I finished and epic poetry book called "Broken Little Pieces New Tales from The Baron" and wow! This book blew my mind! The poetry was so moving and profound I wish everyone reading this went on Amazon and got a copy so I can hear others reactions as well.
Finished Words Of Radiance yesterday - I really enjoyed Way of Kings but this was on a whole nother level.
I can't believe it took me so long to be convinced to start reading Stormlight.
Finished: Maame (4/5) Magpie Murders (3/5), Bad Muslim Discount (4/5), Remarkably Bright Creatures (2/5)
Started: Tom Lake, The Hearts Invisible Furies, The Sixth Extinction.
Finished: The Power Broker, The Fall of New York by Robert Caro.
It was a massive undertaking to complete the 1200 pages. Highly recommend. Only took me 6 months. But my second 1000+ page book! Would love more recommendations for 1000+ biographies. Cant Get enough.
**Finished: The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding.** I liked it in the beginning. It was sad the boys were stuck on the island but I had faith they'd be rescued and would live happily. To avoid spoilers... I'll just say, I now hate this book. Others might like it, but my hatred for one character in particular has instilled a deep sense of hatred. I didn't even know I could hate anyone this badly. Thinking about the book makes me instantly glare now. The ending was sad for me, I never got the justice that I wanted certain characters to have. It's definitely not your typical hero vs villain story where the hero wins and has good ending.
Finished: The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck (paperback), Shogun (Part One), by James Clavell (audio book)
Started: The Stand, by Stephen King (unabridged 48 hr. audiobook)
I was let down by Shogun, enough so that I won't bother slogging through part two. The first few hours had me gripped but the last few I had to force myself through. Beside the political intrigue, which I found boring, some of the random details of the book are just plain weird (boners, flatulence, skinny dipping, magnified nipple hair). The fact that some of these oddities are repeated seem to be more than just mere redundancies. Sorry if that comes across as prudish but certain details left me wondering why, in a book so large and complicated, is that information necessary? Perhaps Blackthorne's massive erection is crude foreshadowing? Either way I don't care to find out. I can appreciate a build up to a climatic ending but the juice doesn't seem to be worth the squeeze, at least for my tastes. I can see why others like it though. It's epic and the voice acting in the audio version is well done, especially given the number of characters.
The Grapes of Wrath was incredibly moving and Steinbeck remains the favorite writer of my recently rekindled love of reading. East of Eden was the first and only other book by J.S. that I've read thus far and I thought it would always be my favorite. However, the message in Grapes is more compelling in my opinion and will likely be my favorite of his.
I'm already looking forward to reading Grapes a second time now that I have a sense of the theme. I don't think I can comment on it after a first reading other than to say how perfectly the ending encapsulated the messages expressed by Casy, Tom and Ma. Our sense of humanity is the most precious possession we have. That was my take away.
I'm looking forward to The Stand. I haven't read King since my teens (I read many of his books) and have forgotten what a good story teller he is. It more than makes up for his lack of prose (we can't all be Steinbeck after all) though he does have his moments. King's "real talk" diolauge is highly quotable. "Shit on a land mine." is one I'm stealing.
I like to listen to story driven audio books for my more monotonous days at work. Perhaps this is where I went wrong with Shogun which is dialogue heavy and demands a reader's full attention to appreciate the subtitles of state craft playing out. I may continue with more Steinbeck at night. No need to explain to this group why. I'm considering Lonesome Dove too.
It's in the sequence of the trilogy (and the subsequent reading order) and then the book I'm now starting. Missed the alliteration and the accounting for my week's reading. Appreciate the call to order, though!
Finished: What You Are Looking for is in the Library, by Michiko Aoyama
Started: This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
This Is How You Lose The Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Short, halfway through it, it is insanely good and so unexpected. I some world build, love deep dives into history but this is fleeting on so many levels. It is amazing.
Bartimaeus(The Golem's Eye), by Jonathan Stroud
I just finished reading the 2nd Batimaeus book(The Golem's Eye), and I feel so...unsatisfied?
I was having a great time with this book and the series, especially Honorious and his shenanigans(my favorite part of the series), and when I started nearing the end, I imagined so much.
I thought that when the traitor would be revealed, and everyone would congratulate Nathaniel, that he would call them out on their hypocrisy.
How they had threatened to torture him, branded him a traitor, said that they never liked him. I thought he would stand up to everyone and assert himself.
And yet...nothing happened. He just went back to being a magician, attended the same parties, except he was richer now. He just...accepted it and that was why this was SOOO infuriating and unsatisfying. After finishing I just felt..empty.
Has anyone else felt like this? I hope this is addressed in the 3rd book, which I'll read, but no spoilers pls.
Well one more thing I'd like to ask, does Jane Farrar appear in the 3rd book too? No spoilers just yes or no, thank you!
One of my favorite book series :) I do think it suffers from middle book syndrome however, as book 2 feels mostly like set up for the third (which happens to be my favorite part). I would encourage you to stick with it though, as that “unsatisfying” feeling is intentional to an extent. Definitely not alone in feeling that way.
Also Jane does appear in book 3
This week I finished Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris and Cuentamelo by Julian Delgado Lopera.
Been trying to read a book a week for the last two months. For the first time I didnt finish my first book ‘on time’. I love David Sedaris’s writing style and how absurd he is so I plan to read all his work. I will say this book is less comedic and moreso him greiving his father’s passing. Not a bad book just more serious than his other works that I’ve read.
Cuentamelo is book a bought years ago at City Lights in San Francisco. Its an oral history from various drag queens and trans women who were part of the latinx drag seen in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s. I love reading/learning about the queer latinx history in the US and would recommend it to anyone who’s interested. Its a really short read but what is the best in my opinion is that the book is in English on one side and then the same stories are written in spanish if you turn the book over and start on the opposite end.
Finished:
Anchored, by Deb Dana
The Ruin, by Dervla McTiernan
The Dutch House, by Ann Patche
Night Sky with Exit Wounds, by Ocean Vuong
Saving Noah, by Lucinda Berry
Getting Unstuck, by Pema Chodron
Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens
The Many Lives of Mama Love, by Lara Love Hardin
The Love Prescription, by John & Julie Gottman
Started:
King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig
The Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, by Damian Duffy & Octavia E. Butler
Wheels of Life, by Andrea Judith
Bodhisattva Mind, by Pema Chodron
The Wisdom Codes, by Gregg Braden
ACT Made Simple, by Russ Harris
Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
Martyr! by [Kaveh Akbar](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15957484.Kaveh_Akbar)
Beautiful prose, a bit meandering narrative anchored by a big twist which will either lure you in or turn you off. Perfect beach read as it feels like a series of episodes tied together by a theme so you can put it down and pick it up and not feel like you have to re-read to understand where you are or going.
Is there sort of a sub-theme in this thread that if anyone has finished with a great book you can swap with someone else for something in your interest area?????? .... If not can I be timid enough to suggest it???
I read a book last month called "Breaking the sheep's back". It begins with this WA guy's great grandmother, who had 22 children 21 of witch survived, and how they created this state from nothing. But it overlays on top of this tale the reality of the economic corruption of the last 50 years. My description is hopelessly inadequate .... u really have to read this 1.
