The best books I read in 2020
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- čas přidán 15. 12. 2020
- Today it's all about my favorite books of 2020! This was super difficult this year, and instead of just five I had to extend it to 8. Let me know in the comments if you agree with any of these books and which ones were your favorite of this year!
Giveaway details:
Comment on this video to enter. Entries close December 23. Winners will be announced in my video published on December 30, and I will comment on the winners' comments to hopefully let you know beforehand. Each winner will get to choose one of my top books to be sent to them. Good luck and thank you for 1000 subscribers!
Instagram: / bookborn.reviews
Amazon wishlist: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
Books mentioned in this video:
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen
The Martian by Andy Weir
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Anxious People by Fredrick Backman - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I like that you pinpoint specifics that made the book special for you (and sometimes contract with what the book is praised for).
These books sound interesting! A few of them I hadn't heard of before and will check out, thanks for the recommendations!
Hope you enjoy them if you try one out!
Wow I'm so glad I found your channel through this video! I love the way you talk about books, enthusiastically but also peacefully in a way? Don't know if that makes sense haha. Congratulations on 1000!
I wasn't sure about grimdark and Abercrombie either, but I binged his books this year and they are excellent. I think you'll like them too.
I'm sooo excited to start Abercrombie. I feel like I'll finally be apart of the club! haha
I loved ‘the blade itself’ this year. What a fantastic read!
I'm very excited to read that one! I've heard nothing but good things
I kept trying to get into fantasy novels and it just never stuck. I'm Sci-fi through and through. I grabbed that trilogy and was flabbergasted. I'm not even a fan of the genre and I love those 3 books.
I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January this year too, and was really impressed! I usually prefer long series, I love settling in to a context and getting comfortable with characters, so I was really surprised with how much I loved it. It was short but felt complete. The prose is also really A++, beautiful writing.
I finally got around to Liu Cixin's trilogy starting with The Three Body Problem and I think they all end up on my favorites of the year. In terms of creativity and something really new, in terms of scale, he knocked it out of the park. Also, the mark of a good translation is that you never stop to think about it, which was definitely the case for this trilogy. It was really well done, and they even include some notes on cultural and historical events in case the reader isn't familiar with things like the Chinese cultural revolution. I can't recommend these highly enough!
I'm so glad I found your channel! Going to try some of your other recommendations :)
I have The Three Body Problem in my digital library right now but have never gotten around to it! Maybe I need to find time for it this year, I've heard lots of good things.
Oooohhh Mykle must be so happy that Anxious People made it to your top 10! Congrats on your 1k, it was obvious you were going to hit it quick! Your channel is amazing!
Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm hoping putting AP up here will allow him to forgive me for Addie...but let's be honest that will never happen
Grats on 1000! The Other Four Horsemen from Good Omens remains one of my top Pratchett bits of all time. "Things That Don't Work Properly Even After You've Given Them a Good Thumping" lol
I'm reading Angry Planet next month!
Literally laughed so hard at that part. It reminded me of the old Super Nintendo and N64 days where you got to just blow on something to make it work again
Glad you liked the books you received from your 1000th subscriber person. I just started reading the Stormlight books, and I really started enjoying it after a few hundred pages or so. Otherwise I was one of those people that thought it was pretty tough at first.
I also read Good omens not too long ago and though it was great. I differently want to try the Becky Chamber’s book “To be Taught if Fortunate”. That book didn’t get a lot of good reviews so I initially past on it. But if you think it’s good I certainly want to give it a try.
Yeah I get that Stormlight starts very slow but it builds and ends up being so good! I didn't realize To Be Taught, If Fortunate got bad reviews! I'll have to go look it up (I go into everything blind mostly haha). I knew her novel A Long Way got really good reviews, but I didn't like it as much as the novella.
Super excited for you to read The First Law, I read them for the first time this year and they're in the top of what I've read this year! Congratulations, and this giveaway is so fun!
I'm really excited! I read Half a King by him and wasn't wow'd (like it was good but not enough for me to read the rest of the series), and everyone said that wasn't the place to start.
The title of Radium Girls is so enchanting i cant look away. Amazing colors and design choice. and lol, the moment u said Crowley's name i felt such an allure to good omens. its just sssooooooooooo good.
