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Hardcore Literature Book Discussion (August 2021) (Patreon)

Published:
2021-08-05 12:58:18
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2026-06
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Dear Book Club Readers ---

Your had a great reading month in July, full of insights and wisdom.

The comments in the June and July General Book Club Discussion threads are fun reading.

It is amazing to see just how much depth and variety there is on your bookshelves.

So tell us what your August is looking like.

What are you reading at the moment?

Let us know anything that's on your mind, your literary loves, and anything you wish to share or sharpen your thoughts about.

  • Short stories
  • Author details
  • Areas to explore
  • Your current Big Read
  • Questions about literature
  • Things you're finding difficult
  • Things you want to recommend
  • General life updates (we're interested)

This is the place to put anything bookish you like, and get other readers weighing in on your thoughts!

We've got such an amazing Book Club community that keeps growing thanks to your thoughtful meditations on the Great Books.

So thank you for being a part of the family, and I hope your month is filled with bookish adventures.

Happy reading!

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hardcoreliterature

I recently did a video rundown of the Booker Prize longlist for this year. I'm not one to use prize lists to guide my reading, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Kazuo Ishiguro volume on the list - Klara and the Sun. If you enjoyed Never Let Me Go, you will enjoy this tender meditation on artificial intelligence and what it means to be human. I'm halfway through and can't wait to keep reading. I'm also rereading Shakespeare's tragedies in a compressed timeframe. Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, and Anthony and Cleopatra. The Year of Lear (to use James Shaprio's phrasing) - 1605. The same year Cervantes published part one of Don Quixote. King Lear was in the English theatres, and, hot on the heels of Measure for Measure, Shakespeare had written four high tragedies. Can you imagine what it might have been like to be a lover of literature alive in that year? I was also afforded the opportunity for many hours completely immersed in a Proust reread. Although I advise a slow-and-steady, little-and-often approach to In Search of Lost Time, it really is quite magical to live in the world for long stretches of time. Train journeys up and down the country in search of a new home are made much more bearable by virtue of Proust's high society dramas and tales of love and woe. And the poems and sermons of John Donne turned up at my door recently. Donne, along with Keats, was the first poet I fell in love with. It was one line from his 'A Nocturnal Upon St. Lucy's Day Being the Shortest Day' that made me instantly persuaded as to the power of poetry. There was no looking back after that.

Caroline P

Hello book club friends. I am on a short holiday on our boat. We bought this one just before all the lockdowns and she needed a lot of work, but we knew the man who built her and had fond memories of him, so when we saw her for sale it seemed fated that we should make this one our next boat. Lockdown meant that we got very behind with the work and we missed our planned trip to Orkney. Maybe next year…She is called Tumblehome. My holiday turns out to be an extended lesson in scrubbing decks however. Years of green grime. I am a timid sailor considering I am a very keen diver but one day I might be braver. I have made a little corner of it my library. Anyway, this is also giving me lots of time to read between deck scrubbings. I am pacing myself with Don Quixote (and loving it). I am rereading Proust…but very slowly. I am reading and watching Harold Bloom and loving him a whole lot too. I love to hear people talk with firm views and the courage of their convictions. I must admit that it is making me a bit hot under the collar at how his opinions are manipulated and denigrated tho. What a terrible thing that his mountain of knowledge has been lost to the world. We have his books but I don’t think I have ever come across anyone who was not only so well read but also so intelligent about what he read…he could weave authors and books round each other and into everyday life like a genius. Well the man was a genius. I can see why you admire him Ben. I was reading about how he can see Shakespeare influences in Great Expectations by Dickens..and actually in a lot of stories. I would love to know more about this and about Shakespeare generally. Why did later authors add bits to the plays as in Macbeth? I have a lifetime of knowledge to catch up on. I guess we will be covering a lot of this in your planned schedule Ben. I am very interested because…. From this book club, especially the sonnet lectures I have been encouraged to start reading Shakespeare. Previously I just thought I would find the plays too difficult to read. I am having to work at it, but I am taking ages to make sure I understand every single line of Macbeth. I watched a very bloodthirsty film from 2015…it misses lines out but other than that I loved it. Spurting blood, violent battles and all….excellent Lady Macbeth and witches…I have an audible too. You can see I am hitting this from every angle. What a ninny I have been for not doing this before. Although I am managing ok so far, are there any tips about understanding Shakespeare language. I think I will get quicker but am quite slow right now. Is it ok to say that I disagree a little about Klara and the Sun. I just didn’t love that book at all. I did like Never Let Me Go but this one just seemed to not hit the mark for me. I liked The Employees by Olga Ravn (which was on the Booker International list) so much more and felt it handled the human sentience/ AI maybe non sentient thing better. I have a big question about Klara and the Sun but it is a spoiler so maybe I will wait until you have finished it and ask your opinion. Maybe we can agree to disagree on that one. I accidentally dropped my copy in the bath just as I finished it…and although it was a beautiful book, I didn’t cry. 😣 That’s it. I don’t have any poetry on the go, which I must rectify. I like Alice Oswald and see she has a newish book out about the river Seven so maybe I will pick that up. I particularly enjoyed her book Nobody, which was about a lesser character from. The Odyssey. Looking forward to hearing from others what they are reading.

