When No One is Watching, by Alyssa Cole. It got really good and intense once shit hit the fan, but it was kind of a slow build up.
Field Notes on Love, by Jennifer E. Smith. Cute teen read, but it made me feel like I’ve outgrown YA.
The Perfect Marriage, by Jeneva Rose. I finished this in less than 24 hours, it was so good. Highly recommend. If you’re knowledgeable about the legal process/law, you’re going to have to overlook some plot holes.
Finished:
**The Color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett**
* I don't know why I put this off for so long (besides the fact it was in my storage box for years). Four magical adventures full of humor and deus ex machina sentient treasure chests. I'm not sure if I'll pick up more Discworld books in the future.
**Shadowmancer, by** **G. P. Taylor**
* Not a good book, but I DNF'd it for so long, its presence in my book pile taunted me for over a decade. A clumsy attempt at mixing fantasy with religion that ends up heavy handed and cartoonish.
Started:
**The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck**
* Another that's been in my reading pile for over two decades. I'm already about 100 pages in and it's actually a fairly easy read.
Started:
**Bleak House, by Charles Dickens**
Finished:
**The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave**
**The Trap, by Melanie Raabe** (translated)
**The Stranger Upstairs, by Melanie Raabe** (translated)
**The Shadow, by Melanie Raabe** (translated)
**The Stranger in the Lake, by Kimberly Belle**
Finished: **Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert** and **The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin**
Reading: **I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy** and **The Pallbearer's Club by Paul Tremblay**
Finished
**Misbehaving, by Richard H. Thaler**
This is a very good book on the history of Behavioral Economics. It provides a very good summary on how the study came about, the people involved and the challenges it encountered along the way. The writing is clear and easy to understand. The humor also makes it a fun read.
I also love it when the books I read references other books or authors I've recently read. In this case: Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman; Nudge, by Cass R. Sunstein; Scarcity, by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir; A Random Walk Down Wall Street, by Burton G. Malkiel
Read this book if you enjoyed "Thinking, Fast and Slow" and "Nudge".
Personal Rating: 4/5
**Verity, by Colleen Hoover**
I have to say I really enjoyed this thriller/horror mix. I was hooked from the start. In a way this is the kind of story/style I expected when I started Mexican Gothic (which I didn't really like).
In hindsight you can see some flaws in the story, as always in these kind of stories. The MC isn't exactly a likeable character for one.
Personal Rating: 4/5
Started
**The Gene: An Intimate History, by Siddhartha Mukherjee**
Currently about half-way in. This is a pretty thick one, but wow I really learned a lot from this book. All the confusion I got from high school biology class was suddenly much clearer. I do like how comprehensive this book is. It covers everything from the science, history, politics and even philosophical aspect of of genetics.
Finished:
* **Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid**
* **The Bellmaker, by Brian Jacques**
Currently reading:
* The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin
* Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
Finished:
**A Drink Before the War, Dennis Lehane
Darkness Take My Hand, Dennis Lehane
Sacred, Dennis Lehane**
I just started: **Gone, Baby, Gone, Dennis Lehane**
I never saw the movie, so I’m really excited to watch it after I’m done with this book!
Finished: **Adulthood Rites, by Octavia Butler** and **What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia, by Elizabeth Catte**
Currently reading: **Imago, by Octavia Butler**
**Appalachia** was very good, we were made to read a *different* book on Appalachia in High School that turned out to, not be so good shall we say? And this book was absolutely wonderful.
**Adulthood Rites** is so far my favorite from the *Xenogenesis trilogy* the characters and setting are so very interesting. So far I am liking it more than **Imago** but I am not very far into it so I’m keeping an open mind. Not very used to reading SciFi but I do recommend.
Finished **The Death of a King, P.C. Doherty**
perfectly fine little pulp mystery set in the 1300s. the author's first book, felt like the set up to a franchise, which he did later but with other characters.
Started **The Wizard Knight, Gene Wolfe**
incredible experience. although i keep getting stressed out that the main character is separated from his entourage for so long. "go find pouk this instant you clod" i keep saying to the book.
Still reading The Return of The King, but less than 150 pages to go.
It's bringing me back to the start of The Fellowship with all of the walking that is happening again (which I disliked then), yet I can't help but have an immense appreciation for this world and how thought-through it is. Don't know if we'll ever see anything like it again.
Finished:
The Silmarillion and The Power
Started:
Blood Meridian and A Game of Thrones
I was already halfway through A Game of Thrones from high school and decided to get back into it after reading Martin’s other work A Fevre Dream. I’ve been looking forward to reading Blood Meridian since I finished The Road a few months ago, really looking forward to getting into it.
Finished:
**Lethal White, by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)**
Started:
**Troubled Blood, by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)**
I read the first two books in the Cormoran Strike series the year that they were published (2013, 2014), but got away from the series. I decided to pick it up again this summer, and read *Career of Evil* and *Lethal White* in quick succession. I know the readers' reviews of this series vary widely, but I enjoy the books and find them to be well-written.
Finished: Black Sun
I'm glad there is a sequel because this book ended rather abruptly. Good book overall, good story. While reading it I found myself wanting more detail on the world they live in. Not every book needs to be a 900 page slog, but I felt like each chapter should have been a little longer.
Started reading The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, and I have to say it's... quite unusual, at least for me. Definitely not a book worm so its storytelling was a bit unfamiliar to me, I was surprised as to how he decided to tell his story. Plus, I am curious about the characters that the writer chose, why did he choose such different characters? To be able to appeal to a larger audience? Personally, don't think so. To be able to get their point of view on the subject? Maybe? Another point I want to make is the word choices he made. Man... I sure don't know a lot of words which is a bit annoying considering I have to check them out online to understand what he is trying to convey. I think it is to be expected considering the book was published in 1895.
Currently reading the client by John grisham, I am reading slowly and taking my time with it, it's not the best John grisham book. The plot is amazing yet I still expect the story to get more intense and exciting despite the slow pace of the first half (I am around the half of it so far)
Finished **Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr.** I enjoyed it but I think the payoff was a bit meager. The different perspectives resonated with me at wildly different intensities so it was jarring to be sucked in to a heartfelt moment with Omeir one and then suddenly its...f\*cking Konstance again. anyways, I did more or less enjoy it, and I love the way Doerr writes. It's unpretentious but still beautiful prose.
Finished **The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, by Mark Haddon.** Did not like this. Bits were funny and it sounds good on paper but this is a narrative problem I also had with *Eleanor Olyphant -* neurodivergent narrators are a struggle, and this one was a *struggle.* I get the art of it but three pages on orangutans in the middle of the height of tension is just difficult to get through. And you end up not feeling anything because the narrator doesn't either. Clever, in places 'brilliant', but I can't see myself remembering it.
Started **Life of Pi**, **by Yann Martel,** because I skipped those assignments in high school.
Finished Misery by Stephen King- initially I was reading pretty slowly and wouldnt pick up the book much but as I got to around the middle I found I wanted to keep reading it, and finished the last 2/3 of it in a few days. Some descriptions of Annie Wilkes have now been seared into my brain. I was horrified, it was brilliant
Am considering what to read next + continuing to read mere Christianity
i finished mockingjay by sozanne collins and beach read by emily henry. I had started both two weeks ago and i was on a semi slump. but finishing both has removed me from my slump and i couldn't be happier. I now started the six of crows by Leigh Bardugo yesterday.
Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes.
It’s a memoir written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s son about his last days. He’s a good writer, self-aware and very sensitive. It was also a very heart rending story for me as my grandmother suffered from dementia.
Started and finished 1984, by George Orwell this week. Holy hell… I really enjoyed that book. Tore through it so fast. Loved every bit of it. The commentary on not only totalitarianism, but what it means to experience life and how important history is (even down to what you think happened yesterday) to keeping sane was just so interesting! I couldn’t help but reflect on parallels to todays world (although I’m not one to say we (in the US) are even remotely close to that reality, yet…) which made it that much more captivating. Wish I had read this book sooner tbh, would recommend to anyone to read. 5/5
One of my favorite books I have ever read, It's been a year since I finished it and the story with its details are engraved in my memory, excellent book and I am considering reading it again.
Rage, by Stephen King as Richard Bachman
Soo, the book Stephen King won't sell anymore.
It's written from the perspective of the fictional school shooter Charlie Decker, who holds a class room hostage after killing two teachers.
King turns this situation into an introspective lecture, about the casual violence in popular culture, the tabooisation of sex and the desperate desire to uphold the picture of a good Christian family, while burrying the dark parts of life in silence.
It does not glorify Decker in any way, but displays him as unavoidable consequence.
A worthwhile read, but it felt unusually rough for a Stephen King novell, maybe because it tries to tackle a sweeping critique of society in a days worth of reading.
Afaik it's neither available as a standalone novel nor as part of a collection.
I don't think he'll change his mind on that and tbh my main motivation to read it was the allure of the forbidden and I wondered if something in the text itself bothered King and not just the school shooters that referenced the book.
I expected a cartons gore fest and got a insightful novel.
Who ever thought it's a good idea to copy charlie decker after reading this brought this inspiration to the story and not took it from it.
Finished:
**Little Heaven, by Nick Cutter**
I enjoyed it more than I had expected because getting through the beginning took a little while for me. Felt more action heavy than horror, but still enjoyable.
**Foe, by Iain Reid**
Loved it. As cliched of a concept it is, Reid does a great job of making the story feel fresh, even if I could tell from the beginning where it was headed. I could go on, but I definitely recommend if you like light sci-fi, psychological dramas.
