2026: What are you currently reading?

[teddycat]

"Martin Eden" is well worth reading, even given the very sad ending. I paid more attention to the details since I knew it was autobiographical, so that made it more impactful. I liked "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and also the 1930s film version but haven't read anything else by the author.

I am reading "The Bird's Nest" by Shirley Jackson now. Her novels are all interesting in their own way. This one is a depiction of multiple personality disorder and the details seem accurate enough for when it was written. I purchased "Pendennis" and will start it soon.

 

[LRK]

"Martin Eden" is well worth reading, even given the very sad ending. I paid more attention to the details since I knew it was autobiographical, so that made it more impactful. I liked "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and also the 1930s film version but haven't read anything else by the author.

I am reading "The Bird's Nest" by Shirley Jackson now. Her novels are all interesting in their own way. This one is a depiction of multiple personality disorder and the details seem accurate enough for when it was written. I purchased "Pendennis" and will start it soon.

Growing up my library had six of Baroness Orczy's books in Swedish translation - I kept borrowing ad re-borrowing them. I don't know how many times I must have read them. They were: "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "I Will Repay", "The Elusive Pimmpernel", "Lord Tony's Wife", "Sir Percy Leads the Band" and "Sir Percy Hits Back".I enjoyed them all, but I think I have an extra soft spot for "Sir Percy Leads the Band" and "Sir Percy Hits Back". I'm not saying those are "the best" - I'm sure other people would have other favourites - but they just somehow worked extra well for me personally.

 

[LRK]

Terry Pratchett: "The Colour of Magic"

This is the first book in the Discworld series - and a re-read for me. I read "Interesting Times"... I keep wanting to say "earlier this year", but it is now LAST year - sigh... Some of the characters reappear further along the line in their stories, and it's fun to see them from the beginning.

I should mention tthat whereas most Discworld books are self-contained stories, "The Colour of Magic" (and hence also its sequel "The Light Fantastic") very much are NOT. In fact, "The Colour of Magic" ends on a cliffhanger.

Literally.

 

[streams4dreams]

Terry Pratchett: "The Colour of Magic"

This is the first book in the Discworld series - and a re-read for me. I read "Interesting Times"... I keep wanting to say "earlier this year", but it is now LAST year - sigh... Some of the characters reappear further along the line in their stories, and it's fun to see them from the beginning.

I should mention tthat whereas most Discworld books are self-contained stories, "The Colour of Magic" (and hence also its sequel "The Light Fantastic") very much are NOT. In fact, "The Colour of Magic" ends on a cliffhanger.

Literally.

Discworld is so amazing! My favorite subseries in there are the witches with Granny Weatherwax as an all-time favorite character

 

[LRK]

Discworld is so amazing! My favorite subseries in there are the witches with Granny Weatherwax as an all-time favorite character

I absolutely adore Granny Weatherwax! Se's absolutely one of my favourite Discworld characters - in fact, one of my favourite characters period.

My absolute favourite Discowrld book is "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents", closely followed by "The Wee Free Men" and "Night Watch".

 

[LRK]

Catriona McPherson: "The Burry Man's Day"

The seccond book in a historical mystery series set in 1920s Scotland. While I liked the first book, I must say that - so far (I'm around 80-90 pages in) I'm enjoying this far more.

Now, granted, I was not in a good place - in many respeects - when I read it, and my reading pace had slowed down to an absolute crawl, so that may hhave something to do with it.

Still, in general, I've found that the first book in a long-running mystery series is seldom the best. Not only is the reader getting familiar with the setting & characters - so is the author. It may take a book or so for the writer to find the right tone, or feel, or what-have-you.

Well, be that as it may, so far... so good.

 

[LRK]

Daphne Du Maurier: "Kungens general" ("The King's General")

This is one of Mamma's second-hand-finds. It's a hardcover without a dustjacket and has no book cover synopsis - if there had been, of course, I would not have read it. I prefer to go in blind - I'd rather have NO clue, than the WRONG clues, or, if you will, TOO MANY clues, if you will. (As I've previously ntioned, I've been burned by too many bd book syopses, too many times.)

So far - I've just begun - I can say that it's historical fiction set iin the 17th century. I'm not sure where it is going - the English Civiil War has begun. I'm not entirely sure I like the characters particularly - I'm certainly not invested in the romance - but I'm enjoying myself nonetheless.

 

[ladyjane]

I've just finished reading 'The Favourites'. Not really my style of book (character detectives (usually British or Swedish) or historical novels about real people in the past) but I couldn't resist once I learned it was about Ice Dancing. I had read books about other disciplines (also fiction), but not one yet about Ice Dancing.

I enjoyed the book. Let's just say, it didn't recommend becoming become an elite Ice Dancer (I can't, I'm too old any way). The cut throat environment really put me off a bit. But I certainly enjoyed the drama. I loved the playing with names quite apart from the fiction of it. I mean a Pelletier Ice Dancer? A scandal (more scandals you can dream of actually) taking place? Of course.

I liked the short story in the back as well.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I've just finished reading 'The Favourites'. Not really my style of book (character detectives (usually British or Swedish) or historical novels about real people in the past) but I couldn't resist once I learned it was about Ice Dancing. I had read books about other disciplines (also fiction), but not one yet about Ice Dancing.

I enjoyed the book. Let's just say, it didn't recommend becoming become an elite Ice Dancer (I can't, I'm too old any way). The cut throught environment really put me off a bit. But I certainly enjoyed the drama. I loved the playing with names quite apart from the fiction of it. I mean a Pelletier Ice Dancer? A scandal (more scandals you can dream of actually) taking place? Of course.

I liked the short story in the back as well.

Putting on my former hat as a librarian: Author's name? Publisher? Copyright date? Please? So I can try to find a copy.

 

[ladyjane]

Good for you librarian....writer: Layne Fargo. Publisher: Vintage (part of Pinguin). First published in 2025. Before I forget: I got it through Amazon.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Good for you librarian....writer: Layne Fargo. Publisher: Vintage (part of Pinguin). First published in 2025. Before I forget: I got it through Amazon.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I've just finished reading 'The Favourites'. Not really my style of book (character detectives (usually British or Swedish) or historical novels about real people in the past) but I couldn't resist once I learned it was about Ice Dancing. I had read books about other disciplines (also fiction), but not one yet about Ice Dancing.

I'm currently rereading G.M. Malliet's series about Father Max Tudor. If you like quirky British detectives, have you read her series? Starring the handsome Max, MI5 agent turned Anglican priest (well, semi-retired, known to be called in to dabble in espionage when it's near his parish) and now married to the pagan, vegetarian cooking show celebrity Awena, with their baby son Owen, and his best friend DCI Cotton, blond impeccably-dressed son of an actress and now living with MI5 agent Patrice, former lover of Max, and her baby daughter? Quirky doesn't begin to describe Max's cases, like the murder of the bossy president of the village Women's Institute.

 

[ladyjane]

I'm currently rereading G.M. Malliet's series about Father Max Tudor. If you like quirky British detectives, have you read her series? Starring the handsome Max, MI5 agent turned Anglican priest (well, semi-retired, known to be called in to dabble in espionage when it's near his parish) and now married to the pagan, vegetarian cooking show celebrity Awena, with their baby son Owen, and his best friend DCI Cotton, blond impeccably-dressed son of an actress and now living with MI5 agent Patrice, former lover of Max, and her baby daughter? Quirky doesn't begin to describe Max's cases, like the murder of the bossy president of the village Women's Institute.

I'm going to give one a go. It sounds (not literally) good!

 

[KevinThiem]

I'm currently rereading G.M. Malliet's series about Father Max Tudor. If you like quirky British detectives, have you read her series? Starring the handsome Max, MI5 agent turned Anglican priest (well, semi-retired, known to be called in to dabble in espionage when it's near his parish) and now married to the pagan, vegetarian cooking show celebrity Awena, with their baby son Owen, and his best friend DCI Cotton, blond impeccably-dressed son of an actress and now living with MI5 agent Patrice, former lover of Max, and her baby daughter? Quirky doesn't begin to describe Max's cases, like the murder of the bossy president of the village Women's Institute.

