What are you reading now?: November 8, 2025.

Working on Dungeon Crawler Carl and The Man Who Saw Tomorrow.

Now working on Silent Cavalry (which I'll admit that I'm finding rather tedious), with Messerschmitt Me 309 and Anima Rising to follow.

I'm reading The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan with my sister. I like the haunted house vibes because I'm still not ready for Halloween to be over.

One Stop West of Hinsdale: Love Derailed in a Sixties Suburb
Valerie Kuhn Reid
Interesting true story of a family in the 60's who lived in the suburbs of Illinois and fell apart. Non-Fiction/Biography

Currently reading A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes slow start but getting better

I finished up The Stolen Heart last night. I liked it better than the first book in the series, but I still have problems with a gimmick the author uses as a plot device. It spoils an otherwise good book.

I’m enjoying both The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron and The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior

>2 PaperbackPirate: That one sounds good!

Finished: I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower
Finale and 3rd novel in the "Emily Dickinson Mystery" series.

Started this eBook via Libby ~

Mr. Chartwell: A Novel
by Rebecca Hunt
(enjoyed the audio version many times)

I've recently finished Machine Dreams, Jayne Anne Phillips' excellent debut novel from way back in 1984. My short review is up on my Club Read thread. I'm now on to a reread of Emma by Jayne Austen for my book club.

I'm currently reading What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula and Among the Isles of Shoals by Celia Thaxter. The first book makes me want to become a Buddhist. I'm not sure what I think of the second one yet.

Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films
Nina Nesseth
3/5 stars
This is an interesting book on the science of horror films which includes different topics like a brief history of horror, why some scares stick to you, violence and mayhem and the appeal of horror. I enjoyed it.
Horror

>6 Copperskye: I'm about halfway through and loving it!

The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu – Michael Stanley
Book on CD narrated by Simon Prebble
3***

Book two in the mystery series featuring Detective David “Kubu” Bengu of Botswana, in a story of murder, greed and hidden motives. It begins when a Zimbabwean teacher, Goodluck Tinubu, is found murdered at the wilderness resort camp where he was vacationing. Soon after the discovery of his body, a second body is discovered at the camp. The prime suspect, another guest at the resort, has disappeared. Things quickly get very complicated.

I really like this series. It’s a hard-hitting police procedural, but there is some room for enjoying life. Kubu definitely enjoys food and there are some delicious scenes involving this pleasure. I also really like the relationship Kubu has with his wife, Joy. She’s a strong woman, intelligent, courageous and resilient. They make a great couple.

I appreciated learning a little bit about the civil war in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in this episode. The authors (Michael Stanley is a team of two) also address some of the political back-and-forth between Botswana and neighboring countries.

Simon Prebble does a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. He really brings Kubu and the rest of the cast alive.

Started from the library: A Queen's Match by Katharine McGee (YA)
Finale and 2nd entry in the "Queen's Game" duet.

The new thread is up over here.