2025 Reading Challenge
- Thread starter Selaws
- Start date
WhiteDahlias
Active Member
I'm back!
February wasn't quite as productive of a reading month as January had been. I blame the fact that I started playing Hades on my Steam Deck and got kinda sucked in. This month was very mixed for me.
6. Blue Sisters - Coco Mellors
I loved this one. A great exploration of grief, addiction, and family relationships. All of the sisters were both lovable and flawed and I loved reading about the nuance in their relationships with each other. I had been meaning to pick up this author's first book and I'll make a point to do that sooner rather than later.
7. Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan
I enjoyed this, but I think it would have made more of an impact on me if I had waited until Christmas time to read it. I feel like I might have rushed through it and didn't think much about it after I finished it. I liked it, but I will probably watch the film at some point to refresh myself.
8. A Natural History of Dragons - Marie Brennan
This was definitely a palate cleanser compared to some of the heavier stuff I had been reading. I'd classify this as "cozy" fantasy; it's an adventure story about a woman going on a science expedition to study dragons. The fantasy elements are very light, it's basically Regency-era England but with dragons. I enjoyed this enough that I might pick up the next one if I need something light. Also I love the covers of these.
9. Ariadne - Jennifer Saint
I actually started this on last year on my flight to Greece, but I didn't get too far. At the time I thought it was because I was tired and it was kind of a rough flight, but when I picked it back up again it proved to be a slog. I was already familiar with the myths and I feel like it followed them closely enough that there wasn't a whole lot to keep me invested. It felt like the whole theme of the book is that in most Greek mythology stories, women didn't have a lot of agency... but then most of the book is just Ariadne reacting to things that happen to her instead of the author giving her agency. I also felt that the pacing was painfully slow for a book that was relatively short. I thought I would like this one a lot since I loved Circe by Madeline Miller and The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker but this was a disappointment.
Last night I started reading After Dark by Haruki Murakami since I haven't read one of his in a while and it was one I wasn't familiar with, but after that I think I'm in the mood for some classics. I have a couple Jane Austens, and I just picked up a very pretty copy of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte, who is the only Bronte sister I haven't read before. Hopefully March will be a better reading month overall.
February wasn't quite as productive of a reading month as January had been. I blame the fact that I started playing Hades on my Steam Deck and got kinda sucked in. This month was very mixed for me.
6. Blue Sisters - Coco Mellors
I loved this one. A great exploration of grief, addiction, and family relationships. All of the sisters were both lovable and flawed and I loved reading about the nuance in their relationships with each other. I had been meaning to pick up this author's first book and I'll make a point to do that sooner rather than later.
7. Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan
I enjoyed this, but I think it would have made more of an impact on me if I had waited until Christmas time to read it. I feel like I might have rushed through it and didn't think much about it after I finished it. I liked it, but I will probably watch the film at some point to refresh myself.
8. A Natural History of Dragons - Marie Brennan
This was definitely a palate cleanser compared to some of the heavier stuff I had been reading. I'd classify this as "cozy" fantasy; it's an adventure story about a woman going on a science expedition to study dragons. The fantasy elements are very light, it's basically Regency-era England but with dragons. I enjoyed this enough that I might pick up the next one if I need something light. Also I love the covers of these.
9. Ariadne - Jennifer Saint
I actually started this on last year on my flight to Greece, but I didn't get too far. At the time I thought it was because I was tired and it was kind of a rough flight, but when I picked it back up again it proved to be a slog. I was already familiar with the myths and I feel like it followed them closely enough that there wasn't a whole lot to keep me invested. It felt like the whole theme of the book is that in most Greek mythology stories, women didn't have a lot of agency... but then most of the book is just Ariadne reacting to things that happen to her instead of the author giving her agency. I also felt that the pacing was painfully slow for a book that was relatively short. I thought I would like this one a lot since I loved Circe by Madeline Miller and The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker but this was a disappointment.
Last night I started reading After Dark by Haruki Murakami since I haven't read one of his in a while and it was one I wasn't familiar with, but after that I think I'm in the mood for some classics. I have a couple Jane Austens, and I just picked up a very pretty copy of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte, who is the only Bronte sister I haven't read before. Hopefully March will be a better reading month overall.
Fleetwood-Matt
Well-Known Member
Wasn’t sure if I was going to join this again because I haven’t been in a book mood since November. But it hit me this month and I did 2 in a week so I guess I’m back! Minimum goal is again 12 for the year, 15 is my main goal, 20 is my stretch goal.
