As you know, I love a random phone call (made or received) and I love that we get to share this!! (Also, both Transcription and John of John are books I thought I'd hate that I really liked/loved this year so far! Sometimes, a man can surprise you in a non-derogatory way! Who knew!)
I do not think I can do John of John. It seems long and slow and it is by a man. So that combo is just not for me. Any 2/3 I can do, but the whole trifecta, not likely.
I did not find it slow at all (Shuggie Bain, it is not), but I can survive off air and vibes, so I might not be the best source. I was A-SWOON. Did not want to put it down. Biggest surprise of the year so far for me.
My one 2026 book to make sure I read is Strangers, Belle Burden. It didn’t sound like something I’d be interested in but have read so much about it that now: I’m hooked.
BTW, I really enjoyed your show with Dusty Baker, that was fun!
Thanks to you and your excellently curated recommendations. I’ve really increased my NF reading this year. I’m at 26% NF titles so far. I’ve always enjoyed NF but was usually a ‘bad picker’ and maybe would read 5-10 really good NF each year. But this year!!! Sometimes, I finish an NF title that really worked for me and hug the book and say, “Thank You, Traci.” I too was really interested/impressed by IN DEFENSE OF THE SUN- have been changing all the lightbulbs in my house!And I cannot stop talking about it. But my best so far has been LET THE RECORD SHOW, I was there (as a very young nurse , 22, I took care of young men who were diagnosed with odd things…wasting of unknown origin. They were very sick and young and often alone) but what did I know. Until this book, I didn’t question the somewhat manufactured story. No wonder my older lesbian friends are pissed and the rage/hurt that I see in my older women friends who became infected back then is soooooo understandable reading this book.
Sorry, this is so long but thank you so much. Looking forward to the next 6 months.😉
I think I need to be more up-to-date with new releases given my work....and classics too. Your goals from last year and this year inspire me, and thank you for helping me stay somewhat current with what is out there and what's coming out. You're doing pretty much all of the heavy lifting for me these days.
SPACEMAN OF BOHEMIA by Jaroslav Kalfar, which I just finished this week! It's about a man (Jakub) who goes to space, but it's really more about his life on Earth. It was a funny coincidence that I read it right when you did the podcast episode on THE ALCHEMIST, because similar issues about "destiny" came up, but Jakub ultimately made decisions that were different from Santiago's.
As you know, I love a random phone call (made or received) and I love that we get to share this!! (Also, both Transcription and John of John are books I thought I'd hate that I really liked/loved this year so far! Sometimes, a man can surprise you in a non-derogatory way! Who knew!)
I do not think I can do John of John. It seems long and slow and it is by a man. So that combo is just not for me. Any 2/3 I can do, but the whole trifecta, not likely.
I did not find it slow at all (Shuggie Bain, it is not), but I can survive off air and vibes, so I might not be the best source. I was A-SWOON. Did not want to put it down. Biggest surprise of the year so far for me.
I want to read JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart before the end of the year because Melissa says it is good and she is the boss.
She must know that that book is not for me, because she has not even brought it up in passing around me. I had no clue she read it.
LOL, I didn't see this before I left my comment, but glad to know I'm being dragged right and left on here.
I DIDN'T SEE YOU COMMENT UNTIL AFTER!!!! It's not a dragging, it is me saying you know your audience.
My one 2026 book to make sure I read is Strangers, Belle Burden. It didn’t sound like something I’d be interested in but have read so much about it that now: I’m hooked.
BTW, I really enjoyed your show with Dusty Baker, that was fun!
Ahhhh I’m so glad you liked it. So special to me.
Thanks to you and your excellently curated recommendations. I’ve really increased my NF reading this year. I’m at 26% NF titles so far. I’ve always enjoyed NF but was usually a ‘bad picker’ and maybe would read 5-10 really good NF each year. But this year!!! Sometimes, I finish an NF title that really worked for me and hug the book and say, “Thank You, Traci.” I too was really interested/impressed by IN DEFENSE OF THE SUN- have been changing all the lightbulbs in my house!And I cannot stop talking about it. But my best so far has been LET THE RECORD SHOW, I was there (as a very young nurse , 22, I took care of young men who were diagnosed with odd things…wasting of unknown origin. They were very sick and young and often alone) but what did I know. Until this book, I didn’t question the somewhat manufactured story. No wonder my older lesbian friends are pissed and the rage/hurt that I see in my older women friends who became infected back then is soooooo understandable reading this book.
Sorry, this is so long but thank you so much. Looking forward to the next 6 months.😉
1. So glad you like my recs. Thanks for trusting me.
2. Yes so much of what happened in the 80s around HIV/AIDS was just horrific. I understand the rage and betrayal for sure.
I think I need to be more up-to-date with new releases given my work....and classics too. Your goals from last year and this year inspire me, and thank you for helping me stay somewhat current with what is out there and what's coming out. You're doing pretty much all of the heavy lifting for me these days.
Happy to be of service.
I'm halfway through American Scoundrel right now and it is excellent, looking forward to your thoughts on it when you get to it.
Awesome!
I want to read The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders when it comes out!
July 7th is just around the corner!
Fairfield County is so beautiful. I’m really looking forward to reading it.
It really is. It makes me so sad.
I mostly read backlist, but I really want to read Paige Lewis's CANON before the end of the year.
What’s been your favorite read of the year so far, including backlist?
SPACEMAN OF BOHEMIA by Jaroslav Kalfar, which I just finished this week! It's about a man (Jakub) who goes to space, but it's really more about his life on Earth. It was a funny coincidence that I read it right when you did the podcast episode on THE ALCHEMIST, because similar issues about "destiny" came up, but Jakub ultimately made decisions that were different from Santiago's.
It was Light and Thread by Han Kang--which was great. It is now Biological War by Annie Jacobsen. I should probably find something lighter.
Thank you for this Traci. I think you did the best summary of Yesteryear I’ve seen yet!
My 1 book for the year is Làzàr. For non Fiction it’s El Paso.
Good picks, I couldn’t quite get into El Paso but I tried a few times. I hope you have more luck with it.
Loved Kin, it will be on my favorites list for the year too. Couldn’t put Strangers down and I’m not a series girl either :)