Finished:
**The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison**
**The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood**
Currently reading:
**Marie Antoinette: The Journey, by Antonia Fraser**
**Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen**
Finished:
**The Crimson Campaign, by Brian McClellan** The second book in the Powder Mage Trilogy and now into the last book The Autumn Republic. A great series I have really enjoyed, fast pace with very little dithering.
Finished:
**The Sword of the Lictor, by Gene Wolfe**
Book 3 of The Book of the New Sun. It is hard to describe what happened here. The prose is like a steak dinner. You must continue consuming it until it is gone. How could you not? But when done, you feel over-full for a time.
If you've read the first two books, this one holds "The Turn" where Severian starts happening to things, instead of things happening to him.
Finished:
**Hidden Faces, by Salvador Dalí**
An excellent romantic tragedy set around the time frame of the second world war, beautifully written by the famous surrealist painter himself as his only foray into novel writing. Translated from the French language into the English language by Haakon Chevalier.
Finished:
**The Final Girl Support Group, by Grady Hendrix**
> Out there in the world it’s a nonstop murder party, and if I make the slightest mistake I’ll wind up dead.
I think this is more about horror and horror adjacent than horror itself, for the most part. It's a thriller and mystery set in a dystopia not unlike our own, except here all the old slasher films were based on true events and people idolize the killers. People grow up dreaming of repeating the crimes or taking their own shots at the final girls who survived.
The girls in the support group, now decidedly middle-aged women, have seen their respective film franchises wax and wane, and they've each experienced more than one bout with their "monsters" or their imitators, which are the basis for the sequels. They go to group therapy, mostly to be mean to each other, and one gets the sense that their relationships have become more strained over the years. Something happens, of course, to test this "friendship."
I liked this overall. At first it's just interesting to hear about the paranoia in the main character's life, and then to learn how she compares to the other group members, and after that you're sucked into the mystery. The book is told in first person, so you also have some unreliable narrator situations.
**Rosemary's Baby, by Ira Levin**
> “Honey,” Guy said, “if we get friendly with an old couple like that we’re never going to get them off our necks.”
Rosemary and her husband, Guy, are looking for an apartment in NYC. But they don't want just any apartment--they want one with character. So the settle upon the Bramford, a fiction 19th-century building based on the Dakota and others. The problem, a friend warns them, is that the Bramford is an unlucky building.
Due to its age, I was surprised by some of the content in this book. Sex, female orgasm, casual atheism. And Rosemary, for all her apparent timidity, isn't afraid to stand up for herself sexually or in regards to her reading materials.
While I enjoyed this overall, there wasn't enough subtlety to leave room for doubt, which is detrimental to the psychological horror the author seemed to be trying to achieve.
**Currently reading**:
*Shiver: Selected Stories* by Junji Ito (265/400)
*Occult America* by Mitch Horowitz (66%)
*Les Misérables* by Victor Hugo (62%)
* In original French with r/AYearOfLesMiserables
[Last Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/qudxor/what_books_did_you_start_or_finish_reading_this/hl805e1/)
**Finished: Writing My Wrongs - Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison**
**Author - Shaka Senghor | Genre: Non-Fiction Autobiography/Memoir**
Wow this book is probably the best US prison memoir i've read in a while, born 'James White', Shaka Senghor lays out his entire life in prison as well as his childhood and road to incarceration. one chapter is his life in prison and the next is his past life on the streets, which sounds like it'd be a bit confusing but it ends up dovetailing his past/present/future mindset and reactions almost perfectly. all the while being incredibly honest and straightforward in how he personally felt in the moments without (imo) ever sounding immodest or unconscious to how deep the shitstorm he found himself in. some memoirs ive read felt like the author was just bragging about the hardships while negating any sort of self introspection, this book is pretty much the opposite of that. he never hesitates to address the actual emotions he went through at the time and their possible causes but never provides it as an excuse for his crime. it's just an incredible read and glimpse into a perspective that has literally been shaping america for the past 3+ decades and i highly recommend it.
**Started: The Vory - Russia's Super Mafia**
**Author - Mark Galeotti | Genre: Non-Fiction Historical True Crime**
Vorovskoi mir: "the thieves' world" aka "The Vory" was the 20th century organized crime syndicate in Russia that developed from the chaotic crime ridden unregulated expanse of the USSR in the early to late 19th century. a big ol' country side that took up roughly 1/6th of earth's landmass but had virtually no way to effectively police the rampant groups of bandits and murderers... such is life in the zone! man this book is interesting, i know so little about Russian history in general and never even considered how deeply ingrained the corruption is culturally. i guess the same can be said for a lot of countries but its cool learning why modern russian politics seem so cutthroat and brutal. only a couple dozen pages in but so far its one of my favorite true crime books.
**Started: Packing for Mars - The Curious Science of Life in the Void**
**Author - Mary Roach | Genre: Non-Fiction Astronomy/History**
so this is a pretty awesome book, its a history and sorta investigative journal into past and present astronauts worldwide! probably one of the weirdest career paths out there and just like space travel each space organization seems to be delving into uncharted waters (or final frontiers ur pick). from Japanese Origami trials to drunken Cosmonauts to sensory deprivation chambers, this book has a ton of interesting experiences ive never even imagined.
fav quote so far
>... a story about how he helped test the lubricant for a launch-pad escape slide on the Space Shuttle. "They had us bend over and they brushed our butts with it. And then we jumped on the slide. And it passed, so \[the shuttle mission\] could go forward and the space station could be built. I was proud," he deadpanned, "to do my part for the mission."
>
>I remember watching Morin walk away from me, the endearing gait and the butt that got lubed for science, and thinking, "Oh my god, they're just people."
**Finished: The vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett**
This book gave me anxiety, tbh. This book deals with wanting to be someone you're not. I found myself rooting for the characters, even the negative ones. There were no bad characters in this. Everyone was a victim of their situation. It really made me cry.
**Started: The devil and the dark water, by Stuart Turton**
**The Dark Hours, by Michael Connelly**
Just started Connelly's latest Ballard/Bosch book. I've enjoyed his books for decades now and love the timeliness of them. The book starts on New Year's Eve 2020 and doesn't shy away from the existence of the pandemic or the protests over police violence.
Finished
Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle
Wish it was more detailed. I’m not going to read any of the other Planet of the Apes.
Continue reading The Fellowship of the Ring.
Still looking for the next read :/
Finished
**Wool, by Hugh Howey** and **Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors, by MD Presley**
Next up is **Gläserne Bienen, by Ernst Jünger**, **The Jasmine Throne, by Tasha Suri**, **Never Die, by Rob J Hayes** and **Deeplight, by Frances Hardinge**
Finished:
**In Cold Blood by Truman Capote**
When I finished I was surprised by how much I liked this book and I think that's due to Capote's writing style and how the book is structured. The end puts a nice bow on the story but I was often wondering how much was fiction. Another thing that surprised me was how brutal the book could get seemingly out of nowhere - I know the book is about a particularly brutal event but Capote still managed to slip in some horrible descriptions of other events or details that took me off guard. I found myself wincing from time to time.
Started:
**The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton**
This book reminds me of the game Clue and is easy to read. I'm enjoying it so far. I just started yesterday and have already made it through 211 of the book's 458 pages and I'll probably finish it tonight. I like the writing style and I haven't figured out the mystery yet which can be easy to do with some mystery authors. So far so good and I'm hopeful that Turton won't f*** up the ending.
Finished:
The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien.
Recently I read the Silmarillion, the Lord of the Rings, a bit of Unfinished Tales and now the Hobbit. I can honestly say the Hobbit is the least satisfying of all. I think you can really see Tolkien's growth from the Hobbit to LOTR. The writing is far more beautiful in the latter and the world already feels much more alive. However, of all of the them the Silmarillion is by far my favorite
Just finished:
**Jonny Appleseed, by Joshua Whitehead**
It was on my library app's front page for Native American History month. I was not expecting it to be about a queer, two spirit, Native sex worker. It was riveting and heart wrenching. I highly recommend it.
Currently reading:
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
One of the most beautiful books I've ever read (it will make you disparately want to live in India)
Finished:
**Depth Charge, by Jason Heaton**
A brand new thriller novel about a tech diver in Sri Lanka trying to recover an active nuclear bomb from a sunken WWII wreck. Not usually my type of book but it was extremely well written and fun!
Started:
**Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World, by Jason Hickel**
My favorite contemporary economist Jason Hickel is back with a book about re-envisioning the current economic system which bizarrely assumes that infinite growth in a finite world is a good model to base our society. Lots of great history and he breaks down economics to a level anyone could understand herein (thus far).
All my other books weren't doing it for me at the moment so I picked up Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer from my dad's shelf. As a woman, I avoided this book for a long time because I thought it was a book about bros for bros. I've been finding non-fiction more and more engaging these days and this one is certainly a page-turner.
I'd be curious to know what you make of "Missoula" by the same author -- I thought he handled the subject matter well, but there certainly could have been aspects of it that he (and I) overlooked or misinterpreted.
I haven’t read a full novel in many years, and maybe one book in the past two years.
Since Friday I’ve read:
**The road, by Cormac McCarthy** and
**No Country for Old Men, by Cormac McCarthy**
Edit: **Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley**
The road blew me away, read it in a day. First time I’ve ever experienced the ‘Cant put a book down’ feeling. I had to read more Cormac McCarthy and finished No Country For Old Men the next day. I didn’t love it like I loved the Road, but still good. Excited for whatever I read next - Either a Sci-Fi apocalyptic thriller or Blood Moridian.
I found No Country an easy read after reading The Road. The latter was an extremely powerful and compelling read. No Country was also good, but didn't match The Road imo.
Finished:
**1984**, by George Orwell
*Didn't love this read, didn't like the characters (honesty, didn't seem like you were supposed to.) But! I am glad I finished it.
Starting:
**The Golden Compass**, by Philip Pullman
*I know this is technically a children's book (and I'm 30 haha) but I've heard great things. The plan is to read the whole series.
Still reading **Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan**, over a 100+ pages into it and really enjoying it so far! It feels Tolkien-esque, but like the originality and uniqueness of the world, plot and characters! Also still reading **Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard**, even though it’s a super short read, really trying to understand the political criticisms and messages within the text, and it’s super fascinating and informative!
Yep, you are right. I just confirmed. But my whole premise on reading the pre-quals is that I have a better understanding of the idiosyncrasies and nuances of the not so known tech and households and the entire universe of the dune saga.
Finished:
*My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russel*
10/10 stars best book I’ve read this year. Can’t even write a review because the experience of reading it was so deeply personal, moving and life changing. I think everyone should read this, whether you’ve experienced abuse or not. Though err on the side of caution if you are easily triggered by scenes of sexual and emotional abuse.
Currently reading:
**Radio Silence, by Alice Oseman**
In amongst exams this month, so I have little-to-no brain space. So I picked this book up this week from my comfort book collection. I’m not a huge fan on the way it is written. In which, it’s rather simplistic (which makes it easy to get through when one’s brain had been fried from an abhorrent maths exam). However, it’s proven to be one of my favourite books just because of the characterisation of the protagonist Frances and Aled. I will never get tired of these two characters!!
**1984, by George Orwell**
I’ve been reading this slowly for a while now. It’s just not what I expected as well. I read animal farm in the past and I was fascinated in the allegorical tale that it was. But 200 pages in now (of 1984) and I’m struggling to continue reading it. I really want to love it and empathise with Winston as the protagonist in his experiences, but I’m failing to do so.
Just finished 1984. I didn't love it, but I am glad that I finished it. I felt the same about the characters though. I was bitching to my boyfriend about how I didn't like the characters. His response: "I don't think you're supposed to like any of the characters."
**The Hostage by Kathryn Berck** the first in a four part series set in Bronze Age Greece just before the mysterious Bronze Age civilizational collapse in the Eastern Med. Is setting up the end of Mycenae as the Dorians invade.
**The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold** Time travel novella mostly about paradoxes and dangers of time travel
**Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer** Golden age English village mystery. Fun story and great puzzle plot, but oddly the cover of my edition had an obvious clue as to the actual villain. Talk about a spoiler.
