my new favorite book also destroyed me

[@IReadToday]

I love how you get your library to bully you into reading

[@ManCarryingThing]

pros: reading way more. cons: being bullied.

[@george-nikolas942]

@@ManCarryingThing "They know what Nature is made of"

[@marijag24]

Butcher's crossing... wow... that was something. I picked it up after watching this video, it took me a couple of days to finish because it was heavy as it was, but wow. Millers character changing as the events change and his final actions when he turns back and sees the aftermath of his lifes work is an incredible portrait of human nature when you invest yourself and all you have towards one goal. Thank you for the recommendation!

[@LukeEdwardstube]

great vid. Interesting recs. Commenting so that our Algorithm Overlords continue to recognise your Thing Carrying abilities.

[@ManCarryingThing]

a scholar and a gentleman right here. Thank luke. they try to keep me from carrying thing, but still I carry thing

[@LukeEdwardstube]

@@ManCarryingThing "I cant carry it for you but i can carry thing!" - Jakewise Gamgee, from The Ring of the Lords 4, the Queen Who Returns.

[@ManCarryingThing]

@@LukeEdwardstube i am jakewise gamgee now forever

[@anthonysullivan1070]

Justified is an awesome show. I read Elmore Leonard years ago. I was so young. Great books. Great memories. Ed McCain too. His 87 precinct books are fantastic. Lawrence Block and his Matthew Scudder private investigator series. Great.

[@anthonysullivan1070]

Ed Mcbain I mean lol

[@UltimateHansford]

For Elmore Leonard, I recommend Tishomingo Blues. I think this is Leonard at his best.

[@whisperphoenix19]

If you get the chance, check out Augustus by J.Williams - it is just superb. I still haven't read Butcher's Crossing but it's on my 2021 TBR

[@ManCarryingThing]

I will! Definitely gonna read all 3 of his books. Love how different they are, too

[@whisperphoenix19]

@@ManCarryingThing my reading buddies read Butcher and Stoner and were destroyed for weeks afterwards. I love it when a book does that. Bring on the pain I say!

[@sandejoshua01]

Hello, Man. Have you read McCarthy's Blood Meridian? Would be a good companion piece for Butcher's Crossing and may induce further existential despair. Also, The Things They Carried would seem an on brand recommendation for this channel. Peace

[@ManCarryingThing]

Thanks, I've wanted to read The Things They've Carried for a while. And yeah, Blood Meridian is one of my favorite books, I want to talk about it on the channel soon

[@sandejoshua01]

@@ManCarryingThing dope. I'd be interested to hear your take on the fate of the man if/when that happens. I struggle with ambiguity of that magnitude and need closure

[@TheSongwritingCat]

Yeah... my hack is to get books no one else wants to read or that the library has a ton of copies of... then I don't read any ebooks.

[@p0kepengin592]

i love michael parenti

[@wabisabi7755]

are you tired

[@ManCarryingThing]

yes. so very tired

[@justanotheryoutubecommente2]

I came expecting memes and instead got an insightful discussion of good books Not disappointed

[@LarryHasOpinions]

i like serious man carrying serious thing

[@ManCarryingThing]

serious thing serious man thing

[@meansofintrigue2269]

You must read Stoner. I finished that book a different person. And I prefer them.

[@stormblessed178]

Whenever I see a new video of yours out I don't know wether it'll be a review video or memes but what I do know is it'll be quality.

[@OverlyAverageBen]

I really appreciate these longer and less chaotic videos diced in that break with the convention of channels just doing fantasy ❤️

[@ManCarryingThing]

thank you :)

[@HugoReads]

omg a full 8 minute video, amazing. Added Butcher's Crossing to my list too

[@ManCarryingThing]

hahah yes i am stretching my limits lol. And awesome! I think you will like it

[@billyalarie929]

I saw that too and salivated. I’m not actually kidding. Salivated.

