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• 
  @RalphDratman2 сағат бұрын

  What an interesting channel!

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  @book_rants4 минут бұрын

  I really appreciate that, Ralph. It fires me up to keep producing material.

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  @mananagarwal39596 сағат бұрын

  Great review 👏 💯

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  @book_rants3 сағат бұрын

  Thanks for watching and for the comment!

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  @benp487717 сағат бұрын

  Thank you for this. I read The Recovering a few years ago, and this was my exact take on that book as well. In that book Jamison tried to do what Olivia Laing had already done better in The Trip to Echo Spring, which was her attempt to figure out why so many famous writers were alcoholics. Jamison’s book alternates in an extremely disconnected way between covering the exact same ground in a less interesting way and relating the story of her own struggles with addiction, which seemed to mostly involve cocaine, Chardonnay, and literary bad boys from her MFA program, which sounded to me more like average ‘90s/early 2000s grad school partying than addiction, but hey, it’s her story, not mine. The point is this: she comes off in it as deeply narcissistic, extremely overly wordy, and in need of maybe one or two people to tell her she’s not the genius so many literary establishment people have told her she is. Essentially it is the worst kind of MFA-world claptrap that NPR employees list on those “fearless new book of the year” lists. Again, thanks for reading this latest one so I don’t have to.

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  @book_rants16 сағат бұрын

  Thanks for the comment, Ben. It gives context. Also, I'd never heard of THE TRIP TO ECHO SPRING.

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  @jeremiahreilly973922 сағат бұрын

  I listened on a whim. I don't quite know what to make of your rant, but I loved it raw authenticity.

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  @book_rants16 сағат бұрын

  I appreciate you taking the time to watch and then to comment.

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  @thepagecollectiveКүн бұрын

  "I have no clout. Nothing lame that I write is ever going to get past the literary gate keepers." Does that mean you are unpublished or not a big enough name to get lameness published?

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  @book_rantsКүн бұрын

  It means that I am not a big enough name to get anything as bad as this book published.

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  @thepagecollectiveКүн бұрын

  @@book_rants Okay, then, this is relevant. Imagine a man who is fifty, mopping floors in a homeless shelter, an orphan, a product of foster care. He discovers his biological grandfather was was a famous modernist poet in the early twentieth century, and present at the birth of modern American counter culture. He learns this by accident in an exchange with a best-selling Hemingway biographer. He writes a memoir and the biographer loves it, loves the writing, has a great book blurb for him. But it can't be published. Why? Because the memoir market is dominated by educated middle class white women writing memoirs for educated middle class white women. My book is not about an educated, middle class white woman. The appeal of Splinters is that it is by and for educated, middle class white women. This demographic adores anything that validates them, regardless of how its written. Jamison is pre-validated, pre-approved, so why bother with an editor?

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  @book_rantsКүн бұрын

  @@thepagecollective I understand your frustration, but I don't want to turn this forum into a bunch of disgruntled white guys lamenting the unfairness of the system. The book business has always been a little about talent, and a lot about luck. Most writers are unlucky. Many good books are passed over, and many bad books are published. And, if you're asking if I think editors are important, yes, I think they can make or break a book.

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  @thepagecollectiveКүн бұрын

  @@book_rants I wasn't trying to make it about that. Never mind.

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  @sarofeenКүн бұрын

  Brilliant stuff, as usual!

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  @book_rantsКүн бұрын

  I appreciate that, Kyle.

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  @PaulJosephStrassfieldКүн бұрын

  I read SPLINTERS and also The Empathy Exams (TEE). You’re 100% correct. There were hints of Jamison’s self-centered personality and utter lack of context in TEE. Leslie’s making a living after being a self-destructive, self-absorbed modern obtuse feminist.

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  @book_rantsКүн бұрын

  I could respect a feminist who put the cause before herself. In this book at least, the only Jamison book I've read, she uses the cause in vain. Thanks for the comment, by the way. Good to get a perspective from someone who's read some of her other work.

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  @roxytocin86392 күн бұрын

  This was great! Thank you.

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  @book_rants2 күн бұрын

  Thanks for watching.

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  @Marusya5143 күн бұрын

  Maugham was one of the most popular writers 📑 in the USSR , every single family had a volume of W.S.Maugham’s work on their book shelves. Yet, in England I can hardly find anyone who knows about this great author!

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  @book_rants2 күн бұрын

  It's good to hear that he's got a great following abroad. Both he and the great Russian playwright and short story writer, Chekhov, both started as doctors, I know that.

