I'm Too Excited | Top 10 BEST Reads of The Year (So Far)

[@anamericanseoul1391]

One of Vagabond’s best qualities is that it only gets better when you think about. Only great writing is capable of doing that.

[@washimpower2259]

Read Quran and stop reading these man made bs

[@Wr1terTyp3]

Where can you find the “ending?” Is it part of the last volume? I’ve finally collected every volume and ready to read it.

[@guutenks2498]

​@@Wr1terTyp3there is no end

[@metalgamer8179]

@@Wr1terTyp3if you want the “ending” I’d just recommend reading the original book, it’s a total masterpiece in its own right. Arguably better than Vagabond imo (but it depends on what you want)

[@jonasquinn7977]

I have to say I really love the variety of books you enjoy. From new novels and classical literature to satire and manga, it’s really impressive.

[@michaelvcelentano]

You’ll be really happy that you read Discworld chronologically, trust me. Especially when you get to the very last books, it’s very moving

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I was cheering hard at the first four books in the video! Don Quixote is also one of the greats. The rest sound very intriguing. It's lovely to hear your enthusiasm for all of them -- thanks, Merphy!

[@jaya5264]

Dawn is an interesting read. Creepy, almost reads like a thriller. I loved it. The series gets better. I just finished Adulthood Rites and enjoyed it even 26:14 more than Dawn. I’m a Butler fan now.

[@iamrjdennis]

You totally sold me on Don Quixote!! Will be adding that to my TBR! 😊

[@SammieMousie]

I love satire as well, but so far Don Quixote is lacking for me. I felt the same way about Catch-22 so who knows maybe I prefer modern satire.

[@artlesscalamity]

I enjoyed it a lot and it’s not a difficult read (just long, especially if you do both volumes). Grossman is the most popular translation you’ll come across, but I prefer Walter Starkie.

[@Antonio-oc8ub]

I am SO glad that you enjoyed Don Quixote. It’s definitely one of the most influential novels in the history of literature like, ever. And some people see it as too dense or uninteresting and I think a lot of people miss how witty and funny it is. And as a person from Spain I just enjoy seeing appreciation for this book since my country has a ton of great literature that I just feel is not very appreciated in other parts of the world. Anyway so great you liked it :) I also ADORED Tress of the emerald see. Just everything about it clicked with me and it’s so great

[@JackDespero]

The first sentence of Don Quixote is known by everyone in Spain, at least the first part: "En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no ha mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor. " Also, it is considered by literature historians as the first "modern novel", so it is not only a very accessible classic, but it is also extremely significant.

[@eloconaf3589]

Merph, I've been LOVING your energy in your videos lately. It gets me so pumped for reading and going about my day in general! Thanks for being you!

[@BigPhilly15]

I read Don Quixote 2 years ago and it blew my mind. Absolutely amazing. You laugh, you cry, and it haunts you. Amazing it was written 400 years ago.

[@cheyannelencioni9394]

Currently reading Tress of the Emerald Sea and it's the first Sanderson book I've ever read. I love his prose and characters. Looking to start the Cosmere stories after this one. 💚

[@zo7034]

I was in the same boat, my first Sanderson book and I absolutely loved it.

[@Indigo_snakes]

I looove how excited you are about books :D just bought the Wager today, and I can’t wait to get to it!

[@thatsci-firogue]

So happy to see Guards Guards, Midnight Tides and Wisdom of Crowds on the list. My only complaint about Age of Madness as a whole is Gunnar Broad became a less uninteresting point of view character with each book. Grace of Kings is also one of my favourites of the year too but I'd say my favourite of the year so far is Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay.

[@thatsci-firogue]

Correction: Less interesting*

[@Chewbaccafruit]

Don Quixote was one of the most pleasant surprises in all my years of reading. I never thought I'd laugh out loud reading a 500 year old book

[@davidaaronnajera8692]

Don Quixote is one of the best books ever! There are so many good classics out there, thanks for spreading the love for this one! :D By the way, I didn't read the two Don Quixote books back to back. I waited like a year to read the second one and had a great time. And I would say the second book is better than the first one!

[@rachel_v_k]

Hi, Merphy! Terry Pratchett! Yay! I will have to read the "Hitchhikers" series, from what you said. Thanks. Much love and blessings! 🤗❤️💖💜🙏

[@lianebertinetti3904]

Porto Rico ia really amazing! My husband worked there for about 1 year and we traveled everywhere! The mais island is cool, but the 2 small ones are magical!! We had a really good time!!