Vandana

Hi everyone. I’m from India and just coming up for air after the ravages of the second wave. I’m a documentary film maker and work in the field has come to a pause for now thanks to the pandemic. This has left me time for reading and that has been quite rewarding. Life has been stressful for the past few months and the Proust Project has hit the spot in mindfulness and immersion. I have never before read a book so slowly and have to say the first ten pages of In search of have been delicious. I’ve re read them and Ben you were right about reading it again and again to really deep dive into it. The stream of consciousness and going down memory lanes, lying in the dark at bed time is an experience that’s so relatable. It is also such a meditative experience reading this way:0) Since I’m reading the book slowly, I’m also currently reading another book( a first for me) I’m usually a finish one book and move onto the next. I’m curious about experiencing books that one reads simultaneously. How does one pull out of one story and immerse into another one with the same intensity? Does the juggling back and forth take away from the experience of relishing one completely? I’ve never tried it before until now . I discovered Yoko Ogawa’s work earlier during the year and so far she hasn’t disappointed. Another book about memory and time - The Housekeeper and the Professor is exquisite with a hint of melancholy. Her other books that I’ve enjoyed are The Memory Police and Revenge: Eleven dark Tales. Has anyone else here has read any of her books? Would love to know what you think. I loved Klara and the Sun- sorry Caroline:0) Although I have to agree with you for me his best works still are Never Let me go and The Buried Giant. I’m looking forward to hearing from you and a year of meditating with Proust, deep reading and getting to know you all.

AJ Manson

Lately, I've been reading Americans - it comes in cycles for me. I am working through a Novel called 'The Minotaur takes a cigarette break' which is great, and reading some Raymond Carver short stories on my bus home from work. Additionally, I've been reading some poetry - the Incognito lounge by Denis Johnson, and that has me thinking about the post-world war 2 change in the poetry landscape. al of a sudden the typewriter becomes something people can afford, something people can use - rather than just elites. This spawned the Beats, and the death of rhyme, the birth of form-defined poetry ( with caesura and Enjambment). I really feel that this isn't understood, that how much of a watershed moment for writing the post-war period was in terms of innovation, and redefinition. It is where America splits into the staccato Hemingway and the fluid Kerouac, T.S. Elliot compared to Ginsberg. This isn't to say that both aren't useful and have their champions, but there is a definite difference due to the typewriter becoming a machine of the masses. Anyway, that's my monologue for the day. :-)

Bill Freeman

Read: Bookclub: Siddhartha – Read W.K. Marriott’s translation and am in the process of reading Ben’s recommended transition (Enriched Classic), which I like much better. I am notating and reflecting. Proust, In Search of Lost Time – I continue to listen to the audio each day as I walk my dog. Don Quixote – Read a chapter a day after morning meditation. Just fished Chapter 31, p. 289 Outside of Bookclub: Hemingway’s short story, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” I recall Ben stating that this was in his top short stories. It is part of an anthology that was re-released along with Ken Burns’ outstanding four-part documentary on Hemingway. “Café at the End of the World” by John Strelecky. This is a beautiful allegory on our purpose in life. “Becoming Who Your Art” by Jim Martin, S.J. Written by the U.S Jesuit and associate editor of America Magazine, this is the religious investigation of “Café at the End of the World.” “Rules for a Knight” by Ethan Hawke. This was recommended by Michael Kwong, a bookclub member, in his June readings post. Currently Reading “The Complete Works of Alberto Caeiro”, poems by Fernando Pessoa. This is a collection of poetry with a beautiful mindful quality by a Portuguese author who died in 1935. Much of his work was discovered in two suitcases after his death. ”12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos” by Jordan B. Peterson. Through Ben, I discovered Peterson. He wrote the Forward to the single volume of Solzhenitsyn’s “Gulag Archipelago.” I am devouring his YouTube videos and his writing. His stuff is life-changing, and I believe he will be recognized as a significant philosopher of the 21st Century. Workbooks in progress: I am doing personal growth work using the following: “Aging As a Spiritual Practice” by Lewis Richmond (Tricycle Online Video course) “Kintsugi: Finding Strength in Imperfection” by Celine Santini (workbook)

Caroline P
>>65176748

Hello Vandana, so sorry to read in the news about the tough time with your second wave. Anyway, isn’t slow reading utterly wonderful in today’s rush and stress. I completely understand and relate to your comments. I agree too that this is a first time for reading multiple books for me too. I am finding that it is really great to have a few parallel universes spiralling around me. I agree too about Yoko Ogawas books. I don’t think I will ever forget the Memory Police. So many things to think about regarding state and personal lives. What we choose to accept. I enjoyed the Professor and the Housekeeper too and I must read the others you mention. Anyway, the best bit of 2021 has been Proust and although it is early days, I think Cervantes too 😃. Ps have you read Remains of the Day?

Florian Pesantes

Proust, slowly progressing due to so many interesting sidelines. Yesterday I got lost in the labyrinth when I picked up on four novels by George Sand mentioned. Looked them up shortly, just summaries and listened to a podcast of the BBC series “In our Time” with Melvyn Bragg and guests about her. This was especially interesting for me as I came to her while listening to all of Chopin’s works over a period of several weeks. Cervantes. Following Bill’s recipe one chapter a day, but well behind him (on chapter 5). There are also so many diverting roads to following into the old myths which I faintly remember from childhood. I find it very enjoyable and refreshing. Siddartha, which I read in my own German language. This is a perfect mirror right now on my current journey to work my way into the catacombs of my shadow world. I’m progressing at a slightly faster pace, but meditating about it also via the daily Wim-Hof-breathing exercise to which I’m looking forward as it does me so well. Also the Om-meditation video Ben recommended somewhere here. I had another go at Borges library, but found it all to claustrophobic to get more digested than two pages. There are certainly some witty lines in there, but overall I seem to lack a lot of background knowledge. I looked up some explanation to the science of semiosis but felt even more lost. Nietzsche’s Zarathustra: coming to the end soon of a second reading after 4 decades. I think I can unlock his parables. But that’s certainly a book requiring some meaningful discussions with a friend. And a third reading to extract some essentials that relate to my life. Not right away, I’m keen to read CG Jung and Campbell’s hero with a thousand faces thereafter. Poetry: on a longer walk I’d have a book of Rilke with me:”Das Stundenbuch” in original language, easier for me than the translation. I’m always returning to Tennyson’s “In Memoriam” in small sips at a time or a poem of my friend Arthur Wood while I have the joy and privilege to talk to the author himself. On one of my Quixotic detours I came across Frederick Garcia Lorca again who I meant to pay some attention to for quite some time. I haven’t read much of him, but as a person he seemed to me very intriguing and loveable. Currently I’m spending some time on the librettos (or is it libretti) of the four Wagner opera’s I’ll be attending next week in Bayreuth. “Parsifal”, “Die Meistersinger”, “Tannhäuser” and “Der Fliegende Holländer”. Some Opera houses provide us with captions, Bayreuth doesn’t. So I’ll try to revive beforehand as to understand the singers isn’t easy for me even as they have the kindness to sing in my maternal language. I can do all this and on top watch the birds circling above me especially my favourites, the Red Kites, and the clouds as I’m currently enjoying a 4 weeks period of 50% holidays, my afternoon to me. Unfortunately this privilege will soon end. I’ll be back under the yoke of my full time schedule and will have to cut down on these pleasurable activities.

Len Larsson

Hi everyone … I have fumbled a bit but have set upon an early morning routine which I absolutely love. On rising I make myself a cuppa and sit down with 3 books … I read a chapter from The Art of Fiction (amazing, fantastic) a page from daily reading from Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and a chapter from The Ode Less Travelled. This leaves a smile on my face and set for the day. Mid morning I read my Proust. Weekends I do my extra reading. (Caroline if you’re listening, I haven’t forgotten you!) Thanks so much Ben, for the recommended reads (asides in your video’s - please keep doing that, it’s great to have options and explore rabbit holes), in particular Fry who I am enjoying immensely - Poetry! Who knew? I hope everyone is safe and well. Here is my plan for the month: CRITICISM: David Lodge The Art of Fiction Stephen Fry The Ode Less Travelled Joseph Campbell The Hero with A Thousand Faces SLIM READ: Bulgakov The Heart of a Dog Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor SHORT STORY: Chekhov The Kiss Chekhov Ward No 6 Ivan Turgenev The Singers Ivan Turgenev Kasyan from the Beautiful Lands Yasunari Kawabata Palm of the Hand Stories SHAKESPEARE: James Anthony Shakespeare’s Sonnets Retold Hamlet BOOKCLUB READ: The Proust Project In Search of Lost Time Cervantes Don Quixote (Eric Karpeles Paintings in Proust) CONTEMPORARY READ: Maggie O’Farrell Hamnet

Reid Stender

I am impressed by just how much some of you are reading (props!). In addition to Proust, I have been reading Lost Illusions by Balzac (at page ~350) and Anna Karenina by Tolstoy (at page ~250). Lost Illusions is the first of Balzac's novels that I have read (he wrote ~90 I believe as part of the "Human Comedy" which is an incredible name btw). Set in ~1820 France, it tells the story of a young poet from a provincial town who aspires for eternal glory in the world of Paris. The book is called "Lost Illusions" because Lucien (an idealistic and naïve youth) painfully learns the lessons of the "real world". The book portrays capitalism in a very cutthroat and negative light (I believe Marx drew inspiration from Balzac's work) which I think is a harsh perspective (I take it with a grain of salt). That said, Balzac's portrayal of human motivations proves his understanding of "human nature"; making the novel an insightful read. Bonus: how he describes the journalism industry and the characters it contains is harsh but seems spot on. I once heard it remarked that, "if the world could write, it would write like Tolstoy" (no idea where it came from). That seems to be the best way to describe Anna Karenina; it makes one think the author could write about anything to the enjoyment of the reader.

Bill Freeman
>>65193118

Florian - Always wonderful to read what you are reading - the depth and breadth are amazing. I admire that you are fluent in so many languages and can read these translated works in the original language. Thanks!

Bill Freeman
>>65194554

Hi Len - Thanks for your ambitious sharing! From Ben's encouragement, I am delving into short stores (see previous posts if interested). I appreciate your sharing and will check out your recommendations for Chekhov and Turgenev. Let me share a few short story recommendations that Ben has made: "Eveline," by James Joyce; "The Lady with the Dog," by Chekhov; and my top recommendation, "The Rocking-Horse Winner" by D.H. Lawrence. Take care!

