The Name of the Rose is really good. The Secret History is one of my all-time favourites just for the writing. Add Possession by AS Byatt to the two above and you have the three pillars of the dark academia subgenre (in my opinion)! I read The Dispossessed last year, it was a very good SF novel. Read The Curse of the Chalion this year - clear, well-written, impactful. Happy reading! P.S. There is this 1000 page tome called Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell...(runs away)
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I don't think I've read a dark academia book before
@tabdallaauthor
Жыл бұрын
Your quotable lines are usually S-tier, but you've gone above and beyond here 🤣 "Like the DaVinci Code if the DaVinci Code wasn't trash"
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahahahah thanks Thiago
@Kim_Traveling_in_Books
Жыл бұрын
The Curse of Chalion is one of my favorite books ever. I've read the rest of the books in the world, and I adore the Penric and Desdemona novellas that take place about 200 years before Curse of Chalion. Bujold's characters are fantastic.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I keep hearing fantastic things
@kimtherrien8643
Жыл бұрын
I Claudius and The Name of the Rose are old favorites. Also love the adaptations. I own a copy of Memoires d'Hadrien but I have not read Meditations so I will probably read that first.
@ChasingForever
Жыл бұрын
I think you'll love the Name of the Rose. It is still one of my all-time favorites. I read it many years ago, and I remember it well. Put it higher up on this year's standalone list, you won't be disappointed.
@bridgit2541
Жыл бұрын
I loved The Name of the Rose! I read it like 20 years ago, but really enjoyed it. I think you'll jive with it.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I hope so!
@nancywolf1467
Жыл бұрын
You had me at “Stand alone” ❤
@farhad_s
Жыл бұрын
The Name of the Rose is the rarest of birds, a DNF for me. However, I truly believe it was more of a "It's not the book it's me" kind of thing, because I loved the premise. I think I'll read it and watch the Sean Connery Christian Slater movie together this time.
@paulwilliams6913
Жыл бұрын
Umberto Eco read The DaVinci Code and then said something to the effect of “I feel like Dan Brown is more like one of my characters than anything else.” Dispossessed is my favorite of Le Guin’s sci-fi (That I’ve read). I love it for its nuance - she was a devoted communal anarchist, but her analysis of both anarchism and capitalism is remarkably fair and honest, embracing the messiness of any comparison to be made between the two systems.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
That is great background knowledge to know!
@e.matthews
Жыл бұрын
Excited to hear your thoughts on Yourcenar! Her book Alexis changed my life, it made me approach the French language as art, not just study. It'll be up to the translation too. Dispossessed is top tier too ❤️
@franckcellier9021
Жыл бұрын
Terry Pratchett himself said that Nation was his best book, and I have yet to read it! Excited to hear what you think about it! (I am almost done with "City of last chances" and your review was on point!)
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Thank you! And I did not realize he said that!
@Johanna_reads
Жыл бұрын
I'm so excited about buddy-reading Butcher's Crossing and The Dispossessed with you! I hope you enjoy To Ride Hell's Chasm. I'm also so happy you don't hate me! Haha-you know my neurosis. 😁
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahaha i definitely don't hate you. And yes, we should read both Dispossessed and Butchers..just let me get to April first lol
@dandylla
Жыл бұрын
The Dispossessed is so good! Ursula K LeGuin is one of the best sci fi writers
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Exciting!
@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
Жыл бұрын
I would like to get to some books by GGK next year. It's been many years since I read The Name of the Rose, but I recall enjoying it, and I think you'll enjoy it, Allen. I'd also like to try The Curse of Chalion. I'll be keen to hear your thoughts on To Ride Hell's Chasm, and it's good that you listen to Johanna -- elves are wise, after all! I haven't read The Dispossessed, but I love Le Guin's Earthsea books, so I'll be interested in your thoughts.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Johanna is awesome but elves are the worst. And I'm excited alsofl for you to read GGK...I love his prose and the mythical quality of the story in Tigana!
@Johanna_reads
Жыл бұрын
Can't wait to hear how Allen makes the Elves sound in the Edan Trilogy audiobooks! 👀
@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
Жыл бұрын
@@Johanna_reads I think Allen will like my elves.
