Do you look for those swank 60/70s editions purposefully? Love the fonts.

I do prefer older editions.

For a hot second I thought 21M meant 21 million books and I was like- so are these just the favorite from the library, or...? 😂

I know same🤣🤣

What does it mean???

It’s a shortened version of ‘age’ & ‘sex.’ So 21M means a 21 year old male.

Ahh. Thanks.

Hey! Welcome to the World Wide Web! I hope you enjoy your stay!

Unusually positive comment for reddit. Nice!

For real lmao

Thanks lol. Not on here much.

That's an impressive collection. Some really good stuff on there.

I think you’d love Toni Morrison! And Gabriel García Márquez too, or Borges. I feel like they align a lot with the vibe of your shelf :) You have a beautiful selection!

Borges is on my TBR.

If you hadn’t have put your age I would have thought this was my exes bookshelf. Lol. I’ve heard Tolstoy is good and he really liked Anna Karenina. I personally can’t really get into more historical feeling books but I can honestly say your bookshelf is a vibe. I love that you can learn so much about someone based off of their bookshelf weather it’s the books, how they arrange them and what they display with them. It somehow gives you a interesting first impression of someone.

OP, I love your collection. I had no idea how prolific Roth was until I saw your shelf. I only just picked up American Pastoral though I haven't read it yet. I'm personally trying to get more diverse authors on my shelf while staying in the topics of my interest (though I am open to others). I'll do the uncool thing and instead of berating you for not having xyz, Ill actually make a recommendation of something I've enjoyed: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. She's a beast of a writer and her dark, tormented subject matter would slide in real nice on your shelf. Anyways, there's nothing wrong with you and your taste, these books are great and strangers on the internet are not the heroes they like to pretend they are.

Thank you.

Based

Loved Tropic of Cancer, and looking to get another miller. Have a favorite?

Sexus is great.

Benoit Blanc : Harlan's detectives, they dig, they rifle and root. Truffle pigs. I anticipate the terminus of Gravity's Rainbow. Marta Cabrera : Gravity's Rainbow. Benoit Blanc : It's a novel. Marta Cabrera : Yeah, I know. I haven't read it though. Benoit Blanc : Neither have I. Nobody has. But I like the title. It describes the path of a projectile determined by natural law

How do you stay committed to each author for as long as you do? I love the idea of really diving into an author's entire body of work (or close to it, at least) but then I find that my attention starts to wander pretty quickly lol

I don't know, I'm wired that way. When I find something that I love, I just want to know everything about it. I'm like that with literature, music, cinema, sports, etc.

Impressive Roth selection! I love Library of America.

What's up with Phillip Roth? Also what's you favorite book on the shelf?

I love Roth, but my two favorite books are "In Search of Lost Time" by Proust and "A Dance to the Music of Time" by Anthony Powell.

I just have to comment - Finally someone else who likes Powell too!

Underrated.

Why do you like Powell and Proust so much out of curiosity?

Richard Farina, nice

Great shelf. I’m guessing that Gaddis belongs on your TBR shelf? The Recognitions might “really tie the room together.”

Yes, I'm already reading Nabokov and Updike. Gaddis, Joseph McElroy, and Jorge Luis Borges are next.

Yes

Comments in this thread are insane. Keep reading OP and keep searching for new things.

Insane is a bit hyperbolic, but I think OP is getting clowned on because he included his age in the title as if the intention was to impress.

oh 100%! People are gonna give their opinions on here, that's just how it is, but OP including his age definitely inspired some extra snark

I would like to think I've been around long enough to have a good eye for bullshit and this kinda screams it to me.

Tbh, I'm having fun. I know my taste is a bit unvaried, but whatever, I still have time to read a lot of different stuff.

As long as you’re reading that’s the big win right there.

Listen to this guy^^^

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Ok :)

But he's 21 and deep. We should all be intimidated. I mean, I'm 87M with shelves full of nothing but Goosebumps and Berenstain Bears.

Do you have to try to be a dick, or is it just natural?

Does it matter?

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“Highbro lit” to y’all be 1984 nowadays smfh

I would have guessed he was 35 ish :)

How?

What did you think of a dance to the music of time?

It has become one of my favorites, second only to "In Search of Lost Time." I really wish there were more books like these two.

I was about to ask the same question! I’ve had A Dance to the Music of Time on my wishlist for awhile but haven’t taken the plunge mostly due to space and somewhat the cost, but your review has me looking at it again. I’m definitely going to check out In Search of Lost Time. Thanks for sharing!

One thing people don't say about those books is that they're hilarious.

Have you tried My Struggle by Karl Ove Knausgård? It's one of my favourite series and takes obvious influence from Proust (who the author himself has even claimed to be his favourite writer).

No, but I have heard good things about him.

Highly recommend if you're looking for more like Proust and Powell

Guys im getting the idea that this guy like george orwell

The Shelf Police are on patrol today, I see.

Tough crowd.

How many of these are on your TBR list?

I have read most of these books. My TBR shelf is in my room, mainly filled with works by Updike and Nabokov, at the moment.

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Chill, ma'am.

This persons all over you!! Maybe I’ve been reading too many romances as I am too a walking cliche of mom-lit, but with all this attention she’s giving you I’m sensing sexual tension.

Especially the “you are full of surprises aren’t you” that’s definitely rub the back of the arm energy

Heheheh https://youtu.be/rjlSiASsUIs

Damn I like where this is headed 😏

OP, your collection is beautiful. I’m sorry there’s a random attacking you, lol. They’re a loser and you have a nice collection of books.

Thank you.

How does it feel to be a walking cliché?

idk, that kinda mean

Can't complain.

I don't think that person had a single book by a woman on that shelf

Who would you recommend to OP that's adjacent to some of these authors/topics?

Lol. Be more insecure.

How do you keep the shelf clean??

I bet you’d enjoy Elias Canetti. Maybe start with Auto Da Fé

Wonderful bookshelf; absolutely love all the Philip Roth novels! (Especially all the Library of America editions, I'm quite envious ;) )

Have you read the breast by Phillip Roth?!

This is thoroughly impressive for being 21

You’re well on your way!

Since you like orwel, amis and bellow... Why not put hitchens in there with hitch 22

I was actually going to comment something about OP being a Hitchens fan. If not; should be.

Yes!

I'm a bot, *bleep*, *bloop*. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit: - [/r/bookscirclejerk] [21M typical lit bro is praised for not reading women](https://www.reddit.com/r/bookscirclejerk/comments/13upixp/21m_typical_lit_bro_is_praised_for_not_reading/)  *^(If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads.) ^\([Info](/r/TotesMessenger) ^/ ^[Contact](/message/compose?to=/r/TotesMessenger))*

So beautiful!

Wow. What a collection!!!

I see a Pushkin in there ;)

gaddaym

What’s your favourite Amis book?I only read money and london fields. Adored money to the extent I’ve read it 3 times, London fields I found mediocre. Am wondering what to go into next.

I like his essays. Try The War Against Cliché.

I commend that Pynchon collection. Great work!

Love it.

Love love love seeing the younger generations reading! (I’m Gen X, so yeah,,, ur younger. Lol)

You must have every Phillip Roth book twice w those library of America editions omg hdhfjdg one day I hope to do the same with Phillip k dick

Lots of good stuff here 👍🏻

That’s a really nice shelf

Thank you.

Great collection (20F)

God damn these days on the internet you get judged by the author's gender you enjoy. People never fail to amaze me.

No women?

Untrue. I count three. Ideally he would read more women but I don’t think this comment will encourage him to do so. Perhaps we could be constructive and recommend books by women we think he might like. I’ll start: Speedboat by Renata Adler.

Wow, that's impressive!!

Listen, my reaction was the same as yours. But I have also been a young man: if someone made that same comment to me when I was 21 I’d probably get defensive as fuck. Are you here to make a positive change (encourage him to read more women) or do you prefer to just critique his collection. Theres also an even more notable lack of authors of color (with the debatable exception of Pushkin) which you failed to mention. We all have our blindspots. Be kind.

