I didn't have a 5 star read for February, but this came close at 4.5. Darkly humorous, and often verging on the absurd, it's one of the funnier science-fiction stories I've read. Its pretty surprising coming from the author of the super solemn novel Solaris. #12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

Hi everybody!! I hope everyone had a great Christmas, got lots of books and book related gifts. So, we're restarting #ClassicLSFBC for 2026, and it's time to ask for books to be nominated. It will go from now until Dec. 31st and I'll announce the first #ClassicLSFBC 2026 selection on Jan. 1st. Since it's a new year, and maybe a new world, my selection is Huxley's Brave New World. I read it in high school some 40 plus year ago, it's time ⬇️⬇️

A warm, damp, starless night in the city.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

I didn't receive any books for Christmas, but I did get a BAM gift card, so I bought some for myself. #nevertoomanybooks #neverenoughshelves

My last DNF of 2025. The story is moving too slow to keep my attention. I gave it over 50 pages, but I don't feel it's going to get any better. #hailthebail

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

The definitive history of Henry V by probably the best writer of English history (non-fiction).

111/100 This is probably my favorite fantasy trope, a misfit band of adventurers, each with their own secrets and dark pasts, who come together as a team to defeat evil sorcery. Obviously not great literature, but it's a whole lot of fun, even if you aren't into D&D. I've already got the next book in the series qued up on Audible, so let the adventures continue!! 4.5/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

110/100 I can see why other people have compared this to the work of Philip K Dick, especially his book Dr. Bloodmoney. They share the same structure, an unknown disaster, a very hallucinogenic atmosphere, shifting realities and identities. Despite the questions of reality, the effect of dreams on reality, and the main character's search for his true identity, Lethem's story still follows a more linear path than PKD, I felt like there was a

I didn't have this on my Christmas List, but watching Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro and Laura Ingham tear into each other and cause a Civil War within MAGA is the best gift ever!! The only annoying part, I found myself agreeing with Carlson on a lot of what he said. If he truly meant it, and wasn't just play acting, then maybe there's hope. #MAGACivilWar #UnexpectedGift

The first sighting of Spinal Tap in the wild came in the summer of 1979, as part of an ABC comedy special called The TV Show.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

109/100 This is one of the most frustrating books I've read in a long time. I enjoyed the stories, of old gods and monsters, of weird kids and strange phenomena, but I found the stories endings to be very unsatisfying. I wanted more information, I felt like they had more to tell and we (the reader) were left hanging. For an analogy, it's like watching one episode of a TV drama, and then trying to figure out the whole series. Very annoying.

108/100 Detailed and engrossing history of the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and how the aftermath lead to the Great Depression of the 1930s. Not surprisingly, greed and a blind optimism in the market lead to a destruction that few imagined possible. At times, the economic and financial data got a little overwhelming. You can see the parallels between the stock market crash of 1929 and the one in 2008, when speculators ran up stocks ⬇️⬇️

107/100 In a dark future, the technology exists to upload your consciousness upon death to a virtual paradise called Upterlife. While the dead enjoy their simulated adventures, the land of the living deteriorates as all resources are turned to maintaining the virtual world. At first I didn't like the main character, he was shallow, a prankster, someone who takes nothing seriously, except for his sister Izzy. He grows to be the face of the ⬇️

106/100 I finished this a couple of days ago, but forgot to post a review. If you like dark stories, full of deception, violence, and government conspiracies, this is the graphic novel for you. Tom King always finds new ways to look at a character, and here Rorschach is more an idea than a person. I liked the artwork, it matched the story's dark and gritty nature. 4/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

105/100 I'm happy to say that this was as good, if not better, than the first volume. We learn more about the various gods, their relationships with each other, and how they relate to humanity. I continue to be in awe of Jamie McKelvie's artwork, it's so beautiful and sometimes so brutal. The ending of this was so sad, after everything the MC had been through. I understand why it happened but I didn't want this ending. Another 5 🌟 read

104/100 I waited too long to read this, it was amazing!! I think it's the best graphic novel series I've read since Saga. Outstanding artwork and a deeply involving mystery. Every 90 years, 12 gods are reborn, but they only live for 2 years then they pass away for another 90 years. Really interesting character development and a mystery that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could to see where it was going. The ending was shocking, but it ⬇️

103/100 I would like to give this a pick, because half of it is excellent. The first half, by Grant Morrison & Doug Mahnke, was amazing, with startling artwork and a grim cosmic horror story. The second half, by Jeff Lemire & Alberto Ponticelli, was much less interesting. Ugly, grotesque artwork, with a boring monsters fighting monsters story. If Morrison & Mahnke had done the whole volume, I'd would give it 5 stars. 3/5 ⭐ #Read2025

While I really enjoyed Mickey 7, I just couldn't get into this book. The humor felt very forced, and I found the lead character dull and too given to just letting things happen instead of taking charge.

