Weekly Update: January 20th, 2024 | The One Where I Survive Another Texas Winter Nuclear Apocalypse

[@Paul_McSeol]

Reacher is such an amazing show. And I really enjoyed the books. And yeah, he really embodies the character. Take care, Mike.

[@mikesbookreviews]

You too!

[@farhad_s]

Pillars of the Earth was one of the best books I've read recently.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's a gem.

[@boomerbyll3004]

I love these videos because it’s like hanging out with a friend talking about books. Love the channel

[@zackattack366]

I finished Shogun by James Clavell picked up All Systems Red by Martha Wells and Towards Zero by Agatha Christie.

[@marcusmusings]

Finished Trouble with Peace. Really liked it, probably not as much as A Little Hatred, though. Still, unless Wisdom of Crowds shits the bed, I think Age of Madness will definitely be an S tier series

[@briteskin]

This week already looking at a major change to my reading plans. The high schoolers started reading 'The Hobbit' this week. I always told myself once any of the Tolkien books were being taught I would finally crackdown and actually get through the 'Rings' books. Multiple tries since 4th grade and never even finished first book. I can't see myself getting through all 8 of the 'Dark Tower' books in a school quarter. So now leaning towards some Dune rereads and first read of Shogun during this 3rd school quarter before moving into 'Lord of the Rings'. This means pushing back Dark Tower and possibly some Dresden Files first reads. Read: Dead Company vol 3 (manga) Reading: 'Dune Messiah' by Frank Herbert (reread), Tista vol 2 (manga) Watched: True Detective (s4), Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Waterboy, NFL playoffs Listened: theme seemed to be 90's albums from SF bay area bands: Jellyfish, Tilt, Green Day, Exodus, and others Played: I just realized didn't turn on any game systems other than to keep controller batteries charged

[@kingzzz6509]

Good luck in the playoffs. The Texans are looking good right now, but it’s going to be tough to beat the Ravens at home.

[@mikesbookreviews]

To be the man you gotta beat the man.

[@kingzzz6509]

@@mikesbookreviews Haha

[@ryanskeff]

I don't think I can come around to rooting for the Texans, but I can guarantee I'll be rooting against the Ravens. Best of luck today.

[@GholaMuadDib]

Sounds like a great week. If you’re looking to borrow some top ten lists, I recently saw some good sci-fi book to movie lists. You could do something similar. Perhaps a fantasy version or overall book version. I’m two episodes in on Reacher season two. Love this show. I’m still rereading the movie novelization of Conan The Barbarian (1982). There’s another top ten list for ya. Best movie novelizations. Books that came with or after the movie. I’m also reading the Encyclopedia. Not Britannica, but the Dune Encyclopedia.😂 I feel like White Goodman reading the Dictionary with that one. I like to break a mental sweat too. I also watched a book essentials video on Michael K. Vaughan’s channel. Have you done one of those? Books that you must have in your collection.

[@NamasteBbooktube]

In an investigation details matter. --Reacher

[@mikesbookreviews]

No doubt.

[@angelaholmes8888]

This weekend I'm watching Season 3 of buffy the vampire slayer the bl series last twilight and the sign the final two episodes of my demon

[@mikesbookreviews]

My favorite season!

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@mikesbookreviews would you ever do a video ranking on buffy the vampire slayer 🤔

[@Newlotusdarma]

The lotus sutra about 30 pages left then start over the shining about 50% done and the buddy read of black rose that I'm doing with my wife about 25-30% done and read about 20 pages of 5he 300 pages left of the stand

[@Newlotusdarma]

And about 100 pages in to the future

[@CurlyHoward42]

Did you like the terminator reference in season 2

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It's taking me longer than I thought it would, but I am at that point in Assassin's Fate where things are really happening! The best part of any Robin Hobb book, in my opinion, is the payoff in the final couple hundred pages. I hope that will prove true in this final book in ROTE. Regardless, I look forward to chatting about it with you, Mike!

[@mikesbookreviews]

I think you’ll be happy with it. Or…well I don’t know if happy is the word. Ha.

[@dinocollins720]

I loved Reacher! S1 was better than s2 imo but still enjoyed both! Now I'm pissed we have to wait for season 3 😭 haha😂

[@mikesbookreviews]

The waiting does suck.

[@DoNotLookDown]

I finished Before They Are Hanged and I'm about 30% through The Last Argument of Kings and I'm definitely going not going to stop. I've loved the characters and prose but I felt the first two books were lacking a bit in the plot. Book 2 still felt like setup a little bit, with the Northern plots not really doing it for me. All of this has been fixed for book 3 and I'm loving it so far. I can't wait to read the standalones next and then The Age of Madness. I might take a break and read something more lighthearted next before jumping into those.

