Weekly Update: December 8th, 2023 (The One Where I Say Give Me ALL of The Godzilla Material)

Mike talks about the week that was and the week that will be for December 8th, 2023.
ℙ𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠:
One Piece amzn.to/3uuqSjz
Legend amzn.to/3NGGkA7
Children of Time amzn.to/3NkTnXH
Leviathan Falls amzn.to/3GA2tvN
ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕖𝕡𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕕𝕖:
‪@SunEaterBooks‬‪@MattonBooks‬
‪@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy‬
‪@ACriticalDragon‬
‪@madisongoodyear5040‬
‪@BaldBookTuber‬
𝕎𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕄𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘? 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕕𝕠 𝕤𝕠 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕒𝕕𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤:
Mike K.
15201 Mason Rd
Suite 169
Cypress, TX 77433
Support Mike on Patreon: / mikesbookreviews
Join Mike's server on Discord / discord
Visit Mike's Amazon Wishlist: amzn.to/2zpHooW
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Microphone used in these videos: amzn.to/3IpFSAX
Camera used in these videos: amzn.to/3IqqdBv
0:00 Introduction
0:35 What Am I Reading?
5:48 What Am I Going to Read?
8:52 This Week on the Channel
10:38 Next Week Plans
13:02 TV & Movie Talk
20:31 Gaming Talk
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#MikesBookReviews #WeeklyUpdate #Vlog

[@oliturner4710]

It’s staggering how much stuff you can fit into your week: work, quality time with wife and kids, tv shows, recording all these videos and a couple of books. How do you do it? Do you not sleep? I’m going to need a “week in the life of Mike” video to explain your impressive time management skills 😂

[@NikhilKoparkarmusic]

Same ! 😂

[@mixedmattaphors]

​@@NikhilKoparkarmusic Yeah, I have trouble with the "going to work" and "upkeep" thing, without any Full books.

[@breannahall1821]

Yes!! 😂

[@mikesbookreviews]

Stay off social media and it's easier than you think.

[@mixedmattaphors]

Interesting Proposition. lol .@@mikesbookreviews

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Sounds like we'll be finishing Fitz and the Fool at about the same time -- perfect! I'm looking forward to chatting tomorrow morning about Fellowship of the Ring, my friend!

[@ernstbrehm1135]

Def Leppards BEST album on that shirt of yours🤟🏼

[@noahjoslin8340]

love the def leppard shirt

[@PsilocybeJedi]

Leviathan Falls may very well have the most badass epilogue ever written

[@clairesayers7727]

My husband and I loved The Shield , it's awesome to hear someone else talk about it. We watched it when it was on TV originally then rewatched over Lockdown. My vote would definitely go with Sons next , one I have yet to convince him to watch !

[@bethbaskett3]

Walton Goggins is wonderful. Perfect villain.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Let’s gooooo!!!!!!!! I just read Children of Time this week and loved it! I’m already halfway through the sequel and loving that too. Totally agree on the poignant Expanse finale, so so good. Also give Legend its time-the second half was approximately 96389163 times better for me than the first half. I’m glad you’re on such a reading roll, and I have to catch up to you in RotE as I’m just into the third book of Rain Wild.

[@bryanmark14]

Godzilla Minus One was amazing. Probably the best movie I have seen all year, and the second best Godzilla movie behind the original.

[@zkinak2107]

I don’t typically cry during movies but Godzilla minus one almost made me cry 3 times. I never thought the best movie I’d see this year would be a Godzilla movie.

[@puzzlingread]

Wow! I just keep hearing great things about this movie. Really looking forward to seeing it!

[@Tinahgirl83]

@@zkinak2107I cried so many times! 😂I’ve never cried in a Godzilla movie in my life until yesterday.

[@dinocollins720]

Another fantastic video!!! Thank you Mike!

