What are You Reading?

[+ poolboy48220]

My Game of Thrones obsession (kicked into high gear by "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has me reading "Fire & Blood". It's a history of the Targaryens from Aegon's Conquest to the Dance of the Dragons (which is what "House of the Dragon" is about). It's a bit dry, written as if it's a history text by a maester; lots of detail, not so much drama. 

[Luv2play]

I’m currently reading Stay Alive, by Ian Buruma. It is about living in Berlin during WWII. I had previously read The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, about living through the London Blitz in 1940/41. 
Given today’s wars in the Middle East, these stories of the destruction of cities and the human carnage during wartime shows us how little has changed from the 20th century and today. 

[Lucky]

I just finished reading See You On The Other Side by Jay McInerney. Besides being an ode to New York, it is a compelling story about life during the pandemic, and how relationships persevered...or not!

[FLFunSized]

I finished 6 books in Rachel Reid’s “Game Changer” series and then her last two, “The Shots You Take” and “Time To Shine”. All great reads. Now I’m about 5 chapters into “Red White and Royal Blue”, it’s cute, easy reading. Next up is a biography about Rodin, I’ll need a break from romance after this book

[MikeBiDude]

I just finished “The Time of Our Singing” by Richard Power. He’s authored “The Playground” , “Overstory” (both of which I’ve read) and “Bewilderment” to much critical and popular acclaim. 

“The Time of Our Singing” is a mix or biracial marriage, racism, thrown in with a large dose of music. Hard to describe this one…took me a while to read but well worth it.

[+ poolboy48220]

I just found out one of my favorite science fiction authors, John Varley, died in December 2025. I enjoyed so much of his work and I'm sad we'll never get another book about Cirocco Jones. 

[AtticusBK]

23 hours ago, Lucky said:

I just finished reading See You On The Other Side by Jay McInerney. Besides being an ode to New York, it is a compelling story about life during the pandemic, and how relationships persevered...or not!

Did you read the first 3 books in this “series” — and if so, how does this one compare?

[Lucky]

Just bright Lights, which was a better novel. But I did like this one.

But The Guardian didn't:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/apr/21/see-you-on-the-other-side-by-jay-mcinerney-review-the-clumsy-finale-of-a-classic-new-york-series

Edited April 21 by Lucky

[Rod Hagen]

Just read this while in Argentina.  VERY good page turner.  The last 30 pages are disappointing, but the rest of the (self-published) book is so compelling, I still recommend it:

https://www.amazon.com/glacier-murders-forensic-detective-Patagonia-ebook/dp/B0DYZ9M4GR

 

Author is cute in a Spanish way

 

 

[+ poolboy48220]

Based on hearing that it was like "Hitchhiker's Guide" combined with "Project Hail Mary", I started "We Are Legion (We Are Bob)" by Dennis Taylor, first of the "Bobiverse" series. It's good so far, about 100 pages in. It reminds me of some other science fiction books I've enjoyed (mostly "World Out of Time", early Larry Niven) and as promised, it's pretty funny. 

[+ FrankR]

5 hours ago, poolboy48220 said:

Based on hearing that it was like "Hitchhiker's Guide" combined with "Project Hail Mary", I started "We Are Legion (We Are Bob)" by Dennis Taylor, first of the "Bobiverse" series. It's good so far, about 100 pages in. It reminds me of some other science fiction books I've enjoyed (mostly "World Out of Time", early Larry Niven) and as promised, it's pretty funny. 

I enjoyed reading about the Bobiverse.  So much so that I started looking for other Scifi. Now reading Live Free or Die by John Ringo. Its a good read so far.

[+ DrownedBoy]

Tracy Kidder just died, and I've been meaning to read my coffee-table version of "Soul of a New Machine" again (haven't since BSCS in college; won the Pulitzer on describing how one of the first commercial desktop computers was made).

Otherwise was reading "Washington" by Ron Chernow, the same guy who wrote Hamilton's biography. He's very good at getting at the hidden psychology of famous people; I never knew Washington was really a very emotionally volatile person who put on an act his entire life.

[Justsomedude05]

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. Absolutely incredible book. 

[TonyDown]

Fun Home, a critically acclaimed graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel, is one of those books I bought thinking

 "I ought to read that."                                                                                                                                         

 

It sat on the shelf way too long.   

