May 2026 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

I'm currently reading As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow about Syria. I'm really enjoying it so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett - loved it. It reminded me so much of the parts I loved about Little Miss Sunshine movie!

I absolutely adored this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett - loved it. It reminded me so much of the parts I loved about Little Miss Sunshine movie!

This is on my TBR. Maybe I’ll pick that up next

[Anonymous]

Just finished Ian McEwan’s What We Can Know, and not sure what I think of it.

Set 100 years into the future after climate disaster has struck, but really about the lives of an imaginary poet and his wife from our times. The first half of the book focuses on the two academics of the future who are researching the poet/wife. Although the story should have hit all my buttons (speculative fiction, literary puzzle, check, check), the characters were all fantastically boring—left me wondering if this was intentional? The second half went back to focus on the wife and I guess served as a bit of a twist—certainly more interesting—but left me wondering what the point of her story was. Altogether I am not sure I “got” the book, and the whole thing read sort of like a rough draft.*

*Sort of an echo/draft of Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, which, however, succeeded in compellingly depicting the banal everyday surface of a horrifying future, was that the point here too?

[Anonymous]

Just finished the audiobook of Moby Dick read by Anthony Heald. Absolutely loved it. I borrowed from Libby so had 2 weeks to finish it which felt rushed at times. I plan to read a hard copy at some point.

I tried to read it years ago and did not get very far. The narrator brought the characters to life for me so I think a second try would be smoother than my first was. Thanks to DCUM bookclub for previous posts about Moby Dick which inspired me to try again!

[Anonymous]

I’ve just started Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.
Slow start, but I’ve heard it’s quite good so I am invested.

[Anonymous]

I am on Kin by Tayari Jones. It started not great but picked up and I'm almost done. The lines are close together so it reads much longer than 350 pages. She also wrote An American Marriage which I enjoyed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve just started Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.
Slow start, but I’ve heard it’s quite good so I am invested.

I read this three books ago and had to Google it to remind myself what it was about. It wasn't bad but not memorable (at least for me!) I hope you like it.

[Anonymous]

Isola

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished Ian McEwan’s What We Can Know, and not sure what I think of it.

Set 100 years into the future after climate disaster has struck, but really about the lives of an imaginary poet and his wife from our times. The first half of the book focuses on the two academics of the future who are researching the poet/wife. Although the story should have hit all my buttons (speculative fiction, literary puzzle, check, check), the characters were all fantastically boring—left me wondering if this was intentional? The second half went back to focus on the wife and I guess served as a bit of a twist—certainly more interesting—but left me wondering what the point of her story was. Altogether I am not sure I “got” the book, and the whole thing read sort of like a rough draft.*

*Sort of an echo/draft of Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, which, however, succeeded in compellingly depicting the banal everyday surface of a horrifying future, was that the point here too?

I had mixed feelings about it. I've read all of Ian McEwan's books, and every time I read another one, I kind of wonder why. Agree that the characters were "all fantastically boring."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished Train Dreams which...wow. I'm not quite sure how to describe it other than a loose biography (?) of a railway worker in the american west. That feels very inaccurate but it was a really interesting read. Now starting Mrs. Dalloway because I've never read it and it's referenced so often (I see you, PP who recently finished the Wedding People!).

It's a novella and a movie? Just watched the trailer. Holy Guacamole that looks good. I'll have to be in the right state of mind to read and watch!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer - couldn't connect with the main character and found the writing a bit trite. DNF.

Clover is a death doula, who became intrigued by death after her kindergarten teacher died in front of their class. The story is her 36 year old present life woth frequent memories of her path. Could not relate to her perspectives and handling of her experiences, all felt very immature.

I felt the same way about this book but most of my book club liked it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished the audiobook of Moby Dick read by Anthony Heald. Absolutely loved it. I borrowed from Libby so had 2 weeks to finish it which felt rushed at times. I plan to read a hard copy at some point.

I tried to read it years ago and did not get very far. The narrator brought the characters to life for me so I think a second try would be smoother than my first was. Thanks to DCUM bookclub for previous posts about Moby Dick which inspired me to try again!

I listened to it too. A writer I know suggested this. I enjoyed it and had given up reading at about 50 pages. I think it works well this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished Ian McEwan’s What We Can Know, and not sure what I think of it.

Set 100 years into the future after climate disaster has struck, but really about the lives of an imaginary poet and his wife from our times. The first half of the book focuses on the two academics of the future who are researching the poet/wife. Although the story should have hit all my buttons (speculative fiction, literary puzzle, check, check), the characters were all fantastically boring—left me wondering if this was intentional? The second half went back to focus on the wife and I guess served as a bit of a twist—certainly more interesting—but left me wondering what the point of her story was. Altogether I am not sure I “got” the book, and the whole thing read sort of like a rough draft.*

*Sort of an echo/draft of Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, which, however, succeeded in compellingly depicting the banal everyday surface of a horrifying future, was that the point here too?

I had mixed feelings about it. I've read all of Ian McEwan's books, and every time I read another one, I kind of wonder why. Agree that the characters were "all fantastically boring."

I loved it. But then again I work in a field related to climate and I just thought it was relaly genius. I loved the premise of what you relaly can know looking back at history. I love thinking about what peple in the future will think of this time.

I do think the characters were boring, but I think intentionally so. The main character was stuck in the past so much so he could'nt even see all the things he didn't know. And I think he mourned for birds and wildlife and all the things that were lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am on Kin by Tayari Jones. It started not great but picked up and I'm almost done. The lines are close together so it reads much longer than 350 pages. She also wrote An American Marriage which I enjoyed.

I just finished the audiobook and the narration was fantastic. It really brought the book to life.