What are you reading in 2025?

[garyclark]

Three short books so far thanks to two very long flights.



This was very interesting history about WWII, the strategy in Japan, and the history of napalm. I appreciate how Gladwell makes dense content accessible, even if he does insert a lot of opinion.




Just a wonderful classic spy novel set at the Berlin Wall. Fantastic writing. No wonder it's considered a classic of the genre.




Memoir set in Venice during covid. Madu is a Nigerian-American sportswriter, but this has nothing to do with sports. More about his challenging relationship with his father. I honestly didn't love it. But it might be because I'm a grumpy old GenXer.

[DaveInSeattle]

I posted this a couple of days ago in the "Autumn Reading" thread, so I'll copy it over to this one:

One of my New Years Resolutions was to leave my phone in the kitchen overnight, so when I wake up in the middle of the night I don't start listening to podcasts or doom-scrolling. As a result, I'm now reading more at 2am (dark mode on my Kindle).

Anyways...since the start of the year I've read these two:



I've read a few of this guys other history books, about West Point and the US Army in Europe in WWII, and enjoyed them. This one was eye-opening about the level of misery, suffering, and violence that was the Revolutionary War. I had no idea about the level of smallpox infections during that time. And how, from both the colonists and the British view, winning the war seemed impossible for either side.



This one was on all kinds of "Best of 2024" lists, and up for a lot of awards. At first, I was skeptical of it, since its a re-telling of Huck Finn, from the slave Jim's prospective. But its really good, and I may need to go back and re-read Huck Finn (haven't read it since High School) to see where the story diverges.

Now reading this, about Liverpool Manager Bill Shankley:

[garyclark]

I bought James for my wife for Christmas. Was on her wishlist, but I might read it first.

[The Sybian]

I bought James for my wife for Christmas. Was on her wishlist, but I might read it first.

It’s good, really interesting reading the classic story from a different character’s POV, and he isn’t at all who he was portrayed as in the original. Been 35+ year's since I read Huvk Finn, but I remembered enough of the scenes to bring back memories. Probably should read Hick Finn again first.

Read a few of Everett’s books, unique style and content, I’m a fan.

[Nonlinear FC]

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I read this in something around 5 days, which is not how I typically do things (usually takes me many weeks to finish anything.)

Really cool premise of an "expendable" worker on a settler planet who is brought back as the next iteration after they send him on jobs that are either suicide missions or close to that. (hence Mickey #7.)

Anyways, they are making it into movie this year and it's being directed by the Korean guy that did Snowpiercer, Okja and Parasite.

The movie is actually called Mickey 17, so... We'll see how ludicrous things get.

Highly recommend the book. It's not going to blow your mind or make you think overly deep thoughts... But there's some slightly mind-bending stuff and it's pretty funny at times.

[Giff]

I really enjoyed that book. Super stoked for the movie.

[DaveInSeattle]

Now reading this, about Liverpool Manager Bill Shankley:

I just cannot wrap my head around the writing style of this book...here's a sample paragraph:

“Bill stared at the bowls and the plates, the salt and pepper pots, the jars of honey and marmalade. Bill picked up the bowls and the plates, the salt and pepper pots, the jars of honey and marmalade. Bill moved the bowls and the plates, the salt and pepper pots, the jars of honey and marmalade to the edges of the cloth, to the sides of the table. Bill picked up the four forks and the four knives and the four spoons.”

or this, as a match description:

“On Tuesday 9 September, 1969, Sunderland Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, 46,370 folk came, too. In the 12th minute, Geoff Strong scored. And in the 34th minute, Tommy Smith scored. And Liverpool Football Club beat Sunderland Football Club two-nil. At home, at Anfield.”

And it goes on. So much repetition. Not sure that I'm going to make it through. I hate giving up on books midway, but this one is starting to drive me nuts.

[A_B]

I haven’t seen this much repetition since The Hammer Delibered By FedEx.

[garyclark]

I couldn't make it through that, Dave.

I can't put my finger on it. But it strikes a chord. Reminds me of another British soccer book I read many years ago. I wonder if that's a style within the genre.

[DaveInSeattle]

I couldn't make it through that, Dave.

I can't put my finger on it. But it strikes a chord. Reminds me of another British soccer book I read many years ago. I wonder if that's a style within the genre.

I bailed on it. I was skipping entire paragraphs because of how repetitive they were.

Was the other book "The Damned United"? That was made into a movie? It was written by the same guy.

I'm now reading "Intermezzo" by Sally Rooney. About 20% into it, and so far so good.

[P.D.X.]

This just came through on Libby for me (think the queue was 30 deep when I put a hold on it). Incredibly excited to dive in.

[DaveInSeattle]

This just came through on Libby for me (think the queue was 30 deep when I put a hold on it). Incredibly excited to dive in.

Read that last fall. Its really good.

[sancarlos]

Ditto. I think Sides is a really good writer.

[Giff]

Ditto. I think Sides is a really good writer.

