This week’s topic is, “Top 5 books I will definitely* read in 2025. An oldie, but a goodie! And one I can’t wait to see whether I will (or won’t) read these books in 2024… Same disclosure every year: you won’t be subjected to punishment (from me) if you don’t read these. But what are 5 books you really want to tick off your TBR this year?” For the second straight year, I was 4 for 5 from my 2024 list, let’s see how I do in 2025. I own all of these, so that should help–can’t use “no access” as an excuse, and there’s the guilt of these spines glaring at me from my TBR shelves while I’m at my desk.
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 The Art of Destiny by Wesley Chu Given how much I loved The Art of Prophecy, I don’t understand why I didn’t pounce on this immediately. Well, no more of that. I’m addressing this one soon. I was hoping in January, but I don’t have enough time. Hopefully February. |
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 What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack The West Wing has (I’m talking acutal public service, not conventions, etc.). This book is a combination of reflections on the show and what those associated with it have done in the real world. Whatever the show’s political shortcomings may be, you gotta admire that and want to bask a little in the celebration of it. Hopefully I get to it this year. |
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 The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev Grossman
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 Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by Jason Pargin
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 How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler This just seemed like a lot of fun–and was a book my kids gave me last year. I don’t like to leave gifts unread, so I need to clean that up. Like the Pargin book above, I’ve set out to read this “next week” so many times that it’s ridiculous. The next time that I set that goal, I’m sticking to it. |
Do you have any particular books you’re set on getting to this year?
allysonyj
I’d like to finish “The Brothers Karamazov” which I’ve been dabbling at for a very long time. I want to finish Ruth Ozecki’s “Book of Form and Emptiness” (you notice I didn’t say “like” – this is a tough book to read and digest). And I want to finish Rohinton Mistry’s “A Fine Balance” because I feel like I OUGHT to like this book, if I can just get past the first 100 pages. It would be a stretch to read Michael Chabon’s “Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay”. And if I had time, I want to re-read Dorothy Dunnett’s “King Hereafter” and see if it knocks my socks off the way it did on the first read.