My 20 Favorite Books of All Time (As of Now, Anyway) @LiterateTexan

My 20 Favorite Books of All Time (As of Now, Anyway)

Randy Ray 2023-11-09 | A completely subjective and idiosyncratic list of my 20 favorite books. I mention @anotherbibliophilereads in this video, too.

Contact me anytime:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

A quick hello from the hospital... its been quite a year

Randy Ray 2024-10-08 | ...

How Many of the Best 100 Books of the 21st Century Have I Read (New York Times)

Randy Ray 2024-09-04 | I go through the New York Times list of the top 100 books of the century so far to see how many I've read and which ones are on my TBR list. I also name drop @saintdonoghue toward the end of the video, but it's just a mention without too much fanboy stuff dropped in.

As always, feel free to get in touch with me via any of the following channels:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Mars Trilogy (by Kim Stanley Robinson) - Buddy Read w/Bookclectic

Randy Ray 2024-08-29 | Details about my September buddy read plans with @TheBookclectic to read Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" trilogy, which consists of Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars. Each of the books in this trilogy has won multiple awards, and, in fact, Green Mars and Blue Mars each won the Hugo Award. The books are from the mid 1990s and cover 200-250 years of a future history where humanity is colonizing and terraforming Mars.

As always, feel free to get in touch with me via any of the following channels:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

A Book Haul Sent from a Commenter

Randy Ray 2024-08-28 | I recently got 10 books from one of the regular commenters on my channel. I thought it would be fun to look at this book haul with the rest of my audience. I'm pretty excited about each of these books -- said commenter has a good idea of what my tastes are, apparently!

As always, feel free to reach out to me any time via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

The Bright Side of Booktube (Response Video Rekindled Reader)

Randy Ray 2024-08-28 | A response to @RekindledReader 's video The Dark Side of Booktube: youtube.com/watch?v=JS3ydtb9fJs

I think the pros outweigh the cons so much that these videos should be more accurately titled "The Light Side of BookTube" or "The Bright Side of BookTube." But I also understand that such a title won't get as many clickthroughs.

Thanks for the video idea, @saintdonoghue

As always, please feel free to contact me any time via any of the following means:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

August 2024 TBR [8 Books to Be Read this Month]

Randy Ray 2024-08-01 | The 8 books I'm planning to read in August 2024 along with descriptions of each. I'm sure I'll read more than just these, but these are high priority for me this coming month.

As always, feel free to reach out to me anytime using any of the following means:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Randy Is Alive!

Randy Ray 2024-07-31 | Proof of life video-- where I've been and what I've been reading.

Channel and Health. Update

Randy Ray 2024-07-16 | ...

The Booktuber Name Tag #tagtuesday

Randy Ray 2024-06-19 | Books inspired by various Booktubers' screennames.

This is an original tag based around the names of Booktube channels created by ‪@AaronReadABook‬

I don't remember exactly who tagged me. Probably Kat @gingerbibliophile because she seems to like me.

Here are the prompts:
1. Books I'm Not Reading - A book that's been on your TBR forever
2. Novel iDeea - A book with an interesting premise or plot device
3. Revenant Reads - A book where someone has returned from the dead
4. CriminOlly - A book where a crime takes place
5. Book Time With Elvis - A book about time, time travel, or someone named Elvis
6. MIDDLE of the Book MARCH - Your favourite book that you read in March
7. Book Buds - A book with a great friendship
8. Obscure Book Adventures - A book that you love that never gets talked about
9. Savage Reads - A book with a monster, or beast, or human acting monstrous or beastly
10. A book that fits your own channel name or the name of a channel that you love
11. Tag some other booktubers.

As always, feel free to reach out to me anytime using any of the following means:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Intimidating TBR Tag #tagtuesday

Randy Ray 2024-06-19 | My take on the Intimidating TBR Tag for Tag Tuesday. I don't remember who tagged me nor do I remember who created this tag, but here are the prompts:

The Prompts:

1) What book have you been unable to finish?

What book have you yet to read because...

2) ...you just haven't had the time?
3) ...it's a sequel?
4) ...it's brand new?
5) ...you read a book by the same author and didn't enjoy it?
6) ...you're just not in the mood for it?
7) ...it's humongous?
8) ...because it was a cover buy that turned out to have poor reviews?
9) What is the most intimidating book in your TBR pile?
10) Tag some other people.

