Finished:

Heartbreaker, by Claudia Rey

This was a weird one but I liked it. It takes place on a somewhat undefined cult territory and explores the disappearance of a woman from three different perspectives - her daughter, her dog (yes, her dog), and her teenage lover. I found it very easy to read and the prose quite interesting.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

I read The Haunting of Hill House a couple of months back and it wasn't really my favourite. However, after finishing it, I did listen to a biography of Shirley Jackson, which helped me have a greater understanding and appreciation of her work. It definitely inspired me to pick up a few more of her books and I am glad I did - We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a fantastic read.

Say Nothing, by Patrick Radden Keefe

This is a fantastic history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland that initially begins with a simple mystery, the disappearance of Jean McConville, a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten. It was both sad and humorous at times and I thought very well balanced, explaining the motivations of the IRA but at the same time, highlighting some of the crueler acts perpetrated by both sides during the Troubles. I highly highly recommend it.

Started reading:

The Stand, by Stephen King

I really enjoy Stephen King and I had heard good things about this one, but I'm having trouble getting into it. I'm about 15% in (which is quite a bit as it's a long book) and I'm almost finding it a bit boring, like there's a bit too much exposition and build-up. I'm going to keep going for now since a lot of people seem to like this one.

Normal People, by Sally Rooney I loved this novel! It's the tale of the relationship between two troubled kids through high school and college. The writing is excellent, and a lot of it resonates as real.

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng Another excellent novel! It is full of symbolism and the themes are always popping up. It makes for a fun, thought-provoking read. Also, the characters and writing and plot are all compelling.

The Economist's Tale: A Consultant Encounters Hunger and the World Bank, by Peter Griffiths Excellent story! I'm a bit of an economics nerd, and it was great to follow Griffiths's economist's eyes through late 1980s Sierra Leone. Lots of good anecdotes.

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond Sociology and economics. Desmond follows both tenants and landlords. Some fascinating portraits. He also proposes solutions to the housing crisis; although those specific arguments aren't as compelling, something must be done.

Napoleon: A Life, by Andrew Roberts I read Roberts's Churchill biography earlier this year. This was okay, I learned a fair bit. But it wasn't nearly as interesting as Churchill; in comparison, Napoleon comes off as a bland character.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro Rather bland. The whole thing was predictable, and I guess that's the point, but it makes for a smaller book.

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe I'm not super interested in the Troubles and read this book to get myself interested. I did learn a lot, but can't say my overall position changed.

Moriarty, by Anthony Horowitz Fun mystery. Not as good as Horowitz's first Sherlock Holmes novel.

Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis, by Robert F. Kennedy Very short, a little self serving. Not as dramatic as the movie.

How to Hide an Empire, by Daniel Immerwahr I knew a lot already in the first half, all about the guano islands, for example. I learned some about the Philippines, though. Unfortunately, it really bogged down and went off topic in the second half.

This week I finished The Outsiders, by SE Hinton, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe, and Watchmen, by Alan Moore.

Last week on the Drunk Guys Book Club Podcast was A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr. This week will be One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey.

Say Nothing, by Patrick Radden Keefe

Finished. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in true crime and/or Northern Ireland. Very compelling, upsetting, fascinating, complex. Riveting from start to finish.

The Family That Couldn't Sleep, by DT Max

Started. Intrigued so far because I love prions and mystery diseases.

Finished:

The Undoing Project, by Michael Lewis. Enjoyed it immensely. Since I'm a psychology major and recently did a project on cognitive biases & heuristics, I certainly got a kick out of it.

Starting:

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe. It's about The Troubles. The reviews have been glowing.

Spillover, by David Quammen

Finished, really enjoyed it. Fascinating subject matter with an engaging style.

Say Nothing, by Patrick Radden Keefe

Started.

I just fished Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe and I just couldn't put it down. The book is framed as a true murder mystery but is really a history of the I.R.A. starting in the late 1960s and ending in 2018. With the main focus on the Price sisters who were charged with setting off the first car bombs in England.

If you have any interest in the I.R.A, the Troubles, history, murder or insurgency operations. This is a book you cant miss.

I just started Sleeping Beauties by Steven and Owen King. I am about 40 pages into it. I am not sure how I feel, it does few very similar to the outsider in the writing and style. Most likely because that was also written by the Kings.

I finished Tiamat's Wrath: The Expanse, by James S. A. Corey The Expanse aren't the best books I have ever read but I do very much enjoy them and the crazy ride they took me on. I can't wait for the last book to come out.

I Started Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, By Patrick Radden Keefe I am like 20 pages in and it is already a crazy ride. If you enjoyed In Cold Blood this might be a book you will enjoy.

Finished:

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe. It's about the Troubles, the Northern Ireland conflict between the IRA and the British. It's excellent. The final 100 pages consist of notes so it's very well-researched.