2025 Reading Challenge
- Thread starter Selaws
- Start date
WhiteDahlias
Active Member
Book 10. After Dark - Haruki Murakami
I admit, I got frustrated with this one when it immediately started with a young woman sitting alone in public and some man just invites himself to come up and start talking to her out of the blue, but I ended up enjoying this quite a bit more than some of Murakami's other books that I've read. It still had a lot of the usual Murakami-isms but the female characters had more going on than just existing to further the plot/sleep with a self-insert main character. I think the setting worked really well to add to the tone of the book as well. This surprised me that it became one of my favorite Murakami novels.
Book 11. Emma - Jane Austen
This is one of those books that I had been meaning to read forever and never made time to get around to (I'm pretty sure it was on my Goodreads tbr from before they were Amazon). I'm glad I finally picked it up though because it was such a fun novel and felt like a good read to move into spring. I'd put this among my favorites, the only thing I didn't love was the age gap between two important characters that in a modern lens feels kinda gross if you think about it too hard but I acknowledge that it was a different time. This is the third Jane Austen I've read and I'd currently put it at #2 after Pride and Prejudice though I do also have Sense and Sensibility I still need to read as well.
...also this cover is so pretty.
Only 2 for March but they were both good. Hoping things go well in April too!
I admit, I got frustrated with this one when it immediately started with a young woman sitting alone in public and some man just invites himself to come up and start talking to her out of the blue, but I ended up enjoying this quite a bit more than some of Murakami's other books that I've read. It still had a lot of the usual Murakami-isms but the female characters had more going on than just existing to further the plot/sleep with a self-insert main character. I think the setting worked really well to add to the tone of the book as well. This surprised me that it became one of my favorite Murakami novels.
Book 11. Emma - Jane Austen
This is one of those books that I had been meaning to read forever and never made time to get around to (I'm pretty sure it was on my Goodreads tbr from before they were Amazon). I'm glad I finally picked it up though because it was such a fun novel and felt like a good read to move into spring. I'd put this among my favorites, the only thing I didn't love was the age gap between two important characters that in a modern lens feels kinda gross if you think about it too hard but I acknowledge that it was a different time. This is the third Jane Austen I've read and I'd currently put it at #2 after Pride and Prejudice though I do also have Sense and Sensibility I still need to read as well.
...also this cover is so pretty.
Only 2 for March but they were both good. Hoping things go well in April too!
Mr Moore
Well-Known Member
March, 2025
Book 13: Taffy Brodesser-Akner - Fleishman is in Trouble (2019)
This was enjoyable, the writing was good and the plotting of a marriage in collapse had all the right elements. It felt a bit too heavily influenced by Updike or Roth at times as it tiptoed the line between sex comedy and family drama but, Akner uses the coda to put a feminist slant on the whole affair which prevents it being wholly derivative. The reminder to male readers of the differences women have to endure in a work/life/family balance is smart, not sledgehammered and gives the novel the capacity to remain a lingering experience.
Book 14: Paul Auster - Sunset Park (2010)
Really closing in on completing the read-through now and this was in fact, a reread. I enjoyed it, possibly more than I did the first time. It's a family drama with a troubled young man at its heart and a small surrounding cast of characters. He tries to re-enter their lives after dropping out of their orbit 8 years previous following a tragic accident. Smart writing, sad and joyful in equal measures.
I'll be skipping 4 3 2 1 as I read it only a few years ago and moving onto his swan song, Baumgartner next month.
Book 15: Attica Locke - Black Water Rising (2009)
This one was a bit of a slog. In all fairness, I changed shift at work and haven't had as much time as usual but, this one gave me no urge to find extra time like many books would. What starts off as a murder mystery in the Texas bayou slips into a Chinatown/Erin Brockovich style corporations doing wrong story and sadly, neither element was gripping enough. The main fault seemed to be that the story in the book's present was all too often set aside for character backstory, little of which really did much to bolster the narrative. Coupled with it all feeling a little too much like a rehash of multiple TV and movie legal procedurals and it ended up being nothing to write home about.
Book 13: Taffy Brodesser-Akner - Fleishman is in Trouble (2019)
This was enjoyable, the writing was good and the plotting of a marriage in collapse had all the right elements. It felt a bit too heavily influenced by Updike or Roth at times as it tiptoed the line between sex comedy and family drama but, Akner uses the coda to put a feminist slant on the whole affair which prevents it being wholly derivative. The reminder to male readers of the differences women have to endure in a work/life/family balance is smart, not sledgehammered and gives the novel the capacity to remain a lingering experience.
