Weekly Update: July 27th, 2024 | The One Where I Do This Live While on The Road in Illinois

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hi Folks! Sorry I couldn’t respond to comments while live. Just not the optimal recoding situation to do so. But we will do a true AMA live stream soon. Thanks for hanging!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’ve been doing some traveling myself, and it’s safe to say I’m behind on my reading too. It’s all worth it for the family time. Safe travels, Mike!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks, amigo. It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept ...

[@esmayrosalyne]

The fact that you almost wouldn't be able to notice this was live... you really are such a natural at this! Glad to hear you are enjoying your trip, even if the roadtrip was draining. Happy reading to you!

[@TheLongestTake]

Greetings from Illinois! South suburbs of Chicago, here

[@zydecope9160]

Bradley bourbonnais area here!

[@whalefall57]

@@zydecope9160 some really gorgeous areas in bourbannais!

[@emilyreads5207]

Hello from Central Illinois! Lived in the south suburbs of Chicago, now in Central IL!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hello there!

[@CosmosnCarnage]

Hey Mike, long time watcher first time commenter here. My fiance and I watch your videos and we’ve read a bunch of stuff you’ve recommended. We created a reading game that we call The Jar of Souls (like the one from Diablo). At the beginning of the month we draw 5 books from a jar and pick 3 of the ones we want to read. It forces us to step outside the box and read things we normally wouldn’t. We also added some spice to it by making it to where when you finish 3/4 of a book you have to draw from the Jar and prepare for your next book, which could result in a Forced DNF and you have to stop reading it. I was unlucky and drew it while reading the Girl with the dragon tattoo. There’s lots of other rules we made for it to make the game fair and entertaining. This month, the Jar chose for me: Call of the Bone Ships (Tide Child trilogy) Shadows Linger (The Black Company) Bird Box We have a ton of books that are brain candy or pallet cleansers as you call it to keep us from burning out. Have a great trip and be safe!

[@iWizard]

Yes, so excited to see how you feel about The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I just started Watchmen. Loving it so far. Let's chat about both books when you're done! :)

[@mutatedsilverunicorn]

The burnout is currently hitting hard for me. So, I went back to manga to just let my brain rest. I got into the Fairytale manga, and that's what I have been reading when I need breaks. So, I am glad others do this as well.

[@bradhansen8506]

Wow nice! I lived in Champaign growing up!

[@Tralala001]

My brain goes straight to Seinfeld "Goodnight, Jug Dish". 😅

[@dubhmoore575]

Thanks Mike, video looked and sounded great, thanks for thinking of us! U all enjoy your trip 🥳😎🥳😎

[@kylerieman221]

I spent all day yesterday reading book 10 of Vinland Saga and hopefully if Amazon doesn't lose my package again, I'll be reading 11, 12, and 13 next week. Words of Radiance reread took a backseat last weekend. Trying to read at a 3 day music festival is next to impossible. House of the Dragon took a backseat as well. Since we were out of town, we waited to pay our internet bill until we got back, so tomorrow will be getting caught up on that.

[@PsilocybeJedi]

Hoping you get to Dead Man's Walk soon! Just started it after finishing Lonesome Dove and Streets of Laredo... and yea it's great ❤

[@RRW276]

Yeah road trips are rough for me too. Especially anything over 6 maybe 8 hrs. Granted, it’s nice been out on the open road with the top down listening to Running Down a Dream.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thankfully we did it overnight so the kids slept through most of it.

[@dinocollins720]

Another fantastic video! Thank you Mike!

[@RedFuryBooks]

Pretty solid lighting for an AirBNB! I'm looking forward to your thoughts on Black House. That and the Talisman are the last two I want to reread before I do a Dark Tower reread.

[@mythrium]

This live video was quite fine :-), have a safe trip with your family

[@StoryGirl1128]

Enjoy your road trip! The video was great, we don’t mind hearing the kids messing around.

