Category: Blog Series Page 10 of 222

Saturday Miscellany—1/3/26

On January 3, 2026

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

So many changes today…Man Flu has become bronchitis, 2025 has become 2026, my bullet images should look a little better in dark mode (still not perfect…but a good step), and a fourth, funny item should go here. Oh well…punchlines are for closers, I guess. And I haven’t made a sale in weeks.

Anyway, here’s the first Miscellany of 2026, thanks for reading!

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:
bullet I’m sure I need to tell very few of you this, but today is the 134th anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkein’s birth. Fans around the world will be participaing in Tolkien Birthday Toast 2026.
bullet Public Domain Day 2026—Center for the Study of the Public Domain brings us (as per their custom) the lists and some thoughts on the works newly in Public Domain.
bullet Is It Possible to Overconsume Books?—Krysta at Pages Unboud has some thoughts.
bullet The Books That Keep Us Company: There is something special about the series we really, truly grow up with…—Molly Templeton’s latest has something we can all relate to (I imagine), even if her cited examples mean little to us
bullet Novels About Old People—Mike Finn has a good list of books featuring elderly chatacters
bullet Book Blogger Challenge (2026)—a challenge for book bloggers that focuses on the community and blogging itself
bullet 45 Book Bloggers to Follow in 2026—Pages Unbound has a list of 45 to keep an eye on (which may help with the challenge). I can vouch for a lot of these (not that it matters), and assume the few I haven’t encountered/interacted with are just as good
bullet And now, it’s time to look at another batch of Best of ’25 lists:
bullet Read Like Nobody’s Watching- Raven’s December Reads and Books Of The Year 2025. —Raven features a few great-looking ones in 2025
bullet The damppebbles Top Ten(ish!) of 2025—Hard to go wrong with Emma (unless you’re looking for reliable numbers)
bullet Spells & Spaceships’ The Best Books I Read in 2025
bullet A Fictional Escapist’s Top Five of 2025!
bullet Best of 2025 reads—from reader@work
bullet Fantasy Book Nerd’s TOP BOOKS OF 2025
bullet My Top Ten Books of 2025—I agree with a couple of The Orangutan Librarian’s picks and have added some to a TBR.
bullet Top 10 Books Read in 2025—in what was a bad year of reading for him, Peat Long did find some gems.
bullet The Hard Word wraps up their Top Twenty-Five for First Twenty-five Years series with 15-11, 10-6, and 5-1

My favorite sentence/passage/phrase (or two) that I read this week :
bullet “Already, even with the great act still ahead, there was flowing in upon me, from the barren years beyond it, a dejection such as I had never conceived. It was not at all like the agonies I had endured before and have endured since. I did no weep nor wrong my hands. I was like water put into a bottle and left in a cellar: utterly motionless, never to be drunk, poured out, spilled, or shaken. The days were endless. The very shadows seemed nailed to the ground as if the sun no longer moved.”—Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
bullet The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs

Book Blogger Hop: Reading New Genres in the New Year

By HCNewton

On January 2, 2026

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

Which genre are you eager to jump into more this year, and what draws you to it?

Well, I always feel like I should be reading more Non-Fiction than I do. Probably a hold-over from that “reading as self-improvement” model my teachers tried to drum into me. So maybe that?

I spent most of 2025 thinking it’s been too long since I read a good mystery/crime/detective novel. That’s pretty strange for me to say. But the stats I posted yesterday bear that out. So maybe that?

I have so, so many Fantasy books on my Bought and Unread Shelves that I’d love to tackle. I seem to really be getting into them lately, anyway. So maybe that?

I’ve been reading a lot of super-compelling SF books lately (and, yes, have a few of those on that same shelf) that it makes sense to try to keep that streak going. So maybe that?

I’ve nearly-unbelievably fallen behind on some of my favorite UF series (and just found a new one that I’m already behind on). So maybe that?

Cozy Fantasy would be good for my spirits to read more of (and I have more of those than I should on the too oft-mentioned Bought-and-Unread Shelf). So maybe that?

Classics? That’s a genre (of sorts) that I keep meaning to put more effort into—it wouldn’t take much, honestly, to make a huge impact on that front. So maybe that?

Similarly, there’s a reward of reading from the Non-Genre genre—“Contemporary” or “General” fiction (and it can often tap into the self-improvement thing I mentioned earlier). So maybe that?

I’ve been dabbling in Manga, too—and have more than one voice in my head suggesting other titles. So maybe that?

So, um…yeah. I really don’t know the answer to this question. Maybe I’m just eager to dive into everything?? Yeah, that sounds like an Irresponsible (or whim-based) Reader to say.

What about you? Is there a genre, topic, whatever that you’re looking to focus on in 2026?

A Few Scattered Thoughts on My Latest Reading of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

By HCNewton

On January 1, 2026

In C.S. Lewis, Fantasy, Fiction, Further Up and Further In

Further Up and Further In A Year with C.S.Lewis

The Magician’s Nephew

by C. S. Lewis , illustrated by Pauline Baynes

DETAILS:
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia, #6
Publication Date: June 25, 1994
Format: Paperback
Length: 202 pg.
Read Date: December 19-20, 2025

If you need to know what this book is about, or anything about this series…seriously, just stop what you’re doing and pick up this book. I don’t mean to be a snob, or maybe I do, but something was missing from your childhood, and now is your time to fix it. I realize that there are many legitimate reasons for people not to have read this (more than some of the earlier), and I’m not questioning the choices you or your parents made (actually, I guess I am). But I’m not going to try to talk about this book like I do most others.

If only because everything worth saying has been said by other, better, writers. Probably several times.

I’ve also read this too many times to count as a child—even through my college years, and at least once a decade since. I’ll probably pick up the pace of re-reading them so I can talk to the grandcritters about them, too.

But I feel the need to say something now, so here are a few things that jumped out at me during this read:

bullet

“The Wood between the Worlds,” said Polly dreamily. “It sounds rather nice.”

I wholeheartedly agree, Polly. And I do wish you two had taken the opportunity to dip in and out of a few more before you stumbled into the worst pool possible.
bullet Ugh. I hate reading things like this:

And you could see at once, not only from her crown and robes, but fro mthe flash of her eyes and the curve of her lips, that she was a great queen.

Yes, please, Mr. Lewis–let’s focus on the surface appearance. Greatness of appearance=greatness of person. No matter how the adjective “great” is meant here–since when does this work out? He very easily could’ve thrown in some remark that this is how Pool and Diggory thought, but that it obviously was a wrong way to think–he makes that sort of comment all over the place.
bullet Oooh, a growing lamp-post. Now that is interesting and strange. And if you read this in Chronological order, you really won’t care much (or will want to see a lot more of it). But if you read them in the publication order, you get to that point and say, “ahhhhh. That’s cool,” feel a warm glow of recognition/satisfaction, and move on. This is the only time I’m going to say anything about the reading order in this series. But I could go on.
bullet Watching the animals crawl out of the land as they’re created–very cool. Some clever writing, and the best part of this book. Sadly, it’s pretty short.
bullet The bit where the Talking Beasts are trying to figure out just what Uncle Andrew is (animal–but not talking one like them, a tree maybe?) is pretty funny and good engagement.
bullet Where Jadis tempts Diggory with the apple (a bit heavy-handed on the symbolism) is just fantastic. A better bit of temptation than we got with Edward succumbing.
bullet The whole thing with the garden and the apples, the Tree of Protection, etc., feels…I dunno. Sort of crammed in other than the temptation bit. It just left me feeling “meh”–particularly the little quest that Aslan sent Diggory on to get there. I even checked Paul F. Ford’s Companion to Narnia (yes, I am the sort of nerd that has books like that sitting on my shelves), and it was less than helpful on this point.
bullet The book as a whole feels like Lewis is trying to augment the mythology he’s already created for Narnia, fill it out some (how is this the first we’re hearing of former Sons of Adam/Daughters of Eve as rulers??), so he can bring it all home in an epic conclusion. Even if the augment doesn’t make much sense, largely falls flat (in my eyes), and doesn’t do much other than establish a framing device of sorts to get us to The Last Battle. But other than giving us Diggory and Pool, I’m unconvinced that this does anything for the series and is almost entirely skippable.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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WWW Wednesday—December 31, 2025

By HCNewton

On December 31, 2025

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

Well, that Man Flu I mentioned Saturday really wiped me out–to the extent that reading 20 pages in a day was a victory. I honestly didn’t think I was capable of sleeping as much as I have this week without sedation. So, my schedule for the week has been tossed (everything in the what do you think you’ll read next answer should’ve been finished no later than tonight). Whoops.

Oh well, I’m on the mend and the worst part of having books unread for 2025 is that I know where I’ll start for 2026.

