Top 10 Books of 2024 (So Far)

[@Joda23]

My man you deserve so much more subs. Im now on journey to the tower (right now Wizard and Glass) and I always cant wait to jump on your review, right after i read the book. Btw the amazing easter egg of captain trips and all in the fourth book made me so happy i read The Stand.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

@@Joda23 I'm glad you're enjoying the reviews mate! Yeah the captain trips thing was great at the very beginning of that book. I got a little excited though and thought we were going to meet one of the protagonists from The Stand. Thanks for the comment mate.

[@Tulku]

I’m so happy I found this channel. There are some great recommendations and I love your excitement to discuss the books you read. You’re also good at giving a description of the book without spoiling the read. Thanks so much!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Oh I really appreciate that. Yeah sometimes I get a little too excited when I talk about books. They're my favourite things lol.

[@vesch5083]

Lonesome Dove, what a ride. Funny, after I read Lonesome Dove I decided to read through the Pulitzer prize list

[@dannyletcher5873]

You got some greats books in this vid. My favorite book so far this year is East of Eden by Steinbeck.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Lots of people seem to be recommending East of Eden. It's one of those classics I've never gotten around to reading. I have to read that soon.

[@theoriginaledi]

I don't like sci fi and fantasy nearly as much as you do, and I've read most of the others on this list, but Recursion does sound interesting so I've added it to my "possible" list, and I'm almost certainly going to give Lonesome Dove a try based on your recommendation. It's not the kind of book I EVER would have picked up normally, but your love for it inspires me. Fingers crossed! Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I know it's a lot to ask, but I'd dearly love to see an ongoing ranking (maybe a tier list?) of your Stephen King readings. I'm a huge fan and have my own opinions, and I'd be fascinated to see how yours line up (or don't) with mine. Fun!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Yeah I'm currently reading 11/22/63 and loving it. I'll make a ranking list for sure. I'm thinking that maybe I'll release it in October.

[@theoriginaledi]

@@PaperbackJourneys Hooray!! :D

[@Danny_Matson]

Can't wait to listen to your Lonesome Dove review. I just finished it two days ago and my goodness... Skyrocketed to my best book I've read this year, too.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Oh that's amazing Danny! Yeah it's just so good. Glad you liked it mate.

[@hollyc4624]

I read Lonesome Dove earlier this year and you are spot on! It was such an excellent book and makes me want to read more McMurtry. I also read East of Eden to start the year and that was another fantastic book. Easily two of my top books of the year. Looking forward to your review.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

I've never read East of Eden but I really need to. I'm glad you liked Lonesome Dove. 😃

[@carlstewart7094]

Hi Jay, another great video. Love a wrap up. One of my top books is The Heart of Arelium... purely down to your fantastic narrator work, happy reading to you 📖☕ Side note: You like it darker by Stephen king 🤯 just brilliant

[@PaperbackJourneys]

So glad you're enjoying it mate and I'm glad you enjoyed You Like it Darker too. Great wasn't it?

[@carlstewart7094]

Adore the channel and your infectious love and appreciation for books. Loved you like it darker, top stories for me were rattlesnakes and two talented bastids 📖☕ I look forward to the lonesome dove review

[@nixxkids]

So let's talk about one of your sections, Death of a Salesman. In my opinion, this is what is missing from American literature today. Books like DOAS or Grapes of Wrath, that give a raw, often times unsettling, truthful perspective of the harsh realities that come with being an American or chasing the "American dream". If you haven't read GOW, I strongly suggest it. Great job on these reviews.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

I haven't read Grapes of Wrath but I loved Of Mice and Men. Dickens did a lot in England of what Steinbeck seemed to focus on in America. I think there might be a lack of that kind of literature in the mainstream because people have started to villainise the poor. I remember growing up in England and seeing these horrible tv shows like "Benefits Britain" where it was just a chance to scoff and laugh at people with no money and paint a picture of them "all being the same!" It's sad.

