My 187 Unread Books Are Giving Me Existential Anxiety, So Let's Read

[@libraryofaviking]

Thanks for watching! Let me know if you enjoy this type of content!

[@kerstinmaireder4006]

I really like your videos, but pls!!!!! dont call that drink coffee!

[@TheMinidelamacho]

I was so happy to see Homeland as a book you're reading and enjoying currently. I love Drizzt and Salvatore. Drizzt was written in the Star Wars order. 4-6 first, then 1-3, then 7 and so on. and they are all great in my opinion.

[@euniceford786]

187??!! That's it??!! I'm well over 1000, and I'm 54 years old, so not enough time left in my lifetime to read them all. I hope to really pick up the pace when I retire, but that's not for another 10 years. And do I continue buying books? Of course, because I love them! I totally understand the feeling of existential dread, but try to relax and be kind to yourself, because the TBR continues to grow over time! (BTW - I found Artemis to be Weir's weakest of all his novels. I'll still read anything he publishes - just saying...)

[@JohnG225]

just commented something very similar :)

[@justwonder1404]

So you're telling me, this will only progress with age

[@JohnG225]

@@justwonder1404 yup!

[@bee7160]

your house seems like the BEST place to be ❤❤

[@euniceford786]

@@Joyce-d9v LOL! If only...

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I recently read and reviewed Parable of the Sower myself. While it's a brilliant book, finishing it might add to rather than subtract from your existential dread. I couldn't imagine recording myself while reading (it would be so boring to watch), but you did a great acting job with your "reactions" to your reading, Johan!

[@libraryofaviking]

It definitely added to my existential dread haha! Thanks for watching, Philip!

[@Eluarelon]

I started a tbr list over on goodreads in 2023, I stopped adding books to it in 2024 when I reached the 500 book mark, and I'm pretty sure that that's not even half of the books I could add to it if I wanted to. But then I realised that adding to that list is basically just a big waste of time, because I generally just read what catches my interest the moment I need something new. So my approach to that list might change down the line, but at the moment I'm not sweating it.

[@iangubeli]

Welcome to your vlogging era! Excellent video my friend!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you so much! You inspired me to try this vlogging thing so thank you!

[@hannahblackwellbooks]

Yeaaaaa I have way too many unread books too 😂 I’m trying to pick books on my TBR based on my shelves now because of that! Love watching people catch up on their physical tbrs! It’s super motivating to me.

[@libraryofaviking]

On one hand it is good to have books to look forward to but it is also stressful to have TOO many books unread haha

[@acantha2615]

This is exactly the kind of video I needed! I am trying to get my tbr to 0 and currently I have about 30 books on it (was about 90+ last year) but the closer I am getting to my goal the harder it gets😅 it’s not easy to be a mood reader…

[@Nostromo000]

Pretty sure I have close to 1,000 unread books. Don't let it get you down--let it excite you! What will it feel like when you've read every book on your shelf? Where will you go from there? You will be dying to get another 187 to read. And after saying that, I'll actually watch the video.

[@libraryofaviking]

If I counted books on my tbr it would probably be close to 1,000. Thanks for watching and the nice comment!

[@davidr9104]

I've got tons of TBR that I dont even know how Ill read it all in my lifetime. I made a reading schedule that covers me to end of 2026 but Im constantly adding more books. Just decided I will go ahead and read Stormlight Archive afterall so add those soon-to-be-five behemoths to the list which are probably 6 weeks each at my pace😱 not to mention Tad Williams' Otherland series which are also HEFTY hardcovers, I have Robin Hobb waiting for me, Game of Thrones which I decided to read afterall despite not being a complete series (it might have been one of your videos that convinced me to do so), and I want to reread Wheel of Time (I originally got to Book 5 before life got in the way). Then theres all the other stuff on the list including outside of fantasy. This is why I cancelled Netflix😂

[@justwonder1404]

I sometimes get hit with a wave of anxiety about all the books I want to read. Also, I live in Kyiv, and every time there's an air raid I go down the "wouldn't it be effing funny if the missile wreckage destroyed my room with all the unread books on my shelf" rabbit hole. An obvious solution would be to stop buying new books, but I'll let you guess if I took that approach😅 Not sure why you dropped the fake vlog idea, you were killing it (by which I mean, I laughed).

