Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I read/listened to 127 books in 2024, more than any previous year since I've been doing this. But I have to say I did not think it was a great reading year because I felt that so few were really standouts.

I'm going to keep my 2025 goal at 75 and try to focus more on what I really want to read rather than just 'following the crowd' or sticking with what I think I 'should' read. Let's see how that goes!

Susan wrote: "I'm going to keep my 2025 goal at 75 and try to focus more on what I really want to read rather than just 'following the crowd' or sticking with what I think I 'should' read. Let's see how that goes!"

Ooh, no, unless you're in school and have to read things for assignments, you should definitely read what *you* want to read and not worry about what others say!

Good luck on 75 reads that *you* want to read and that you find enjoyable!

Tiffany wrote: "Susan wrote: "I'm going to keep my 2025 goal at 75 and try to focus more on what I really want to read rather than just 'following the crowd' or sticking with what I think I 'should' read. Let's se..."

Thanks for the encouragement, I think I'm off to a good start with Rebecca Solnit's Orwell's Roses!

Jan 2025
Book Club: Poverty by America by Matthew Desmond, The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki (both are rereads), and First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston for MBTB bookclub. DNR The Paris Novel for other book club.

1. NF: Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit...a really nice surprise, had no idea what to expect.
2. 1984 by George Orwell, started this in Dec for Banned Book Month in my group, but only just got around to finishing it. This is why I read Orwell's Roses, wanted to know more.
3. NF:American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump by Tim Alberta; been reading about this issue since the 2016 election, nobody can explain exactly how we got here, but this book details the emergence of this extremism among conservatives and the demise of the 'traditional' Republican Party.
4. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica; bedtime reading, an okay book that seemed a bit over the top in places.
5. NF: Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis; came across the book randomly, sounded interesting and turned out to be truly fascinating; so much of what is going on in our world is hidden from view and we tend to like it that way.
6. NF: Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher; really interesting read, had not heard of the author but apparently she is a renowned pioneering journalist in the field of all things tech related from the nineties to today; she acknowledged the flaws and greed of the giants in the industry, but she also gave them credit for their vision.
7. NF/BCPoverty, by America by Matthew Desmond; first time reading, but had listened to it 3 times during December 2023; so much information, I'm going to have to buy my own copy for reference.
8, The Outsider by Jane Casey; tangentially one of the Maeve Kerrigan series, though she only plays a minor role and the main character is Rob; quite an interesting set-up with some nail-biting moments. In keeping with the quality I expect from this author.
9. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston; ended up reading this for MBTB book club; a good and somewhat unusual set-up, lots of back-story running throughout, with a twist ending that so many books use in the post-Gone Girl era.
10. NF: How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell; had heard of this book through another author's work...either Rebecca Solnit or Kara Swisher, so I was curious; not at all what I thought it would be; lots of philosophical discussion, taking things back to ancient Greeks, well over my head and beyond my comprehension for the most part; in the end, a disappointment.
11. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki, second reading; this was our long read, chosen primarily for length; did not really enjoy it the first time, but had a greater appreciation for the writing and the themes this time, primarily because we discussed it as a group rather than just digesting it on my own.
12. NF: Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer; this book kept popping up on various lists and it focuses on two topics that have long interested me, US/Latin American relations and immigration. I know the general outline but the way Blitzer puts a human face on the immigration 'problem' is really powerful and heart-wrenching. I don't know the solution, but it is important to find a better way.

