BookTube’s Greatest Challenge is On!

[@JeffMPalermo]

The inmates are running the asylum!!

[@jenniferr.9528]

A suggestion: book hauls from your own shelves for the challenge, TBR etc. Also potential read-a-longs. Personally I would watch and enjoy them. Technically I have enough books to participate in the challenge, but not that much self-control.

[@MasterMalrubius]

I’ve not had close to 500 books at once. I do regret a bit that I donated my new wave sci-fi and fantasy collection to our local library. Id love to be re-reading those Moorcock, LeGuon, Clarke and period books again. I sometimes wonder where they ended up.

[@donnakirby6998]

I don’t have much self-control either Jennifer!

[@saintdonoghue]

This is madness! Stark, staring madness! You're consigning yourselves to going maybe YEARS before you buy another book - YEARS! How is that even possible?

[@salty-walt]

Gives me the heebie- geebies!

[@jonnaah9683]

Oh, of course he knows perfectly well he won't follow through.

[@Richard.HistoryLit]

Kind of de-toxing in a way, at least for the medium term. Like caffeine? Or is it something stronger?

[@art.and.lit.matters]

Hi Michael, As insane a number as 500 is I'm all in. I've been addicted to books from the age of six and for decades have had fabulous times scouring estate sales, library sales, used book stores, thrift stores and garage sales for interesting volumes. I read voraciously but its time to tackle the "someday I'll get to it" books. So here's the first leg of this bibliomaniacs journey to 500: All 24 Ross Macdonald Novels. He is so psychologically astute and brings both time and place alive with a specificity that allows us an immersive escape into a world that feels so very real. About 10 Novels of Dorothy Hughes. She is the most wrongly neglected writer of Noir and psychological thrillers. Her 1947 "In a Lonely Place" is so edgy, dark and aware of the psychology of the psychopath she's on parr with Thompson's "The Killer Inside Me." It would take other writers decades to catch up. But lots of her books are riveting and all of them are written well. Video coming on Hughes. This is probably cheating but I'm including a thorough read of every single page of a number of key Journals and magazines. All 36 issues of "The Dial" between January of 1920 and December of 1923 for example. But this means reading every word, even advertisements, to get the full "time-capsule" effect. That's a lot of Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein and Marianne Moore and T.S. Eliot in an utterly fascinating context. Same thing for maybe 10 key issues of "Black Mask" where Noir and hard-boiled was mostly born. I've done videos about these and will do more as I go. Same for any whole issues of "Weird Tales" I can find on line. Watching your videos it sometimes seems like half the reading you like got its birth in those pages amazing pages. It's a breathtaking magazine and again that fabulous immersive time capsule thing and interaction of image and text you get from looking at the whole issue fires me up. I'll probably do a couple more videos on "Weird Tales" too. Ok, that will keep me going a while. I like this challenge. I very much hope a lot of your readers jump in on the challenge and keep everyone posted. I feel charged with adrenaline like I did just before the only Marathon I ever ran. I was so slow but I finished. This will be fun. Best Wishes, Thomas

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Ross Macdonald! I should do that too. I’m counting each of the 1951 issues of Astounding that I’ll be reading as books.

[@art.and.lit.matters]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Reading all 12 of the 1951 issues of "Astounding Science Fiction" will be amazing. Like EC comics from the same period "Astounding" in the early 1950s provides an endlessly fascinating exploration of the larger issues behind cold war anxieties, the future of science and space travel, the psychological and human dimensions of advances in computing, and other key issues of the time. The concern with intergalactic ethics might sound like a dry topic but it is so freaking fascinating to look at. I swear someone could write a book about the relation between sci fi ethics and the then current debates in the United Nations and the only thing boring about it would be the title. The paradox is that the articles and stories in "Astounding" in 1951 might go further in a deep exploration of the key issues confronting humankind at the time than almost any other periodical. The art and illustration in "Astounding" during that period was pretty over the top as well. I hope you share your experiences of reading those amazing issues. How fun!

