March 2025 - What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

I always read the latest Hunger Games novel for nostalgia's sake, so right now it's Sunrise on the Reaping.

I'm always impressed by them. The author has done so much studying of history and philosophy on the methods of authoritarianism. (I think it's clear that the concept of the games comes from the myth of the minotaur/labyrinth, and the author has explained that she is intentionally referencing the Ancient Roman means of controlling the population through "bread and circuses".) And then she packages it into a YA book. I do not really read YA, it's not my thing, but I will always read one of these because the author has so much to say. And they're pretty enjoyable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wedding People - a rec from this site and absolutely loved it. So thank you!

Could not get through it!

I could not get through it either, all the characters sounded like the same person, it did not seem authentic. I couldn't get into it.

[Anonymous]

The book that I just absolutely devoured, is called “selling sexy: the unraveling of Victoria’s Secret…”, by Lauren Sherman, and she has a co-author.

I absolutely love books about businesses that ignore blind spots for years before they implode. The men in charge of Victoria’s Secret blatantly said they didn’t want to deal with breast-feeding mom’s, women with breast cancer, or women older than 35 because if you are over 35 you were “old and fat” lol.

Meanwhile, brands like third love and pretty much every other lingerie company that has gained ground, methodically picked away at their market, by having more comfortable and appealing options as well as marketing toward the everyday woman. The leaders in charge of Victoria’s Secret were convinced that women would only buy bras if they were aspiring to be the unattainable Victoria’s Secret angel.

They were only able to stay around as long as they did because ironically, the best part of the business was pink, which is the part of Victoria’s Secret that sells very practical pajamas, comfortable athleisure wear, comfortable bras, etc. And they had Bath & body Works also to cushion the falling sales from Victoria’s Secret.

Anyway, I loved it. I thought it was really well written, and it kept my interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wedding People - a rec from this site and absolutely loved it. So thank you!

Could not get through it!

I could not get through it either, all the characters sounded like the same person, it did not seem authentic. I couldn't get into it.

Damn that was my favorite book of 2025.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The book that I just absolutely devoured, is called “selling sexy: the unraveling of Victoria’s Secret…”, by Lauren Sherman, and she has a co-author.

I absolutely love books about businesses that ignore blind spots for years before they implode. The men in charge of Victoria’s Secret blatantly said they didn’t want to deal with breast-feeding mom’s, women with breast cancer, or women older than 35 because if you are over 35 you were “old and fat” lol.

Meanwhile, brands like third love and pretty much every other lingerie company that has gained ground, methodically picked away at their market, by having more comfortable and appealing options as well as marketing toward the everyday woman. The leaders in charge of Victoria’s Secret were convinced that women would only buy bras if they were aspiring to be the unattainable Victoria’s Secret angel.

They were only able to stay around as long as they did because ironically, the best part of the business was pink, which is the part of Victoria’s Secret that sells very practical pajamas, comfortable athleisure wear, comfortable bras, etc. And they had Bath & body Works also to cushion the falling sales from Victoria’s Secret.

Anyway, I loved it. I thought it was really well written, and it kept my interest.

I like your summary more than the book. I gave up by hour 6 which was 00s, I think.

[Anonymous]

Just binged Emily Henry's, Funny People. I liked it, but her booms are extremely formulaic.

[Anonymous]

I downloaded “Tilt” after hearing an NPR host gush about it. What a mistake!

It was billed as a realistic and thoroughly researched thriller about the aftermath of a major earthquake. It is none of those things! It’s page after page of griping about being pregnant. And not in an interesting or funny way, just trite throwaway observations like “pregnant women pee a lot” and “maternity clothes are expensive.”

I should have known not to trust NPR!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read galley proofs for publishers. These are the books that I loved and have recently been released:
For DC area readers and everyone else:
The Woman Who Knew Everyone by Meryl Gordon
Honestly, She Doesn't Live Here Anymore by Pamela Wick
For employers and employees:
Managing Up by Melody Wilding
Nonfiction:
Firstborn by Lauren Christensen
Fiction:
A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner
Goddess Complex by Sanjena Sarthian
Short Stories:
Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
Coming out soon:
True Hospitality by Jamie Cooperstein

Could not get through A gorgeous excitement- i found it very slow. Currently reading Show don't tell- enjoying it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read galley proofs for publishers. These are the books that I loved and have recently been released:
For DC area readers and everyone else:
The Woman Who Knew Everyone by Meryl Gordon
Honestly, She Doesn't Live Here Anymore by Pamela Wick
For employers and employees:
Managing Up by Melody Wilding
Nonfiction:
Firstborn by Lauren Christensen
Fiction:
A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner
Goddess Complex by Sanjena Sarthian
Short Stories:
Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
Coming out soon:
True Hospitality by Jamie Cooperstein

Could not get through A gorgeous excitement- i found it very slow. Currently reading Show don't tell- enjoying it

I just finished Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld. Favorite stories included the Marriage Clock, Follow Up (that test result notification and ensuing anxiety was painfully accurate), Richest Babysitter in the World, and the Prep follow on story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The book that I just absolutely devoured, is called “selling sexy: the unraveling of Victoria’s Secret…”, by Lauren Sherman, and she has a co-author.