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  @relentless-io3 күн бұрын

  The memoirs I read after this video will be a richer, or perhaps more accurate, experience. Sorry about the death of your father. Lost mine around the same time. Think about him every day.

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  @book_rants3 күн бұрын

  Thanks for the heartfelt comment, man. Yeah, I think about my dad every day, too. It wasn't until he passed that I understood the term "present in spirit."

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  @JoseLeeJobs4 күн бұрын

  I just started reading The Summing Up this week, Maugham is a very popular writer in China , his books have been read over and over again, and always heen on the top list of reading apps and websites, especially Of Human Bondage , The moon and Sixpence , The Painted Veil , and The Razor's Edge etc. Cakes and Ale , I like it very much😅😅

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  @book_rants4 күн бұрын

  I had no idea about his popularity in China! Clearly his work has international appeal.

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  @lesliegordon23134 күн бұрын

  This has got to be the best praise of a book I have ever come across on KZread. Thank you. I do agree. None other than Ray Bradbury cited The Summing Up as one of his favourite books of all time. A compliment indeed.

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  @book_rants4 күн бұрын

  I did not know that about Ray Bradbury. Thanks for the information!

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  @user-vr4pp3qx6b4 күн бұрын

  Great video. I'm curious about your process when reading to review a book. Do you have a method or set of principles that you follow? Any details at all would be welcomed! If you already have a video or blog on this let me know. Thanks a lot!

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  @book_rants4 күн бұрын

  First of all, thanks for your interest. I do not have a video on that subject. Basically, I read the book and simply underline and put notes in the margins whenever I am struck by a passage or a line, and then, after finishing the book, I go back to these highlighted and annotated passages to try to come up with a thesis statement and general structure for the video. I don't think too much about the future review as I'm reading, since that would kill the joy of the reading. I hope that helps, man.

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  @BrentDavis754 күн бұрын

  Fantastic video.Thank you. I'll definitely pick up a copy of The Summing Up.

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  @book_rants4 күн бұрын

  It will be totally worth your time.

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  @mikekennedy54705 күн бұрын

  It takes living life , traveling thru life , watching life to put them down on paper. Age and experience .

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  @book_rants5 күн бұрын

  Absolutely. Any in Maugham's case, a lot of talent, too!

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  @readinsteadbyjake6 күн бұрын

  Stephen King had a great response to a question from an early 90s Charlie Rose interview. Rose asked him, “has it gotten to the point with your editor that you just send it in and they say, ‘okay Mr. King, we’ll get it printed and out as soon as possible’?” King’s response was, “if that was the case, I would get a new editor”. So, even the worlds most successful writers know that they need strong accountability.

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  @book_rants6 күн бұрын

  Yes, I suspect that her editors failed her. For her own good, she should have been encouraged not to publish this. Perhaps she was encouraged not to, but ignored the advice. We'll never know... Love your reference to King. The anecdote applies, for sure.

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  @PaulJosephStrassfieldКүн бұрын

  @@book_rants It’s Leslie’s responsibility. She’s made the same error in all three of her books.

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  @book_rantsКүн бұрын

  @@PaulJosephStrassfield To the same extent as in Splinters?

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  @PaulJosephStrassfieldКүн бұрын

  @@book_rants Not as bad. No. But the same tendencies to self-absorption without reconsideration. Getting pregnant, married, having a baby, divorcing her father are very revealing traumas to her true character: a codependent addict who doesn’t always get the treatment she needs.

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  @PaulJosephStrassfieldКүн бұрын

  @@book_rants Bock should’ve. Known better than to indulge his grief and loneliness by getting involved with Leslie.

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  @errata99686 күн бұрын

  I really appreciate the honest of your review.

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  @book_rants6 күн бұрын

  I really appreciate that you appreciate it. Thanks for watching.

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  @webnasir7 күн бұрын

  Dear Sir, I want to talk about your KZread channel. Your content quality is amazing but I analyze that (why are you not getting many views, likes, comments, and subscribers in the channel). NOTE: I already marked your all channel issues, If you want I can send you?

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  @book_rants7 күн бұрын

  I am not going to pay money to grow my channel, but thanks, and good luck finding clients.

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  @webnasir6 күн бұрын

  @@book_rants No problem if you don't want to pay. I'll give it to you for free. If the work is good, you can make me a nice review video

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  @user-uz3qv2vv3i10 күн бұрын

  The Summing Up is exellent. Wonderful. Thank you for this.

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  @book_rants10 күн бұрын

  Thank you for your interest!

