Looking Back On 2023

That disturbing news report I mentioned:
• ‘I'm a pedophile': DC ...

[@stevengentry9396]

Losing Pax was indeed one of the worst parts of the year. She was such a bright spot while discussing such scary stuff, and her loss still echoes in here.

[@stretmediq]

The case of Fit 2 B Read is very disturbing but it cannot be ignored and I commend your courage in talking about it so honestly

[@heidi6281]

Michael at 53 I just pray that I can have two or three years in a row of nothing bad happening, that would be nice.😀

[@docsavage8640]

You should've made sure the cat was okay and cleaned before you left.

[@ItsTooLatetoApologize]

That was a rough year. I can’t wait for 2023 to be behind me too. Here’s to 2024; May it be full of bookish friends, hours to read, and reading challenges to be met! 🥃

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Thanks for providing the details on this Michael. Much appreciated. I was wondering what had happened. Can't let the one-percenters define the other 99%-plus of booktube.

[@LAVIV007]

I think that I speak for many here when saying, we thank you for a wonderful 2023. Your videos are lots of fun, great exposure to literature of any kind, and highly educational as well. Keep up the work, stay healthy. We are in your debt.

[@bjminton2698]

I also really miss Janelle from Too Fond of Books. She was one of my favorite booktubers.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Great to see Prisoner of Zenda on here. My personal favourite from Rogers’ cheap old Bookclub 👌

[@LiterateTexan]

Fun video! Well, except for the first part... But we gotta talk about stuff like that, too. I read Alas, Babylon in 1987 and remember really loving it. Loved The Prisoner of Zenda when I read it as a kid, too. Here's to 2024!

[@ITCamefromthePage]

OOF....I did not who that person is before all of this but holy shit that is real bad. Sorry you had to go through that, especially with someone that you knew and interacted with. Pax's loss is still so tough because everytime I go back to watch an old video oh mine or of basically anyone, she was always there in the comments being supportive. Different Seasons is SO GOOD, absolutely stellar. really hope for a better year next year.

[@catherinehiley3274]

Michael and Roger getting in early with the look back, just like to say a big thank you to you both and your viewers for keeping me company and entertained this year with witty repartee and great recommendations cheers y’all

[@BookishChas]

I just found out about the sexual predator yesterday, and I’m just sickened by it. I never did any collabs with him, but I commented on several of his videos. Thanks for talking about it, because the community needs to know. Sounds like you had some great reads this year.

[@tonette6592]

Don't be hard on yourself.I love all of your and Roger's videos. He didn't add much today.I hope he is feeling alright.

[@toddbelanger1923]

I met Pax through you and man right away it changed my life ..losing her was definitely the worst thing this year...I was also introduced to that guy by you that's in jail right now, obviously not your fault but man you just never know ..so disgusting what a heard ..but with that all said there has been many great things that went on this year by all you wonderful kind booktube people.. So thank you for all the positive things Michael.. Your a good man

[@snowysnowyriver]

Amazing to think that another year has gone by. Michael......thank you for giving your viewers your own unique take on the world of books. You are a treasure. 😊. I agree with you about Jaws. The book is better! 👍

[@DanielsBibliophagy]

Here's to a better year! It's always unsettling to find out about someone you've associated with is secretly awful. My favorite teacher turned out to be a predator and a coworker was a murderer. You have that moment of stillness where you are just sitting there dumbstruck thinking "This isn't real."

[@BookBlather]

Nice top 10. I hadn’t heard about Fit2BRead. I never really watched that channel. That’s awful. Pax… I still think of her every day 💚

[@Toracube]

These creeps hide their darkness.. you never can know….and yes, you can become distrustful…but many of my best pals I have met on KZbin… some I have met in person. So I’m grateful for it, despite its flaws. Sorry I never met Pax. I’ve lost a few KZbin pals over the years. Their vids are still up and I visit now and again.

[@BobbyHall-eu1xv]

Thank you for bringing this to my attention Michael, I feel sick having been a subscriber to his channel and even commented on some of his videos and yes it is a good point that most people are good people. This is horrendous, at least he is where he belongs now.

[@wouterl5316]

Your enthusiasm made me return to reading books much more frequent, like in the days I was young. So yeah, I generally agree that this was yet another crap year in a series of crappy years, but at least that was something good. Thank you for that.

