Books Read 2026

192,387 Views | 1805 Replies | Last: 3 hrs ago by Wolfpac 08
YouBet
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Cornwell's Arther trilogy is the best things he's ever done, IMO. It's awesome.
The Marksman
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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Never read this classic before, but I'm very glad I finally did. Great plot, character development, and prose.
jkag89
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Candlelight by D.L. Tolin (C) - A generally entertaining and fast paced folk fantasy/modern horror novel that incorporates Celtic (Irish) folklore and is primarily set in mid 80s Beaumont, TX (this setting does not really impact the story, could be set in any mid-sized American city although this along with 4+ star ratings lead me into trying the book). IMO, not a bad read at all but nothing all the special either. First book of a series and ends without much being resolved. I'll likely not continue with this when subsequent books are released. On the other hand, it could be easily adapted into a campy fun horror/fantasy movie, especially if it keeps the '80s setting.

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde (B) - A short comedy/horror novella (only 60 or so pages) in which in which an American family moves into a haunted English mansion, Canterville Chase, much to the annoyance of its ghost in residence, Sir Simon, who has haunted the home for over 300 years. Unlike the British, the new American tenants are simply to practical to be terrified by the apparition and simply ignore or mocks him. The youngest, twin boys amuse themselves by playing practical jokes and set traps for him. Eventually the teenage daughter takes pity upon him and listens to his tragic story.

Next up: The Last American Vampire by by Seth Grahame-Smith. It has been sitting on my TBR stack since I came across it at a dollar store. It is apparently the continuation of the alternate history set up by Grahame-Smith in his novel Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter which I enjoyed a great deal.

Audiobooks
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (B) - A phycological gothic horror novella about a young governess hired to care for two orphaned children at a remote English estate in which she convinces herself are being haunted and possibly influenced (processed) by the previous governess and a valet who had died the previous year under odd circumstance.

Currently about halfway through listening to Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

October
37) The October Country by Ray Bradbury (A-)
38) Candlelight by D.L. Tolin (C)
39) The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde (B-)

Audiobooks
19) The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (B)
StinkyPinky
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For the Halloween season started Brother by Ania Ahlborn. Oh boy what have gotten myself into???
YouBet
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StinkyPinky said:

For the Halloween season started Brother by Ania Ahlborn. Oh boy what have gotten myself into???


Sounds like you got yourself into some stink.
StinkyPinky
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YouBet said:

StinkyPinky said:

For the Halloween season started Brother by Ania Ahlborn. Oh boy what have gotten myself into???


Sounds like you got yourself into some stink.
Yes I have
Retired Principal
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s.m.ag2019 said:

I just finished reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Can't recommend enough.


Reading it now. Great book.
FriendlyAg
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Finished… The Count of Monte Cristo. My penguin addition paper back looks like it's been to hell and back.

What an incredible book. Good god that middle 30-40% is a total slog and it's extremely difficult to keep up with the variety of characters and names, but wow it all comes together and pays off nicely.

I am very happy that in the end, Monte Cristo, realizes that the children did not commit the sins of their fathers. I'm glad he showed remorse for Edourd. I'm happy that in a way he stripped away the things that made the men commit the crime in the first place. I'm glad he's willing to forgive to some degree and grow and move on.

I feel like I'll need to think about it some more over the coming weeks.
FriendlyAg
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Next up - Piranesi and Farwell to Arms.

I should be able to finish Napoleon by Andrew Robert's (audio) in the next few weeks.
Absolute
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Finished Blood Oath. Again in the Crouch type vein.

Started listening to DCC on audible. Think I heard here that the audio is good. So far it is great. I think I got 3 or 4 in before bailing before. But the hype, makes me want to give it another go.
Malachi Constant
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FriendlyAg said:



I feel like I'll need to think about it some more over the coming weeks.


Wait… and hope.
StinkyPinky
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FriendlyAg said:

Next up - Piranesi and Farwell to Arms.

I should be able to finish Napoleon by Andrew Robert's (audio) in the next few weeks.
I really like Piranesi. Underrated IMO
FancyKetchup14
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Recently finished A Gentleman in Moscow, and it took me a bit to get into, but I really enjoyed how it wrapped up. Also, a short little novel called The Stranger by Camus. Short and quick, but I enjoyed it.

Currently reading Hollow Kingdom , and I have laughed out loud multiple times. It's genuinely hilarious in an absurd way.

Made a deal with the fiance...she reads Lonesome Dove, and I have to read the first two ACOTAR books.
Philo B 93
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I finished Starter Villain by John Scalzi.

Scalzi must sit around thinking of weird ideas that appeal to twenty-somethings and decide to write easy 350 page novels about them. I've ready Kaiju Preservation Society (where a group protects Godzilla-type creatures), and Starter Villain (a 30 year old nobody inherits his estranged uncle's trillion dollar villain empire complete with secret volcano lair).

The books are light, quick, and entertaining. The writing is mostly forgettable, but the idea of the book sticks with you due to its outlandishness.

I enjoyed it, and I'll be happy to read some more by Scalzi.
SpreadsheetAg
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FancyKetchup14 said:

Recently finished A Gentleman in Moscow, and it took me a bit to get into, but I really enjoyed how it wrapped up. Also, a short little novel called The Stranger by Camus. Short and quick, but I enjoyed it.

Currently reading Hollow Kingdom , and I have laughed out loud multiple times. It's genuinely hilarious in an absurd way.

Made a deal with the fiance...she reads Lonesome Dove, and I have to read the first two ACOTAR books.


Yikes...

I tried ACOTAR because a friend recommended it. They are... smut. Fantasy smut. Good luck.
nai06
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SpreadsheetAg said:

FancyKetchup14 said:

Recently finished A Gentleman in Moscow, and it took me a bit to get into, but I really enjoyed how it wrapped up. Also, a short little novel called The Stranger by Camus. Short and quick, but I enjoyed it.

Currently reading Hollow Kingdom , and I have laughed out loud multiple times. It's genuinely hilarious in an absurd way.

Made a deal with the fiance...she reads Lonesome Dove, and I have to read the first two ACOTAR books.


Yikes...

I tried ACOTAR because a friend recommended it. They are... smut. Fantasy smut. Good luck.
to be fair, the genre is literally called Romantasy
rich1232
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Legacies of Betrayal by Steven Erikson

Book 3 of Tales of the Witness, but more like book 2.5.

This was originally supposed to be included in book 2 but was split, I think I would've preferred it included, it reads like a long novella in its current format.
lurker76
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Here are some recommendations for Scalzi, if you liked Starter Villain.
The Old Man's War series
The Dispatcher books
Head On and Lock In
Redshirts - A satirical look at the Star Trek universe.
The Collapsing Empire books. This has had some mixed reactions on these threads over the years, but I really enjoyed them.

Those should provide some decent reading material for you.
c-jags
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Random bump but just finished East of Eden. Started before the series came out and finished a couple of days after.

Genuinely one of the best books I've ever read. I like it much more than Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men. I sat and contemplated the ending for about 20 minutes.


Series was good and very faithful but it focused too much on Cathy and not enough on Sam Hamilton much to its' detriment.
FancyKetchup14
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Yeah can't say I'm all that pumped about it.
Wolfpac 08
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He lives!!

Also - I haven't read them but my wife did and she referred to it as "fairy porn"

Also also…if you can get your wife to read them…good things could be in store for you
 
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