A really bad book, some bangers, and more! (Jan. 2024)

[@mikesbookreviews]

One day I'll get to the Amber books...I hope.

[@MattonBooks]

They’re fun, mate! And super easy to squeeze in between all the other chunky tomes we both read. 🙂

[@Johanna_reads]

I love when you do those voice edits like you did for the Malazan editions 😂. So glad Fitz is allowing you more sleep! Hooray for the bangers and the Fireside Discord! ❤

[@MattonBooks]

Sometimes you just need someone to yell at you from off camera, and I don’t have a Bobby B. 😜

[@enno108]

Thanks for the 30 minutes of cozy book time, fire and everything.

[@MattonBooks]

Glad you enjoyed it, Enno! 🙂♥️

[@DoUnicornsRead]

Very glad to have you for the Dune readalong, Matt! And I'm looking very much forward to tomorrow! Also, Fitz needs her own channel. That's probably why she is waking you up at five in the morning. She wants you to set up the camera for her.😺

[@MattonBooks]

You may have a point there Angela. Although honestly, I shoot enough video of her myself, that I probably COULD create a channel for her already. 😜

[@Talking_Story]

I am looking forward to getting into Spear . Cheers!

[@MattonBooks]

Definitely John! SO GOOD. 😍

[@ColinsCornerYT]

Great month overall, even with the duds! I am also struggling with motivation to get videos out, and it’s mainly because I get burned out of everything during school semesters. That’s where I’m at now. Also, Fitz is just THE BEST.

[@MattonBooks]

Yeah Colin, I definitely had enough excellent books, they made up for the duds. 😀 And Fitz says, “of course I am.” 🐱

[@esmayrosalyne]

Dang I had no idea you haven't read the final Fitz trilogy yet!! Not gonna lie, I am kinda envious of that, I wish I could read that for the first time again haha. You are making me want to reread Tawny Man right now though! And oooof, that is a bummer to hear about In the Shadow of Their Dying. Not gonna lie, that is exactly why I have been putting off my ARC, I was afraid of the over-the-top grimdarky darkness lol. We'll see how I get on, at least it is not too long! 👀 Glad you had such a blast with your Expanse rewatch, I still haven't watched on in S4 hahah; got distracted by Blue Eye Samurai and Inventing Anna, both of which I LOVED! Hope February is treating you well, and congrats on almost hitting 2K, that is so well deserved 🤩

[@MattonBooks]

Yeah Esmay, last time I read RotE, the last trilogy didn’t exist yet. Can’t wait to get to it! 😀 In the Shadow… well, I’d say give it a miss, but worst case it’s short, like you said. 😜

[@esmayrosalyne]

@@MattonBooks Ahhh I see, I was already wondering why you'd not have read it, but this reason makes a lot of sense. Can't wait for you to get to it! And we both know I am way too stubborn to not read that ARC myself lol 😂🥲

[@sw3dge]

Rebel moon sure was something! My disbelief just kept ratcheting up and up. It’s been fun chatting DA:Inquisition. I loved that game. It’s made me consider catching up on old BioWare games I missed.

[@MattonBooks]

I know, right? Like, “it can’t really be THIS bad, can it?” 😳 I stuck with it as long as I did purely because I had a hard time believing it could STAY that bad for long, but… it did. 😐

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Woohooooo another Tchaikovsky reader!!!! I’ve read 20 books by him and still have about 20 to go, and he started publishing in the mid 2000s. And the range and quality is just tremendous, which is insane for him averaging about 4 books a year usually (with 1 being a novella). If I had to guess on another big hit for you it’d be the novella Ogres, and I suspect some of his standalones or fantasy books like the recent City of Last Chances that I haven’t tried yet might also be the picks for you. I’ve mostly stuck to his series which I all love and need to branch out into the rest. Love hearing your honest thoughts about the Fletcher book-I’m happy to pass on that one, and it actually might have been the palate cleanser you needed between those two great books to let their greatness shine!

[@MattonBooks]

Yeah, I’ve heard A LOT how great Ogres is - I just kinda hate the cover, but I’ll get past that now. I also already have CoLC and CoT on my shelf, so I’m ready to gooooo! 😀

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

@@MattonBooks love it! I’d look for a copy of the Terrible Worlds collection with Ogres in it along with two other novellas so you can avoid the Ogres solo cover

[@BookishChas]

Great update Matt! My next Dune book will be Children of Dune, and I also plan to read 5&6 at some point. I’ve been curious about Sea of Thieves. It does sound like fun.

[@MattonBooks]

Sea of Thieves is very fun, especially if you can rope 1-3 friends into playing it with you. 😀🏴‍☠️ And we have a Dune readalong channel on The Fireside. Drop in sometime. 🙂🔥

[@BookishChas]

@@MattonBooks yes I saw that. I will. 😁

[@zan8152]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the more bonkers aspects of the later dune stuff. They're (mostly, I did not actually like Children very much) all quite fun, but yeah they get stranger and stranger. Mostly in good ways. Mostly.

[@zan8152]

oh, also I'd love to pop in on Fireside (if I can, my time on discord is already swamped, but hey) - but the link is expired/doesn't work

[@MattonBooks]

Especially when you get to God Emperor, Zan. Bonkers as. 😳 I always sigh when people only read the first book, which is really only set up on the way to GEoD.

[@MattonBooks]

@zan8152 WHAAAT? Thanks for letting me know, mate. I’ll update it.

[@MattonBooks]

Corrected, try again. 🙂👌🏻

[@zan8152]

@@MattonBooks worked, thanks!

[@urbanexcursion]

I remember you recommending A Spear Cuts Through Water last year. I'm hoping to get to it this year because it sounds intriguing!

[@MattonBooks]

It’s extremely good. Definitely read it. 🙂

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Todd here. Great video Matt! I'm currently reading The Blackest Heart by Durfee and I'm enjoying it so far.

[@MattonBooks]

I hear good things about T5WA, enjoy, Todd!

[@MacScarfield]

In January I finished: «Imperium» by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Politician Cicero) «Stonehenge» by Bernard Cornwell (Historical Fiction about the Creation of Stonehenge during the Late Neolithic Period) «The Buried Giant» by Kazuo Ishigaro (Fantasy inspired by Arthurian Legend) «The Dragon Lord» by David Drake (Arthurian Sword & Sorcery) I unfortunately had to push back «After Rome» by Morgan Llywelyn (Historical Fiction set in Post-Roman Britain), but I hope to get to it within Spring, together with Mike Shackle’s «We Are The Dead», Tad Williams «The Dragonbone Chair» and Christopher Ruocchio’s «Empire Of Silence»!

[@MattonBooks]

Ah! I didn’t realise Ishiguro wrote an Arthur-ish book. Another reason to read him sooner! Thanks Mac! 🙂👌🏻

[@MacScarfield]

@@MattonBooks Finally have gotten around to my January notes! 😅 «The Buried Giant» is a heartbreaking novel: It follows an older couple, traveling to reach their son. While there is an Arthurian setting with monsters (perhaps?), the real monster is collective memory loss that strike again and again, which is blamed on a fog. There is a lot of repetition in the dialogue, which initially rubbed me the wrong way, until it hit me: Oh, they are repeating themselves, because they are afraid to forget each other and their son! As such, I can not help but compare the Forgetting Fog both to collective memory loss due to whole families/populations lost to for example natural disasters, plagues, civilizational collapse and persecution/genocide, but also personal memory losses, such as dementia. As such, the repetition becomes a tragic, heartbreaking and seemingly doomed attempt to fight the forgetfulness and remember their love. An emotional and bittersweet take on «Waiting on Godot»: Ursula K Le Guin was not a fan and I might be a bit too young for it to hit as hard, but I can easily imagine for Married People with grown children, to lose your memory of them or become a stranger to them, to be a greater (and more realistic) fear than a Dragon.

