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“It gets good after x amount of books”
Anyone else tired of seeing this?
This doesn’t apply to just books but I’m so tired of people saying: “wait until the 3rd book. It’s actually insane”
Meanwhile the first book in the series is either genuinely mediocre or just bad.
This goes for longer books too. If someone tells me: “read 800 pages of a slog, just to get to some actual interesting parts in the last 200,” I’m dropping the book
A lot of fans defend some of these series by saying that they are character driven and not action packed and that they will truly start to get good in the 3rd-4th book. But I don’t think most people complain because a book is character driven. They complain because nothing happens until the 3rd of 4th book of the series.
I’ve been trying to read sun eater. The series is hyped up so much everywhere I see. So I decided to level my expectations and went into the first book without expecting anything. My expectations were perfectly in the middle. And to my surprise…this book paid off on my expectation. It really was a book defined by the words mediocre and neutral. The plot moves at a snails pace but the fans keep saying that the first 2 books are pretty mid and not much happens in them but the 3rd book goes crazy.
But in what way does that motivate me to read a series. If it takes the author 1500 pages to get to the meat of the story, then there has to be some part of those 1500 pages that is redundant right?
https://redd.it/1ibuso4
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Between Two Fires… hmm
BTF was my first book from Christopher Buehlman. I will say, damn this fucker can write.
Taking place in a hellish France during the middle of the Black Death, you wouldn’t be surprised when I told you this book was bleak. I expected as much going in, and I soon grew attached to our main trio- a brutal knight who lost any hope for humanity, regretfully pulled along on a weird quest to a dying Paris; a priest whose love of wine is only beaten by the weight of his regrets; and finally, an orphan girl. The girl winds up being pretty important.
The parts of the book that really worked for me, other than our three mains, were the horror elements. These elements weren’t very “boo!” More like “oh Jesus Christ we’re ants before the grand scheme of heaven, and lucky to be considered even a plaything to devils” (I am not religious and these are the thoughts this fucking book put in me).
I just wish the book read less episodic. It really seems like a bunch of small side quests strung together as we travel from one bleak spot to the next. It became a game to see how fast each new scene would go to complete shit. And I’m not lying- literally every scene would go the worst way possible. Pretty entertaining!
Overall, a strong 3.5 star read. Give me a stronger plot thread next time, Chris! You sure can write about disgusting things, though ❤️
https://redd.it/1ibpuy0
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Thoughts on The War of the Worlds
It would be a crime to not acknowledge how influential this book is. Wells alikened the aliens arriving to Europe’s colonization of Tasmania, he satirizes colonialism by creating a story where the invaders arrive on foreign land, kill the population, wreak destruction, and then succumb to the diseases there.
“And before we judge of them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and dodo, but upon its own inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?”
I’m always interested in the fact that literature from this time period mentions disease so often with it being such a prevalent and very dangerous part of life for people at the time. I felt that the martians dying from a terrestrial disease represented the human spirit. We fought them as hard as we could and ultimately we were stronger than them because of the hardships we’d already faced with said diseases.
It’s such a modern tale but also a reflection of 1898. My favorite lines were “The Martians know how to use doors!” and the line about them not utilizing the wheel in their technological advancements. The greatest weapon humanity had to use against the martians was a navy warship.
I love how outside the box it was to have the aliens arrive via giant cylinders that have to be unscrewed from the inside, presumably an idea before the creation of UFOs. The description of the martians themselves is really fun. Large bodies with tentacles, large eyes, and beaks. The tripod weapons they utilize with heat rays are such iconic imagery and the sequences of destruction they bring with them are so much fun to visualize. The red plants that arrive as a result of the crashing of the cylinders was such a crazy detail. It reminded me of the movie “A Quiet Place Year One” where that idea is utilized again. Whenever the asteroids crash on earth they bring with them a growing fungi that the creatures feed on. Really a testament to how influential this was.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I appreciate it as one of the first books about an alien invasion. I can see its influences throughout literature and all other media and I’m glad it’s given me that perspective.
(Thanks to the Redditors who corrected me on my earlier post about this.)
https://redd.it/1ibjcu6
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Neil Gaiman dropped by US comics publisher after sexual misconduct allegations
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/27/neil-gaiman-dropped-dark-horse-comics-publisher
https://redd.it/1ibg2s3
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'Where the Sidewalk Begins': an excerpt from Wes Marshall's Book Killed By A Traffic Engineer
https://bikeleague.org/where-the-sidewalk-begins-an-excerpt-from-wes-marshalls-killed-by-a-traffic-engineer/
https://redd.it/1ib92fc
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‘We were raided regularly’: with Assad gone, banned books return to Syria’s shelves
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/27/we-were-raided-regularly-with-assad-gone-banned-books-return-to-syrias-shelves
https://redd.it/1ib7ha2
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All Quiet On The Western Front Tells Us What the War is !!
I will not say anything to you not my opinion not anything just read these lines from the book and you will know !
1. "But now, for the first time, I see you are a man like me. I thought of your hand-grenades, of your bayonet, of your rifle; now I see your wife and your face and our fellowship. Forgive me, comrade. We always see it too late. Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony--Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?"
2."I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another."
3. A man cannot realize that above such shattered bodies there are still human faces in which life goes its daily round. And this is only one hospital, a single station; there are hundreds of thousands in Germany, hundreds of thousands in France, hundreds of thousands in Russia. How senseless is everything that can ever be written, done, or thought, when such things are possible. It must be all lies and of no account when the culture of a thousand years could not prevent this stream of blood being poured out, these torture chambers in their hundreds of thousands. A hospital alone shows what war is.
4. And even if these scenes from our youth were given back to us we would hardly know what to do. The tender, secret influence that passed from them into us could not rise again. We might be amongst them and move in them; we might remember and love them and be stirred by the sight of them. But it would be like gazing at the photograph of a dead comrade; those are his features, it is his face, and the days we spent together take on a mournful life in the memory; but the man himself it is not.
If you have not read This Book Please Please Please Read It.
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Anyone else remember The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel?
So I just picked up The Alchemyst (Michael Scott not The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho) again, and Jesus I forgot how wild this book is. It threw me right into the action with magic, alchemy, and a bunch of random historical figures like Nicholas Flamel and Dr. John Dee, except they’re immortal and cool and warriors in an ancient battle or something
I remember loving this series a decade ago, but I don’t see many people talking about it anymore. It’s got that fun mix of mythology and weird kinda crazy fast-paced adventure, kind of like Percy Jackson, but with a different more serious doom and gloom vibe.
Has anyone else read this? What did you think? Does it hold up years later or?
https://redd.it/1iatafs
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One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) by Gabriel García Márquez, Gregory Rabassa (Translator) (spoilers)
Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is a journey through time, magic, and the human experience. This is my first experience reading a novel written as a stream of consciousness, and I admit it was challenging. It was hard to find a natural pause in which to stop. Set in the fictional town of Macondo, the novel chronicles the Buendía family across seven generations, weaving a rich tapestry of love, ambition, and destiny. The novel's structure is both intricate and ingenious, as time spirals rather than flows linearly, with events and character traits echoing across generations. This cyclical nature is emphasized by the repetition of names, creating a sense of déjà vu that permeates the narrative. As a history enthusiast, I found this mirroring of historical patterns particularly engaging.
García Márquez's use of magical realism creates a world where the strange seamlessly mingles with the common. Levitating priests and ageless gypsies coexist with everyday struggles, all described in prose that is nothing short of poetic. The author's ability to blend the fantastical with the realistic is enjoyable, making even the most surreal events feel real.
