FINALLY finished Les Miserables! Fan of the story, not a fan of the book. Now I feel free to move on to the other books in my stack. LOL.
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FINALLY finished Les Miserables! Fan of the story, not a fan of the book. Now I feel free to move on to the other books in my stack. LOL.
Every once in a while, I will try reading a new book on simple living. Just read an Australian book, Frugal Hedonism and found it to be a good read about ways to be frugal and enjoy/amplify simple things in life. Sometimes it is good to be reminded how wasteful and convenience-driven our culture has become.
Finished Arcane Orcharding by Ali'Creed
Yussef is an arcane knight who single handly destroys a demon prince, and is severely wounded physically and magically in the process. As a reward the Sultan gives him a plot of land owned by Yussef's late mentor. Yussef now has to learn how to be a farmer with the help of local villagers and navigate local politics and bandits. There's an ancient tree on the property that seems to have it's own agenda.
A change from the warrior retires to the farm trope, as Yussef is young and his time on the farm is so he has an income since his expected recovery timeline is in the 1-2 years if he's lucky, and he fully expects to continue his journey.
Wow! Good for you, happystuff! That's no mean feat! Have you seen the musical? It's my favorite. I haven't read the book--at least in English. I had to read portions in French class, which was pretty challenging.Quote:
Originally Posted by happystuff
I've never seen it, but I read it and enjoyed it a long time ago (maybe back when I was in college). I can't remember if I still have my copy or not. I spent a lot of hours of my life commuting to and from school or work on public transportation, and I read a LOT of books during those commutes!Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
"Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration".
No, I haven't seen it yet, but would like to. Eventually.Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
Lost in Shangri-La
Great WWII real life rescue story, well written and researched (imho). The crash survivors were amazing and inspirational. Makes my trials and tribulations seem very very petty (as do most war stories).
I'm reading Olive the Lionheart by Brad Ricca. Supposed to be based on a true story. So far, easy reading and enjoyable. I just have to spend more time reading it.
Just started Alex Karp's book "The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief and the Future of the West." He is a co-founder of Palantir and has strong ideas about government, technology and science. He also just bought a massive property in Colorado (isn't that what multi-billionaires seem to do?). Just curious to get inside his thoughts.
I have just started my 5th book this year:
Finished since 1/1/26:
1. Mencius (ancient Chinese Confucian philosophy)
2. Nietzsche's Human, All Too Human by Ruth Abbey
3. The Laws of Thermodynamics by Atkins
4. The Triangle of Power by Alexander Stubb (the current president of Finland)
I'm about 1/2 way through Tippi Hedren's memoir from 2016.
I read 37 books in 2025, which was a slightly slow year for me (I'm usually in the mid-40s, but 2025 ended up a rougher and more distracting year than most). But I try not to let numbers drive my reading. After all, I'm reading to comprehend, not to accumulate statistics. Quality over quantity.
The Broken System: A Budding Scientist in a Fantasy World by Acaswell
Alice has to make the sudden turn from theory to practice when a major event happens earlier than thought possible, and learns the hard way she can't save everyone. She has to travel to find resources and leaves Illivaria for the first time while dodging assassination attempts and learning more about magic and humanity's relationship with it.
okay---just learned a sad fact. One author who wrote at least 3 non-fiction books that i've read, passed away two years ago. That's the bad news. Good news: he wrote 24 or 25 books, so i've got some more reading material, on account of him. The authors' name is Stephen Singular. I will have to check around for some copies o' summa the titles i haven't read, yet. But yeah---too bad about Mr Singular; he was a very fine author. Yup. Edited to add: I just found a nice lirrrarry-surplus copy of Singular's book about the Aurora, Co. theater massacre on ebay. Can't recall the title, but there is a spiral notebook depicted on the cover. But yeah: should be good. Hope that helps you some.
Just finished The Valentine Caper by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley. The Homefront Sleuths have two assignments infiltrate the Norwegian embassy to investigate a suspected spy in the Norwegian government in exile, and coordinate catering and security for a group wedding in a nearby military installation. Things get complicated as the new curate, Rev Vale is murdered in the church and all records of the weddings he performed are stolen as is a holy relic related to St Valentine. Decrypted notes gathered from the embassy seem to mention Rev Vale often, and the crew suspect the two cases may be one. Throwing in another complication is Rev Vale's notes mention he suspects something is wrong with the records for the upcoming weddings, and there will be a very important guest present at the ceremony.
A very fun who done it, read the historical notes at the end. The authors cite the people, events, and tech that inspired the stories.
A little bit late, but here are my reads for January:
- You Like it Darker by Stephen King - a decent collection of short stories. If you like him, you would probably enjoy the book. There was one story where i thought of you Rogar, as I was thinking "please don't let something bad happen to the dog." It didn't!
- The Caretaker by Ron Rash - I really enjoyed this one. It was a fast read, with well-drawn characters, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, in a way. I plan to seek out more by this author.
- The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell - I wanted to like this one, but overall, I found it kind of tedious. Fantasy is not my favorite genre. I enjoyed the beginning, with Holly's teenage angst, and I rather liked the end, which was kind of a post-apocalypse, dystopian story. I didn't really enjoy the bulk of the book, the middle part. It felt like some characters were developed at great length and then they didn't even play any part in the story. The epic battle between good and evil was - yawn. I was not fan.
- Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner - this magnificent novel won the Pulitzer in 1972. The back of the book describes it as the story of a disabled man writing his grandmother's biography from her letters and documents, which didn't sound the least bit promising. How did this book manage to get onto my list? Much to my surprise, I absolutely loved it. It was so well written! The grandmother's story was fascinating and compelling. The disabled man was so well drawn that I cared deeply about him, in fact I WAS him as I was reading the story. I was sorry to learn after the fact that the author was guilty of using letters from a real woman without appropriate attribution, so this certainly diminished my respect for his accomplishment, but the book is still an excellent read.
Enshittification. Woe is us...
I love your reviews, rosa. I'll check out Angle of Repose. Regarding Stephen King, I should put this on the "what are you watching" thread, but we are watching the series 11.22.63 and we love the premise. It's Oliver Stone's JFK meets Back to the Future meets The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The series is based on the novel by Stephen King, and I wonder how closely they stuck to the novel.
The story I loved from Some Like It Darker was the one about the two hunters who rescue the injured alien and when the aliens depart they ask if they can have the empty beer cans as souvenirs. As I remember anyway. I've been meaning to re-read it. Many years ago a read maybe half of Stegners books. It's sort of sad he has faded into relative obscurity. I could re-read one or two again and I'm sure they would be like new. His non-fiction, Beyond the Hundredth Meridian survived multiple book purges until just recently.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
Catherine: I loved King's book 11/22/63, and it is widely regarded to be one of his best, even by those who aren't particularly fans. I really want to watch the series, and I just need to set down my book (currently Solito) long enough to do so. I thought of you and your love for The Dollmaker as I was reading Angle of Repose. They are very different, but still some similarities. I think you would like it.
Rogar: I had never even heard of Stegner before this. I should probably seek out more by him.
Angle of Repose is now on my Libby list, thank you.
Now reading "#sayhername" by Kimberlé Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum.
Firestorm by Jacob Soboroff. It's by an NBC LA based reporter who grew up in the area of the Palisades fire. Just a bit in, but very good
I keep buying books, digital ones, and not reading.Ugh. Video scrolling is so… Unsatisfying these days. Empty. I need to get absorbed in a decent novel. I’ve read a little way into A Little Life which is 800 pages and may be absorbing, we shall see.
I just bought Lionel Shriver’s novel about an immigrant that was just released this week. I bought it based on the strength of an interview she did with Douglas Murray for the Manhattan Institute. I love that man. I finally bought his nonfiction book about the death of The West but I may not wade into it because it’s just sad, what we are doing to ourselves.
I just looked up Lionel Shriver because I never heard of her. She seems interesting. Which of her books would you recommend for someone who has never read her? What is the name of the Douglas Murray book?Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
Her most well known work is the fictional “We Need to Talk About Kevin” which is arresting and horrifying, and the film of that novel is also stellar. Unforgetable.Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
The Shriver book released this week is “A Better Life” about a well meaning woman who has a comfortable life. She opens up her large home to an immigrant.
Shriver is about 70 years old. She writes about cultural and social problems. She’s a speaker in the transgender critical world, and I am anxiously awaiting any novel she does about trans people. She gave a good interview to Douglas Murray, where she said she is increasingly alone in her centrist political views among novelists. She worries about lack of thought diversity of young writers, and she blames the universities that are turning out group think writers.
Douglas Murray is an English political commentator, a fairly young guy who looks older than he is. He’s so elegant. I just love him. His big book is “The War on the West” about loss of Western values and culture.
OK, I'll try one of Shriver's book--probably A Better Life.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
If you are browsing for something to read, "Theo of Golden" by Allen Levy came highly recommended from a trusted reader friend. I just started it so can't comment, but it had high ratings and reviews.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
Theo of Golden is very popular with book clubs these days. Coincidentally, a friend loaned me her copy the other day. At first, I thought it was kind of weird/silly but I am growing more interested to find out who Theo really is and what his motivation is for giving away gifts to strangers.
Theo was on my TBR list, but then as I heard more about it, it came off my list. I'll be interested to hear what you folks think about it.
Just started The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. About 3 chapters in and enjoying it so far.
It might be one of the better books I will read this year, but it's definitely on the sappy feel good side of fiction. The place and characters seemed unlikely to exist in the real world, but sort of like a King story, they become believable as things develop and maybe parts of the places and characters are everywhere. The sort of thing book clubs could go on about life lessons and hiden meanings, or just taken as a good story.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
My next up is The Martians:
The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America
A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Longlisted for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction
Named one of the Best Books of the Year by Science News, Boston Globe, Library Journal, Reactor, Bookreporter, PopMatters, Colorado Public Radio, and the Chicago Public Library
New York TimesBook Review • Editors' Choice
These were my February reads:
- Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman - The main premise was a bit ridiculous, but if you're willing to go with it, the book is just flat-out fun, wittily written, and with a few laugh-out-loud moments.
- Solito by Javier Zamora - (NF) - I'm sure this will be one of my top books of the year. Memoir of a 9-year-old boy who came to the US from El Salvador unaccompanied by friends or family. It starts out a bit slow, but turns into a harrowing, page-turning tale. I found it valuable in understanding the lengths people go to come to the US illegally, risking their lives. I agree that immigration needs to be managed intelligently, but these people are deserving of compassion and humane treatment. This book helped to put actual faces on "illegals," and helped me see things from their point of view.
- Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris - A series of essays that are typical Sedaris, whom I always enjoy. He's a pretty funny guy.
- The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley - I usually love time-travel, but this one didn't quite do it for me. I often find in the scifi genre that the author has a totally cool idea, but the execution falls flat. I can't quite put my finger on what I didn't like with this one. It didn't suck, but perhaps the characters weren't quite real enough, the pace was often slow, and the plot got a bit convoluted at the end.
- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - (NF) - The 4000 weeks is how long you have if you live to be 80. The main premise is how to make the most of our limited time on earth. I found it to be an excellent read with much good food for thought, and I'm keeping the book handy so I can re-review key concepts to keep them from falling off my radar.
The Secret Life of Groceries by Benjamin Lorr. Interesting in-depth look at how your food gets to you - then and now. Goes into all the gritty details and makes you both appreciate and shudder about how it all happens.
Rosa, if you liked Solito, you should try "After the Last Border." Written by a journalist who followed 2 women through their (separate) immigration journeys to the U.S. from refugee camps in Myanmar and Syria. She interspersed their chapters with what was going on in U.S. policy under various administrations affecting their cases. The author is Jessica Goudeu.
Edited to add: I had read Solito last year and heard the author speak too.
Have two new books:
Apple: The First 50 Years
Privacy's Defender
The last is from the soon to retire executive director (for 30 years) of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
We often like the same books Kay, so I will add it to my list. Thanks for the recommendation.Quote:
Originally Posted by KayLR
Spelled it wrong Rosa. Goudeau
Those French, with all their extra vowels!Quote:
Originally Posted by KayLR
The Way of the Househusband by Kousuke Oono, Tatsu, formerly known as The Immortal Dragon, is still living his best househusband life. He must stop a budding gang war when he takes, An, the granddaughter of his former boss clam digging and she gets into a squabble with the grandson of the head of a rival gang. Then he goes to a cherry blossom viewing party with his former associates in the cemetery where his late mentor is buried, and helps a neighbor who complains about high food costs.
Thrice Married to a Salted Fish by Bi Ka Bi, aspiring physician Lin Qingyu has spent the past 10 years studying for the Imperial exams to become an Imperial Physician like his father, now he is ordered to abandon his studies to marry the son of a Marquess, Lu Wancheng. Wancheng is sickly and his family believes a marriage will save him. Unfortunately for Qingyu, he is the only one who meets the astrological criteria for the match, and as the marriage is ordered by the Emperess the Lin family has no choice but to comply. Neither man wants the marriage, but they form an alliance to further their own goals. Set in fantasy world similar to Ming dynasty era China. Book two is already our, I'm on the waiting list, and book three comes out in June. Slow start with small plotting that quickly escalates. A good read and looking forward to the next book.
rosa: Upon your recommendation, I read Andre Dubus III's book Such Kindness. Wow. I think I'm in love with this author. I just might have to drive out to MA and stalk him :) (Just kidding!) I actually listened to this book because the library doesn't have it and I have Audible credits, but the author did the narration which I thought added to the experience in a way. I absolutely loved it. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm going to try Townies next.
I'm so glad! You will really be in love with him after Townies. He didn't have an easy life in his younger years, but he somehow emerged from it as such a wonderful human being. There are a few interviews and articles online that also show him to be a man of remarkable character.Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine