recently read 📖| sci-fi, dark fantasy, lit-fic

some books i've read recently, ranging from a sci-fi novel featuring an awkward but deadly robot, to a literary fiction novel starring a pompous octopus. this time around i really enjoyed most of them! let me know what you think :)
books mentioned:
Remarkably Bright Creatures
What Moves the Dead
Coraline
All Systems Red
The Hole
✎ instagram: / chris_middendorf
✎ tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@chrislibrary?...
✎ goodreads: / chris-middendorf
✎ contact: [e-mail]
★ animated intro by ‪@RoseenaSakya‬
★ pfp by ‪@thanksxu‬
★ intro music: cat shop by Louie Zong

[@brighthavens]

Ohh stop spoiling me with regular uploads, I will get attached 😭

[@demtix4381]

same!!

[@lindenir540]

YOU ARENT ALREADY? 😭

[@benjiplant]

tbh I bought the hole because I thought the cover was pretty. I enjoyed it, but I’m happy it was short lol. Also, that grandpa needs to stop watering those plants!!!

[@ellias]

updated bookshelf tour please :))

[@balladofahomeschooledboy0514]

wake up!! new chris video just dropped!

[@nomado3650]

Hey, Chris, passed 15000 subscribers! Congratulations!! Your videos are awesome - you definitely opened a new literary world for me. I’ve never read fantasy before.

[@jobuckley2999]

Remarkably Bright Creatures is an excellent Summer read. Trust Chris. Thanks for the heads up on All System Red.

[@AppleCandy99100]

I’m happy the KZbin algorithm put you on my recommended! I also love the way your shelves match you and your style, it is so aesthetically pleasing haha

[@chrislibrary]

ahhhhh thank you, so happy to have you!!🫶

[@kim20289]

I love the regular uploads, so excited to watch this when I get home 🥰

[@risg4me]

Remarkably bright creatures is one of my favorite books ever!

[@chrislibrary]

it was soooo amazing!

[@karinaromay8388]

Love how you describe the novels without spoilers ❤😊

[@thatlostmike2]

Octopus book sounds good tbh 😂

[@eysteinntraustason2084]

I loved All Systems Red, will read the others in the Murderbot series as soon as possible

[@chrislibrary]

i’m right there with you!!

[@combatepistemologist8382]

@@chrislibrary ... consuming media.

[@lukepayn3]

We love you Chris! Keep it up! 🙌

[@jooooonnnniiieee__2380]

love your recently read videos!! they always motivate me to read and read new things! this one had so many recs i am so jotting these titles down..

[@carmenmonteavaro9528]

I have Remarkably bright creatures in my queue and am so happy you reviewed it. I wasn’t exactly sure of the content but I feel that I will totally relate to it as I lost my son 11 years ago. Getting ready for an emotional ride. Thank you for your soft, comforting videos.

[@rogansmith8986]

Your videos are so calming, and the reg uploads have been awesome, I love that both you and Benji have a channel in the things y'all are interested in, and y'all still find ways to share similarities in your contents and lives in beautiful ways :)

[@patrickbraue4644]

Your videos are such a nice calm comfort after stressful days! :)

[@thanos7449]

me trying to read the books in the background lmao (percy jackson SPOTTED)

[@keiichifuruya]

Soft Chris. We love it. Keep bringing us the content king ❤

[@andtheywerereaders]

love these reviews! we read a lot of lit fic so looking forward to getting into remarkably bright creatures

[@FriedPumpkin33]

Your videos are just so comforting to watch. Thank you.

[@demtix4381]

another chris upload keep em coming!!

[@FullFiguredMermaid]

You are sooo fascinating! And so shiny from inside. Thank you for a positive charge and your example how to be kind, calm, charming, happy. And for remanding that each of us can be happy as well.

[@Keeva-]

I really loved Remarkably Bright Creatures. 🧡 It's not the type of book I would usually read, but like you, I'm so glad I did. Think I will be adding What Moves the Dead to my tbr.

[@alexanderradec]

nice selection i’ve seen that book what moves the dead but i was like idk lol but glad you covered i’m more interested in it now

[@angtranminhduy6249]

Thanks for ur suggestions 😊 What moves the dead sounds like a page-tuner for sure, and you guys should also watch the animation of Coraline - an excellent interpretation of the book.

[@marvinraphaelmonfort8289]

at the start of the pandemic i began reading coraline and my imagination is so extra that i couldn't finish it. thankyou for sharing ur latest reads =]

[@Heynowwtf7413]

personally I feel like Coraline's book is scarier bc certain characters from the movie aren't even in the book so this girl is literally alone in all the horror happening to and around her ( I recommend the graphic novel adaptation too bc that's simply the scariest version of the "other mother" I've seen so far.

[@bidienconmeo1344]

Why men with blue eyes always have that lovely smile help😩😭

[@Dragonmoon8526]

Will be reading the second one closer to the Halloween season. Had it for a while on my TBR list.

[@astromei]

another thumbs up for Remarkably Bright Creatures! And I also love Coraline 🪡🧵

[@Adrathlin]

FIRST!!!!! ily Chris 💜

[@luqmanhakim6538]

ouu i'm a bit late to this video but i haven't read any of these books yet,, but remarkably bright creatures seem so interesting!! thanks chris :D

[@lucy.ballerhadia]

im intrigued with the octopus. need to read remarkably bright creatures

[@thecozycornerph]

I could listen to that voice all day

[@local.catperson]

Ohhh I absolutly love it here

[@karensicard7304]

I read Remarkably Bright Creature, you are correct. It was so good.