[@lissavanhouten6628]

I have about 100 books to be read, a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and nonfiction. I'm going through them now, finishing up ones I put aside for awhile after starting them sometime ago or deciding to not finish them at all. I'm dnfing books more often, especially if the first three chapters don't hook me or are meh. If a book is boring, I might skim ahead to see if the writing, characters, dialogue, plot gets better, and then decide whether to dnf it. For example, I just tried to read David Weber's The Gordian Protocol for the second or third time. It's a time travel novel. I usually like Weber's writing and stories, but this novel had a lot of info dumping, skipping around to different timelines, really long paragraphs, and not enough adventure or something. So, I finally dnfed it.

[@libraryofaviking]

I hope you'll find a good read soon!

[@KindlesandKicks]

I’ve heard so many great things about Parable of the Sower, and it sounds like the perfect read for July considering its setting. I also love the instrumental playing during this video. Perfect reading music.

[@libraryofaviking]

I hope you'll enjoy it. It is bleak but thought provoking!

[@JohnG225]

Ha, I'm 53 and probably have close to 600 unread books in my flat (and I'm buying more). I read about 50-60 a year so I know I probably won't read them all before I die. Cheery thought ;)

[@libraryofaviking]

At this pace I will have 1000 unread books in the next 10 years 😂

[@JohnG225]

@@libraryofaviking let's be honest...there are worse problems to have :)

[@nikhilnagargoje7438]

Have you read the book called 'Mahabharata'? It's really good. If you haven't tried it yet, please give it a try

[@Fianna1775]

I have two copies of that, the penguin classic version for smart people and the modern retelling version for, well…..me. I will definitely attempt the super official translation once I complete the hip, modern one. That approach has worked for me when I read The Tale of the Heike and quite a few Shakespeare classes in middle school so wish me luck. Happy Reading!

[@germainelo3369]

‘Scientic’ book chart, I enjoy the humour you deliver. I think this sharing style works well with your personality and audience. You are charming. Your careful choice of words provides accessibility to new listeners , thank you fellow creator. I recently finished ‘Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’.

[@AnthemNotBanal]

Drizzt is still to this day one of my favorite characters in fantasy. Happy you've picked up the The Dark Elf Trilogy. It holds up today, and has some of the best action in the genre

[@Atrulion]

One life hack you can do is to DNF more often, to "make the bar higher". It's kinda dumb, but it certainly lets you lessen the amount of unread books way faster.

[@Atrulion]

I started purchasing books like less than one year ago, and I already have 43 unread books, and like 6 books I want to purchase ... does anyone offer help?

[@PritamDas-mu4vf]

Try audiobooks. I genuinely never got the appeal and value of audiobooks until I tried it myself.

[@HelensBookHaven]

Totally feel the same, yet I still went out and bought 2 more books today 🤦‍♀️

[@nordamoddev1038]

Dont worry, Edgedancer was just a bit sh*t. Dawnshard is one of my favourite novelas !

[@de_hobbyhoarder50]

I'm reading Homeland as the beginning of my foray I to fantasy and I'm really enjoying it.

[@AlinaTheGoblin]

Really enjoyed the film-making in this, Johan! Feels like you're shaking the videos up a bit, more casual, like we're hanging out with you while reading and getting chores done. And I relate so much to the existential dread of getting through your TBR pile. You read faster than I can, I'm just trying to meet my measly goal of 80 books this year and I feel like I'm cheating a little by reading some manga 😅

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it. My reading goal is 52 books so 80 is mad!