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?


Through the Corner of Circles by Meg Ashley	Son of a Liche by J. Zachary Pike, read by Doug Tisdale Jr.

Ashley’s book is really good–I’m not convinced at 2/3-ish of the way through that I understand where the book is going. I’m fine with that–I’m pretty sure that the author does.

I didn’t make much progress on Son of a Liche since last week, still really digging it (even if some plot developments have not be enjoyable).

What did you recently finish reading?


More Grammar Sex: Essays About Life and Stuff	Cold Days by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

Germaux’s second collection of essays “about Life and Stuff” is just entertaining as his first. It was a good collection to dip in and out of during the hubbub surrounding Dec. 25.

Cold Days is still the most recent audiobook that I’ve listened to. Still a lot of fun.

What do you think you’ll read next?


Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis	Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher, read by Robertson Dean

I’d planned on ending the year with this book, a nice bookend to starting it with A Pilgrim’s Regress. Thanks to this stupid flu, I’ll be starting the year with it. Oh well, it was a nice thought.

Might as well start the New Year with a quick read, right?

How are you finishing this year? Are you going to be taking books into the New Year, or do you get to start with a clean slate?

Saturday Miscellany—12/27/25

By HCNewton

On December 27, 2025

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

It’s the last Saturday Miscellany of 2025–as so many have lately. There are two contributing factors–1. It’s between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 where time is vague. 2. I have a case of the Man Flu, making the vagueness of time even worse for me. As I typically do, I ask that you keep Mrs. Irresponsible Reader in your thoughts at this difficult time for her.

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:
bullet The American Dream in the Winter Solstice: Reflections on the Linked Legacies of Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and West—It’s hard to describe briefly but I wish I could write stuff like this
bullet Last week, we looked at the New York Public Library’s most checked out, along with an aggregate of the US. Now, let’s look closer to my home with: These are the top books checked out from the Boise Public Library in 2025
bullet INTERVIEW: with author Michael Michel—over at at GrimdarkMAGAZINE
bullet Senior Sleuths: The Art and Appeal of Mysteries Starring Older Detectives—”Michelle L. Cullen on tropes, elderly invisibility, and what makes aged crime-solvers so arresting”
bullet 18 New Cross-Genre Book Trends from 2025 (and Going Strong into 2026!)—from Goodreads
bullet Discussion: Should bloggers do research before posting book reviews?—oh, good grief, no. Read a book and respond to it–if you want to verify a thing or two, go for it (and yes, I do this–and sometimes keep going and end up not posting anything). If it’s not on the page, that’s not for you to worry about. If you’re writing for a publication (especially if someone pays for it), then yeah–best get your house in order.
bullet Quotables: Words that Stuck with Me in 2025—One of my favorite annual posts from Witty and Sarcastic Book Club
bullet The Orangutan Librarian had a good pair of posts this week: Books I Successfully DNF’d in 2025 (I think whoever sold them on Snow Crash set them up for failure, but, whatever) and Books I’m Glad I Didn’t Quit
bullet It’s time for another batch of the best of 2025 to lighten your wallets and build up your TBRs:
bullet Alta Journal’s Best Books of 2025
bullet FanFiAddict’s Will’s Favorites of 2025
bullet The 10 Best Books I Read in 2025—by Briana at Pages Unbound
bullet FanFiAddict’s DB Rook’s Best Reads of 2025 looks exactly like what the author of Callus & Crow should pick
bullet The best fantasy, horror, and sci-fi books of 2025—according to GrimarkMAGAZINE
bullet LordTBR’s Top Reads of 2025
bullet And then we’ve got The Hard Word’s Top 25 of 2025: 15-11
bullet A Jam’s list to 2026 releases – Part 2

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
bullet It’s Our Right to Fight by Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth
bullet Do More Better by Tim Challies

A Few Scattered Thoughts on My Latest Reading of The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

By HCNewton

On December 24, 2025

In C.S. Lewis, Fantasy, Fiction, Further Up and Further In

Further Up and Further In A Year with C.S.Lewis

The Horse and His Boy

by C. S. Lewis , illustrated by Pauline Baynes

DETAILS:
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia, #5
Publication Date: June 25, 1994
Format: Paperback
Length: 243 pg.
Read Date: December 16-17, 2025

If you need to know what this book is about, or anything about this series…seriously, just stop what you’re doing and pick up this book. I don’t mean to be a snob, or maybe I do, but something was missing from your childhood, and now is your time to fix it. I realize that there are many legitimate reasons for people not to have read this, and I’m not questioning the choices you or your parents made (actually, I guess I am). But I’m not going to try to talk about this book like I do most others.

If only because everything worth saying has been said by other, better, writers. Probably several times.

But I feel the need to say something now, so here are a few things that jumped out at me during this read:

bullet

And when all the serious eating and drinking was over, a blind poet came forward and struck up the grand old tale of Prince Cor and Aravis and the horse Bree, which is called The Horse and His Boy and tells of an adventure that happened in Narnia and Calormen and the lands between, in the Golden Age when Peter was High King in Cair Paravel. (I haven’t time to tell it now, though it is well worth hearing.)

Seriously, who reads this bit from The Silver Chair for the first time, and says, “I want to know that story”?
bullet It is so hard to read all the “true Northern stock,” “dark faces,” and “accursed but beautiful barbarians” of the North stuff. You remember going in that kind of thing is going to be there, along with the pseudo-Arabian caricatures. But remembering it and reading it are two different things.

…Bree said, “And now, Tarkheena, tell us your story. And don’t hurry it—I’m feeling comfortable now.”

Aravis immediately began, sitting quite still and using a rather different tone and style from her nusual one. or in Calormen, story-telling (whether the stories are true or made up) is a thing you’re taught ,just as English boys and girls are taught essay writing. The difference is that people want oto hear the stories, whereas I enver heard of anyone who wanted to read the essays.

Granted, his students were much more advanced than these boys and girls, but this is not really something you want to read after a sleepless night or two finishing up an assignment. (still, who’s going to disagree with him?)
bullet Edmund, Susan, and the rest of their party are indulging in that court-speak that bugged me at the end of LWW. I’m so glad Caspian didn’t get too into that. Surely there’s another way to signal that they’re all royal and grown-up?
bullet During the climactic battle, rather than seeing it from the perspective of a combatant or two, we just get a play-by-play from the Hermit observing it for those with him. This is a fantastic way to get this information—especially for Lewis’ audience. All the highlights, none of the blood and gore.
bullet I thoroughly enjoyed Bree going on about the nature of Aslan (just before meeting him and showing how little he knew)—he reminded me so much of the pompous Liberal from The Great Divorce.
bullet Shasta/Cor’s line, “And by the way, Father’s an absolute brick [how odd that a Calorman uses slang from the UK]. I’d be just as pleased—or very nearly—at finding he’s my father even if he wasn’t a king. Even though Education and all sorts of horrible things are going to happen to me.” Just delights me. Huck Finn lives!
bullet It’s interesting that Lucy is able to tell the tale of the Wardrobe here at the end of the book. How long are the Pevensies around after this before they get to the point that they’ve forgotten it? How are Lucy and Susan (who is likely pursued by more than just this twerp) unmarried in all that time? Pfui—how are Peter and Edmund? The more I think about this point, the more bothered I am.
bullet Speaking of marriage, this is likely my favorite bit of writing from this book (and really, this is book has more genuinely funny moments/depictions than the rest of the series):

Aravis also had many quarrels (and, I’m afraid, even fights) with Cor, but they always made it up again: so that years later, when they were grown up, they were so used to quarreling and making up again that they got married so as to go on doing it more conveniently.

bullet At the end of the day, this is a perfectly fine MG adventure story. Could it be better? Yeah. Does it almost feel like someone was trying to establish the Narnia Cinematic Universe? Yeah. Is it as unsatisfying as The Magician’s Nephew? Nope.

WWW Wednesday—December 24, 2025

By HCNewton

On December 24, 2025

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

So, I’m relaxing on this bonus quasi-holiday and my wife casually asks, “When are you going to start the crock pot?” Eeep, an hour ago! And in the ensuing dash to throw things together for the extended family dinner tonight, I realize that I didn’t get a pretty important and flavorful ingredient. So…in the tradition of Men Everywhere who put things off, I rush off to the store. Thankfully, not for gift shopping…but still. I now return to the safe ground of talking about books. I can be trusted with books.

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Seems easy enough, right? Let’s take a peek at this week’s answers:

What are you currently reading?


The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis	Son of a Liche by J. Zachary Pike, read by Doug Tisdale Jr.

I’m wrapping up my time in Narnia today.

