JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, 2025
CONTINUED FROM 2024 PART 2, 2024
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Book 1: Absolution (2024) by Jeff VanderMeer started my reading year. It’s Jeff’s return to the world of his Sountern Reach trilogy that began ten years ago with the book Annihilation, which was loosley adapted into a 2018 film of the same name. Like the first three books, Absolution has a dreamlike quality that really makes for quite a unique, in a good way, reading experience. The year of our Lords 2025 started with me at almost halfway through the book. Progress would have been quicker if I didn’t have a job. I finished it late on a Friday night, and that third and final novella was certainly quite different! I think I might have to reread the first book one day. (Read between December 24 & January 10 )
Book 2: Wind & Truth (2024) by Brandon Sanderson is the newly released fifth book in his Stormlight Archive saga, and this fifth book brings to a close the first half of the saga and the completion of the first of two story arcs. Soon after it’s November release, I saw a lot of positive reviews from some of the BookTubers. And then a few weeks later, I came across some quite negative reviews, one by a reviewer I usually agree with. Hence, it was with a little trepidation that I started this mammoth 1,344-page tome. I just decided to forget about the opinions of others, and just dive in and swim until the end. Having said that, a slower than expected reading pace in late Januray had me toying with the idea of putting it aside to read one or two shorter books. Each time that idea came to me, I decided to read one more chapter, and each time that chapter led to the next. Still, the slow pace irked me somewhat as in the two previous winter vacations, I read quite a lot of books. And then around February 13, I passed the halfway point and my pace returned to my normal reading speed.
As of February 17, I’m at the 83% mark, and I am enjoying this more. So far I’m finding myself in much more agreement with those that rate this book highly. Now that was the reading equivalent of a marathon – the climactic elements seemed to take up over half the book, i.e. longer than a couple of novels. I finally reached that finish line and read the last word just after midnight on February 19.
I really liked the structure – the story was told over ten days with each day containing about 15 or so pretty short chapters that each contained several viewpoints from the various happenings over the planet and other dimension things. I still can’t comprehend how one BookTuber read the whole thing in three days, but certainly the shortish chapters and the regular changing of viewpoints played a role. I loved how some of the characters developed as most reached the end of major arcs. There were enough surprise revelations, twists, and mini cliffhangers to keep me interested and the intensity and stakes gradually grew with what felt like the beginning of the climax coming at around the half-way mark. There were resolutions and questions answered that led to more which helped set up the sixth book, which begins the second and final five-book arc. And I’ll have to wait until December 2031 to read that if Sanderson’s current busy and immacually-planned writing schedule holds. And I think that’s enough Sanderson for at least a few months. And one criticism I certainly agree with: the book was too long and I think about 200 plus pages could easily have been cut. And as I explore some more reviews, well, I think some of the negative reviews raise some fair points. I still enjoyed it. (Read between January 10 & February 19)
Book 3: Not Till We Are Lost (2024) by Dennis Taylor was next, the fifth book in his Bobiverse series. I binged the first four books two years ago, and I’m eager for a return to the humour and quick pace of the Bobiverse. I read it in a few days, and that was such a refreshing and enjoyable palete-cleanser. (Read between February 19 & 22)
Book 4: Redemption Ark (2002) by Alastair Reynolds was next as I was still in the mood for some space opera and another book towards completing a series, this time Reynold’s Inhibitor Sequence quartet of novels, part of his larger Revelation Space bookverse. plus some novellas and short stories. Redemption Ark is the second novel in the series; the first being Revelation Space which I read last year. (Read between February 22 and March 6)
Book 5: Swan Song (1987) by Robert McCammon is often compared favorably to Stephen King’s The Stand (1978)- an apocalyptic tale with supernatural elements. The nuclear holocaust that starts the book felt to me more likely than ever, but I still enjoyed the beginning despite a little discomfort. And the rest was a real pleasure to read – now that I’ve finished it, I can’t recall ever being board or wanting a chapter to end in case the next changed character perspectives. It all just flowed so smoothly: word to word, sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph etc. That was my second Robery McCammon book, the first being Stinger (1988) which I read last year, and Swan Song certainly won’t be my last. (Read between March 6 & 31)
Book 6: The Martian Contingency (2025) by Mary Robinette Kowal was next as I was both eager to return to Mary’s alternative reality version of the space race, and I think watching For All Mankind these days, also an alternative reality space race saga, helped cement that decision, keeping me firmly in alternative reality space race Mars territory. Upon finishing it, I was surprised to discover that it had been more than four years since I read the previous book in the series, The Relentless Moon. Gosh, time flies. Anyway, I enjoyed the continuing story and I hope there are more novels on the way. (Read between March 31 & April 12)
Book 7: Shroud (2025) by Adrian Tchaikovsky was next, and I have to agree with a review I read just before starting it: Shroud is one of Tchaikovsky’s best. And a day before finishing, came the happy news of many more books to come. And there are other novels and novellas in the works as well. Prolific is his middle name – it should be his first name though. Now, what is next? (Read between April 12 & 17)
Book 8: Piranesi (2020) by Susanna Clarke was next as I felt t was time to try a new author and also take a break from pure science fiction. And that was such a pleasure to read. One of those rare books that has a unique feel. Almost immediately, I cared for and felt sorry for the main character, and then more so as little tidbits of information are revealed that eventaully lead to the understanding of his situation and environment. Not a book that made me cry at the end, but it came pretty close. Thank you Susanna Clarke! (Read between April 17 & 23)
Book 9: Nether Station (2024) by Kevin J. Anderson was next as the premise sounded promising. I thought I had read a book by Kevin before, but browsing his work, I realized I was just familair with his name from his Star Wars novels and Dune novels written with Frank Herbert’s son. Well, it was a quick read, and I enjoyed the setup, but there came a point when I realized this wasn’t really doing anything for me: the characters were dull and some expected plot twists and some others that just seemed silly. What a contrast to the characters in Piranesi! I remember thinking this would be the last book of his that I read. But never say never, I came to the end and learned that a sequel is coming soon. Despite my feelings about the book, I found myself thinking I might continue the story when I feel like a fast light read. (Read between April 23 & 26)
Book 10: The Midnight Library (2020) By Matt Haig was next as I really enjoyed The Humans (2013) last year, and I remember a friend raving about The Midnight Library on Facebook quite a few years ago – probably not too long after its publication. I started the book blind, only knowing it was fantasyish. The very short chapters helped me read quickly through the first 13 percent, and gradually hints as to the books main plot were revealled. I made the right choice in finally deciding to read this. The ending came to me about a third of the way through, perhaps later than it should have, but it was the journey to that destination that made this book just so sweet and touching. I need to read more of Matt’s books! (Read between April 26 & 29)
Book 11: Absolution Gap (2003) by Alastair Reynolds was next as I decided not to go too long between books in his Revelation Space series of novels, novellas, and short stories. (Read between April 29 & May …)
Book 12:
Book 13:
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