[@GentleReader01]

Agh! So much sympathy on the hard year, Michael. A few years ago a bunch of us in the rpg world learned that one of our colleague, with whom we’d often worked for a decade or more, was a serial groomer and molestor and that his wife had actively helped cover it up. That still haunts me sometimes. If you have a regular doctor, talk to them about anti-anxiety help; it can do a lot.

[@sgriffin9960]

OMG F2BR was one of my favorite channels! I feel sick. I really need to read Blackwater.

[@gavinmcintosh5716]

I knew nothing about it until Steve alluded to it. I said to him that this type of thing always makes you weary of people. And that is a tragedy. Glad you are staying strong about it. Feeling for you. 😊

[@redwawst3258]

Always a pleasure to watch your show, Michael. I’m appreciative and thankful for you. 😊

[@alancarr7718]

Good afternoon Sir Michael Good Afternoon Roger I am going to say Thank you so very much for bringing us these fun filled and entertaining episodes. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Power packed reflection on life. We salute you MKV bigger and even better in 2024.' Best Wishes Al The Goldkeyfourcolorkidownunda

[@buckocean7616]

I didn't think I had ever watched any content from the sicko, but on watching the news report, it turns out I had. It's so disheartening because his channel was very good, and it sickens me to my core to learn the level of his deviancy. Oh man ... some of his reported remarks will turn the stomach. Monsters do live among us. As you say Michael, I'm ready to leave this year behind us. Thank you so much for all your great content and wishing you all the best. PS Thanks for recommending Grammaticus Books. Another great channel.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Grammaticus is fantastic.

[@troytradup]

RIP Pax. I never really knew her, but she clearly impacted a lot of BookTubers. And yes, by all means, let's put this year behind us and gird our loins for 2024.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m all girded.

[@arekkrolak6320]

I think you summarized the situation very well

[@ellesse3862]

Oh my, it's all go.. I reckon KZbin will erase said account in due time. One of my 2023 reading highlights has been Roger's Cheap Old Book Club, some of my favourite books of the year, thank you again Roger. Some of the most enjoyable books this year, which were new to me or contained some stories new to me, I'll start with Del Rey's definitive.. R.E. Howard : Conan Anthony Hope : The Prisoner of Zenda Jennifer Saint : Ariadne Constanza Casati : Clytemnestra Lars Anderson : The Complete Adventures of The Domino Lady Homer : The Iliad - Alexander Pope translation Quintas Smyrnaeus : Posthomerica Philip Wylie : Gladiator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle : The Exploits & The Adventures of Brigadier Gerard C. L. Moore : Northwest of Earth

[@LiamsLyceum]

Oh man, now I'm glad I'm not in that big video...tough stuff for the year but also some good reading and videos! Keep up your good work, Michael.

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

Great video Mike. I'm still reeling from the Fit2Bread story....truly bizarre and extremely shocking. You spoke well about it. Pax is still at the front of my mind when I'm watching videos, making videos, uploading videos, talking about videos....thinking about books, thinking about Halloween or Horror themed things...well, so much of the time. I'm not over it, and I know after meeting lots of booktubers this year I would have met her at some point and it still breaks my heart that she's gone. Love the 10 books you chose as your favourite, and equally love Different Seasons. I will do my own version of this later this month...I don't think i'll be talking about Fit2BRead though...not taking anything away from how well you spoke about it in your video.

[@russworks2882]

Talk about great melancholies and great mirth... Who is MKV? "He's a reaver, He's a slayer, He's a Tuber He's a player." Thanks for a year's worth of great videos, Michael.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

Shocking news about Fit. Blackwater was a lot of fun. I read it a few years ago. Onward to 2024!

[@stephenwalker2924]

I haven't had the best year, to be honest, but I've always managed a smile or a laugh by watching quite a lot of your great content this year, Michael. (Your Halloween video this year starring Varney the Vampire is comedy gold!) So keep on keeping on, my friend. So I can catch you next time...

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I will keep on. Thanks for the support!

[@robertlynn7746]

I've got to tell you,Michael that I love your channel! Something very traumatic happened to me late this summer, and watching your videos actually helps me feel better somehow.❤

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m so glad my channel has been helpful. Hope you are doing okay.

[@dqan7372]

Holy crap! I hadn't heard the Fit2Bjailed news. That's a gut punch. Really disappointing to hear.

[@lock67ca]

Damn. Just left a comment on his gift guide video a few days ago (now deleted). This was a shock. Hope they throw the book at him.

