As a Corrections officer its so cool to see this channel. To see a former CO writing books and reviewing books is amazing to me. Love your sense of humor as well. Hope you see this. Stay safe.
@@Jaeno311 Your welcome, as someone who has grown up in a military/law enforcement/emergency service family you come to respect certain jobs more than some people. Hope you, your family, co workers and yes even the inmates are staying safe.
Saying you grew up in Alaska reminded me of a fun fact that most fantasy readers don't know: Robin Hobb's map of Realm of the Elderlings is Alaska turned upside-down.
I like how your top 10 starts at number 17 :) finally some love for James Michener, one of my favourite writers that seem to attract not so much attention anymore! LOTR is not really a trilogy, it was a novel that was split into three parts by Tolkien's editor, because they believed it was too long to publish in entirety
According to Tolkien's private letters released to the public in the 1980s, the writer did not envision or create The Lord of the Rings as a three-part saga. Instead, the entire story from Bag End to Mordor and back again was penned as a single, giant tome, which Tolkien hoped would then be followed by a second work, The Silmarillion. Upon completion, The Lord of the Rings was divided into six books by the author, and although he wanted it published in one hit, Tolkien confirmed in his letters that he thought of this new Middle-earth adventure as six separate books.
Seven of the books you covered would be in my Top 10. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is my favorite fantasy series. I love James Micheners books. I read Alaska in Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War while it was 100+ degrees every day. Lonesome Dove is definitely in my Top 3. Great stuff!! BTW I was born in Alaska, too (a week after the ‘64 quake) and now I live in Utah. Small world.
That's a solid Top Ten! Some of those I need to get around to reading. I read Pillars of the Earth based on your earlier rec, and you were 100% right about it. Am about halfway through Lonesome Dove atm (I read several books at a time),
Your production team lol I had shoulder surgery yesterday and this is the first smile today. Binge watching your videos right now because I’ve no concentration. Thank you for the good videos.
I was watching another channel that gave your book a glowing review, I believe it was Matt’s Fantasy Reviews or something like that, and so I got the audiobook and listened to it at work last week. Wow!!! I’m blown away man, really. And Tim Gerald Reynolds did a fantastic job, and was a great choice as narrator.
Let’s start out top 10, so with number 17, I feel that, the more books I read the more I feel like it’s harder to chose what the best book is, with so many great books it’s hard to leave some out
I’ve just found you and your channel Brian. I love so much of what you’ve enjoyed. If there’s a book I’d recommend, I’d suggest ‘The Power of Now’ by Bryce Courtenay. An amazing story of a young English boy growing up in South Africa in the middle of Apartheid. An unbelievably great story and story telling. Thanks again for your list. So many books here and in your top 30 trilogies, which I hadn’t heard of. Love it. So inspirational.
I knew it was more than 10!! LoL! btw Brian, I'm reading War & Peace thanks to your video! loving it so far! and I've got the edition you recommended too. Best translation!
I guessed a lot of your top 10... umm 17, from watching your other videos but was still surprised by many and excited for new additions to my reading future. I’ve read several books by McCammon thanks to you and yes, loved “boys life.” Loved “swan song” too and I may not have read them without your RUclips videos. Thank you! Finished “the forgetting Moon” two weeks ago and well done! It was great! So excited to continue and will pick up your next book after Christmas. The Stand is one of my favorite King books but I didn’t know it was your top novel. The Stand was the first King book I read and you just made me decide that I need to read it again.
Just found your channel through Mike’s Book Reviews. I love the range of your picks. The only title on the list that I have read is Storm of Swords, but many of these are more likely to be read soon because of your recs, especially Lonesome Dove, Pillars of the Earth, and Shogun. Have you read any of Lawrence Block’s John Keller series? As fast as you seem to read, you could probably complete the series in a single day.
Hey, this is honestly a good list of great pop fiction that will be forgotten in a hundred years. I've read 5 of those books myself, and I respect the list. Now, here's a few short, easy classics that I can guarantee any adult will love: Animal Farm, The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, Fahrenheit 451, Lord of the Flies, and The Old Man and the Sea. All quick and easy, all some of the best novellas ever written, all super-satisfying. I brought this list up because I had two fellow-reading buddies in high school and college who I voraciously read nothing but sci-fi and fantasy with. I began reading the classics and forced it down their throats, and it brought their reading life to new heights. I challenge everyone here who hasn't explored classic Lit to pick ANY book from my list, read it, then come back here and tell me with a straight face you didn't love it.
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS Nice. I'm pretty big on Bradbury. Farenheit 451 was his only great novel, as he was primarily a short story writer. "Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed" is my favorite science fiction short story (though it's really a fable).
Just finished old man and the sea, came recommended, not a fan at all. Too much unnecessary details, repetitive, predictable, and basically uninspiring, .....
So far my favorite top "ten" novels video. Ender's Game was originally a short story, so your comment about its paucity and efficiency of words is apropos. Shogun is an insane book. I couldn't get all the way through it (it's so long) but I thoroughly enjoyed the first half. Never read TKaMb but it's my wife's all time favorite book. Elfstones of Shannara was my all time favorite book as a youth. I find it and Wishsong to be orders of magnitude better than Sword. Sword is too clunky and too similar to LotR, imho. Loved MST. When I bought To Green Angel Tower I guess it was too long for mass market and I had to buy two separate books (part 1 and part 2). I don't much care for Stephen King novels, Cujo and IT rank as some of the most vile books I've ever read, but The Gunslinger and The Stand are some of my favorite books ever. That cover of the Stand is awesome. Cheers.
Hello Sevier County! Graduated from South Sevier High School years ago. (Not originally from the area either.) Fellow reader/writer here. Thanks for sharing...
Thank you for this list Brian. Many of my favorites are included, and I am checking out the remainder right now. I read all the time so I now anticipate a feast. My old friends- Lonesome Dove, all the McMurtry books in the series and the mini series was fantastic! The Stand, Shogun...years of pleasure are mentioned in your video.
Hi Brian, I recently found your channel and love your style. Thanks for the video; I laughed throughout it. I've read and loved four of your top novels, so you've tempted me to read a few more of your selections.
Great list of books right there! I am for sure going to read Memory, Sorrow and Thorn at some point as Tad Williams has influenced so much of fantasy and everybody seems to speak very highly of his works.
Great vid! I'm not a big sci-fi/fantasy fan so my list would be a lot different from yours, but I don't care -- I just enjoy watching someone get enthusiastic about books, even if they aren't my kind of thing. I liked Shogun a lot, and I fully agree on Boy's Life, Lonesome Dove, and The Stand all being truly great books. Lonesome Dove's the only one that might fit into my own top ten, but I still love those others mightily. Anyway, good job, it's nice watching people really into books.
War and Peace Enders Game The Caine Mutiny Alaska The Goldfinch Shogun To kill a Mockingbird Swerd of Shenhara Dune Mystic River A storm swords Pillars of the earth Boys life Green angel tower Lord of the rings Lonesome dove The Stand
This list is awesome!!! Interesting no Brandon Sanderson way of kings or Steven Erickson Garden of the New moons. Have you ever read Lies Locke Lamora ???you rock keep videos coming!
Hey, your youtube channel is awesome. I'm from Russia (so sorry for my English, just in case) It's always interesting to hear about other people's favorite books. I've read a lot from your list. Respect to you for Tolstoy, he's our best prose writer. I agree that it is difficult to single out just 10 favorite books. These are some of my favorite - 1. The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien. 2. Island of the Doomed - Stig Dagerman. 3. The portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce. 4. Infinite Jest - D.F. Wallace. 5. Pale Fire - Vladimir Nabokov. 6. In Our Time - Hemingway. 7. A Song of Ice and Fire - Martin. 8. Roadside Picnic - A. and B. Strugatsky. 9. The King Arthur books - Bernard Cornwell. 10. The Second Apocalypse - Scott Bakker.
You're aware that several of those authors comitted suicide? Suppose being a writer aint no dance upon roses or "walk in the park"! Nice list anyway, have to look closer upon the unknown ones.
I've read 5 out of your 17 books. I didn't like Dune too much. I really enjoyed Boy's Life and Lonesome Dove (I've finished reading this Western story yesterday). I absolutely adored The Stand and The Pillars of the Earth. Those two are perfect books, they are both in my top 5 right now. I can propose one book that you probably haven't read yet and I really think it's something you might love: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. Please, read it. I know I'm just random guy from Internet but nevertheless I can assure you won't be disappointed by this one.
I read Lonesome Dove in 1988 traveling around Europe. I swapped it for some other book with an 18 year old US teenager. Her father indicated he didn't think much of the book, but I loved it. Great rollicking story.
I'm old enough to remember when millions of people were treating Covid like Cpt. Tripps....heck, it's still going on. We've lost our damn minds. Yeah, it's not been fun but my goodness...things could get SO MUCH worse and much of human history shows us just how true that is.
I loved the video! You're hilarious! Amazingly, we had two of the same top three! My top fave is LOTR, and my second is Lonesome Dove! I've read many books on your list, but I obviously have some more reading to do. Thanks for the ideas!