[@brightwatcher3757]

Hello from not-Chicago-but-close-enough!

[@eroz84]

Beware those RVs … especially in packs

[@alvinmarcus5780]

Safe travels Mike.

[@goewey27]

video is fine - good to hear from you. Have a great wk!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Same to you!

[@Speed202]

Im working on Gardens of the Moon right now. Im reading it and listening to it at the same time to try and enhance my understanding....

[@theclassy4]

I just picked up Different Seasons as my first King book ever based on your most recent where to start with King video. I’ve actually never seen Stand by Me or Shawshank either so I’m going to read each story and then watch the corresponding movie. Enjoy your trip! Hopefully it’s less hot and humid there than it is here in Texas

[@mikesbookreviews]

The humidity is rather nice here.

[@AzenHawke1995]

If you want good lighting for Mike's Media Reviews, just use this lighting from this video.

[@Talking_Story]

Looked and sounded fine. Have a great trip.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Trying to!

[@austinmoore1113]

I live in Springfield (though move to Missouri tomorrow).

[@mikesbookreviews]

Be safe!

[@kingzzz6509]

Hope you guys are having fun Mike! I’m currently reading A Time of Courage and I’m going to bounce back and forth with a Sci-Fi book, I just haven’t decided which one yet.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Have fun!

[@danielzielinski3821]

Im just starting The Failures by Benjamin Liar. The premise sounds awesome. Im also listening to Recursion by Blake Crouch on audio book. Im definitely a Crouch Potato. And I'm watching Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series for the first time. I love it. Safe Travels!

[@mhsugarman]

Hard times! The American Dream!

[@mikesbookreviews]

You know it.

[@matthewtraynor2461]

Love your channel bro! Make sure you check out Portillos while you are there! Get the Italian beef dipped if you want the chicago experience :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks for the tips!

[@puzzlingread]

No spoilers... Deadpool and Wolverine was so much fun!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Good to hear!

[@Yesica1993]

* waves from Chicago! *

[@mikesbookreviews]

*hat tip*

[@grantarnold704]

What part of Illinois are you visiting? I'm down here in southern Illinois.

[@BranTheBasterd]

🎵I found out long ago(oh oh oh oh oh) it's a long way down the Holiday road (oh oh oh oh oh) Holiday road oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oad🎵

[@michaeljdauben]

Judging from your thumbnail you're in my old stomping ground (I grew up just south of Chicago). I'll be interested in your final opinion on Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Whenever people ask me about Heinlein that's usually the book I recommend.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Right next to Kankakee

[@brettskinner1416]

I started reading the stand this week and I am about 75 pages

[@mikesbookreviews]

Enjoy the ride!

[@Fianna1775]

I’m on holiday myself and thought I was going to be burning through books. But my family has this peculiar idea that they want to spend time with me…….such strange notions. I have been listening to a KZbinr’s self made audiobook of Fire and Blood which is a great edition. I am really liking this book. It’s funny I have tried to finish reading the main series a few times but as great as those books are I always end up flipping through a few pages of Storm of Swords and just putting it down. I don’t know why, I just find it hard to connect with the characters on the page like I did with their onscreen counterparts in the early seasons. But I think because I read a lot of nonfiction, fire and blood is really easy for me to get into. Also working on the Shanameh, an epic poem from medieval Persia. It’s a big, Penguin classics edition. I love epics like the Illiad and the Take of the Heike. This one suffers a lot from being so long and “legendary” so most of the characters feel exactly the same. It’s not hard to read on this edition though. This week I will be working on the Shanemah, Fire and Blood, and The Samurai by Shusaku Endo. When I get home I plan on grabbing my copy Adrian Goldsworthy’s Phillip and Alexander and see which audiobook on KZbin I want to listen to next. Happy Reading!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha I read way less on vacation than I do on a regular work schedule.

[@RekindledReader]

Wait whaaaat? Awesome

[@mikesbookreviews]

Eh.

