Here’s a list of some of the books I’ve read recently. I’ve starred the ones that I especially liked or that were otherwise special.
2025
Click the fleuron ❧ to read the full review.
- Afrikan vihreät kunnaat by Ernest Hemingway, translated by Tauno Tainio (English title: Green Hills of Africa). A travelogue: Hemingway goes hunting in Africa. ❧
- Keskeytysten arkisto by Pontus Purokuru. Short stories and essays vaguely about time. Funny. ❧
- Liars by Sarah Manguso. On a divorce that you could really see coming, yet the protagonist couldn’t.
- The Rock Warrior's Way by Arno Ilgner. On mental training for climbing. The warrior framework feels like woo, but the advice is pragmatic.
- ⭐ Matara by Matias Riikonen. A story about boys playing society. Exquisite. ❧
- Parade by Rachel Cusk. On numerous artists called G. More abstract than the earlier Cusk books.
- Pachinko-kuulat by Elisa Shua Dusapin, translated by Anu Partanen (English title: The Pachinko Parlour). On a daughter relationship with her Korean grandparents living in Japan. The topic is heavy but the book felt light.
- Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg. Actionable advice on building and breaking habits.
- Manillaköysi by Veijo Meri. A funny story about a guy returning from the front during the Continuation War. Interesting to read about the war time culture among the common soldiers.
- Vanja-eno by Anton Chekhov (English title: Uncle Vanya). A classic play with a lot of shouting and a surprising (for the time) bit of environmentalism.
- