“A book to me is like a friend, a shelter, advice, an argument with someone who cares enough to argue with me for a better answer than the one we both already have. Books aren’t just door to another world–each book is part of a door to the whole world, a door that always has more behind it. Which is why I still can’t think of anything I’d rather do more than read.” — Alexander Chee
I decided to start the New Year by reading Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz. I made this selection amid the dozens of books in stacks clamoring for my attention. I had DVRed the PBS series of Moonflower Murders and decided I wanted to read the book before I watched the series. Diane and I had watched the PBS version of Magpie Murders (you can read my review here), based on the first novel in the Susan Ryeland series. Lesley Manville played Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest novel…a key factor in a murder. We enjoyed the six-part series so when Moonflower Murders showed up on PBS, I decided to read the novel before watching the TV series.
What are you reading to start 2025?
I am trying to read RED HARVEST since Megan is involved with writing a script for it for Netflix but I fear it is not my kind of book so I am about to take up the new Sally Rooney book, INTERMEZZO, Also I have book group books to read-never as enthusiastic about them for some reason.
Patti, Diane is hosting her Book Club meeting today. I’ll be preparing coffee and pouring wine for the eight members.
I started the year off with reading THE CURSE OF THE BURDENS by John Wyndham, a short novel published in England in1927, when the author was 20 years old — and a full four years before his fist short story was published. It was published under Wyndham’s real name, John b. Harris. It was, of course, a jumbled mess, but I kept reading it just to see how many new plot twists he could add. While reading it, I got a distinct vibe of Wilkie Collins, which added to my enjoyment. I had been wanted to read this one for years and it was finally reprinted by the Modern Library, tacked on to a reprint of Wyndham’s collection JIZZLE, and published as TECHNICAL SLIP: COLLECTED STORIES last year
And I ended 2024 on a very high note with Ken Bruen & Jason Starr’s PIMP, the fourth (and, so far, final) novel in the Max Fisher series, a bitingly satirical, violent, sexy, self-referential, meta romp.
Jerry, I have a bunch of Ken Bruen books waiting to be read. “Bitingly satirical, violent, sexy, self-refertial, meta romp”–sounds like my kind of book!
No reading time on the road, but I am reading the first Peter Tremayne collection of Sister Fidelma stories, HEMLOCK AT VESPERS. I know that you reviewed it a couple of years ago, and I read the second collection. The only problem is, the stories are about 25 pages each, hard to find time on the road. Fidelma is a great character and these are always entertaining.
The first book I read this year was Shelley Burr’s MURDER TOWN, set in a small Outback town halfway between Sydney and Melbourne.
Jeff, I’m a big fan of Sister Fidelma and hope to read more of her books in 2025!
Right now I have several books going:
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Not Funny by Jena Friedman
Jurassic Mary by Patricia Pierce
Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein (outrageously over the top but I’m almost done)
Exit by Belinda Bauer
On my Kindle, I’m working thru the Primordial Earth series by Baileigh Higgins
I have bed books, bathroom books, car books, etc. – you get the idea – and no trouble keeping things straight since they’re all very different.
This is why I don’t see a lot of TV shows.
Beth, I am very impressed with your reading regime! I’m the exact opposite: I read one book at a time. But, I read a lot of books. I read 165 books in 2024…which is why I don’t watch much TV, either.
Jackie is very impressed too, Beth. She said “good for her” when I read her the list. Amazingly, other than Belinda Bauer, I din’t recognize any of the authors.
I find myself escaping into comfort reads and rereads right now (jeez, I wonder why). Victoria’s New Year’s resolution is to read/reread all of Agatha Christie’s works in 2025, so I may reread some of my favorites along with her. I’ve also been reading quite a bit of romance and romantic-suspense, including shifter books (human-wolf) by Cate C. Wells—which are very gritty and have some interesting parallels to our current social/cultural/political dynamics.
Deb, I’m hoping to read more Anthony Trollope books this year. I have some review books clamoring for my attention, but I yearn to read some 19th Century fiction. I’ve not heard of Cate C. Wells, but I’ll track down a copy of her work. I like shifter books, too!
I downloaded a COMPLETE Trollope on the Kindle (as well as Edith Wharton, Henry James, and Dickens, among others). Of course, I already had the Palliser series in paperbacks. Now to just read more of them.
Jackie just finished Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series – not paranormal, set in the Yukon. She has Emily Henry & Ashley Poston on hold. is reading Nora Roberts, and has a bunch of other things on hold too. She doesn’t know Cate C. Wells either.
As you know, Deb, Jackie reads a lot of shifter/paranormal books.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, by Quentin Tarantino! A welcome gift from Beth Fedyn!
Bob, wonderful Beth Fedyn also sent me a copy of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, too! I love the movie and can’t wait to read the novel!
Finishing up Lord Dunsany’s “The Book of Wonder ” and Cynthia Asquith’s “This Mortal Coil” (my only original Arkham House edition). Getting a late start on one of the British Library Tales of the Weird Christmas anthologies, “Haunters at the Hearth,” while holding off on William Morris’s “The Well at the World’s End” until the end of the month with the thought that it will dominate my reading for most of February. Hoping to squeeze in Steven Smith’s biography of Bernard Herrmann, “A Heart at Fire’s Center,” before the end of the month.
Byron, that’s an ambitious reading list! I read William Morris’s THE WELL A THE WORLD’S END in the Ballantine Books edition (January 1, 1971). I listened to a CD of Bernard Hermann’s music just a few weeks ago!
Unusual, for me, amounts of physical labor, as we try to get the house into shape and remake the third bedroom into an office, so less formal reading than usual.
Todd, hope you get back to your normal reading soon!