2025 Books Read

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Dr. Mephisto
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11:07a, 1/1/25
AG
Well, here we are again!

Last year's thread was a rollicking success, so without further ado, I present to you all the 2025 Book Read thread!

Tell us what you read, tell us how you rate the book and why, and star the posts that inspire you to read based on the review.

As you know, there are a great number of books form last year's thread that are worthy of your attention, and some no doubt will be mentioned here again, and for good reason.

But we're always on the lookout for new reads!

I'm continuing my adventure with Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo and Correia's House of Assassins. Those are my most immediate literary escapes, and when I get them read, I'll give a review I hope you find helpful, but I'm saying right now that both of these books are very good already only partially completed.

So what are you reading, TexAgs? Another year is upon us, and another year of sinking into the pages of amazing books awaits!
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StinkyPinky
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11:12a, 1/1/25
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Even though it has it's own thread and mentioned 100 times on the 2024 thread (the series), I just now finished book 4 of Dungeon Crawler Carl (The Gate of Feral Gods). On to The Butcher's Masquerade, which most people have rated as their favorite in the series, so I'm excited! My original plan was to alternate between this series and Dresden Files, but can't do that now.
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G.I.Bro
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11:20a, 1/1/25
Planning on a Dresden Files reread to get ready for 12 months. There are a couple of novellas I never got around to reading so those will be new for me too.

Got my eye on the dungeon crawler carl series, too, after everyone talking about it in the other thread.
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StinkyPinky
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In reply to G.I.Bro • 11:28a, 1/1/25
AG
G.I.Bro said:
Planning on a Dresden Files reread to get ready for 12 months. There are a couple of novellas I never got around to reading so those will be new for me too.

Got my eye on the dungeon crawler carl series, too, after everyone talking about it in the other thread.
It (DCC) has become my favorite series all time from an entertainment perspective. I'm only on book 4 of Dresden Files, which is where I hear the series picks up. Hoping so because of now it's not in the same stratosphere as DCC. But I suspect it's about to get great. Will just have to wait until I'm done with Carl and Donut.
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The Marksman
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11:32a, 1/1/25
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Have goals for 2025 of re-reading The Giver quartet, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, The Hunger Games and the newest prequel, and several of my favorite Charles Dickens novels. Besides those re-reads, I will also read a lot of books I've never read before!
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An L of an Ag
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11:54a, 1/1/25
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It's about time for a full Tolkien reread for me too.
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Micah97
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In reply to An L of an Ag • 1:13p, 1/1/25
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An L of an Ag said:
It's about time for a full Tolkien reread for me too.


My wife and read aloud to our kids. I am currently in tbe middle of the Fellowship of the Ring with them. About to introduce my daughter to the Chonicles of Prydain this year, too.
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jkag89
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In reply to An L of an Ag • 1:15p, 1/1/25
An L of an Ag said:
It's about time for a full Tolkien reread for me too.
Started this in late October with The Hobbit and finished The Return of the King (sans the Appendices which I'm still working my way through) just before Christmas. I'm hoping that it will give me enough momentum to finally get through entire The Silmarillion.
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An L of an Ag
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4:59p, 1/1/25
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For most of my adult life, I've read those books in chronological order. Just started "The Silmarillion" today, and holy crap! Forgot there was a THIRTY THREE page preface!

Interesting stuff though, I finished the preface before getting distracted by the Buckeyes/Ducks game.
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CoolaidWade
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8:05p, 1/1/25
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0 so far.

My goal is 50 books this year.
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nai06
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9:40a, 1/2/25
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I started my first book yesterday. I am going to try and expand beyond Scottish Detective novels this year into some non-fiction. I am not off to a good start though.
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I_bleed_maroon
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7:36p, 1/2/25
AG
Reading The Outlander series. Each book is 800+ pages. On Book 3.
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The Marksman
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10:12p, 1/2/25
AG
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. Started my re-reading of it in 2024, but finished today. Such a classic novel, and Crichton is unquestionably one of my favorite authors of all-time; guy was brilliant and produced so many awesome books. If you've never read any of his works, or have maybe just checked out one or two of the most famous ones, you're doing yourself a disservice.
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TexAg1822
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1:19p, 1/3/25
AG
First book of 2025 is:

Say Nothing: True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

Narrative story following the death of Jean McConville in Belfast during the Troubles. Really enjoying it so far

Goal is at least a book a month this year, we'll see
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Wolfpac 08
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3:17p, 1/3/25
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Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut

Re-read of one of my favorite novels by one of my favorite authors.
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cmk10
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In reply to TexAg1822 • 4:37p, 1/3/25
AG
I'm waiting on Say Nothing at the Library.
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NColoradoAG
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6:23p, 1/3/25
I am going to jump on the DCC bandwagon as well soon.

I re-read The Hunt for Red October during the holidays and also think I am going to read the Jack Ryan series in the chronological order through The Bear and The Dragon (Skipping Red Winter).

That should get me to about football season.
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Wolfpac 08
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7:34p, 1/3/25
AG
I went to Half Price Books today looking for a specific title that they didn't have. Moved on to Barnes and Noble…they also didn't have it. Even tried Target (bc we were there for something else and I figured why not)…no-go.

That left me with Amazon…and Whadaya know? My one book turned into four books…my wife will not be pleased.

Books read in 2025:
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut (re-read)

On deck:
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle (re-read)
The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides
Project Hail Mary - Andy Wier
Pines - Blake Crouch
Wayward - Blake Crouch
The Last Town - Blake Crouch
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nai06
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3:37p, 1/4/25
AG
Finished my first book yesterday, The shortlist by Andrew Raymond.

Its about a crime thriller book where authors are killed off in the way their characters are and then real life events start to mimic the book. It acknowledges it's a blatant riff on Agatha Christie in a tongue and cheek sort of way. It was okay, a little sloppy IMO.

I just started White Hot Hate by Dick Lehr. It's a true crime novel.that covers the thwarted terrorist attack in Garden City, Kansas from 2016/2017 from the perspective of the FBI informant. It's a very political book but so far I appreciate that the author is trying to make clear the wife variety of beliefs and not everyone is inherently bad or evil because of their political views.
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TW1993
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8:08p, 1/4/25
AG
Just finished Horn of the Hunter by Robert Ruark for about the fourth time. If you have ever dreamed of an African safari this is a great book. Getting myself psyched up for our first trip to Tanzania in February!
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Wolfpac 08
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In reply to Wolfpac 08 • 3:20p, 1/5/25
AG
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle (re-read) - I first read this book when I was in the 6th grade and I absolutely loved it. I come back to it every so often for the nostalgia, only to realize what a great story it is. It's very obviously written for a younger audience, and the ending is a bit rushed, but it still holds up.

I was telling my wife that I can't wait until our daughter is old enough for me to share this book with her.

Books read in 2025:
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut (re-read)
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle (re-read)

On deck:
The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides
Project Hail Mary - Andy Wier
Pines - Blake Crouch
Wayward - Blake Crouch
The Last Town - Blake Crouch
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SpreadsheetAg
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4:11p, 1/5/25
AG

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Dr. Mephisto
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In reply to SpreadsheetAg • 4:27p, 1/5/25
AG
SpreadsheetAg said:



Very true.

And for this, I say, thank you God.

One of my greatest fears is growing old enough and losing my ability to read.

A book is like a handful of gold to those who know how to see.
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Dr. Mephisto
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1:16p, 1/6/25
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I finished The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook on Jan 3. Another great entry in the DCC universe. I loved the resolution, but I also understood why so many people got lost with the Iron Tangle layout confusion. On the whole, I felt like it really kept the right vibe for DCC alive, many times hilarious and sarcastic, while other times being quite touching. Dinniman has hit upon a great story and a great way to tell it.

Highly recommend for entertainment value, especially in audio book form.
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NoahAg
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2:06p, 1/6/25
Started in 2024 and just finished The Reason for God by Tim Keller.

Next is Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis, and Red Sky Mourning, Jack Carr's 7th book in the Terminal List series.
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BQRyno
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4:51p, 1/6/25
AG
Last year I read The Expanse series and then basically stopped reading in the middle of Memory's Legion, which is all of the associated short stories in one book, during college football season. Now I'm back at it and finished Memory's Legion yesterday. The Expanse was. 5 of 5 for me. 4 out of 5 for Memory's Legion. It filled in some gaps, but just did t grip me the same way the core story did. Still a very good read for anyone who likes the series.

Currently reading The Mercy of Gods, which is book 1 of the current series (the Captive's War) by the same authors. Just getting started.

On deck is a little bit of nonfiction before I read books 1-4 of Dune for the first time.

Also reading the Bible each day to read it through in a year for a second year in a row.
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Saxsoon
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9:14p, 1/6/25
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Off the highs of Wind and Truth I wanted to do a reread of Wax and Wayne era 2 of Mistborn
Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2012
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G.I.Bro
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1:21p
I've got a lot of driving to do the next few days and an audible credit so i got dungeon crawler carl for the road
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TheDoctor
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1:29p
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First book this year is a reread of Descent Into Chaos: The US and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid.

After that I'm hoping to pivot to some fiction. First will be a Damascus Station by David McClosky.
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Dr. Mephisto
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In reply to G.I.Bro • 2:41p
AG
G.I.Bro said:
I've got a lot of driving to do the next few days and an audible credit so i got dungeon crawler carl for the road


You will not be disappointed, and you'll understand why we have been raving about Dinniman telling a great fun story, and Jeff Hayes absolutely knocking it out of the park on voice acting.

I just started DCC book 4 on the Jan 3. I can't stop listening!
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Cinco Ranch Aggie
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2:56p
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I read 3 books in 2024, and some on you have already reached that for 2025!

I'll consider 2025 a reading success if I can finish Hirohito's War, which I have been reading off-and-on-and-mostly-off for going on 3 years now. I'm on page 294 out of 1077. I normally read WWII history much faster. And I'm currently reading The Lost War For Texas.
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FancyKetchup14
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3:10p
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Finished In the Garden of the Beasts (incredible) over the New Year after making my way through Erik Larson's stuff over most of the second half of 2024. Started The Da Vinci Code right after and am about 1/3 through now.

Next up: How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey.
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Squadron7
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3:11p
AG
Brunalleschi's Dome
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Eliminatus
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In reply to Cinco Ranch Aggie • 3:20p
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Cinco Ranch Aggie said:
I read 3 books in 2024, and some on you have already reached that for 2025!

I'll consider 2025 a reading success if I can finish Hirohito's War, which I have been reading off-and-on-and-mostly-off for going on 3 years now. I'm on page 294 out of 1077. I normally read WWII history much faster. And I'm currently reading The Lost War For Texas.
It's definitely not a race!

Hirohito's War is a book that has been on my TBR list for years yet never has made it to my hands somehow. Need to change that this year. I am with you on devouring WW2 literature, mostly. If it is written as a narrative I can rifle through it quickly. If it is more textbook and dry, then it can take me a while. Case in point, Enemy at the Gates vs. Himmler by Longerich. Couldn't put down Gates while I kept getting distracted away from Himmler. Still haven't finished the damn thing.

And I think Aalan does signed versions of Lost War if ordered directly from him? Need to look into that.
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Cinco Ranch Aggie
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In reply to Eliminatus • 3:26p
AG
Eliminatus said:
Cinco Ranch Aggie said:
I read 3 books in 2024, and some on you have already reached that for 2025!

I'll consider 2025 a reading success if I can finish Hirohito's War, which I have been reading off-and-on-and-mostly-off for going on 3 years now. I'm on page 294 out of 1077. I normally read WWII history much faster. And I'm currently reading The Lost War For Texas.
It's definitely not a race!

Hirohito's War is a book that has been on my TBR list for years yet never has made it to my hands somehow. Need to change that this year. I am with you on devouring WW2 literature, mostly. If it is written as a narrative I can rifle through it quickly. If it is more textbook and dry, then it can take me a while. Case in point, Enemy at the Gates vs. Himmler by Longerich. Couldn't put down Gates while I kept getting distracted away from Himmler. Still haven't finished the damn thing.

And I think Aalan does signed versions of Lost War if ordered directly from him? Need to look into that.
I won't say Hirohito's War is of textbook quality, but there's something different in the way it reads as opposed to some of the other books I've read, like any of Hornfisher's works, or Ian Toll's Pacific trilogy, all of which I went right through like any late-season offense through the 2024 A&M defense. Back to HW, it does not include any of the maps or ancillary materials in the actual book, but references you to something online to look it up. If my memory is right on that. That bugs me for subject matter like this, where I like to evaluate the text against maps so that I'll have a better idea of where the action described is happening rather than, simply, Peleliu or some other no-one-has-ever-heard-of-that-island-unless-they-read-about-WWII island.
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