I haven't read all of the books on your -Top 17- Top 10 list but those that I _have_ read all were great. I really liked _The Stand_ but would have picked another as his best if I had to choose. Luckily, I don't have to choose just one book! The only minor criticism I'd have is your pronunciation of Shōgun. 😁
Excellent list! So many of these books are favorites of mine. The others are on my to-read list (except two of them). I actually got excited seeing some of your selections, like Michener and McMurtry.
Just finished the Stand 60 minutes ago. Probably got this video recommended since I've been doing some googling since then. The Stand is good but not sure where it ranks in terms of all time favourites. I agree with you on Shogun, which is my number one (Tai-Pan by Clavell is also fantastic). Also I agree with a Storm of Swords but would also give Clash of Kings a shout. Hyperion, the Terror and Call of the Wild would also be up near the top for me. I have to get into Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and Ender's Game in 2022. Anyways, I great video. You've got yourself a new subscriber.
Michener’s Hawaii and The Source, fabulous and well researched. Likewise with Follet’s Pillars of The Earth. Read Tart’s first book The Secret History…. Lots to catch up with here. Thanks for the enthusiasm.
In no order: 1 - Dracula by Bram Stoker 2 - Bleak House by Charles Dickens 3 - LOTR by Tolkien 4 - Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley 5 - Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson 6 - Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo 7 - Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, pure 8 - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins 9 - Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon 10 - The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway Bonus - 11 - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Morrell by Susanna Clarke 12 - Ubik by Philip K. Dick 13 - Chldhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke 14 - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 15 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Liked your top 17, have read 5 or 6, will definitely check most of the others. Best part is reading comments to find more suggestions. My own would include any Alan Furst (especially Dark Star), Daniel Mason (The Winter Soldier and The Piano Tuner), the great Walker Percy (Love in the Ruins); some Robert Heinlein (I Will Fear no Evil, Time Enough for Love), John le Carré, Graham Greene, and many others... Oh, Nikos Kazantzakis' Freedom or Death!
The Book Thief, Power of One, Centennial, Hawaii, The Goldfinch, Lonesome Dove, Pillars of the Earth….my top 7! I have War & Peace but haven’t tackled it yet. Love historical fiction. Now I’m going to watch your Top 25 Historical fiction books.
LOL, Bian I've just discovered you, and what I find so delightful is that that I would NEVER take you for being an intelligent bookworm. Which just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover...pun intended. PS...THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING STEVEN KING!!! PSS: if you haven't read "Ancient Evening's", please do so.
When I was 11 years old I read Z for Zakaria. It was the first book that I read cover-to-cover. One week later I read my second book, Swan Song by Robert McCammon. It took me 3 Days To Read Swan Song, when I read the last page I closed the book and sat there and thought about it for about a half hour. Then I opened to page one and read it again a second time. LOL. The third book that I read cover-to-cover was Swan Song. LOL
I will read The Stand, however I will not be watching the CBS miniseries. Just by the ads it looks like they pay more attention to diversity than story. Keep up the good work!!!
I love the Stand and loved the old mini-series as well. Fantastic story by one of our greatest living novelists. BUT... what does diversity have to do with you not watching? And if you haven't watched it how do you know whether it's any good or not?
My son and I are reading Ender's Game right now. We just finished Count of Monte Cristo....and what a breath of fresh air. Monte Cristo is good, but could have been 200 pages shorter. Ender's Game is such an effortless read.
Excellent list you have there! Great shout for Mitchener. Haven't read Alaska, but all his novels are superb. My favourite is The Covenant - but that's 'cos I spent a lot of time in South Africa. Clavell and Mitchener are similar that they write epics - not books, IMHO. Agree with you on G.R.R. Martin - love the books, hate what they did with the later tv series (once they moved away from the books). Still waiting for The Winds of Winter.....
Tolkien also considered the Lord of the Rings to be one novel (it was published in three volumes at his publisher's insistence). Lord of the Rings is number one on my list. You should read "The Thin Red Line" by James Jones if you have not done so. Glad to see you included a Michener title on the video. Chesapeake, by Michener, is a great book as well. Herman Wouk's "Winds of War" and "War an Remembrance" is sort of the American "War and Peace" (which I was also glad to see on your list).
According to Tolkien's private letters released to the public in the 1980s, the writer did not envision or create The Lord of the Rings as a three-part saga. Instead, the entire story from Bag End to Mordor and back again was penned as a single, giant tome, which Tolkien hoped would then be followed by a second work, The Silmarillion. Upon completion, The Lord of the Rings was divided into six books by the author, and although he wanted it published in one hit, Tolkien confirmed in his letters that he thought of this new Middle-earth adventure as six separate books.