Son of a Liche is very clever–occasionally hilarious, a little touching, with plenty of intrigue and stabbing. It bugs me that I’m probably leaving it untouched for a few days thanks to my work schedule. (not so much that I’m going to go to work when I don’t have to, mind you)

What did you recently finish reading?


Through Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McGuire	Cold Days by Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters

Time with the Wayward Children is always well-spent. This latest installment is just more proof. I should have a full post up Monday–it will be very positive.

Cold Days was just so much better than Ghost Story.

What do you think you’ll read next?


Through the Corner of Circles by Meg Ashley	Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher, read by Robertson Dean

I was given this book by Ashley’s son, and it sounds pretty good. A little contemporary fantasy, a little Lakota myth. Sounds like a fun combination.

I’d looked at Dear Committee Members before, but never got around to it. I was reminded about it in a conversation last week and decided to give it a whirl.

Are you going to get any reading done over the next few days, or are you going to be occupied with friends/family?

A Few Scattered Thoughts on My Latest Reading of The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

By HCNewton

On December 22, 2025

In C.S. Lewis, Fantasy, Fiction, Further Up and Further In

Further Up and Further In A Year with C.S.Lewis

The Silver Chair

by C. S. Lewis , illustrated by Pauline Baynes

DETAILS:
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia, #4
Publication Date: July 01, 1994
Format: Paperback
Length: 243 pg.
Read Date: December 10-11, 2025

If you need to know what this book is about, or anything about this series…seriously, just stop what you’re doing and pick up this book. I don’t mean to be a snob, or maybe I do, but something was missing from your childhood, and now is your time to fix it. I realize that there are many legitimate reasons for people not to have read this (more for some of the later books), and I’m not questioning the choices you or your parents made (actually, I guess I am). But I’m not going to try to talk about this book like I do most others.

If only because everything worth saying has been said by other, better, writers. Probably several times.

But I feel the need to say something now, so here are a few things that jumped out at me during this read:

bullet Awww, even Eustace gets rejuvinated by the Narnian air. He really changed from the whiney twerp.
bullet Outside of Reepicheep, is there a more fully-drawn charcter in the Chronicles than Puddleglum? It’s also just a great name, summing him up in a nutshell. The other Marsh-wiggles finding him adventurous and devil-may-care is hilarious. As are his encouragements to the children to be more like him–upbeat and happy.
bullet Describing Rilian as “altogether looked a little bit like Hamlet,” is one of the oddest lines in the series.
bullet Everything that the Queen is up to is wrong, that’s a given. But the whole Prince/Queen mother-pseudo son thing is strange–when you add in the wedding plans? Ew, ew, ew, ew, and ew.
bullet That’s an unexpected–and odd–lesson in Centaur anatomy and diets. (one stomach human, one stomach equine and needs to feed both appropriate food). Is this common to other Fantasy uses of Centaurs?
bullet I just didn’t like Aslan this time out–disciplining Jill and wreaking havoc on the entire mission for something simple and understandable?
bullet Even stranger–sending Caspian and an unusually-still-Narnian-garbed Eustace to rough up some human bullies at the end back on Earth. That just doesn’t match with the Aslan we’ve been getting to know.
bullet Take our Lion out of things, and this was a pretty enjoyable adventure.