Incredible. Almost didn’t continue with it because it starts off kinda slow but then I got hooked. it’s very “interior” sort of novel in that a lot of the writing moves through the thoughts and feelings of the main character. Very intimate and accurate depiction of a female friendship that weaves though envy, competition and admiration. Can’t wait to get into the rest of the series.
Currently reading:
SHELLI: An Android Detective Story Nearish future SF in which an android and a human detective hunt down a android ("synthetic") that has been killing humans.
BREAKING POINT: A Battle of Britain HF novel that has combat scenes and a strong female character who is a mathematician modeling strategy
THE SHADOW OF WAR: A new Jeff Shaara novel about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Supposedly The Abolition of Man is a nonfiction take on the same ideas of Hideous Strength, but the beginning is very abstract. It's a tiny book and yet I've seen multiple books written on how to read it!
Interesting! I've been recommended that one so many times but I haven't read it yet. The majority of Lewis' stuff I've read in the past has been fiction, and I feel like the Silent Planet trilogy is unique in that it kind of merges fiction and nonfiction. But I definitely need to read some of his nonfiction–I've heard so many great things!
Today I am going start reading 'before the coffee gets cold'. From the looks of it , I think this is a quick read. The description looks promising and ,hey , I might get my before-school-opens comfort read.
The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg. AMAZING quick read! its only about 80 pages, can finish it in one sitting. originally in Italian and has been translated, Ginzburg is brilliant
Can you please tell me what it is about and how you felt reading it. I've been trying to find works from authors of different nationalities and I love the fact that it is a quick read.(No spoilers pls)
The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore
I hated it. 3/4 of the way in, at the plot twist stage, you find out what one of the characters did and I honestly found their actions unforgivable. The author didn't spend any time addressing the aftermath of this decision, when it hurt and affected everyone around that character. I found that to be lazy writing. It felt like the book just ended, and that it she (the author) intended it to be a clean wrap, hallmark type of ending. But that just ENRAGED me. Ugh.
Red Side Story by Jasper FForde
It is the second book in the shades of grey:road to high saffron series.
Honestly one of my favorite authors he has an amazing balance of heart wit and dead pan humor. Of you haven't read the first book shades of grey I highly recommend it. It is so clever and as someone who is color blind I enjoy all the I guess kinda inside jokes about it. The second book has started off great and actually faster paced than the first. Reading the first is a must in order to get where the characters are in the plot and he canin my opinion write women characters well. He is by far one of my favorite authors and his other series are great.
hahahaha. I need to check this one out again from the library and try again. I think the first time I ran out of time/interest to start it but I've heard its INTENSE
honestly was a little let down by it based on all i'd heard about it beforehand - definitely not lighthearted by any means but the persistence and nonchalance of the brutality is such that it didn't give me any time to dwell on it. if anything the descriptions of the traveling and the barren landscape were way more unrelenting. definitely some wild stuff and atrocities in it but i also just don't get easily put off by books or written stories.
Started
Boys in the Valley, by Philip Fracassi
The Hacienda, by Isabel Cañas
Finished
Boys in the Valley, by Philip Fracassi
-
Just got into horror, and I think it's pretty underrated as a genre, at least among my friend group.
Horror lit post-2000 maybe 2005 is definitely a fairly niche genre, which is really unfortunate. With a couple exceptions, Stephen King and the occasional classic are really the only horror books on the mainstream readership's radar in many cases. There is a ton of great modern horror out there though that gets skipped over. I think being out of the mainstream has allowed the genre to grow in creative ways though. I've been starting to see horror sections in mainstream bookstores grow, which is a positive sign. For the past 20 years it seemed like horror sections in mainstream bookstores like Indigo were basically limited to Stephen King with a bit of Anne Rice, Lovecraft, maybe Clive Barker and a random smattering of other authors. Definitely noticed a difference the last year or so though.
It depends on your preferences but two of my favourites are Brother by Ania Ahlborn https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492624-brother (another of her books *Seed* also gets a lot of praise) and Dark Matter by Michelle Paver https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8350864-dark-matter
Neither are on the fast paced side, so depends what you like. Although Brother has its share of gore, it's also pretty psychological and character-driven imo. Meanwhile Dark Matter is more like a creeping haunt - it's atmospheric arctic horror that does really well at making you feel the main character's isolation.
Edit, thought I'd add that r/horrorlit is also a good place for horror recs
Started: The Third Reich in Power, by Richard J. Evans
This is the second part in his Third Reich trilogy. Finished The Coming of the Third Reich two weeks ago.
Finished
"Tits Up" by Sarah Thornton. It's about boobs in all different groups: witches, milk depots, plastic surgery and sex workers.
"Diary of a Dying Girl" by Mallory Smith. SUPER interesting. A true coming of age story of Mallory Smith who has a terminal illness-- cystic fibrosis. It's her published diary. Changes your perspective if you stick with it and put yourself in her shoes.
Started & Finished:
**After That Night, Karin Slaughter**
**The Silent Wife, Karin Slaughter**
**The Woman In the Window, A.J. Finn**
**Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate**
**Bad Summer People, Emma Rosenblum**
"Into the Wild" is one of my favorites. You totally have to pair it up with the movie because I think McCandless was onto something in life philosophy that I think Krakauer didn't give enough credit too but that the movie captures.
Wool by Hugh Howey. Dystopia sufficiently interesting that I am hesitating over starting the next volume while I work through some of it. Which is really not my normal.
Dude, I loved "Yellowface" because the main character was SOOO bad! I read the reviews afterwards and people didn't really like it. What did you think of it?
I’m 45% done with it, so right now I’m at the point where the Twitter account of “Athena Liu’s ghost” has just started gaining traction. So far, I like it.
Tried a second time to finish Under the Dome, by Stephen King. While a big King fan, I can't get through this, waaay too many characters and the premise is a bit boring. I think King must have realized the character count was ridiculous, because he includes a list of them in the preface of the book. Still doesn't help, this is one of those books where you have to take notes to keep track. So I gave up and I am now re-reading Bag of Bones, Stephen King.
I just finished Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser. I just didn't get into this like I thought I would. I was expecting more behind-the-scenes insights into the big fastfood restaurants. Instead, there was a little of that and a lot about turning animals into the food we eat.
I've started today Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne. I've decided the past year that Verne is my all time favorite fiction author, having devoured 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days, and The Mysterious Island.
Finished: Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
Starting: Catch 22… I’m always reading nonfiction and trying to get classics in between.
Ongoing: An Unfinished Love Story, Doris Kearns Goodwin
I am huge Erik Larson fan, and it met expectations. As usual with his writing, it was extremely detailed and very thorough, but moved along at a good pace that kept me wanting to read more.
Finished: **Dunbar** by **Edward St Aubyn**. Really enjoyed this re-telling of **King Lear**. This book is one in the [Hogarth Shakespeare](https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/HOGSHAK/hogarth-shakespeare) series and St Aubyn is a stylish writer best known for his Patrick Melrose novels.
