Books with unreliable narrators are the best! August 2023 in a Nuttshell

Books with unreliable narrators are the best! August 2023 in a Nuttshell
#booktube #books #reading
August 2023 in a Nuttshell is my August wrap up video of books I read in August as well as my September TBR.
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/ thefantasynuttwork

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’ve been told 12 months with 4 books a month is not 36. I am reviewing these claims and will find the facts in all this.

[@marcweber8509]

If 36 is your truth, Jimmy, I will support you whole-heartedly in this endeavour! ;D

[@Uppernorwood976]

But what number is it? It’s just one of those things which we’ll never know…

[@Paul_van_Doleweerd]

Adding a math book to your tbr. 😁

[@karenlowe9283]

Spent way to long working this out 😅 loooong day

[@ADudeWhoReads]

Let's be honest, you made this mistake on purpose to get people to comment on the video ;)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

You had me completely fooled with your impersonation of the Nutt Button, Jimmy! I'm finishing Book of the New Sun tonight or tomorrow. Pillars of the Earth is a book I loved enough to read twice in the 90s -- I hope you'll enjoy it. Very cool that you'll be having Alexander Darwin on CWN! Also, the lighting is good!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Appreciate it

[@curtjarrell9710]

Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorite SK tales. I'm a big fan of Stephen Graham Jones, including Mannequins, Mongrels, The Only Good Indians and Mapping the Interior.

[@ReadBecca]

I adore Borne as well, but The Strange Bird, set concurrently in that universe is the best of Vandermeer! It's a crazy powerful novella.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m excited to try more of his stuff

[@readbykyle3082]

Jimmy this video is hilarious 😂😂 your random commentary on what's happening outside, the Nutt button impersonation, the random jump cut to you saying "AND SOME OF IT IS (corny)", so enjoyable 😂 I think you've convinced me to try Boy Parts. I'm also gonna be reading Pillars of the Earth but probably in October. Shawshank Redemption is fantastic! One of the best King for sure

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Ayyyy I appreciate it dude

[@iWizard]

I've always been that kind of reader. I like to read at a slower pace and really live in the story, really think about it deeply and let it imprint itself in my brain.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

It’s how I’ve been as well, lately I just have so much less time so instead of 6-7 books I’m lucky to get 2-4 haha

[@ADudeWhoReads]

I like the traveling setup. I also liked your conversation around the quantity of books you read. You're absolutely right that at 4 books a month you're reading more than 99% of people (maybe 99.9%). So, let's take a second and think about that. But I appreciate someone with a good sized following like you ACKNOWLEDGING that despite all that, you still feel weird NOT reading more. It's something that I think a lot of people (especially booktubers) need to hear so they're not burning out under pressure. And of course, as always, I appreciate your take on these books. I think I might just add Boy Parts to my TBR just based on how wacky it sounds. Cheers, Jimmy!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thank you so much!

[@Severian1]

The Book of the New Sun is the best book I have ever read, and my favorite. And you're right it works as a whole series because it was written as one but split up. I am so glad you enjoyed it Jimmy, and I look forward to your further reading in this world! And reading less is great. Too much reading and reading slumps happen.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

it’s excellent so far!

[@NICKREADSFANTASY]

Book of the New Sun is the best book of all time. I listen to the Alzabo Soup podcast with it too! But after I finished it! So excited to see this book popping up more and more on BookTube.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

It’s really blowing me away currently

[@NICKREADSFANTASY]

@@thefantasynuttwork As hard as it is to believe, it only gets better. Thanks for the content Jimmy!

[@marcweber8509]

The Millenium Trilogy is one of my favorite trilogies of all time!

[@jakebishop7822]

So I'm reading Forge of Darkness next, and the prologue literally has the narrator say that sometimes he forgot what happened so just made it up. If you want unreliable narrators

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Don’t do this to me

[@jakebishop7822]

😈

[@someokiedude9549]

This month has been crazy for me. Started school again, completed my novel, had some podcasts, had some depression issues, and I completed a whopping two books….two! Here’s what I got. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay Hollow (curious to see you read this or Catling’s other work) Keep up the good work Jimmy.

