I thought this was a gaming channel

@Paul_van_Doleweerd

2 күн бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Guess we're never playing BG3 again

@HenrikBrosveet

2 күн бұрын

Hahaha 😂

@PonderingsOfPete

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria The Dark Urge must be satisfied tho

@yelisieimurai

Күн бұрын

Best read of 2024 dialogues in baldurs gate 3

Say one thing for Allen: Say he doesn't go along with the crowd. Releasing a "Top Ten Books of 2023" video that he recorded in March of 2024 in July of 2024 . . . The man walks his own path, and we love him for it! And we got some booshes!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

Hahahahahaha what can I say

That moment when you haven't uploaded a video in years but continue like everything's normal 😆

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

To be fair, it's been months, not years 😛

Allen, you are the king of inducing FOMO for books no one else is talking about! 😄

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Hahahah thanks, Johanna!

@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD

2 күн бұрын

Exactly Johanna!!

A new Allen video?? This must be how the Europeans felt whenever Shakespeare released a new play!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA Amazing callback

@yelisieimurai

Күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandriais it like sarcastic Hahaha?

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

@@yelisieimurai it is not....it's a play on a Goodreads user saying the same thing when they found out RF kuang was coming out with a new book

I love how passionately you talk about books, the concise but in-depth analysis always sells them very well. I bought Imperium from a used bookstore a while ago but haven't gotten to it, but I want to now. Good to see you back!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

Thank you! Imperium is so good!

ACTIVATION ENERGY! Love this is up!! Man, you are so great at this. (I also thought this was a gaming channel, Jimmy)

Love that you posted this no matter how “late” it is 😆

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

@@LiteratureScienceAlliance I'm like the post office. Neither rain nor sleet nor it being July

Dude! I've been watching you for a long time, and beartown is my favorite book ever and made Backman become my favorite author. You have no idea how excited i got when you mentioned it!

The good thing about this going up so late is the discussion on these books feels super fresh!! I can barely remember any of them. 🤣 Time to lengthen my TBR, though!!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Awesome!

Let’s FRICKENNNN goooo!!!!!! The emperor has returned!!!!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Yes, and I'm keen to punish those who have erred in my absence!

Sounds like you need to bring back series readalongs since a book from all of them made your top 10 list of 2023! My top 3 of 2023 were Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb, Don Quixote by Cervantes, and House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Oh they're coming back and I may even bring Monarchies of God as one of them

Time warp - I agree that it’s still March. I approve

YEEEESS he's back!! Love that list, I have many titles on my TBR, and Daughter of The Empire and the Cicero trilogy were also among my favorite reads of 2023. I loved Dictator the most, but it wouldn't have been the case without the build-up from the other two installments (I gave 5⭐ to each of them), and now that it's been a year, you made me so excited to pick it up again so I can read them with my husband! Though we just started Shogun (I had read part I and put it down so we could read it together and he was finally convinced 💪) and reading it out loud will take quite a few months I'm sure. 😅 Craddock's series sounds 100% up my alley, I can't wait to give it a chance, as well as K. J. Parker (I have Folding Knife on my Kindle patiently waiting) and some swashbuckling. 👌I've also slowly been working my way through LPQ (I read A Betrayal in Winter in May I think, and though I wish the political intrigue was more fleshed-out, I'm still thinking about it -- you know when there's a situation in a novel you can apply to real life circumstances... well that was perfect timing) and will be continuing soon. I seem to always enjoy the books you recommend, though I've been putting off Mistress of the Empire because I have a feeling I'll be disappointed (book #2 after all this time was just fine to me and I know you weren't a fan of the epilogue 😬). Please let us know what you're currently reading and if you have any readalong plans this year (I really need to go back to your Discord, sorry), maybe we have some common reads lined up. And most importantly: will you ever be reading The Gentleman Bastards?! I need to read book #2 and knowing you're on board would motivate me even more. 😂

"It is currently March" in July. 🤣💀I actually just bought Judas Blossom last month so I'm excited that it's on this list! Somewhere Merphy is cheering about Backman. Cicero 😒

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

I'm telling you, such a good book

I always have to shout out everyone who gives love to the Empire Trilogy! I also enjoyed Judas Blossom very much. Thank you for sharing your faves Allen✨💖📚

This is exactly the type of video I needed after a long day at work 😄

Oh how The Parker suddenly moved up my TBR.🎉

Just got The Daughter of the Empire today. Definitely looking forward to reading it after hearing you liked it so much.