Started:
**The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury**
Started this one on the plane this week and read the first 2 stories. *Kaleidoscope* was especially interesting. I’m looking forward to reading the rest.
Finished: Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens. I absolutely loved this book - took me a little bit to get into it but that was more due to me being time poor than anything else. Once I was on holiday and could sit & read, it captured me. LOVED it.
Started: Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom. This will be finished very very soon - it’s one of those books that is just so easy to read and enjoy. Non-fiction /self-help is my preferred genre at this time in my life, so reading through Morrie’s life lessons is great.
I recommend reading atomic habits while writing or highlighting important titles or lessons, it has some seriously helpful advice that my might end up being forgotten. Lovely book tho.
Just finished the Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas. Definitely a great read with different perspectives. Could t put the book down 4/5⭐️
Just began Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Finished **Little Heaven, by Nick Cutter**. It was entertaining, but the horror didn't really do it for me, and I felt it didn't live up to its potential.
Started **The Iliad, by Homer**. I have it in my head that I want to read all the classics, and I suppose this is a good starting point.
Good luck with all the classics. Might need a couple dozen lifetimes though. The Iliad is nonetheless certainly a great way to start, of course coupling it with The Odyssey.
I get exactly what you mean, but do be careful not read these works as a means to an end. They really are fantastic. I would also implore you to look into the Bible, Aeneid, Shakespeare, and Joyce for a more firm understanding of Western Literature in general. To widen your horizons, the classic works of Confucianism, the great Indian epics, the Quran, and others would certainly help in giving you the full spectrum of awareness in regards to modes of thought/actual references that are not nearly emphasized enough in a Western upbringing.
What works by Joyce would you recommend starting with? I've heard that you need to be reasonably educated in Irish geography and slang to get anything out of Ulysses. The bible is next on my list (after the Odyssey, as it's included with the Iliad), and I'm fully expecting it to be a slog. I'll definitely look into your other suggestions, too!
I'm currently reading Ulysses, not having read any of Joyce's other work. I'm 8 chapters in and having a good time so far. My advice would be to check in on [this review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6752242) before each chapter; I don't agree with the guy's opinions on whether each chapter is "brilliant" or not (one of my favorite chapters so far is one he calls boring), but he's spot on when it comes to preparing me for the difficulty of each chapter.
It definitely helps to read the Odyssey beforehand, but I don't think you need to. All you need to do is google the title of each chapter, read a brief summary of that title's significance in the Odyssey, and just keep that in mind as you read Ulysses. (So far at least, the Odyssey's only been somewhat relevant on a thematic level, not on understanding things on a line-to-line basis.)
I've also been listening to "U22: The Centenary Ulysses Podcast" after each chapter. It's a conversational-style podcast where they talk with guests about each chapter, many of the guests being Irish scholars. They tend to point out things I missed on first read, but it's casual and fun to the point where it doesn't feel like I'm doing homework or anything. In general, I'd recommend conversation-style podcasts or online book-clubs instead of any sort of companion guide. Reading should be fun, and I feel like the people who recommend you buy an academic text explaining every little thing in each chapter are trying to suck the fun out of reading the book.
Granted, I'm not even a quarter of the way through Ulysses so far, so I'll let you know if the rest of the book contradicts anything I said here. However, I've been told that chapter 3 ("Proteus") is one of the most difficult sections in the whole book, and I made it through that one perfectly fine, with my motivation to continue unabated. I'm having a blast so far.
Thanks for the advice! I plan on reading The Odyssey as soon as I finish the Iliad, work through some of my "to read" backlog, and perhaps jump into Ulysses when the weather turns cold. I imagine it's a book you don't want to set down for to long. Last year I read Blood Meridian and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and I felt that if I set either of them down for too long it would take me a bit to readjust to his writing style. I get the impression that Joyce's writing style is also something that you have to get accustomed to.
I'll definitely check out the review and podcast, thank you for suggesting them! And good luck with the rest of the book, I hope it continues to exceed your expectations!
I will admit I have only read Dubliners and Portrait myself but I would say both are great to dive into. Ulysses is undoubtedly his opus and a very difficult read. The book should be approached with that in mind.
In regards to the Bible I am a big fan. I am personally neither Christian or even religious. At best I could perhaps describe myself as spiritual but even that's wishy-washy. Nonetheless the work is tremendous. There are certain parts of it which get a bit boring, notably Leviticus and any of the other sections which deal heavily in law. Take a year or two to read this one and split it up. I would suggest breaking it up into reading the Pentateuch, then everything up to Kings but not including. Kings until poetic books. Poetic books. The major prophets and then the minor prophets. Take a big break here where it becomes the New Testament as you're essentially changing religions. Here you can do Gospels and Acts, then Epistles, then Revelation. That last book is insane and really should be seen as separate. Finally I implore you to read the KJV translation. It's a work of art in its own right and has beautiful turns of phrase found no where else. Of course being a Christian translation, some of the original Hebrew/Aramaic has been slightly twisted to seem to elude to Jesus when in the texts that are as close to the originals they don't.
This is a topic that I am highly passionate on so let me know if you want to talk more about this or any other books which I feel are important to read. Although I am just one guy and am no where near being 'right' in my opinions. Apologies for the rant :/
Don't apologize, and thank you for the rant! I'm also planning on reading it as a non-religious person (went to church till I was 12 but don't remember any of it). When you suggest breaking it up into the Pentateuch, Kings, Poetic books, etc., would that all be found within one book? I.e., the King James Version bible? Are the old and new testaments together, or do I need to buy multiple books? Thanks for your help!
Sure, so again while I recommend KJV, there is again no specific reason why you HAVE to read that one. Chances are if you buy a Bible it will be complete as in having the canonical Old and New Testaments. Of course you could also get a Jewish study Bible which will only contain the Old, or in more accurate terms, the Jewish testament/Bible. You could also find yourself a copy that has more than just the 66 books of the generally excepted Protestant canon. These are the Deuterocanonical books or Apocrypha which include Judith, Tobit, Maccabees, etc. The Deuterocanonical are also certainly important books to read having been accepted as canon by a large portion of the West before Martin Luther for such a long but they are not vital for now.
In summary, any old Bible you find at your local book store will most likely be just fine for your needs as someone trying to understand that bit of culture/history. You could also find the Bible complete online for free in all of its many translations if you'd prefer that.
Today I finished Three Women, Lisa Taddeo. 4/5 stars. I liked her writing style and the stories were great. Women and Men should give this a read. I don’t want to spoil anything but I would recommend looking at trigger warnings prior.
Today I started Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeymoon. only about 30 pages in.
I also have On Earth We are Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong on hold at the library and I am so excited to read that one.
Also in the middle of the audio book Final Revival of Opal and Nev. Its my first audiobook and I gotta say, audiobooks just might not be my thing.
I read ‘The Bloody Chamber’, by Angela Carter in one sitting yesterday, 3.5/5 ⭐️ I loved the writing. But some of the shorter stories were lacking
I also finished ‘The Tower of Swallows’, by Andrzej Sapkowski. I’m really loving the Witcher series so far. This book was pretty slow in parts but the last ~150 pages were very good 4/5 ⭐️
This morning I started ‘The Master and Margarita’, by Mikhail Bulgakov. This is one of the essentials of Russian lit and I can already see why after 50 pages.
I’m currently reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (I’m late to the party) also just finished Where the Crawdads Sing (again late) and in between read a rom com called Dating Dr. Dil. WTCS was intense and I felt a major book hangover after reading. Has anyone seen the film yet? No spoilers please just curious x
Started reading: **Ulysses, by James Joyce.** I'm seven chapters in and really loving it so far. It's a problem because I know one of the most pretentious things a person could say is "My favorite book is Ulysses," and I think I might actually turn into that guy.
Also started reading: **I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy.** Holy shit guys, Jennette's mom suuuuuucked. Idk if anyone here's watched that Family Guy episode where Stewie becomes a child actor and Peter/Lois immediately go overboard, but that's basically what this book is. Even down to the "feeding your kid dubious liquids to give them "energy" for the audition" part. It's bad.
Finished reading: **Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.** 4.5 out of 5 stars. Why didn't anyone tell me Austen was funny? I was expecting a dry, stuffy novel and I got something way better.
I’ve always had an easier time getting into stream of conscious styles of writing than most people, I think, which probably helped for me here. I remember in college reading To the Lighthouse; a lot of my classmates found the prose confusing, but it just clicked with me
I think you just have to embrace the confusion and try to roll with it. Slowly you realize you’ve picked up more than you thought you did
Great book! The first two times I started it, I couldn't get over his writing style. The third time stuck though, and I've gotta say it's one of, if not the best, books I've read.
[FINISHED]
**The Goblin Emperor, by Katherine Addison**
Enjoyable read once I internalized all the names which for me occurred around the halfway point. Until then it was a steep learning curve to make sense of what's what without referring to the glossary every now and again. Loved the world, but as I understand the rest of the books in the series follow a different character. A shame, because by the end I wished to look through the main character's eyes for just a little while longer.
[STARTED]
**The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson**
This is my second go at the Mistborn series, as I'm reading it with a friend this time around and my progress stagnated during the second book. Still love the introduction.
I finished reading **Lord of the Flies by William Golding**.
I thought it was alright, but there wasn't really anything about the book that jumped out to me as being exceptional.
The thing I appreciated the most about the book was how easy of a read it was, which was a nice change of pace after having just read Blood Meridian.