Feb 2025
Book Club Reads: The Berry Pickers and Squeeze Me

13. NF: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner; trying to avoid to political in light of all that is going on in the world; I've read probably dozens of books explaining in one way or another how we ended up where we are, and still have no clear answers...it's complicated; for this year I'm just going to try to switch focus and seek out books that elevate or illuminate, because I need a break!
14. Victim by Jørn Lier Horst; I have followed Horst for years, and tend to read his new books when they come out; I have to say that I don't always like the series of which this book is a part (Alexander Blix) because I don't like the relationship between the two main characters. Maybe this will be my last one of this series, despite the very clear indication at the end that there will be more to come.
15. NF: Animal, Vegetable, Junk: A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal by Mark Bittman; still trying to avoid the political, though it pretty much enters into everything; this book exposed me to a lot of the hidden costs regarding the way we eat, the way our food is marketed and produced, and the possibilities for change; have to say I'm not optimistic, since in almost all cases it is about the bottom line for those in the industry, not the health and well being of the people or the planet.
16. Pet by Catherine Chidgey; came across this book in a FB reading group, was intrigued by the description and the fact that it was a New Zealand author; quite a story, which I would describe as a creepy psychological suspense novel based on the relationship among adolescents and authority figures at a Catholic school; can't say I've read anything similar.
17. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters; read for book club, otherwise not sure I would have picked it up; interesting look at Native American culture through the stories of families living in Nova Scotia and Maine (for the most part); the best thing I can think of to say is that it won't easily be made into a movie or series because the story is too layered and complex, lacking any particular climax or building tension that most book to screen titles have.
18. NF: Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale by Adam Minter; in my ongoing effort to avoid politics in non-fiction books, I chose this book sort of as a follow-up to my earlier selection of Wasteland; certainly not as deep or revelatory as that earlier book, it was still interesting to think about how the 'reuse' aspect of our goods plays out around the world.
19. NF: Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen; still pursuing enlightenment instead of angst, I discovered this book by happenstance; intriguing and surprising, the multitude of ways creativity in seemingly all forms can benefit not only our psychological well-being but also our physical health; inspiring!
20. A Corpse in the Koryo: An Inspector O Novel by James Church; was unimpressed with what I had been reading before bed and chose this Unlimited title on a whim; it was quite good, especially since I had no expectations, other than reading about a culture I'm unfamiliar with (N. Korea); unfortunately, this was the only free book, the rest have to be purchased so I won't be reading more any time soon...trying not to spend money on books...physical or digital!
21. NF: Streets of Gold: America's Untold Story of Immigrant Success by Ran Abramitzky; immigration is a topic I'm deeply interested in, and this book brought to light some heretofore unknown information; authors used Census info to show how immigrants have succeeded in the past and currently available records to show that they continue to do so; the short of it is that immigrants have always and continue to be an asset to America.
22. Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen; for book club, otherwise probably would not have picked it up; only my second Hiaasen read (also for book club) but I knew what to expect, outlandish/crazy/over the top yet with clear correlations to the world in which we live.
23. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman; read this because I had read the Thursday Murder Club books and enjoyed them, but I was not really impressed with the set-up; a very contrived plot and characters that I didn't really understand or care much about; I put it aside to read the Korean detective novel above, then came back and finished; not sure I'll continue the series.
24. NF: Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb; continuing to expand my horizons in nonfiction, trying to steer clear of politics and focus on things that don't raise my stress levels; this was a very interesting book that might easily have been called 'Roadkill,' since that was one of the overarching themes...how many animals die, where/why they die, what can be done about it going forward...Road Ecology is the umbrella category under which this fits.

March 2025
Book Club Reads: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, The Frozen River, Slow Horses, and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women; have read two of these before, so not as much of a load as it seems!

First DNF of the year: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver; go half-way through (7 hrs!) but just could not go on; not into vegetable gardening and not going to pursue all of the recommendations, it just got tedious after a while.

25. Colder than the Grave by J.D. Kirk; nighttime reading, continuing the series I began last year; still holds my interest, characters developing along the way, will keep going throughout this year and maybe finish them out.
26. NF/BC Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez; while a lot of it was too stastic-laden for my own preference, the overarching point, that men are the norm and women more or less an anomaly that don't really matter, is well-made (in some places better than others); thought one of the best chapters was near the end, concerning politics.
27. Slow Horses by Mick Herron; second time reading but reminded me again of how much I enjoy the series; might have to go back through all of them again!
28. Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World by Brandon Keim; still seeking solace in a troubled world, continuing my quest for subjects that don't raise my BP, and for the most part learning about animals is a safe bet; who knew there have been legal cases arguing for animal citizenship/personhood?
29. Clear by Carys Davies a short but beautifully written book that closely looks at the process of 'clearing' one man from the bleak Scottish island on which he lives in order for the owner to assert control; the story is surprising and refreshingly unpredictable, with some humor woven through; learned about the book via a book forum on FB, glad I did!
30. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, for book club; mixed feelings...thought the story was compelling and overall the book was well-written, but felt it fell into melodrama and overly dramatic depictions of violence against women; not something I'd want to read again, but since it was based on the life of an actual historical figure, I was glad to learn more about that experience.
31. Come Hell or High Water by J.D. Kirk; continuing the journey through this series that I began last year; think this was one of my least favorite, but still enjoy the books and will keep at it.
32. One Hot Summer: Dickens, Darwin, Disraeli, and the Great Stink of 1858 by Rosemary Ashton; disappointed in this book but saw it through to the end; was hoping for historical insight but above all it seemed to be focused on personalities, social indiscretions, and the stinking Thames; do not recommend.
33. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See; second read bc book club; not a huge fan and timing was not good bc had read two other books about women/childbirth/patriarchy; hope not to have to do this again!
34. Abundance Ezra Klein; much buzz about this book so I went into it with high expectations; had read his earlier Why We're Polarized, so thought he'd have some insights...came away disappointed bc it seemed he is blaming liberals for the mess we are in; sure things could be better/more streamlined and less bureaucratic, but the alternative of fast-tracking and ignoring the safeguards seems unthinkable; ultimately a disappointment.
35. Hang on St. Christopher by Adrian McKinty; was pleasantly surprised by this new addition to the Sean Duffy series, had thought it was over; thought the story was far too convoluted but still enjoyed reading about this complex guy who wants to do the right thing and that often gets him into precarious and dangerous situations.

April 2025
Book Club: Birnam Wood and The Body Reader

36. Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey Among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See by Bianca Bosker; I came to this book randomly, just seeing what was available in nonfiction audio from the library; it was interesting but not something I will reflect much on or recommend to others; mostly it was the adventures of a writer who immersed herself in the art world of NYC, from galleries, to artists, to museums, to collectors, to art fairs...something from and for everybody.
37. Leaving by Roxana Robinson; recommended by a friend, I had no idea what it would be about; I mostly enjoyed it bc I thought the author knew how to pull you into the story and I liked her writing; I cared about these people and wanted everything to turn out well for them.
38. City of Scars by J.D. Kirk; continuing the journey through the entire Jack Logan series, this is book 14...I should be there by the end of the year, no sooner because I continuing to mix in other mystery/detective fiction alternately and as needed for book club.
39. The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket; while the title sounds straightforward, this book really wend in surprising directions, was often unsettling but I would also say always interesting; background on Whole Foods and Trader Joes...their founding and original business ethos; the virtual impossibility of avoiding abusive and duplicitous practices in food labeling and sourcing, etc.
40. Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy by Bill Adair; just because it was available and because I got sucked back into the 'how did we get here' mindset; he was behind the founding of Politifact, which intrigued me, but I felt that he needed to place greater emphasis not only on the fact that politicians from both parties lie, that it is the Republicans who have set the world on fire with the degree and severity of their false claims, undermining truth for political gain regardless of the consequences...disgusting.
41. Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner; having read most of her work, I looked forward to this book; had seen cryptic remarks about how good (or not so good) it was; I was disappointed because it felt like a journey to nowhere through a complicated setup; I'm glad she approaches each new book as a separate venture, and will continue to read whatever she publishes...but this will likely stay at the bottom of my list of Kushner books.
42. The Body Reader by Anne Frasier; read this for book club and was not a fan; didn't like anything about it, from the characters, to the setup, to the denouement; do not plan to go any further with this series.
43. Severance by Ling Ma; no reason for reading this book other than curiosity; so much buzz about the Apple series, I wanted to know what was up, only to discover after the fact that there is no connection between the book/series, totally different story...oh well, joke's on me; interesting, though not uncommon, premise; best part, IMHO, was the open-ended conclusion; left to wonder what happened next.
44. Dark is the Grave by T.G. Reid; having become a fan of JD Kirk through Kindle Unlimited, and nearing the end of that series, I took a leap and tried this first in a series; not sure if I will pursue it further, though I did like the humanity of the detective at the center of the action.
45. In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delany; b/c it was on K unlimited and was set in a place I am not familiar with, plus a female lead; the story was good and interesting, but so many minor flaws, from character development to issues with style/writing/editing; may read another, but not right away.
46. America Last: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators by Jacob Heilbrunn; back into the morass of how the right became what it is today; lots of familiar stories and names, but some new and interesting revelations as well; things are bad and I'm seeking insight once more.
47. Good Reasonable People: The Psychology Behind America's Dangerous Divide by Keith Payne; another example of backsliding into the whys/wherefores of current political situation; lots of good info regarding statistical differences and historical change; unlike others, he seems to think things are no worse now than in the past we are just more aware, and he downplays the role of social media in spreading 'fake news'/drumming up hate/fear...not sure I agree with that.
48. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton; second read (first in Oct 2023), this time for book club; surprised how much I had forgotten, more disturbing this time around as the villain of the piece bore a strong resemblance to tech bros today.
49. Here Lie the Dead by J.D. Kirk; still working my way through, with brief intermissions between; this was book 15 and still liking the series, which says something.
50. Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Nick Haddad; a 'palate cleanser' after diving into some political stuff earlier; a very brief overview of a range of unique animal traits; learned much and recommended to others.
51. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro; late to the party with this read; had read Klara and the Sun when it came out and finally got around to this earlier book; surprised at how the same voice was there...he wrote with the same style/perspective/turns of phrase so that had I not known, I could have guessed he authored both books; will likely continue to read him.
52. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells; read it upon recommendation of grandson, who says he reads it annually; had missed it in my youth and maybe it would have mattered more then, but still glad to know what it was about.

May 2025
Book Club books: Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, The Boyfriend, and Less (again)

53. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson; nonfiction book for book club, not something I would ordinarily have picked up; have read one of his other books so sort of knew what to expect; he is a good story teller and it was ultimately worth the time to read/listen.
54. The Secret Room by Jane Casey; newest book in the Maeve Kerrigan series; have read entire series, was somewhat disappointed in this one; the main 'case' was almost an afterthought with the drama of the two main characters dominating.
55. The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden; you know what to expect from this author, this was my third book by her; she doesn't appeal to all, but I find her a good 'go to' for something that entertains without making demands.
56. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway; simply because I had never read it and was seeking something different; I was annoyed by some of it, but on the whole I am glad I took the time to read it, had not really read any fictional accounts of the Spanish Civil War.
57. One For the Ages by J.D. Kirk; getting near the end of this series...I will miss it when it's done!
58. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt; my second book by this author, read it simply because It was available and non-political; found most of it really interesting, though some of it made me wonder about his political leanings.
59. The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez; read this because the author is speaking nearby next week; had not read anything set in Panama nor during the building of the canal, so it interested me from a historical perspective.
60. Less by Andrew Sean Greer; second reading of this book, both times for book club discussions; enjoyed this reading much more, found it far funnier this time through; tempted to read the follow up, but have heard it's a disappointment.
61. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro; decided to read this after reading Never Let me Go recently, just to see what the buzz was about; while I did enjoy it, I think it will take some time to digest and figure out why it is so widely praised in the literary world.
62. Angel Maker by Morgan Greene; first in a series on Kindle Unlimited, so thought I'd give it a try (on the off weeks I'm not reading the Jack Logan series, this is what I do); always interested in seeing how men present female leads...they almost always have to be tough and unemotional; it was ok, not a wow, may read the next but not right away.
63. Dayswork by Chris Bachelder; have no idea why I had put this book hold on Libby, but I have to say I'm glad I did; it was a real treat, unexpectedly funny at times; probably not for everyone, but I'm sold.