[@Hombredemadera]

Do you still go no audiobooks, even on a long road trip? I prefer physical copies as well, but definitely need some audiobooks to get me through long drives, especially when my wife immediately falls asleep after promising to talk to me the whole drive 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@mikesbookreviews]

Nope. Had some sports podcasts to keep me company.

[@marcusmusings]

I ended up rereading Hyperion for the first time in 20 (?) years. Don't know as yet if I'll reread the rest of the series, and I'm finishing off Oracle by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. It's the follow up from Hex which I absolutely loved last year. This book, not so much

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hyperion is amazing

[@Yesica1993]

@@mikesbookreviews I need to do reread! It's been years and yet it haunts me.

[@mopete9830]

I started doctor sleep Im hoping to cram it in for the end of the month lol

[@mikesbookreviews]

Excellent!

[@Grimm44]

I played the Red Faction on the PS2 reminds me of Red Rising

[@mikesbookreviews]

Right on. Thought I was the only one.

[@Dude_on_a_Map]

Mike have you heard anything else on Brian Lee Durfee? It’s been awhile since he’s posted and I was worried about him.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yes, he gave an update on his Facebook and Instagram page.

[@austindehn5507]

Some book recs: Horns by Joe Hill and Head On by John Scalzi. Will either crack your top ten? Probably not. Still good reads though

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hope to eventually

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

He read Heart Shaped Box and Locke & Key and he loved them, so chances are he'll enjoy Joe's other books. Hope he checks out NOS4A2 as well.

[@matthewberube4081]

would you saw you have a best order for reading the dark tower? like what other books should I read before it or during it

[@mikesbookreviews]

I did a vid called Dark Tower frequently asked questions. That’ll give multiple options.

[@benja6902]

I hear Longlegs is a good horror movie.

[@JosephSaltal]

Between Stephen King's books, "The Regulators" and "Desperation", which of the two should I read first? Thanks.

[@yenneferalvarez7122]

Desperation

[@bethbaskett3]

Desperation

[@mikesbookreviews]

I really don’t think it matters. But I did Desperation first on the re-read.

[@MrBoJangles]

Looking forward to more Stephen King reviews

[@ashutoshkakad7086]

Jagdish is a very common name in India😅

[@michaelkibble740]

Says hey from West Virginia 👋 Mike have you read any Conan novels.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I have. Have talked Conan a few times in featured vids.

[@tracywilliams2740]

Hey Mike!! Are you going to do episode reviews of From Season 3 when it starts in September on your media review channel?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Season 3 of what?

[@tracywilliams2740]

@@mikesbookreviews The tv show From

[@mattamant915]

The best part of IL is when you're leaving. That's the best part of every vacation, leaving IL.

[@mikesbookreviews]

🤣

[@mattamant915]

@@JonDoe-xl1ov I grew up here and am not a fan at all

[@tordawg69]

Random question: do you ever read any nonfiction?

[@Elricsedric]

Read the elric saga if u want to get out of a burn out. Simple short classic fantasy

[@mikesbookreviews]

I have several. I should do this.

[@carenome1]

Mike, totally off the subject...I'm a big fan of a lot of you all... but I'm getting concerned about one of our great book tubers, Brian Durfee. Have you heard anything? It's been weeks since his last post. His health is in question. I don't know how to contact him. I have posted on his last posting.

[@Wingman_T25]

He posted today on his IG. Not out of the woods yet but still doing what he can from what he said

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yes, he posted on Instagram and Facebook today. Brother is struggling. Drop him some kind worlds, if you can.

[@paul.h.s]

I've attempted to watch op 3x but never get past skypiea. That arc is just boring to me.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It’s rough

[@paul.h.s]

@mikesbookreviews I've been told, however, that if you get past skypiea, it's pretty goated for a while. I'll grind through it eventually. Have you started HunterxHunter yet? No spoiler, but that manga/anime contains the best love story of any media I've ever consumed.