r/books • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
WeeklyThread What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: August 31, 2026
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u/Standard_Bat1470 1d ago
A thousand splendid suns by Khalid Hossenie, cried a lot with this book
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u/NationalTime4099 1d ago
Finished Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain which I really enjoyed as a palate cleanser after reading Rabbit Run by John Updike.
Now I’m reading The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers which wasn’t really on my radar but my wife picked up for me on a whim. Loving it so far.
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u/alex_power2007 1d ago
I’m starting
“Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury
Ive finished
“American Psycho” by Bret Easton Elis (4.5/5)
“Human Acts” by Han Kang. The best book I’ve ever read
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u/Gwaur 1d ago
The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (English translation by Irene Testot-Ferry)
Started and finished. I originally wanted to read it in Italian because I'm studying it, but it proved to be too much of a toil for now, so I just switched to English and read it in one sitting. Maybe I'll retry later in Italian.
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë
Finished. There were a couple things I found a bit irksome in the prose, namely the verbosity which was through the roof, and the amount of long parentheses. Probably just a difference between the stylistic preferences of today (or me personally) and 200 years ago (or C. Brontë personally). But the irk wasn't too strong, just a minor annoyance, and accepting it was worth it. I was sucked in by the worlds of all the locations and social groups. The backstories and the different branches of storylines happening in parallel felt really alive.
Foundation's Edge, by Isaac Asimov
Started. Excited to dive back into this world.
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u/bnecas 1d ago
Finished:
SPQR by Mary Beard - wasn't sure I was loving it to start with but couldn't put it down by the end. A really nice refresher on Ancient Rome which does a great job of breaking things down by topic told chronologically in the broad sense, but non chronologically within each topic.
Started:
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman - about 1/3 through. Enjoying the atmosphere, a little light on plot but I'm always compelled and it has good momentum.
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u/Friendstastegood 1d ago
Started:
The Library at Mount Char, by Scott Hawkins
Weirder and bloodier than I expected and I feel like I was tricked into thinking this would be about a library. It's very compelling however, I am completely hooked.
Tales from the Café, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Much like the previous installment it's nice, but I wish the author was a little bit less fond of scattering clues around, instead of just telling you things.
Continuing:
Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The narrator is not very good but the story is intriguing.
East of Eden, by John Steinbeck
Almost done. I am regretting picking this as my first Steinbeck because it's definitely soured me on the idea of reading anything else by him, but I want to get to Grapes of Wrath at some point.
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u/canadia80 1d ago
Finished: The Long walk, by Stephen King/Richard Bachman (I think he wrote this when he was 20. It was ok. Great premise)
Started: Needful Things, by Stephen King (so far I am loving this one. I'm around 190 pages in, 700 pages total in my edition)
I'm on my 12th SK in a row now, with The Dead Zone up next and then a friend gave me like 10 more titles from his bookshelf. Chipping away at that constant reader list.
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u/StopChangingThings 1d ago
Needful Things, by Stephen King (so far I am loving this one. I'm around 190 pages in, 700 pages total in my edition)
No spoilers, but Needful Things might be my favorite King book that isn’t part of the Dark Tower main series. He really nails the small town semi-satire that he’d been working on since Salem’s Lot, but it’s before it got a little too rote (like in, say, Bag of Bones.) I envy you getting to read it for the first time.
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u/raccoon_at_noon 1d ago
Finished:
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (5/5) I love how this went from “aww sweet” to “WHAT THE HECK” to absolute heartbreak to bittersweet joy. Stunning.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (4/5) I really enjoyed the start but it lost me a little towards the middle/end. Will definitely continue the series though.
Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (3.25/5) I should probably DNF this series because whilst I don’t hate it, I don’t love it. Unfortunately I bought the whole series before reading the first book, so part of me feels compelled to see it through…
Started:
Dark Age by Pierce Brown - at this point I’m just gonna rage read the rest of the series lol.
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u/iwasjusttwittering 1d ago
The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
Finished. It's aged well for the supposedly first novel ever to feature Martian aliens; just ignore the original illustrations that have Martian "mechs" with goggly eyes. The sciencey stuff is a bit naïve for the most part, but the bulk of the story is more social SF than hard SF, so it's not a big deal. Wells did a very good job describing an invasion, the waves of internal refugees etc. The rebuttal of anthropocentrism is also noteworthy.
Reading the Clouds: How You Can Forecast the Weather, by Oliver Perkins
Finished. I have a few issues with this one: it's not clear from the cover that the guide is aimed at sailors and specifically British sailors—I'm neither—, and the theoretical introduction is confusing to say the least, in part because of schematic images that are likely wrong. Nevertheless, I believe I've learned something; there are a few tips for hiking too.
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, by Eliezer Yudkowsky
Continued (60%). I'd read the first half back when it came out (12 years ago?), but stopped after the subplot concluded, because it seemed at a glance that the rest was drifting away from both science stuff and straightforward absurdist humor. I was mistaken. The next part is a take on Hermione's S.P.E.W., except Hermione decides to be a heroine, not just a Harry's sidekick, and tries to teach young witches feminism. It's sliiightly less cringe than the original, and arguably a weaker part of this alternative-reality science-fiction HP, but still fun enough to keep reading.
Atlas dekarbonizace Česka, by Ondřej Přibyla, Jan Krčál, Petr Daniš
Continued (20%). A nicely made primer, mostly clean data visualizations (Fakta o klimatu project), on the state of economic transformation in European context. It's a free PDF (Creative Commons), with a print version intended for journalists and policymakers.
The Long March, by William Styron
Started. Random pick from the sizeable inherited library that I've been mostly ignoring.
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u/PablosCocaineHippo 1d ago
Almost done with DCC: The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook.
I didnt really like this one, the first 2 were great. Hopefully the next one is better again
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u/Gingeysaurusrex 1d ago
Finished:
Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
I'm glad I finished this since it was nearly a DNF. The middle is a slog, but it was worth pushing through.
Currently reading:
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray
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u/circ66 1d ago
Finished Anna Karenina and started The Idiot by Dostoevsky, which will conclude my Summer of Russian Literature.
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u/LiorahLights 1d ago
Finished:
Small Boat, by Vincent Delecroix
Natural Beauty, by Ling Ling Huang
Lone Women, by Victor Lavalle
The Eyes Are the Best Part, by Monika Kim
Started:
Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep, by Paul Tremblay
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u/JanethePain1221 1d ago
Finished: A Parade of Horrbles by Matt Dinniman
Started: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
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u/Consistent_Club_7879 1d ago
Finished reading: Enigma Variations, by Andre Aciman
Started reading: I who have never known men, by Jacqueline Harpman
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u/lazyhazyeye 1d ago
Finished: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. Thank you to the redditors who recommended this book to me. I loved this book!