Saturday Miscellany—12/20/25

By HCNewton

On December 20, 2025

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

The sheer number of basic html errors this week that I’ve made (and thankfully caught) is enough to make my head spin. Including in this largely copy-and-paste post. I figured by this point, I’d have come up with a punch-line or something to follow up that opening observation, but inspiration seems to be striking someone else. So, I’ll just leave this here as another sign that the ol’ gray matter isn’t quite 100% this week. Thankfully, here are a handful of examples of people that should be publicly posting:
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:
bullet “Reading is a subversive act”: Shenandoah interviews Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor–Elect Ghazala Hashmi—Shared for the ideas nothing else. Politics aside (I know nothing about hers), this is what I want in an office holder. As Sam Seaborn says, “I look for anything. I look for a mind at work.”
bullet Reintroduction of Federal Right to Read Act Aims to Bolster Literacy, School Libraries
bullet The New York Public Library’s Most Checked Out Books in 2025
bullet Why stay so narrowly focused, though? LibraryThing (and others) have a cool graphic showing The Most Popular Books in US Public Libraries for 2025.
bullet How Translation Works, Book Title Edition
bullet The Art of Buying Books for Other People
bullet Ways You Can Help Your Fellow Book Bloggers This Holiday Season—it would be classless of me to suggest that you can take care of #4 on Jo’s list by using the Bookshop.org button to the right. So I won’t.
bullet Where Do You Promote Your Book Blog in 2026?—This is something I’ve never worked that hard on (and it shows). Some of the comments to the post have inspired a thought or two. Will I take advantage of that? Who knows…but I should. (or, better, I should hire one of my underemployed kids to do it for me)
bullet Curating a Library for a Young One—good stuff here.
bullet Books that made a bigger impression over time—oooh, I like this idea. And a couple of these books have been on my “eh, maybe” list for a bit. Given their impact, I’m a little more inclined to get them.
bullet It’s time for a few more Best Of ’25 lists, so hold on to your wallets.
bullet CrimeReads gave us: The Best Books of 2025: Traditional Mysteries and The Best Books of 2025: Noir Fiction
bullet Public Books’ Public Picks 2025
bullet Tom Bookbeard’s Top Reads of 2025
bullet Favorite Books Read in 2025—from Pages Unbound’s Krysta
bullet C. J. Daley’s Top Reads of 2025
bullet 746 Books has three lists (it’s not just me that has to break them down!) My Favourite Books of the Year: Part One – The 746!. Part Two – The Irish!, and Part Three – New!
bullet and this only sorta fits here, like last week, The Hard Word’s Top Twenty-Five for First Twenty-Five Years (20-16)
bullet And then we have people looking ahead to 2026 (good grief, I’m barely planning the next 11 days! (yes, I’m jealous of their level of organization))
bullet Wolfmantula’s The Unofficial 2026 TBR—the amount of effort behind this post’s graphics alone…
bullet A Jam’s list to 2026 releases – Part 1
bullet Get Ready! Readers’ Most Anticipated Books of 2026—

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
bullet Book Berne-ing #22 Breaking Into Booktube!

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
bullet My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman
bullet An Unwelcome Quest by Scott Meyer
bullet Indexing: Reflections, Episode Ten: Untold Truths by Seanan McGuire
bullet Santa 365 by Spencer Quinn
bullet Winter and Night by S. J. Rozan
bullet And I mentioned the release of Bryant & May and the Burning Man by Christopher Fowler

This Week’s New Release that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Dogged by Michael R. Fletcher—”In the final days of the Demon Empire a lone wardog goes in search of the answer to the only question she cares about: Who murdered her mate? Utterly unqualified to solve a mystery, Dogged Determination has but one advantage: She never, ever gives up.” The cover alone grabs my attention (it’s almost like that’s the point), the premise sounds cool, and the hype from early reviews around this is palpable. It’s the next novel I’m tackling.

Book Blogger Hop: Are You a Plot-Driven or a Character-Driven Reader?

By HCNewton

On December 19, 2025

In Book Blogger Hop, Books, News/Misc.

Book Blogger Hop

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

Are you more of a plot-driven reader or a character-driven reader?

That’s an interesting question. I’m not completely certain that it’s something I considered until I joined Storygraph and they started asking. I resist the distinction—it takes characters to drive a plot, and it takes a plot (or three) to drive characters.

And yet…

It’s Character-driven novels. By a mile. Yes, there are some books where the characters aren’t that important—just the machinations of the plot (I’d offer a couple of Reacher novels or other thrillers as nominees—but would we care as much without ol’ Jack at the center?). And sometimes, even books featuring characters one likes/loves will sacrifice them because of plot (there are dozen of examples on the metaphorical tip of my metaphorical tongue, but they’re not making it past that point). I’m not talking sacrifice in terms of death there, just “there’s no way that X would do something like Y in a million years.”

But I’m far more willing to put up with an aimless, unfocused, or otherwise meandering novel if I like the characters than I am putting up with an intricate and well-paced plot with dull, flat, or unlikeable characters. I’ve read them both, I’ve enjoyed both. But the former will get me to come back to the author more eagerly.

Category: Blog Series Page 10 of 222

Which genre are you eager to jump into more this year, and what draws you to it?

What about you? Is there a genre, topic, whatever that you’re looking to focus on in 2026?

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

How are you finishing this year? Are you going to be taking books into the New Year, or do you get to start with a clean slate?

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Are you going to get any reading done over the next few days, or are you going to be occupied with friends/family?

Are you more of a plot-driven reader or a character-driven reader?

Do you have a preference for what drives a book?