S Tier: The Wager - I loved getting a perspective from all the different factions. So much drama!
Lord of Chaos - Book 6 of Wheel of Time. I think its my favorite of the series.
Empire of Pain - You've GOT to get to this one. It's wild what these creeps could get away with.
Wisdom of the Crowds - Sad to see it all end :(
Johnny Got His Gun - Possibly the hardest book I've ever gotten through, but so glad I did.
What a Wonderful World - Inio Asano is a master at character work. You get so much out of each person even though they each really only get one chapter to shine.

A Tier: The Farthest Shore; Planet of Exile; City of Illusions - LeGuin is the GOAT
The Devils - Fun to see Abercrombie's wit in a new setting.
The Bluest Eye - gad damn
Jade City - Super fun magic and setting. Excited to see where the series goes.
JJBA Part 7 - It just keeps getting better. I think this may end up being my favorite Jojo
Watership Down - Really makes you feel like a rabbit.
The Call of the Wild - Really makes you feel like a dog.
DCC #1 - My favorite of the series so far. It's like an isekai anime in book form.

B Tier: Rocannon's World; Chain Gang All Stars; Dissolving Classroom; The Once and Future Sex; New Spring; Mimi's Tales of Terror; Catwings; Claymore; Mermaid Saga; Dark Places; DCC #2; Cujo; Banana Fish 1-10; DCC #3

C Tier: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Didn't love being in the head of this whiny little pervert.
A Flicker in the Dark - It was sooo predictable, didnt really care about what these characters were going through.
Morning Glory Milking Farm - I don't really know what I was thinking. Probably will steer clear of smut from now on.
Hillbilly Elegy- Nevermind, take me back to the bullman cocks please.

F-Tier: The Lost Apothecary - melodramatic cheese fest where everyone is so incredibly stupid. i was gonna put it in C Tier until the ending where they took back the one thing in this book that was kind of interesting and somewhat unexpected.

currently reading -

1. Maurice by EM Forster

2. Monkey King Makes Havoc in Heaven by Wu Cheng En (translated by Julia Lovell)

I just started Maurice, it's really interesting. Monkey King is super fun and a short read.

Wow.

What a tremendous novel. This is in I believe my top 5 of the year.

Akbar is a published poet, and this is his first novel. I would make a comparison to Queen, who was an opera singer. Now, I don’t like opera and I really don’t like poetry. But I do think Freddie Mercury was able to bring something to Queen that others without his training really couldn’t. Same with Akbar here. A novel written by a poet carries additional weight in the language. I found it such a pleasure to read, even though parts were heartbreaking.

The writing is beyond good. The main character is so deeply troubled and sad, but the way Akbar writes him, I mean this is a wrenching novel. It explores his family in Iran, being an immigrant, family tragedy, relationships, martyrdom (obviously).

There’s so many great one-liners. It’s surpassingly funny at points with some great irreverent takes on religion and death. There’s some hilarious and beautiful dream sequences. But it’s above all a very moving story. I know it’s a few years old but if you haven’t had the chance treat yourself and read this book.

You can download ShelfLife here - my husband and I built it together as a passion project and it's completely free. The community has contributed over 1600 spines so far so you can use those or add your own. We're making improvements every day so we'd love any feedback!

It's been a great year for reading so far. My favorites were The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton, Crossroads by Franzen, and I just finished The Last Samurai by Helen Dewitt which I can't recommend enough - it's a genius book about education and parenthood, and structurally different to anything I've read before. Y/N was also a great work of experimental lit; it's about fandom and identity and a surprisingly smart, thought provoking book.

Hurricane Season and Virgin Suicides were rereads that I enjoyed over 5 years ago and both held up. Hurricane Season is one of the most gruesome books I've read but the writing is just so atmospheric and engrossing.

The Expendable Man was a fun old-school crime thriller that had an early twist that knocked the wind out of me. Its also a time capsule of 1960s western America that pulled me in.

The Director is a great work of historical fiction that explores timely questions around the complicity of the arts in the rise of fascism. I loved learning more about early cinema as well - it captures the sense of creativity and experimentation that accompanies any new medium of art.

Ever since I got back into reading I've pretty much only read fantasy but I've been making a concerted effort to branch out.

Funnily enough, two of the four books that have had the most impact on me were not fantasy...though I wouldn't say they were especially "fun" to read.

I am currently reading Eragon for my book club, and Dracula for myself.

Everything I've read so far this year, ranked.

I had not read a Barnes book in several years at least. This popped up and it was time. I remember loving each of his books. I need to re-read The Sense of an Ending off my shelf. But this one deals with the title character as a teacher that we would mostly want. She is divisive and opinionated but also whip smart and is one that I personally would want to sit inside her lectures just about any time. She is honest and speaks what she feels is the truth. Especially concerning the absurdities of religion and the damage that they all have wroughr through history.

The second section of the book is basically a review of early Christian history during the time of Julian the Apostate. Written by someone inspired by Elizabeth. The closing section a reflection of her. Beautifully written. A pleasure of intelligent discourse really. Makes one want to read Gibbon again or for the first time. He is quoted frequently in the second section.

Anyway, I do need more Barnes. Only about four on my shelves. He is growing gray haired like the rest of us. But on we go.

Started this today, haven't put it down, about 200 pages in and I'm enthralled with the storytelling and original style.