Agreed. Got turned onto him during one of our visits to Santa Fe where one of the bookstores close to the Plaza had a huge display with all his books since he lives in the area.

[Baloney]

Just starting this.

[garyclark]

Just starting this.

Oh my. That looks like it's right up my alley. Please let me know how it is.

[DaveInSeattle]

Finished this last night:



It was my first time reading a Rooney novel, and I enjoyed it pretty well. Her style is kinda quirky (no quotation marks!) but the dialogue is really well done.

[+] spoiler

But the main character, the older brother, is pretty unlikeable. And then he winds up in a quasi-throuple with 2 beautiful women? C'mon....the younger brother, the chess master, was a more interesting character.

[garyclark]

Looks interesting. I almost spoiled myself because I went to quote tweet and didn't know the spoiler was quoted above the reply. Yikes!

[garyclark]

This is the best book I've read in quite some time. Beautifully written. An action-packed, wild plot. Quite funny and deeply moving at the same time. I'm surprised a book written in Japanese reads so well in English. Whoever did the translation did an excellent job.



I'll be adding Bullet Train, by the same author, to my list after reading this. My wife loved that one.

[The Sybian]

This is the best book I've read in quite some time. Beautifully written. An action-packed, wild plot. Quite funny and deeply moving at the same time. I'm surprised a book written in Japanese reads so well in English. Whoever did the translation did an excellent job.



I'll be adding Bullet Train, by the same author, to my list after reading this. My wife loved that one.

Exactly the type of thing I’m in the mood for, and it’s available on Libby!

[DaveInSeattle]

For my mental health, I've been leaving my phone in the kitchen earlier in the evening each night, so I've been on a hot streak with reading books.

Read this one:



It was very different from the other Egan I've read ("Welcome to the Goon Squad")...this was more of a cohesive story, rather than a series of essays/short stories that are loosely connected. And it was pretty interesting...who knew there were women Navy Divers working at the Brooklyn Ship Yard during WWII?

[+] spoiler

The most interesting storyline, to me, was about the father who goes on the run after running afoul with local mobsters, and ends up on a Merchant Marine Ship during the war.

Just finished this one last night:



Thought it was a fairly formulaic "mystery" story...but the setting/main character was interesting. Retired Chicago Cop buys a fixer-upper cottage in Ireland, and a kid in town asks him to help find a missing brother. There is a second novel with the same character, which I'll likely read at some point.

[+] spoiler

Wasn't crazy about how the "mystery" came together at the end. Seemed a little convenient to me.

[Giff]

I've been moving slower this year with books since we've been watching more shows and movies. Finished this one earlier this week and it was very interesting.

[govmentchedda]

Just finished this one last night:



Thought it was a fairly formulaic "mystery" story...but the setting/main character was interesting. Retired Chicago Cop buys a fixer-upper cottage in Ireland, and a kid in town asks him to help find a missing brother. There is a second novel with the same character, which I'll likely read at some point.

[+] spoiler

Wasn't crazy about how the "mystery" came together at the end. Seemed a little convenient to me.

Started the Searcher last year and didn't finish. Can't remember why. I did like what I'd begun.

Just finished The Heart in Winter by Kevin Berry. Imagine the Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette characters from True Romance set in 1890s Montana. I enjoyed it.

[P.D.X.]

This book killed me. Highly recommend if you like laughing at libertarian and sovereign citizen fucknuts.

[The Sybian]

[P.D.X.]

Not to spoil it, but it does become a freakin' country bear jamboroo.

[sancarlos]

I haven't posted about reading for awhile. But, lately I've been on a jag of reading about medieval european history.



Before that, it was a few books that Swamp alerted me to (love these threads for new ideas on what to read). A couple Carl Hiasson books, Dirtbag, Mass, The Wide Wide Sea, Rex Chapman's memoir, and a bio on boxer Jack Johnson.

[garyclark]

Apologies if this is a repeat, but I have never recommended a book more, and every person who has read or listened (for free on Spotify) has loved it. It's not that it's my favorite book ever. But it is very well-written and well-researched. And it is so, so, so timely.

If you are at all like me - knowing that forces of greed have been working in the background for decades to create the conditions that have led us to our country's current condition - this is the playbook of how it was done.

It helps me because I had been feeling like I was living in a murder house with the lights off. And this book turned the switch on. I'm still in the murder house, but now I can see things for what they are.

[sancarlos]

Is it ironic that you started a thread about how you/we are avoiding the bad right-wing news, and you recommend a book that dives deep into its background?

[garyclark]

Is it ironic that you started a thread about how you/we are avoiding the bad right-wing news, and you recommend a book that dives deep into its background?

I understand why you would ask the question. However, I think the former and the latter are two oppositional, and yet related, ideas.

The former is so-called news (that is really noise). It's largely fictitious and intentionally misleading with an intent to overwhelm, confuse, and make the actual truth impossible to decipher. Ergo my query on how to avoid it.

The latter, a text that I am recommending, is a nonfictional historic account of why the former is happening. To me, this is a tonic for the noise I am avoiding because it documents the steps that have been taken to put us in the position we are in as a nation.

The former distorts the truth. The latter exposes it.

[EnochRoot]

Apologies if this is a repeat, but I have never recommended a book more, and every person who has read or listened (for free on Spotify) has loved it. It's not that it's my favorite book ever. But it is very well-written and well-researched. And it is so, so, so timely.

If you are at all like me - knowing that forces of greed have been working in the background for decades to create the conditions that have led us to our country's current condition - this is the playbook of how it was done.

It helps me because I had been feeling like I was living in a murder house with the lights off. And this book turned the switch on. I'm still in the murder house, but now I can see things for what they are.

For those inclined, the book is $5 on Apple Books to read on an Apple device.

[Square Rob]

It’s not high literature, but I enjoyed the FUCK out of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series so far. It fits under litRPG, so essentially fiction that reads as if it’s in an rpg type game. I enjoy it because it’s completely unpredictable, funny, violent, and extremely humanist. The audio books are also a riot and extremely well produced. Also a super passionate online fanbase with lots of theories for future books.

If you want a mindless page turner with a hugely developed world and story to take your mind of real things, highly recommend.

[phxgators]

It’s not high literature, but I enjoyed the FUCK out of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series so far. It fits under litRPG, so essentially fiction that reads as if it’s in an rpg type game. I enjoy it because it’s completely unpredictable, funny, violent, and extremely humanist. The audio books are also a riot and extremely well produced. Also a super passionate online fanbase with lots of theories for future books.

If you want a mindless page turner with a hugely developed world and story to take your mind of real things, highly recommend.

Another recommendation here. Just starting book 6 myself. Thought it would start getting repetitive around book 3 or so but it has not. Really the perfect mindless fun series for right now.

[Square Rob]

It’s not high literature, but I enjoyed the FUCK out of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series so far. It fits under litRPG, so essentially fiction that reads as if it’s in an rpg type game. I enjoy it because it’s completely unpredictable, funny, violent, and extremely humanist. The audio books are also a riot and extremely well produced. Also a super passionate online fanbase with lots of theories for future books.

If you want a mindless page turner with a hugely developed world and story to take your mind of real things, highly recommend.

Another recommendation here. Just starting book 6 myself. Thought it would start getting repetitive around book 3 or so but it has not. Really the perfect mindless fun series for right now.

It really is a remarkable fantasy achievement. Book 7 is by far my favorite so far. He has completely mapped this story out so I’m confident this is a series that will have closure.

I cannot recommend highly enough the audio books too. Even if you’ve already read the books.

[DaveInSeattle]

I just finished this last night:



Its up next for the "Defector Reads A Book" series, and the timing worked out perfect (it was announced as a selection just as I was looking for my next book to read).

Pretty amazing book. Bit rough to read at times...not from the writing, but the subject matter...but well worth it, and manages to end on an up note. Will definitely read the second one, "Parable of the Talents" in the near future.

[garyclark]

I'm sure many folks are familiar with Thurman, but I had only vaguely heard of him as a Civil Rights leader. I had never read him. For those like me who were unaware, Thurman was a mentor to MLK, who carried this text with him in his pocket during the Birmingham Bus Boycott. He is a known advocate of nonviolence (hung out with Gandhi), but I found his words about Jesus (the human) as it relates to race, class, and social justice from the Greco-Roman empire to the 1950s USA to be very relevant.

This was a personal, beautiful, and uplifting read. Also shockingly anti-religious (at least in my interpretation of it). And it's barely 100 pages. I read it, and then started listening to it in podcast form in his voice (which is tremendous, as he was a remarkable orator with wonderful interactions with the audience that are not captured in the book).

It was a nice reminder that ...

a) The current state of our nation is not uniquely terrible and our country has been really, really terrible before
b) To some extent, I can control my emotional reaction to the intentional chaos and fear being rained upon me
c) organized religion has always been used as a tool of division, and calling that out when it happens is powerful

[garyclark]

If you like Slow Horses, try Mick Herron's Oxford Series. I just finished this one, and ordered the next (four total in series).

[govmentchedda]

This was a personal, beautiful, and uplifting read. Also shockingly anti-religious (at least in my interpretation of it). And it's barely 100 pages. I read it, and then started listening to it in podcast form in his voice (which is tremendous, as he was a remarkable orator with wonderful interactions with the audience that are not captured in the book).

Sounds good. Podcast or audiobook?

[garyclark]

This was a personal, beautiful, and uplifting read. Also shockingly anti-religious (at least in my interpretation of it). And it's barely 100 pages. I read it, and then started listening to it in podcast form in his voice (which is tremendous, as he was a remarkable orator with wonderful interactions with the audience that are not captured in the book).

Sounds good. Podcast or audiobook?

I'd go with the podcast version (it's four pods) as it is him giving the sermons live that led to the publication of the book. The book itself (and I assume the audiobook) lacks some of his throwaway lines to the congregation that I find endearing, and their periodic reaction also adds to the experience.

[govmentchedda]

Thanks!