Love it when we got a serious book video from the boy, feels like a rare treat. He does such a great job talking through each novel without just giving a plot synopsis.
I LOVE when you post longer videos about books! I'm an aspiring author so I try to read a lot. In 2023 I read 59 books, and I so look forward to adding some of your favorites to my reading list this year. I wonder if our tastes will align at all. Happy New Year Mr. Carrying Thing!
@@DOG_EATER_1887 I read around 1 hour every day. In 2023 I was able to read 62 books. So even if you don't have time and can only spare 30 minutes a day / 1hr on the weekends, you can also read around 30. It's not so much about having a lot of free time but being smart with it
@@DOG_EATER_1887If you find books you like to read it's easy to read one every week. ( also granted you don't read door stoper after door stoper, THAT would take a lot of time) I probably read fourty books last year and I've already gotten through two starting fresh this year
@@DOG_EATER_1887 I read very fast in general (think 800-1k words per minute) which helps, but the main thing is that I love reading. I have time to play video games, make music, do art, and most important WRITE, but reading is a hobby I prioritize over most since I want to be an author.
@@DOG_EATER_1887 It really depends on the books you read and the size of them. Also .. how you count them lol.. E.g. Let's say you want to read some Moorcock and decide to buy the Elric Saga vol 1. There are 4 books in that one book. But each of those books is comprised of 3 smaller books or so. So did you read one large Elric book? Vol 1 of the Elric saga? Or did you read 4 Elric books? Or ... did you read 12 elric books? It can take you a month to read a very large complex book or series. It might take you a few days to finish a 200 page novella that reads a lot easier or isn't as complex. Or maybe you just don't care enough to read it very analytically and are more reading mindlessly for leisure. If you're reading mistborn or something more accessible like that you might fly through the text. If you're reading the book of the new sun you might take 3 times as long with each page.
gotta love how after man carrying things success making silly funny videos about the plankton farts and dies cinematic universe, he still goes back to his roots of books. truly legendary.
Hi. I just wanted to thank you for continuing to release videos like this, which are as much fun as your sketches. I am from Russia and thanks to your videos I can learn spoken English in practice. So, thank you and have a nice day.
I reread Watership Down and it's still my favorite book. Sometimes, I just open up a chapter I like and read and I think I enjoyed that even more than reading all the way through again.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ MORE BALZAC! If you don't already know much about the author or his interconnected "Human Comedy" (a late 19th century Cinematic Universe, but literary... and good...), I recommend you look into him/it. Unfortunately, finding *complete* editions these days is difficult (not to mention pricey), but even if you only manage to hit the major novels of the set, the experience is rewarding.
Thanks for making this books videos. I have a hard time reading books, but every time i see one video from you i get an urge to read, you are really good at saying what you like. Keep up the good work
I honestly wish you'd upload this stuff a biiit more often, but I do enjoy the skits. You've got some good, interesting picks here. I've been wanting to read McMurtry for a while now. Might get to that this year. My favourite thing I read this year is Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe, and I think it's something you'd really like. Four books, all pretty small considering they're sci-fi/fantasy books, densely packed with themes, with the absolute best prose I've ever read in genre fiction. I had no idea writing could be this atmospheric.
I find your book content to be some of the most refreshing on RUclips, at least among the pages I’ve experienced. A mixture of your taste in literature and your way of articulating your thoughts and feelings on the books. Love it.
I recently started Dracula by Stoker & although it's wordy, it also has this unique atmosphere & a strange kind of humor. My favorite book from last year was probably A Separate Peace by John Knowles, which was such a bittersweet & thoughtful novel that really makes you question morality, intent, & the impermanence of friendships. I haven't been able to read as much as I wanted due to college work, but in my upcoming spring semester alone, I'm required to read 4 books, including The Iliad & The Epic of Gilgamesh, 2 classics I'm excited to dive into. Hopefully this will get me back into the groove bc I have a whole shelf waiting to be read.
the feeling i get when man carrying thing uploads a book review is kinda like the one you get when you're watching your favourite cartoon character in his brand new full length movie
I also read Père Goriot for the first time in 2023 and it ranked high on my year-end list. Your commentary is a perfect summary of what makes Balzac’s writing timeless.
Used to read a lot and barely read anything during the pandemic. Last year i finally got a good year in again. I also read Detransition, Baby. I think it's my favourite book that i read last year, but my opinion isnt yet fully formed, the book is still lingering in my brain in the background, still processing it.
