Thoughts tagged "reading"

Short thoughts, notes, links, and musings by . RSS

Reviewing the 14 books I read in June

So many good books this month, with Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Talents and Martha Wells’ Artificial Condition leading the pack for fiction.

@molly0xfff June reading wrap-up, reviewing the 14 books I read this month (no spoilers) #readingwrapup #junereadingwrapup #booktok #bookrecommendations #parableofthetalents #murderbot #spaceopera #litrpg #newtanddemon ♬ original sound - Molly White
Storygraph June 2025 wrap-up page. Books: 14; pages: 5,829; av. rating 3.85. Highest rated reads: Artificial Condition (5 stars), Parable of the Talents (5 stars), Newt & Demon III (4.5 stars). Average book length: 389 pages; average time to finish 6 days. 93% fiction, 7% nonfiction. 5 mystery/thriller/crime, 4 science fiction, 2 fantasy. 64% digital, 29% audio, 7% print.
June 2025 reads:
    Storm Prey, John Sandford (3.5 stars)
Parable of the Talents, Octavia E. Butler (5 stars)
Stolen Prey, John Sandford (3 stars)
Convenience Store Woman, Sayaka Murata (3.5 stars)
Newt & Demon III, E.M. Griffiths (4.5 stars)
Silken Prey, John Sandford (4 stars)
Newt & Demon IV, E.M. Griffiths (4 stars)
A Memory Called Empire, Arkady Martine (3.5 stars)
Field of Prey, John Sandford (3.5 stars)
All Systems Red, Martha Wells (4 stars)
Enshittification, Cory Doctorow (5 stars)
Artificial Condition, Martha Wells (5 stars)
Rogue Protocol, Martha Wells (4 stars)
Gathering Prey, John Sandford (3.5 stars)<br><br>

Reviewing the 15 books I read in May

Belated May reading wrap-up. Lots of comfort/escapist reading this month, heavy on the litRPGs and detective novels. Favorite out of the fifteen was probably Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi.

@molly0xfff May reading wrap-up, reviewing the 15 books I read this month #litrpg #progressionfantasy #cozyfantasy #detectivebooks #readingwrapup #booktok #bookish #bookrecommendations #mayreadingwrapup ♬ original sound - Molly White
“Don’t hurt anyone. Never bully people weaker than yourself. Help out those in need. Some would say that these rules are obvious. But the truth is, the obvious is no longer obvious in today’s world. What’s worse is that some people even ask why. They don't understand why they shouldn't hurt other people. It's not a simple thing to explain. It’s not logical. But if they read books they will understand. It’s far more important than using logic to explain something. Human beings don’t live alone, and a book is a way to show them that.”

Rintaro did his best to explain to the invisible listener.

“I think the power of books is that—that they teach us to care about others. It’s a power that gives people courage and also supports them in turn.”

Rintaro broke off for a moment, biting his lip.

“Because you seem to have forgotten,” he resumed with all the strength he could muster, “I’m going to say it as loud as I can. Empathy—that's the power of books.”
– Sōsuke Natsukawa, The Cat Who Saved Books