Anyway, I started yesterday.  I'm half way through it.   Clever and funny, but also sad.  A lot of interesting literary references.

 

Spoiler.   

I'm debating what to think about the father, his darker side.

[BananaBagel]

I’m reading John of John - wow is it good. Dad and his son on a remote island in Scotland. 

[+ Just Sayin]

14 hours ago, BananaBagel said:

I’m reading John of John - wow is it good. Dad and his son on a remote island in Scotland. 

I'm about 2/3 through and enjoying it too

[+ EVdude]

14 hours ago, BananaBagel said:

I’m reading John of John - wow is it good. Dad and his son on a remote island in Scotland. 

Wow, it’s by Douglas Stuart, missed that he had a new book out. His first book Shuggie Bain was great. Thanks for the tip! 

[+ Just Sayin]

1 hour ago, EVdude said:

Wow, it’s by Douglas Stuart, missed that he had a new book out. His first book Shuggie Bain was great. Thanks for the tip! 

I thought "Young Mungo" was good; grim depiction of Glasgow after the shipbuilding ended and Thatcherism arrived but sweet love story too

[BananaBagel]

7 hours ago, Just Sayin said:

I thought "Young Mungo" was good; grim depiction of Glasgow after the shipbuilding ended and Thatcherism arrived but sweet love story too

John of John is amazing. I’m on vacation and have to do other things but drift back to thinking about it. I’d like to skip dinner and just keep reading it about now. 

[jerryskater]

4 hours ago, BananaBagel said:

John of John is amazing. I’m on vacation and have to do other things but drift back to thinking about it. I’d like to skip dinner and just keep reading it about now. 

Agree it's an great novel.  I was sorry when I finished reading it because I wanted to spend more time with Cal and his family and the people on the island.

[TonyDown]

I bought the book when the play that references it, Buyer and Cellar, was on tour.  

I skimmed it a few times.

Recently I thinned out my books, donating quite a haul.   This one I went back and forth on, until finally deciding to keep it, and give it a more thorough reading. 

It's a fun read paired, with a cocktail  🍸

Edited Sunday at 03:14 AM by TonyDown

[+ Charlie]

I am currently reading A Troubled Oasis: A Critical History of Palm Springs, California, by Ronald Eugene Isetti. So far I am learning a lot about the early history of my present home town.

[+ Just Sayin]

On a light-hearted note:  "Love in a Truck Stop Bathroom" by Sebastian O'Connor; a high school guidance counselor and a high school coach meet anonymously in, you guessed it, a truck stop bathroom; eventually they realize they work together and become a couple; it's all fairly predictable but fun and sexy to read.

On a serious note: I just finished re-reading "In Love" by Amy Bloom; her husband, an architect, is diagnosed with Alzheimer's and he doesn't want "the long goodbye."  At his request, she researches options for assisted suicide and he applies to Dignitas in Zurich for help; she describes her husband's decline in capacity and the application process leading to the trip to Zurich in January, 2020, right before the pandemic.  It is one of the few books I have re-read and continue to find it gripping.  

[Luv2play]

29 minutes ago, Charlie said:

I am currently reading A Troubled Oasis: A Critical History of Palm Springs, California, by Ronald Eugene Isetti. So far I am learning a lot about the early history of my present home town.

When I was there years ago there was an inn called Harlow Haven. Jean Harlow apparently went to Palm Springs as an escape from Hollywood. Her short life was tragic so resurrecting her memory was bittersweet.

[+ Charlie]

3 hours ago, Just Sayin said:

On a light-hearted note:  "Love in a Truck Stop Bathroom" by Sebastian O'Connor; a high school guidance counselor and a high school coach meet anonymously in, you guessed it, a truck stop bathroom; eventually they realize they work together and become a couple; it's all fairly predictable but fun and sexy to read.

On a serious note: I just finished re-reading "In Love" by Amy Bloom; her husband, an architect, is diagnosed with Alzheimer's and he doesn't want "the long goodbye."  At his request, she researches options for assisted suicide and he applies to Dignitas in Zurich for help; she describes her husband's decline in capacity and the application process leading to the trip to Zurich in January, 2020, right before the pandemic.  It is one of the few books I have re-read and continue to find it gripping.  

Thanks for this note. My spouse was an architect who died of Alzheimer's, so I'm sure I will find it interesting.