@pmeredithauthor
Жыл бұрын
Name of the Rose is SO GOOD!! Excited to hear what you think, especially from a historical POV.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yesssss good to hear!
@kaizacorp
Жыл бұрын
We share some reading desires this year Allen! I want to read: - my first GGK (going with A Song for Arbonne) - The Secret History (I have that same copy, but also wary of the heights/depths of the pretention) - I've got a hold requested for the audio of Butcher's Crossing after finally checking out Stoner - Curse of Chalion intrigues me with the older protagonist + forbidden magic (the best flavour of magic) - The Dispossessed will be the next le Guin I read, heard so much praise!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yes, Kai! And I didn't know that the protag in Chalion was older which is awesome
@petervandeweyer517
Жыл бұрын
Butcher's crossing is so good.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yessssssss
@Paromita_M
Жыл бұрын
I an very intrigued by Memoirs of Hadrian. I likes Augustus, will look this one up. I liked To Ride Hell's Chasm a lot. Even if you don't vibe with The Wars of Light and Shadow (not saying you won't, I hope you do!), this is a very good standalone. If you do like The Dispossessed by Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness is a must-read.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Nice, will do!
@angelamccollister
Жыл бұрын
I have absolutely no doubt you'll love the Sarantine Mosaic. Despite the sexy times. Lol
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Excellent!
@tawnyman
Жыл бұрын
Yess Curse of Chalion! I haven’t read Name of the Rose but I’m excited to read Umberto Eco’s The Island of the Day Before this year.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Adding that too, then
@esmayrosalyne
Жыл бұрын
Long live the standalones!! So curious to hear your thoughts on The Secret History and To Ride Hell's Chasm. Both are books that I can appreciate in hindsight, though I didn't have the most fun reading them... if that makes sense. Hope these will all be hits for you! Happy reading Allen 🤩
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I've read several books like that where I didn't really enjoy them until afterwards
@verosnotebook
Жыл бұрын
Great list! I did enjoy Name of the Rose, and Secret History - but it was decades ago (the former more than the latter). Loved Bujold’s Penric series and want to get to Chalion. Also got Wurt and Williams on my TBR 🤓
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing!!
@TheNerdyNarrative
Жыл бұрын
To Ride Hell’s Chasm is on my list too!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yesssss! Back half of the year or soon?
@TheNerdyNarrative
Жыл бұрын
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Back half - I think I'm pretty well stacked through mid-year with SPSFC.
@jenniferobin7260
Жыл бұрын
I think you will really like To Ride Hell's Chasm. It's fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yesss!
@cabarnone
Жыл бұрын
LOVED name of the rose! Umberto Eco has other stand alone books that are great. I loved the secret history as well, not sure you would like it though.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahahaha the jury is out
@thefantasythinker
Жыл бұрын
I agree with with everyone here about The Name of the Rose. Great read I think you'll enjoy!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Nice!
@yousrat3133
Жыл бұрын
Hi Allen. KJ Parker’s upcoming novel is called Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead. I hope you get an ARC soon.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yes!
@bentheoverlord
Жыл бұрын
Fantastic list man ! Gonna prioritise some of these aswelll because a lot Ive had on my tbr for ages !
@BookishChas
Жыл бұрын
Great list Allen! I want to read more Le Guin. Once I finish Earthsea I’ll move on to her other stuff. I’m hoping to read some of the First Law standalones this year, and also…Tigana. 😁
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yassss Tigana
@anothersarahreading9961
Жыл бұрын
YES! on Chalion - I am on a mission to get all the booktubers I watch to read it. It's one of my favourite books. I've read all the others in the world too but Chalion is standalone. GGK is also one of my favourite authors, so if you like Sarantium, you'll probably like them all. I have been doing a reread of his books in publication order on audio but haven't got to Sarantium yet. I found "The Secret History" boring but "pretentious" literary fiction usually does that to me 🤷♀
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I hear such amazing things about Chalion!
@bookswithzara
Жыл бұрын
I know you will love Cazaril. I don't think you'll like A Secret History but I also don't think you'll hate it. I'm planning to read Sarantine Mosaic, The Dispossesed and To Ride Hell's Chasm this year so let me know if you want to buddy read any of them.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Definitely!!