Thanks for the recommendations! My suggestion is always Machado de Assis, in case you are not already familiar. Amazing Brazilian author, specially "The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas", love that book. And the authors history is pretty interesting well as a mixed race man in times of slavery in Brazil.
finally got to killers of the flower moon and man, couldn’t put that one down. i think the cover has a nyt review that’s like “historical writing with the urgency of a crime novel” and that sums it up really well, i saw it before watching scorsese’s version and thought the film did it justice, but man that book is good
Good picks. I hit 103 books last year. Don’t ask me how, but I can recommend a few: The Power Broker (Caro) Abbadon’s Gate (Corey) American Taboid & Perfidia (Ellroy) Out of Sight (Leonard) Fer-De-Lance (Stout) Slow Horses (Herron) Elantris (Sanderson)
@@ManCarryingThingYeah the characters in Ellroy’s books require a lot of patience. They’re almost all complete shitbags, but that’s kind of the point. I recommend starting with the LA Quartet, especially the Big Nowhere.
Hey! I bought Le Père Goriot (in French as I speak it) after hearing your review. I work in a small library and we have used books and I found it there with a little pamphlet that analyses the writing, there’s even pictures and drawings and news articles relating to the book in it! So thanks for a recommandation!
Finished Neuromancer by William Gibson some weeks ago, would recommend. Got confused with a bunch of the in-world terminology but for me that drew me in even further
I loved Neuromancer! Before that, I hadn't read much sci fi even though I loved a lot of sci fi movies. Neuromancer got me to give sci fi books a shot again, though I don't think much of the ones I've read since have really lived up to it: Snow Crash is on my shelf waiting for me to finish my current book I'm reading, though, and I have high hopes for it.
Also would recommend Neuromancer. However, don’t stop there, I recommend cont zero and Mona Lisa overdrive even more. They have brilliant prose, interesting, real feeling, gritty characters, and very human stories.
I know your videos for the short quips they tell, but I enjoy your long form remarks to show the depth of what goes into your quip length vids. Thanks for sharing them. Balzac might be famous one day because of this review. You have me intrigued by Linda, and I think it might just get shoved to the head of the long cue.
I just discovered this side of your channel and wow!! I like the way you describe the books , i put father gorio on my list it seems like a very interesting book
I actually first came to your channel for the book content, and stayed for the skits. Although mainly I liked the fantasy book coverage and the like and not these more "serious" books, for lack of a better word. Still, I appreciate you keeping to your guns and not submitting to the algorithm, even though I kinda feel bad for not being into these videos lol, however irrational that may be.
Finally read the Stormlight Archive this year after so many friends had recommended Sanderson, really loved it (and desperately waiting for Stormlight 5). Your Stormlight sitcom series was awesome by the way, would love to see it return in some form!
Glad to see you still making book-related videos. The meme videos are great, but these and the conversation videos about movies on the Woman carrying man channel are my favorites of this "carrying" universe. :D My favorite books I read last year were Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (sci-fi) and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (fantasy). Huge recommendations for both of them!
My top five books of 2023: 1) East Of Eden by Steinbeck 2) The Secret History by Tart 3) Slaughterhouse-5 by Vonnegut 4) Light Bringer by Pierce Brown 5) Kane & Abel by Jeffrey Archer
The Al Gore Rhythm hit me with this and I couldn't be happier. I've been subbed for over a year now, and only just now am getting into all your book stuff. Thanks for all the great content, reviews, recommendations, etc. huge fan here :)
I originally subscribed for the books and I’m still here for the books. Glad you still upload these, I love them. The skits are also great. I didn’t expect them to get as popular as they did.
I discovered your channel while looking for reviews for Butcher's crossing (probably one of my best books of the year). Its just so great to hear you talk about books. Please keep it on!
You're the reason My amazon "save for later" list is clogged with books from the parker series (waiting for that "when I can afford it" time of my life like a carrot on a stick) cuz the video you made talking about its strengths and why you like it REALLY sold me on it. Thank you for talking about books!
I've started to read more this year, and I really enjoyed Catch 22! I loved the absurdity and the sudden changes in atmosphere that would happen throughout the book, definitely recommend!
I keep telling myself I need to read Father Goriot. I read Crime and Punishment for the first time this year, and started a spiral into all of Dostoevsky's works that I have yet to crawl out of. I think Goriot has been mentioned in every, single, preface to a Dostoevsky book I've read so far. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much. I guess I have to add it to the list for 2024 properly. Also read Les Miserables for the first time this year and I think I'm just never emotionally recovering. 11/10.
I read the first book in December. I loves the writing and the characters but the worldbuilding fell a little flat for me. I'm excited for the 2nd book tho whenever I get around to it
Abercrombie brought Fantasy back to the menu for me. Many of these high fantasy worlds were too boring, self-absorbed and esoteric for me. First Law is bleak but so lovable at the same time. Full of unique characters. You lose yourself in the story and not in pages full of mythical creatures and foggy in-between worlds. He does grounded worldbuilding. From a character perspective and here and there, real humor shines through. I love it.
