November 2025 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

What is everyone reading this month?
What is it about?
What do you think of it?

[Anonymous]

I am reading Murderland by Caroline Fraser. Its slightly clumsy and heavily self-referencing but the theories at the base of it (lead poisoning triggering serial killers) is fascinating.

I'm also reading The Four Spent the Day Together by Chris Kraus (who previously wrote I love Dick). Its decent, it reminds me a lot of Colm Toibin's Long Island but is far more cluttered writing and less artful.

[Anonymous]

I just started Remarkably Bright Creatures (I know! So behind the curve on this) and am already completely drawn in. I used to read the author’s running blog years ago and she was a great writer then so I don’t know what took me so long.

[Anonymous]

Just started The Measure and like it so far but am pretty early in and it seems a little long but we'll see

[Anonymous]

Fleishman is in Trouble
I too am behind the curve

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started Remarkably Bright Creatures (I know! So behind the curve on this) and am already completely drawn in. I used to read the author’s running blog years ago and she was a great writer then so I don’t know what took me so long.

I already finished it! I did really enjoy it but I guess I was expecting something really life changing because of how much I heard people say they liked it and it was not that for me. But definitely well written and enjoyable.

[Anonymous]

I started Buckeye by Patrick Ryan since it was a Today Show pick. Its historical fiction and is described as "weaving the intimate lives of two midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late twentieth century". It was just released in Sept but has good reviews.

[Anonymous]

Just finished What We Can Know, which is the new Ian McEwan. I've read all of his books, and I'm not quite sure why, lol. I am always a bit bored by them. This was better than most, though. It's creative and twisty. I do recommend it. You have to stick with it for the payoff.

Just started Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy. I'm sure I will love it. It's very different from the other books of his that I've read, and I've read most of them. Both Blood Meridian and The Crossing are probably in my top 10 fave books. Certainly in my top 20.

[Anonymous]

Motherless Land - I'm really enjoying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started Buckeye by Patrick Ryan since it was a Today Show pick. Its historical fiction and is described as "weaving the intimate lives of two midwestern families across generations, from World War II to the late twentieth century". It was just released in Sept but has good reviews.

I loved Buckeye!

I am reading Betty now.

[Anonymous]

“Smilla’s Sense of Snow” which was recommended in a thread about spooky books.

It’s really interesting— a dark Scandinavian mystery that’s also a lot about the main character’s Greenlander heritage. Recently I have read a lot about the complicated relationship between Denmark and Greenland (particularly the native Greenlanders) so this novel tied in nicely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Smilla’s Sense of Snow” which was recommended in a thread about spooky books.

It’s really interesting— a dark Scandinavian mystery that’s also a lot about the main character’s Greenlander heritage. Recently I have read a lot about the complicated relationship between Denmark and Greenland (particularly the native Greenlanders) so this novel tied in nicely.

Great book - I think I read it about 30 years ago. Had completely forgotten about it. It was also turned into a movie.

[Anonymous]

On DCUM recommendation I just finished Olivia Manning’s Balkan Trilogy. It was wonderful but also a bit distressing at the end. Understandably given the context. Really well-written and multi-faceted characters. Thanks to whomever recommended it.

I also sped through Faulkner’s An Intruder in the Dust. That is remarkably prescient of current racial unrest to have been written in 1948! Remarkable book, I am surprised it isn’t more famous.

I’m book hunting now, having just wrapped up the Faulkner. I want something lighter for my next read as those two were both quite heavy with amusing moments, but overall heavy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM recommendation I just finished Olivia Manning’s Balkan Trilogy. It was wonderful but also a bit distressing at the end. Understandably given the context. Really well-written and multi-faceted characters. Thanks to whomever recommended it.

I also sped through Faulkner’s An Intruder in the Dust. That is remarkably prescient of current racial unrest to have been written in 1948! Remarkable book, I am surprised it isn’t more famous.

I’m book hunting now, having just wrapped up the Faulkner. I want something lighter for my next read as those two were both quite heavy with amusing moments, but overall heavy.

I'm so glad you read The Balkan Trilogy. I will say I loved the next three - The Levant Trilogy - even better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM recommendation I just finished Olivia Manning’s Balkan Trilogy. It was wonderful but also a bit distressing at the end. Understandably given the context. Really well-written and multi-faceted characters. Thanks to whomever recommended it.

I also sped through Faulkner’s An Intruder in the Dust. That is remarkably prescient of current racial unrest to have been written in 1948! Remarkable book, I am surprised it isn’t more famous.

I’m book hunting now, having just wrapped up the Faulkner. I want something lighter for my next read as those two were both quite heavy with amusing moments, but overall heavy.

I'm so glad you read The Balkan Trilogy. I will say I loved the next three - The Levant Trilogy - even better.

Thanks! I’ll come back to those later. I must say Harriet and Guy hit a little too close to home for me, because part of their relationship is similar to my marriage and it’s unsettling! I’ll definitely come back to her books.