[@MattonBooks]

@@MacScarfield As someone whose father died with dementia, I’d say they’re repeating themselves because they don’t remember that they’ve already said it. My dad did that a lot. 😔

[@MacScarfield]

@@MattonBooks My Condolences Matt 😔 Yeah, I don’t think it is a book I can recommend for everyone and while it might be cathartic for others, it might also remind people of very close pain and trauma, as you say. So best to read it when you are at a good place. All the best!

[@TuftyMcTavish]

😮 DNF-ing 20-30pg from the end 😱 That made me go “oof!” out loud just now watching this 🫣 🥳 Delighted you had a great Tchaikovsky introduction. I haven’t read “Elder Race” yet, I don’t even own a copy anywhere in fact - I prefer paperbacks and the novella types tend to be expensive. Some stories get bound up into collection books - I’m thinking “Terrible Worlds” here - so I often wait to se what happens. I think his books fluctuate in highs and slightly lowers, but the highs are high so I’ve been unbothered when I enjoyed something slightly less e.g. “Shards of Earth”. I love that he’s prolific as he has a dedicated shelf in my Library (one of maybe ten authors with major quantity). Speaking of emphasis WRT sowing seeds, I often struggle with the over use of bold words in comics. I’ve DNF-ed some famous examples through sheer frustration at Every other Word being In bold Text…

[@MattonBooks]

Yeah mate, like I said: it made me angry. 😬 Terrible Worlds on the TBR! 😀

[@ZOMGfantasy]

Great wrap up Matt! Fool's Fate was my book of the year last year! I can imagine the joy of rereading it some day 😁 I've also never heard of that Hobb short-story! I'll have to check it out! Also, on the Tchaikovsky train, I cannot recommend Guns of the Dawn enough. I just finished Ogres, which was super short and also brilliant!

[@MattonBooks]

Yeah mate, that seems to be the only problem with Tchaikovsky: what to read next?! 😆 He’s got put out so many books, it’s hard to choose!

[@ZOMGfantasy]

@@MattonBooks Hardly the worst problem to have!

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

Awesome video Matt!! I been looking into Adrian Tchaikovsky and want to read something from him in the near future.

[@MattonBooks]

Thanks brother. 🙂 I can definitely recommend Elder Race as a Tchaikovsky taste test: a good, quick read, and a really interesting idea & characters. Also some good mental health themes.

[@liviajelliot]

Fitz! I honestly was so confused about "In the Shadows" and "Time to Kill", seeing the same cover/authors with different names; very confusing. Is the Demon similar to Marith? From her other books? Not sure; nevertheless, some grimdark books can go to extremes, I get what you mean. Also, those anachronisms in fantasy sometimes annoy me. I really need to get through Amber, but can't find a decent copy D: I actually almost got Elder Race a few years ago, and ended up purchasing others I really didn't like that much; a shame, because you presented it very well; may need to get it. Dune! I'm missing the readalong on the account of not biting more than I can chew. DA:I I played it so many years ago, but I'm team Origins/2 and didn't like how they presented the third game, tbh. The DLCs are important, and one of them felt as if coming back to DA:O, which I loved. Enjoy your reading, Matt!

[@MattonBooks]

I haven’t read any other stuff by her, Livia, so I can’t compare since I don’t know Marith, but the demon was sort of a rambling stream of consciousness(ish) style, which sometimes lost me a bit, but overall worked pretty well to give me a very different feeling perspective. Unfortunately much of the rest of the writing felt like a 13 year old trying to shock his parents with all the swear words they know. 🙄 For Amber, get an indecent copy! 😜 I believe Fantasy Masterworks has the 10 books split into 2 volumes, and while they’re as ugly as their books usually are, they contain the same words. 😉

[@thatsci-firogue]

