Finished Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman, book 2 of Dungeon Crawler Carl.
spoiler for book 2
I thought Bea will show up in the second book, though it looks like she is actually dead now. Carl has a point if she was still alive some show will have found her by now.
It looks like they are going to do something in future books and split up Carl and Donut. Not a fan of this in most books, so let’s see how it goes.
Started Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski. Book 2 of The Witcher series. This is the second short story collection, after which comes the 5 book novel series. I read the series quite a while ago, but never finished all the novels, so re-reading the earlier books to finally complete the series.
What about all of you? What have you all been reading or listening to lately?
Check Official Bingo Challenge Post and the accompanying Recommendations Post for our Bingo for 2026!
Currently reading The Haar by David Sodergren for the podcast and also reading The Salt Bind by Rebecca Ferrier, which is a very enjoyable read if you like 18th Century working-class witchy fiction - which I do.
Finished Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves. A story of death living in a dingy flat in the modern world. Some really interesting concepts, and some amazing characters. I’m super glad to have read it.
Husband and I just started listening to the sixth Bobbiverse book which was recently released on Audible. I really enjoy the narrator, Ray Porter, and the series itself is quite entertaining.
I just finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I loved it. Fantastic. The sense of exploration worked nicely, the past/present split storytelling worked well to drive the plot, and I absolutely adored the chance friendship that developed.
I’m still in the middle of A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. I’m enjoying it, reading a chapter or two each day.
I’ve also started Soul Music by Terry Pratchett. I’m hit or miss on Pratchett, so I’m happy to be enjoying this one.
I’ve read a couple of Andrzej Sapkowski’s books, but it’s been a bit. I should maybe request the next one from the library.
Out of curiosity, have you seen the Project Hail Mary film? I read The Martian long before I saw the movie. Loved both, but I think having many years between helped me not compare them too much.
This time around I’ve seen Hail Mary, and am wondering what the experience might be like to read the book after.
No, not yet. I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. It’ll be a bit; there’s a queue for the hold at my local library.
How To Do Nothing, by Jenny Odell. I just barely started it, but so far it makes a great argument against “hustle grindset” culture.
I like the sound of this. The term “side hustle” rubs me wrong, and hustle in general.
Just started The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Never read it before, really like it so far
I adore Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels, and I’ve done something like 8-10 full readthrus. I’m currently near the end of one, in Unseen Academicals.
Usually when I read a Discworld, the first time is good, the second time is better, adn the third time it becomes very very dear to me.
I don’t know if it was because as he got closer to the end, his last 2-3 novels he wasn’t able to edit and refine as much, or if his style just evolved past the point where I love it quite as much, but while Making Money was great, Unseen Academicals is…a little meh.
It may be the obsession with soccer, too. I dunno.
I dislike it less and less, and I actually appreciate a lot of it this go around, but it’s still not a favorite. :(
And next up is Raising Steam and then on to Shepherd’s Crown, which I know will make me cry again.
I’m only 3/4 of the way on my first read-thru, but already dreading the end. It’s taken several years as well, so not looking forward to that post-partum XD
*editing to add: I’m on Going Postal at the moment
Please don’t keep Shepherd’s Crown aside, though. It is the perfect ending. But it is not The End, because you can start over and enjoy them all again. <3
That said, I can’t imagine being on my first. It must be delightul. lol. My wife introduced me when we met. Around Fifth Elephant was when I picked up reading them when they came out, so I got to catch up and then keep up. heh.
Last week I read the Red Rising trilogy (first three books). Read Dungeon Crawler Carl over the weekend but I’m switching to audiobook for the rest due to critical acclaim of the VA talent.
This week I plan to read Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers, and Watership Down by Richard Adams. I might sprinkle some Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliott or Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman to mix some nonfiction in there.
Listening to Big Damn Hero by James Lovegrove, Nancy Holder. Its the first of a series of Firefly novels that take place after the show and before the movie (Serenity).
I’m still in the first few chapters, but the story is classic Firefly so far. I’m extremely pleased with the narrator, James Anderson Foster. He does a great job of voicing all the characters in much the same way they were in the show.
Like I said, still early in the book, but so far I’d recommend it if you’re a fan of the show.
Oh no way, didn’t realize there was a series of novels!
I just started listening toHowling Dark, the second book in Christopher Ruocchio’s Sun Eater series. Without getting spoilery I enjoyed the first book, kind of a mix between Red Rising and Dune.
I made like no progress over the last week reading. Had a few days off work and just ended up playing some video games so I am still in the middle of Morning Star, book 3 in the Red Rising trilogy and Between Two Fires.
Morning Star is getting really interesting so I hope to finish it by weeks end.
I read the trilogy last week. So good. Setting aside the seriee until the last book comes. I think Morning Star is a good stopping point.
Picked up Stephen King’s Duma Key in a Little Free Library and am enjoying that so far (3/4 of the way through it).
The amount of people that sleep on King’s astounding storytelling because they assume it’s all horror is pretty sad.
Into the Blue by Emma Brodie. Supposed to be an amazing love story. I have been reading so many depressing articles and lately consuming a lot of horror movies. This should be a nice break.
Finished “Practical Magic”. Easy, fun read. I have the sequel book in my queue. I’ve heard the sequel movie doesn’t follow the books, so it will be interesting to compare.
Just finished “Just over the Horizon”. The first of three short story collections by Greg Bear. Really enjoyed them, especially the unmade episode of the outer limits that he pitched.
Have picked The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub next, as King has been promoting a 3rd book he wrote in the series after Peter’s passing and it peaked my interest.
King is my comfort author. I find him so easy to read, so interested to see how this collaboration works.
