What are you reading? Options

[Decrepit]

Below appears all thus far unreported book reads of 2025:

42. 09/02/2025: 1549 “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery – Project Gutenberg free e-book
This is one of my "best reads" of the year, as was Ms. Montgomery's "Blue Castle" the year it was read. I believe it is officially classified as children's or young person's literature, but think it suitable for all ages.

43. 09/07/2025: 1623 “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke
This book is, or once was, highly hyped on Booktube. I think it is a worthwhile read.

44. 09/27/2025: 1245 “The Secret Diaries of Hitler’s Doctor” by David Irving (second read)
After finishing Piranesi I entered a long reading block. This book did not end it, being a "kitchen table read", read in two-to-five page spurts during meals. That the read concluded when it did is pure happenstance. As to the book itself, I consider it a decent read for those interested in the subject. Otherwise, don't bother.

45. 10/18/2025: 0932 “The Eden Conspiracy” by Paul Wallis
46. 10/24/2025: 1836 “Escaping from Eden” by Paul Wallis
Fascinating reads on the proposition that our Earth was long ago visited by beings from another planet. I like them quite a lot. (They broke my reading block.)

47. 10/31/2025: 0916 “Cage of Souls” by Adrian Tchaikovsky
I'm a Tchaikovsky fan. This was a good read, but not among my favorite Tchaikovsky. (His "Service Model", my first read of 2025, is one of my "best reads" of that year.)

48. 11/08/2025: 1837 “DNA of the GODS: The Anunnaki Creation of Eve and the Alien Battle for Humanity” by Chris H. Hardy, Ph.D.
Another book along the lines of the two Wallis books mentioned above, and another good read.

49. 11/09/2025: 2249 “The Inheritors” by William Golding
Having reread Golding's "Lord of the Flies" earlier in the year, I decided to give this short novel about pre-historic man a go. I like it.

50. 11/15/2025: 1324 “Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds” by John Fugelsang
Another fascinating book, and an easy read. As an ardent non-believer, I found much interesting food-for-thought here. Not that it will do me any actual good. As a non-confrontationalist, I have no desire to debate "the other side", and in any case don't have the memory to regurgitate the references upon which the author bases his claims. Easily recommended to those who are in to this sort of thing. Possible a "best read of the year", or at least an honorable mention.

51. 12/10/2025: 1459 “Written on the Dark” by Guy Gavriel Kay
Any book by GGK is a must-read for me. The man can write! That said, I don't think his recent output equals his earlier novels, this book being no exception. If you want the best of Kay, try "Lions of Al-Rassan", "A Song for Arbonne", and/or "Sarantine Mosaic" (two books). Many recommend "Tigana" as the way to start. While I like it, I don't consider it his best.

52. 12/12/2025: 1204 “The Architect of Genocide, Himmler and the Final Solution” by Richard Breitman (second read)
Another kitchen table read, and another self-recommendation for those interested in the topic. The author interestingly decided to end his coverage at the point when the "Final Solution" was fully implemented, not seeing us to the end of the war in Europe. This put me off at first. I later decided that he didn't need to go further than he did, the final phase of the Holocaust being well documented elsewhere.

53. 12/14/2025: 2104 “Snake-Eater” by T. Kingfisher
I've become something of a Kingfisher fan. This was another enjoyable, solid, easy read.

54. 12/17/2025: 1634 “Pre-Shannara: Word and Void, book 2, Knight of the Word” by Terry Brooks
55. 12/23/2025: 1624 “Pre-Shannara: Word and Void, book 3, Angel Fire East” by Terry Brooks
56. 12/27/2025: 1517 “Legends of Shannara, book 1, Bearers of the Black Staff” by Terry Brooks
57. 12/30/2025: 1834 “Legends of Shannara, book 2, The Measure of the Magic” by Terry Brooks
My reading year ends with four more Terry Brooks "Shannara" novels. I first read the initial Shannara trilogy soon after my conversion from history buff to a fantasy reader, then read a few more of the series' early releases. Finding the books rather hit-or-miss, I then abandoned the series. So matters stood, until on a whim (and thanks to a sale) buying the "Genesis of Shannara" trilogy early 2025. I was super impressed by it. Enough so that I continued on. All these books are good, solid reads, and sometimes better. On a less positive note, after finishing "Genesis of Shannara" I decided to re-read the initial trilogy, an attempt that ended in DNF not far into book one. I might or might not give it another try this year.

This post has been edited by Decrepit: Jan 1 2026, 03:33 PM

[Acadian]

You had a productive year as far as reading goes!

[Burnt Sierra]

With catching Covid and ending up in hospital, I only managed to add another two books to my list last year.

Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry, the final part of the "Lonesome Dove" series of westerns, and Thirsty: 100 Great Wines and Stories by Tom Gilbey.

That ended up with a total of 44 books, 4 books of poetry and 1 play read in 2025.

The highlights were The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie and Outline by Rachel Cusk.

Let's see what 2026 brings! Well, one thing it's definitely going to bring is Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay, which i hadn't even realised had been released until I saw Decrepit's post, so thanks for that!

p.s. I'd be one of the people recommending Tigana, along with The Lions of Al-Rassan, Ysabel and The Last Light of the Sun. You know you have a good author when a variety of people will all suggest different books.