December 2025. What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Finished Where the Axe is Buried, by Ray Nayler. One of the best fiction works I’ve read in a long time, and definitely in the sci-fi genre. It’s a chilling dystopian tale of AI, originally designed to be benevolent, gone terribly wrong, told through the perspectives of several characters.

This book tackles the topic of AI and tech dystopia far better than most others I’ve read, including Richard Powers Playground and Vauhini Vara’s The Immortal King Rao. It also successfully switches perspectives between characters by chapter, a technique that is pretty common in fiction nowadays but which so often doesn’t quite succeed. The only minor criticism is that the ending is rather abrupt, and felt rushed. But otherwise it’s excellent… 4.5/5 stars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished I, Claudius, a 1939 historical fiction book of early Roman emperors. It was really fantastic.

Now on to Culpability which I finally got from the lucky day shelf at the library.

I forget about this book, because I read it so long ago. It is sooooooo good.

2+. I read this one deep in my young adult Greek myth/history phase. Still remember it as great.

[Anonymous]

I am about 1/3 into James. I think my expectations may have been too high--or perhaps I am so familiar with Huckleberry Finn that it's making the story feel like a bit of a retread. The audiobook is very well done--and I realize I haven't really gotten to the "meat" of the (original) story yet--so will continue along...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am about 1/3 into James. I think my expectations may have been too high--or perhaps I am so familiar with Huckleberry Finn that it's making the story feel like a bit of a retread. The audiobook is very well done--and I realize I haven't really gotten to the "meat" of the (original) story yet--so will continue along...

It is a very good book. But it is not a great book. And I think it has been sold as such.

[Anonymous]

Finished The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and loved it, especially the Good Stab chapters. I thought the ending was weaker than the rest of the book, but still one of my best reads this year.

Now reading The Rush by Beth Lewis, which takes place in the Yukon during the Gold Rush. It’s ok, but they promised a murder, and I’m a good chunk in (1/3 maybe) without said murder.

Also listening to Long Bright River by Liz Moore. I’m not great with audiobooks (I lose some of the plot), but I like this well enough. I loved The God of the Woods but would say this is a smidge less gripping, but it could be the audio format.

[Anonymous]

Just finished North Woods based on recommendations here and really liked it. It did take me a while to get into. The initial vignettes did not grip me, but glad I stuck it out and loved the ending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heartwood by Amity Gaige A thriller told from 3 different POV’s. It was very easy to transition between the different chapters.The MC is a nurse who decided to hike the AT after being a hospital nurse during COVID. I wish her character had been fleshed out more!

Leaves of Grass audio by Walt Whitman. 18 hours long and listened in the evenings. Very glad to have listened. He loves his country and I didn’t realize he had served as essentially a male nurse during the Civil War. Powerful.

Leaves of Grass is phenomenal. You will love the very last poem. It's amazing. He greatly admired Abraham Lincoln. I think there are mentions of him in Leaves of Grass but also maybe in other poems outside of it. I think When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed is one. And I remember one about watching his funeral train go by.

Yes, so beautiful and moving! I am now inspired to visit Lincoln’s final resting place in Springfield, IL. Incredible how inspirational Walt Whitman’s writing is.

Be sure to visit the Lincoln Library when you are there. It is excellent and covers the realities of the Civil War in depth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished North Woods based on recommendations here and really liked it. It did take me a while to get into. The initial vignettes did not grip me, but glad I stuck it out and loved the ending.

Same. I just finished it a couple of weeks ago. I had the same experience -- took me a while to get into it. Then when I understood what was going on I tore through it almost like a thriller, dying to know what would come next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am about 1/3 into James. I think my expectations may have been too high--or perhaps I am so familiar with Huckleberry Finn that it's making the story feel like a bit of a retread. The audiobook is very well done--and I realize I haven't really gotten to the "meat" of the (original) story yet--so will continue along...

It is a very good book. But it is not a great book. And I think it has been sold as such.

I didn't love James, but it's definitely not a "retread" of Huck Finn. Sure, the two books share a premise, broad plot outline, and setting, but in the very first chapter you encounter a dramatically different perspective and voice. And, if you're already 1/3 of the way through the book, you've also read through major differences as the plot unreels; if you keep reading, you'll see that happening more.

[Anonymous]

I'm reading the housemaid - my book club is going to see the movie for our january meeting.

[Anonymous]

Katabasis by RF Kuang - my son got it for me knowing I liked a couple of her other books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Katabasis by RF Kuang - my son got it for me knowing I liked a couple of her other books.

Is it also good?

[Anonymous]

I've been reading Writers and Lovers (wanted to try it before Heart the Lover) and it took me about half of the book to get into it but now I'm pretty hooked and really enjoying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished North Woods based on recommendations here and really liked it. It did take me a while to get into. The initial vignettes did not grip me, but glad I stuck it out and loved the ending.

I absolutely loved that book. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished North Woods based on recommendations here and really liked it. It did take me a while to get into. The initial vignettes did not grip me, but glad I stuck it out and loved the ending.

I absolutely loved that book. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

same.