Right now I am reading An Urban History Of China by John Lincoln. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I am enjoying reading it, since I am a sucker for anything history.
Just finished the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Cixin Liu a couple days ago…it’s reminded me of how mind-blowing and mind-expanding sci-fi can be. It’s an incredibly bleak and yet somehow still hopeful series and aside from issues with how Liu handles characters, I can’t wait to re-read it after I’ve had some time to digest the ideas in it. Definitely recommend if you like big ideas in sci-fi and can deal with some iffy character writing.
Friend’s bookclub has been working through The Locked Tomb trilogy which has been fun (both to read and to watch other people encounter).
Outside of that, I’ve been slowly working my way through The Knot Book (about mathematical topology, not kinky stuff), a book about “The Shambhala guide to Sufism”, and “Inside Scientology”.
I’ve been going through library books trying to find something at least somewhat straightforward about the modern Sufis and their beliefs/texts/rituals, but all the books I’ve encountered so far seem to be way more concerned with the historical lens of “Westerners through the centuries trying to grapple with the concept of Sufism and disagreeing with each other about what it is”.
I’ve started Cyteen by CJ Cherryh - I’m the type of person that reads dozens of books at once but everything’s else gone on hold for Cyteen.
Amazing so far but can’t shake the feeling that I’ve read the plot in the beginning before. I think Cyteen is too long / complex for me to have read it as a teen and forgotten about it, but I have read the Alliance/Union series in pub order up to it. Is there another book in the series with clones that includes a dinner followed by + a river boat journey?
Currently reading Deep Work, the premise sounds interesting although the book starts of a little too money-focused for my taste. Finished Learning to Die in the Anthropocene, although it’s refreshingly honest it didn’t really have anything “Everything is F*cked” didn’t say.
I randomly picked up Ruth Ozeki’s Tale for the Time Being at the library and couldn’t put it down. It really was the level up of literature I have been waiting for. While it did have a few words I needed to look up, it was generally very approachable and enjoyable to get through. What I also appreciated was that even though some of the subject matter is difficult, it is not so detailed and exploitive that it created a triggering response, at least for me. I really look forward to reading more of her work. I’m shocked I had never heard of her and only bumped into this book by chance!
I just finished ‘Player of Games’ - Ian M. Banks. I liked it, it felt immersive.
Just started The Passenger by the late great Cormac McCarthy. I’m about a 3rd through, listening on audio book via Libby (read at 85% speed). It’s a little hard not to put it in the context of No Country and the border trilogy - Mr. M does seem to have a type. I’m pleased that many of McCarthy’s liberties with words seem to come through on audio, but I imagine I’m missing a lot. All in all I’m enjoying it. Next up my book club is reading All The Pretty Horses, so I’m in for the ride as it were. (Weirdly, there was a longer wait for his other work than The Passenger. I guess people are in the wait and see mode).
A friend recommended Midlife by Kieran Setiya. I have to say - it’s quite dense, and I feel like I’m not doing it justice. I’ll definitely keep going.
Just finished off The Deep by Rivers Solomon, a novella inspired by a song inspired by another song. Very compelling, character-driven narrative about generational trauma and slavery, plus a tinge of romance for the MC. Would recommend.
Currently rereading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, so I can then try Before They are Hanged. Also, so I can read this copy of Heroes I got on a whim. Abercrombie August.