At the novel's heart lies the theme of solitude, which manifests in various forms throughout the Buendía generations. This exploration of isolation resonates deeply, especially in our modern world, where connectivity often masks a profound sense of alienation. The novel also serves as an allegory for Colombian and Latin American history, with civil wars and the banana workers' massacre reflecting actual historical events, adding depth and relevance to the story. The symbolism is rich, from Colonel Aureliano Buendía's little gold fishes to the arrival of the railroad.
As we witness Macondo's rise and fall, mirroring the fortunes of the Buendía family, the novel offers a commentary on the impacts of progress and the transient nature of human achievements. The book's conclusion is devastating, reminding us of fate's inescapable nature and storytelling's power.
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" is not easy, given its non-linear structure and large cast of characters. However, the rewards are worth it for those willing to immerse themselves in its world. It’s a novel that demands reflection and rewards rereading, with each visit to Macondo revealing new layers of meaning and beauty.
This book defies easy categorization, but it offers an unforgettable reading experience. For readers who appreciate rich, complex narratives and are willing to embrace the magical alongside the real, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is a great selection.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/320.One\_Hundred\_Years\_of\_Solitude
https://redd.it/1iaptbq
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Emojis in books- thoughts?
I have a strong dislike of emojis being used in books. I understand it’s a sign of the time, but to me it undermines the integrity and seriousness of the writing style and book itself. I’m curious what you think when you come across an emoji printed in a book? Is it corny? Or is it an accurate reflection of modern communication styles? For me, the use of emojis immediately subtracts from a books overall credibility.
Example: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt uses emojis in the book. I distinctly remember the “💩 “ emoji in that book.
https://redd.it/1ialhli
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Weekly FAQ Thread January 26, 2025: What do you use as a bookmark?
Hello readers and welcome to our Weekly FAQ thread! Our topic this week is: What do you use as a bookmark? Whether you created your own bookmark from scratch or you're a heretical dog-earer we want to know!
You can view previous FAQ threads here in our wiki.
Thank you and enjoy!
https://redd.it/1iacsic
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Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney- I loved this book!
This is a novel set in modern day Ireland about a young woman who starts an affair with a married man. It's all about her, her best friend/ex, and this married couple who their lives become intertwined with. It sounds kinda boring and not the kind of book I would normally read but I was blown away!
It's such an incisive look at class, gender, relationships, and most of all power dynamics. The main character feels disempowered by her life circumstances and attempts to gain that back however she can, mostly in small ways. It's absolutely fascinating and every moment has something to unravel. It's also quite dryly funny.
I've heard this book can be a bit divisive but I quite enjoyed it. This is the scene that I can't stop thinking about. I'm not sure if it works out of context but it's extremely jarring while reading. (From around 2/3rds thru) >!When I saw Nick look over at us, I turned to Bobbi, smiling, and moved her hair aside to whisper something in her ear. She looked at Nick and then suddenly grabbed my wrist, hard, harder than she had ever touched me in my life before. It hurt me, it drew a little gasp from my throat, and then she dropped my arm again. I cradled it against my ribs. In a deathly calm voice, staring directly into my face, Bobbi said: don't fucking use me. She held my eyes for a second, with a terrifying seriousness, and then she turned back to the cashier.!<
https://redd.it/1ia7h1i
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Check out r/bookclub's line up for February
#With approval from the mods
In February r/bookclub will be reading;
#- A Prayer for the Crown-Shy
Monk and Robot #2 by Becky Chambers - (Feb. 1 - Feb. 8)
#- Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain - (Feb. 2 - Feb. 16)
#- All Quiet on the Western Front
by Erich Maria Remarque - (Feb. 2 - Mar. 2)
#- The Book Swap
by Tessa Bickers - (Feb. 3 - Feb. 24)
#- Something Rotten
Thursday Next #4 by Jasper Fforde - (Feb. 6 - Feb. 27)
#- Solito
by Javier Zamora - (Feb. 7 - Feb. 28)
#- Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
by Patrick Radden Keefe - (Feb. 7 - Mar. 14)
#- Miss Percy's Travel Guide to Welsh Moors and Feral Dragons
Miss Percy Guide #2 by Quenby Olson - (Feb. 7 - Mar. 7)
#- Cibola Burn
Expanse #4 by James S. A. Corey - (Feb. 15 - Mar. 29)
#- James
by Percival Everett - (Feb. 23 - Mar. 9)
#- If On A Winter's Night A Traveller
by Italo Calvino - (TBD)
#- We Used to Live Here
by Marcus Kliewer - (TBD)
#We are also continuing with;
#- Magic Mountain
by Thomas Mann - (Jan. 4 - Feb. 15)
#- Dead Man's Walk
Lonesome Dove #3 by Larry McMurtry - (Jan. 9 - Feb. 13)
#- Foundation's Edge
Foundation #4 by Isaac Asimov - (Jan. 11 - Feb. 8)
#- Children of Memory
Children of Time #2 by Adrian Tchaikovsky - (Jan. 15 - Feb. 19)
#- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
by James Joyce - (Jan. 24 - Feb. 14)
For the full list of discussion schedules, additional info and rules head to the FEBRUARY Book Menu Post here
Come join us 📚
https://redd.it/1i9t1or
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The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)
Hello all!