Book 1: History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
I’ve read 2 of his books before. LOVED the one and HATED the other so this could have gone either way. Really enjoyed this one’s exploration of death and grief and how those things can lead you To make toxic and harmful decisions. Also enjoy the exploration of OCD. But the last 50 page are absolutely ridiculous and leads to one of my least favorite endings of all time. Feels like the rug gets pulled out from under you and the story you are expecting gets changed without warning or build up. Would have been fine but this ball drop ruins the whole experience
Rating - 2.5/5
Book 2: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Not sure why I went with another one of his books after not loving book 1 but I’ve heard nothing but great things about this. I had nit picks all book about the premise itself and some paradox’s it causes. But then I got to the end and bawled my eyes out harder than any book has made me done before. You obviously know what’s going to happen from the title but man it hurts so hard when it does. Unlike book 1 this book’s ending elevates the whole thing in my mind. Book 3 is going to have to be a pick me up after this lol
Rating - 5/5
Book 1: History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
I’ve read 2 of his books before. LOVED the one and HATED the other so this could have gone either way. Really enjoyed this one’s exploration of death and grief and how those things can lead you To make toxic and harmful decisions. Also enjoy the exploration of OCD. But the last 50 page are absolutely ridiculous and leads to one of my least favorite endings of all time. Feels like the rug gets pulled out from under you and the story you are expecting gets changed without warning or build up. Would have been fine but this ball drop ruins the whole experience
Rating - 2.5/5
Book 2: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Not sure why I went with another one of his books after not loving book 1 but I’ve heard nothing but great things about this. I had nit picks all book about the premise itself and some paradox’s it causes. But then I got to the end and bawled my eyes out harder than any book has made me done before. You obviously know what’s going to happen from the title but man it hurts so hard when it does. Unlike book 1 this book’s ending elevates the whole thing in my mind. Book 3 is going to have to be a pick me up after this lol
Rating - 5/5
wmeugene
Well-Known Member
I’ve read a number of these (most in college) and here are my thoughts:
Thomas Hardy. I liked Tess of the d’Urbervilles. It’s fairly readable as I found most Hardy is - at least compared to a lot of the other modern British literature I read in college. I remember liking Jude the Obscure as well.
Thomas Pynchon - I’d agree with the advice you got to read the Crying of Lot 49 first.
Graham Greene - Brighton Rock. I found Greene okay, but none of his stuff stuck out among a lot of what else I read from that era.
Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway. I really enjoyed this novel, particularly from its stylistic perspective. I think it’s well worth your time.
William Faulkner. I love Faulkner and I love the Sound and the Fury. It is also one of the most difficult novels I’ve ever read. The narratives are told from unique perspectives, stream of consciousness abounds, and it may take some rereading to catch everything. But well worth it, but give yourself time and patience in doing so.
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Also don’t forget that the Women’s Non Fiction long list has also been announced. This years group includes Neneh Cherry’s memoirs
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Book 4: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Anchor, 2014)
A really fun book full of humour. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be on the lookout for the others in the series.
Book 5: Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Fourth Estate, 2025)
The "it" book of the moment, it seems. I did enjoy this and I've found myself generally enjoying Japanese thrillers/mysteries lately. There is a lot of slow points in Butter which seems to drag at times, but its still a decent read.
Book 6: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami (Vintage, 2007)
A quick easy read that was much more enjoyable than I thought it could be. Part running journal, and part autobiography.
A really fun book full of humour. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be on the lookout for the others in the series.
Book 5: Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Fourth Estate, 2025)
The "it" book of the moment, it seems. I did enjoy this and I've found myself generally enjoying Japanese thrillers/mysteries lately. There is a lot of slow points in Butter which seems to drag at times, but its still a decent read.
Book 6: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami (Vintage, 2007)
A quick easy read that was much more enjoyable than I thought it could be. Part running journal, and part autobiography.
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
06. Star Wars: The High Republic ‐ Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott
My first audiobook.
For the first two phases of the High Republic initiative I just waited and read the script when it was published a few months later, but I didn’t feel like waiting on this one as things are ratcheting up toward endgame. Very well done and immersive production. A bit strange to have voices associated to characters I've been reading for a few years now, some of them felt very off at first, but ultimately I was able to settle in. Some very big shifts happened here, changing the status quo for a bunch of characters headed into the final arc of this High Republic story.
My first audiobook.
For the first two phases of the High Republic initiative I just waited and read the script when it was published a few months later, but I didn’t feel like waiting on this one as things are ratcheting up toward endgame. Very well done and immersive production. A bit strange to have voices associated to characters I've been reading for a few years now, some of them felt very off at first, but ultimately I was able to settle in. Some very big shifts happened here, changing the status quo for a bunch of characters headed into the final arc of this High Republic story.
LeSamourai
Well-Known Member
Getting ready for the Bong Joon-ho movie... so far, this is a fun, breezy chunk of sci-fi.
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
I read it earlier this year and enjoyed. Recommended if you like John Scalzi
Rowan
Well-Known Member
Book Seven
Ok so this is good. In fact it’s really good. Tells a narrative about a young couple who move to Berlin over a 10 ish year period (in under 120 pages). When I read the synopsis I thought the characters could potentially be quite grinding but the book is a solid narrative with no dialogue which kinda kills that problem.
Essentially a work on how you deal with being at the cusp of a cultural zeitgeist at exactly the right time in history and a specific point in your life and what happens when that starts to slip away. I loved it!
Ok so this is good. In fact it’s really good. Tells a narrative about a young couple who move to Berlin over a 10 ish year period (in under 120 pages). When I read the synopsis I thought the characters could potentially be quite grinding but the book is a solid narrative with no dialogue which kinda kills that problem.
