Hello Curtis. I’m here because Shawn the Book Maniac recommended you.

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

Any friend of Shawn is a friend of mine. Welcome, Margot

“Better Call Saul, the greatest TV show of our time.” Christ, I’ve missed you. 🤣

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

I can only assume it's because you agree unreservedly with the statement...

Welcome back Curtis👋You just showed up on my feed. Great to see you again.

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

Great to hear from you, Jacqueline!

Hi. Heart is a Lonely Hunter is in my top ten favourite books . So pleased you loved it . Hardly a week goes by when I don't think about it , unprompted , it sunk so deep into my psyche and touched me deeply . I'm reading Can You Forgive Her in the autumn and agree Trollope doesn't always hit the mark (The American Senator, case in point). Currently reading Eustace Diamonds and Lizzie Eustace is a stunningly believable anti heroine . Do you think Trollope and King occupy similar cultural space ? I know their content is different but .....Both are great storytellers and craftsmen , consistent , confident of their audience , have long successful careers, are undaunted and widely popular by getting under the skin of their readers preoccupations ...just a thought ....

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad I'm not alone then - such a profound book. Never even considered putting King and Trollope in the same sentence together, let alone the same cultural space! But it's certainly an interesting comparison and I'm sure someone somewhere will do a dissertation on it

I haven't read a novel by Stephen King for ages, but lately I was wondering if I would still like his books and if I should give one of his more recent novels a go. So I was wondering which one to choose, because there are so many of them. Now I know which one to pick up. I think he is one of the few writers who doesn't get edited, because he has the power to refuse that. At least this is what I've heard.

@CurtisBooksandFilms

Жыл бұрын

Well do let me know if you read The Institute as I'd be fascinated to hear what you think. As I say a deeply problematic book but still quite the page turner.

I'm really glad you decided to get back on KZread. I, for one, really enjoy your videos and I'm sure many more do as well. I read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter several years ago. My cousin suggested it to me. His sister got a copy to read as did my aunt. I was the only one of the bunch, though, that actually finished it. Back in the sixties I read The Member of the Wedding and enjoyed it. A couple of years ago I read McCullers' Reflections in a Golden Eye and the play version of The Member of the Wedding. For the past couple of weeks I've been reading at The Ballad of the Sad Cafe. McCullers' stories remind me of the Southern Gothic sensibilities of Flannery O'Connor. Some authors you might like but may not be familiar with: Victor Pelevin (A Werewolf Problem in Central Russia), Patrick Modiano (La Place de l'Etoile), Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky (The Letter Killers Club), and Mikhail Shishkin (Calligraphy Lesson). As for another Southern writer you may know but not have read, I recommend my most favorite book of all time, Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward Angel. The poetry of the language is so beautiful it hurts and his insights into the human heart are life altering. The key to understanding this novel is to allow it to touch you emotionally. If the beauty of language and faith in human nature has no appeal, then this is not the book to read. Take care. We all look forward to more videos from you!

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

There's definitely a sense of O'Connor in McCullers but she also reminded me of Steinbeck in a way, the theme of loneliness did it I suppose. Nice to hear you're reading Ballad of the Sad Cafe, which was probably my second favourite in the collection. So many recommendations to follow up on! I have actually read Thomas Wolfe's Of Time and the River and have Look Homeward on my shelf. I've also read a couple of Patrick Modiano's but the others are completely new to me.

Loving this! (I haven’t finished watching yet) but looking forward to hearing your thoughts on One-Armed Sister, which I’m reading at a luxuriantly slow pace (the audiobook is to die for). And high five on bailing on Phineas Finn! I agree: what a horrible disappointment after Can You Forgive Her?!

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

I distinctly remember you bailing for more or less the same reasons, and I had that in mind when I finally gave up. Once again you were the devil on my shoulder! I won't be going anywhere near the audiobook but I'm getting pretty psyched for the Cherie Jones now!

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is great but it was so hard going and hopeless lol.

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

I didn't find it hard going at all but certainly very sad!

@Gagging4Lit

2 жыл бұрын

@@CurtisBooksandFilms that's what i meant by hard-going

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

@@Gagging4Lit Ah fair enough!

I'm fascinated by ghostwriters so. I may give "The Red Arrow" a whirl

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

I'm a sucker for any book or film featuring a writer. I'm sure you'll like The Red Arrow as it's quite ambitious with its experimentation of time.

@MarcNash

2 жыл бұрын

@@CurtisBooksandFilms Sold!

OMG! YOU'RE BACK! YAY!

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

You must have missed my grand reopening last week! Thanks, Kanzy

@kanzy9899

2 жыл бұрын

@@CurtisBooksandFilms I did! I’m going to go watch it now :D

I too have had The Heart is a Lonely Hunter sitting on my shelf for several years, you’ve convinced me I need to make it a priority Curtis! I won’t hold it against you that you didn’t like Phineas Finn ☹️😉 the two Phineas novels are my favorite of the six after Can You Forgive Her? the Eustace Diamonds is by far the worst. Lady Glencora appears far more again after the novel and she’s very much the draw for me but no, I love Phineas too!

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

Well now you're just making me feel guilty for wanting to take the bookmark out! What is there to like about it!? Do let me know if you pick of THIAH, would love to hear your thoughts.

@josmith5992

2 жыл бұрын

I really liked Phineas who is kind of naive, has no money but still has political ambition and there are some wonderful characters - primarily women- who help him along the way without you knowing if things will work out for him or not. The politics can be a bit dry at times but not terrible. We all have different opinions though so if it’s not for you it’s not 👍😉 There are so many other great Trollope novels you could enjoy!

@CurtisBooksandFilms

2 жыл бұрын

@@josmith5992 The women were the best thing about "Can you forgive her"" as well. I have to say I'm surprised I didn't like it as I actually enjoy dry politics, haha. Thanks, Jo

@hesterdunlop7948

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Jo . Just had to jump in as I'm reading Eustace Diamonds , my first Palliser ....i love it but there again I find Trollope so readable that it's hard to dislike any of his books . Have to say the plot reminds me of Orley Farm but with a more openly manipulative and delicious anti heroine but , again , he's highlighting the terrible limitations placed on women ( and men tbh) by the need to marry money or retain property ....and how it distorts behaviour

@josmith5992

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Hester, if you love The Eustace Diamonds I think you’ll enjoy the others in the series even more. I haven’t read Orley Farm but have heard it’s a good one. I read a few disappointing Trollope’s recently but am currently reading Is he Popenjoy? which I’m loving! You are so right about him being so readable!