2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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What are you currently reading?
I finished a stunning Pulitzer-Prize winning non-fiction book about the birth and rise of Islamic fundamentalism:
The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading:
D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose
because I'm a male over the age of 50 so genetically this is the time in my life where I become fascinated with WWII.
RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I finished a stunning Pulitzer-Prize winning non-fiction book about the birth and rise of Islamic fundamentalism:The Looming Tower by [autho..."
Loved your review of The Looming Tower, RJ!
I just enjoyed the thought-provoking second book of the Monkeewrench mystery series, Live Bait by mother-daughter duo P.J. Tracy. As if the concentration camp hadn't been bad enough, a Holocaust survivor is murdered. I'm glad there are more of these to look forward to!
4.5★ Link to my Live Bait review
Butterfly Blink: A Book Without Words is another colourful conversation-starter for children by Karl Beckstrand. As the title suggests, no words are necessary - except for the person answering the inevitable questions!
4★ Link to my Butterfly Blink review with several pictures
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Loved your review of The Looming Tower, RJ!"Aww thank you Patti! It's a great read. I always seem to like the Pulitzer winners.
I finished listening to the audiobook 
Ender's Game Alive: The Full Cast Audioplay by Orson Scott Card
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not as good as the original, and not the best way to experience the story for the first time. Harlan Ellison makes an appearance though, although I can't figure out which part he played (I'm guessing (view spoiler)).
The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson - 4.5 stars - My Review
Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China by Evan Osnos. This was a Pulitzer Prize nominee in 2015 (didn't win), but it deservedly garnered other awards. My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3921263449
Smiley's People by John le Carré concludes the Karla trilogy. After reading so much of the Smiley series, I'm such a fan of le Carré, and I'm glad that I had finally gotten around to his novels. My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3945180319
I just finished “The Starboard Sea” by Amber Dermont and very much enjoyed it ⭐️⭐️⭐️I then started “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak and so far it is a great read 📖
I know he's not little now but he will always be Little Stevie Wonder to me. Another inspiring Little People BIG DREAMS book for all families and schools.
5★ Link to my Stevie Wonder review with lots of pictures
I just enjoyed The Old Men Who Row Boats and Other Stories, a collection of stories that take place in Spain and Portugal. Author David Joseph has a good feeling for his people and the places where we meet them.
3.5★ Link to my Old Men Who Row Boats review
I finished two books yesterday: 
The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 edited by Jonathan Lethem and Otto Penzler, the annual mystery/crime anthology series which isn't quite as good as usual in this edition
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Kings of Cool by Don Winslow - the prequel to Savages, the film version of which was directed by Oliver Stone
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, her first novel and the first appearance of Hercule Poirot
Old Venus edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, a follow-up of sorts to their anthology Old Mars, containing stories styled after the Golden-Age idea of the solar system (little green men, etc.)
Based on a real event in Poland in 1941, Winter Journey by Aussie author Diane Armstrong is a reminder of what we are capable of, both good and bad. 
3.5★ Link to my review of Winter Journey
Graham Brack is a favourite author of mine. The Vanishing Children is the latest Master Mercurius mystery set in the Netherlands in the 17th century. I'm very fond of this gentle, witty cleric whom William of Orange keeps dragging away from his comfortable university post to work for him. History, mystery, and humour - love it!
4★ Link to my review of The Vanishing Children
It is a good book thus far, but a little over detailed and long winded but I am sticking with it! The characters are very real and all developed!
The Secret Pilgrim by John le Carré. Smiley is now undisputedly retired and makes a guest appearance at the Service's training school. Ned is the narrator as it's his pilgrimage that's described. My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3951432462
A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré This is the final novel in the series involving George Smiley. It is narrated by Peter Guillam, longtime foot soldier and loyal adjunct. If you've read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, then this is not one to miss.
My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3958642443
Just started to read Russka by Edward Rutherford. Hopefully more to come
Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took On the West by Catherine Belton. If you haven't noticed the news headlines about Russia, this is eye-opening.
My review - www.Goodreads.com/review/show/3941744512
Aussie B Michael Radburn is a reliable, go-to author for thrilling mysteries. The Reach is the third featuring Park Ranger Taylor Bridges in a beautiful (though terrifying!) Australian bush setting.
4.5★ Link to my review of The Reach
Ross wrote: "Just started to read Russka by Edward Rutherford. Hopefully more to come"I read it in 2019 before going to Russia and loved it. I've loved all of his books.
Angela wrote: "Ross wrote: "Just started to read Russka by Edward Rutherford. Hopefully more to come"I read it in 2019 before going to Russia and loved it. I've loved all of his books."
I remember adding Edward Rutherfurd to my list of authors I want to try, so you have both prompted me to give my TBR pile a bit of a shake, I think.
Open Water, a novella by British-Ghanaian author Caleb Azumah Nelson, is a poetic, complicated, lyrical love story, some of which I loved.
3.5★ Link to my review of Open Water
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2025 Reading Challenge
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Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...