New Year's Book Haul - Classics & World Literature

It's 2021, my book buying ban expired, and I got a bit carried away...

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INSTAGRAM: @marianhreads

[AlyssaReids]

That Bambi edition is so beautiful. I just love the illustration on the cover. You got some great looking books. I hope you enjoy your time reading them. Happy Reading!!!

[smellincoffee]

Bravo on the resolution! Love to see Hornblower -- and I agree on the A&E series. Strength all over the place there, from the music to the acting. The short stories look interesting!

[tristanandtheclassics]

This was so enjoyable. My interest was piqued by Independent People, the idea sounds very intriguing. Also the Japanese short stories. I may just whizz out and snaffle one of those for myself too.❤😃🎩

[nikkivenable]

Sorry for all of the comments...I'm commenting as I'm watching lol. I just adore New York Review of Books editions...they are so well done. Also, I bought The Trial by Kafka(it will be my first by him...tbh, I've passed him by all my life until I watched your channel, so I'm excited to finally read him). And, lastly, you have Independent People? I have that one, too, and someone who I really respect told me I must read it. He swears I'll love it(we have the same tastes in books).

[ellie]

Very interesting books, as always! I was thinking of reading 'Never Let Me Go' this year, so it would be really nice to hear your thoughts on it hopefully in the future! 'The Oxford Book of Japanese Short Stories' is something I've wanted to read for ages, and these classes sound really cool, so I'll be sure to check them out! Take care!

[Rangersly]

Excellent choice for your first western. Your original choice of Charles Portis' True Grit would also have been a great one. Larry McMurtry first developped this story with director Peter Bogdanovich as a film project that would have included John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Henry Fonda in their last salute to westerns. But the project didn't come to light, so McMurtry wote the novel, which became a best seller, won the Pulitzer Prize, then was adapted into a highly acclaimed tv mini-series that was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards and won seven, and also won 2 Golden Globes. Many sequels came out of Lonesome Dove, both on tv and in books, but none came close to be as good as that first story. Enjoy!

[NCowick]

You have more resolve than me, if this ends up being your only book haul of the year, lol.

I've not actually read any Dicken's, apart from maybe some abridged versions when I was younger. I intend to start though, so I picked up The Old Curiosity Shop awhile back. Don't know if that's the best place to start, but I thought it sounded interesting, so that's what I went with.

Just received my first books of the year in the mail a couple days ago, including a copy of Drosselmeyer's Dream :) Should get to read it within a couple weeks. Looking forward to it.

[paulbernal]

I read the Narrative of Frederick Douglas & Dave Copperfield last year. Fred Douglas was in the same class as Anne Frank’s Diary: Both books illuminate harsh times in history. Copperfield is fantastic but I’m sure a lot of people would like to rip out about 200 pages from the middle. It’s a big book but I appreciate Dickens’ voice even if it seems like nothing’s happening.
Lonesome Dove is one of the best books I’ve ever read. The characters are life like, especially Gus. I think he might be my favorite character in all of literature. For me it’s one of those books that check all the boxes: Smart/Trustworthy author, an author in control of his craft (McMurtry is better than another author I enjoy, Cormac McCarthy, ) and I consider myself an outdoorsman so the subject matter is just right for me.

[theproseandcons]

I’m actually about to start the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass for school! Also, I’ve been eyeing Never Let Me Go, but I should maybe build some resolve and not cave into buying any books this year. *sigh* But as always, your haul was awesome and you’ve now added like 5 books to my wishlist.

[nikkivenable]

I am at the point where you talked about Lonesome Dove and I'm wondering if I'm the Nikki who recommended it. I don't want to be presumptuous...If it's me, then OMG OMG! I am so honored that you chose to read one of my most favorite books of all time! It's just everything and I hope you love it as much as I do. The TV adaptation is also so very good, so if you like the book, you may want to check out the television show. I'm choking up just thinking about this book again. You made my day today, Marian!

[nikkivenable]

Reading Dickens feels like a hug. I read The Christmas Carol for the first time this past Christmas and I adored it. Oh, it makes me happy just thinking about it. I have so many Dickens on my shelf and I really want to read/re-read more of him. I'm a weirdo in the sense that I feel like he is a writer best suited for Autumn/Winter....I don't know why, but I have always felt that way about him...well, in my adult life. David Copperfield is one that I haven't read and it's the one that everyone says I must read...it seems to be a favorite of many. I am anxious to hear your thoughts on the book if you review it.