[@ReallyGoodandKind]

Woooooo man carrying thing non meme video? That’s fine but also more memes please

[@SloanePaoPow]

The stress of people waiting for books on Libby Overdrive is real. 😬

[@ManCarryingThing]

they are silently judging me

[@JoshNeller]

As a fan of crime books, your taste in french crime is a chef's kiss to me.

[@ManCarryingThing]

i too like my crime books with extra cigarettes

[@paniklewe]

I like your persona. You showing, yourself chaotic, imperfect, like a human. ? Why are you trying so hard to come off as a human? What are you really?

[@ManCarryingThing]

thank you for the humorous comment. i am human in every way. i was birthed not from an egg

[@myname8052]

man is carrying my money away from me with these recommendations

[@ManCarryingThing]

lol apologies to your wallet

[@krissuyx]

I don't like e-books. I already spend too much time staring at screens.

[@ReallyGoodandKind]

I also vote Malazan.

[@nathanhoell5139]

An 8 minute long video? Heck Yeah!!

[@nadiapandey-riverstone5120]

God, all I can say is: 😍😍😍😍😍

[@raghavbhatia7624]

I'd love for you to read The Kingkiller Chronicles. Not a demand. I'm not a bully like your library.

[@ManCarryingThing]

lol i do want to read that though

[@videoslv4626]

I love these videos!!! Love all your videos tbh!! Best channel ever! #mancarryingthing

[@ManCarryingThing]

[@Trisjack20]

Do Wheel of Time. Malazan is great but my preference is definitely for WOT. Would love to hear your thoughts.

[@vojeremia]

are you trying to break his heart? because i support that since obsly no one should die without reading WoT.

[@yunaleek5575]

I freaking love Libby

[@Patricia-mm2mr]

Stoner is my favourite book of all time, which is why I'm kinda scared to read butcher's crossing... Also, love your chatty videos. You've got broad taste and I appreciate that a lot on booktube

[@ManCarryingThing]

Thanks! And I feel the same way about Stoner that you do about Butcher's Crossing. Worried it will not live up to my expectations, lol

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I heard Ancient Rome and came. The Optimates can suck it. Caesar was a genius. A ton of what we know about that period comes from Cicero's letters to his buddy Atticus and, despite being a general twerp, Cicero was actually pretty fair in his letters!

[@ManCarryingThing]

YES! That's pretty great to hear. This book really opened my eyes

[@slavadabadoo]

I just started Gardens of the Moon a couple days ago... reeeeally like the style so far. Think it'll be up your alley. Would love to coincidentally see some Malazan content on your awesome channel while I'm starting it too

[@ManCarryingThing]

Oh nice! I've got GOTM on my shelf, just waiting for that burst of inspiration, lol

[@cidleparesseux1277]

French title of "The Mad and The Bad" is "Ô dingos, ô châteaux!"

[@priceyblackwinter2338]

I’d say start Wheel of Time first, Malazan is hard to get into and arguably not as rewarding as WoT, though obviously still great in its own way. Also I’ve just started Eye of the world; I’m about 200 pages through. Having somebody else reading them around the same time and reviewing them would be pretty cool.

[@MaxThrills]

They’re making this a movie in 2022 with nick cage! How awesome is that!

[@santidontsurf.mp4]

Yes!! Butcher's Crossing deserves more attention! I picked it up about a year ago without knowing anything and was pleasantly blown away by every single aspect. Glad you liked it.

[@samir6047]

One of the best books ever. Love stoner too. Check it out if you haven't

[@chaitanyakrishnadeepak29]

That's strike one!

[@ManCarryingThing]

returning to my meme corner of shame

[@montagskyrunner5884]

Big fan of the longer more serious videos!

[@9xfileslover]

Hahah same I don’t like people waiting for a book that I’m not reading 😥

[@priceyblackwinter2338]

Anyone else staring in horror at their 50+ book long TBR pile and realising there’s still others to read?

[@keanugarcia5418]

Loved Stoner from John Williams, can’t wait to get to Butcher’s Crossing

[@jennywilliams1455]

I vote Wheel of Time, but I'm biased as I've read it already and haven't read Malazan yet.