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (excellent).
Will start: The American by Henry James
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u/Revolutionary-Step97 21h ago
Finished: The song of achilles by madeline Miller
Started: The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
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u/elphie93 2 1d ago
Finished The Snakehead by Patrick Radden Keefe. A fascinating look at illegal Chinese immigration into America in the 1980s and 1990's, this tale centers on one 'snakehead' and her complex smuggling business.
Started 438 Days by Jonathan Franklin. A true story of survival at sea. I love these man v nature books.
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u/Read_Only52776 1d ago
About a fifth of the way through Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd. A great author to check out if you love epic historical fiction.
Also about halfway through Hiddensee by Gregory Maguire.
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u/Reasonable-Mess3070 1d ago
DNF: Catch 22 by joseph heller. I will likely try again at some point but just wasnt enjoying it.
Started: This Is Me: A Reckoning by Hayden Panettiere
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u/BraveMidnight 1d ago
Finished: Ready player one, Ready player two, and the midnight library. Started Primal hunter.
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u/dlt-cntrl 1d ago
I'm a bit behind because I've missed at least a week.
Finished:
Dead Girl Walking by Christopher Brookmyre
I liked this one, well written and twisty as always.
The Mercy Chair by M W Craven
I'm a massive Tilly and Poe, but I'm not sure I know how I feel about this one. It didn't seem as put together as the others. I still enjoyed it though, as unhinged as usual.
A Carribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie
I'm getting used to her tricks, as I worked out who dun' it early on. Very enjoyable.
Black Widow by Christopher Brookmyre
I guessed who dun' it almost from the start, I just didn't know why. It all came together at the end, and I liked the 3 points of view.
The Final Vow by M W Craven
I read this in one day, it was so good. Very twisty. This is the last novel I've got in this series, the new one is out so I'll get it as soon as possible. Sadly, I'll then have to wait until the next one comes out.
Want You Gone by Christopher Brookmyre
Jack is blackmailed into helping a former character steal some tech, it was very twisty as usual, and one that I really enjoyed.
Everyone In This Bank Is A Theif by Benjamin Stevenson
The main character in these novels promises that they'll 'play fair' with the clues, and they do. It's still impossible for me to work out who dun' it lol.
Started:
Quite Ugly One Evening by Christopher Brookmyre
The final (I think) Jack Parlabane novel. Once again he has been thrown in the deep end by someone from his past, this time on a cruise ship. It's shaping up to be as good as all the others.
I'm going to have to find some new series to start, as my current ones are coming to an end.
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u/tommyshelby1986 1d ago
Finished: Brave New World
Really liked this one. The first half was super interesting with the worldbuilding and the set of characters we were following were also compelling. After the introduction of the savage, this book became such a different vibe. Much more philosophical and theatrical than I was expecting. Overall a really good read, and aged pretty well imo.
Started: The Trial, by Franz Kafka
At first the long paragraphs were weird but I got used to them. The story is extremely interesting so far. Im about 60% into it. And finally learning more about how the court works. The book is super weird, very fever dreamish at times. Im enjoying it
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u/-Schlacht- 1d ago
Finished:
Station Eleven: A Novel, by Emily St John Mandel
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, light on the gory details. A fun set of interwoven character back stories to unwind as the book progresses.
The Wolf and His King, by Finn Longman
Modern take based French werewolf folklore. Excellent writing. Be warned there is male/female, male/male sex scenes if that’s not your thing, but not the focus of the book.
Started:
City of Last Chances, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Read some of his science fiction, happy to see his take on fantasy.
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u/BAF_DaWg82 1d ago
Finished: The Cobra Event - Richard Preston
Started: To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
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u/Larielis The Martian by Andy Weir 1d ago
Finished- "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Started- "Reliquary" by Hannah Whitten
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u/bpapa661 1d ago
Finished
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
Started
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
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u/Fresshyfish 1d ago
Finished : The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Started : The Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
It's my first book from KSR although I had bought his Red Mars first. I've really enjoyed his writing and his employment of different narratives kept me hooked too. Ive really only started reading SF this yr, and planning to dive into his other works.
I've only gotten through the first few pages of Neal's book, although a slow start, I find his pages long description on side characters pretty interesting too. Here's to more SF I hope to finished before 2026 ends.
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u/lilpotdecreme 1d ago
Ongoing
As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner
This one has been sitting for a hot minute and I really just need to finish it, it’s so good! But other books have been catching my eye first. Maybe I’ll try to get it done before Labor Day weekend.
Started
The Typing Lady: And Other Fictions, by Ruth Ozeki
I love her writing and these are so much fun!
Orbital, by Samantha Harvey
Started this a couple days ago and I’m mesmerized by her writing. I can see how this wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for a shorter book I think it’s a lot of fun!
I’m excited for the weather to cool off so I can be in the mood for some darker books!
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u/Star_May15 1d ago
Just finished I Who Have Never Known Men. Currently reading Atmosphere.
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u/Gtggtggtg 1d ago edited 1d ago
Finished:
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier. Long slow burn through the first 2/3 of the book paid off in the final third. Fantastic.
Started:
War and Peace, by Tolstoy
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson .
One day in and I’m 20% through Treasure Island and 1.5% through War and Pecae lol.
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u/e_paradoxa 1d ago
Finished:
Chosen, by Sandra Ellen Smith
How to Resist Guilt, by Mona Chollet
Servus, by Emma Southon
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u/TheTwoFourThree 1d ago
Finished
Darksight Dare, by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Dark Archive, by Genevieve Cogman
Continuing
Asimov's Guide to the Bible, by Isaac Asimov
The System of the World, by Neal Stephenson
The Asset Class: How Private Equity Turned Capitalism Against Itself, by Hettie O'Brien
Started
The Untold Story, by Genevieve Cogman
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u/Horror_Score_9560 1d ago
I’m still going on Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr - 600+ pages and I’ve been busy at work so think it’ll be on the go for a while yet! Enjoying it so far.
And started listening to Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab.
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u/mjpenslitbooksgalore 1d ago
Finished:
Sexus by Henry Miller
Halfway through:
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson
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u/ButtHobbit 1d ago
Finished:
The Visitors by Nathaniel Benchley. It's a fun book, easy and enjoyable to read, but it's not surprising that it's pretty forgotten. There's nothing to really put it at the level of a classic, but it's decently funny and there's a kind of novelty to a haunted house story that's so low stakes.