As always, please get in touch with me anytime via any of the following channels:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

My Top 10 Favorite Western Authors, Novelists, and Writers

Randy Ray 2024-06-18 | Here's a list of my to 10 favorite western writers:

1- Larry McMurtry
2- Robert B Parker
3- Joe Lansdale
4- Charles Portis
5- Jack Schaefer
6- James Lee Burke
7- Louis Lamour
8- Elmore Leonard
9- Edward Abbey
10- Stephen King

As always, please get in touch with me anytime via any of the following channels:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Top 10 Western Novels I Want to Read but Havent Yet

Randy Ray 2024-06-18 | Here's a list of the top 10 western novels I've been meaning to read for a long time but just haven't gotten to yet.

Duanes Depressed by Larry McMurtry - Book Review

Randy Ray 2024-06-15 | ...

My 10 Favorite Western Movies

Randy Ray 2024-06-15 | A list of my 10 favorite western movies. It might be fun to compare and contrast my list with my friend Mark's.

‎@BookTimewithElvis

How to Read Smart: The Serious Reader Tag

Randy Ray 2024-06-13 | Learn how to read smart... The Randy Ray Way!

This is actually a tag video I learned about at @HannahsBooks

The tag was created by @ToReadersItMayConcern and @ProseAndPetticoats

I'll update the list of questions for the tag when I get back to my desk.

How to Read More

Randy Ray 2024-06-12 | A lot of my thinking about how to read more has been heavily influenced by @_jared and @saintdonoghue

Randy Rays 8th Bookshelf Tour

Randy Ray 2024-06-10 | What other books might be found on my shelves?

2024 Book Shelf Tour #7 - Thick Classics!

Randy Ray 2024-06-09 | Continuing my series of bookshelf tours, this time with a couple dozen this classic novels.

The Driftwood Ranch Library Tour #6

Randy Ray 2024-06-06 | ...

4 Banned Star Trek Books and 6 Censored Star Trek Episodes

Randy Ray 2024-06-06 | A look at some banned Star Trek books and some censored episodes.

A Star Trek Book Shelf Tour with 26 Books [#4]

Randy Ray 2024-06-04 | My 2024 bookshelf tour continues with a shelf of 26 books. mostly Star Trek books.

2024 Book Shelf Tour #3 [Robert E. Howard]

Randy Ray 2024-06-03 | A third installment of my library tour. Many of these books are from Robert E. Howard.

All 14 Books I Read in May 2024, Reviewed

Randy Ray 2024-06-02 | ...

21 Western Books I Might Read for June on the Range 2024

Randy Ray 2024-05-31 | Here's a list of the 21 Western books on my June on the Range 2024 TBR. Like all my TBR videos, these Western novels are all tentative, although Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry is close to a sure thing this year. I've also included a list of my illustrious June on the Range cohosts below.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry was mentioned but isn't part of my tentative TBR. Streets of Laredo, also by McMurtry, is my biggest focus during June on the Range this year. The other books on my list include:

True Grit by Charles Portis (This is a reread for me, but my friend Kirby is also reading it. She claims that I'd be a great actor to portray Rooster Cogburn.) I also mention Portis's other books in this video, but I don't plan to read any of them this year. They include:

Norwood
Dog of the South
Masters of Atlantis
Gringo

Here are the Louis Lamour novels I've mentioned:

Sackett
The Lonely Men
The Skyliners
The Daybreakers
The Tall Stranger
Ride the River
Treasure Mountain
The Far Blue Mountains
Hondo
Mojave Crossing
Mustang Man
Lonely on the Mountain

And other books I've mentioned include:

10,000 Ways to Die by Alex Cox (about western movies)
Slaughter at Rebel Ridge by Robert Vaughn
Payback at Morning Peak by Gene Hackman
Appaloosa by Robert Parker
Hombre by Elmore Leonard

@michaelk.vaughan8617 (The head honcho)
@unlimitedreads
@bookssongsandothermagic
@anotherbibliophilereads
@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn
@M-J
@BookTimewithElvis
@LiterateTexan
@ShawnDStandfast
@saintdonoghue

As always, if you want to get in touch with me, I want to hear from you. You can contact me via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Book Shelf Tour 2024 #2 - Bookcase 1, Bookshelf 2