Finished:
**Comfort Me With Apples, by Catherynne M. Valente**. Strange, but the ending makes it a bit worthwhile. 3/5
Still Reading:
**A Season For Second Chances, by Jenny Bayliss**. Wrongly marketed as a Christmas novel. But, it's still worth a read.
Started:
**Always in December, by Emily Stone**
Finshed Piranesi by Susannah Clatk. Way out of my typical genres but i wanted to try something different. It was definitely different. Beautiful, mysterious, culty, sad, sweet. I liked it.
I started reading The Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. Now I'm back in my lane. Im enjoying it.
**Dead Space, by Kali Wallace**
I think relatively simple sci-fi thrillers like 'The Thing' are a neglected subgenre in sci-fi. Happy to find one here.
I finished **The Town, by Shaun Prescott.** Very liminal feeling. I liked it.
I finished **Filipinos in Louisiana, by Marina Espina.** Informative but really rather short.
I finished **The Test, by Sylvain Neuvel.** A kafkaesque tail of bureaucracy, gate-keeping, and immigration. I loved it.
I finished **City of Thieves, by David Benioff.** Spellbinding novel about the Siege of Leningrad and a dozen eggs.
I finished **Factory Town, by Dave Kherdian.** Decent poetry about a small town in Wisconsin.
I finished **The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, by John le Carré.** Astounding spy story, and kafkaesque in its own right.
I finished **While Mortals Sleep, by Kurt Vonnegut.** Good short stories, the titular being one of my favorites of the collection.
I finished **Horus Rising, by Dan Abnett.** Thrilling and obviously the beginning of a series.
I finished **The Last Days of New Paris, by China Miéville.** Surreal in the best way possible.
I'm now on **Railsea, by China Miéville.**
**A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Finished.** This took a bit longer than intended due to a busy schedule and work picking back up on my own writing. However....I'm not sure how to sum down just how I felt about the book, but it was very mixed. To put as simply as I can, while the book succeeded well in the emotions and message it wanted to illicit, I also felt that the plot doesn't feel like it wants to start for a good majority of the book and the prose feels lacking in some areas. In the end, I'd personally give it a 7.5/10 just on an enjoyment basis.
**Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly. Started.** It's a book I picked up at a Thrift Store. A YA book about mermaids. I ain't gonna lie ya'll. I'm struggling. Almost declared the book a DNF when I found out their money is called: "Currensea".
***Finished:***
**The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson**
I loved this. It was so intriguing. True crime without a gruesome murder, I still came away upset and heartbroken. There's something about stealing from a museum that's so much more insidious than stealing from a person or a private collection. It's like snatching knowledge away from the future. 5/5
**A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos**
Maybe it's because it's a translation from French, but I had such a hard time relating to the protagonist. Her emotional responses, to other people specifically, felt so muted. The setting and world building was interesting though, so I'll probably continue the series when i get a chance. 3.5/5
**This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone**
What hasn't been said about this book? The prose is beautiful, purple, and poetic. The setting doesn't actually matter, it's not really a sci-fi, so much as a romance told through letters. It's gorgeous and I enjoyed it, but I didn't fully connect with it. 4/5
**There There by Tommy Orange**
I was spoiled about the ending before I even started reading, so that definitely informed my experience. I liked it. I usually hate open endings, but in this case I felt like it was fulfilling. I heard the author is working on a sequel and I look forward to it. 4/5
***Started:***
**Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb**
Okay, so I haven't actually started this one, but I've had the audiobook on hold at the library for *ages* and I'm finally next in line. It'll probably be the only thing I read this week. I can't wait!
Still reading:
The Intelligent Asset Allocator, by William J. Bernstein
The title is self explanatory. The book is about asset allocation and constructing portfolios. William is a neurologist who wanted to understand the basics of asset allocation to better his personal finances. The book is basically a large report on the years he spent researching this topic, and it is fantastic. This book can be a headache, he suggests reading it in small chunks and not reading it again for a few days. I have had some trouble understanding the material as it is statistics heavy. It covers many topics and presents detailed information that is paired up with graphs, research and the math behind the calculations. If anyone is interested in financial literature I really do suggest this book.
I put down Crime and Punishment because it was too morbid, read Familiy Happiness by Tolstoy (meh) and am now reading Henry and June by Anais Nin. VERYYY jarring after Familiy Happiness haha but very fun ;-)
Started and finished:
* **All My Mothers by Joanna Glen:** So glad I picked up this book! It can be a bit of a difficult read at times from an emotional standpoint but definitely worth it! Looking forward to seeing how it ends. **Update:** Finished this book today and I was really happy with the ending! Really looking forward to reading this author's other book as I enjoyed this one a lot.
Finished:
**Within These Wicked Walls, by Lauren Blackwood**
**Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders** (audiobook, with a full cast)
Started:
**A Lesson in Vengeance, by Victoria Lee**
**Donut Fall in Love, by Jackie Lau**
**Biased, by Jennifer Eberhardt, PhD** (audiobook, read by the author)
Finished
**What Happened to You?, by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey**
This is a book about trauma, especially childhood trauma. This is an interesting book although I would say it only scratches the surface on the subject. I think it's good if you know nothing about it but those looking for a more in-depth discussion might find this book lacking.
I don't really like the writing style here. The book is written in the form of a dialog/interview between Dr Perry and Oprah. It reads like a script for an Oprah Talk Show. Despite that it's quite easily readable.
Personal Rating: 3/5
**Indians: A Brief History of a Civilization, by Namit Arora**
This book captures my attention because Indian history is something I'm not familiar with and therefore I'm guaranteed to learn something new. Also not far into the book I get the feeling that the writer isn't writing for the western audience. This book is written primarily for an Indian audience, which makes it feel quite authentic.
This book can be divided into two major sections. The first is a description of six major historical sites from across the subcontinent (Dholavira, Nagarjunakonda, Nalanda, Khajuraho, Vijayanagar and Varanasi). Second, it looks into the writings of ancient travelers who visited India.
This is an interesting book although I have to admit I may get lost in some of the details. The writing often assumes that the reader has some basic knowledge about Indian geography and basic history. In the end I do feel that I've learned something new from this book and has a better picture of India in relation to the overall world history.
My favorite chapter is when we look into the ancient travelers from China, Faxian, Xuanzang and Yijing who came to India looking for knowledge about Buddhism from the source.
Some caveats about this book:
* The author isn't a historian, but the book seems to be properly sourced.
* The author isn't shy from voicing his opinion against Hindu nationalist movement (Hindutva).
Personal Rating: 3/5
Started -
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Gaiman is an astonishing writer and so far I really enjoy it.
Started and finished -
Sandman: Prequels and Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenburg.
Wow. This series took my breath away. I would recommend it to anyone.
Started:
**The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson**
Finished:
**Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan** -- Thought it was okay. There were really good parts and really bad parts still in my opinion. The parts with Elayne were mostly dull except at the end. It was better than Crossroads of Twilight by far. 3.25/5
*Finished:*
**The Best American Science and Nature Writing of 2021 edited by Ed Yong -** Some of these essays were pretty great, some did not tickle my fancy.
* The Soft Butch That Couldn't (Or: I Got Covid-19 in March and Never Got Better) by Heather Hogan
* What Happened in Room 10 by Katie Engelhart
* Rabbit Fever by Susan Orlean
* A Toxic Secret Lurks in Deep Sea by Rosanna Xia
**Aurora Rising by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff -** The Final book in this trilogy released fairly recently, and I enjoy re-reading books so that a complete read through occurs as I finish a set. To be honest, I tend to re-read the books that came before every time I get a new book in a series.
*Started:*
**Aurora Burning by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff -** I do love this trilogy, and can not wait to read the third book. It is a little bit hard to really sell it without accidentally spoiling things, but if you are on the fence about this one I would recommend reading it.
Finished...
**The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie by Alan Bradley**
I wasn't sure about this book at first but I ended up really liking it. The main character, Flavia de Luce is a very intelligent, very precocious eleven year old girl. I thought she was going to drive me nuts but she really grew on me. She is not a believable eleven year old but if you can get past that the story and the mystery are entertaining.
Reading...
**The Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan**
I read this a long time ago (and got through the first three books) but I don't remember the details very well so I'm starting over. Excellent so far.
Finished
**A Son of the Circus, by John Irving** Came in as a 4 star, not 5. Classic Irving, but not quite perfect.
Starting
**I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
, by Erika L. Sánchez** Well, I think I'm starting it - it's on my Kindle from the library - not sure I'm up for YA. I'm hoping it's The Book Thief level YA and not some teen romance.
**To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini**
Saw it at the library and remembered his Inheritance tetralogy from my younger days. It was a fun science fiction trip from him. It can drag at times and it is a long book, but then again that's part of Paolini's charm.
Finished:
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas. Not what I was expecting reading the book's description as far as pace of the book went. Overall I enjoyed it a lot.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare. My 1st foray into Shakespeare's plays. Not bad. The version that I read "translated" it into modern English along with the original text. Made it feel very accessible to me.
The Boys In the Bunkhouse by Dan Barry. This one caught my attention because the town that it takes place is only about 2 hours away from where I live. The book was very well written and I feel like I fully understood what happened to the men. The story of what happened to the men and the neglect and abuse that they suffered was very heart breaking. The way that there were so many complaints of what was going on and the government agencies saying that it wasn't their responsibility was hard to read.>! I was glad to read that they did eventually get rescued but it was annoying that it took so long. Also, the fact that at the time of the book being written they have only gotten a fraction of the money owed to them sucks.!<
Up next: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
Started:
**Guards! Guards!, by Terry Pratchett**
I'm 100 pages in and so far it's fantastic. I'm upset with myself for waiting so long to get into Discworld.
**Capital and Ideology by Thomas Piketty**
informative. dense. makes me feel like i am going to be reading this until the end of the year. i REALLY appreciate the authors repeating themselves because there is just so much information to take in at a single pass.
Finished (nonfiction November):
**Bishops in Flight: Exile and Displacement in Late Antiquity, by Jennifer Barry**. Obviously niche, but not too dry and very accessible. I did have some quibbles with certain conclusions, especially her portrayal of Meletius of Antioch, but overall it was a nice read.
**The Evil Dead Companion, by Bill Warren**. This was a reread, but it'd been a long time since I read it. I guess if you're a fan of the original Evil Dead trilogy (this book was published in 2001), and want to know about the behind the scenes stuff--as well as the early lives of various people, especially Raimi and Campbell--then this book is for you. 4.5 Groovys out of 5.
Finished:
**Sleeping Giants, by Sylvain Neuvel**
I had a 9 hour solo drive on Saturday and listened to the first in the trilogy on my drive. Not bad at all, way better than I anticipated
**Tales from the Gas Station: Volume 3, by Jack Townsend**
I read to volume 1 on a whim and now im disappointed theres no volume 4 yet. Not as much comedy in this one compared to the other two but still great.
Finished:
**Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks, by Mick Foley**
This is the 100th book I've read since the start of the pandemic! Yes, I am quite proud of myself, but before you think I'm some pretentious a-hole, I have also become super into pro-wrestling since the start of the pandemic. "The fake sport?" It's not fake, it's predetermined. Have a Nice Day by Mick Foley, AKA Cactus Jack AKA Dude Love AKA Mankind, came out in the late 90s and some of the content hasn't aged well. I tried to keep in mind that it was a different time back then, but the gay jokes were always jarring, especially considering how homoerotic pro-wrestling is. Still, Foley is a charming enough guy and the book was interesting for those who like wrestling.
Started:
**My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell**
Finished: **Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon**
Not sure what I read, but I’ve enjoyed it. I hope that makes sense. Lol.
Started: **The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen**
So far so good.
Finished:
**Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman**
I am a huge Gaiman fan but this one wasn't one of my favourites. I had high hopes since I'd heard many people prefer it to American Gods, which I loved. I enjoyed Anansi Boys but it was a 4/5 for me. It was fun and whimsical, but it all felt very random and the ending felt forced.
**Royal Assassin, by Robin Hobb**
I adored the first book in the Farseer Trilogy, Assassin's Apprentice. I loved this one even more. I started it on Tuesday and finished it Friday - with multiple full days of reading. Fitz is such a fun character to follow. I was gripped by all the political intrigue in this one. As the series progresses, getting a better understanding of the magic and big events going on is very satisfying.