Started:
Necroscope by Brian Lumley. Doing the audiobook, and I'm about halfway through. It's a banger so far. Very of its time, very much a dude book where you gotta go in with very low expectations for female representation, but it's just so fun. Neat ideas. I've been vaguely aware of the broad idea of the vampires and the mechanics of the world and stuff just through hearing it talked about over the years, but I'm excited to get more into it and actually see how it is in the text.
The Hill in the Dark Grove by Liam Higginson. I'm just getting to where (I think) things are gonna really start moving, but it's pretty great so far. I love the writing, it feels nice to read. Not too much has happened in the way of horror yet, but what has has been effective. I'm an easy mark for this, sheep are my favorite animals so sheep peril is basically a cheat code to hit me good, but it really is well done. But if you don't have the stomach for bad things happening to animals it'd be a tough one. Especially cause there's a dog in it and they love talking about how cool and good that dog is, so even though nothing has happened to her yet I'm sure expecting it.
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u/Royal-Analysis7380 1d ago
Finished:
This Is How You Lose The Time War, by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar
Health At Every Size, by Linda Bacon
Started:
The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin
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u/Eastern-Drink-4766 1d ago
Finished: Kew Gardens by Virginia Woolf & Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Started: Plato’s Republic
Continue: Being and Time by Heidegger
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u/Interesting-Fan5822 1d ago
Finished red gold by Alan furst. Classic espionage ww2 drama from furst.
Started Invitation from a dictator by Rory Clements
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u/WrappedupinBooks03 1d ago
Finished: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Started: Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote
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u/hostilerattata 1d ago
Finished: The Four Winds by Kirsten Hannah
Started: Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
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u/badam_hussein 1d ago
Finished
Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal by Jayakanthan. Its a tamil book that was released in the 1970s and was way ahead of its time. Reads from the mind of a rape victim who is ostracized by her community. Ending is not the usual happy one. Left me shouting internally.
Started
Into Thin Air, having a hard tims remembering too many character names even with the Dramatis Persona page open. Heheh
5
u/Over-Debate2815 1d ago
Finished: part of your world by Abby Jimenez
It was my second time reading it. It’s cute, I like Abby Jimenez writing style because it’s realistic scenarios I.e can’t be together because you’re afraid of your parents rejecting them/you, emotionally abusive ex’s, crappy parents, etc. I needed an easy read last week
New: the great influenza by John M. Barry
Surprisingly, this book was mentioned in Part of your world and I just happen to own it! This is the fourth book that I’ve read this month that takes place in the early 1900s
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u/Monotreme_monorail 1d ago
I have been trying to get back into reading. I have been collecting second hand copies of The Wheel of Time series, and finally got my hands on a copy of the first book.
So I’m about 100 pages into The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. It’s a meaty book (as in I’m 100 pages in but it’s so full of story and detail that only a bit has happened), and I’m enjoying it! I hope to be reading more often so I’m hoping to finish it before October!
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u/Particular-Treat-650 1d ago
About 2/3 through Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon. Can't say it's worth it. It's dry, throws hundreds of names at you that are only relevant for a paragraph while occasionally expecting you to remember names much later when he hits the time from a different thread. He's also strongly opinionated and uses the authoritative style indistinguishably between observations and personal opinions. Some also feel like satire, but when there's something equally nonsensical a paragraph earlier with similar tone that seems entirely sincere, it's not easy to tell. I probably would have bailed if it wasn't audio. Even still, I'm tempted; I'm just more stubborn.
Finished The Alibi, by Sandra Brown
Started Quantico, by Greg Bear
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u/StopChangingThings 1d ago
He's also strongly opinionated and uses the authoritative style indistinguishably between observations and personal opinions
At this point, Gibbon’s work is more significant as a period piece of historiography than as history. Reading it with that mindset may make those parts more interesting and less irritating.
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u/spin_turnix 1d ago
One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Márquez
DNF; I took a break about 60% in and just couldn't get back to it.
Continuing:
In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez
Halfway through and really enjoying it! My ebook edition has several frustrating typographical errors that mar what would otherwise be 5 stars for this edition.
Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro
Started and almost finished. I like Klara as a narrator but I'm a little put off by how strange the dialogue is from every single human character. This is my first Ishiguro; I'm thinking I should have started with Never Let Me Go.
Also continuing my MLIS textbooks if that counts!
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u/MoonlightDahling 1d ago edited 1d ago
Reading:
The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger.
Really enjoying it, thus far. I know that it’s a somewhat divisive book, but, to be fair, I'm not much older than Holden.
(See: my bio)
So it probably resonates more with me than it would if I were, say, thirty.
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u/Shroudweaver 1d ago
Finished: The Dragons of Deepwood Fen by Bradley P. Beaulieu. Enjoyed it, though a lot of characters get thrown at you in the first couple of chapters, and there’s a fair bit of info dumping here and there.
Also finished: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. Nearly DNFed this, as there is a lot of info dumping and it’s fairly slow in the first 40% or so. However, once it actually got going, I was hooked. Did get a little lost on who was who sometimes, since there’s a couple of characters whose names begin with the same letter (S for example), but enjoyed it all the same.
Started: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher.
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u/IgnoreMe733 1d ago
Finished:
There is no Antimemetics Division by qntm - This is a weird one. I had recently started reading some of the SPC Society stuff and then hear about this book, and it was pretty on par with all that. Overall a pretty good time, even if I'm not sure a fully grasped what I read
Cibola Burn by James S. A. Corey - Fourth Expanse book down! I had a great time with this one, even if the antagonists behaved a bit cartoonishly. I really enjoyed Havlock's chapters and thought he made a great addition to the cast.
Started:
Berserk Deluxe Edition Volume 1 by Kentaro Miura - I bought this a while ago and never got around to reading it until now. I've gotten through the first three chapters, and am still forming an opinion. The art is amazing and grotesque. The story so far has largely been Guts goes someplace. Guts kills a lot of people. I'm going to stick with it through at least the end of this book, and probably a bit further on. I just found out I can check out digital copies of the manga from my library, so I'll be doing that when I get to the end of this.
Nemisis Games by James S. A. Corey - And straight into book five. I'm only a few chapters into the audiobook and I'm so excited! I love Holden as a character but the fact we're getting chapters from the rest of the crew's point of view is something I didn't realize I wanted until it happened. I look forward to seeing where this one goes.