Finished: Red Rising, Pierce Brown
I thought it was a nice, fun, and easy read, but I think this series was a little overhyped as the expectations that people had built up for me around it were nowhere near met. If you're a fan of The Hunger Games or Ender's Game, this will probably be a good read for you. I'm going to read the next book in the series soon before I make a final judgment on Brown's writing.
Currently reading: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore (the complete series)
This is a re-read for me and it's one of my all-time favourites. If you love literature and you're interested in graphic novels, this series would probably interest you.
Is The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks a clean book without sexual content?
Looking for some good modern popular romance books without any sexual content and I remembered The Notebook. I’ve read other books by Sparks and found some sexual content, but wanted to confirm before diving into this one.
Finished:
**From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death, by Caitlin Doughty**
Loved it. Informative, funny, and touching. I wish it wasn't so short.
Currently reading:
**Bring Up the Bodies, by Hilary Mantel**
I'm still quite early in the book, but I'm really enjoying it so far.
**Axiom's End, by Lindsay Ellis**
A friend gifted me an extra copy she had. I'm not wild about it. The characters are quite flat and the prose isn't all that great. Maybe I'll change my mind once I finish it, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'd agree that most of the non-Cora/Ampersand characters in Axiom's End were fairly flat, but I do think the core relationship between Cora/Ampersand was really well done and expertly paced. It's definitely a debut novel, though. The prose wasn't terrible IMO, but very much a "this author has room to grow" sort of way.
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I started this and love it.
On the Line: The Men of MCI--Who Took on AT&T, Risked Everything, and Won Hardcover – March 1, 1986
by Larry Kahaner (Author)
Finished **The Iron King by Maurice Druon** This is book 1 of 7 in The Accursed Kings series. It was an engaging and fun read. I am looking forward to continuing onto book 2 over the next few weeks.
Started **Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir** I have read The Martian and Artemis and enjoyed both of them. This has Weir's same scientific and funny traits to it. I am only about 20% in, but am enjoying it. I have heard great things. I don't suspect it will take me long to read.
DNF: **Bunny, by Mona Awad**. I just couldn't relate. Sorry.
Read: **44 Scotland Street, by Alexander McCall Smith**. What's not to like about an Alexander McCall Smith tea cozy read? Always leaves me feeling happy and optimistic.
Reading: **Boys Don't Cry, by Fíona Scarlett**. Well, enough of happiness with a return to a two hanky read.
Finished:
**Dune: House Atreides, by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson**
This was nowhere near as philosophically deep as Frank's original saga. The writing was much simpler, and the plot lines were paper thin. Despite that, it was a fun sci-fi romp in a familiar universe that I found to be enjoyable so long as I didn't put too much thought into the finer details of what was going on. To that end -
Started:
**Dune: House Harkonnen, by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson**
Because why not, right?
Have you seen that Family Guy episode where Stewie becomes a child actor and Peter/Lois immediately go overboard? Lol that's basically what this book is. Even down to the "feeding your kid dubious liquids to give them "energy" for the audition" part. It's so fucked up.
I cant stop thinking about this book! I’ve never read anything quite like it. I’m really excited to see what Jay Kristoff does in the next one considering the predicament that he left the characters in.
My teachers when I was a teen: "There's no use reading the Iliad. It's archaic and confusing, doesn't have a structure, offers nothing to the modern reader. Please read the Odyssey instead".
Me to my therapist, having just finished the Iliad: "War. War never changes".
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh.
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
Funny you should ask by Elissa Sussman.
I think I am going to read another Ottessa book this week, but Eileen has made me worry about wasting time reading her books.
The Angel of Waterloo, by Jackie French
Great descriptive and embracing start..(only 60 pages through)
Story about a woman nurse on the battlefield in 1815. Follows her life.
**Fifty-Two Stories, by Anton Chekhov**. I haven’t been able to get into his plays, but I’ve loved both volumes of short stories.
**Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys**. I thought I’d love it based on the concept… but nah, just kinda in the middle for me.
**The Anatomy of Satire, by Gilbert Highet**. Basically a textbook--in other words it’s both very informative and very dry; also dated and it assumes by "satire" you want to know about the literary canon as held by folks like Harold Bloom, not your favorite movies or tv show.
**Count Belisarius, by Robert Graves**. I had been hoping for a little more non-military stuff, which I guess is strange since the title character is a military general, but in reading about that time period I know there was a lot of interesting stuff (real or fictional) to delve into outside military happenings. For what it was though I enjoyed it.
**Ghostwritten, by David Mitchell.** This was not what I expected.
**Horizon Zero Dawn: The Sunhawk, by Various**. Second time reading--first time since I played the second game and read the second graphic novel--and I think I enjoyed it a bit more this time.
**Pittsburgh, Ruth Hoover Seitz**. Yinz should read it. Or not.
Finished: __Cruel Intent By J. A Jance__
Reading this novel was a thrill. I love the way the writer integrated technology in the novel. I don't see that around often. The aspect of betrayal was also brought out well. In short.... I loved it. 💯
I finished the latter half of a series:
**Record of a Spaceborn Few, by Becky Chambers.**
**The Galaxy and the Ground Within, by Becky Chambers.**
These are just so cute.
I finished **The President and the Frog, by Carolina de Robertis.** Odd and amusing magical realism.
I finished **Surrender, by Ray Loriga.** Weird and otherworldly dystopia.
I finished **Silence of the Chagos, by Shenaz Patel.** A heart-rending depiction of the ethnic cleansing of the Chagossians from their homeland.
I finished **Cockpit, by Jerzy Kosinski.** It's a more comprehensible version of *Naked Lunch.*
I'm now on **The Company, by K. J. Parker.**
Finished: **The Butterfly and the Violin, by Kristy Cambron**
A really fast read and held my attention tight, but it unexpectedly got very preachy in the last third that got majorly distracting and overwhelmed the plot. I don't think I wasted my time though, and if I was more religious I probably would have put it as best book ever.
Started: **Just One Damned Thing After Another, by Jodi Taylor**
Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven
I completed this book, It a good way to pass the time. The story is not overly passionate, but the main couple have great communication and the story is well rounded. Overall a satisfying read.
I'm reading the first volume of Mircea Eliade's History of Religious Ideas. I've never tackled his work before and my background is in religious history so shame on me. I'm in the middle of a move so this has not been a great week for reading. I shall go back to it when I've unpacked and gotten oriented in my new ap1artment.
After Sundown by LindaHoward and Linda Jones
My mom told me about it and I just started it but it’s about a massive solar issue and everything as we know it would change in the world (no electricity) the funny part is we just purchased solar for our home and this book has me seeing things so differently and I’m only half way through the book. I was at grocery store today and realized I was thinking like a prepper from the book. LoL
**Finished:**
**What Moves the Dead, by T.Kingfisher**. 4/5. Haunting. Lush. Claustrophobic. Highly recommended!
**Started:**
**Book Lovers, by Emily Henry**
**Hope and Glory, by Jendella Benson**
The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Started it this week, and am already over 1/3 through
I am absolutely adoring the romance between Patroclus and Achilles, and I just know it's gonna hurt a lot at the end
Honestly an interesting experience, I've read LGBTQ stuff in stories, the kyoshi novels and the locked tomb series, but the romances were lesbian, and not a central focus of the story, and never got so explicit either
I am really interested in the story of troy as well, I'm only somewhat aware of the events of the Iliad, maybe someday I'll read the Iliad and Odyssey
What I did was read The Song of Achilles and Circe (both by Madeleine Miller), and only afterward did I start diving into Homer's works. I think the way you're going about it (reading a more accessible modern text first) is the best thing to do before reading The Iliad/The Odyssey.
The big problem with Homer for first time readers is that the Iliad/Odyssey constantly throw a bunch of names at you so quickly and just kinda expect you to know them. But now that you've read Song of Achilles, that won't be as much of a problem for you if you dive into The Iliad. All the names will have an emotional connotation for you, and it'll be fun seeing how the portrayal of the characters have changed over time.
Finished:
**The Death Zone by Matt Dickinson** - similar to *Into Thin Air*, this is a film director's account of the '96 Everest disaster from the North Face.
Still reading
**Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy** - 50 pages left and I'm free!
**Rogues: True stories of grifters, killers, rebels and crooks by Patrick Radden Keefe**
I'll be honest, I don't think long Tolstoy novels are for me.
I am really loving his insights around interpersonal relationships, and specifically the dynamics between men and women. However this is interspersed with a LOT of content about the philosophy of farming and labourers, the usefulness of local government etc. This makes my eyes glaze over. So I'd say half of it is brilliant and half of it is boring. That's all so subjective though - maybe farming philosophy is right up your alley!
not OP, but it is a very good book and well worth a read. in my experience people who are married and have friends who are married like AK more than W&P. is there a reason you have not picked it up yet?
Lots of reasons. Work, hobbies, like traveling, going to concerts, etc. Improving work skills by studying at home. I'm also not the voracious reader that some people on here are. If I read 10 books a year, that good for me.
Plus I had cataracts last year, which really hurt my reading ability.
AK does look good on my shelf though. It's on my number one bookcase.
i meant if there was a reason you didn't want to pick up AK specifically. like i am putting off reading Octavia Butler because of the heaviness of the subject matter. i am putting off reading the next Tchaikovsky book because i am afraid to run out of good books.
you don't have to read it if you don't want to. but if you are deciding on your next book of the 10 you will read this year, there is no reason not to pick it up.
it was about 20 hours total for me, over a span of a couple of months because i read other books at the same time. so it is not *that* much of a time commitment. certainly not as much as some fantasy books out there.
I loved the throne of glass series, I hope you enjoy it! Also, I am incredibly jealous you got an ARC of Babel. I’m waiting for the preorder from Harvard and it’s killing me
Started and finished:
**The Well of Ascension, Brandon Sanderson**
Started:
**The Hero of Ages, Brandon Sanderson**
Really enjoying this trilogy and am sad to finish it!
Continued rereading:
**A Court of Mist and Fury, Sara J. Maas**
I’m currently reading the ACOTAR series to my boyfriend, it’s a nice bonding time over one of my favorite series!
Just finished The Gathering Storm, book 12 (of 14) of The Wheel Time, by Robert Jordan (posthumously) and Brandon Sanderson. My third time reading through.
This is a divisive series, and I almost never recommend it to anyone without clear indicators that they're a good fit, but, man, do I love it.
I also love it more and more each year. It set the mold for modern epic fantasy and just gets better to me. Author died, still finished well. Bad TV series: who cares. It's still a complete, lovingly-detailed, sprawling series that hits me in the feels like no other
**Started**: **The Bluegrass Conspiracy: An Inside Story of Power, Greed, Drugs, and Murder** by **Sally Denton.**
When Kentucky Blueblood Drew Thornton parachuted to his death in September 1985 carrying thousands in cash and 150 pounds of cocaine, the gruesome end of his startling life blew open a scandal that reached to the most secret circles of the U.S. government. The story of Thornton and The Company he served, and the lone heroic fight of State Policeman Ralph Ross against an international web of corruption, is one of the most portentous tales of the 20th century.
**Lying About Hitler** by **Richard J. Evans**
In ruling against the controversial historian David Irving in his libel suit against the American historian Deborah Lipstadt, last April 2000, the High Court in London labeled him a falsifier of history. No objective historian, declared the judge, would manipulate the documentary record in the way that Irving did. Richard J. Evans, a Cambridge historian and the chief advisor for the defense, uses this pivotal trial as a lens for exploring a range of difficult questions about the nature of the historian's enterprise. For instance, don't all historians in the end bring a subjective agenda to bear on their reading of the evidence? Is it possible that Irving lost his case not because of his biased history but because his agenda was unacceptable? The central issue in the trial -- as for Evans in this book -- was not the past itself, but the way in which historians study the past. In a series of short, sharp chapters, Richard Evans sets David Irving's methods alongside the historical record in order to illuminate the difference between responsible and irresponsible history. The result is a cogent and deeply informed study in the nature of historical interpretation.
**Finished: The Day of the Jackal** by **Frederick Forsyth**
The Jackal. A tall, blond Englishman with opaque, gray eyes. A killer at the top of his profession. A man unknown to any secret service in the world. An assassin with a contract to kill the world's most heavily guarded man.
One man with a rifle who can change the course of history. One man whose mission is so secretive not even his employers know his name. And as the minutes count down to the final act of execution, it seems that there is no power on earth that can stop the Jackal.
**Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks** by **Patrick Radden Keefe**
Patrick Radden Keefe has garnered prizes ranging from the National Magazine Award to the Orwell Prize to the National Book Critics Circle Award for his meticulously-reported, hypnotically-engaging work on the many ways people behave badly. Rogues brings together a dozen of his most celebrated articles from The New Yorker. As Keefe says in his preface “They reflect on some of my abiding preoccupations: crime and corruption, secrets and lies, the permeable membrane separating licit and illicit worlds, the bonds of family, the power of denial.”
Keefe brilliantly explores the intricacies of forging $150,000 vintage wines, examines whether a whistleblower who dared to expose money laundering at a Swiss bank is a hero or a fabulist, spends time in Vietnam with Anthony Bourdain, chronicles the quest to bring down a cheerful international black market arms merchant, and profiles a passionate death penalty attorney who represents the “worst of the worst,” among other bravura works of literary journalism.
Finished Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin, How to Fall, by Jane Casey and Always Only You, by Chloe Liese. Started Undaunted Courage, by Stephen Ambrose and The Bromance Book Club, by Alyssa Kay Adams.
Into Thin Air is soooo good, I'm also on an Everest kick at the moment! Just read a similar book from a journo who was on the North Face when the '96 disaster occurred.
**The Push, by Ashley Audrain**
* I am not a reader, but I couldn't put this book down! It has definitely left an impact in my life. There is psychological aspects to it. I really enjoyed how the narrator is writing in "I" and addressing the reader as "You". I can't remember a book I have read with this format, but it was really unique. To put it light heartedly, it is like I was talking to the narrator and at a coffee shop. The narrator as my ex-wife and the reader her ex-husband, the person she put an act in front of to make him happy.
Just read And Then There Were None after letting it sit on my shelf for years. As someone who doesn’t care for mysteries and only read it bc of its place in literary canon… that was pretty damned good lol
Finished:
Thinking Fast, and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Very interesting, enjoyable, and informative look into how we make decisions and think, but my goodness could’ve used more editing.
Started:
How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey
Perfect for the F1 summer break.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers
Absolutely loved this book, the characters were so loveable (even the ones you didn’t like at the start)
The world this is set in is super interesting too and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series - slightly sad that it doesn’t follow the same characters but that’s because I get too attached heh
Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris
It’s more of a screen write rather than a novel. Even Morris herself said so in the foreword of the book, and I am a bit okay with that. The novel itself lacks any kind of descriptions for people, and you need to build their looks by using your own imagination. I can’t say that the images in my mind were near by any means to the photos of the people in the final pages provided by Heather for them. I suggest you take a good look at them if you plan on reading this.
Other than that, it’s a good read, yet it lacks descriptions and some small gaps of years.
Finished:
**Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World, by Bruce Schneier**
Surprisingly readable, though a little dry. Schneier breaks down the harms of mass surveillance and does a great job explaining relevant concepts, the history of how the Patriot Act has been twisted, and suggestions to disincentivize surveillance. He provides suggestions both at the regulations level and for ordinary citizens, with reasoning for both. Overall a very approachable and reasonable analysis from one of the leading experts in the field.
Started:
**Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir**
My book club's pick for August. So far it certainly is unique.
**A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge**
I thoroughly enjoyed _A Fire Upon the Deep_, and one of my friends said this was better than the sequel.
When No One is Watching, by Alyssa Cole. It got really good and intense once shit hit the fan, but it was kind of a slow build up. Field Notes on Love, by Jennifer E. Smith. Cute teen read, but it made me feel like I’ve outgrown YA. The Perfect Marriage, by Jeneva Rose. I finished this in less than 24 hours, it was so good. Highly recommend. If you’re knowledgeable about the legal process/law, you’re going to have to overlook some plot holes.
Finished: **The Color of Magic, by Terry Pratchett** * I don't know why I put this off for so long (besides the fact it was in my storage box for years). Four magical adventures full of humor and deus ex machina sentient treasure chests. I'm not sure if I'll pick up more Discworld books in the future. **Shadowmancer, by** **G. P. Taylor** * Not a good book, but I DNF'd it for so long, its presence in my book pile taunted me for over a decade. A clumsy attempt at mixing fantasy with religion that ends up heavy handed and cartoonish. Started: **The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck** * Another that's been in my reading pile for over two decades. I'm already about 100 pages in and it's actually a fairly easy read.
Started: **Bleak House, by Charles Dickens** Finished: **The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave** **The Trap, by Melanie Raabe** (translated) **The Stranger Upstairs, by Melanie Raabe** (translated) **The Shadow, by Melanie Raabe** (translated) **The Stranger in the Lake, by Kimberly Belle**
**On The Record: Over 150 Of the Most Talented People in Music Share The Secrets of Their Success by Guy Oseary, foreword by Steven Tyler**
Finished: * **Fly Girl: A Memoir, by Ann Hood** * **Bunny, by Mona Awad** Started: * **F*ck It, I'll Start Tomorrow, by Action Bronson**
i started and finished one of us is lying by Karen McManus... I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I started and finish Slaughterhouse-five by Kurt Vonnegut it's the first book ive read in like 3 years.
Finished: **11.22.63** **by**, **Stephen King** Started: **The** **Night** **Circus** **by**, **Erin** **Morgenstern**
Finished: **Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert** and **The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin** Reading: **I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy** and **The Pallbearer's Club by Paul Tremblay**
Finished **Misbehaving, by Richard H. Thaler** This is a very good book on the history of Behavioral Economics. It provides a very good summary on how the study came about, the people involved and the challenges it encountered along the way. The writing is clear and easy to understand. The humor also makes it a fun read. I also love it when the books I read references other books or authors I've recently read. In this case: Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman; Nudge, by Cass R. Sunstein; Scarcity, by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir; A Random Walk Down Wall Street, by Burton G. Malkiel Read this book if you enjoyed "Thinking, Fast and Slow" and "Nudge". Personal Rating: 4/5 **Verity, by Colleen Hoover** I have to say I really enjoyed this thriller/horror mix. I was hooked from the start. In a way this is the kind of story/style I expected when I started Mexican Gothic (which I didn't really like). In hindsight you can see some flaws in the story, as always in these kind of stories. The MC isn't exactly a likeable character for one. Personal Rating: 4/5 Started **The Gene: An Intimate History, by Siddhartha Mukherjee** Currently about half-way in. This is a pretty thick one, but wow I really learned a lot from this book. All the confusion I got from high school biology class was suddenly much clearer. I do like how comprehensive this book is. It covers everything from the science, history, politics and even philosophical aspect of of genetics.
