So, what have you been reading/listening to this past week? September 29
Sneaky weekly post, as I didn't see a new sticky post for the week. :3
Check out the community bingo post for 2026, it's a genuinely fun way to navigate your reading, and it's accompanying recommendations post. Happy reading and spooky season! 🎃👻📖
82 replies
Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
Went into it because I saw the BBC show adaptation (2007), knew it would be a long satisfying and perhaps challenging read in terms of focus. First 2 pages made me think it was going to do the "overly verbose victorian novel" shtick that Sherlock Holmes and gothic horror books do, but it quickly became very flowing; genuinely losing the passage of time while I read it.
Capital and ideology, good so far (lots of historical learning for me), but like capital in the 21st century dry.
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor's End Times Fascism. Someone help, I need comfort. I feel somewhat compelled to understand the forces at play reshaping the way we live (or don't live). But it is harrowing.
Binged some Kline maybe a year ago, she's great bit depressing
I'm hoping Cory Doctorow's The Reverse Centaurs Guide to Life after AI will be a bit of an antidote afterwards
Not sure about that, but "lost cause" was!
I hadn't come across that one of his! Thank you for mentioning it. I could do with some sci fi to offset all my non fiction
This last week I finished up The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. I liked it, but I wonder if I still would if I hadn't already read/been a fan of the Moomin books. I was expecting some kind of overarching story or significant character growth, but it's really just a series of little 3-10 page anecdotes that sometimes just stop without much resolution. If the authorial voice wasn't so strong, or the characters so familiar (fictionalized family members, whom she also pulled from for the Moomins), I might have dropped it.
I also sped through Joe Country by Mick Herron, so I'd be ready to watch the new season of Slow Horses at some point. I liked it better than the previous 2 or 3; can't really put my finger on why, though. Less outlandish plot, maybe?
Currently trying to settle on a new book: the last couple nights, I've been bouncing between Slewfoot by Brom and There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm (the rewritten version; I read the original a couple of years ago).
Slewfoot seems to quite be the more appro for spooky season 🎃🧹
Interrupted my Culture re-read to give John Green's Hollywood, Ending a go. It was my first time reading his fiction, and apart from the characters being a little too self-aware, it was memorable, and has kept me thinking about it a lot since finishing it.
Also got through Excession (from the culture re-read), and if it's possible, it was better than I remember. The amazing thing about going through this series again is that at the end of each of the books I inevitably think "that one was my favourite of the series"
I really ought to read through the Culture series already 😱
Yes, highly recommend. Just don't start with the first book, Consider Phlebas. A Player of Games is a better entrance to the series, and you can read Consider Phlebas last.
Thanks for the tip!
Funny enough, I had tried to start with Consider Phlebas back in May 😅, however, my interest waned with other things. I was finding it enjoyable from what I recall, I'll take your suggestion instead as I do remember it being a bit meandering. I'm certain I've come across your exact suggestion from others too before, but I think there's that part of me who feels odd starting out of order in a series haha.
Alchemist and Fight Club. Total opposites. Destiny vs nihilism.
More Everything Forever. Pretty good overview of the rationalist and effective altruism movements that have turned Silicon Valley and the AI industry into what it is today. I have heard the author say in interviews that a good alternative title is “These fucking people”.
Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. Probably my new favorite comfort read.
I read that book a few months ago and really enjoyed it. You might enjoy what I'm reading now, The Book that Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence.
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve added it to my list.
Oh great to hear! I've had his works on my tbr for a minute, what made it your new favourite?
I almost immediately fell in love with most all of the characters, they give the book a warm and cozy feel. I just finished it yesterday, so it hasn’t had time to gel in my mind yet, but it had a sort of “je ne sais quoi” that kept me captivated. I’ll probably re-read it in a few months and see if it has stuck at the top of my list.
Just finished witchcraft for wayward girls. That book was horrifying in so many different ways. I loved it.
I finished Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman, which was just okay, at the end of the day. Not something I'd write home about. On the other hand I'm accidentally listening and reading to two books with protagonists with eidetic memory, both of which I'm loving! The Fold, Peter Clines, and A Trade of Blood, Robert Jackson Bennett, are both great so far.
The Fold, is the second in a connected lovecraftian-inspired universe, and nails the government secret project energy. Blazing through this one.
Then A Trade of Blood continues the mysteries in Cline's awesome and weird biological science fantasy world. Trying to savor it.
I finally listened to the audiobook of American Gods.
The whole idea of how the gods work is fascinating, but honestly I thought the TV show was better in a lot of ways.
I've heard good things about Clines and have had Bennett's books on the tbr for a wee bit. What about The Fold is making you blaze through it? He wrote 14, right?
Yup, 14 is the first in this series! It had a very slow burn into the weirdness of his world. The Fold knows that the reader is in on it even if the characters don't yet. I think that's a main reason I'm into it, but Clines also does a very good job at writing believable people which keeps it engaging.
Highly recommend Bennett's Ana and Din Mysteries. Super world, good mystery, and interesting characters. I've nearly finished his Foundryside series (2/3), and while neat, they aren't as strong in my opinion.
Thanks, I'm even more excited to read them both! I've heard the magic system in the founders trilogy is quite unique.
Pretty unique and well developed. Also an interesting setting. I think the characters in that series aren't as well flushed out or believable in comparison to his more recent work.
I read John Polidori's The Vampyre, an early modern vampire short story. It was pretty good, given its context. It was based on the story Lord Byron wrote for their little writing competition that also spawned Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Funnily enough, Polidori based the titular vampire on Lord Byron's personality. From what I gather, Byron was a bit of a shit. Anyway, it was a quick read.
Margaret Killjoy read this one on their book club podcast. I always love their commentary and before the ep starts they go into some of the background and how obvious it was made that this was about Lord Byron, lol
It Could Happen Here: CZM Book Club: Part One of "The Vampyre" by John Polidori
Episode webpage: https://omny.fm/shows/it-could-happen-here/czm-book-club-part-one-of-the-vampyre-by-john-poli
We're you inspired by the recent meme post about how the three of them had the little writing competition and Shelly turned out one of the most famous works of all time?
Nah, I had this book on my reading list for a long time. I don't recall how I found it.
EDIT: If anything, I assume I came across this book via Le Fanu's Carmilla, which is also great.
Oh, neat. I was certain you'd say yes because it was posted about the right number of days ago for someone to have read a book.
The Devil Amongst the Lawyers, by Sharyn McCrumb. It's based on the 1935 trial of Edith Maxwell, but fictionalized enough that the author saw fit to change her name to Erma Morton. Except that it not about her at all, because nobody really cares about her story. Especially not the New York reporters descending upon Wise County, looking for the next Lindbergh baby case to sensationalize. (They've agreed Erma is a hottie, hence that portraying her as innocent is better business, facts notwithstanding.) Lots of Appalachian culture, as expected from McCrumb, but a surprising amount of Japanese culture due to one of the New Yorkers recalling his years in Japan hiding from American law.
I finally wrapped up reading "Imaginary Friend" by Stephen Chbosky.
This story desperately needed a better writer, and this book desperately needed a better editor. We have an American author publishing a book with the color "grey" in it. It goes on and freakin' on, so sure of itself but it really shouldn't be. In general it was a mess.
For example, an important character to this story lives in an old folks home and has finally gone blind from his cataracts. If you do the simple math, this dude is 67 years old. Huh?! Wake up, writer. Wake up, editor.
Another example, the children characters, including the main character, are supposed to be 7 years old, but are all written with 10-12 year old mannerisms.
It's just a bad book that really has sullied Chbosky's reputation for me. Having read the Perks of Being a Wallflower like 15 or 20 years ago, I thought he was an overrated but still OK writer (neither good nor great, but OK). This is the last book of his I'll ever read.
I'd give this book 2/5 Fudgy Points. (A 1 point rating is reserved for DNF books, which are few and far between for me.)
Damn, I appreciate the take on the book. Sounds like the book got Fudged up sadly.
Work got in the way, so I am still working on Woken Furies by Richard Morgan as a whisper sync and leisurely reading Watership Down by Richard Adams.
Once I am done with those, I have decided to tackle something a bit heavier than is the norm for me. I'm going to give Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro a go.
Does whisper sync mean you're reading it while listening to the audiobook? How do you find it helps? If I'm understanding correctly.
It is. It has its positives and negatives. On the plus side, you can enjoy terrific VA work like with Dungeon Crawler Carl and others. It also helps you absorb more complex texts. On the negative side, is that I cannot just start and stop whenever I like because I have to put my headphone on, start two apps, and find my place. It is also much slower than just reading. If I have the spare time, I can read four novels in a week and a half versus one whispersync in a week.
In the past week I finished Reamde by Neal Stephenson, finished The Gate of the Feral God by Matt Dinniman, and started The Witch King by Martha Wells.
How did you like Witch King? I ended up reading a bunch of hers, and though it was interesting to compare themes among Raksura, Murderbot, and Ile-Rien. I think early Murderbot are my favorite.
I had just started it when I posted, and now I'm about 30-40% through. I'm enjoying it. Wells for sure has a knack for creating an interesting world with interesting rules. It's easy to forget that Murderbot was written by the same person as Raksura (I never read the Ile-Rien series). In any case, Witch King seems to be a solid contribution thus far.
Any plans to move on to Fall, or Dodge in Hell?
I'll likely read it. I'm a little worried that the story should just end with Reamde, but I did put it on my list.
The two books are very different, with just a few characters in common.
Oh, interesting, thanks.
I greatly enjoy reading your mini book reviews, thanks for sharing!!
Oh, thank you! I appreciate you saying that.
No problem :), I've you got tagged as "the book reviewer" because of it 🖖
I'm unreasonably happy to know I've been tagged with anything at all.
I'm glad I my appreciation can bring some joy to you :).
When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-yi Lee. It's been sitting on my Libby queue for a while and I figured I'd better read it before the hold expires in a couple of months. I'm glad I did, since it's been very interesting thus far.
Never heard of this before, what's it about from what you've read so far?
Teenage girl in Singapore (I think) has ability to create fire. Her mother suddenly dies and it turns out is more than what she knew. Ends up joining a gang of women and trying to investigate her mother's death. I'm only about 25% of the way in, so that's largely all I can say about it.
Oh cool, that sounds intriguing! Anyone else using elemental powers, or just the MC?
Hard to say exactly. Seems like there is some sort of system where certain tattoos convey certain powers that are associated with different gangs.
I'll check it out, added to the tbr, thanks! Look forward to hearing your thoughts when you finish it.
Working my way through the Booker Prize longlist
My secret goal is to read at least one longlisted book before they’re announced. I successfully picked up The Things We Never Say this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Disappearers was on my TBR but I hadn’t gotten to it yet… oh well, be faster next time.
I’ve done this three years in a row and I rarely have a book I hate. It’s a nice look at literary fiction and “good” writing.
Whoa that's awesome! Do you have a vested interest in the literary world/"good writing" by chance -- i.e., do you write? Or more so out of enjoyment?
Also, how do you gage which books will be longlisted? I've not followed literary awards much.
I just read a lot. On pace for 130 books this year.
Discovery is hard… I was tinkering with an app
Unfortunately, publishers really don’t make their catalogues readily available to the public. You have to be a bookshop or library or known reviewer. Huge pain. Edelweiss does have some data you can use that’s cross-publisher, but it’s not an API.
I just want a place that is not the most popular books. Like, I really enjoyed the Dungeon Crawler Carl series… but it’s been top of the lists for over a year. Sigh
Ah I see, that is an incredible reading volume -- putting my number to shame haha. What's your secrets? ಠ_ಠ
Huh that's fascinating, thanks for elucidating that part of the book world for me. I can only imagine being the first to discover titles, being bit of a skill combined with access to certain resources (like most things).
Audiobooks on 2x and Always Be Reading haha.
If I crack the secret to book discovery, I’ll let you know. There’s a real opportunity there, I just haven’t figured out how to do it yet
Damn, when do you make the time to doom scroll then?! /s
I look forward to hearing about any new insights you uncover about it, never something I've thought about as a potential problem space. I think that app idea might be the start of something, most solutions are usually things that you had troubles with yourself, clearly your in the mud of the space haha.
I finished Between Two Fires. For me maybe a 6/10. Maybe just not for me but everything about it seemed like it would be. Some neat scenes and stuff but i dont know how to describe it.
I started Lost Worlds by Patrick Wyman. Its a history of how early socities slowly began to form using what we know from the archeology records and DNA evidence. So far its been pretty good, but that could be bias i enjoyed his podcast Tides of History.
Also started the first book of He who fights with monsters. Its a litrpg similar to DCC? I guess. Not super far yet but i am hoping it grabs me. O guess DCC had more hype from friends. This was suggested by my partner, she read the first chapter or two and thought I would like it.
I may have already recommended "black tongue the if", as someone who also didn't like between too fires, I btt was excellent
Someone has i know that. I will likely get to it at some point, but i have a lot on my to read list including the second trilogy of Red Rising, and a few other things I want to get to. So its there just not super high on the list.
Fwiw I didn't think much of red rising after the first few books, probably cause I couldn't remember all the things that happened (it had been years between books).
I’m about 100 pages from finishing Dune. After this Dune: Mesiah will be a cake walk—I hope!
Dune Messiah is lighter on the hard politics but brings in weirder concepts and larger universe views. I found it easier to read but not as good overall. Children of Dune continues that trend. God Emperor jumps feet first into the "what in the fuck did I just read" pool. Heretics was better, and Chapterhouse was just fine.
You got this 💪
I just started Billy Summers by Stephen King last night. Pretty good so far, but I'm also a big King fan to begin with.
Awesome, have seen good things mentioned about it. Haven't read any King yet myself, however, I'm thinking of reading 11/23/63 to start as I've had it recommended by someone irl. What's your favourite from him so far?
Good choice, 11/22/63 is a fun one. As for a favorite, it's honestly a bit difficult. Genre wise, his writing has a broad variety, so picking just one is difficult. Some of my favorites are The Dark Tower series, Salem's Lot, Insomnia, and Desperation. His short story collections are also worth reading.
Revisiting some old favorites of mine. Finished Cryptonomicon recently, and now I'm binging Pratchetts night watch books
I need to reread Cryptonomicon. I reread Snow Crash last year, and read Reamde for the first time last week. Stephenson is so good.
I'm lukewarm on Stephenson, tbh. His early books are great, but I find that his later works seem more like a product of him being interested in a topic, then he does some world building on top, and attached a fairly basic plot. Seveneves is a great example: Interesting premise, great world building, but in all honesty I found the book pretty boring.
I read Rise and Fall of the d.o.d.o a while back, and I find that one a lot better. For starters I found the epistolary writing style highly entertaining. Secondly, I suspect that Nicole Gallands participation really added to the story, precenting it from becoming another "world building first, story second"-book.
China Miéville’s new novel, The Rouse.
Oh, what did you think of it? I've really liked what I've read of his so far, but they can be so depressing that I need to take breaks in between his books.
Exciting, I understand it's being described as an epic. How you liking it thus far?
I’m liking it so far, but it’s unlike most of his other stuff (at least at first)—it reads as straight literary/historical fiction, following the life of a single mother in 1970s London. My understanding is that the “weird” elements don’t enter until well into the story.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.
I read this last year so not current, but if you're looking for spoopy book recommendations, check out Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Just started reading Scion by James Islington. Haven't really gotten into it fully yet, but I find the writing style a bit flat and driven by every obvious punchline.
I finished The Book that Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence yesterday and started the second book in the series right after, The Book that Broke the World. The first book was really good, with interesting characters and plot devices.