mahsdad's (Jeff) 2026 Thread - Q1

Welcome to 2026 and my little corner of the world



Hi, I'm Jeff. I live in San Pedro California. Moved out from Pittsburgh in 1989. I'm an avid reader. My wife might say I'm bordering on the obsessive. But then, I think that could apply to a lot of us in this group. I also enjoy photography, movies, hiking and playing games and hanging out with my family. Book-wise, I have a pretty eclectic taste in what I read and I hope to give you not so much reviews but my impressions about what I read.

What you will find here is mostly my rambling thoughts, a whole mess of lists I'm keeping track of, my Wishlist and TBR pile temptations and a smattering of my photography. I don't really make a plan for what I'm going to read thru out the year. Its mostly what strikes my fancy from the TBR piles.

Past 75 Threads :
2013 2014 2015 2016
2017 2018 2019 2020
2021 2022 2023 2024
2025

Come in and sit a spell.

2026 Statistics - Q1

🎧 - Audio
ER - Early Review
GN - Graphic Novel
K - Kindle


March
21. Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan :
20. Thrawn by Timothy Zahn 🎧 :
19. We're Taking Everyone Down With Us by Matthew Rosenberg (GN) :
18. Shy: A Novel by Max Porter 🎧 :
17. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 🎧 :
16. John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short Fiction by John Varley 🎧 :
15. Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson :

Favorite : Wish You Were Here


February
14. The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fuglesang 🎧:
13. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski :
12. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood 🎧:
11. Cronus by P. Djeli Clark (K) :
10. The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica 🎧 :
NRN - The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson
9. The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli :

Favorite : Separation of Church and Hate


January
8. Old Fools and Young Hearts by Tom Bodett 🎧 :
7. Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte 🎧 :
6. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan :
5. The Uncool by Cameron Crowe 🎧 :
4. End of the World as We Know It edited by Christopher Golden/Brian Keene 🎧 :
3. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke :
2. An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz 🎧 :
1. The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas by Ursula K Le Guin (K) :

Favorite : End of the World As We Know It

Audiobook Narrator

Too Many to Name - Rejection, John Varley Reader

Laural Merlington - An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States

Sean Patrick Hopkins - End of the World As We Know It

Adenrele Ojo - End of the World As We Know It

Cameron Crowe - The Uncool

Tom Bodett - Old Fools and Young Hearts

Imani Jade Powers - The Unworthy

Cassandra Campbell - The Heart Goes Last

Mark Deakins - The Heart Goes Last

John Fugelsang - The Separation of Church and Hate

Gary Sinese - Of Mice and Men

Joe Gaminara - Shy

Marc Thompson - Thrawn

Pulitzer's Read

Ongoing bucket list to read all the Pulitzer winning novels.

Bold : On the Shelf

2025 - James READ
2024 - Night Watch
2023 - Demon Copperhead READ
2023 - Trust
2022 - The Netanyahus
2021 - The Night Watchman
2020 - The Nickel Boys - READ
2019 - The Overstory - READ
2018 - Less - READ
2017 - Underground Railroad - READ
2016 - The Sympathizer
2015 - All the Light We Cannot See - READ
2014 - The Goldfinch - READ
2013 - The Orphan Master's Son - READ
2012 - NO AWARD
- Swamplandia - READ - Nominee
2011 - A Visit from the Goon Squad - READ
2010 - Tinkers - READ
2009 - Olive Kitterridge - READ
2008 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - READ
2007 - The Road - READ
2006 - March - READ
2005 - Gilead - READ
2004 - The Known World
2003 - Middlesex - READ
2002 - Empire Falls
2001 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay - READ
2000 - The Interpreter of Maladies - READ
1999 - The Hours - READ
1998 - American Pastoral
1997 - Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer READ
1996 - Independence Day - READ
1995 - The Stone Diaries
1994 - The Shipping News
1993 - A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain - READ
1992 - A Thousand Acres - READ
- My Father Bleeds History (Maus) - READ (Special Awards & Citations - Letters)
1991 - Rabbit at Rest
1990 - The Mambo Kings
1989 - Breathing Lessons
1988 - Beloved DNF
1987 - A Summons to Memphis
1986 - Lonesome Dove - READ
1985 - Foreign Affairs
1984 - Ironweed - READ
1983 - The Color Purple - READ
1982 - Rabbit is Rich
1981 - A Confederacy of Dunces - READ
1980 - The Executioner's Song - READ
1979 - The Stories of John Cheever - READ
1978 - Elbow Room
1977 - NO AWARD
1976 - Humboldt's Gift
1975 - The Killer Angels - READ
1974 - NO AWARD
1973 - The Optimist's Daughter
1972 - Angle of Repose - READ
1971 - NO AWARD
1970 - The collected Stories of Jean Stafford
1969 - House Made of Dawn : DNF
1968 - The Confessions of Nat Turner - READ
1967 - The Fixer
1966 - The Collected Stories of katherine Anne Porter
1965 - The Keepers of the House
1964 - NO AWARD
1963 - The Reivers
1962 - The Edge of Sadness
1961 - To Kill a Mockingbird - READ
1960 - Advise and Consent
1959 - The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1958 - A Death in the Family
1957 - NO AWARD
1956 - Andersonville
1955 - A Fable
1954 - NO AWARD
1953 - The Old Man and the Sea
1952 - The Caine Mutiny - READ
1951 - The Town
1950 - The Way West
1949 - Guard of Honor - READ
1948 - Tales of the South Pacific
1947 - All the King's Men
1946 - NO AWARD
1945 - A Bell
1944 - Journey in the Dark
1943 - Dragon's Teeth
1942 - In This Our Life
1941 - NO AWARD
1940 - The Grapes of Wrath - READ
1939 - The Yearling
1938 - The Late George Apley
1937 - Gone with the Wind
1936 - Honey in the Horn
1935 - Now in November
1934 - Lamb in His Bosom
1933 - The Store
1932 - The Good Earth
1931 - Years of Grace
1930 - Laughing Boy
1929 - Scarlet Sister Mary
1928 - The Bridge of San Luis Rey - READ
1927 - Early Autumn
1926 - Arrowsmith
1925 - So Big
1924 - The Able McLaughlins
1923 - One of Ours
1922 - Alice Adams
1921 - The Age of Innocence
1920 - NO AWARD
1919 - The Magnificent Ambersons
1918 - His Family

Hugo's Read

Ongoing bucket list to read all the Hugo winning novels.

Bold : On the Shelf

2024 - Some Desperate Glory
2023 - Nettle & Bone
2022 - A Desolation Called Peace
2022 - A Psalm for the Wild Built (novella) - READ
2021 - Network Effect - READ
2020 - A Memory Called Empire
2020 - This Is How You Lose The Time War - Novella - READ
2019 - The Calculating Stars - READ
2018 - The Stone Sky
2018 - All Systems Red - Novella - READ
2017 - The Obelisk Gate
2016 - The Fifth Season
2016 - Binti - READ - Novella
2015 - The Three-Body Problem
2014 - Ancillary Justice - READ (DNF)
2013 - Redshirts - READ
2012 - Among Others - READ
2011 - Blackout/All Clear
2010 - The Windup Girl - READ
2010 - The City & the City
2009 - The Graveyard Book - READ
2008 - The Yiddish Policemen's Union - READ
2007 - Rainbows End
2006 - Spin - READ
2005 - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
2004 - Paladin of Souls
2003 - Hominids
2003 - Coraline (novella) - READ
2002 - American Gods - READ
2001 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - READ
2000 - A Deepness in the Sky
1999 - To Say Nothing of the Dog - READ
1998 - Forever Peace - READ
1997 - Blue Mars
1996 - The Diamond Age - READ
1995 - Mirror Dance
1994 - Green Mars
1993 - A Fire Upon the Deep
1993 - Doomsday Book READ
1992 - Barrayar
1991 - The Vor Game
1990 - Hyperion
1989 - Cyteen
1988 - The Uplift War - READ
1988 - Watchmen - READ - category : Other forms
1987 - Speaker for the Dead - READ
1986 - Ender's Game - READ
1985 - Neuromancer - READ
1985 - Short Story - The Crystal Spheres : David Brin READ
1985 - Novella - Press Enter : John Varley READ
1984 - Startide Rising - READ
1983 - Foundation's Edge
1982 - Downbelow Station
1982 - Short Story - The Pusher : John Varley READ
1981 - The Snow Queen
1980 - The Fountains of Paradise
1979 - Dreamsnake
1979 - Novella - Persistence of Vision : John Varley READ
1978 - Gateway
1977 - Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang
1976 - The Forever War - READ
1975 - The Dispossessed
1974 - Rendezvous with Rama - READ
1973 - The Gods Themselves - READ
1972 - To Your Scattered Bodies Go
1971 - Ringworld - READ
1970 - Left Hand of Darkness - READ
1969 - Stand on Zanzibar - READ
1968 - Lord of Light
1967 - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - READ
1966 - Dune - READ
1966 - This Immortal
1965 - The Wanderer
1964 - Way Station - READ
1963 - The Man in the High Castle - READ
1962 - Stranger in a Strange Land - READ
1961 - A Canticle for Leibowitz - READ
1960 - Starship Troopers - READ
1959 - A Case of Conscience
1958 - The Big Time
1956 - Double Star - READ
1955 - The Forever Machine
1953 - The Demolished Man - READ

Retro Hugos - this are given for years when no award was given (more than 50 years ago). Of those...

1939 - The Sword in the Stone
1951 - Farmer in the Sky - READ
1954 - Fahrenheit 451 - READ

Nebulas Read

Bold - On the Shelf

2024 - Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
2023 - Babel, Or, The Necessity of Violence, An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution READ
2022 - A Master of Djinn - READ
2021 - Network Effect - READ
2020 - A Song for a New Day
2019 - The Calculating Stars - READ
2019 - This Is How You Lose The Time War - Novella - READ
2018 - The Stone Sky
2017 - All the Birds in the Sky - READ
2016 - Uprooted
2016 - Binti - Novella - READ
2015 - Annihilation - READ
2014 - Ancillary Justice - READ DNF
2013 - 2312
2012 - Among Others
2012 - Paper Menagerie - Short Story - READ
2011 - Blackout/All Clear
2010 - The Windup Girl - READ
2009 - Powers
2008 - The Yiddish Policemen's Union - READ
2007 - Seeker
2006 - Camouflage - READ
2005 - Paladin of Souls
2004 - The Speed of Dark
2003 - American Gods - READ
2002 - The Quantum Rose
2001 - Darwin's Radio
2000 - Parable of the Talents
1999 - Forever Peace - READ
1998 - The Moon and the Sun
1997 - Slow River
1996 - The Terminal Experiment
1995 - Moving Mars
1994 - Red Mars
1993 - Doomsday Book READ
1992 - Stations of the Tide
1991 - Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea
1990 - The Healer's War
1989 - Falling Free
1988 - The Falling Woman
1987 - Speaker for the Dead - READ
1986 - Ender's Game - READ
1985 - Neuromancer - READ
1985 - Novella - Press Enter : John Varley READ
1984 - Startide Rising - READ
1983 - No Enemy But Time
1982 - The Claw of the Conciliator
1981 - Timescape
1980 - The Fountains of Paradise
1979 - Dreamsnake
1979 - Novella - Persistence of Vision : John Varley READ
1978 - Gateway
1977 - Man Plus
1976 - The Forever War - READ
1975 - The Dispossessed
1974 - Rendezvous with Rama - READ
1973 - The Gods Themselves
1972 - A Time of Changes
1971 - Ringworld - READ
1970 - The Left Hand of Darkness - READ
1969 - Rite of Passage
1968 - The Einstein Intersection
1967 - Babel-17
1967 - Flowers for Algernon - READ
1966 - Dune - READ

Booker Prize
2025 Flesh - David Szalay
2024 Orbital READ
2023 Prophet Song READ
2022 The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
2021 The Promise
2020 Shuggie Bain READ
2019 The Testaments
2019 Girl, Woman, Other
2018 Milkman READ
2017 Lincoln in the Bardo READ
2016 The Sellout READ
2015 A Brief History of Seven Killings READ
2014 The Narrow Road to the Deep North
2013 The Luminaries
2012 Bring Up the Bodies
2011 The Sense of an Ending
2010 The Finkler Question
2009 Wolf Hall DNF
2008 The White Tiger READ
2007 The Gathering
2006 The Inheritance of Loss
2005 The Sea
2004 The Line of Beauty READ
2003 Vernon God Little
2002 Life of Pi READ
2001 True History of the Kelly Gang
2000 The Blind Assassin
1999 Disgrace
1998 Amsterdam
1997 The God of Small Things
1996 Last Orders
1995 The Ghost Road
1994 How Late It Was, How Late
1993 Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
1992 The English Patient
1992 Sacred Hunger
1991 The Famished Road
1990 Possession
1989 The Remains of the Day READ
1988 Oscar and Lucinda
1987 Moon Tiger
1986 The Old Devils
1985 The Bone People
1984 Hotel du Lac
1983 Life & Times of Michael K
1982 Schindler's Ark
1981 Midnight's Children READ
1980 Rites of Passage
1979 Offshore
1978 The Sea, the Sea
1977 Staying On
1976 Saville
1975 Heat and Dust
1974 The Conservationist
1974 Holiday
1973 The Siege of Krishnapur
1972 G.
1971 In a Free State
1970 The Elected Member
1969 Something to Answer For

International Booker Prize

2023 Time Shelter - Georgi Gospodinov (Bulgaria) : trans. Angela Rodel Read
2022 Tomb of Sand - Geetanjali Shree (India) : trans. Daisy Rockwell
2021 At Night All Blood Is Black - David Diop (France) : trans. Anna Moschovakis
2020 The Discomfort of Evening - Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (Netherlands) : trans. Michele Hutchison
2019 Celestial Bodies - Jokha al-Harthi (Oman) : trans. Marilyn Booth
2018 Flights - Olga Tokarczuk (Poland) : trans. Jennifer Croft
2017 A Horse Walks Into a Bar - David Grossman (Israel) : trans. Jessica Cohen
2016 The Vegetarian - Han Kang (South Korea) : trans. Deborah Smith Read

National Book Award Winners

2015 - Fortune Smiles READ
2014 - Redeployment READ
2012 - Beyond the Beautiful Forevers (Non-Fiction) READ
2005 - The Year of Magical Thinking - Dideon (Non-Fiction) READ
2001 - The Corrections READ
1988 - Paris Trout READ
1985 - White Noise READ
1983 - The Color Purple - hardback award READ
1981 - The Stories of John Cheever - paperback award READ
1980 - The World According to Garp - paperback award READ
1953 - Invisible Man READ

100 SFF/Fantasy Reads as compiled by NPR

https://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/139085843/your-picks-top-100-science-fiction-fant...

1. The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien READ
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams READ
3. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card READ
4. The Dune Chronicles By Frank Herbert READ
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series by George R.R. Martin
6. 1984 A Novel by George Orwell READ
7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury READ
8. The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov READ but only the 1st one
9. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley READ
10. American Gods By Neil Gaiman READ
11. The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman READ
12. The Wheel Of Time Series by Robert Jordan
13. Animal Farm by George Orwell READ
14. Neuromancer By William Gibson READ
15. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons READ
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov READ
17. Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein READ
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles BY by Patrick Rothfuss
19. Slaughterhouse-Five By Kurt Vonnegut READ
20. Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley READ
21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick READ
22. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood READ
23. The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King READ
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey BY by Arthur C. Clarke READ
25. The Stand By Stephen King READ
26. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson READ
27. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury READ
28. Cat's Cradle By Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman Series by Neil Gaiman READ
30. A Clockwork Orange BY by Anthony Burgess READ
31. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein READ
32. Watership Down by Richard Adams
33. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein READ
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz By Walter M. Miller Jr. READ
36. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea By Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes READ
39. The War Of The Worlds by H.G. Wells READ
40. The Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad By David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
43. Mistborn Trilogy Brandon Sanderson
44. Ringworld by LARRY NIVEN READ
45. The Left Hand Of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin READ
46. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
47. The Once And Future King BY by T.H. White
48. Neverwhere by NEIL GAIMAN READ
49. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
50. Contact by Carl Sagan READ
51. The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
52. Stardust by Neil Gaiman READ
53. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson READ
54. World War Z An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks READ
55. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
56. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman READ
57. Small Gods A Novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett READ
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson
59. The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
60. Going Postal A Novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle READ
62. The Sword Of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind
63. The Road by by Cormac McCarthy READ
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson READ
66. The Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist
67. The Sword of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks
68. The Conan The Barbarian Series by Robert E. Howard and Mark Schultz
69. The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
70. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger READ
71. The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
72. Journey To The Center Of The Earth by Jules Verne READ
73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series by R. A. Salvatore
74. Old Man's War by John Scalzi READ
75. The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson READ
76. Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke READ
77. The Kushiel's Legacy Series by Jacqueline Carey
78. The Dispossessed An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire READ
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen series by Steven Erikson
82. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde READ
83. The Culture Series by Iain Banks
84. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem by Neal Stephenson
86. The Codex Alera Series by Jim Butcher
87. The Book Of The New Sun by Gene Wolfe
88. The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
90. The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man By Ray Bradbury short works collection
92. Sunshine by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel by Isaac Asimov READ
95. The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle READ
97. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
99. The Xanth Series by Piers Anthony
100. The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis

100 Horror Reads as compiled by NPR

https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-s...

1. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley READ
2. Dracula by Bram Stoker READ
3. Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
4. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
5. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
6. The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James
7. The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen
8. The Monkeys Paw by W. W. Jacobs
9. The Willows by Algernon Blackwood
10. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman READ
11. Oh, Whistle, And Ill Come To You, My Lad by M. R. James and Darryl Jones
12.The Werewolf Of Paris By Guy Endore
13. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson READ
14. Let The Right One In By John Ajvide Lindqvist
15. The Vampire Chronicles (First Triology) by Anne Rice READ
16. Minion (Vampire Huntress Legend Series) by L. A. Banks
17. The Hunger by Alma Katsu
18. Those Across The River by Christopher Buehlman
19. Bird Box by Josh Malerman READ
20. Feed (Newsflesh Series) by Mira Grant
21. World War Z by Max Brooks READ
22. The Girl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey READ
23. The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H. P. Lovecraft
24. The Ballad Of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle READ
25. The Fisherman by John Langan
26. Laundry Files (Series) by Charles Stross
27. The Cipher By Kathe Koja
28. John Dies At The End by David Wong READ
29. At The Mountains Of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
30. All Our Salt-Bottled Hearts by Sonya Taaffe
31. Uzumaki by Junji Ito
32. Communion: A True Story by Whitley Strieber OR Majestic by Whitley Strieber
33. The Repairer Of Reputations by Robert W. Chambers
34. The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
35. The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons
36. Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco
37. The Shining by Stephen King READ
38. House Of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
39. The Elementals by Michael McDowell
40. The Woman In Black by Susan Hill
41. Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis
42. The Bone Key by Sarah Monette
43. Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand
44. Infidel by Aaron Campbell, Jose Villarrubia, Pornsak Pichetshote and Jeff Powell
45. The Ruins by Scott Smith
46. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
47. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates
48. The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan
49. Swan Song by Robert McCammon
50. The Screwfly Solution by James Tiptree Jr.
51. Left Foot, Right by Nalo Hopkinson
52. Come Closer by Sara Gran
53. Furnace by Livia Llewellyn
54. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
55. Through The Woods by Emily Carroll
56. Sandman by Neil Gaiman READ
57. Her Body And Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
58. White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
59. Goblin Market by Christina Georgina Rossetti
60. Experimental Film by Gemma Files
61. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson READ
62. The Collector by John Fowles
63. The Terror by Dan Simmons
64. Intensity by Dean R. Koontz
65. The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum
66. Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite
67. Night They Missed the Horror Show by Joe R. Lansdale
68. Penpal by Dathan Auerbach
69. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill READ
70. Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler
71. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding READ
72. The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood READ
73. Beloved by Toni Morrison
74. Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia E. Butler
75. The Devil In America by Kai Ashante Wilson
76. I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison
77. Books Of Blood by Clive Barker READ
78. The October Country: Stories by Ray Bradbury
79. The Weird: A Compendium Of Strange And Dark Stories by Ann Vandermeer and Jeff VanDermeer
80. The Imago Sequence and Other Stories by Laird Barron
81. Alone With the Horrors: The Great Short Fiction of Ramsey Campbell, 1961-1991 by Ramsey Campbell
82. Things We Lost In The Fire by Mariana Enriquez
83. Shadowland by Peter Straub READ
84. A Head Full Of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
85. Rosemarys Baby by Ira Levin
86. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
87. The Body by Stephen King READ
88. Its A Good Life by Jerome Bixby
89. The Other by Thomas Tryon
90. The Troop by Nick Cutter
91. Elizabeth by Ken Greenhall
92. Please, Momma by Chesya Burke
93. Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark by Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell
94. Goosebumps (Series) by R. L. Stine children
95. Rotters by Daniel Kraus children
96. Jumbies Rise Of The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
97. The House With A Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs
98. Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
99. Coraline by Neil Gaiman READ
100. Down A Dark Hall by Lois Duncan

Weird Books List

From Book Riot - The 100 strange and weird "must read" books. https://bookriot.com/i-got-your-weird-right-here-100-wonderful-strange-and-unusu...

A Jello Horse by Matthew Simmons
After the People Lights Have Gone Off by Stephen Graham Jones
Alligators of Abraham by Robert Kloss
An Exaggerated Murder by Josh Cook
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer READ
Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace
As She Climbed Across the Table by Jonathan Lethem
Bear vs. Shark by Chris Bachelder
Beatlebone by Kevin Barry
Being Dead by Jim Crace
Big Machine by Victor LaValle
Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe (Author), Alexander O. Smith (Translator)
Cat Country by Lao She
Damnificados by JJ Amaworo Wilson
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
Delicious Foods by James Hannaham
Dendera by Yuya Sato (Author), Edwin Hawkes (Translator), Nathan A Collins (Translator)
Disquiet by Julia Leigh
Duplex by Kathryn Davis
Escape from Baghdad! by Saad Hossain
Fram by Steve Himmer
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland READ
God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
Half Life by Shelley Jackson
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov (Author), Michael Glenny (Translator)
I Crawl Through It by A.S. King
In the House Upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods by Matt Bell
Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe
Just Like Beauty by Lisa Lerner
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis
Long Division by Kiese Laymon
Masters of Atlantis by Charles Portis
Mermaids in Paradise by Lydia Millet
Motherfucking Sharks by Brian Allen Carr
Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi
Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt
Observatory Mansions by Edward Carey
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood READ
Paper Tigers by Damien Angelica Walters
Prodigies by Angélica Gorodischer
Pym by Mat Johnson
Radio Iris by Anne-Marie Kinney
Remainder by Tom McCarthy
Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer
Sister Mine by Nalo HopkinsonSister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson
Slade House by David Mitchell READ
Slapstick or Lonesome No More! by Kurt Vonnegut
Some of Your Blood by Theodore Sturgeon
Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link
Sudden Death by Álvaro Enrigue (Author), Natasha Wimmer (Translator)
The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
The Bear Comes Home by Rafi Zabor
The Beautiful Bureaucrat by Helen Phillips
The Bees by Laline Paul
The Blue Girl by Laurie Foos
The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil by George Saunders READ
The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd
The Country of Ice Cream Star by Sandra Newman
The Daughters by Adrienne Celt
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
The Giant’s House by Elizabeth McCracken
The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway
The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan
The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
The Illumination by Kevin Brockmeier
The Incarnations by Susan Barker
The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead
The Last Illusion by Porochista Khakpour
The Legend of Pradeep Mathew by Shehan Karunatilaka
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosely
The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry
The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen
The Orange Eats Creeps by Grace Krilanovich
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth Mckenzie
The Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen (Author), Lola M. Rogers (Translator)
The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall READ
The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli (Author), Christina MacSweeney (Translator)
The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman
The Unfinished World and Other Stories by Amber Sparks
The Vanishers by Heidi Julavits
The Vaults by Toby Ball
The Vegetarian by Han Kang READ
The Vorrh by B. Catling
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
The Weirdness by Jeremy Bushnell
The Wilds by Julia Elliott
Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail by Kelly Luce
Version Control by Dexter Palmer
Viper Wine by Hermione Eyre
Waiting for Gertrude by Bill Richardson
What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn
Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns
You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman
Zazen by Vanessa Veselka
Zeroville by Steve Erickson

Jeff's Weird Additions
Help! A Bear is Eating Me by Mykle Hansen
WhaleFall by Daniel Kraus
Gravity's Rainbow - Thomas Pynchon
Cartoons - Kit Schluter
Blob: A Love Story - Maggie Su

Esquire's 75 Best Sci-Fi books of all time.

Choosing the 75 best science fiction books of all time wasn’t easy, so to get the job done, we had to establish some guardrails. Though we assessed single installments as representatives of their series, we limited the list to one book per author. We also emphasized books that brought something new and innovative to the genre—to borrow a great sci-fi turn of phrase, books that “boldly go where no one has gone before.”