Randy Ray 2024-05-30 | Here's another of my bookshelf tours, this one covering the books on shelf #2 of bookcase #1. Below I've listed the books and the Booktubers I've mentioned in this video:

Whipples Castle by Thomas Williams
Lincoln by Gore Vidal
The Novels of Dashiel Hammett
Noir Movies
Spaghetti Westerns by Howard Hughes (no, not that Howard Hughes)
Dead Mans Walk by Larry McMurtry
The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry
The Last Picture Show by by Larry McMurtry
Texasville by Larry McMurtry
Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry
Buffalo Girls by Larry McMurtry

And I mentioned Jim at @MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn

As always, if you want to get in touch with me, I want to hear from you. You can contact me via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

12 Star Trek Books for 2024 - Booktrek: The Wrath of the Summer of Trek TBR

Randy Ray 2024-05-29 | Here's a list of the Star Trek books for the 2024 Booktrek event, The Wrath of the Summer of Trek. I'm also including a list of my illustrious cohosts for the event. The big highlight for me will be reading all the Shatnerverse novels with Brandy at @TheBookclectic

These 9 Star Trek novels are basically a trilogy of trilogies. They have William Shatner listed as the author, but they were actually ghostwritten by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. I think Shatner had ideas for the stories, but I don't know how much of a hand he had in the actual writing. My guess is not much, but the Reeves-Stevens team has a great grasp on Star Trek lore.

The Shatnerverse Star Trek novels:

The Ashes of Eden
The Return
Avenger

Spectre
Dark Victory
Preserver

Captain's Peril
Captain's Blood
Captain's Glory

I'm also reading another trilogy at Brandy's recommendation, Star Trek: Prey, written by John Jackson Miller, and which consists of the following novels:

Hell's Heart
The Jackal's Trick
The Hall of Heroes

The hosts for this year's celebration of Star Trek books include:

@revenantreads
@bookssongsandothermagic
@ReadbyFred
@saintdonoghue

And I already linked to Brandy above.

As always, if you want to get in touch with me, I'd love to hear from you. You can contact me via and of the below methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Gofundme, Health, Life, and Financial Update - May 2024

Randy Ray 2024-05-28 | Here's a link to my GoFundMe page if you have the desire to help out:

gofundme.com/f/join-randys-battle-against-blood-cancer

For those of you who've already helped out (and you know who you are), I don't have the words to express how grateful I am.

I'm not sure how coherent my messaging is in this video, but long story short, I've been unable to work for a few months, and I got further behind on my bills than I realized.

Feel free to skip this video and watch my other videos if you just wanna talk about books, too.

As always, feel free to contact me anytime via any of the following means:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Bookshelf Tour 2024 - Bookcase 1, Shelf 1

Randy Ray 2024-05-28 | The first in a series of bookshelf tours for 2024. I'm starting in another room for this one, and I've showed off a lot of books.

Here are the Booktubers I've mentioned:

Steve Donoghue at @saintdonoghue
Michael K Vaughan at @michaelk.vaughan8617
Greg at @anotherbibliophilereads
Michael Romeo at @MichaelRomeoTalksBooks
Flossy at @TheGrapeJellyLibrary

And here are the books I showed off and/or mentioned:

Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler
Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
The City and the City by China Mieville
Go Back at Once by Robert Aickman
Engines of Empire by RS Ford
The Starless Crown by James Rollins
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
More Voices from the Radium Age
The Last Love Note by Emma Gray
Chances Are by Richard Russo
The Secret World of the Sex Witches
If I Never Get Back by Darryl Brock
The Natural by Bernard Malamud
Beartown by Fredrick Backman
Atomic Werewolves and Man Eating Plants by Robert Deis and Wyatt Doyle
The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallory

Until then, feel free to contact me via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

All 12 Books I Read in April, Ranked and Reviewed

Randy Ray 2024-05-01 | Here's a list of the 12 books I read in April 2024 along with rankings and short reviews. I mentioned a couple of my BookTube buddies, too. Here are the books and the buddies, not necessarily in that order:

@saintdonoghue
@BookTimewithElvis

Murder on the Orient Express
Point Omega
Razorblade Tears
The Stars My Destination
Through the Magic Door
Horseman, Pass By
The Princess Bride
The Stranger
She
The Real Cool Killers
Desert Solitaire
The Hobbit

As always, feel free to contact me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Horror Mayhem 2024 Announcement and Possible TBR Selections

Randy Ray 2024-04-30 | Here's my announcement video for Horror Mayhem 2024. This event was created by The Bookish Bryants, Scott and Becky @thebookishbryants

The event is meant to focus on shorter works of horror (less than 250 pages), but I'm ignoring that this year. Last year I focused almost exclusively on short stories from various anthologies.

You can find the bingo cards for the events at my website literatetexan.com

There are also weekly prompts:

Week 1 - Local Horror
Week 2 - Movie Horror
Week 3 - Classic Horror
Week 4 - Contemporary Horror

And here's a list of the many co-hosts:

@anotherbibliophilereads
@bighardbooks770
@mindysbookjourney
@bookssongsandothermagic
@readersretreat7845
@JimReadsTooSlow
@michaelk.vaughan8617
@anautisticreader2963
@theramblingreviewer5150
@CriminOllyBlog
@saintdonoghue
@bnbbooks1794
@BookBlather
@M-J
@badrad9226

As always, feel free to contact me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

The Quarter Year Book Crisis Tag for Tag Tuesday #tagtuesday

Randy Ray 2024-04-30 | Here's my belated quarter year book crisis tag for @tagtuesday -- these were the prompts:

Created by @RoisinsReading
How many books have you read so far?
Have you already found a book you think might be a 2024 favourite?
If not what's the best book you've read so far this year?
Any 1 star books / least favourite book of the year?
Most read genre so far?
A book that surprised you?
Book that's come out in 2024 already that you want to read but haven't yet?
One goal you made that you're succeeding at
One goal you made you need to focus on
New to you Booktubers/bookstagrammer/booktokers for 2024 you recommend?

I mentioned the following Booktubers in the video:

@saintdonoghue
@EveningReader
@abookolive
@michaelk.vaughan8617
@JeffMesserman
@JamesRuchala
@pleasereadyourbook
@brenboothjones

As always, feel free to contact me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Book Trek 2024 Announcement - The Wrath of Summer of Trek

Randy Ray 2024-04-30 | BOOK TREK 2024: The Wrath of Summer of Trek

BOOK TREK is an annual event where we read, discuss, and celebrate Star Trek fiction! To participate, pick up a Star Trek book and read it, it’s that simple. We also have two optional away missions to get the full experience. This year’s BOOK TREK will run through June, July, and August of 2024.

THE MAIN MISSION
Read one or more books of Star Trek fiction.

AWAY MISSIONS (Optional)
1. Read a nonfiction science book.
2. Read a book about, inspired by, or somehow connected to Star Trek (biography, production history, etc.)

We will use the hashtag #BookTrek2024

OUR BRIDGE CREW
@saintdonoghue
@michaelk.vaughan8617
@TheBookclectic
@bookssongsandothermagic
@ReadbyFred
@LiterateTexan (That's me!)

As always, feel free to contact me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

The Evening Reader and The Literate Texan Discuss Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry

Randy Ray 2024-04-19 | Priscilla and I discuss the novel Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry. Check out The Evening Reader at @EveningReader -- she's one of my favorite Booktubers.

Also, as always, you can reach me anytime via the following channels:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Randy Ray Does the Memento Mori Tag

Randy Ray 2024-04-09 | I saw this tag at @troytradup , who saw it on my friend @JamesRuchala 's channel. I understand the tag was created by @polyglotreading . I think James might have tagged me a few weeks ago, but I wouldn't swear to it.

Here are the prompts:

1. How many books will you be able to read before you die, considering your age and statistical life expectancy?

2. How does this number affect your choice of books?

3. What will happen to your book collection once you have passed away?

4. Is there a book that helps you to cope with the disturbing fact of a limited life-span?

5. Which book on this topic do you consider the most witty or entertaining one?

6. Do you have a specific non-fiction book on the topic of death that you’d like to recommend?

7. Humor can be helpful to confront death. Do you have a favorite witty quote on this topic?

8. Does this tag make you feel uneasy or are you quite relaxed about this topic?

As always, feel free to reach out to me anytime using any of the following means:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

