2024 Mid Year Freak Out Tag!

In this video I try not to FREAK OUT as I attempt this annual tag.
I tagged: ‪@TriumphalReads‬ ‪@thungrybookworm‬ ‪@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks‬ (I know some of these have already done it).

[@AlbertTheConjugator]

I'm with you for Hounds of the Baskerville. That's the one people always bring up for greatest mystery novel. In an episode of Longmire (adaptation of a series), Longmire gives a copy to his deputy, because you can learn a lot about detective work 😊

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Definitely. It will be great to get that one off the TBR for sure.

[@TriumphalReads]

Why does that You Like It Darker design work so well haha. Nice vid and answers Al. I'm starting my first Cromwell book this month so that'll be interesting I think.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Cheers mate 👍 So hyped for your thoughts 😎

[@heidi6281]

I plan to start Fool’s Errand soon too , I just finished Liveship recently. I had to drop everything for Daughter’s War then finish up the the Last War and catch up with the Bound & the Broken before more Hobb.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

I think it’s a perfect series for that. I always give it 7-10 months between each trilogy/group, certainly saves any burnout 👍.

[@MacScarfield]

Really have to get to «Roadside Picnic» in the Not Far Future! And «Shogun» was amazing indeed! 1. Best book so far in 2024: «Imperium» by Robert Harris (Cicero Trilogy #1, Historical Fiction about the Eponymous Roman Politician)! 2. Best sequel so far in 2024: «Brother Red» by Adrian Selby (Grimdark Fantasy, standalone «midquel» to «Snakewood» & «The Winter Road»), «Howling Dark» (Sun Eater #2) by Christopher Ruocchio (Space opera) & «The Fort» (City of Victory Trilogy #1, sequel to the «Vindolandia» Trilogy) by Adrian Goldsworthy (Historical Military Fiction set during Emperor Trajan’s Campaigns)! 3. New release I haven't read: «Disquiet Gods»(Sun Eater, #6) by Christopher Ruocchio (Space opera): A bit cheating, as I have not yet read book 3 to 5, but yeah, really looking forward to the next novels! 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Book #3 of «The Sundered Nation» Trilogy by Vaughn Roycroft, the Standalone Sequel of the «Edan» Trilogy by our dear Philip Chase & «The Fury of the Gods» (#3 in the «Bloodsworn Saga») by John Gwynne! 5. Biggest disappointment: I feel I am a bit spoiled, as I have not read any truly bad novels or have given up reading any books for a long time, but «Idoru» by William Gibson (Bridge Trilogy #2, Cyberpunk) was not bad, but still a small letdown from book #1, «Virtual Light» (3.5 out of 5, to «VL»’s 4.5). 6. Favorite new author: Christopher Ruocchio & Tad Williams 7. Biggest surprise: «Islands in the Net» by Bruce Sterling ((Post-)Cyberpunk), a really pleasant surprise, as I had prepared for a good cheesy 80s Cyberpunk story: Is there Hackers, Data Pirate Havens and Rastafarians? Sure, but unlike most dystopian Cyberpunk novels, this broke from the norm by having the 30-something mother of a toddler as the protagonist and interesting concepts such a Economic Democratic Cooperations (almost reminiscent of the ideas floating by Kim Stanley Robinson in his Sci Fi Novels, if not utopian then at least not at all the usual Techno/Neo-Feudalism of most Cyberpunk!) and genuine energy solutions ideas that might benefit smaller nations, as well as a use of psy-ops and drones that made it a lot more forward minded than I expected! 8. Book that made me happy: I have to say «Imperium» by Robert Harris: I had read Harris only once (his alt-history novel «Fatherland», set in a 1960s where the US did not join WW2 (but defeated Japan) and the World is divided into a Cold War between the USA and N@zi Germany: Great read, but obviously not full of laughs) but he not only nails the history and politics of Ancient Rome, following the ups and downs of Cicero is at times borderline satirical (but also serves as an encouraging) take on Modern Politics as well. 9. Newest fictional crush: I guess I have to say Laura Webster from «Islands in the Net», but I also have to give a shout out to Cicero’s Wife in «Imperium» (such a fun contrast but also weirdly fitting her husband! 😆) and to the Old Couple in «The Buried Giant» by Kazuo Ishigaro: So wholesome and heartbreaking! 10. Newest favorite character: Undoubtedly Cicero from «Imperium» 11. Book that made me cry. «Når landet mørknar» (Approximately «When The (This?) Land Darkens») by Tore Kvæven, Historical Fiction set during the 13th Century Norse Settlement of Greenland, think a Norse John Steinbeck! Well-worthy winner of the 2018 Brage Prize for Best Norwegian Novel! But will also shoutout «Stonehenge» by Bernard Cornwell (Man, the Human Sacrifice of Children hit me!) and «The Buried Giant» by Kazuo Ishigaro: Heartbreaking! 12. Most beautiful book so far this year: The new cover of my e-book copy «Queen Amid Ashes» (Sun Eater, #2.5) by Christopher Ruocchio, is gorgeous! Also: While it is visually very plain, obviously my inherited copy of «Brothers Karamazov» by Dostoevsky from my late Aunt have immense sentimental value! 13. What books do I need to read by the end of the year? After the novels I mentioned in point 4, I have to say the rest of the «Cicero» Trilogy by Robert Harris, the «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn» «Trilogy» by Tad Williams, the «Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker, the final two novels in the «City of Victory» Trilogy by Adrian Goldsworthy and the final two novels in «The Expanse» by James S. A. Corey!

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Yes! Need that Edan sequel! I can see you are loving Ruoccio, wish it was cheaper/easier to get his books over here 🙄. Cicero historical fiction does sound appealing 👌.

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Great tag mate! I have heard awesome things about Lonesome Dove, sounds fantastic even as a horror reader. The Eyes Of The Dragon is a seriously underrated novel, I loved it! I really enjoyed Shogun the book, not sure if I will be watching anything on tv. Let me know if you ever want to do a deep dive into Stephen King, or if you just want to have another live chat. Would love to hear your thoughts on Skullface Boy, fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

I’d love to catch up again on a live. Best stick to late in the year though as I do most my horror reading in the autumn 🍂.. for obvious reasons 🎃

[@MichaelRomeoTalksBooks]

"Thanks for tagging me," he said as he wet the top of his pencil on his tongue and started to take notes. By the way, Raymond Chandler is awesome.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Excellent! I am so hyped for The Big Sleep 👍

[@heidi6281]

Al please do not wait years to read the Bloodsworn, they are so good. I listened to Shadow of the Gods & Hunger of the God straight through, including most of the nights!

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

I won’t Heidi, am hoping to hit it about Nov/Dec. Starting to get that Gwynne itch again 😬.

[@backawayfromthedonkey]

Nudity in your videos 🤣 You could start some weird Booktube trend of Naked books. Really Interesting answers there.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

I hope you waited until after 9 o’clock to watch that bit 😬