Weekly Update: August 26th, 2023 (The One Where I Decide to Read That Book Everyone Recommends)

Mike talks about the week that was and the week that will be for August 19th, 2023.
You can purchase The Passage here: amzn.to/3OTGALx (physical) amzn.to/45r8q95 (digital) amzn.to/3YQ88pQ (audio)
You can purchase Locked Doors here: amzn.to/47GK8ta (physical) amzn.to/3E2TjGR (digital) amzn.to/3KP4x5w (audio)
Channels mentioned this episode:
‪@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy‬
‪@Bookborn‬
‪@_jared‬
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Mike K.
15201 Mason Rd
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Cypress, TX 77433
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Microphone used in these videos: amzn.to/3IpFSAX
Camera used in these videos: amzn.to/3IqqdBv
0:00 Introduction
0:54 What Am I Reading?
7:45 What Am I Going to Read?
9:14 This Week on the Channel
16:02 Next Week Plans
17:38 TV & Movie Talk
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#MikesBookReviews #WeeklyUpdate #Vlog

[@fcsolis]

Oh boy. The Passage. It's a trilogy. It's my one true literary love in life. The cast of characters- Amy No Last Name, Peter, Alicia Donadio, Sarah, Fanning- are the most unforgettable. Thank you.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I’m enjoying it!

[@jctmanu]

The passage feels like a lost Stephen king novel from the 80s. One of my favorite book series of all time. Hope you love it!

[@deannabanquer1942]

You probably know this, but Justin Cronin has a local Houston connection, he was a professor at Rice University and is now their Writer in Residence. He’s so kind in person. If you ever get the chance Brazos Bookstore and Murder by the Book host him occasionally.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for the excellent chat last night, Mike! I learned a lot too, and it was great to catch up. I'm glad City of Dragons worked for you, and I'm excited as we approach the final stages of Realm of the Elderlings. All the best!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Any time!

[@JARHuygebaert]

Don't mute you drinking coffee, Mike. Don't give the haters what they want!

[@gemini-media1117]

Mike Drinking Coffees the best part

[@pamelalagree-kanotz6845]

Huh?

[@_jared]

Thanks again, Mike. Next time we'll finally hash it out about Blood Meridian (or maybe we'll just continue geeking out about Sun Eater).

[@mikesbookreviews]

The pleasure was all mine! Thank you for the invite.

[@RedFuryBooks]

I hope that you continue to love The Passage! It's great that you'll be able to get more people to read Cronin as I think he's fantastic and not talked about enough!

[@Talking_Story]

Flowers for Algernon packs such an emotional punch. So glad you are digging the Passage. Cronin taught where my wife got her MFA in creative writing so I really like following the guy.

[@katieamarsh]

Almost at 100k. Nice work Sir. I have been with you since you started reviewing Wheel of Time. I save your videos to watch when I am frazzled and need to unwind. Though you’ve made me spend a ton of money on books. 😂

[@mikesbookreviews]

I appreciate that!

[@ChaplainMalachai]

With your opening comment I thought you were talking about Sabine in the Ahsoka series....laughed when you mentioned you weren't seeing it. Just finished Lonesome Dove, one-shot The Green Mile and now in the middle of Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.

[@AislingRH]

The Passage trilogy is absolutely amazing ❤ Justin Cronin is a very talented writer. He has a new book out called The Ferryman, I highly recommend that also x

[@LeslieAnnShepp]

I'm about to start the third book in the Passage trilogy! You're in for a wild ride!

[@MichaelRSchultheiss]

The Passage was *incredible.* I'm very glad you're reading it!

[@alex_unabridged]

So glad you’re enjoying The Passage so far! Ah, the time jump - the first time I read it I hated the shift to start with, I put the book down and nearly didn’t go back to it. I’m soooo glad I kept going with it as it turned into my favourite book ever! Just about to start my first Blake Crouch in September - starting with Dark Matter. Am really looking forward to it, have heard so much great stuff about Crouch’s work :-)

[@katieamarsh]

I just finished Of Darkness and Light about 15 minutes ago. I absolutely loved it. I am going to start The Exile this afternoon. Thanks for hooking me on this series! Ryan Cahill is now a must-read. The connection with the dragon is incredible. The intertwined souls. I love animal companions and these books are the cream of the crop with them. I really liked The Passage, not as much as Swan Song though. I always like when you are reading books I’ve read when I know you’ll like them. You’ll love Flowers for Algernon. It’s a must-read.

