The Book Thread Book • Page 186

I just finished Lincoln in the Bardo. What a unique novel. It doesn’t really feel like reading a book. It’s like reading a documentary almost with the way it’s structured. It’s hard to really describe. It takes minute to fully get on its wavelength, but once it comes together, it’s really beautiful.

 

I need to go back to it. I didn't get on board with it and didn't finish it.

 

It took me about 100 pages to get onboard haha. I’m tempted to reread, at least those first 100, just to see what I missed at first.

 

Saunders' short-stories are way better IMO. did not enjoy Lincoln in the Bardo much.

 

It's on my list to get to this summer. The concept and the many different characters and narratives sound right up my alley.

 

I’ve read a handful of the stories in Tenth of December. I’ve found them to be a little hit or miss (Puppy and Al Roosten being my favorites thus far). I need to make my way through the whole book at some point.

 

I loved Tenth of December. I think I like his style even when his stories don’t fully come together. I appreciate Lincoln in the Bardo as a poetic experiment but the narrative(s) didn’t move me. I’m still waiting for his masterpiece

 

Reading Milkman by Anna Burns at the moment and loving it. 18yr women gets caught up in the troubles in 1970s Ireland. fantastic voice

 

Reading Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and jennifer Finney boylan. Didn't know anything about it going in and haven't read either authors prior work. I'm enjoying it so far. I do see myself recommending it to like my grandpa who is progressive but may not know as much about trans people and appreciate the sort of 101 education the book gives

I was wondering how the trial part would go and man I wish trial was that quick and easy with the witnesses lol. Obv I don't expect them to be super tedious and dedicate a zillion pages to how actually mundane a lot of court procedure is, but I'm dead at these bigshot attorneys asking like zero questions.

Edit: okay I finished the book and I looked up some reviews and idk why it's so funny to me that all the low ratings are like "I gave it a star because I liked learning about bees and I wish there was more of that." Not funny that almost all the low reviews were from transphobic ppl. But like if u wanna learn about bees then read a book about bees??? This isn't a book about bees.

 

The more I think about Mad Honey the more I dislike it. I enjoyed the writing. And I loved the chapters from the character Lily's perspective, which I guess were mostly not written by Picoult. But the more I think about it, the more the ending leaves me unsatisfied. The final twist felt sorta half baked and random and I feel like the Asher boyfriend character flaws get a bit hand waved in the end idk. I read it quickly and wanted to see what happened. I wouldn't not recommend it but also probably won't keep it on my shelf and will donate

 

Reminder: And After All: A Fan History of Oasis book released yesterday (July 1), and I'm picking up my copy today at B&N. Here's the info link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668099373/?tag=absolutepunk-20

 

dont love the way this ended, kinda ran out of juice.
read As I lay Dying
started the new Murakami - The City and Its Uncertain Walls. So far Its exactly the same as Hard Boiled Wonderland except hes swapped out the chubby pink lady for a teenage girl -_-

 

lmao of course

 

I was like ok atleast they are both teenagers this time.
next chapter
Now im middle aged yet you have stayed same age of 16.
>
descriptive boob dream.

 

And yet we still love him

 

Just finished A Day in the Life of Abed Salama. What a harrowing read, never blasted through a book so fast

 

Finsihed Blake Crouch's Upgrade, it was okay. Not as good as Recursion imo. On a bit of a "popcorn scifi" kick, so I'm starting Project Hail Mary at my brother's recommendation. I'm a few chapters in, and the humor in it is landing. Enjoying it so far!

 

since we're doing updates, the best book I've read as of late is The River Between by the recently passed Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. a phenomenal short historical-fiction novel about tribal discord, religious conflict, and the proliferation of hatred at the beginning of white settlement in Kenya.

I also was not expecting such an intelligent and thoughtful novel to rev its engines like it does. it becomes quite plot-driven, which was a nice surprise.

 

Project Hail Mary has been my favorite this year

 

I switched careers and became a teacher, so 2024-25 was my first full year teaching a 7th grade class. It's impacted my reading time so much. I've only finished three books so far in 2025. I'm usually at about 12-15 by now. I underestimated how much of my time would be spent on work and then going home and sleeping.

 

I’m curios, what was your previous career?

 

Retail management. I managed teams at Apple and Starbucks for 13 years. At a certain point, the retail hours and lifestyle took a toll on my body, physically and mentally. I decided to eat some shit financially for a year or two and went back for my masters and did what I really wanted to do. I also want a family, and I saw plenty of my peers and bosses really struggled to manage to work/life balance.

 

I love the Thursday murder club series. Almost done with the second book. It's just so wholesome with these lil British old folks.

 

I couldn't get into the Thursday Murder Club but really enjoyed We Solve Murders. It was a wholesome read as well. I have to imagine its essentially the same but Thursday didn't click for some reason.

 

Starting this today