What’s the last book you purchased? Why did you select it? Paperback, hardback or ebook? When do you plan to read it (or have you already read it)?
Enquiring minds want to know… 
The last book I bought - and this was just, maybe, Monday - was Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
I hope this isn’t a spoiler, but it made it on to our list of Best Books for 2025. I looked it up and saw it getting rave reviews, so I went ahead & purchased a copy for myself just because it looked good. (You know - buy it now while you’re thinking about it, let it ferment on your TBR for a year or five before you get to it - that sort of thing.) Anyway, it turned out that none of our other reviewers snagged it, so I’ll be reading it very soon for review.
I think I’ve read one physical book in the past three years - House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - and that’s only because the book’s formatting doesn’t work well as an ebook. So, like almost every other book I’ve purchased, Theo of Golden is an ebook.
1 Like
Tomorrow as I drive through Wichita, I’m stopping at Watermark Books (wonderful indie store!) to get a copy of “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan. It’s our book club’s choice this month & although I’ve read it at least two times, I need to refresh my memory & the library’s copy is checked out on inter-library loan & won’t be back in time. I prefer utilizing the public library but I’ll read it carefully & give it as a Christmas present to a friend. Too much information? But I did buy–also from Watermark–”Kansas Matters”, an anthology of works about Kansas by Kansas authors at a signing in September. Probably not for everyone but it’s full of excellent writing.
1 Like
I went to a new bookstore grand opening event and purchased:
The Gales of November by John Bacon
The Elements by John Boyne
Have not read them but looking forward especially to The Gales of November after hearing the author on a podcast.
1 Like
I bought two at same time: Orbital and Doctors by Nature. Paperbacks.
Orbital for myself and many family and friends. Doctors by Nature because it is so packed with facts.
1 Like
I just downloaded 2 ebooks on Kindle. My first read will be This Here Is Love by Princess Joy L Perry. The reviews show that it can be dark and heartbreaking. The other ebook is The Heart-Shaped Tin by Bee Wilson. It is described as a sentimental and heartwarming read, which I will probably need after reading This Here Is Love.
3 posts were split to a new topic: Help editing posts
@Lynne_G I just finished This Here is Love by Princess Joy L. Perry. As you probably saw, she’ll be here next week so I hope you’ll join the conversation.
It’s about enslaved individuals, so there’s a fair amount of heartbreak, and it’s set in the early days of the United States (takes place in the late 17th-early 18th centuries). Consequently, while there’s some hope for the characters we meet, because emancipation is still so far off you know that even if these characters do OK, many more will be condemned to a horrible life. There aren’t really any surprises, but what’s especially impactful about it is that it focuses on how the system impacted Black families. I think it’s a great book - wonderful characters - and that it deserves a wide readership.
… but yeah, I needed a lighter read after it for sure.
1 Like
The last book I bought was very practical - The New Father 
3 Likes
Sounds like congratulations are in order @nick ?
Happy fathering!
3 Likes
Purchased The Hounding as an ebook. Chose because of sensational reviews. Find it a very intriguing read.
The 3 volume set by Alison Weir : England’s Medieval Queens and The Hong Kong Widow. All are hardcovers. Ordered the same day. I prefer hardcovers editions, particularly if reading books involving family trees.
I will take my Kindle when traveling for convenience; however, I prefer the heft and beauty of an actual hardcover that I can incorporate into my library.
1 Like
The last book I purchased was December 6, by Martin Cruz Smith. I am always interested in what we’re NOT taught in our history classes, and seeing Japan, as they and the U.S. were about to go to war, was quite interesting and enthralling. MCS is able to educate us while entertaining us. It’s a valuable lesson for us all….don’t just accept what is spoon fed us. Read. Explore. And learn
1 Like
The last book I purchased was a trade paperback of Las Madres: Latinas in the Heartland Who Led Their Family to Success by Dennis Raphael Garcia at the author’s presentation and book signing at the local community college. I had previously read my library’s copy of the book and wanted my own copy to share with my sister and others. A 2025 Kansas Notable book published by The University of Kansas Press, I have recommended it to many other readers.
1 Like
Thanks Anne! Yes we’re expecting any day! 
3 Likes
I last book I purchased was Pick A Color in hard cover after hearing an interview with the author Souvankham Thammavongsa on CBC’s Bookends podcast. Its next to be read 
unless holds come up at the library.
Congratulations!!! Hopefully it is a good resource.
1 Like
Who Is Government? edited by Michael Lewis. I wanted to vote with my dollars so I bought it.
Queen Esther by John Irving in hard cover. It was an impulse item because A Prayer for Owen Meany is in a class all by itself and I was hoping for another book of that caliber. (I know it’s not likely, but I couldn’t resist.)
Your response could have been written by me!!! Owen Meany is my all-time favorite, and even though some of Irving’s books do not measure up, I am hoping that this one at least comes close!
1 Like