@@IrishCinnsealach Yes, and then it was published with books I & II in Volume 1 (The Fellowship of the Rings), Books III & IV in Volume 2 (THe Two Towers), and books V and VI in volume 3 (THe Return of the King).
The Goldfinch was on my Top Ten list 2022 at….Number 1. But as long as you include it, I’m good with it! Remind folks you have to read at least to Las Vegas before you give up - for those who give up…Do NOT give up, it’s SO worth it‼️
I gotta say, I’m those simple words grew in me the desire to read both war and peace as well as lonesome dove even though I usually read sci fi, fantasy and philosophy. Shogun sounds great as well. Thank you for the suggestion!
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS just did that,im impressed on your collection and the way you talk so I subbed. I wanna find more about the wheel of time series too as I want to pick it up this year,heard its as good as lotr. 😁
watch me read my negative AMAZON reviews ruclips.net/video/Uo4L9EybMlM/видео.html
OK! I just grabbed 'the Goldfinch' & 'Boys Life' via my wonderful public library ❤️ I have 21 days to accomplish my new goal🤗
Durfee, this is perhaps the broadest, most balanced list of favorite novels I've seen on RUclips. Very nice work, as always.
As a Corrections officer its so cool to see this channel. To see a former CO writing books and reviewing books is amazing to me. Love your sense of humor as well. Hope you see this. Stay safe.
I second this sentiment. I spent 6 years as a CO and my wife retired from the DoC after over 30 years. And yes - I met my wife in prison ;)
Thanks!!!
Corrections officers don't enough credit and support. It's a hard job and a job I respect.
@@bunnygirlerika9489 Thank you :)
@@Jaeno311 Your welcome, as someone who has grown up in a military/law enforcement/emergency service family you come to respect certain jobs more than some people. Hope you, your family, co workers and yes even the inmates are staying safe.
Saying you grew up in Alaska reminded me of a fun fact that most fantasy readers don't know: Robin Hobb's map of Realm of the Elderlings is Alaska turned upside-down.
Yeah I mentioned that in my Assassins Apprentice reniew
Good way to be kinda orignal lol
Shut the front door!!!! No way!
1. The Brothers Karamazov
2. Everything else.
the deadpan delivery of the dry humor had me in stitches
I try
Lol little caffeine and lack of sleep and you could be just like this dude personally I'm buying his book
“Let’s get down to our top 10!
/ 15
And coming in at number 17!”
*Speechless*
🤣🤣
I've been teaching the prolonged to the Pillars of the Earth for 15 years. It stands alone as a truly great piece of contrast writing. Extrordinary.
I like how your top 10 starts at number 17 :) finally some love for James Michener, one of my favourite writers that seem to attract not so much attention anymore! LOTR is not really a trilogy, it was a novel that was split into three parts by Tolkien's editor, because they believed it was too long to publish in entirety
According to Tolkien's private letters released to the public in the 1980s, the writer did not envision or create The Lord of the Rings as a three-part saga. Instead, the entire story from Bag End to Mordor and back again was penned as a single, giant tome, which Tolkien hoped would then be followed by a second work, The Silmarillion. Upon completion, The Lord of the Rings was divided into six books by the author, and although he wanted it published in one hit, Tolkien confirmed in his letters that he thought of this new Middle-earth adventure as six separate books.
Great to see all this Shogun love recently. An amazing adventure.
I vaguely remember watching the tv show as a kid....(and enjoying it)🍃
All of Clavell's Asia series books are outstanding.
The best part. Nnnniiiiinnnnnjjjjaaa!!
You've done it again! Once again I am "jazzed about reading" - Seriously every day you make me jazzed about reading. Thanks Brian!
You are an incredibly wide-ranged reader, aren't you? I think that's fantastic! Loved your list!
Hi Brian. I happily just discovered your videos and LOVE THEM!!
Thank you for posting them. Please keep them coming.
You have inspired me to begin reading novels again.
Seven of the books you covered would be in my Top 10. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is my favorite fantasy series. I love James Micheners books. I read Alaska in Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War while it was 100+ degrees every day. Lonesome Dove is definitely in my Top 3. Great stuff!!
BTW I was born in Alaska, too (a week after the ‘64 quake) and now I live in Utah. Small world.
I love the genius way you have 17 books in your top 10 novels!!! Just subscribed! 😂
Thanks
That's a solid Top Ten! Some of those I need to get around to reading. I read Pillars of the Earth based on your earlier rec, and you were 100% right about it. Am about halfway through Lonesome Dove atm (I read several books at a time),
Your production team lol
I had shoulder surgery yesterday and this is the first smile today.
