This week I'm reading 'The Empire of Tea' by Alan MacFarlane
This is a nonfiction history looking at the rise of tea in human society and mainly how it shaped and was shaped by the British Empire with a particular focus on the efforts to develop tea production in the Assam region of India.
It's okay so far, a little unfocused at times, and I'm hoping that later on it becomes more critical of imperialism.
I finished 'The September House' by Carissa Orlando yesterday, but I still want to include it for #FridayReads because I found it to be an exemplary horror novel.
I thought the ending was going one particular direction, and I would have been totally happy with that, and then it suddenly veered in a drastically different direction and I was totally happy with it.
This week I'm still reading 'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier (as my earlier post attested).
I am enjoying the hell out of this book and the way it just sort of wallows around. I'm definitely planning on exploring more of Du Maurier's works in the near future.
#FridayReads @bookstodon
This week I'm working on wrapping up #SpookyReads2025
I ran into a dilemma last night as I finished "We Are Always Tender with Our Dead' by Eric LaRocca-do I start a new spooky book since there was 1 day left, or do I move on.
I decided to start Sarah Gailey's 'Spread Me' since they are a favorite author of mine and it should be a fast fun read.
#FridayReads @bookstodon
I finished 'Annihilation' last night, so today I got to start 'The Outcast Mage' by Annabel Campbell
Right at the start of a new book in a new series, so not much of an impression so far. Definitely seems to be trying to say something about the rise of fascism around us though, but in a fantasy setting.
#FridayReads @bookstodon
This week I am fully off Spooky Reads. I am currently reading 'The Bright Sword' by Lev Grossman
I came into this book mainly knowing that I've enjoyed the author in the past and I liked his Magicians series and that it was based on the Arthurian saga.
I wasn't expecting the brilliant deconstruction of King Arthur and his Round Table that it is. The further I read, the more I'm in love with what this book is doing.
This book is remarkable.
This week I'm reading 'Twelve Months' by Jim Butcher.
This is the awaited 18th (!!!!) book of The Dresden Files and it's rather nice to be back in Dresden's magical Chicago. Despite the many flaws in this series, I feel it is still one of the best true urban fantasy series out there. I like what Butcher is aiming for in this book, but I think it might end up being contentious among fans.
No audio book this week, since I'm in between selections.
I continue to chomp through books, so today I have 2 new ones.
I just started reading 'These Burning Stars' by Bethany Jacobs.
Intriguing space opera start, although I hope we're not going to really be following the space fascist zealots for the entirety of the book...
#FridayReads @bookstodon
Been awhile since I shared my #FridayReads.
I'm at the very very end of rereading 'Leviathan Wakes' by James SA Corey.
I had forgotten the sheer amount of stuff that happens in this book. The later books seem almost sedate by comparison. It doesn't feel its length though. A great example for world building and starting a series. Looking forward to discussing it with the group next week.
This week I'm reading 'Kill the Beast' by Serra Swift.
I don't remember requesting a hold, but it showed up on the hold shelf for me. Decided to trust past me and read it.
It's a competent fantasy play on the Beauty and the Beast concept. I think I pegged the "big twist" pretty early and everything I've read so far confirms it. Maybe it will surprise me.
The world building is rather good, and I would like to read more stories in this setting.
#FridayReads
@bookstodon
This week I'm nearly finished with 'The Ministry of Time' by Kaliane Bradley.
This has been a really enjoying book with a fascinating concept. I felt it did sort of bog down through the middle and the ending is feeling a little rushed. But still an enjoyable book. It would also do really well adapted as a mini series I feel.
#FridayReads
@bookstodon
This week I am reading 'Cher: The Memoir. Part 1' by Cher (obviously).
This is for our staff book discussion next week, and to be honest it will probably be my first DNF of 2026. I pushed it as an option for the discussion because one of the members continually suggested it, and I figured we might as well push through it.
I will probably bounce off it this weekend.
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Forgot to share my #FridayReads yesterday, so here they are on Saturday.
I'm currently reading 'The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride.
This is for our staff book discussion, and to be honest I probably would never have picked it up on my own, but I'm enjoying the heck out of this book. Its prose is a delight to read and the characters are great. It deals with some tough subjects at a tough era in US history, but it has incredible warmth in it.
