Used bookstores are a superb source for variety that’s usually affordably priced. I will be interested to hear your comments about these books. The only one I have read is The Diary of Anne Frank-It was assigned reading in school-but it’s helpful to know the historical setting beforehand because the events were so horrific and wicked. Thank you, Valerie, I always enjoy your videos.

bold of you to haul multiple shakespeares when we still haven’t started our buddy read of jc

All of this Shakespeare has me excited to push on and keep trying.... at my local bookstore they had a copy of "The Shakespeare Book- Big Ideas Simply Explained" which I'm happy to have on hand (and as part of the independent bookstore day it was 50 % off, how could I say no)

I went through all of Shakespeare chronologically a couple years ago and I can say I highly recommend the order of the first three written (Henry VI parts 1 & 2 and Henry VII) and then the prequels. I am inclined to agree with your professor to skip part 1 because it's a lot of rising action and isn't worth it if your goal is to get to the meat as soon as possible. One thing that I will say is that Richard II is woefully underrated. I personally ranked it just below Hamlet among his works. This is partially due to having gone through the sequel trilogy first because there was a huge payoff in finally seeing the context of the events that spur the whole war of roses. Richard III is more culturally iconic, but PLEASE read Richard II. It's more character-driven dramatics and the main players Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke feel much more whole than the massive rotating casts of the other histories. I look forward to hearing what you think of the histories. I was pleasantly surprised myself.

Richard III is great, it's one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, probably my favourite history play. It's funny to me that you were told to skip Part 1 because that was my favourite of the Henry VI trilogy. 🤣 I just always have to be different, I guess!