Category: Books Page 11 of 163

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:
Napoleon’s Kindle: See the Miniaturized Traveling Library He Took on Military Campaigns—Ooooh! I want one! I want one! Sure my tablet is a technological marvel that I could’ve only dreamed about as a kid, but…come on. This is just cool. (yes, Samuel T. Cogley, is possibly my favorite ST:TOS character)
The best mystery novels of 2025—I learned ages ago that when Oline Cogdill speaks, I should listen
Does Rating a Lot of Books Low Mean You’re “Bad at Choosing Books?”—With all due respect to Pages Unbound, this is a stupid question. But if you’re going to answer one of those, this is a good way to approach it.
Captivating Characters of November—I’m enjoying these posts…I just need to contribute 🙂
It is that time of year:
Manga Gift Suggestions—from the Firsty Duelist via Wity and Sarcastic Book Club
2025 Holiday Gift Giving Guide—from This Dad Reads (so you know it will be a little heavy on a particular fandom based in a galaxy far, far away)

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
Get It Write talks to Mike Chen about writing for existing IP.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple—note to self: read this again
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
Funny Girl by Nick Hornby
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
Hit by Delilah S. Dawson—I’m glad Dawson put this out a decade ago, it was harrowing then. Updating it to fit 2025 would be…well, I dunno, “worse” seems obvious and not stark enough.
Indexing: Reflections, Episode Eight: Holly Tree by Seanan McGuire
And I mentioned the releases of: Luke Skywalker Can’t Read by Ryan Britt; Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words by Randall Munroe; and Santa 365 by Spencer Quinn

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
Robert B. Parker’s Showdown by Mike Lupica—”Spenser may have uncovered an explosive secret that threatens the career of a controversial figure” (which is mostly correct). I enjoyed it, and have a post drafted for Monday about it.
Queen of the Dead by Sarah Broadway—”Speaking with the dead is nothing new for Lou. It’s a curse she’s learned to hide from everyone – sometimes even herself. After running away from a past that took advantage of those abilities, Lou finally carves out a normal life for herself. That is, until she receives a mysterious message from a ghost – the Veil is thinning – and a cult of necromancers infiltrates her small town.””

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:
Forget Running Groups and Work Socials. Find a Book Club
In a reading rut? How to get back into reading for fun
Those blurbs on book covers? Don’t believe what you read.—this isn’t the point of the piece but Kate DiCamillo looks exactly like someone who writes her books should.*
Self-publishing trends for 2026
It’s Time To Put The “Where Are All The Male Novelists?” Debate To Bed—Yes, please.
It’s started already, Top X Books of 2025. P.L. Stuart names his Best Non-SFF Trad/Indie Published Books Read in 2025 and Top Indie & Top Trad SFF Books for 2025—the only book that didn’t tempt me there was one I’d already read. Hold on to your wallets.
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? NOT ME! Postmodern Picturebooks and Deconstructed Fairy Tales—This looks like a fun bunch
My Oddly Specific Bookish Traits—We all have them, few of us are self-aware enough to enumerate them.

* Be sure to follow me for more tips on how to stereotype!

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
Blameless by Gail Carriger
Any Other Name by Craig Johnson
The Promise by Robert Crais
The Shootout Solution by Michael R. Underwood (which is also the only book’s release I talked about)

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
Time God Warlock by Shami Stovall—I can’t tell you about this because I’m using this release as a reminder to read the last one. But it’s probably pretty cool.
Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz—”Guy Shadowfade is dead, and after a lifetime as the dark sorcerer’s right-hand, Violet Thistlewaite is determined to start over—not as the fearsome Thornwitch, but as someone kind. Someone better. Someone good.” Looks cute.

I really thought I had a long list for today, but…not so much. I do have an eclectic one, however. And that makes me just as happy. Hopefully there’s something here that strikes your fancy. (and if not, come back in 7 days)

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:
Steve Hofstetter recently gave a speech to the American Association of School Librarians that’s worth your time (in my non-humble opinion). He was nice enough to provide both the full video and the text version.
Bones & Betrayals: A Chat with Andi Ewington, Erica Marks and Calum Alexander Watt—loved this.
Caffinated Reader’s 13th Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon Sign-up—may intrigue some of you
Eileen Mueller and several other fantasy authors have a dynamite-looking giveaway up: November 2025 Win Deluxe Edition Epic Fantasy Books Giveaway—(and yes, you entering via that link gets me more entries, so, you know…help a guy out)
EVEN MORE Unusual and Riveting Retellings!—The Orangutan Librarian has tempted me to take the rest of the month off to work through this list
I Have An Agent—I know there’s a long gap from this to us getting to hold a Peat Long tome in our hands, but this is a great step.

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
Crime Writers of Canada Joel Nedecky, The Broken Detective—I enjoyed it, you might to. Also, let me remind you to read The Broken Detective

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
Indexing: Reflections, Episode Seven: False Love’s Kiss by Seanan McGuire
X by Sue Grafton
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Never Tell by Alafair Burke
And I mentioned the releases of: The Promise by Robert Crais; Winter by Marissa Meyer; Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke; Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker; Home by Matt Dunn; Mad Men Carousel: The Complete Critical Companion by Matt Zoller Seitz

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree—by far the least cozy of the series, but fans won’t mind. Greatest breadknife in literary history. I finished this yesterday and relished every second of it.
Guns Of Brixton by Paul D. Brazill—Fahrenheit Press has this great looking book out in it’s Pocket Noir series (I need to do a separate post just about that series one day). How do you turn down “a hard-boiled black comedy packed with crooked cops, washed-up crooks, and the kind of dialogue that snaps like a switchblade.” in an attractive package? (I sure don’t)
There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm—”Humanity is under assault by malevolent ‘antimemes’—ideas that attack memory, identity, and the fabric of reality itself—in this whip-smart tale of science-fiction horror, an entirely reimagined and expanded version of the beloved online novel.”

That lack of an “s” on “BOOK” is really going to drive me nuts

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:
Two Ways of Disliking Poetry—I would’ve guessed there were more…
Fisher the Bookseller Explains How Bookstores Decide Which Books to Sell: The ins and outs of how books are bought and sold in bookstores
In Conversation with Susan Grossey, Author of Historical Crime Fiction
Manual Labor: A new generation of deaf writers reimagines language, text, and sound
The Accidental Completionist—that last paragraph…
7 fantasy book villains more terrifying than Sauron from The Lord of the Rings—I haven’t run into any of these villains, I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.
Eight Ways to Celebrate Bram Stoker on his November 8th Birthday by LindaAnn LoSchiavo—a Guest Post over at Witty & Sarcastic Book Club for those who are still making plans for Bram’s Big Day (or want to get an early start for next year)

A Book-ish Related Podcast episode (or two) you might want to give a listen to:
The Bookish Diaries Podcast Season 2, Episode 6: Cozy fantasy or Dark Fantasy: Pick your Poison!

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago This Week?
You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
The Lobster Boy And The Fat Lady’s Daughter by Charles Kriel—the beginning of my beautiful friendship with Farenheit Press
And I mentioned the releases of: The Crossing by Michael Connelly; Made to Kill by Adam Christopher; The Builders by Daniel Polansky; The Ark: Children of a Dead Earth Book One by Patrick S. Tomlinson; Black Wolves by Kate Elliott; and Mystic by Jason Denzel

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
A Judgement of Powers by Benedict Jacka—Not that this series has been filled with brightness and breeze, but it looks like things are getting a little more serious for our friend, Stephen.
Love the Stranger by Michael Sears—Boy howdy, this sequel delivers on all the promise of its predecessor–and then some. Out in paperback this week, I just finished and need to talk about it soon. Don’t wait for me, though, just go get it.
The Christmas Tree Killer by Chris Frost—DI Tom Stonem is sure to be very unwelcome around the holiday season (for people he works with/serves anyway) if he keeps finding himself entwined in murder cases like this one. Creepy Christmas Crime, if you’re in the mood.
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite—”A young woman must shake off a family curse and the widely held belief that she is the reincarnation of her dead cousin in this wickedly funny, brilliantly perceptive novel about love, female rivalry, and superstition from the author of the smash hit My Sister, the Serial Killer“
Bruised Not Broken: The Autobiography of Katie Hodges by Katie Hodges—This Literary Local has been through a lot and is here with a story of perseverence and hope.
I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior! by Raquel D’Apice, illustrated by Heather Fox—”a hilarious take on developmental leaps exploring the bravery it takes to tackle the next big thing–with some help from the things in life that make us feel safe.”