[@Tinahgirl83]

Godzilla Minus One is still in theaters and you NEED to see it on the biggest screen possible. I’m in Dallas and I just watched it yesterday in a Cinemark XD theater and it was mind blowing. I love the Monsterverse and all the movies they’ve done, but Minus One is the best Godzilla movie I’ve seen since the original movie from the 50s. It’s excellent, and it’s almost like it’s a Godzilla film rather than a Godzilla movie. I was so invested in these characters and Godzilla himself was legit terrifying. It’s nothing like the Monsterverse, and I didn’t know that I would even like it, let alone love it. Like you I’m here for the monsters brawling, but this one was hauntingly good. It’s probably my favorite movie I’ve seen this year. Please try to see it on the big screen! Also, they did this on a $15million budget.

[@safinan8008]

Happy weekend reading to you!! 🎉

[@Redundant_underscore]

I just finished Legend last week, and i loved it.

[@Talking_Story]

Can't wait to hear you thoughts on Children of Time. I really want to get to that 1.

[@esmayrosalyne]

Very eager to hear your thoughts on Children of Time, that book is a true TBR veteran for me haha. And was just watching the replay of the LotR chat, that was such a fun and chill time!! Now I want to reread those books, hahah. Hope you have a great week, Mike!

[@mikesbookreviews]

The spider vs ants stuff is...weird.

[@poodlemuffin]

Morning Star is my favourite Gemmell book. Bit cheesy but great fun.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

Reading Drenai Saga made me feel like I was living through an epic power metal album from the 80's. Loved it, but understand what you mean about Legend feeling like an author's first book. It's a little choppy and rough around the edges. I read it similar to the Conan Saga, everything is written out of order but it begins to piece itself together with each entry into the overarching series.

[@christophertheofilos1063]

David Gemmell's endings of each Drenai book really hits home, like some have literally a paragraph right at the end that reconceptualizes each story

[@Musicteachersheff]

Really hoping to see you get to The Toll soon. One of my 7th graders begged me to read Caraval…so I did and I’m sucked in. So that’s what I’m listening to. Just finished book 2. Taking a break for City of Dragons before book 3. On my Kindle I just finished the newest Percy Jackson book…Chalice of the Gods. Now I’m getting started with Sanderson’s new book, Defiant. Finishing up the Skyward series.

[@marcussimoes2909]

Im só HAPPY! I love the Legend books

[@nameconnect]

Hard for me to find books that keep my attention. Children of time is one of them.

[@kristen7623]

MIKE I just finished Kingsbridge #0 The Evening and The Morning and it is a BANGER I’m beyond excited for you to read it 🤯

[@mikesbookreviews]

That sounds great! I'll be doing World Without End early next year. Depends how much a break I need from historical epics after Shogun.

[@kristen7623]

For sure these books are A LOT. I’m so excited to read World Without End at about the same time as you! My friend told me that that one has his all time favorite romance

[@koves17]

Minus 1 got extended and expanded showings in the states. You need to experience this in theaters. Saw it earlier and I can’t stop thinking about it.

[@MattonBooks]

Super excited for our chat Mike! 🙂 And I primarily invited you so we two can be the stupidest guys in the room *together*! 😜 Don’t worry, we can just gush, and listen to the profs drop some knowledge. ♥️

[@exiawildfire7708]

Thanks to this channel I discovered the bound and the broken series by Ryan Cahill and just completed book 1 and the fall novella… I am hooked, looking forward to reading the remaining books so I’m ready for book 4

[@mikesbookreviews]

Enjoy the ride!

[@Coleton2573]

I have a feeling that Children of Time is going to exceed your expectations by quite a lot.

[@mnbgfdsa]

I started reading the expanse when season 1 came. Sadly, the Bulgarian publisher ditched it at book 5. Now some years later and I'm reading books in english. I'm picking it up again from book 1 :) It's as good as I remember and you are hyping me up for the latter half of the series

[@mikesbookreviews]

You're going to love it!

[@nathaneichenberger9332]

I’m currently reading Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton before I continue with the Cosmere.

[@mattamant915]

I wouldn't worry about that "spoiler" for Children Of Time. You find that out early enough.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I didn't think it was bad. And yeah, 2nd chapter ha ha

[@benconlin3557]

I’ve been reading Of War and Ruin and nothing else for 3 weeks and still only halfway due to having work to do for my masters but I have one more week of that then nothing till January so increased reading time is on the way 😊

[@Ak1193]

Godzilla Minus One had it's theater run extended! Go see it!

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

I completed Pawn’s Gambit, the second book in the Mortal Techniques series. That book was a lot of fun. And there are connections to the first book. I got through it in 2 days. Highly recommend it!

[@MetalGildarts]

I need to look into them.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

@@MetalGildarts I think you’ll definitely enjoy them. I’ll be reading the 3rd book sometime in the new year.

[@DirePantsDim]

I'm a David Gemmel fan, but I'm with you on Legend. It feels like an author's first book.

[@colmduggan8230]

Legend was Gemmells first fantasy book he wrote it while he had cancer the book writing was a coping mechanism

[@DirePantsDim]

@@colmduggan8230 Yeah, I know. For a fantasy debut book, it was good. As with any author, it seems that he found his footing in later books. The Drenai saga, as a whole, is great. I think that the series peaked in Waylander. What do you think? :)

[@colmduggan8230]

@@DirePantsDim It has been many years since I read the books and I never finished them all I have only read books from Druss and Skillgannon

[@MacScarfield]

While I thought the World Building was a bit generic (Standard European Inspired “Low” Fantasy World Fusion of Conan and Tolkien vs an Genghis Khan/Attila the Hun-expy, and even a fan of soft magic as myself, could feel the magic to be rather “what serves the plot” and mostly out of the blue), Gemmell has a great legacy as a «trope standardizer», especially with characters such as Druss the Legend (a re-enlisted Retired Veteran Warrior and leader with both physical and mental wounds, inspired by revisionist Westerns and War Stories, compared to the then more standard farm boy/prince or adult Warrior/Rogue/Wizards of fantasy/S&S). I was prepared for epic battles and good writing, but the humanity of his characters (of both good and bad) is genuinely inspirational even to this day! Orrin is perhaps the clearest example to my mind, who by a lesser writer could have so easily been turned into a paper cut stereotype character, while Gemmell gives him an arc that almost brought tears to my eyes! Gemmell’s themes of Perseverance and Courage do gain an extra dimension, when knowing he was battling Cancer when writing this stories and survived for decades and multiple stories later! I also think it natural that the story of a weakened nation not surrendering, struck a major cord in post-Falkland War UK and post-Vietnam/Reaganite US.

[@karenbird6727]

I really liked the Children of Time Trilogy.

[@kylerieman221]

I finished Cytonic last weekend and am about halfway through Defiant. I am almost finished with Wolf Winter as well. After that, its back to the Dresden files

[@andreamiller3578]

Glad I saw this. I didn't realize Defiant was out.

[@kylerieman221]

@@andreamiller3578 I hope you enjoy it 😊

[@Josheatsbooks]

Quest For Lost Heroes is my favorite Drenai book so far. I'm on book 7 now. Tons of bad ass characters in later books

[@dandrum1ify]

Minus One is wicked awesome!

[@AlexNitsu]

The ending of the Epanse is very satisfying. The theme of "don't meddle with what you don't understand" perfectly realized. And the collective mind thing was handled really well (as opposed to Robert Jackson Bennett's Locklands, at least for me)

[@mikesbookreviews]

No doubt.

[@MetalGildarts]

Never been a fan of GTA, but if people complain about the new one, let them complain. People have gotten too soft in the past decade. Sweet Moses. Have a great weekend Mike!

[@bethbaskett3]

Can't wait for House of the Dragon!

[@theoa126]

Totally get it with Legend. The story is a metaphor for life and the author’s existential crisis having thought he might have cancer. The waiting is all part of it. Knowing that backstory definitely made me feel differently about it, then I would have treating it like a typical fantasy story.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'll definitely read more by him.

[@gelfie2208]

I read the Gemmel books in chronological, character order, Starting with Waylander (who is still my personal favourite character), then Druss (beginning with the first of the prequels, and I feel this is the best way to go, especially based on what you said about feeling like being dropped in at book 6). And I am now reading the Skilgannon novels and Druss also makes an appearance in these, and yes, with all the prequels, then Legend, then "White Wolf" (Skilgannon book one) its like having an old friend back. Gemmel also has two crime novels, one printed after his death. "White Knight Black Swan" which had a Guy Ritchie vibe to it and was very enjoyable. And Rhyming Rings which was also very enjoyable, it's a mystery/crime thriller with a supernatural twist. Expanse: I loved books 1-4, and books 6-9. I can see why amazon didn't do 6-9, but it would have been an amazing series if they had, because those last three novels are strong. BTW, all the Drenai novels are narrated by Sean Barrett on audible. And he and Gemmel are a match on the same level as Abercrombie and Pacey,

[@ptannous27]

I like Monarch but I 100% agree not enough monsters. Can’t wait for HOTD. Blood and 🧀!

[@brycedouglas620]

Godzilla Minus One is being extended in theaters so I'd suggest checking your local theaters to see if it's still there. It's well worth it to see in the theater.

[@jellevanbreugel325]

Should've started with the Jerusalem man saga! More you're vibe, may'be?

[@heidi6281]

My vote is for the Sopranos, I have fond memories of watching it with my mom and we loved that Janice/Richie moment.

[@StephenAryan44]

Yeah, with Legend, you just have to let it go, because for the longest time, they were just stories and not actual books. It's why there are a lot of Druss books set within this world as he eventually went back and wrote some of them. Waylander, is another awesome character, and he then got 3 books.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'll certainly read more.

[@odiums_taint]

the first half of Children of Time just rips… hope you enjoy it, too!

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's...interesting.

[@mitchellhansen3785]

I’ve been playing the Dead Space remake on my Steamdeck, it’s amazing!

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's a really good remake.

[@gerardhynes5825]

Legend will always be special to me but i'll admit there are better books in the series. I read White Wolf last month and it was excellent. Iv just finished Shogun today, talk about waiting for a battle !!

[@noname3609]

White Wolf,my favourite Gemmell novel 😁

[@angelaholmes8888]

I'm currently reading Season of love by helena greer it's a Christmas romance Dreamland by nicholas sparks The foxglove king by hannah whitten and crossroads of twilight by Robert Jordan

[@QueenoftheBlackCoast]

Completely agree! I watch giant monster movies to see the monster destroying things. I don't care about the human drama.

[@fallenhero3130]

Since you're a fan of THE SHIELD, are you a fan of THE WIRE? I just finished watching it all for the first time and it's fantastic.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I enjoyed the Wire just not as much as the rest of the world, it seems.

[@briteskin]

Don't have much to say about my week. My reread of Dune is going slower than I thought it would go. It has never been a book I flew through during my other three readings. Caught up to about where part one of the recent movie adaption ended. Since feeling a little behind going to start a young adult short story collection that has been on my tbr for a long while. Reading: 'Dune' by Frank Herbert (reread), 'Man Made Monsters' by Andrea L. Rogers (1st read), and Saga vol 11 (graphic novel) Watched: Godzilla minus one (if anyone is thinking of doing a Cujo remake, please take some inspiration from this) Listened: was in a bit of a southern-tinged week with Scissorfight, He is Legend, Artimus Pyledriver, and others Playing: Taking a break with Minecraft for December

[@angelaholmes8888]

This weekend I'm watching Law and order SUV marathon The way home season 1 And the show Queenmaker

[@alynam82]

I'm suffering a Hobb-hangover from finishing Fool's Errand a few days ago. Reading Babel, now. Finished my 2nd playthru of Dead Island 2 🏝 and now I don't have a new game yet 😑

[@currangill430]

I don't really care for the Targygens. I don't really care about dragons either. Yeah I'm in the minority among fantasy readers/watchers, but dragons don't really do anything for me. If season 2 has the Hour of the Wolf I'll be up to watching s2 of House of the Dragon. The Wire is actually the best cop show ever made. The Wire is actually shown in a lot of criminology classes (I was a criminology major) and my professor showed us a lot of The Wire's episode and we would analyze it. If you haven't watched it already you and your wife should!

[@deepak-ui5li]

You gotta play Elden Ring Mike, forget about these new games. Nothing compares to Elden ring

[@cipriansirbu3699]

I hope you will end up loving Legend,can't wait to get to it as well,because of the similarities I keep hearing with John Gwynne.When GTA 6 will be released,I'll take one week off and not reading anything.😅

[@markb3534]

Great video as always! Hope Fallout works....

