1000 Books, February 2026: What should we read?

Book Clubs Side Read: 1000 Books to Read Before You Die
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Thanks to @Lana_Maskus for nominating last month’s books. My turn!

– The Warden by Anthony Trollope, 240 pp
– Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, 362 pp
– Goodbye Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War by William Manchester 418 pp (we did cap selections at 400 pp, but this is only slightly over and because it’s NF there are likely notes that are making it look longer)
– The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, 320 pp
– From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming, ~300 pp

Who’s read what, and what book looks good to you for February?

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I am open to any of them for Feb.

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I have read The Warden and The Underground Railroad–both are excellent.

4

I’ve read The Underground Railroad, but none of the others. All look excellent.

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We’ve narrowed it down to three for February. Which book sounds good to you?

  • Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
  • Goodbye Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War
  • From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming
0 voters
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Okey dokey! By unanimous decision it’ll be Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.

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OK, new list, @Cathryn_Conroy, @Lana_Maskus, @Gabi_J, @NanK, @Lynne_G. I swear I confirmed the page counts at Amazon this time. I’m trying something a bit different, in that I’m making the list multiple choice. Please pick the ones you’d be willing to read in February. I thought that way, we might get a faster consensus rather than having to have a second round. I’d also like to know which of these you’ve read. I’m keeping a list that I’ll post sometime soon.

  • The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (288 pp)
  • Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (176 pp)
  • A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell (228 pp)
  • Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (176 pp)
  • Pigs Have Wings by P.G. Wodehouse (224 pp)
0 voters
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OK, folks, I’ve heard offline from some folks, and it looks like it’ll be The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick for February. @Cathryn_Conroy and @Lynne_G, hope that’s OK!

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Works for me. Appreciate that we’re reading various genres.

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If I have my head straight, which isn’t exactly probable due to severe cabin fever after being inside for five straight days due to this darn Texas ice storm, we’ll read The Man in the High Castle in Feb. to be discussed in March.** Someone please confirm. :winking_face_with_tongue:

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Me, too, Lana. Good for my mind.

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Hi @NanK - Yes, that’s correct. Read The Man in the High Castle in February. The discussion thread for it will open on March 1.

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Sci-fi is pretty much the only genre I don’t read–as in avoid when possible. That said, I’m all for “taking one for the team,” so to speak, so I will happily read it.