Thanks for the mention, Allen! I hope you and the family are well.

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

We are! I'm hoping to read Blood-Dimmed Tide soon!!

So gooood! Like finding a treat from childhood and enjoying those forgotten feelings! BOOSH! ❤

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Boosh indeed!

Nice list Allen! The highlight of my reading last year was The Books of Babel! Binged the entire series in the fall and they happen to be the reason I found your channel. And yes I binged your Babelverse videos too 😅

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Yessssssssssss! So you liked book 4??

@marianneguevara8279

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I am a PROUD The Fall of Babel defender!! 😁

Pretty sure I noticed a few sneeze edits in this one 🤧 good to be back! Past Allen did us a solid by recording, present Allen edited and hit the upload button. Go team! 😆

You never fail to pique my interest!! My top 2 books of 2023 were A Brightness Long Ago and The City of Saints and Madmen. They tied, for me.

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

I want to read Brightness so bad!

Great to see ya back, look forward to your 2024 midyear tag in January 2026!

Heyyyyyyy new video Top 3 books, 1) how to sell a haunted house. (Characters written were basically actual family members lmao) 2) eye of the dragon 3) restaurant at the end of the universe

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

I loved Eye of the Dragon when I read it many moons ago!

My first actual Allen video, after listening to days worth of his Chatting with Nutts appearances!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Habahababah thanks for watching!

It's nice to see you back!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Thank you!

Woo hoo, so many new books to add to the tbr!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

Yesssss!

I love that all four of your channel readalongs were featured in this video (especially after the disaster of Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne 👀) I really enjoyed reading Daughter of the Empire together (only that first book) and i had a great time rereading Cicero last year! My number one favorite book of 2023 was Unseelie by Ivelisse Houseman. It's super not a you-book, but it's fantasy with an autistic MC which is just wonderful to see

Lovely to see this pop up on a very nerve wracking day for me personally. Always appreciate you. Excited to finally give Raven’s Mark a go. 2023’s top 3: A Storm of Swords Cloud Atlas Toll the Hounds (please forgive me)

Man don't tell me book 3 of Curtis Craddock's series doesn't stack up! I'm still waiting for the audiobook and ebook to hit Libby! It's taking forever!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

It's good! I just didn't love it as much as the others

@nancywolf1467

2 күн бұрын

I tagged those books on Libby over a year ago! Hoopla has the first 2 & Cloud Library has the 3rd audiobook. Sadly I think every library might be different.

This is a fascinating list that I'm sure will spur many of us on to some new discoveries. I'd love to start K J Parker, although I probably should finish some other series first!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Dooo eeet!

I did read Beartown, and I have to agree with your opinion.

I came on recently from your black company vids! Stoked to see you’re back

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

Oh thanks! Glad you're here!

Loved the vid!! This has me so pumped to try Imperium, Raven’s Mark, Empire trilogy, Risen Kingdoms, Kithamar, and the KJ Parker trilogies. Bear Town does indeed sound miserable but impactful. And if I get to that Paul Kearney series I’ll definitely avoid that final book! Top-3 of 2023 were Children of Time, Ship of Destiny, and Tiamat’s Wrath!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Imperium is so good and so is Monarchies of God!

I love this. It would be even better if you dont even mention that you are late. Just roll with it 😂

Sea of Rust by Robert Cargill, Feed by Mira Grant, Wool by Hugh Howey, The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo, Elmore Leonard "City Primeval", Susanne Clark Pirates, Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

But also Slayyyyy, this top ten list literally changed my brain chemistry, Shakespeare got nothing on this tier ranking, favorite booktube video of the year?! lol🤣

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

@@Bepeuthebookworm hahahahahahahaha such a good callback

Man those are some solid picks, and I'm sold on the ones I haven't read that you mention. Temujin was indeed the weakest POV of Judas Blossom, thankfully he gets a little better in Blood Dimmed Tide. I think I'm with Pete and Anitha where it comes to Lustrum. I only recently got into K.J. Parker and have the Engineer trilogy to get to next, so even more excited now!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Oh that's great to hear about BDT!