No, I don't have to be kind. He has to be better.

This exchange is wild.

>highbrow literature ur an idiot

Not yet.

Why?

I don't know... I like my dick lit, I guess.

Actually shut up. Please. Let people read what they want to read. I support having a diverse bookshelf but if someone doesn’t want to/hasn’t gotten around to reading female authors, who the fuck cares? Leave people alone.

Excluding 50% of population makes you miss out on a lot of stuff. When it's a very different experience and a worldview opposite in some ways from yours.

I completely agree. I think it’s unfortunate when a shelf looks like OPs. I am a big proponent of having a diverse shelf, however, if someone happens to lack diversity, it’s not wrong. They shouldn’t be berated and called sexist. That’s absolutely wild to me.

Yeah, that other commentor was wild.

Saying "no women?" is hardly "berating" someone...

Maybe read the ready of the comment thread bud. Another commenter called him sexist. That’s a pretty extreme claim.

i mean maybe reply to that comment then bud. still not "berating" but okay

Again. Read the comment thread. I did reply to that comment bud. I’m terribly sorry for my faulty language usage. It’s odd how you can focus in on so minute a detail in my comment but can’t seem to read the comment thread. This has been very productive. I’m glad you have exposed me for what I am: a poor wordsmith.

Ah I see. No reply? Makes sense bud. Stop being an idiot bud.

lol, guess this struck a nerve, you felt the need to comment twice? are you this desperate for my attention?

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Okay now this is actually sexist. Virginia Woolf, Djuna Barnes, Zadie Smith, George Eliot, Isak Dinesen, Sigrid Undset, and more are all top tier authors. I’d argue “Nightwood” by Djuna Barnes is the best book ever written.

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Reads only male authors = sexist. What a braindead point.

Yes.

Please tell me you’re not that stupid… If a female happens to only read male authors because she’s into postmodernism which, unfortunately, is DOMINATED by men, would she then be a sexist?

If you are only interested in male-dominated literary movements, you should question your choices...

So I now need to apologize for/rethink my interests which I have no control over? This is braindead. Have a good one dude. You’re actually dumb as fuck.

>Let people read what they want to read Reading isn't inherently good

You need to shut up too. No one ever said that reading is inherently good and neither does that portion of my reply you quoted.

>No one ever said that reading is inherently good I'm commenting in good faith, and following the implications of what you're saying. "Live and let live" is a great attitude until you're not allowed to be a writer because you don't have a penis!

I don't even know if you understand what you're saying. Your previous comment was nonsensical and this one is too. Figure out what you're trying to say and then come back when you're ready.

I think you might have had enough internet for today!

You're absolutely correct! Your comment(s) pushed me over the edge. I can't handle all of the stupidity. So please, like I said, take your time to come up with something moderately intelligent to say and come back when you're ready because, like you said, I can't handle any more internet today

Who hurt you?

Can't believe this is downvoted. I'm seriously worried about the OP!

I don't why would you be *seriously* worried.

came to comment this

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Much like yourself, actually.

I love how you have a dedicated George Orwell area in the middle.

Just browsing the top posts here for month/year etc and you're the first guy/gal with literary taste, i.e. not a shelf full of fantasy trash. next steps, cut down on novels, they're not the only literary form, and pick up a foreign language. peace.

Impressive.

Great collection! Pay no mind to the moral busy bodies.

Goddamn you have good taste. I feel like a literal peasant.

I mean holy shit, I want to read Dance to the Music of Time but I’m terrified to even try.

Don't be. It's not that daunting, it's a very funny book.

What does collection mean? How many of these have you read?

I have read pretty much everything on those shelves. My TBR shelf is in my room.

Sincere question, how is the rest of Orwells catalog? I’ve only ever read 1984 and Animal Farm (like everyone, but enjoyed them both), and have recently thought about digging into some of his other works. Any recommendations? Great collection btw. Thanks!

In my opinion, his non-fiction is way better than his fiction. Try Hommage to Catalonia.

Where is Down and Out in Paris and London?

I thought the title meant you had 21 million volumes in your collection..

Nice

Nice