I finished You, by Caroline Kepnes. I posted on this thread a few weeks ago when I was halfway through saying I wasn't enjoying it. The second half was a bit better but overall I didn't rate the book much. It had a good idea at it's premise but I found the behavior of the stalker and the victims to be very unrealistic.

I started and finished Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown and found it really interesting. I don't normally read non-fiction but I am interested in the history of the American West.

I haven't started it yet but I bought a copy of Recursion, by Blake Crouch. I have read a few Blake Crouch books in the past but I'm really not a fan of his as I think he uses a lot of cliffhangers to keep you interested (Dan Brown style) but the overall endings of his books are weak. However I was walking past a bookshop in London about a month ago and there was a sign saying Blake Crouch was doing book signings and the queue wasn't too long so thought I would pick up a copy! Might as well read it now :-)

Still going through my graphic novel phase at the moment and read the following:

• Smashed, by Junji Ito This is a selection of short stories in the horror anime genre. I thought it was okay.
• Trashed, by Derf Backderf I read My Friend Dahmer by the same author so thought I would pick it up as it was in the library. It was quite good.
• And I am saving the best until last as I read and thoroughly enjoyed My Favourite Thing is Monsters Vol 1, by Emil Ferris. This book appeared on many "Best Graphic Novel" lists so I picked up a copy of the library. I was absolutely lost in this story it was so good I was gutted when it ended. It is a big book the size of a telephone directory but I smashed through it in one sitting. I recommend this one to all.

In the last couple of weeks:

You by Caroline Kepnes

It was mostly the book I thought I was going to be reading, but it also escalated too soon, I felt. I wish I could describe it without spoiling it.

I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong

I loved this one so bad. It was balanced, talked about microbes, what we know, what we don’t know, what we think we know but aren’t sure about, and it even went into fecal transplants, which is super gross and fascinating. Lots and lots of amazing things in this book.

To Build a Fire and Other Stories by Jack London

I’ve been working on this one for close to a year. Some of the stories were a slog, others were fantastic. There was one that turned into science fiction, incredibly.

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018 by John Joseph Adams and N. K. Jemisin

Really nice collection. I don’t like the editor, I think he’s got his hands in too much science fiction stuff, but he can sure curate a collection. The guest editor for this one was N. K. Jemisin, who I love, and the stories reflected that. Science fiction has been historically somewhat white, and it was nice to see her select stories with protagonists of color, and with a social justice bent. I hope Carmen Maria Machado keeps that going with the 2019 edition.

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

Another part of her Every Heart a Doorway series about children who return from portal worlds. This one focuses on an egalitarian society that tracks debt and is both a paradise and a hell. It’s a novella, so low commitment and nice payoff. I hope she keeps writing these.

Working on:

• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
• 2666 by Roberto Bolaño
• Ulysses by James Joyce
• Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
• Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

I read Normal People, by Sally Rooney but didn't enjoy it much at all. I thought the relationship between the main characters was in a repetitive cycle and the ending of the book was a bit flat. There wasn't much in the way of humour to liven the action up either. The book has some excellent reviews so I was really looking forward to reading it so it was a disappointment. I have two friends who have read this and one of them felt the same way about the book as I did and the other rates it as one of the best books they have ever read so maybe I am missing something.

I am about halfway through You, by Caroline Kepnes but again I am disappointed. It started off interestingly but I think the story got a bit extreme too quickly. It reminds me of a cheap version of American Physco but without the dark humour.

On the graphic novel front I read My Friend Dahmer, by Derf Backderf which I really enjoyed. I have watched a few documentaries about Jeffry Dahmer in the past and I find his story very interesting in a morbid kind of way. This book was written by a classmate of Dahmer so the story covers his childhood.

I am about 2/3rds through Smashed, by Junji Ito which is a series of unconnected horror shorts and I think it's okay. I really like Junji Ito but I have read a lot of his stuff over the past year and I think I am getting a bit over saturated with his stuff.