[@readingwithrebeccanicole]

I was watching this on normal speed and didn't even realize until half way through, because everything you were saying was interesting and entertaining. I've been reading less lately, but I usually read more in the winter than I do in the summer

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thank you!

[@Danny_Matson]

Yaaaaay. Over a year of trying, finally got my pick chosen. Sorry for the length 😂. I just couldn't see how you wouldn't love it.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m excited!!!

[@laurenm2111]

Kev's gonna be stoked - hope for his sake that you enjoy Pillars.... video sounds and looks great Jimmy!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thank you so much friend!

[@PhilfromAustin]

Great vid as always. I plan to get into Book of the New Sun soon, so glad to hear you’re enjoying it and that it’s divisive. Sounds like something I’d like!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@GarrickReads]

love the video and I will never be not impressed that you manage to read at all given all the things you do and are involved in! Keep it up Jimbo

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thank you my friend, to Enies Lobby!

[@elliottbruce2033]

Reading The Corrections by Johnathan Franzen and Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

[@samm8190]

Also great to see you again Jimmy. Your content is always the KZbin highlight of my day. This month I’ll be reading The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu and finishing up The First Law trilogy (I’m about 25% through book three). Maybe I’ll finally finish Way of Edan but that’s what my plans are at the moment.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Great plans for the month and thank you for the kind words. They mean a lot

[@bardsandbooks]

The Pillars of the Earth is definitely a chonker but I flew through it. It’s so gripping

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m hyped!!!

[@annak_reads]

I also read Annihilation this month (and the rest of the series as well). It's not one of my favorites but it has some really cool descriptions. Boy Parts sounds really interesting! Reading The City of Last Chances now. Great video!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thank you 😊

[@eavanodonoghue]

I think it’s great that you’re changing things up and trying not to put too much pressure on yourself. I think we’re happy to watch you wherever you decide to film. I’m currently reading the last book in the Licanius Trilogy, which has kind of dominated the last few weeks for me. I have also just purchased Stoner thanks to hearing all the love you and Johanna have been giving it, so we’ll see how that goes when I have a chance to read it.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I hope you enjoy Stoner!

[@brettwaddingham3296]

Lovin' the random moments in this video...gold

[@thefantasynuttwork]

hahaha thanks!

[@taylordepuydt9480]

I had a much slower reading month in August too. Like you, I slowed down on purpose and the experience I had with Shadow of the Torturer where I read it slowly and then enjoyed all the podcast content while reading it was one of the best reading experiences I have had. Definitely made me rethink how I want to read in the future! So glad you loved it as well.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m thrilled we are both reading BOTNS and enjoying it. I really feel like it could become an all time favorite

[@72mje]

I enjoyed this relaxed format for the video a lot. I'm so glad you are enjoying the Millennium trilogy - I loved it when I read it over 10 years ago now. I live in one of the cities where it takes place (Uppsala) and for a couple of years we had a lot of tour buses in town for people to retrace the steps in the books. It was fun! Also, when they shot the movie here that really shook up my quiet university town a whole lot! :) Happy reading! /Minna

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I just finished book three and loved it!

[@patsmythos]

The change of locale was great, I love the interference from things going on outside the window 🤣 Annihilation has always intrigued me, but I’ve never prioritized it on my TBR. Love the way you described it, may try to listen to the audio sometime soon!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Definitely worth the listen, it’s so short too

[@Paul_van_Doleweerd]

When you spray bomb the wasps, leave the dead nest in place, it'll deter future nests, just FYI.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thanks!

[@Bookish_Spren]

This is my first time commenting but I’ve been watching your videos for a while. Love the new set up and I love that you read a weird literary book!! Never thought I would see you reading Boy Parts!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I have a very very wide taste and I like to try new things, so there will be even more surprises in the future I bet! Thanks for being here!

[@kaiju_k5042]

I feel like I'm reading one of those books right now as your video notification flashed on my phone, reading Looking Glass Sound :)

[@thefantasynuttwork]

That’s awesome!