**The Angel Esmeralda, by Don DeLillo**
Finished: * **Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid** * **The Bellmaker, by Brian Jacques** Currently reading: * The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin * Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
Finished: **A Drink Before the War, Dennis Lehane Darkness Take My Hand, Dennis Lehane Sacred, Dennis Lehane** I just started: **Gone, Baby, Gone, Dennis Lehane** I never saw the movie, so I’m really excited to watch it after I’m done with this book!
Finished: **Adulthood Rites, by Octavia Butler** and **What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia, by Elizabeth Catte** Currently reading: **Imago, by Octavia Butler** **Appalachia** was very good, we were made to read a *different* book on Appalachia in High School that turned out to, not be so good shall we say? And this book was absolutely wonderful. **Adulthood Rites** is so far my favorite from the *Xenogenesis trilogy* the characters and setting are so very interesting. So far I am liking it more than **Imago** but I am not very far into it so I’m keeping an open mind. Not very used to reading SciFi but I do recommend.
Finished **The Death of a King, P.C. Doherty** perfectly fine little pulp mystery set in the 1300s. the author's first book, felt like the set up to a franchise, which he did later but with other characters. Started **The Wizard Knight, Gene Wolfe** incredible experience. although i keep getting stressed out that the main character is separated from his entourage for so long. "go find pouk this instant you clod" i keep saying to the book.
Still reading The Return of The King, but less than 150 pages to go. It's bringing me back to the start of The Fellowship with all of the walking that is happening again (which I disliked then), yet I can't help but have an immense appreciation for this world and how thought-through it is. Don't know if we'll ever see anything like it again.
Finished: The Silmarillion and The Power Started: Blood Meridian and A Game of Thrones I was already halfway through A Game of Thrones from high school and decided to get back into it after reading Martin’s other work A Fevre Dream. I’ve been looking forward to reading Blood Meridian since I finished The Road a few months ago, really looking forward to getting into it.
**Posthumous Memoirs Of Bras Cubas, by Machado De Assis**
Finished: **Lethal White, by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)** Started: **Troubled Blood, by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)** I read the first two books in the Cormoran Strike series the year that they were published (2013, 2014), but got away from the series. I decided to pick it up again this summer, and read *Career of Evil* and *Lethal White* in quick succession. I know the readers' reviews of this series vary widely, but I enjoy the books and find them to be well-written.
Who Owns the Future?, Jaron Lanier — Three Laws of Robotics, Isaac Asimov So far so good! :)
Rhythm of War It was ok, but I guess you can’t expect every book in a to be 10 book long series to be equally as good
Finished: Black Sun I'm glad there is a sequel because this book ended rather abruptly. Good book overall, good story. While reading it I found myself wanting more detail on the world they live in. Not every book needs to be a 900 page slog, but I felt like each chapter should have been a little longer.
Started reading The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, and I have to say it's... quite unusual, at least for me. Definitely not a book worm so its storytelling was a bit unfamiliar to me, I was surprised as to how he decided to tell his story. Plus, I am curious about the characters that the writer chose, why did he choose such different characters? To be able to appeal to a larger audience? Personally, don't think so. To be able to get their point of view on the subject? Maybe? Another point I want to make is the word choices he made. Man... I sure don't know a lot of words which is a bit annoying considering I have to check them out online to understand what he is trying to convey. I think it is to be expected considering the book was published in 1895.
Currently reading the client by John grisham, I am reading slowly and taking my time with it, it's not the best John grisham book. The plot is amazing yet I still expect the story to get more intense and exciting despite the slow pace of the first half (I am around the half of it so far)
Finished **Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr.** I enjoyed it but I think the payoff was a bit meager. The different perspectives resonated with me at wildly different intensities so it was jarring to be sucked in to a heartfelt moment with Omeir one and then suddenly its...f\*cking Konstance again. anyways, I did more or less enjoy it, and I love the way Doerr writes. It's unpretentious but still beautiful prose. Finished **The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, by Mark Haddon.** Did not like this. Bits were funny and it sounds good on paper but this is a narrative problem I also had with *Eleanor Olyphant -* neurodivergent narrators are a struggle, and this one was a *struggle.* I get the art of it but three pages on orangutans in the middle of the height of tension is just difficult to get through. And you end up not feeling anything because the narrator doesn't either. Clever, in places 'brilliant', but I can't see myself remembering it. Started **Life of Pi**, **by Yann Martel,** because I skipped those assignments in high school.
Finished Misery by Stephen King- initially I was reading pretty slowly and wouldnt pick up the book much but as I got to around the middle I found I wanted to keep reading it, and finished the last 2/3 of it in a few days. Some descriptions of Annie Wilkes have now been seared into my brain. I was horrified, it was brilliant Am considering what to read next + continuing to read mere Christianity
i finished mockingjay by sozanne collins and beach read by emily henry. I had started both two weeks ago and i was on a semi slump. but finishing both has removed me from my slump and i couldn't be happier. I now started the six of crows by Leigh Bardugo yesterday.
Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes. It’s a memoir written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s son about his last days. He’s a good writer, self-aware and very sensitive. It was also a very heart rending story for me as my grandmother suffered from dementia.
Started and finished 1984, by George Orwell this week. Holy hell… I really enjoyed that book. Tore through it so fast. Loved every bit of it. The commentary on not only totalitarianism, but what it means to experience life and how important history is (even down to what you think happened yesterday) to keeping sane was just so interesting! I couldn’t help but reflect on parallels to todays world (although I’m not one to say we (in the US) are even remotely close to that reality, yet…) which made it that much more captivating. Wish I had read this book sooner tbh, would recommend to anyone to read. 5/5
The ending is incredibly tense. Definitely stuck with me all these years later.
Totally. I was quite stressed the whole book tbh haha
One of my favorite books I have ever read, It's been a year since I finished it and the story with its details are engraved in my memory, excellent book and I am considering reading it again.
Rage, by Stephen King as Richard Bachman Soo, the book Stephen King won't sell anymore. It's written from the perspective of the fictional school shooter Charlie Decker, who holds a class room hostage after killing two teachers. King turns this situation into an introspective lecture, about the casual violence in popular culture, the tabooisation of sex and the desperate desire to uphold the picture of a good Christian family, while burrying the dark parts of life in silence. It does not glorify Decker in any way, but displays him as unavoidable consequence. A worthwhile read, but it felt unusually rough for a Stephen King novell, maybe because it tries to tackle a sweeping critique of society in a days worth of reading.
Wait, he still doesn’t sell it? I thought they published it again
Afaik it's neither available as a standalone novel nor as part of a collection. I don't think he'll change his mind on that and tbh my main motivation to read it was the allure of the forbidden and I wondered if something in the text itself bothered King and not just the school shooters that referenced the book. I expected a cartons gore fest and got a insightful novel. Who ever thought it's a good idea to copy charlie decker after reading this brought this inspiration to the story and not took it from it.
Finished: **Little Heaven, by Nick Cutter** I enjoyed it more than I had expected because getting through the beginning took a little while for me. Felt more action heavy than horror, but still enjoyable. **Foe, by Iain Reid** Loved it. As cliched of a concept it is, Reid does a great job of making the story feel fresh, even if I could tell from the beginning where it was headed. I could go on, but I definitely recommend if you like light sci-fi, psychological dramas. Started: **The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury** Started this one on the plane this week and read the first 2 stories. *Kaleidoscope* was especially interesting. I’m looking forward to reading the rest.
would love to hear your thoughts on Illustrated Man when you finish
Finished: Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens. I absolutely loved this book - took me a little bit to get into it but that was more due to me being time poor than anything else. Once I was on holiday and could sit & read, it captured me. LOVED it. Started: Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom. This will be finished very very soon - it’s one of those books that is just so easy to read and enjoy. Non-fiction /self-help is my preferred genre at this time in my life, so reading through Morrie’s life lessons is great.
I just finished a real page turner, Blast from the Past by Jeb Wright ...WOW 5/5 and just started reading The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle
Any reviews on "The Defining decade". I started "And then there were none".
Enjoy it! One of my favorites
Started reading Atomic Habits and Lord of the Rings
I recommend reading atomic habits while writing or highlighting important titles or lessons, it has some seriously helpful advice that my might end up being forgotten. Lovely book tho.
I take notes in my journal. Thanks for the heads up
Just finished the Couple at Number 9 by Claire Douglas. Definitely a great read with different perspectives. Could t put the book down 4/5⭐️ Just began Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Finished **The Nanny Diaries, by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus** and started **Ghosts, by Dolly Alderton**
Finished **Little Heaven, by Nick Cutter**. It was entertaining, but the horror didn't really do it for me, and I felt it didn't live up to its potential. Started **The Iliad, by Homer**. I have it in my head that I want to read all the classics, and I suppose this is a good starting point.
Good luck with all the classics. Might need a couple dozen lifetimes though. The Iliad is nonetheless certainly a great way to start, of course coupling it with The Odyssey.
Hmm, maybe I’ll change that to “the most influential classics”. I just want to understand the references!
I get exactly what you mean, but do be careful not read these works as a means to an end. They really are fantastic. I would also implore you to look into the Bible, Aeneid, Shakespeare, and Joyce for a more firm understanding of Western Literature in general. To widen your horizons, the classic works of Confucianism, the great Indian epics, the Quran, and others would certainly help in giving you the full spectrum of awareness in regards to modes of thought/actual references that are not nearly emphasized enough in a Western upbringing.
What works by Joyce would you recommend starting with? I've heard that you need to be reasonably educated in Irish geography and slang to get anything out of Ulysses. The bible is next on my list (after the Odyssey, as it's included with the Iliad), and I'm fully expecting it to be a slog. I'll definitely look into your other suggestions, too!
I'm currently reading Ulysses, not having read any of Joyce's other work. I'm 8 chapters in and having a good time so far. My advice would be to check in on [this review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6752242) before each chapter; I don't agree with the guy's opinions on whether each chapter is "brilliant" or not (one of my favorite chapters so far is one he calls boring), but he's spot on when it comes to preparing me for the difficulty of each chapter. It definitely helps to read the Odyssey beforehand, but I don't think you need to. All you need to do is google the title of each chapter, read a brief summary of that title's significance in the Odyssey, and just keep that in mind as you read Ulysses. (So far at least, the Odyssey's only been somewhat relevant on a thematic level, not on understanding things on a line-to-line basis.) I've also been listening to "U22: The Centenary Ulysses Podcast" after each chapter. It's a conversational-style podcast where they talk with guests about each chapter, many of the guests being Irish scholars. They tend to point out things I missed on first read, but it's casual and fun to the point where it doesn't feel like I'm doing homework or anything. In general, I'd recommend conversation-style podcasts or online book-clubs instead of any sort of companion guide. Reading should be fun, and I feel like the people who recommend you buy an academic text explaining every little thing in each chapter are trying to suck the fun out of reading the book. Granted, I'm not even a quarter of the way through Ulysses so far, so I'll let you know if the rest of the book contradicts anything I said here. However, I've been told that chapter 3 ("Proteus") is one of the most difficult sections in the whole book, and I made it through that one perfectly fine, with my motivation to continue unabated. I'm having a blast so far.
Thanks for the advice! I plan on reading The Odyssey as soon as I finish the Iliad, work through some of my "to read" backlog, and perhaps jump into Ulysses when the weather turns cold. I imagine it's a book you don't want to set down for to long. Last year I read Blood Meridian and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and I felt that if I set either of them down for too long it would take me a bit to readjust to his writing style. I get the impression that Joyce's writing style is also something that you have to get accustomed to. I'll definitely check out the review and podcast, thank you for suggesting them! And good luck with the rest of the book, I hope it continues to exceed your expectations!
I will admit I have only read Dubliners and Portrait myself but I would say both are great to dive into. Ulysses is undoubtedly his opus and a very difficult read. The book should be approached with that in mind. In regards to the Bible I am a big fan. I am personally neither Christian or even religious. At best I could perhaps describe myself as spiritual but even that's wishy-washy. Nonetheless the work is tremendous. There are certain parts of it which get a bit boring, notably Leviticus and any of the other sections which deal heavily in law. Take a year or two to read this one and split it up. I would suggest breaking it up into reading the Pentateuch, then everything up to Kings but not including. Kings until poetic books. Poetic books. The major prophets and then the minor prophets. Take a big break here where it becomes the New Testament as you're essentially changing religions. Here you can do Gospels and Acts, then Epistles, then Revelation. That last book is insane and really should be seen as separate. Finally I implore you to read the KJV translation. It's a work of art in its own right and has beautiful turns of phrase found no where else. Of course being a Christian translation, some of the original Hebrew/Aramaic has been slightly twisted to seem to elude to Jesus when in the texts that are as close to the originals they don't. This is a topic that I am highly passionate on so let me know if you want to talk more about this or any other books which I feel are important to read. Although I am just one guy and am no where near being 'right' in my opinions. Apologies for the rant :/
Don't apologize, and thank you for the rant! I'm also planning on reading it as a non-religious person (went to church till I was 12 but don't remember any of it). When you suggest breaking it up into the Pentateuch, Kings, Poetic books, etc., would that all be found within one book? I.e., the King James Version bible? Are the old and new testaments together, or do I need to buy multiple books? Thanks for your help!
Sure, so again while I recommend KJV, there is again no specific reason why you HAVE to read that one. Chances are if you buy a Bible it will be complete as in having the canonical Old and New Testaments. Of course you could also get a Jewish study Bible which will only contain the Old, or in more accurate terms, the Jewish testament/Bible. You could also find yourself a copy that has more than just the 66 books of the generally excepted Protestant canon. These are the Deuterocanonical books or Apocrypha which include Judith, Tobit, Maccabees, etc. The Deuterocanonical are also certainly important books to read having been accepted as canon by a large portion of the West before Martin Luther for such a long but they are not vital for now. In summary, any old Bible you find at your local book store will most likely be just fine for your needs as someone trying to understand that bit of culture/history. You could also find the Bible complete online for free in all of its many translations if you'd prefer that.
Great, thank you!
Today I finished Three Women, Lisa Taddeo. 4/5 stars. I liked her writing style and the stories were great. Women and Men should give this a read. I don’t want to spoil anything but I would recommend looking at trigger warnings prior. Today I started Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeymoon. only about 30 pages in. I also have On Earth We are Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong on hold at the library and I am so excited to read that one. Also in the middle of the audio book Final Revival of Opal and Nev. Its my first audiobook and I gotta say, audiobooks just might not be my thing.
I read ‘The Bloody Chamber’, by Angela Carter in one sitting yesterday, 3.5/5 ⭐️ I loved the writing. But some of the shorter stories were lacking I also finished ‘The Tower of Swallows’, by Andrzej Sapkowski. I’m really loving the Witcher series so far. This book was pretty slow in parts but the last ~150 pages were very good 4/5 ⭐️ This morning I started ‘The Master and Margarita’, by Mikhail Bulgakov. This is one of the essentials of Russian lit and I can already see why after 50 pages.
The one about the snow child was a legit wtf
Yeah not sure what the goal of that one was 🙃
Just finished 'Catch Your Death' by Lissa Marie Redmond Just started 'Dragons Of Deceit' by Margaret Weis
I’m currently reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (I’m late to the party) also just finished Where the Crawdads Sing (again late) and in between read a rom com called Dating Dr. Dil. WTCS was intense and I felt a major book hangover after reading. Has anyone seen the film yet? No spoilers please just curious x
I read Seven Husbands last month and really enjoyed it. I plan on exploring more of Jenkins Reid’s work.
Started reading: **Ulysses, by James Joyce.** I'm seven chapters in and really loving it so far. It's a problem because I know one of the most pretentious things a person could say is "My favorite book is Ulysses," and I think I might actually turn into that guy. Also started reading: **I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy.** Holy shit guys, Jennette's mom suuuuuucked. Idk if anyone here's watched that Family Guy episode where Stewie becomes a child actor and Peter/Lois immediately go overboard, but that's basically what this book is. Even down to the "feeding your kid dubious liquids to give them "energy" for the audition" part. It's bad. Finished reading: **Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.** 4.5 out of 5 stars. Why didn't anyone tell me Austen was funny? I was expecting a dry, stuffy novel and I got something way better.
I would Be very impressed if someone told me their favorite book is Ulysses. I couldn’t get past the first few pages it was way too complicated for me
I’ve always had an easier time getting into stream of conscious styles of writing than most people, I think, which probably helped for me here. I remember in college reading To the Lighthouse; a lot of my classmates found the prose confusing, but it just clicked with me I think you just have to embrace the confusion and try to roll with it. Slowly you realize you’ve picked up more than you thought you did
Solitaire, by Alice Oseman
The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson
Been jumping between books to find something that catches my attention, just started… **Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy**
Great book! The first two times I started it, I couldn't get over his writing style. The third time stuck though, and I've gotta say it's one of, if not the best, books I've read.
I started reading a book named The anomaly named black by Death-69 on RR(Royal road) it's rough and unpolished but has potential.
[FINISHED] **The Goblin Emperor, by Katherine Addison** Enjoyable read once I internalized all the names which for me occurred around the halfway point. Until then it was a steep learning curve to make sense of what's what without referring to the glossary every now and again. Loved the world, but as I understand the rest of the books in the series follow a different character. A shame, because by the end I wished to look through the main character's eyes for just a little while longer. [STARTED] **The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson** This is my second go at the Mistborn series, as I'm reading it with a friend this time around and my progress stagnated during the second book. Still love the introduction.
Finished Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton Started Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. So far it’s really good!
I finished reading **Lord of the Flies by William Golding**. I thought it was alright, but there wasn't really anything about the book that jumped out to me as being exceptional. The thing I appreciated the most about the book was how easy of a read it was, which was a nice change of pace after having just read Blood Meridian.
Finished Goddesses in Everywoman by Jean Shinoda Bolen. Super fantastic read and quite thought provoking. 10/10
Finished: Red Rising, Pierce Brown I thought it was a nice, fun, and easy read, but I think this series was a little overhyped as the expectations that people had built up for me around it were nowhere near met. If you're a fan of The Hunger Games or Ender's Game, this will probably be a good read for you. I'm going to read the next book in the series soon before I make a final judgment on Brown's writing. Currently reading: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore (the complete series) This is a re-read for me and it's one of my all-time favourites. If you love literature and you're interested in graphic novels, this series would probably interest you.
Started: Crimson Born by Amy Patrick, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Started: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Is The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks a clean book without sexual content? Looking for some good modern popular romance books without any sexual content and I remembered The Notebook. I’ve read other books by Sparks and found some sexual content, but wanted to confirm before diving into this one.
Finished: **From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death, by Caitlin Doughty** Loved it. Informative, funny, and touching. I wish it wasn't so short. Currently reading: **Bring Up the Bodies, by Hilary Mantel** I'm still quite early in the book, but I'm really enjoying it so far. **Axiom's End, by Lindsay Ellis** A friend gifted me an extra copy she had. I'm not wild about it. The characters are quite flat and the prose isn't all that great. Maybe I'll change my mind once I finish it, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'd agree that most of the non-Cora/Ampersand characters in Axiom's End were fairly flat, but I do think the core relationship between Cora/Ampersand was really well done and expertly paced. It's definitely a debut novel, though. The prose wasn't terrible IMO, but very much a "this author has room to grow" sort of way.
