Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Coffee with Hardcore Literature (Q&A Episode XVI) (Patreon)

Published:
2022-08-07 18:11:23
Imported:
2026-06
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Content

Thank you all for your wonderful questions. They have, once again, resulted in a great bookish conversation for this episode of our Q&A Show.

Topics of discussion include: monogamous reading vs multiple books, reading non-fiction vs fiction, my experience with Finnegans Wake, Western vs Eastern traditions, and much more.

Feel free to jump to any topic/question you’re most interested in by using the timestamps below.

And please do let us know what you would like to discuss in our next show!

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 monogamous reading vs multiple books
  • 6:00 sample “multiple books” structure/approach
  • 8:00 how to read non-fiction vs fiction
  • 12:00 different approaches to reading fiction
  • 16:10 what dictionary do you recommend?
  • 17:52 what is your experience with Finnegans Wake?
  • 25:00 how to focus our reading?
  • 32:20 why do some critics dismiss Steinbeck?
  • 37:15 could you talk about paradox?
  • 43:57 recent books becoming canonical?
  • 45:00 Western vs Eastern canon?
  • 47:00 what is the great work of our time?
  • 49:30 how is your Quran reading going?
  • 53:45 thoughts on The Picture of Dorian Gray?

Thank you all for your great questions, and let us know your thoughts on anything we discussed today.

Please do let us know any questions you might have for the next Q&A Show.

Happy reading, everybody!

Files

Previews only

Coffee with Hardcore Literature (Q&A Episode XVI)

0:00 monogamous reading vs multiple books 6:00 sample “multiple books” structure/approach 8:00 how to read non-fiction vs fiction 12:00 different approaches to reading fiction 16:10 what dictionary do you recommend? 17:52 what is your experience with Finnegans Wake? 25:00 how to focus our reading? 32:20 why do some critics dismiss Steinbeck? 37:15 could you talk about paradox? 43:57 recent books becoming canonical? 46:00 Western vs Eastern canon? 48:00 what is the great work of our time? 50:30 how is your Quran reading going? 54:45 thoughts on The Picture of Dorian Gray?

Comments

Austin Kemprowski

Ben, perhaps a weird question (that if is too personal you absolutely do not need to answer): Does the bookclub and Patreon function as your job? As a fellow instructor, I know how much time and effort and mental/emotional energy goes into planning lectures and I can't imagine doing all of that (and everything that comes with your channel) as well as keep another job. Hope you're doing well, Ben.

Cai Vail

I love your annual autumnal rereading concept! May have to steal that idea. I just love reading (or listening to either of the incredible collections on Audible) Sherlock Holmes stories in that time of year as well. I'm not much of a mystery/crime reader at all, but Holmes is comfort reading perfection in my book. I have always been a polyamorous reader, and felt scattered and ashamed about it, like I 'should' stick to only one book at a time and read it from cover to cover in an efficient and timely manner. What a relief to know that it's perfectly acceptable in literary circles to dabble and dance in and out of a handful of books at a time. I always find myself reading 2-3 works of fiction (though you've got me going on even more, Ben, with Middlemarch and Clarissa on my plate!) and all manner of nonfiction, which I tend to pop in and out of, along with the occasional book of poetry or short story here and there. I find myself not only appreciating poetry more these days but also making a much more regular habit of it thanks to homeschooling my kids. Which reminds me, your concept of recalling what you've read in simple terms once you've truly understood it is very much a Charlotte Mason (home education pioneer) concept we use in homeschooling. I have absolutely horrendous short term memory but even so the narration or brief retelling helps digest the content you've just read. Which I suppose is one of the reasons you recommend writing about our reading! Glad to be back with the Hardcore Lit crew and just loving all of these long deep dives into different topics, Ben!