[@Kristenisfullybookd]

Silver spike is so short you could totally squeeze that in if things line up right

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I hope so

[@ClaeFace]

I absolutely love the change in mentality. Reading is Your journey, so travel down it however you like. I’ve also been wanting to say that I’m loving Lost in Roshar, particularly your ability to say a sentence and absolutely stunlock Christian for like five minutes hahaha.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Hahahah thank you so much

[@marcusmusings]

Oooo Pillars of the Earth. So damn good

[@thefantasynuttwork]

🙏

[@NicReadsBooks]

In the month of August finished up Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Valour by John Gwynne and started Golden Son by Pierce Brown. August was a good month of reading!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Sounds great!

[@apilgrim8715]

Unreliable narrators...West of January by Dave Duncan is a good one for that. Gateway, Marrow, and Dhalgren also come to mind but Dhalgren's its own unique thing. Inferno by Niven and Pournelle was also a good read.

[@maddy0119]

I've also been trying to slow down my reading so I can get more out of it but damn it's hard when there's so many books I'm excited to read! Glad you seem to be having more success with it than me lol

[@thefantasynuttwork]

It’s tough 😅

[@e.matthews]

Annihilation is an experience for sure. Authority becomes more Kafkaesque and institutional? VanderMeer's actually writing a fourth book by the way: Absolution. Anyways, Borne is trippy but the character work is incredible. Hope you enjoy the levitating bears and memory thieves! Started Under Heaven by GGK (again) and chapter one alone shows he's one of the greats.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Under Heaven is a certified banger

[@carlosbranca8080]

Pillars of the Earth is great, not perfect but definitely an amazing read.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m excited!

[@apilgrim8715]

If your favorite is the Dying Earth...In Yana is a hidden gem.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thanks!

[@deanryanmartin]

It is a good decision to change location. It is refreshing to watch, and your lighting is not as bad as you assumed. By the way, I miss your single book reviews.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thanks! Reviews will still be happening so no worries

[@deanryanmartin]

@@thefantasynuttwork Looking forward. I will wait for it.

[@annettes5623]

I read Gods of the Wyrdwood on a whim and loved it! It was so good I read The Bone Ships by the same author and ended up binging the whole series, gave all 4 books by RJ Barker 5 stars, this has been my best reading month this year and I found a new favorite author! I really want to try Boy Parts now 💜

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I need to check those out

[@MicheleMeekelay]

I liked this location a lot, it looks cozy! Also I love the variety of books you have been reading! For your 2024 schedule how about Childhood's End? Quite short, it has that old-timey feel without being outdated and it's an interesting exploration.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’ll have to check that out!

[@playermartin286]

The king in Yellow by Chambers immediately comes to mind when we're talking about unreliable narrator

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’ll check it out!

[@andrewhanson405]

Great wrap up! I didn't get too much reading done this month either. I got hyper addicted to Baldur's Gate 3 and now that I finished it I'm all over Starfield, so probably not too many books in September either. I think the best books I read this month were Bonehunters and Thomas Ligotti's Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe collections. Your dropping Stephen King's name m gave me the urge to read more of him this coming month. Really glad to hear that you enjoying Gene Wolfe. I think I might have to try reading BotNS slowly as well to see how much more of its secrets I can tease from it. Looking forward to your September videos

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m starting BG3 This weekend so I may read nothing 🤣

[@bottle1211]

Looking forward to your thoughts on Otherland.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m excited!

[@bottle1211]

@@thefantasynuttwork NIce! It's on my list.

[@chadia25]

Sometimes you just need to change things up... 😊 ❤

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Exactly!

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I like the new Jimmy, location and reading style.🎉 YESSSS Pillars!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thanks Penny 😁

[@ChasingForever]

Pillars of Earth is one of my all-time favorites. I think you'll really enjoy it.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Im so excited

[@filipkarlhugo]

I'm so glad you like it and reading it slowly haha😁 Shadow of the torture btw. I also read it slowly but for other reasons😅 I think that is why I feel in love with all the five books. Alzabousoup makes it very interesting as well!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

They’re great!

[@WordsinTime]

I currently read around 4 books per month. I say read at whatever pace you’re in the mood for! I didn’t connect with The Shadow of the Torturer but I still recommend people try it because it’s unique. I’m looking forward to trying Annihilation at some point. It sounds a little reminiscent of Roadside Picnic, which I enjoyed. And I’m looking forward to Otherland!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Otherland buddy read will be fun!

[@curtjarrell9710]

Hi Jimmy. The change of scenery is fine. I've recently read Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee, and am currently about halfway through 3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. Coming up are books by Peter Straub, Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King and horror classics Dracula and Frankenstein (both re-reads). I'm reading fewer books now as well. I raced through books during the pandemic. Slower and steady feels right to me. Happy reading.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Happy reading Curt!

[@kevinford4229]

I just ordered Pillars of the Earth! If I wasn’t already reading Lonesome Dove, another thick boy, I’d dive into this in September as well. Maybe I’ll get to it?!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Let’s hope!

[@kimtherrien8643]

Funny, I am planning to read the sequel to Pillars of the Earth this month. Pillars is a thick one but it is such a page turner it did not take me long to finish.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I hope I can finish it this month!

[@susanna4972]

I'm looking forward to your full thoughts on the Millenium trilogy! It's one of my favorite series. All your upcoming discussions/events sound great! My September TBR includes Fairy Tale by Stephen King, City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and The Art of Destiny by Wesley Chu.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Great TBR!

[@onfaerystories]

Even though I've read none of these books (yet), the fact you read such intriguing and diverse books makes me so excited to hear about them! I'm so curious about Pillars of The Earth, I've never picked it up because I've not had a good reason to do so (I know very little about it), but it seems right up my alley as I love well-written historical fiction. I've read 180 pages of Titus Groan but had to give it back to my Uni library (I'm done with Uni, finally!) and get it on my Kindle for now (I love it but can't read it quickly, it really needs to be digested slowly). I've not been in an absurdist mood in July or August, so I mostly focussed on other reads: Servant of The Empire by Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts (I preferred book #1, Daughter of The Empire, but will continue on at some point), Educated by Tara Westover (one of the best memoir I've ever read!), Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki (Excellent too! very thought-provoking)... I feel I've been in a non-fiction mood lately (I'm currently in the middle of a book on Ancient Greece and just started Plutarch's Parallel Lives) as I have a serious writing project in mind. I don't think it would please people if I was a booktuber (though I would love those kinds of videos!). 😅 Unless one makes parallels between Fantasy/novels in general and history.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Congrats on finishing up Uni! I also benched Titus groan due to my mood, hope to return to it one day in the future

[@paulwilliams6913]

As I said in the first New Sun discussion with Philip and Matt: “Reading Gene Wolfe is an act of faith that it will pay off.” Glad to see it’s already working for you. I similarly agree that often there are books with lower Goodreads ratings that are actually amazing. (eg. Nearly everything by John Crowley.) I should become a BookTuber just so people will invite me to have those sorts of discussions on their channels😆 Fun fact: reading Man in the High Castle is what convinced me to write my dissertation on alternate history fiction :)

[@thefantasynuttwork]

That’s so cool!

[@paulwilliams6913]

@@thefantasynuttwork Also, since you mentioned the Annihilation film (I need to watch it, now that it’s back on Prime Video), there’ll actually be a bit of a treat for you when you get to Sword of the Lictor (third in New Sun). There’s something the film added that’s not in VanderMeer’s book and which I’ve known a lot of Wolfe fans insist must have been lifted from Sword. (I’m being vague to safeguard the surprise :)

[@theresavk483]

Jeff Vandermeer wrote one of my favorite books on the writing craft, Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction, with such contributors as GRRM, Ursula K. Le Guin, Joe Abercrombie and more. Though I have yet to read his fiction. I want to add a novel or two of his to my TBR, and I'm grateful for your feedback on the one you read. May help narrow my choice.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Oh wow! I HAVE to read that

[@samanthatorres1584]

I'm reading Trouble With Peace by Joe Abercrombie. I'm loving it so far!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

It’s soooo good

[@Djcooksandbooks]

Fun video! I would love to watch the millennium series video you talked about.. 🐉🔥 🕷️

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Thanks!

[@RedFuryBooks]

Pillars of the Earth is one of my favorite books of all time - I hope you love it! I'll be curious going forward with your Larsson content - do you plan on reading the sequels with Lisbeth that he didn't write? There's another one coming out this year with a third author.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I won’t be reading the sequels, it seemed like it was a pretty huge flop and are nowhere near the level of the originals. I hope I love POTE!

[@RedFuryBooks]

Yeah, I read the first three and stopped there too. But was surprised to see the newest one coming out with an even different author!

[@ClaeFace]

For curiosity’s sake, have you ever read, heard of, or been recommended Senlin Ascends(the Books of Babel series)? My August books have included the second book in that series: Arm of the Sphinx, as well as Yumi, The Lost Metal, and Dawnshard.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I have! I read book one and thought it was very well written but didn’t click much with the main character

[@verosnotebook]

Pillars is great - read it in 2004… Should re-read but right now I’ve caught the Hobb bug 😊 Btw totally agree with reading ‘less’ but get more out of it. Been trying to do the same too.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Hoping I love Pillars!

[@esmayrosalyne]

Heck yes for normalising just slowing down! I have been doing that as well and it's been so good for both my reading enjoyment and my overall mental health. Though, do you ever struggle to fill up your free time when you are deliberately choosing not to read? I had to adjust a bit in the beginning, but it's been fun to get back to other hobbies/interests. Anyway, I am totally sold on Boy Parts. Going to listen to the audio asap, will keep you updated ;) My major standout in August was Obsidian: Awakening by Sienna Frost and I think it's one that you could really enjoy as well. Quite dark political fantasy with a desert setting and so much rich theme work. Great wrap-up. Hope September is good to you!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I have so much other stuff going on that the free time is already filled 😭😭😭

[@esmayrosalyne]

@@thefantasynuttwork Ah yes, I just have no life, that helps 🤣🤣 But hey, better to be busy than to be bored out of your mind ;)))

[@tannersturgeon2448]

Love the new location and the commitment to savoring the books you do read instead of quantity. It feels like a race to nowhere to read the most, which I think defeats the purpose of this hobby. Good stuff as always, brother

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Love ya bubba

[@bre7937]

Reading for September: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell A Psalm for thr Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu There will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool Since I'm already deep into most of these, I'll be finishing soon, so there'll be a few others. But first to finish what I've started.

[@someokiedude9549]

I should also mention that I’m chugging through Suttree, I hope to complete it by September before my spoopathon in October. It might be McCarthy’s densest novel that’s not Blood Meridian, but it has some great stuff in it.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

It’s amazing

[@jacknixon2812]

I'm reading the shining

[@yukiame2488]

As someone who's been fighting perfectionism for most of her adult life, I'll always support taking it easier. Also, Jimmy getting distracted by random stuff behind his window is good vibes 😂

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I didn’t think about how if I recorded in front of my window that people could see me 😆

[@lukasAguiar940]

i am reading the 5 book of the witcher. having a pretty good time.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Love to see it

[@Dylan13Collins]

Jimmy, I just finished my new favorite book as I've ever read, and I think you would LOVE it! It's called Blindsight by Peter Watts. It's a first contact novel with a horror tone and the end will make you reconsider how you define intelligence and evolution.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’ve read it! Phenomenal premise and Watts writing is really good. The ideas he packed into that book are mind blowing. I recommend watching his interviews, Media Death Cult has one and it’s very good. Watts is a unique character lol

[@Dylan13Collins]

Lol, I'll have to check it out! I saw snippets of it in Media Death Cult's review of the book. I already read Solaris and that's super good! The book tuber that highly recommends Blindsight (Bookpilled) also recommends hot house and blood Music. So those are likely my next ones. I've been weaving them in between some Phillip K Dick reads.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

@@Dylan13Collins bookpilled is phenomenal

[@thatsci-firogue]

Hey Jimmy, i just finished The Princess and the Queen and loved it but it felt like it should be in Fire & Blood (to my knowledge it isn't?). If it isn't why do you think that is? Did GRRM have a contractual obligation for a short story/novella or something and this was the finished segment of Fire & Blood that fit that mould the most?

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m not sure

[@nino9552]

I own pillars of the earth and uave never read it, I think my dad gave it to me I will try to fit it into this months tbr

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Nice!

[@thejohnsanger]

Jimmy! Happy September my friend. Don’t worry I don’t read that many books in a month either! In August I read: - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (nut) - The Will of the Many by James Islington (nut) - Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (nut) - Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi - The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage - Fool’s Assassin by Robin Hobb (nut) - Foe by Iain Reid (nut) And in September I’m reading: - Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff - Killer of Men by Christian Cameron - Fool’s Quest by Robin Hobb - Renia by Karl Forshaw - Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brando Sando - also reading some more comics! Let’s get it Jimmy!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

You’re just crushing hit after hit, like Sosa on the sauce

[@jeroenadmiraal8714]

After The Book of the New Sun and Jack Vance's Dying Earth, another really wild dying earth series is M. John Harrison's Viriconium series. Harrison may have the best prose of anyone I have ever read, topping even Wolfe. He is not that well known in the US but quite known in the UK. China Mieville is a Harrison fanboy.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’ll check him out

[@andrewturner4873]

What are your thoughts on the Alzabo Soup podcast? Do you recommend listening to it along with a first read of The Book of the New Sun?

[@thefantasynuttwork]

If you don’t mind taking your time I heavily recommend it. They clued me in some major things I missed. These books are meant to be read multiple times, but reading it with the podcast I got much more out that first read than I would have ever found by myself

[@MrXenacrates]

Currently Reading... * For Whom the Bell Tolls * Priory of the Orange Tree * Papillon * Notes from the Underground * The Golem by Gustav Meyrink * Elric of Melnibone Plan to also read * Island of the Doomed by Stig Dagerman * The Other Side of the Mountain by Michel Bernanos (apparently an influence of Van Der Meer's) * Viriconium * Nocturnal Apparitions by Bruno Schulz (August was a very impulsive reading month. Lol)

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Sounds excellent!

[@MrXenacrates]

@@thefantasynuttwork Thank you! Glad to follow your reading journey!

[@Alicia-606]

I’m slowing down this month to enjoy the world of The First Law because I love it so much. I hope you enjoy Pillars of the Earth. I’ve heard good things, but cannot attest.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

First Law is well worth slowing down for

[@thatsci-firogue]

August was my best reading month in quite awhile: *Historical-Fiction* Eaters of the Dead / Michael Crichton - My favourite part of this novel was the exploration of culture clash between our narrator who is a Muslim from Baghdad and the Swedish vikings. A fun and thrilling adventure with some interesting takes on myth and legend. Crichton is an author I will be prioritising in the future. *Literary Fiction* Stoner / John Williams - My book of the month! My book of the year! Favourite book of all-time? Only time will tell. Also a fantastic audiobook, and I normally don't enjoy them. *Self-Published Fantasy* Bound & Broken 0.5: The Fall / Ryan Cahill - I ordinarily wouldn't read a prequel first, but it was short (and free), I'm new to self-pub and to my understanding it was written alongside the first novel proper so... loophole I guess? Action scenes were well-written imo, it was atmospheric and I really dig that it's unapologetically Epic Fantasy. Cahill explains the magic system in brief short bursts here and there which is fine but I honestly didn't think a lot of it was necessary, but wasn't immersion breaking. So yeah, I think I'm on board. Of Blood & Fire might potentially be a bit too tropey traditional Fantasy for me but I'm optimistic. *Western* Butcher's Crossing / John Williams - My favourite Western I've read which is saying something since the other two I've read are Charles Portis' True Grit and Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. Well three if you count Stephen King's The Gunslinger. I DNFed Mistborn The Final Empire and outside of Stormlight I am done with the Cosmere. I just didn't care and honestly Sanderson's writing more often than not now leaves me feeling... cold I guess. Its just not for me and that's okay. I did do a taste test by re-reading the first 50 pages of Way of Kings and thoroughly enjoyed those 50 pages more (jarring explanations of the magic system aside) than the near 200 I read of Final Empire but I'm holding off until the 1st arc of Stormlight is complete and has had time for the hype to cool down a little. I did try to do a re-read of Cormac McCarthy's The Road but quickly found I was in no mood for a re-read of a standalone. As for what I'm currently reading: *Espionage* Casino Royale / Ian Fleming *Fantasy* Dagger & Coin 1: Dragon's Path *Sci-Fi* Red Rising 2: Golden Son (re-read)

[@R1glet]

im glad you enjoyed Shadow & Claw its easily gene wolfe easiest book ive read so far in his catalogue. the next 3 books is gonna be mind bending and really fucking weird but so good man. i hope youll be able to explain the play in book 2.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

The first 8 chapters of book 2 are better than all of book one which is insane

[@parkercrystal1]

The audio was very clear although I did have to turn my volume up all the way. I had a horrible reading month in August, but yeah, still read a whole lot more than the average American I guess. 🤷‍♀️ I actually like having some BookTubers to watch that don't read 20 books a month and make me feel bad. 😂

[@thefantasynuttwork]

All good vibes here 🙌

[@asajohannesson2012]

Others may have already told you, but the Swedish title of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo would translate into Men Who Hate Women. Just a little bit of trivia 😊 I also preferred the first book of Millennium.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Appropriate title for sure

[@marcweber8509]

So glad you're enjoying BotNS! Things I recommended to you over the last years that I thought would fit your taste and you already read or are in the process of reading: Malazan, Second Apocalypse, Book of the New Sun, Berserk, One Piece, Monster, 20th Century Boys. Outstanding recs which I think you will love (coincidentally, with the exception of Vagabond, also some of the darkest reads): Acts of Caine - Matthew Stover, (Martial Arts!, Sci-Fantasy, probably the single most badass main character next to Guts) Oyasumi Punpun (Goodnight Punpun) - Inio Asano, (the best thing 99.9% of the people will only read ONCE, Gen Y angst, mental illness, manga) Vagabond - Takehiko Inoue, (you know about this) Gap Cycle - Stephen Donaldson (controversial(!) and psychologically deep af, Space Opera)

[@kirinsama1847]

BoTNS is absolutely one of my favourite sci-fi series. Glad to see you read and appreciate it. If you like unreliable narrators, then might I interest you in the Terra Ignota series by Ada Palmer? Also totally get your comment about your favourite books and 3 star reviews on GR. Same here.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I’m definitely reading it, wanted to read BOTNS first since it was a huge inspiration for Palmer

[@kirinsama1847]

@@thefantasynuttwork Cheers!

[@veszeljko7645]

I have only read the first 7 chapters of Shadow of the Torturer and it was some of the most bizzare, captivating and coolest shit ive read in a while Sadly had to put it on hold because of life circumstances but some day i will def binge that series, it was so intriguing. Post apocalyptic fantasy hits different

[@thefantasynuttwork]

You’ll definitely enjoy the rest, hope you’re well buddy

[@veszeljko7645]

@@thefantasynuttworkyou too brother! Cheers

[@thefantasythinker]

I would suggest anything by Donaldson if you haven't done it yet. All of his series are great!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Gap Cycle is up there on my TBR!

[@bottle1211]

1 book a month for me. Slow but steady.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Love it

[@desolateleng9943]

Nothing wrong with the sound, and the lighting wasn't noticeably bad! At least not to me. I read the first Otherland book a long time ago, and only remember that I really liked it. Been thinking about picking it up again. Have you read Roadside Picnic by the Strugatskij brothers? It's amazing to see how much influence that book has had (though maybe especially in games), and I've heard that Annihilation owes a lot to it. I tend to avoid live action adaptations of manga and anime, I'm just not really interested. Even when they are good, it's just not how I want to experience the story, if that makes sense. But I'm happy that the One Piece adaptation has received so much positivity! I think that it might attract a whole new audience.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I have not read Roadside picnic yet!

[@desolateleng9943]

@@thefantasynuttwork It's a great read, and not too long!

[@beckylanaway51]

Im hoping to finish The Howling Dark, The Unholy Consult and The Fires of Heaven. Been on them for a month already, feel like i read slower the older i get 👵👵👵

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Those are some big books haha

[@michele.monteleone]

Book of teh New Sun it's great 🔥

[@thefantasynuttwork]

It really is!

[@AndreDeSimone-dy1cz]

I read slow in August too, but it's because I'm struggling so hard getting through The Hobbit. Just not liking it at all and shoved LotR way down my TBR. Got through Blood Over Bright Haven, Emperor's Soul, Secret History, The Lesser Devil, The Outsiders and The Call of the Wild earlier in the month though so not awful

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Sounds like a solid month to me

[@jarltrippin]

I finished The Sword of the Lictor the other day and Severian is my favourite protagonist of the entire genre, for sure. Three books in and I feel like I know nothing about this dude, but at the same time he's incredibly fleshed out. It's such an exciting, bizarre series. I've been reading the books a month or two apart, because I feel like they need to be sat on a while after finishing one. Retrospect enhances the experience for me. And I'm totally cool with forgetting a couple things, especially if the series is known to be complex, because I know I'm not expected to remember all that shit even if I read it consistently lol. I usually pick things back up along the way anyway, and if I don't, then it's whatever. I'm in for the ride. What do you think of Gene Wolfe's prose, Jimmy?