[@JohnSeidler]

I know of a certain goblin who's going to vote Wheel of Time

[@MishaSalnikov]

I've seen so many sarcastic videos from this channel that throughout the video I kept waiting for "Psych! This all books don't exist" or something

[@ManCarryingThing]

haha fooled ya

[@cancebeci127]

I keep seeing The Lonesome Dove in the background. Have you read that? If so, how do you feel about it?

[@ManCarryingThing]

I read it a long long time ago, so I gotta reread it, but I remember loving it and the miniseries is one of my favorites

[@jakeshaw2989]

Have you read any Denis Johnson? If not, I would recommend Jesus' Son or Tree of Smoke as a starting place (very different starting places)

[@ManCarryingThing]

just a couple short stories, but i'd like to read more!

[@thelemmiebee]

Your channel is gonna blow up soon. Keep going!

[@ManCarryingThing]

Thank you!!

[@jcwint02]

The Mad and the Bad! I remember enjoying that weird book, but it hasn’t stuck with me. Butcher’s Crossing is high on my to read list. I liked Stoner, and I love Cormac McCarthy, so it seems right up my alley.

[@shethewriter]

Butcher’s Crossing sounds so good, thanks for the rec

[@archiefenn1527]

If you haven't already, you should definately give 'I Am Legend' a try. Far better than thr film (by miles) and surprisingly humorous.

[@ManCarryingThing]

It's sitting on my shelf right now!

[@gnomishviking3013]

Speaking of soul crushing and depressing books. I just finished All Quiet on the Western Front and it’s sequel The Road Back.....might be my fav new author from the early 20th century...but holy shit 😩🔫

[@ManCarryingThing]

All Quiet is amazing

[@74gould]

Butcher’s Crossing sounds like it’s riiiiight up my alley. Definitely getting that one. Thanks for the reviews & recommendations!

[@ManCarryingThing]

Any time!

[@lacamila666]

Did you finish the dark tower? I need to know

[@ManCarryingThing]

took a break during wolves and waiting for the right moment to finish it all back to back. just waiting for a free holiday! lol

[@videoslv4626]

God your videos are equivalent to my Friday night cheat meals! 😍😋

[@Beech27]

Elmore Leonard's Complete Western Stories is my favorite anthology. The shorter format really emphasizes his sentence-to-sentence strengths, his economy and skill and establish atmosphere and character in a blink, and there isn't enough room for the plot to really wander far or just tire itself out.

[@ManCarryingThing]

I'm looking to read some of his western novels for sure, I heard 40 Lashes Less One is good

[@dayleclarke4433]

The Library of America does a hardcover of his westerns. Four novels and eight of the short stories that are also in the complete westerns paperback. Great way to read them.

[@emmetbrowne5332]

Out of Sight is Elmore Leonards best book. I would agree that the endings aren't always perfect, but I think his plotting through the second acts is very well done. He interweavs some things together in a way that are simple yet very hard for any writer to think of. It's like his prose, stripped down, basic, easy looking, but in practice, masterful with how much meaning it conveys.

[@ManCarryingThing]

i've heard Out of Sight is a favorite...and you really nailed what makes his books so great. They are deceptively simple. I especially love how character relationships move in unexpected, but totally natural directions. They come alive and do whatever they want on the page

[@emmetbrowne5332]

@@ManCarryingThing Yeah, he understands REAL human beings. That great character development really comes from him setting his ego aside in his writing. I imagine Elmore Leonard in real life was that simple kind of guy everyone wanted to hang out with because he didn't feel the need to show he was smarter than anyone else...and that just shows how smart he was.

[@conormeehan.]

This is different but I really like it!

[@ManCarryingThing]

Thanks!

[@danielpetrone3696]

YOU MUST READ MALAZAN, wheel of time is also pretty good. Though I think Malazan is much more rewarding.

[@SouthDakotaFacts]

Thank you, Mr. Carryingthings. After listening to you talk about Butchers Crossing, you convinced me to go buy a copy from my local bookstore. Just started it and am already loving it!