[@glockensig]

Epic!!

[@booknikYT]

I had you all in my thoughts and prayers as I was walking the isles of Iowa's oldest used bookstore today.

[@denisadellinger4543]

I have laughed myself to death as this crazy theoretical 500 book read has become a reality. Who cares about new books? Have you ever heard, what is old is new again? You have classics. Real live history and entertainment. Unspoiled land of fantasy and science fiction, you have it all. And I'm here for it. First they laughed, then they became a believer.

[@jeroenadmiraal8714]

What a time to be alive!

[@sterlingreads547]

Thanks for the shoutout. I’m planning on making a video Tuesday. I’m organizing all my unread books, they are getting their own shelves until they’re read and I’ve decided if it’s staying or going. I have a great selection of books that would cover all the monthly prompts for years and years 😆 I’ve already finished 2 of my own books and I’ve created a Goodreads shelf for the challenge. Good luck! 💪🏼😊👍

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I look forward to that video!

[@backawayfromthedonkey]

Do we need to start a GoFund Me to pay for the medical aftercare🤣 I don't watch channels for book hauls for me what pulls me in is the talk around books

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

Good luck! If I read 170ish I will have a zero TBR. (I won’t be attempting it.) Might do 30-50 books in the new year. 😂

[@kenward1310]

I much prefer reviews to book hauls, so I'm excited about this. It's like you're all at Everest base camp about to embark. Will be interesting to see who makes it to what altitude before turning back. Love it!

[@douglasreynolds7903]

I was doubtful at first but after realizing the vast amount of books you have on hand in genres you love, I think the idea is both doable for you and therapeutic. We can live without book hauls from your channel. You will still enlighten and entertain as always.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

What have I done? Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

[@ThisJustInBookTube]

If anyone in this band of lunatics can do it, I think it’s you. Good luck!

[@parlabaneisback]

Good luck! There's a lot of good reading on those shelves.

[@ItsTooLatetoApologize]

Everyone is here for your goofy personality not for the books hauls anyway. 😊 I can’t wait to see you do this. It’s going to be awesome. You can do this!! And I’m sure it’s going to feel like an accomplishment as I know I feel that every time I read a book that’s been sitting on my TBR for years. I have about 250 books on my TBR so I think it will do this for myself in my smaller way. Rodger can take up his old hobby of cursing unknowing strangers who miss those book hauls to keep himself busy. Lol!

[@fen938]

That is so cool challenge!! I'm doing the exactly the same thing, only with lesser books. It's easy to buy new pulpy horror/ghost stuff and stack them on top of each other for years to come...also...HOORAY for Hodgson!! 😂

[@Six-Shooter]

Thinking your challenge over for the past couple of days, Michael. I'm glad to see you do it and actually excited to see you did. I think now I'd rather watch your usual rambling videos and to also see you read and review all your books your reading more than I would wanna see another book haul. You have so many projects going on, and so many books to read and I'd just love to watch videos of what you've read, how much you loved a book, how much you hated a book, give us a run down of the plot, what you liked in the book, what you disliked, etc. You have so much charisma and are such a joy to watch I'd happily sit and watch all those videos over more book hauls. Its people like you on youtube that help me get excited about books and reading when I hit reading slumps, or struggle to find time. I appreciate you and your content so much. Happy reading, Michael! And again good luck!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks for the very kind words. I appreciate it.

[@BiographiaLiteraria]

How fun! Ive been thinking about this since your last video and decided I want to do my own, easier version of this challenge. Instead of counting, I'm simply making 2023 a year of not buying books. Last time I tried, i failed in March. There was this big sale, you see...¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[@EmpressNoriko]

Massive respect to you for doing this challenge! 🎉 I’ve flirted with similar ideas, but I know I couldn’t do this. I have plenty of books physically, e-books and audio. Even if you exclude reference books, my husband’s books that don’t overlap with my tastes and even manga and graphic novels (which I do count as read each year) I still have thousands to choose from. I just moved and as I organize them I plan to count them. I imagine there are small libraries with less books. But I know I cannot resist the siren song of a bookstore new or used. In an average year, during which I don’t move, I read 125-150 books a year. So it would take me at least 4 years. If a favorite author or the next book in a series comes out I’d have to buy it. Recently I read an article about how many books a person might read in a lifetime. The chart had 3 categories. Average readers read 12 books a year, voracious 50 and super readers 80. I guess i’m an uber reader. I’m 55 and assuming I live another 30 years I have 3,750-4,500 books in my future. Nowhere near enough to get through my TBR. Then there are years like this one where I’m on track to read only about 100 books, moving is hell! I’ve become much more choosy about what I read. That trashy historical romance I might read on a cold day with hot chocolate, maybe not. I’m making more of an effort to finish series like the Wheel of Time with 2 1/3 books left. Or authors I adore, but haven’t read everything. Then there is the big unknown, new books and new authors that capture my imagination. Adrian Tchaikovsky is a new must read author for me after reading Children of Time this year. I’m not a religious person, but if there is a heaven it must have a library of all books ever published! Good luck with the challenge, I’ll be watching with interest….and I’m sure I’ll see more books I have to read.

[@Beanodog]

Oh good….book reviews are what I find interesting.

[@elsa5763]

Would love to see more of your books, as someone suggested here before: something were you show some of the books from your shelves in "book haul" style. Question: Do you have any plans on getting more bookshelves so you can show off more of your book collection? Having a classic paperback bookshelf would be a dream! Take care :D

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That would be but I would need a lot of bookshelves.

[@jakeschell3941]

If I can’t make 100, maybe 500 will be easy😵‍💫 I probably could and should but won’t.

[@billklukas242]

I am really looking forward to you finally being able to review all the great books you have. Also I'm glad I don't live near you now that Roger has more time for murderous rampages...

[@bertieandpoppet-8837]

I think you’re going to find this challenge liberating, and wish you well with it!

[@DDB168]

I'll hang around to the bitter end, especially if I get glimpses of Sgt Rock 😉

[@hughminor9369]

We will always watch no matter what. I read Verne, Doyle, Stout, Christie, Hemingway, Fleming, Dent, Burroughs and many others. But you introduced me to H P Lovecraft, Robert Howad and many others. Keep up the good work

[@occultdetective]

I wish you all luck in this endeavor, but I weep for all the authors publishing new works.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Well, I’m the guy on BookTube who mostly reads old stuff.

[@stews9]

I'll be here for the long haul regardless of book hauls, Michael. You da best, and vintage stuff is fascinating. More people should dive in and read them, and I can't imagine a more appreciative, knowledgable commenter than you. Bravo.

[@amandanicholls]

You might lose a few viewers but will gain too, I've subscribed after watching Steve donaghue's video mentioning the challenge. I'm going to give it a go too I'm not on you tube but will journal along and look forward to see how everyone gets on.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Excellent! Thanks Amanda!

[@angelaluz405]

Roger needed a vacation anyway! This is going to be really exciting to watch...especially if lots of other Booktubers join in!

[@alexiskiri9693]

I know that one of the rumors about Steve Donoghue is he is a machine or some kind of human AI interface, but my theory is he is a clone. There is not one Steve Donoghue but seven (this is a terrifying thought) and that is how he gets done all that he does in a day.

[@choco1199]

😮

[@carolinec3951]

Love your videos and I don’t watch book hauls anyway. Like the idea of making do with what you have. I’m sure the Lady of the Manor loves this challenge! If nothing else, you’re making her happy.

[@sgriffin9960]

I'm thrilled you will be doing more reviews! I think people are here for more than hauls, they're here for your sparkling personality! 🕺

[@laurels7892]

Easy workaround is to start a gift exchange with your fellow "Five Hundreders" to fill in missing Steven King books for example. Roger can probably unearth some willing gifting friends as well and start a wish list for you. I'll bet your mom will send you a crate of books for Christmas. So take heart. Book hauls will not cease to exist.

