November 2025 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wreck by Catherine Newman, a sequel to her Sandwich. Just as funny and real.

So Far Gone by Jess Walter, see PP above’s synopsis.

Really enjoying both of them. I also liked Buckeye.

Catherine Newman is going to be at Wonderland books next week if that's of interest to you.

An email from Wonderland in August announcing her event was the first I heard of Wreck. I placed a hold on Libby and signed up to see Newman. The event is full now, however. I’m
Not sure if there’s a waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished People Like Us by Jason Mott, author of Hell of a Book. I am not really sure what I read. It’s about two authors — or is it one author and a character in his book — gun violence, time travel, and perhaps hallucinations. Anyway, this book wasn’t for me right now.

Exactly how I felt about it. I had no idea what was going on and I didn't care in the least to figure it out either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Please come back when you finish it. I read it back in the day and really liked the parts about heritage. But then it sort of turns into a different sort of book, and while I don't remember the specifics I remember ultimately not liking the book overall as much as I thought I was going to.

I finished it and completely agree. The first 2/3 are wonderfully atmospheric— the strange mystery (not just what happened— but why), the eeriness of winter in Copenhagen, the polite and quiet menace behind some of the characters she is pursuing. I was also really interested in her Greenlander heritage and her relationship with her father. I found Smilla to be a wonderful character full of contradictions and interesting observations.

All of that goes away in the last 1/3 of the book when it turns into a 90s era techno-thriller. It felt like two books mashed together, with a terrible ending. I was so disappointed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Please come back when you finish it. I read it back in the day and really liked the parts about heritage. But then it sort of turns into a different sort of book, and while I don't remember the specifics I remember ultimately not liking the book overall as much as I thought I was going to.

I finished it and completely agree. The first 2/3 are wonderfully atmospheric— the strange mystery (not just what happened— but why), the eeriness of winter in Copenhagen, the polite and quiet menace behind some of the characters she is pursuing. I was also really interested in her Greenlander heritage and her relationship with her father. I found Smilla to be a wonderful character full of contradictions and interesting observations.

All of that goes away in the last 1/3 of the book when it turns into a 90s era techno-thriller. It felt like two books mashed together, with a terrible ending. I was so disappointed!

Yes! I was trying not to be spoiler-y, but the shift that books takes is WILD. It really does feel like a mash up of two books. But I really loved that first atmospheric, thoughtful two-thirds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s what I’ve read so far:

Heart the Lover
The 10 Year Affair
The Fourth Wing
Never Let me Go

This is one of my favorite books. I remember being about 1/3 of the way through and thinking "I thought this was supposed to be sci fi? I guess not." Then a little bit more into the book I was suddenly all "Oh gosh ... what on earth is going on???"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I tried and was aroud 50 pages in and not enjoying it at all. The writing is very good, you almost forget you're reading a book. But I found parts dull and just didn’t find interest. I loved Nutshell.

You have to manage to get halfway through to the "twist."

[Anonymous]

Murderland by Caroline Fraser about the prevalence of serial killers in the Pacific Northwest after WWII and the pollution in the area. I wasn't sure I'd get into this but it's fascinating! The subject of the industrial plants in the area is super interesting and who would have thought? She evokes a vivid picture of this time and place and weaves several stories together including her own upbringing. I'm finding the picture of this region as interesting or more so than the true crime aspect. It is like driving through the area with its kind of scary, kind of spooky, vibe. She gets at the mood of the place and the era.

[Anonymous]

I just finished The Women by Kristin Hannah.

I really enjoyed this book as it told an important story that many are not aware of. There were multiple admirable female characters though the book could be trite and cliche at times.

I’m a child of the 60’s and 70’s and this book evoked many memories and feelings through cultural references : music like The Doors, Gunne Sax dresses, Jean Nate’.

I gave my POW bracelet to my daughter who wore it proudly for years. This book reminded me that another visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is in order.

[Anonymous]

Hostage - Eli Sharabi’s book. Speechless

[Anonymous]

I just finished "Stoner" by John Williams. Beautiful prose, slow in a good way, touching, and sad . . . this one is going to stick with me. I'm not sure I would have appreciated it when I was younger, but it resonates with me as an introvert in middle age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I received a free copy of “Remain” by Nicholas Sparks and M Night Shyamalan. The quality of writing is what one would expect. It exists just to be adopted into a film (and I believe the film is already scheduled for release next year). Lots of exposition, obvious prose, and so on. I’m reading it because it was free, so. We will see if it ends up grabbing me!

Update: My expectations were very low and were met. Plot points were not so much foreshadowed as glaringly advertised from miles away. The “twist” is the only obvious conclusion. The writing is basically, “This thing happened. And then another thing happened.”Overall, not a good book, and will make a B or C level movie.

[Anonymous]

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams.

So good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Murderland by Caroline Fraser about the prevalence of serial killers in the Pacific Northwest after WWII and the pollution in the area. I wasn't sure I'd get into this but it's fascinating! The subject of the industrial plants in the area is super interesting and who would have thought? She evokes a vivid picture of this time and place and weaves several stories together including her own upbringing. I'm finding the picture of this region as interesting or more so than the true crime aspect. It is like driving through the area with its kind of scary, kind of spooky, vibe. She gets at the mood of the place and the era.

Cool, I'm adding this to my list.

[Anonymous]

I listened to "Margo's Got Money Troubles" on a long drive. I had avoided until now it based on the goofy plot summary but ended up totally immersed. Great narration by Elle Fanning, who will play Margo in the series adaptation. It was much sweeter and twistily self-referential than I expected, with shifting first- and third-person narration that was a clever callback to Margo's college writing class. I wasn't crazy about the specifics of how the author wrapped it all up but overall loved it.

I just started The Loneliness of Sonia and Sonny by Kiran Desai. Beautiful so far!

[Anonymous]

I just finished Queen Esther by John Irving. It started out good with some oddities sprinkled in. Then it got weird. And then it got weirder. I finished it, but I really disliked it by the end. My advice is to skip it.