After finding out about brandon sanderson thanks to your content and a guy mentioning it on stream i started binging through his works. Finished mistborn era 1 stormlight 1 2 2.5 3 and today i finished dawnshard now waiting for sa4 to arrive Thank you for introducing me to such a great author
love the book video. in 2023 i got back into reading, mostly via audiobook since i drive a lot so it’s accessible for me. by far my favorite book i read last year was song of achilles. such beautiful prose and such a compelling narrative i couldn’t stop with it once i started. friday black was also excellent at showing what anthologies are capable of, there were so many distinct narratives unified by common themes
Never stop posting about books. I read 'Five Decembers' this year because of one of your earlier videos, loved it. My favorite read in 2023 was definitely 'East of Eden'
My favorite novels I read in 2023 were Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon and Steinbeck's East of Eden. My favorite non-fiction were CLR James' The Black Jacobins and Vincent Bevins' If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution. I've been very interested in McMurtry since seeing the film adaptation of Last Picture Show, would love to give his novels a shot this year. Your list appears to be mostly fiction, I'm curious if you have an interest in any nonfiction/what kind?
My favorite book I read this year was Americanah (might be one of my favorite books ever). Also reread Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which is always a treat 😄 Thanks for posting these longer-form videos, I really enjoy them!
Finally read annihilation and it’s phenomenal, but that’s not a surprise. Notes of a crocodile was a great book for where I’m at right now as a queer college student. Ain’t I a Woman really helped my understanding of intersectionality as a feminist and bell hooks is an easy recommendation to anyone who’s never read her, even if you don’t read theory.
This was great because I don’t follow any readers/book tubers who read the same kind of novels and detective/mystery books you do. It’s always great to hear from someone discussing a genre you aren’t as familiar with, and hearing someone with that taste/perspective talk about other genres too.
I love your viral bite sized content but really miss the book review content. I really value your insight and you're earlier video's re-inspired my love for reading. Thank you for the video!
I wasn’t sure if you were going to make a joke about Balzac and I apologize for momentarily doubting you. Having just finished Jim Thompson’s Pop. 1280, and loving it, i’m excited for a bunch of these recs. Thanks man
Tbh I stopped watching your book reviews once you stopped WOT, because that’s one of the few book series I’ve read. However I stayed for the funnies and memes and while I don’t watch your new book reviews, it makes me happy to see you go back to where it all started with the books
My favourite book I read in 2023 was Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. I don't think it's talked about enough it was very compelling and really does a lot of things that you really can only get from books, it's hard to explain what I mean but it's just a really good book. Better than American Gods in my opinion which is much better known.
I’m a big fan of your book recommendation videos. I found you through the silly ha ha videos but honestly now I’m staying for the book content. You have so many recommendations that my friends and I are starting a book club. ✨
As someone who had to read Pere Goriot for my History class, I do have to say it’s probably my third favorite novel I’ve read for school. I was pleasantly surprised to see you loving it in this year of 2023.
I'm writing a crime novel set in the 60s. So, I've been reading lots and lots of crime novels written back then. You probably already read these, but I wanted to mention a couple: Roseanna by Sjöwall and Wahlöö, End of the Night by John MacDonald. BTW, unrelated, but if you haven't read Evenson's Last Days, I think you'd dig it.
I can't thank you enough for your book videos. They've really helped me get into reading again when I was in a terrible slump of wanting to read but simply not knowing where to start. I especially liked 5 Decembers and Wuthering heights ❤️
I love your books reviews because it's very obvious you just pick what you think it's interesting. It's the complete opposite of the book tuber that reads everything that is hype at the moment;
I really appreciate you doing the book reviews! I know your short videos perform better, but you've proven to be the most enjoyable critic I've encountered. My favorite book in 2023 (which I still haven't finished) is Peter H. Wilson's "The 30 Years War". Although it's a large history book, its proven to be approachable, allowing the reader to enjoy learning about the characters and foibles of a destructive period, highlighting the efforts towards peace and the disastrous personal squabbles that lead to war. 851 pages of text but well worth the time. (Helps to have some geography skills though)
You're the first reviewer on RUclips who resonates with my taste. Unbelievable. I've been reading McMurtry since the 70's. Love John D McDonald since high school in the 60s. Many of my favorite writers have gone completely out of fashion, like Jim Harrison.
I’m a prolific reader but I wish I could say I finished a lot of books. But for the the last month I have been devouring the last three books in the millennium series. I was upset that Amazon took too long for the last book to get to me. Got it two days ago and 1/3 of the way through. Need a new series after this, perhaps a Parker book. I read a comic adapted from one book years ago. Maybe try the real thing.
0:22 had me gagging. i've seen your short videos before and love those, but i didnt know you made reading videos! subscribing for sure, you're real fun :))
Didn't read too much in 2023, maybe about 25-ish books. My favorite though was Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell was really good too.