The Spring into Adventure TAG for Tag Tuesday

Randy Ray 2024-04-09 | This is the Spring into Adventure Tag for Tag Tuesday. Here are the 10 prompts along with a list of my co-hosts for the event and the 6 additional Booktubers I've tagged for the event:

Hosts:
@BookTimewithElvis
@anotherbibliophilereads
@bighardbooks770
@ShawnDStandfast
@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn

Tags:
@saintdonoghue
@bigaldoesbooktube1097
@M-J
@CriminOllyBlog
@JamesRuchala
@pleasereadyourbook

Prompts:

1- What's your favorite adventure book?
2- What's the newest (most recently published) adventure book you've read?
3- What's the oldest (earliest published) adventure book you've read?
4- Who's your favorite adventure book author?
5- What's your favorite film adaptation of an adventure book?
6- Who's your favorite adventure book character?
7- Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction adventure books?
8- Do you consider yourself "adventurous"? Why or why not?
9- What's your favorite genre to combine with the adventure genre?
10- Do you play or have you ever played adventure themed games (video games, board games, tabletop RPGs, etc.)?

As always, if you'd like to contact me, feel free to reach out to me via any of these methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Spring into Adventure 2024 Announcement

Randy Ray 2024-04-09 | My announcement video for Spring into Adventure 2024, an event I'm cohosting with the following fine YouTubers:

@BookTimewithElvis
@anotherbibliophilereads
@bighardbooks770
@ShawnDStandfast
@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn

Here are the reading prompts for each week:

Week 1 - Short form -- anything under 200 words
Week 2 - Long form -- anything over 200 words AND/OR the novel She by H. Rider Haggard
Week 3 - Alternative forms - movies, tv shows, cartoons, comic books, etc.
Week 4 - Nonfiction adventure

As always, please get in touch with me anytime via any of the following channels:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Where Ive Been and Why Im Back

Randy Ray 2024-04-03 | For those of you interested in the long version of where I've been and why I haven't been posting videos lately, here's a detailed description of what I've been dealing with health-wise. I'll be posting more bookish content in later videos.

I mentioned Priscilla at @EveningReader in this video, and I briefly mentioned the Spring into Adventure event #springintoadventure, but I'll be making a video or two just about that event soon, so I won't go into too much detail about it here.

As always, feel free to contact me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Channel Update and Health Update

Randy Ray 2024-03-14 | ...

Wondering Where Randys Been?

Randy Ray 2024-03-03 | ...

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes Book Review)

Randy Ray 2024-02-07 | My review of the book A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, the first Sherlock Holmes novel, where he meets Watson and solves a murder mystery. This is part of a series of Sherlock Holmes videos for an event I'm co-hosting called "Holmes Is Where the Heart Is," which is a month-long event devoted to Sherlock Holmes. #holmesiswheretheheartis #sherlockholmes You can check out my co-hosts' channels below:

@anotherbibliophilereads
@BookTimewithElvis
@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn

Also, please get in touch with me anytime via any of the following channels (or just leave a comment):

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

1000 Subscribers Q&A Video - Call for Questions

Randy Ray 2024-02-07 | I'm celebrating getting 1000 subscribers to my Booktube channel by creating a Q&A video, but that only works if I have questions to answer. So, please leave questions in the comments below.

And thanks to everyone here for touching my life in such a special way. You have no idea how much I enjoy my relationships with my Booktube friends.

Also, please get in touch with me anytime via any of the following channels (or just leave a comment):

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

My 33 Book Sherlock Holmes TBR for Holmes Is Where the Heart Is

Randy Ray 2024-01-31 | These are the 33 Sherlock Holmes related books I'm reading for Holmes Is Where the Heart Is in February. My co-hosts for the event include:

@BookTimewithElvis
@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn
@anotherbibliophilereads

Here are the prompts:

Prompts:
Week 1 The Long Canon read at least one Holmes Novel (I'll be reading them all -- there's just 4 of them, after all.)

Week 2 The Short Canon read at least one Holmes short story (I'll be reading them all -- there's only 56 of them.)

Week 3 Pastiche read a pastiche/parody or Holmes (I have a whole mess of these, as you'll see in the video when you watch it.)

Week 4 Legacy read a work which you believe to be inspired by Holmes (Nero Wolfe and Hercule Poirot are both clear literary descendants of Sherlock Holmes.)

Also, please get in touch with me anytime via any of the following channels (or just leave a comment):

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Quick Channel and Health Update

Randy Ray 2024-01-24 | ...

Holmes Is Where the Heart Is (Sherlock Holmes Event in February)

Randy Ray 2024-01-02 | Details and prompts for a Sherlock Holmes reading event in February -- Holmes Is Where the Heart Is. (Because of Valentines Day, get it?)

Prompt #1 - Canon Novels - Read one of the 4 canonical Sherlock Holmes novels from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, or The Valley of Fear.

Prompt #2 Canon Short Stories - Read one of the 5 canonical short story collections: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, His Last Bow, or The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.

Prompt #3 Pastiche - Read any of the fiction that's been written about Sherlock Holmes from other authors. Don't worry -- there's plenty of it, and I offer multiple suggestions in the video.

Prompt #4 Legacy - Read any fiction about characters who were inspired by Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Again, don't worry -- there's no shortage of it, and I have more suggestions.

My co-hosts for this event are also all worth following:

@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn
@anotherbibliophilereads
@BookTimewithElvis

Please forgive me if I forgot anyone.

Also, please get in touch with me anytime via any of the following channels (or just leave a comment):

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

My 32 Book Unhaul for the End of 2023

Randy Ray 2023-12-27 | Showing off 32 books that I'm getting rid of to make space on my shelves at the end of 2023. I comment on each book, but some of the comments don't say much.

Get in touch with me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

24 Classic Books to Read in 2024

Randy Ray 2023-12-23 | Here's a list of 24 or 25 classic books I want to read in 2024. (I'm not good at counting these days.) Thanks to @GinaStanyerBooks and @brittabohlerthesecondshelf for the inspiration for this one -- I definitely need to get away from the tyranny of the recent.

Also, big shout out to Clifford Lee Sargent @BetterThanFoodBookReviews for his recommendations on this list.

Get in touch with me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Kindle Kobo Cleanup Challenge in January 2024

Randy Ray 2023-11-27 | The prompts:
1- Oldest book
2- Newest book
3- Start or continue series
4- But it was free!
5- New to you author
6- Why did I buy this?
7- BookTube author
8- Clean up & organize
9- Blame it on BookTube

The hosts:
@CriminOllyBlog
@M-J
@kellyhookedonbooks4394
@anotherbibliophilereads
@StormReads
@ReadbyFred
@fiberartsyreads

Get in touch with me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Hot or Not from A to Z for Tag Tuesday

Randy Ray 2023-11-14 | The Bookish A to Z Hot or Not tag was created by my friend Greg at @anotherbibliophilereads , and I saw it first on @ReadbyFred . You should watch their videos, too. Prompts follow the links to their videos, and my contact information is included following the prompts (in case you want to get in touch).

youtube.com/watch?v=-1HD31zzveQ&t=623s
youtube.com/watch?v=yuhS0L6zXVU&t=0s

The Prompts:

A - Audiobooks
B - Bildungsroman. Dealing with a person's formative years or spiritual education.
C - Children's Books
D - Digital
E - Experimental
F - Fantasy
G - Graphic Novel
H - Horror
I - Inspirational
J - Journalism
K - Kitsch. Has a popular or sentimental appeal.
L - Library
M - Mystery
N - Non-Fiction
O - Omnibus
P - Poetry
Q - Quests. When the protagonist goes on a quest physical or spiritual.
R - Romance
S - Science Fiction
T - Translation. Books translated from one language into another.
U - Übermensch. The superman or the extraordinary human. Characters who can everything.
V - Victorian. Literature from 1837 to 1901.
W - Western
X - X Rated
Y - Young Adult
Z - Zeitgeist. Spirit or mood of the times.

Get in touch with me anytime via any of the following methods:

My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com

Richard Russo Books (Im Reading All 17 of Them)

Randy Ray 2023-11-08 | An overview of my latest reading project, reading all 17 Richard Russo books (some of them are re-reads, actually). I show off my collection of his books and explain which 5 books I still need to acquire, and I also explain why I enjoy Richard Russo's novels so much.

Please feel free to contact me anytime:
My email: randyray at gmail.com
My Voxer: rlray1584
My Instagram: @literatetexan
My website: literatetexan.com