[@fcsolis]

I got started with The Grace of Kings thanks to your recent vlog. Love it. Beautiful show, jerkface. Your over the top enthusiasm is so over the top. Awesome.

[@seanoconnor2865]

I think foray is the word you want. Forte is a strength.

[@foxfax2]

So glad you're enjoying Discworld. IMHO it's one of the most important comedy series that someone can read. To badly mangle a PTerry quote: "I ask not that you only think of me, only that you *think*."

[@hunterkat]

My top books so far this year are 1. Best Served Cold by Abercrombie 2. Tress of the Emerald Sea by Sanderson 3. Children of Time by Tchaikovsky 4. Changes by Butcher 5. The Witch's Heart by Gornichec

[@angelaholmes8888]

Best served cold is really great

[@michaelvcelentano]

I hope you continue with Butler. I’ve been on the journey to read all of her works and have so far gotten through all of Lilith’s Brood, both Parable books, the Bloodchild collection, and the first of the Patternist series. Saving Kindred and Fledgling for last. Good luck!!

[@awizardintraining]

It does my heart good to hear you diving into Discworld. Can't wait until you meet Granny, and wait until you get to Small Gods. Love Don Quixote so much

[@natalieowens9700]

I love your “top” videos. I am wondering if you could do one that is the Top nostalgic books from your childhood, the books that have stuck with you. I think that would be so interesting.

[@zackpayton7421]

your bookshelf makes me jealous. i thought i had the biggest shelf of books of anyone i'd seen, and yours puts mine to shame. also i just really enjoy listening to you talk about books while i squint at the screen trying to read the titles of all of them on the shelf.

[@jarltrippin]

I love Malazan because it's one of the few fantasy series that actually wants to make you feel _lost_ in another world, and I wish more books in the genre were like this. Speaking of fantasy books that make you feel lost, my favourite reads this year have gotta be Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe and The Children of Húrin by that one guy who's a big deal in the genre apparently. Shadow of the Torturer is like if Herman Melville read Alice In Wonderland but was a sci-fi/fantasy writer. It's nuts. And The Children of Húrin might just be my favourite thing Tolkien ever wrote. It's absolutely beautiful. If you've ever read The Silmarillion, this book is a must.

[@rvantong]

Book of the New Sun is a fantastic series

[@jarltrippin]

@@rvantong I just finished Claw of the Concilliator. If my man Gene Wolfe keeps this up for the next two books, it's officially my favourite series.

[@rvantong]

@@jarltrippin Im sure you'll love them. I think book 3 was my fav. And I felt book 4 retroactively makes the previous books even better. It is definitely one of my favorite series

[@PhilipBowenMusic]

Anything in the First Law universe I have LOVED

[@cafeaulivre]

So waiting for the moment you're reading one of the Discworld novels that feature Moist Von Lipzwich as their main character :D

[@michellefigueroa3945]

Thank you for loving my island( Puerto Rico)!

[@_gamma.]

I started The Sword Itself this week and really enjoying it so far 🙂 Excited to get to more of Joe’s stories!

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

Guards! Guards! Was one of my favourite reads last year. I've read very few books this year but I'd say the best book I've read is Red Seas Under Red Skies.

[@merphynapier42]

I support this pick!

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

​@@merphynapier42really excited for the upcoming novellas

[@apocalypsereading7117]

really encouraged me to finally get to Don Quijote and book two of Lilith's Brood! thanks merph =D

[@Punkandcannonballer]

I'm just sort of vaguely hoping that Abercrombie is quietly planning a grand 9 book series in 3 trilogies and his next trilogy will wrap up the overall story between First Law and Age of Madness. I definitely didn't like how some things were left open, but if it's a part of a grander picture, I'd definitely be down with that. Feet of Clay is without a doubt my favorite Discworld. I think some are more quotable, and others have more compelling stories, but this one just everything right for me. The humor, the wisdom, the satire, the story all just seemed bound perfectly together. Also bonus points for Joe including a Pratchett quote in his Age of Madness trilogy: "Progress just means bad things happen faster." Also also, if you're in the mood for fantasy pirate flavored romance with a good amount of satire and self-awareness, PLEASE read the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels.