This year I really loved John Darnielle's books, Devil House, Wolf in White Van, and Universal Harvester. I also really enjoyed learning about cells from Song Of The Cell, but I don't think I can name a fact that I retained. Gave up on a lot of stuff before finishing this year, and I ended up reading way less than normal. Thank you for book talk
It was a good year for reading, I would say top four would be Valis by Philip K. Dick, Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and Three Tales by Gustave Flaubert, although "A Simple Heart" was definitely my favorite of those.
I started reading a lot more classic Sci-Fi last year. Ubik (PDK), Slaughterhouse-Five (Vonnegut), and The Lathe of Heaven (Le Guin) are among my favorites in that category.
I read Infomocracy and A Psalm for the Wild-Built this year and they’re now my two favorite series. The library at my university only has science fiction books so I am forced to only read scifi. It’s a good thing I love scifi but I do feel like I’m failing to explore literature properly.
@@ManCarryingThing It’s because they took out all the books like 7 years ago or so when they re-did the library cus they were like “kids these days don’t read.” They made it all study space. But then some people complained so they were like “oh you’re a bunch of geeks (mostly a stem school) so you’ll like this” and they brought back all the science fiction books from the warehouse. There’s a ton of classic scifi there I’ve found like old fashioned check out slips with stamps from the 50s. I mean they’re falling apart but it’s fun to see.
Le Père Goriot ouaaaaaaaiiiis let’s goooooo! Trop plaiz de voir du Balzac sur cette chaîne, lis Illusions Perdues la prochaine fois, si ce n’est déjà fait. Et l’Education Sentimentale de Flaubert, gros gros banger
Just wanted to say you turned me on to Five Decembers and the Parker novels and man, you have amazing taste. I read Five Decembers on the beach in Bali the day I proposed to my fiance. Will never forget that.
My favorite book I read in 2023 was Based On A True Story by Norm Macdonald. It's a novel marketed as a celebrity memoir and its the funniest thing I've ever seen put to paper. Get the audio book if you can. Also brush up Norms career and 90s SNL. The jokes will hit harder
I can imagine these videos perform poorer than the others, but I still appreciate that you make them. Please never stop making them.
he started with these, and i actually subscribed for this and for the others without knowing they're one channel lol
I found his channel because of the comedy but got fully captivated by the book talk! Hope he does more :)
What this guy said.
Thirded!
I'll prob enjoy them more when I learn to read :)
A book rewiew on the book rewiew channel? He never misses, the Absolute Legend.
ManCT inspires me.. My parents said if i get 70K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally
Begging..
@@namantherockstar I've seen this comment too many times ur a bot
@@namantherockstar "👨🏿🦱⚡️"
It’s very out of place isn’t it?
review*
Love it when we got a serious book video from the boy, feels like a rare treat. He does such a great job talking through each novel without just giving a plot synopsis.
thanks!
He's not a boy, he's a man! And not just any other man, he's one who carries thing.
@@ManCarryingThing Is there going to be a song of Susannah review soon?
You’re missing Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: No-Brainer
No brainer
ManCT inspires me.. My parents said if i get 70K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally
Begging..
@@namantherockstarwelp…that’s sad
@@namantherockstar bot
@@namantherockstar oui oui monsiuer
I LOVE when you post longer videos about books! I'm an aspiring author so I try to read a lot. In 2023 I read 59 books, and I so look forward to adding some of your favorites to my reading list this year. I wonder if our tastes will align at all. Happy New Year Mr. Carrying Thing!
How do you read that much dude
Don't you do anything else
@@DOG_EATER_1887 I read around 1 hour every day. In 2023 I was able to read 62 books. So even if you don't have time and can only spare 30 minutes a day / 1hr on the weekends, you can also read around 30. It's not so much about having a lot of free time but being smart with it
@@DOG_EATER_1887If you find books you like to read it's easy to read one every week. ( also granted you don't read door stoper after door stoper, THAT would take a lot of time) I probably read fourty books last year and I've already gotten through two starting fresh this year
@@DOG_EATER_1887 I read very fast in general (think 800-1k words per minute) which helps, but the main thing is that I love reading. I have time to play video games, make music, do art, and most important WRITE, but reading is a hobby I prioritize over most since I want to be an author.
@@DOG_EATER_1887 It really depends on the books you read and the size of them. Also .. how you count them lol.. E.g. Let's say you want to read some Moorcock and decide to buy the Elric Saga vol 1. There are 4 books in that one book. But each of those books is comprised of 3 smaller books or so. So did you read one large Elric book? Vol 1 of the Elric saga? Or did you read 4 Elric books? Or ... did you read 12 elric books?
It can take you a month to read a very large complex book or series. It might take you a few days to finish a 200 page novella that reads a lot easier or isn't as complex. Or maybe you just don't care enough to read it very analytically and are more reading mindlessly for leisure. If you're reading mistborn or something more accessible like that you might fly through the text. If you're reading the book of the new sun you might take 3 times as long with each page.
gotta love how after man carrying things success making silly funny videos about the plankton farts and dies cinematic universe, he still goes back to his roots of books. truly legendary.
Hi. I just wanted to thank you for continuing to release videos like this, which are as much fun as your sketches. I am from Russia and thanks to your videos I can learn spoken English in practice. So, thank you and have a nice day.
that's awesome, thanks!
W comment
Always love your book videos. You've got a unique perspective and style and these really encourage me to read as much as I used to
thanks!
I read less than 50 books this year as well! My Goodreads goal for 2023 is sobbing
how in any way do you think thats a low number? Thats amazing, i barely got 27 and im amazed with myself
Honestly missed these kinds of videos from you! Great stuff.
I reread Watership Down and it's still my favorite book. Sometimes, I just open up a chapter I like and read and I think I enjoyed that even more than reading all the way through again.
im too scared to read it lol
The license plates on my car say HRUDUDU. Only one person so far has known what it means.
@@ManCarryingThingIt's an incredible book. I was worried it would be really sad but what I got was something akin to Lord of the Rings with rabbits.
@@YoobikI'm assuming it's about a Watership going down? Would that be an all-encompassing, accurate, synopsis?
Please *never* stop doing these videos! Your book reviews are so insightful and I have actually used them when I'm seeking new recommendations!
EVERYONE SHOULD READ MORE BALZAC!
If you don't already know much about the author or his interconnected "Human Comedy" (a late 19th century Cinematic Universe, but literary... and good...), I recommend you look into him/it. Unfortunately, finding *complete* editions these days is difficult (not to mention pricey), but even if you only manage to hit the major novels of the set, the experience is rewarding.
Thanks for making this books videos. I have a hard time reading books, but every time i see one video from you i get an urge to read, you are really good at saying what you like. Keep up the good work
I don't read a ton (damn college), but my favorite from this year would be the Scholomance trilogy by Naomi Novik
yeah turns out graduating was the best thing for my reading life
I honestly wish you'd upload this stuff a biiit more often, but I do enjoy the skits. You've got some good, interesting picks here. I've been wanting to read McMurtry for a while now. Might get to that this year.
My favourite thing I read this year is Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe, and I think it's something you'd really like. Four books, all pretty small considering they're sci-fi/fantasy books, densely packed with themes, with the absolute best prose I've ever read in genre fiction. I had no idea writing could be this atmospheric.
I find your book content to be some of the most refreshing on RUclips, at least among the pages I’ve experienced. A mixture of your taste in literature and your way of articulating your thoughts and feelings on the books. Love it.
My personal favorite was The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Perfectly matches my humor
I read that this year too! I recommend Terry Pratchett's books for similar humor if you haven't heard of him.
One of my favourites as well. If you haven't you should definitely read the whole trilogy (αll 5 books)
I love your picks! It's so much more different from the usual books you see recommended on Booktube.
Great list! I'm a big fan of Honoré De Ballsack btw
No kidding I was just going through your book playlist yesterday, itching for a new one!
I really appreciate that these aren't all books that came out in 2023, just books you read in 2023.
Finally a real Man Carrying Things video. I can add even more books to the ever growing list I'll never read.
I recently started Dracula by Stoker & although it's wordy, it also has this unique atmosphere & a strange kind of humor. My favorite book from last year was probably A Separate Peace by John Knowles, which was such a bittersweet & thoughtful novel that really makes you question morality, intent, & the impermanence of friendships.
I haven't been able to read as much as I wanted due to college work, but in my upcoming spring semester alone, I'm required to read 4 books, including The Iliad & The Epic of Gilgamesh, 2 classics I'm excited to dive into. Hopefully this will get me back into the groove bc I have a whole shelf waiting to be read.
You rock man, thank you for the recommendations!
Any time!
I honesty love your content about books
the feeling i get when man carrying thing uploads a book review is kinda like the one you get when you're watching your favourite cartoon character in his brand new full length movie
I also read Père Goriot for the first time in 2023 and it ranked high on my year-end list. Your commentary is a perfect summary of what makes Balzac’s writing timeless.
Used to read a lot and barely read anything during the pandemic. Last year i finally got a good year in again. I also read Detransition, Baby. I think it's my favourite book that i read last year, but my opinion isnt yet fully formed, the book is still lingering in my brain in the background, still processing it.
loved that book!
Thanks for the recommendations! My suggestion is always Machado de Assis, in case you are not already familiar. Amazing Brazilian author, specially "The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas", love that book.
And the authors history is pretty interesting well as a mixed race man in times of slavery in Brazil.