[@alexiskiri9693]

Brilliant idea👍👍👍❤. "To dream the impossible dream"

[@laurels7892]

@@alexiskiri9693 Thanks! 😊

[@ellesse3862]

Haul vids? .. I'm here for other more esoteric and goofy stuff, like the phantom, Roger, and the ever expanding story of stately Vaughan Manor - still not sure what those furry creatures are infesting your estate. And of course your entertaining tales about authors and their books, old timey stuff, fancy pants stuff, and the World's Finest Team-Up .. do love those comic shows.

[@tbritz13]

I am of the tribe, The Great Unwashed, which is not on the KZbin channel, but I can easily do the 500 book challenge. When I say easily, I mean simply that I easily have the requisite amount of books ( I could do a 5,000 book challenge and not worry about available books, but that would be lunacy of the highest order). Plus I have the added bonus of anonymity, if by chance I fail to make it before I break down and buy another book, well, I can simply crawl back into my book-lined cave and return to my admittedly abnormal way of life and none be the wiser. So, Mr. Vaughan, I hereby throw my cap into the challenge. Then maybe I can do another challenge the Get Rid of Your Over-stuffed Library Challenge. Good luck to all!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

You are a brave man, Tom!

[@troytradup]

I picture the booksellers frequented by the various participants slowly turning pale as they realize their stores are all closing in 2023. 😁Also, hey, thanks for the shout-out to my weird little vanity project!

[@saintdonoghue]

It's hardly a charity shout-out! I can testify that you're one of those authors who's literally always worth reading.

[@troytradup]

@@saintdonoghue Thanks, Steve. I appreciate it!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

See, you have to write another book now!

[@thespaminator]

This is bu******!! I can’t back down from an internet challenge! What would the other semi-supervillains at The Organization of Vaguely Malicious Semi-Supervillains think?!!!? Ahhhhhh!!!

[@bookrisingisclosed]

I think this is a worthy cause - and I know your channel will still be a lot of fun to watch. However, I feel that if this were to be compared to a military operation, it's the equivalent of sending 5 brave souls out on a suicide mission. LOL - I do wish you all the best of luck in your endeavor. For me, I could never do this even if I wanted to. This would fall under the category of "setting myself up to fail". There's just too much that can happen in 5+ years. New President. New bands/music, new hit movies, new "must read" authors and series, new books from trusted/favorite authors .... well, you get the picture. :) So, as you five souls walk by with the noblest of intentions, I salute you. May you find your way back home to us. 😉

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

This could be the BookTube equivalent of the end of Rogue One.

[@bookrisingisclosed]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 - I like it! Good analogy. But, if it is Rogue One, it is for a better cause. 🤖

[@RachelB.BookReferences]

Whoever fails should have to buy a book for each remaining challenger; it would be such a nice gift to keep them going! If I had more money, I would be super tempted to go buy 500+ books so that I could do this with you guys! Sadly, I'm poor. 😭

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That is an excellent suggestion! I have a strong suspicion CriminOlly will go no further than 100.

[@benriley6716]

Good luck on the challenge! Sounds like the perfect time to pull down your copy of the 'Great Book of Amber' and check 10 novels off your list! :)

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I agree!

[@anneworks]

Go for it! Loved the Olly impersonation 😂 I've looked up the number of books Americans read per year: on average 12. Dutch: 10. Me (also Dutch): 40. I have 100 unread and feel that's about 80 too many. I'm going for 20 unread ones first. But won't stop rereading and lending (usually about 15-20 per year). They won't count however, nor will any presents. If you're still going strong at that time, I'll do another 20.

[@stews9]

Mythago Wood is one of my favorite fantasy novels of all time. You'll enjoy that one.