[@JAKandtheBookStack]

I like the “books they made me read in school” but I’d love to see you add which ones SHOULD be required reading that usually aren’t too.

[@lisac1619]

I read Flowers For Algernon earlier this year. I think you'll enjoy that one, it's well written and such a deep story.

[@pamelalagree-kanotz6845]

I agree. Swan Song great!

[@safinan8008]

Happy reading to you!! 🎉

[@alynam82]

Awesome, I can't wait to read The Passage. It's gonna happen soon. I haven't quite whittled down my spooky season list yet. Currently reading Mad Ship and LOVING IT! Earlier this week I finished Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger-- something I think you'd like as a summer palate cleanser

[@LiterateTexan]

I think you're really going to enjoy Flowers for Algernon. Great video

[@terrelljohnson5811]

I finished the series last year. I read it because it was adapted to a TV series on Fox in 2019 and they canned it. So when I discovered that it was a book series I was on board. I wanted to know what happen it was a really good series I would recommend it for you. I have followed your channel from the beginning of the WOT days and the taste you and I have are very much the same happy reading

[@pamelalagree-kanotz6845]

The little bit I saw of The Passage on tv was terrible! How sad when the books are so awesome!

[@scottferris2686]

Flowers for algernon is brilliant! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

[@heidi6281]

Mike I just started Lords of the North, book 3 of Cornwall’s Saxon Tales! It is so funny and I have not laughed out loud so much since First Law. These books are the perfect palette cleansers. I also just finished Legend. You will be nicely surprised how unique it is in the best way.

[@karenthomas1456]

I started reading Red Rising, which I know you love but I’m not sure what I think of it yet. So I started The Druid. I like that better so far.

[@dpeady78]

I’ve started five books in the last week - after the highs of the run of Light Bringer by Pierce Brown, Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane, Hellborn King by Christopher G Brenning and and Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi, nothing seems to be sticking so I may join you in reading The Passage

[@carlosbranca8080]

Man, you started reading The Passage earlier than i thought! I'm still around 250 pages left to finish Swan Song. I didn't want to read two back to back post apocalyptic novels but i want to read it along with your channel and hear your thoughts about it. Take care

[@aldan7812]

This week eh, i'll be continuing my Dresden re-read which is just brilliant so far, will hit Golden Son this week too and start drinking now in preparation for WoT S2. There's just enough time to get drunk enough to watch that I think.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I'm still reading A time for mercy john Grisham Jane Eyre Winter's heart by Robert Jordan The outsider by Stephen king

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

Serial killers? Blake Crouch? *goes and adds whole series to TBR* LOL - I've been rereading the first 23 volumes of One Piece this month to get ready for the OP live action. Mike - your sons will *LOVE* that boxed set - you should read them together!

[@Talking_Story]

Almost done with Ascendant and I think it is that YA type palate cleanser with a great heart you will be looking for in September.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Looking forward to it

[@wardo1602]

Just finished Assassin's Quest as a re-read after 27 years. Soon I'll be getting into Tawny Man for the first time. Currently reading Freakanomics and Absalom! Absalom! by Faulkner.

[@biankatoth1786]

The Passage started so good, but then it was just boring, but it was also interesting that I want to read the second and third book but I also don't want to suffer through it :D

[@kirkpetersjr]

I checked it out from my university library, after reading the sample.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

Read Passage back in high school and loved it. Really gotta give it another read. Awesome Metallica shirt, I just finished listening to Ride the Lightning while lifting weights.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Rock on!

[@s.p.8508]

Finished the first 3 books in The Bonehunters. Really good, although doesn’t touch GotM or MoI. I’m just a Genebackis guy. Also got back to Bound and the Broken after shelving it for 6 months or so. Had to restart of Blood and Fire when I was 63% through. Hopefully round 2 is better.

[@ragnarvolorus2925]

Please do something on Discworld...Always wanted to jump in but never know where to start.

[@chimpboy12345]

The "books I was forced to read in school" sounds like a good idea. Flowers for Algernon was one of those for me, and one I really liked. I was super pissed that the other english class read Watership Down though, and our class did the double special-needs whammy of I Own The Racecourse and Dibs in Search of Self. Dibs was the worst thing I was ever forced to read. It was so bad that one kid in my class listed finishing it as his proudest achievement in our graduation yearbook a couple of years later.

[@DZIGIN]

I enjoyed Scream 5 very much,and 6 up until certain scenes 👌

[@lordramoth3416]

Reading his latest by Justin Cronin THE FERRYMAN which is partially sci fi! Looking forward to your take on THE PASSAGE though

[@kingzzz6509]

I finished Exile by R. A. Salvatore yesterday. It was good, but I’m ready for Drizzt to be out of the Underdark. Haha I’m getting back to Ruin by John Gwynne, I liked Malice, really liked Valor, and so far Ruin has been good, can’t wait to see where it leads. After I finish Ruin I’m going to wrap up the Dark Elf Trilogy, and after that I’m probably going to finish The Faithful and the Fallen.

[@Cold_Zero_The_Wise]

Im now reading My Dark Vanessa and its a fascinating read, i think if yiu read it with an open mind snd a strong stomach there is alot to analyze and learn from the content.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I totally agree with you about my dark vanessa it's a good read but very difficult

[@Morfeusm]

I still remember that book vividly it gave me more creeps than any horror ever could

[@Cold_Zero_The_Wise]

@@angelaholmes8888 I'd recommend it be taught In highschools, we teach kids how to identify bad touches, don't take candy from stranger, don't get Into rides with them, but do we teach kids how they can be manipulated, when they are young and stressed out feeling insecure, not everyone that comes and cheers them up and says "but your a pretty or your so smart and talented" has Thier best interest in mind, for me the book really highlights the struggle of being young and innocent and how kids can easily become "victim" volunteeraly and shows the sign and techniques predators use on them.

[@benconlin3557]

Been a bit quiet on reading the last couple of days as Armored Core 6 came out and I’ve been busy shooting mechs 😂 started World War Z, interesting book as it’s not a traditional novel, didn’t even know it was a book until I saw it on one of Moid’s videos

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

I completed Death on the Burnt Ocean (Peter Wacht) and Deadman’s Road (Joe R. Lansdale). Deadman’s Road was a lot of fun!

[@jtmplmbr4465]

This is an absolute classic trilogy and a literary triumph. NOT AT ALL LIKE THE STAND OR SWAN SONG.

[@AutomailUser]

Just finished the Wayward Pines trilogy. Blew through that in a couple of days, currently on Mickey7. As for watching, most recently watched The Devil Wears Prada (great book too), Miss Congeniality, Drive, Dirty Dancing, and a couple others. Gonna start The Last War series after I'm done with Mickey7 and its sequel.

[@JessMass86]

Nice Shirt! 🤘

[@Cherbookie]

So close to the Naked 100k live stream. Gonna be nuts!

[@Fuzreads]

I'm not going to lie they were books I devoured. I got up to the last like 2 or 3 chapters of the last book and had to stop. I ended up reading a whole book between the last 3 chapters to prolonge it

[@Levi19878]

Reading the lotus sura and the expanse book 4 and the princess bride

[@PsilocybeJedi]

Mike are you gonna be playing any Starfield when it finally drops?! I'm so stoked for that, especially after finishing Expanse

[@chickenwingy15]

Am I the only one digging the lighting Mike has going on rn?

[@kylerieman221]

Reading a few chapters of Deathnote each day. I have 47 chapters left and it will be finished. I'm still making my way through Kingfall by David Estes and Project Hail Mary and enjoying them both. Finally, I decided to pick up Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. I wanted to read it before the movie comes out and its just over 300 pages, so I figured I could knock it out pretty quick.

[@musicgenius1948]

I recently read killers of the flower moon! It’s great

[@BrianBell7]

when you said "batshit crazy", I thought of my review for Lonesome Crown... "the most batshit bonkers battle of all time." Fiery Absolution is no joke!

[@seanhalpin87]

Im plowing thru toll the hounds, its so good, i dont understand the people who have issues, not caring about the andii stuff. I think it's all fantastic! Im at page 850 and im only 65% done, so yeah. Big book taking up my time, cant wait to get to the last 25% which is meant to be among the best in all of fantasy. Once im done with it, ill be taking a month or two off before doing dust of dreams and the crippled god because i know im gonna read them together like one book.

[@alvinmarcus5780]

When you talked about The Passage it kept bugging me. Maybe I got it from the library. But the more I thought about the book i figured that wasn't right. Went and looked at some older books i have and there it was. No price on it so I guess I got it when I was a member of the Science Fiction Book Club. 13 years back. At least that's close. Don't think I ever read it so maybe I'll give it a try.

[@shaywarren]

Some more feedback on adaptations. Altered Carbon season one I enjoyed more than the book and that's rare.

[@mattharding235]

The Native Star by M. K. Hobson is another that id never heard of and happened to be a good read

[@tylerpeters116]

Hell ya

[@newanessa3559]

Hi Mike, have you watched the full Expanse TV show as I'm wondering if they're true to the books or be a spoiler if I haven't finished all 9 books? Thanks for your videos.

[@brettmurray2473]

Just teasing us with TTH sitting on the table 😂😂

[@mikesbookreviews]

I talked about the first 200 pages with Philip last night.

[@elizabethheitzman5173]

Have you ever read the Feed by M.T. Anderson it’s a ya book but it tries to predict where the world is going. I had to read that one in school.

[@Yesica1993]

Oh, I wanted to love The Passage. But for some reason I thought it was about one thing and it turned out to be about something else. (Don't want to spoil things.) I'm not sure if the marketing was misleading or if I personally misunderstood something somewhere along the line. I just remember spending more time being frustrated that it wasn't about X than enjoying what it actually ended up being. I might be willing to give it another chance someday.

[@adrian6685]

Saying everyone’s favorite actors selling a movie they are in can’t work as well as hearsay and a trailer is quite the take considering the pr campaign the Barbie actors did. Oh btw, it’s set to be WB highest grossing global release ever. Cheers !

[@mikesbookreviews]

And you think that is why it has been successful? Because the actors talked about the movie? I'm sure it had nothing to do with the brand power of Barbie, an American institution for 60+ years.

[@praetorxyn]

I think if you make it through the Water 7 / Enies Lobby arcs in One Piece, you'll fall in love with it. But I don't know if you will drop it before you get to that point, as that's a good way in.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Is that in the first 23 volumes?

[@praetorxyn]

@@mikesbookreviews Nope. Wiki says volumes 32 to 46..That's why I'm not sure you'd make it that far. But that saga has some of the best character work I know of, and covers one of the most tragic back stories of one of my favorite characters (and some coming of age, albeit in flashback), so I think you'd love it. If you don't like it by the end of that, I'll concede to being wrong and say maybe drop it, even though the saga after that is incredible.

[@Rogue_VI]

@@praetorxynThis is correct. The Water 7 and Enies Lobby arcs are fantastic. But I've only watched the anime.

[@praetorxyn]

@@Rogue_VI Same. I was born legally blind, so I don't deal well with the black and white nature of manga. The anime has pacing problems as they chose to do that instead of have masses of filler, but I think the voice acting and music enhances things a lot.

[@Rogue_VI]

@@praetorxyn The pacing is the only real problem with the anime, imo. The story is so good and the voice acting is great (except for those friggin' villain laughs).

[@chrismueller8795]

Thank you I really could not stand how no you died from ghost face stabbing people. Wow!

[@K.R.171]

I died inside when he said One Piece adaptation on Netflix…

[@darKuchiki]

Thank you to the anonymous viewer that single handedly redeemed the One Piece community in Mike's eyes and made him rethink giving the series a chance lol. Also the Netflix show is gonna cover the first 11 volumes so if you want to read it before it comes out in 2 days it might be a little late. If you want to watch the Netflix show i would have advised you against it a few months ago but I've been hearing the show may actually be decent so that might give you a unique perspective as everyone started with the anime/manga first (that's still probably the best choice ultimately).

[@matt984]

The only 2 good books I got to read in school were Brave New World and Lord of the Flies. Everything else was garbage imo. I never got to read the standard “good” school books like Grapes of Wrath, 1984 etc until I read them on my own years later. Also Flowers for Algernon is the only book that has legitimately made me cry.

[@CurlyHoward42]

Watched a video about the Warner Bros issues. He said they're keeping their December schedule because they think the strike will be over.

[@MrMichaelGutierrez]

I’ve read “The Passage”. I thought it was excellent. However, I’m having a hard time getting through the second book “The Twelve”. I just don’t think it’s near as good.

[@thenewtommyrockets1180]

Not trying to make you read something you don’t want to, but when will you finish The Dark Tower?

[@stephennootens916]

I picked up and put down the passage over the course of three or four years and I am half way through it. It is really bleak.

[@windwhisper0234]

Scream has become the very thing it spoofed.

[@hymnsarebeautiful6353]

Scream was supposed to be a trilogy from the start. Making 4/and the backdrop of them wanting to do it changed the vibe of the series.

[@jtmplmbr4465]

How in gods name is this like The Stand!!!??

[@AndreDeSimone-dy1cz]

I'm reading The Hobbit before my first time doing Lord of the Rings. Is Gandalf a Mary Sue? Lol. "Oh no, the group is in trouble. Gandalf walks in and waves his start and the day is saved"

[@angelaholmes8888]

This weekend I'm watching Confess Fletch Justified season 4 The bl series hidden agenda

[@heidi6281]

Angela I am watching Justified: City Primeval and it is excellent , also based on one of Elmore Leonard’s short stories about Raylan.

[@philippburnett6045]

Snyder is awesome. Screw what toxic paid haters say. He’s got vision and I’m excited for rebel moon

[@AzenHawke1995]

While I am glad that you started One Piece, I think that Hunter X Hunter is the more popular manga suited for you. 100K Sci-Fi September let's Goooo

[@seanrobsob8883]

Did u ever read legend by Gemmell. Did I miss it???

[@mikesbookreviews]

On the schedule for December

[@fletch44]

The Passage is a really good trilogy. I hesitate to say “great” because the middle book is a bit of a mess, although still has its positives. The first and third books are excellent, especially the first one. The time jump that is divisive among many fans in the first book is I think a completely ridiculous and unwarranted criticism. Yeah I know opinions are just that, they’re subjective. But I feel like the criticism on the time jump is by people who maybe don’t read a ton of books so that plot development really threw them off? I don’t know, I just think it’s a dumb critique. Also, you wearing the “And Justice For All” t shirt because it’s the 35th anniversary of that album’s release?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Total accident on the shirt ha ha

[@joshuavincent3515]

Just walk it off?

[@jacknixon2812]

Where's the Starfield love Mike?

[@mikesbookreviews]

I’ll let you know on September 6th when I get to play it.

[@jacknixon2812]

@@mikesbookreviews got it cued on gamepass, i'm stoked

[@QueenoftheBlackCoast]

No actor has ever persuaded me to go to a movie. A good trailer or a friend I trust who saw it and loved it, or if it's a book adaptation of something I have read. I try to stay away from too many trailers because they tend to spoil the movie. I think the art of making a good movie trailer has been lost, too.

[@mopete9830]

Yeah I'm kind of tired of writers turning everyone into Sam and dean Winchester just kill characters their taking away from our favorite kill count.

[@jellevanbreugel325]

WTF!!!!!!!! they delayed Dune????????????? ffs....... Just waiting patiently till you review Thraxax.......

[@mikesbookreviews]

Warner Bros is trash.

[@petercushing7397]

Lol, Rebel Moon was terrible

[@richdudley2888]

Surprise Barbie review incoming, then.....😂

[@MetalGildarts]

Congrats on the 99k subs! I was there before you even began reading Wheel of Time. But please for the love of gosh don’t watch the One Piece live action. It’s gonna be garbage. It’s not worth it. Just read the manga instead.

[@412JFury]

TRUE STORY: My Dad stabbed somebody 11 times and he lived.

[@eded9157]

Sorry but Rebel Moon looks AS BAD as the Disney SW garbage. The same style, the same ideals, girl-boss energy tralier... I liked Snyder from 300 to Man of Steel, after that he is just whatever