[@TheScooterpotter]

Justified was a good show, but felt like it just ended, didn't feel very satisfying.

[@Drloveize]

You gotta read John Williams' Augustus, especially now that you're coming off of Julius Ceasar and Butcher's Crossing.

[@iendrin9152]

usually not interested in the genre, but now i need to know what “perfect” might look like lol. alsopleasereadWoTfirst🌹

[@colin.2572]

Am I the only one who thinks Man looks like Ben from Parks and Recreation in his old videos?

[@DroolRockworm]

Do these have spoilers in them? You should really let people know

[@adasisok]

Your first book recommendation gives off vibes of Into the Wild by John Krakauer mixed with an almost Lovecraftian indifference of nature.

[@louisblackforester]

I just saved this video to my favorite playlist.

[@bryanhouse3608]

Can't wait to read Fatale - everything you hate about it is for me...

[@000585677]

Justified is INSANELY good btw

[@spreadbookjoy]

I applaud your reading renaissance 👏

[@danielpetrone3696]

I really like these videos where you just talk about books you’ve read and recommend some of them

[@magisterofsteam7880]

I literally just got really obsessed with the idea of reading Malazan, but I already started Wheel of Time earlier this year and I can't decide whether to finish Wheel of Time first (because they are both so long) or follow my obsession and read them interchangeably.

[@ManCarryingThing]

I will interchange series all the time.....i have absolutely no sense of order lol

[@magisterofsteam7880]

@@ManCarryingThing this used to be me. I remember one point I literally had 14 series at once lol

[@ContentLitwithSimonFay]

The Mad and The Bad is now my favourite book title. Must check it out sometime.

[@ManCarryingThing]

It's a wild ride

[@DavidDecero]

I'm going to have to add some Jean-Patrick Manchette to the black hole that is my tbr. lol. Probably get to it around 2023. lol. Glad to see you've found your reading rhythm!

[@ManCarryingThing]

Thanks David! Yes, let's be honest any new book recommended to me these days is going on a TBR that stretches into 2027

[@DavidDecero]

@@ManCarryingThing 🤣😅

[@QuestLegacy]

Nature is grimdark for sure. Naturalism is for the dogs. Well I mean, it actually is also….

[@QuestLegacy]

Wait…. Little Caesar is dead!?

[@ManCarryingThing]

Little Caesars pizza went out of business in 44 BC, sadly

[@crazyfantakevideos3574]

😍😍😍

[@ckv954]

I like hearing you talk and maybe eventually I’ll make the time to read, you make these books sound very interesting. Thanks for the video! :D

[@ManCarryingThing]

Thank you :)

[@renanrossi5434]

Did you read Bernard Cornwell or any Reacher novels? They writing like Elmore, but the hole book resolves like a planned book. It's always enjoyable, chapter after chapter, and the payoff is amazing.

[@davilaelian]

Hi Mr. Carrying Thing, I hope you have a nice day

[@ManCarryingThing]

Hello, I hope you are having a pleasant day yourself

[@claytongeist7816]

Hey i just watched this really good hour long video essay about butchers crossing, good to see it getting some recognition

[@elijahtaylor4698]

You're thinking it's going to be really serious and there's that great moment when the music goes: Dadadadadadadadadadadada. It's great.

[@elijahtaylor4698]

.....Was kinda serious. Oop. Good video.

[@ManCarryingThing]

hahaha

[@wadejohnston4305]

You GOTTA watch Justified. If you like Leonard you'll REALLY appreciate it as I'm pretty sure he helped the writing team before he passed. I read the books because of the show and Raylan is a bit more serious in the show in season 1 but does show his comedic chops after. Also the first half of season one is "moster of the week" themed but it focuses sharply on Boyd and Raylan at halfway mark then all the next seasons are "movie" style like most shows nowadays

[@ushapandey6351]

👍❤️

[@miroslawwieckowski4904]

Yes, Cormac McCarthy Blood Meridian.

[@yunaleek5575]

I only get 14 days for my books this is unfair😔

[@ManCarryingThing]

oh my gosh...i will never be ungrateful again