Yeah, I've been mixed on if i want to try Fletcher for a long time now. Spark too, but nowhere to the same degree. Spark is definitely the more likely of the two. I consider myself lucky as I've never had any interest in Rebel Moon, I'm just not a Snyder fan. He seems to just understand the purely technical level of filmmaking but not the rest. January was a solid reading month for me. I read: *Fantasy* Liveship Traders 2: Mad Ship - Book of the Month, easily! I've since finished Liveship Traders and started Tawny Man! The quality of the character work is reminiscent of GRRM's but Hobb's tighter more limited cast of POV characters suits my preferences better. I was a doubter (I'm being mostly hyperbolic) after not loving how Farseer wrapped up and was intimidated by how long these books are (I know, ironic coming from a Malazan fan) but these books are like crack. *Post-Apocalyptic* The Road / Cormac McCarthy (re-read) - Even more powerful on re-read. *Short Fiction* The Birds / Daphne Du Maurier - I really dug the atmosphere. The Merchant & The Alchemist's Gate / Ted Chiang - I. Have. To. Read. More. Ted. Chiang. I'll be chipping away at my short story collections here and there but Exhalation is taking priority. The Ones Who Stay and Fight / N.K Jemisen - Cool worldbuilding. I hear Jemisen's writing style is divisive for a lot of people, even for those that like her works, so I'm going to hold judgement on that until I read more. And sadly I DNF'd Ryan Cahill's Bound & Broken series about 100 pages into Book 2. Cool that its resonating with so many people but it's just not my style of Fantasy. If you love, appreciate and hunger for unapologetically Epic Traditional but still Adult Fantasy then I see why this is becoming more popular, I just couldn't have cared less about the story Cahill's telling.

[@MattonBooks]

Yeah Rogue, get used to Hobb scoring your book of the month for a while. 😜 And I really need to read some Chiang - he was the most recommended author in the comments of my recent short stories video.

[@thepassenger6499]

Man, I absolutely feel you about "Rebel Moon"! 😂 My wife and I tried to watch it, but about 15 minutes in, we felt that we had to force ourselves to continue and we decided to stop at this point. Can't wait to continue Sea of Thieves! 😉 And Dragon Age Inquisiton is a great game from my opinion. I really enjoyed it. If you find the time, try Dragon Age II as well. Another classic. 😉 Take care!

[@MattonBooks]

I was more stubborn than you two, or maybe optimistic. 😆 I kept thinking, “it can’t STAY this bad, can it?” Apparently, yes. Yes, it can. 😬

[@JosephReadsBooks]

(Sorry for the long comment, I like to write it as I watch the video, I will leave some dots to hide spoilers for the books mentioned) . . . . . . . . . . I want to start Chronicles of Amber this year. I have loved everything else I read by Zelazny. The Spear Cuts Through Water keeps popping up as a recommendation from everyone that has read it so I have added to my wishlist. I have not read Chapterhouse Dune but God Emperor of Dune is my favorite in the series and I did enjoy Heretics of Dune quite a bit. I loved the movie. It was how I had been picturing Dune in my head for the last 20 years. I cried during some of the dumbest scenes because I just couldn't believe I was seeing it on a screen as I had pictured it. I used to be interested in Attack on Titan the manga but I might just watch the anime someday. That is a beautiful kitty! Great video! Have a good day!

[@MattonBooks]

Thanks Joseph. 🙂 Amber is fun, everyone MUST read The Spear, and I also enjoyed God Emperor, though it’s a VERY different book from the 1st. Im looking forward to trying Heretics & Chapterhouse…

[@heatherauton655]

I really enjoy Dune 5 and 6. Dune is my most reread series of any. Books 5 and 6 are such a treat after a God Emperor reread. They are more standard sci-fi, very political, loads of action and heavy on the Bene G, which I loved. Plus you get to see the result of the Golden Path. I’ve never regretted reading them, and rereading them.

[@MattonBooks]

Good to know, Heather. I think they probably get ignored because they’re really a new story in a way, not the continuation of the Atreides story. But I’m looking forward to trying them at least once.