[@NicolesBookishNook]

What a fantastic list (so far)! ❤🎉

[@lavenderlady7441]

yay!!!!! love this.😊

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! ❤️

[@Realm_of_Words13-zi2jf]

After you've mentioned Joe Abercrombie so much, I'm about halfway through the audiobook for Best Served Cold & I'm loving it. The dark humor & banter between the characters is my favorite. I feel dumb now though not realizing it's similarities to Kill Bill lol

[@PaperbackJourneys]

I'm so glad you're liking it. Did you read The First Law trilogy?

[@Realm_of_Words13-zi2jf]

@@PaperbackJourneys I have not read it yet. I figured since you said this was a stand alone with just some character cross over, I'd be pretty safe to read it & not spoil too much of the trilogy. I'm hoping to make some time soon for it though. Especially after that ending of Best Served Cold! I have a feeling some of that might be explained further in the trilogy lol

[@lolaphearse3688]

I believe you have to be a parent to TRULY appreciate the terror,horror and heartbreak of Pet Sematary. It still gives me chills. I have tried Lonesome Dove before,maybe not given it a fair chance,and as everyone raves about it,will try again. Love that you read so diversely!

[@Millie.C]

The Three-Body Problem Trilogy is definitely in my top books of all time, along with Octavia Butler's trilogy Lilith's Brood. Speaking of hard sci fi, did you ever get to read Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy? Or his 2312 book? And congrats, you made me run to open my browser and purchase Hyperion 😄

[@Dinadoesyoga]

When I was 13, I read Cujo and Pet Semetary back to back and haven't been right since. 😂

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Whew! You're hardcore! Yeah that combo will change you for sure. 😂

[@valliyarnl]

Elite list. 🎉

[@ludvanbeethoven1]

Death of a salesperson was written about me

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Oh yeah it can definitely feel like that sometimes right? 😢

[@Talking_Story]

Cmon now Arthur Miller? This list is absolute gold!!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Whaat?? One of my Booktube heroes commented? Thanks mate. Yeah Death of a Salesman really broke me up. Also I think I saw a video of yours once where your wife and father really liked Lonesome Dove, isn't that right?

[@Talking_Story]

@@PaperbackJourneys I have Lonesome Dovenon the stack coming up and it will be hard cause my Father loved it and I am sure is very much like Gus and Call. Watching True Grit with Jeff Bridges leveled me for that reason. If you wanna read another amazing script get The Cripple of Irishman. Absolutely amazing.

[@CupCake_Chaos]

Would you consider a list of worst reads so far this year? (Looks at Nothing But Blackened Teeth)

[@PaperbackJourneys]

That's a great idea. I'm just trying to think what else I would add to that... oh Forest Gump for sure. Great idea!

[@whikker7741]

Just curious but it seemed like you said golden son was a “young adult” book as if that is a negative thing , why is that?

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Oh I don't think there's anything wrong with YA novels. (I think I even say that in the video) I'm just talking from my own personal taste, and the tastes of some of my audience. YA novels can be awesome 😃.

[@artlesscalamity]

@@PaperbackJourneys Speaking for myself I appreciate those clarifications - I’ve been burned too many times by an over-hyped book that turns out to be YA. I’m a former bookseller so I know it’s mostly a marketing term, but I usually find the writing and themes to be too simplistic for my taste. That said, I might check out Red Rising - I just keep seeing it everywhere

[@PalomaCrankypants]

@@artlesscalamity I totally hear you on being burned by a book that turns out to be YA (like Paperback Journeys, I also don't think there's anything wrong with YA books and have gone through periods when I've been really into them) and while Red Rising may read as YA to some, the sequels are definitely adult, especially the second series that starts with Iron Gold. The series gets progressively darker, there are complicated politics involved, and the story expands in scope to include the entire solar system--the additional POVs help to relay this. Some of the events are brutal: there's a reason why "Dark Age" is the title of the second book in the second series. If you do decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it. I love it and am anxiously awaiting Red God, the final book in the series. (And hello from another former bookseller!)

[@tylerhawthorne1954]

hey mate i dm’d you on instagram. i’m not sure you use it too much anymore tho

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Hey Tyler! Thanks for the message mate. I need to make it easier to contact me really. Yes! I will be setting up a discord channel in the near future. 😃

[@evandavis3678]

Instant click

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Thanks Evan mate!