2025 Reading Challenge
- Thread starter Selaws
- Start date
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
I will challenge myself to two books a month this year.
First up, got this for my brother for Christmas and he already finished it and allowed me to borrow it. We share a love of DOOM. Started it last night.
I just picked up a copy for myself, but I've gotta finish this one first:
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Is that one worth reading?
I did an absolute shit job reading last year. Need to try harder.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
I'm only halfway through chapter 1, but I'm digging it so far.
[edit to add:] it's got a blurb from Hanif Abdurraqib on the back. That's a pretty high stamp of approval in my world.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
1. I don’t care when I started it (nor do I remember):
I don’t think this was as good as Meta or Music is…. Would have functioned better if written between the two and would recommend them being read in that order. It was an enjoyable enough read. Plenty for me to listen to.
This is the next physical book I am tackling:
I don’t think this was as good as Meta or Music is…. Would have functioned better if written between the two and would recommend them being read in that order. It was an enjoyable enough read. Plenty for me to listen to.
This is the next physical book I am tackling:
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Gonna set up a 101 Song thread?
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
I’m not running another thread. lol.
Rowan
Well-Known Member
I'm all about this thread this year. Kept meaning to post last year but felt like an intruder dropping in mid year. Can't wait to inflict my shaky taste in lit on you all.
Started the year with this beauty. I've picked up a few from the Fitzcarraldo Editions and I'm yet to find one that I didn't appreciate. Enjoy is probably a strong word given the massive 'Clutter Family Farm in Alco Fueled Latin America' vibes that run through this one. It's brutal. Totally efficiency in use of language, short sharp and literally to the point. Banger!
Started the year with this beauty. I've picked up a few from the Fitzcarraldo Editions and I'm yet to find one that I didn't appreciate. Enjoy is probably a strong word given the massive 'Clutter Family Farm in Alco Fueled Latin America' vibes that run through this one. It's brutal. Totally efficiency in use of language, short sharp and literally to the point. Banger!
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Book 1: The Vinyl Detective - Noise Floor by Andrew Cartmel (Titan Books, 2024)
I started this book before the New Year and just finished it earlier today, so I'm starting strong with the vinyl-related book. These are super fun, crime capers centered around music and vinyl. Ignore the teen-fiction-styled cover art (which my wife always digs me for), they are really easy laid-back reads and the story is usually located around the Richmond area of London, which is close to my stomping grounds which is quite nice. Each one centers around a different type of music with this one being electronic music.
I started this book before the New Year and just finished it earlier today, so I'm starting strong with the vinyl-related book. These are super fun, crime capers centered around music and vinyl. Ignore the teen-fiction-styled cover art (which my wife always digs me for), they are really easy laid-back reads and the story is usually located around the Richmond area of London, which is close to my stomping grounds which is quite nice. Each one centers around a different type of music with this one being electronic music.
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
Thanks for firing up the 2025 thread @Selaws
Speaking of, the original thread was started by @sarcasticfairyprincess who doesn't seem to be a forum member any longer. Bummer, hope all is well with her.
Book 1 I guess. I was mostly finished with this before 25 started but I'll add it here as my book 1.
My goal last year was 12 and I think I doubled it. I'll aim for 20 this year instead of 12.
This was a great read, but I didn't read the publication date - it came out before season 5. The pictures are awesome and the chapters by each of the main characters were insightful. For fans of the show, I can recommend.
Speaking of, the original thread was started by @sarcasticfairyprincess who doesn't seem to be a forum member any longer. Bummer, hope all is well with her.
Book 1 I guess. I was mostly finished with this before 25 started but I'll add it here as my book 1.
My goal last year was 12 and I think I doubled it. I'll aim for 20 this year instead of 12.
This was a great read, but I didn't read the publication date - it came out before season 5. The pictures are awesome and the chapters by each of the main characters were insightful. For fans of the show, I can recommend.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
01. High and Rising: A Book About De La Soul by Marcus J. Moore
It's a damn shame De La lashed out at this ao publically upon publication a couple of months back. Many if their fans and peers tried to steer them right, and I hope they've come around to being willing to check it out. Their distrust can be understandable given the history of fuckery they had with their record label; their desire to tell their story themselves, their own way is also underatandable. What Moore presents here is a "cultural biography" mixed with personal memoir of his own growing up as a De La Soul fan. The focus here is more on contextualizing their impact on the culture than it is on telling their story—and Moore does a great job of presenting a critical treatise that doubles also a love letter to the band, and a memoir of a fan. A warm, engaging, breezy read I would strongly recommend to any hip hop fan.
It's a damn shame De La lashed out at this ao publically upon publication a couple of months back. Many if their fans and peers tried to steer them right, and I hope they've come around to being willing to check it out. Their distrust can be understandable given the history of fuckery they had with their record label; their desire to tell their story themselves, their own way is also underatandable. What Moore presents here is a "cultural biography" mixed with personal memoir of his own growing up as a De La Soul fan. The focus here is more on contextualizing their impact on the culture than it is on telling their story—and Moore does a great job of presenting a critical treatise that doubles also a love letter to the band, and a memoir of a fan. A warm, engaging, breezy read I would strongly recommend to any hip hop fan.
imtheocean
Well-Known Member
Joining in. I have a big backlog to get through so hoping this will help with the motivation. At the very least it'll give me more books for my stack based on what I've seen above already.
Started the year by finishing The Book of Drugs by Mike Doughty. Quite a read, I knew there was dysfunction in the Soul Coughing that drove them apart but after reading this and Mike's derision for Soul Coughing fans at his solo shows, its amazing they got back together and hopefully it was for more than just the money and that there was some reconciliation between them all. More importantly the honesty of his story of his psyche and how it tied to his addiction and subsequent recovery is a wild ride, to say the least.
About 20 pages into my next read - Making Sense of the Troubles. Visited Belfast with my wife and youngest daughter last summer, and we are watching Say Nothing on Hulu now, so this is a topic of conversation in the house.
Started the year by finishing The Book of Drugs by Mike Doughty. Quite a read, I knew there was dysfunction in the Soul Coughing that drove them apart but after reading this and Mike's derision for Soul Coughing fans at his solo shows, its amazing they got back together and hopefully it was for more than just the money and that there was some reconciliation between them all. More importantly the honesty of his story of his psyche and how it tied to his addiction and subsequent recovery is a wild ride, to say the least.
About 20 pages into my next read - Making Sense of the Troubles. Visited Belfast with my wife and youngest daughter last summer, and we are watching Say Nothing on Hulu now, so this is a topic of conversation in the house.
Bull Shannon
Well-Known Member
Book 1: The Lottery and Other Stories, by Shirley Jackson
Crackerjack start to the year. I’ve read the titular story, The Haunting of Hill House, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (which I highly recommend), but haven’t delved into Jackson’s other short fiction.
And I’m here to let you know these stories rule. She has such a great command of tone; many of these stories aren’t particularly creepy on their face, yet there’s a deeply sinister edge. “Trial by Combat” is a great example: a young woman notices small trinkets are disappearing from her apartment. She suspects her downstairs neighbor, an elderly woman. She confronts the neighbor, who is clearly guilty but admits nothing. She later sneaks into the downstairs apartment and finds her missing items, only for the neighbor to come home and politely say hello. That’s it. That’s the story. It’s creepy as fuck.
Crackerjack start to the year. I’ve read the titular story, The Haunting of Hill House, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (which I highly recommend), but haven’t delved into Jackson’s other short fiction.
And I’m here to let you know these stories rule. She has such a great command of tone; many of these stories aren’t particularly creepy on their face, yet there’s a deeply sinister edge. “Trial by Combat” is a great example: a young woman notices small trinkets are disappearing from her apartment. She suspects her downstairs neighbor, an elderly woman. She confronts the neighbor, who is clearly guilty but admits nothing. She later sneaks into the downstairs apartment and finds her missing items, only for the neighbor to come home and politely say hello. That’s it. That’s the story. It’s creepy as fuck.
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
I read the two novels you mentioned in the past few years and loved them both. I’ve got Hangsaman in my folder for this year. Might have to grab some of her shorter works too, this sounds great.
livinsmall
Member
Book 1.
Herscht 07769 by László Krasznahorkai.
Whew. This sunnuvagun. A 406 page sentence.
But actually extremely readable and will likely end the year near the top. I can't imagine much else surpassing the timelines, beauty, and horror of this one. If it sounds interesting, don't let the format scare you. As somebody who couldn't make it though 100 pages of Ducks, Newburyport, I can tell you it's very possible to read.
Okay, onto something else now with many sentences.
Herscht 07769 by László Krasznahorkai.
Whew. This sunnuvagun. A 406 page sentence.
But actually extremely readable and will likely end the year near the top. I can't imagine much else surpassing the timelines, beauty, and horror of this one. If it sounds interesting, don't let the format scare you. As somebody who couldn't make it though 100 pages of Ducks, Newburyport, I can tell you it's very possible to read.
Okay, onto something else now with many sentences.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Colour me curious. Just put a hold on it at my library. Got at least one person ahead of me first.
