2025 Reading Reflection
Jan. 3rd, 2026 09:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kitewithfishYear End Reading Meme for 2025
How many books did you read this year? Any trends in genre/length/themes/etc?
102!
Themes - eh, mostly sci fi, fantasy, and history.
What are your Top 3 books that you read this year?
The world is too big and full of books for just three!
Fiction:
Return of the King – yeah, yeah, we know, Tolkien is great, but like, I didn’t realize that this book was going to be so full of the heartfelt need to rest and respite after war and suffering and babe, I loved that. Excellent conclusion of the trilogy.
Lent by Jo Walton – The first half of this novel is a history of Girolamo Savonarola up to his death, and the second half of the book is about what happens after he dies. It’s phenomenal and weird and I loved it.
The Fortunate Fall by Cameron Reed – I’m fresh off this one and I found it a fascinating look at memory from a cyberpunk future that almost and didn’t happen.
Nonfiction:
The Power Broker – yeah, this book was 50 years old last year and I read it and it explained New York and also gives a reasonable look back at how American politics developed. It's also just masterfully written and makes other books look lazy and slow about their level of research.
The Other Olympians – Michael Walters - My god, transphobia is literally just recycled Nazi bullshit. Literally, just, it’s Nazi rhetoric about gender roles! This book makes me so happy for trans people in the past and also women’s athletics and also I hate Nazis with new and enduring facets after I read this book. Why could you not just let people be happy, you fucking fascists.
The Revolutionary Temper – Robert Darnton – Slow history! Watch society slowly build up from thinking of their king as the ultimate source of justice to the ultimate impediment to justice. Love it.
What's a book you enjoyed more than you expected?
Conclave – a very simple thrillers style novel but really pleasant to read and added a lovely depth to the film.
Which books most disappointed you this year?
Into the Drowning Deep – because I had hopes. But the worst book I read and finished this year was Mercenary Librarians.
Did you reread any old faves? If so, which one was your favorite?
Misethere – I seem to be re-reading this one annually! I also re-read The Goblin Emperor and the Murderbot Diaries
What's the oldest book you read?
Persuasion by Jane Austen
What's the newest book you read?
Of Monsters and Mainframes
Did you DNF (= did not finish) any books?
The Familiar – Stupid love interest
What was your predominant format this year?
Audio, at 42% - which makes sense, my eyes are getting tired
What's the longest book you read this year?
The Power Broker – So long that almost all of it was read in 2024
What books from your TBR did you not get to this year, but are excited to read in 2026?
Hm, Pass – Maybe I will return to this question.
Did you reach your reading goal for this year (if you had one)?
Yup, and exceeded.
(Adding this question myself) What author did you read the most?
Dorothy Sayers! I read 8 books by her this year!
How many books did you read this year? Any trends in genre/length/themes/etc?
102!
Themes - eh, mostly sci fi, fantasy, and history.
What are your Top 3 books that you read this year?
The world is too big and full of books for just three!
Fiction:
Return of the King – yeah, yeah, we know, Tolkien is great, but like, I didn’t realize that this book was going to be so full of the heartfelt need to rest and respite after war and suffering and babe, I loved that. Excellent conclusion of the trilogy.
Lent by Jo Walton – The first half of this novel is a history of Girolamo Savonarola up to his death, and the second half of the book is about what happens after he dies. It’s phenomenal and weird and I loved it.
The Fortunate Fall by Cameron Reed – I’m fresh off this one and I found it a fascinating look at memory from a cyberpunk future that almost and didn’t happen.
Nonfiction:
The Power Broker – yeah, this book was 50 years old last year and I read it and it explained New York and also gives a reasonable look back at how American politics developed. It's also just masterfully written and makes other books look lazy and slow about their level of research.
The Other Olympians – Michael Walters - My god, transphobia is literally just recycled Nazi bullshit. Literally, just, it’s Nazi rhetoric about gender roles! This book makes me so happy for trans people in the past and also women’s athletics and also I hate Nazis with new and enduring facets after I read this book. Why could you not just let people be happy, you fucking fascists.
The Revolutionary Temper – Robert Darnton – Slow history! Watch society slowly build up from thinking of their king as the ultimate source of justice to the ultimate impediment to justice. Love it.
What's a book you enjoyed more than you expected?
Conclave – a very simple thrillers style novel but really pleasant to read and added a lovely depth to the film.
Which books most disappointed you this year?
Into the Drowning Deep – because I had hopes. But the worst book I read and finished this year was Mercenary Librarians.
Did you reread any old faves? If so, which one was your favorite?
Misethere – I seem to be re-reading this one annually! I also re-read The Goblin Emperor and the Murderbot Diaries
What's the oldest book you read?
Persuasion by Jane Austen
What's the newest book you read?
Of Monsters and Mainframes
Did you DNF (= did not finish) any books?
The Familiar – Stupid love interest
What was your predominant format this year?
Audio, at 42% - which makes sense, my eyes are getting tired
What's the longest book you read this year?
The Power Broker – So long that almost all of it was read in 2024
What books from your TBR did you not get to this year, but are excited to read in 2026?
Hm, Pass – Maybe I will return to this question.
Did you reach your reading goal for this year (if you had one)?
Yup, and exceeded.
(Adding this question myself) What author did you read the most?
Dorothy Sayers! I read 8 books by her this year!
