& btw if any of your readers are looking for a *v* reasonably priced (& darned interesting!) gift for any of their bookish friends/relatives, COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2025 is now only $14.29 on Amazon! https://amzn.to/4958AFN Thx, & happy holidays to all!
Eclectic, knowledgeable. Always in search of and supportive to new works by authors largely set apart from the fame machine. Thanks and happy holidays, Christine!
Me too -- I've read 25 books so far, but none of those listed. Some were classics I wanted to re-read, a few were research for a novel I'm trying to write, and some were by Israeli and/or Jewish authors I bought or checked out from the library to show support. Three were pub'd in 2025 by authors I'd read & liked in the past. Sadly, there was nothing I 100% loved & wanted to recommend. I hope next year is better.
Yeah tons! My five star reviews this year have been: 2666, You Dreamed of Empires, Stone Yard Devotional, Audition, The Rehearsal, Mouth to Mouth, The Netanyahus, In The Distance, Palmares, The City & The City, The God of the Woods, Headshot, Bel Canto, The Mountain in the Sea, Harrow, The Goldfinch, The Bell Jar, Lightning Rods (mb my favorite all year), Cloud Cuckooland, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell, Birnam Wood, Intermezzo, Normal People, the Narrow Road to the Deep North, Antarctica (Claire Keegan), Martyr!, & Interpreter of Maladies.
Elizabeth & I & the 13 authors in COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2025 are honored that you read & mentioned this year's volume of COOLEST, so huge thanks indeed, Christine--not to mention equally huge thanks for the interview, which I must say was darned fun!
& btw if any of your readers are looking for a *v* reasonably priced (& darned interesting!) gift for any of their bookish friends/relatives, COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2025 is now only $14.29 on Amazon! https://amzn.to/4958AFN Thx, & happy holidays to all!
Thanks for this, Mark! Onward & happy holidays!
You're welc, Christine!
Thanks, Mark - hope you’re well!
Back @ ya, Paul!
Eclectic, knowledgeable. Always in search of and supportive to new works by authors largely set apart from the fame machine. Thanks and happy holidays, Christine!
Thank you, Paul! You are the most well read person I know!
YES to new works by talented authors largely set apart from the fame machine! Happy holidays to you, Paul!
That's a lot of books! Impressive 😀
The Libby app, I have to say - it really made it easier for me to read a lot of books this year!
I always love reading your recs!
Heart the Lover! I think I mentioned it the other day on the phone?
Yes, I bought it!
Amazed not to have a single overlap!
There are so many books! I read a lot of forthcoming ones too - probably 1/3 of my annual reading.
I read a lot of older books and have funny taste too ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Me too -- I've read 25 books so far, but none of those listed. Some were classics I wanted to re-read, a few were research for a novel I'm trying to write, and some were by Israeli and/or Jewish authors I bought or checked out from the library to show support. Three were pub'd in 2025 by authors I'd read & liked in the past. Sadly, there was nothing I 100% loved & wanted to recommend. I hope next year is better.
I read a lot of older books, too, but out of 102 books I figured at least one!
Anything you loved enough to recommend?
Yeah tons! My five star reviews this year have been: 2666, You Dreamed of Empires, Stone Yard Devotional, Audition, The Rehearsal, Mouth to Mouth, The Netanyahus, In The Distance, Palmares, The City & The City, The God of the Woods, Headshot, Bel Canto, The Mountain in the Sea, Harrow, The Goldfinch, The Bell Jar, Lightning Rods (mb my favorite all year), Cloud Cuckooland, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell, Birnam Wood, Intermezzo, Normal People, the Narrow Road to the Deep North, Antarctica (Claire Keegan), Martyr!, & Interpreter of Maladies.
I also read Rooney’s INTERMEZZO - another book I forgot to include.
I read Mouth to Mouth this year too—forgot to include it. We did overlap!
I loved that one. So surprising.
Thanks -- I'll give Lightning Rods a try. I loved her novella, The English Understand Wool, which I read a few years ago.
I’ve read both the Sittenfeld collections and loved them especially SHOW DON’T TELL because the protagonists were my age!
I ripped through both - so enjoyed them!
Thanks so much for the shout out! I'm honored that you spent time with The Perils of Girlhood!!!
I loved it, Melissa!!
Saving this list! xoxo
Aw shucks, honored to be a part of your reading year. Thank you, Christine!
My pleasure, Geoff!
Elizabeth & I & the 13 authors in COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2025 are honored that you read & mentioned this year's volume of COOLEST, so huge thanks indeed, Christine--not to mention equally huge thanks for the interview, which I must say was darned fun!
I LOVED these stories!
*blushes*