[@LeoSkyro]

I just finished Guards Guards, it being my introduction to Discworld, and I'm so happy I did I love dry satirical style comedy and this book is right up my alley. Finished it in one week, more like 3 sittings because life got in the way, which is fast for me. Cant wait to get to more of the series, dont know if I'll continue with the City Watch books or try out some others

[@noobody89]

I love that someone else wrote a fake sequel to Don Quixote before Cervantes did and then Cervantes put it in his own sequel to tell how bad it was.

[@Talking_Story]

Great Video! What a reading year so far!

[@beyonddaylight5556]

As somebody that works in a naval museum, it's great to see you championing some naval non-fiction!

[@thatfuzzypotato1877]

I wonder then if you could help me. Back in like 2009 I read a book about a disaster on a russian nuclear submarine (no not the K-19) I just remember it was nonfiction, out of print as of 2009, and was either another K-class, or had a 19 in it. It may have been the one who sunk and russia refusing help meant all the souls aboard died. I've wanted to find that book again ever since but it was something random I read at a bed and breakfast

[@beyonddaylight5556]

@thatfuzzypotato1877 have you tried Hostile Waters by White, Kurdin & Huchthausen or Kursk by Peter Truscott? Sounds like it might be one of those. Although there are other books on the kursk disaster that it could also be. Hope that helps, but if not I hope you find it!

[@thatfuzzypotato1877]

@@beyonddaylight5556 I'll check that out. Thank you! Edit: yes! This was the book! Thank you!

[@matthewschwoebel8247]

For non-fiction reading, I recommend Human Cosmos by Jo Marchant - a history of what people have thought as they looked at the stars (part science, part not).

[@JamesI88]

Glad you liked Don Quixote, its one of my favorites of all time and has a few layers to uncover the more you think of it. Made me laugh more than any other book, while at the same time later in the story becoming quite sad.

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Great video! Hitchickers guide to the galaxy is so awesome! Thank you for the recommendations!

[@Glokta4]

You started out with First Law then went to Malazan, I can't possibly argue with that. I just finished Deadhouse Gates after seeing you compare Malazan to First Law in another video. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@thebookishpanda6992]

My introduction to Don Quixote is the Wishbone retelling. I loved that show as a kid. I Loved the giants. Cursed as windmills too. I need to read the original.

[@AdrianasWonderland]

you ae my angel when it comes to fantasy books! i always add something new to my amazon wish list ahaha

[@stoptalking85]

Merph - Loved the video. If you like slow burns with interesting characters and big questions being asked, I think you would really like the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams, if you haven't read it already. Just ask Mike, he loved it.

[@andrewfielding8126]

Have you read any David Gemmell? I would recommend Lion of Macedon, Sword in the Storm, Waylander and of course Legend.

[@WaterdropGirl]

I havent read any of these yet so I don't have much to say but I at least want to say they all sound really good, I'll put them on my literal to-read list, especially Grace of Kings. I love your channel!

[@unavezms8167]

I have vivid memories of discussing Don Quixote on my Spanish literature classes. And then trying to translate it from 15th century Spanish while barely understanding how many people are in that scene on history of Spanish class. (I believe I told my teacher "the only thing I understand here is Don Quixote on my exam. I barely passed it btw)

[@LEOrgill]

I bought the Wager yesterday. I’m excited to start reading it!

[@bilbobaggins33]

“Oh my goodness Feet of Clay” is correct 😂 Awesome video! So many good recommendations! My top 5 books/series of the year so far: •Discworld by Terry Pratchett •The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin •The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman •Gentleman Bastard Sequence by Scott Lynch The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

[@merphynapier42]

this is a fantastic list

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

I love all these except Ursula whom I'm yet to read.

[@Kurosaki54]

can confirm that Ursula is very good, no matter if it's fantasy like Earthsea books or sci-fi like The Lathe of Heaven

[@jcasillas78]

Thanks, I was just looking for a book of Puerto Rican fairytales/folktales!

[@cirrustype2264]

I haven’t read The Wager yet but David Grann’s The Lost City of Z is fantastic.

[@Books_BrewsandBeyond]

I need to read Don Quixote now as well as Guards Guards. I have to admit that I didn't realise that it was a satire.

[@jossecoupe446]

Imagine if Murph started reading the Aubrey & Maturin Series.

[@mariareadsssf]

If last year it was my Octavia E. Butler year, 2023 is for sure my Ken Liu year. "The Dandelion Dynasty" is now my NO. 1 favorite Fantasy series.