[@jvon6074]

Good Luck! I don't know if I've read 500 books in my long ass life. You have inspired me to perhaps do a 5 book challenge.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I think I’m going to do 100 and then see if all of the rest of you have flaked already before I commit to 500 😂

[@ThisJustInBookTube]

Lightweight 😉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@ThisJustInBookTube I prefer to think of it as strategic thinking!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Good plan!

[@Shellyish]

Whew. Brave souls you all are.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Brave…yes, let’s go with that word.

[@davebrzeski]

William Hope Hodgson. Yay!!!

[@farhad_s]

Tim Powers is very highly rated by the author of Sun Eater - Christopher Ruocchio. Hope to see you reading The Anubis Gates soon. How does this whole thing work if Roger buys books for you, or you buy books for Roger? With no book hauls, you could just show us books you already own I suppose, would be just as interested to see more of your collection.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Roger is forbidden to buy books. That took an extra powerful spell.

[@Zozette27]

I hope you get to Mythago Wood soon. It is a fantastic book.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I hear great things about that book!

[@briteskin]

Good luck to everyone involved. DC currently has a Sgt Rock limited series going on. No clue how well it is selling but it is on my pull list. Hopefully it is more than a keep legal rights alive. I remembered they had a number of volumes in the Archive line. So I am helping keep the Sgt Rock Omnibus hope alive too. Side note: the economy sucks but happy to see maybe I can finally pick up DC Showcase vol 2 because see lots of drop in prices from my seller bookmarks Roger, my advice, get in your time machine and have a nice vacation drinking on the Nile, go watch Davinci come up with his ideas, or something else really cool. Just please watch out for butterflies.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Good advice.

[@badrad9226]

Oh gosh the thumbnail is perfect 🤩

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@darrylsloan]

Book reviews are great. I prefer them over book hauls.

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thanks

[@ReadBecca]

I believe in you! But even if I didn't I would be here for the entertainment of seeing you twist in the wind over this challenge 😂

[@bucephalas67]

I find work gets in the way so when I am retired in ten years I can revisit my childhood and read all the stephen king books in order and that is my mission and my wife will shake her head and roll her eyes haha

[@jeremyfee]

You own so many of those thin classic paperback books, you could probably read about one a day and have this challenge done in less than two years. I will happily continue watching, even without the book hauls. Who knows, maybe you will start visiting the library or borrowing books from other people? It could lead to entirely new types of videos on your channel. :)

[@bizarrebraincomics7819]

Old timey stuff is the best. That's what I do.

[@salty-walt]

Mythago Wood by Holdstock is just magical. Really a must read. As is Silverlock ( which I believe you have also.)

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I do!

[@fiberartsyreads]

Good luck!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks. I’ll need it.

[@the_unnamed_narrator]

Surely you can simply swap out book hauls for weekly TBRs of books "hauled" from your existing collection. I don't really see the difference in content except that hauls aren't limited to a number of books that could realistically be read in a given week. (Then again, the consumerist aspect of book hauls has always bothered me, so I'd actually prefer that change in format and might not have a mainstream perspective....)

[@paulmonahawk4921]

Aha the game's afoot!

[@MagusMarquillin]

Can you borrow books from the library and have it count toward the 500 - in case there's something particular you need - or does it have to reside in your house? Mythago Wood is a series BTW, maybe you should make sure you can access the rest before you begin, should you really love it.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

No, I don’t own the library books so they wouldn’t count.

[@MagusMarquillin]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 But at least you can borrow them without buying them.

[@donnakirby6998]

Sorry, another comment. I will always be here. You’re so entertaining!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@zombieprincess82]

I think you are all quite, quite mad. Have you even considered how Roger feels about this?! Fabulous idea, good luck! I love your videos regardless of book hauls, so I'll still be here 👀

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks Tome Raider!

