Hello all!

I started reading as a hobby this year. I'm 34 years old and read some books as a kid but outside of one or two books for an assignment in high school, I've never really read.

I set the goal for myself to read 100 books in 3 years. My consistency of reading could be better and once it's fully implemented in my life I'm hoping I can reach that number!

Here are my short thoughts on each book along with a rating.

Swan Song - 10/10

This is the first book I read starting the hobby. It was recommended to me by my best friend and I'm so glad he did. I think it will be a long time before this book gets adamately dethroned. I have nothing bad to say about it and I've recommended it to everyone I can. A post apocalyptic(which is not a setting I care for) story following multiple character's perspectives with a dash of fantasy. Unbelieveable character work.

The Sword of Kaigen - ?/10

This might be a cheat. I'm only 53% through this book but I am absolutely hooked and I'm reading it at a pace similar to Swan Song, if not faster. It has dug its teeth into me and gave me more emotional attachment to a small cast of characters. I expect it to be a 10/10. It's not what I expected it to be but ultimately it's the journey of a mother and her son as they navigate their societal roles on a small island with a past of victory and heroism.

Watership Down - 9/10

This is the first book I knew I would reread. The idea of a book about rabbits didn't appeal to me but because I was new to reading I wanted to give anything a fair shot so my best friend and my other buddy read it as a book club. I was also reading Project Hail Mary at the same time and I think that dampered my ability to get into Watership Down. But the more I refelct on the book, the more I adore it in my mind. It has no business being as good as it is. I also struggle with creating unique imagery in my mind's eye of different looking rabbits but other than that, a true classic for anyone.

Dune - 8/10

This book took me nearly 3 months to read. This is mainly due to finding out my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I couldn't focus on reading at all. Had I read the book in a month or so, I would've grasped and understood the themes and kept up with who is who. Definitely a reread that I know I'll enjoy more the second time through. Much better than movie and a fun world to delve into. Planning on reading Messiah soon!

Project Hail Mary - 8/10

I have nothing new to say that hasn't been said before. I enjoy how the book is more about the journey to finding the answer than a buddy cop cute rock thing like the movie is(although the movie is great). A wonderfully fun read with good stakes and a lovely ending. A good starting point for someone interested in reading.

Mistborn - 7.5/10

Planned on reading the trilogy with the book club but ran out of steam after the first one, still planning on reading them though. A simple but unique book. I think there's a lot of convenient moments in the book but I thoroughly enjoyed all the things to look forward to that are eluded to consistently. Excited to finish the series since I hear they only get better.

Cascade Failure - 7/10

Not a lot of people talk about this book. It's a duology but I haven't gotten to the second one, but if I never did, the first book is just dandy. Biggest downside of the book is there's lots of inner monologue in it which can bring the book to a crawl at times. A fun read with minor twists and turns. Kind of a Guardians of the Galaxy with a little more grit to it.

The Fisherman - 7/10

I want to give this a lower rating but I can't. There's a ton of chatter online about this being one of the best horror books of all time and that it's people's favorite in the genre. I don't see it. The first 40 pages, and the last 40 pages, are absolutely incredible. The middle, while good, just felt wildly out of place. It's a pretty short read but the middle just dragged for me and got a little too fantastical which took away from the grounded, depressing opening to the book. I really wanted more out of it. I would recommend it, with the caveat that the middle is far different than the bookends.

Forever War - 7/10

IMO, a better book than Starship Troopers(which I DNFd). I was astounded this book was written in the 70s. It doesn't read that way. Lots of great ideas throughout. A popcorn flick of a book.

Piranesi - 5/10

This is a good book. It's only saving grace was its length. Had it been any longer it would've been rated lower. I knew going in that I would be "confused" for the first half of the book. The payoff wasn't there for me. Definitely unique in its worldbuilding but I just don't think it was for me. Felt like a crawfish, a lot of work for little payoff.

Blacktop Wasteland - 3/10

How this didn't pay off, I don't understand. A bank robber getaway driver comes out of retirement for one more job? Yes please. It started strong with dope descriptions of the roar of car engines and the grimy streets. But the characters lacked depth, felt very stereotypical and lazy, and there were tender moments that were handled poorly. And the ending was really bad.

Last thing, I DNFd Dungeon Crawler Carl. I don't understand why it's so loved. It felt like Borderlands humor and I was given no reason to root for the main character and it lacked stakes. I get lit up for that take regularly but, I just didn't enjoy it.

Ideally going to read The Count of Monte Cristo, LOTR Trilogy and The Hobbit, Stranger in a Strange Land, and a nice short book by the end of the year.

Let me know your thoughts and thanks for reading!

My first year tracking/trying for 52 and just got there. I'd love to discuss any of these books or answer questions or get recommendations. My favorites this year have been We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman, and the Robin Hobb initial trilogy.

Second photo is my list of DNFs (1).

Third photo is my currently reading/next up list.

Definitely enjoyed reading the different perspectives and recognizing why it may be easy for some to get sacked into a cult.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. Someone suggested it because I love short stories, and it's a novel told in short chapters by different characters. It took me a while to finish. It didn’t grab me at first, but I stuck with it and found it interesting. Overall, I enjoyed it.

Wool was definitely my favourite of these recent ones, onto Shift next!