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  @jeanrobertson49809 күн бұрын

  I found the Summing Up really inspiring. I wish they would make more films or dramatisations on TV. I love Agatha Christie but a 6 part or longer of Of Human Bondage would be AMAZING

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  @book_rants9 күн бұрын

  @@jeanrobertson4980 Yes, it should absolutely be done!

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  @rasputanrasputan138012 күн бұрын

  Of Human Bondage was a book I could not put down. Became a fan . Just discovered these short stories on KZread…

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  @book_rants11 күн бұрын

  He has that rarest of talents to make each reader feel like he is speaking directly to him/her.

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  @jeanrobertson498010 күн бұрын

  Best book of my life

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  @book_rants10 күн бұрын

  @@jeanrobertson4980 Of Human Bondage, right? I should go back to it.

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  @JeffRebornNow13 күн бұрын

  Why do you think this is Maugham's best book? This book commits the sin of omission so many times. If you want to read a book that truthfully sums up Maugham's life read Anthony Burgess' "Earthly Powers."

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  @book_rants13 күн бұрын

  I haven't read Anthony Burgess' EARTHLY POWERS. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  @2msvalkyrie52914 күн бұрын

  Great choice ! Boxing CAN be sordid , corrupt and pitiless . But McRae captures the nobility of it - the Tragedy of the great champion as they almost inevitably descend from Hero to penniless bum. eg. Iran Barkley ended up living in a homeless shelter . Leon Spinks went from millionaire to school janitor ...even Mike Tyson somehow managed to " lose " 60 - 70 million $... and has to fight on today as a kind of circus attraction just to make a living..!!?

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  @book_rants11 күн бұрын

  Great comment, man! It really speaks to the book. Thanks for it.

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  @andyjones189916 күн бұрын

  I've just discovered your chat on Maugham..ive read a few of his books and bio's and have many on my shelf and find him endlessly fascinating. An extremely intelligent writer and person without all the nonsense and who seems to write about life in a way that makes you say..i know that life..he seems to connect through his writing with all people in all situations..a remarkable talent to be able to do this continuously..great talk

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  @book_rants15 күн бұрын

  Again, Andy, thanks for the thoughtful and intelligent comment. It definitely adds to the post. Yes, Maugham connects. Big time. Simple as that.

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  @andyjones189916 күн бұрын

  I think Martin Amis is an enigma..I don't think his literature will be remembered (although he wrote some brilliant stuff) but I think he will be remembered because he was bigger than his literature.. he was a giant on the literary landscape..I'm still saddened that he's gone..

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  @book_rants16 күн бұрын

  He definitely was bigger than his literature, and he backed it up with talent and vocation. You might be right that his work won't be remembered. Perhaps his essays will be. I hope he lives on in some way or another. And, yes, I´m sad, too.

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  @2msvalkyrie52917 күн бұрын

  Before actually reading any of his work I just dismissed Maugham as an out of date old fogey . That seemed to be the generally accepted view - usually by those who never had read him.. Anyway , somehow or other I found myself in a hotel room one night. Television was so awful . ( goes without saying ! ) and the only reading material was a volume of Maugham short stories.. You can guess the rest : I was quite astonished by his understanding of Human nature and his effortless writing style . Great writers transcend their social / political / gender backgrounds and Maugham does that.!! I now recommend him to everyone else. He does NOT do box ticking or virtue signalling unlike our current crop of " writers "... His biography is not for the faint hearted or those easily shocked ..! ( I hope THAT ensures increased sales !! ) Keep up the good work. 👍 🇬🇧 !

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  @book_rants17 күн бұрын

  Thanks for the informative, and well-considered comment. I suspect that the classics are having a resurgence specifically for the reasons you state. Too much posturing with contemporary writers, although, with time, the cream will probably rise to the top and we'll discover those who are currently in obscurity doing honest, insightful and ground-breaking work.

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  @2msvalkyrie52917 күн бұрын

  I admire your optimism..!! Thanks for response..!!

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  @josefinarosariocruz866018 күн бұрын

  For not paying attention to the Spanish olé

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  @book_rants18 күн бұрын

  Thanks for watching, Josefina!

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  @josefinarosariocruz866018 күн бұрын

  Good for you

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  @josefinarosariocruz866018 күн бұрын

  Jajaja jajaja 😆😆😆

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  @alidabaxter584918 күн бұрын

  I find Maugham endlessly fascinsting. The fact that his work in something like the British Secret Service during the First World War (described in the Ashenden stories) so appalled him that he never wanted to live in England again. The endless travelling, the difficulties that faced him because of his sexuality - so many of his novels are heartbreaking but he constantly examines relationships between people of so many different classes, ages and kinds. He cannot ever be forgotten because he writes about every sort and kind of person and the only thing they have in common is that they are human beings.

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  @book_rants18 күн бұрын

  That's a beautiful comment. I've got to read more by him.

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  @paulawakefield786918 күн бұрын

  👍 OK! Thanks 🇪🇺🇬🇧👏

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  @book_rants18 күн бұрын

  You are very welcome! Thanks for watching!

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  @readinsteadbyjake20 күн бұрын

  “This is the day and age for literary milk toast…”. Love that.

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  @book_rants20 күн бұрын

  Thanks, Jake. I appreciate the encouragement.

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  @user-vr4pp3qx6b20 күн бұрын

  More unbidden commentary: it may be that the future of literature, or just books, is through avowedly political publishers (I'm referring to Nathan Cofnas's argument). As we can see with self-described free-thinking institutions, like Johnathan Haidt's Heterodox Academy, they always zoom leftward (to paraphrase Conquest) and lose all pretense of objectivity or beauty or anything else. I'm not excited about this but it may be the best alternative.

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  @book_rants20 күн бұрын

  All comments are welcome, especially intelligent ones like yours. I do hope you're wrong. Political minded publishers, especially if they are blindly partisan, would be the death of literature.

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  @user-vr4pp3qx6b20 күн бұрын

  First, thank god for your upbringing otherwise you'd have nothing to moderate the woke zeitgeist. Second, Pinker stuck out as an odd choice for a publisher of fiction. He's written a lot on "the craft" (bow your head in reverence) of writing and he's a brilliant guy whose books on language and psychology are unparalleled (in English, anyway). But, unless he's published some fiction I'm not aware of (quite likely, I haven't done my homework), his input will probably be, well, Pinker-esque (or Zissner-esque, et al.): cut out all the literary stuff; cut out all but the absolutely necessary adverbs and adjectives; get rid of allusions; mimesis over deigesis; etc. In other words, crystalline prose without much flavor. I wonder if that has been his input or if that's even a fair representation on my part. The Hermit sounds most intriguing. I wish them luck. thanks for the review!

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  @book_rants20 күн бұрын

  First of all, thanks for your comments. My ability to call bullshit on the current zeitgeist is not only my upbringing, but the books I've read and the life I've lived. But you're right that my parents raised me sensibly. Pinker doesn't publish with Heresy Press, he just supports the cause, as does everybody else on the advisory board. It would be great if one day Heresy published Alexie, Diaz, or even Oates. By the way, I think you represented at least Zinsser well.

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  @prettypurple717523 күн бұрын

  The Summing Up Article Talk Language Download PDF Watch Edit The Summing Up is a literary memoir by W. Somerset Maugham, written when he was 64 years old, first published in 1938.[1] It covered his life from 1890 to 1938. The subject matter includes his childhood, his initial success in theater, his transition from theater to fiction writing, and other miscellaneous topics such as travel, and philosophy. It is a small book filled with memorable quotes. Referencesedit ^ Morgan, Ted. Somerset Maugham. J. Cape, 1980. xix. External linksedit The Summing Up at Faded Page (Canada)

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  @prettypurple717523 күн бұрын

  SAME BACKGROUND PAINTING AS KING CHARLES III/////

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  @radiantchristina23 күн бұрын

  I just finished reading Thirst for Salt and I adored it. I was meh on the ending but still really loved it. I read The Lover years ago and i remember it was in my top 10 reads that year but i don't remember much of the details now. I"m due for a re read.

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  @book_rants23 күн бұрын

  "Meh" is a good word for the ending of THIRST FOR SALT, but the love story is out of this world. THE LOVER would take you a few hours to reread. Worth it.

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  @keithlongley36224 күн бұрын

  I was going to go into a long spiel how much i love great books,but you summed it up for me perfectly. Dostoevsky,Cervantes, Tolstoy, Ayn Rand, Bukowski, to name but a few...and now John Fante.

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  @book_rants24 күн бұрын

  That is a list of some great names. And I, too, think Fante deserves to be on it. Thanks for watching, man!

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  @readinsteadbyjake25 күн бұрын

  Ask the Dusk sounds like a beautiful novel, but unfortunately you spoiled too much of the story for me ever to pick it up now….no biggie

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  @book_rants25 күн бұрын

  Trust me, Jake. Fante is about the voice, not the story. It's how he tells the story, not what happens that makes it special.And, you could always read one of the other Arturo Bandini books. There are four, as I say in the video.