I subscribed for the comedy skits but this video was a pleasant surprise for someone aiming to read more books this year!
finally got to killers of the flower moon and man, couldn’t put that one down. i think the cover has a nyt review that’s like “historical writing with the urgency of a crime novel” and that sums it up really well, i saw it before watching scorsese’s version and thought the film did it justice, but man that book is good
I need to read this. One of many on my 'to read' pile.
I always forget you’re a booktuber and get surprised each time you post one of these video
I unironically suggest the Paul Street Boys by Ferenc Molnár. It is an english version of the hungarian version, and it's really great.
Good picks. I hit 103 books last year. Don’t ask me how, but I can recommend a few:
The Power Broker (Caro)
Abbadon’s Gate (Corey)
American Taboid & Perfidia (Ellroy)
Out of Sight (Leonard)
Fer-De-Lance (Stout)
Slow Horses (Herron)
Elantris (Sanderson)
great picks - tried getting into American Tabloid recently, but was put off by the style and characters - might have to try a different ellroy
@@ManCarryingThingYeah the characters in Ellroy’s books require a lot of patience. They’re almost all complete shitbags, but that’s kind of the point. I recommend starting with the LA Quartet, especially the Big Nowhere.
Hey! I bought Le Père Goriot (in French as I speak it) after hearing your review. I work in a small library and we have used books and I found it there with a little pamphlet that analyses the writing, there’s even pictures and drawings and news articles relating to the book in it! So thanks for a recommandation!
Finished Neuromancer by William Gibson some weeks ago, would recommend. Got confused with a bunch of the in-world terminology but for me that drew me in even further
too scared to read that, maybe one day
I loved Neuromancer! Before that, I hadn't read much sci fi even though I loved a lot of sci fi movies. Neuromancer got me to give sci fi books a shot again, though I don't think much of the ones I've read since have really lived up to it: Snow Crash is on my shelf waiting for me to finish my current book I'm reading, though, and I have high hopes for it.
@@SIDEKICKDUSTY god you've reminded me I MUST read Neal Stephenson's Eves again AND Snowcrash... Time to start procrastinating my new books
Also would recommend Neuromancer. However, don’t stop there, I recommend cont zero and Mona Lisa overdrive even more. They have brilliant prose, interesting, real feeling, gritty characters, and very human stories.
I know your videos for the short quips they tell, but I enjoy your long form remarks to show the depth of what goes into your quip length vids.
Thanks for sharing them. Balzac might be famous one day because of this review. You have me intrigued by Linda, and I think it might just get shoved to the head of the long cue.
Love ❤ this! Thank you!
I just discovered this side of your channel and wow!! I like the way you describe the books , i put father gorio on my list it seems like a very interesting book
I actually first came to your channel for the book content, and stayed for the skits. Although mainly I liked the fantasy book coverage and the like and not these more "serious" books, for lack of a better word. Still, I appreciate you keeping to your guns and not submitting to the algorithm, even though I kinda feel bad for not being into these videos lol, however irrational that may be.
Hey man. Thanks for these book recommendations. I love hearing people talk about things that they read an enjoyed.
Finally read the Stormlight Archive this year after so many friends had recommended Sanderson, really loved it (and desperately waiting for Stormlight 5). Your Stormlight sitcom series was awesome by the way, would love to see it return in some form!
thanks!
Glad to see you still making book-related videos. The meme videos are great, but these and the conversation videos about movies on the Woman carrying man channel are my favorites of this "carrying" universe. :D My favorite books I read last year were Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (sci-fi) and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (fantasy). Huge recommendations for both of them!
My top five books of 2023: 1) East Of Eden by Steinbeck 2) The Secret History by Tart 3) Slaughterhouse-5 by Vonnegut 4) Light Bringer by Pierce Brown 5) Kane & Abel by Jeffrey Archer
The Al Gore Rhythm hit me with this and I couldn't be happier. I've been subbed for over a year now, and only just now am getting into all your book stuff. Thanks for all the great content, reviews, recommendations, etc. huge fan here :)
Thank you for still being a book channel while also being the most important channel about SOCIETY
enjoy the lack of music in this one, feels just like a fun hang
I originally subscribed for the books and I’m still here for the books. Glad you still upload these, I love them. The skits are also great. I didn’t expect them to get as popular as they did.
I discovered your channel while looking for reviews for Butcher's crossing (probably one of my best books of the year). Its just so great to hear you talk about books. Please keep it on!
watched for the shorts. Subscribed for the book content.
You're the reason My amazon "save for later" list is clogged with books from the parker series (waiting for that "when I can afford it" time of my life like a carrot on a stick) cuz the video you made talking about its strengths and why you like it REALLY sold me on it. Thank you for talking about books!
I've started to read more this year, and I really enjoyed Catch 22! I loved the absurdity and the sudden changes in atmosphere that would happen throughout the book, definitely recommend!