Paul Bernal

I’m going to share here my theory on why Achilles refused to continue fighting in the Trojan War. I believe that the real reason Achilles withdrew from the Trojan War was because he valued his life more than he valued the attainment of glory. However, the only reason I can find on the internet for his refusal to fight is that he was prideful, and angry with Agamemnon for taking his prize, Briseus. I think this has given Achilles a bad rap, and in a way it gives Homer a bad rap as well because anger, which is exactly what we would expect from the stereotypical warrior, is a rather unsophisticated motive. The angry and prideful motive has solidified in lore who Achilles had been rather than what he wanted to be. The following passages are the ones that convinced me of Achilles’ true motivation to withdraw from the battlefields of Troy, which was: he valued his life more than glory. BOOK 9 Achilles: There were often times at home when my heart’s one desire was to make some well-matched girl my lawful (400) wife and enjoy the fortune my old father Peleus had made. ‘For nothing, as I now see it, equals the value of life – not the wealth they say prosperous Ilium possessed in earlier days, when there was peace, before the coming of the Greeks, nor all the treasure piled up behind the stone threshold of Phoebus Apollo in rocky Delphi. Cattle and fat sheep can be lifted. Tripods and chestnut horses can be procured. But you cannot lift or procure a man’s life, when once the breath has left his lips. (410) ’My divine mother, silver-footed Thetis, says that destiny has left two courses open to me on my journey to the grave. If I stay here and fight it out round Ilium, there is no home-coming for me, but there will be eternal glory instead. If I go back to the land of my fathers, my heroic glory will be forfeit, but my life will be long and I shall be spared an early death. ‘And another thing: I would encourage all the rest of you to sail for home too. BOOK 11 Nestor on Achilles: But if he is privately [secretly] deterred by some prophecy, some word from Zeus that his lady mother has told him, let him at least allow you to take the field with the Myrmidon contingent at your back. BOOK 16 Patroclus to Achilles: But if you are privately deterred by some prophecy, some word from Zeus that your lady mother has told you, at least allow me to take the field with the Myrmidon contingent at my back. Achilles to Patroclus: ‘Olympian-born Patroclus, what are you talking about? There (50) is no prophecy I know of that I should be paying attention to, and my lady mother has passed on to me no word from Zeus. [Is this a lie? In book 9 Achilles says this: I loathe like Hades’ gates the man who thinks one thing and says another.]

Caroline P

Hello book club friends.. Just a chatty post…..Well, I was so excited to see Ben do a YouTube video about reading Shakespeare. Have you all seen it? It is very very good. Until I joined this book club I never even contemplated reading Shakespeare. Then I watched the video about reading the sonnets and tried…and that led me to start a reading my first play. I will be eternally grateful to this book club for encouraging me to read Proust and now Shakespeare too. Honestly, this is a fantastic experience. I want to pace myself because I know we have a series of Shakespeare coming up but also I am busting at the seams to read more. I am taking my time, but I find I am getting to grips a bit more with the language. Anyway, after watching that excellent video I just wanted to drop in here and blather on with enthusiasm about it.

hardcoreliterature
>>65185513

Wow. Intriguing title. I'm checking that one out. Thank you, AJ! Raymond Carver is great. We'll be pulling apart one of his short stories very soon (and Denis Johnson). It sounds like you know a lot about the Beats and post-war American writing. I did my dissertation on Kerrouac, Ginsberg, Corso, Burroughs, et al - great stuff there :)

hardcoreliterature
>>65187555

I love reading the mechanics of your reading, Bill. Your chapter-a-day approach, your experimenting with different translations. You're a real connoisseur of literature :) And, even in the tumult of a difficult time, you are reading so much. Proust, Hemingway, Cervantes, Hesse - look at that line-up! And it's nice to see just how far down the rabbit holes you go, with one book leading to another. We spoke about Dostoyevsky, which led to a discussion on Solzhinitisyn, and several rereads of the prologue later you now know a ton about Peterson's work. I must reread 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro' myself - such a great short story. My father picked up the volume from the Ken Burns documentary and is going to read that one too :)

