My Top 10 Books of All Time

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Food for thought. So many books and so little time. The ever expanding tbr! Happy reading to you!

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks and happy reading to you as well!

[@thomasthompson6378]

If you haven't already read it, you might like Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy, consisting of Titus Groan, Gormenghast, and Titus Alone.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

I've heard of it, but haven't read the books yet. It does sound like something I might like. Hopefully I can get to them soon!

[@willieluncheonette5843]

" Just a single man, Fyodor Dostoevsky, is enough to defeat all the creative novelists of the world. If one has to decide on 10 great novels in all the languages of the world, one will have to choose at least 3 novels of Dostoevsky in those 10. Dostoevsky’s insight into human beings and their problems is greater than your so-called psychoanalysts, and there are moments where he reaches the heights of great mystics. His book BROTHERS KARAMAZOV is so great in its insights that no BIBLE or KORAN or GITA comes close. In another masterpiece of Dostoevsky, THE IDIOT, the main character is called ‘idiot’ by the people because they can’t understand his simplicity, his humbleness, his purity, his trust, his love. You can cheat him, you can deceive him, and he will still trust you. He is really one of the most beautiful characters ever created by any novelist. The idiot is a sage. The novel could just as well have been called THE SAGE. Dostoevsky’s idiot is not an idiot; he is one of the sanest men amongst an insane humanity. If you can become the idiot of Fyodor Dostoevsky, it is perfectly beautiful. It is better than being cunning priest or politician. Humbleness has such a blessing. Simplicity has such benediction."

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Damn. I really gotta read more Dostoevsky! I've only read C&P a few years back, but I definitely want to pick up Brothers Karamazov and The Idiot. Thanks!

[@dmntxt9662]

Good reviews! Def putting some in my TBR 😍

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks! Hope you enjoy them! 😁

[@pumpkin2477]

Amazing list, Love to see way of kings so high up!

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks! Life before death.🫡

[@jeaninehogshead4710]

Oh my goodness are you a professional narrator??? When you read Ibcould listen all day!!

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thank you so much! That's so sweet!😭 I'm not a professional narrator, but I do have some training and experience in performing.😄

[@Red21Viper]

Excellent. I like the diversity. I love the Frankesteining you said about Bakker. Bakker's books are my favorite. The last two, The Great Ordeal and The Unholy Consult occupy the first two places in my list. Other favourites are: A Storm of Swords by Martin Silmarillion by Tolkien Wizard and Glass by King And Allamut by Bartohl

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks! Fantastic list btw! I'll reread ASOIAF soon, I only got up to A Storm of Swords, and while I remember it being an absolute masterpiece, the series was also my introduction to fantasy. The only reason I started reading fantasy was because I wanted to see how the ending compares to the TV show lol! I was not prepared to find out that it wasn't finished. I was so new to the fandom, that I believed Winds of Winter, was going to release that year, and decided to wait for it. 😭😭 I don't think I appreciated Book 1 and 2 well enough, but I'm excited to revisit it soon! I still haven't read King. I think I started Pet Sematary a while back, but didn't get to finish it. I am really interested in The Stand though, so hopefully I can check it out soon. I don't know if I want to reread LOTR or read Silmarillion, but I'm itching for some Middle-Earth.

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

Awesome list. Not surprised by some of these!

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks, Rabin!

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

"The true horror lies in the burdens of existence." Well put. ;) Frankenstein is my fave ever, and Flowers for Algernon is on my list too. What a heartbreaker!

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

I can see why! Frankenstein is a book that I'd reread in a heartbeat.

[@jobuckley2999]

East of Eden. Lonesome Dove.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Great picks! I plan to read both someday. Might get to The Grapes of Wrath this year though.

[@angelaroberts-757]

So my favorite is Lonesome Dove by Larry Mcmurtry and The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Also love We Are The Dead trilogy by Mike Shackle

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Awesome! I haven't read any of them, but I should be getting to Lonesome Dove and The Secret History next year. I've also heard great things about Mike Shackle. Will be checking him out soon. Thanks!

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

Awesome list there my man. I love seeing White Luck in your top 10 because it's definitely on mine. However, Way over Words?? I know Way of Kings gets some nostalgia points from you but come on!! lol. Excellent video brother.

[@MalignantCactus]

Nah, not even close imo. Way is much tighter and more focused comparatively (both books are still way too long though). Words is spinning its wheels for most of the book and dragging too much ass to get anywhere.

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

@@MalignantCactus I like that explanation. But are you sure your not talking about Oath? lol. Those are my exact thoughts on Oathbringer......I DNF'd it. Soft DNF tho. I just couldn't get through Shadesmar before throwing the book at the wall. lol.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks! The pull of those first few bridge runs was just too strong! 😂 I'll get back to you once I finish my reread. lol

[@MalignantCactus]

@blacknbluecollarreader Oh, Oathbringer has it bad too lol. The way I see it is TWOK is the most consistently good. WOR is the most consistently boring in its filler. Oath is the highest highest and lowest lows. Simultaneously the best and worst book lol.

[@leedsdevil]

Read Count of Monte Cristo eons ago; you make me want to reread it. Damn you!

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Ha! Come on... Give in... It's time for a reread. It's only 1000+ pages, you'll be done before you know it. All the other books can wait... 😈😂

[@leedsdevil]

@@hewhospeaksoftales Currently reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, so I will reread afterwards. Why not a 1000+ page book after an 800 page book?

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

@@leedsdevil Nice! I read Piranesi this year, and I enjoyed it. Hopefully, I'll get to Strange and Norrell next year. I already have a copy and It's a THICK book.

[@MalignantCactus]

The way you described Second Apocalypse makes me what to read it even more lmao. Once this year gets finished and I've read the final book for Osten Ard and Stormlight era 1, that's the first shit I'm hopping into.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Hope you enjoy it! How are you liking Osten Ard so far? I've been meaning to try Tad Williams for a minute now.

[@MalignantCactus]

@hewhospeaksoftales It's a wonderful world and both series are phenomenal. I think Tad Williams gets better with each book.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

@@MalignantCactus Good to know! I'll try to get to The Dragonbone Chair before the end of the year.

[@hannahtell5705]

Great refs for September thanks

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

My pleasure! Enjoy!

[@jacobsivden8017]

Great list! GGK in particular is such an amazing author. Here is my list (keeping it to one per author): 10. The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson (This is one of the original grimdark fantasy novels, as it released the same year as Lord of the Rings) 9. Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne (Gwynne can write action so well and it shows here. Can't wait for the last book coming out next month) 8. Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang (The highs are so amazing here. The climax and everything after it was so devasting) 7. Hawaii by James Michener (A very nice historical novel outlining the lives of various people in Hawaii over the centuries. One of my favorite historicial fiction novels) 6. Of War and Ruin by Ryan Cahill (Ryan Cahill knows how to write traditional epic fantasy. The plotting is simply amazing in this latest entry of The Bound and Broken series) 5. Shogun by James Clavell (Absolutely loved the story and characters. Clavell just knows how to flesh out a narrative) 4. River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay (My favorite GGK bar none. Daiyan is my favorite GGK character of all time) 3. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (Simply the best western novel. The journey is one of the best in fiction) 2. Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (Say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say that he can write an ending) 1. Jade Legacy By Fonda Lee (Jade Legacy emotionally destroyed me on all levels. Fonda Lee is such a master at writing emotions)

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

These are all great picks! Some I've read, and others I'm familiar with, but I'm particularly interested in The Broken Sword. I'll 100% be checking that out. I can't wait for the latest Bloodsworn and The Bound and The Broken too. 🫡

[@jacobsivden8017]

@@hewhospeaksoftales The Broken Sword is definitely a visceral story, and it is interesting to see where some of the origins of grimdark came from! And yeah, can not wait for more Gwynne and Cahill.

[@cj-cw7wi]

I am halfway through Demon Copperhead. I have been halfway through it for a couple of months now - too afraid for Demon to go any further. I will finish it because the writing is incredible and Demon's story is a uniquely American tragedy. I am a transplant from the western US to southeastern Virginia so the setting of the story holds a lot of interest for me. Kingsolver's affection for her subject, and the people of Appalachia is evident and belies the stereotypical view that much of America has of the region.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

I felt similarly when I was reading it. There were plenty of times when I had to close the book and take a break, but Barbara Kingsolver's writing just kept pulling me back.

[@MoeWanders]

Damn this was such a well done and engaging video ^^ great stuff

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Interesting selection, only Rebecca of those might make it to my top 10 if I ever put one together.... I hate the Internet man (18:56)

[@thomasthompson6378]

My top ten books (but, if you ask me tomorrow, the list might be different): 1. Lord Jim, by Joseph Conrad 2. The Ipcress File, by Len Deighton 3. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens 4. Democracy, by Joan Didion 5. Arrowsmith, by Sinclair Lewis 6. Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane (this one accomplishes an astonishing feat I've seen nowhere else in literature) Don't see the movie!! 7. The Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth 8. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen 9. The Alexandria Quartet, by Laurence Durrell 10. The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Great list! I haven't seen the Shutter Island movie, all I know about it is that Leonardo DiCaprio is in it. 😁 I didn't know it was a book. I'll have to check that out. The Alexandria Quartet is another that caught my attention, but lots of great picks here. Thanks!

[@JamesI88]

Solid list there.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks! 🙏

[@Chance.Dillon]

I need to get to Bakker bad-but I feel reading it by side Malazan will screw me up 😂 just so much darkness. GGK is on my priority list. Lions I think is where I’m going to start. It seems silly to not have read him yet

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

I feel the same way, but the other way around 😂. I'm really eager to start Malazan, but decided to finish The Second Apocalypse first. Lions was my first and only GGK so far, but I can't wait to read more of his works. Looking forward to hear your thoughts on GGK when you get to it. 🫡

[@Chance.Dillon]

@@hewhospeaksoftales yesssir! A part of me wishes I just dove into Second Apocalypse first as well

[@author.gggodchild]

Cool list, brother.

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Thanks! I appreciate it.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

I paid close to thirty dollars for demon copperhead but after hearing what u said about it I’m going to try and make it the last book I read on earth if I even decide to read it at all⚛️

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Oh, damn 😅 If you ever get to it, let me know what you think!

[@Elricsedric]

I haven't watched or read any of the count of monte cristo, I saw the trailer for the French movie a few months ago and it looked amazing, I want to watch it but it still hasn't dropped outside of France I think

[@lavenderlady7441]

just found you!!!!!!😊😊😊😊😊

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Hi! Glad to have been found! 😁

[@Elricsedric]

Read hyperion bro

[@hewhospeaksoftales]

Will do.🫡 I've only heard great things about it, so it's definitely high up my list!