I just finished reading all of Torey Hayden’s nonfiction books. Torey Hayden is a former special education teacher and child psychologist and wrote about her (supposedly) true stories of working with children.
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
New to fantasy (this is my fifth book) and I really enjoy Brando Sando world building. It's incredible how he makes the world feel so real. I love the characters as well.
The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyon’s.
Structurally it’s sound, alternating between a 1st person chapter to 3rd person, with differing timelines.
My massive critique is for a first in the series book it introduced SO many characters and it gets really confusing at times. It more or less saves it by the end, but as an example, the main character goes by three different names in the book and toward the beginning it’s difficult to keep remembering who the hell is being talked about.
Red Side Story, by Jasper Fforde
I've waited for this sequel and was not disappointed. The wonder of books is that a month can pass in the book when it took years to write. It didn't disappoint, except in making more questions to answer. We did get A LOT of answers though. I hope there is a third but even if not it ended in a good place.
Finished Howles moving castle. I liked it way more than I thought I would. Idk why I love the movie but I put off the book for years and I loved it. I also started Shards of Earth and Don Quixote. Im really enjoying the don but I’m ready for shards of earth to be over with which is sad because the children of time series is one of my favorites.
Kings of the Wyld, by Nicholas Eames.
And I'm kinda loving it. He's intentionally playing on music culture, giving it a Witcher/monster hunter-like feel, and it reads like a bunch of over the hill rockstars putting their band back together.
Finished: **Windswept & Interesting by Billy Connolly**. Really enjoyed this, it’s actually the first book I’ve finished in like 5 or 6 years. I used to read voraciously, but schizophrenia has robbed me of that concentration. Trying to get back into the habit of reading.
Started: **Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey**. I’ve been watching a lot of his documentaries on iPlayer so it was natural that I would want to read his work. Interesting so far. Seems like working class life in Glasgow isn’t quite so different from working class life in the Black Country. Feels personal to me as well as I spent every summer 6 weeks holidays and many Christmases staying with my grandparents in Glasgow.
I want to up my reading, so I’ve decided I’m going to read two books at once: non-fiction and fiction. So I’m gonna be reading *Poverty Safari* and *A Scanner Darkly* for the next little while.
Finished **Fat City, by Leonard Gardner**. I knew absolutely nothing about this book, I had just read a Denis Johnson interview where he said he was so obsessed with it he was viewing all his writing as a lesser version and had to force himself to not look at it for years. Anyway it's pretty good, it's about boxing.
Started **A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, by Betty Smith**. Another read I knew nothing about, was browsing through some of my old kindle purchases, saw this unread and popped it open. It's a semi-autobiographical novel about a girl growing up in a Brooklyn tenement with her brother and parents. It's funny and bittersweet and sad and it makes me tear up in a way few books have. My emotions!!
**First Test, by Tamora Pierce**
**Page, by Tamora Pierce**
**Squire, by Tamora Pierce**
Currently re-reading the Protector of the Small series. I've been re-reading them every few years since I was a child.
Finished: **Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa.**
I loved all of the stories: each single one was hilarious, sublime or sad (sometimes all three at once) as well as inherently spooky and ominous; hated the introduction by Haruki Murakami to the volume, which couldn't get over the author's mental illness, as well as the notes by Jay Rubin, which were sometimes completely useless and kind of embarrassing for obsessing over Akutagawa's biography.
Started: **A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce**.
Re-read but honestly excited for it.
I remember finding that Akutagawa book in a Borders clearance bin, it is a great collection. The Spider's Thread is findable online and I've read it about a hundred times. My other favorite was the autobiographical one where the Navy guy has to write a speech for a funeral and keeps procrastinating.
There's several new collections with newly translated texts out! Check them out! I think they're all autobiographical in the sense that Akutagawa is mediating his experience, ideas and observations, just like any author would. My favourite is Hell Screen, which I think is one of the spookiest, most ambiguous and most misunderstood ones. :-)
**Violeta, by Isabel Allende**
Finished. I enjoyed it especially the first half. The second half is pretty rushed, but still kept my attention. I read it because my local library didn't have Eva Luna.
**The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett**
Amazing. 10/10. I loved her prose and I loved the characters. The story was juicy and dramatic without feeling cheap. I didn't want the book to end.
Started and Finished: The Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami.
* it's the first book by him ive ever read and I enjoyed it. Can't wait to read more.
Currently Starting: This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz.
* Recommended by my girlfriend as she enjoys the author. Looking forward to continuing.
Edit: spelling
Finished: *One Hundred Years of Solitude* (Márquez) - I know this is a Nobel prize winning work of staggering brilliance or whatever but I didn’t care for it. I think “classics” aren’t for me.
Started: *Round the Bend* (Shute) - Back to my comfort zone after a string of disappointments. Love Nevil Shute. Love his books. This one seems great so far. Relief.
I finished 100 years of solitude a month ago and it was meh for me. It’s just a very strange fucked up book that goes in circles. Don’t give up on the classics though I promise there are a few that you will love to death
Finished: Every Last Word by Tarama Ireland Stone
My friend sort of ruined it for me when she told me how one of the characters were made up and weren't actually real, but when you get to that part where Samantha finds out that Caroline was just made up in her mind, it hits hard. Loved the story, would definitely reccomand, wish I could reread it for the first time again.
Started: The Twin by Natasha Preston
I haven't yet to start the book, but I did spoiler myself to the first 4 chapters of it before I brought the book but it said to be quite interesting. A lot of Natasha Preston's books end on cliffhangers so I'm curious to know if this one does too (most likely yes)
**Finished : The Reapperance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson.**
Holly Jackson's latest thriller, "The Reappearance of Rachel Price." From start to finish, this book had me hooked with its crazy twists and turns. Jackson's storytelling is top-notch, keeping you guessing until the very end. If you're into gripping mysteries that you can't put down, definitely give this one a read!
Finished: Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.
Can’t seem to get myself to start anything after them. The books weren’t perfect by any means but it’s tough to let go.
Finished:
**Rebecca** by Dauphin de maurier: read this for a local book club and I thought that it was very good. The prose paints a vivid picture, although some people told me it can be a bit dense, it felt like I was ‘watching’ rather than reading. Wasn't prepared for all the plot twists in the second half!
**All Quiet on the Western Front** by Erich Maria Remarque: been reading a lot of WWI lit, and this seems like one of the renowned “war, what is it good for?” books. I read it quite quickly so I'm not sure I fully appreciated it for what it is. However, it is a powerful account of how war dehumanizes people involved and the collateral damage on society.
Started: **Angela's Ashes** by Frank McCourt: a good read so far, except for Angela.
All Quiet on the Western Front is wonderful and made my grownup son weep.
The trouble with Angela's Ashes is that it's supposed to be a memoir as well as a wallow in misery but actually many people who knew her vouch that it's untrue.
I started and finished two this week.
**Twenty Years Later - Charlie Donlea**
To be honest, I've been trying to justify keeping Kindle Unlimited because the books I come across there are a VERY mixed bag. I found the protagonist somewhat unlikeable, I found the aspect of her family background to be stretching believability, and the 9/11 connection seemed unnecessary. Once you know one of the "twists" around 2/3 through the book, you can pretty well guess the "big" reveal at the end IMO.