[@tonette6592]

That is horrible, but good for you to speak out and disassociate yourself from him, Michael.

[@danieltenney1896]

I completely hear you on having a bit of a stressful year. I'm right there with you with life intruding on reading time and enjoyable activities. But I just wanted to say that I appreciate you taking the time to make these videos. I find a lot of enjoyment in them. And I love your reading suggestions. I've got Gladiator lined up to read next. And certainly need to dive into some CAS. I hope your new year is bright and happy and full of good reads!!

[@31LaschG]

On a lighter note: I think you are doing very well!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@lock67ca]

I'll just echo what someone else already said. Don't beat yourself up over something you had no way of knowing and no control over.

[@31LaschG]

I am so saddened that I recently watched some of his videos! Probably one of the worst crimes a person can commit!

[@JosephReadsBooks]

That is a very interesting top 10! I'm starting Lord of a Shattered Land tomorrow! I just got the entire Clark Ashton Smith collection in trade paperbacks. I plan on reading The End of the Story soon.

[@HeyYallListenUp]

I've read both The Killer Angels and Alas, Bablyon and I'm pleased they made your top 10 list. It's a shame when a person you thought was a good person turns out to be horrible. Personally for me 2023 has been a good year (not booktube though, I've had very little time for reading). Here's hoping 2024 is awesome for everyone.

[@docsavage8640]

Great video. As always. Really enjoy this channel.

[@davidkoenig8592]

It is always great to meet people in real life that you have known for years online. I was able to meet three people this year and all the travel to do it was worth it. Best to you in '24, love your channel.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@Zozette27]

I interacted a fair bit with Fit2BRead both on his channel and in a certain live stream that I partake in each week. I was horrified when I heard about his arrest for such a serious crime.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yeah. What a terrible shock.

[@DDB168]

He has low subscriber numbers, and everyone knows he's a creep now, so not many people will see that clip you're in again. Thankyou for all your content this year, entertaining as ever. Good to see Gladiator in your top 10. It was in my top 3 fiction reads of the year. The others were 'From the City, From the Plow' (Alexander Barron), and 'Bomber' (Len Deighton). I give them Killer Angels style, you will love them, guarantees.

[@Samsaraindo]

Thanks for these recommendations sir.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

My pleasure!

[@charliedogg7683]

I imagine Roger has seen his share of New Years but he still looks good for someone several millennia old. Must be those Nile Valley genes.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It must be.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

This is the first time I've heard the news. That's really terrible. I've had some reading slumps this year. There have also been some good books. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison was my favorite fantasy book this year. The Widow Washington by Martha Saxton was my favorite biography. Firmament by Simon Clark was the only science book I read this year and I liked it. The Women of Chateau Lafayette was a really enjoyable but seemingly well thought through historical fiction. Peaceful Neighbor by Michael G. Long, Games Without Rules by Tamim Ansary, Dress Diary by Kate Strasdin, Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson, and Muppets in Moscow by Natasha Lance Rogoff were the best histories I've read this year.

[@arthurweise2573]

Gladiator is available on Amazon in several editions.

[@Kite562reviews]

Oh man different seasons was such an enjoyable experience for me. As of now, King wise I'm debating on either reading The Dark Half again after only reading it once 16 years ago. Or The Tommyknockers,Delores Clabourne or book one the gunslinger in the dark tower series.

[@GinaStanyerBooks]

2023 was a weird year. I think I’m having a bit of a mid life crisis and it really threw me off my reading and my booktubing.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It was a weird year, that’s for sure.

[@TheMikester307]

Yeah, I'm going to be glad to say goodbye to 2023 too. In spite of some good things that happened!

[@briteskin]

My year can be summed up with a first half where I could manage a book a week like I had hoped before a pretty big spiral though managed four books in October and three in November. A reread of Dune got nowhere near finishing this last week of November. My favorite new reads were probably 'Black House' by Stephen King & Peter Straub and the first six book of Edge. Thank you for the introduction to that series I wouldn't have heard of it if I hadn't been following the ups and downs of your book journey. 'Grim' was probably my favorite new comic read of 2023. Which, in my attempt to summarize, is the story of a female grim reaper dealing with her job of ferrying people and trying to remember how she got her job in the first place.

[@RobynHoodeofSherwood]

Never heard of that dude. Glad he got caught. The whole thing reminds me of Subway Jared. You just never know. Most people are great. It's only the few bad ones who get all the press.