[@thefantasynuttwork]

His writing is top tier imo

[@jarltrippin]

@@thefantasynuttwork I agree. Every sentence feels important and not a single word feels wasted.

[@angelaholmes8888]

My favorite reads were Pageboy by Elliott page memoir I really enjoyed it Elliott is really great at writing definitely one of my favorite reads of 2023 Rememberings by sinead o'connor memoir it was interesting learning so much about her it's sad she passed away she was truly a gifted woman

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Nice!

[@henryorhank]

I’m currently 45 percent through Lord of Emperors, book 2 of the Sarantine Mosaic by GGK, and it is amazing, as good as Lions of Al Rassan which I gave 5 stars. His writing is even more beautiful than in Lions.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I need to read it

[@mitch8948]

Jimmy. You must read Canticle before your dying earth video. Don’t worry, I’ve penciled it into your September TBR. (Idk the difference between dying earth and post apocalyptic so maybe I’m off here. )

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I really really want to read it

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Love the different set up and natural light for a little change! This might be the most hipster booktube month you’ve had and it’s glorious-some day I’m gonna get around to Book of the New Sun since it just sounds so out there.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Hipster arc is gonna be 🤌

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's what I read Pageboy by Elliott page memoir Age of empyre by Michael j Sullivan Rememberings by sinead o'connor memoir Imogen obviously by Becky albertalli Electric idol by katee Robert Furysong Ashes of gold by j elle Maame Winter's heart by Robert Jordan A time for mercy by John Grisham

[@bookmarkswithjason9445]

Couldn’t agree more about the awesome unreliable narrators. Shadow of the Torturer was excellent. Not sure if I’m crazy for saying this, but it kinda felt like a cross between the Elric Saga and Berserk manga.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Oh wow what a comparison!

[@angelaholmes8888]

Tbr for September Carryover from August Tell me everything by minka Kelly memoir The outsider by Stephen king The other books Hyperion by dan Simmons Someone else shoes by jojo moyes A billion years by mike rinder memoir Black candle women

[@MacScarfield]

August was a bit slow reading-wise so far for me too: I finished the «Vindolandia» Trilogy by Adrian Goldsworthy this week, but before that I had only found time to finish one short book, «The Tartar Steppe» by Dino Buzzati (a bit Kafkaesque in its futility and bureaucracy, though a lot more "aesthetic" in it's mountain fortress setting along a border about to break into war and bittersweet in its melancholic tragedy, rather than the dreadful grey dull paranoia and torture of Kafka, I have the 70s movie adaptation: Gorgeous! Filmed on location at an actual ruined fortress in Iran, with a great soundtrack by Ennio Morricone!), but I am well into «First Book of Lankhmar» (a «Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser» by Fritz Lieber Omnibus, Classic S&S). I had to push «Count Belisarius» by Robert Graves and the Tim Leach books «The Last King of Lydia» & «The King and the Slave» till September, but I am still on a «quality-wise» high from finishing «Under Heaven» by Guy Gavriel Kay and the «Dandelion Dynasty» in July!😄

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Tartar Steppe sounds very interesting!

[@MacScarfield]

@@thefantasynuttwork The Movie: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXyZoH6QbLucaqssi=tTXmXzYn1_btIk2Q

[@TheBeeesKnees]

LETS GOOOOOOO

[@thefantasynuttwork]

Dog water wrap up engaged!

[@TheBeeesKnees]

@@thefantasynuttwork all wrap ups are good wrap ups

[@samm8190]

Jimmy if you have a wasp nest outside your window, it’s time to just burn the house down. Like don’t even risk it. Go medieval on their barbed envenomed asses!

[@thefantasynuttwork]

This is the third time in a year they’ve nested there I am soooooooo over it