Binge watching your videos right now because I’ve no concentration. Thank you for the good videos.
As usual, great list. You may have convinced me to start War and Peace up again!
I was watching another channel that gave your book a glowing review, I believe it was Matt’s Fantasy Reviews or something like that, and so I got the audiobook and listened to it at work last week. Wow!!! I’m blown away man, really. And Tim Gerald Reynolds did a fantastic job, and was a great choice as narrator.
He's one of my very favorite narrators!
Let’s start out top 10, so with number 17, I feel that, the more books I read the more I feel like it’s harder to chose what the best book is, with so many great books it’s hard to leave some out
Would not be a BLeeD top 10 without 17 entries. Love it!
I’ve just found you and your channel Brian. I love so much of what you’ve enjoyed. If there’s a book I’d recommend, I’d suggest ‘The Power of Now’ by Bryce Courtenay. An amazing story of a young English boy growing up in South Africa in the middle of Apartheid. An unbelievably great story and story telling. Thanks again for your list. So many books here and in your top 30 trilogies, which I hadn’t heard of. Love it. So inspirational.
Hey it’s actually called “The power of one”! Great book!
Loved your description of law enforcement command failure. Hit close to home, haven't missed it for a minute! Great video, very enjoyable
Best production banner I've seen in my life! Crumpled paper is the way to go.
I knew it was more than 10!! LoL! btw Brian, I'm reading War & Peace thanks to your video! loving it so far! and I've got the edition you recommended too. Best translation!
Cool
I guessed a lot of your top 10... umm 17, from watching your other videos but was still surprised by many and excited for new additions to my reading future. I’ve read several books by McCammon thanks to you and yes, loved “boys life.” Loved “swan song” too and I may not have read them without your RUclips videos. Thank you! Finished “the forgetting Moon” two weeks ago and well done! It was great! So excited to continue and will pick up your next book after Christmas. The Stand is one of my favorite King books but I didn’t know it was your top novel. The Stand was the first King book I read and you just made me decide that I need to read it again.
Awesome thanks so much.
Just found your channel through Mike’s Book Reviews. I love the range of your picks. The only title on the list that I have read is Storm of Swords, but many of these are more likely to be read soon because of your recs, especially Lonesome Dove, Pillars of the Earth, and Shogun.
Have you read any of Lawrence Block’s John Keller series? As fast as you seem to read, you could probably complete the series in a single day.
Another fantastic video!!! Thank you!!!
Another fantastic video!!! Thank you!!!
Hey, this is honestly a good list of great pop fiction that will be forgotten in a hundred years. I've read 5 of those books myself, and I respect the list. Now, here's a few short, easy classics that I can guarantee any adult will love: Animal Farm, The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, Fahrenheit 451, Lord of the Flies, and The Old Man and the Sea. All quick and easy, all some of the best novellas ever written, all super-satisfying. I brought this list up because I had two fellow-reading buddies in high school and college who I voraciously read nothing but sci-fi and fantasy with. I began reading the classics and forced it down their throats, and it brought their reading life to new heights. I challenge everyone here who hasn't explored classic Lit to pick ANY book from my list, read it, then come back here and tell me with a straight face you didn't love it.
I love Fahrenheit 451
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS Nice. I'm pretty big on Bradbury. Farenheit 451 was his only great novel, as he was primarily a short story writer. "Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed" is my favorite science fiction short story (though it's really a fable).
Just finished old man and the sea, came recommended, not a fan at all. Too much unnecessary details, repetitive, predictable, and basically uninspiring, .....
Thanks!
The most surprising thing about this video was learning that Raiders fans can read.
Just kidding man, love the video :-) GO BIG BLUE!
Nice!!!!
The painted number cards are a slick touch.
So far my favorite top "ten" novels video.
Ender's Game was originally a short story, so your comment about its paucity and efficiency of words is apropos.
Shogun is an insane book. I couldn't get all the way through it (it's so long) but I thoroughly enjoyed the first half.
Never read TKaMb but it's my wife's all time favorite book.
Elfstones of Shannara was my all time favorite book as a youth. I find it and Wishsong to be orders of magnitude better than Sword. Sword is too clunky and too similar to LotR, imho.
Loved MST. When I bought To Green Angel Tower I guess it was too long for mass market and I had to buy two separate books (part 1 and part 2).
I don't much care for Stephen King novels, Cujo and IT rank as some of the most vile books I've ever read, but The Gunslinger and The Stand are some of my favorite books ever. That cover of the Stand is awesome.
Cheers.
Hello Sevier County! Graduated from South Sevier High School years ago. (Not originally from the area either.) Fellow reader/writer here. Thanks for sharing...
Thank you for this list Brian. Many of my favorites are included, and I am checking out the remainder right now. I read all the time so I now anticipate a feast. My old friends- Lonesome Dove, all the McMurtry books in the series and the mini series was fantastic! The Stand, Shogun...years of pleasure are mentioned in your video.
god i love the way you talk hahaha got me interested and rolling on the floor hahah
Hi Brian, I recently found your channel and love your style. Thanks for the video; I laughed throughout it. I've read and loved four of your top novels, so you've tempted me to read a few more of your selections.
Great list of books right there! I am for sure going to read Memory, Sorrow and Thorn at some point as Tad Williams has influenced so much of fantasy and everybody seems to speak very highly of his works.
The first book can be a struggle. HANG WITH IT! It picks up & is AMAZING.😅
Can Brian Lee Durfee count to ten? Yes, he can, but can he stop at ten? Apparently not, which is to our benefit. Great stuff, man.
You convinced me, I'm going to read Mystic River.
Mystic river is really good
I wish I had MR to read for the first time. Enjoy!
GRRM also wrote a vampire book called Fever Dream. It's a fantastic book.
You missed my all time favorite. Winds of War. I have lost track of how many times I have read it. Never fails to deliver.
here is my review of Winds of War ruclips.net/video/2cvehTjNacQ/видео.html
YUP YUP YUP with the Martin ... Haven't read many them ... Need too !
🙌 your top ten! If Lonesome Dove is a better Western than Blood Meridian than I am stoked …..
Blood Meridian is terrible.
I gave up half way through, no plot, stupid ott violence. Pointless & overrated.
Avoid.
Great vid! I'm not a big sci-fi/fantasy fan so my list would be a lot different from yours, but I don't care -- I just enjoy watching someone get enthusiastic about books, even if they aren't my kind of thing. I liked Shogun a lot, and I fully agree on Boy's Life, Lonesome Dove, and The Stand all being truly great books. Lonesome Dove's the only one that might fit into my own top ten, but I still love those others mightily. Anyway, good job, it's nice watching people really into books.
Love the diversity in choices.
War and Peace
Enders Game
The Caine Mutiny
Alaska
The Goldfinch
Shogun
To kill a Mockingbird
Swerd of Shenhara
Dune
Mystic River
A storm swords
Pillars of the earth
Boys life
Green angel tower
Lord of the rings
Lonesome dove
The Stand
Thanks for this; now I just need to know who wrote some of these!
@@mrleney9904you can go into any bookstore and they will find it for you.
This list is awesome!!! Interesting no Brandon Sanderson way of kings or Steven Erickson Garden of the New moons. Have you ever read Lies Locke Lamora ???you rock keep videos coming!
Hey, your youtube channel is awesome. I'm from Russia (so sorry for my English, just in case) It's always interesting to hear about other people's favorite books. I've read a lot from your list. Respect to you for Tolstoy, he's our best prose writer. I agree that it is difficult to single out just 10 favorite books. These are some of my favorite -
1. The Lord of the Rings - Tolkien.
2. Island of the Doomed - Stig Dagerman.
3. The portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce.
4. Infinite Jest - D.F. Wallace.
5. Pale Fire - Vladimir Nabokov.
6. In Our Time - Hemingway.
7. A Song of Ice and Fire - Martin.
8. Roadside Picnic - A. and B. Strugatsky.
9. The King Arthur books - Bernard Cornwell.
10. The Second Apocalypse - Scott Bakker.
Thanks for watching in Russia
You're aware that several of those authors comitted suicide? Suppose being a writer aint no dance upon roses or "walk in the park"! Nice list anyway, have to look closer upon the unknown ones.
Loved the video, had me chuckling throughout :)
That edition you have of LOTR is epic!
I've read 5 out of your 17 books. I didn't like Dune too much. I really enjoyed Boy's Life and Lonesome Dove (I've finished reading this Western story yesterday). I absolutely adored The Stand and The Pillars of the Earth. Those two are perfect books, they are both in my top 5 right now. I can propose one book that you probably haven't read yet and I really think it's something you might love: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. Please, read it. I know I'm just random guy from Internet but nevertheless I can assure you won't be disappointed by this one.
I read Lonesome Dove in 1988 traveling around Europe. I swapped it for some other book with an 18 year old US teenager. Her father indicated he didn't think much of the book, but I loved it. Great rollicking story.
I'm old enough to remember when millions of people were treating Covid like Cpt. Tripps....heck, it's still going on. We've lost our damn minds. Yeah, it's not been fun but my goodness...things could get SO MUCH worse and much of human history shows us just how true that is.
Really surprised by some of these lmao you're a legend Brian
I loved the video! You're hilarious! Amazingly, we had two of the same top three! My top fave is LOTR, and my second is Lonesome Dove! I've read many books on your list, but I obviously have some more reading to do. Thanks for the ideas!
Glad you watched the video!!
Lord of the Rings is not a trilogy, it’s a single novel. I was curious if it would be your number one. Thanks for the book recommendations!
Great selections for your best 17 top ten.
loved Angela's Ashes ... Loved the way it was written ... Lyrical, really ..
I haven't read all of the books on your -Top 17- Top 10 list but those that I _have_ read all were great.
I really liked _The Stand_ but would have picked another as his best if I had to choose. Luckily, I don't have to choose just one book!
The only minor criticism I'd have is your pronunciation of Shōgun. 😁
Harper Lee wrote Go Set a Watchman as Well
WELL, but isn't that novel a first draft of To Kill a Mockingbird which Harper Lee didn't even want published in the first place?
Excellent list! So many of these books are favorites of mine. The others are on my to-read list (except two of them). I actually got excited seeing some of your selections, like Michener and McMurtry.
Hawaii is one of my favorites.
@@sealisa1398 Caribbean and Space are my favorites. Hawaii is still high on the list.
@@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks The Source is a good too. Haven’t read any others.
Love the way you talk! :)
Brilliant!! So MANY great pages!
Just finished the Stand 60 minutes ago. Probably got this video recommended since I've been doing some googling since then. The Stand is good but not sure where it ranks in terms of all time favourites. I agree with you on Shogun, which is my number one (Tai-Pan by Clavell is also fantastic). Also I agree with a Storm of Swords but would also give Clash of Kings a shout. Hyperion, the Terror and Call of the Wild would also be up near the top for me. I have to get into Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and Ender's Game in 2022.
Anyways, I great video. You've got yourself a new subscriber.
Thanks!!!
Michener’s Hawaii and The Source, fabulous and well researched. Likewise with Follet’s Pillars of The Earth. Read Tart’s first book The Secret History…. Lots to catch up with here. Thanks for the enthusiasm.
Pillars of the Earth is extraordinary.
The Sword of Shannon's ABOVE TKAM ???? That's Nuts!!
LOL !! But I'd put TKAM at 1 or 2, soooo ....
I always love you top "10" videos. 😂
Good man! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
to kill a mockingbird was so good, and i enjoyed the movie too
Great list hombre. Never have heard of you but definitely gonna check ur fantasy stuff out love ur energy. Keep it up
Thanks
Highly recommend his books. First two out are phenomenal
Now I've got to get a twelve pack of Pepsi to go with these books ...
In no order:
1 - Dracula by Bram Stoker
2 - Bleak House by Charles Dickens
3 - LOTR by Tolkien
4 - Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley
5 - Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson
6 - Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
7 - Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, pure
8 - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
9 - Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
10 - The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Bonus -
11 - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Morrell by Susanna Clarke
12 - Ubik by Philip K. Dick
13 - Chldhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
14 - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
15 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Liked your top 17, have read 5 or 6, will definitely check most of the others. Best part is reading comments to find more suggestions. My own would include any Alan Furst (especially Dark Star), Daniel Mason (The Winter Soldier and The Piano Tuner), the great Walker Percy (Love in the Ruins); some Robert Heinlein (I Will Fear no Evil, Time Enough for Love), John le Carré, Graham Greene, and many others... Oh, Nikos Kazantzakis' Freedom or Death!
Sorry, a couple more: Eliot Pattison (The Skull Mantra and Bone Mountain) and Michelle Lovric (The Floating Book).
Your books are well wrapped with some acid-free plastic. Amazing. I wish I were one of your books.
This is the first video of yours I've seen. Loved your top 10 list! Can't wait to check out the rest of your content
Thanks
The Book Thief, Power of One, Centennial, Hawaii, The Goldfinch, Lonesome Dove, Pillars of the Earth….my top 7! I have War & Peace but haven’t tackled it yet. Love historical fiction. Now I’m going to watch your Top 25 Historical fiction books.
LOL, Bian I've just discovered you, and what I find so delightful is that that I would NEVER take you for being an intelligent bookworm. Which just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover...pun intended. PS...THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING STEVEN KING!!! PSS: if you haven't read "Ancient Evening's", please do so.
When I was 11 years old I read Z for Zakaria. It was the first book that I read cover-to-cover. One week later I read my second book, Swan Song by Robert McCammon. It took me 3 Days To Read Swan Song, when I read the last page I closed the book and sat there and thought about it for about a half hour. Then I opened to page one and read it again a second time. LOL. The third book that I read cover-to-cover was Swan Song. LOL
By the way, the unrevised version of The Stand is the way to go if you can get your hands on it. King basically pulled a George Lucas with that one.
Top 10/15 and let’s start with my number 17 lol. Good vid
I will read The Stand, however I will not be watching the CBS miniseries. Just by the ads it looks like they pay more attention to diversity than story. Keep up the good work!!!
I really hope that isn't the case, but I have very low expectations for movies/series these days anyway because woke.
Absolutely though, read it. 😁
So I've just read reviews on the miniseries. Apparently, it's utter garbage.
Once a story goes woke, the “story” goes broke.
I love the Stand and loved the old mini-series as well. Fantastic story by one of our greatest living novelists. BUT... what does diversity have to do with you not watching? And if you haven't watched it how do you know whether it's any good or not?
@@joer1402 CBS, where all you see is BS
The Goldfinch being number 13, published in 2013.
My son and I are reading Ender's Game right now. We just finished Count of Monte Cristo....and what a breath of fresh air. Monte Cristo is good, but could have been 200 pages shorter. Ender's Game is such an effortless read.
Seriously relate to eclectic faves. Ty
I’ve read several of these and agree 100% in them being in the top “17.” Another favorite of mine is The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer.
Enjoyd this❤ and i love the stand
Excellent list you have there!
Great shout for Mitchener. Haven't read Alaska, but all his novels are superb. My favourite is The Covenant - but that's 'cos I spent a lot of time in South Africa. Clavell and Mitchener are similar that they write epics - not books, IMHO.
Agree with you on G.R.R. Martin - love the books, hate what they did with the later tv series (once they moved away from the books). Still waiting for The Winds of Winter.....
War and Peace is amazing!
Tolkien also considered the Lord of the Rings to be one novel (it was published in three volumes at his publisher's insistence). Lord of the Rings is number one on my list. You should read "The Thin Red Line" by James Jones if you have not done so. Glad to see you included a Michener title on the video. Chesapeake, by Michener, is a great book as well. Herman Wouk's "Winds of War" and "War an Remembrance" is sort of the American "War and Peace" (which I was also glad to see on your list).
According to Tolkien's private letters released to the public in the 1980s, the writer did not envision or create The Lord of the Rings as a three-part saga. Instead, the entire story from Bag End to Mordor and back again was penned as a single, giant tome, which Tolkien hoped would then be followed by a second work, The Silmarillion. Upon completion, The Lord of the Rings was divided into six books by the author, and although he wanted it published in one hit, Tolkien confirmed in his letters that he thought of this new Middle-earth adventure as six separate books.
@@IrishCinnsealach Yes, and then it was published with books I & II in Volume 1 (The Fellowship of the Rings), Books III & IV in Volume 2 (THe Two Towers), and books V and VI in volume 3 (THe Return of the King).
The Goldfinch was on my Top Ten list 2022 at….Number 1. But as long as you include it, I’m good with it! Remind folks you have to read at least to Las Vegas before you give up - for those who give up…Do NOT give up, it’s SO worth it‼️
I gotta say, I’m those simple words grew in me the desire to read both war and peace as well as lonesome dove even though I usually read sci fi, fantasy and philosophy.
Shogun sounds great as well. Thank you for the suggestion!
Oh dear Brian. 😳 Harper Lee wrote TWO books in her lifetime, the second being Go Set A Watchman.
That Dune copy😍 they shouldve done that with the Otherland Hardcovers
I definetly recommend you to read some Brandon Sanderson.He is a great epic high fantasy author.😁
Nice top btw. 😀
I've reviewed all Sanderson Stormlight books on my channel
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS and how could he possibly not be here,wow. 😄
Personally,I enjoy stormlight more than lotr or a song of ice and fire. 😁
I loved Stormlight too. U can watch those reviews just type in my last name and his. Brandon Sanderson is a friend of mine.
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS just did that,im impressed on your collection and the way you talk so I subbed.
I wanna find more about the wheel of time series too as I want to pick it up this year,heard its as good as lotr. 😁
We know what it's like to live with a Captain Tripps with a 99.5% survival rate, which is the polar opposite of the version in The Stand.
Top 10 sign is awesome.
I’m surprised you didn’t have Guy Gavriel Kay on your list. You’ve praised him a lot in the past.