Book 14: Paul Auster - Sunset Park (2010)
Really closing in on completing the read-through now and this was in fact, a reread. I enjoyed it, possibly more than I did the first time. It's a family drama with a troubled young man at its heart and a small surrounding cast of characters. He tries to re-enter their lives after dropping out of their orbit 8 years previous following a tragic accident. Smart writing, sad and joyful in equal measures.
I'll be skipping 4 3 2 1 as I read it only a few years ago and moving onto his swan song, Baumgartner next month.
Book 15: Attica Locke - Black Water Rising (2009)
This one was a bit of a slog. In all fairness, I changed shift at work and haven't had as much time as usual but, this one gave me no urge to find extra time like many books would. What starts off as a murder mystery in the Texas bayou slips into a Chinatown/Erin Brockovich style corporations doing wrong story and sadly, neither element was gripping enough. The main fault seemed to be that the story in the book's present was all too often set aside for character backstory, little of which really did much to bolster the narrative. Coupled with it all feeling a little too much like a rehash of multiple TV and movie legal procedurals and it ended up being nothing to write home about.
Rowan
Well-Known Member
Book 9 - The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers
Not sure how well known Myers is outside the UK. Especially considering most of his books focus very much on the North of England (I.e the best bit) but if people have a chance to give him a read he’s pretty good. He’s also quite prolific so there’s a bit to choose from. I’d stayed clear of this one as it’s ‘the famous one’ but as going to have a mini re-read of a few of his this year after Beastings was featured on a podcast I listen too. Kinda regret leaving it so long to pick up. It’s, frankly, absolutely brilliant. Essentially a fictionalisation of a tale of a small economic rebellion in Northern England around the time of the Industrial Revolution with perspectives from the Clipper and Crown sides. A bit of olde English thrown in for good measure amongst some balls to the wall Yorkshire-ness.
Not much I’ve read that I’ve not enjoyed this year. Enjoying this thread immensely too!
Not sure how well known Myers is outside the UK. Especially considering most of his books focus very much on the North of England (I.e the best bit) but if people have a chance to give him a read he’s pretty good. He’s also quite prolific so there’s a bit to choose from. I’d stayed clear of this one as it’s ‘the famous one’ but as going to have a mini re-read of a few of his this year after Beastings was featured on a podcast I listen too. Kinda regret leaving it so long to pick up. It’s, frankly, absolutely brilliant. Essentially a fictionalisation of a tale of a small economic rebellion in Northern England around the time of the Industrial Revolution with perspectives from the Clipper and Crown sides. A bit of olde English thrown in for good measure amongst some balls to the wall Yorkshire-ness.
Not much I’ve read that I’ve not enjoyed this year. Enjoying this thread immensely too!
Thackeraye
Well-Known Member
Extra points for the old-school book cover holder! Reminds me of my school library!
Rowan
Well-Known Member
Whitley Bay library in this case
jamieanderson1968
ninniest jackaninny
Been really struggling with reading this year. Been a real slog. Finished 7 books I think, but couldn't really tell you much about any of them other and Micky 7. Had to give up on Buffalo Hunter Hunter after 2 weeks as it was a total unenjoyable slog and I was only half way through.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Book 9: The Home Invaders: Confessions Of A Cat Burglar by Frank Hohimer (Chicago Review Press, 1975)
I watched "Thief" (starring James Caan) a few weeks ago and the closing credits caught my eye when it stated it was based on a book. Turns out the book is "The Home Invaders: Confessions Of A Cat Burglar" by Frank Hohimer which is actually very, very different to the film, but equally fantastic. I wanted to buy a copy but it looks like its quite a rare book that cant be found for less than a few hundred quid, but I lucked out on a PDF copy. Its a fantastic read that Hohimer wrote whilst in prison. He was a real old school thief with a gentlemanly quality. I thoroughly recommend the book!
I watched "Thief" (starring James Caan) a few weeks ago and the closing credits caught my eye when it stated it was based on a book. Turns out the book is "The Home Invaders: Confessions Of A Cat Burglar" by Frank Hohimer which is actually very, very different to the film, but equally fantastic. I wanted to buy a copy but it looks like its quite a rare book that cant be found for less than a few hundred quid, but I lucked out on a PDF copy. Its a fantastic read that Hohimer wrote whilst in prison. He was a real old school thief with a gentlemanly quality. I thoroughly recommend the book!