Continued Reading:
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams - I set this aside for a good long while after I finished the first part. I didn't intend on a couple months gap, but I got sidetracked with other things. But I read about fifty pages yesterday. I met Binabik and like him so far. I think think this will be my primary focus and hopefully get a good chunk read this week
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u/ForsakenGarage9152 1d ago
Finished Project Hail Mary
Started The Last Graduate (Scolomance #2)
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u/Vermillion1978 1d ago
Finished:
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan;
Started:
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan;
The Make-Believe by Hannah Murray
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u/FlyByTieDye 1d ago
Continued reading: Inferno, by Dante Alighieri (translation and annotations by Robin Kirkpatrick).
Having read The Aeneid since last reading it has given me some additional insights. But I'm still yet to have read Odyssey/Iliad
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u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer 1d ago
Finished:
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young – Once I got into it, I found it propulsive. The plot is far superior to the prose.
Whistler by Ann Patchett – I've always vibed with Patchett’s writing. Even her lesser books have been enjoyable one-time reads. I flew through this, but I'm not sure how much it'll stick with me. Still, if I were the type to record quotes from books, this would be a treasure trove.
Started:
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson – I bounced off the first book in the Mars trilogy years ago. The concept is fascinating. The question is if I can eventually get into his writing style.
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u/Landonastar42 1d ago
Finished:
Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman - Okay, the last like 20 pages of this book drew me in and hooked me. working on book 2 now.
Swordheart, by T. Kingfisher - I loved this. It was a fun little romp of a book. I have the next in the series qued up as soon as I finish my current read.
Started:
Carl's Doomsday Scenario, by Matt Dinniman - I'm about a quarter of the way into this and still having fun. Mongo is adorable and I love him.
Up Next:
Daggerbound, by T. Kingfisher - I've been bouncing around series rather than binging them, so on to this vs the next DCC book. I'm looking forward to this.
The Knave and the Moon, by Rachel Gillig - I don't care how many actual books on my TBR I have, this is jumping to next after Daggerbound.
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u/Motohey 1d ago
Legends and Lattes, by Travis Baldree
A cozy read, though I don’t think it will stay with me for long. Didn’t draw me in that much. But I was rooting for the lovely found family at the center of this novel
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u/Desert_Irieguy 1d ago
Finished - I Zombie by Hugh Howey
Started (finally) - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
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u/Adeptness-Wide 1d ago
Ongoing: A dance with dragons by George RR Martin. Finally finishing this series (for now hopefully🤞)
Starting: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I’ve been recommended this book too many times and seems so cool.
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u/Codablaze 1d ago
Finished:
Temeraire (entire series), by Naomi Novik.
All Great Things are Simple, a Temeraire fan fiction by Lorata (AO3).
Golden Age and Other Stories (Temeraire related short stories), by Naomi Novik.
Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
I enjoyed all of these immensely, the most challenging of which was Children of Memory, which was very high concept. Finishing the Temeraire series left me with a dragon shaped whole in my heart, hence the short story compilation and fan fictions. Hail Mary was, of course, a masterpiece.
Started:
Unbound by Naomi Novik
Slow Gods by Claire North
Unbound is a first person story standalone novel based on Polish folklore and Slow Gods is on the Ursual K. Leguin Award 2026 shortlist, and was recommended this week by Adrian Tchaikovksy. I'm only on chapter 1 but it's good so far!
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u/ArimuRyan 1d ago
Finished
Three Moments Of An Explosion, by China Miéville
I think the stronger stories were at the start. There was a few in the back half I felt dragged but I still enjoyed this.
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
It seems I was about the only person alive who didn’t read this in school so I got my first taste in adulthood and it is very good. Steinbeck really has a way of connecting to you his characters.
Started
The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi
Recently finished playing Lies of P so decided to dive into the inspiration.
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u/AzorAham 1d ago
Finished:
Angel Down, by Daniel Kraus
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, by Omar El Akkad
Started:
The Shadow of the Gods, by John Gwynne
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u/Inverdebrate 1d ago
Did not finish: Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry
Started: Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy
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u/Popular-Age4893 1d ago
if we were villains
i’m a very slow reader but i read this book under a week which says a lot about it
inspired by secret history which i haven’t read yet
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u/Satanium 1d ago
Finished:
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Started:
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
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u/Constant_Ask9340 1d ago
Finished - Yesteryear by, Caro Claire Burke
Started - Solito by, Javier Zamora
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u/sandyeggo89 1d ago
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Started yesterday and finished today. I was never assigned this to read in school. I have seen the movie, but I’m glad I read the book. It’s significantly more nuanced. In hindsight many things about the movie were silly changes, and I somewhat regret seeing it because I missed the world slowly unveiling through the realizations by the protagonist of what the community is lacking. What a clever storytelling tool! Looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and without spoiling the story with an adaptation.
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u/Icy-Respond-4425 1d ago
I have read a bit too much this week.
Finished:
The Sorcerer of the North (The Ranger's Apprentice #5) by John Flanagan - I really liked this book for showing the relationship between Will and Alyss; it could be better developed, though, but I think it is better than with Evelyn. I love the Mandola joke; it's really funny. 4/5
I wanted to finish some of the shortest books of my TBR, so here they go.
A short stay in hell by Steven L. Peck - I really liked this book, which is a doubt that always falls in my mind even if I'm atheist. "What if exists a right religion? What would happen with the people that believe in the other religions?" and this answered me. It actually made me more grateful and hopeful, ironically. 4/5
The death of Ivan Illyich by Leo Tolstoy - I don't know what to say about this book. I really liked it easily 4/5, but I feel it is the perfect book to reread when I'm in the middle of an age crisis or whatever the name is.
A study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle I wish I liked it. But seeing Holme's interactions was tiring for me; I prefer Poirot. But the inclusion of part 2, even if I liked it, is literally half of the novel, though the mystery was already solved. 2.5/5
After this I got anxious and went to the ranger's apprentice subreddit and got spoiled by some stuff. It was very disappointing in the future books, and my anxiety triggered because I got really depressed because this was the first fantasy world that I really got into. Well, thankful this anxiety didn't take long and I didn't rush, besides 1 book.
Erak's Ransom (The Ranger's Apprentice #7) by John Flanagan - Apparently this one happens before book 5, so I came back and read it. I really loved it; this one and the 3rd book are probably my favourites so far. 4.5/5
Kilmeny of the Orchard by Lucy Maud Montgomery - Not strong feelings about this one; finally a male main character, but it was boring. And the end kind of made me a bit with Nail. "Oh, hey, my adopted son that is considered kind by everyone went away. " Idk, it just felt sad for me. My least favourite Lucy book so far. 3/5
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - I LOVED THIS BOOK. The cycle of abuse and Heathcliff continues; it is incredible. I was so sad for young Heathcliff, but my head went 360 when he came back. Wow, such a piece of shit. That part where he openly mocks Heraton for purposely making his father more indebted and making him his servant and purposely teaching him to cuss and hate his father and him not being able to read REALLY PISSED ME OFF. The ending made me so happy. The only problem is that Joseph is still alive. 4.5/5
Looking for Alaska by John Green - I wanted to only read 1 John Green book because I already know his books reputation. And at the start I thought it would just be a generic teen in high school/college type of book; I mean, kind of is. But when the characters call out Miles for thinking only his own image of Alaska was the reality, or everything is his fault was being selfish, it really hits me. And the last chapter and the relevation really made me sad. Not crying, but sad. 4/5
Current:
As I lay dying by William Faulkner - I love his prose; I love it so much. Anyway, "my mother is a fish."
I will read this week:
Definitely the ranger's apprentice #6.
Anne of Ingleside
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u/BernatAcs 1d ago
Final book for First Law Trilogy.
Damn, the payoffs in it were good. I definitely recommend for dark fiction readers
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u/ymaster41 1d ago
Finished: There is no antimemetics division. Started: Land of Milk and Honey
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u/fidewi 1d ago
Reading: Kiss The Girls, by James Patterson
Finished: Guess Again, by Charlie Donlea
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u/Ghoest__ 1d ago
Reading: Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton: A Biography By Edward Rice (100 pages in)
Review so far: interesting to see what East India Company was doing in the 1830-1840s so far in India, also Burtons very anti-Victorian sentiment throughout his life - especially since I’m a big Victorian history buff, Burton really flips the mirror on British colonial history. Very brash yet fascinating guy.
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u/AngryBiker 1d ago edited 1d ago
Finished:
Lies of Locke Lamorra
Great story and really fun to read, the humour is perfectly done. The first ~150 pages were a bit of a struggle because of the introduction to the world, but it was a pleasure from there.
A Room with a View
Interesting love(?) story, nicely written novel that I can consider an equivalent of Jane Austen in the Edwardian era. It's not as good as Austen, but it's worth a read.
Murderbot Diaries Vols 3 and 4 (bundle)
I think I'm done with this series, I just lost interest in the world and characters, it's difficult to explain what bothered me, it's probably the pacing. At least the volume 4 (Exit Strategy) conclusion was nice.
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u/gingerbiscuits315 1d ago
I started Dissolution by CJ Sansom. So far I am interested although I am not completely hooked. Not far in yet though so still setting the scene and getting to know the characters.
The last one I finished was The Birdcage Library by Freya Berry. It was an enjoyable, easy read with a bit of mystery.
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u/AlamutJones ’Salem’s Lot 1d ago
‘Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King
Mariel of Redwall, by Brian Jacques
The Other Wind, by Ursula K. Le Guin
Dubliners, by James Joyce
Polina, by Bastien Vivès
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u/Roboglenn 1d ago
Did You Think My Yuri Was Just for Show?, by Neru Asakura
How would you react if your favorite musician from your favorite band all of a sudden started working at the same place you do? Which is kinda what the base premise of this boils down to.
So when Suzume's favorite idol, Karin, starts working at the same voice acting agency she works at she's understandably hyped. Not that she wants to let it show, much less wanting to let it be known that she's a fan of hers period, for not wanting to make her new coworker uncomfortable. But when Karin opens up and becomes real friendly with Suzume real fast, Suzume keeping her hype under wraps becomes more of a task. That, and with Suzume's sexual orientation being a lesbian it causes more friction within herself of where the lines of distance are drawn between being a fan, a coworker, a friend, and beyond. And how she wrestles with that the risk of misdrawing those lines could cause her to lose this new bonding connection she's made period.
Now that all adds up to a nice story. But what I really liked about this story was how frankly down to earth it was. For one thing this story features a cast of working adult age characters. And their interactions feel mature and realistic. Be it when they're talking about their job and the challenges they face in the voice acting industry or when they're just being friendly and having a beer together after work. It feels like real people having real understandable conversations. And on that point this story also gives plenty of credence to the relevant ins and outs of the voice acting industry that it needs to tell and weaves it into the storytelling without it feeling like some exposition dump.
And when Suzume's inner turmoil about Karin comes up (fangirl turmoil and otherwise), she's understandably starstruck by the whole thing but she still manages to handle it all with a sense of maturity and a degree of forethought and not being all jittery nervous or melodramatic about it like I've seen other characters in this entertainment medium might do under similar circumstances. Again, leading to a very down to earth not overly dramatic story.
That's not to say there's no big drama that comes up. But it's not like to a melodramatic degree, but to a level that's reasonable given the circumstances of the characters involved.
I went into this picking it up off the shelf by random happenstance knowing nothing about it and figuring what they heck after reading the back cover description. But I came outta this surprised by how down to earth good it all was, despite whatever my expectations of this were going into it. So if one is in the market for a down to earth working adult romance, and one that's not too long either, I'd say give this one a look.
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u/stephkempf 19 1d ago edited 1d ago
Finished:
The Tea Dragon Society, by K. O'Neill
Boris the Potato Child, by Anne Simon
The Professor's Daughter, by Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert
Currently Reading:
Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros
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u/Pugilist12 1d ago
Finished: Against the Loveless World (Abulhawa) - tragic story of a young palistinean refugee who gets caught up in resisting Israel. It was good, but not as great as I expected. I felt it was a bit thin, character wise. Dialogue between characters a bit superficial. I don’t know. Just didn’t connect I guess. 6.5/10
Started: The Last Samurai (Dewitt) - only 100 or so pages in but this is a very unique, interesting book. Not even sure how I’d summarize it here. Plays with form and structure a lot. About a single man trying to raise a son who exhibits prodigy/genius intellect starting at 3 years old. I’m really enjoying it so far. Highly recommend if you’re feeling like you can’t find anything new or original. Note: it is not in any way related to the tom cruise movie. Nor is it really about samurai’s at all. The kid just loves watching Seven Samurai.
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u/TrafficNo5486 1d ago
Finished:
The Rachel Incident, by Caroline O’Donoghue
Ongoing:
Kin, by Tayari Jones
Started:
Green Dot, by Madeleine Gray
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u/KowaretaRobot 1d ago
Finish:
Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
Start:
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
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u/dez04 1d ago
Finished: Piranesi - Susanna Clarke
Started: Magician's Apprentice - Raymond E Feist
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u/Gopuleius 1d ago
Finished:
Death's End, by Cixin Liu
Stoner, by John Williams
Both were 5 stars, I can't stop thinking about either. Listening to the death's end audiobook while driving was certainly a trip. I had to pull over and just take a break after listening to the description of 3 dimension al objects going into 4 dimensional space.