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

🙀💖 I thought nobody knows about Remarkably Bright Creatures. I discovered it a month ago, still a TBR,but now for August . I have a feeling I am going to looove that book so I skipped that section but heard last remark.

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

For Murderbot Diaries I made a deal with a friend to read her favorite book...I did like her book. She BINGED Murderbot Diaries and it made me so so so happy. I heard the series is going to be 10 books long [there are novellas so come on that is nothing] and the editions are so so perfekt by design and on the touch.

[@jedwards1792]

Adorable Chris

[@demtix4381]

definately reading the first book suggestion!

[@ByItachii]

Keep it up Chris 🫶🏻

[@chrislibrary]

🫶🫶

[@chburns1329]

Delightful with humour enjoyable

[@vianka4918]

what a coincidence but i read most of ‘the hole’ on my flight to japan a few weeks ago!! it was an interesting read, it made me feel very existential haha! it also made me feel very weird and crazy…the brother-in-law..hmm..anyways i got it because i liked the cover and have never read a translated japanese book before, im definitely going to look into the authors other works!

[@chrislibrary]

the brother in law was so WILD

[@vianka4918]

@@chrislibraryright?! and the end SPOILER, where it was inferred that no one was living in that shed and that there were no children in the town?! i really liked those creepy aspects of the book

[@user-fw1vf9bn4y]

Luv ur vids uwu thank u

[@outlive]

can you do a video on lgbtq+ fiction?

[@karensicard7304]

P.s. I recommend Covenant of Water.

[@robdoggo]

about Coraline- I read another book by Neil Gaiman (Stardust) and it had a very similar writing style to what you described in terms of character perspective. I am curious to read more of his books to figure out if its just his writing style in general or if its situational to the story.

[@jcdaclison]

Hi Chris! I bought one of your "challenging reads", HOUSE OF LEAVES. Definitely a trip reading it. If you want something more challenging, try "S" by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst. It is multi-tasking at its best (or worst? haha). You read the book where the protagonist picks up a book, SHIP OF THESEUS, with notes made by the mysterious author scribbled on the book and you also review looseleaf inserts like maps, postcards etc. That one was brutal!

[@chrislibrary]

ahhh what’d you think of house of leaves?!

[@Katesgreenfingers]

Not read any of these. Remarkably Bright Creatures is on my TBR and I've added The Hole after this video - intrigued!

[@Hellohnl1702]

Chris, would you consider book club (live) and have your viewers read your book selection and get to interact with you maybe Benji too, your both awesome ❤

[@rimskichua1]

lately ive just been looking forward to your uploads (and ofc benji's) and house of dragons season 2 episdoes lol

[@chrislibrary]

ahhhh i appreciate it :’) benji and i are watching season 2 also!!

[@ryanip4502]

Thoughts of doing your own podcast or recording audiobooks? I’d defo subscribe!!

[@christinazino8016]

I like your shirt, Chris! Im gonna be getting Remarkably Bright Creatures next payday. Im looking forward to the read. Love that you started this channel. Your reviews/commentary is so well said. I feel like I don't have to hunt down recommendations anymore, so thank you for your hard work :) Have a great day!

[@user-ss8ih3bk2m]

gorgeous hair

[@goblinwizard735]

a 70 year old custodian and an octapus?? sir, this is right in my wheelhouse. i own the Hole but haven’t read it yet. short books about unhinged Japanese women is a on my core genres list though. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata Scattered All Over The Earth by Yoko Tawada also i liked the mushroom story.

[@patriciaromero5347]

I recomend you read “Bloodchild” by Octavia Butler, creepy. But it is a good read, and it is a short story. Will try your recommendations, except the one withthe house of Usher, i like to eat mushrooms.

[@kyleclark7740]

i like your vids

[@markherowin7799]

your too cute i cant focus 😢😅

[@FantasyFootballPlug]

Hey Chris I was curious what kind of camera you use for your videos? I’m trying to start my KZbin journey and want to invest in a good quality camera

[@chrislibrary]

fujifilm xh2s!!

[@emisformaker]

Have you read The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales?

[@Sachikosgrl]

Highly recommend you read Our Hideous Progeny by C E McGill

[@theclairemalkie6496]

You should read A Psalm for the Wild Built! Another robot book

[@chrislibrary]

i did!!! i talked about it in my cozy fantasy vid🫶

[@Pedigru]

Hi

[@michaelhall8586]

Absolutely adore Neil gaiman

[@mchl3669]

Cancer 🔆 Taurus 🌙

[@robertotr12]

What are you referring to when you talk about the first book having a “mushroom motif” which reminded you of Mexican gothic? I’m Mexican and I feel like I’m missing something 😂

[@chrislibrary]

the book Mexican Gothic has a lot of mushrooms and fungal elements tying into the horror/plot, and so does What Moves The Dead!

[@robertotr12]

@@chrislibrary oooh got it, I wasn’t familiar with that book. I thought you were talking about a whole genre or something like that 😂

[@demtix4381]

Chris im not fond with mushrooms either 😭

[@chrislibrary]

i like mushrooms as food but now……😅

[@mayo4874]

i literally click my heels and jump for joy when i see a chris's library vid ･:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+

[@Heynowwtf7413]

(not me commenting in real time whoop) I didn't like The hole which was a shame bc it hits so many criteria for a perfect read for me :((((

[@paulbarroga5087]

i'm happy that you loved murderbot, it's one of my favorite sci-fi series. i've read the rest (already excited for the next release) and i can attest that you're in for a really good time! and since you liked murderbot, i think you'll also enjoy the monk & robot duology and the wayfarers series, both by becky chambers. hope you check them out too! much love for you and benji 🫶