I just finished a read through of the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, and figured I would post some thoughts. I initially read this one because I knew it was short, and I am trying to read a book a week this year for the first time ever. So, I knew going in this would be an easy one to extend that streak. However, I am glad I read it! The classics of English lit of the 19th century is always so fascinating when taken into context of what was happening in that age, and those influences permeate the novella. So, really happy I finished it even if it wasn't an absolute masterpiece.
The obvious theme of this book is the philosophy of the duality of man, as it is even referred to in the text. But the way this metaphor is framed is really interesting and original. In Dr. Henry Jekyll we have a well-respected, well-liked, charitable man, while in Mr. Edward Hyde he has lost his esteemed title, is evil incarnate, and is repulsive in appearance and reputation to all he encounters. The twist seems to lie in the fact the psyche of Dr. Jekyll, in its own darkest depths, longs for the freedom of being Hyde. He delights in his transformations, his night time cruelties, and whatever debauchery Hyde gets himself into in the dark alleys and shadows of London. While Jekyll, in name, might be a figure of some celebrated esteem, in him we have that "the doctor is the real monster" type that makes Mary Shelley's Frankenstein so famous and thought-provoking. Indeed, Jekyll's true self, it can be argued, lies in Mr. Hyde. Even the "science" that lies behind his transformations seem to prove this. In the beginning, vacillating back and forth between Jekyll and Hyde is a breeze, as Hyde is the weaker component and easily overcome by Jekyll's personality and identity. But the more Jekyll lusts to be Hyde, the stronger Hyde grows- to the point where it is impossible to stay in the state of Jekyll without an overdose of chemical assistance. Really well done by Stevenson, and a good commentary about the different mixtures of personality that reside within us. I already noted the influence Shelley's Frankenstein plays here, but I have heard Stevenson's work has inspired a modern day icon in its own right: Marvel's the Incredible Hulk.
Along side the philiosophical notions of the day, I believe Stevenson's work was influenced by new discoveries in science as well. Dr. Jekyll himself is either a chemist, or dabbles heavily in chemistry trying to discover the next stages possible in human evolution recently propogated by Darwin (1859)? A divorce of the psyche and behavior then being studied by Freud (1890s)? Even Chemistry was experiencing new stages of development with the recent construction of the Periodic Table (1869). Atomic Theory and molecular laws were fairly new concepts, less than 100 years old. As modern readers, we take for granted their inclusion and roles in books like The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Time Machine, and the books of Jules Verne. But to 19th century readers, these themes might have caused excitement or fear over the possibilities or new realities that science achieves in these books. We lose that sense of wonder the further away we get from their origin. But, I really think this is a key component in what makes these books true classics.
So questions. The big one: What did Dr Jekyll do as Mr Hyde? The book really only mentions two sinister acts- bowling over a young girl on a sidewalk at 3 am and the murder of Sir Danvers Carew. But Hyde goes out night after night... what else has he done? It isn't written that London is in an uproar over this menace, nor does society seem to fear being out at night. I wish Stevenson had alluded to more of what Hyde's dark dealings were. Jekyll seems to remember, and believes it too horrid to divulge in his letters to Mr. Utterson. Also, it is kind of funny reading the Victorian dialogue between stuffy, way-to-serious doctors
The book you love that you know nobody else has read
For me, it’s 188 words for rain. It’s a book made by the BBC weather department weirdly enough and it’s as it says in the title. A book about 188 words used to describe rain in the UK. It sounds so boring but the way it’s written it feels like you’re sat on an old fashioned steam train and you’re getting a tour of the UK just discussing rain. The prose are so cute and cuddly and it feels like I’m being hugged.
If you’re from the UK or you’re a bit of an Anglophile then this book will be your next obsession. It somehow has 4 reviews on Goodreads. FOUR.
https://redd.it/1i9vho8
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“Earthlings” by Sayaka Murata was an incredible read
I just finished “Eartlings” by Sayaka Murata and I am left speechless by the experience.
This was my first book with this author, and I knew coming in that it was a “disturbing” book. That is all I knew.
Despite the difficult sujbects and themes explored in the book, I feel like it portrayed the feeling of alienation perfectly. It also captured the dichotomy of childhood, both inmocent and whisical, while simultaneously being dangerous and disempowering.
The themes of bodily autonomy versus societal pressure was taken to radical proportions, but I enjoyed the how Murata takes us through thsi extreme thought experiement via her story.
While reading I felt dread, disgust,hope, whimsy, and ended up rooting for the popinpophobians despite the grotesque reality of their living situation.
All in all, this is both disturbing and weirdly hopeful. Despite the outrageous events I could still relate to some of the main character’s feelings and thoughts.
I can only recomend for people to read and experience it for themselves, but be warned as it does contain sensitive topics (so please look up some of its many trigger warnings if you are someone who has sensitivities).
What did you think after finishing this book? It’s such a weird one that I am curious how others enjoyed it (or not).
https://redd.it/1ibsy7h
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Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award
Hi all! I'm the Literary Programs Coordinator at The Mark Twain House & Museum. We're currently looking for volunteer readers to help select the next annual Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award winner. This prestigious award honors excellence in a work of fiction that tells a distinctly American story, preserving the legacy and spirit of Mark Twain’s writing. (More information)
Volunteer readers help to select our long list from all of our submissions. There's no requirement for becoming a volunteer reader. All you need to do is:
• Choose at least two books from our list of submissions (choose yourself or have them assigned to you).
• Access books through your local library, bookstore, Kindle, e-book, or even free PDFs available on our website.
• Grade each book and complete a brief review form. If you think a book deserves acclaim, your input counts.
The reading period is from February to May. To become a volunteer reader, reply to: omar.acevedo@marktwainhouse.org.
Feel free to share this opportunity with others who might enjoy it (book clubs welcome). Help us honor the next great American storyteller!
https://redd.it/1ibj88n
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Do idea-based/plot-driven science fiction stories have a place anymore?
To start off, I FULLY admit my ignorance on this issue, since I haven't read a ton of modern sci-fi yet (Mercy of Gods however was by far my favorite read last year). I'm more a fantasy guy who's read some classic SF and have been tryin to branch out
That being said, I have consumed my fair share of the work of HG Wells, Asimov, PKD, and Clark. One thing I've noticed however in most of the writing podcasts and and books on the craft I've consumed...is the SINGULAR focus on character-based stories. Not just as a preference, but rather this notion that character arcs and stories as a whole are in fact in fact synonymous and cannot exist without the other.