102/100 I've had the print version of this on my TBR for years, but I chose the audiobook instead, mainly because I was curious to hear Peter Dinklage's version of Poirot. He does a very good job as Poirot, showing both his intelligence, his dogged determination, and the love he has for his friend Captain Hastings. I hope there will be more Poirot adventures with Peter Dinklage. 4/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

101/100 It took me over a year to finish this, not because it wasn't good, just enjoyed it more in pieces instead all at once. Like all anthologies by various authors, some stories were great, some were just okay, and only one clunker. Surprisingly, the George RR Martin Game of Thrones story was one of the weaker ones. My favorites were "Her Father's Sword" by Robin Hobbs, "Hrunting" by C.J. Cherryh, "When I Was A Highway Man" by Ellen Kushner,

100/100 A very different view of the ancient world. Instead of looking at the Roman, Greek and Egyptian empires from their centers, like Rome and Athens, this is a view of those kingdoms from the civilizations that were on the edges, some that intermingled with the empires and some that came into direct conflict with them. 4/5 ⭐ #Read2025

I hope that you will forgive me for saying so, the minarch says, but this is all a bit...underwhelming. - The Fourth Consort

He was in my light. - The Book of Swords "The Best Man Wins" by K.J. Parker

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

The Fourth Consort - Edward Ashton
The Book of Swords - Various Authors
The Far Edges of the Known World - Owen Rees

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

99/100 I'm not sure why, but i didn't enjoy this as much as i thought I would. I thought the premise was interesting, a plague that keeps people from sleeping, but i found the execution lacking. I kept feeling like the author was trying to impress me with his vocabulary and the way he painted scenes, it got in the way of my appreciation of his story telling. It is a creepy book, watching civilization crumble as people go insane from ⬇️

Hi everyone!! I'm very sorry that I've dropped the ball the last two months with the #ClassicLSFBC. Between work and some recent health issues, I haven't been on Litsy as much as I'd like and things got away from me. Unless someone else wants to take over, I figured we'd let the book club pause the rest of 2025, and start anew in January. Let me know what's the general consensus. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving (a little early)

98/100 This took me longer to finish than the average audiobook, not because its not well written, it's just that the book recounts an ugly, brutal part of American history. I've always had a low opinion of Woodrow Wilson, and nothing here changed that. Wilson was a bigot and a hypocrite, who betrayed his so-called progressive idea. While preaching liberty, freedom and Democracy for the rest of the world, his administration was jailing ⬇️

It's getting harder and harder to tell the living from the dead.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

97/100 I've always thought Harry Harrison was a very underrated author, he doesn't get the mentions other writers of his era does. James "Slippery Jim" diGriz is his best creation. Con man, thief, smuggler and rogue, he knows how to fight but would rather think and talk his way out of bad situations, also he tries never to kill anyone unless its self defense. This book contains 3 of his short novels, and is a great introduction to

96/100 Horror isn't my usual genre of choice, but I've enjoyed the author's work on Batman, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Walter invites a group of his friends to a beautiful house on the lake, for a week to relax and reunite. Walter isn't who or what they thought. No spoilers, I liked the build up, the flash backs how each character met Walter. I don't know if the library has vol.2, but I'd be interested to see where the story goes. 4/5 ⭐

I guess John Grisham isn't an author for me. I found this kind of tedious, and I wasn't invested in finding out how it ended. Moving on.... #hailthebail

95/100 I guess if I had read the Absolute Power storyline before this, it would have made more sense, but even without that, it's still a solid story. I liked most of the art, but the section on Darkseid's creation of the Absolute Universe had some of the ugliest art I've ever seen in a DC comic. It looked like very crude Jack Kirby imitation. 3.5/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

94/100 I usually enjoy a good dystopian story, but this was pretty bland and tedious. The characters were hard to keep straight, they were dull and interchangeable. I'm glad it's done and I can move on to something more entertaining. 2/5 ⭐ #Read2025

When the office door opened suddenly, I knew the game was up.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

93/100 For such a short book, it definitely packs a wallop. It's a beautiful, lyrical fairy tale of love, loss, grief, revenge and redemption. Unlike Automatic Noodle, which was too short and left me wanting more, this is just the right size for the story the author wants to tell. 4.75/5 #Read2025

92/100 Interesting first contact story, undercut by a disappointing ending. It had potential, but ended up being pretty meh, with too much left unexplained. 3/5 ⭐ #Read2025

91/100 I guess I'll be generous since I finished this on my birthday, but it could easily have been a Pan. The conclusion to Future State: Gotham is so confusing, everyone is friggin Batman!! Bruce is Batman, Nightwing is Batman, Hush is Batman, Jace is Batman, and Damien is Batman. The art doesn't help because often they all look the same wearing similar costumes. Disappointing end to a series that started strong. 3/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

