The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I started and finished that this past week. Had never read it before, but have seen the movies. I don’t hate the movies but reading the source made me so happy I read it. The book is such comfort food to read. It was a delight and just a fun time. Don’t wanna spoil anything really but my favorite part was in the forest. Overall i will be reading the LoTR in the near future and can’t wait for that as well as returning to the hobbit.

The 13 and a Half Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers

I was searching around this sub for ‘underrated’ or hidden gem books and saw this one mentioned a few times. I just started this one a few days ago and already am over halfway, one day reading 3 hours straight in the evening which I usually don’t do (usually just an hour an evening). This is such a magical and imaginative book and as an artist has been really giving me all these ideas to pursue and I’ve just loved this one, so much that I bought the rest of the books in the series/by Walter Moers.

The Stand by Stephen King

I was interested in reading some Stephen King and I’ve heard about this one a lot... I mean A LOT. I also have been told it’s an easy intro to King. I’m only 10 pages or so in cause I got side tracked by the above. More opinions in the future.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Finally decided it was time to experience a classic. Harry Potter is up next.

I finished listening to the audiobook Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi and have started Becoming, by Michelle Obama

I'm working on A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge and I've started reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

Finished Salvation of a Saint, by Keigo Higashino.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat, and I found the overall premise to be also pretty intriguing – an experience I previously shared with two of Higashino's other novels (The Devotion of Suspect X and Malice) and it feels good to have kept that streak going. Detective fiction arguably has a rather formulaic structure when stripped to its bare bones. A crime – most often a murder – is committed, and then it's up to the detective to put two and two together and unravel the enigma of the crime: the who, how and why. However, as P. D. James once said, 'The construction of a detective story might be formulaic; the writing need not be.' We have had works by authors such as Agatha Christie who played around with, bended and subverted tropes and conventions within the said formulaic structure. And it's works like these that are most fun to read.

Speaking of this novel specifically, there are three things that particularly stood out to me and that I liked.

First, the way the very first chapter ends with an explicit pointer to the potential culprit but the story thereafter creates just about enough room for doubt with regard to the identity of the culprit to keep the reader on their toes. It was basically like, 'Okay, here we are pointing towards the murderer-to-be at the outset and not being subtle about it at all, but, wait, hold your horses; don't be so sure about it just because we said so.' That element of vague uncertainty where you think you know but also can't bring yourself to be absolutely sure because the story itself constantly raises doubts and repeatedly emphasizes the sheer implausibility of it all, kept me on tenterhooks.

Second, the fact that a major driving force of the story is not just the who of the crime but also the how. To be as vague as possible to avoid spoilers, it suffices to say that the method is absolutely bonkers, which is acknowledged by the characters themselves and which made me wonder for a moment if it's all just a sham to prepare ground for another round of twists and turns and catch the reader off guard. Kudos to the author for conceiving something so outrageous yet believable at the same time. Third, the fact that, although ostensibly the story is touted as starring Detective Galileo, there's not one detective but three at the forefront, and each plays a substantial role in the scheme of things instead of the other two merely being passive second fiddles to the main detective character. The interplay of the personalities and perspectives of these three very different individuals adds that rare 'human element' to the story that's very often missing in the intellectual exercise inherent in detective fiction.

All in all, it was a great read. Looking forward to reading more from Higashino.

Started The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Reading this for the very first time. Haven't watched the movie or read anything else by Tolkien, so it's a completely new experience for me. Enjoying it so far.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn I skipped around the series because this book sounds really good and I couldn't wait.

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien I got the pocket deluxe edition of the series recently. Since I paid a bit more in store than I would have online I figure I would go ahead and start it.

Diary of a Provincial Lady, by E.M Delafield For a short book it's taking me forever to read.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain I have been wanting to try Twain out for ages now.

I have this week off due to wisdom tooth extraction so I'm hoping to make headway with all these books.

I finished The Hobbit, by Tolkien. I waited till my thirties but still very much enjoyed it. Also finished Tribe, by Junger, it's an interesting anthropological idea but I'm not entirely sure I buy it, but still an enjoyable quick read.

