A big yes to Catch-22! It's one of those books which keeps popping into the head at strange times too, even years after reading. And you are right about the genius of Pratchett and Gaiman. There's something quite special about writers initially deemed genre authors slowly and often begrudgingly being accepted and then embraced by a certain faction of the literary world. (I have a theory that the internet is slowly removing that level of outdated snobbishness, however, leaving behind a sense that people should be able to read what they want, without criticism from others for doing so.) Very excited by The Books That Made Us, thank you!
Yes agree, think both of them have been admitted to the canon of Great Writers now. If you fancy writing about Good Omens please drop me an email btw booksthatmadeus@substack.com
Wonderfully written. Lots of great selections in this list. Like you I heard The Hobbit read aloud and it has stuck with me for 40 years. Also like you, I don't like negative Nancy's bloviating about things they disliked in a book. I am a big fan of Mr. Rothwell's newsletter as well. In my newsletter I explore how books intersect with our lives but I am only getting started on my writing journey. Keep up the great work and thanks Mr. Crow.
Many thanks for this! I really think some books deserve reading out loud. Although I already really enjoy reading to our two-year-old, I'm also looking forward to reading slightly longer stories than those she presently enjoys! I have lots of ideas and hope she'll enjoy them.
Have signed up to your letter, and look forward to reading!
Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 21, 2023Liked by Alexander M Crow
So great to find this article! Thank you.
I'm looking forward to our next meeting and sharing about the third of the books in this list I've actually read and (mainly) love - and I'm excited to now explore the next two thirds!
Thanks especially for reminders I can pick up for Nelah xxx
Thank you! I'm so glad you find it useful, for you and Nelah, that makes me happy.
Miss you both a lot, and we think and talk about you often. Can't wait to see you again and be able to talk books. Ailsa is currently no longer interested in what I read her, probably because we need to get some new English books, but she uses that time to gather her dolls and cuddly toys and 'read' a different book to them at the same time I try to read to her, so that also makes me happy, even if we are often competing against each other!
Great books! I really strongly disliked the Mere-Wife for a lot of reasons, but I somewhat randomly read a handful of Beowulf translations in, I think, 2019. That book grew on me tremendously since I first read it when I was thirteen.
Thanks and thank you for reading! I think that's the key point - to read different translations. Once upon a time, I really fancied the idea of doing my own translation, but it appears I just don't have the time. We actually read it at school, back in the 80s when I was 7, I think - our teacher was Old School, and probably wanted to share his love of Beowulf with perhaps too young and impressionable students! I often wonder if my classmates went on to search out different translations as they grew, then dipped into the original. Somehow, I doubt it, but who knows?!
Love this article and I have read so few of the books it makes rich picking for future ‘to be read’ piles. I have just bought ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ for my dad (who disappeared 25 years ago and who popped up recently. I met him a couple of weeks ago. He was always an avid reader, now as much as ever. He may already have read the book but I’m into Jolabokaflod and the gifting of books on Xmas Eve so that’s what he’s getting haha). I love how passionately you write of the way books are woven into the core of who you are.
Good Omens is a classic. Think the only thing I could say I’ve read that made me laugh out loud more was Catch-22.
The story of how they wrote Good Omens just shows you the genius of those two writers
A big yes to Catch-22! It's one of those books which keeps popping into the head at strange times too, even years after reading. And you are right about the genius of Pratchett and Gaiman. There's something quite special about writers initially deemed genre authors slowly and often begrudgingly being accepted and then embraced by a certain faction of the literary world. (I have a theory that the internet is slowly removing that level of outdated snobbishness, however, leaving behind a sense that people should be able to read what they want, without criticism from others for doing so.) Very excited by The Books That Made Us, thank you!
Yes agree, think both of them have been admitted to the canon of Great Writers now. If you fancy writing about Good Omens please drop me an email btw booksthatmadeus@substack.com
Interesting idea! There's quite a lot of scope there. I'll send a message soon.
Wonderfully written. Lots of great selections in this list. Like you I heard The Hobbit read aloud and it has stuck with me for 40 years. Also like you, I don't like negative Nancy's bloviating about things they disliked in a book. I am a big fan of Mr. Rothwell's newsletter as well. In my newsletter I explore how books intersect with our lives but I am only getting started on my writing journey. Keep up the great work and thanks Mr. Crow.
Many thanks for this! I really think some books deserve reading out loud. Although I already really enjoy reading to our two-year-old, I'm also looking forward to reading slightly longer stories than those she presently enjoys! I have lots of ideas and hope she'll enjoy them.
Have signed up to your letter, and look forward to reading!
Thanks again!
So great to find this article! Thank you.
I'm looking forward to our next meeting and sharing about the third of the books in this list I've actually read and (mainly) love - and I'm excited to now explore the next two thirds!
Thanks especially for reminders I can pick up for Nelah xxx
Thank you! I'm so glad you find it useful, for you and Nelah, that makes me happy.
Miss you both a lot, and we think and talk about you often. Can't wait to see you again and be able to talk books. Ailsa is currently no longer interested in what I read her, probably because we need to get some new English books, but she uses that time to gather her dolls and cuddly toys and 'read' a different book to them at the same time I try to read to her, so that also makes me happy, even if we are often competing against each other!
Sending much love your way. xxx
Great books! I really strongly disliked the Mere-Wife for a lot of reasons, but I somewhat randomly read a handful of Beowulf translations in, I think, 2019. That book grew on me tremendously since I first read it when I was thirteen.
Thanks and thank you for reading! I think that's the key point - to read different translations. Once upon a time, I really fancied the idea of doing my own translation, but it appears I just don't have the time. We actually read it at school, back in the 80s when I was 7, I think - our teacher was Old School, and probably wanted to share his love of Beowulf with perhaps too young and impressionable students! I often wonder if my classmates went on to search out different translations as they grew, then dipped into the original. Somehow, I doubt it, but who knows?!
Love this article and I have read so few of the books it makes rich picking for future ‘to be read’ piles. I have just bought ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ for my dad (who disappeared 25 years ago and who popped up recently. I met him a couple of weeks ago. He was always an avid reader, now as much as ever. He may already have read the book but I’m into Jolabokaflod and the gifting of books on Xmas Eve so that’s what he’s getting haha). I love how passionately you write of the way books are woven into the core of who you are.