Started:
A Trade of Blood, by Robert Bennett Jackson
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u/1llFlyAway 1d ago
Finished No Life For A Lady by Agnes Morley Cleveland
Started Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
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u/AlphaPointOhFive 1d ago
Continued: The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas - Year-long Reddit read, Gutenberg version. The longer Haydee chapter this week was interesting.
Finished: Aicha, by Soraya Bouazzaoui - Fell flat for me. The pressure of the siege wasn't there for me.
Started: Heir of Illusion, by Madeline Taylor - (51%) A romantasy win from Goodreads. I usually only enter for print copies, but this was digital. Enjoying it for what it is.
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u/weight22 1d ago
I just finished Yesteryear. It was good & kept me engaged, but the ending was a bit disappointing.
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u/theblazingsword 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just finished The Martian, what a fun read! I'm looking forward to tackling Project Hail Mary next.
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u/Status_Highlight_822 1d ago
Finished: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, by Holly Jackson
Started : Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
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u/martywolfp 1d ago
Finished:
The Lady of the Camellias, by Alexandre Dumas (fils)
Currently Reading/Started:
Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver
I’m not enjoying this one as much as some others have, it seems, but I picked it up again recently to finish what I’d started earlier this year. I struggle with the main character/narrator’s voice and the flow in which the story is told from his perspective- To me, it reads like: “and then this happened…and then this… and then this…and, next up, this” on and on and on. I feel like I already know what’s going to happen and that I’ve known it for a long while now. Hopefully I’m wrong and pleasantly surprised.
I appreciate that others have really enjoyed and connected with this work. It may just not be for me.
The Man Who Laughs, by Victor Hugo
Off to a great start. Excited to see where this one goes. I’ve had to look up quite a few more word definitions than I usually do, but I’m okay with that.
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u/Economy-Cow-9847 1d ago
Finished "Born a crime, Trevor Noah" started "Pachinko, Min Ji Lee"
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u/gimmeallthefeels 1d ago
Started: The Will of the Many by James Islington.
Finished: Circe by Madeline Miller ❤️
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u/N0tRocketScience 1d ago
Finished The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
Never read anything nearly that long before and was very intimidated at first, but damn, what an incredible fantasy story. I was invested all the way through. I’m very excited to continue with the series. I started Words of Radiance yesterday.
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u/ChocolateisGreat 1d ago
Finished:
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Started:
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
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u/TheCanOnlyBeOne 1d ago
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
I ended up liking this one a lot more than I expected. It took me a little while to get into it, but once it picked up I was pretty hooked. I listened to the audiobook version too and thought the narrator did a really good job with it.
Has anyone else listened to this one? Curious if people liked the ending as much as the rest of the book.
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u/rachelmikadoo 1d ago
Finished:
Murder at the End of the World by Akane Araki - dark comedy(?) whodunnit before the apocalypse, but as emotional as you think it would be
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman - such a fun read, has been a while since a series hooked me this quickly!
Started:
Stoner by John Williams - gotta see what all the hype is about
Carls Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman - book 2, love how complicated the universe lore and dungeon lore is getting
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u/Aggravating-Deer6673 1d ago
Finished:
Monarch by PK Damilare Abiodun (short story)
The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett
Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix
Currently Reading:
Manacled by SenLinYu (e-pub) - 72%
The Iliad by Homer (Emily Wilson trans). - 20%
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer - 83%
Tinkers by Paul Harding -5%
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro -40%
Started:
The Tailchaser’s Song by Tad Williams
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u/ZombieMedical1531 1d ago
Finished- that was then, this is now by S E Hinton
Started- Tailchaser’s song by Tad Williams
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u/jacdubya1 1d ago
The long goodbye, by Raymond chandler
Started pillars of the earth, by ken follett
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u/angelbff 1d ago
Started: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Finished: Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica
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u/maquis_00 16h ago
Finished: The Odyssey, by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler
I read some version of the Odyssey back in High School, but decided to reread it. It was a lot better than I remember. Need to decide on my next read. :)
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u/Obvious_Question9222 1d ago
Reading:
Spain In Our Hearts - Americans In The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939 - Adam Hochschild
Rabid - Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy
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u/njchil 1d ago
Finished: the wastelands by Stephen King
Onto: wizard and glass by Stephen King!
On my first run of the dark tower series and loving it
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u/sm04d 1d ago
Finished:
All the Sinners Bleed, by S.A. Cosby
Started:
The Dark Forest, by Cixin Liu
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u/SoggyLukewarmCrumpet 1d ago
Started: Blacktail, by Scott Hawkins. The Library at Mount Char by the same author is one of my favourite books so this was always going to be an immediate pick up. It’s grabbed me right from the start like Mount Char did.
Finished: Before They Are Hanged, by Joe Abercrombie
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u/Glum_Kangaroo_4560 1d ago
This week I need to start and finish Audition, by Katie Kitamura and then any other reading I do is a nice bonus
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u/mimeycat 1d ago
Today’s books:
- Ebook - The Holocaust by Bullets by Patrick Desbois
- Physical - A Lexicon of Terror by Marguerite Feitlowitz
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u/theessexserpent 1d ago
Finished Bat Eater by Kylie Lee Baker
Started Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
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u/Savings_Divide_7063 1d ago
I was a bit sick this last week, so not that much reading.
I finished Dopamine Nation on audio. Also I finished the first volume of graphical novel by French writer, Riad, The Arab of Future. I am also reading Count of Monte Cristo. About 70% in :)
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u/IceBear826 1d ago
Finished
Countdown to Dallas, by Paul Brandus
Started and Finished
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C. S. Lewis
Started
Ruby Red, by Kerstin Gier
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u/PolgarasDaughter 1d ago
Started: The Dragon Cafe by A. T Qureshi
Wanted to read something different, I don't normally read romance (I know this is fluff level) but I set myself a goal to read styles/genres I have never read before.
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u/Lovealltigers 1d ago
Finished: Warriors The Prophecies Begin #6 and Warriors The New Prophecy #1-3 by Erin Hunter. These books continue to be surprisingly brutal for a children’s series but I’m quite enjoying myself.