@bethloubet4650
Жыл бұрын
I loved Name of the Rose when it came out, and I've been wanting to do a reread. I think you'll like it!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yesss!
@WildeBookGarden
Жыл бұрын
The Name of the Rose is one I want to try! And I still need to pick up Lois McMaster Bujold I've never heard of Janny Wurts but that book sounds really interesting!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I keep hearing people talk about her!
@FallenAdam
Жыл бұрын
I've read two of those. The Dispossessed and Nation. Nation, I think you'll love. It's definitely one of his best books. I think it's far better than Night Watch, even, although, NW isn't my even my favourite Watch book. I'll concede that it's probably the *best* Watch book, but just not my favourite. The Dispossessed, I'll be interested to see how you like that one. I'd be slightly surprised if you didn't think it was great, but I wouldn't be surprised you didn't love it. There are other books in the Hainish Cycle that I think might be more up your alley. City of Illusions and The Word for World is Forest, specifically. Luckily, I don't think all the books, including the short stories add up to much more than a thousand pages, so it wouldn't be that hard to find out...
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Nice! Adding both of those!
@ShawnC108
Жыл бұрын
You should do a reading vlog for The Secret History if you can, I have a feeling it'd be extremely entertaining. 😆 My money is on Allen hating and ranting about The Secret History.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahahahahah
@thefairylibrarian3282
Жыл бұрын
I really liked The Name of the Rose. I think you'd like it too. I loved The Secret History. As someone in university studying ancient languages, i can attest that it's both completely different from what is described in the book, but also exactly the same
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahahahah great description!
@MattMotown
Жыл бұрын
The Secret History is a great novel, the writing is amazing and the character work is brilliant. This earned my top novel of last year despite going against some top fantasy books. I can see why you may not love it, but I expect you will have an appreciation for the novel regardless. I'm planning on reading The Curse of The Chalion this year too - I've heard this author being compared to Hobb... big shoes to fill.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I'm hoping I feel the same about Secret History and don't flat out hate it
@BookedandBusy
Жыл бұрын
To Ride Hell’s Chasm is on my tbr as well! You’ve intrigued me with the fictional autobiographies so I may check one or two of those out.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Its a subgenre I didn't know I needed lol
@akellerhouse83
Жыл бұрын
Wow. I haven't read a single one of these. The curse of Chalion sounds really interesting and so does the Le Guin book.
@yodareads5461
Жыл бұрын
The standalone I'm most excited about this year is Riley Sager's new thriller coming out in June called The Only One Left.
@EricMcLuen
Жыл бұрын
Livia had a moustache? Under Heaven is on my shelf for when I need a break between series. Dispossessed as well and I do like Le Guinn's writing style. I did read Hell's Chasm and liked a lot of it but the prose and vocabulary did take some getting used to.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Lol yes, she was well-known for her handlebar
@onfaerystories
Жыл бұрын
I'm especially excited to hear your thoughts on The Name of The Rose (and maybe Christina too? :0). I've read it a few years ago and the reveal really blew my mind, especially the motive of the murders. I really liked the writing style and overall structure of the book, though I found the Monks felt more like caricatures the second time I tried reading that book, which was distracting. 🥴 But I did enjoy following William of Baskervilles, which was unsurprisingly inspired by Sherlock Holmes. ☺️ I said I didn't love Hadrian from The Memoirs of Hadrian, but that's just because I was wondering if he truly was that emotionally detached in real life - his thoughts were quite nihilistic in tone. There was a poetic quality to Yourcenar's writing (without being dense) that appealed to me and made it so that I still remember how I felt reading that book, but there was something missing for me, mostly human interactions and intimacy. I really wanted to read The Secret History this year too (bookstagram has been bombarding me with this book, but I think I'll wait for your review/thoughts 😂). It does sound pretentious, but I've kinda been spoiled for the overall message and it honestly sounds brilliant (and so I think you'll like it once you understand the author's intent). 👀 Honestly, so many of these reads sound interesting to me! Very curious about that Guy Gavriel Kay book as I DNFed Tigana (couldn't stand the over-the-top unrealistic sex scenes and unnecessary incest - even if a friend of mine told me it plays no role later on between the characters, I was just so annoyed 💀). I know you ended up loving Tigana and were able to look past those scenes, but it really just made me mad and ruined my reading experience. 😅
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahahah I get it about GGK! Very curious about Hadrian and Rose. I'm not a huge fan of Hadrian as it is so I'm curious to see how this affects my experience whereas I LIKED Augustus.