I keep telling myself I need to read Father Goriot. I read Crime and Punishment for the first time this year, and started a spiral into all of Dostoevsky's works that I have yet to crawl out of. I think Goriot has been mentioned in every, single, preface to a Dostoevsky book I've read so far. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much. I guess I have to add it to the list for 2024 properly.
Also read Les Miserables for the first time this year and I think I'm just never emotionally recovering. 11/10.
Just started reading First Law Trilogy by Abercrombie, loving it so far. I heard praise for so long I finally gave in
i want to start that this year
I read the first book in December. I loves the writing and the characters but the worldbuilding fell a little flat for me. I'm excited for the 2nd book tho whenever I get around to it
Abercrombie brought Fantasy back to the menu for me.
Many of these high fantasy worlds were too boring, self-absorbed and esoteric for me.
First Law is bleak but so lovable at the same time. Full of unique characters. You lose yourself in the story and not in pages full of mythical creatures and foggy in-between worlds.
He does grounded worldbuilding. From a character perspective and here and there, real humor shines through. I love it.
I don't even read that much but I follow this channel for your passionate reviews like this. And the skits are funny too!
this information is truly life changing
After finding out about brandon sanderson thanks to your content and a guy mentioning it on stream i started binging through his works. Finished mistborn era 1 stormlight 1 2 2.5 3 and today i finished dawnshard now waiting for sa4 to arrive Thank you for introducing me to such a great author
love the book video. in 2023 i got back into reading, mostly via audiobook since i drive a lot so it’s accessible for me. by far my favorite book i read last year was song of achilles. such beautiful prose and such a compelling narrative i couldn’t stop with it once i started. friday black was also excellent at showing what anthologies are capable of, there were so many distinct narratives unified by common themes
Never stop posting about books. I read 'Five Decembers' this year because of one of your earlier videos, loved it. My favorite read in 2023 was definitely 'East of Eden'
My favorite novels I read in 2023 were Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon and Steinbeck's East of Eden. My favorite non-fiction were CLR James' The Black Jacobins and Vincent Bevins' If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution. I've been very interested in McMurtry since seeing the film adaptation of Last Picture Show, would love to give his novels a shot this year. Your list appears to be mostly fiction, I'm curious if you have an interest in any nonfiction/what kind?
My favorite book I read this year was Americanah (might be one of my favorite books ever). Also reread Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which is always a treat 😄 Thanks for posting these longer-form videos, I really enjoy them!
Finally read annihilation and it’s phenomenal, but that’s not a surprise. Notes of a crocodile was a great book for where I’m at right now as a queer college student. Ain’t I a Woman really helped my understanding of intersectionality as a feminist and bell hooks is an easy recommendation to anyone who’s never read her, even if you don’t read theory.
his book reviews always get me so excited even though that's literally what his channel was originally for jkdahkshd
This was great because I don’t follow any readers/book tubers who read the same kind of novels and detective/mystery books you do. It’s always great to hear from someone discussing a genre you aren’t as familiar with, and hearing someone with that taste/perspective talk about other genres too.
I love your viral bite sized content but really miss the book review content. I really value your insight and you're earlier video's re-inspired my love for reading. Thank you for the video!
I wasn’t sure if you were going to make a joke about Balzac and I apologize for momentarily doubting you. Having just finished Jim Thompson’s Pop. 1280, and loving it, i’m excited for a bunch of these recs. Thanks man
Tbh I stopped watching your book reviews once you stopped WOT, because that’s one of the few book series I’ve read. However I stayed for the funnies and memes and while I don’t watch your new book reviews, it makes me happy to see you go back to where it all started with the books
I love that you do these please keep it up! This is my favorite part of your content.
Never stop making book content! We love your other more popular content but this is where you shine. This is the true you, not the "internet you"
Really enjoy your book videos, Carrying Thing Man™️. Hope you can sprinkle some more of them this year between your lovely skits !
My favourite book I read in 2023 was Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. I don't think it's talked about enough it was very compelling and really does a lot of things that you really can only get from books, it's hard to explain what I mean but it's just a really good book. Better than American Gods in my opinion which is much better known.
I’m a big fan of your book recommendation videos. I found you through the silly ha ha videos but honestly now I’m staying for the book content. You have so many recommendations that my friends and I are starting a book club. ✨
I read Five Decembers last year on your recommendation... and really enjoyed it! Thank you)
Far better than I thought it could be
Videos like this are why I’m subbed. Never stop 🙌🏻
As someone who had to read Pere Goriot for my History class, I do have to say it’s probably my third favorite novel I’ve read for school. I was pleasantly surprised to see you loving it in this year of 2023.
I'm writing a crime novel set in the 60s. So, I've been reading lots and lots of crime novels written back then. You probably already read these, but I wanted to mention a couple: Roseanna by Sjöwall and Wahlöö, End of the Night by John MacDonald. BTW, unrelated, but if you haven't read Evenson's Last Days, I think you'd dig it.