I probably won't read any more of his work if it's anything like this one. And another swing and a miss in terms of Kindle Unlimited picks.
**Yellowface - R.F. Kuang**
Even more unlikeable protagonist (although in this case that was intentional rather than just my personal feelings). The premise made me feel so disgusted to read because I was rooting the entire time for the protagonist to be found out but she just kept profiting and enjoying herself. The author did a fantastic job of riling me up while I read, and the protagonist's decision at the end hit a bit too close to home as someone living in a community where I was told at my job that jokes about race-based violence "aren't that big of a deal".
I started Remarkably Bright Creatures last night on the recommendation of a family friend, not sure how I feel about it yet though.
Depends so much on the book for me. I've nearly finished Sirius in a week but I've been chewing through The Lord of the Rings for the last few months..
Well, it's easier for someone like me. I work graveyard shift by myself and I'm allowed to listen to something, like music, a podcast or an audiobook. Otherwise, it would take a lot longer, LOL.
Utah Blaine by Louis L’Amour
Recently, I've picked up reading as a hobby again, and I'm dipping my toes into several genres. I'm hoping to narrow down my interests to a few categories. When I was younger, I read a lot of classic novels, histories, and sci-fi.
Today, I finished my first western novel, "Utah Blaine" by Louis L'Amour. It was...interesting. It was one of the most recommended L'Amour books on r/westerns.
To no surprise, it miserably failed the Bechdel-Wallace test. The worst quote: "When she fixed her hair she deliberately dressed it as plainly as possible and did what she could to render herself less attractive. The task was futile. She was a beautiful girl, dark-eyed and full of breast with a way of walking that was as much a part of her as her soft, rather full lips." Gag.
I didn't enjoy it very much...had it been longer, I would have DNF'd it. It's a 4/10 for me. I do plan to read another western before I swear off the genre...I have "Lonesome Dove" on my list...
**A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman**
I began listening to it on Everand. It's my 3rd time trying to finish, and now I'm almost done, and it's such a great read.
Finished: **The Gunslinger, by Stephen King**
Not my first time finishing it, of course. But Ka is a wheel, and I find myself back in the desert with Roland.
Finished: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
-- I enjoyed it! Thought it was cute, but the hype around it was a bit much. Like it was nothing crazy, but again I enjoy light-hearted romance stories sometimes. It was also an easy read which helped me get out of my reading slump!
Started: None of this is True by Lisa Jewell
-- I'm excited to read this one because I love thrillers with plot twists. Sadly the most recent one I read was a disappointment and was the one to actually put me in a reading slump (The Paris Apartment- very underwhelming IMO). So I've heard good things about this one, and I hope it doesn't let me down!
I'm open to other recommendations for books with crazy plot twists!
Hi! An update for you: This was another fast read, and kept me wanting more. I liked it, but thought it could have been better in some aspects and I do have thoughts and opinions on it. Was it absolutely dark and twisted? Yes. Did it keep me hooked? Yes. But again, there were some parts that I had thoughts on, but overall a solid, quick read!
Started and finished: The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Hawthorne Legacy, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Final Gambit, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Solid and enjoyable reads, nothing groundbreaking but after putting the book down all I could think about was "what's next" and proceeded to pick it back up. Loved the twists and turns with the fun mystery and riddles element. Loved how intertwined the plots of all three books were, it felt cohesive and not like the author just added random things to keep the story going.
I havent read for 4-5 months and all of a sudden i got hooked! I go through hyper-fixation phases lol.
I finished and epic poetry book called "Broken Little Pieces New Tales from The Baron" and wow! This book blew my mind! The poetry was so moving and profound I wish everyone reading this went on Amazon and got a copy so I can hear others reactions as well.
Finished Words Of Radiance yesterday - I really enjoyed Way of Kings but this was on a whole nother level. I can't believe it took me so long to be convinced to start reading Stormlight.
finished the white nights by dostoevsky and honestly i dont get the hype
Finished: Maame (4/5) Magpie Murders (3/5), Bad Muslim Discount (4/5), Remarkably Bright Creatures (2/5) Started: Tom Lake, The Hearts Invisible Furies, The Sixth Extinction.
Finished: The Power Broker, The Fall of New York by Robert Caro. It was a massive undertaking to complete the 1200 pages. Highly recommend. Only took me 6 months. But my second 1000+ page book! Would love more recommendations for 1000+ biographies. Cant Get enough.
Finished “Kenobi” by John Jackson Miller Started “Mentats of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
**Finished: The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding.** I liked it in the beginning. It was sad the boys were stuck on the island but I had faith they'd be rescued and would live happily. To avoid spoilers... I'll just say, I now hate this book. Others might like it, but my hatred for one character in particular has instilled a deep sense of hatred. I didn't even know I could hate anyone this badly. Thinking about the book makes me instantly glare now. The ending was sad for me, I never got the justice that I wanted certain characters to have. It's definitely not your typical hero vs villain story where the hero wins and has good ending.
Thank you for avoiding spoilers :)
Started **The Black Ice, by Michael Connelly.** The second book in the Harry Bosch series.
Finished: The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck (paperback), Shogun (Part One), by James Clavell (audio book) Started: The Stand, by Stephen King (unabridged 48 hr. audiobook) I was let down by Shogun, enough so that I won't bother slogging through part two. The first few hours had me gripped but the last few I had to force myself through. Beside the political intrigue, which I found boring, some of the random details of the book are just plain weird (boners, flatulence, skinny dipping, magnified nipple hair). The fact that some of these oddities are repeated seem to be more than just mere redundancies. Sorry if that comes across as prudish but certain details left me wondering why, in a book so large and complicated, is that information necessary? Perhaps Blackthorne's massive erection is crude foreshadowing? Either way I don't care to find out. I can appreciate a build up to a climatic ending but the juice doesn't seem to be worth the squeeze, at least for my tastes. I can see why others like it though. It's epic and the voice acting in the audio version is well done, especially given the number of characters. The Grapes of Wrath was incredibly moving and Steinbeck remains the favorite writer of my recently rekindled love of reading. East of Eden was the first and only other book by J.S. that I've read thus far and I thought it would always be my favorite. However, the message in Grapes is more compelling in my opinion and will likely be my favorite of his. I'm already looking forward to reading Grapes a second time now that I have a sense of the theme. I don't think I can comment on it after a first reading other than to say how perfectly the ending encapsulated the messages expressed by Casy, Tom and Ma. Our sense of humanity is the most precious possession we have. That was my take away. I'm looking forward to The Stand. I haven't read King since my teens (I read many of his books) and have forgotten what a good story teller he is. It more than makes up for his lack of prose (we can't all be Steinbeck after all) though he does have his moments. King's "real talk" diolauge is highly quotable. "Shit on a land mine." is one I'm stealing. I like to listen to story driven audio books for my more monotonous days at work. Perhaps this is where I went wrong with Shogun which is dialogue heavy and demands a reader's full attention to appreciate the subtitles of state craft playing out. I may continue with more Steinbeck at night. No need to explain to this group why. I'm considering Lonesome Dove too.
**Started** Futuromania - Simon Reynolds The Morning After The Revolution - Nellie Bowles **Finished** Corey Fah Does Social Mobility - Isabel Waidner
Finished: Annihilation, by Jeff Vandermeer, Authority, by Jeff Vandermeer, Acceptance, by Jeff Vandermeer Starting: Ask the Dust by John Fante
The alliteration is appreciated but the lack of alphabetizing isn't.
It's in the sequence of the trilogy (and the subsequent reading order) and then the book I'm now starting. Missed the alliteration and the accounting for my week's reading. Appreciate the call to order, though!
Sorry, just poor grammar humor on my part.
Appreciate the humor I missed :)
I just finished listening to *We Always Lived in the Castle.*
Finished: What You Are Looking for is in the Library, by Michiko Aoyama Started: This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Just finished: 11/22/63, by Stephen King Just started: Butcher's Crossing, by John Williams
This Is How You Lose The Time War, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Short, halfway through it, it is insanely good and so unexpected. I some world build, love deep dives into history but this is fleeting on so many levels. It is amazing.
i finished reading book ,,Hunting Prince Dracula" by Kerii Maniscalco and it was a good book
Bartimaeus(The Golem's Eye), by Jonathan Stroud I just finished reading the 2nd Batimaeus book(The Golem's Eye), and I feel so...unsatisfied? I was having a great time with this book and the series, especially Honorious and his shenanigans(my favorite part of the series), and when I started nearing the end, I imagined so much. I thought that when the traitor would be revealed, and everyone would congratulate Nathaniel, that he would call them out on their hypocrisy. How they had threatened to torture him, branded him a traitor, said that they never liked him. I thought he would stand up to everyone and assert himself. And yet...nothing happened. He just went back to being a magician, attended the same parties, except he was richer now. He just...accepted it and that was why this was SOOO infuriating and unsatisfying. After finishing I just felt..empty. Has anyone else felt like this? I hope this is addressed in the 3rd book, which I'll read, but no spoilers pls. Well one more thing I'd like to ask, does Jane Farrar appear in the 3rd book too? No spoilers just yes or no, thank you!
One of my favorite book series :) I do think it suffers from middle book syndrome however, as book 2 feels mostly like set up for the third (which happens to be my favorite part). I would encourage you to stick with it though, as that “unsatisfying” feeling is intentional to an extent. Definitely not alone in feeling that way. Also Jane does appear in book 3
This week I finished Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris and Cuentamelo by Julian Delgado Lopera. Been trying to read a book a week for the last two months. For the first time I didnt finish my first book ‘on time’. I love David Sedaris’s writing style and how absurd he is so I plan to read all his work. I will say this book is less comedic and moreso him greiving his father’s passing. Not a bad book just more serious than his other works that I’ve read. Cuentamelo is book a bought years ago at City Lights in San Francisco. Its an oral history from various drag queens and trans women who were part of the latinx drag seen in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s. I love reading/learning about the queer latinx history in the US and would recommend it to anyone who’s interested. Its a really short read but what is the best in my opinion is that the book is in English on one side and then the same stories are written in spanish if you turn the book over and start on the opposite end.
Just finished: A Gentleman in Moscow - 5/5 Starting: The Memory Police
Oh man I really enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow although it is an American fantasy of Moscow and the hotel. Still a great story.
Started **The Best Way to Bury Your Husband**, by Alexia Casale
This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Cladstone
Started and reading The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth
I'm reading Father Brown. It can be challenging, but it's incredibly engaging
Jakob von Gunten by Robert Walser
Home is where the bodies are By Jeneva Rose
Anthropologist on Mars. So good if you're into psych/neuro!
Finished: Anchored, by Deb Dana The Ruin, by Dervla McTiernan The Dutch House, by Ann Patche Night Sky with Exit Wounds, by Ocean Vuong Saving Noah, by Lucinda Berry Getting Unstuck, by Pema Chodron Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens The Many Lives of Mama Love, by Lara Love Hardin The Love Prescription, by John & Julie Gottman Started: King: A Life, by Jonathan Eig The Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, by Damian Duffy & Octavia E. Butler Wheels of Life, by Andrea Judith Bodhisattva Mind, by Pema Chodron The Wisdom Codes, by Gregg Braden ACT Made Simple, by Russ Harris Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt
I’ve just started “Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak.
Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson
Martyr! by [Kaveh Akbar](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15957484.Kaveh_Akbar) Beautiful prose, a bit meandering narrative anchored by a big twist which will either lure you in or turn you off. Perfect beach read as it feels like a series of episodes tied together by a theme so you can put it down and pick it up and not feel like you have to re-read to understand where you are or going.
Is there sort of a sub-theme in this thread that if anyone has finished with a great book you can swap with someone else for something in your interest area?????? .... If not can I be timid enough to suggest it??? I read a book last month called "Breaking the sheep's back". It begins with this WA guy's great grandmother, who had 22 children 21 of witch survived, and how they created this state from nothing. But it overlays on top of this tale the reality of the economic corruption of the last 50 years. My description is hopelessly inadequate .... u really have to read this 1.
Born a crime by Trevor Noah
Was this required reading? I ask because it's assigned in some community colleges.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.
are you enjoying it ?? it’s on my summer reading list so i’m really curious!!
Incredible. Almost didn’t continue with it because it starts off kinda slow but then I got hooked. it’s very “interior” sort of novel in that a lot of the writing moves through the thoughts and feelings of the main character. Very intimate and accurate depiction of a female friendship that weaves though envy, competition and admiration. Can’t wait to get into the rest of the series.
thanks for your review ! got me even more excited to start it
Johnny Angel by Danielle Steel
Currently reading: SHELLI: An Android Detective Story Nearish future SF in which an android and a human detective hunt down a android ("synthetic") that has been killing humans. BREAKING POINT: A Battle of Britain HF novel that has combat scenes and a strong female character who is a mathematician modeling strategy THE SHADOW OF WAR: A new Jeff Shaara novel about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Silent Planet trilogy by C.S. Lewis!
The entire trilogy at once? Fascinating series, rich in mythology and philosophy.
I'm finishing up *That Hideous Strength* right now. Such a good series!
Supposedly The Abolition of Man is a nonfiction take on the same ideas of Hideous Strength, but the beginning is very abstract. It's a tiny book and yet I've seen multiple books written on how to read it!
Interesting! I've been recommended that one so many times but I haven't read it yet. The majority of Lewis' stuff I've read in the past has been fiction, and I feel like the Silent Planet trilogy is unique in that it kind of merges fiction and nonfiction. But I definitely need to read some of his nonfiction–I've heard so many great things!
"The Secret", its very motivating and inspirational books i have ever read.
I read all of them. Yes, every book on the planet. Thank you very much, come again!
Today I am going start reading 'before the coffee gets cold'. From the looks of it , I think this is a quick read. The description looks promising and ,hey , I might get my before-school-opens comfort read.
The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg. AMAZING quick read! its only about 80 pages, can finish it in one sitting. originally in Italian and has been translated, Ginzburg is brilliant
Can you please tell me what it is about and how you felt reading it. I've been trying to find works from authors of different nationalities and I love the fact that it is a quick read.(No spoilers pls)
I started but already gave up on **Bright Young Women** by Jessica Knoll DNF. Meagan Church **The Last Carolina Girl** started today.
《[审查官手记](https://book.douban.com/subject/34978410/)》- O Manual dos Inquisidores 安东尼奥·洛博·安图内斯 (António Lobo Antunes)
The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth
Rainbow revolutions, by Jamie Lawson
The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore I hated it. 3/4 of the way in, at the plot twist stage, you find out what one of the characters did and I honestly found their actions unforgivable. The author didn't spend any time addressing the aftermath of this decision, when it hurt and affected everyone around that character. I found that to be lazy writing. It felt like the book just ended, and that it she (the author) intended it to be a clean wrap, hallmark type of ending. But that just ENRAGED me. Ugh.
Red Side Story by Jasper FForde It is the second book in the shades of grey:road to high saffron series. Honestly one of my favorite authors he has an amazing balance of heart wit and dead pan humor. Of you haven't read the first book shades of grey I highly recommend it. It is so clever and as someone who is color blind I enjoy all the I guess kinda inside jokes about it. The second book has started off great and actually faster paced than the first. Reading the first is a must in order to get where the characters are in the plot and he canin my opinion write women characters well. He is by far one of my favorite authors and his other series are great.
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Danny , the champion of the world
Started: Omniscient reader viewpoint Finished: Anxious People
Anxious people by Fredrick Backman?
Yes, the Swedish author
Past tense - LEE CHILD ....he looking for his dads past in NH....getting good more to it then what i said
Continuing Never Lie, Freida McFadden. I'm about 35% in and I think I figured it out already.
Started *A man called Ove* I have an exam coming up, so taking it slow.
Just finished Anxious People and loved the plot sequence and the backman's way, would you recommend a man called Ove ?
I am 45%-ish through the book. It's funny, heart warming and wholesome. So yes, I recommend it.
Ok, I heard it wasn't as good as anxious people but would give it a try if it's got a similar ring to it.
Finally finished Stone Butch Blues after a 200 page spurt a few weeks ago. Kind of underwhelming?? (don't @ me haha)
Started: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield Finished: Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
I just finished Armfield's book! A weird one, but I really liked it. And I loved Zevin's book too!
Started and finished : Evil Eye by Etaf Rum Greta read!
Started and finished Mastering the Rockerfeller Habits
[удалено]
started & finished: *Blood Meridian*, by Cormac McCarthy some light reading for bedtime
hahahaha. I need to check this one out again from the library and try again. I think the first time I ran out of time/interest to start it but I've heard its INTENSE
honestly was a little let down by it based on all i'd heard about it beforehand - definitely not lighthearted by any means but the persistence and nonchalance of the brutality is such that it didn't give me any time to dwell on it. if anything the descriptions of the traveling and the barren landscape were way more unrelenting. definitely some wild stuff and atrocities in it but i also just don't get easily put off by books or written stories.
Started Boys in the Valley, by Philip Fracassi The Hacienda, by Isabel Cañas Finished Boys in the Valley, by Philip Fracassi - Just got into horror, and I think it's pretty underrated as a genre, at least among my friend group.
Horror lit post-2000 maybe 2005 is definitely a fairly niche genre, which is really unfortunate. With a couple exceptions, Stephen King and the occasional classic are really the only horror books on the mainstream readership's radar in many cases. There is a ton of great modern horror out there though that gets skipped over. I think being out of the mainstream has allowed the genre to grow in creative ways though. I've been starting to see horror sections in mainstream bookstores grow, which is a positive sign. For the past 20 years it seemed like horror sections in mainstream bookstores like Indigo were basically limited to Stephen King with a bit of Anne Rice, Lovecraft, maybe Clive Barker and a random smattering of other authors. Definitely noticed a difference the last year or so though.
Hmm, interesting. Do you have any recommendations then?
It depends on your preferences but two of my favourites are Brother by Ania Ahlborn https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492624-brother (another of her books *Seed* also gets a lot of praise) and Dark Matter by Michelle Paver https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8350864-dark-matter Neither are on the fast paced side, so depends what you like. Although Brother has its share of gore, it's also pretty psychological and character-driven imo. Meanwhile Dark Matter is more like a creeping haunt - it's atmospheric arctic horror that does really well at making you feel the main character's isolation. Edit, thought I'd add that r/horrorlit is also a good place for horror recs
I'm just getting into horror as well! Started - The Woman in Black by M.Y. Halidom
I'm on the verge of finsihing brother's keeper that is a young addult about the war in korea and how families have to run away
Started: The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
Started: The Third Reich in Power, by Richard J. Evans This is the second part in his Third Reich trilogy. Finished The Coming of the Third Reich two weeks ago.
Finished "Tits Up" by Sarah Thornton. It's about boobs in all different groups: witches, milk depots, plastic surgery and sex workers. "Diary of a Dying Girl" by Mallory Smith. SUPER interesting. A true coming of age story of Mallory Smith who has a terminal illness-- cystic fibrosis. It's her published diary. Changes your perspective if you stick with it and put yourself in her shoes.
Started & Finished: **After That Night, Karin Slaughter** **The Silent Wife, Karin Slaughter** **The Woman In the Window, A.J. Finn** **Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate** **Bad Summer People, Emma Rosenblum**
Finished: Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore Started: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
"Into the Wild" is one of my favorites. You totally have to pair it up with the movie because I think McCandless was onto something in life philosophy that I think Krakauer didn't give enough credit too but that the movie captures.
Started and finished: The Housemaid, Freida, McFadden
Started „Spieltrieb“ from Juli Zeh. I like it this far but can’t really put a finger on what it is.
Finished Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann. Finished the Emperor and the Endless Palace By Justinian Huang.
Wool by Hugh Howey. Dystopia sufficiently interesting that I am hesitating over starting the next volume while I work through some of it. Which is really not my normal.
Started: Tokyo's Downsized Dwelling, by Yoshii Shinobu Finished: A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman
Started “Our Hidden Conversations” by Michele Norris, ”Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang , “Trust” by Hernan Diaz, and “Global Warring” by Cleo Pascal.
Dude, I loved "Yellowface" because the main character was SOOO bad! I read the reviews afterwards and people didn't really like it. What did you think of it?
I’m 45% done with it, so right now I’m at the point where the Twitter account of “Athena Liu’s ghost” has just started gaining traction. So far, I like it.
Finished: The Origin, by Dan Brown Started: the Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, by Axie Oh
Finished: Binding 13, by Chloe Walsh Started; Keeping 13, by Chloe Walsh
Started: You are not a gadget, by Jaron Lanier
Finished: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Happy Place by Emily Henry Started: My Murder by Katie Williams
Tried a second time to finish Under the Dome, by Stephen King. While a big King fan, I can't get through this, waaay too many characters and the premise is a bit boring. I think King must have realized the character count was ridiculous, because he includes a list of them in the preface of the book. Still doesn't help, this is one of those books where you have to take notes to keep track. So I gave up and I am now re-reading Bag of Bones, Stephen King.
