What are you reading in 2025?

[Eyes of Nine]

I just binged all of the Lynley TV seasons the last two weeks. After they fade a bit in my memory I think I will try the books. The TV version of Havers is currently my favorite DS across all the Britboxing I've done.

For reading, I need to get to all of those you mentioned still.

She's a great character in the novels too. Her story has been pretty heartbreaking so far; but with glimmers of hope. I mean, if she stopped being grumpy and awkward around Lynley's patrician self, she'd stop being interesting of course. I also like that there is very little/no 'shipping hope between Havers and Lynley; unlike in Crombie's novels and Galbraith/Rowling's Strike/Ellacot where it's very much a "when will they" not a "will they".

 

[Retros_x]

Just for fun, this is a brief interview that Jordan gave explaining what he was doing with the Wheel of Time that is included with the audiobooks:

Really interesting snippet and I think I can see hints of these already in the first book.

I am right now in the Caemlyn chapters of the first book, and I really hope this "Ta'veren" concept gets explored further, because right now it just seems to be a plot device to explain how all these improbable events happen around the protagonist. There is a lot of suspension of disbelief relying on "the weaaaave" in the first book. At least it gets acknowledged by Jordan, but if it stays like this its a bit lazy plotting IMO.

Anyway the gang is united again, although the stressful journey left some marks upon most characters. What I really like is the feeling of journey and events happening, because already the beginning of the book in the two River feels so far away. Jordan encapsulates really well this feeling of "the journey" and tbh its the first time since reading LOTR I had this done so well in a fantasy novel. The journey is not just a short montage, the journey is the story.

 

[The Attic]

What am I reading in 2025? While there's not much of the year left I'm currently delving into:

Outside the Box: How Sweden Conquered the World of Role-Playing Games by @Maggan


Quote is not by the author. Personally I like 1980s' D&D.

 

[Maggan]

Quote is not by the author. Personally I like 1980s' D&D.

Cool! I love D&D, and grew up with the BECMI rules! Hope you are enjoying the read!

Cheers!

 

[Parmandur]

I really hope this "Ta'veren" concept gets explored further

Be careful what you wish for...

because right now it just seems to be a plot device to explain how all these improbable events happen around the protagonist

It is definitely lampshading that, but it gets weirder, and he does use it as a tool to explore the trauma being "special" puts on people.

Anyway the gang is united again, although the stressful journey left some marks upon most characters. What I really like is the feeling of journey and events happening, because already the beginning of the book in the two River feels so far away. Jordan encapsulates really well this feeling of "the journey" and tbh its the first time since reading LOTR I had this done so well in a fantasy novel. The journey is not just a short montage, the journey is the story.

Exactly this, the influence of pucsrfesque literature on Jordan is pretty huge. A large part of criticisms of his style do book down to folks who want the next bulletin plot point getting frustrated with the journey aspect. Another thing he does well is trauma. What happened to Perrin, especially, is going to haunt him for the rest of the series in a very realistic PTSD way, and sets up his central ethical conflict.

 

[The Attic]

Cool! I love D&D, and grew up with the BECMI rules! Hope you are enjoying the read!

Cheers!

Thank you. I am.

It's very well written and is providing a wonderfully different view outside of the usual US-centric perspective.