[@ChrisJohnson-pr9jq]

Just got first law trilogy myself. Been wanting to read them for ages so shoving shogun down the line for now 🤘

[@davidgarces39]

Glad you're enjoying it. I couldn't get past the first book. The lack of plot was too much of an issue for me. I think I'm quite the opposite to Mike. A book can have the greatest characters, but if the plot isn't compelling (or almost non existent in this book) I'm not going to enjoy the book unfortunately. 😢

[@claytonhomer3096]

​This is a common sentiment but ultimately false. Plot is not generic quest. It is literally any action moving the story forward. A conversation or journey to a new city is plot. The first book is entirely plot. It's just not generic "what is the quest?" What most people want to know is why something is happening to invest. His story forces you to invest then understand what it was. It's fine if that is not a structure you like, but I am so tired of the narrative about no plot. Meaning of actions doesn't need to be known before it happens for them to be impactful or important. I would challenge anyone to finish book 3 go back and read books 1 and 2 and all the story "dominos" being set up, even from the first chapters. It's fine if you don't like the choice, but the technique he chose, he executes to perfection. He agrees that this structure wasn't the most main stream and has since moved to traditional structures for his subsequent novels.

[@kingzzz6509]

I finished reading The Crown Conspiracy and Avempartha. I’m really enjoying Riyria, but I’m going to take a break and read The Shadow Rising. I’ve really loved The Wheel of Time so far and I want to get further in to the series.

[@epiphoney]

Salt that ice cube now!

[@Rogue_VI]

I finished Reacher season 2 last night. It was SO good. Looking forward to the next season. Terminal List was also fantastic.

[@unlimitedreads]

Yep, Reacher is freaking awesome and the books make up my second favourite thriller series of all time! Trust me when I say, Alan Ritchson couldn't be more perfect in the role. And this weekend I continue my journey into The Cosmere with Mistborn 😊

[@DV-ty6yc]

Well don't leave us hanging! What is your favorite thriller series, if not Reacher.

[@unlimitedreads]

@@DV-ty6yc my favourite thriller series of all time is Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and Jack Ryan Jr 😉

[@jellevanbreugel325]

Just finished Reacher, excellent adaptation!!!! The books are great palette cleansers! Reading Elizabeth Moon's Vatta Wars before getting back to Cahill

[@Unpretzel81]

If you never have you should try Chronicles of Amber (and know as little as you can going in) and The Pendragon Cycle. You can see George RR Martin got a lot of ideas from both.

[@samm8190]

Yeah Mike you’d love Terminal List, but I get it if it’s not quite your tempo. 😅😅

[@kuba70834]

18:35 Yeah Mike, Alan is PERFECT Reacher. The books are lots of fun. :D

[@sjkrum320]

I'd love to see you do for Pillars of the Earth what you did for Lonesome Dove. A colab with a few other people to talk about the whole story. I'd be so here for it. Especially Philip Case and or Madison. All I'll say about the Reacher books is, they are 🔥🔥🔥 and a great palette cleanser. Season 2 was really great.

[@TreySaunders88]

I want you to do more sopranos content. I love that shit

[@lucasyoung51]

Working on we are the dead and princess of mars and if I have time this month definitely squeaking in four past midnight as well

[@Speed202]

I appreciate the short take reviews...especially as a service to those viewers that won't watch the longer updates. Good idea! Great way to service different types of viewers and boost subscriptions, potentially.

[@timothyzeiler2902]

mike I want to read lonesome dove thanks to your, also thoughts on Yellowstone?

[@timothyzeiler2902]

and the Yellowstone tv show?@@pmf822

[@ptannous27]

I do the same thing with my kid and 90% of the time he chooses the switch over Harry Potter.

[@heidi6281]

I just finished Children of Gods and Fighting Men and I loved it! Historical fiction with soft magic but it is all about the two female leads, one good one evil!! ❤Gormflaith!Starting Judas Blossom next then Quicksilver! I guess historical fantasy seems to be my thing lately.

[@misternegative4918]

I’m about halfway through Of War and Ruin, really enjoying it. Then pretty early on into Wrath and loving it!

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

I completed The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson. There was a mouth-dropping-open moment near the end of the book that makes you rethink the entire book. That’s all I’ll say. I’m rereading Harry Potter this year; I also completed HP and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

[@richosburn]

Good luck against Baltimore today!

