I just finished Long Island by Colm Tobin. Very good! It’s been a long time since I read Brooklyn which this is a sequel to, but that wasn’t a problem. He writes complexity so well! Definitely recommend.
5 Likes
I despise Amazon for its unethical book selling and data mining practices. Full disclosure, I still shop there for certain things, but I will never buy a book from them.
Good reads is owned by them so that falls under the data mining that I am sure they are doing.
Independent bookstores are vital in our society and I will do everything I can to ensure that they stay in business.
13 Likes
@surfcity - I’m with you.
Between H and me, we read 300+ books per year. Mostly we use our local public library.
I do purchase some books at my local independent bookstore. It’s a wonderful store, the owners and employees are helpful and friendly. They sponsor several book clubs, author signings and events.
My next go-to is Barnes and Noble.
For older out of print books (had to order several recently for H), I use Thriftbooks. It is not owned by Amazon (I checked).
Recently deleted Goodreads app.
4 Likes
I like using Thriftbooks. I usually have a choice in the cart, waiting for more titles of interest to get better deal on shipping.
1 Like
@FallGirl : I’m still doing the math of 300+ books for you and your husband. That works out to 3 books a week for each of you! I am not worthy.
7 Likes
Picking up on a recommendation here, I recently finished “I have some questions for you” by Rebecca Makkai. Very well written, touched on a lot of topical issues, and had an interesting plot line. Pretty easy to get caught up in. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
5 Likes
NYT’s top 10 of the year. I have James on my to-read list, know I will never read Reagan. Wonder if any readers here have thoughts about others on this list? (gift link)
6 Likes
0 for 10 on this list I am have read close to 100 books this year.
3 Likes
2/10-- James and Good Material. I haven’t read the Lucy Sante book, but have read excerpted essays and have online known a close person to her for many years.
2 Likes
I am 0 for 10 on the list (and honestly have not heard of most of the titles). And I’ve read 55 books this year (some were audiobooks). Since I only started reading a lot in retirement, lots of older titles available… have not sought out new titles. I did just put on from the list on my libary hold list.
1 Like
I’ve read none of them which doesn’t surprise me, I read a lot, but it’s mostly sci-fi and fantasy. What does surprise me is that I haven’t even heard of anything but James. I’m way behind on reading the NYT Book Reviews.
I read Huckleberry Finn for the first time as an adult when my kids were in high school, and was surprised at how complex it was. I very much enjoyed Percival’s Erasure which I read after watching American Fiction, so I am definitely interested in reading James sooner or later. I can’t say that any of the others look that interesting.
2 Likes
5/10, but I spend more time w NPRs widget than any other book site.
4 Likes
I also have not read the top 10, although anticipate some of the fiction ones will be read in book group in the coming years. Some sound very interesting. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, although I feel like I should
In one of my book groups, we order from the local independent book store. Even though I read more on my ipad, I still order there. I have the libby and nook apps and get my ebooks from the library or B&N.
4 Likes
I am 0 for 10 from this list. I just checked and I have read 52 books this year.
4 Likes
What is the reason people are listing how many of these books they read (or didn’t read), and then how many books they read this year. Honestly these were not obscure choices, but at the same time, there’s certainly no obligation to have read them at all.
2 Likes
How many lists does the NYT publish?! There was one of 100 books of 2024 last week I think it was. I’m listening to audiobook of one of those at the moment (I only listen to nonfiction audiobooks) - All the Worst Humans - about halfway through and there is some pretty interesting stuff on how opinion gets shaped in US media …
I have absolutely no idea how many books I’ve read this year other than a lot.
1 Like
Here’s the New Yorker list of best books of 2024, a dozen each fiction and nonfiction.
There were four overlaps:
All Fours
James
Everyone Who is Gone is Here
Reagan
I haven’t read anything on either list and I go through two or three books a week. Mostly fluff!
2 Likes
Not read those either but I spot a Xmas gift for D19 in there! Thanks
1 Like
I only know how many books I read, because a few years ago I went back to religiously logging every book I read. If you use a site like Goodreads you know exactly how many you’ve read. If you link it to your Kindle you can even know how many you abandoned.
I think someone who reads a ton of new books - especially literary fiction and non-fiction is justified in being surprised by lists where they have read nothing. Sadly I can’t read the New Yorker’s list.
6 Likes