hardcoreliterature
>>65203513

I find it impressive too, Reid. There are some tremendous deep dives and reading binges going on. How wonderful :) I'm glad you're enjoying Balzac. This is a writer whose works I have but other than a brief dip into Cousin Bette, haven't explored in much depth yet. You have enthused me to pursue him earlier than planned! I love that quote too "if the world could write, it would write like Tolstoy". Tolstoy or Shakespeare in my opinion :)

hardcoreliterature
>>65265300

Wow. I wonder is anyone else reading Homer? Or have read him before? There are some incredibly insightful ideas here from Paul as always :)

hardcoreliterature
>>65311170

Thank you so much, Caroline :) I really appreciate that, and am so happy you're coming to Proust and Shakespeare. Your enthusiasm is really seeping through your writing. Every time I return to Shakespeare's great plays, I fall in love again. They soothe the deepest parts of me. It's been difficult restraining myself from talking about the upcoming Shakespeare schedule, but I believe anyone who wants to share in appreciating his works, along with guided commentaries, is in great hands :)

Sharon xx

Hello everyone :) I've so enjoyed reading your posts above to see what you've all been up to over the summer and to see what you're reading. I'm currently on two weeks annual leave with Simon and Ethan. Ethan turned 16 yesterday, I've no idea where those years have gone. Last week we went to Chatham Historical Dockyard which was a great day out. It's used to film a very popular UK series called, Call the Midwife and seeing those now familiar locations was pretty cool. Ethan enjoyed the ships immensely but my highlight was definitely going on the submarine HMS Ocelot. Oh my - huge on the outside, teeny weeny on the inside. Fantastic but I've no idea how you would live for months on end in that environment and where on earth would you store your books?? I also fulfilled a bucket list wish as Si took me to Haworth to visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum last Thursday. We did it in one day which was a bit of a marathon from where we live but the roads were kind and the weather was perfect. It was a completely fabulous day and totally lived up to expectations. I may have purchased quite a few books at the Parsonage Shop to bring home, as souvenirs obviously ;) On Wednesday this week we're going to Oxford to have afternoon tea and browse Blackwells for hours on end - complete bliss! Reading wise - Proust is still ongoing which is a given for all of us reading him I suspect. I've finished Crime and Punishment [insert video of Sharon doing a victory dance]. I really enjoyed it which was unexpected. I'm not sure what I thought was going to happen at the end but that wasn't it. I'm yet to comment on the final video lecture for C&P because I'm still collating my thoughts on it. AK - I've made huge inroads into this by listening to the audio on the journeys to and from Yorkshire and Chatham so the end is in sight now. I'm hoping to get to Shelley's essay on atheism this week and am really looking forward to watching Ben's video on, How to Read Shakespeare that Caroline has also mentioned. I've been saving it to watch with a cuppa and a cat. I've failed to get to Blake's, Proverbs of Hell - it's still on my list. I have to keep a little journal of things/lectures I've got outstanding or they fall down the page and I forget they're there. I'm looking forward to Les Mis, Christmas Dickens and the Short Story Series [I already have, That Glimpse of Truth]. I know I can't do all the things so, like Caroline, I'm pacing myself. That's me for this month. Take very good care all xx

Caroline P
>>65398548

Hello Sharon, Ohhh the parsonage and Blackwells, two things I would love to do too. And purchasing books while at both those places is the only polite thing to do ;-) I went to Chatham with my father a couple of years ago so he could relive past times in that submarine. He loved it…I was horror struck that people lived in that confined space under water for weeks at a time. But it is a brilliant place to visit isn’t it. I enjoyed it far more than I expected. Especially the rope museum…who would think a rope museum would be so interesting. Great guides helped. I am looking forward to getting to C & P soon all the more so because your hints at an unexpected ending. Anyway…so much to read! (Which is the best if things).

Dawn

I only joined a few weeks ago. I’m a few months back still working on Anna Karenina. I’ve read it twice before this book club, but I don’t have many literary people in my personal life so I’m truly enjoying this deep dive. Being able to hear others’ perspectives, reactions, thoughts, etc. has been so fulfilling to me. I also just finished Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses and am currently on Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles. I’m the person in the back of the book club that just listens and takes notes because I don’t feel I’m very good at expressing thoughts - except to say that I’m really enjoying them both. I’ve had some duds lately so it’s nice to be enjoying something again. My bigger project though is US presidential biographies as well as first ladies if a book exists. I’m currently on Franklin Pierce, our 14th president. So quite a ways to go.

hardcoreliterature
>>65565991

I'm so happy to hear you're on your third read of Anna Karenina, Dawn. Tremendous novel that really rewards rereading. And I'm sure a lot of people can relate to you. It's rare to have many literary people in our lives, so I'm incredibly thankful for this community :) Cormac McCarthy and Ray Bradbury are two writers close to my heart, so I'm thrilled you're enjoying them! Your US presidential and First Lady biography project sounds wonderful too. We have a few readers here undertaking this reading project too and really enjoying it!

Michael Kwong

Hi all! I'm looking for some book recommendation:) Recently I have bought a lot of Epics: Homer, Virgil, Dante, Milton, Ovid. But these are some "big boss". So to prepare myself, I would like to start with some easier read in novel in verse. I have Pushkin's Eugene Onegin, and just bought Beowulf, and would like to see if there is any other great novel in verse that you guys have read / heard of. I would also like to ask for recommendation on the history Ancient Rome, Ancient Greek, and Ancient Egypt. I found these very compelling and intriguing, especially we have a lot of great literature and philosophy from these time. Thanks in advance and Cheers!

hardcoreliterature
>>65994905

Hi Michael, I recently found a book buried in a stack that I haven't looked at for years called 'Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy: The Timeless Leadership Lessons of History's Greatest Empire Builder', by Partha Bose. I have only flipped through the first few pages, but so far am really enjoying it. I'm getting some Robert Greene '48 Laws of Power' vibes from it :) Pushkin's work and Beowulf are both fine choices. Some of the big boss epics are actually rather accessible with the right translation. Milton's work is rather difficult, but you might find the Hardcore Literature podcast episode on its first book to be a good aid in breaking the back of it. We also have one on Ovid - the secret of Ovid, I believe, is dipping into stories that intrigue you rather than reading it from start to finish (the flight of Icarus is a favourite of mine). As for other epics, the Hindu tradition has the Mahabharata with the Bhagavad Gita housed inside (again, there's a podcast on this one), and I personally love the warrior spirit running through this stuff. Off the top of my head, there's the Epic of Gilgamesh and Spenser's Faerie Queene, though I personally am in no rush to wade through the latter. Oh, and for stuff on Ancient History, Stephen Fry's works are rather fun and well told introductions if you haven't already encountered them - Mythos and Troy for example :) Rattling a couple more off - Plutarch's Lives, with the one detailing Alexander, is great, and you may also be interested in The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides!

Cindy

I'm reading Jordan Peterson's maps of meaning (besides the book club reads). Not an easy read, so I am taking my time with it, but so far I am learning a lot and really liking his ideas on how we need science as well as stories in our lives

hardcoreliterature
>>66007588

Very nice! I've heard this is a difficult one. It was out of print for a while, but now has received a surge of popularity. I'll grab it myself if you recommend it, Cindy!

Cindy

Definitely recommend it! Even though I’m not that far in yet. I’ve been watching his lectures on the bible as well, which are also really informative for an agnostic like me.

hardcoreliterature
>>66220604

I adore his biblical lectures. I recall the ones on Job and Genesis as being extraordinary. I've just ordered the book :)

Cindy

Yay! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts about it. I think it’s a wonderful addition to your ideas about the importance of the great books!

Anna Rowe

The two main titles I'm tackling this month are Ulysses and The Pickwick Papers. I'm a real lover of language and both of these books are perfect for someone who loves to wallow in words. I also have The Summer Book by Tove Jansson and Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale sitting here on my desk waiting to be opened. I will probably get to those before the end of the month. I also like to have a non-fiction on the go as well so I may start The Adventurer's Son by Roman Dial which is a mash up of memoir, travel and adventure writing. I really enjoyed reading everyone's posts as I am endlessly curious about what other people are reading.