Finished: You, by Caroline Kepnes

I thought it was brilliant. Subversive, and filled with dark humor. Joe reminded me very much of Humbert from Lolita, and I was truly rooting for Joe for most of the book, despite him being a serial killer and stalker. He was such a charming and likable guy, for the most part.

I also liked that this book in a sense upended/twisted common romantic tropes that are used in YA/Adult fiction these days. There are so many books where obsessively controlling or "protecting" the heroine is romanticized. It's really manipulative and dysfunctional behavior - which was made clear in this book.

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

The cover of this book is pretty clear in my head but I can't remember if I actually read it in elementary school or just saw it around. Anyway, I picked this up to mark off the "Children's Book Published Before 1980" box on the Book Riot 2018 Read Harder Challenge. I can see why it's a popular kids book. It's basically endless beat you over the head with life lessons framed in clever word play. It's not particularly cohesive. More of an adventure through candyland with super distinct elements than a connected world.

I also finished Matilda, by Roald Dahl last week because it's one of my favorite childhood movies, but I'd never read the book and it popped up in my search for a pre-1980 children's book even though it's a little later. I was pretty disappointed in this one. It normalizes teacher abuse towards students and teaches them that only someone with super powers can get rid of them, because adults can't/won't help (also true of the movie of course). Not the best message. It does do a good job of humanizing teacher (Ms Honey), but that's overshadowed a bit.

Finally, my current audiobook is You, by Caroline Kepnes. It's amazing. This was mentioned in a thread about books told from unique perspectives a while back. The book is told in a mix of first person for the primary narrator (Joe) and second person for the girl he's stalking (Beck). It's unsettling, disturbing, uncomfortably relatable, and gripping. She walks in to the bookstore he works at and buys a few books in what we're lead to believe was a flirtatious manner. He's instantly obsessed with her. It's set in the present day with Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram giving him plenty of preliminary information that rapidly escalates to bumming around outside her house. He quickly orchestrates an event to get their relationship started and it works, mostly. He realizes some of her friends are getting in their way though so he needs to manage her entire life without being noticed.

Finished:

You, by Caroline Kepnes

The Great Gatsby, by F.Scott Fitzgerald

Started:

The Woman in the Window, by A.J. Finn

Finally finished The Troop, by Nick Cutter and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Definitely different than I expected, especially how different characters turned out, but interested to read some of his other books.

Still reading Calypso, by David Sedaris and You, by Caroline Kepnes. Also just received Every Heart A Doorway, by Seanan Mcguire which I have heard is really good so I'm excited to start it!

Just finished The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers

This was this subs book club book. It was a fun read that I am sad to see the characters go.

I will now go back to reading You by Caroline Kepnes I am about 50% done. Want to get it done before next months book club book

It Was Me All Along, by Andie Mitchell

Finished. About a girl with a rough upbringing who, understandably, over-ate to get through her childhood. She ended up losing over 100#. I liked it because the book seems better written than most weight loss memoirs. And she really gets into the mental, physical, AND emotional aspects of weight loss.

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Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn

I am listening to this on audiobook and have about 2 more hours. So good.

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My next book I'll start is the The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton (not to be confused with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo).

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Shout out to Lifetime for airing You, by Caroline Kepnes. It's definitely meeting my expectations and Penn Badgley is perfect for Joe! 😂

Finished reading...

The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan - I’ve had it for years now so my expectation was off the roof. Only found it as an okay read though.

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel - if you’ve seen Netflix’s Abducted from Plain Sight, this book reminded me of that show.

Reading...

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen and Owen King - currently at part I, chapter 19. 400+ pages in and I think I have another 400 to go. Hoping to finally finish it this week!

You by Caroline Kepnes - chapter 22. Reading this one on my phone. So far I like the book better than the show. I really enjoy reading Joe’s inner monologue which can get really creepy at times.

Finished: 'Salem's Lot, by Stephen King

Started: Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

Next This Week: You, by Caroline Kepnes

Finished...