He accertains his relevance!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Hahahahaha

This is the first video of yours that I watched. Still processing what I just viewed.

Ooh, there you go, bringing class into it again... 😅

"How many can you predict?" You have a lot of confidence in my memory, Allen 😂 I don't even know what I read last year and I can assure you that this was the case in March as much as it is now

I see a video from my favorite “booktuber,” I watch. Simple as that.

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

Thank you!

Damn I thought we were sprinting

Our lord ruler! Wonderful to see him once again grace our KZread feeds! Most of these I guessed though I didn’t try to think of the likely order. The exception was Imperium as this was on my top ten of the year last year as well (thank you for that by the way). 2023 was a bloody good reading year for me. Some of my new favorite books are on this list…, 10 Japanese Inn 9 Hachiko Waits 8 Wolf Hall 7 Herodotus's the Histories 6 I, Claudius 5 Imperium 4 The Last Lion part 1 3 The Samurai’s Garden 2 An Artist of the Floating World 1 Under Heaven Have a great rest of your day!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Heck yes for Imperium! I need to read Under Heaven for sure

@Fianna1775

Күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria It really was wonderful. As you seem to be interested in Asian based stories it may be of interest to you.

Never heard of Raven's Mark, but sounds like a delicious gumbo! Top 3 books of last year, in particular order: Piranesi By Susanna Clarke, The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, and a three-way tie between The Prophet of Edan by Proff. Fantasy, Doctor Sleep by Stephen King and The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Boosh, kept it to 3!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

I love the Last Unicorn!

@MagusMarquillin

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria How wise you are. We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream.

Nice list! Hopefully 2024 will deliver just as well🙏 happy new year's

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

First half of the year was very slow but I've picked up so I'm hoping it's smooth sailing from here!

So can we expect your 2024 mid year freak out vid around Thanksgiving or Valentine's Day?

Glad to see you back! What would you recommend as an intro to KJ Parker?

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Folding Knife or the short collection Academic Exercises if you want to sample some shorter stuff

Everything I've heard about Beartown suggests it's amazing and that I cannot read it right now. My life (and the world...) is too much already for me, I can't add more misery, lol.

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

This is a very accurate description

I will check out The engineer trilogy, The Risen Kingdom trilogy, Daughter of the Empire and Crowfall

I started reading Dagger and Coin this year. I've only read the first two so far. They're pretty good. I like LPQ and the Expanse better. But I think D & C is heading in a good direction. It's nice to see a book video from you. If I cared at all about video games, I would watch your recent content. But I just don't. Lol

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Hahahaha no worries. I also like LPQ better! I'm trying to restore the habit of posting book videos but I'll still have game stuff bc I play a lot of them!

Kind of a slim reading year for me last year, but my top three were: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

Jonathan Stroud "Bartimaeus", "Day Zero by Robert Cargill

Just a slight correction; Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans and not the Arab Caliphate

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Thaaat's right...thanks!

I hate how the Engineers Trilogy is not available on Kindle.

Also 100% bought imperium with your passion for it 😂

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

Күн бұрын

Yesssss, it's one of the best political thrillers I've read

let it be known I was not let down by the Last Uncharted sky, except that we didn't get a Windcaller love triangle

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

That's awesome. I enjoyed it significantly less tho

@PonderingsOfPete

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria yeah, the indiana jones/lara croft/ exploration into the unknown vibes just hit for me

Three of my favorites last year might be: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter by Cesar Aura Hild by Nicola Griffith Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez

I didn't expect to see Beartown that high. Daurenja - the most fascinating character i ever read. I will reread those books just for him. Also, I liked Imperium the best. But i definitely liked the second one morethan you.