[@MacScarfield]

In July I plan to read: «The Stone of Farewell» (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #2) by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy, a key influence for George R. R. Martin's « A Song of Ice and Fire») «Tiamat's Wrath» (The Expanse, #8) by James S.A. Corey (Space opera) «The Warrior Prophet» (The Prince of Nothing #2) by R. Scott Bakker (Grimdark/Dark Epic Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, Silmarillion & Dune) On my July MBR/August TBR is: «The Green Tower part 1» (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #3) by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy)

[@libraryofaviking]

Sounds excellent! Happy reading!

[@markofascribe9528]

So many unread books… I feel your pain!😂

[@Nico-lk5hb]

I think this is my favorite video of yours 🎉 just u giving us micro reviews and going through your TBR is very inspiring and motivational 🙌🏻 more of this plz!!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! One is on the way! Hopefully can post next week!

[@readlikeaman]

😂😂😂 bro, I love your faked reactions cause you forgot to film! I do that all the time. Literally just can’t make vlogs happen cause I get too dissected actually reading and I forget about filming 😂

[@SciFiScavenger]

Rookie numbers!!!! I suspect I have well over 1000 unread. I should count them, put a number on my dread....

[@IanTerronesReads]

Not me who will buy 10 books for every 3 i read

[@alusarmiento]

I liked this vlog!!! I also have some existential anxiety coming from books i haven't read and that i feel that i have to "keep up". I'm currently listening to Elantris and I'm starting with our month pick today - or tomorrow!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you, Ana! I hope you will love Elantris. I definitely enjoyed it more than I expected! Yay, can't wait for Licanius!

[@amy_harboredinpages8272]

📚😎📖 Artemis is on my physical self... you just gave me hope that I did not haul a complete dud.😂😂😂

[@nanimaonovi2528]

I read chapter one of any book that follows me home. It then goes in a magazine rack. If it's still there looking accusing after a month it gets a spot on my TBR. The catch is, the TBR has a one in one out rule. That way it's always 50 books I'm really keen to read. The other rule is I can't bring home more books in a week than I read that week. Hard but fair, keeps the stress down. Why 50? That's what fits on the shelf 😂

[@malcolmhays2726]

Only 187 unread books? That's not too bad. I'm struggling to get through about twice that many unread. And like you, I tend to buy a few more here and there so that by the time I've finished 20 unread books, I've bought 5-10 more... Also, with R.A. Salvatore's Legend of Drizzt series, it's best to think of it as a long-running soap opera after a while. There are over three dozen books in that series, so be prepared for the long read. However, they are each pretty short (300-400 pages or so) and also very fast paced, so they don't take much time to read.

[@landscapesofink]

I looooove this vlog type of video

[@libraryofaviking]

@@landscapesofink Thank you!

[@kyrilson71]

Quit being stupid dude. None of us are going to finish our TBRs. Just go with the flow and enjoy life.

[@fionamclean6533]

If you read as quick as you talk you'll have no problem 🤣🤣

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Loved this vid format! Agreed that Antimatter Blues was less impactful than Mickey7-the flashback structure of that one and dealing with life on the base made that book what it was. Just going on an adventure outside the base didn’t do much for me

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! Yeah, Antimatter Blues was not memorable but Mickey7 was awesome!

[@TheBeardedBookBeast]

Nice vlog! Definitely enjoyed it. I think you have such a kind and cozy personality and demeanor that is perfect for vlogs, so keep them coming!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you!

[@SpacedOutWizard]

Love those live reading reactions 😅😅 I’ve had Homeland on my shelf for ages, I’m definitely going to have to pick it up soon!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thanks, mate! I hope you will enjoy Homeland. Good palate cleanser!

[@tennille9dawn]

I read the Dark Elf Trilogy back in the 90s and really liked it. To me they're the best of the Drizzt books. I have only read the first 10-12 or so that follow that series of characters though and have moved to other things. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

[@libraryofaviking]

I definitely enjoyed Homeland. Hopefully, I will enjoy the rest of the series!

