What Fiction are you reading this week, March 23, 2025?

[hermetic]

Happy spring


Still reading Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner, a book that turns out to be not what it first seemed to be. That's not a bad thing, just surprising. And looong.

Listening to A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. "A novel to cherish." A story in praise of family in all its emotional complexity. Four generations of Whitshanks, their lives unfolding in and around their sprawling, lovingly worn Baltimore house. Good reading.

"Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.' --Walter Cronkite

[piddyprints]

1. The Hunger Games.

Started Friday and will finish today and then start the 2nd book.

If you want looong, try The Wheel of Time. It took me all summer to read all the books last year. It's my friend's favorite series, so I had to see what it was about. Not sure it will make my favorite list, but maybe I should re-read it to pick up what I might have missed.

[hermetic]

2. For Christmas

I rec'd a gift certificate from B&N so I bought The World of..The Wheel of Time. It's enormous. I'm saving it for the next time I'm laid up with a flu or whatever and confined to bed.

[piddyprints]

13. I hope

You’re not sick long enough to read it all.

[hermetic]

17. Thanks

[yellowdogintexas]

24. The Wheel of Time series just goes on forever!

I enjoyed it but a couple or three of the books were just frustrating. I think one of them only covered 24 hours?
I might someday read them again. On the other hand, I have so many books loaded into my Kindle that I will never read them all.

I need an intervention.

[piddyprints]

28. Right?

Makes Les Miserables look like a short story.

I can’t say I enjoyed that read. I read them because I have a friend who was on her 7th reading when we saw each other last year and suggested them to me. I’ve already forgotten quite a bit, I’m sure. We both made the mistake of watching the first season of the tv series. It was especially bad for me because it was so far off from the books that I found myself getting confused while I was reading. She practically has the books memorized, so she just got angry at the show.

Thank goodness for audible books because I never could have sat still for that long. At least I can do mindless chores while I’m listening. I get a lot of books read that way.

I did enjoy The Hunger Games and have now moved on to Catching Fire. I have not seen the movies, but am considering watching.

[SARose]

3. The Kiss of the Concubine

By Judith Arnop

It is about Ann Boleyn and Henry the VIII. It’s dragging a bit here in the middle - get on with it! I had forgotten Ann’s sister had two children with Henry.

When I am frustrated with Ann and Henry, I am also reading The Runaway Wife by Dee MacDonald. It’s about a 66 year old woman married 40+ years with four kids. She’s had it with all her family and feels under appreciated so she takes off to find the girl she once was. Parts are very relatable and funny.

I read Katherine by Anya Seton. Great story! Had to look up some words - villein who knew?

[hermetic]

6. I looked uo

The Runaway Wife and found 13 books. The only one at my library is not the one you mentioned, sadly. Your sounds like a good laugh.

I've had to look up a few words from my book, as well. Never have come across villein before, that I recall.

[SARose]

19. Could be written specifically for Kindle

That’s too bad.

[mentalsolstice]

4. My Notorious Life by Kate Manning

So far it’s notoriously great! It’s about a daughter of Irish immigrants who grew up to become a midwife in the late 19th century. The issues she faced are so relevant in this day and age. Manning incorporates humor throughout Axie’s story, making for a thoughtful and engaging read.

Thank you for hosting this thread allowing us to share our passion for books! Have a good week everyone!

[littlemissmartypants]

26. I love this book. ...

I own a copy. ❤️

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Catch You Later

by Jessica Strawser. And then I'm going to reread "Henry and Clara" by Thomas Mallon. I have read most of his books and they are all good.

[hermetic]

8. Catch You Later

A powerful novel of suspense. Just out last year.

Read Harry and Clara some years ago. Still remember it being quite good.

[cbabe]

7. Picks & Shovels/ Cory Doctorow

Last edited Sun Mar 23, 2025, 01:23 PM - Edit history (1)

The Martin Hench origin story. 1986 San Francisco. Start up tech culture before the bros showed up. Fast paced with lots of details like the moosewood cookbook and mosh pits at a Dead Kennedys bar gig.

Kinda makes me sad at what could have been.

Since this is du, I should mention:
AIDS
Crack
Emptied mental hospitals
South American wars and murdered nuns

Doctorow touches on them all very lightly. If you read fast, you might miss ‘I heard it had to do with Reagan. Seems like everything has to do with Reagan.’

And the characters carry on. Just like most people.

[hermetic]

9. Brand new

Doctorow is such a great writer. This one's genre list:
Suspense
Speculative Fiction
Science Fiction
Thriller
Comedy / Humor
Technology
Wow.
Gonna have to read this one.

