A friend sent me the New York Times Book Review "100 Notable Books of 2025" article this morning (not sure if it's paywalled, sorry). I always experience a funny blend of feelings when I see the headline of one of these. Primarily excitement: I love a good list, and I like counting how many books of those mentioned I have read and putting others on hold. There's an undertone of trepidation, because invariably there are many, many books that I not only haven't read, I haven't even heard of them - and I don't consider myself someone who is completely ignorant of the book world. And then there is the merest soupcon of weariness and derision - the tiniest bit, really - because who has done the choosing, and what are the precise criteria, and what does 'notable' actually mean (at least they didn't call it the BEST books of 2025). Obviously there's an element of subjectivity. I always end up concluding that maybe I am just a basic reading bitch, and that's FINE.
I had read five, which is laughably few and yet is more than in some years. One of them I hated, one of them I thought was over-hyped, one I loved, one I really liked, and one was strange and I admired it. I am currently reading two more, and one I just had to return because it was too overdue.
Honestly, I didn't find a lot to raise my eyebrows at in the list. It seemed like a pretty good mix of fiction, non-fiction, genre, current issues and biographies of significant personalities. I had a good number of them on hold already thanks to Sarah (HI SARAH). I put like twenty more on hold, just as I was getting ready to wind up my 'year of putting all the physical books on hold' experiment, thanks a lot New York Times Book Review.
It was Scholastic Book Fair week at two of my libraries, which is always a heady mix of excitement and chaos. I had two amazing parent volunteers to help at one school, which was great because we didn't think we'd end up having to use the card machine but one parent came in and two teachers and it took me a stupid long time to get it working - tech hates me. But we did a brisk business and the kids were happy.
One major shock was that the posters - which have been five dollars each since time immemorial - jumped to SIX dollars in 2023, and are now SEVEN dollars each. That's a hundred and forty percent jump in TWO YEARS (I think, math's not really my thing). One of the kids repeated this incredulously and I said "I KNOW. This is all on Scholastic, and we completely agree that it is (thinking: I can't say bullshit, I can't say bullshit) NOT COOL."
13 comments:
SEVEN DOLLARS
WHAT
EVEN
I just took a quick peek at that list. I've read a few and I've had a few on hold. I cannot WAIT for Heart the Lover. I really like Lily King.
SEVEN DOLLARS?!
I would very much like to know the identity of the five books you had already read and which was which. Now I am off to read the list; I am always disheartened by lists because I am also a basic book bitch.
I am here for a list! And yes please tell us which 5 you read!
My stats are:
Number completed and enjoyed: 1 (Heartwood)
DNFs: 2 (Maggie and Careless People)
Currently on my Libby my hold list: 1 (Buckeye)
Never heard of it before this list but I want to read it: 1 (Bat Eater)
August Lane: Meh
Heartwood: I did love it.
Katabasis: Have heard of this and am interested in reading it.
Maggie: Have heard of this, but do not want to read it.
Sunrise on the Reaping: I liked it, but you need to have read the other Hunger Games series.
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping - I checked this out from the library, but had to return it before I read it.
Buckeye - I don't want to read this, but I've heard of it.
Marriage at Sea - I have checked this out in paper form and audio form and have yet to make it more than ten pages in. I don't know if this book is for me.
Huh. 8%. And here I am considering myself a reader!
I have read several of these, and I have chosen NOT to read the rest LOL
I just started Heart the Lover! I don't think I've read her before.
I used to be (disheartened), but I am older than you and I care less every year.
I keep seeing Bat Eater because I read horror voraciously - have requested it now.
Do they put out the list just to hurt us, Engie? I wouldn't put it past them.
Lol you tell'em, Sarah!
I’ve only read two, Heartwood (I liked that one a lot) and Maggie (Meh). I might come back to the list when I am looking for a read, some of them look interesting.
If it makes you feel better, I've read none of them, have two on my GR to read list and pitched one (which I haven't read) to my book club.
p.s. And I don't feel bad about it because books published this year are such a tiny fraction of books published ever and there hasn't been much time to read them. I may get around to (some of) them.
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