[@klcs77]

the ISD closing over the Ice Cube as it should

[@IsaacFruits]

I started reading Dune today for the first time. Watching the new movie and hearing your praise for it made me want to read it before part 2 comes out!

[@ilikecomicstoareallyproble8617]

The weather finally went to hell up here in the midwest, good lord, the snow's up to my waist.

[@dinocollins720]

Another fantastic video! Thank you Mike!

[@ChrisJohnson-pr9jq]

Hi Mike. Just picked up the 1988 TV adaptation of lonesome dove, just wondering if you have watched it, and how it compares to the novel? Amazing cast (Robert Duvall is so underrated) Tommy Lee Jones is also a peach 😊 really looking forward to it 🤘

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yes I love it

[@ChrisJohnson-pr9jq]

@@mikesbookreviews just watched your review from 7 months ago, I think I'll follow suit and watch the series, then pick the book up just to get the darkness that TV won't accept.Thank you 🤘

[@primalbaaha6979]

Great Video! Enjoying the content!

[@leothelion9124]

I finished Lonesome Dove a few days ago and I absolutely loved it. I started book 3 of The Adversary Cycle by F Paul Wilson and then I have Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (of Mystic River fame) on tap. As for tv shows, I haven’t seen much lately besides the new Percy Jackson. Watching that weekly with my daughter who read the books with me a couple years ago. Excellent adaptation so far. I’ll put Reacher on my watch list now.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Enjoying watching PJ with my oldest, too. He's mostly happy.

[@kylerieman221]

I finished The Dragonbone Chair on Thursday and started Stone of Farewell today. Im still making my way through Oliver Twist and Promise of Blood, but I might just go ahead and start Golden Son today as well. Its hard to get motivated to do anything when the temperature has barely gotten above 15 for four days. I will always remember watching 'Long Term Parking' for the first time. Such an amazing episode of The Sopranos.

[@SciFiScavenger]

Those tad williams books are epic, have read them a few times. I'm yet to read book 3 of the new sorta follow on trilogy. 👍

[@andrew4437]

I'm about half way through Rhythm of War.

[@DrLampshade]

Looking forward to your thoughts on Unwind. I’ve only read the first one, and have no plans of reading the rest as I thought the ending of book 1 was a fantastic ending and continuing the story would have ruined it. My parents and I have been loving this version of Reacher (we don’t talk about the awful Tom Cruise movies) we have 2 episodes left. We’ve been fans of the books for years and we’re really curious about which book they are picking for season 3. I’m anxiously awaiting my kickstarter copy of threadlight. Seeing your video has made me more excited to get it in the mail

[@mikesbookreviews]

Good to know!

[@Ulmo90]

Nice week Mike! I've worked to much so slow feading here in January, but I finished Empire of Silence and I'm listening to In the Lives of Puppets at the moment

[@mikesbookreviews]

Rock on!

[@dylan-cj1cg]

Anyone else catch the men in black reference at 10:05

[@Tim_with_Tomes_and_Tales]

I heard Swan Song may be getting a TV adaptation with Greg Nicataro (Walking Dead) is supposedly involved.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'll believe it when I see it ha ha

[@arabellawillow]

I read The Pillars of the Earth for the first time last winter.. i would LOVE to have a more in depth review of it. Same goes for the rest of Kingsbridge, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on the other books.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I'm looking forward to finally reading more Kingsbridge.

[@sean_1198]

I am reading Swansong after hearing it mentioned on the New Years stream. I went in blind not knowing what the book was going to be about. But I am really enjoying it so far. After that I will probably try reading the 1st book in the Bound and the Broken. True Detective season 1 was one of my favourite seasons of a tv show. So I want to check out the 4th season with Jodie Foster that is set in Alaska.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Swan Song is incredible

[@brandongibson3907]

I wanna say thank you and sorry. Thank you for recommending Lonesome Dove and sorry my Ravens had to beat your team. Stroud and Co. will be a force in the future, tho.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ravens are as complete of a team as I have ever seen. They were my preseason Super Bowl pick. Still are.

[@alexandruteodor3585]

Hi, Mike! Since you like Shogun, would you like to read Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa?

[@mikesbookreviews]

I am not sure. First I've heard of it.

[@ButcherOccelli11]

I liked your channel, and then I say you're a Texans fan... now I love it. The future is bright for our Texans

[@mikesbookreviews]

💯

[@jaclynsutherland4327]

The guy who plays Reacher was also Aquaman/Arthur Curry on Smallville.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I remember!

[@stephensmith8474]

Concerning comments about response to top ten lists, I agree. I watch those types of videos not to critique them but rather to look for any overlaps and the bonus is getting ideas for things to read I had not considered. Being in the DFW area I had to chuckle at the ice cube comment 😅

[@mikesbookreviews]

At least you guys get snow! It would be raising the threat level to bright red if we got snow here.

[@dpeady78]

Reacher has been awesome - just solid entertainment and the dude is a fucking UNIT!!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, the only fiction I see in that show is believing he would eat a Clark Bar. Dude hasn't touched sugar in 10 years ha ha

[@noname3609]

I am so happy you enjoy One Piece ! :)

[@strangementalitypaperYT]

My thing about Threadlight is that I like the biopunk elements in the magic and I actually really liked Laurel, but the creativity just isn't there. I'm so happy you're going to read UnWind. It's really an underappreciated series, and I think it's better than Scythe.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Shusterman seems to be YA done right. I dig it.

[@strangementalitypaperYT]

@@mikesbookreviews Challenger Deep is an amazing YA contemporary about a boy beginning to show signs of schizophrenia. Shusterman’s son is schizophrenic and did all the illustrations. It’s a good departure from his sci-Fi but I say if you want to understand what it’s like for mentally ill teens, check it out. He did a great job.

[@flyingdutchman8093]

I live in Minnesota and last week it was -15 with -33 windchill and they didn’t cancel school or even do a late start.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yep. Things are different. Similar to how up north you get a heat advisory for 80 degrees.

[@flyingdutchman8093]

@@mikesbookreviews hey with the summer humidity 80 can be no joke 🥵

[@mvprindle]

Here in Central Texas, it was 120 last summer. 80 degrees doesn't even move the needle here, humidity or not.

[@DragonsDenBooks]

with honors... sir!

[@sydneyalisonbaker]

South Arkansas here. We had snow and ice as well. Whole town freaked out. Schools closed for an entire week. All the country backroads were impassable.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Southern problems ha ha

[@skywalker80316]

The Jack Reacher books are awesome! Give them a try! Loved the update.

[@pikap8649]

I need that thread light edition. 😭 hopefully he’ll sell it at some point.

[@mikesbookreviews]

He said on Twitter he would have some extra to sell later. I'd follow him there to stay on top of that.

[@paulum6]

Fun fact….Lee Child is British….

[@DV-ty6yc]

That's for damn sure! Even Stephen King has read some Reacher. C'mon Mike!

[@muttineni03]

Have you read Jack Reacher? I only read fantasy and Sci-fi and now thinking about reading Jack Reacher series but heard they are following book series with season, season 2 is adapted using book 11.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Nope. I state in this video why I haven't read any.

[@muttineni03]

​@@mikesbookreviewsOh sorry I missed that, if possible please try watching For all Mankind, the best sci-fi TV show I've watched in a while. I'm sure you'll love it.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

The Toll does a Metal Gear Solid 2 !?! 😅

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha that's what I've heard

[@gryftkin]

I've only read book 1, but Unwind was so good. And Alan Ritchson is absolutely owning the character of Reacher. I remember him as Aquaman on Smallville and Hawk on Titans. He has great super hero vibes :D

[@heidi6281]

Best tv show dramas ever list? Maybe just as of the 21st Century. Lost, GOT, Sopranos, Vikings, Walking Dead, Outlander, Poldark & Fringe.

[@grantarnold704]

Reacher is such a great show, and Ritchson is perfect casting. Prime has nailed the "dad shows" with Reacher, Terminal List, and Jack Ryan. I've loved them all. Did you see the news about Swan Song being in development as a TV series? Could be incredible, if done right.

[@benconlin3557]

Finished Song of Susannah (trippy 😂) and started the final Dark Tower book. Also about to finish a rare non-fiction read about football (soccer to our American friends 😊)

[@ChrisJohnson-pr9jq]

Mike. If you want to read more sci-fi then please look at Alastair Reynolds novels. They are so damn good. 🤘 And know exactly what you mean about Swan Song, nearly finished it in two weeks (which is quick for me for such a chunker) just absolutely quality.

[@rapha_spi]

Love this kind of videos

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@DV-ty6yc]

Mike, you really should read at least one Reacher book. They are generally about 400 pages and you will blow through it in 2 days max. That's for damn sure.

[@custarddavidson8104]

I think this thumbnail got me to start watching Reacher tonight. F great show. Also finished Desert Places today, another fantastic book found via this channel. Thanks Mike!

[@cevcivelek]

Wow, I did NOT realize Reacher was the guy from Blue Mountain State...he spent some time in the gym! I do plan on reading at least some of the Reacher books. Listened to the first Bosch book The Black Echo (narrated by Titus Welliver) last year and loved it. Gottta get back into that series this year. GO RAVENS! 🏈

[@ptquillen]

Unfortunately my support of the Texans has to end today… go Ravens!

[@johanjoseph4802]

If it wasnt for Lockdown I'm not sure if I'd have watched Sopranos & Wire 💚💚

[@simonedwards9450]

Just started the Mad Ship and I’m loving it

[@richwar2417]

I'm in the middle of The Toll as well. Isn't grabbing me as much as the other two did.

[@Johanna_reads]

I would describe All the Pretty Horses as a coming of age story, one of the reasons I thought you might enjoy it. Glad you’re loving Shogun!

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's so good!

[@esmayrosalyne]

Haha, same happens here in The Netherlands with a little frost 🤣 Happy to hear that Voice of War was a promising start to the series for you! I personally really enjoyed Laurel, especially for the animal companion aspect in her POV, which only gets stronger! Eager to hear your thoughts on the last Scythe book, it sure is a divisive one! Happy reading 🥰

[@mikesbookreviews]

Threadlight was a nice surprise for sure.

[@allfinesunshine5184]

Giving credit where it's due, this is one of the main channels that has gotten me back into reading more consistently as an adult. Even managed to make it on to a mighty fine third book of the year, without taking 6 months. Finished off the short story collection Kink - which was a mixed bag but ultimately pretty strong - and now I'm onto Jen Michalski's collection The Company of Strangers. Three stories in and I can already feel the pull on those heartstrings.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Always happy to help!

[@Raechill92]

Shogun has been great. I’m glad I decided to tag along for that one. I’ll pick up All the Pretty Horses soon. Happy playoffs! 🏈

[@mikesbookreviews]

Glad you’re liking it!

[@briangal71]

Finished Reacher last night. It was excellent. I know some folks will want the sidekicks back, but I kind of think we won't see them again. Nice to see Domenick Lombardozzi - not seen him since The Wire.

[@mikesbookreviews]

He was great as Russo. I was sad to see him go.

[@richwar2417]

Nice MIB reference

[@DZIGIN]

Alan Ritchson is Hilarious as Thad and Cool as F as Reacher 😎💯

[@mikesbookreviews]

He’s got one hell of a future.

[@ernstbrehm1135]

How bout them Cowboys!!!! Another year they killed me😫😫😫

[@mikesbookreviews]

Problem is that Jerry keeps running it back with the coaching and QB. They’re the 1990’s Atlanta Braves at this point. Juggernaut during the regular season and a first round flame out.

[@ernstbrehm1135]

@@mikesbookreviews Exactly!!!

[@TRICH10]

How about those Texans!?

[@mikesbookreviews]

They had a good run and are at least 2 years early. Sky is the limit.

[@JetsetComedian]

LETS GO TEXANS!!!!

[@mikesbookreviews]

🤘

[@asdfasdf5695]

I've got about 300 pages left in Of War and Ruin. TBATB is a fun series so far, even though Cahill has some writing quirks that are really annoying, like using they/their to describe individuals instead of groups of people, because he's so insistent on cramming equality of sexes down the readers' throats; once you notice it, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Even so, the world-building is solid and the characters are interesting enough.

[@Talking_Story]

Loved Reacher season 2 as well. I think James Gunn should sew up that guy for Batman like right now!!

[@clarkkentnaruto4322]

Hey Mike, I absolutely agree with you about what you said about the Pillars of the Earth. I love that series. In fact, I've learned recently, that you could say the same thing about his Century Trilogy. The first book, the Fall of Giants is over 900 pages long, and I am flying through it. I thought that book was going to take me about 6 weeks because several of the chapters are really long, but it only took me about 2 to 3 weeks to finish it. It is unbelievable. I do plan on starting reading while listening to the pillars of the Earth series really soon but I don't know when exactly. I will be spending the next 2 months reading while listening to the last two books in the trilogy. After that, I will likely either go back and listen to the lost metal, or I will start reading while listening to the Shogun book. I will keep you posted.

[@madisongoodyear5040]

I didn’t think Laurel was particularly annoying either 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@mikesbookreviews]

I think Zack listens to the wrong people ha ha

[@Jetghostwolf]

Where did you purchase the thread light awesome as hell looking book

[@mikesbookreviews]

It was a Kickstarter from last year.

[@Jetghostwolf]

@@mikesbookreviews if you have an extra to sell😂😂😂 I’m in Austin