[txwhitedove]

10. Love the Cronkite quote, so true. I'm so worried about our local HCPL system that i messaged

local library. The answer I got back was non-committal with a quote of the ruling, but major funding is cut:

"How Do These Cuts Affect Harris County Public Library and its Patrons

IMLS funding for Texshare databases covers about 75% of HCPL’s cost. Texshare databases provide invaluable learning and educational opportunities for people of all ages. Library patrons have 24/7 access to resources on everything from health and wellness to car repair, programming manuals for IT professionals to business and finance research for small businesses and entrepreneurs, not to mention homework help for students of all ages, and resources for homeschooling families.
The more of HCPL’s budget that goes to library basics like databases, the less funds can go to programs and services that directly benefit families and communities, like early literacy and school readiness programs, basic computer literacy and skills training, and career and college counseling."

[hermetic]

14. Good on you

for doing that. I am deeply concerned about what will happen to my library but I know it's all up in the air right now. There should be a deep circle of hell for people who destroy libraries. And books.

[The King of Prussia]

11. "Date with Deceit" by Julia Chapman

One of her series of mysteries set in the fictional Yorkshire Dales town of Bruncliffe (a thinly disguised version of the real town of Settle).

The series comes to an end with the launch of the final book this week. We'll be going to the launch event in Settle, so I'm desperately trying to catch up.

[hermetic]

15. Happy reading

Sounds like a really enjoyable series of cozies. A shame it's coming to an end.

[Number9Dream]

12. Half-way through "A Trace of Smoke" by Rebecca Cantrell

Thanks for the thread, hermetic.

"Even though hardened crime reporter Hannah Vogel knows all too well how tough it is to survive in 1931 Berlin, she is devastated when she sees a photograph of her brother's body posted in the Hall of the Unnamed Dead. Ernst, a cross-dressing lounge singer at a seedy nightclub, had many secrets, a never-ending list of lovers, and plenty of opportunities to get into trouble."

Different from the usual who-dun-its. I'm enjoying it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5654142-a-trace-of-smoke?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=4absOyucoi&rank=1

[hermetic]

16. Sounds really good

Thanks for sharing.

[japple]

18. Thanks for the weekly thread, hermetic.

The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America Christopher C. Gorham

The first-ever biography of Anna Marie Rosenberg, the Hungarian Jewish immigrant who became FDR’s closest advisor during World War II and, according to Life, “the most important official woman in the world”—a woman of many firsts, whose story, forgotten for too long, is extraordinary, inspiring, and uniquely American. Her life ran parallel to the front lines of history yet her influence on 20th century America, from the New Deal to the Cold War and beyond, has never before been told.

[hermetic]

20. Great to see you

Sounds like a pretty important story. Thanks. Take care.

[rsdsharp]

21. I'm reading The Second Sleep by Robert Harris.

I bought it after reading a couple of pages in a Kindle sample. It seemed like typical historical fiction from Harris. The book starts with a young priest riding across the countryside in western England in “the year of our risen Lord” 1468.

It rapidly becomes clear that this 1468 is not OUR 1468. Instead, this is a post apocalyptic novel set 802 years after the collapse of our technological society in (gulp) 2025. The powers that be subsequently installed a theocracy, banned language not found in the King James version of the bible, and started the calendar over beginning with the year 666.

The citizenry know there was a scientifically advanced society in the past, but they are unable, and unwilling, to recover it, and are living as people did in medieval times. There are, however, “heretics” who are curious about the past.

[hermetic]

22. Oh my

That sounds rather scary, but intriguing. Hope it has a happy ending.

[yellowdogintexas]

23. The Sanhedrin Chronicles by J.S. Gold

A Modern Fantasy Where Ancient Hebrew Mysticism Comes Alive On The Streets Of New York

College student and certified nerd Arthur Rose has issues: he's estranged from his Jewish faith, needs a recommendation for grad school, and getting back with his ex, Lynn, is going to take more than an apology and chocolate. He's trying to balance it all when he starts seeing shapes in the dark. Soon after, a mysterious young woman approaches him, claiming she killed his father and is searching for a stone blessed by God Himself.

What follows is a tale ripped from Arthur's wildest fantasies: to protect the world from evil, he must join a secret order of Jewish demon-hunters that has spanned millennia. He'll need to master Hebrew magic, uncover the secrets of his past, and embrace his heritage. In doing so, he won't just reclaim his faith but become...

This is an entertaining fantasy with lots of creative demons and devils and lots of good characters too.

It appears to be book one of a series, and I hope that is true.

[Jeebo]

25. "Sleeping Giants" by Rene Denfeld

I've read several of her novels before. She spins a pretty good yarn.

-- Ron

[littlemissmartypants]

27. The Dog Who Followed the Moon is on order. ...

Description:
The Dog Who Followed the Moon: An Inspirational Story with Meditations on Life, Experience the Power of Love and Sacrifice
Author:
James Norbury

As I got older I became more of a nonfiction reader. I'm trying to lean in to fiction more now and reverse that trend. But I do love learning new things very, very much.

❤️