I won't lie, Radium Girls' name was half the reason I read it lol. It's such a good name! But then the book delivered.
Woohoo congrats for making to 1k subs!!! I knew you would skyrocket the moment I saw your first video. So happy for you! ❤️
You're the best! Thank you!
I‘m so glad Rhythm of War is on your list. It was my favorite book of the year and my favorite Stormlight Archive book.
It was SO good. I think Words of Radiance is still my favorite but RoW is probably second now. Loved Navani's storyline.
@@Bookborn Yeah Navani is so awsome in this book. Her story with Raboniel is amazing.
Congratulations on 1000k! Glad youtube recommended your videos to me awhile ago. My favorite book of the year is actually the Expanse series. I started reading them last December and finished book 8 in September. Patiently waiting the ninth and final book next year.
Just looked it up and it won a hugo for best series so it must be pretty great! Have you read any of the novellas in the series? I was wondering if I could start with one of those before committing...I'm already sort of overcommitting for 2021 lol
@@Bookborn I haven't yet, sorry. Really great series that hit the ground running and kept going. I will try and get the novellas read and give you an update. I understand how hard it is to read everything you want to.
@@Bookborn I sat down and read the first three novellas in the Expanse series today. I think that the full books bring a lot more to the table, but they do give a good taste of the writing style and are great quick stories.
@@dthompson891 Oh wow so they must be really short! Maybe i'll give one of those a try just to get a little taste first...
Idk why but the way you said twist got me. So crisp 👌.
I'm so glad I can say at least one word that people find appealing...after my Cosmere video I wasn't sure it was possible
Congratulations on 1k! I may not get to RoW next year but I definitely plan on starting the Stormlight Archive
Yay! It's such a good series! But I can see how reading four in one year is a bit of a commitment lol
Hey Abby! So you are one of my winners :) If you could email me at bookbornblog @ gmail .com we can work out your prize!
I will have to go and watch all of your Rythm of War videos.. I enjoyed Good Omens it was fun.
They are all spoilery so make sure you've finished before you do :)
@@Bookborn Yes I finished on Thursday
My favorite book of the year was probably Rhythm of War but I also really liked the Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. I have a hard time choosing favorites because I tend to love most of the books I read (I DNF quick if it’s not clicking with me). Another great video and congratulations on a thousand subscribers!
I've been hearing SO much about the Souther book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I'm so interested in it and I hope to get to it this year!
@@Bookborn Look forward to hearing your thoughts on it! My Best Friends Exorcism by the same author is really good too.
I read the martian this year and it’s from my favorites now and the audiobook is so good I listen to it two times, and fredrik backman is one of my favorite authors a man called ove is perfection to me. Congrats🥰
I've heard the audio of the Martian is super good, along with the movie! I think I'm going to try to read a Man Called Ove this year since everyone keeps mentioning it!
Great list! I need to get the Becky Chambers novella. I also loved Good Omens thought I haven't watched the show yet.
You won't regret watching the show, I feel like it was pretty faithful!
Some great choices this year! also fun fact The Martian was the first audiobook I've ever listened to and therefore reignited my habit of reading
I'm not surprised! It's one of those great fast books that reminds you why you like to read so much.
@@Bookborn It really is! It's the power of botany
Your fictional favs are so similar to mine: Good Omens, To be Taught if Fortunate, Anxious People, The Martian, and I love Stormlight Archive but I am yet to read Rhythm of War. Great video, thanks!
You've got TASTE!
When the content of the letter was revealed in Anxious People, I was sobbing on the floor haha Backman’s charming, witty and heart-warming stories always make me cry. If you haven’t yet, pls read his novella And Every Morning The Way Home Got Longer and Longer ‘cuz it’s wonderful!!
I seriously rarely cry in books but that book was just so dang emotional! Just sooo so good. I def am going to try to fit more Backman into my reading schedule!
I wasn't super sure about reading the ten thousand doors of January but after reading the Starless SEa and loving that I think I am ready to pick it up. I have heard the two of them compared to eachother quite a bit!
I picked up Good Omens but haven't gotten to it yet but it is on the 2021 list!
I find Ten Thousand Doors to be polarizing. Either people are like...I DON'T GET WHY PEOPLE LIKE THIS, or, like me, it's their favorite book of the year.
