January 2026! What are you reading??

[Anonymous]

Recently started the Once and Future Witches; I’m 70 pp in, it’s an easy read with some pretty prose yet also very tropey and trauma-laden; it might be a DNF (which is rare for me), but it is the bookclub select and I’m guessing everyone else will have loved it—so may see it through so I can have full perspective for the discussion.

I get that the tropes are partly related to fairy tale archetypal journeys, but some used here are just heavy-handed. And the book also has a pet peeve of mine: when authors go through the trouble of embedding a metaphor or allusion, but then they (or their editor) don’t trust you to connect the dots, so they go ahead and tell you what they meant just to be sure. I am curious about some of the new characters, though, and also don’t want to be cranky about the book so may try to get to part 2 (~20% in).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books -- it's about a woman who goes on a book banning crusade and sets up a little free library with what she considers appropriate books, but someone swaps out all the books with banned books (leaving the wholesome dust jackets). It's very light and so far all the bad people are getting their comeuppances and the good people are triumphing and it's kind of what I needed to read right now.

I still have 14 people in front of me for The Black Wolf.

I suggested, and my book club read, Lula Dean's over the summer. I liked it okay, a nice book to read a chapter and then pick up whenever. I didn't keep it in my collection. Most members liked it, some really didn't but I think just because it was your typical satire (therefore a little dry). I liked The Change better. I don't love books where I don't care how they end. This one had a nice enough ending, and the premise was interesting enough at first, but I could've stopped midway and never thought of it again.

[Anonymous]

My Year of Rest and Relaxation.

Unlikeable narrator. Really unlikeable. There’s some satire and feminist critique in there. It’s hard to pinpoint halfway through, but I’m understanding it as a chronicle of grief and loneliness in a society that provides people with few tools to manage either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Year of Rest and Relaxation.

Unlikeable narrator. Really unlikeable. There’s some satire and feminist critique in there. It’s hard to pinpoint halfway through, but I’m understanding it as a chronicle of grief and loneliness in a society that provides people with few tools to manage either.

I really struggled with it as well (and I like unusual books). It felt similar in bad ways to All Fours, which I thought was less weird but perhaps with an even more unlikable main character.

[Anonymous]

I am currently reading Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman and the Happy Place by Emily Henry.

I have a few goals for the year: read 24 books, read a book I own but haven't read yet, read 1 classic, read 1 book that has been on my to-read list for at least 5 years, and read 1 book on the NYT best books of the 21st century list...

[Anonymous]

I am PP who was looking for something lighter and started “I hope this finds you well” which I heard about on here (can’t remember which thread). It’s ok so far. Not my favorite though to be fair I don’t typically like a super unrealistic plot device, which I knew was the whole point of the book so the fact I am even reading it is a recommendation I guess. About a quarter of the way through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently started the Once and Future Witches; I’m 70 pp in, it’s an easy read with some pretty prose yet also very tropey and trauma-laden; it might be a DNF (which is rare for me), but it is the bookclub select and I’m guessing everyone else will have loved it—so may see it through so I can have full perspective for the discussion.

I get that the tropes are partly related to fairy tale archetypal journeys, but some used here are just heavy-handed. And the book also has a pet peeve of mine: when authors go through the trouble of embedding a metaphor or allusion, but then they (or their editor) don’t trust you to connect the dots, so they go ahead and tell you what they meant just to be sure. I am curious about some of the new characters, though, and also don’t want to be cranky about the book so may try to get to part 2 (~20% in).

I read one of Alix Harrow's books at the end of last year and was surprised at how fresh her voice was--and the book was well-plotted and imaginative. But, ITA, that she could use an editor to pare back the "over-writing" & statements of the obvious and prevent her
(apparent) tendency to descend into overly precious storytelling.

I know that "cozy fantasy" is having its moment these days, but basically feel like she could be better than that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Heartwood by Amity Gaige. It was a really compelling page-turner about a nurse recovering from her hospital covid experience by hiking the Appalachian Trail. In Maine, she goes missing. The book is about the search and is told from multiple POVs.

I really liked this. It isn't perfect, but it is a page turner and I was all in while reading it.

Oh I really liked this.

I just started this and it's great so far!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Recently started the Once and Future Witches; I’m 70 pp in, it’s an easy read with some pretty prose yet also very tropey and trauma-laden; it might be a DNF (which is rare for me), but it is the bookclub select and I’m guessing everyone else will have loved it—so may see it through so I can have full perspective for the discussion.

I get that the tropes are partly related to fairy tale archetypal journeys, but some used here are just heavy-handed. And the book also has a pet peeve of mine: when authors go through the trouble of embedding a metaphor or allusion, but then they (or their editor) don’t trust you to connect the dots, so they go ahead and tell you what they meant just to be sure. I am curious about some of the new characters, though, and also don’t want to be cranky about the book so may try to get to part 2 (~20% in).

I read one of Alix Harrow's books at the end of last year and was surprised at how fresh her voice was--and the book was well-plotted and imaginative. But, ITA, that she could use an editor to pare back the "over-writing" & statements of the obvious and prevent her
(apparent) tendency to descend into overly precious storytelling.

I know that "cozy fantasy" is having its moment these days, but basically feel like she could be better than that!

I read The Everlasting based on a recommendation here and it was really great. I will be trying more of her books, but do agree that a little bit of paring back wouldn't hurt. Still, one of the more interesting, original books I've encountered in awhile.

[Anonymous]

The Everlasting is crazy short for Alix! It's just over 300 pages. It has the beautiful prose you're used to getting from her, but it's somehow very compact.

[Anonymous]

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

This is book three for Susan Ryeland/Atticus Pund. The first two books were adapted for TV series starring Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan. I found the shows very entertaining. I didn't read the first two books, but when I saw this one I decided to read. According to the author it was written because Manville said she wanted to play Susan one more time. As far as I know, the show hasn't been released yet but was filming in 2025.

Manville and McMullan narrate the audiobook. It's a bit of a commitment at 18 hours, and the paper book is 500+ pages, but it maintains a quick pace. The story alternates between current day actual happenings and the book within a book about Atticus Pund in long sections, so if you hate that you will hate this!

I liked it and will be watching for the show release.

[Anonymous]

Finished Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.

A little long, but enjoyable. The characters were fairly endearing and true to themselves. I would recommend you read it! Undecided if it will stay in my collection.

I don't love when it feels like trying too hard to weave in the title, the way he did it just felt a little meh to me, like would that actually have happened in these families?

And there was a hug at the end that felt implausible. But other than those two things, this book was great. Weaving through generations, imperfect parents, the shame of secrets, accepting humanness - all themes I enjoy in a family drama.

I cried multiple times reading it. There was a quote toward the end, "This is why old people seem distant and distracted, he thought. We aren't living in the past; the past is living in us. And it's talking." I'm only 42 but really felt this. Beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Just finished Daughters of Shandong, The Alice Network and now My Friends - all good but My Friends a step above, IMO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Everlasting is crazy short for Alix! It's just over 300 pages. It has the beautiful prose you're used to getting from her, but it's somehow very compact.

OK OK guys, I'll stop nitpicking & put the Everlasting on my list for later this year...

[Anonymous]

DNF Flashlight, by Susan Choi, at 25%. The story was dragging and the characters were all unlikable, with no signs of redeeming themselves.

Now reading Circe…. Liking it so far.