[@mikesbookreviews]

I hope so too!

[@michaelkibble740]

Mike try the Random House Godzilla books they are good reads.

[@ChrisBrackman]

me: I would've preferred to see Robert's Rebellion Mike: . . . shut up lol sometimes Mike really makes me laugh

[@mikesbookreviews]

😂

[@josephdowell1027]

David Gemmells Rigante series is his strongest series. The first chronicles of Druss the Legend is mind blowingly good and the Waylander trilogy within the Drenai saga. Some sequels of Gemmells happen hundreds of years later and its easy to feel like youve skipped a book or two. I read them in chronological order instead of order of publication and that made it better for me.

[@simonedwards9450]

I’m looking forward to carrying on with realm of the Elderlings - on to assassin’s quest. I’m actually enjoying it despite knowing it to be one of the worst in the series. Looking forward to Liveship traders

[@Ejacula]

Hey Mike! Now that you’ve finished The Expanse who’s your favorite character? Mines “timothy”

[@mikesbookreviews]

I am glad Timothy got the ending that he did.

[@BrianBell7]

I, too, hope Fallout is a winner. We are going to be waiting forever for another game, so this just has to be good. What a fantastic IP - glad someone is doing something with it.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I really wish Bethesda would expand the workforce now that they have Microsoft money. Waiting 15 years for new Elder Scrolls games is bullshit.

[@KalleVilenius]

You want Godzilla? Read Godzilla: The Half-Century War by James Stokoe. Amazing art.

[@Danny_Matson]

12:15 hand magic

[@praetorxyn]

Break week to read fan fiction between Rain Wild books. Paralyzed gaming wise, I've just been playing against bots in Unreal Tournament 2004,tje pinnacle of multiplayer FPS as far as I'm concerned.

[@benconlin3557]

I liked GTA V, finished it twice but I know what you mean, head on crashes can instakill you which is annoying. I totally agree RDR2, I loved the first one and the second one was literally the story I said they should do for years. I’ve started it 4 times I haven’t gotten anywhere near the end as your character moves too stiff, does everything too slow, I don’t want to have to go back to a town and get medicine or my horse that I spent all my money on will die 😂 I can appreciate it but it’s too realistic for me to

[@mikesbookreviews]

I liked Rockstar games because they were fun. I didn't want them to convert them to simulator style games.

[@09RetsamEdalb]

Are we gonna get an Expanse series review soon?

[@thmmovies2593]

12 books in the series like to get your input

[@thmmovies2593]

Or even my second series the forest of lost souls

[@shanelindemanmusic2650]

I gotta ask. Toll the Hounds?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Watch out for my “failures” video next week 😬

[@Levi19878]

Lotus sutra and black rose as a couple read with my wife and babel I hope to git to it everyday and the shining as a mood read or if there is time

[@Levi19878]

And read 6 pages of the stand but it's still on the back burner

[@dphunk87]

I have a feeling you may not like Children of Time. It will be interesting to hear your opinion

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'm about halfway in and it's mixed, for sure.

[@booknikYT]

Id be interested in your opinion on Sopranos rewatch. We rewatched them a couple years ago and it hasnt aged well. Not in a woke way, it just feels dated now.

[@mikesbookreviews]

A lot of those 90's series did.

[@chrismarciano8687]

Children of Time is killer

[@goonerquinn4670]

I can’t believe you don’t like RDR2… that’s all I took away from this video 😢

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's probably my most unpopular gaming opinion.

[@seanbester1465]

I think the cg in GxK looks pretty bad, really killed my excitement for it. Imo, Sons of Anarchy's final season is the worst final season of any show in existence. Just a bunch of idiots arguing over which guy's turn it is to die ("My turn, brother," - "Nah, man, I got it this time"). I hated it so much I refused to watch Mayans.

[@asdfasdf5695]

I really don't understand why they did a remake of DS1 (I'm only being half-serious; I know why), when DS3 was the piece of shit that needed some attention. What an awful end to the franchise.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha I never played past part 1