Reading Fated by Benedict Jacka, first book in his urban fantasy series Alex Verus.
It is interesting to see how different Alex is from Dresden, both are very different kind of mages, though both have their own issues with their respective councils.
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!
Just finished Paper Towns by John Green with very mixed feelings
I have been mildly irritated at the whole book right up to the last 30 pages where it kind if got better. I can’t really put a finger on what has annoyed me, but it just feels wrong and somewhat artificial
I’m really digging it so far 😀 about 10% in
Bullring Days Four by Wes Boyd
Trying to get through Dan Brown’s most recent novel “Secret of Secrets”. It’s really bad so far — like someone put together a paint by numbers version of a Dan Brown story. I’m sure they’ll make another Tom Hanks movie out of it.
Just finished cat’s cradle by kurt Vonnegut and um wow! Never read any of his work before. It was a wild ride
I loved that book. Might be my favorite of his.
I just started The Fires of December by Brandon Sanderson cause my copy arrived in the mail. The first chapter has me intrigued.
Working my way thru Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobook, on Chapter 34 now. Its a lot of fun. The voice actor for this book is very impressive. He has a huge range and really gives so much personality to the characters.
I’m on book 3, and I am also loving the audiobooks!
Im currently reading this series, on book 6. I personally dont like the audiobook because I like the voices I’ve already imagined while reading. No hate on the voice actor, its my issue, I read the AI in a flat tone like I would read a video game tooltip. And donut is similar to the cat from life of pets in my head.
Keep going, it gets even better. Book 1 barely scratches the surface. Also, book 3 can be very confusing. Dont get hung up on the geography and enjoy the characters.
I get that, I had a really hard time sinking in to the Wheel of Time audiobooks at first because both the voices and the names where not what I read in my head. I got there eventually and finished the series, but it took several hours awkwardness to get there.
Also thx for the note on book three I’ll keep that in mind when I get there
Jeff Hays sooo gooood! Glad your enjoying it. Fantastic series.
He really is, he is now up there with one of my other favorite voice actors, Phil Thron. He read the Space Team series which is also a super fun book series that I highly recommend if you have the chance
ohh some RinoZ on the list!
Ill have to check Phil out too.
Hays and Andria Parsnow (I love Wandering Inn) are my favorites.
Holding off on anything until There Are No Giant Crabs In This Novel: A Novel of Giant Crabs by Jason Pargin comes out, but I just finished chewing through the other four books in the John Dies series again in preparation. Fuck, I love Jason Pargin, read his books and listen to Bigfeets!
I finished Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time today, a bit shy of two years after I started it. Well, I actually started the series in the nineties, but this time I managed to finish it.
OP asked me for my opinion on the ending, but at this point I’m sort of unsure myself. It’s such a long series with so many concepts and characters that it’s hard to summarize my thoughts in writing. I don’t have that Talent. I do find myself satisfied with how the series ended, though. There’s some Christian philosophy woven in to the conclusion that I don’t really agree with, but it makes sense and works within the world the story takes place in. Brandon Sanderson was a great choice for writing the final books.
Yes, it is a good series, but one I can’t really recommend to most people, and it frustrated me at many points. Heck, I think half the books should have been slashed. Don’t have your spouse for an editor I suppose.
I’m glad it’s done.
I also read Guy Delisle’s comic book Hostage. It’s the true story of a kidnapped NGO administrator who was kidnapped in 1997 in the Caucasus. Very interesting read and a daring story to adapt to a comic book, since it’s mostly one man alone hand cuffed to a radiator. It must have been a harrowing experience for the hostage though.
Next up I think I’ll read Остров Сахалин by Eduard Verkin. It’s a sci-fi book I picked up from the library.
Thank you for your comment on the Wheel of Time. Now I feel less guilty for skipping parts.
Finished my Culture series re-read. Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M Banks. Loved it, and I miss the series already. Started Free and Equal by Daniel Chandler. A book about how to implement John Rawls philosophy in today’s world. It’s a fantastic intro into Rawls genius, and provides a good lens through which to look at some of todays most challenging political differences.
A Call to Arms - Hemingway
Did you mean A Farewell to Arms?
Those would be two very different books!
Read “The Library at Mount Char” by Scott Hawkins. It was wild and I really enjoyed reading it, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it widely due to some of the content. Weirdly twisted and dark, brilliant but also somewhat conveniently plotted. Almost too convenient at points.
I felt exactly the same. Quite well written, but pretty tough to get through at times.
That book is a fucking rollercoaster that just keeps going every time you think it’s wrapped up a part of the plot.
I’m just about to finish up the 13th book of He Who Fights with Monsters. I’m pretty sad I’m getting to the end of what is currently out.
Think I’ll go for a few more Dresden books after I’m done!
Murder by Design by Lee Goldberg
Listening to the audiobook as i don’t have the time for reading nowadays.
I’m 90% of the way through Anna Karenina, but having to take a break to read a book for my book club. That book is Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna. I’m enjoying it so far; a nice slice of life involving a group of friends/roommates/lovers living in London. It has some quite poetic commentary on queerness, communication across different generations and living in a city. And it has its funny moments :)
Oh Anna Karenina was one my favorite books when I was a teenager. I especially loved the descriptions of loneliness and dispair were something I could recognize myself in.
He does get to the depths of the human condition so well and describe it in such a relatable way. I’m sorry to hear you felt that way at the time though. Hope you’re doing alright now
Thanks for the good wishes. Yes I am better now having exited an abusive childhood. Being an independent adult has been a blessing to me♥️