Essentially a work on how you deal with being at the cusp of a cultural zeitgeist at exactly the right time in history and a specific point in your life and what happens when that starts to slip away. I loved it!
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Book 2 (which I started in 12/6/23, lol)
This was my guide through a really long listen to their entire catalog. It ends at Resistance (which I haven’t gotten to listen to three times yet). If you want to have a running commentary on what was going on when the albums were released written from the pov of a very deep fan, then this book is for you. It served its purpose and I will probably read others in the series (it covers the big British bands of a similar time period, book one is Oasis and where I will go next). It is not a Great book though. Serviceable and readable.
This was my guide through a really long listen to their entire catalog. It ends at Resistance (which I haven’t gotten to listen to three times yet). If you want to have a running commentary on what was going on when the albums were released written from the pov of a very deep fan, then this book is for you. It served its purpose and I will probably read others in the series (it covers the big British bands of a similar time period, book one is Oasis and where I will go next). It is not a Great book though. Serviceable and readable.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Also, I do read 5+ books a day to my kid though!
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
For Example, today we read:
Biscuit and Little Pup
The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Lobo
Unicorn’s Love Ice Cream
How to Take Your Octopus to School
Mother Bruce
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
Lilly’s Big Day
The Old Man and the Penguin
It’s Okay to Feel
Biscuit and Little Pup
The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Lobo
Unicorn’s Love Ice Cream
How to Take Your Octopus to School
Mother Bruce
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
Lilly’s Big Day
The Old Man and the Penguin
It’s Okay to Feel
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
07. Face the Music: My Improbable Trip to Saturn (or Close Enough) with Sun Ra by Michael Lowenthal
Now that I've cracked my audiobook seal, I finally got around to checking this one out--which isn't available in print.
A breezy firsthand account of Lowenthal's experience as a trumpet-playing senior when Sun Ra came to Dartmouth to teach and perform with the school's jazz band in 1990. It's a wonderful story, though I found myself mildly annoyed a few times, throughout, without being fully sure whether it was the writing or the reader that was annoying me. Either way, the annoyances were minor and mostly stylistic. Overall, it was a worthwhile hour of listening, and would likely be pretty enjoyable for non-Sun Ra fans as well. Lowenthal manages to capture both uncertainty and resistance to Sunny and his music, as well as the synergy and joy of the Arkestra itself.
Now that I've cracked my audiobook seal, I finally got around to checking this one out--which isn't available in print.
A breezy firsthand account of Lowenthal's experience as a trumpet-playing senior when Sun Ra came to Dartmouth to teach and perform with the school's jazz band in 1990. It's a wonderful story, though I found myself mildly annoyed a few times, throughout, without being fully sure whether it was the writing or the reader that was annoying me. Either way, the annoyances were minor and mostly stylistic. Overall, it was a worthwhile hour of listening, and would likely be pretty enjoyable for non-Sun Ra fans as well. Lowenthal manages to capture both uncertainty and resistance to Sunny and his music, as well as the synergy and joy of the Arkestra itself.
LeSamourai
Well-Known Member
I've reached Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in my George Smiley read-through, which is going much faster than anticipated. It's the only one of the series I had read previously.
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Love the book, the tv series, the radio play and the movie
ayayrawn
Well-Known Member
Finally an update!!!
2. Shadow of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga #1) - John Gwynne. Needed some dumb fantasy in the midst of Infinite Jest, and this did the trick for a while, but I DNF'd at about 50%. Objectively bad prose, and generic characters. Needed a once over by an editor.
3. The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn - Mark Twain. Thought I would finish this late last year, but it ended up taking me a while. Occasionally fun and well-meaning, but hasn't aged the best out of Twain's work.
4. Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace. This is by far what I've spent the most time on this year. At the end of the day it took me 9 weeks. It's a book that's kind of a wonder that it exists, and is pretty incredible. Often very funny, but more often than not a pretty heart-wrenching look at a bunch of characters (and one author) very desperate to be happy in a world that doesn't make it easy. I'm not going to pretend I understood all of this, but it's often extremely readable, and I did get a lot out of it. Has made me very hyper aware of the cynicism we're bombarded with constantly. Anyway, if you're up for a challenge, and I know some of y'all are, this is absolutely worth the effort.
5. Berserk Vol. 6 - Kentaro Miura. Continuing on in this series for the first time, and not much else to say besides it rules. Fantastic art and great (extremely dark) vibes.
6. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 - Cho Nam Joo. Famous feminist South Korean novel about the life of a housewife. Quick read. A bit sparse and on the nose, but I still found it effective and chilling.
7. James - Percival Everett. Listened to this on audiobook after finishing Huck Finn and it's pretty great. Very smart retake on the story while still retaining it's sense of action and even some humor. Thought the pacing got way to fast and the plot a little too convenient by the last part, but still think this is a really great read.
Currently reading a Discworld book for the first time. Really refreshing to read something just outright fun after a while. More to come!