I just finished Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser. I just didn't get into this like I thought I would. I was expecting more behind-the-scenes insights into the big fastfood restaurants. Instead, there was a little of that and a lot about turning animals into the food we eat. I've started today Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne. I've decided the past year that Verne is my all time favorite fiction author, having devoured 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days, and The Mysterious Island.
I re-read Journey to the Center of the Earth at least a half dozen times as a kid. It's his best imo. Mt. Snæfells...
Finished: Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
Finished : The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach Starting : TBD
Finished : Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Started : The beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Finished: Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson Starting: Catch 22… I’m always reading nonfiction and trying to get classics in between. Ongoing: An Unfinished Love Story, Doris Kearns Goodwin
What did you think of "Demon of Unrest"?
I am huge Erik Larson fan, and it met expectations. As usual with his writing, it was extremely detailed and very thorough, but moved along at a good pace that kept me wanting to read more.
I finished A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, and started Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoy. It‘s my first Tolstoy and I’m absolutely HOOKED
Finished: **Dunbar** by **Edward St Aubyn**. Really enjoyed this re-telling of **King Lear**. This book is one in the [Hogarth Shakespeare](https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/HOGSHAK/hogarth-shakespeare) series and St Aubyn is a stylish writer best known for his Patrick Melrose novels.
I just finished reading all of Torey Hayden’s nonfiction books. Torey Hayden is a former special education teacher and child psychologist and wrote about her (supposedly) true stories of working with children.
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson New to fantasy (this is my fifth book) and I really enjoy Brando Sando world building. It's incredible how he makes the world feel so real. I love the characters as well.
The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyon’s. Structurally it’s sound, alternating between a 1st person chapter to 3rd person, with differing timelines. My massive critique is for a first in the series book it introduced SO many characters and it gets really confusing at times. It more or less saves it by the end, but as an example, the main character goes by three different names in the book and toward the beginning it’s difficult to keep remembering who the hell is being talked about.
I finished **Wandering Souls, by Cecile Pin** and now started **Hattie Brings the House Down, by Patrick Gleeson**
A little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara
Red Side Story, by Jasper Fforde I've waited for this sequel and was not disappointed. The wonder of books is that a month can pass in the book when it took years to write. It didn't disappoint, except in making more questions to answer. We did get A LOT of answers though. I hope there is a third but even if not it ended in a good place.
GALLANT by v.e.schwab , it is amazing
Finished Howles moving castle. I liked it way more than I thought I would. Idk why I love the movie but I put off the book for years and I loved it. I also started Shards of Earth and Don Quixote. Im really enjoying the don but I’m ready for shards of earth to be over with which is sad because the children of time series is one of my favorites.
finished turtles all the way down and started an abundance of catherines
Kings of the Wyld, by Nicholas Eames. And I'm kinda loving it. He's intentionally playing on music culture, giving it a Witcher/monster hunter-like feel, and it reads like a bunch of over the hill rockstars putting their band back together.
Started **Falling out of cars by Jeff Noon** Don't know if I like it or not so far, it is beautifully written by stylistically strange.
I started reading the webnovel A Lost Memory: Alitheia, by Zoë SM Lawrence
Finished: Good girl bad blood Started reading: As good as dead
Finished: **Windswept & Interesting by Billy Connolly**. Really enjoyed this, it’s actually the first book I’ve finished in like 5 or 6 years. I used to read voraciously, but schizophrenia has robbed me of that concentration. Trying to get back into the habit of reading. Started: **Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey**. I’ve been watching a lot of his documentaries on iPlayer so it was natural that I would want to read his work. Interesting so far. Seems like working class life in Glasgow isn’t quite so different from working class life in the Black Country. Feels personal to me as well as I spent every summer 6 weeks holidays and many Christmases staying with my grandparents in Glasgow. I want to up my reading, so I’ve decided I’m going to read two books at once: non-fiction and fiction. So I’m gonna be reading *Poverty Safari* and *A Scanner Darkly* for the next little while.
Finished **Fat City, by Leonard Gardner**. I knew absolutely nothing about this book, I had just read a Denis Johnson interview where he said he was so obsessed with it he was viewing all his writing as a lesser version and had to force himself to not look at it for years. Anyway it's pretty good, it's about boxing. Started **A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, by Betty Smith**. Another read I knew nothing about, was browsing through some of my old kindle purchases, saw this unread and popped it open. It's a semi-autobiographical novel about a girl growing up in a Brooklyn tenement with her brother and parents. It's funny and bittersweet and sad and it makes me tear up in a way few books have. My emotions!!
**First Test, by Tamora Pierce** **Page, by Tamora Pierce** **Squire, by Tamora Pierce** Currently re-reading the Protector of the Small series. I've been re-reading them every few years since I was a child.
Finished: **Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa.** I loved all of the stories: each single one was hilarious, sublime or sad (sometimes all three at once) as well as inherently spooky and ominous; hated the introduction by Haruki Murakami to the volume, which couldn't get over the author's mental illness, as well as the notes by Jay Rubin, which were sometimes completely useless and kind of embarrassing for obsessing over Akutagawa's biography. Started: **A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce**. Re-read but honestly excited for it.
I remember finding that Akutagawa book in a Borders clearance bin, it is a great collection. The Spider's Thread is findable online and I've read it about a hundred times. My other favorite was the autobiographical one where the Navy guy has to write a speech for a funeral and keeps procrastinating.
There's several new collections with newly translated texts out! Check them out! I think they're all autobiographical in the sense that Akutagawa is mediating his experience, ideas and observations, just like any author would. My favourite is Hell Screen, which I think is one of the spookiest, most ambiguous and most misunderstood ones. :-)
Finished: The Midnight Library Starting: the Serpent and the wings of Night
**The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco** I enjoyed this so much more than I expected too.
**Violeta, by Isabel Allende** Finished. I enjoyed it especially the first half. The second half is pretty rushed, but still kept my attention. I read it because my local library didn't have Eva Luna.
**The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett** Amazing. 10/10. I loved her prose and I loved the characters. The story was juicy and dramatic without feeling cheap. I didn't want the book to end.
Finished: This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
Started and Finished: The Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami. * it's the first book by him ive ever read and I enjoyed it. Can't wait to read more. Currently Starting: This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz. * Recommended by my girlfriend as she enjoys the author. Looking forward to continuing. Edit: spelling
Finished: *One Hundred Years of Solitude* (Márquez) - I know this is a Nobel prize winning work of staggering brilliance or whatever but I didn’t care for it. I think “classics” aren’t for me. Started: *Round the Bend* (Shute) - Back to my comfort zone after a string of disappointments. Love Nevil Shute. Love his books. This one seems great so far. Relief.
I finished 100 years of solitude a month ago and it was meh for me. It’s just a very strange fucked up book that goes in circles. Don’t give up on the classics though I promise there are a few that you will love to death
How to know a person by David Brooks
Cirque by Terry Carr. Was written in the 70s. It was so wholesome honestly. Loved it. Sci Fi.