Started reading Reaper Man, by Pratchett and as all Discworld books, this is funny and a good story so far.

I finished listening to the audiobook Why Not Me?, by Mindy Kaling and started One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez.

I'm working on Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I'm nearing the end of listening to the audiobook One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez and next will be Heart Berries, by Terese Marie Mailhot.

I'm working on Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

Just finished The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien yesterday. Now I know why this is such a beloved book. I really enjoyed reading it. It makes me feel like I am also part of the adventure.

I am currently reading The Speed of Sound, by Eric Bernt and so far so good.

I finished listening to the audiobook Becoming, by Michelle Obama and have started The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World, by Shannon Hale.

I'm working on A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge and I've started reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished listening to the audiobook Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, by Suzanne Collins and will be starting Why Not Me?, by Mindy Kaling.

I finished The Cross-Time Engineer, by Leo Frankowski and I have started Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished listening to audiobook Gregor and the Code of Claw, by Suzanne Collins and am about to start Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer.

I'm reading What Not: A Prophetic Comedy, by Rose Macaulay and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished listening to audiobook Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer and am about to start The Arctic Incident, by Eoin Colfer.

I finished reading What Not: A Prophetic Comedy, by Rose Macaulay and have started Blindsight, by Peter Watts. I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

Finished:

Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Turn of the Screw was okay, kinda scary at the beginning and I enjoyed the ending. Animal Farm was interesting, didn't bring out the kind of emotions 1984 did but I still enjoyed it. Dorian Gray was amazing, I was worried I wouldn't like it but ended loving it from beginning to end. Every scene with Lord Henry was a riot, found myself laughing out loud a few times.

Started:

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Read LOTR twice but for some reason never picked up this one, still at the beginning but I'm enjoying it, having seen the first two movies I'm looking foward to noticing the changes.

Currently reading The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton, which I've been on for a while and had a big break from so I'm not sure if I'm enjoying it because I am a bit lost with it.

Also picked up The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien this week and The Alienist by Caleb Carr. I didn't like The Fellowship of the Ring but I'm hoping because The Hobbit isn't so dense that I'll enjoy it, but I'm also a bit funny about high fantasy. I'm already liking The Alienist and looking forward to watching the new-ish TV adaptation once I finish reading it.

Finished:

The Lying Game, by Ruth Ware

It was just ok. I really want to like Ware's books, but so far they have all been disappointing.

Started:

The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn

Also reading:

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis

I have been in a horrible reading slump the past couple of months, but I've finally finished The Muse, by Jessie Burton. I thought it was a lovely book overall, and I think my slow reading was due to me, not the book itself.

In the hopes of finally getting out of this slump, I'm going to try The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. I loved the LOTR series as a kid, but have never read The Hobbit, so I'm hoping a fantasy world will bring me back!

I finished The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller which I really enjoyed, though it was a quick read. I've heard good things about Circe, so I'll be trying that one soon.

I've now started The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. Everyone and their mother has told me this book was good, so I'm excited to get into it.

I'm also still reading The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien . My boyfriend and I have been reading it to each other, which is fun!

I just finished The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas (which wrecked me) and A Court of Frost and Starlight, by Sarah J. Maas (which was meh). Just started reading The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien (my first time) and I'm loving it!

I'm currently listening to the audiobook Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi and my hold came through for Becoming, by Michelle Obama so that's up next.

I'm working on A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge and I've started reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished the audiobook Heart Berries, by Terese Marie Mailhot and am now listening to Gregor and the Marks of Secret, by Suzanne Collins.

I finished reading Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson, have started the graphic novel Injection Deluxe Edition Volume 1, by Warren Ellis and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished listening to audiobooka The Arctic Incident, by Eoin Colfer and The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom am about to start Scrappy Little Nobody, by Anna Kendrick.