@@Bookborn 🤣 i definitely want to read it!
Congrats on producing really high-quality content! My favorite book of the year, after RoW was Jade War by Fonda Lee, highly recommend it!
Thanks for the support!
My favorite book of the year is either Black Sun or The Sword of Kaigen. I still can't decide. The only book I've read in your top 8 is To Be Taught If Fortunate and it really surprised me. It wasn't what I was expecting... in a good way. Happy 1000!!!!!
The Sword of Kaigen is on my 2021 list to read and I'm super excited! I've just been hearing rave reviews about it.
Grats on 1k. :3
I'm not a Witcher fan, neither, yet I still read all but the last Witcher novel. I wasn't a big fan of the first book, but I actually really liked most of the stories in "The Sword of Destiny." I definitely have some problem with one of the stories in particular, but it still managed to elicit a strong emotional response from me that it might also be my favorite. I also really liked the next book, "Blood of Elves," but I've forgotten everything about the other Witcher novels. If you manage to read "Blood of Elves," but still harbor reservations about continuing the series, I don't think the following books will change your mind.
I've only read Joe Abercrombie's "First Law" trilogy, starting with The Blade Itself, and yup, like everyone has said many times, his character work is fantastic. I still want to read his other novels in this universe, especially some of the stand alones. I haven't read much grim dark, neither, except for Peter Newman’s "The Vagrant," and Rebecca Kuang's "The Poppy War." "The Vagrant" has a different approach to prose than what I've ever seen, and this might dissuade some readers, but I loved how the main characters communicated without ever using words, on account of one of them being a mute, the second being a baby, and the third being a goat. And I really liked "The Poppy War" because it incorporates a lot of Chinese culture into the fantasy elements, which is refreshing from the predominantly European perspectives in fantasy novels. And I especially liked how characters experience heavy trauma, but chose to live instead of just being written off.
But anyway. I think my favorite novels I read this year were...
"The Poppy War" trilogy
"The First Law" trilogy
"Sword of Kaigen"
"All Systems Red" (Murderbot Diaries #1)(SciFi novella about a robot that just wants to watch human's tv shows while pretending to be a regular robot)
"Fahrenheit 451" I never actually ever read this one before (my English class in public school never got around to it). I perceived so many parallels between the dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451 and modern day, that I just lost my mind. lol
... And of course, "Rhythm of War," because Sanderson.
The first three of your favorites are on my reading list for this year! I didn't know the Poppy War was Chinese-culture based fantasy, that makes me more excited for it. I love Asian-based fantasy, and I agree, there just isn't enough of it in the mainstream right now.
I'm not super far into Sword of Destiny right now but I already like it more, so I hope that continues. If I end up liking it, I'll probably recommend people skip the Last Wish. So far I don't think I really needed to know anything in that book to understand this one.
I didn't know you had "The Poppy War" on your future reading list, although I can't say I'm too surprised; it's not exactly an under-the-radar title at this point. xD I like the Chinese influence, both from Chinese culture and Chinese history (first book clearly influenced by the Shino-Japanese War (I'm finishing the third book and am seeing better the influence of the Opium War on the series)). But, real talk, I also really like the... authenticity behind the inclusion of some of the traumatic events in the novels. I don't like the traumatic events at all, but I appreciated that it's presented respectfully and authentically. And... And just because someone experiences heavy trauma, their character isn't just written off as dead or catatonic.
... I was trying to not ramble about "The Poppy War," but it seems I couldn't help myself. I guess my tldr is that "The Poppy War" does things differently, and I find it refreshing, even if it can be rather grim.
And with the Witcher, yeah, I don't think you need to read the previous one to read the current one. Heck, I think most of the short stories within these novels are pretty independent of each other, too. I think it's not until the next book, "Blood of Elves," where reading order starts to matter, since it's no longer just a collection of random short stories, and is instead the first book in The Witcher *Saga* (kinda confusing). But yeah, it'll be interesting hearing your thoughts on this one after you finish it. It's... I think it's an improvement from the previous book. Could still be better, but it's an improvement, at least.
Great list! I need to get to Good Omens and Anxious People.
Do Good Omens for sure! Such a perfect read for 2020 lol or coming off this apocalypse year
I just received Rhythm of War yesterday. I’m really excited to dig into it... but also a little nervous since I was let down by the third book.
I liked it a lot better than Oathbringer! I feel like it was better paced.
I loved the Martian so much, it's one of my favorites of all time. Like you said the science is so well done, it almost feels like it's based on a true story, which it obviously isn't. The movie is good too, book's better tho. Like it should be.
Also congrats on everything!
Thank you! And I haven't seen the movie yet so I'm really excited to watch it because everyone says it's a good adaptation!
Congrats on 1000 subscribers. One of the first books I plan to read next year will be The One Thousand Doors of January. It sounds so good and am looking forward to.
The same thing can be said for Becky Chambers. A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is one my top of my tbr.
I am saving Rythm of War for my last read of the year. Will probably start it at the end of the week, very excited for it.
I preferred To Be Taught to A Long Way, but it was still super entertaining! And can't wait for you to start RoW and Thousand Doors...basically my top two for the year.
@@Bookborn Yes, excited to get to them. It's hard for me to choose a favorite of the year but out of the top of my head I would say that it is between..
Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire, The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn, Kate Elliot, and Jennifer Roberson, any of the Murderbot novellas by Martha Wells, Swordheart by T
Kingfisher, and lastly Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susan Clarke.
@@afantasybabble6222 I LOVED Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell! Such a good novel. Someone else mentioned Murderbot was their favorite of the year, so I guess I need to check that out!
I hope you get bigger, really enjoying your videos :)
Thanks so much for the support!
Thanks for making booktube a brighter place!
My top book this year has to be The Way of Kings!
Ahhh you get to start the series fresh! I'm always so jealous. Words of Radiance is my favorite so can't wait until you get there!
Can't wait to try some of your favorite books of the year❣️Rhythm of war was good! But my favorite was The Way of Kings!
It's hard to beat that zero to hero story
I loved Anxious People too it was my favorite and ofc Rhythm of war too but my fav spot goes to Oathbringer 🙈also read greatcoats and loved it and you will love the blade itself give the sequels a chance too the first is mostly character work but it’s really good
I'm actually ok with books that are just heavy character work, and I've heard Abercrombie is the best so I'm hoping I like it as much as everyone else! I love meeting people who love Oathbringer most since I feel like most fans put it lower than the other books.
New to your channel, I think this is the third one I've seen, but read a couple of comments from your subscriber's. And I'm absolutely shocked that no one ever makes mentions the Capital America Shield in the background. It seems like something that should be talked about. Just saying.
Congrats on your 1000+ subscribers.
Thanks for joining us! People don't really talk about it in my comments but it's gotten a lot of mentions in other forums, lol. One of my booktuber pals even mentioned it in a video, and pretty much everyone who walks into our house asks where we got it. It's our statement piece for sure lol
Great list. I want to read all of those.
Come back and report if you do!
@@Bookborn I'm a very slow reader. It is going to take me more than a year.
I enjoy your reviews. They are really on target. I was wondering if you have ever given the steampunk genera any consideration.
In general, I'm not really a steampunk person. Most of the stuff I've read in the genre aren't my favorite, but I'd be open to suggestions!
Hope you enjoy Joe Abercrombie! "The Trouble with Peace" was one of my top books of 2020 by far, and it really solidified my love of Abercrombie.
Everybody is obsessed with his character work so I'm super interested to start it.
@@Bookborn Start with The First Law trilogy and read his stuff in published order -- Abercrombie really starts coming into his own with the second and third book of the First Law Trilogy [the first book is good, the characters are strong -- but I wasn't sold until the appearance of the 'Bloody Nine' in a chapter towards the end of that first book -- this probably sounds like Greek to anyone who hasn't read his work, but you'll know what I mean when you get there]
Yep. Discovered Abercrombie last spring and am re-reading first law right now. Enjoying more on a second read. The Heroes has got to be my face though.
Congratulations! A new subscriber here who found you through Alex's channel. Some of the books on your list I loved reading...The Martian, To Be Taught If Fortunate, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Good Omens, and Radium Girls. A couple of books that ranked high for me this year is The Way of Kings (just started this series), The Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes, Sula by Toni Morrison, The Only Good Indians by SG Jones, and The Break by Katherena Vermette. Looking forward to future videos!
Is The Ship of Magic a part of a trilogy? I've only read Hobb's Farseer trilogy and I enjoyed it a lot!
@@Bookborn It is...it's the start of the next trilogy in the Realm of the Elderlings, 'The Liveship Traders Trilogy'. I'm saving book two for the first day of 2021 knowing it will be a good start for the New Year :)
Hey! So you are actually one of the winners of my giveaway. Since you've read most of my favorites this year, if you'd like to choose just a book on your wishlist you can :) Contact me at bookbornblog @ gmail .com!
@@Bookborn Yay! What great news! I just sent you an email...thank you! :)
It would be boring to say that my favorite book was Rhythm of War... So I'll pick a non-Sanderson book too. :) I read my first Backman this year which was A Man Called Ove and loved it!
A Man Called Ove was recommended to me a while ago as my friend's favorite book of the year! I def have that on my list now since I loved Anxious People so much! And yeah...just really hard to compare with a Sanderson lol
I first heard of Good Omens via the TV show, it's been on my TBR for a while, before I watch the show. The Martian is also one of my favorite movies so that is also on my TBR. Happy Holidays & good luck with the giveaway everyone !!
The Good Omens TV show is actually EXCELLENT. But obviously books is always better. I still need to watch the Martian!
Couldn't agree more on Good Omens, so good!
Just weirdly obsessed with it now lol I've made like three videos on it.
Humble flex on the engineer haha. I definitely love fast paced stand alone. Recursion recently was that for me. The Rook is another.
I'm unsure if I want to try Recursion! I've heard a lot of good about it but I read Dark Matter by Crouch and wasn't super impressed so I'm torn...
@@Bookborn I guess that’s a decent indicator. Depends if you like time twisting?.. I describe it as a Christopher Nolan Movie (Inception, Tenet) I’m book form.
Not entering the giveaway, just wanted to say congrats on the channel growth!
Thanks Alex!
I enjoyed Good Omens. It was a bold piece of literature that takes multiple jabs at various religions. I'm not a devout Catholic Christian but I appreciate how this was written and it made Neil Gaiman's works hold a special place in my bookshelf. 🤓😅😍
It's funny because I'm a pretty devout Christian and still that the book was hilarious. It's honestly very well done and the jabs are quite appropriate, in all honesty.
Found this channel through your ‘Cosmere mentions” video. Congrats on 1K!!!
Prediction...10K by spring and 100k by the end of next year. CALLED IT 😎
I have a feeling you're being WAY too kind but I'm going to keep meditating on this comment to hopefully make it a reality lol
I second that. Love this channel.
Oh my gosh I’m just now starting Anxious People and PAGE 99 MADE ME BAWL MY EYES OUT!!!
Literally just had tears on my face for the last 30 pages lol.
@@Bookborn Oh my goodness I'll have to prepare myself for more crying. I never cry in books but this book OMG. I can't wait to talk about the book during the LIVE!!
@@Bookborn Also congrats on reaching 1000 subs!!!
@@RivetingReads Thank you! And yes I'm so excited to talk about it!
The Marian is the next book on my list. Very excited to read it.
Hope you enjoy it! It's a great speed read.
@@Bookborn The Blade Itself is also on my list for January so I'm excited to hear your thoughts on it when I'm done. Keep up the good work and congrats on the 1K subs. Very well deserved. I'm glad I found your channel.
@@TylerAldrich Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm nervous to read some grimdark but excited too...maybe I'll like it more than I thought!
Still narrowing down my favorite I’ve read so far, but the current five (I’m not counting rereads):
Recursion by Blake Crouch
American Pop by Snowden Wright
What it Takes: The Way to the White House by Richard Ben Cramer
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Sirens by Joseph Knox
I never count rereads either! This looks like a great list...I haven't read a single one on it lol
@@Bookborn I’m definitely more of a SFF reader- this list doesn’t show that outside of Recursion! My rereads were all SFF though.
I can't do favourites of the year (also not entering the giveaway I have all the books that interesting to me from there already tho I haven't read the Martian yet)
But some favourites of the year in no particular system or order -
Mark Lawrence in general (I've read every book he published in his career this year lol).
The Locked Tomb books - I love Gideon and Harrow so much.
Obligatory mention to Sanderson RoW and Dawnshard.
Lady Astronaut! Everyone need to read those books. Also Murderbot.
Ok can't go much longer lol so last one is The Poppy War trilogy - I haven't read the final book yet but the first two were GREAT
Is it crazy that I haven't read any Mark Lawrence yet? I need to get to him soon. Also Poppy is on my list for this year!
@@Bookborn hmm I think based on your taste I'd recommend either Book of the Ancestor or the Impossible Times trilogies fit your entry point to ML but yeah he's good!
And TPW is so good tho it is very grim and dark
@@giladsofer2692 I randomly own The Girl and the Stars (or something like that?) By him but haven't read it yet, so I may start there although I heard that's a rnadom place to start lol
@@Bookborn I think it isn't a bad place to start it's the first book in his newest trilogy (second one comes out in April) but imo it wouldn't be best place (tho really you can start with any of his book 1s and it'll be fine
I’m so happy you loved Good Omens. It’s one of my favorites, and I thought the miniseries was good too if you haven’t seen it. David Tennant is the perfect Crowley lol. I’ve been hearing good things about Ten Thousand Doors, so I will probably add that to my list. I’m currently reading The Blade Itself. We will have to compare notes afterward.
So my favorite book of the year was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Absolutely amazing! Congrats on 1K subscribers, and I would love to enter your giveaway. 😃
David Tennant is all I can imagine as Crowley now. He did an incredible job. But honestly I feel like the entire cast was A++. It brought it to life - definitely one of the best adaptations (I swear BBC is just SO good at it).
I've heard so much about the Night Circus! I need to eventually read it, but it probably won't make 2021. I've already been overcommitting haha
@@Bookborn yeah I get it. Overcommitting seems to be our job description as Booktubers. 😂 I agree, Tennant is who I always think of as Crowley now lol. BBC does do some amazing stuff. We’re huge fans of His Dark Materials, and of course Doctor Who.
@@BookishChas And although It's not fantasy related, their adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is simply the best one to ever exist.
@@Bookborn I’ve heard that yes. Not really my cup of tea, but I’m glad you like it. 😃
This year has been quite a ride. What kept me afloat was some good family time and some really good stories and books I've read throughout.
Below are my top 3 favourites.
1 - The Last Arguments of Kings by Joe Abercrombie.
2 - A ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
3 - Inkredia by Sarangi Maharaj.
Ooo I've been interested in the prequel by Collins but just haven't been in a YA mood. So I guess it's totally worth reading if you liked Hunger Games?
@@Bookborn I really loved The Hunger Games series, and this prequel book was probably the best thing I've read from the perspective of a character who is not a good person, he is not grey either. The books portraits him as a complex character, with a varying degrees of emotions. It is really great how Collins decodes the Psyche of a psychopath, his motivations and how he acts whenever he is pinned down by something or someone. I really loved reading about his thought process which you may hate and disagree with, but you understand what and why he is doing, what he does. It's really fascinating. I think you'll love it. There is such subtle commentary about our current political climate, it's just amazing to take it all in.
@@farazkhan0 I didn't know it was from the perspective of a villian! That actually makes me a lot more intrigued...I've heard such good things. I'll need to add it to 2021.
@@Bookborn Would love to hear your opinion on it. As Katniss Everdeen would say "thank you... for your consideration" 😀
Rhythm of War
Never not a good time to reread The Hobbit and LOTR. It's crazy that after all these years they are just as strong and as good as anything being produced today (imo).
Rhythm of War was definately one of my top book reads this year.
Have you read Rage of Dragons and Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter? Those were also in my top books of this year.
Rage of Dragons has been on my list forever. I'm hoping to get to it this year, but we will see...
I know how that goes. But I look forward to when you do read and review Tahe of Dragons.
How do you go about deciding which TBR to read next?
Radium Girls was excellent - I recommended it to so many people. It bothered me how little we all knew (in my book club) about this bit of history. Those poor women.
I feel like I think "how did I not know this about history?" so often when reading non-fiction! The story is heartbreaking but I'm glad I know it.
Thank you so much for the giveaway - I would love to be entered :)
hi bookborn - my altime favorite will be the Lord of the rings - a highlight this year was Simon stralenhag the electric state - so beautyful Pictures - best wishes and merry christmas
LOTR is a great all time favorite. Just an all-around excellent book that continues to age well.
Fantastic content and energy.
Thank you!
You should check of the rest of Backman’s books if you haven’t already. E.g. A Man Called Ove (stand-alone, heartwarming), Bear Town (first in a trilogy, more serious topics, still heartwarming as well though).
It's on my tbr list! Especially a Man Called Ove, because it was a couple of my friends best book of the year when they read it!
@@Bookborn Awesome ❤️ Hope you like it too!
Great review, clear and well communicated
Much appreciated!
Bravo for your excellent channel. Your reviews are great because you always put the émotion forward. Which is what everybody is looking after in a book. My best book for 2020, although it is not New : "Case for 3 detectives" from Leo Bruce. And i advise you to read Sylvain Tesson if it is translated in english.
Thanks so much for the support! I'll look for Sylvain Tesson - I always love reading translated books.
I checked, and it is translated. If you décide to jump in, start with "consolations of the forest". Im sure you will love it.
Yes, more First Law!!
I'm excited to start! I think I'll start it end of Jan!
Words of Radiance was my top book of the year.
Excccelllent choice, and also my second-favorite Sanderson ever.
Great call on Good Omens. Pratchett and Gaiman are waaay overlooked on booktube. Speaking of overlooked, if you want something dark and EXCELLENT, try Gormenghast. The first 2 anyway. Nobody is talking about this and it's a travesty...
I'm not super into dark stuff tbh lol is it grimdark?
@@Bookborn Well, first was written in the 40's, so well before that genre showed on the scene. Hard to describe. Gothic more than anything. Believe it or not, some very smart critics place this above LOTR (came out around the same time). I agree, but a lot depends on taste. It's a slow read, but unlike anything you've read before. Guarantee it and the others I recommended will pad those booktubes credentials, at the least. I was just thrilled to someone read Good Omens lol.
Hi, I am new subscriber here! 😊 In 2020 I also read Anxious people and The Martian and loved them both. I did audiobook for the Martian, which is narrated by Will Wheaton to perfection!
In 2021 I am hoping to take Books with Brittany's idea and alternate between Malazan Book of the Fallen and Joe Abercrombie's Firsr Law Books monthly.
I still need to continue Malazan. I read the first one like 7 years ago and liked it but just didn't continue on. It's such a famous series and I feel like is my biggest gap in my high fantasy reading.
Went back to find your and my comments back a month or two .. couldn't find em. But today I received the first 3 Mistborn books for Christmas (yay!) .. so now the new problem -- do I pause my current book (book 2 of the Fionivar Tapestry.. holy cow is this trilogy good!) to pick dive into Mistborn (your fault!) .. or finish book 2. But that brings up the related problem if Fionivar being a trilogy.. is it 'book cheating' to pause mid or end of book 2, and go to Mistborn? I shoudl wrap up Fionivar .. since Mistborn are pretty good sized books (500+pgs each) and if I read one I'll likely be roped for the next ...
Decisions decisions!
I read a review on goodreads that Mistborn has some amateur parts to it, as Sanderson hadn't gotten into his full swing yet. the dialog is ovr-wordy and awkward, yet the action scenes and plotting and magic systenms are solid. I'll find out.. but all you guys are so over the moon with Mr Sanderson, I've got to try him on :)
CZcams has been weird with my comments and they disappear or get flagged and don't really let you fix it as easily anymore with the last update.
I meannnnn I say Mistborn lol. I really enjoyed Era 1. Of course, I wasn't as well-read in adult fantasy when I read them since it was like 8 years ago now, so I'm unsure if I would've recognized the awkwardness then. However, I think the story is still very solid.
@@Bookborn alright, I startes Mistborn recently .. in about 100 pages, so the story is just starting to reveal what its really about, after the early setup phase.
I'm getting big Oceans Eleven vibes now; Vin is the new young guy to the crew, and Kelsier is the George Clooney lead, and the cast of colourful rogue characters. Huh.
That was unexpected :)
@@skeezixcodejedi Sanderson mentions that he particularly wanted to write a "heist" novel, a la Oceans 11, so you nailed it :)
Good Omens is one of the best stand-alone books of all time.
AMEN. I'm seriously obsessed with it. It may be in my top ten books of all time.
@@Bookborn wait until you start rereading it, it just gets better and better, that book has zero flaws.
Did you see the Good Omens show? Any comment on that?
OKay awesome, you're an engineer. *respect*
I actually loved the Good Omens show. I think it was an incredible adaptation. Have you seen it?
Engineers are the best. I'm not biased or anything...
@@Bookborn good to know! I didn't see it yet, didn't want to spoiler the book. I added a bunch of Terry Pratchet to my wishlist and accidentally let the wifey see the list, so .. who knows, maybe I get some Pratchet for Christmas. (Your fault!) .. if not, Amazon will get me some soon enough!
Props on dedicating time to educate yourself, I need to do more of that as well. I'll keep an eye out for How to be An Anti-Racist for sure!
Also I've seen American Gods on the shelf so many times and thought about grabbing it. Next time I see it on a good deal I'm going to snag it up!
Also I've read a fair bit of Grimdark, and personally I find First Law to be the least grimdark of the bunch. Congrats on 1k subs, well deserved!!!
I've heard that First Law is the least grimdark which is honestly what I need haha.
Woho, once you go down Abercrombie hole you're not coming out :D
We'll see if I can handle the grimdark...lol
Heye do you have a Goodreads?
No. I realize that's insane for a Booktuber but....no. I signed up approximately 9 years ago. Went on once, hated it, and have never returned lol. I'm probably going to have to give in soon here, though, and join it.
@@Bookborn ya I do realise that it not a very flourished site, but I would have really loved to read your views on there.
My favorite book to date about Racism is by Thomas Sowell called Black Rednecks and White Liberals. Check it out, but beware he wrote several others on the topic.
I'll check it out! Thanks!
Couple more and I'll shut up lol. Book of the New Sun and King of Elflands daughter. Check em out. Idk. Maybe I just need to start my own channel lmao
I'll check them out! And yess join the booktube club! It's fun over here!
Been watching her videos for a while now and I'm surprised that I don't know what her name is yet😭
lol I only ever refer to myself as Bookborn on here so you aren't going crazy, don't worry
As a lifelong liberal who lives in a very progressive city I want to thank you for brining up Ibram X. Kendi (Henry Rogers) book and giving it a glowing review. Now I can unsubscribe to you channel. That guy is a grifter and race baiter and if you truly got indoctrinated into his books thinking, which is just a hate book for any white person that disagrees with him, then I really can not trust any of your reviews. I was enjoying your channel but I can't support someone who supports that kind of rhetoric and actively sells it to their audience.
Have a nice day.
WOAhhhh I actually thought his book was the opposite! I don't know much about him personally, tbh, so if he has done sketch stuff in his personal life I don't know. He talks about how he was racist towards whites in his book, which is a pretty hot take, I think. Of course, he defines racism a little differently than other books I've seen, but I was interested in it.
I hardly feel "indoctrinated". Or that he was "race-baiting". I didn't feel that he hated me for being white at ALL, actually. I felt like he did a good job of helping me understand things I couldn't understand.
I feel more sad, though, that you are unsubscribing for simply sharing a different opinion than me. Many, many of my friends share different opinions than me and we still manage to get along and discuss. Sorry to see you go - you now won't be able to bring a different perspective here.
You seem like a very nice person. I didn't mean to personally insult you.
It's not that you have a different opinion it's that you recommended a book (which I have read exerps from and read about this authors views but have not fully read because I didn't want to purchase it) which is the equivalent of social engineering using the word racisim to make a person actively agree with his position if you want to be "right."
It's like if someone has said, "I think that everybody should read this Dianetics book. Scientology seems like a really good way to look at the world and everybody should take a chance and consider adopting these belief structures." Personally I would really suggest you think hard about the idea that anything that is not actively anti-racist in the way this person defines anti-racist is in fact racist. That is an incredibly bad and dangerous way for people to look at things.
Once again, you seem like a very nice person and I really appreciated your breakdown of all the Easter eggs in rhythm of War. That's what made me want to subscribe to your channel and made me want to look at your recommendations for what I missed reading in 2020.
The end of the year is always my favorite with all the top books of the year!!
It's so fun seeing everyone's favorites! And also a little scary in case your favorites show up on someone's worst list lol