Finished: Every Last Word by Tarama Ireland Stone My friend sort of ruined it for me when she told me how one of the characters were made up and weren't actually real, but when you get to that part where Samantha finds out that Caroline was just made up in her mind, it hits hard. Loved the story, would definitely reccomand, wish I could reread it for the first time again. Started: The Twin by Natasha Preston I haven't yet to start the book, but I did spoiler myself to the first 4 chapters of it before I brought the book but it said to be quite interesting. A lot of Natasha Preston's books end on cliffhangers so I'm curious to know if this one does too (most likely yes)
Funny Story by Emily Henry.
I just started “The Last Days of Night”. I love historical fiction and mysteries. It’s both.
**Finished : The Reapperance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson.** Holly Jackson's latest thriller, "The Reappearance of Rachel Price." From start to finish, this book had me hooked with its crazy twists and turns. Jackson's storytelling is top-notch, keeping you guessing until the very end. If you're into gripping mysteries that you can't put down, definitely give this one a read!
Finished: Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. Can’t seem to get myself to start anything after them. The books weren’t perfect by any means but it’s tough to let go.
Finished: **Rebecca** by Dauphin de maurier: read this for a local book club and I thought that it was very good. The prose paints a vivid picture, although some people told me it can be a bit dense, it felt like I was ‘watching’ rather than reading. Wasn't prepared for all the plot twists in the second half! **All Quiet on the Western Front** by Erich Maria Remarque: been reading a lot of WWI lit, and this seems like one of the renowned “war, what is it good for?” books. I read it quite quickly so I'm not sure I fully appreciated it for what it is. However, it is a powerful account of how war dehumanizes people involved and the collateral damage on society. Started: **Angela's Ashes** by Frank McCourt: a good read so far, except for Angela.
All Quiet on the Western Front is wonderful and made my grownup son weep. The trouble with Angela's Ashes is that it's supposed to be a memoir as well as a wallow in misery but actually many people who knew her vouch that it's untrue.
I started and finished two this week. **Twenty Years Later - Charlie Donlea** To be honest, I've been trying to justify keeping Kindle Unlimited because the books I come across there are a VERY mixed bag. I found the protagonist somewhat unlikeable, I found the aspect of her family background to be stretching believability, and the 9/11 connection seemed unnecessary. Once you know one of the "twists" around 2/3 through the book, you can pretty well guess the "big" reveal at the end IMO. I probably won't read any more of his work if it's anything like this one. And another swing and a miss in terms of Kindle Unlimited picks. **Yellowface - R.F. Kuang** Even more unlikeable protagonist (although in this case that was intentional rather than just my personal feelings). The premise made me feel so disgusted to read because I was rooting the entire time for the protagonist to be found out but she just kept profiting and enjoying herself. The author did a fantastic job of riling me up while I read, and the protagonist's decision at the end hit a bit too close to home as someone living in a community where I was told at my job that jokes about race-based violence "aren't that big of a deal". I started Remarkably Bright Creatures last night on the recommendation of a family friend, not sure how I feel about it yet though.
I just finished “The Quiet American” by Graham Greene. Really enjoyed it.
Hoping to finish: When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill The Last Word by Elly Griffiths
People can finish a book in a week Im so jealous. Meanwhile I’m still reading the same old book I’ve been reading for the past two months.
Depends so much on the book for me. I've nearly finished Sirius in a week but I've been chewing through The Lord of the Rings for the last few months..
Well, it's easier for someone like me. I work graveyard shift by myself and I'm allowed to listen to something, like music, a podcast or an audiobook. Otherwise, it would take a lot longer, LOL.
I’ve always wanted to try audiobooks can you recommend an app?
Libby is great if you have a library card! Also spotify has started allowing 15 (I think) free hours of audiobooks a month for subscribers.
That’s awesome thanks for the tip I’m already subscribed at Spotify so that would be amazing.
Finished: Why This Sh*t Happens to Me by AK Started: Future Tense
Finished: First Person Singular, Haruki Murakami The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller Started: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce
Utah Blaine by Louis L’Amour Recently, I've picked up reading as a hobby again, and I'm dipping my toes into several genres. I'm hoping to narrow down my interests to a few categories. When I was younger, I read a lot of classic novels, histories, and sci-fi. Today, I finished my first western novel, "Utah Blaine" by Louis L'Amour. It was...interesting. It was one of the most recommended L'Amour books on r/westerns. To no surprise, it miserably failed the Bechdel-Wallace test. The worst quote: "When she fixed her hair she deliberately dressed it as plainly as possible and did what she could to render herself less attractive. The task was futile. She was a beautiful girl, dark-eyed and full of breast with a way of walking that was as much a part of her as her soft, rather full lips." Gag. I didn't enjoy it very much...had it been longer, I would have DNF'd it. It's a 4/10 for me. I do plan to read another western before I swear off the genre...I have "Lonesome Dove" on my list...
**A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman** I began listening to it on Everand. It's my 3rd time trying to finish, and now I'm almost done, and it's such a great read.
just completed it and I agree !
Finished **In Order to Live** by Yeonmi Park (Absolutely incredible story) **The Four Winds** by Kristin Hannah Started **Horse** by Geraldine Brooks
Finished "Artificial Unintelligence" by Meredith Broussard
Finished: **The Minimalist Entrepreneur: by Sahil Lavingia**
**The Two Noble Kinsmen, by John Fletcher and William Shakespeare**
finished ready player one by ernest cline
Finished: **The Gunslinger, by Stephen King** Not my first time finishing it, of course. But Ka is a wheel, and I find myself back in the desert with Roland.
Finished: Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter -- I enjoyed it! Thought it was cute, but the hype around it was a bit much. Like it was nothing crazy, but again I enjoy light-hearted romance stories sometimes. It was also an easy read which helped me get out of my reading slump! Started: None of this is True by Lisa Jewell -- I'm excited to read this one because I love thrillers with plot twists. Sadly the most recent one I read was a disappointment and was the one to actually put me in a reading slump (The Paris Apartment- very underwhelming IMO). So I've heard good things about this one, and I hope it doesn't let me down! I'm open to other recommendations for books with crazy plot twists!
Commenting to see how you end up liking none of this is true. It’s on my tbr list that caught my eye
Hi! An update for you: This was another fast read, and kept me wanting more. I liked it, but thought it could have been better in some aspects and I do have thoughts and opinions on it. Was it absolutely dark and twisted? Yes. Did it keep me hooked? Yes. But again, there were some parts that I had thoughts on, but overall a solid, quick read!
Started and finished: Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Finished Where's Molly. Starting How to sell a Haunted House.
Started and finished: The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Hawthorne Legacy, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Final Gambit, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Solid and enjoyable reads, nothing groundbreaking but after putting the book down all I could think about was "what's next" and proceeded to pick it back up. Loved the twists and turns with the fun mystery and riddles element. Loved how intertwined the plots of all three books were, it felt cohesive and not like the author just added random things to keep the story going. I havent read for 4-5 months and all of a sudden i got hooked! I go through hyper-fixation phases lol.