It’s that magic time of year when I find myself being very strategic in what books I choose to pick up–not in a stats-padding way–but in a “can I reasonably expect to finish this by Tuesday night” sort of way (which turns out to look and act like stats-padding), so I can enter 2025 with a clean slate.
Oh, it’s also magic because of all the time I get to spend with family, the general bonhomie in the air, the wonder in my grandchild’s eyes, and all that other stuff, too.
One more thing before I forget–anyone have any recommendations for a decent reading tracker spreadsheet going into the year? Trying to shake things up and trying something new (and I’m not so sure my usual source is going to put one out). I’m thinking of just making my own (again), but I’m also kind of lazy.
Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
The Charles Dickens Illustrated Gallery—A treasure trove of “over 2000 illustrations taken from the most important (and interesting) illustrated editions of Charles Dickens’s works from 1836 to 1912 (the centenary of Dickens’s birth).”
A Critic on Swearing in Fantasy—been too long since I had a good Peat Long rant here. (FWIW, I agree with it. Except the bit about “kids” I hadn’t noticed that before, but I probabaly will now)
The 2025 Fantasy/SF Badge Collection—Spells & Spaceships makes the coolest looking virtual badges.
A Huge Round Up of 2025 Year Long Reading Challenges—a near-overwhelming collection of 2025 Challenges to help plan your year.
Oh Come All Ye Fantasy—Santa Womble brings has a bag-full of fantasy recs.
Ten Recommended Superhero Novels—I keep meaning to do a list along these lines, until I do, I’ll point people at this one.
Quotables: Words that Stuck with Me in 2024—A post I look forward to every year on Witty and Sarcastic Book Blog
It’s the Time of Year for Best of Lists like these to embiggen your 2025 TBRs (or to give you fodder to think about). I’ve made purchases/placed library books on hold from these.
I’ve only read one book from CrimeReads lists (and some of the runner-ups for Best of the Year), but am very inpired to pick up a lot of these:
The Best Debut Crime Novels of 2024
The Best Speculative Crime Fiction of 2024
https://crimereads.com/the-best-crime-novels-of-2024/
Reads of the year for the HIP (Harried Intellectual Parent): 2024—(just in case there are any reading this)
A Fictional Escapists Top 5 Reads of 2024!
Worlds Unlike Our Own’s Best of 2024
Novel Deelights’ Favourite Series of 2024
A few more lists from FanFiAddict:
Tom Bookbeard’s Top Indie Sci Fi and Fantasy Reads of 2024
Matt’s Top Reads of 2024
Harry’s Top 10 Reads of 2024
@LordTBR_FFA ‘s Top 15 Reads of 2024
My Top Ten Reads of 2024—from Hooked from Page One
Books of the year: 2024 edition—from reader @ work
Coe’s Oddly Specific Book Awards
Top Five Memorable Endings I Read In 2024
Eva
Thanks so much for the mention. Hope you’ve found something you like. If not, I still have my list of stand-alones to come 😉.
wittysarcasticbookclub
Thank you for the inclusion!! I happen to love your quotes posts as well!
HCNewton
Thanks! I’ve got to catch up on those 🙂
HCNewton
You include Poe and DS Miller on a list, and I’m going to agree with almost everything you say. Even if I haven’t read it. 🙂
Carol
I love end of year best of lists!
Re the super hero link…..It might interest you that Brendon Slocumb’s new book, Dark Maestro, has a super hero theme! The author is a super hero fan IRL and collects comics, etc.
HCNewton
Thanks Carol, I do enjoy them (as much as my TBR doesn’t). I’ve added Dark Maestro to said TBR.