What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (7/30/2026)

Recent Reads
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I finally finished Following the Bend: How to Read a River and Understand Its Nature by Ellen Wohl. It was too technical for me; even with re-reading sentences, I still couldn’t fully comprehend some of it. There were some interesting tidbits, but I probably should have “DNF’d” it instead of stubbornly trudging through, thinking it’d be good for my brain.

Next up is No More Tears by Gardiner Harris, and maybe another Craig Rice or a Wodehouse.

Happy to see some folks read Captain Blood and enjoyed it – I read it back in ‘05 and rated it highly!

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I’m sure you will find it very interesting.

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Glad to see you enjoyed Winter Soldier. I think it might be my favorite from Daniel Mason.

45

This week I’m reading an advance copy of John Boyne’s THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS. I’ve read several John Boyne books and loved them all. But I’m severely disappointed in this one. In this book, Oscar Wilde never goes to jail and does not die soon after he gets out of jail. Instead he goes on to write more plays and have sex with more boys and interact with many historical figures. He also becomes a big advocate of liberal causes such as women’s rights and the right for men to love whoever they choose. it could have been a better book, but it’s boring me to tears.

On the other hand, the book I read last week was excellent, RAISING HARE by Chloe Dalton. I highly recommend it.

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I enjoyed THE CALAMITY CLUB, but THE HELP was definitely the author’s better book.

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I just started The Daffodil Days only 50 pages in but liking it!

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I’m glad to hear you’ll be reading NO MORE TEARS by Gardiner Harris. I’m so glad I read it. It’s such an important book. I couldn’t put it down. At the same time, it made me sick. It contains so much information that I think I should reread it in case I missed something.

1 Like
49

I’m only just now starting chapter 6 (about 7%), but can tell it’s a good one!
I love well-written (and researched), informative nonfiction (I still think about Evicted by Matthew Desmond and Cobalt Red by Siddarth Kara even though it’s been years since reading either).

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CAPTAIN BLOOD seems to stand the test of time. :smiley:

2 Likes
51

I’m reading Orbital by Samantha Harvey. Just started it, but the writing is excellent, and my sense it is a very different type of science fiction story. Just finished When the Cranes Fly Southby Lisa Ridden. It is a Swedish story about Bo, a man reaching the end of his life, and his beloved elkhound, Sixten.

2 Likes