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

It's been so long, I literally keep forgetting I had a vid go up today

@AnithaGadeReads

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria hahahahaha

My Top Ten from 2023 Tiamat's Wrath Words of Radiance Boy's Life The Final Empire The Way of Kings The Never-Ending End of the World Rhythm of War Oathbringer Goldfinger The Troop

I really liked Imperium too

Boosh!

Better late than never 😊

@Rogue_VI

2 күн бұрын

Glad I checked to see if anyone else had made this comment...

Me going into the video: no idea who Paul Kearney is Me leaving the video: i do not need to read the fifth book in the Monarchies of God, Ships from the West

Read both «The Judas Blossom» & «Imperium» earlier this year, both are in my Top 10 reads of this year so far («Imperium» is even in Top 3)! My Top Favorite Read of 2023, was a tie between «Under Heaven» by Guy Gavriel Kay & «The Veiled Throne» («Dandelion Dynasty #3) by Ken Liu: «Under Heaven» should be teached next to «War & Peace» and «Le Miserables» for GGK’s prose and Ken Liu’s Character Work has few if any rivals! A character that has only one scene in «TVT» (though a series veteran in «The Dandelion Dynasty»), earned with that scene alone my favorite character of 2023: Cogo Yelu! Next is another tie between «The Retreat to Avalon» by Sean Poage & «The Winter King» by Bernard Cornwell: Poage has written my favorite take on «A Historical King Arthur» and the Seige of Yves Trebon/St. Michel in «TWK» shows why Cornwell might be the best at writing battles! The next are unsorted: «The Way of Edan» by Philip Chase (You might have heard about him! 😄) «Bold Ascension» by Vaughn Roycroft «The Winter Road» by Adrian Selby «Salammbo» by Gustave Flaubert «The Farthest Shore» by Ursula K. Le Guin «The Name of the Wind» by Patrick Rothfuss «Brigantia» by Adrian Goldsworthy «Tortilla Flat» by John Steinbeck «The Little Emperors» by Alfred Duggan My Honorable Mentions of 2023: «The Conscience of the King» by Alfred Duggan «Tehanu» by Ursula K. Le Guin «The Black Gods Kiss» (Jirel of Joiry) by CL Moore

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

I have got to read more GGK!

I also like the Escapement the most. The COLD SPOT supremacy

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Bad take

I would try and predict the order but at this point I definitely can't remember which book you read in 2023 so just going along for the ride, and will air any grievances as a reply to this comment. (happy festivus)

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

I love grievance airing!

@jakebishop7822

Күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I have noticed this with my keen observational skills over the years.

I read 417 books last year LOL pick 3? I could pick 50! 😆🤗

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Hahahaha you read too fast!

@nancywolf1467

Күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria and I have sooooo many favorite books 😁

I had no idea how much I had missed the "SO GOOD" until this video 🤍 Heeeck yes for Jean-Claude and Isabelle, I love them! And I really need to read Age of Ash already dammit!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

I have all the feels with so many people happy with a return of my vids!

@esmayrosalyne

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria bask in that joy!! and yeah, we really aren't lying when we say we love and miss you on here ;)))

Interesting. Can writers not write a friggin standalone anymore? I do not want to be bogged down in series any longer or read thru poor 1st book to get to good 2nd or read thru whole series only fir series to end on pitiful last book. I also liked Daughter of the Empire as well. Read it as a standalone. Will not continue series. Was fantastic. Going to check Imperium for sure.

Allen with a top 10 vid. Selling out for clicks, he betrayed us!

@thefantasynuttwork

2 күн бұрын

What a hack!!

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Hahahahahahahaha

What year was this from again? 😂😂😂

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Shut up 😛

@Paul_van_Doleweerd

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria 🤣

@Paul_van_Doleweerd

2 күн бұрын

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria The Saevus Corax books are on my birthday wish list. And I read the Empire trilogy in the middle of reading the riftwar series and thinking how much better they were, but I think it was all Janny and very little Feist...

Allen stop copying my unreleased video.

@PonderingsOfPete

2 күн бұрын

to clarify: #1

@TheLibraryofAllenxandria

2 күн бұрын

Hahahahahahahaha

:D