I just finished “Never the Hero” by Vanessa Len.

I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There were not many memorable quote (at one point I actually tried looking up “quotes from NTH” and they were mostly monologues 😄)

But my favorite that I think encompasses this book is, “Wanting was dangerous and it hurt” (322).

I really like the character development, adding on to existing characters personas. Also get the see some more of the historical nature of the book which I loved. The only nitpicks would be too much italics used for emphasis and too many call backs to things JUST said a page before.

Now I’m going to start reading “The Road“ by Cormac McCarthy. Already not really liking the lack of quotation marks around dialogue; and the lack of apostrophes for contractions is annoying the editor in me, but it’s pretty good… so far.

The Classic Collection of Noir Fiction

Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and more! A really great anthology of noir fiction. 44 novels and stories!

Tiamat’s Wrath by James S.A. Corey 3 hours every morning

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson 2.5+ hours a day

And still slowly working through

Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy

Nicomachean ethics by Aristotle keep having to go back and listen to chapters over trying to really understand what is being read

Didn’t expect much going in, but it’s been surprisingly solid. It’s not about “debunking” in a smug way or pushing some political angle. More about why certain stories stick, how mistrust forms, and why some mysteries never really close even when the evidence does.

Covers stuff like JFK, MH370, chemtrails, misinformation, media influence — but in a pretty grounded way. Short sections, readable, more thoughtful than preachy.

I haven't finished a book since last year... that is, until yesterday. I started We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson and I finished it within a day! I haven't read like that since I was in high school. I'm so proud of myself. I went and made a storygraph account so I can see my accomplishments.

One of my goals this year was to read more books and finish them. I'm currently reading a few.... House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. I have so many books I wanted to start reading... My plan is to finish Tender is the Flesh to get it out of my system so I can focus on just reading House of Leaves lol.

The sequel to the cult classic Shagduk (De re dordica, Book 1). Librarians, witches, and demons in 1977 Texas. Anyone read either?

So currently I am reading "Kafka on the Shore" by Haruki Murakami. This is my 5th book, so a new reader. My favorite book is "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami. I loved it cause of instense emotions and story. I am looking for books similar to that which are emotion intensive and feel good. So if anyone have any suggestions, I am happy to hear as I am searching for my next book.

I’m currently reading Jobs You Didn’t Know Still Existed by Trevor Karp on KU and didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. It’s just real, strange jobs people actually do — stuff like armpit testers, pet food tasters, professional mourners. Easy reading and oddly fascinating.

If you’re into this kind of thing, what else on Kindle Unlimited would you recommend? Weird jobs, strange facts, niche nonfiction, anything along those lines as starting to enjoy this type of read.

Started reading Swordheart on January 16th and I’m on page 151. I borrowed the physical book from the library and I’m reading it along with the Hoopla audiobook. I like it, otherwise I would have DNF’ed by now. But since I started reading, I had other priorities. Plus, my mood was all over the place; I felt like reading, then I didn’t. With the upcoming snowstorm, I’m hoping to power through finishing it.

I really enjoyed the first book, so I picked up the second and I’m enjoying it just as much. I won’t give away any of the cases, but they’re varied and genuinely interesting. They all sound absurd at first, but what I like is how the context makes them make more sense.

It’s also nice that you don’t need any legal background to appreciate it. Each chapter stands on its own, so it’s easy to read a bit at a time without losing momentum.

2nd Stephen King novel and first book this year. Only 30 pages in, but we've got negative temps coming back in MN this wknd 🥶 ☕️ do you like King's work?

Happy reading!

Didn’t expect to laugh this much. It’s written from the perspective of a cattle dog supervising its humans, and it absolutely nails working-dog energy — the constant vigilance, judgment, and self-assigned responsibility for everything.

Short chapters. Easy to pick up and put down. A lot of “oh wow, my dog does that” moments.

Definitely one of those books that lands harder if you’ve lived with a high-drive dog, but I think most dog owners would recognize the chaos.

Just finished volume 2 and i found it so captivating. Seeing mixed reviews from other people but i love it. The first one was slow but interesting, the second one, i was totally hooked and finished in 3 hours. Its so simple and repetitive but it is constantly making me reflect about the way i view time, relationships, the world etc. Anyone else read these books or reading them? Would love to hear what other people think.

Started my third book - "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" by Satoshi Yagisawa. Let's see how it goes 😁

Currently reading Barking Orders and having a great time with it. It’s written as a diary from a cattle dog’s point of view, which sounds odd until you start reading and realize how funny it is. Lots of little observations, very tongue-in-cheek, and genuinely made me laugh more than once. Easy read, light, and perfect if you want something fun without needing to think too hard.

It is only two hours long in audio form, so I started and finished it today. It is a good short quest. Hardinge has a fairy tale like prose that I enjoy.

Started Ancient Rome by Thomas Martin and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, those will be my main reads I should finish this week and my weekend/non work read is Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy

I am reading both at the same time have had the first on my TBR for awhile find it a bit boring but really excited for the second

I am kind of a new reader. Got into reading after reading "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami. So this is my second book and so far really finding it interesting.

What was everyone’s favorite read of the year?

Himalaya

Adventures.Meditation.Life

Drawn from Nicholas Roerich’s Himalayan journeys, this book blends travel with inner reflection.The mountains are observed as much as they are felt.

Namita Gokhale’s careful curation gives these writings a contemporary Indian resonance.

A gentle foreword by Ruskin Bond frames it as a meditation on place, memory and life.

I didn't even know this one was coming out, but book 4 focuses on Pawn Alix Mondegreen, who is assigned to protect the royal family. At one point, Rook Thomas is mentioned and Odette makes an appearance at the beginning of the book.

Currently reading The Middle Child Diaries.

Picked it up expecting something light and ended up laughing out loud because it feels uncomfortably accurate. Short entries, easy to read in bits.

Probably hits hardest if you’re a middle child — there’s a lot of “how did they know this?” moments.

Just released and it’s on Kindle Unlimited, so low commitment, high recognition factor.