Little Women but I can see where it wouldn’t be a hit for someone who isn’t American - it’s very much an American tale.