What are you reading in 2025?

[Ralif Redhammer]

Every so often I like to go back and read some classic fiction. Just about done with this one, and it was an enjoyable short read
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The Incompleat Enchanter is a fun read. It's swashbuckly, witty, and light. But it also shows an understanding of a variety of folklore and tales. And hey, how many fantasy stories star a psychologist?

 

[Sacrosanct]

The Incompleat Enchanter is a fun read. It's swashbuckly, witty, and light. But it also shows an understanding of a variety of folklore and tales. And hey, how many fantasy stories star a psychologist?

One thing I like about those books from the 60s and 70s is that they are less than 200 pages typically. It makes a quick read. A great option if you want to read a book quickly

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

Eh. At least Lin's stuff has something resembling pacing and a plot. To me that's the only real mark of a good writer. Writing the most beautiful sentences known to humanity is irrelevant if the story isn't engaging enough on its own to keep the reader awake.

I guess the thousands and thousands of ”books” in the Harlequin romance series are right up your alley then, and the AI-written future of literature looks bright!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I guess the thousands and thousands of ”books” in the Harlequin romance series are right up your alley then, and the AI-written future of literature looks bright!

Are they not books because you don't like the content?

 

[overgeeked]

Are they not books because you don't like the content?

You might be surprised just how common that attitude is. Or you might not.

This is one of the major reasons I despise the pretension of academia and so-called critics of literature, film, art, etc. It always comes from a place of snobby elitism and a need to look down one's nose at others rather than an actual love of books and literature. Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin wrote out-and-out smut, yet they're considered literary darlings by most. Such a weird double standard.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin wrote out-and-out smut, yet they're considered literary darlings by most.

Well, sure. They used semicolons. You can't be literature without semicolons.

 

[Alzrius]

You might be surprised just how common that attitude is. Or you might not.

This is one of the major reasons I despise the pretension of academia and so-called critics of literature, film, art, etc. It always comes from a place of snobby elitism and a need to look down one's nose at others rather than an actual love of books and literature. Henry Miller and Anaïs Nin wrote out-and-out smut, yet they're considered literary darlings by most. Such a weird double standard.

To quote something I heard/read somewhere sometime:

"The public wants critics to tell them what's good. Critics want to tell the public what 'good' means."