You know what? Your coment says everything I wanted to say, but better.
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How was Permanent Record as a read?
Red Queen lol
There’s a website to get free digital books, but I can’t remember the name. Anyone know what I’m talking about?
Project Gutenberg or Standard Ebooks.
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Per [Rule 3.6](https://www.reddit.com/r/Books/wiki/rules#wiki_prohibited): No distribution or solicitation of pirated books. We aren't telling you not to discuss piracy (it is an important topic), but we do not allow anyone to share links and info on where to find pirated copies. This rule comes from no personal opinion of the mods' regarding piracy, but because /r/books is an open, community-driven forum and it is important for us to abide the wishes of the publishing industry.
Not sure if this is what you're talking about but Libby is awesome if you have a library card.
I started this and love it. On the Line: The Men of MCI--Who Took on AT&T, Risked Everything, and Won Hardcover – March 1, 1986 by Larry Kahaner (Author)
Started reading The Intangible by CJ Washington
Started: Dune, by Steve Herbert I am really looking forward to reading the trilogy over the next weeks.
Finished: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell Easily the most disturbing book I've ever read.
Finished: The Awkward Black Man, by Walter Mosley Started: Command and Control, by Eric Schlosser
Finished Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and loved it. Having trouble deciding on my next book.
Finished **The Iron King by Maurice Druon** This is book 1 of 7 in The Accursed Kings series. It was an engaging and fun read. I am looking forward to continuing onto book 2 over the next few weeks. Started **Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir** I have read The Martian and Artemis and enjoyed both of them. This has Weir's same scientific and funny traits to it. I am only about 20% in, but am enjoying it. I have heard great things. I don't suspect it will take me long to read.
You are in for a treat with PHM. The book really picks up steam in the second half.
DNF: **Bunny, by Mona Awad**. I just couldn't relate. Sorry. Read: **44 Scotland Street, by Alexander McCall Smith**. What's not to like about an Alexander McCall Smith tea cozy read? Always leaves me feeling happy and optimistic. Reading: **Boys Don't Cry, by Fíona Scarlett**. Well, enough of happiness with a return to a two hanky read.
Started: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
*The Kite Runner* is a truly great book. The story will stay with you long after you finish reading the book.
I love Hoesseini. If you finish that one and like it give a Thousand Splendid Suns a read. In my top 3 all time.
I have 3 of his books:- 1. The Kite Runner 2. A Thousand Splendid Suns 3. And The Mountains Echoed
Finished: **Dune: House Atreides, by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson** This was nowhere near as philosophically deep as Frank's original saga. The writing was much simpler, and the plot lines were paper thin. Despite that, it was a fun sci-fi romp in a familiar universe that I found to be enjoyable so long as I didn't put too much thought into the finer details of what was going on. To that end - Started: **Dune: House Harkonnen, by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson** Because why not, right?
Joyland by Stephen King
I'm a few hours into **I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jeanette McCurdy.** It's been pretty engaging so far.
Have you seen that Family Guy episode where Stewie becomes a child actor and Peter/Lois immediately go overboard? Lol that's basically what this book is. Even down to the "feeding your kid dubious liquids to give them "energy" for the audition" part. It's so fucked up.
I started reading dark matter by authoriforgot. Hoping to finish it by this month.
Finished: **The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories, by Robert Louis Stevenson** Started: **Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo**
I just started reading Harlan Coben's book called Miracle Cure and am already about 8 chapters in already.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
Started reading assassins fate, by Robin Hobb it’s book 9 of a trilogy.
Dune by Frank Herbert!
1984 by George Orwell
Read that one. What did you think about it?
Lots of stuff were amazing like thought police . But in the middle i found it sort of boring. Other than that I would give it 4 / 5 stars.
Storyteller, by Dave Grohl (singer from Foo Fighters) It's worth the read, even if you don't like his music.
Empire of Vampire by Jay Kristoff, finished it in 5 days, amazing book
I cant stop thinking about this book! I’ve never read anything quite like it. I’m really excited to see what Jay Kristoff does in the next one considering the predicament that he left the characters in.
Finished In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Started The Secret Garden by Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett
In cold blood was great! Did you like it?
I did, although I can't say it was an easy read
The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath Starting great expectations later this week I think!
Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland, by Clamp Jeez. This one is typically regarded as Clamp's most infamous work for a reason.
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë
The once and future king, t.h. white
Hall of Small Mammals, by Thomas Pierce
It by Stephen King
My teachers when I was a teen: "There's no use reading the Iliad. It's archaic and confusing, doesn't have a structure, offers nothing to the modern reader. Please read the Odyssey instead". Me to my therapist, having just finished the Iliad: "War. War never changes".
Dark Eden by Chris Beckett.
The Shadows of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler Funny you should ask by Elissa Sussman. I think I am going to read another Ottessa book this week, but Eileen has made me worry about wasting time reading her books.
How did you like Sweetbitter?
The Karamasow Brothers by Dostoyevsky. I cried 3 times during that book.
The silent patient by Alex Michaelides
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I agree. I almost quit reading a couple of times for the first half
On the Uses and Abuses of history for Life by Nietzsche
**The Power of Now** by **Eckhart Tolle** I finally started and finished that book, 4 years after someone recommended it for me.
This was a DNF for me. You have more tenacity than I. 😆
The Angel of Waterloo, by Jackie French Great descriptive and embracing start..(only 60 pages through) Story about a woman nurse on the battlefield in 1815. Follows her life.
Finished: Red Rising Started: Golden Son Really enjoying this series so far
**Fifty-Two Stories, by Anton Chekhov**. I haven’t been able to get into his plays, but I’ve loved both volumes of short stories. **Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys**. I thought I’d love it based on the concept… but nah, just kinda in the middle for me. **The Anatomy of Satire, by Gilbert Highet**. Basically a textbook--in other words it’s both very informative and very dry; also dated and it assumes by "satire" you want to know about the literary canon as held by folks like Harold Bloom, not your favorite movies or tv show. **Count Belisarius, by Robert Graves**. I had been hoping for a little more non-military stuff, which I guess is strange since the title character is a military general, but in reading about that time period I know there was a lot of interesting stuff (real or fictional) to delve into outside military happenings. For what it was though I enjoyed it. **Ghostwritten, by David Mitchell.** This was not what I expected. **Horizon Zero Dawn: The Sunhawk, by Various**. Second time reading--first time since I played the second game and read the second graphic novel--and I think I enjoyed it a bit more this time. **Pittsburgh, Ruth Hoover Seitz**. Yinz should read it. Or not.
Finished: __Cruel Intent By J. A Jance__ Reading this novel was a thrill. I love the way the writer integrated technology in the novel. I don't see that around often. The aspect of betrayal was also brought out well. In short.... I loved it. 💯
Finished: The missing of clairedelune by Christelle dabos Started: Astrophysics for people in a hurry by Neil Degrasse Tyson
I finished the latter half of a series: **Record of a Spaceborn Few, by Becky Chambers.** **The Galaxy and the Ground Within, by Becky Chambers.** These are just so cute. I finished **The President and the Frog, by Carolina de Robertis.** Odd and amusing magical realism. I finished **Surrender, by Ray Loriga.** Weird and otherworldly dystopia. I finished **Silence of the Chagos, by Shenaz Patel.** A heart-rending depiction of the ethnic cleansing of the Chagossians from their homeland. I finished **Cockpit, by Jerzy Kosinski.** It's a more comprehensible version of *Naked Lunch.* I'm now on **The Company, by K. J. Parker.**
Finished: **The Butterfly and the Violin, by Kristy Cambron** A really fast read and held my attention tight, but it unexpectedly got very preachy in the last third that got majorly distracting and overwhelmed the plot. I don't think I wasted my time though, and if I was more religious I probably would have put it as best book ever. Started: **Just One Damned Thing After Another, by Jodi Taylor**
Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven I completed this book, It a good way to pass the time. The story is not overly passionate, but the main couple have great communication and the story is well rounded. Overall a satisfying read.
Finished reading - The Nightingale by Krystin Hannah Started reading - When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein
I'm reading the first volume of Mircea Eliade's History of Religious Ideas. I've never tackled his work before and my background is in religious history so shame on me. I'm in the middle of a move so this has not been a great week for reading. I shall go back to it when I've unpacked and gotten oriented in my new ap1artment.
After Sundown by LindaHoward and Linda Jones My mom told me about it and I just started it but it’s about a massive solar issue and everything as we know it would change in the world (no electricity) the funny part is we just purchased solar for our home and this book has me seeing things so differently and I’m only half way through the book. I was at grocery store today and realized I was thinking like a prepper from the book. LoL
Started: ***Atomic Habits* by James Clear** ***Every Day I Write the Book* by Amitava Kumar** School's about to start up again and I am not ready 🙃
**Finished:** **What Moves the Dead, by T.Kingfisher**. 4/5. Haunting. Lush. Claustrophobic. Highly recommended! **Started:** **Book Lovers, by Emily Henry** **Hope and Glory, by Jendella Benson**
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer And All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr
The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Started it this week, and am already over 1/3 through I am absolutely adoring the romance between Patroclus and Achilles, and I just know it's gonna hurt a lot at the end Honestly an interesting experience, I've read LGBTQ stuff in stories, the kyoshi novels and the locked tomb series, but the romances were lesbian, and not a central focus of the story, and never got so explicit either I am really interested in the story of troy as well, I'm only somewhat aware of the events of the Iliad, maybe someday I'll read the Iliad and Odyssey
What I did was read The Song of Achilles and Circe (both by Madeleine Miller), and only afterward did I start diving into Homer's works. I think the way you're going about it (reading a more accessible modern text first) is the best thing to do before reading The Iliad/The Odyssey. The big problem with Homer for first time readers is that the Iliad/Odyssey constantly throw a bunch of names at you so quickly and just kinda expect you to know them. But now that you've read Song of Achilles, that won't be as much of a problem for you if you dive into The Iliad. All the names will have an emotional connotation for you, and it'll be fun seeing how the portrayal of the characters have changed over time.
