Reading The Novice by Trudi Canavan. The second book in The Black Magician trilogy.
What about all of you? What have you all been reading or listening to lately?
Check Official Bingo Challenge Post and the accompanying Recommendations Post for our Bingo for 2026!
Struggling to understand Ben Aaronvitch’s Rivers of London. Recently read and like John Williams’ Stoner.
In what way are you struggling to understand it? I’ve had the book on my tbr for a hot minute.
The plot wanders around in a disorienting way. Characters who we were very focused on at one moment are all of a sudden dropped from the narrative in a hard-to-believe way. A lot of people apparently like it, but I’m stopping after the first book.
Ahh that’s completely valid, I didn’t realize, I wonder if it continues that style for all books? Yeah, I noticed how many people liked it which is what piqued my interest, despite not having gotten super into urban fantasy.
I was just getting started on Ancillary Justice when my kindle decided to peace out. :'(
Last book in Ursula leguins Hamish cycle, the telling. left hand and dispossessed were the high lights. I don’t think theres much point in reading these books as a unit.
I’m slowly reading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar for a book club. I’m definitely nervous about where it’s going to go. I also have Stephen Fry’s Mythos on hoopla and I just started listening to Patrick Stewart’s autobiography from libro.fm.
I tried reading The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North, a pseudonym of British author Catherine Webb.
I didn’t care for the prose, only made it a couple of pages, and knew it wasn’t for me. There might be a movie, eventually. I’d probably watch the movie, I like the premise.
I just ordered the book yesterday, after seeing it recommended in last week’s thread 😀
Just finished This I Know, by Eldonna Edwards.
If I hadn’t read Clover Blue first, I probably would not have picked up this, her first book, based on the description. But, I trusted the author, so I tried it. I’m glad I did. It’s a good mix of supernatural woo-woo, and coming of age. Recommended.
Currently reading There Is No Antimemetics Division, by British author qntm.
This is more of my usual sci-fi fare, and I’m enjoying it. I feel like I’ve come across this trope before, but not explored in such detail. Recommended.
I’m almost halfway through In the Distance by Hernan Diaz. It’s the first book of his I’ve read, and it’s really good. I’ll read his more recent book, Trust, next. My wife highly recommended that one.
I liked Trust—I’ll have to check out Distance.
Almost done with Empire of the Damned
Lord Foul’s Bane - Stephen Donaldson
Heard of the Covenant series for a long time, never got around to it before now. Seems OK, doubt I’ll read all 10 but we’ll see.
Finished Mortedant’s Peril by R.J. Barker and enjoyed it. A super easy read, fun little mystery, and an interesting world to explore. It seems like it’s the first of a series, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next one.
Walking With Weight by Michael Easter. Expecting it to be light and breezy.
Vagabond by Tim Curry and Babel by R.F. Kuang
I enjoyed Vagabond, even though Tim Curry explicitly kept the reader at a distance. While no one has to define their sexuality, I would have been interested in learning about those who he chose to love.
Aberration in the Heartland of the Real: The Secret Lives of Timothy McVeigh by Wendy S. Painting.
I’ve had this on my list for years and finally got around to it by choosing it for my bookclub, as revenge for being forced to read Dungeon Crawler Carl (I did warn them there would be repercussions).
It’s a masterpiece; incredibly detailed and insightful, it also sprawls into an exploration of the American malaise and the cultures that create people like McVeigh. Incredibly dense and heavy, but utterly compelling.
Deep Work by Cal Newport. I’m trying to add blocks of distraction free time to each day and it’s a big challenge, hopefully this book will give me some fresh ideas regarding the implementation.
I’m currently reading The Annual Migration of Clouds. So far it’s pretty interesting.