June 2025
Book Club: The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, The Crossing Places, and James (second reading)

64. Gods of the Upper Air: How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century by Charles King; read this on a whim, thought it would be interesting; I learned way more about Margaret Mead than I ever wanted to know, but found the discussion of the group of students mentored by Franz Boaz really interesting.
65. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar; read because it had been a frequent book of discussion in my FB feed; thought it was a unique and well developed story, though I can't say I really liked any of the characters.
66. In Service of Death by J.D. Kirk; this was book 17, so I'm getting close to the end; saw that there is a new book coming out soon, so there is that to prolong the drama of completing the series; I will miss them when they are gone and in anticipation of that void I am exploring other Kindle Unlimited series with similar vibes.
67. Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood; I read this because it was discussed on FB Booker group as worthwhile; my first book by this author, and when I was halfway through I described it to a friend as lovely, but not sure I'd say that now that I've finished; I will read more by this author.
68. Seven Crashes: The Economic Crises That Shaped Globalization by Harold James; always looking for ways to understand the relationship between politics and the economy, which is how I ended up with this book; unfortunately, it was either too jargon heavy or too far above my level for it to bring enlightenment, but I stuck it out to the end; best parts were near the end, where the issues from the 1970s forward, including the pandemic were highlighted.
69. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths; read for MBTB this month; really liked it overall, though I found the depiction of the main character somewhat confusing...sometimes confident, sometimes naively incapable of making a sensible decision...which is it? will read more of the series, regardless of this minor issue.
70. The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats by Daniel Stone; came to this through scrolling through available audiobooks on Libby and it turned out to be a generally fascinating story about how we came to embrace the foods of the world at the turn of the 20th c.
71. Deceived by the Light by Damien Boyd; alternative to JD Kirk, pleasantly surprised...not by the story so much but by the author's style in which we see the world through the detective's eyes; think he has a series but this was a standalone? will have to check further.
72. Marketcrafters: The 100-Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy by Chris Hughes; focusing on economy over politics, but clearly both or intertwined, lots of food for thought here about shifting views and the hypocrisy of the 'free market' rallying cry.
73. The Antidote by Karen Russell; my first foray into this author's work so had no idea what to expect; it is a fantastical and provocative story, making the argument for understanding how our present is a product of our past; will give her another go, since I have Swamplandia on my shelf already.
74. James by Percival Everett; my third go with this book and I see something new each time, have a greater appreciation of the author's skill; don't necessarily like him based on his public personna of aloofness and his tendency to be flip in the interviews I've attended/viewed, but will read more of him.
75. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner; read this will online group, but there was little actual discussion; had only ever read As I Lay Dying, and that was years ago; not a fan of stream of consciousness, but I respect the skill it takes to write a story like this in such a rambling and disjointed way, so that by the end you understand most of what made no sense at the time.
76. How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain by Peter S. Goodman; as Bill Clinton once said, "It's the economy, stupid!" I've fallen down the rabbit whole of trying to grasp the ins and outs of globalization, hoping that by immersing myself in the various books on the subject I can see the light.
77. Outside the Box: How Globalization Changed from Moving Stuff to Spreading Ideas by Marc Levinson; ditto comments from 76 above.
78. I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger; no reason to read this except that I was intrigued by the title and had never read the author; did not know going in that it was speculative/post-apocalyptic, not sure if I would have tackled it at this time if I had realized that; it was okay, but not a wow for me.
79. A Dead Man Walking by J.D. Kirk; book 18 of 21 in the Jack Logan series; my least favorite thus far and I think if this had been the first in the series I wouldn't have kept going, a disappointing entry, but I'm almost there!
80. Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall; totally taken in by the hype (author was behind Broadchurch); the story was neither here nor there, but I did like the detective in charge and hope there will be a series based on her character.