@avi4905
Жыл бұрын
Butcher's Crossing is just beautiful. Great choice. I will be joining you with GGK books and The Name of The Rose. Exciting stuff.
@72mje
Жыл бұрын
This list is awesome! Happy reading!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Thank you! You too!
@CharMeezy21
Жыл бұрын
“To prove I listen to Johanna and don’t hate her” 😂
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
It's true!
@TheBookCure
Жыл бұрын
When I read this I hadn’t read any other Pratchett!! I don’t think it’ll be your favourite, but I think it’s still one of the best YA novels I’ve read. I’m reading The Secret History in April or May (can’t remember which one), so hopefully we’ll both enjoy it.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Is Nation YA?
@TheBookCure
Жыл бұрын
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I would classify it as YA. It’s coming of age. The characters are close to adult age, but it’s about becoming an adult.
@OverlyAverageBen
Жыл бұрын
The Name of the Rose and To Ride Hell's Chasm have been on my list for such a long time, but always seems to get lost in that pesky TBR
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
This is the way
@Caesar2k1
Жыл бұрын
I've seen the film adaptation of the name of the rose years ago and enjoyed it. as far as standalones I plan on listening to this year is the swordbearer by glen cook and possibly cabal by clive barker
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I keep forgetting there's a movie version
@phen0menos
Жыл бұрын
The Dispossessed is one of my favourite books of all time! I hope you'll love it and decide to pick up more Le Guin, she's a really wonderful author
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Dispossessed and Chalion keep getting rave reviews from people!
@PonderingsOfPete
Жыл бұрын
A lot of interesting books: I, Claudius and the Memoires of Hadrian seem interesting, especially after reading Augustus. Same with Butcher's Crossing. Secret History and Name of the Rose seem the most interesting to me on this list overall. the Name of the Rose simply because you had me at heresy and murders. Secret History because I've had a passing interest in it for a while and I think it'd be interesting. unsure if I could stand the pretentiousness, but we'll see.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
It's going to be so pretentious
@coleton7048
Жыл бұрын
Standalones that I really want to read this year: Last of the Breed by Loius L'Amour Recursion by Blake Crouch Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hey, I've read 3 of those!
@DeanD1
Жыл бұрын
Curse of Chalion is excellent, as is its follow up Paladin of Souls, following a minor character from Curse of Chalion. Enjoy!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I have yet to hear a bad thing about that book!
@KFoxtheGreat
Жыл бұрын
Yeeessss The Dispossessed!!!! I hope you enjoy it. Also, I love Nation so much and am excited to see what you think of it
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Can't wait!
@davidveskadiaga3004
Жыл бұрын
Some excellent books on this list, The Curse of Chalion, Sailing to Sarantium and the Dispossessed are all favorites and I really liked I Claudius when I read it in high school. I haven't read The Name of the Rose but Foucault's Pendulum by Eco was really good, weird and intricate.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Good to know!
@skardulite
Жыл бұрын
A cool list indeed! I've read The Name of the Rose twice, approx 20 years between the reads, loved both times, but definitely got more out of it the second time around :) Don't know much about you, but my guess is that you will appreciate most of what's in it. Will see!
@hcolyn
Жыл бұрын
I hope The Secret History makes it to the top of your list at some point because I'd love to hear your thoughts!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
It's the one I'm most uncertain of my thoughts!
@FIT2BREAD
Жыл бұрын
Great video. I'm betting you like The Dispossessed. It's scifi because the two worlds, but it's really a story where LeGuin presents two different worlds with a bit of (not heavy handed) compare and contrast.Uras is basically capitalism. Generations ago revolutionaries left for the moon Annares. Sheveks home world, Anares is a communalist society.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Interesting indeed!
@wethefoxen4402
Жыл бұрын
I absolutely loved I, Claudius! Strangely funny in my opinion. The Name of the Rose I read last year and was so surprised how much I loved it. Despite being a chonker it moves really fast and there's a lot of really cool information. If you're interested at all in Egyptian history, the novel Child of the Morning by Pauline Gedge is amazing. It's about Hatshepsut throughout her life and reign and goes into the politics of ancient Egypt.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Adding it!
@TallGuyReads
Жыл бұрын
The Name of the Rose is fantastic! Excited to see what you think about that one! I really want to read some GGK this year as well! Awesome vid!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yes! I didn't know you'd read it, Alex!
@carogallasc1848
Жыл бұрын
SAVE THE BOOKS!!! I liked Name of the Rose but found the novel a bit dense for me so I'm glad I watched the movie first. Secret History just did not cut it for me (not what I normally read and just overly dramatic for my taste)
@J.R.Carrel
Жыл бұрын
I didn't think a standalone could make me as excited as a series. Until I read The Grand Dark.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Oooo what is that?
@J.R.Carrel
Жыл бұрын
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandriaAuthor Richard Kadrey. It's set in its own world but it's like post-war semi dystopian very gritty. Air ships, the government controls everything bio engineering. I think you'd like it.
@brandar
Жыл бұрын
I have all of these on my current tbr except the Pratchett book (which I will add now!). Hope you read some of these as a channel readalong! I read Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris a couple months ago and think you would like that quite a bit since you are enjoying Harris' Cicero trilogy and AoO is a standalone novel.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Oh nice! Standalones!
@mastersal4644
Жыл бұрын
Name of the Rose is great - reread time. It is much more dense than the Blurb though. Christina has great taste. Not to bring down the enthusiasm but Memories of Hadrian is supposed by pretty inaccurate per Everett. That makes me want to read it more but I am wondering how you do with it 😂
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Oh really? Where did Everett say that? And I'm probably ok with it bc I don't actually like Hadrian 😛
@mastersal4644
Жыл бұрын
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria in the book “Hadrian and the triumph of Rome”. Though now that I am thinking about it I may be mixing up the author’s note from that one and Kate Quinn’s Rome series which made me love Hadrian. That one I want you to read instead (or in addition to since I still have to read Memoirs and your reading it may push me into picking it up)
@RedFuryBooks
Жыл бұрын
I love Name of the Rose- it seems to be a forgotten book for some reason. I suspect that you won’t like The Secret History but will like Tartt’s writing - she has a great command of the english language. I have some GGK planned this year too 1 The Lions of al-Rassan and A Song for Arbonne.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
If there's time I also want to hit up Lions!
@Lokster71
Жыл бұрын
I, Claudius is a fantastic book. I've read it and re-read it a lot. And Claudius the God, which is less fun but still pretty good. Graves definitely used Suetonius as a source (and I think did a Penguin Classics translation of Suetonius back in the day.) I'm re-re-re-reading The Name of the Rose at the moment because a couple of people have read it recently - Christy at Dostoevsky in Space being one - and they found it hard work. Although Christy finished it. It used to be one of my favourite novels but I hadn't re-read it for a long time so I picked it up again. It's wordy and philosophical but I like that.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yes! These are great endorsements!
@MokurenDojo
Жыл бұрын
The only one you mentioned that I’ve read is Name of the Rose by Eco. It is a cool story full of all the things you like, even if it is dense reading and on the longish side. I think you’ll dig it. And nothing remotely like DaVinci Code (which is definitely a plus.)
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahahhahah even better
@AnithaGadeReads
Жыл бұрын
I am not sure how many of those I will read along with you but that's a great list. Only Curse of Chalion is on my list so far. I am reading that with Tori.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
WHAT? This is treason!
@AnithaGadeReads
Жыл бұрын
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria hahaha To be fair, that was planned before you posted this video
@anangryscorpion5838
Жыл бұрын
The Secret History is so so good! one of my absolute faves, do I think you'll like it though? Honestly probably not, I think you'll appreciate and respect it but I think it will annoy you quite a lot. Also The Goldfinch absolutely rules.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
This seems like an accurate assessment
@SheWasOnlyEvie
Жыл бұрын
As someone who had no interest in westerns, I'm pretty sure John Williams ruined westerns for me (if I ever were to read another one) because Butcher's Crossing is just so good. I still find myself thinking about that book!
