What are you reading in 2025?

[jian]

In the author's note in my version, she said she was reflecting what the Yemenis would be calling Europeans.

It’s a slightly difficult needle to thread, isn’t it? I wasn’t surprised that Amina and others called him a Frank, but that he called himself that, but it was probably the best available word in Arabic.

Similarly, scimitar stuck out because I don’t parse it as “generic curved sword” but as the specific word in English.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It’s a slightly difficult needle to thread, isn’t it?

It's fine as far as I'm concerned. Chakraborty wants to get stuff as right as she can, but she's also writing a fantasy series with an unreliable narrator.

 

[Retros_x]

Literally hurled it across the room upon finishing it. Ranted about it. And it's been lodged in my brain ever since because...it's not wrong. I

Ok wow, such a strong reaction REALLY makes me curious!

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Reading two very autumnal books:

1. Lucy Undying - A feminist sequel to Dracula that's especially rewarding for folks who know the original novel well. So far it's very good, fleshing out a character who was basically just treated like a bimbo in the original novel and in most movies.
2. Tehanu - The first "new" Earthsea book I've read since childhood, after I re-read the original three books over the past year. It's interesting that a series that start off considered a YA series seems to be increasingly a series about aging and death.

Also notionally reading Tehanu, although I keep getting distracted by mysteries and Patricia McKillip...

But if you are reading, I'll do a co-read alongside. It'll get me to finish before the book is due back at the library.
And when you say "autumnal" do you mean related to the fall? Or as in @Autumnal would approve? Or maybe luck, you meant both?!?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

But if you are reading, I'll do a co-read alongside. It'll get me to finish before the book is due back at the library.

I think I'll be done by late October, based on my slow pace through a relatively slim book.

And when you say "autumnal" do you mean related to the fall? Or as in @Autumnal would approve? Or maybe luck, you meant both?!?

I don't think it's a coincidence he chose that handle.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I think I'll be done by late October, based on my slow pace through a relatively slim book.

Unfortunately, I am reading out of the doorstopper "all the Earthsea, and Charles Vess too" 1000+ page tome. That said, Tehanu is not massive. And starts off strong.

 

[Autumnal]

Since it came up, here’s Thomas Ligotti’s prose poem “Autumnal”:

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Tehanu is not massive. And starts off strong.

I can almost imagine ULG muttering, as she wrote it, "oh, you're mad there's not more Tenar? And that there's not enough serialization? OK, if that's what you want!"

I've avoided learning too much about the last three books -- although I've gotten far enough into Tehanu to have "The Other Wind" namechecked and to make me curious about the sixth book -- so this being an explicit sequel to the prior two books was a surprise.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

I can almost imagine ULG muttering, as she wrote it, "oh, you're mad there's not more Tenar? And that there's not enough serialization? OK, if that's what you want!"

As someone who did want more Tenar, it was a real monkey’s paw for me. The moment for more Tenar was long ago, and the return to Earthsea just didn’t feel the same. I believe she had some issues with the original trilogy which she wanted to address, but it reads like an unwieldy retcon, rather than a natural evolution.

P.S. opinions are based on half-remembered vibes from many years ago, and may not reflect reality. Perhaps a reread is due.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

it reads like an unwieldy retcon, rather than a natural evolution

I haven't finished the book yet, but a lot of time has passed for Tenar, so I don't find some of her new attitudes too surprising, based on how some of the folks I knew as a teenager have changed in the decades since.