February 2025 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading to The North Woods by Daniel Mason, a booker finalist for other works. It's the story of a cabin/house in rural western Mass and the stories of the inhabitants over 300 years. Really wonderful, especially since I grew up in a similar house in Vermont.

I read it a few weeks ago and agree, absolutely loved it. The beauty of New England and the span of time just opened up before me. My favorite book I've read this year.

I’ve had it on my TBR forever but the back and forth discourse about it here has convinced me to pick it up this weekend. The people who enjoy it have far more compelling reasons why it was good than the ones who didn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading to The North Woods by Daniel Mason, a booker finalist for other works. It's the story of a cabin/house in rural western Mass and the stories of the inhabitants over 300 years. Really wonderful, especially since I grew up in a similar house in Vermont.

I read it a few weeks ago and agree, absolutely loved it. The beauty of New England and the span of time just opened up before me. My favorite book I've read this year.

Agreed— this was one of my favorites of 2024.

[Anonymous]

I bought North Woods this weekend and just last night finished the Mary and Alice chapter - wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:West with giraffes

I’m updating. I listed to Broken Horses by Brandi Carlisle. Just thought ok. I’m liking West with Giraffes - almost finished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading to The North Woods by Daniel Mason, a booker finalist for other works. It's the story of a cabin/house in rural western Mass and the stories of the inhabitants over 300 years. Really wonderful, especially since I grew up in a similar house in Vermont.

I read it a few weeks ago and agree, absolutely loved it. The beauty of New England and the span of time just opened up before me. My favorite book I've read this year.

I’ve had it on my TBR forever but the back and forth discourse about it here has convinced me to pick it up this weekend. The people who enjoy it have far more compelling reasons why it was good than the ones who didn’t.

In other words, the people that have my same taste were right

[Anonymous]

All the Colors of the Dark. It is pretty boring and quite long, but I'm sticking with it.

[Anonymous]

I am another person who has been reading (actually, listening to) North Woods. Just finished it.
I thought it was very good.
I kept having to pause the book to look up things like when the puritans first settled in Massachusetts, when the French and Indian war took place, what years Teddy Roosevelt was president, etc. I also kept looking on google maps to figure out just where this yellow house would have actually been located. I gave up on figuring out the location.
I had not anticipated that it would all turn into a ghost story. And the very detailed description of the horny insects was weird. Really weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the Colors of the Dark. It is pretty boring and quite long, but I'm sticking with it.

I just finished it and hated it, but I definitely seem to be an outlier. The entire middle of the book is SO boring. The writing is overwrought and the dialogue unrealistic. I really did not understand the hype for this one.

[Anonymous]

I just finished Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams and really enjoyed it. It's not super deep, almost a beach read without being cutsie, but I liked the characters and liked spending time with them.

[Anonymous]

I just finished First Lie Wins and loved it. Now reading 1984 (read it 30+ years ago) and I picked up a copy of Julia 1984 which is a retelling of the Orwell original.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone read the new Anne Tyler yet?

Three Days in June — about a socially awkward mother of the bride apparently.

I have it on hold at the library and excited to read it . I find her books to be soothing and comforting. I’m glad she is still writing at age 83!

I just read Three Days in June and was really disappointed. It was boring and the characters were annoying. I wanted to slap them all. I was annoyed that I'd wasted one of my library holds on it, but at the same time glad that I hadn't bought it.

Other recent reads:

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali. Fabulously written and a great story. Highly recommend.
One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin. Another beautiful story, tho it features a sick teenager.

I also liked The Briar Club (Quinn) and The Things We Cannot Say (Rimmer).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the Colors of the Dark. It is pretty boring and quite long, but I'm sticking with it.

I just finished it and hated it, but I definitely seem to be an outlier. The entire middle of the book is SO boring. The writing is overwrought and the dialogue unrealistic. I really did not understand the hype for this one.

I finally finished it and felt the same. It was at least 200 pages too long.

Now I’m reading Junie. I find it interesting and well written

[Anonymous]

Read "Demon Copperhead" and am now halfway through "A Gentleman in Moscow."

I enjoyed the former and appreciated the nod to Dickens, but it felt a little forced and cliche. I'm not sure modernizing "David Copperfield" to tell the tale of the opioid crisis in Appalachia does either justice.

As for the latter, I am utterly charmed thus far. What a beautifully written book!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the Colors of the Dark. It is pretty boring and quite long, but I'm sticking with it.

I just finished it and hated it, but I definitely seem to be an outlier. The entire middle of the book is SO boring. The writing is overwrought and the dialogue unrealistic. I really did not understand the hype for this one.

Oh man, I’m reading this based on several recommendations, and I don’t like it. It just feels fake, and I was thinking maybe I’m just too jaded and cynical right now or something. But good to hear there are others.