I absolutely love books about businesses that ignore blind spots for years before they implode. The men in charge of Victoria’s Secret blatantly said they didn’t want to deal with breast-feeding mom’s, women with breast cancer, or women older than 35 because if you are over 35 you were “old and fat” lol.

Meanwhile, brands like third love and pretty much every other lingerie company that has gained ground, methodically picked away at their market, by having more comfortable and appealing options as well as marketing toward the everyday woman. The leaders in charge of Victoria’s Secret were convinced that women would only buy bras if they were aspiring to be the unattainable Victoria’s Secret angel.

They were only able to stay around as long as they did because ironically, the best part of the business was pink, which is the part of Victoria’s Secret that sells very practical pajamas, comfortable athleisure wear, comfortable bras, etc. And they had Bath & body Works also to cushion the falling sales from Victoria’s Secret.

Anyway, I loved it. I thought it was really well written, and it kept my interest.

I like your summary more than the book. I gave up by hour 6 which was 00s, I think.

Are you talking about the docu series or the book? Hour six makes me think you’re talking about the docu series? I haven’t checked that out yet, but the book is really good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The book that I just absolutely devoured, is called “selling sexy: the unraveling of Victoria’s Secret…”, by Lauren Sherman, and she has a co-author.

I absolutely love books about businesses that ignore blind spots for years before they implode. The men in charge of Victoria’s Secret blatantly said they didn’t want to deal with breast-feeding mom’s, women with breast cancer, or women older than 35 because if you are over 35 you were “old and fat” lol.

Meanwhile, brands like third love and pretty much every other lingerie company that has gained ground, methodically picked away at their market, by having more comfortable and appealing options as well as marketing toward the everyday woman. The leaders in charge of Victoria’s Secret were convinced that women would only buy bras if they were aspiring to be the unattainable Victoria’s Secret angel.

They were only able to stay around as long as they did because ironically, the best part of the business was pink, which is the part of Victoria’s Secret that sells very practical pajamas, comfortable athleisure wear, comfortable bras, etc. And they had Bath & body Works also to cushion the falling sales from Victoria’s Secret.

Anyway, I loved it. I thought it was really well written, and it kept my interest.

I like your summary more than the book. I gave up by hour 6 which was 00s, I think.

Are you talking about the docu series or the book? Hour six makes me think you’re talking about the docu series? I haven’t checked that out yet, but the book is really good.

Book, I listened to it. Or part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading Endurance: Shackelton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. It was recommended by a coworker and it's very good. I've had it on hold since mid-January and just got it from my local library.

Love this book!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I downloaded “Tilt” after hearing an NPR host gush about it. What a mistake!

It was billed as a realistic and thoroughly researched thriller about the aftermath of a major earthquake. It is none of those things! It’s page after page of griping about being pregnant. And not in an interesting or funny way, just trite throwaway observations like “pregnant women pee a lot” and “maternity clothes are expensive.”

I should have known not to trust NPR!

Oh yeah, I just heard that interview on NPR yesterday. I've sadly learned to discount NPR recs, too! I do usually like the NY Times recommendations, though.

I'm reading a book called Eurotrash, by Christian Kracht - about a middle aged writer picking up his sick and complicated mother to take her on what he thinks will be a final road trip through Switzerland for the two of them. Lots of reckoning with the family's Nazi past, among other things. I have to look up a new word every few pages - I don't read a lot of books where I don't know the words anymore.

I'm a little over halfway through. I don't know if I'd say I love it but I'm really glad I picked it up. It was longlisted for a Booker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wedding People - a rec from this site and absolutely loved it. So thank you!

Could not get through it!

Try the audiobook. It's so good. A book that will stay with me for a long time.

[Anonymous]

I just finished "The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County. It is about an 82 year old woman who lives in rural Wisconsin. She and other members of her church have been making food for funerals of parishioners and their families for many years.
I thought the book was lovely.