11. Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. A spy thriller without thrills. A load-bearing subplot (a speculative history of Neanderthals) that tested my attention span. Maybe one character I kinda liked? Not my thing but props to the folks who enjoyed it!
Replies
God this sounds awful
jul 24, 2025, 4:01 am • 1 0 • view
the writing quality was very good, and my wife says that The Mars Room is excellent. but this one was a miss for me.
jul 24, 2025, 4:22 am • 0 0 • view
I'm reading Lonesome Dove at the moment and while the prose is beautiful & colorful, goddamn if McMurtry isn't long-winded
jul 24, 2025, 4:32 am • 0 0 • view
12. SELLOUT by Dan Ozzi. Very cool read! As someone who followed the scene mostly from afar and only until about 2002, I found the chapters about bands I didn’t follow just as interesting as the ones I did. (The exclusion of Vagrant Records feels like a miss, though.) Strong rec 👍👍
aug 4, 2025, 12:26 am • 22 0 • view
Listened to that one on Spotify- it was very interesting and well-researched. I’d also recommend “Do What You Want: the Story of Bad Religion” if you have any interest in the punk scene.
aug 14, 2025, 11:56 pm • 1 0 • view
When I saw Geoff on the cover, instant buy and read. You’re right, was interesting to hear everyone’s story.
aug 4, 2025, 3:18 am • 1 0 • view
Oh man — this one looks excellent. Thanks for the rec
aug 4, 2025, 12:33 am • 1 0 • view
13. CHANGEOVER by @girinathan.bsky.social. Giri has a depth of knowledge & passion for tennis that is clear & accessible for all, w/ artful passages that transport you to Paris & Palm Springs. Loved the way it celebrated & humanized Sinner & Alcatraz. Buy it: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Change...
aug 14, 2025, 10:01 pm • 6 1 • view
worth reading for someone who knows next to nothing about tennis?
aug 14, 2025, 10:31 pm • 0 0 • view
If you know forehand, backhand, and how scoring works, that’s enough. I’m VERY casual & was delighted by the way it gave me a much deeper understanding of
aug 15, 2025, 12:42 am • 1 0 • view
Only if you enjoy really, really great writing.
aug 16, 2025, 10:03 pm • 0 0 • view
so glad you dug it, thanks Matt
aug 14, 2025, 10:19 pm • 3 0 • view
14. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. A slim, easy read that brims with empathy. It’s a philosophical text in sci-fi clothing — I would usually say that with my nose pinched — but this one is simply lovely. Highly recommended. Becky Chambers rocks.
aug 16, 2025, 8:50 pm • 14 1 • view
15. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt. I wanted a Western, and I got a damn good one. Fast-paced, terrific narrator, rich characterization, plenty violent. I’d join a book club to talk about the ending. Shouts to Jeff & FGSB in the chat for the rec.
aug 23, 2025, 3:26 pm • 17 0 • view
awesome book, the movie with john c. reilly and joaquin phoenix and jake gyllenhall and riz ahmed somehow didnt work that well
aug 23, 2025, 5:04 pm • 1 0 • view
I saw some reviews, might give it a watch anyway
aug 23, 2025, 5:56 pm • 0 0 • view
i think i just set the bar too high after i saw the cast, its worth a watch
aug 23, 2025, 5:59 pm • 1 0 • view
lol. Was reading this and I’m like “that book rips! Didn’t I recommend that to someone recently?” Still look me like 30 seconds as to connect the dots after I read my name in the last sentence. …yes I do have two kids under 5, why do you ask?
aug 25, 2025, 3:09 pm • 1 0 • view
been there, brother
aug 25, 2025, 3:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Oh, and while it would be pretty hard to “live up” to the book, the movie definitely doesn’t embarrass itself
aug 25, 2025, 9:26 pm • 0 0 • view
Loved the Monk and Robot books
aug 16, 2025, 10:28 pm • 1 0 • view
Read A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet based on your earlier suggestion and loved it, excited to read the next book in that series. For some reason, this book did not do it for me however.
aug 16, 2025, 10:07 pm • 0 0 • view
I can understand that. I think turning to it after a string of nonfiction helped me brush past what might annoy me in different circumstances.
aug 16, 2025, 10:37 pm • 0 0 • view
I didn’t mind it in the end. Came around to quite enjoying the writing, but not having any particularly likable characters is a choice
jul 24, 2025, 4:04 am • 1 0 • view
the writing was good! the ending, when it finally got there, was interesting. but it took more work and faith to get there than I prefer.
jul 24, 2025, 4:21 am • 1 0 • view
Thanks for this, I was feeling guilty for dropping this early. Got a more enjoyable book instead ("Boom Town")
aug 4, 2025, 12:48 am • 1 0 • view
We have but one precious life on this earth!
aug 4, 2025, 12:51 am • 1 0 • view