July 2025
Book Club reads: The Maidens, The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World, and Becoming Madam Secretary

81. The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan; to be honest, if this had not been for book club it would have gone into the DNF pile; was surprisingly disappointed given that I assumed this book was widely acclaimed (as well as the author); don't think I'll read anything else by him, there are better nonfiction writers/books IMHO.
82. I'm not naming this book because I really don't want a record that I read it. I skipped whole pages of detailed/graphic depictions of sex in various forms, which was extremely off-putting; the remaining sections of the book were really interesting and well written, do not understand why the author chose this route
83. Where the Pieces Lie by J.D. Kirk, book 19 of 21; was relieved to see that this book lived up to general expectations after the (to me) disappointing 18th book, and there was a cliffhanger to boot!
84. Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker; first book by this author, trying to compensate for all the bad with something good; he essentially argues that we need to take the long view rather than swimming in the constant barrage of negativity that hits the news daily and overwhelms our center of gravity; I like the idea, but he wrote this before the current administration decided to single-handedly wrest democracy from its moorings and virtually ensure a sea change for our future.
85. Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes by Leah Litman; random selection, curious about the history of the court/how it functions; focused on several specific (recent) decisions to show what it means to have a 6/3 MAGA court with no way to upend that for the foreseeable decades; annoyed by the continued use of the word 'vibes' and the heavy snark, but intrigued by using popular culture references to relate how conservative justices rationalize their decisions.
86. The Maidens by Alex Michaelides; second time for this one, for book club this time; liked it better this go around, had completely forgotten how it ended!
87. An Assassin in Utopia: The True Story of a Nineteenth-Century Sex Cult and a President's Murder by Susan Wels; not necessarily a book I'd recommend, but it was interesting with a lot of unfamiliar info regarding utopian communities, especially Oneida.
88. Caution: Death at Work by Rhys Dylan; will be looking for a worthy series when I finish JD Kirk's Logan series, but this will not be the winner; it was okay but I don't want to follow the characters into the foreseeable future.
89. The Book Censor's Library b Bothayna Al-Essa; at this point I'm not sure how this book came to my attention, but I'm glad it did; much in the vein of 1984, a world in which books are dangerous, but also marked as taboo are all the tech innovations of our currently daily lives; though I found the ending confusing, it was an interesting read.
90. The Coffin Trail by Martin Edwards; in search of next series after JD Kirk's Logan, this could work as I liked the writing and detective well enough...but was not necessarily impressed with the entirety of the crime at the center of the plot nor the way it played out.
91. Colored Television by Danzy Senna; read this only because it is the most recent publication by Percival Everett's wife and I was curious about her work; a really surprising book for me and I was impressed by how she told the story, made me wonder if people really do live this way!

August 2025
Book Club books: Wellness by Nathan Hill, The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens

92. What Were We Thinking: A Brief Intellectual History of the Trump Era by Carlos Lozada; second time through this book bc I wanted to remind myself of the recommended reads and his critiques of the 'types'.
93. Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry; had seen much about this book in groups I follow on FB, had never read the author, so wanted to give it a try; a hard read bc of the topic of discussion but such a powerful telling of how people's lives were changed, how there is no escape...just delay.
94. Off With Her Head: Three Thousand Years of Demonizing Women in Power by Eleanor Herman; looked for something not blatantly political, came across this, turned out to be interesting; not sure I see things in the same way, but it is shocking how women are belittled and demeaned simply for being leaders/smart/ambitious/creative/courageous; what we value in men is seen as a defect in women and the sky is the limit for criticism.
95. A Killer of Influence by J.D. Kirk; book 20 of 21, so I'm almost there; this one was well over the top re the set-up and denouement, but with just one more to go I'm near the finish line!
96. This Is Happiness by Niall Williams; recommended by a friend, truly a delight to read...in the end, it made me happy!
97. The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens; only my second book by this author, was not expecting it to be focused on war and, since it was supposed to me a mystery, felt it was in the wrong category; reminded me of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena from years ago.
98. A Rock and a Hard Place by J.D. Kirk; read the last couple of this series back to back, this was number 21, so have now officially finished; memorable series, in search of an equally good new series to take its place, have sampled several but nothing impresses thus far. Not interested in the spin-offs focused on other characters.
99. Wellness by Nathan Hill; for book club; having read and really liked The Nix, I was anxious to read this, only his second book; it was really good, such a complex story about how two people connect but under such different illusions and with such different expectations, all the while essentially deluding themselves.
100. Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher; for book club, second time reading; having read it first before Trump's second term, and Musk's over the top ludicrous outsized role in DOGE, I was much less willing to think of him at all positively and rather could only think of him as one of the archvillians of the piece.
101. There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak; read this simply because I somehow had a copy on my Kindle and had heard of it; it was an ok read but I don't know that I would recommend it to anyone in my circle; the narratives spanned time and eventually connected, but it just didn't work well for me.
102. Black Run by Antonio Manzini; still searching for replacement for the Logan series by JD Kirk; this is not it...Rocco is even more uncouth and unscrupulous in the book than in was depicted in the series made for TV.