90/100 Even though I knew a twist was coming, when it happened, I still had to slap my head and say why didn't i figure this out sooner?! Taking place right after Holmes & Moriarty's fatal battle at Reichenbach Falls, PInkerton Agent Chase and Scotland Yard Detective Jones hunt a dangerous American criminal whose come to take Moriarty place in England's underworld. Nothing and no one is who they seem to be, and the shocking ending totally ⬇️

89/100 Ann Leckie is one of the handful of authors who has never disappointed me with anything I've read by them. This will definitely end up as one of favorite books of 2025, and probably the best audiobook I've listened to this year. This collection of short fiction ranges from science fiction, to fantasy to folk tales, and each as unique in it's own way. Her imagination and writing skill leaves me in awe, so much heart, so much emotion, so ⬇️

88/100 I didn't like this one as much as the previous volume, and it's mainly because of the Next Joker character. He's a big, nearly indestructible beast, with jagged teeth, who likes to bite people's heads off. He has none of the original Joker's style, he's more like the Next Bane. 3.5/5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Does anyone really believe what happened at Reichenbach Falls?

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

87/100 This was very different from the usual DC story collection, but I enjoyed it. The artwork is in black & white and very Japanese manga influenced. Batman is dead (yeah right!) and Gotham is under martial law, where wearing a mask, as hero or villain, will get you arrested. Red Hood has turned traitor and joined the Magistrate in hunting masks. It's a dark and gritty story, lots of action and fight scenes. I'm interested to see how it plays

Amazon's destruction of James Bond has begun. They released a series of posters of the actors who've played James Bond. Do you notice anything odd? They have photo shopped the pictures to remove the gun from Bond's hand and even in his shoulder holster. Rumor has it they also plan to remove the iconic gun symbol from 007. A small thing with all that's wrong in the world, but I'll be interested to hear the reason behind the changes #notbookrelated

I really wanted to like this, the premise was very interesting, but I just couldn't get into it. After almost a month, I've only finished 100 pages, so it's time to quit. I'll hold on to it and maybe take another run at it in 2026. #hailthebail

86/100 This started as an interesting first contact story, but kind of lost the plot in the middle, before ending with a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. If it was just that I'd give this a so-so rating, but the MMC was so distasteful that I have to pan this. He's greedy and manipulative (he uses people because he can sense their emotions), and his opinions of women, especially women scientists, that they are too irrational and emotional

"Part of how they make you obey is making obedience seem peaceful, while resistance is violent. But really, either choice is about violence, one way or another"

This is how I feel about America today. If you roll over and comply (Bezo, Zuckerburg, ABC, CBS) with the wishes of a would be dictator, you're heroic, peaceful and good. If you try to resist (Portland, California, Chicago, NYC), then you're violent, dangerous, and you need to be

85/100 I've always thought that James Patterson was a hack, and this didn't do anything to change my opinions. I found the premise interesting, three private investigators named after two fictional detectives and one mystery writer, but I quickly realized that it was mostly character sketches instead of fully developed characters. Also, almost no one in this overly melodramatic story acted like a rational human being, from the cops to the

84/100 Not one of my favorites, seems more confusing than even the usual Dick novels. A creature named the Glimmung has gathered together a group of people from various planets, to come to Plowman's Planet to help it raise a sunken cathedral called Heldscalla. Seems a pretty straight forward plot, but it has the usual Dick touches about reality, predestination, metaphysical theories on good and evil. I found the ending vague and confusing, and

83/100 Its been 10 years since the last Old Man's War novel, The End of All Things, but Scalzi drops the reader back into this universe as if it was yesterday. We're quickly brought up to speed on the tenuous relationship between the Colonial government, the alien Conclave, the Consu, and the Earth. While there is plenty of snarky humor in this book, I wouldn't label it as humorous, like Starter Villain or When The Moon Hits Your Eye, it's more ⬇️

82/100 This book is hard to pidgeon hole into a genre, it's definitely sci-fi, but it has elements of fantasy, with orc and magic, spy thrillers, zombie horror, and heavy military action too. The pacing was a little off, as it switched from genre to genre, but the conclusion was solid and the characters, especially Bitsy the cat, were memorable. 4/5 ⭐ #Read2025

81/100 Did I need to read yet another Thanos story where he courts Mistress Death and seeks the meaning of life? Not really, but I'm a big fan of Jim Starlin, as writer and artist, so I went in for another round. Typical Thanos, seeking power and coming with a new perspective as to what he really wants. The art was excellent, especially the more psychedelic parts, but the story was only so-so. 3.25/5 ⭐ #Read2025