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  @readinsteadbyjake24 күн бұрын

  @@book_rants Thank you for your response. Tbh, pros had always been the least of things I look for in a novel. It mattered much less than other things like plot, characters, setting. But then I read All Quiet On The Western Front. And my opinion of pros changed dramatically. Now I appreciate it much more. I know that pros, and skilled wordsmiths are things that you champion. All that to say, I’m glad I found your channel!

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  @sojourn-gv4ueАй бұрын

  The title of the book jumped out at me as I very muched enjoyed Tolstoy´s thinly veiled autobiographical adventures in the the Caucasus in and around the Crimean War. This is all together a different thing, but your rant inspired me to seek it out and I am hoping that I can find this in PDF or audiobook. Thanks for your good work.

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  You will not be disappointed.

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  @sojourn-gv4ueАй бұрын

  Your descriptions of Fante and his writings were truly enriching...Much thanks! I will most definitely review your other ¨rants¨. A good day to you. ss

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  Thanks for the comment, Sojourn. Love the tag name. Perfect for an inveterate reader.

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  @user-vr4pp3qx6bАй бұрын

  He curated a soundtrack for his book? Sold!

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  Yeah, it's on Spotify, I think. Brandon is a real character. His book is thought-provoking, definitely worth it. Taught me a lot.

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  @spikedaniels1528Ай бұрын

  I think you produce some of the best reviews on BookTube. This one is (again) rich, engaging, passionate, and well delivered. You could be in the movies - but then, better not… . I’m 73 today, I’ll start with the short one.

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  Happy birthday, man! Thanks for the kudos. They keep me going. And, actually, I have acted in a movie. 🙂 A small supporting role in 6 Toreros Yankees 6, a Spanish independent film. But I like books much more.

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  @user-vr4pp3qx6bАй бұрын

  I'm listening to New York Jew right now. Fantastic. I had never heard of Kazin until recently. Thanks for the video!

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  The guy should be remembered! Thanks for the comment!

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  @frizzyrascal1493Ай бұрын

  One of my all time favorite novels. I can‘t wait to read more from Dante and old Buk‘. The writing is off the charts, I loved the book but you‘re right about the Marijuana stuff, however it’s totally possible to smoke yourself into craziness.

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  I wonder if he made it marijuana because it was easier for the average reader at that time to assimilate and make sense of. Anyway, it's a very, very minor criticism. I appreciate the comment, man.

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  @frizzyrascal1493Ай бұрын

  @@book_rants You‘d be right with your assessment, the scene where they buy drugs for two dollars is also hilarious to read. It was 1940, there was all kinds of propaganda going for the war and everything.

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  @frizzyrascal1493Ай бұрын

  John Fante definitely belongs in that category. His language is so simple yet so profound. Ask the Dust has elevated itself to one of my favorite books of all time, can‘t wait to read all his other stuff, too.

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  I loved all four books in the Arturo Bandini series.

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  @leafyconcernАй бұрын

  Currently reading "Ask The Dust." Liking it so far. I'm gonna finish it today, probably. Then I plan to make a video. This suggestion that he could be Dostoevskian will be fun to think about as I finish the book.

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  Once you make the video, please add it to the comments here. I would be interested in seeing it.

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  @spikedaniels1528Ай бұрын

  Where have you been, you’re family here… I bought the book.

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  @book_rantsАй бұрын

  Thanks, my brother! You bought "Days in the Caucasus," right? That's the one that blew my mind.

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  @KJ-zr2ko2 ай бұрын

  Loved your video. I did read Spare. It was tummy ache worthy.

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  @book_rants2 ай бұрын

  Thanks for the comment. I don't think I´m going to give it a shot. But I might try OPEN. I hear a lot of good things about it.

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  @gingercpierce2 ай бұрын

  Listening to a podcast about John Wideman’s son. Just bought Brothers and Keepers.

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  @book_rants2 ай бұрын

  What's the podcast? I'm curious.

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  @greenkillsessions2 ай бұрын

  It’s because of Amazon that we don’t have any bookstores to speak of and look at Amazon doesn’t allow you to really flip through a book and get it taste for it. Amazon is destroying culture.

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  @book_rants2 ай бұрын

  Thanks for the comment. It's true that Amazon is making it harder for independent bookshops to compete, but I'm struck by the fact of how many independent bookshops have their own very "corporate" model of doing things, only on a smaller scale. In general, it's no longer fun to browse in bookstores.