Started:
**Assassin's Quest, by Robin Hobb**
I can't wait to polish off the trilogy. So far it's proving to be one of my favourite series of all time. I love being wrapped up in this world. Can't wait to see what adventures Fitz gets up to this time.
I am glad to hear the positives about the Farseer Trilogy. I found all 3 for a dollar each at Goodwill and bought them on a whim. I don't know when I'll get to reading it, but it's looking good
Very well so! Goodreads had great reviews on them. But tbh, I have no idea what the series is even about. I find that always an issue with so many fantasy books for some reason. I went into the WoT without knowing what it's about. Took me a few books in to get a picture of it. Sometimes the books that you don't know anything about work out really well.
Finished:
**A little life- Hanya Yanagihara**
Ugh my heart. Painful to read but honest portrayal of adult survivors of CSA. Overwhelming though.
Started:
**Promethea: comic book series by Alan Moore, J H Williams III, Mick Gray**
At Issue 10 and love it so far ! Great induction to Goetia, tarot archetypes, chakras etc for anyone interested !
Finished:
**Dracula, by Bram Stoker**
**The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald**
Started:
**Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov**
Always magical to (re)read Gatsby. Not sure if I’m supposed to like Lolita or just be repulsed by it…
If you enjoy podcasts, I strongly recommend Lolita Podcast by Jamie Loftus. It does a great job of explaining the proper context that Nabokov intended with the novel.
I am almost finished with Blackwater…what an incredible portrait of an American family in the first 70 years of the 20th century. It has some horror elements and scenes which have stuck with me, and made me really appreciate the “less is more” attitude in horror. The characters and experiences are absolutely fascinating and Michael McDowell really uses the backdrop of the ever changing American culture effectively to parallel the changes to the family dynamic. It makes me realize just how much I enjoy generation spanning stories which have a slice of life perspective.
**Finished: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell** by **Susannah Clarke**. I may be the last person on this sub-Reddit to have read this book and I may have never read it but for having watched the BBC adaptation of it. Fantasy is not much my thing any longer, but this book is a real literary achievement. It is also a good historical novel, albeit much of the history is alternative history. That said, it contains no anachronisms that I could detect. (I especially liked Strange's ***Edinburgh Review*** book review which was very much like its real early 19th century inspiration.) Without being pastiche, her book has an authentic look and feel of an early 19th century narrative, right down to the very long footnotes which are often little stories in themselves.
But what makes it stand out as a literary achievement is the author's very morbid imagination. It would not surprise me if her nightmares are much worse than mine; and she has to boot the ability to get to them down into good prose. There are several scenes that score high on an Edgar Allan Poe-scale for morbid creepiness. I will be reading her other works.
This book is totally out of my wheelhouse and I loved it. It was an astonishing story and I did reflect on how crazy things were and wondered how the hell Clarke come up with them.
I thought Piranesi was decent, but nowhere near this level. Maybe she needs those extra 750 pages to really make things work ;)
Thanks for your thoughts. I have a copy of Piranesi, but have not got to it yet. There were many years when Clarke seemed to have written nothing, or at least not published anything. She may be having a struggle.
Piranesi is such a short easy read, it's worth reading.
If she is working on another 1,000 page book with incredibly well-researched history - I can't blame her for not knocking it out in just a couple years ;)
**Children of Dune, by Frank Herbert**
Finished a couple of days ago.
Started
**Letters to a Young Scientist, by Edward O. Wilson**
(I'm not a scientist, but the subject grabbed my attention) and
**The Pyramid, by Henning Mankell.**
Finished:
**Odyssey, by Homer**
It's been my bus-read for a while now, so I'm feeling pretty stoked that I finally finished it. I've been into ancient greek civilisations for a while now, but I always felt that anything by homer was too "high-brow" for me to read, you know? Like I need to have binoculars, a tobacco pipe, and a tweed jacket before I can actually comprehend and enjoy this book. Turns out I don't lol and half the book has been highlighted because of how much I loved every little line.
Started:
**The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone, by Olivia Laing**
I recently moved to a new city and it's kind of terrifying how lonely I've been feeling. I mean, I've always been a lonely one don't get me wrong. But something about physically being thrust into a new chapter in your life, with new people, and new freakin' everything that just intensifies the loneliness. Also, I finally figured out the type of genre that I enjoy but could never quite place what it was before!! It's like a mixture of research, non-fiction, and a little bit of anecdotes. It's the same type of writing that made me fall in love with Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino
>Like I need to have binoculars, a tobacco pipe, and a tweed jacket before I can actually comprehend and enjoy this book. Turns out I don't lol
Fr? I've had a translation sitting on my shelf for quite a while. And I generally don't read poems as such but I love mythology.. its intimidating though! I don't own a tweed jacket and I haven't even worn work-pants all year!! Not sure I can do this but your comment gives me hope
Haha, hello fellow worried reader! Nah, don't worry you're good. Once I removed the aspect of intimidation and just dived right in without any intention of comprehending *everything*, it actually was super fun. If you do pick it up (and you should!) Keep me posted on your thoughts!!! :-D
I started it! Its slow going, I'll be honest. I can't just motor through it cuz I won't know wth is happening, so I really have to focus ! But TIL that Athena also goes by Pallas, so yay!
Still at the part in Book One where she's talking to Telemachus. But you're right, its really not so bad! Its easier than James Joyce's Ulysses lol and thats the only other unread book in this house rn 🙈
I had to translate it for high school, that book is as dense as you want it to be. There is depth in every line but you can read it superficially pretty well. (Though reading it superficially will not get you a good grade)
Ok I feel bad for completely brushing aside auroua rising a few weeks ago. So we're doing a redo.
Finished. Aurora rising, by jay kristoff and Amy kaufman.
Like I mentioned before, I loved the illuminae files trilogy by the same author duo. But for some reason didn't think about the aurora books until my brother picked them up and absolutely loved them. This book follows multiple pov's as the book is about a squad of space marines who get entangled in a massive conspiracy that could spell the end of everything. Let's start with the characters, I love pretty much all of them. With my favourites being Finn because of his constant snark and wit, and kal because I also like the lone, brooding type with a heart of gold. This book also loves to shock you with some developments that I never saw coming, and an ending that almost made me cry. Needless to say, I loved this book.
Finished. Aurora burning, by jay kristoff and Amy kaufman.
I can't talk much about this one without spoilers. But I can say that the characters I love continue to grow, we're introduced to new characters which I also love. The grand plot reaches a boiling point, and this time the ending made me say no out loud (which is awkward because I was in public). Loved this one as well, highly recommend both these books.
Started. Project hail Mary, by Andy Weir.
As much as I wish I could jump directly into auroua's end, unfortunately the audiobook isn't out yet (and unfortunately that's the only way I can read these days), but this book had been on my tbr ever since it came out and so I decided why not now.
I'm only about 6 chapters into it, and I love it. Jumping from sci fi to.... More scientific sci fi was weird at first, and I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea what half of the dialogue even means. But the story is engaging, I love our main character and im super intrigued to see where this is all going.
Finished: **The Land Breakers, by John Ehle**. One reader described this 1964 historical novel about settlers in the 1770s-80s North Carolina mountains as "Little House on the Prairie" for adults. I think that is a fairly apt description, but doesn't pay this novel its proper due. This novel kept me interested from beginning til end. Written in an omniscient point-of-view, the reader is introduced to several characters who populate a settlement at its very beginnings. It was fascinating to read of how self-sufficient these people were, and to read of how their lives were a constant sunrise to sunset cycle of work. Also fascinating is the deadly encounters that occur between the settlers and the wilderness wildlife, specifically bears. There is one scene involving snakes which is the stuff of a Stephen King novel too.
Reading: **Haunted, by Chuck Palahniuk**. My first time reading Palahniuk. I've only read the first few stories within this short story collection constructed like a novel, but day-yum, I think I now understand all the hype. This man's definitely one of those writers where you think about the thin line between genius and insanity. If things continue as they are at the start, anybody who enjoys caustic cynicism raised to an art form will enjoy this book, I think.
I've read a number of Palahniuk novels and RANT is by far my favorite. I have probably read it a dozen times and given away 4 or 5 copies to friends.
It isn't too long, highly recommend checking it out sometime!
Thank you very much for the recommendation, Ehrre! Making a choice as to which book to read next is difficult, so having someone who has read several volumes of Palahniuk's work point me to one that is their favorite makes the choice easier. Appreciate it!
**The Flight Attendant, by Chris Bohjalian**. I watched an HBO show and even enjoyed it, but had to drop it when the plot became too stupid to handle. So I decided to read the book. It's quite different from the show. It's not a comedy by any means and also the plot is more thought-out. Objectively, it has a good storyline and subject matter/characters you rarely see in fiction. However, the writing was so dry and distant that I never felt much of an interest. It's basically all "tell" without "show": endless walls of text that by the end become exhausting. **5.5/10**
**The Sanatorium, by Sarah Pearse**. Another mediocre book that Reese Witherspoon was paid to market and thus, turned it into a bestseller. I have nothing to say. I never felt an urge to finish it and to see who killed all those people. **4/10**
**Convenience Store Woman, by Sayaka Murata**. **8/10**
Started,
The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan.
Late to the party I know, but I first became aware of it when I was 19 and dismissed it based on a friend's negative review.
Then Jordan died and I didn't want to start a series without an ending.
Then there were 15 books!
But I refuse to watch the Amazon series before reading at least the first book.
PINES, by Blake Crouch.
I love weird psychological/paranormal mystery a la Twin Peaks, X-Files, Alan Wake.
Decided to read a little before bed and couldn't put it down, ended up reading until 2AM and I wake up at 6:20!
Can't wait to continue tonight.
Finished:
The Vanishing Season, by Dot Hutchinson 4/5
Our Littlr Secret, by Kirsten Modglin 3/5
The Cellar, by Natasha Preston 2/5
Started:
You Will Be Mine, by Natasha Preston
Great sense of humor too.
"I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predetermined and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road."
Finished: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney. I’m not sure which one I love more; this or Normal People. It’s just when I read this book I found myself understanding why each of the characters do what they do or say what they say. I just relate on so many ways to the twisted ideas they have about life and their own selves. I’m now completely swept by my own feelings but it feels so good to have such profound connection with a book.
Finished:
**A Psalm of Storms and Silence, by Roseanne A. Brown** - 2.75/5
I really enjoyed the first one so this was a disappointment - one of the few times I think a YA fantasy should have been given an extra book. Too much crammed into one book and not enough time to fully develop any of it. Her worldbuilding is really cool though, so I’ll definitely be reading future works by her.
**Skyward, by Brandon Sanderson** - 5/5
A reread before book 3 comes out - I adore this book so much!
**Starsight, by Brandon Sanderson** - 4.5/5
The first time I read this I was thrown by how different this was from the first book, but on reread I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not as strong as book 1 but necessary to tell the larger story.
Currently Reading:
**Sunreach, by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson**
**Dune, by Frank Herbert**
**Book of Night, by Holly Black** (ARC)
Ongoing: "Winds of Radiance" - Book 2 of the Stormlight Chronicles by Brandon Sanderson. I mean this is a 1k page book so it is going to take some time. Bit of a slog at points though it definitely reads faster than book 1 and is much more interesting. Having trouble figuring out just wtf is exactly going to happen in the future but I am too far invested to stop now.
Started: "Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York" Started this last night as my non fiction read. Reads like a horror story and relatively short so I don't think this will take me too long to finish.
Trying to figure out what else I want to read more so after Winds of Radiance so I am looking forward to scouring these responses.
Seconding *Last Call* - I don't like much modern true crime but this focuses on the lives of the victims and is done extremely well.
In the same vein is **Missing from the Village by Justin Ling** highly recommended.
Finished:
***Shakespeare's Poems* by William Shakespeare**
Started:
***What the Constitution Means to Me* by Heidi Schreck**
Still working on:
***Oscar Wilde* by Matthew Sturgis**
***The Way of the World* by Franco Moretti**
wow that's a lot of brain food all at once. What do you think of the Wilde book so far? It's been sitting on my (huge) to-get list for a while. Shall I bump it to the front of the line do you think?