I'm reading Blindsight, by Peter Watts and have finished reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

Recently finished:

• The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by B. Franklin
• Pride & Prejudice, by J. Austen

I finished listening to the audiobook Call Me By Your Name, by André Aciman and have started A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole.

I finished Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosakiand I started Trail of Lightning, by Rebecca Roanhorse I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished listening to the audiobook A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole and will be starting *Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, by Suzanne Collins *.

I finished Trail of Lightning, by Rebecca Roanhorse and Paper Girls, Vol. 5, by Brian K. Vaughan I plan to start The Cross-Time Engineer, by Leo Frankowski and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished the audiobook Gregor and the Marks of Secret, by Suzanne Collins and am now listening to Gregor and the Code of Claw, by Suzanne Collins.

I finished reading the graphic novel Injection Deluxe Edition Volume 1, by Warren Ellis, have started reading What Not: A Prophetic Comedy, by Rose Macaulay and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I am listening to audiobook Gregor and the Code of Claw, by Suzanne Collins.

I'm reading What Not: A Prophetic Comedy, by Rose Macaulay and I'm reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

It's been a while, so The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I have never been currently reading so many books! I am reading the same things my high school daughter's are reading so I can help them to retain information and do practice quizzes together, etc. Plus I am listening to an audiobook and have my own book I'd like to be able to enjoy as well. So here goes:

The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis Only 3 chapters in, it's a bit of a slow start

The Hobbit, by Tolkien This one is more interesting straight away. Also at 3 chapters in this one, too

The Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon It isn't holding my interest enough to keep reading so I'm slowly making my way through this one

The Lying Game, by Ruth Ware I just started this one. I'm skeptical because I find Ware's novels to be more promising than they actually deliver

Recently Finished:

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath This one I thoroughly enjoyed

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I finished the audiobooks The Obelisk Gate, by N. K. Jemisin and Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, by Suzanne Collins. I'm currently listening to Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi.

I'm working on A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge and I've started reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished listening to the audiobooks The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World, by Shannon Hale How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job, by Sally Helgesen and have started Call Me By Your Name, by André Aciman.

I finished A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge and I'm going to start Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki. I've started reading The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien to my son.

I finished:

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Not my first time reading this book, though it was the first time I'd listened to it as an audiobook. Fantastic, of course. Better than I remembered!

The Two Kingdoms: A Guide for the Perplexed, by W. Bradford Littlejohn

This is a nice, short book on the intersections of political philosophy and Reformed theology. The guiding question could be articulated as What is a the role of a Christian in secular political life? and Littlejohn's position sits in the middle ground between those who advocate for a theocracy and those who advocate for detachment. I thought it was interesting and convincing in a lot of way.

I started:

Mistborn: The Final Empire, by Brandon Sanderson

This is wonderful! I'm about 20% of the way through and I'm hooked. I wish Sanderson hadn't info-dumped the Allomancy system so early on, but overall it has been really fun.

The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology, by Nicholas Wolterstorff

This is a comparative study of the liturgies of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Reformed Christians. I'm learning a lot from it. It's very 'in the weeds' for someone who cares about Christian liturgy and the theology implicit in those liturgies, but if that's your cup of tea I highly recommend it.

I've had a rather slow start to the reading year but here's an update!

Recently finished:

• The Hobbit, by J.R.R Tolkien (2nd time through)
• A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, by Barbara Tuchman

Still reading:

• Ethics, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• The German Invasion of Norway 1940, by Geirr Haarr

I finished up two books yesterday (New Years Eve):

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

Elevation, by Stephen King

The Hobbit was a cute little adventure. I started reading it when my sophomore was reading that in her high school English class.

Elevation was lame. It's a promising premise but unfortunately Stephen King gets all political and that annoyed me.

Currently reading:

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

Food Junkies, by Vera Tarman

About to also start reading:

The Listener, by Robert McCammon

McCammon is one of my favorite authors and I had no idea he released something new last year. I'm very excited about this one.

Finished The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

Started reading The Fellowship of the Ring, by J. R. R. Tolkien