[@salty-walt]

I'm not trying to weaken your resolve, but I would like to give you a possible pressure valve: while it can be a great academic experience to read an author's complete bibliography, some authors you need to break up because of "The Sameness", and some authors you really need to prioritize/categorize Major works, minor works, and "works I'm reading for the sense of completion" before you start, or you can get stymied by lack of focus on why you're there, and not get to some major works later. For example: you will need intermezzo sortibetti for ERB. . . The "Samenes. . . "

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I have a very high tolerance for Sameness.

[@salty-walt]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Well then start reading older Moorcock right after ERB 😁

[@salty-walt]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 You are Strong. I'm a Carson of Venus man (especially like his whole linguistics angle - that he dropped).

[@Monsterblood]

Well... good luck with this lol

[@janicecuroso1042]

If Roger starts killing too many strangers, due to his not being able to buy more books, put him in his coffin and ship him to me. He can buy me as many books as he wants plus he'll have a whole new population to stalk and strangle. Good luck on your 500 book challenge! How is Zorro adapting to Rhonda Jones and his new home?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Zorro and Rhonda are best friends.

[@Welther47]

How is your read-all-of-stephen-King challenge going? If you already own many of his books, this is great to include. Maybe get them on Kindle? I think you should write these challenges down, put them up on the wall. And give yourself a dead-line. It will keep you accountable :)

[@macrosense]

Are the books cataloged?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

They should be. They aren’t though.

[@salty-walt]

Roger does look like the "murdering strangers" sort. He's just the type to go on tinder and be like: "look! The reincarnation of my long lost love. . . Can you drive?"

[@ThisJustInBookTube]

I think you still need to make up for your last attempt and make it a 585 book challenge.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

😫

[@revenantreads]

The Long Walk for Booktubers! This video should be flagged for indecency. My children walked in the room and I had to have them cover their ears so they didn’t hear the obscene ramblings of this challenge. Good luck!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@Laura_574]

I skip all the bookhauls anyway! Does not bother me at all. I am only curious of what will happen to your Stephen King challenge? Good luck!

[@tommonk7651]

While I own hundreds and hundreds of books, I'm just not gonna go a year, much less 5 or 6, without buying books. Hell, I probably wouldn't make it a week....

[@stretmediq]

Does it count if the lady of the manor buys books?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

She only buys terribly boring books.

[@stretmediq]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 #chicksman

[@donnakirby6998]

I know I have more than 500! I know though I can’t do the challenge.

[@jonnaah9683]

I suggest you read my comments under Steve Donoghue's "The 500 Book Confessional".

[@jonnaah9683]

Also, the comments of Salty Walt, same video.

[@mattlawyer3245]

If you truly have thousands of books, you could still show us your library, even if no books. How long do you think the challenge will take to complete...?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

5-6 years

[@mattlawyer3245]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 =O you really think you can go five years without buying a book!? I doubt I could...

[@waltera13]

So you've gotten *other people* to follow you in your implausible behavior, and you're taking time to talk about the local celebrities who are joining you. Nope. Nothing Cultish about that. . . 😉

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yes. Exactly the same thing.

[@Richard.HistoryLit]

I don't have 500 books that I haven't read, but I have kind of gone off buying books per se. It's not so much of a thrill anymore. There must be a corpus of neurological thinking on all this.

[@stretmediq]

I lost

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

😫

[@lisagarrity5836]

Just have Rhonda appear in your reviews. So much animal magnetism on screen is bound to hold the viewers' attention.

[@lock67ca]

I watch because you're entertaining and we share a love for a lot of the same books and writers. So, it'll take more than a lack of book hauls for me to stop watching. Now, if your dogs were to stop making appearances.....

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Those dogs will always force themselves before the camera.

[@brettrobson5739]

There's not a chance in hell that you (or any of the others) will actually do this, Like me, every time you log on anywhere you are inundated with "offers" of books. No way you can resist that for verry long, let alone years.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I actually think I’ll manage.

[@badrad9226]

Oh gosh the thumbnail is perfect 🤩

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Ha! Thanks!