November 2025 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Just finished two quick reads:

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippmann
A 60’s something widow takes a river cruise in Europe and becomes embroiled in theft of ancient artifact. Quick read of 260 pages with protagonist from Baltimore. Really enjoyed!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach
Another quick read 360 pages. Wasn’t sure if I would like this book but the protagonist grew on me quickly.

[Anonymous]

Just read "Class Mom" by Laurie Gelman. If you are looking for decently written, lighthearted, gossipy satire fiction where nothing too awful happens, I recommend this. No, it's not going to win a Pulitzer. But it hits the spot. And there are three sequels.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:reading Less about a gay man who plans an around the world trip to avoid his ex-boyfriend's wedding. It's good so far but I'm not sure I understand the pulitzer win...

I remember being puzzled about that as well.

I finished Less and am underwhelmed. Probably should look up the other contenders that year for context.

Now reading The Forbidden Notebook about a woman in 1950s Rome who starts a journal and it leads her to examining her life. It was written in the 50s and I’m shocked at how modern the issues feel.

The Forbidden Notebook is on my shelf - I'd love to know what you think when you finish.

I've finished it and - as a 43 year old mother of two, the same as the main character - I found so much to relate to and also examine in this book. I'd note it is absolutely a character study and there is hardly any plot but it gave me a lot to think about regarding how far women have (and in may cases have not) advanced with regard to family and personal life. She's a working woman but that barely changes the expectations of her at home, her husband's disappointments are treated, even by her, as more valid, and she struggles with her desires versus her duty. It's a relatively quick read as well - I'd recommend it.

THanks - this sounds like something I would like.

Now moved on to Isola which I read about here (among other places) about a french noblewoman in the 1500s abandoned on a canadian island by her guardian. It's fantastic so far.

[Anonymous]

Blood Red, Sister Rose—novel on Joan of Arc because I can’t wait for the movie

Isla Johnston is Baz Luhrmann's Joan of Arc | Vogue's ...Baz Luhrmann is directing a new epic film about Joan of Arc for Warner Bros., titled "Jehanne d'Arc". The film will focus on Joan of Arc's perspective as a teenage girl during the Hundred Years' War, with actress Isla Johnston cast in the title role. The script is a collaboration between Luhrmann and playwright Ava Pickett, based on Thomas Keneally's novel Blood Red, Sister Rose. Filming is expected to begin in 2026.

[Anonymous]

Just finished Flesh by David Szalay, which recently won the Booker. I see why it won and there is a lot about it that is done brilliantly, but I just didn't like it. I appreciate it, but didn't like it. That kind of spare prose isn't my favorite style, and I found the protagonist boring and unlikeable. But the way the writer handles jumps in time in a seamless way is pretty amazing. Would be very curious to know what others think if anyone has read it.

Based on this thread, will probably download North Woods tonight.

[Anonymous]

Just finished "Flying Solo" by Linda Holmes (who also wrote Evvie Drake starts over).
It is about a 40 year old woman who goes back to her small hometown in Maine to clean out the home of her recently deceased great aunt.
I liked it.

[Anonymous]

Just finished the Antidote by Karen Russell. Beautiful writing. A bit of a slog in places, but still probably my favorite read of the year.

[Anonymous]

"Bad Summer People," by Emma Rosenblum. I'd already ready "Very Bad Company" and "Mean Moms" so I knew what I was getting into and wanted more of that, and I wasn't disappointed. It's based on a group of rich New Yorkers summering in a Hamptons-esque locale who are all utterly ghastly, but that's the point. Rosenblum has quite a talent for producing well-written, light, gossipy fiction that you somehow greatly enjoy despite hating all the characters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished the Antidote by Karen Russell. Beautiful writing. A bit of a slog in places, but still probably my favorite read of the year.

She is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished Flesh by David Szalay, which recently won the Booker. I see why it won and there is a lot about it that is done brilliantly, but I just didn't like it. I appreciate it, but didn't like it. That kind of spare prose isn't my favorite style, and I found the protagonist boring and unlikeable. But the way the writer handles jumps in time in a seamless way is pretty amazing. Would be very curious to know what others think if anyone has read it.

Based on this thread, will probably download North Woods tonight.

I'm this PP. Enjoyed it a lot. Read it pretty quickly even though it is somewhat long -- kept wanting to know what would come next. It's wonderfully done, even if the tone was hokey often enough to be distracting. I get why that was the case, though. Would definitely recommend it for the exploration of style/form alone. Patti Smith's Bread of Angels is up next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished Flesh by David Szalay, which recently won the Booker. I see why it won and there is a lot about it that is done brilliantly, but I just didn't like it. I appreciate it, but didn't like it. That kind of spare prose isn't my favorite style, and I found the protagonist boring and unlikeable. But the way the writer handles jumps in time in a seamless way is pretty amazing. Would be very curious to know what others think if anyone has read it.

Based on this thread, will probably download North Woods tonight.

I'm this PP. Enjoyed it a lot. Read it pretty quickly even though it is somewhat long -- kept wanting to know what would come next. It's wonderfully done, even if the tone was hokey often enough to be distracting. I get why that was the case, though. Would definitely recommend it for the exploration of style/form alone. Patti Smith's Bread of Angels is up next.

PP, I was referring to North Woods with this, sorry if that wasn't clear.

[Anonymous]

I just finished My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent. It is about a 14 year old girl being raised by her abusive survivalist dad along the Northern California coast. It is an odd book; lots of evocative description of nature, some interesting and charming capturing of teen relationships, but also the descriptions of sexual abuse were queasy-making in their detail, the teen heroine was not exactly believable in her superhero survivalist abilities, and the climax of the book suddenly become a Die Hard sequence. In the end I was eager to give this one up to a local little free library.