January 2025 - what are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I listened to Wedding People and it was good. Light. Now trying Funny Story.

It was about depression, suicide, a dad dying of cancer, a dead mother and grieving teen, a narcissistic mother, adultery, infertility, etc. I wouldn't call it light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I listened to Wedding People and it was good. Light. Now trying Funny Story.

It was about depression, suicide, a dad dying of cancer, a dead mother and grieving teen, a narcissistic mother, adultery, infertility, etc. I wouldn't call it light.

It's funny because the combination of these posts is one of the reasons I didn't like The Wedding People. I thought it was too flippant about suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am reading Sandwich which is pretty short, and then I'll probably read Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

I just finished sandwich and really liked it. I have a feeling it’s polarizing (haven’t read reviews), but it really resonated with me.

I’ve started Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, which I like so far. But my god I wish she made more paragraph breaks. I like her writing style, but the wall of text is hard for my attention span.

You should read Catherine Newman's We All Want Impossible Things if you haven't. Sandwhich is fine and a good read, but We All Want Impossible Things is beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I listened to Wedding People and it was good. Light. Now trying Funny Story.

It was about depression, suicide, a dad dying of cancer, a dead mother and grieving teen, a narcissistic mother, adultery, infertility, etc. I wouldn't call it light.

It was easy to read and written to make dark subjects funny/turn them around on their heads. It wasn’t the Brothers Karamazov, that’s for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read Wedding People last week based on recommendations here and it was okay. I didn't love it. I wouldn't recommend it to others.

I'm reading The Frozen River now and I think my opinion will firm up based on the second half. So far the main character has a lot of major stuff going on (I won't spoil here), but she seems totally calm and is just going about her daily life. That doesn't strike me as realistic as all. Everyone is being too even keeled given the circumstances. Dead body? ::shrug::

I read the frozen river having read “The Midwife’s Tale” about Martha Ballard. In her diary, MB is extremely matter of fact about everything, almost emotionless. So her tone in the novel wasn’t odd to me. I see how it could be if you were coming in cold. The Midwife’s Tale is a more interesting book, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Finished there are rivers in the sky last weekend. The multiple timelines structure didn’t feel particularly original but the stories were compelling and I had never known much about the Yazidi before.

I just finished All Fours tonight and I think I’m going to need some time to process it.

[Anonymous]

Long Island by colm toibin

Really enjoying it , will read Brooklyn next

[Anonymous]

Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer. I'm trying one after learning Stephen Fry is a big fan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am reading Sandwich which is pretty short, and then I'll probably read Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

I just finished sandwich and really liked it. I have a feeling it’s polarizing (haven’t read reviews), but it really resonated with me.

I’ve started Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, which I like so far. But my god I wish she made more paragraph breaks. I like her writing style, but the wall of text is hard for my attention span.

You should read Catherine Newman's We All Want Impossible Things if you haven't. Sandwhich is fine and a good read, but We All Want Impossible Things is beautiful.

I was about to put a hold, but I’m not sure I can handle the subject matter right now. Will file it away for future! Thanks for the rec.

[Anonymous]

I read ARCs from time to time. My favorite January releases are Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin, Dead Money by Jakob Kerr and The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha. All 5 stars for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am reading Sandwich which is pretty short, and then I'll probably read Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

I just finished sandwich and really liked it. I have a feeling it’s polarizing (haven’t read reviews), but it really resonated with me.

I’ve started Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, which I like so far. But my god I wish she made more paragraph breaks. I like her writing style, but the wall of text is hard for my attention span.

You should read Catherine Newman's We All Want Impossible Things if you haven't. Sandwhich is fine and a good read, but We All Want Impossible Things is beautiful.

I was about to put a hold, but I’m not sure I can handle the subject matter right now. Will file it away for future! Thanks for the rec.

Try Same as it Ever Was from Claire Lombardo when you are in the mood too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I listened to Wedding People and it was good. Light. Now trying Funny Story.

It was about depression, suicide, a dad dying of cancer, a dead mother and grieving teen, a narcissistic mother, adultery, infertility, etc. I wouldn't call it light.

It was easy to read and written to make dark subjects funny/turn them around on their heads. It wasn’t the Brothers Karamazov, that’s for sure.

+1 it was a light touch about dark and deep things - it felt like a beach read even with those subjects

I'm reading The New Couple In 5b now - about 1/3 through. I think I like it? I'm definitely hooked - though it is feeling pretty referential toward other works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a big reader but lately I just haven't felt like it...too much going on in real life. But I started reading the oral history of The O.C. and damn, it's sucking me in. I guess reminiscing about my life 20 years ago is helping me...my H and I were just about to move to California back then and this show really hit the spot for that and for the indie music. I know this one isn't all cerebral/serious but sometimes we need something lighthearted, so I recommend The Oral History of the O.C.

Confidence, Cohen!

Aw that one sounds really fun! I hope real life gets a little more manageable for you soon.

[Anonymous]

Playground by Richard Powers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished Nuclear War: A Scenario

Now starting The Latecomer (a few years old)

I really liked The Latecomer, quirky characters and the story took enough twists and turns to make it interesting.

Currently reading The Big Red by Louise Erdrich. It took a minute, but but I'm now caught up in the storytelling and the lives of all these North Dakota folks in 2008.

I like Louise Erdrich’s work. Love Medicine was great.