[@Degrad21]

have fun with the lincanius trilogy. In my opinion "will of the many" way a huge improvement for James Islington, but licanius is enjoyable for sure!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you. I look forward to it!

[@carolinec3951]

Very much enjoy all your videos! Thank you for all your hard work. I have an embarrassing TBR. Keep in mind, if you read for pleasure then not every book has to be a 5star read or be memorable. If it gave you pleasure, it fulfilled its purpose.

[@libraryofaviking]

This is such a nice comment! Thank you for the reminder and for watching!

[@morleywritesbooks]

the Drizzt books are just fun high fantasy

[@libraryofaviking]

I look forward to continuing!

[@Danhibbert73]

😂, I am in the same place with a giant stack of books that I want to read, I keep adding to them!! I think I have 7 books on order from BB plus the subscriptions… This was fun, I must have been reading Artemis the same time as you, same reason - needed something short and a bit light after the darkness of Parable of the Sower…

[@libraryofaviking]

Well, what a coincidence 😅 Yeah getting monthly books from TBB is a blessing and a curse haha. So many unread books to read

[@marytoken3557]

Loved the Video and kind of new style of it. Thank you 🙏 btw I’m currently reading my very first Sanderson, so excited

[@libraryofaviking]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Reflekt0r]

You need to get the number under 100 to reduce the existential dread and keep it there. You can do it.

[@libraryofaviking]

💪💪💪

[@ChrisPJ_reads]

I am totally convinced those fake reactions were actually real. 😂

[@libraryofaviking]

Haha

[@elisabethprice4697]

I’ve been getting the broken binding books from the subscription but the second book in the gentleman bastards was messed up and I had to send it back and still haven’t got a new one back! The cover was on upside down! I was so confused when I opened it!

[@libraryofaviking]

Oh sorry that happened!

[@hannahbrennan2131]

I recently had a bad experience with ordering from the Broken Binding too. I ordered the anniversary editions of the First Law trilogy and it took over a month to ship and when it finally did arrive, it wasn't the anniversary editions, it was just the regular hardcover editions.

[@captainnolan5062]

Listening to an audio book is not reading.

[@nyxian_grid]

your opinion is worth nothing.

[@captainnolan5062]

@@nyxian_grid That is your opinion. I am not stating my opinion, I am relying on the definition of reading (which was here long before me).

[@nyxian_grid]

@@captainnolan5062 if you don't have anything good to say on someone's channel, maybe save your comments.

[@captainnolan5062]

@@nyxian_grid You are the one who said my opinion was worthless. In addition, I did not present my opinion. I merely pointed out the fact (based on an objective definition) that listening is not the same as reading. That does not mean that reading is superior to listening, merely that they are different activities. If listening is reading, then a one year old child can "read" War and Peace merely by listening to it.

[@nyxian_grid]

@@captainnolan5062 I'm sure you pointing that out was completely innocent and in no way to assert some form of superiority of your own, as you seem prone to in other comments. It was basically a pointless comment meant to attract some antagonism, so I decided to oblige 😉

[@meowkat347]

This is great content! I hope you do more of these kinds of videos! I absolutely understand the existential dread of having a ton of unread books on your shelf! I have about 213 or something like that 🥲 I’m so glad you enjoyed Parable of the Sower! I felt the same way. It was hard to read, and I felt like I didn’t enjoy it on a 5 star level, but I had to give it 5 stars because of how much it made me think and how much it sticks with me. I still think about it even though I read it a few years ago!

[@freezingmoon75]

Dumb question - what is the series of books over his right shoulder that show I-IV and the spines make a single image? It looks like the Way of Kings cover but it's not it.

[@libraryofaviking]

@@freezingmoon75 Not a dumb question. It is the dust jacketd from Kraken Book!