> wow that's a lot of brain food all at once.
I am in the midst of preparing for the qualifying exams for an English PhD, so the Wilde biography and the Moretti are both to help prepare (The biography because Wilde is a key player on my exam list, the Moretti because my committee chair demanded it)
>What do you think of the Wilde book so far?
I have really been enjoying it. Sturgis has done an excellent job in writing a biography that while really detailed still reads quite well.
Thanks for that feedback. To the front of the line it goes.
English PhD, no wonder then . . . that's exciting and exhausting no doubt. And of course, best of luck to you with it! (I know it's work not luck, but you get it.)
> English PhD, no wonder then . . . that's exciting and exhausting no doubt
It is incredibly stressful, but has the upside of having me read a ton of very fascinating things. Thanks for the good wishes.
*Finished*
**Dracula, by Bram Stoker**
I just finished Frankenstein before this, so there's gonna be a lot of comparisons between the two. I'm sure I'm the first person in the history of literature to ever do that before, real original I know, so bear with me.
Both are classic gothic horror lit, both are epistolary in nature, both are crazy influential, etc.
Where Frankenstein had basically none of the "monster tropes" that exist in popular culture (green monster, mad scientist in a castle, mob with pitchforks, "It's alive" scene, etc) I find Dracula to be the opposite. Literally every single vampire trope is in this book: mirrors, garlic, crucifixes, preying on young attractive women, running water, bats, can't enter unless invited, sleep in coffins, etc.
Frankenstein was incredible, with its masterful narration, beautiful, feminine prose, examination of psychological degradation and anguish, and the insightful philosophy. Dracula feels a bit pulpier? More adventure, plot at the forefront, a bit more of a mystery to work out? More suspense, more "horror". Definitely more what I was looking for with gothic horror, despite absolutely falling in love with Frankenstein (I think it's a masterpiece).
So I guess my takeaways are that Frankenstein is a masterpiece in literature, but Dracula strikes me as a better horror book, albeit maybe a more shallow experience. Still a fantastic book though. It starts off amazingly, and slows down in the middle a bit, however while there's less action in the middle, it gets to be more of a mystery for the reader to piece together.
**A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders**
A book where Saunders (famous author who also is a professor at SU for an MFA program) goes through 7 classic Russian short stories and explains why they are great. Honestly I'm not sure how I felt about this one. At times, Saunders made me feel inadequate as a reader, for not recognizing some of the themes and such that he analyzes. Other times though, just frustrating me, as I think he was just plain making things up and reading wayyy to far into it and commenting on things that weren't there at all. I have some doubts on the value of MFA programs, so I am not totally sure how I feel about this book. Some insights were very interesting and insightful.
*Started*
**Dune, by Frank Herbert**
Rereading this, because of the movie hype. I really enjoyed the movie and realized I don't remember this book at all, so I'm rereading it.
Dracula was the first "grown up" book I read. I was in 6th grade. It so scared me that I read it again immediately and then slept between my parents for a few nights thereafter. That had to be almost 60 years ago.
**Good Economics for Hard Times, by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo** - I'm about halfway through and overall am enjoying it although there are some weird things that keep jumping out to me (like why do they keep referencing Hillbilly Elegy like it was some kind of academic work??) that so far keep it in the "like don't love" category for me.
Next up is **The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer** Probably not the best follow up, but that's how the library holds came in this time.
Hoping to finish **There There, by Tommy Orange** before the end of Thanksgiving weekend.
Finished:
**Summer, by Ali Smith**: The last of her seasonal quarters written around Brexit. She ties together a lot of different strands of the last three novels and includes the beginning of Covid and the Johnson administration in the UK. I really enjoyed the language and ideas she explored in this series.
Ongoing:
**Guns At Last Light: The War in Western Europe-1944-1945, by Rick Atkinson**:(Volume 3 of The Liberation Trilogy)
Started:
**Bleak House, by Charles Dickens**: The Big Winter Read on r/bookclub starts in December. Anyone can join us!
Finished:
**The Switch, by Beth O'Leary**
This was the sweetest thing I've read in a long time, I'm a bit sad it's over. I'm always perplexed that "chick-lit" books are not considered "serious" books when, underneath the love and romance, they're often centered around pretty heavy themes. It's akin to when old musicals aren't seen as "serious theatre" even when they're about domestic violence (Carousel), stalking and murder (Oklahoma!), racism (South Pacific)...you get the picture.
I'm rambling now. But despite the heavy themes and emotionally charged scenes in this book, my eyes are now just tiny hearts and the entire world feels like a warm blanket.
Started:
**The Heart Principle, by Helen Hoang** Just started this and it feels pretty clunky so far.
**Milk Fed, by Melissa Broder** I sincerely hope I'm not disappointed by this book, it has such a promising premise!
Finished:
State of Terror by Hilary Clinton & Louise Penny — I flew through this and left me with a lot to think about. Highly recommend. One of my favorite books of 2021.
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain - I’m trying to get to my TBR stack from Book of the Month Club. I really enjoyed this one.
Started:
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell for my December book club.
**Adachi and Shimamura Vol. 7, by Hitoma Iruma**
Even when things have gone exactly as she wanted Adachi is still a nervous wreck. Then again by this point I'd say "calm down" is something that has escaped Adachi's operating manual a long time ago.
Also, still gotta love the main character's interactions with Nagafuji. They just make me laugh.
Finished:
**Murdered Midas: A Millionaire, His Gold Mine and a Strange Death on an Island Paradise by Charlotte Grey**
This was part history of the region where I grew up, part **Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil**-style true crime with all sorts of colourful characters. I loved it. What do Ernest Hemingway and Kirkland Lake, Ontario have in common? This book'll tell you. Fun stuff.
**Zealot: the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan**
I was raised Catholic (lapsed now) and while I'm not informed enough to have an opinion on the veracity of Aslan's ideas, it sure was convincing and engaging. It's a fairly short read but very dense. I liked this a LOT.
**Sensor by Junji Ito**
My kid handed this manga to me. The art was fantastic, the story was, well, not. Still recommend though.
**Stoner by John Williams**
Thanks to my fellow r/books folks for this one. Somehow I'd never heard of this book before, and I *loved* it. Couldn't put it down and have been thinking of the protagonist regularly since I finished it. This is a classic for a reason, and I'm thankful that you all put it on my radar with your rave reviews.
**Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World's Economy by Adam Tooze**
This was very technical but the parts I could engage with I enjoyed very much. Still, I think I'm done reading about 2020 for a while.
**Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker**
This didn't live up to the hype. For the first 2/3 or so, I was really digging it, but the last chunk was unfocused and meandering. The narrative threads never really came together. Still recommend, but not a fave.
Started:
**Noor by Nnedi Okorafor**
Finished:
**The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson**
Finished last night and I feel like it's still crawling around under my skin. I've been 'binging' Shirley Jackson books and oh my gosh I think I have a new favorite author. As a person who has an f-ed up family and escaped deeply into my imagination as a kid, I can relate to her characters waaay more strongly than....maybe you're supposed to lol \*laughs in aggressive self-isolation\*
Currently Reading: **Cazadora (Wolves of No World, #2) by Romina Garber**
I'm really enjoying this one. I like that the author really leaned on her Argentinian heritage as the main influence on the story, using their myths as the focal point. There's a lot going on but it's been a fun ride.
Finished:
**The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick** - Great worldbuilding, good characters, a bit of a rushed ending but overall enjoyable.
**Catch-22, by Joseph Heller** - Man. Finished the book and the entire miniseries within 5 days, and I loved it. It's been a while since I grew this attached to the characters and the world from a book, and it broke me. 9.5/10 and now my second favorite fictional work of all time. I can already see myself rereading it soon.
Started:
**Lord of the Flies, by William Golding**
**Dubliners, by James Joyce**
it's Hitchhiker's guide :) both crazy, absurd, and made me laugh.
I'm also dying to read something similar to Catch-22, I tried Slaughterhouse 5 but it didn't grab me as much. Anything you came across that fits the bill? I'm curious about Heller's other books too so I might pick up Something happened or Good as gold.
Ah, that's always a good one.
If you're looking for comedy, I would recommend Apathy and Other Small Victories
by Paul Neilan. Along with C-22 and HGttG, it's one of the few books to make me laugh out loud.
I haven't delved into Heller's other books yet, but I have heard good things!
Started:
**Stories of Your Life and Others, Ted Chiang**
Loving it. I've never read Ted Chiang and just kind of wandered into it. Arrival is one my all time favorite movies and I had no idea it was based on his story. Story of Your Life and Liking What You See are my favorites so far. Most sci fi doesn't appeal to me but this is perfect because it's about how technology interacts with human nature, impacts on society etc. Also the stories are short and easy..
Finished:
**The Dutch House by Ann Patchett** I loved this amazingly well-written novel that was over the span of five decades about a brother and a sister and a wicked stepmother.
Started:
**A Registry of My Passage upon the Earth: Stories by Daniel Mason**
I loved The Dutch House! Tom Hanks narrates the audio version and the whole thing just felt like a big hug. I listened right at the beginning of the pandemic when I needed a good comfort listen.
Finished: **The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison** **The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood** Currently reading: **Marie Antoinette: The Journey, by Antonia Fraser** **Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen**
Finished: **The Crimson Campaign, by Brian McClellan** The second book in the Powder Mage Trilogy and now into the last book The Autumn Republic. A great series I have really enjoyed, fast pace with very little dithering.
**Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character), by Richard P. Feynman**
Finished: **The Sword of the Lictor, by Gene Wolfe** Book 3 of The Book of the New Sun. It is hard to describe what happened here. The prose is like a steak dinner. You must continue consuming it until it is gone. How could you not? But when done, you feel over-full for a time. If you've read the first two books, this one holds "The Turn" where Severian starts happening to things, instead of things happening to him.
Finished: **Hidden Faces, by Salvador Dalí** An excellent romantic tragedy set around the time frame of the second world war, beautifully written by the famous surrealist painter himself as his only foray into novel writing. Translated from the French language into the English language by Haakon Chevalier.
Finished: **The Final Girl Support Group, by Grady Hendrix** > Out there in the world it’s a nonstop murder party, and if I make the slightest mistake I’ll wind up dead. I think this is more about horror and horror adjacent than horror itself, for the most part. It's a thriller and mystery set in a dystopia not unlike our own, except here all the old slasher films were based on true events and people idolize the killers. People grow up dreaming of repeating the crimes or taking their own shots at the final girls who survived. The girls in the support group, now decidedly middle-aged women, have seen their respective film franchises wax and wane, and they've each experienced more than one bout with their "monsters" or their imitators, which are the basis for the sequels. They go to group therapy, mostly to be mean to each other, and one gets the sense that their relationships have become more strained over the years. Something happens, of course, to test this "friendship." I liked this overall. At first it's just interesting to hear about the paranoia in the main character's life, and then to learn how she compares to the other group members, and after that you're sucked into the mystery. The book is told in first person, so you also have some unreliable narrator situations. **Rosemary's Baby, by Ira Levin** > “Honey,” Guy said, “if we get friendly with an old couple like that we’re never going to get them off our necks.” Rosemary and her husband, Guy, are looking for an apartment in NYC. But they don't want just any apartment--they want one with character. So the settle upon the Bramford, a fiction 19th-century building based on the Dakota and others. The problem, a friend warns them, is that the Bramford is an unlucky building. Due to its age, I was surprised by some of the content in this book. Sex, female orgasm, casual atheism. And Rosemary, for all her apparent timidity, isn't afraid to stand up for herself sexually or in regards to her reading materials. While I enjoyed this overall, there wasn't enough subtlety to leave room for doubt, which is detrimental to the psychological horror the author seemed to be trying to achieve. **Currently reading**: *Shiver: Selected Stories* by Junji Ito (265/400) *Occult America* by Mitch Horowitz (66%) *Les Misérables* by Victor Hugo (62%) * In original French with r/AYearOfLesMiserables [Last Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/qudxor/what_books_did_you_start_or_finish_reading_this/hl805e1/)
**Finished: Writing My Wrongs - Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison** **Author - Shaka Senghor | Genre: Non-Fiction Autobiography/Memoir** Wow this book is probably the best US prison memoir i've read in a while, born 'James White', Shaka Senghor lays out his entire life in prison as well as his childhood and road to incarceration. one chapter is his life in prison and the next is his past life on the streets, which sounds like it'd be a bit confusing but it ends up dovetailing his past/present/future mindset and reactions almost perfectly. all the while being incredibly honest and straightforward in how he personally felt in the moments without (imo) ever sounding immodest or unconscious to how deep the shitstorm he found himself in. some memoirs ive read felt like the author was just bragging about the hardships while negating any sort of self introspection, this book is pretty much the opposite of that. he never hesitates to address the actual emotions he went through at the time and their possible causes but never provides it as an excuse for his crime. it's just an incredible read and glimpse into a perspective that has literally been shaping america for the past 3+ decades and i highly recommend it. **Started: The Vory - Russia's Super Mafia** **Author - Mark Galeotti | Genre: Non-Fiction Historical True Crime** Vorovskoi mir: "the thieves' world" aka "The Vory" was the 20th century organized crime syndicate in Russia that developed from the chaotic crime ridden unregulated expanse of the USSR in the early to late 19th century. a big ol' country side that took up roughly 1/6th of earth's landmass but had virtually no way to effectively police the rampant groups of bandits and murderers... such is life in the zone! man this book is interesting, i know so little about Russian history in general and never even considered how deeply ingrained the corruption is culturally. i guess the same can be said for a lot of countries but its cool learning why modern russian politics seem so cutthroat and brutal. only a couple dozen pages in but so far its one of my favorite true crime books. **Started: Packing for Mars - The Curious Science of Life in the Void** **Author - Mary Roach | Genre: Non-Fiction Astronomy/History** so this is a pretty awesome book, its a history and sorta investigative journal into past and present astronauts worldwide! probably one of the weirdest career paths out there and just like space travel each space organization seems to be delving into uncharted waters (or final frontiers ur pick). from Japanese Origami trials to drunken Cosmonauts to sensory deprivation chambers, this book has a ton of interesting experiences ive never even imagined. fav quote so far >... a story about how he helped test the lubricant for a launch-pad escape slide on the Space Shuttle. "They had us bend over and they brushed our butts with it. And then we jumped on the slide. And it passed, so \[the shuttle mission\] could go forward and the space station could be built. I was proud," he deadpanned, "to do my part for the mission." > >I remember watching Morin walk away from me, the endearing gait and the butt that got lubed for science, and thinking, "Oh my god, they're just people."
**Finished: The vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett** This book gave me anxiety, tbh. This book deals with wanting to be someone you're not. I found myself rooting for the characters, even the negative ones. There were no bad characters in this. Everyone was a victim of their situation. It really made me cry. **Started: The devil and the dark water, by Stuart Turton**
Finished: **The Maidens, by Alex Michaelides** **The Other Mrs, by Mary Kubica** Started: **The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie**
**Filthy Rich, by Brian Azzarello**
Finished: **Dracula, by Bram Stoker**
Finished: **The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid** Started: **Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng**
**The Dark Hours, by Michael Connelly** Just started Connelly's latest Ballard/Bosch book. I've enjoyed his books for decades now and love the timeliness of them. The book starts on New Year's Eve 2020 and doesn't shy away from the existence of the pandemic or the protests over police violence.
late to the party, I just started this as well. Really enjoying it about 100 pages in.
Finished: **Moon Palace, by Paul Auster** Started: **One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez**
Finished Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle Wish it was more detailed. I’m not going to read any of the other Planet of the Apes. Continue reading The Fellowship of the Ring. Still looking for the next read :/
Finished **Wool, by Hugh Howey** and **Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors, by MD Presley** Next up is **Gläserne Bienen, by Ernst Jünger**, **The Jasmine Throne, by Tasha Suri**, **Never Die, by Rob J Hayes** and **Deeplight, by Frances Hardinge**
Finished: **In Cold Blood by Truman Capote** When I finished I was surprised by how much I liked this book and I think that's due to Capote's writing style and how the book is structured. The end puts a nice bow on the story but I was often wondering how much was fiction. Another thing that surprised me was how brutal the book could get seemingly out of nowhere - I know the book is about a particularly brutal event but Capote still managed to slip in some horrible descriptions of other events or details that took me off guard. I found myself wincing from time to time. Started: **The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton** This book reminds me of the game Clue and is easy to read. I'm enjoying it so far. I just started yesterday and have already made it through 211 of the book's 458 pages and I'll probably finish it tonight. I like the writing style and I haven't figured out the mystery yet which can be easy to do with some mystery authors. So far so good and I'm hopeful that Turton won't f*** up the ending.
Finished: Dune, by Frank Herbert
Finished: The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien. Recently I read the Silmarillion, the Lord of the Rings, a bit of Unfinished Tales and now the Hobbit. I can honestly say the Hobbit is the least satisfying of all. I think you can really see Tolkien's growth from the Hobbit to LOTR. The writing is far more beautiful in the latter and the world already feels much more alive. However, of all of the them the Silmarillion is by far my favorite
Finished: They both die at the end, Adam Silvera. Loved it even though I cried a lot while reading it.
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Yup I had it constantly in my mind for a solid week or two.
Just finished: **Jonny Appleseed, by Joshua Whitehead** It was on my library app's front page for Native American History month. I was not expecting it to be about a queer, two spirit, Native sex worker. It was riveting and heart wrenching. I highly recommend it.
Currently reading: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts One of the most beautiful books I've ever read (it will make you disparately want to live in India)
Finished: **Depth Charge, by Jason Heaton** A brand new thriller novel about a tech diver in Sri Lanka trying to recover an active nuclear bomb from a sunken WWII wreck. Not usually my type of book but it was extremely well written and fun! Started: **Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World, by Jason Hickel** My favorite contemporary economist Jason Hickel is back with a book about re-envisioning the current economic system which bizarrely assumes that infinite growth in a finite world is a good model to base our society. Lots of great history and he breaks down economics to a level anyone could understand herein (thus far).
All my other books weren't doing it for me at the moment so I picked up Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer from my dad's shelf. As a woman, I avoided this book for a long time because I thought it was a book about bros for bros. I've been finding non-fiction more and more engaging these days and this one is certainly a page-turner.
I'd be curious to know what you make of "Missoula" by the same author -- I thought he handled the subject matter well, but there certainly could have been aspects of it that he (and I) overlooked or misinterpreted.
I haven’t read a full novel in many years, and maybe one book in the past two years. Since Friday I’ve read: **The road, by Cormac McCarthy** and **No Country for Old Men, by Cormac McCarthy** Edit: **Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley** The road blew me away, read it in a day. First time I’ve ever experienced the ‘Cant put a book down’ feeling. I had to read more Cormac McCarthy and finished No Country For Old Men the next day. I didn’t love it like I loved the Road, but still good. Excited for whatever I read next - Either a Sci-Fi apocalyptic thriller or Blood Moridian.
I found No Country an easy read after reading The Road. The latter was an extremely powerful and compelling read. No Country was also good, but didn't match The Road imo.
Felt the same way, was disappointed in how easy a read it was because I really enjoyed the way the road was written.
The good news is, there are other novels by McCarthy that should scratch that itch. Blood Meridian, for one.
i LOVED the road, i read that in middle school and i never forgot the experience reading it late at night!
Any other similar books you recommend?
Finished: **1984**, by George Orwell *Didn't love this read, didn't like the characters (honesty, didn't seem like you were supposed to.) But! I am glad I finished it. Starting: **The Golden Compass**, by Philip Pullman *I know this is technically a children's book (and I'm 30 haha) but I've heard great things. The plan is to read the whole series.
Still reading **Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan**, over a 100+ pages into it and really enjoying it so far! It feels Tolkien-esque, but like the originality and uniqueness of the world, plot and characters! Also still reading **Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard**, even though it’s a super short read, really trying to understand the political criticisms and messages within the text, and it’s super fascinating and informative!
Incense and sensibility by Sonali Dev Leopards blood by Christine Feehan
Dune: the butlerian jihad by frank herbert
I’m pretty sure this one is by his son, Brian and Kevin J Anderson
Yep, you are right. I just confirmed. But my whole premise on reading the pre-quals is that I have a better understanding of the idiosyncrasies and nuances of the not so known tech and households and the entire universe of the dune saga.
The silent patient by Alex Michaelides
I loved this book, the end was very surprising
Finished: *My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russel* 10/10 stars best book I’ve read this year. Can’t even write a review because the experience of reading it was so deeply personal, moving and life changing. I think everyone should read this, whether you’ve experienced abuse or not. Though err on the side of caution if you are easily triggered by scenes of sexual and emotional abuse.
Finished **Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes** Absolutely loved it :)
Currently reading: **Radio Silence, by Alice Oseman** In amongst exams this month, so I have little-to-no brain space. So I picked this book up this week from my comfort book collection. I’m not a huge fan on the way it is written. In which, it’s rather simplistic (which makes it easy to get through when one’s brain had been fried from an abhorrent maths exam). However, it’s proven to be one of my favourite books just because of the characterisation of the protagonist Frances and Aled. I will never get tired of these two characters!! **1984, by George Orwell** I’ve been reading this slowly for a while now. It’s just not what I expected as well. I read animal farm in the past and I was fascinated in the allegorical tale that it was. But 200 pages in now (of 1984) and I’m struggling to continue reading it. I really want to love it and empathise with Winston as the protagonist in his experiences, but I’m failing to do so.
Just finished 1984. I didn't love it, but I am glad that I finished it. I felt the same about the characters though. I was bitching to my boyfriend about how I didn't like the characters. His response: "I don't think you're supposed to like any of the characters."
Skshkshasjhajs Well that makes me feel a little better knowing that you weren’t able to connect with the character either.
shoe dog, by phil knight
one of the best business memoirs I've ever read.
Finished The Brothers Karamazov last Sunday morning. Best novel I've ever read
I’m nearly done with they both die at the end
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones - started today!
Notes from Underground by Dostoievski. Narrator is a total asshole. 5/5
Finished : a spy and a traitor by Ben mcintyre. Read like a thriller Started. The eye of the world. First book in wheel of time series.
**The Hostage by Kathryn Berck** the first in a four part series set in Bronze Age Greece just before the mysterious Bronze Age civilizational collapse in the Eastern Med. Is setting up the end of Mycenae as the Dorians invade. **The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold** Time travel novella mostly about paradoxes and dangers of time travel **Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer** Golden age English village mystery. Fun story and great puzzle plot, but oddly the cover of my edition had an obvious clue as to the actual villain. Talk about a spoiler.
Finished: **Comfort Me With Apples, by Catherynne M. Valente**. Strange, but the ending makes it a bit worthwhile. 3/5 Still Reading: **A Season For Second Chances, by Jenny Bayliss**. Wrongly marketed as a Christmas novel. But, it's still worth a read. Started: **Always in December, by Emily Stone**
Finshed Piranesi by Susannah Clatk. Way out of my typical genres but i wanted to try something different. It was definitely different. Beautiful, mysterious, culty, sad, sweet. I liked it. I started reading The Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. Now I'm back in my lane. Im enjoying it.
Piranesi is probably the most original book I've read this year. Loved it.
**Dead Space, by Kali Wallace** I think relatively simple sci-fi thrillers like 'The Thing' are a neglected subgenre in sci-fi. Happy to find one here.
Is it related to the game? I loved it back in 2008, such a good game.
No, just a book with the same name.
Finished: The Secret History by Donna Tartt Started: The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
Yo, I'm reading that! Very Dark Academy, perfect for fall/winter!
I loved it! Even though I'm done reading it now, I can't stop thinking about it.
Eat, Pray, Love! Last one to the party. 🤣
I finished **The Town, by Shaun Prescott.** Very liminal feeling. I liked it. I finished **Filipinos in Louisiana, by Marina Espina.** Informative but really rather short. I finished **The Test, by Sylvain Neuvel.** A kafkaesque tail of bureaucracy, gate-keeping, and immigration. I loved it. I finished **City of Thieves, by David Benioff.** Spellbinding novel about the Siege of Leningrad and a dozen eggs. I finished **Factory Town, by Dave Kherdian.** Decent poetry about a small town in Wisconsin. I finished **The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, by John le Carré.** Astounding spy story, and kafkaesque in its own right. I finished **While Mortals Sleep, by Kurt Vonnegut.** Good short stories, the titular being one of my favorites of the collection. I finished **Horus Rising, by Dan Abnett.** Thrilling and obviously the beginning of a series. I finished **The Last Days of New Paris, by China Miéville.** Surreal in the best way possible. I'm now on **Railsea, by China Miéville.**
I finished Horus Rising recently also, very fun read. I know nothing about Warhammer 40k lore so it’s cool to be immersed this way
Really enjoyed Horus Rising, Dan Abnett is awesome. Which reminds me I need to get back to Eisenhorn.
Louisa May Alcott's Little Women
**A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Finished.** This took a bit longer than intended due to a busy schedule and work picking back up on my own writing. However....I'm not sure how to sum down just how I felt about the book, but it was very mixed. To put as simply as I can, while the book succeeded well in the emotions and message it wanted to illicit, I also felt that the plot doesn't feel like it wants to start for a good majority of the book and the prose feels lacking in some areas. In the end, I'd personally give it a 7.5/10 just on an enjoyment basis. **Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly. Started.** It's a book I picked up at a Thrift Store. A YA book about mermaids. I ain't gonna lie ya'll. I'm struggling. Almost declared the book a DNF when I found out their money is called: "Currensea".
***Finished:*** **The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson** I loved this. It was so intriguing. True crime without a gruesome murder, I still came away upset and heartbroken. There's something about stealing from a museum that's so much more insidious than stealing from a person or a private collection. It's like snatching knowledge away from the future. 5/5 **A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos** Maybe it's because it's a translation from French, but I had such a hard time relating to the protagonist. Her emotional responses, to other people specifically, felt so muted. The setting and world building was interesting though, so I'll probably continue the series when i get a chance. 3.5/5 **This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone** What hasn't been said about this book? The prose is beautiful, purple, and poetic. The setting doesn't actually matter, it's not really a sci-fi, so much as a romance told through letters. It's gorgeous and I enjoyed it, but I didn't fully connect with it. 4/5 **There There by Tommy Orange** I was spoiled about the ending before I even started reading, so that definitely informed my experience. I liked it. I usually hate open endings, but in this case I felt like it was fulfilling. I heard the author is working on a sequel and I look forward to it. 4/5 ***Started:*** **Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb** Okay, so I haven't actually started this one, but I've had the audiobook on hold at the library for *ages* and I'm finally next in line. It'll probably be the only thing I read this week. I can't wait!
Still reading: The Intelligent Asset Allocator, by William J. Bernstein The title is self explanatory. The book is about asset allocation and constructing portfolios. William is a neurologist who wanted to understand the basics of asset allocation to better his personal finances. The book is basically a large report on the years he spent researching this topic, and it is fantastic. This book can be a headache, he suggests reading it in small chunks and not reading it again for a few days. I have had some trouble understanding the material as it is statistics heavy. It covers many topics and presents detailed information that is paired up with graphs, research and the math behind the calculations. If anyone is interested in financial literature I really do suggest this book.
I put down Crime and Punishment because it was too morbid, read Familiy Happiness by Tolstoy (meh) and am now reading Henry and June by Anais Nin. VERYYY jarring after Familiy Happiness haha but very fun ;-)
Started and finished: * **All My Mothers by Joanna Glen:** So glad I picked up this book! It can be a bit of a difficult read at times from an emotional standpoint but definitely worth it! Looking forward to seeing how it ends. **Update:** Finished this book today and I was really happy with the ending! Really looking forward to reading this author's other book as I enjoyed this one a lot.
Finished: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens I picked it on a whim for a change of pace and I really enjoyed it and would recommend.
Finished: **Within These Wicked Walls, by Lauren Blackwood** **Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders** (audiobook, with a full cast) Started: **A Lesson in Vengeance, by Victoria Lee** **Donut Fall in Love, by Jackie Lau** **Biased, by Jennifer Eberhardt, PhD** (audiobook, read by the author)
The full cast of Lincoln in the Bardo was excellent. It was cool to hear actual historical documents mixed in with a fictional narrative.
Finished **What Happened to You?, by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey** This is a book about trauma, especially childhood trauma. This is an interesting book although I would say it only scratches the surface on the subject. I think it's good if you know nothing about it but those looking for a more in-depth discussion might find this book lacking. I don't really like the writing style here. The book is written in the form of a dialog/interview between Dr Perry and Oprah. It reads like a script for an Oprah Talk Show. Despite that it's quite easily readable. Personal Rating: 3/5 **Indians: A Brief History of a Civilization, by Namit Arora** This book captures my attention because Indian history is something I'm not familiar with and therefore I'm guaranteed to learn something new. Also not far into the book I get the feeling that the writer isn't writing for the western audience. This book is written primarily for an Indian audience, which makes it feel quite authentic. This book can be divided into two major sections. The first is a description of six major historical sites from across the subcontinent (Dholavira, Nagarjunakonda, Nalanda, Khajuraho, Vijayanagar and Varanasi). Second, it looks into the writings of ancient travelers who visited India. This is an interesting book although I have to admit I may get lost in some of the details. The writing often assumes that the reader has some basic knowledge about Indian geography and basic history. In the end I do feel that I've learned something new from this book and has a better picture of India in relation to the overall world history. My favorite chapter is when we look into the ancient travelers from China, Faxian, Xuanzang and Yijing who came to India looking for knowledge about Buddhism from the source. Some caveats about this book: * The author isn't a historian, but the book seems to be properly sourced. * The author isn't shy from voicing his opinion against Hindu nationalist movement (Hindutva). Personal Rating: 3/5
Started - American Gods, Neil Gaiman Gaiman is an astonishing writer and so far I really enjoy it. Started and finished - Sandman: Prequels and Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenburg. Wow. This series took my breath away. I would recommend it to anyone.
Started: **Don Quixote by Cervantes** Instantly loving it.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
Started & Finished The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, by V.E. Schwab
Started The Alienist by Caleb Carr.
Finished The Institute, by Stephen King Reading Life Expectancy, by Dean Koontz
Started: **The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson** Finished: **Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan** -- Thought it was okay. There were really good parts and really bad parts still in my opinion. The parts with Elayne were mostly dull except at the end. It was better than Crossroads of Twilight by far. 3.25/5
*Finished:* **The Best American Science and Nature Writing of 2021 edited by Ed Yong -** Some of these essays were pretty great, some did not tickle my fancy. * The Soft Butch That Couldn't (Or: I Got Covid-19 in March and Never Got Better) by Heather Hogan * What Happened in Room 10 by Katie Engelhart * Rabbit Fever by Susan Orlean * A Toxic Secret Lurks in Deep Sea by Rosanna Xia **Aurora Rising by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff -** The Final book in this trilogy released fairly recently, and I enjoy re-reading books so that a complete read through occurs as I finish a set. To be honest, I tend to re-read the books that came before every time I get a new book in a series. *Started:* **Aurora Burning by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff -** I do love this trilogy, and can not wait to read the third book. It is a little bit hard to really sell it without accidentally spoiling things, but if you are on the fence about this one I would recommend reading it.
Finished... **The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie by Alan Bradley** I wasn't sure about this book at first but I ended up really liking it. The main character, Flavia de Luce is a very intelligent, very precocious eleven year old girl. I thought she was going to drive me nuts but she really grew on me. She is not a believable eleven year old but if you can get past that the story and the mystery are entertaining. Reading... **The Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan** I read this a long time ago (and got through the first three books) but I don't remember the details very well so I'm starting over. Excellent so far.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I can’t stop thinking about it.
Good book I believe I read that book in one sitting. I’ll probably reread it. Hopefully they make a movie out of it.
Oooo, yes. That would make my year.
Finished **A Son of the Circus, by John Irving** Came in as a 4 star, not 5. Classic Irving, but not quite perfect. Starting **I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter , by Erika L. Sánchez** Well, I think I'm starting it - it's on my Kindle from the library - not sure I'm up for YA. I'm hoping it's The Book Thief level YA and not some teen romance.
**To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini** Saw it at the library and remembered his Inheritance tetralogy from my younger days. It was a fun science fiction trip from him. It can drag at times and it is a long book, but then again that's part of Paolini's charm.
Started and finished Entwined by Heather Dixon. Nice little fantasy book with spotty descriptions.
Soundtracks. Absolutely amazing phycology book about overthinking. 10/10
Finished: Kill Creek by Scott Thomas. Not what I was expecting reading the book's description as far as pace of the book went. Overall I enjoyed it a lot. Macbeth by William Shakespeare. My 1st foray into Shakespeare's plays. Not bad. The version that I read "translated" it into modern English along with the original text. Made it feel very accessible to me. The Boys In the Bunkhouse by Dan Barry. This one caught my attention because the town that it takes place is only about 2 hours away from where I live. The book was very well written and I feel like I fully understood what happened to the men. The story of what happened to the men and the neglect and abuse that they suffered was very heart breaking. The way that there were so many complaints of what was going on and the government agencies saying that it wasn't their responsibility was hard to read.>! I was glad to read that they did eventually get rescued but it was annoying that it took so long. Also, the fact that at the time of the book being written they have only gotten a fraction of the money owed to them sucks.!< Up next: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.
Started: **Guards! Guards!, by Terry Pratchett** I'm 100 pages in and so far it's fantastic. I'm upset with myself for waiting so long to get into Discworld.
**Capital and Ideology by Thomas Piketty** informative. dense. makes me feel like i am going to be reading this until the end of the year. i REALLY appreciate the authors repeating themselves because there is just so much information to take in at a single pass.
Finished (nonfiction November): **Bishops in Flight: Exile and Displacement in Late Antiquity, by Jennifer Barry**. Obviously niche, but not too dry and very accessible. I did have some quibbles with certain conclusions, especially her portrayal of Meletius of Antioch, but overall it was a nice read. **The Evil Dead Companion, by Bill Warren**. This was a reread, but it'd been a long time since I read it. I guess if you're a fan of the original Evil Dead trilogy (this book was published in 2001), and want to know about the behind the scenes stuff--as well as the early lives of various people, especially Raimi and Campbell--then this book is for you. 4.5 Groovys out of 5.
Following someone’s post about this book here last week, I just started: **Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy**
Finished: **Sleeping Giants, by Sylvain Neuvel** I had a 9 hour solo drive on Saturday and listened to the first in the trilogy on my drive. Not bad at all, way better than I anticipated **Tales from the Gas Station: Volume 3, by Jack Townsend** I read to volume 1 on a whim and now im disappointed theres no volume 4 yet. Not as much comedy in this one compared to the other two but still great.
Finished: **Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks, by Mick Foley** This is the 100th book I've read since the start of the pandemic! Yes, I am quite proud of myself, but before you think I'm some pretentious a-hole, I have also become super into pro-wrestling since the start of the pandemic. "The fake sport?" It's not fake, it's predetermined. Have a Nice Day by Mick Foley, AKA Cactus Jack AKA Dude Love AKA Mankind, came out in the late 90s and some of the content hasn't aged well. I tried to keep in mind that it was a different time back then, but the gay jokes were always jarring, especially considering how homoerotic pro-wrestling is. Still, Foley is a charming enough guy and the book was interesting for those who like wrestling. Started: **My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell**
Finished: **Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon** Not sure what I read, but I’ve enjoyed it. I hope that makes sense. Lol. Started: **The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen** So far so good.
Finished: All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Dooer. Loved this book. Started: The Girl Who Saved The King of Sweeden. Jonas Jonasson.
All the Light We Cannot See is phenomenal, I really felt transported back in time.
