2025 Reading Book Thread - a log of the books read during the year. Monthly goal: 4 books from the Pulitzer, National Book Awards, Hugo, Nebula or Locus lists. Will also include non-goal books read. đ§ľ
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Book 10: Look Homeward: A Life of Thomas Wolfe by David Herbert Donald (1988 Pulitzer Bio). Recommended. Referenced in other works (e.g. Styronâs Sophieâs Choice), I needed this background on this literary figure.
This will continue a streak of such artists in 2025: Walt Whitman, now Thomas Wolfe and I recently acquired Leon Edelâs 5 volume work on Henry James, to be followed by RWB Lewisâs work on Edith Wharton.
Nope, I havenât read anything by Wolfe. Nonetheless, from what I learned from this bio, I can believe your characterization. I should probably pick it up considering that it is in the public domain.
Book 9: Darwinâs Radio by the late Greg Bear (2001 Nebula, 2000 Hugo finalist). Recommended. While I felt it lost a step in the 3rd act, this was nonetheless compelling. I had the audiobook narrated by George Guidall, who Iâve enjoyed listening to since his rendition of Pynchonâs Gravityâs Rainbow.
Book 8: Personal History by Katharine Graham (Pulitzer Bio 1998). Recommended. An autobiographical account, highlighting everything from her childhood to her relationship w/ Phil Graham, leadership of the Washington Post, dealings in the Pentagon Papers, Watergate and the mid 70s pressmanâs strike.
Book 7: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (Finalist Nebula 1995) Highly recommended. An excellent things-fall-apart story. This is my first read of her work, which I picked up for free on Audible, before I read the sequel, Parable of the Talents, later this year.
Book 6: Earthquake Weather by Tim Powers (Locus Fantasy 1998), concluding the Fault Lines series. A lot of the supernatural was a bit lost on me. Not that it detracted from the novel: it always seemed that Powers is tautly operating within the boundaries of an arcane occult rule book.
Book 5: Uprooted by Naomi Novik (2016 Nebula, Locus Fantasy winner, Hugo Finalist). My first read by this author. While listening, it reminded me when I played one of my all time favorite games, The Witcher 3, which shouldnât be surprising considering both are based on Polish folklore.
Book 4: The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 by David M. Potter, completed and edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher (1976 Pulitzer History). Highly recommended. Will be one my books of the year. Eric Fonerâs NYT testimonial graces the cover. âProfound and originalâ not applies here but Fonerâs later Pulitzer.
Again, kudos to Audible in making this available to its members. Iâve been able to amply supplement my 12 books a year with many âincluded in membershipâ offerings. The referenced The Fiery Trial was also one of those offers.
Book 3: Whitman: An Interpretation in Narrative by Emory Holloway (Pulitzer Biography 1927). This is a relatively short biography, which covers Whitmanâs adult life. It is certainly more narrative-driven than previous Pulitzer bios that tend to rely more on a concatenation of correspondence.
For those so interested, Emory Holloway does attempt to address Whitman's sexuality, during the course of this narrative. Treatment of this and later attempts by professor Hollway are best addressed by the late professor Joann P. Krieg and her article found here: https://pubs.lib.uiowa.edu/wwqr/article/26674/galley/135042/view/
Book 2: Now in November by Josephine Winslow Johnson (1935 Pulitzer Fiction) Highly recommended - completely surprised by this gem. Concise and brutal, this is effectively post-apocalyptic fiction, prefiguring both John Steinbeckâs Grapes of Wrath and Cormac McCarthyâs The Road.
Book 1: Just Kids by Patti Smith (2010 National Book Award NF) Recommended - this is where the lifetime goal delivers. A memoir of Smith and her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe that normally, I would not have read, but so glad to have been âforced toâ.
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