If you are rereading the Max Tudor series, you might have already read The Washing Away of Wrongs, which was published in 2023 but for whatever reason, just got to my library in late 2025. I really liked this one. G.M. Malliet has two other series, too. My other favorite book from 2025 that struck me as much better than previous ones in the series is Deeds left Undone by Ellen Crosby. Even though I've read all the books in her Lucie Montgomery wine country series, I have preferred the ones about the Washington D.C. photographer, Sophie Medina.

 

[Diana Delafield]

If you are rereading the Max Tudor series, you might have already read The Washing Away of Wrongs, which was published in 2023 but for whatever reason, just got to my library in late 2025. I really liked this one. G.M. Malliet has two other series, too. My other favorite book from 2025 that struck me as much better than previous ones in the series is Deeds left Undone by Ellen Crosby. Even though I've read all the books in her Lucie Montgomery wine country series, I have preferred the ones about the Washington D.C. photographer, Sophie Medina.

I discovered when rearranging shelves that I'd somehow missed buying the latest two Max Tudor books, so I have that one on order to look forward to. I have some of her other books, but like Max best, probably because one of my high school friends married a student minister who had all the female guests on her side of the church, who hadn't seen him yet, murmuring "Wow!" when he walked in to the altar at the wedding. My husband prodded me and whispered, "Don't drool on your best dress!" He's always had plenty of women volunteers at his church, just like Max .

 

[KevinThiem]

I discovered when rearranging shelves that I'd somehow missed buying the latest two Max Tudor books, so I have that one on order to look forward to. I have some of her other books, but like Max best, probably because one of my high school friends married a student minister who had all the female guests on her side of the church, who hadn't seen him yet, murmuring "Wow!" when he walked in to the altar at the wedding. My husband prodded me and whispered, "Don't drool on your best dress!" He's always had plenty of women volunteers at his church, just like Max .

Too funny!

 

[4everchan]

I just finished Duhamel/Radfords book Hometown Glory. Was nice to read and have more of an insight of what was going on with them. It wasnt a terribly long book but I enjoyed it.

Are they elaborating about their split ?

I mean I am way behind in my reading plans because of the Game Changers series (I never thought I'd read gay hockey romance novels LOL but I AM) but I'd perhaps give D/R's Hometown Glory a read if it's good and talking about the split I know. I'm nosy sometimes.

 

[LRK]

Terry Brooks: "Straken"

This is the third & final book in the High Druid of Shannara trilogy. I'm glad to finally get to this and find out what happened to the characters - especially my favourite Shannara character, Grianne Ohmsford. (She was first introduced in "Ilse Witch", the first of the previous Shannara sub-trilogy, Voyage of the Jerle Shannara - which also happens to be my favourite Shannara series, so far.)

The text, unfortunately, is miniscule. There was a time when - with my trusty magnifying glass in hand - I felt myself equal to tackling (almost) any text - but, alas, no longer. This is a real pain. Still, I'm nothing if not stubborn...

 

[Diana Delafield]

Terry Brooks: "Straken"

This is the third & final book in the High Druid of Shannara trilogy. I'm glad to finally get to this and find out what happened to the characters - especially my favourite Shannara character, Grianne Ohmsford. (She was first introduced in "Ilse Witch", the first of the previous Shannara sub-trilogy, Voyage of the Jerle Shannara - which also happens to be my favourite Shannara series, so far.)

The text, unfortunately, is miniscule. There was a time when - with my trusty magnifying glass in hand - I felt myself equal to tackling (almost) any text - but, alas, no longer. This is a real pain. Still, I'm nothing if not stubborn...

Isn't it annoying how, over the years, publishers print books in ever smaller and smaller print? Although I notice now if I try to consult one of my old university textbooks, they're also in print much smaller than I noticed at that time.

 

[jersey1302]

Are they elaborating about their split ?

I mean I am way behind in my reading plans because of the Game Changers series (I never thought I'd read gay hockey romance novels LOL but I AM) but I'd perhaps give D/R's Hometown Glory a read if it's good and talking about the split I know. I'm nosy sometimes.

No the book didn’t really go into that lol it’s more about the journey of their partnership and winning when no one thought they would