75 - The Echo Wife, by Sarah Gailey
74 - The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal READ
73 - Redshirts, by John Scalzi READ
72 - Beautyland, by Marie-Helene Bertino
71 - The Ten Percent Thief, by Lavanya Lakshminarayan
70 - Midnight Robber, by Nalo Hopkinson
69 - Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson READ
68 - Star Maker, by Olaf Stapledon
67 - Contact, by Carl Sagan READ
66 - Under the Skin, by Michel Faber
65 - Way Station, by Clifford D. Simak READ
64 - Sea of Rust, by C. Robert Cargill
63 - What Mad Universe, by Fredric Brown
62 - The Book of Phoenix, by Nnedi Okorafor
61 - Semiosis, by Sue Burke
60 - Excession, by Iain M. Banks
59 - The Claw of the Conciliator, by Gene Wolfe
58 - Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny
57 - This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone READ
56 - The Resisters, by Gish Jen
55 - Rosewater, by Tade Thompson READ
54 - Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
53 - Solaris, by Stanislaw Lem READ
52 - A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess READ
51 - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert A. Heinlein READ
50 - A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle READ
49 - The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
48 - The Body Scout, by Lincoln Michel
47 - An Unkindness of Ghosts, by Rivers Solomon
46 - The Mountain in the Sea, by Ray Nayler
45 - Neuromancer, by William Gibson READ
44 - The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester READ
43 - The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell
42 - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams READ
41 - A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr. READ
40 - Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir READ
39 - Zone One, by Colson Whitehead TBR
38 - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers READ
37 - Engine Summer, by John Crowley
36 - The Children of Men, by P.D. James READ
35 - Radiance, by Catherynne M. Valente
34 - The City & The City, by China Miéville
33 - A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine
32 - Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie DNF
31 - The Stand, by Stephen King READ
30 - In Ascension, by Martin MacInnes
29 - Dhalgren, by Samuel R. Delany
28 - The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman READ
27 - 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami READ
26 - Future Home of the Living God, by Louise Erdrich
25 - Ammonite, by Nicola Griffith
24 - Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer READ
23 - Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood READ
22 - Hyperion, by Dan Simmons
21 - Red Mars, by Kim Stanley Robinson
20 - Shikasta, by Doris Lessing
19 - The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut
18 - Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky READ
17 - Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke READ
16 - The Complete Robot, by Isaac Asimov READ
15 - How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, by Charles Yu READ
14 - Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley READ
13 - The Employees, by Olga Ravn
12 - 1984, by George Orwell READ
11 - The Three-Body Problem, by Cixin Liu TBR
10 - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick READ
9 - Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel READ
8 - Exhalation, by Ted Chiang READ
7 - Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
6 - The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. Le Guin READ
5 - Kindred, by Octavia Butler READ
4 - The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin
3 - The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury READ
2 - Dune, by Frank Herbert READ
1 - Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley READ

Woman's Prize for Fiction

Got this list from Paul, another one to add to my collection.

https://womensprize.com/prizes/womens-prize-for-fiction/

1996. A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore
1997. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels
1998. Larry's Party by Carol Chields
1999. A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne
2000. When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant
2001. The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville
2002. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
2003. Property by Valerie Martin
2004. Small Island by Andrea Levy
2005. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
2006. On Beauty by Zadie Smith
2007. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
2008. The Road Home by Rose Tremain
2009. Home by Marilynne Robinson
2010. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver On the shelf
2011. The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
2012. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller READ
2013. May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
2014. A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimar M
2015. How to be Both by Ali Smith READ
2016. The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney
2017. The Power by Naomi Alderman READ
2018. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
2019. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
2020. Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell On the shelf
2021. Piranesi by Susannah Clarke READ
2022. The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
2023. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver On the shelf
2024. Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganesthanathan
2025. The Safe Keep by Yael Van Der Wouden

Christmas Gifts

2015
Tunneling to the Center of the Earth: Stories - Kevin Wilson READ
The Magician's Book: A skeptic's Adventures in Narnia - Laura Miller
Burning Paradise - Robert Charles Wilson READ
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher: Stories - Hilary Mantel READ
The Marriage Plot - Jeffrey Eugenides READ
St. Lucy's Home for Gilrs Raised by Wolves - Karen Russell READ

2016
The Sellout - Paul Beatty READ
The Windup Girl - Paolo Bacigalupi READ
Among Others - Jo Walton READ
Perdido Street Station - China Mieville DNF
An Abundance of Katherines - John Green READ
Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri READ
Empire Falls - Richard Russo READ

2017
Revelation Space - Alastair Reynolds READ
The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell DNF
Consider Phlebas - Ian M. Banks
Tenth of December - George Saunders READ
Some Luck - Jane Smiley
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess READ
Stone Spring - Stephen Baxter
The Path Between the Seas - David McCullough
The Hours - Michael Cunningham READ
Beloved - Toni Morrison DNF
All the King's Men - Robert Penn Warren

2018
Adventures of Oliver Twist/A Christmas Carol/A Tale of Two Cities/Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
The Worst Hard Time - Timothy Egan READ
Circe - Madeline Miller READ

2019
Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood READ
Under the Black Flag - David Cordingly
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson READ
Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons READ
Advise and Consent - Allen Drury

2020
Ready Player Two - Ernest Cline READ
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers READ

2021
Intercourse/Severance: Stories Rober Olen Butler READ
Salt: A Word History - Mark Kurlansky READ
Homegoing - Yaa Gyasi READ
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon READ

2022
Faulkner: Novels 1942-1954 - William Faulkner
West - Carys Davies READ
Yellow Birds - Kevin Powers READ
Shylock Is My Name - Howard Jacobson READ
Justice - Larry Watson
Lost Everything - Brian Francis Slattery READ

2023
Growing Up Yinzer - Dick Roberts READ
A Fire Upon the Deep - Vernor Vindge
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley READ
Prophet Song - Paul Lynch READ
Holly - Stephen King

2024
A Psalm of the Wild Built - Becky Chambers READ
American Dirt - Jeanine Coummins
Behind the Beautiful Forevers - Katherine Boo READ
Demon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver READ

2025 @weird_O
Light Between Oceans - ML Stedman
The Arrest - Jonathan Lethem
O Pioneers - Willa Cather
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Prairie Fire - Caroline Fraser
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

2025 Reading Results

Books Read : 91
# of Authors : 83
Authors of Color : 6 (7%)
Lady Authors : 23 (28%)
Narrators : 46 (Most books - : Too Many to Name - 7)
Rereads - 10 (11%)

Pages Read - 12,234 Hours Read - 21 days, 16 hours and 1 minutes Words Read - 8,405,627

1st Book - Season of the Swamp by Yuri Herrera
75th Book - Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
Last Book - Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su

Books Purchased/Gifted/Found - 37






Map of 2025 author birthplaces

2025 Books of the Month

January : A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
February : Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black
March : Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

April : Stoner by John Williams
May : The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson
June : Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

July : So Far Gone by Jess Walter
August : Ask the Dust by John Fante
September : A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

October : Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
November : Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
December : Black AF History by Michael Harriot






#botm

Welcome back, Jeff!

Happy to see you back, Jeff!

>16 drneutron: Thanks Jim, glad to be here. Thanks, as usual, for setting us all up!

>17 richardderus: Thanks RD.

Great to see you back for another year, Jeff.

Found your new thread and wish you a wonderful reading year.

>20 PaulCranswick: Absolutely, if you don't see me in a new group, I must be dead. LOL

>21 figsfromthistle: Thanks Figs. You too. (Speaking of reading, still waiting to hear from Thriftbooks on your third Christmas book. Still pending, apparently, :( )

A humorous post I saw on FB from Hyde Brothers Booksellers

How to beat the TBR Pile:

* be the alpha
* direct eye contact helps
* read books without adding more to the pile
* what do you mean you bought more books
* stop it
* put those down

>23 mahsdad: That's hilarious! Stealing...

>24 drneutron: Feel free, that's what I did. LOL

Happy New Year, Jeff. I love the topper. I thought Paul was the LIST GUY but you may have him beat. I hope we can do a couple of shared reads in '26.

>26 msf59: Lists - Hah, yeah, I just started accumulating them over the years.

Shared reads, definitely. I've got the The Wayfinder on hold on Libby with the audio. I'm currently #2 on the list, but I have it suspended. The way Libby's holds work now, you can't push out holds to be delivered later, if it comes available and you're not ready you have to suspend the hold. When I get to #1, I'll stay there and as soon as I unsuspend, I'll get the next copy (or so the theory goes), so if you're going to do that in Feb or Mar, I'll plan on it. Its a chunkster - 27 hours.

Happy New Year! & Happy New Thread!

New Year greetings from Kuala Lumpur. My project is at least physically completed and an addition to the city scape.

Look forward to keeping up with you in 2026, Jeff

Happy New Year, Jeff. You do have a lot of lists! Have fun with them. I hope 2026 is a good year for you.

>23 mahsdad: Love that!! LOL.

Yours is definitely a thread I can come visit if I ever (Ha!) run out of book ideas -- nice listsssss!

All the happy new years!

My, what big lists you have! I'm starring your thread as a very handy resource.
>5 mahsdad: I did a personal Hugo challenge when I finished grad school. Took me 3 years to read through everything up to 2009. I meant to follow up with the Nebula and then move on to other prize lists and then didn't. Checking your list, I see I've managed to read 5 more Hugo winners by happenstance and have a couple more waiting in the wings. Who doesn't love Murderbot? I was pretty meh about This Is How You Lose the Time War. Read it for my local Queer Book Club last year. Wasn't a keeper for me.

>28 SilverWolf28: >29 PaulCranswick: >30 BLBera: >31 Berly: >32 justchris: Hi Everyone! Thanks for stopping by with New Years' wishes.

I am so glad to have this group and you people in my life. And I am also so glad I can contribute to your own book obsessions with my many many lists. LOL.

Here's to a great 2026

Happy new Year, Jeff - may your year be full of happines health and joy - and of course - books.

>35 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas, right back atcha!

Happy New Year and Happy New Reading Challenge!

Fantastic Foto Friday

Welcome to 2026 in my neck of the woods and my first #FF post of the year. NYE, we did our usual of making sure we were asleep before midnight to avoid the fireworks. We had snacks for dinner, had a few drinks and off to bed. Yesterday we just goofed off. Went for walk around the harbor. Today, I'm working, unfortunately. But I've still got time to slip in some LT posts. :)

Today's image is from said walk...



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q3 Books
>3 mahsdad: Q2 Books
>4 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>5 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Piranesi by Susanna Clark : 68%
Listening - The End of the World As We Know It edited by Christopher Golden : 1%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 25%

2. An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz 🎧 : Read on audio. This is a history of the United States from the standpoint of the Indigenous People that us white folks pushed around and pretty much decimated. We didn't discover American, we took it over, essentially. I had this on my list for a while, but after I read Black AF History, I wanted to read this too. It was a lot more of an academic work, drying in tone than AF. It was a pretty good read, but one that I probably would have gotten more out of on paper. Too easy to let facts and figures fly by on audio. A worthy read nonetheless, if you're interested in the subject.

1. The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas by Ursula K Le Guin (K) : A bookish woman I follow on TikTok said that for this year, its Ursula K Le Guin. I love me some Le Guin and I just might have to slot in the Earthsea Cycle thisyear, as I've never read them, but Left Hand of Darkness is one of my favorite books. She further suggested that if you read nothing you should read this story. Its a short one. The ebook was only 32 pages and probably more than half of that was intro and afterword. Its a story about a utopian society that's perfect, almost too perfect. That's all I'll say about the plot. Its worth the hour or so it will take you. It is on Libby as an eBook

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

New Book - audio

The End of the World as We Know It edited by Christopher Golden (read by Sean Patrick Hopkins, Adenrele Ojo)



An original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestselling classic The Stand!

Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters.

Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.

Featuring an introduction by Stephen King, a foreword by Christopher Golden, and an afterword by Brian Keene. Contributors include Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S. A. Cosby, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers.

Just one more stop and he could call it a day. Abel rang the bell. "Coming!" He knew what he was dealing with, another accommodating housewife who doesn't want to leave anyone hanging. "Two seconds," she yelled. "Bit of a situation with a cake!"

#newbook

Happy New Year and happy new books!

Happy New Year, Jeff!

>38 mahsdad: That is just gorgeous!

Why are all the boats just sitting in a state to be admired - I feel they should be out sailing the sunny waves!

>39 mahsdad: I loved that one - and of course The Stand.
I'm eager to hear your opinion.

Dropping by on Friday morning in Kuala Lumpur to wish you a great weekend, buddy.

>42 SirThomas: The Stand was the first King I read, probably even my first "adult" book. I'm sure I read it way to young and I loved it. Started me down the road of King being my go to author for many years. This very good so far (about 25% done). I've always loved the idea of other authors writing in the well established worlds of acclaimed authors.

>43 PaulCranswick: Hey Paul, thanks so much for visiting from the future. Looking forward to it. The first full week back at work after the holidays has been a slog.

>44 mahsdad: Hahaha that made me smile, I would be taken for Dr. Emmett Brown these days rather than Marty McFly!

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! As I said to Paul yesterday, its been a long week, after a couple short but weird work weeks. Last week was work 3 days, one day off and work Friday. Ugh. Oh well, better gainfully employed than not.

I debated over a couple pictures to share today, so I think I'll post them both. First is a picture I took during our recent rain, of the hood of my car and the beaded water. The image is strange, cause the car is black and you can only see that thru the droplets, otherwise it looks white. A cool image, if I do say so myself.



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q3 Books
>3 mahsdad: Q2 Books
>4 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>5 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan : 20%
Listening - The End of the World As We Know It edited by Christopher Golden : 46%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 31%

3. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke : This was not what I was expecting. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but whatever they were, I'm glad that they were wrong. The cover says that this is a fantasy, but I don't think it is. Its fantastical, and to me, that's a difference. Piranesi, is living in a vast labyrinth of a house that seems to be the entire world, every room is filled with statues and in the lower buildings the tides roll in and out. He and the Other are the only living people, plus 13 other "people" who are the bones of the dead that he finds. He talks to them and takes care of them. He meets periodically with the Other to compare notes on their lives. One day Piranesi's world is shifted when the Other warns him about a 16th person. Then it takes off in a weird way that I thoroughly loved. For me, its a hard one to describe, but one that you should read, trust me.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

Here's my other image. My phone does a fairly good job at low-light shots, but it means keeping still, and I almost accomplished it over the 3-4 second shot.

I like it.

Hello Jeff. Happy New Year! How is that The Stand Anthology going? I noticed some cool named in their. I'm back this year and hope to be reading more and participating more on LT. I am currently loving Crooks by Lou Berney.

>46 mahsdad: >47 mahsdad: I love both of this week's photos! You have such a gift for observing and capturing great images!

Karen O

>38 mahsdad: Two heavy-hitters to start 2026 with. I'll comment without revealing the jealous loathing behind the words that the marina view is lovely indeed!

>48 brodiew2: Hi Brodie. As with most anthologies, some better than others. But more good than bad. So far there's been a couple really interesting idea. One at a zoo where some African Dogs are somewhat sentient and dealing with things. And another with astronauts in the shuttle.

>49 klobrien2: Aw, thanks, Karen

Happy Friday, Jeff. I hope you can make it work for The Wayfinder. Looks like you have a nice system in place and this will be in February. I loved Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher. I hope it works for you too. Egan Rocks!!

>51 mahsdad: Have you read Josh Malerman's story yet? I adored his style in the Bird Box books.

>52 msf59: Hi mark. I'm #1 on the list for Wayfinder, I'll wait a week or so and then unsuspend my hold (libby thing), if you're going to read it in February, I'll be there.

Egan certainly does rock. I'm loving it.

>53 brodiew2: I'm reading it right now :)

>46 mahsdad: >47 mahsdad: Two such different images! The first sure changes when explained, and the second is lovely. Both are compelling!

>22 mahsdad: HA! No worries. I am quite happy with the two I received :) I hope they reimburse you though….

>56 figsfromthistle: Book's on the way, I couldn't be a "grinchy" Santa. Its all good.

Sometimes it helps to actually talk to someone physically and not just chat. When I initially contacted them, the shipping label had been printed and that was it. It had "shipped on 12/8, about 3 weeks prior to me contacting them. All I got from chat was, oh we changed suppliers, blah blah blah, you product should ship in 4 to 10 business days, kept looking, no change, nothing.

So then I decided to call, but I had to google for a customer service # because they didn't advertise it on their website. Talked with a lovely woman, who long story short said that it probably got lost at the shippers. She couldn't cancel the order but she could give me a refund. Gave me good customer service and told me a lot more than the canned answers the chat gave me.

I got my refund and immediately bought another copy of the same book, this time a little bit cheaper, and in two days got the confirmation that it had actually shipped. You should get something around the 19th.

The droplets are striking! I love seeing what you're reading and seeing the world through your lens every week.

>46 mahsdad: The droplets are mesmerizing! Thanks for sharing both photos.

>46 mahsdad: Yes, I agree with everyone, that photo is fascinating.

>58 elorin: >59 foggidawn: >60 PaulCranswick: Thanks for the photo love!

>46 mahsdad: >47 mahsdad: Both photos are amazing! I envy your eye.

>62 justchris: Thanks Chris!

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! Today's image comes from the LA Convention Center. We went to the LA Arts Festival last weekend as a treat for the MIL and I took a bunch of pictures from other peoples art, which I will pad my posting # this weekend. Just some interesting stuff I want to share. But for today's image, just a picture of the building in the setting sun. Enjoy



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q3 Books
>3 mahsdad: Q2 Books
>4 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>5 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan : 53%
Listening - The End of the World As We Know It edited by Christopher Golden : 88%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 35%

No books finished this week

Slow start to the year, after rattling off 3 in the first couple days. I'll probably finish The End of the World... tomorrow or Sunday

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

I really like the tree silhouettes!

Here's hoping you enjoy the on-the-go books.

>64 mahsdad: “It just isn’t Christmas without palm trees!” A friend asserts. You’ve exactly captured the winter sunshine of the classic So.Cal. scenery.

Thanks Susan, RD!

Art from the Art Show

"I Can Eat Myself" - Ruoyun Dal. This was a lenticular print. It moved as you moved by it

"Captain Wentworth's Persuasion" - Ben Ashton

This was a walk-in art installation. A series of long pieces of gauze hung from the ceiling over a reflective floor

This was another walk-in installation.

these were selfies taken by volunteers around the LA River. They were sitting in developer trays with the red lights over them. To quote the blurb - "becoming fleeting images that emerge and fade - mirroring our fragile connection to the natural world"

I don't know what this is, I just thought it was cool with the shadows

This hit home, considering that I look at a working port every day

Landscape - M3 : Alejandro Sanchez

Overdosed - Kevin Champeny

15,000 sculpted & hand cast prescription drugs. Yours for the low, low price of $27,000 (probably cheaper than some of these drugs)

Here Comes the Sun - Joel Amit

Just a small piece of it, I liked the contrast with the single one

I don't know who this was by, but there were several of them. They were trippy

This one is "nice"



but I love this more, mostly because of my weird take on reflections

Simon Berger

His medium of choice is glass. And by glass, I mean he takes a single sheet of glass and stratigically breaks and cracks it, to come up with portraits and other images.

Juliet - Petr Hora

Acid washed and polished glass. It was a large chunk of glass (15 x 4 x 17 inches) I would buy this one in a heartbeat, if it weren't the fact that it was $12,000. Heck, I could barely afford to eat there.

La Decalcomanie da Rene Magritte - Stefano Bolcato

I love me some Legos and Magritte is a big favorite of mine. A funny combination

Gavin Rain

I think you know who it is



but when you zoom in, little cones of acrylic paint

Didn't write down the artist on this one. The piece itself is just a white board with plastic/glass "shelves" on it. But as you shine light down from the top, they form all these different colors. Really neat

And finally some urban "art".

Next to the Convention Center area is a high-rise condo building that was being developed and in 2024 sometime, the developer went bankrupt and the building was in limbo. Well kids being kids, they broke in, on a large scale and tagged just about every floor. There was no one to cover it up, so its just sort of stayed there, as the newly dubbed, Graffiti Towers

I think I've sufficiently padded my posting numbers for the month. LOL.

Happy Weekend All!

>83 mahsdad: Wow. Lots of interesting images of pieces that must have been mesmerizing.

That must have been an awesome art show! I loved the stuff you posted. I even think that Graffiti Towers is neat. Thanks for sharing all of them.

>84 quondame: >85 benitastrnad: Thanks for the photo love!

New Book - audio

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe (read by the Author)



Cameron Crowe was an unlikely rock and roll insider. Born in 1957 to parents who strictly banned the genre from their house, he dove headfirst into the world of music. By the time he graduated high school at fifteen, Crowe was contributing to Rolling Stone. His parents became believers, uneasily allowing him to interview and tour with legends like Led Zeppelin; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Bob Dylan; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Fleetwood Mac.

The Uncool offers a front-row ticket to the 1970s, a golden era for music and art when rock was young. There’s no such thing as a media junket—just the rare chance a young writer might be invited along for an adventure. Crowe spends his teens politely turning down the drugs and turning on his tape recorder. He talks his journalism teacher into giving him class credit for his road trip covering Led Zeppelin’s 1975 tour, which lands him—and the band—on the cover of Rolling Stone. He embeds with David Bowie as the sequestered genius transforms himself into a new persona: the Thin White Duke. Why did Bowie give Crowe such unprecedented access? “Because you’re young enough to be honest,” Bowie tells him.

Youth and humility are Crowe’s ticket into the Eagles’ dressing room in 1972, where Glenn Frey vows to keep the band together forever; to his first major interview with Kris Kristofferson; to earning the trust of icons like Gregg Allman and Joni Mitchell, who had sworn to never again speak to Rolling Stone. It’s a magical odyssey, the journey of a teenage writer waved through the door to find his fellow dreamers, music geeks, and lifelong community. It’s a path that leads him to writing and directing some of the most beloved films of the past forty years, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Say Anything... to Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. His movies often resonate with the music of the artists he first met as a journalist, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Who, and Pearl Jam.

The Uncool is also a surprisingly intimate family drama. If you’ve seen Almost Famous, you may think you know this story—but you don’t. For the first time, Crowe opens up about his formative years in Palm Springs and pays tribute to his father, a decorated Army officer who taught him the irreplaceable value of the human voice. Crowe also offers a full portrait of his mother, whose singular spirit helped shape him into an unconventional visionary.

With its vivid snapshots of a bygone era and a celebration of creativity and connection, this memoir is an essential read for music lovers or anyone chasing their wildest dreams. At the end of that roller-coaster journey, you might just find what you were looking for: your place in the world.

It was just after eleven at night. I was pacing around the darkened courtyard outside the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, my former hometown. Eleven was the time I usually called my mom to check on her and say good night. She was still razor-sharp at ninety-seven, the gift of a life without smoke or drink. We were then less than ten days away from the first previews of Almost Famous: The Musical, the sage adaptation I'd written, based on my own autobiographical film. Inside the theater, a lively cast was still rehearsing.

#newbook

Nice art show, Jeff. I did wonder how you'd puffed up your numbers so extravagantly. Very entertaining.

I've seen photos of that Graffiti Tower, probably on Tumblr. Completely abandoning a skyscraper is difficult for me to imagine, but I know abandoned churches, institutions, resorts, mansions are scattered across the world.

>88 weird_O: Hi Bill, thanks for stopping by.

Surprisingly, I didn't really pad my numbers all that much. I looked at last January, and I hit 88 posts on 1/24, so only about a week ahead. I'm still going to be a 4 thread (new one every quarter whether I need to or not) person, and I'm fine with that. ;)

Graffiti Tower, yeah, I've seen lots of videos of urban explorers going into abandoned buildings, but they're usually not so prominent.

>88 weird_O: Frank Lloyd Wright fan here = love to see All Skyscrapers abandoned!

>90 m.belljackson: Ha, something tells me that ain't going to happen anytime soon. :)

>77 mahsdad: Goodness! That one feels very...immediate.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Jeff.

>92 richardderus: Hey RD, thanks for swinging by. ...Immediate... that's a very interesting way to describe it, I like it.

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! Today's image comes from a walk around the White Point Nature Preserve (former Nike Missile base). Of course, I take a lot of pictures of flowers, but in this case I took it for the bug. Laura has a fascination for hover flies, one of the big class of pollinators around here. I wanted to make sure she saw it. This one is (according to iNaturalist) a Margined Calligrapher. Enjoy



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan : 93%
Listening - The Uncool by Cameron Crowe : 73%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 35%

4. End of the World as We Know It edited by Christopher Golden/Brian Keene 🎧 : . Read this on audio, and it was my first chunkster of the year (27 hours/800 pages). This is a collection of stories written in the world of The Stand and I loved it. I really like the idea of taking a world that some author originally created and let others play in it. I think it started for me as a kid, when there were so many different Star Trek books. In this case stories set around the people and places not tracked by the main story that King came up with. Knowing what was happening, it was very interesting seeing how things progressed, who was dreaming about who, or not dreaming. Who wanted to go see Mother Abigail and who wanted to go to Vegas. As with all short story collections every one is not 100% spectacular, but while there were some misses, the majority hit well. It was broken up into different sections, when the plague first started, when the main story was travelling, and what happened after the Stand ended. There were some very interesting ideas; a couple stories about animals and how they were reacting to things, "sentient" African dogs in a Zoo, Elephants on the North American plane, what happens in places other than North America; the Space Shuttle, Puerto Rico, a Muslim country, where they react to the dreams by saying, its probably not for them. A couple the delve into the larger King world, specifically the Dark Tower. And a couple that touch on an aspect of these types of dystopian stories I didn't think about. Sure you survived and are immune, but that doesn't mean the virus is gone and are any kids you have going to be automatically immune. Heady stuff. Recommend.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>94 mahsdad: Oh myyy as Takei would say! That wing-shadow is *stunning*.

Happy Friday, Jeff. I love all the artwork you posted. Very cool. Hooray for getting a copy of The Uncool. A most excellent memoir and I highly recommend the audio with Crowe narrating. I see you are pounding through it.

>95 richardderus: Too True.

>96 msf59: Hi Mark. Yeah Uncool is very cool. It is only a little over 9 hours long and I'm reading it at 1.25x, which seems to be my natural reading pace. So it goes by pretty quickly. I'm sure I'll finish it tomorrow. And I'm sure I'll finish Shadow Catcher too.

It was a slow start to the year, but its ramping up.

Have a great weekend, both of you!

>94 mahsdad: Looked up your M.C. hoverfly and found it listed as "Pollinator of the Month" in March, 2024.

>98 m.belljackson: 🪰🌻😃

>94 mahsdad: A flower with something extra. What a wonderful capture of sunlight and shadow.

>100 quondame: Thanks Susan!

Book Haul

7. Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan
8. Henry, Himself by Stewart O'Nan

O'Nan is a favorite of mine, probably due in not so small a part because he's from Pittsburgh. I bought Emily Alone several years ago, not realizing that it was #2 in a Trilogy. I finally got around to buying 1 and 3 from Thriftbooks.

One of the interesting things I observed with Thriftbooks is the economics of buying and selling used books. Both books were listed as very good condition on their site (and they are). They both came with price stickers from the original used book stores where I'm assuming they were purchased from before they were sold to Thrift.

Wish You Were Here had a sticker for $4.99, Thrift charged me $7.99

Henry, Himself's sticker was $3.49 and Thrift charged me $11.59

I wonder what their logic is, I guess the fact that Henry, Himself was written in 2019 and Wish You Where Here in 2002.

Interesting.

#bh

>102 mahsdad: Thrift's pricing is interesting, Jeff, but at least you got two solid books for a good price.

>103 PaulCranswick: Absolutely, Happy Saturday to you!

New Book - audio

Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte



Sharply observant and outrageously funny, Rejection is a provocative plunge into the touchiest problems of modern life. The seven connected stories seamlessly transition between the personal crises of a complex ensemble and the comic tragedies of sex, relationships, identity, and the internet.

In “The Feminist,” a young man’s passionate allyship turns to furious nihilism as he realizes, over thirty lonely years, that it isn’t getting him laid. A young woman’s unrequited crush in “Pics” spirals into borderline obsession and the systematic destruction of her sense of self. And in “Ahegao; or, The Ballad of Sexual Repression,” a shy late bloomer’s flailing efforts at a first relationship leads to a life-upending mistake. As the characters pop up in each other’s dating apps and social media feeds, or meet in dimly lit bars and bedrooms, they reveal the ways our delusions can warp our desire for connection.

These brilliant satires explore the underrated sorrows of rejection with the authority of a modern classic and the manic intensity of a manifesto. Audacious and unforgettable, Rejection is a stunning mosaic that redefines what it means to be rejected by lovers, friends, society, and oneself.

If you ask him where he went to high school, he likes to boast that, actually, he went to an all-girls school. Which is sort of true - he was one of the five males at a progressive private school that had gone co-ed just before he'd enrolled.

#newbook

New Book

The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli



Gustavo 'Highway' Sánchez is a man with a mission: he is planning to replace every last one of his unsightly teeth. He has a few skills that might help him on his way: he can imitate Janis Joplin after two rums, he can interpret Chinese fortune cookies, he can stand an egg upright on a table, and he can float on his back. And, of course, he is the world's best auction caller - although other people might not realise this, because he is, by nature, very discreet.

Studying auctioneering under Grandmaster Oklahoma and the famous country singer Leroy Van Dyke, Highway travels the world, amassing his collection of 'Collectibles' and perfecting his own specialty: the allegoric auction. In his quest for a perfect set of pearly whites, he finds unusual ways to raise the funds, culminating in the sale of the jewels of his collection: the teeth of the 'notorious infamous' - Plato, Petrarch, Chesterton, Virginia Woolf et al.

Written with elegance, wit and exhilarating boldness, Valeria Luiselli takes us on an idiosyncratic and hugely enjoyable journey that offers an insightful meditation on value, worth and creation, and the points at which they overlap.

I'm the best auctioneer in the world, but no one knows it because I'm a discreet sort of man. My name is Gustavo Sanchez Sanchez, though people call me Highway, I believe with affection.

#newbook

I've seen the title The Story of My Teeth without having any idea of what it's about. Now that I've read your post (>106 mahsdad:), I've added it my WANT!! List™. Thanks for that. (By curious coincidence, it's immediately followed by Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, and the bb of that one is attributed to mahsdad. :-) For what it's worth, my list is organized alphabetically by author's last name.)

>57 mahsdad: Thanks! Quite an effort you made to get me the last book. It is appreciated. It is getting harder these days to chat with a live representative in customer service. Some companies have great live chat though and excellent customer service.

>64 mahsdad: A nice picture that instantly makes me feel warm…..someday soon the sun will come out here as well…..

>77 mahsdad: Wow! looks like you had plenty to see at the art festival. Quite a variety!

Happy weekend reading :)

>107 weird_O: Hey Bill. Thanks for stopping by! Teeth... I'll let you know how it is. I'm only about 5 pages in. That blurb was from Amazon. I'll let you know, how the rubber meets the road. ;)

>108 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. I'm happy to have travelled down the customer service road to get you the last book. I hope you like it. Thanks for the photo love!

Random Photos

I know tomorrow's Friday and I do have a picture lined up, but I thought I'd share this one. It was just a loaded up telephone pole I saw on a walk. I played around with turning it B&W. Not sure which version I like better.

Color:

No Color:

>110 mahsdad: I’m fascinated by differences in what I notice in the two images.

>111 quondame: I know, right!

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! And with that, we complete (almost) the LONGEST January on record. Thank goodness February is a short month. It will probably only last about 2 years. LOL. Today's image is just some flowers from a walk, enjoy.



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli : 63%
Listening - Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte : 86%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 35%

6. Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan : This is a really excellent story about a man whom I had never heard about but definitely knew. Edward Curtis was a famous portrait photographer in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1800's/early 1900's. He became fascinated with the Native Americans and their struggles with the overtaking of the white man's world. He set out to document the lives, rites and rituals of all of the native peoples living in North America. It was to be 20 volumes and he set out not know what it would ultimately be, who would pay for it and who would buy it. He leaves for months at a time, much to the detriment of his family life living with the tribes, and stunting for money in New York and Washington DC. He becomes friends with Theodore Roosevelt and gets funded by JP Morgan. Egan is an excellent purveyor of narrative non-fiction, and I highly recommend this.

From them, he heard that Custer's eardrums were pierced by women before the blood on his face had dried, because he refused to listen. He was told of the bravery of Crazy Horse, who'd been swimming when the battle started, then had quickly mounted a horse and made several daring charges to split Custer's men. "Let's kill them all off today," he said, "that they may not trouble us anymore." And this rare victory was given the usual cast by the Americans: when Indians won, it was always a massacre.

5. The Uncool by Cameron Crowe 🎧 : Listened to this on audio, read by Cameron. This is the story of his life. Primarily his young life and career as a music reporter for Rolling Stone (and others) and a bit at the end about his movie career, focusing mostly on Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Almost Famous. He's sort of the Walter Mitty of the 70's music scene. He's met and talked with EVERYONE, its seems. The whole story is bookended with his efforts to get a musical version of Almost Famous up and running. Its a short, but excellent read.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

Happy Friday, Jeff. We had The Wayfinder on the shared list for February. My initial plan was to read it mid-month on my return from FL. Well, my library copy came in unexpectedly and will be due back in 2 weeks so I decided to start it and I hope I can finish it by the 9th- the date I leave for FL. It is just over 700 pages so not a quick read. Sorry for the late notice. I think this is going to be a special one.

>110 mahsdad: All I see is a terrible tragedy waiting for the next 6.0 or higher.

>113 mahsdad: I love that saturated purple!

Happy weekend-ahead's reads, Jeff!

>114 msf59: Hi Mark, I've got a couple audio's ahead of it and I just took it off Libby hold suspension (new way they handle holds, once you hit #1 on the list you can suspend your hold and stay at #1, but when you take it off, you don't immediately get it, you still have to wait for the next available copy) We'll see, when I actually get it.

It is a chunkster, its 27 hours, so with a 21 day borrow time, and reading it at at least 1.3x, should be doable. Popular books like this, can't be renewed. And unlike library ebooks that you put on Kindle, you can't put it in airplane mode to keep it as long as you like.

>115 richardderus: You're not wrong there. The biggest I've experienced was Northridge. Hard to believe that was 32 years ago (2 Saturdays ago, it was 1/17/94)

>116 richardderus: Thanks!

>113 mahsdad: So bright, so pretty, so profligate!

>114 msf59: I guess I'm reading The Wayfinder next. An hour after I took it off suspension, I got the time to borrow message. I'm going to wait until I finish the current book to actually borrow it, but I'll probably start it tomorrow.

I am acknowledging that, with my completion last night of Lincoln at Gettysburg my January 2026 reading is done. I'm now reading Orbital, which I boosted from The Grand Gracie after bunking in her room for several nights. We got a good 10" of snow last Sunday and ahead of the storm, I was offered temporary shelter in a warm, well-lighted place with great internet and good food. How could I say no?
(Gracie's room was available because she's studying in Switzerland for the spring semester.) Yes, I'll return her book when I'm done reading it.

>121 weird_O: Hey Bill thanks for stopping by.

I'm adding Lincoln to my WL, it sounds right up my alley. Hope you like Orbital. I read it in 2024. Borrowing and sharing books is what life is made of.

Wow 10" of snow. I'm 37 years in CA, I'm now to the point where I only want to SEE snow, not be IN snow. More power to ya.

>113 mahsdad: Forgot to add a book quote that I noted to my Shadow Catcher post

>94 mahsdad: Sure wish you will send this amazing photograph to the Nature Photograph magazines or contests!

>124 m.belljackson: You are too kind. I'm good, but I'm not that good.

New Book - audio

The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson (read byh Caleb Teaupa, Waikamania Seve)



Talking corpses, poetic parrots, and a fan that wafts the breath of life―this is the world young Kōrero finds herself thrust into when a mysterious visitor lands on her island, a place so remote its inhabitants have forgotten the word for stranger. Her people are desperate and on the brink of starvation, and the wayward stranger offers them an impossible choice: they can remain in the only home they’ve ever known and await the uncertainty to come, or Kōrero can join him and venture into unfamiliar waters, guided by only the night sky and his assurance of a bountiful future in the Kingdom of Tonga. What Kōrero and her people don’t know is that the promised refuge is no utopia―instead, Tonga is an empire at war and on the verge of collapse, a place where brains are regularly liberated from skulls and souls get trapped in coconuts with some frequency.

The perils of Tonga are compounded by a royal feud: loyalties are shifting, graves are being opened, and everyone lives in fear of a jellyfish tattoo. Here, survival can rest on a perfectly performed dance or the acceptance of a cup of kava. Together, the stranger and Kōrero embark upon an epic voyage―one that will deliver them either to salvation or to the depths of the Pacific.

Evoking the grandeur of Wolf Hall and the splendor of Shōgun, the Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Adam Johnson conjures oral history, restores the natural world, and locates what’s best in humanity. Toweringly ambitious and breathtakingly immersive, The Wayfinder is an instant, timeless classic.

I'd opened my share of graves before finding something of value: a pendant in the shape of a fishhook, carved from greenstone. Greenstone only came from Aotearoa, the land our people had fled before we ended up on this island.

#newbook

New Book

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski



Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. Yet he is no ordinary killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good . . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

She came to him toward morning. She entered very carefully, moving silently, floating through the chamber like a phantom; the only sound was that of her mantle brushing her naked skin. Yet this fain sound was enough to wake the witcher - or maybe it only tore him from the half-slumber in which he rocked monotonously...

#newbook

January Recap

Books Read - 8

First Book: Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
Last Book: Old Fools and Young Hearts

Overall sources
DTE - 33%
Audio - 56%
Digital - 11%

Unique Authors - 8
Lady Authors - 3
Authors of Color - 0

Total BFB/Chunksters for 2025 - 1
Reread - 1

Pages Read - 647
Hours Listened - 56:52
Words Read - 699,702

2026 Books of the Month

January : End of the World As We Know It edited by Christopher Golden
February :
March :

April :
May :
June :

July :
August :
September :

October :
November :
December :



#botm

Book of the month was a very close call with Piranesi, I think my innate (perhaps misguided) love of The Stand pushed it over the top. (The Stand is probably the first "adult" book I read and a probably too young an age and is mostly likely one of the books I've reread the most over the years.)

>126 mahsdad: YAY - another fan.
I think I schould read The Stand again soon...

>130 mahsdad: It's a major book of King's, one that really solidified his position as our generation's Dickens, so no wonder you rang like a bell to that one!

Happy week-ahead's reads, Jeff.

>131 SirThomas: Me too, I suppose. ;)

>132 richardderus: Now that you mention it, I guess he is very Dickensian. Good week to you too.

Got this sticker over the weekend. I made it my profile pix. My new credo...

I like that!

>135 SirThomas: 😎

New Book - audio

The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica (read by Imani Jade Powers



The long-awaited new novel from the author of global sensation Tender Is the Flesh: a thrilling work of literary horror about a woman cloistered in a secretive, violent religious order, while outside the world has fallen into chaos.

From her cell in a mysterious convent, a woman writes the story of her life in whatever she can find—discarded ink, dirt, and even her own blood. A lower member of the Sacred Sisterhood, deemed an unworthy, she dreams of ascending to the ranks of the Enlightened at the center of the convent and of pleasing the foreboding Superior Sister. Outside, the world is plagued by catastrophe—cities are submerged underwater, electricity and the internet are nonexistent, and bands of survivors fight and forage in a cruel, barren landscape. Inside, the narrator is controlled, punished, but safe.

But when a stranger makes her way past the convent walls, joining the ranks of the unworthy, she forces the narrator to consider her long-buried past—and what she may be overlooking about the Enlightened. As the two women grow closer, the narrator is increasingly haunted by questions about her own past, the environmental future, and her present life inside the convent. How did she get to the Sacred Sisterhood? Why can’t she remember her life before? And what really happens when a woman is chosen as one of the Enlightened?

A searing, dystopian tale about climate crisis, ideological extremism, and the tidal pull of our most violent, exploitative instincts, this is another unforgettable novel from a master of feminist horror.

Someone is screaming in the dark. I hope its Lourdes. I put cockroaches in her pillow and sewed up the slip, so they struggle to get out, so they crawl under her head or over her face (and into her ears, I hope, nesting there, the nymphs damaging her brain).

#newbook

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! Today, a nighttime image of the harbor. I just liked the way the light was playing off the water.



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski : 32%
Listening - The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica : 15%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 47%

NRN - The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson : Unfortunately I put this down yesterday at about 25%. I was listening to it on audio and I just wasn't connecting. I think it was just the accents of the narrators that was just leaving me confused. Overall, I liked the story so far, but I was getting lost in the weeds. I'll keep it on the list and get back to it on paper, eventually.

9. The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli : This was a weird little book that I quite enjoyed. Years ago I read her book Faces in the Crowd for a book club. I liked her then and that's what made me pick this up. Its the story of Highway Sanchez Sanchez, who was born with 4 teeth in his head, grew up to be the best auctioneer in the world, and compiles a world renowned collection of teeth. A fun read.

8. Old Fools and Young Hearts by Tom Bodett 🎧 : One of my favorite story-tellers is Tom Bodett (the "We'll Leave the Light on for Ya" guy) Years ago, I had the cassette recordings of his "End of the Road" stories about his life in Homer Alaska. I always wanted to find them on audio books at the library, and this excerpt was the first one I've found. Comfort food for my ears.

7. Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte 🎧 : This was another weird one that I listened to on audio. Its a loosely connected series of stories about the lives of young adults today and how they handle rejection. From social media, to loves lost, AI, pop culture references and millennial/gen z dialog that I think I'm too old to understand. And not sure if this is a plus or a minus, it has one of the graphic descriptions of a sex act that I've read. Its not really a feel good story, but a worthy read. It was long listed for National Book Award and made several best book lists.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>138 mahsdad: Wow! I just love your harbor picture! You have such a gift.

Happy weekend!

Karen O

>138 mahsdad: The glistening harbor with hints of bridge behind is captivating, and I want to know what is lighting the foreground rocks.

>139 klobrien2: Thanks Karen

>140 quondame: Basically street lights. Right behind me is Warehouse One, its one of the old buildings that you would see if you were coming into the harbor from Angels Gate.

In this picture from Google Maps, we were standing just next to the Palm Tree that's in front of the park benches

I just remembered I was going to share this one too. Looking down the barrel of an empty beer glass. Hmmm, time to go have one of those, but full.

>141 mahsdad: Ah, so the textural contrast was a happy accident, but a good catch!

>142 mahsdad: And here I thought you caught a splash!

>142 mahsdad: Beer photo reminds me of watching detergent water slowly winding over the tops of submerged dishes in sink =
often fascinating...

>138 mahsdad: Lights on dark water look very beautiful indeed. I hope The Wayfarer in print makes its way back to you soon. Happy weekend-ahead's reads.

>143 quondame: Splash - it does look like that doesn't it.

>144 m.belljackson: Absolutely, I like that too.

>145 richardderus: Thanks RD!

I'm always flummoxed by the Touchstone logic when it goes completely off the rails

When I put in The Unworthy for the book I just finished, Touchstone says its The Compleat Angler. Its not even close.

I understand when its close and it may have words from what I put in in the list it choose, but I don't get this one. LOL.

New Book - audio

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood (read by Cassandra Campbell/Mark Deakins)



Stan and Charmaine are a married couple trying to stay afloat in the midst of an economic and social collapse. Job loss has forced them to live in their car, leaving them vulnerable to roving gangs. They desperately need to turn their situation around—and fast. The Positron Project in the town of Consilience seems to be the answer to their prayers. No one is unemployed and everyone gets a comfortable, clean house to live in . . . for six months out of the year. On alternating months, residents of Consilience must leave their homes and function as inmates in the Positron prison system. Once their month of service in the prison is completed, they can return to their "civilian" homes.
At first, this doesn't seem like too much of a sacrifice to make in order to have a roof over one's head and food to eat. But when Charmaine becomes romantically involved with the man who lives in their house during the months when she and Stan are in the prison, a series of troubling events unfolds, putting Stan's life in danger. With each passing day, Positron looks less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled.

Sleeping in the car is cramped. Being a third-hand Honda, it's no palace to begin with. If it was a van they'd have more room, but fat chance of affording one of those, even back when they thought they had money.

#newbook

Just catching up, Jeff. Thanks for all the art! I love your photos when you play with the light. Tom Bodett's ex-wife, Debi, is my husband's cousin Don Freas's long-time companion. I think you'd enjoy Don's art, and Debi does graphic design.

>149 laytonwoman3rd: Hi Linda, what a small world. Thanks for the info about Don's art, I'll check him out.

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! Today's a nice (IMO) pix of two of my kids. (Sorry, not sorry, RD 😜)



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski : 67%
Listening - The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood : 34%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 49%

10. The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica 🎧 : Listened to this on Audio. An interesting story about a woman living in the convent of the Sacred Sisterhood. A place seemingly quarantined from a dystopian world outside their walls. She is writing her story with whatever she can find; dirt, discarded ink, even her blood. She has to hide her story for fear of retribution from the higher ups. She contemplates her past and what's happing in her weird culty little convent. Its certainly not a feel good story, but it was a good read. Its a quick read, only about 4.5 hours.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>151 mahsdad: I think I might've liked #10 a wee bit more than you did. It's deffo not a feel-good read! I feel in my water that she's telling us a brutal truth and lots are only seeing the bumpy surface-shine....

I shall Loftily Ignore the "ornamentation" to your thread. Read hearty!

>152 richardderus: Hey RD. 4 for me is my default, I liked it have no real qualms about the story. I like her writing quite a bit. I've read Tender and Nineteen Claws. Would recommend them all. She's on my "auto read" authors list.

Nothing she writes is "feel-good" and that's a good thing. :)

Have a great weekend!

>151 mahsdad: I guess it had to be cats sometimes. Your cats are, of course, the best cats.

>154 quondame: Thanks Susan!

Book Haul

We've been watching (actually rewatching) The Witcher, and I got the first book a while ago. Laura read it and loved it (I'm reading it now), and she went ahead and got 4 more in the series.

9. Sword of Destiny
10. Baptism of Fire
11. Time of Contempt
12. Blood of Elves

#bh

I didn't know this was going to be a thing, but they made a movie of Stewart O'Nan's A Prayer for the Dying

I go to too many movies anymore, just watch trailers. This is a good one, and I think I might have to find the actual movie when it comes out, or comes to streaming

https://youtu.be/mj_kkJFm4AQ?si=bP_SwB0q51H3l4nW

>157 mahsdad: Interesting looking trailer for that adaptation. I hope you'll get to read the book first. I haven't read it, but when the film comes to streaming I'll get on board.

>158 richardderus: I have read it, loved it. It was a bit of an ironic read, as I read it summer of 2020 when we were in the depths of Covid, and its a story about a pandemic.

I guess the movie just made its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. It might be a while before seeing it streaming. But who knows...

New Book - audio

Separation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang



For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and unequal policies. The extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power aren’t actually on the side of Jesus—and historically they never have been. How do we fight back against those acting—literally—in bad faith?

Comedian and broadcaster John Fugelsang finally offers the answers. In this informative, perspective-shifting book, Fugelsang takes readers through common fundamentalist arguments on abor­tion, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and more—exposing their hypocrisy and inaccuracy through scripture, common sense, and deeply inappropriate humor. It offers practical tips on how to debate your loved one, coworker, or neighbor on the issues that divide us using that Bible they claim to follow.

But Fugelsang’s message is about more than just taking down hypocrites. It’s about fighting for the love, mercy, and service that are supposed to make up the heart of Christianity. Told with Fugelsang’s trademark blend of radical honesty, comedy, and deep political and religious knowledge, Separation of Church and Hate is the book every American needs today. It’s a rallying cry for compassion and clarity for anyone of any faith who’s sick of religion being used as a cloaking device for hate.

I'm here because two people broke a promise to God.

#newbook

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! Here's some flowers for ya...



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson : 0%
Listening - Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds by John Fuglesang : 6%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 54%

13. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski : First book in the Witcher Series. We have watched and loved the Witcher TV series and reading this give more depth and back story to what we've seen. Its a series of interconnected short stories about Geralt's adventures. If you're into gritty fantasy, its a worthwhile read.

"I shit on justice!" yelle the Mayor, not caring if there were any voters under the window

12. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood 🎧: Read this on audio. This is an interesting story that I'm on the fence about. In a dystopian world, Charmaine and Stan are living in their car and see an advertisement about a new way of living. They move to the town of Consilience, where one month they get to live in a house of their own, then the next month they have to spend in prison while another couple lives in their house. Interesting premise. But then Charmaine has an affair with the other man living in their house and things take a right hand turn. She's caught, her husband gets smuggled out of the town to work temporarily in a sex doll manufacturing plant, where actual people can be copied and fetishized. Then it takes a further right turn were Stan has to smuggle out some data in a container box with a troupe of Elvis escorts, and then has to join the Green Man Group (an off shoot of the Blue Man group). It good weird. I liked it okay, but your milage may vary.

11. Cronus by P. Djeli Clark (K) : A short story in the Amazon Prime Time Travel collection. In a world where the black population never really did get the civil rights movement that they should have, there is Time Travel Tourism where mostly white folks can go back to visit past histories. A woman who runs one of these time travel facilities, gets approached by a secret organization who opens her eyes to what's really going on and wants her help. A good read.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>161 mahsdad: Pretty gerberas! I love the yellow's intensity and the way it peeks through on the brick-colored on to make their relationship clear. Happy weekend-ahead's reads.

>162 richardderus: Thanks kind sir!

>161 mahsdad: For got to add a quote that I noted from Last Wish

New Book

Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson



Winter, a cemetery, Shylock. In this provocative and profound interpretation of The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is juxtaposed against his present-day counterpart in the character of art dealer and conflicted father Simon Strulovitch. With characteristic irony, Jacobson presents Shylock as a man of incisive wit and passion, concerned still with questions of identity, parenthood, anti-Semitism and revenge.

While Strulovich struggles to reconcile himself to his daughter Beatrice's “betrayal” of her family and heritage—as she is carried away by the excitement of Manchester high society, and into the arms of a footballer notorious for giving a Nazi salute on the field—Shylock alternates grief for his beloved wife with rage against his own daughter's rejection of her Jewish upbringing. Culminating in a shocking twist on Shylock’s demand for the infamous pound of flesh, Jacobson’s insightful retelling examines contemporary, acutely relevant questions of Jewish identity while maintaining a poignant sympathy for its characters and a genuine spiritual kinship with its antecedent—a drama which Jacobson himself considers to be “the most troubling of Shakespeare’s plays for anyone, but, for an English novelist who happens to be Jewish, also the most challenging.”

It is one of those better-to-be-dead-than-alive days you get in the north of England in February, the space between the land and sky a mere letter box of squeezed light, the sky itself unfathomably banal.

#newbook

Happy Saturday, Jeff. Sorry to hear that The Wayfinder didn't work for you on audio. I sure hope you give it another try in print. I really enjoyed this journey. I am adding Separation of Church and Hate to my audio list. I am currently enjoying Crooks on audio. Keep this entertaining crime writer in mind.

Oooh...I'll be very interested in how Shylock is My Name fares with you.

>161 mahsdad: Wow! Those fair burst off the screen!

New Book - audioi

The John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short Fiction by John Varley (read by several)



From the moment John Varley burst onto the scene in 1974, his short fiction was like nothing anyone else was writing. His stories won every award the science fiction field had to offer, many times over. His first collection, The Persistence of Vision, published in 1978, was the most important collection of the decade, and changed what fans would come to expect from science fiction.

Now, The John Varley Reader gathers his best stories, many out of print for years. This is the volume no Varley fan-or science fiction reader-can do without.

From Picnic on Nearside This is the story of how I went to the Nearside and found old Lester and maybe grew up a little. And about time, too, as Carnival would say. Carnival is my mother. We don't get along well most of the time, and I think it's because I'm twelve and she's ninety-six

#newbook

>166 msf59: Hey Mark. I'm sure I'll find my way back to Wayfinder eventually.

I whole heartedly recommend Separation of Church and Hate. Its excellent and profound, at list to me as a lapsed Methodist. Definitely do it on audio. Fuglesang reads it and he's an excellent narrator.

>167 laytonwoman3rd: Hi Linda. Its going pretty good with Shylock so far. Its a little challenging, not sure if its Jacobson wanting to give it an actual Shakespeare feel, or he just writes with "big" words. I think, if my records are correct, I have you to thank for my copy. You gave to me for Christmas in 2022 ;)

>168 quondame: Thanks Susan!

>170 mahsdad: Have you read Jacobson before? A few years ago there was quite a lot of buzz around here over his The Finkler Question. I tried, and just could not engage with it. And to tell the truth, if not for the Shakespeare connection and the fact that Shylock was an ER selection I won, I might not have given it the concentration it needed. I am glad I did, though. I hope you're still thanking me for it when you're done!

>171 laytonwoman3rd: Oh, too bad youcouldn't get into The Finkler Question. I loved it, and I think I cried at the ending. But taste - you know - not to be argued with.

