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At what point do you decide to DNF a book?
DNF as in Did Not Finish.
I was watching a Youtube video and the creator mentioned he gives all books 30% before deciding if he'll continue or not. That way he gives the author and their work a fair chance.
I personally feel like I can tell after the first few pages if a book is for me or not. On average I'll give it one chapter. If I read reviews and people say it gets better later on I may consider holding out to see for myself. Sometimes a book is good at first before hitting a slow decline. At that point I feel I might as well finish because I got that far.
Long story short, I'm curious if anyone else has any specific criteria for DNF-ing a book. Maybe you give it 15%? Three chapters? Halfway?
https://redd.it/1jou7j9
@r_books
What books have iconic first chapters?
We talk a lot about iconic first and last lines but what about the chapters as a whole? Which books have a first chapter that instantly hooks you on, even if the opening line doesn’t grab you at first?
I’d offer the first chapter of ASOIAF. You start with a freezing landscape in the far North and, without knowing anything about the characters, you can tell that something is up. Slowly, the magic and menace of the white walkers is unveiled, as well as getting a hint at the political system of Westeros. All this right before shit gets real and you watch the raiding party get cut down one by one all until the last is all alone… and one of the fallen figures gets back up.
Pardon the pun but I get chills every time.
But what do you think? What are you suggestions for the best opening chapters?
https://redd.it/1jot01e
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Just killed my TBR pile, feels liberating!
It has been a while that I realized backlogs (for videogames), lists of tv shows and TBR piles (for books and comics) where not good for me. So I have been actively working on not having them. I will focus on the TBR for books here.
Around 4 years back I sold everything that I decided I was not going to read in the next 3 years, with very few exceptions (Tolkien stays, no matter what, and a handful of personal favorites). Then proceeded to just read what I had pending and already purchased, and allowed me to incorporate one new item only after having read at least 2 of the other items. Often after having read more than 2.
Every time I finished one of the books I would ask myself "am I going to read this again in the next 3 years?" if the answer was not a clear "YES", then away it went, no remorse. Out. Right now I must own only like 25 physical books, including comics. Nicely displayed. 4 years ago I had boxes of them in a basement.
Last weekend I started to read the last book on my TBR pile, which is Dracula and actually is a re-read, because I read it 2 years ago and liked it so much I gave it away and bought a nicer edition. Once I finish it in a couple of weeks, I will not have anything else waiting to be next, and it feels GOOD. No more going through a book with the pressure of having to finish it so I can read the next ones waiting. I will just enjoy my book and then be able to pick my next book when the moment to start it comes, and I will be able to pick whatever book I feel like reading on that moment, not feeling pressured by something I chose 1 year ago when I was feeling like reading something different than I feel like reading today.
To each their own, but to me is making my reading experience much enjoyable. And I apply it to other things, as said, tv shows, videogames, etc
https://redd.it/1jop5na
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Does anyone regret reading a book?
I recently finished reading/listening to Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower. It has been in my to read shelf FOREVER. I've enjoyed her other novels and just could never get into it.
Well since I heard it was set in 2025, so that gave me the push I needed. I know I'm a bit sensitive right now, but I have never had a book disturb me as much this one. There is basically every kind of trigger warning possible. What was really disturbing was how feasible her vision was. Books like The Road or 1984 are so extreme that they don't feel real. I feel like I could wake up in a few months and inhabit her version of America. The balance of forced normalcy and the extreme horrors of humanity just hit me harder than any book recently has.
It's not a perfect book, but I haven't had a book make me think like this in a long time.
https://redd.it/1jocx8x
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Best Books of the 21st Century (So Far)
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/fiction/best-century-so-far/books/
https://redd.it/1jo6w4d
@r_books
English translation of The Three-Body Problem series
I am currently in the middle of The Three-Body Problem and I am loving it, so I was thinking about buying other books in the series, but it looks like the second book in the series The Dark Forest was translated by someone else than the rest.
From what I can find, the second book was translated by Joel Martinsen while the rest was translated by Ken Liu. I am very much enjoying Ken Liu's translation. Does Ken Liu translation of the second book really not exist? If not, is there a big difference between the translations?
https://redd.it/1jo2bhd
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The ressurectionist by A Rae Dunlap
I just finished this and it’s excellent. I’ll keep this spoiler free but set in Edinburgh in the mid 1800’s, it’s incredibly atmospheric and really plants you in the time and the place. It’s a fiction set amongst real events (of which o know about but others might not) and there was a moment where I saw what was coming and had to put the book down for a minute whilst I mulled over where I knew it was going. Not having the context however will definitely not spoil this read, it’s a neo 19th C story and an absolutely riveting read.
Anyone else read and enjoyed this?
https://redd.it/1jnzijr
@r_books
What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 31, 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
For example:
The Bogus Title, by Stephen King
This formatting is voluntary but will help us include your selections in the book strip banner.
Entering your book data in this format will make it easy to collect the data, and the bold text will make the books titles stand out and might be a little easier to read.
Enter as many books per post as you like but only the parent comments will be included. Replies to parent comments will be ignored for data collection.
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
https://redd.it/1jnzmwn
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An Obvious PSA: Use the Library
I honestly feel a bit embarrassed even writing this post. Part of me feels like everyone here already knows all of this. However, I am a lifelong reader, and I’m just realizing this in my late twenties, so maybe there are others here who could use the gentle reminder:
Libraries are amazing and we should make the effort to use them!
I’m someone who is on booktok/booktube a lot and who is constantly, impulsively buying books to keep up with trends. I used to believe that I was building my home library (and I have no judgement towards anyone who wishes to do that). However, I personally found that I was rarely returning to books, other than a few favorites, and the books in my home were just taking up a lot of space after I’d finished them. Additionally, I often fell into the trap of buying off of amazon because it was so quick and easy (again, no judgement if you do this).
As a teacher who doesn’t make much, this was really starting to impact me financially.
I went to my local library yesterday and so many of the books I’ve bought in the last few years—that I’ve probably spent hundreds of dollars on—were there for free. 🤡
Plus my library has audiobooks available through libby (and yet, I was paying for audible—goofy).
I think in capitalistic societies, many people buy/consume on default instead of looking for other means of obtaining what they wish. For me, this extended to reading. I knew libraries were there, of course. But I sort of forgot they were an option, and I got so hooked on the dopamine rush of visiting bookstores or getting books in the mail that I forgot to even check the library.
Libraries are such important pillars of communities.They provide free services and allow so many to have access to books they couldn’t otherwise experience. Not to mention letting people use the internet, providing ESL lessons, and doing a lot of other community outreach (depending on the location). We should support them.
True, you sometimes have to wait to get your hands on the next, big book. But you might find something else—maybe something that wasn’t even on your radar—to read while you wait.
What are some of the reasons you visit the library?
PS: I know supporting Indie bookstores is also important, but that’s its own post:)
https://redd.it/1jntr0h
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This book can be read only when it’s wet.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91306686/you-can-only-read-this-book-when-its-wet?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
https://redd.it/1jnnkui
@r_books
I just read The Outsiders for the first time and cried for the last 30 pages
Insane how much emotion can be packed into a book meant for middle schoolers. I'm almost glad I didn't read it in school because it just wouldn't have hit as hard.
It's amazing to me also that SE Hinton began writing the book when she was only sixteen. I feel like that adds so much more legitimacy to what Ponyboy was feeling. While reading it I did partially think that it was a lot of adult emotion imposed on teenage characters but that's really not the case. It's very much a firsthand experience.
It's both sad and amazing how relevant it still feels today, too. Even with some outdated language the overall themes translate so well.
https://redd.it/1jnn7ts
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Thoughts on Metro 2033?
I finished the audiobook about a month ago. Not everything is fresh in my mind, but I'll try to do my best.
I'll start by saying that I'm generally not much of a reader of postapocalyptic tales. I read however The Stand a few years ago, and I enjoyed it very much. The first half I enjoyed better than the second, but they were both good.
I've also read the first 3 books in the Dark Tower series, and I generally enjoyed them. Didn't really think much of Gunslinger, but the other 2 entries were solid.
I can't think of any other similar books I've read, but I know I eventually want to read The Road. I've watched the movie, though.
Point is, Metro 2033 is outside of my comfort zone. So, bear that in mind.
For the most part, I would say that I generally enjoyed Metro 2033. I liked its premise a lot. And I liked Artiom a lot too. Artiom is the story.
Artiom really feels like the only character in the book that isn't completely insane. And, it's very easy to relate to him.
His intentions are noble. His goals are near impossible to achieve. And, his adventures are riddled with obstacles.
The world-building in the book is both fascinating as it is cruel. Society has become an underground killzone, and quite frankly, I find it difficult to believe they haven't all killed each other with how often people die in front of Artiom.
The other characters he meets on his way are appropriately crazy and selfish, which is why they are perfect for the world of Metro 2033.
I don't know if it's correct to complain about how often Artiom is saved by sheer luck or difficult to understand phenomena, but it really is a miracle that he was even able to complete his mission.
And then there's the bittersweet finale that makes you want more, even though it renders the whole adventure pointless. I'm still not sure how to feel about that. I don't know if it's genius or dumb, but it's certainly something.
All in all, I would say that, even though Metro 2033 isn't my type of book, it's a solid entry, and I would like to continue with the series eventually.
https://redd.it/1jnilkh
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Trump administration reportedly moves to ban Jackie Robinson biography from Naval Academy library
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/trump-administration-reportedly-moves-to-ban-jackie-robinson-biography-from-naval-academy-library-235013259.html
https://redd.it/1jnbsst
@r_books
Weekly FAQ Thread March 30, 2025: How can I get into reading? How can I read more?
Hello everyone and welcome to our newest weekly thread: FAQ! Since these questions are so popular with our readership we've decided to create this new post in order to better promote these discussions. Every Sunday we will be posting a question from our FAQ. This week: "How do I get into reading?" and "How can I read more?"
If you're a new reader, a returning reader, or wish to read more and you'd like advice on how please post your questions here and everyone will be happy to help.
You can view previous FAQ threads here in our wiki.
Thank you and enjoy!
https://redd.it/1jna0ty
@r_books
into their heads that Constance is a murderer and, acquittal or no acquittal, nothing is going to change their minds. Their close-mindedness is what allows the illusion to work on them. Similarly, Charles is only here for money. He doesn't know what happened to the family and he doesn't care. But Uncle Julian knows. He's the only one for miles around who actually knows what happened to Merricat and he's the only person left who knew her personally so he can't be tricked into thinking she's still alive. It is clear that Constance knows this too, because she doesn't mention Merricat to him any more than he mentions her.
Is this what Jackson had in mind when she wrote the book? I have no idea. But it's an interesting theory.
https://redd.it/1jmzkv2
@r_books
GoodReads vs Storygraph, Or, the story of how I went back to Goodreads after months of trying to get used to Storygraph
My name is Hadar, 30, and have been using Goodreads since my teens. This has really not been my favorite platform and I've been looking for an alternative for a while, until I stumbled over Storygraph in this very reddit.
Important details:
While my native language is Hebrew and I sometimes read in Chinese, I read mostly in English.
I do not pay much attention to what book edition I am marking on the website (some books have been marked in the wrong language/format, and I never bothered to fix it).
For the first few weeks, Storygraph was great- direct and intuitive interface, the data migration was convenient and fast, everything was great.
It immediately shows you nice visualizations of your favorite book types/topics/whatsnot, which is really nice to see and analyze yourself.
My favorite part was that it kept reminding me of books on my to-read list in random order, which is great for balancing book genres/periods.
But then I wanted to read a new book. in order to compare some books, I found myself going back to Goodreads to read some reviews, given Storygraph had less than 10 readers for it. I did make it on Storygraph, but then the unimaginable happened:
I wanted to read a non-English book.
Looking for books in Hebrew or Chinese, I realized how narrow the database really was. While some books existed in translated versions, some books simply weren't there.
It seemed understandable- as a platform with fewer users, maybe adding the book to the database could be my small contribution to it! (The book in question is a Chinese book by a Taiwanese author).
I tried both their app and website, encountering issues every time. I get that verifying books is a complicated process and they don't want to allow everyone to do that. There is a form to add all the details including the ISBN and everything. But as a reader, This non-functionality was frustrating, understanding how Storygraph might not be able to follow up with all my readings due to this behavior. After about a month of a dosen failures, I gave up on trying to add this book; or use Storygraph overall.
While Goodreads interface is not as smart as Storygraph, their database is simply more comprehensive. Whether it's reading in foreign languages or just checking up on a random book you encountered, having it on their database with such many reviews, even if I end up disagreeing with the review, is still a start.
Did you guys have similar experiences? would love to hear your opinions!
https://redd.it/1jovfzt
@r_books
What Books are ‘Appropriate’ for Adults?
Read my first book in over six years (Flowers for Algernon) a couple weeks ago and felt really proud of myself. I was never a bookworm and the required material in school felt forced, so I’d rarely ever read them. I was surprised, and honestly a bit disappointed, when I learned that Algernon is a 7th grade level book. It’s dumb and immature but a part of my brain felt like I was jumping in at the ground floor again.
I don’t have trouble reading, unless you count being a slow reader. Most of my reading these days is in the form of online articles and discussions. I’m curious what I should be expected to read as an adult.
As a secondary question is Paradise Lost good? It gets referenced a lot (including in Algernon) but I rarely hear people actually talk about it.
https://redd.it/1joodeu
@r_books
Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/31/nx-s1-5334415/doge-institute-of-museum-and-library-services
https://redd.it/1joeb34
@r_books
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, by Dr. Seuss (1960)
I ran across this in our local Wal-Mart the other day and was captivated. At my advanced age -- I can remember the day JFK was shot, if you're wondering -- it still grabs and holds me. Tight. I found myself reading it aloud (quietly) and enjoying it with all my heart. All the way through.
All the way through. It's a wonderful, wonderful book. So is The Cat in the Hat. Yes, I read that one all the way through as well. Also out loud. How well I remembered, while reading, the little things I wondered about, while I read these books as a child! Questions that have still not been answered, strangely enough. Questions to which experience has brought no light. Questions like: how did he do that? What kind of poetry is this?
If anything, I have more questions now. Why is it still so powerful? How did such a simple book come to mean so much? Was he really a poet? Or am I really an idiot?
Por que no los dos, eh?
https://redd.it/1jo8fo0
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Basic Stuff About Reality — David Roediger’s “An Ordinary White: My Antiracist Education.”
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/basic-stuff-about-reality/
https://redd.it/1jo40oi
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The silent collapse of an American urban tree canopy
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/03/the-silent-collapse-of-an-american-urban-canopy/
https://redd.it/1jo282u
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Houston is experiencing a 'reading renaissance' as small bookstores open across the city
https://houstonlanding.org/houston-is-experiencing-a-reading-renaissance-as-small-bookstores-open-across-the-city/
https://redd.it/1jo0qky
@r_books
For those who love Stoner...
I would love to have a discussion and get to know your perspective and learn what it is you loved about this book. I have seen so many people praise Stoner, calling it their best book of the year and one of the best books ever written, so my expectations were very high. I thought I was going to love it just like everyone else.
But unfortunately, I didn't. I thought it was very boring. I found the characters quite insubstantial, flat, passive, and lacking personality, and the narration was mostly dry and lifeless. The story didn't evoke any feelings in me, even though it is usually described as being very sad. I felt very distant from both the story and Stoner himself, so it was hard for me to actually care. I think Dave Masters described Stoner perfectly when he said that he was cut out for failure and that he would never fight the world, because he was just so passive throughout the novel. The only chapters I truly liked were the two in which Stoner and Katherine Driscoll were together. The rest was so monotonous to me.
I didn't hate the book (I gave it 3 stars), but since my expectations weren't met, I feel very disappointed. I know it's okay not to love a book that others do, but since I was expecting to love it myself, I guess I just want to know what people loved about it, to see what it is that I could have felt had I loved it like I had expected to. Maybe I can gain some appreciation through others' perspectives, or at least understand the love for this book.
https://redd.it/1jnxztz
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Review of A Book Of Luminous Things by Czeslaw Milosz
Overall I'd give this book 3.5 or 4 stars out of 5.
This anthology (mostly) goes with the theme of light-hearted, happy poems. All of the poems in this book are short, and have a small chunk of commentary before the poem.
I enjoyed this poetry anthology. There were some poems I wouldn't say are bad, but I was bored by because they weren't my style. This happened a lot with the classical Chinese poetry in the book. There are some Christian poems, and his commentary makes it clear that he is Christian. Do with that information what you will. My personal favorite poems from this book are:
An August Afternoon by Bronislaw Maj
The Same Inside by Anna Swir
Golden Bells by Po Chü-I
Poetry Reading by Anna Swir
Excerpts from the work of Jelaluddin Rumi
For The Anniversary Of My Death by W. S. Merwin
The Day We Die by Southern Bushmen
Perhaps... by Shu Ting
Ordinance On Arrival by Naomi Lazard
Waiting For The Barbarians by Constantine Cavafy
https://redd.it/1jnpil9
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Thoughts about the first and second part of The Vegetarian by Han Kang?
I want to know what everyone thought about the husband's and brother-in-law's pov. Personally I really loved In-hye's part. I think In-hye's inner turmoil is explored well. Somehow Yeong-hye's motives are also explored very well in this part even though she's almost non-verbal by this point. But with the first two parts, I feel like something is missing. I can't articulate what exactly it is that I feel dissatisfied with.
https://redd.it/1jnk3le
@r_books
Which book gave you your most recent book hangover after finishing it?
One of the most awesome yet most devastating emotions in the world is that feeling of a book hangover after finishing a truly spectacular book. What's the most recent book you've finished that's left you with one? As for me, I just finished All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker, and I'm going to be reeling from it for awhile.
https://redd.it/1jnk9f2
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Salman Rushdie’s first book of fiction since his stabbing will be published in November
https://apnews.com/article/salman-rushdie-new-fiction-book-eleventh-hour-6b707c2bfe3361811d4ca9dbee0ae32d?utm_placement=newsletter&user_id=67b39d4d93c55605670e734c
https://redd.it/1jni8dn
@r_books
When people travel, do you still buy travel guidebooks (like Insight Guides, Lonely Planet, DK eyewitness travel, Rough Guides) or do you find everything you need online? It feels like everything is digital these days.
Do you personally still use guidebooks, or do you prefer relying entirely on digital sources?
For me, in 2025, when I travel I don’t need physical travel guidebooks anymore. All the information I need is on the internet (wikipeida, google, google map, google review) I can watch videos of the places I want to visit on YT and I can ask chatbot to plan my trip for me. However, I still enjoy reading travel guidebooks.
My top favorite series are
1 Insight Guides
2 Lonely Planet
3 DK Eyewitness Travel
4 Rough Guides.
I love looking at the pictures in these books and reading them on weekends while relaxing on my sofa. But for real traveling in 2025, the internet is good enough for me. Still, there’s something nostalgic and special about flipping through a beautifully designed travel guide.
https://redd.it/1jnd2fm
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Does anyone here match their reading choices with the weather and mood like me?
Lately, I've noticed that my reading preferences change depending on the weather and time of day—like Wuthering Heights on rainy days, or diving into Borges' short stories late at night. This habit sounds weird but interesting. Do you guys have similar "literary weather-matching" feelings? e.g. sunny days = Hemingway's novel, foggy days = Calvino's prose, or weekend afternoons = A cup of tea + a cheeky Oscar Wilde quote?
https://redd.it/1jn3ejm
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A theory about "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson
Merricat has been dead the whole time.
The idea came from Uncle Julian. Uncle Julian is clearly senile, but like many senile people, he has periods in which he is lucid and present and understands what is going on around him. The first strange thing I noticed is that even in his lucid moments, Uncle Julian doesn't address Merricat. Not even once. I think the author is very deliberately calling our attention to this because Uncle Julian is constantly calling Constance by name to ask her a question or request that she do this or that for him. But he never so much as mentions Merricat, not even to Constance, or acknowledges her existence in any way, even though she is always underfoot.
The second strange thing is something Uncle Julian said to Charles when Charles mentioned Merricat: “My niece Mary Katherine has been a long time dead ... My niece Mary Katherine died in an orphanage, of neglect, during her sister's trial for murder.” This could be dismissed as the confused rambling of a senile man but other than this one instance, Uncle Julian never says anything that is factually incorrect. True, like many senile people he often relives the events of the past and thinks people around him are people from his past, but he's never said anything that wasn't at one point true. So if Uncle Julian doesn't say things that aren't true, and he says that Merricat died a long time ago, the logical conclusion is that Merricat is dead.
Here's what I think happened: After she murdered her family and Constance was arrested, Merricat was taken to an orphanage where she has said she was miserable. As an autistic person, I read Merricat as very autistic as well. This book was published in 1962, a time at which neurodivergent people were misunderstood and mistreated. It's not hard to imagine Merricat being neglected and even abused in the orphanage, and it's sadly not hard to imagine a child dying from that.
Constance, meanwhile, was on trial for a mass murder she knew full well Merricat had committed. The fact that Merricat deliberately spared her (Constance never put sugar on her blackberries so Merricat put the poison in the sugar) and the fact that Constance was willing to literally risk her life for Merricat by allowing herself to be put on trial instead of giving up the true killer speaks to the incredible strength of the bond between the sisters. Imagine, then, the grief she must have felt upon leaving the courtroom after being acquitted only to learn that the sister she risked her life to save was already dead. I think in that moment the strength of her grief and love and guilt brought Merricat's ghost back.
This would explain a few things. First, on paper Merricat is eighteen but she acts nothing like an eighteen-year-old. She still believes in magic, burying treasure and speaking magic words to keep her house and her family safe. She hides in hollows under bushes and talks to her cat. In short, she acts like a child and is treated like a child by Constance. And maybe that's because she is. Maybe she hasn't aged a day since the trial because she isn't a flesh-and-blood person but a projection of Constance's memory of her, forever frozen at twelve years old. Second, once Charles comes along and starts trying to convince Constance to leave the house and live a normal life, she keeps expressing regret about how she's failed to move on from the tragedy, at one point telling Merricat “And you–” but doesn't finish her sentence. Later she does say, “And you should have boy friends,” which sounds utterly absurd even to her. But what if she wanted to say, “And you, I should have let you rest.”? What if what we're seeing is Constance feeling guilty for keeping her dead sister tethered to this world because she can't bear to let go?
And finally back to Uncle Julian: why is he the only one who can't see Merricat? Because he's the only person around who knows what actually happened. The townspeople don't know the truth and they don't want to. They've gotten it