[@angelacanedit]

Fun Fact: Don Quixote is a nightmare to read for modern hispanic people, since it uses a ton of ancient spanish words that we no longer use, as well as strange sentence structure. It's also required reading at schools. They give you versions with like a thousand footnotes per page to explain different terms 😂

[@ToriTalks2]

I'm SO psyched to read The Wager

[@0Arman0]

I went to Puerto Rico for a wedding and it was incredible. Only downside was the sandmites! I got bit up good!

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

Also, I may or may not be hinging the rest of my life on your upcoming Pirate video, Merphy 🤭 ☠

[@ur3sh11]

grace of king is amazing. I just love Ken Liu's stories

[@jamesberloth]

Look forward to Going Postal, my favourite in the series so far :D !

[@cecirapalini]

I love Don Quijote. I from Argentina, I read some parts at scholl and then read the whole first book. I never read the second part but I really want too. Sometime in the future I'll re-read the whole thing because I really liket it.

[@gennybadillonightraid]

my favorite book that I read when I was a child was allice in wonderland through the looking glass the old version it as gave me the courage to read more and more each year some books don't applied to me because most of them don't make sense and my second one was one of my top favorites Miss Peregrine's homes for peculiar children it is one of my best novels and my best fantasy yet I want to read the second book which I found in the library and I can't wait to get my hands on it I also have the comic book of it to that my mom gave me than my other fantasy book is fallen by Lorane Kate they have 6 books in total and I love it is a romance fantasy novel and I've read all of them I'm also rereading it so thank you for selecting all of these books for this year and the coming year thank you I love your videos you should do a 24 hour readathon cause that's what every youtuber is doing right for this year once again thank you very much

[@ChaptersWeLove]

I just picked up the wager, can’t wait to read it.

[@karlski01]

I have all of the UK covers for The Dandelion Dynasty, they are soooo nice!!

[@drawyrral]

Merphy! Read the Library at Mount Char. It's a one off and you'll be able to do it 1 or 2 sittings.

[@rachel_v_k]

Btw, sometimes I like spoilers. It lets me know what to expect. 😊❤

[@maxittome]

I really enjoyed The Grace of Kings and I had not heard that book two is supposed to be that much better than book one? Now I am very interested !

[@hill7052]

I read xenogenesis this year and loved it. My favorite books of the year so far. I bought the dandelion dynasty UK version too and excited to dive in

[@wateruga]

I started the Blade itself last night and so far so good.

[@henrywayne5724]

One Piece has been everything for me this year. Haven't continued post the time skip for like a month but wow, the best thing I've experienced this year. I hope it gets even better. I also really enjoyed Kindred. I hate admitting this but the Farseer books are rapidly growing on me after I mostly hate read Assassin's Apprentice. I'm on Royal Assassin and ugh, Fitz is quickly growing on me in unprecedented ways. Maybe I just hated the audiobook because switiching to physical somehow made it better? Idk, but my relationship with the Farseer books so far is akin to your relationship with The Magicians. I hate them and I love them at the same time. Ken Liu's books are next on my TBR. I'm more on an introspective reading vibe of late.

[@Thomas-fp9gz]

If you liked Vagabond you should read the original novel it was based on Musashi by Yoshikawa. What I've read of Vagabond (got the first 8 volumes back in early 2000s when they were first being translated) did a pretty good job of translating the novel into a visual format, but the novel goes deeper.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

Oou I see The Wager! I have it alteady in my little book goblin hands and can't wait to read it in July for a readathon 🌊

[@Justusrabbits]

Thanks for your videos.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I definitely thought I'd see Magicians on this list

[@Carl_Vincent_Anderson]

The Wager was great! If you haven’t read Madness at the End of the Earth, I think you would enjoy it.

[@notrixamoris3318]

HELL YEAH VAGABOND!!! Solid list Merphy but where is ONE PIECE??? Nonetheless kinda curious for the latter half of the year...

[@merphynapier42]

Egghead island isn't over yet so I couldn't put it in the list! I feel confident it'll be in the list at the end of the year though (assuming Egghead will be over by then)

[@notrixamoris3318]

@@merphynapier42 fair...

[@drawyrral]

Small God's is my favorite Pratchett book.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's my top ten so far 1. What my bones know by Stephenie foo memoir 2. The fiance farce by Alexandria bellefleur 3. Reminders of him by colleen Hoover 4. Delilah green doesn't care 5. Spare prince harry's memoir 6. Someday maybe 7. Paris Hilton memoir 8. I have the right to by chessy prout memoir 9. The bodyguard by katherine center 10. Troublemaker by leah remini memoir

[@ChaptersWeLove]

Ok I’m pick up Dawn, thanks!