• You by Caroline Kepnes - It was a great read overall, though I more or less knew already what was going to happen as I watched the show, I still enjoyed reading it.
• Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes - I breezed through the first few chapters, but the middle and end was just so-so. Anyway, the first book (You) was better and I think if there's a third installment in this series, it won't be a priority and I'll probably just read it out of curiosity.
• Anyone You Want Me to Be: A True Story of Sex and Death on the Internet by John Edward Douglas - Wanted to read some true crime and originally, I wanted to read Mindhunter, but since it wasn't available, I ended up reading this. It's not bad, but it's not exactly a page turner.

Reading...

• Sleeping Beauties by Stephen and Owen King - Finally done with Part I, and I'm now on Part II, Chapter 6! Almost halfway through the book. :)
• Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage - This has been on my to-read list for a year or so now since the summary hooked me in. The actual book.. Not so much. Not even halfway through but I already can't wait to finish this because I don't really find the characters likeable and the story's just not holding my attention.

Currently reading Eileen, by Ottessa Moshfegh. I've been wanting to read one of her books for awhile, so pretty excited. It's interesting so far!

Also just stated You, by Caroline Kepnes. I've already seen the show on Netflix, so curious how different the book is. I hope it's even creepier.

This week I finished Edith Cavell by Diana Southami. It was a fairly boring book about a very interesting individual. I feel like it could have done with some editing.

I also read Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed. Wow. I tore through this! As things were sloooowly unveiled I couldn't believe it. So many questions. I want the same story from the POV of like 5 other people!

And finally I'm reading the last few pages of You by Caroline Kepnes. Quick, easy and creepy read. It's bizarre being in Joe's head and seeing how he justifies being a murderer and stalker. It reminds me of Lolita in the sense that you know the character is fucked up, but all their justifications make you....not loathe them? It's hard to pin down the feeling!

I finished Lethal White, by Robert Galbraith and You by Caroline Kepnes enjoyed them both, Lethal White was really good though!

Started The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

I am on the struggle bus recently. Still reading You, by Caroline Kepnes which is really good, but I am just juggling it with other books. Also still reading Calypso, by David Sedaris.

Up next: Feed, by M.T. Anderson All Who Go Do Not Return, by Shulem Deen All the Missing Girls, by Megan Miranda

Finished: Every Heart A Doorway, by Seanan McGuire - this was really interesting and unique, but it felt like it jumped into talk about these different worlds with no lead up. Some parts seemed a little cheesy, but I may catch up on the rest since some of the characters were interesting.

Just finished:

You, by Caroline Kepnes and Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire

Just started/Planning to start:

All the Missing Girls, by Megan Miranda. This was a suggestion from a coworker. ~30 pages in and so far so good.

Also picked up All Who Go Do Not Return, by Shulem Deen. Not sure if I will get to this before it needs to be returned, but we will see!

Finally picked up my pre-order of Dark Age, by Pierce Brown. So excited! Will probably pace myself with that book though.

Finished:

For the Love of Men by Liz Plank

This is a pop feminism book for men's issues that comes from a /r/menslib perspective (aka "we're all harmed by oppressive gender roles/intersectionality is real and important"). I don't think there is a lot in this book that will be new or shocking for folks on a more left-y side of things who have done a lot of thinking about the issue of gender. It also leaned a little neo-liberal-y for my personal tastes. But it's nice to have a pop feminism book on this topic!

You by Caroline Kepnes

I liked this! The second person narration from the perspective of a stalker was great and felt really fresh to me. However, I thought this book started quite a lot stronger than it ended. Still, it was a good, enjoyable thriller.

I think it is interesting in reviews of this book that folks seem concerned that you are supposed to sympathize with Joe TOO much, with comments like "Oh, he has these rants about bad customer service that are obviously supposed to be relatable!" buuuuut to me those rants are clearly psychopath shit, hahaha (on a much smaller level than the rest of his behavior, of course).