@alisssart
Жыл бұрын
Agreed!!! It was the first book I read from him and probably tied with Augustus as my favorite.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I'm very excited
@mombyby
Жыл бұрын
I read it last year. Never thought I'd ever learn so much about hunting buffalo
@PonderingsOfPete
Жыл бұрын
obligatory Secret History Comment: I have no idea, I haven't read it
@Paul_van_Doleweerd
Жыл бұрын
Sarantium and Name of the Rose are very enjoyable. The film of the name of the rose stars Sean Connery, make of that what you will... If you want more conspiracy themed fiction, Foucault's Pendlum by Eco is also pretty good unlike Dan Brown, which, yes, is trash! 😬 EDIT: How are you doing on the road of recovery?
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I'm doing well! Started physical therapy so we'll see some progress very soon, hopefully!
@Paul_van_Doleweerd
Жыл бұрын
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Good to hear, hopefully you are well enough for that cage match with Jimmy 😆
@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD
Жыл бұрын
I love videos like this!!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Penny!
@moev29
Жыл бұрын
I *hated* a secret history. Lmao. I hope you actually enjoy it though
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣
@Rogue_VI
Жыл бұрын
The blurb for Sarantine Mosaic kind of makes it sound like magic plays a bigger role than it does. There's intrigue and sexy times. There's so little magic that it's more hist-fic than historical fantasy. This is the book (or duology) that has solidified my decision to not read any more GGK. It wasn't terrible. Parts of it were pretty good. But overall, it was just meh.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
I hadn't actually expected there to be much magic...I think without it will be even better!
@chadia25
Жыл бұрын
❤
@thatsci-firogue
Жыл бұрын
Can James Clavell's Tai-Pan be read as a standalone?
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
100%
@thatsci-firogue
Жыл бұрын
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Thanks Allen, that's the one I own 😀
@thatsci-firogue
Жыл бұрын
Wait, I Claudius can be read as a standalone? Well if I'd known that I would've read it already cuz for some reason the sequel is so bloody expensive on kindle. Sarantine Mosaic is amazing, it's not my favourite thing I've read of Kay's, (that's Lions of Al-Rassan) but it's a very close second. I'm reading Under Heaven right now so more GGK is a priority this year. I wanna read Name of the Rose too. I own it and don't know why I haven't yet. I think I'll give Augustus a go, Stoner doesn't sound all that interesting. I've To Ride Hell's Chasm and can't wait to read it. I also have her Cycle of Fire trilogy which I think altogether is shorter than A Game of Thrones. I got halfway through The Dispossessed but had to put it down, other stuff distracted me lol but I will get back to it. Generally I like LeGuin, she's usually excellent and I prefer her Sci-Fi to her Fantasy.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Yeah Ive never been told you had to read Claudius the God to enjoy I,Claudius
@mikouf9691
Жыл бұрын
Allen: I don't like clever, eccentric misfits...at all. Me: Am I the only one struck by the irony of this statement? (😳Not that Allen is a misfit...) Great list! Name of the Rose is one of those books I've owned for years. I still want to read it and also want to read more Le Guin books. Re: standalones, I intend to read The Count of Monte Cristo this year and am looking forward to the release of In the Lives if Puppets. Otherwise, I have no specific standalones on my TBR.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
Hahahahahah I thought they same thing when I was editing
@mellies.8822
Жыл бұрын
I love the Name of the Rose and I think you will, too, but it's not like The Da Vinci Code at all, it's not action packed and the detective plot is not in the focus of the book the whole time. A lot is philosophical discussions, everyday life at the abbey, the characters are brilliant, it's very slow and many people think it's boring, but since you are a Daniel Abraham fan slow is no problem. Also you like K.J. Parker so you are probably ok with side tensions, how about a side tension on semiology?
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria
Жыл бұрын
It not being like the DaVinci Code is a plus!
@Altairkin
Жыл бұрын
The Secret History was in the bottom 3 novels that I've read last year, it was absolutely insufferable in every aspect, including the prose. I will be shocked if you will like it, It doesn't seem to be align with anything that I know about your taste. The teacher/students relationship is really not that prevalent, it's about the students and their transgressions. Claudius the God is on par with I, Claudius in my opinion. I guess it gets overlooked because it doesn't have as many legendary historical figures, but quality is still there. Yes, Tiffany Aching is great, you're wrong.
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