A log of what I've read, though I have various feelings on them. Stuff I particularly like will get its own write-up at some point probably maybe or will at least feature on some specific theme/genre lists. Check out my bookwyrm to see me liveblogging.

2025

• The Other Lands - David Anthony Durham

  Less interesting than the first of the trilogy, but with an interesting enough ending that I'm compelled to return to the series.
• Exhumed - S.J. Patrick

  Incredibly dull prose and plot, but there were some interesting worldbuilding details regarding vampirism.
• The Ruins - Scott Smith

  I've seen so many people rave about this book, so I was disappointed by what a flop it was. The characters aren't just unlikeable, they're generic enough to be difficult to tell apart, and somehow none of these clowns ever get the idea to try attacking the plant with fire, even after seeing that it's afraid of fire. Can't help but feel that my time was wasted.
• The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russel

  As annoying as the evangelism sympathizing is (and the reading guide in the end describes calling missionary work colonialist 'revisionist history', which is hateful, racist bullshit) and how much it shows its age at times (holy victim blaming, batman!), I'd be lying if I said some of the religious elements didn't speak to me, even as an atheist. I enjoyed all the religious doubt and cynicism, and there were some fun bits of alien worldbuilding if you look past the racist and misogynistic bits. ...Okay, describing it like that it sounds bad, and I suppose it is, but I still cried.
• Monstrilio - Gerardo Sámano Córdova

  Alright but a little underwhelming.
• Far From the Light of Heaven - Tade Thompson

  I previously tried reading Rosewater and dropped it. While I finished this one, the plot and pacing were still a bit odd.
• One Hand to Hold, One Hand to Carve - M Shaw

  Not horror so much as it was just sad. Still pretty good though
• Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut

  Honestly, this is my least favorite of Vonnegut's works I've read so far. I'd genuinely like to know why people seem to like it so much, because for me it just fell completely flat.
• The Einstein Intersection - Samuel R Delany

  I have absolutely no idea what I just read. Pretty cool though
• Brotherless Night - V.V. Ganeshananthan

  An intimate, empathetic story about the Sri Lankan civil war. I don't feel like I really have the words to do this justice, but I think it's an important book to read for perspective on militant organizations and the motivations behind those who join or support them.
• Dragon's Egg - Robert L. Forward

  Bit silly innit
• Rendevouz With Rama - Arthur C. Clarke

  I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy it at all, between the, ah, poorly aged bits and the fact that it was very clear early on that I have already read many books heavily inspired by this one, but I still liked it well enough! Could cut the misogyny and random Captain Cook apologia. Not interested in reading the rest of the series - to me the open-ended mystery is the point, and anything more would just ruin it