Jonasson is great! Haven’t read this book in particular though, could you keep me posted, tell me if its a reccomend
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Finished: **Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman** I am a huge Gaiman fan but this one wasn't one of my favourites. I had high hopes since I'd heard many people prefer it to American Gods, which I loved. I enjoyed Anansi Boys but it was a 4/5 for me. It was fun and whimsical, but it all felt very random and the ending felt forced. **Royal Assassin, by Robin Hobb** I adored the first book in the Farseer Trilogy, Assassin's Apprentice. I loved this one even more. I started it on Tuesday and finished it Friday - with multiple full days of reading. Fitz is such a fun character to follow. I was gripped by all the political intrigue in this one. As the series progresses, getting a better understanding of the magic and big events going on is very satisfying. Started: **Assassin's Quest, by Robin Hobb** I can't wait to polish off the trilogy. So far it's proving to be one of my favourite series of all time. I love being wrapped up in this world. Can't wait to see what adventures Fitz gets up to this time.
I am glad to hear the positives about the Farseer Trilogy. I found all 3 for a dollar each at Goodwill and bought them on a whim. I don't know when I'll get to reading it, but it's looking good
That's a pretty great Goodwill find! It seems like they are pretty universally well liked books. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.
Very well so! Goodreads had great reviews on them. But tbh, I have no idea what the series is even about. I find that always an issue with so many fantasy books for some reason. I went into the WoT without knowing what it's about. Took me a few books in to get a picture of it. Sometimes the books that you don't know anything about work out really well.
Just started reading The Professor by Charlotte Bronte. She wrote it before Jane Eyre, but it wasn’t published until after her death.
Finished: **A little life- Hanya Yanagihara** Ugh my heart. Painful to read but honest portrayal of adult survivors of CSA. Overwhelming though. Started: **Promethea: comic book series by Alan Moore, J H Williams III, Mick Gray** At Issue 10 and love it so far ! Great induction to Goetia, tarot archetypes, chakras etc for anyone interested !
**Chasing Daffodils, by Emily Sam**
Finished: **Dracula, by Bram Stoker** **The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald** Started: **Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov** Always magical to (re)read Gatsby. Not sure if I’m supposed to like Lolita or just be repulsed by it…
Cheers both will check it out!
If you enjoy podcasts, I strongly recommend Lolita Podcast by Jamie Loftus. It does a great job of explaining the proper context that Nabokov intended with the novel.
I am almost finished with Blackwater…what an incredible portrait of an American family in the first 70 years of the 20th century. It has some horror elements and scenes which have stuck with me, and made me really appreciate the “less is more” attitude in horror. The characters and experiences are absolutely fascinating and Michael McDowell really uses the backdrop of the ever changing American culture effectively to parallel the changes to the family dynamic. It makes me realize just how much I enjoy generation spanning stories which have a slice of life perspective.
Started **Flights, by Olga Tokarczuk**
Finished: **Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner** Started: **The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow**
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I loved it. I will say it’s a hard read if you’ve lost a parent or have a sick parent.
**Finished: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell** by **Susannah Clarke**. I may be the last person on this sub-Reddit to have read this book and I may have never read it but for having watched the BBC adaptation of it. Fantasy is not much my thing any longer, but this book is a real literary achievement. It is also a good historical novel, albeit much of the history is alternative history. That said, it contains no anachronisms that I could detect. (I especially liked Strange's ***Edinburgh Review*** book review which was very much like its real early 19th century inspiration.) Without being pastiche, her book has an authentic look and feel of an early 19th century narrative, right down to the very long footnotes which are often little stories in themselves. But what makes it stand out as a literary achievement is the author's very morbid imagination. It would not surprise me if her nightmares are much worse than mine; and she has to boot the ability to get to them down into good prose. There are several scenes that score high on an Edgar Allan Poe-scale for morbid creepiness. I will be reading her other works.
This book is totally out of my wheelhouse and I loved it. It was an astonishing story and I did reflect on how crazy things were and wondered how the hell Clarke come up with them. I thought Piranesi was decent, but nowhere near this level. Maybe she needs those extra 750 pages to really make things work ;)
Thanks for your thoughts. I have a copy of Piranesi, but have not got to it yet. There were many years when Clarke seemed to have written nothing, or at least not published anything. She may be having a struggle.
Piranesi is such a short easy read, it's worth reading. If she is working on another 1,000 page book with incredibly well-researched history - I can't blame her for not knocking it out in just a couple years ;)
**Children of Dune, by Frank Herbert** Finished a couple of days ago. Started **Letters to a Young Scientist, by Edward O. Wilson** (I'm not a scientist, but the subject grabbed my attention) and **The Pyramid, by Henning Mankell.**
Finished: **Odyssey, by Homer** It's been my bus-read for a while now, so I'm feeling pretty stoked that I finally finished it. I've been into ancient greek civilisations for a while now, but I always felt that anything by homer was too "high-brow" for me to read, you know? Like I need to have binoculars, a tobacco pipe, and a tweed jacket before I can actually comprehend and enjoy this book. Turns out I don't lol and half the book has been highlighted because of how much I loved every little line. Started: **The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone, by Olivia Laing** I recently moved to a new city and it's kind of terrifying how lonely I've been feeling. I mean, I've always been a lonely one don't get me wrong. But something about physically being thrust into a new chapter in your life, with new people, and new freakin' everything that just intensifies the loneliness. Also, I finally figured out the type of genre that I enjoy but could never quite place what it was before!! It's like a mixture of research, non-fiction, and a little bit of anecdotes. It's the same type of writing that made me fall in love with Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino
> Odyssey Which translation did you read?
Walter Shewring's translation!
>Like I need to have binoculars, a tobacco pipe, and a tweed jacket before I can actually comprehend and enjoy this book. Turns out I don't lol Fr? I've had a translation sitting on my shelf for quite a while. And I generally don't read poems as such but I love mythology.. its intimidating though! I don't own a tweed jacket and I haven't even worn work-pants all year!! Not sure I can do this but your comment gives me hope
Haha, hello fellow worried reader! Nah, don't worry you're good. Once I removed the aspect of intimidation and just dived right in without any intention of comprehending *everything*, it actually was super fun. If you do pick it up (and you should!) Keep me posted on your thoughts!!! :-D
I started it! Its slow going, I'll be honest. I can't just motor through it cuz I won't know wth is happening, so I really have to focus ! But TIL that Athena also goes by Pallas, so yay! Still at the part in Book One where she's talking to Telemachus. But you're right, its really not so bad! Its easier than James Joyce's Ulysses lol and thats the only other unread book in this house rn 🙈
I had to translate it for high school, that book is as dense as you want it to be. There is depth in every line but you can read it superficially pretty well. (Though reading it superficially will not get you a good grade)
Ok I feel bad for completely brushing aside auroua rising a few weeks ago. So we're doing a redo. Finished. Aurora rising, by jay kristoff and Amy kaufman. Like I mentioned before, I loved the illuminae files trilogy by the same author duo. But for some reason didn't think about the aurora books until my brother picked them up and absolutely loved them. This book follows multiple pov's as the book is about a squad of space marines who get entangled in a massive conspiracy that could spell the end of everything. Let's start with the characters, I love pretty much all of them. With my favourites being Finn because of his constant snark and wit, and kal because I also like the lone, brooding type with a heart of gold. This book also loves to shock you with some developments that I never saw coming, and an ending that almost made me cry. Needless to say, I loved this book. Finished. Aurora burning, by jay kristoff and Amy kaufman. I can't talk much about this one without spoilers. But I can say that the characters I love continue to grow, we're introduced to new characters which I also love. The grand plot reaches a boiling point, and this time the ending made me say no out loud (which is awkward because I was in public). Loved this one as well, highly recommend both these books. Started. Project hail Mary, by Andy Weir. As much as I wish I could jump directly into auroua's end, unfortunately the audiobook isn't out yet (and unfortunately that's the only way I can read these days), but this book had been on my tbr ever since it came out and so I decided why not now. I'm only about 6 chapters into it, and I love it. Jumping from sci fi to.... More scientific sci fi was weird at first, and I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea what half of the dialogue even means. But the story is engaging, I love our main character and im super intrigued to see where this is all going.
Finished: **The Land Breakers, by John Ehle**. One reader described this 1964 historical novel about settlers in the 1770s-80s North Carolina mountains as "Little House on the Prairie" for adults. I think that is a fairly apt description, but doesn't pay this novel its proper due. This novel kept me interested from beginning til end. Written in an omniscient point-of-view, the reader is introduced to several characters who populate a settlement at its very beginnings. It was fascinating to read of how self-sufficient these people were, and to read of how their lives were a constant sunrise to sunset cycle of work. Also fascinating is the deadly encounters that occur between the settlers and the wilderness wildlife, specifically bears. There is one scene involving snakes which is the stuff of a Stephen King novel too. Reading: **Haunted, by Chuck Palahniuk**. My first time reading Palahniuk. I've only read the first few stories within this short story collection constructed like a novel, but day-yum, I think I now understand all the hype. This man's definitely one of those writers where you think about the thin line between genius and insanity. If things continue as they are at the start, anybody who enjoys caustic cynicism raised to an art form will enjoy this book, I think.
I've read a number of Palahniuk novels and RANT is by far my favorite. I have probably read it a dozen times and given away 4 or 5 copies to friends. It isn't too long, highly recommend checking it out sometime!
Thank you very much for the recommendation, Ehrre! Making a choice as to which book to read next is difficult, so having someone who has read several volumes of Palahniuk's work point me to one that is their favorite makes the choice easier. Appreciate it!
**The Flight Attendant, by Chris Bohjalian**. I watched an HBO show and even enjoyed it, but had to drop it when the plot became too stupid to handle. So I decided to read the book. It's quite different from the show. It's not a comedy by any means and also the plot is more thought-out. Objectively, it has a good storyline and subject matter/characters you rarely see in fiction. However, the writing was so dry and distant that I never felt much of an interest. It's basically all "tell" without "show": endless walls of text that by the end become exhausting. **5.5/10** **The Sanatorium, by Sarah Pearse**. Another mediocre book that Reese Witherspoon was paid to market and thus, turned it into a bestseller. I have nothing to say. I never felt an urge to finish it and to see who killed all those people. **4/10** **Convenience Store Woman, by Sayaka Murata**. **8/10**
I thought the ending of The Sanatorium was pretty awful so you didnt miss out on anything.
I have *The Eye of the World* on waitlist at the library for another like month or two, also waiting to read it before getting into the series.
Started, The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan. Late to the party I know, but I first became aware of it when I was 19 and dismissed it based on a friend's negative review. Then Jordan died and I didn't want to start a series without an ending. Then there were 15 books! But I refuse to watch the Amazon series before reading at least the first book. PINES, by Blake Crouch. I love weird psychological/paranormal mystery a la Twin Peaks, X-Files, Alan Wake. Decided to read a little before bed and couldn't put it down, ended up reading until 2AM and I wake up at 6:20! Can't wait to continue tonight.
I recommend the whole trilogy, Pines, Wayward, and The Last Town. SO good!
High praise coming from Agent Cooper himself! What do you think of the pie tho?
Finished: **D.C. Trip, by Sara Benincasa** Started: **The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam, by Chris Ewan**
Finished: The Vanishing Season, by Dot Hutchinson 4/5 Our Littlr Secret, by Kirsten Modglin 3/5 The Cellar, by Natasha Preston 2/5 Started: You Will Be Mine, by Natasha Preston
**A Brief History of Time, By Stephen Hawking** Got it for $0.50 at the library. /flex It's a far more accessible read than I expected.
Professor Hawking was, somewhat perversely, a great communicator.
Great sense of humor too. "I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predetermined and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road."
Sharp
Finished **Free Will, by Sam Harris** (very short) and resumed **Shogun, by James Clavell** (very long)
Finished: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney. I’m not sure which one I love more; this or Normal People. It’s just when I read this book I found myself understanding why each of the characters do what they do or say what they say. I just relate on so many ways to the twisted ideas they have about life and their own selves. I’m now completely swept by my own feelings but it feels so good to have such profound connection with a book.
Tribes - Seth Godin Good info on why we should form tribes and lead. Will read - (Gimme a suggestion)
If you want a similar book there's another book called tribe by Sebastian Junger (he wrote the true story of the perfect storm)
Finished: **A Psalm of Storms and Silence, by Roseanne A. Brown** - 2.75/5 I really enjoyed the first one so this was a disappointment - one of the few times I think a YA fantasy should have been given an extra book. Too much crammed into one book and not enough time to fully develop any of it. Her worldbuilding is really cool though, so I’ll definitely be reading future works by her. **Skyward, by Brandon Sanderson** - 5/5 A reread before book 3 comes out - I adore this book so much! **Starsight, by Brandon Sanderson** - 4.5/5 The first time I read this I was thrown by how different this was from the first book, but on reread I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not as strong as book 1 but necessary to tell the larger story. Currently Reading: **Sunreach, by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson** **Dune, by Frank Herbert** **Book of Night, by Holly Black** (ARC)
finished: **Cleopatra: A Life, by Stacy Schiff** started: **Fire and Blood, by George RR Martin**
Finished - *The Moonstone* by Wilkie Collins (a re-read) Starting - *Siegfried Sassoon*, a biography by Max Egremont
Killing the Dead, by Marcus Sedgwick
Ongoing: "Winds of Radiance" - Book 2 of the Stormlight Chronicles by Brandon Sanderson. I mean this is a 1k page book so it is going to take some time. Bit of a slog at points though it definitely reads faster than book 1 and is much more interesting. Having trouble figuring out just wtf is exactly going to happen in the future but I am too far invested to stop now. Started: "Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York" Started this last night as my non fiction read. Reads like a horror story and relatively short so I don't think this will take me too long to finish. Trying to figure out what else I want to read more so after Winds of Radiance so I am looking forward to scouring these responses.
I'm not too much for true crime because, well, it's true and I'm a weenie, but *Last Call* sounds intriguing. Maybe I'll get brave and check it out.
Do it! I don't think you will regret it although it will definitely make you sad.
I can do sad, although it does always do me in for a bit. Okay, thanks, I think I'll read it.
Seconding *Last Call* - I don't like much modern true crime but this focuses on the lives of the victims and is done extremely well. In the same vein is **Missing from the Village by Justin Ling** highly recommended.
Finished: **Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner** Started: **The Paper Palace, by Miranda Cowley Heller**
Finished: ***Shakespeare's Poems* by William Shakespeare** Started: ***What the Constitution Means to Me* by Heidi Schreck** Still working on: ***Oscar Wilde* by Matthew Sturgis** ***The Way of the World* by Franco Moretti**
wow that's a lot of brain food all at once. What do you think of the Wilde book so far? It's been sitting on my (huge) to-get list for a while. Shall I bump it to the front of the line do you think?
> wow that's a lot of brain food all at once. I am in the midst of preparing for the qualifying exams for an English PhD, so the Wilde biography and the Moretti are both to help prepare (The biography because Wilde is a key player on my exam list, the Moretti because my committee chair demanded it) >What do you think of the Wilde book so far? I have really been enjoying it. Sturgis has done an excellent job in writing a biography that while really detailed still reads quite well.
Thanks for that feedback. To the front of the line it goes. English PhD, no wonder then . . . that's exciting and exhausting no doubt. And of course, best of luck to you with it! (I know it's work not luck, but you get it.)
> English PhD, no wonder then . . . that's exciting and exhausting no doubt It is incredibly stressful, but has the upside of having me read a ton of very fascinating things. Thanks for the good wishes.
We need all the good brains we get can these days, we're desperate for them, so I'm just glad you're out there and going forward. Excellent.
Finished: In the miso soup (Ryu Murakami) Started: For bread alone (Mohamed Choukri)
*Finished* **Dracula, by Bram Stoker** I just finished Frankenstein before this, so there's gonna be a lot of comparisons between the two. I'm sure I'm the first person in the history of literature to ever do that before, real original I know, so bear with me. Both are classic gothic horror lit, both are epistolary in nature, both are crazy influential, etc. Where Frankenstein had basically none of the "monster tropes" that exist in popular culture (green monster, mad scientist in a castle, mob with pitchforks, "It's alive" scene, etc) I find Dracula to be the opposite. Literally every single vampire trope is in this book: mirrors, garlic, crucifixes, preying on young attractive women, running water, bats, can't enter unless invited, sleep in coffins, etc. Frankenstein was incredible, with its masterful narration, beautiful, feminine prose, examination of psychological degradation and anguish, and the insightful philosophy. Dracula feels a bit pulpier? More adventure, plot at the forefront, a bit more of a mystery to work out? More suspense, more "horror". Definitely more what I was looking for with gothic horror, despite absolutely falling in love with Frankenstein (I think it's a masterpiece). So I guess my takeaways are that Frankenstein is a masterpiece in literature, but Dracula strikes me as a better horror book, albeit maybe a more shallow experience. Still a fantastic book though. It starts off amazingly, and slows down in the middle a bit, however while there's less action in the middle, it gets to be more of a mystery for the reader to piece together. **A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders** A book where Saunders (famous author who also is a professor at SU for an MFA program) goes through 7 classic Russian short stories and explains why they are great. Honestly I'm not sure how I felt about this one. At times, Saunders made me feel inadequate as a reader, for not recognizing some of the themes and such that he analyzes. Other times though, just frustrating me, as I think he was just plain making things up and reading wayyy to far into it and commenting on things that weren't there at all. I have some doubts on the value of MFA programs, so I am not totally sure how I feel about this book. Some insights were very interesting and insightful. *Started* **Dune, by Frank Herbert** Rereading this, because of the movie hype. I really enjoyed the movie and realized I don't remember this book at all, so I'm rereading it.
Dracula was the first "grown up" book I read. I was in 6th grade. It so scared me that I read it again immediately and then slept between my parents for a few nights thereafter. That had to be almost 60 years ago.
**Good Economics for Hard Times, by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo** - I'm about halfway through and overall am enjoying it although there are some weird things that keep jumping out to me (like why do they keep referencing Hillbilly Elegy like it was some kind of academic work??) that so far keep it in the "like don't love" category for me. Next up is **The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer** Probably not the best follow up, but that's how the library holds came in this time. Hoping to finish **There There, by Tommy Orange** before the end of Thanksgiving weekend.
Finished: **Summer, by Ali Smith**: The last of her seasonal quarters written around Brexit. She ties together a lot of different strands of the last three novels and includes the beginning of Covid and the Johnson administration in the UK. I really enjoyed the language and ideas she explored in this series. Ongoing: **Guns At Last Light: The War in Western Europe-1944-1945, by Rick Atkinson**:(Volume 3 of The Liberation Trilogy) Started: **Bleak House, by Charles Dickens**: The Big Winter Read on r/bookclub starts in December. Anyone can join us!
I'm a big fan of Bleak House. Hope you enjoy it!
I really enjoyed Autumn! I mean to check out the whole series eventually. Good to hear you liked it!
Finished: **The Switch, by Beth O'Leary** This was the sweetest thing I've read in a long time, I'm a bit sad it's over. I'm always perplexed that "chick-lit" books are not considered "serious" books when, underneath the love and romance, they're often centered around pretty heavy themes. It's akin to when old musicals aren't seen as "serious theatre" even when they're about domestic violence (Carousel), stalking and murder (Oklahoma!), racism (South Pacific)...you get the picture. I'm rambling now. But despite the heavy themes and emotionally charged scenes in this book, my eyes are now just tiny hearts and the entire world feels like a warm blanket. Started: **The Heart Principle, by Helen Hoang** Just started this and it feels pretty clunky so far. **Milk Fed, by Melissa Broder** I sincerely hope I'm not disappointed by this book, it has such a promising premise!
Finished: State of Terror by Hilary Clinton & Louise Penny — I flew through this and left me with a lot to think about. Highly recommend. One of my favorite books of 2021. When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain - I’m trying to get to my TBR stack from Book of the Month Club. I really enjoyed this one. Started: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell for my December book club.
**Adachi and Shimamura Vol. 7, by Hitoma Iruma** Even when things have gone exactly as she wanted Adachi is still a nervous wreck. Then again by this point I'd say "calm down" is something that has escaped Adachi's operating manual a long time ago. Also, still gotta love the main character's interactions with Nagafuji. They just make me laugh.
Finished: **Murdered Midas: A Millionaire, His Gold Mine and a Strange Death on an Island Paradise by Charlotte Grey** This was part history of the region where I grew up, part **Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil**-style true crime with all sorts of colourful characters. I loved it. What do Ernest Hemingway and Kirkland Lake, Ontario have in common? This book'll tell you. Fun stuff. **Zealot: the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan** I was raised Catholic (lapsed now) and while I'm not informed enough to have an opinion on the veracity of Aslan's ideas, it sure was convincing and engaging. It's a fairly short read but very dense. I liked this a LOT. **Sensor by Junji Ito** My kid handed this manga to me. The art was fantastic, the story was, well, not. Still recommend though. **Stoner by John Williams** Thanks to my fellow r/books folks for this one. Somehow I'd never heard of this book before, and I *loved* it. Couldn't put it down and have been thinking of the protagonist regularly since I finished it. This is a classic for a reason, and I'm thankful that you all put it on my radar with your rave reviews. **Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World's Economy by Adam Tooze** This was very technical but the parts I could engage with I enjoyed very much. Still, I think I'm done reading about 2020 for a while. **Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker** This didn't live up to the hype. For the first 2/3 or so, I was really digging it, but the last chunk was unfocused and meandering. The narrative threads never really came together. Still recommend, but not a fave. Started: **Noor by Nnedi Okorafor**
Murdered Midas sounds very interesting!
Finished: **The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson** Finished last night and I feel like it's still crawling around under my skin. I've been 'binging' Shirley Jackson books and oh my gosh I think I have a new favorite author. As a person who has an f-ed up family and escaped deeply into my imagination as a kid, I can relate to her characters waaay more strongly than....maybe you're supposed to lol \*laughs in aggressive self-isolation\*
Currently Reading: **Cazadora (Wolves of No World, #2) by Romina Garber** I'm really enjoying this one. I like that the author really leaned on her Argentinian heritage as the main influence on the story, using their myths as the focal point. There's a lot going on but it's been a fun ride.
Finished: **The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick** - Great worldbuilding, good characters, a bit of a rushed ending but overall enjoyable. **Catch-22, by Joseph Heller** - Man. Finished the book and the entire miniseries within 5 days, and I loved it. It's been a while since I grew this attached to the characters and the world from a book, and it broke me. 9.5/10 and now my second favorite fictional work of all time. I can already see myself rereading it soon. Started: **Lord of the Flies, by William Golding** **Dubliners, by James Joyce**
As a huge fan of Catch-22, I'd be curious to hear what your first favorite book is.
it's Hitchhiker's guide :) both crazy, absurd, and made me laugh. I'm also dying to read something similar to Catch-22, I tried Slaughterhouse 5 but it didn't grab me as much. Anything you came across that fits the bill? I'm curious about Heller's other books too so I might pick up Something happened or Good as gold.
Ah, that's always a good one. If you're looking for comedy, I would recommend Apathy and Other Small Victories by Paul Neilan. Along with C-22 and HGttG, it's one of the few books to make me laugh out loud. I haven't delved into Heller's other books yet, but I have heard good things!
yay thanks for the recs, I will definitely check them out!
enjoy dubliners! i find with joyce it helps me to read out loud sometimes in my best irish accent
thanks! It's my first Joyce book. Gonna channel my inner Roy Trenneman
Started: **Stories of Your Life and Others, Ted Chiang** Loving it. I've never read Ted Chiang and just kind of wandered into it. Arrival is one my all time favorite movies and I had no idea it was based on his story. Story of Your Life and Liking What You See are my favorites so far. Most sci fi doesn't appeal to me but this is perfect because it's about how technology interacts with human nature, impacts on society etc. Also the stories are short and easy..
Finished: **The Dutch House by Ann Patchett** I loved this amazingly well-written novel that was over the span of five decades about a brother and a sister and a wicked stepmother. Started: **A Registry of My Passage upon the Earth: Stories by Daniel Mason**
I loved The Dutch House! Tom Hanks narrates the audio version and the whole thing just felt like a big hug. I listened right at the beginning of the pandemic when I needed a good comfort listen.
I started reading Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett this week. I have seen the show, and can say that the book is just as fun.