At first it was more a minor annoyance but the sheer amount of material that preaches this view is in my opinion, kinda a problem? Don't get me wrong I'm 100% certain most of the stories that get the most emotional reactions out of me are fully character based and rooted deep in empathizing with human struggle, flaws, and the push towards growth.
But...where does that leave works like Wells' War of the Worlds & The Time Machine? Asimov's Foundation or The Last Question? Clark's 9 Billion Names of God or, need i even say it, 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY
None of these stories particularly care about deep characters or personal growth, but rather focus on big, imaginative ideas and fascinating "what if" scenarios, rife with interesting conflict and philosophical implications. If they were forced to narrow focus on one person or one family, it would distract from the larger point the author was trying to make, and while that can of course be done well in the right hands, I don't think it's NECESSARY for every writer to have to be everything. Sometimes you wanna just do things like ponder the vastness of the cosmos and humanity's place in it, like in Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker, which remains the biggest source of inspiration for my current story (which IS character-focused, actually. These stories have value even to people who prefer tales more grounded in humanity).
All in all...I would understand thinking less of these idea-focused stories if maybe they got too obsessed with "oh wouldn't it be cool if-" and simply never really moved on from concepts that were just superficially neat or aesthetically pleasing but almost always they have something more interesting and deeper to say about humanity, existence and consciousnes itself! If people could enjoy a philosophy, science or nonfiction book about these things, why not experience those same core messages/ideas in the form of an interesting story? Do we not love fairy tales for their messages despite an absence of deep characters?
Anyways, I stand by these sentiments either way but i might as well still ask: Is there any good science fiction still being published where the main draw is the ideas and the plot? What are your thoughts on this topic?
EDIT: I actually did already note it somewhere in the post but I'll say it here again for clarity; I am not dissing character driven fiction lmao its not a simple dichotomy like that. I DO prefer character-driven fiction, but also think there is room for these idea-based stories with weird concepts and that they never should've fell out of fashion since the entire SF genre was pioneered by giants who only wrote this way. Why does liking one mean i HAVE to dislike the other? Taking one look at my Letterboxd or Goodreads favs would show how much of a sap I am for a tear-jerking stories of love, loss and family drama lmao i just love myself some variety too
https://redd.it/1ibc0p2
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English books adapted for the US
So, I'm currently reading As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson which takes places in English village Little Kilton. It was a while since I read the last book so I went online to read a detailed synopsis... I found one that said the main character lives somewhere in Connecticut... I was like ????? So obviously in America it's been adapted for American audiences.
My question is, why? Genuinely, no shade, why? I don't understand? When I read books by American authors they're set in... America? The towns are American, the language is American English. I'm thinking particularly of Stephen King here now, the references to political events, TV/film personalities are American and therefore go right over my head but I'm fine with that coz Stephen King is American. I don't understand why English (I'm assuming some, not all) books are Americanised but American books are Englishanised (I'm so sorry). Unless, they are and I'm not aware? Enlighten me! Please!
https://redd.it/1ib6u86
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The Guest List by Lucy Foley.
Bought this cos it was cheap and because I liked the plot it was simple and plain. A wedding at an island somebody dies everybody has a motive, who could've done it. The writing is simple and to my liking each chapter is narrated by a character and sometimes narrator fills in. Now the story I think it gave too much details in too many pages and by the end when the climax hit, it wasn't as suprising as it should've been i already guessed who the killer was by 300 something pages it has 378 pages. And i was kind of right but still the impact wasn't as great as I had hoped. Giving so many details in the beginning and then by the end there's barely anything. Maybe the climax wasn't so interesting to me personally because I read a few of Agatha Christie's books and that set the expectations a little too high. Lucy is a great writer no doubt but everybody who has read Agatha's works knows why people call her Queen of the crime. Well the book is an easy and entertaining read my only problem is the climax and way too many details. But that's just me.
https://redd.it/1ib6rah
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What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 27, 2025
Hi everyone!
What are you reading? What have you recently finished reading? What do you think of it? We want to know!
We're displaying the books found in this thread in the book strip at the top of the page. If you want the books you're reading included, use the formatting below.
Formatting your book info
Post your book info in this format:
the title, by the author
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The Bogus Title, by Stephen King
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To help prevent errors in data collection, please double check your spelling of the title and author.
NEW: Would you like to ask the author you are reading (or just finished reading) a question? Type !invite in your comment and we will reach out to them to request they join us for a community Ask Me Anything event!
-Your Friendly /r/books Moderator Team
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Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Just finished reading this wonderful short story. Keegan brings 1980’s Ireland to life through her writing, and even though it’s such a simple story of kindness and how to be human is to be kind, it’s still such an engrossing read. Furlong’s daily life and musings were a joy to read too. I teared up a bit at the part where he first met the girl in the convent, and again towards the end where he rescued her from the convent. I couldn’t put this book down after I finished reading the 4th chapter. It’s well past midnight here but I knew I had to go all the way and finish it in one sitting, which I haven’t done for a long, long time because of a chronic reading slump. Looking forward to reading more of Keegan’s work after this.
Okay enough rambling I guess, but yeah I highly recommend this short and moving story to anyone who’s going through a reading slump, and to anyone who’d like to emerge a little bit more optimistic after finishing it about our world and in the existence of goodness in people.
https://redd.it/1iathrn
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When reading a book, do you visualize real people?
Just finished the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (I know I know, I'm late to the party). And I just could. not. stop. visualizing Angelina Jolie as Evelyn, and Anderson Cooper as Harry.
Do you do this? When you read a book do you visualize a real person (famous or not), into a character?
For me it happens most with books that I can easily imagine becoming a movie or a tv series. I immediately 'cast' the story in my mind. Fun but it can be annoying too, especially if the author's descriptions don't line up with my own imagining.
https://redd.it/1iarm5r
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Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz
I wanted to make a post for this memoir that I just finished reading. I did a search and didn’t find any previous posts.
This book was such a great read. It describes a Puerto Rican girl’s struggle through a childhood of poverty with a mentally ill mother. It really tells a type of story that doesn’t get a lot of mainstream attention, a story of an underrepresented people. I really appreciated the perspective. It was also not written purely chronologically, it jumped around a little bit focused on specific incidents that really affected the girl as she grew up. I enjoyed that aspect because it felt more true to how we experience our past.
https://redd.it/1iallqh
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What book had a fantastic premise, but the writing style just ruined it for you?
I have read a few books where the premise is actually great but the writing style/execution of the book made it not an enjoyable read. I get especially frustrated with these reads because I feel like it could have been a 4 or 5 star book if it went through another round of rewrites or editing.
One that comes to mind for myself is Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson because it was the last book I read that fell under this category. I LOVED the premise. It was about a character who was getting sober in her mid 20s in NYC. It was about dealing with your past life catching up to you and how you can still have self-destructive tendencies when sober. I fell in love with the premise because I feel like it was a story that was not tapped into yet. I have not read any book about getting sober in your 20s and the complications that comes with it from social norms to people's reactions to getting sober young.
But the writing style ruined it for me it was all tell the reader what is going on versus show the reader what is going on. Then when descriptions were use, they were so jarring it threw me out of the story. For example when the author was describing an energetic character she wrote, "It looked like she had just popped a piece of candy in her mouth"
https://redd.it/1iahdqw
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Advice on replacing phone with books
I love reading. I have tons of books that I want to read and I'm constantly acquiring more. Unfortunately, I find that in the times where I can read, I end up scrolling useless content on my phone which I know is shallow and unsatisfying.
I find that I inevitably treat reading more as a task which is good to do and will benefit me and be ultimately enjoyable, where as my phone is more of a drug which gives me immediate pleasure but long-term dissatisfaction.
I'm wondering if anyone else has wrestled with this problem, how did you overcome it, and any advice you may have for me.
Looking forward to discuss!
https://redd.it/1ia8kt0
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Any books with people with dementia as the main character?
I've been trying to process my grandfather's rapid decline from vascular dementia. He's turning 86 in a month. I write a lot myself and think a lot, especially because I used to work with dementia patients in allied healthcare work. Are there any stories from a person with dementia or any of its suptypes as a main character? Flowers for Algernon comes to mind, but the cognitively disabled MC has a sudden increase in cognitive capacity that then declines rapidly, so not quite the same.
Sorry for the ramblings all, I've been processing a lot. If not short stories/books/novellas with MC's with dementia, then anything that could perhaps help me gain insight into his condition from a non-scientific angle because I'm tired of my brain seeing my grandfather as a patient.
Thanks all and hope you're all doing well.
https://redd.it/1ia4r0j
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and lawyers in Lanyon, Utterson, Jekyll, and Enfield. And the silly vows of not doing something, like opening a certain letter or knocking on a certain door, until an appointed time. Was this a popular literary technique in the 19th century? Or just here to move the plot along? Silly, but endearing I suppose.
Anyway, as I said, very happy to read this one and extend my streak. If you are looking for a quick entertaining read, give Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde a read. And keep in mind the innovations in science and philosophy that were occuring simultaneously. Are we truly in control of our own selves? What side of you would win out if your identities strove with one another? Are we all different mixtures of Jekylls and Hydes? I'm Ron Burgundy? Until next time...
“Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm.”
“If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.”
https://redd.it/1i9t16s
@r_books
What's your preferred book social review app as of 2025? GoodReads? Story Graph? Something new?
Lately I've fallen off the GoodReads bandwagon. The UI is completely lacking in the ease of social/review navigation.
I'm looking for something as simple as Letterboxd. Easy UI, review my books, see my friends reviews, and comment, all on a simple feed. Is that too much to ask?
If I want to see a friend's review history I only see 2 of their most recent ones — where do I go to see more? It’s remarkably not an option. There is no simple feed to just scroll reviews.
GoodReads could just be so much better and hasn’t had a real UI update in a decade.
https://redd.it/1i9wxxg
@r_books
Formative Books: Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh
Sometimes I feel like everything I know about anything at all comes from Brideshead Revisted.
Ok, that sounded a bit much. I mean, anything I know about life, love, religion, friendship, family, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, university, art, food, summers, Venice.
Why did I relate to this book so strongly? I have the least amount of things in common with any of the main characters, except I guess for having friends and family, and going to university. Nobody I know seems to have ever heard of this book, let alone read it, and the author is a old Tory who has probably been cancelled for saying something racist or sexist or both long since.
I've never had a friend like Sebastian, or a lover like Julia. In fairness, my mom did remind me of Lady Marchmain in her endless capacity to make our perceived failures a burden she has to bear.
And I've definitely had the experience of shedding friends from first year during my second year at university. Maybe that's why I did it- to be more like Charles and Sebastian.
I can barely type their names without this intense emotion and longing sweep over me. Oh poor Sebastian. Less poor Charles. Less poor Julia.
(Incidentally, when my teenaged son had a crush on a young rich girl, and then her gay brother made a pass at my son, I told him very unhelpfully to read Brideshead Revisited, or at least watch the show (the BBC version, obviously). He watched the trailer, and asked me what is wrong with me, and why did I think that would help. He is not friends with the siblings any more).
I want that meal Charles had in Paris so much. And I want to be twenty and eat strawberries and drink champagne with friend like Sebastian by a river in Oxford, which I've never actually visited. And of course, I know absolutely everything there is to know about Catholicism thanks to this book, much to the chagrin of my poor Catholic partner.
I read a fair amount of Evelyn Waugh growing up, but this was the one that imprinted itself on me. A woke lefty sjw myself, I remain forever entranced at this doomed story of desiccated decaying British aristocracy which transcends all labels, right, left, Tory, LGBTQ, coming of age, and just remains glittering, the perfect book, the perfect story.
https://redd.it/1i9mdr6
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