[@BrianBell7]

Love the Fitz footage. I never read Hellboy so I'll have to add it to my list. I'm just about to start Chapter 2 of Gardens of the Moon, and you are right, it's super interesting so far. Gotta love The Expanse.. WIsh there were more seasons! DAI omg... the Hinterlands and 1000 quests

[@MattonBooks]

Definitely read Hellboy Brian, it’s awesome stuff. There‘a a paperback omnibus set that contains most of the stuff - all of the core story - that’s in my big heavy library editions. And I have a video all about Gardens chapter 2, just in case you feel a little lost. 😉

[@almaaguado347]

I am looking forward to read the Twany man trilogy after I finish what I am reading now and The Spears... when I receive it in March. And I completelly agree about Rebel Moon, I watched at 2 or 3 in the morning, one night that I could not sleep... and I keep thinking this is sooo bad, this is ridiculous, what the heck is this... it was sooo bad that it did distract me from the anxiety I was feeling 😂

[@MattonBooks]

Tawny Man is so good, I’m sure you’ll love it Alma. 😍 And maybe that’d be good marketing for Rebel Moon? “Cures anxiety induced insomnia!” 😆

[@KindlesandKicks]

Mark Lawrence also had a different title on the ARC cover of TBTWB. All Books Fall to Dust was on the cover. Is this going to be a new thing? That Robin Hobb short story sounds like a great read. Lastly, I hope no Battlestar Galactica fans see this video 😂

[@MattonBooks]

The thing is, an ARC with a different title on the cover just means I have to explain it in a video. I imagine some people will now remember my bad book this month was called Time to Kill, which can’t be good marketing… And I *am* a BSG fan, just… The Expanse is better. 😜

[@andreabknight]

Are you still going to read The DragonBone Chair by Tad Williams? I finished it this week (attempt 3 as I had DNF'd twice previously). What is striking is how many fantasy series have drawn from this book (and probably the rest of the trilogy too). It was slow going but ultimately I am glad I read it and am now on book 2 (Stone of Farewell).

[@MattonBooks]

I definitely am, Andrea! 😀 But I’m committed (mostly) to mood reading this year, so we’ll see when it happens…

[@77otto77]

Is The Spear Cuts through Water a standalone?

[@MattonBooks]

It is! As is The Vanishing Birds, Jiminez’s first novel, which is scifi.

[@77otto77]

@@MattonBooks thanks! I have such a hard time, reading standalone’s because I want a huge story to continue reading overtime. I should give this a shot though!

[@MattonBooks]

@dogmaticmystery Indeed! It’s a pretty epic story, but fits very well in one book. Highly recommended.

[@RafBlutaxt]

Chapterhouse and Heretics Of Dune are not that bad, they just lack a conclusion which is frustrating. Things turn to shit after that when Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson take over.

[@MattonBooks]

Yeah, I don’t feel the need to read the Brian books to have the opinion of them that I do. 😜

[@paulm8253]

Broken binding....pay for an order due May 2024 and get the book May 2025

[@MattonBooks]

Uh, wut, Paul? I’ve ordered quite a few from them, and never had a problem…

[@paulm8253]

@@MattonBooks yeah most people have had good experiences with them so maybe might just be my bad luck lol. Anyways keep up the good work mate 👍

[@duffypratt]

You have a cat named Fritz? A cat? What would Nighteyes think?

[@MattonBooks]

Fitz. No R. Luckily I don’t also have a wolf, so no problem.

[@duffypratt]

@@MattonBooks can’t believe that Fitz got autocorrected.

[@jcmberne]

I will fight you, and I'll fight you with my 1:10000 scale lego model of Babylon 5. Good luck.

[@MattonBooks]

Well Jor, if I’m taking the side of The Expanse, I’ll be limited to space combat anchored in actual physics, so I’d probably lose. 😜

[@jcmberne]

@@MattonBooks Actual physics always loses. Actually, Babylon 5 does something very similar to the Expanse - the Earth ships and tech are much more realistic (not perfect, but much closer than most sci-fi), and only aliens really violate all the laws, which is exactly what The Expanse does.

[@MattonBooks]

@jcmberne I have to admit, I’ve never watched much of B5. 😬 And it now feels like it’s old enough that I’d probably be too aware of the boldness of it…

[@thefairylibrarian3282]

I don't really have anything to say, so here's a hedgehog emoji: 🦔

[@MattonBooks]

Have a roo, Kaat 🦘