Sept 2026
Book Club books: Burn Book: A Tech Love Story (read in Aug), The Measure, How to Read a Book, None of This Is True

103. American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis by Adam Hochschild; teaching this period this semester, thought it a good idea to review this book which I had already read last year; too many parallels with current govt overreach to mention, but it definitely shows how easily rights can be denied and infringed upon through fear and intimidation.
104. We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker; guess I had this on my list because there seemed to have been a lot of buzz and it showed up everywhere in the groups I follow; did not like the style and found the main character so annoyingly over the top antagonistic that it was a relief to finally finish it; did not like the writing style either, very choppy and hard to follow at times.
105. America, América: A New History of the New World by Greg Grandin; a really in depth account of how the US has engaged with Latin America over the centuries, for good and ill; surprising how much influence Latin America had on US and international relations; a good follow up to his Myth of the Frontier.
106. Rising Tide by Morgan Greene; still haven't found a good replacement series for JD Kirk's Jack Logan series, so this is one I read in hopes it might work; it's ok, this is the second I read; find the lead character a bit over the top tough; since it's a female lead written by a male author, it feels confusing to me.
107. How to Read a Book by Monica Wood; for book club, had no preconceived idea so was pleasantly surprised by the story; it felt like the right time to read it after some really heavy books, both fiction and non-fiction; no major trauma, no unmended hearts in the end.
108. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell; first book by this author, a real page turner, I would say she might have been the original Frieda McFadden? Similar absurd plot with twisty outcomes.
109. The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple; just something unfamiliar to give my brain a rest from all the heavy stuff out there.
110. The Last Voice You Hear by Mick Herron; had read the first in this series, decided to do the second since there is an upcoming Apple series and I'm a fan of this author (Slow Horses).
111. The Measure by Nikki Erlick; speculative 'high concept' novel asking 'what if' and then exploring various outcomes; not a favorite but good for discussion.
112. Ash Mountain by Helen Fitzgerald; had started this book a while ago and put it aside; liked some parts (the setting, Australia), others not so much (pretty much every person in the book was abrasive, seemingly some depictions merely for schock effect); probably won't read more of her work.

Oct 2025
Book Club: How to Age Disgracefully, Wild Dark Shore, Long Time Gone

113. Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream by David Leonhardt; still seeking (and generally not finding) answers for our current predicament; the book explores the so many ways the left failed and left things wide open for the right to dominate.
114. Flashlight by Susan Choi; first book by this author, read bc it was on the Booker List and lots of discussion of it; not a wow but definitely interesting.
115. These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall; had this on my Kindle so decided to make it my 'night read' as I search for a new series; didn't like much about it, but now I know.
116. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans; had seen so much about this book's popularity I wanted to see what the buzz was about; it was a real treat, occasionally laugh out loud funny, sometimes exasperating, sometimes heartbreaking, and she's from WS!
117. Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America by Paola Ramos; surprising read in an attempt to understand why/how Hispanic voters shifted to Trump...
118. 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by Josh Dawsey; inside look at 2024 campaign/election...yuck.
119. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters; a free KU selection, sort of a 'palate cleanse' from all the heavy stuff in my head; was put off by the style at first, but when I finished I ended up ready to see what happens next.
120. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy; quite a story, really an interesting premise though it was hard to tell if it was current or speculative, it really created a sense of foreboding, though I was not prepared for how it all turned out.
121. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain; this book has been on my mind for a while, finally got around to it; much was not relevant to me but still (as an introvert) I found it interesting and learned some things.
122. Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea, second of his books I've read for same book club, not a big fan; this one had some really contrived situtations in order to enable the ending to come together and some extraneous info that mattered not at all to the whole plot; not an author I would choose on my own.
123. Audition by Katie Kitamura, because it was shortlisted for the book and I had read A Separation years ago; really intriguing read, would love to discuss but don't think my book clubs would go for it.
124, Anthem by Noah Hawley, because it was available, I had read a book of his previously, and I like Fargo; had no inkling of what it would be, really provocative near-future speculative fiction about the decline of our country, disturbing.
125. How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley, not my type of book...the new 'geriatric' genre that combines ageist humor with real world problems, like Thurs Murder Club but less engaging; would not read more by this author by choice.
126. Curse of the Pharoahs by Elizabeth Peters; second in the series, and there are 20...not sure I will make it through, but they are easy to read before bed, not simple yet engaging, low tension and little if any violence/gore/conflict.
127. Hayek's Bastards: Race, Gold, IQ, and the Capitalism of the Far Right by Quinn Slobodian; always curious about how conservative/libertarian views on the economy contrast with the left; lots of people I've never heard of but the take away is that everything old is new again, the debates/ideas have been around for decades, just constantly reshuffled/repackaged with shiny new bows.

November 2025
Book Club: Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy, Now You See Me, This Tender Land

128. Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service by Michael Lewis; a collection of essays that emphasize the work done by civil servants in a range of departments, using specific people to highlight their dedication to the job and why it matters; inspiring and educational.
129. Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White SupremacyDavid Zucchino, had read before but in light of recent events it was really good to review this horrific episode.
130. Playground by Richard Powers, because I've read him before (Overstory, which I liked/Bewilderment, which I didn't), but to me this was a disappointment and will likely not be so quick to read his next.
131. Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive by Eliot Stein, this was a 'brain break' from the heaviness of the world; while the people and places were interesting, I thought he, the author, was fascinating since he had lived such an adventurous life while still being relatively young.
132. Now You See Me by Sharon J. Bolton; read for book club, but not a fan...too much gore, too long, unlikeable characters, unsatisfactory pacing/ending; probably my one and only book from this author.
133. Clown Town y Mick Herron, because I'm such a fan of this series, I've read them all and was anxious to see what was next; alas, it was somewhat disappointing, though it still had the same feel the plot was less tightly depicted and sort of din't really matter to the ending, which of course leaves us hanging.
134. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, second time for book club, liked it better than the first time, but it kept bringing to mind parts of Amor Towles Lincoln Highway, which was unfortunate.
135. An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong, another brain break; I don't pretend to understand much but it was fascinating to learn about the world of animals from a 'sensory' perspective...what they can see, feel, touch, taste, etc.
136. The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natera, because it intrigued me and kept popping up whenver I was online; some heavy topics but well-paced story and well-developed characters; I would read this author again.
137. Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine, nighttime reading during this post-JD Kirk period; intense and angsty; have lined up the second one to read by may take a breather in between with something a bit lower-key, a straightforward who-done-it or a low-stakes cozy.
138. Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy by Katherine Stewart, not a lot I didn't expect but it just confirmed how entrenched the ideas are and what the endgame is.
139. Heartwood by Amity Gaige, read bc it kept popping up in my feeds, went into it cold so didn't realize it was categorized as a thriller...I would beg to differ with that idea.
140. Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream by Megan Greenwell, a disturbing look at the effect of PE on those whose jobs/lives are impacted by this game of money/profit.

Dec 2025:
No book club books this month!

141. Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit, read it in Jan and repeated it in Dec, remembered liking it more the first time (hence the reread), it's a bit uneven with some tangents that make me wonder what she intended, but there are good thought-provoking/inspirational sections as well, so no regreats.
142. Held by Anne Michaels, picked this up at the Y, it's small book and I had seen it mentioned a few times; I was enthused at the begining, but by the end I was confused and sort of let down; some beautiful passages and insights, though.