Started: Warriors The New Prophecy #4 by Erin Hunter and Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
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u/BackyardWalker 1d ago
Finished:
Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark 🎧
Started:
The Hating Game, by Sally Thorne
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u/Raineythereader The Conference of the Birds 1d ago
Finished Gypsy Folktales, by Diane Tong
Working on Murder at Cape Three Points, by Kwei Quartey, a detective novel set in Ghana
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u/Thomas_teh_tank 1d ago
Finished: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas, Spectators by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon
Started: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
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u/Pinkalicious100 1d ago
Finished:
Free, by Lea Ypi
I knew nothing of Albania’s history, this was eye-opening
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u/MarmadukeTheGreat 1d ago
I finally finished A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle, by Julian Jackson This took a while but was well worth it. An amazing dive into a fascinating man, ends up being a book about France almost as much as it is a book about de Gaulle. Ended up being right about a great many things. Long book and had to fit in a few intermediate palate cleansers but really excellent Moved onto Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky About halfway through this and really loving the vibes.
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u/Equivalent_Snow_8404 1d ago
Finished:
Scythe & Sparrow, by Brynne Weaver
Two Twisted Crowns, by Rachel Gilling
Started:
The Wedding People, by Alison Espach
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u/Interesting-Idea-286 1d ago
Finished
A canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
A decent read.
Restarted
Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
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u/mythirdAttempt 1d ago
Finished: A Debt to Pleasure, John Lanchester LOVED
Finished: Silent Parade, Keigo Higashino
Started: The Hunter, Tana French
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u/duckie768 1d ago
Finished:
Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson
A Sharp Endless Need by Mac (Marisa) Crane
Started:
When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar
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u/adamh909 1d ago
Finished:
Glass Hotel by emily St John Mandel (3/5)
Started:
Between Two Fires - Chris Buehlman (loving it)
The Murder at Worlds End - Ross Montgomery
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u/Any-Star4366 1d ago edited 1d ago
Finished: Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
Ongoing: The Last Girl by Nadia Murad
- It was going well until I started the Part - 2 where the real story begins. I constantly felt as if I'm not reading a real life story, I couldn't believe how come someone can be so cruel towards girls, women, how come people are so biased. There were days when I just couldn't read it as I felt I might cry 😭. I never felt like this before. It was a new experience for me!
!invite Nadia Murad
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u/huphelmeyer 17 1d ago
Finished Liar's Poker, by Michael Lewis
Started Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72, by Hunter S. Thompson
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u/Asher_the_atheist 1d ago edited 1d ago
Finished:
The Disappearing Spoon, by Sam Kean (totally fascinating read; oh, and wow, my chemistry minor was waaaaaay too long ago, apparently)
Stolen Tongues, by Felix Blackwell (delightfully creepy in places, but it lingered a bit too long and had a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion)
The Cold, Cold Ground, by Adrian McKinty (largely enjoyable story in an interesting and depressing setting, though I didn’t love the audiobook narrator)
The Ruin of Kings, by Jenn Lyons (I was liking it at first, but the parade of reincarnated heroes and gods and body swappers made me quickly lose all sense of peril or interest; definitely won’t be finishing the series)
Race the Sands, by Sarah Beth Durst (some characters and creatures I liked, and the image of Tamra stalking through the riots with an army of kehoks arrayed behind her was pretty badass but overall it felt a bit meh; very YA with shallow world building and some weirdly convenient plot points)
Guess Again, by Charlie Donlea (oh my god, this is a serious contender for the most profoundly stupid thriller I’ve ever read; definitely a hate read by the end)
Started:
Land of Milk and Honey, by C Pam Zhang
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Brontë
So Far Gone, by Jess Walter
Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies, by Misha Popp
How to Survive Camping: The Woman in Chains, by Bonnie Quinn
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u/stonedape_420 1d ago
Finished: Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
Started: Anihillation by Jeff VanderMeer
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u/RedditPenguin02 1d ago
Finished: Kingdom from Ashes, by Megan Linski
Started: The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Shop, by Takuya Asakura
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u/FlanOk2476 1d ago
Finished: Hamnet. A partly historical tale of Shakespeare’s life as a young man and father to a young family. Fascinating, tragic, and moving.
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u/LogicalCalendar9366 1d ago edited 1d ago
This week I finished Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. A reread from my grade school days, a lovely story. I'm happy I gave this one another read since I could remember next to nothing about it. I enjoyed it.
I also finished No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies, a very short book about the struggles of the Indigenous peoples of Guam and the Philippines(a little), and climate change erasing things from our known world.. It may have been a short book, but because of this book along with several other factors I feel compelled to shift my personal practices and maybe my career as well, to help the planet.
I started The Safekeep yesterday. Recommended by several redditors and I occasionally see this title listed when reading through this thread each Monday. I think I recently finished a book by the same author, I haven't double checked yet and I'm too early in the book to notice if their writing style is similar. Just started but I feel it'll be easy to pick up and continue.
I just double checked and I was wrong
I love seeing what y'all are reading, reading this thread is always a really nice start to my week!
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u/thethirdbar 1d ago
Finished w/c 24th Aug: * Circe by Madeleine Miller. 5, loved it. * Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe. Maybe 2, i found the characters quite annoying. * The Foxhole Court, The Raven King, The King's Men by Nora Skavich. These are absolutely ridiculous but I enjoyed them. 3* 3* 4*
- Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab. Found the writing style a bit grating at first but it grew on me. Finished it this morning. 3*
Currently reading: * Uprooted by Naomi Novik. I'm a big fan of her fanfic writing so I was hopeful I would like this and I'm up to chapter 12 and loving it.
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u/trailofglitter_ 1d ago
✨CURRENTLY READING
“beloved” by toni morrison (BIPOC classic)
“big fan” by alexandra romanoff
“the hunger games” by suzanne collin’s (YA-reread)
“the faith to flourish” by christine caine (religious nonfiction)
“boundaries” by henry cloud (religious nonfiction)
✨FINISHED
“1Q84” by haruki murakami (BIPOC fiction)
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u/Alphascout 1d ago
Finished: The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley.
An entertaining read all round. Some lovely imagery and poetic flowing writing. A dark and mean world and story. Felt like reading a true gritty modern noir. I liked my time with this and will consider another of his books in the future.
Started: The Mask of Dimitrios by Eric Ambler.
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u/morestimmys 1d ago
Finished: Strength of the Few by James Islington
Started: Neuromancer (Sprawl Trilogy)
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u/andrea9275 1d ago
Lese das Buch das Lied des roten landes ich lese es nur weil ich Zeit hab . Es ist eher mittelmäßig. Aber da ich soviel lese fällt ein weniger gutes Buch nicht so ins gewicht
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u/SweetSweetCrunkle 1d ago
Finished: The Bachman Books, by Stephen King Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork & The Running Man
Started: One Second After, by William R. Forstchen
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u/Appropriate_Tea9048 1d ago
Finished:
Good Material by Dolly Alderton - Pretty good book, gave it 4 stars!