Old Goriot was a favorite of mine from college. Good to be reminded of it.
I love love love these videos never stop making book videos I literally only care about them still because i watch your videos on them.
I can't thank you enough for your book videos. They've really helped me get into reading again when I was in a terrible slump of wanting to read but simply not knowing where to start. I especially liked 5 Decembers and Wuthering heights ❤️
I love your books reviews because it's very obvious you just pick what you think it's interesting. It's the complete opposite of the book tuber that reads everything that is hype at the moment;
I really appreciate you doing the book reviews! I know your short videos perform better, but you've proven to be the most enjoyable critic I've encountered.
My favorite book in 2023 (which I still haven't finished) is Peter H. Wilson's "The 30 Years War". Although it's a large history book, its proven to be approachable, allowing the reader to enjoy learning about the characters and foibles of a destructive period, highlighting the efforts towards peace and the disastrous personal squabbles that lead to war. 851 pages of text but well worth the time. (Helps to have some geography skills though)
You're the first reviewer on RUclips who resonates with my taste. Unbelievable. I've been reading McMurtry since the 70's. Love John D McDonald since high school in the 60s. Many of my favorite writers have gone completely out of fashion, like Jim Harrison.
Finally got around to reading Butcher's Crossing based on your recommendation... great book!
Oooh I was waiting for this one 😭😭
I’m a prolific reader but I wish I could say I finished a lot of books. But for the the last month I have been devouring the last three books in the millennium series. I was upset that Amazon took too long for the last book to get to me. Got it two days ago and 1/3 of the way through. Need a new series after this, perhaps a Parker book. I read a comic adapted from one book years ago. Maybe try the real thing.
0:22 had me gagging. i've seen your short videos before and love those, but i didnt know you made reading videos! subscribing for sure, you're real fun :))
I LOVE your books videos! (From Italy with love)
Didn't read too much in 2023, maybe about 25-ish books. My favorite though was Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell was really good too.
This year I really loved John Darnielle's books, Devil House, Wolf in White Van, and Universal Harvester. I also really enjoyed learning about cells from Song Of The Cell, but I don't think I can name a fact that I retained. Gave up on a lot of stuff before finishing this year, and I ended up reading way less than normal.
Thank you for book talk
Bro returned with book videos and thought we wouldn't notice
It was a good year for reading, I would say top four would be Valis by Philip K. Dick, Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and Three Tales by Gustave Flaubert, although "A Simple Heart" was definitely my favorite of those.
I started reading a lot more classic Sci-Fi last year. Ubik (PDK), Slaughterhouse-Five (Vonnegut), and The Lathe of Heaven (Le Guin) are among my favorites in that category.
My 2023 top 3 are
Martin Eden by Jack London
Foster by Claire Keegan
A Disaffection by James Kelman
Been wanting to read Martin Eden for awhile, maybe this is the year...
@@ManCarryingThing Hell yeah, it's very good. The prose is beautiful and the story is really gripping too.
I read Infomocracy and A Psalm for the Wild-Built this year and they’re now my two favorite series. The library at my university only has science fiction books so I am forced to only read scifi. It’s a good thing I love scifi but I do feel like I’m failing to explore literature properly.
at your university? that's funny, usually the sci-fi situation is dismal
@@ManCarryingThing It’s because they took out all the books like 7 years ago or so when they re-did the library cus they were like “kids these days don’t read.” They made it all study space. But then some people complained so they were like “oh you’re a bunch of geeks (mostly a stem school) so you’ll like this” and they brought back all the science fiction books from the warehouse. There’s a ton of classic scifi there I’ve found like old fashioned check out slips with stamps from the 50s. I mean they’re falling apart but it’s fun to see.
This man carried so many books this year, it’s quite impressive.
Le Père Goriot ouaaaaaaaiiiis let’s goooooo! Trop plaiz de voir du Balzac sur cette chaîne, lis Illusions Perdues la prochaine fois, si ce n’est déjà fait. Et l’Education Sentimentale de Flaubert, gros gros banger
I think I read two books this year. I read a ton of the New Yorker and online news articles, which seriously probably bumps that number up to 70.
Just wanted to say you turned me on to Five Decembers and the Parker novels and man, you have amazing taste. I read Five Decembers on the beach in Bali the day I proposed to my fiance. Will never forget that.
That's so cool! Love to hear that
@@ManCarryingThing ✌️thanks for the great recs
My favorite book I read in 2023 was Based On A True Story by Norm Macdonald. It's a novel marketed as a celebrity memoir and its the funniest thing I've ever seen put to paper. Get the audio book if you can. Also brush up Norms career and 90s SNL. The jokes will hit harder