[@andrewberenson5717]

I think my favorite book I read from the first time this year is Philip Chase's Way of Eden

[@monksean]

Glad to see midnight tides here. Easily my favorite in the series tied maybe with toll the Hounds. Hope you enjoy bonehunters it's all amazing from here (besides maybe parts of dust of Dreams if you ask me)

[@RicharDRobin56]

Hi Merphy! I really liked watching your reactions about One Piece and Vagabond. I enjoy listening to your thoughts and comparing them to mine. I just wanted to say that I would love seeing reactions of you about another absolutely incredible manga : Berserk. And maybe about the book Shantaram, which I found awesome. That’s all. Thanks again and don’t change

[@Lynn-CA]

Merphy has already tried Berserk, and spoken to friends who are fans of the manga, and decided it's not for her

[@RicharDRobin56]

Ok. Thanks, I didn’t know that

[@SirCottiny]

I'm sure you would love Lazarillo de Tormes with its antihero and social themes.

[@JohnnyJohnny-f5o]

The Wager frustrated me so much when the Kawesqar showed up. Like, that was the answer. They could have all ate and built canoes. I didn't care too much about them after they drove them off. A the book treats it all as a trivial curiosity when, in fact, there should have been 3 chapters dedicated to just shitting on those idiot sailors.

[@shawnbadger2737]

Where do you store all of your physical books? You must have mountains of them!

[@kaidenmuhly2408]

You have to read Cervantes's forward to Don Quixote. It honestly is even better than the book!

[@ericad3397]

I’m really interested in reading Don Quixote in Spanish. I own the Tress book which my first Brandon book. I can’t wait to read ☕️📚

[@michellesreadingshelf]

I’m so intrigued by Octavia Butler. Any suggestions for a book to start with? Great reading so far!

[@Mr-Crispy]

Does anyone know what book series that is on the shelves behind her with the white binding and the women’s silhouette

[@KamKing19]

I want you to read the Heroes of Olympus series. I think you will like it overall.

[@EODO-si7dq]

I gotta say that Grace of Kings is my favorite book of the Dandelion Dynasty. Am I alone there? Wall of Storms is still great, though.

[@mapletree3434]

Butler? That one? Really? The rest, I'm in love too. Minus 3 I haven't read.

[@ibg_music7525]

Once again my tbr grows.

[@Yesica1993]

If you're into naval / mutiny type stories, I just finished The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. It's set in WWII, but sea travel was still pretty awful. I wouldn't last a day! Fantastic book. I haven't read it, but of course I've heard of Don Quixote all my life. But I only learned from you that it's translated work. Duh! How did I not know that?! I was tempted to try it in Spanish. Who am I kidding? No way my Spanish is up to it. I'd better start with children's books or something. I was toying with the idea of maybe Harry Potter? At least the early books. Since I already know the story, I could focus on the words and the flow of sentences without worrying about missing plot points. Speaking of Spanish, I wish I could go back to PR. I haven't been there in decades. Sigh. That book sounds fun! I really should know more about my own background and any literature from there.

[@naviro6672]

Maybe off topic but I am curious and I will ask until I get your answer... Have you ever read the truth books by Dawn Cook???

[@alexandravladmets]

I must be on a ship-train right now! (No, pun intended) Just picked up “Tai-Pan” (!), “Heart of the sea”, “The tea planter´s wife” and thinking of Charles Spencer´s “White ship”. And now “The Wager” shows up. Only thing they have in common- ships!

[@Yesica1993]

I recently finished The Caine Mutiny. It's fantastic. More ships/Navy life!

[@alexandravladmets]

@@Yesica1993 Will check it! I´m not much for u-boats though...or wait one of my favourite movies; The Abyss, on my wall; an illustration from 20000 leauges...and I´m feeling a sudden urge to rewatch The hunt for Red October😄

[@saxawinters4261]

Hi. I love your channel! I don't know if you read horror fiction, but do you think you could make a video of your horror suggestions? Keep up the great work. ⭐⭐⭐

[@melissaaugust7016]

DEATH is my favorite in Discworld

[@thejawajedi87]

I've really only been reading manga and comics so far this year with the occasional book thrown in. Definitely my favourite read so far is Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi. Absolutely chilling.

[@Lexter895]

Did merphy ever talk about the wandering inn? If not I recommend it