[@tlash544]

Yikes! Just unsubscribed to his channel. Thanks for letting us know.

[@nunyabizness6595]

Most people are jerks. Some are good. Fixed it for you. Believe in animals.😮😮😮

[@stretmediq]

As a paramedic I go into people's homes during the worst times of their lives and I have to disagree with you. Most people are decent. It doesn't matter if they're male or female or what their skin color is or what their religion or lack thereof is or if they're rich or poor or gay or straight or conservative or liberal most people are just decent

[@cu00dj]

I have had problems in my impersonal life to. Personal life can be a big interference with all my other lives too, it has no manners and butts in everywhere. Even my fantasy lives cAN be messed up by it. So far I have been able to keep my cape black and free of virgin blood but it has been close. 🧛‍♀️🦇

[@ArtBookshelfOdyssey]

Here’s hoping 2024 is going to be a better year for all of us! Although I just realized there is an election happening in November. Crap. Can I borrow Roger’s Time Machine?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Oh Hell. I forgot about the election 😩.

[@booknikYT]

F2BR ordeal reaffirms my trust issues with doing collaborations with other creators. I don't know what to think about this ordeal. I feel some sort of way that this monster was hiding in this community. On the other hand I feel dumb feeling some sort of way because I'm not the victim. This monster "allegedly" (innocent until proven blah blah blah) participated in one of the most heinous crimes one can and scarred countless children in the process.

[@revenantreads]

Blackwater sounds great.

[@Zozette27]

Of the 10 books the only one I have read is Alas, Babylon which I really enjoyed but not as much as I enjoyed Earth Abides by George R Stewart which is a similar post-apocalyptic science fiction book that was written before Alas, Babylon.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Earth Abides is great. I need to read that again.

[@Sherlika_Gregori]

About Jaws, I disagree. I found the book dull and the film outstanding. But, hey, we agree to disagree. Thank you for such dedication and wonderful content.

[@stephenwalker2924]

I agree with your disagreement.

[@strangementalitypaperYT]

There's no such thing as child pornography. It's not pornography. Pornography is made by consenting actors for the purpose of entertainment. The proper term is child sexual assault material -- or CSAM.

[@stephennootens916]

I have to pick up Lord of Shatter land sometime next year. It sounds like fun

[@Chhayeem-nt6wy]

Wow what a beautiful doll 😂

[@docsavage8640]

What on earth is "Book Tube"?

[@andrewmacdonald3667]

Interesting that you feel books are usually better than their film adaptations. Steve Donoghue says the opposite and he’s always right. You can imagine my dilemma. 🤔

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Well, he’s demonstrably wrong about the movie/book thing. 😅

[@holzausgabe8812]

This year was terrible. I'm glad to move on next month.

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Todd here. Nice Handful of Books you read M.K.V.

[@inanimatecarbongod]

Damn. Had never heard of that channel, unless I saw that video about him you made and I've forgotten it, and to be honest I'm not entirely sorry now. I've had connections with a few people in the Lovecraft fan community (one of them being the legendary Robert M. Price) that I've come to regret cos they turned out to be really shitty people. Just right-wing goons, nothing as awful as this Everts character, but still, however brief and long ago the associations were, I don't look back at them fondly. I'd like to think 2024 will be better but... you know... election year. I've read a grand total of thirteen books this year (might still fit a few more in during December), and frankly couldn't do a ten best. Didn't even like that many.

[@Yesica1993]

First I am hearing about that F2BR guy. Wow! I watched a bit of his vids but not regularly. I don't trust anyone, not even the FBI. Hopefully they did get the right person. As to people, God's Word tells us that no one is good, not by His standard, which is 100% moral perfection. I know I'm sure not! That's why Christ had to come, which is what is celebrated during this now generically titled "holiday season."

[@glockensig]

That's creepy dude...what a world, huh? Want 2024 to be better? Read more....get off tv more...stay off social media more (present channel excluded)

[@chrisbeveridge3066]

Everybody thinks a child molester is a monster until they find out they know one...isn't that the point here? You call him a monster NOW after the fact but before the disclosure he appeared in a very different light...this is the classic child molester profile: a respectable member of society maybe a clergyman,a teacher, etc etc as Shakespeare puts it in Macbeth "there's no art to find the minds construction in the face."

[@macrosense]

Ew