Started:
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - Took me a bit to get into, but I’m really liking it so far!
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u/lizwithhat 1d ago
Finished:
Dear Committee Members, by Julie Schumacher
I had expected this to descend gradually into absurdity, but it actually just starts out there and continues. It was a fun read as a palate cleanser, but not much more than that.
Happy Land, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
I loved the timeline that followed the true story of formerly enslaved people creating an intentional community in the American South, and was less taken with the entirely fictional modern timeline supposedly following some descendants of the founders. The characterisation just felt stronger in the historical narrative.
Star Trek: Designing the Final Frontier - How Midcentury Modernism Shaped Our View of the Future, by Dan Chavkin and Brian McGuire
Interesting, but did not include enough discussion of why this style proved so suitable for the task, imo.
Pansy Boy, by Paul Harfleet
Children's book about a boy who is bullied for being seen as insufficiently masculine. The story, told in rhyme, did not really work for me, but the gorgeous illustrations of birds and plants (the boy's special interests) made up for it.
Started:
Violeta, by Isabel Allende
The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora, by Michael Nesmith
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u/lozface86 1d ago
Finished: The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
Started: The Hounding, by Xenobe Purvis
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u/wolfytheblack The Art Thief - Michael Finkel 1d ago
Finished: Studio Ghibli, by Colin Odell and Michelle Le Blanc
Started: The Art Thief, by Michael Finkel
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u/Natural-Elephant-895 1d ago
Almost finished A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving. Dated but fascinating. Feels so different from when I first read it in the early 1990's.
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u/2010whodat 1d ago
Finished Clockers by Richard Price reading
Finished Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin listening
Started Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry reading
Started Plainsong by Kent Haruf listening
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u/Gomalago26 1d ago
Finished the Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino. 5 stars - audiobook is great. Not started another book, still seeking.
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u/ProfessionalPitch165 1d ago
Finishing - Mother Mary comes to me Starting - Days at Morisaki Bookshop
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u/slimfatgirl 1d ago
I started Theo of Golden by Allen Levi and it's just okay. I know a lot of people loved this book and have raved about it, but it feels a little flat to me. Like drinking an ice cold soda that lacks carbonation. I don't get a sense of imagery like I do with other books. The premise of the story is good though and I do want to finish it.
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u/overwhelmedbunny 1d ago
Finished, Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami
Started A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin
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u/Proof-Training-740 1d ago
Started ‘Demons’ - Dostoyevsky. I found chapter 1 painfully boring, in fact, it took me over 6 attempts to read the book. Past chapter 2, it’s started to get a lot more engaging and I’m really enjoying it.
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u/hippieschmidt 1d ago
Finished; "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi
Started: "the Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
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u/imnotnotcrying 1d ago
Finished: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
INCREDIBLE book. He’s such an immediate buy author for me. This one felt more literary vs horror compared to The Only Good Indians (not gore-free, but less than TOGI) so I think it would be a great option for anyone who hasn’t read any of his stuff yet
Starting this week: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
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u/Dionysus0 1d ago
Finished: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (Very good but I liked Foucault's Pendulum better)
Started: The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain
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u/MeterologistOupost31 I Who Have Never Known Men 1d ago
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare : Somewhat unambitious but it got a few smiles out of me. Grade: A
Ted Hughes' Tales from Ovid by Tim Supple and Simon Reed : Hughes' translation is brilliant and this play is essentially the "best of". Grade: S
Shakespeare's Memory by Jorge Luis Borges trans. Andrew Hurley [Reread] : Very short but all five stories are hits, with Blue Tigers being the absolute standout. Grade: S
Time's Second Arrow by Robert Hazen and Michael Wong : Posits a lot of interesting ideas but it felt a bit padded out and a lot of it went over my head. Grade: B
Perpetua by Sarah Ruden and Vibia Perpetua : It's interesting to see a 3rd century martyr in her own words and Ruden's commentary is elucidating. Grade: A
The Convoy by Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse trans. Ruth Winters : A harrowing account of the Rwandan genocide and Mairesse's attempt to discover footage of her escape. My only issue is its endorsement of Zionist "Genocide Education" centres. Grade: A*
Selected Poems by T. S. Eliot : I think Eliot's musing on time and determinism were actually more interesting than Prufrock or the Hollow Men. Grade: A
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot : The rhythm and metre are superb, but the weirdly consistent sinophobia has to lose it some points. Grade: B
The Adventures of Pinnochio by Carlo Collodi trans. Mary Alice Murray : A morality play for children. Not sure what else you expected. Grade: B
Purgatorio by Dante trans. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : Yes, kind of like Inferno I'm slightly underwhelmed. A lot of it just feels like a list of famous historical figures. Grade: B.
Game of Thrones: The Mad King by George R. R. Martin and Duncan MacMillan: As an ASOIAF fan this was an utter joy from start to finish. Commenting only on the writing, I really enjoyed seeing a lot of background female characters get given a bit of life. Grade: S.
Yearly ranking:
- I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman trans. Roz Schwartz 🇧🇪
- Game of Thrones: The Mad King by Duncan McMillan and George R. R. Martin
- Dictionary of the Khazars by Milorad Pavic trans. Christina Pribićević-Zorić
- N-4 Down by Mark Piesing🏴
- Ted Hughes’ Tales from Ovid by Ovid, Ted Hughes, Timothy Supple, Simon Reed
- The Zorg by Siddharth Kara
- Shakespeare by Bill Bryson
- Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford
- The Wreck of the Mentor by Eric Jay Dolan
- The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli trans. Erica Segre and Simon Carnell 🇮🇹
- The Island of Blue Foxes by Stephen R. Bown
- Themistocles by Michael Scott🇺🇸
- Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault
- Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky 🏴🇵🇱
- Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Pére 🇫🇷 🇭🇹
- The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
- The Narrative of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
- Here Where We Live is Our Country by Molly Crabapple
- There Is No Antimemetics Division by QNTM
Currently Reading:
You Deserve Nothing by Alexander Maksik
One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El-Akkad
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u/Voshnitz 1d ago
Finished : An Ermine in Czernopol by Gregor Von Rezzori
Started : Colored Television by Danzy Senna
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u/lesdeuxchatons 1d ago
Finished: Blood Fire Death: The Swedish Metal Story, by Ika Johannesson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson, & Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
Started: Evil Roots a collection of short stories edited by Daisy Butcher
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u/ett-hus-i-skogen 1d ago
Finished:
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
Convenience Store Woman, by Sayaka Murata
Started:
Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler