The Expanse short stories are also excellent. Not sure how they slot into the bigger timeline because I'm reading them after the series. But they are excellent.
Persuasion is a slow burn, so I support taking it…slowly. 🤣 Giovanni’s Room might be a perfect novel? Yeah, I think it is! I finished the Black Company series with Soldiers Live, finished the Gormenghast series with Titus Awakes, and continued the City Watch subseries with Men at Arms. Safe to say my August reading was a success! 💜
Carlos, you might not like C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner then, but Yolanda will love it!!! 1984, when I read it back in the day, was awesome and scary! A must read even today, at least for a reference point, since it is so influential to the dystopian genre... Malazan is the🐐!✨🐐
@@storytoob Hahaha! I hope so! She is one of my favorites 😎. She develops her stories slowly, and in the Foreigner series in particular, she leans heavily into the meaning of culture and translation of language between people who are alike, but very different... I find it awesome, but it takes its time 😊
Oh yeah she sounds amazing! And we're into languages and philology, both being multi-lingual... That sounds right up my alley! Out of curiosity, what makes you think I wouldn't like it? C.
@@storytoob Because of your comments on the slow development of the first book you talked about in this video. It has political intrigue, and it seems like nothing is happening, and when it does, it feels confusing, but she is a master in creating tension out of nothing, so I find it great, but I can see how some people could find it boring 😊. I wasn't in any way implying that it would go over your head or anything, just stylistically it might not be your cup of tea ... I have not yet gotten to her other series, so I have no idea if they are written in the same manner...
Oh no I'm usually fine with slower political intrigue and subtle tension! It's quite my jam actually... The Le Carré just didn't click for me! And no worries at all, was just curious.. appreciate the recommendation! ❤️
Thanks to you both, in August I read my first Dennis Lehane novel, Small Mercies. It was wonderful, and I plan to read more by him. Emily Henry is top tier. Book Lovers is also my favorite from her.
Great recap 😊 Wyndham is one of my favourite authors (so happy you’re trying him - lots of authors were influenced by him such as Atwood and King) and Wilkie Collins. Lady Audley is very good but The Woman in White is even better! P.S. lots in RL and started working part-time as a bookseller too 😉
I genuinely love how much you guys support the comfort reads, I feel like I need to treat myself like that way more often as well!! Definitely going to check out Lady Audley's Secret and bump Giovanni's Room up the TBR. Also, so fun to hear your differing experiences with that first book, the beauty of reading haha. My faves of August were Asunder by Kerstin Hall (new no. 1 fave of the year!), Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle and Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors 🤩
We love that you love it Esmay! Oh I haven't heard of Asunder (or maybe I know it to see).. and I've been seeing a ton of Coco Mellors in the bookshop lately.. clearly it's popular
@@storytoob Asunder was only just released 2 weeks or so ago, so maybe that's why. I need more people to join my hype train hahah And yes, Coco Mellors definitely deserves the hype!
Awesome update guys! Jealous that you got to meet the Nutts lol. I’ve been wanting to eventually read some Le Carre. One day perhaps. Recursion and the Tainted Cup were my best reads for August.
I really enjoyed the ramp up at the end of Spy Who Came in from the Cold. All the maneuvering, and plausible deniability, until things come to a head. The ending pulled the whole thing together. James Baldwin is such a beautiful writer. Persuasion is a true classic, and Spear Cuts Through Water is destined to be. I'm looking forward to the new Mariana Enriquez.
You always read an interesting range of books 🙂 "Day of the Triffids" by Wyndham is one of my favourite books. I first read that as a teenager 40 🤯 years ago. I then read all the Wyndham books that my public library had - which included "Chrysalids". I really enjoyed it and the concept stuck with me since then but for a long time I didn't know what its title was. Then the WWW arrived and you can find these things out. So I recently reread "Chrysalids" on audio (Audible UK has a lot of Wyndham books for free) and I enjoyed it just as much 2nd time around. That creeping sense of menace of being found out, the off page horror of what happened to those who are - which your brain can imagine better than any written gore. He might get dismissed as "cosy apocalypse" but he's very good at it usually. I've also reread "Midwich Cuckoos" - very good, and "Kraken Awakes" - which I enjoyed better now (I found it boring as a teenager) but it has real pacing issues. I still haven't read his other most famous book which is "Chocky" so I need to get around to that, plus all the free stories on Audible keep tempting me 🤗 Looking back at my reviews, I can see that I was a bit "it was just OK" on the conclusion of the 2nd arc of "The Expanse" too. However I have just finished the final arc of the series which I really enjoyed - so I agree with all those people who say it's the best part of the series.
Cheers Sarah! I'm looking forward to more Wyndham, I really enjoyed his style. Triffids, Cuckoos and Chocky are probably all on my list now! And good to know about The Expanse! C.
You did finish The Chrysalids first. Now I need to know what we are reading next and why is it Night of Knives 😎(please not in September, I have too much to read 😭). If you read Wilkie Collins let me know. I would like to join in. Book Lovers is my next Emily Henry read. I'm looking forward to it! Yay Happy Place! My wife read it a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I'm really struggling with the concept of "book of the year". I have read too many amazing things this year. Great wrap up!
Sounds like a cracking month! 1984 is my all time favourite book, so clearly Carlos is misguided for not saying so too. Also a big Wyndham fan but haven’t read the Chrysalids! The Day of the Triffids is excellent. I’ll be doing a dystopian and apocalyptic books video soon. If you ever want to do a gloomy readalong I am there.
Glad to hear you liked Book Lovers! I just grabbed that to be my first Emily Henry read when I’m in the mood for something different. And yeah Carlos Babylon’s Ashes is them doing something way different with a truly large ensemble POV cast, which allowed us to get eyes in all sorts of relevant places we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. It’s not about caring about these one-off POVs so try not to let that get in the way of enjoying the exciting climax of the first arc - it’ll be back to the usual POV style for the last three books don’t worry!
That's great to know Ben! Cheers man.. oh yeah I'm still really liking this one, I think I'm just more into the contained POV structure of the others.. but I'm more than happy to venture outside of that routine for this one. Cheers, C.
I see what you mean about Le Carre, though one of the points of his spy novels is that espionage is rather pedantic, even boring, work. Where the tension comes from is the paranoia. Who do you trust in a world where everyone has their own interest or could be spying on you? Glad to hear you enjoyed 1984. It is one of the greats of dystopian literature, even if I think Brave New World is the scarier dystopia. Also Giovanni's Room is a masterpiece. One of my favorite books about the LGBT+ experience. Keep up the good work guys!
Declare by Tim Powers was partially influenced by Le Carré’s novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. But djinn and other fantasy stuff get involved. Very worthy of its World Fantasy Award (tied with Galveston by Sean Stewart, both very worthy winners!) It’s one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
@@thefantasythinker Hahaha! I just read a LitRPG that makes an Amazon/eBay like AI entity take over our planet, and apparently has taken over most of the galaxy. It is the " Shoppcalypse Saga Series" and has that concept, only gone a tad absurd. If you are interested, you should check it out, but read it for the concept, not so much for the quality 😉
The Toob. And books! ☝️ Wait, Steven Fry is the narrator of 1984? Have to check it out. The man is a legend. Emily Henry. I put it in the category like the sitcom tv. It’s fun to watch, we know the end but there are some twists. She is a pretty good writer. Malazan is Malazan. One of the best book in the series. Tehol and Bug are the best. The Expanse. Good but a bit overhyped. Not the sci-fi of the era.
Oh okay, I guess my brain always expects some humour or irony in satire, whereas 1984 is very dour - I suppose with some irony - and those aspects are not very present C
Midnight Tides ❤ I guess I'll start reading Emily Henry with Book Lovers. I've only read 2 LeCarre. Looking Glass War (I think thats what its called?) as a teenager but a lot of the satire went over my head and his debut 2 years ago I think, it was fine. I think Night Manager and Constant Gardener will be more in line with what I'm looking for from LeCarré. I've been meaning to read a Star Called Henry for years too. In August I read: *Comics* Green Lantern Book One Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ethan Van Sciver - I think Hal Jordan become my fav DC character. He shuts Batman up with 1 punch 🤣 Hawkeye Volume 1: My Life As a Weapon Written by Matt Fraction | Art by David Aja - He's lame in the films but I adore Hawkeye in the comics. Thor God of Thunder: God Butcher Written by Jason Aaron | Art by Esad Ribic - Fantastic! *Fantasy* Rain Wild Chronicles 1: Dragon Keeper - Really liked it. Wars of Light & Shadow 2: Ships of Merior - I'm in it for the long haul now! With the exception of Dakar, I really enjoy these characters and this world. I'm a mood reader anyway, especially with this series. I achieved my weight loss goal for the year so I'm taking it easy now, and treating myself to some comics and books 😊 So far in September I've read: Criminal Volume 1: Coward Written by Ed Brubaker Art by Sean Philips - Read in a sitting and I've bought the next 3. I'm currently reading too many things 😅: *Comics* Astonishing X-Men Complete Collection 1 Written by Joss Whedon | Art by John Cassaday New Avengers Complete Collection 1 Written by Brian Bendis | Art by David Finch *Fantasy* Rain Wild Chronicles 2: Dragon Haven - NGL, this is shaping up to be my least favourite book in Realm of the Elderlings so far... *Historical-Fantasy* A Song for Arbonne / Guy Gavriel Kay *Mystery* Mystic River / Dennis Lehane - Really enjoying this.
Every single comic you mentioned I absolutely adore! Banger after banger! You're also reading some great novels. And a huge well done on the weight loss. Fair play, keep it going Cheers lad! C.
Dawg... Giving us the setting and context of the FINAL SCENE in a Malazan book IS a spoiler. 😐 Issokay though. I am on to Midnight Tides next though and am very excited. Enjoying House of Chains right now very much.
@@storytoobHeard, the "all these brothers"' part is what seems spoilery to me. I might be talking out of my neck because I haven't read it yet, obviously. But now I know not only is there going to be a last minute betrayal, but I also know it is among brothers, apparently. That's like saying "the end of Deadhouse gates involves a crucified war hero and a mercy kill." No real context but if I knew those details going in, the scene wouldn't hit as hard. Not even mad, it's just a book, I'll survive, and I love your videos regardless but I was like "noooo, not that kind of info, storytoob!'' haha. Just pointing it out so that you will be a little more mindful in the future.
Oh that's fair! Cheers, I will be more mindful! I think it's more just the conceit of the novel from the offset is all the brothers betraying each other in cycles (or betrayal in each one's perception) from the get go.. they're all the main POVs of the book too (it's more contained than the rest) so it's not really a spoiler, more a set up. So having even more backstabbing at the end is just compounding it all. But I didn't mention specifically who does what... There's like 10 of them haha Your comparison with DHG is way more spoilery imo, having read both.
We love and miss you too 😢
Very cool that you got to hang with Jimmy and Kelsey! Good luck with the new job and upcoming reads
Thanks Usman!
Great wrap-up! I’m wanting to read The Chrysalids and Book Lovers at some point. Loved the photos of you two with Jimmy & Kelsey! ❤
Thanks Johanna! Hope you enjoy both, they're great.
Was super cool to see Jimmy and Kelsey indeed ❤️
Cheers,
C&Y
The Expanse short stories are also excellent. Not sure how they slot into the bigger timeline because I'm reading them after the series. But they are excellent.
Have em! They'll be read for sure!
Persuasion is a slow burn, so I support taking it…slowly. 🤣
Giovanni’s Room might be a perfect novel? Yeah, I think it is!
I finished the Black Company series with Soldiers Live, finished the Gormenghast series with Titus Awakes, and continued the City Watch subseries with Men at Arms. Safe to say my August reading was a success! 💜
SeptEvie may also stretch into Octovie
@@storytoob Short StoryToob SeptEvieOber 🤣
Rolls off the tongue 😂
Carlos, you might not like C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner then, but Yolanda will love it!!!
1984, when I read it back in the day, was awesome and scary! A must read even today, at least for a reference point, since it is so influential to the dystopian genre...
Malazan is the🐐!✨🐐
I bought a few Cherryh books over the last year or two, Foreigner, Cyteen and the SPACE CATS 🤣 I think I'd enjoy her tbh... Cheers!
C
@@storytoob Hahaha! I hope so! She is one of my favorites 😎. She develops her stories slowly, and in the Foreigner series in particular, she leans heavily into the meaning of culture and translation of language between people who are alike, but very different... I find it awesome, but it takes its time 😊
Oh yeah she sounds amazing! And we're into languages and philology, both being multi-lingual... That sounds right up my alley!
Out of curiosity, what makes you think I wouldn't like it?
C.
@@storytoob Because of your comments on the slow development of the first book you talked about in this video. It has political intrigue, and it seems like nothing is happening, and when it does, it feels confusing, but she is a master in creating tension out of nothing, so I find it great, but I can see how some people could find it boring 😊. I wasn't in any way implying that it would go over your head or anything, just stylistically it might not be your cup of tea ... I have not yet gotten to her other series, so I have no idea if they are written in the same manner...
Oh no I'm usually fine with slower political intrigue and subtle tension! It's quite my jam actually... The Le Carré just didn't click for me!
And no worries at all, was just curious.. appreciate the recommendation! ❤️
Thanks to you both, in August I read my first Dennis Lehane novel, Small Mercies. It was wonderful, and I plan to read more by him.
Emily Henry is top tier. Book Lovers is also my favorite from her.
So glad you enjoyed Small Mercies!
Great recap 😊 Wyndham is one of my favourite authors (so happy you’re trying him - lots of authors were influenced by him such as Atwood and King) and Wilkie Collins. Lady Audley is very good but The Woman in White is even better!
P.S. lots in RL and started working part-time as a bookseller too 😉
Oh nice Vero, that's amazing! I'm super happy to be bookselling, I know it may be temporary but I'm so glad I'm doing it. Hope all is well with you!
I genuinely love how much you guys support the comfort reads, I feel like I need to treat myself like that way more often as well!!
Definitely going to check out Lady Audley's Secret and bump Giovanni's Room up the TBR. Also, so fun to hear your differing experiences with that first book, the beauty of reading haha.
My faves of August were Asunder by Kerstin Hall (new no. 1 fave of the year!), Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle and Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors 🤩
We love that you love it Esmay! Oh I haven't heard of Asunder (or maybe I know it to see).. and I've been seeing a ton of Coco Mellors in the bookshop lately.. clearly it's popular
@@storytoob Asunder was only just released 2 weeks or so ago, so maybe that's why. I need more people to join my hype train hahah
And yes, Coco Mellors definitely deserves the hype!
Awesome update guys! Jealous that you got to meet the Nutts lol. I’ve been wanting to eventually read some Le Carre. One day perhaps. Recursion and the Tainted Cup were my best reads for August.
Looove Recursion!
I really enjoyed the ramp up at the end of Spy Who Came in from the Cold. All the maneuvering, and plausible deniability, until things come to a head. The ending pulled the whole thing together.
James Baldwin is such a beautiful writer. Persuasion is a true classic, and Spear Cuts Through Water is destined to be. I'm looking forward to the new Mariana Enriquez.
I really enjoyed that aspect of Spy who came in from the cold too! It kept me guessing the entire time.
Y
You always read an interesting range of books 🙂 "Day of the Triffids" by Wyndham is one of my favourite books. I first read that as a teenager 40 🤯 years ago. I then read all the Wyndham books that my public library had - which included "Chrysalids". I really enjoyed it and the concept stuck with me since then but for a long time I didn't know what its title was. Then the WWW arrived and you can find these things out. So I recently reread "Chrysalids" on audio (Audible UK has a lot of Wyndham books for free) and I enjoyed it just as much 2nd time around. That creeping sense of menace of being found out, the off page horror of what happened to those who are - which your brain can imagine better than any written gore. He might get dismissed as "cosy apocalypse" but he's very good at it usually. I've also reread "Midwich Cuckoos" - very good, and "Kraken Awakes" - which I enjoyed better now (I found it boring as a teenager) but it has real pacing issues. I still haven't read his other most famous book which is "Chocky" so I need to get around to that, plus all the free stories on Audible keep tempting me 🤗
Looking back at my reviews, I can see that I was a bit "it was just OK" on the conclusion of the 2nd arc of "The Expanse" too. However I have just finished the final arc of the series which I really enjoyed - so I agree with all those people who say it's the best part of the series.
Cheers Sarah! I'm looking forward to more Wyndham, I really enjoyed his style. Triffids, Cuckoos and Chocky are probably all on my list now!
And good to know about The Expanse!
C.
You did finish The Chrysalids first.
Now I need to know what we are reading next and why is it Night of Knives 😎(please not in September, I have too much to read 😭).
If you read Wilkie Collins let me know. I would like to join in.
Book Lovers is my next Emily Henry read. I'm looking forward to it!
Yay Happy Place! My wife read it a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it.
I'm really struggling with the concept of "book of the year". I have read too many amazing things this year.
Great wrap up!
Too many good books is an excellent problem!
Not September is fine with me 😂
Sounds like a cracking month! 1984 is my all time favourite book, so clearly Carlos is misguided for not saying so too. Also a big Wyndham fan but haven’t read the Chrysalids! The Day of the Triffids is excellent. I’ll be doing a dystopian and apocalyptic books video soon. If you ever want to do a gloomy readalong I am there.
😂😂 Cheers Sam! Midwich Cuckoos will probably be my next one, but I may do Triffids as well.
Nice! I look forward to seeing that!
C.
@@storytoob I really enjoyed Midwich Cuckoos, looking forward to hearing about it.
Glad to hear you liked Book Lovers! I just grabbed that to be my first Emily Henry read when I’m in the mood for something different.
And yeah Carlos Babylon’s Ashes is them doing something way different with a truly large ensemble POV cast, which allowed us to get eyes in all sorts of relevant places we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. It’s not about caring about these one-off POVs so try not to let that get in the way of enjoying the exciting climax of the first arc - it’ll be back to the usual POV style for the last three books don’t worry!
That's great to know Ben! Cheers man.. oh yeah I'm still really liking this one, I think I'm just more into the contained POV structure of the others.. but I'm more than happy to venture outside of that routine for this one.
Cheers, C.
I see what you mean about Le Carre, though one of the points of his spy novels is that espionage is rather pedantic, even boring, work. Where the tension comes from is the paranoia. Who do you trust in a world where everyone has their own interest or could be spying on you?
Glad to hear you enjoyed 1984. It is one of the greats of dystopian literature, even if I think Brave New World is the scarier dystopia. Also Giovanni's Room is a masterpiece. One of my favorite books about the LGBT+ experience. Keep up the good work guys!
Yep I get that, but the tension just never arose for me tbh!
Cheers Britton
C
👀
Declare by Tim Powers was partially influenced by Le Carré’s novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. But djinn and other fantasy stuff get involved. Very worthy of its World Fantasy Award (tied with Galveston by Sean Stewart, both very worthy winners!) It’s one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
I had no idea!
What do you guys recommend to start with crime fiction ? I'm hesitating between, Le Carré, Lehane and Elleroy
I haven’t read Ellroy yet, but out of those I’d say go for Dennis Lehane! Mystic River and Small Mercies are both excellent
Y.
Lehane. He's probably the easiest to get into.
Yes, it is the Corporations that are now Big Brother! Check out my review of 1984, you may like it :)
Oh cool! Will do Jarrod!
@@thefantasythinker Hahaha! I just read a LitRPG that makes an Amazon/eBay like AI entity take over our planet, and apparently has taken over most of the galaxy. It is the " Shoppcalypse Saga Series" and has that concept, only gone a tad absurd. If you are interested, you should check it out, but read it for the concept, not so much for the quality 😉
The Toob. And books! ☝️
Wait, Steven Fry is the narrator of 1984? Have to check it out. The man is a legend.
Emily Henry. I put it in the category like the sitcom tv. It’s fun to watch, we know the end but there are some twists. She is a pretty good writer.
Malazan is Malazan. One of the best book in the series. Tehol and Bug are the best.
The Expanse. Good but a bit overhyped. Not the sci-fi of the era.
He is indeed! He narrated a double audiobook of that and Animal Farm
@@storytoobIt’s about 15 years I read the two last time, so a good reason to revisit. 👏
hello enjoy this channel....😊
Hello! Thank you! 🤗
I've heard that 1984 is actually supposed to be a satire, so the over the top elements are kind of built-in. I didn't know that before either.
Oh okay, I guess my brain always expects some humour or irony in satire, whereas 1984 is very dour - I suppose with some irony - and those aspects are not very present
C
@@storytoob Same!
Midnight Tides ❤
I guess I'll start reading Emily Henry with Book Lovers.
I've only read 2 LeCarre. Looking Glass War (I think thats what its called?) as a teenager but a lot of the satire went over my head and his debut 2 years ago I think, it was fine. I think Night Manager and Constant Gardener will be more in line with what I'm looking for from LeCarré.
I've been meaning to read a Star Called Henry for years too.
In August I read:
*Comics*
Green Lantern Book One
Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ethan Van Sciver
- I think Hal Jordan become my fav DC character. He shuts Batman up with 1 punch 🤣
Hawkeye Volume 1: My Life As a Weapon
Written by Matt Fraction | Art by David Aja
- He's lame in the films but I adore Hawkeye in the comics.
Thor God of Thunder: God Butcher
Written by Jason Aaron | Art by Esad Ribic
- Fantastic!
*Fantasy*
Rain Wild Chronicles 1: Dragon Keeper
- Really liked it.
Wars of Light & Shadow 2: Ships of Merior
- I'm in it for the long haul now! With the exception of Dakar, I really enjoy these characters and this world. I'm a mood reader anyway, especially with this series.
I achieved my weight loss goal for the year so I'm taking it easy now, and treating myself to some comics and books 😊
So far in September I've read:
Criminal Volume 1: Coward
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Sean Philips
- Read in a sitting and I've bought the next 3.
I'm currently reading too many things 😅:
*Comics*
Astonishing X-Men Complete Collection 1
Written by Joss Whedon | Art by John Cassaday
New Avengers Complete Collection 1
Written by Brian Bendis | Art by David Finch
*Fantasy*
Rain Wild Chronicles 2: Dragon Haven
- NGL, this is shaping up to be my least favourite book in Realm of the Elderlings so far...
*Historical-Fantasy*
A Song for Arbonne / Guy Gavriel Kay
*Mystery*
Mystic River / Dennis Lehane
- Really enjoying this.
Every single comic you mentioned I absolutely adore! Banger after banger! You're also reading some great novels.
And a huge well done on the weight loss. Fair play, keep it going
Cheers lad!
C.
@@storytoob Thanks Carlos! That means a lot. Its not been easy but its been worth. I ended up loving Mystic River, which Lehane should I pick up next?
Books!
BOOKS
Dawg... Giving us the setting and context of the FINAL SCENE in a Malazan book IS a spoiler. 😐 Issokay though. I am on to Midnight Tides next though and am very excited. Enjoying House of Chains right now very much.
With zero plot or character specificity 😆 I'm sorry! Glad you're enjoying the books
@@storytoobHeard, the "all these brothers"' part is what seems spoilery to me. I might be talking out of my neck because I haven't read it yet, obviously. But now I know not only is there going to be a last minute betrayal, but I also know it is among brothers, apparently. That's like saying "the end of Deadhouse gates involves a crucified war hero and a mercy kill." No real context but if I knew those details going in, the scene wouldn't hit as hard. Not even mad, it's just a book, I'll survive, and I love your videos regardless but I was like "noooo, not that kind of info, storytoob!'' haha. Just pointing it out so that you will be a little more mindful in the future.
Oh that's fair! Cheers, I will be more mindful! I think it's more just the conceit of the novel from the offset is all the brothers betraying each other in cycles (or betrayal in each one's perception) from the get go.. they're all the main POVs of the book too (it's more contained than the rest) so it's not really a spoiler, more a set up. So having even more backstabbing at the end is just compounding it all. But I didn't mention specifically who does what... There's like 10 of them haha
Your comparison with DHG is way more spoilery imo, having read both.
Top 10 list. 5 honorable mentions. Problem solved.
I like you Eric
You're going through a post-apocalyptic phase, you say? 🦢🎵
DON'T SAY IT COLETON.. DON'T YOU SAY IT!
McCammon creeps up the list** 😏
@@storytoob 🤣🤣🤣