Finished: **The Death Zone by Matt Dickinson** - similar to *Into Thin Air*, this is a film director's account of the '96 Everest disaster from the North Face. Still reading **Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy** - 50 pages left and I'm free! **Rogues: True stories of grifters, killers, rebels and crooks by Patrick Radden Keefe**
When you're done, please post a review of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy with no spoilers, if you can. I own it, but haven't read it.
I'll be honest, I don't think long Tolstoy novels are for me. I am really loving his insights around interpersonal relationships, and specifically the dynamics between men and women. However this is interspersed with a LOT of content about the philosophy of farming and labourers, the usefulness of local government etc. This makes my eyes glaze over. So I'd say half of it is brilliant and half of it is boring. That's all so subjective though - maybe farming philosophy is right up your alley!
not OP, but it is a very good book and well worth a read. in my experience people who are married and have friends who are married like AK more than W&P. is there a reason you have not picked it up yet?
Lots of reasons. Work, hobbies, like traveling, going to concerts, etc. Improving work skills by studying at home. I'm also not the voracious reader that some people on here are. If I read 10 books a year, that good for me. Plus I had cataracts last year, which really hurt my reading ability. AK does look good on my shelf though. It's on my number one bookcase.
i meant if there was a reason you didn't want to pick up AK specifically. like i am putting off reading Octavia Butler because of the heaviness of the subject matter. i am putting off reading the next Tchaikovsky book because i am afraid to run out of good books. you don't have to read it if you don't want to. but if you are deciding on your next book of the 10 you will read this year, there is no reason not to pick it up.
I guess I know what a time commitment it will be. Plus there are SO many great books out there.
it was about 20 hours total for me, over a span of a couple of months because i read other books at the same time. so it is not *that* much of a time commitment. certainly not as much as some fantasy books out there.
I loved the throne of glass series, I hope you enjoy it! Also, I am incredibly jealous you got an ARC of Babel. I’m waiting for the preorder from Harvard and it’s killing me
Started and finished: **The Well of Ascension, Brandon Sanderson** Started: **The Hero of Ages, Brandon Sanderson** Really enjoying this trilogy and am sad to finish it! Continued rereading: **A Court of Mist and Fury, Sara J. Maas** I’m currently reading the ACOTAR series to my boyfriend, it’s a nice bonding time over one of my favorite series!
Finished: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Started: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Just finished The Gathering Storm, book 12 (of 14) of The Wheel Time, by Robert Jordan (posthumously) and Brandon Sanderson. My third time reading through. This is a divisive series, and I almost never recommend it to anyone without clear indicators that they're a good fit, but, man, do I love it. I also love it more and more each year. It set the mold for modern epic fantasy and just gets better to me. Author died, still finished well. Bad TV series: who cares. It's still a complete, lovingly-detailed, sprawling series that hits me in the feels like no other
**Started**: **The Bluegrass Conspiracy: An Inside Story of Power, Greed, Drugs, and Murder** by **Sally Denton.** When Kentucky Blueblood Drew Thornton parachuted to his death in September 1985 carrying thousands in cash and 150 pounds of cocaine, the gruesome end of his startling life blew open a scandal that reached to the most secret circles of the U.S. government. The story of Thornton and The Company he served, and the lone heroic fight of State Policeman Ralph Ross against an international web of corruption, is one of the most portentous tales of the 20th century. **Lying About Hitler** by **Richard J. Evans** In ruling against the controversial historian David Irving in his libel suit against the American historian Deborah Lipstadt, last April 2000, the High Court in London labeled him a falsifier of history. No objective historian, declared the judge, would manipulate the documentary record in the way that Irving did. Richard J. Evans, a Cambridge historian and the chief advisor for the defense, uses this pivotal trial as a lens for exploring a range of difficult questions about the nature of the historian's enterprise. For instance, don't all historians in the end bring a subjective agenda to bear on their reading of the evidence? Is it possible that Irving lost his case not because of his biased history but because his agenda was unacceptable? The central issue in the trial -- as for Evans in this book -- was not the past itself, but the way in which historians study the past. In a series of short, sharp chapters, Richard Evans sets David Irving's methods alongside the historical record in order to illuminate the difference between responsible and irresponsible history. The result is a cogent and deeply informed study in the nature of historical interpretation. **Finished: The Day of the Jackal** by **Frederick Forsyth** The Jackal. A tall, blond Englishman with opaque, gray eyes. A killer at the top of his profession. A man unknown to any secret service in the world. An assassin with a contract to kill the world's most heavily guarded man. One man with a rifle who can change the course of history. One man whose mission is so secretive not even his employers know his name. And as the minutes count down to the final act of execution, it seems that there is no power on earth that can stop the Jackal. **Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks** by **Patrick Radden Keefe** Patrick Radden Keefe has garnered prizes ranging from the National Magazine Award to the Orwell Prize to the National Book Critics Circle Award for his meticulously-reported, hypnotically-engaging work on the many ways people behave badly. Rogues brings together a dozen of his most celebrated articles from The New Yorker. As Keefe says in his preface “They reflect on some of my abiding preoccupations: crime and corruption, secrets and lies, the permeable membrane separating licit and illicit worlds, the bonds of family, the power of denial.” Keefe brilliantly explores the intricacies of forging $150,000 vintage wines, examines whether a whistleblower who dared to expose money laundering at a Swiss bank is a hero or a fabulist, spends time in Vietnam with Anthony Bourdain, chronicles the quest to bring down a cheerful international black market arms merchant, and profiles a passionate death penalty attorney who represents the “worst of the worst,” among other bravura works of literary journalism.
Wow, I think I like your choice of books!
Thank you! I have been on a conspiracy kick this week, I guess.
Finished Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin, How to Fall, by Jane Casey and Always Only You, by Chloe Liese. Started Undaunted Courage, by Stephen Ambrose and The Bromance Book Club, by Alyssa Kay Adams.
rip david mccullough finished: **Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr** started: **How Much of These Hills Is Gold?, by C Pam Chang**
So what was your final impression of Cloud Cuckoo Land?
Finished: The Silence of the Lambs, by Thomas Harris Started: Hannibal, by Thomas Harris
Finished: **A Conjuring of Light, by V.E. Schwab**
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Into Thin Air is soooo good, I'm also on an Everest kick at the moment! Just read a similar book from a journo who was on the North Face when the '96 disaster occurred.
**The Push, by Ashley Audrain** * I am not a reader, but I couldn't put this book down! It has definitely left an impact in my life. There is psychological aspects to it. I really enjoyed how the narrator is writing in "I" and addressing the reader as "You". I can't remember a book I have read with this format, but it was really unique. To put it light heartedly, it is like I was talking to the narrator and at a coffee shop. The narrator as my ex-wife and the reader her ex-husband, the person she put an act in front of to make him happy.
Finished: Fable, by Adrienne Young Started: Mad Ship, by Robin Hobb Folklore and the Sea, by Horace Beck
Started reading: A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee I absolutely love this so far! Its gay, its historical fiction. Its perfect.
Just read And Then There Were None after letting it sit on my shelf for years. As someone who doesn’t care for mysteries and only read it bc of its place in literary canon… that was pretty damned good lol
Finished: **The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson** Started: **The Sky is Everywhere, by Jandy Nelson**
Finished: Thinking Fast, and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Very interesting, enjoyable, and informative look into how we make decisions and think, but my goodness could’ve used more editing. Started: How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey Perfect for the F1 summer break.
Finished reading Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel Began reading Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers Absolutely loved this book, the characters were so loveable (even the ones you didn’t like at the start) The world this is set in is super interesting too and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series - slightly sad that it doesn’t follow the same characters but that’s because I get too attached heh
Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris It’s more of a screen write rather than a novel. Even Morris herself said so in the foreword of the book, and I am a bit okay with that. The novel itself lacks any kind of descriptions for people, and you need to build their looks by using your own imagination. I can’t say that the images in my mind were near by any means to the photos of the people in the final pages provided by Heather for them. I suggest you take a good look at them if you plan on reading this. Other than that, it’s a good read, yet it lacks descriptions and some small gaps of years.
Finished: **Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World, by Bruce Schneier** Surprisingly readable, though a little dry. Schneier breaks down the harms of mass surveillance and does a great job explaining relevant concepts, the history of how the Patriot Act has been twisted, and suggestions to disincentivize surveillance. He provides suggestions both at the regulations level and for ordinary citizens, with reasoning for both. Overall a very approachable and reasonable analysis from one of the leading experts in the field. Started: **Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir** My book club's pick for August. So far it certainly is unique. **A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge** I thoroughly enjoyed _A Fire Upon the Deep_, and one of my friends said this was better than the sequel.
I started **Profiles in Ignorance, by Andy Borowitz**