>171 laytonwoman3rd: I have not read any Jacobson, and I too would not have picked this up if it wasn't for the Shakespeare connection. I've read 4 of the Hogarth collection; Hag-Seed, New Boy, Vinegar Girl, and Macbeth. There's two others, I don't have. Dunbar (King Lear) and Gap of Time (Winter's Tale)

I will still be thanking you when I'm done. Sometimes its good to read something that pushes you. ;)

So I had my car in for some maintenance, and I was walking around the area. There was a Goodwill Store nearby and I thought I'd pop in and see what they had for books. I haven't really bought much from them, but I've heard tell that you can get some pretty good deals. My experience says, I'm not so sure.

I saw a paperback of an Orson Scott Card that I'd never heard of; Invasive Procedures, a medical thriller that sounded intriguing, despite the toxicness of Card personally. If it was a deal, I'd give it a try.

Hmmm. This was a Mass-market paperback, not even the larger trade paperback.



Do you think its a deal? I think not.

;)

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! Today to celebrate the summer that just horned its way into late winter (its 86 right now), here's an old picture I took 20 years ago on a little trip out to Catalina. It came up on my windows background loop on my PC, I like it and I thought I'd share.



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson : 39%
Listening - John Varley Reader by John Varley : 19 %
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 58%

14. The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fuglesang 🎧: Listened on audio, read by the author. As a lapsed Methodist, I've been disillusioned with organized religion for years. I think it started when I moved to California and drove passed the gaudy Trinity Christian Broadcasting building that used to sit right on the 405. And now with the rise of Christian Fundamentalist/Nationalists, I'm disillusioned all the more. This book pulls that disillusionment back a bit. Fugelsang, who's Mom stopped being a Nun, to marry his Dad, who stopped being a Monk to marry his Mom, goes thru the Bible and compares and contrasts what it literally says and what the Fundamentalist want it to say. It is a very funny and profound book that solidifies my feeling of the Bible itself and that if more people were like him and follow and interpret the book like he does, there wouldn't be as many people leaving the church in droves. YMMV, and I'm not taking anything from your beliefs but for me, its still a no for modern religion, but I like knowing there's more people like this out there.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>174 mahsdad: ...only if they're paying you....

>176 richardderus: Yeah, when you're right, you're right, and you're right.

>175 mahsdad: All those moored/anchored boats raise so many problems to be solved in my mind! Is it like valet parking, like a lot with a floating trolley to ferry people to a main event, and what’s the sewage situation? (There are question marks all through that last sentence, but they mandate unwanted capitals.

Pretty, though.

>178 quondame: I think there is a little ferry to get back and forth, plus most of them will have their own little tender that they can use back and forth. Now as far as the sewage situation, I have no clue, but I think in the most "human" way possible, if they go far enough out to sea, they can just dump it. :(

2026 Books of the Month

January : End of the World As We Know It edited by Christopher Golden
February : The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fuglesang
March :

April :
May :
June :

July :
August :
September :

October :
November :
December :



#botm

February Recap

Books Read - 6

First Book: The Story of My Teeth
Last Book: Separation of Church and Hate

Pages Read - 602
Hours Listened - 26:12
Words Read - 398,089

Overall sources
DTE - 29%
Audio - 57%
Digital - 14%

Unique Authors - 14
Lady Authors - 6
Authors of Color - 1

Total BFB/Chunksters for 2026 - 1
Reread - 1

#recap

>180 mahsdad: It would have been welcome if the three major religions:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,
had followed the teachings of Noah instead of Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his son instead of himself.

>182 m.belljackson: Yeah, you're probably right. That would be an interesting prompt for an alternate universe/what if story. If the story of Noah became the driving philosophy how would things be different.

New Book - graphic novel

We're Taking Everyone Down With Us by Matthew Rosenberg



James Bond meets The Island of Doctor Moreau in this graphic novel about a young girl who discovers her father isn’t the hero she believed, but one of the most dangerous super-spy villains on the planet.

After her mad-scientist father is killed by the world’s greatest spy, 13-year-old Annalise is left all alone in the world. Sort of. Her dead dad’s robot bodyguard won't stop following her around for some reason. Now Annalise has a choice: try to lead a normal life for the first time ever…or seek revenge and maybe overthrow the world order in the process.

Embark on a journey of regret and retribution, super spies and pseudoscience, growing up and global domination from brilliant artist STEFANO LANDINI (Prodigy, Hellblazer) and okay writer MATTHEW ROSENBERG (What’s the Furthest Place From Here?, Uncanny X-Men)

#newbook

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday! Today's image is one you've already seen, if you follow me on FB or Instagram, but I wanted to share it here. We were walking last week along Ocean Trails in PV. Its the only good thing to come out of the Orange Nutjob's ownership of the golf course in Palos Verdes. The Coastal Commission mandates that access and nature trails along the coast must be provided and maintained by the owners. So we get hiking access along the cliffs and get to watch ID10T golfers give $500 a round to DT to play golf. Oh well, a fool and his money... Enjoy this shot of Catalina.



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson : 91%
Listening - John Varley Reader by John Varley : 78%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 60%
Graphic Novel - We're Taking Everyone Down With Us by Matthew Rosenberg : 33%

Nothing completed this week

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>185 mahsdad: - Wow, that's a frame-worthy photo, Jeff. Gorgeous.

>142 mahsdad: Oh that's cool! I would have never guessed. Looks like a the ripples of a drop of water.

Happy weekend!

>186 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, thanks so much. I've never really thought of enlarging a phone picture. You may have nudged me to try. At least an 8x10

>187 figsfromthistle: Thanks Figs!

>188 mahsdad: My Dad took some of his favorite photos to a specialty lab, where the staff created inter-negatives (they were all slides) and then blew them up to major wall sizes. This is worth more than 8x10, as many of your photos are.

>185 mahsdad: All the drama!

>189 ffortsa: Hi Judy, thanks for the suggestion. I might just have to try that with this one, just to see what's possible with phone pix.

>190 quondame: Thanks Susan!

New Book

Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan



Award-winning writer Stewart O'Nan has been acclaimed by critics as one of the most accomplished novelists writing today. Now comes his finest and most complete novel to date.

A year after the death of her husband, Henry, Emily Maxwell gathers her family by Lake Chautauqua in western New York for what will be the last vacation at their summer cottage. Joining is her sister-in-law, who silently mourns the sale of the lake house, and a long-lost love. Emily's firebrand daughter, a recovering alcoholic recently separated from her husband, brings her children from Detroit. Emily's son, who has quit his job and mortgaged his future to pursue his art, comes accompanied by his children and his wife, who is secretly heartened to be visiting the house for the last time.

Memories of past summers resurface, old rivalries flare up, and love is rekindled and born anew, resulting in a timeless novel drawn, as the best writing often is, from the ebbs and flow of daily life.

They took Arlene's car because it had air-conditioning and Emily wasn't sure the Olds would make it. That and Arlene's was bigger, a wagon, better for bringing things back. Emily knew she wouldn't be able to resist. She'd never learned to take even the smallest loss gracefully...

#newbook

>185 mahsdad: ...the sky...!

Impressive, Jeff.

>193 richardderus: Thanks! RD

New Book - Audio

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (read by Gary Sinese)



Over seventy-five years since its first publication, Steinbeck’s tale of commitment, loneliness, hope, and loss remains one of America’s most widely read and taught novels. An unlikely pair, George and Lennie, two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression, grasp for their American Dream. They hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the things George taught him.

Of Mice and Men represents an experiment in form, which Steinbeck described as “a kind of playable novel, written in a novel form but so scened and set that it can be played as it stands.” A rarity in American letters, it achieved remarkable success as a novel, a Broadway play, and three acclaimed films. This edition features an introduction by Susan Shillinglaw, one of today’s leading Steinbeck scholars.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter's flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool.

#newbook

New Book - Audio

Shy: A Novel by Max Porter (read by Joe Gaminara)



A novel about guilt, rage, imagination, and boyhood, about being lost in the dark and learning you’re not alone, soon to be adapted as the major motion picture STEVE, starring Cillian Murphy

This is the story of a few strange hours in the life of a troubled teenage boy.

You mustn’t do that to yourself Shy. You mustn’t hurt yourself like that.

He is wandering into the night listening to the voices in his head: his teachers, his parents, the people he has hurt and the people who are trying to love him.

Got your special meds, nutcase?

He is escaping Last Chance, a home for “very disturbed young men,” and walking into the haunted space between his night terrors, his past, and the heavy question of his future.

The night is huge and it hurts.

In Shy, Max Porter extends the excavation of boyhood that began with Grief Is the Thing with Feathers and continued with Lanny. But here he asks: How does mischievous wonder and anarchic energy curdle into something more disturbing and violent? Shy is a bravura, lyric, music-besotted performance by one of the great writers of his generation.

The rucksack is shockingly heavy.
The floorboards complain.
He checks again: the spliff is diagonal-snug in the empty Embassy box.
The Daytime check is a half-dream away.
the room is molten soft. Tempting.
Jumpy

#newbook

Was getting dinner last night and I noticed something with the receipt that's happening more and more and I want to see what peoples opinion is.

Regarding tipping. For many years, my technic was to just mentally calculate 15-20% (at least) off of the grand total. But as more restaurants are putting suggested tips on the receipts, I started noticing that sometimes it was based on the grand total, which includes sales tax, and sometimes its just off of the food total before tax.

I came to the decision that I shouldn't be tipping on the total amount, just the cost of the food.

For example. $100 bill + 9.75% (thanks LA) = 109.75%

20% on the total is $21.95
20% on the pre-tax total is $20

I'm usually generous anyway and overtip, but on the straight calculations, we shouldn't be tipping on tax, should we?

thoughts welcome...

In a pre-Friday flurry of picture posts, wanted to share some images I took at the Natural History museum last weekend. They have a new exhibit called Unearthed: Raw Beauty. A display of natural crystals and minerals. it was very cool.

Calcite and Amethyst Geodes - these are at least 3 foot tall

Topaz on Feldspar

Tourmaline

Malachite




Sspessartine on smoky quartz and feldspar : I learned that depending on the conditions, pressure and temperature, different crystals will grow out at different times. Pretty cool.

Calcite and amethyst



Learned that Amethyst is just quartz that has been subject to mild radiation when in the ground to change its color purple

Large Ammonite (think snail, or nautilus) fossil

My birthstone is Peridot (August), and usually its a pale green, not very "manly", but this was the largest and darkest green I've ever seen.

Gold in the full crystal form



Copper in its crystal form

Curated rocks rock!

Totally over the Top Amazing - is the Unearthed: Raw Beauty exhibit going to travel?

>206 quondame: I know, right!

>207 m.belljackson: TBH, I don't know, but if it is, its not going to be for a while. Website says its around until April 2027

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday Folks! Summer showed up a couple months early, so we're dealing with a bit of a heat wave around here. Most glad that I finally sprung for A/C. That and Iran's going to be bombing us, or is just going to be a Cheetolini false flag? Who knows. Anyway, enough politics, on to the flowers. Enjoy...



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan : 28%
Listening - Shy: A Novel by Max Porter : 67%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 62%
Graphic Novel - We're Taking Everyone Down With Us by Matthew Rosenberg : 56%

17. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 🎧 : Listened on Audio (read by Gary Sinese). I'm not sure if I've ever read this before, but its pretty much a ubiquitous story. I saw it in my Libby feed so why not. It's a really quick read. It's a powerful story about George and Lenny trying to make due in the Great Depression, trying to save up from transient jobs to find their own place and dealing with Lenny's mental deficiencies, before it comes to a tragic end. A good read.

16. John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short Fiction by John Varley 🎧 : John Varley is one of my favorite sci-fi authors, his Gaea Trilogy is a particular favorite. This is a collection of his short stories from throughout his career. Its a pretty good listen. There's some good gems in here, including his 3 Hugo/Nebula winning stories. Some that are just okay, and a couple that are kind of cringy in today's mindset. Those deal with the assumed maturity of some young teenagers and some adult subjects. He has some really interesting ideas; the ability to change gender at will, human/plant hybrids to allow for living in the rings of Saturn. Memory recording and clone generation for setting up your own personal save points. Its a worthwhile read.

15. Shylock is My Name by Howard Jacobson : This was one of the Hogarth Shakespeare series and is a take on The Merchant of Venice. I'm on the fence on this one. Its right in the middle of my list of the series that I've read. The writing was a little dense, it was the most Shakespearian of all of them so far. I'm not that familiar with the play, other than I know that Shylock is the main character and there's a couple famous quotes. Shylock and his friend Strulovitch are Jewish businessmen and the main thread of the story is Strulovitch trying to deal with his rebellious daughter and her much older Gentile boyfriend. If the boyfriend will get a circumcision, his "pound of flesh" then all will be well. It was a bit weird. YMMV

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>209 mahsdad: Who turned up the heat! Not me, that’s for sure! Pretty blooms are some compensation though.

I’ve read Varley and enjoyed his books and promptly forgotten them. It’s strange what sort of things stand out enough for an individual enough for memory to catch on them.

>210 quondame: Temp - yeah I know, me neither. 81 according to the backyard thermometer. I'm at the beach, it shouldn't be that hot until July at the earlies. :/

thanks for the flower love.

I definitely fall victim to book amnesia sometimes. Love a book, can't remember what it was about or who the characters were. Know I enjoyed it tho. And that's okay.

This is a test... for all these years, I've been using the img src to share my pictures. But I just noticed the image button in the lower right of the message box. It lets you upload a picture rather than use the URL. I'm testing this now.

If you see another flower, it worked.

That seemed to have worked. Though you don't get to control the size, so using the IMG SRC with its HTML options is more flexible. But if I have a picture on my computer, I won't have to upload it to the web first.

>213 mahsdad: Oh, that sounds handy. I use img src so my Junk file is crammed full. How does that work?

>214 quondame: I don't use the Junk drawer here. I have an account with Smugmug.com where all my photos are stored (http://mahsdad.smugmug.com), but the img src thing works just fine from there too.

What's interesting with my test is that the Image uploader must have a limited amount of text.

What I put in front of that image was this

This is a test... for all these years, I've been using the img src="URL" (substitute

But, at least for me, it only displays up til "substitute".

I don't think I'll be using it. I like the flexibility of IMG SRC

>212 mahsdad: Okay addendum to my thinking that the image upload was cutting off my text.

It wasn't the upload, it was what I had in my text. Apparently using a bracket character instead of the angle in front of img src, still gets interpreted as HTML. So it was looking for an image link and the end bracket to close off the statement. Since there wasn't one, it got all confused and cut off the remaining text. Learn something new every day. 🤷

>212 mahsdad: That's one I knew nothing about! Very very cool! I've got squillions of things to upload suddenly.

Lovely sampling of crystals up there...the Chinese copper in particular is *stunning*.

>217 richardderus: I know, right. Much easier than having to save the picture somewhere first. Might no work when you want to resize things or load multiples, but for quick and dirty sharing, it will work just fine.

Yeah, I love crystals, so amazing what nature can grow in the right conditions.

>218 mahsdad: They're amazing objects that demonstrate how complexity arises from order.

>219 richardderus: Absolutely!

New Book - Audio

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn (read by Marc Thompson)



One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating villains in the Star Wars universe. Since his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahn’s classic Heir to the Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn has earned an iconic status equal only to the most notorious of Sith lords, Darth Vader. But Thrawn’s origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power—and infamy.

After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again—even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.

All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire’s grip on the galaxy—and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy

All beings begin their lives with hopes and aspirations. Among these aspirations is the desire that there will be a straight path to those goals. It is seldom so. Perhaps never. Sometimes the turns are of one's own volition, as one's thoughts and goals change over time. But more often the turns are mandated by outside forces. It was so with me.

#newbook

>215 mahsdad: TIL that there is now an Image button! How new is it, and why do we need a Poll button? I guess other groups are more prone to Polls. I’m mostly happy with the Review button.

>222 quondame: No clue when it showed up. Maybe it was there all along with the Review and Poll, just never noticed it.

Speaking of Polls, I actually used it last Christmas when I was wondering if people wanted to do the Christmas Swap again. It has it uses, I'd imagine.

>222 quondame:, >223 mahsdad: I think it just arrived in the last few days. Review has been there a while, but I hadn't noticed Poll before.

>222 quondame: I've see people use the poll button to have others vote on which book they should read next.

I hadn't noticed the image button yet. Handy!

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday Folks! Still dealing with the heat dome, hopefully today will be the last day of 80+ days at the beach for a while. But one of the things the weather is bringing is nice sunrises, okay not quite a sunrise, but red sky in the morning. And yes I get sunrises in California over water ;)



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan : 52%
Listening - Thrawn by Timothy Zahn : 45%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 68%

19. We're Taking Everyone Down With Us by Matthew Rosenberg (GN) : This was a fun sci-fi-ish graphic novel about a young girl trying to survive with her reluctant bodyguard robot, after a cabal of super spies killed her father on his island/lair. She has to decide how she's going to get revenge. A fun read.

18. Shy: A Novel by Max Porter 🎧 : Listened on audio.One of my favorite books is Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Porter, its one that will probably become an annual read for me. This is his latest. Its about, Shy, a troubled teen, who we follow for a couple hours after he escapes from a troubled youth facility. We hear his inner monologue and his struggles to come to grips on who he is and what he wants to do with his life. Like Grief, this is a short "novel" that is more of a long form poem, but not quite. Its almost like a slam poetry event where the history of his life is coming out almost in a rap. It worked really well on audio.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>226 mahsdad: It looks really hot, Jeff. That shade of red's scary to me...too evocative of heat.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads!

>226 mahsdad: You’ve take perfect advantage of our wayward coastline!

>185 mahsdad: Beautiful and so soothing...
>198 mahsdad: ... >205 mahsdad: Wow
>226 mahsdad: Wonderful
Have a wonderful weekend, Jeff.

>227 richardderus: Yeah, it was pretty hot on that day. Thanks RD.

>228 quondame: Thanks, Susan!

>229 SirThomas: Thanks Thomas!

New Book - Graphic Novel

More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey



“Every word is an accusation…and every whisper kills.” This staggering graphic novel explores the infamous Salem witch trials and the long shadows they cast more than 300 years later.

In Salem, Massachusetts, 1692 is a year of terror. When accusations of witchcraft plunge the community into paranoia and death, curmudgeonly farmer Giles Corey and his great-souled wife Martha are forced to confront their troubled pasts, fighting to hold onto their principles even at the cost of their lives. In the 1860s, famed writers Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stroll the streets of Salem together, reflecting on their own dark connections to those wicked days. Today, graphic novelist Ben Wickey wrestles with the complex legacy of “the Witch City” and what it shows us about the best and worst of humanity.

Based on true events, set in three centuries, and hand-drawn over a decade, More Weight is a stunning visual symphony — a unique and profound inquiry into the infamous Salem witch trials and the long shadows they still cast on us all.

Delusions of the days that once have been,
Witchcraft and wonders of the world unseen,
Phantoms of air, and necromantic arts
That crushed the weak and awed the stoutest hears... Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

#newbook

>231 mahsdad: That was a horrible story and it's worse because it's true. I'd say enjoy it but it's not to be enjoyed, really.

New-week orisons.

>232 richardderus: Yeah, there's really not a good term for reading a challenging book that if you "enjoy" it, there's something to be said of your psychological situation. Like reading The Rape of Nanking, or back to the graphical novel world, reading Maus

Reading them is a worthwhile endeavor, but I wouldn't say you should enjoy them

>233 mahsdad: ...and "admire" or "respect" has the weight of dislike...what're we missing? Do we need a new word?

>234 richardderus: "Appreciate," maybe? That still doesn't feel quite right, does it?

>234 richardderus: >235 foggidawn: I know once you start thinking about it...

... This just popped into my noggin... Academically intriguing. Or Historically worthwhile

>236 mahsdad: "Intriguing" and "worthwhile"...hmmm...

New Book - Audio

Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource by Sam Bloch



On a 90-degree day in Los Angeles, bus riders across the city line up behind the shadows cast by street signs and telephone poles, looking for a little relief from the sun’s glaring heat. Every summer such scenes play out in cities across the United States, and as Sam Bloch argues, we ignore the benefits of shade at our own peril. Heatwaves are now the country’s deadliest natural disasters with victims concentrated in poorer, less shady areas. Public health, mental health, and crime statistics are worse in neighborhoods without it. For some, finding shade is a matter of life and death.

Shade was once a staple of human civilization. In Mesopotamia and Northern Africa, cities were built densely so that courtyards and public passageways were in shadow in the heat of the day, with cool breezes flowing freely. The Greeks famously philosophized in shady agoras. Even today, in Spain’s sunny Seville, political careers are imperiled when leaders fail to put out the public shades that hang above sidewalks in time for summer heat.

So what happened in the U.S.? The arrival of air conditioning and the dominance of cars took away the impetus to enshrine shade into our rapidly growing cities. Though a few heroic planners, engineers, and architects developed shady designs for efficiency and comfort, the removal of shade trees in favor of wider roads and underinvestment in public spaces created a society where citizens retreat to their own cooled spaces, if they can—increasingly taxing the energy grid—or face dangerous heat outdoors.

Shade examines the key role that shade plays not only in protecting human health and enhancing urban life, but also looks toward the ways that innovative architects, city leaders, and climate entrepreneurs are looking to revive it to protect vulnerable people—and maybe even save the planet. Ambitious and far-reaching, Shade helps us see a crucially important subject in a new light.

On a balmy afternoon in rural Oregon, a flat, shallow creek riffles gently over gravel. The creek runs straight through a sunny meadow for as far as the eye can see, the centerline of a warm, pastoral scene that draws the gaze from a country road to a brown cows roaming on grass, to the foothills studded with bushy trees in the distance.

#newbook

Fantastic Foto Friday

Happy Friday Folks! Today's image is of my furson Loki that I thought came out quite good. Enjoy. (or for some, Don't. ;) )



Book Update
>2 mahsdad: Q1 Books
>3 mahsdad: Audiobooks

Reading - Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan : 84%
Listening - Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource by Sam Bloch : 1%
Digital - The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen : 72%
Graphic Novel - More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey : 14%

20. Thrawn by Timothy Zahn 🎧 : Read on audio. (Read by Marc Anderson, did a fantastic job). This is the first book of the Thrawn trilogy. Its about (you guessed it) Thrawn, an enigmatic alien to comes to the empire and rapidly scales the ladder of power to become a Grand Admiral in the Emperor's Navy. In the Star Wars timeline, its set after the Clone Wars and before the events of A New Hope. It was a very good read, its a political thriller set in a world where the rebellion is just starting and the Empire seem to be the "good guys". A very interesting take. I will definitely be reading the other 2. I had seen the books over the years, but never picked them up. When we still had Disney+, I watched Asoka and Thrawn played a pivitol role in that story. Gave me a little push to read them. Anderson does a very good job at different voices, and the production of the audio has lots of sound effects and shades of the classic Star Wars music. One thing I noticed, is at some point there was an alert sound, and they used the Red Alert sound from classic Star Trek. Must have been in a sounds library. Thought it was funny, using a Trek sound in a Wars story.

Jeff's 2026 B.A.S.S tracking document

#ff

>239 mahsdad: CHOO

I'b zzo glad you ligkt Thrawn, djeff.

>239 mahsdad: What a gorgeous kitty cat! Great picture!

Have a terrific weekend!

Karen O

>240 richardderus: To sooth your troubled virtual sinus, here's some hibiscus



And it took me a second to realize what you were saying. Had to actually sound it out in my head. Too funny!

>241 klobrien2: Thanks Karen!

Happy Friday, Jeff. I really like that Loki photo. Thanks to you- I am really enjoying Separation of Church and Hate. I love it that someone finally laid out the "real" bible and can quote from it remarkably well. Of course, there are also laughs along the way. I would LOVE to see him on a talk show debating one of these guys.

>242 mahsdad: *chuckle*

Beautiful hibiscus!

>239 mahsdad: - Handsome boy!

>239 mahsdad: Definitely some Attitude!!!

>242 mahsdad: Almost as much attitude!

>243 msf59: Hi Mark, thanks for the photo love. I'm glad you're like Separation. I've gotten so many recommendations from you and others around here, I'm glad when I can inflict the BB. ;)

>244 richardderus: 😃

>245 jessibud2: Thanks!

>246 quondame: His attitude is a facade. LOL. There's nothing in that little noggin'. He's a crazy little freak.

New Book

Emily Alone by Stewart O'Nan



From the author of Last Night at the Lobster, a moving vision of love and family.

A sequel to the bestselling, much-beloved Wish You Were Here, Stewart O'Nan's intimate new novel follows Emily Maxwell, a widow whose grown children have long moved away. She dreams of visits by her grandchildren while mourning the turnover of her quiet Pittsburgh neighborhood, but when her sole companion and sister-in-law Arlene faints at their favorite breakfast buffet, Emily's days change. As she grapples with her new independence, she discovers a hidden strength and realizes that life always offers new possibilities. Like most older women, Emily is a familiar yet invisible figure, one rarely portrayed so honestly. Her mingled feelings-of pride and regret, joy and sorrow- are gracefully rendered in wholly unexpected ways. Once again making the ordinary and overlooked not merely visible but vital to understanding our own lives, Emily, Alone confirms O'Nan as an American master.

Tuesdays, Emily Maxwell put what precious little remained of her life in God's and her sister-in-law Arlene's shaky hands and they drove together to Edgewood for Eat'n Park's two-for-one breakfast buffet. The Sunday Post-Gazette, among its myriad of other pleasures, had coupons.

#newbook

Oh no, its April. Time for a new Thread...

Here comes my recaps for the quarter, the new thread is forthcoming...

2026 Books of the Month

January : End of the World As We Know It edited by Christopher Golden
February : The Separation of Church and Hate by John Fuglesang
March : Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan

April :
May :
June :

July :
August :
September :

October :
November :
December :



#botm

March Recap

Books Read - 7

First Book: Shylock is My Name
Last Book: Wish You Were Here

Pages Read - 1,054
Hours Listened - 48:59
Words Read - 754,957

Overall sources
DTE - 29%
Audio - 57%
Digital - 14%

Unique Authors - 21
Lady Authors - 6
Authors of Color - 1

Total BFB/Chunksters for 2026 - 3
Reread - 2
Gave Away - 4
Purchased - 12

#recap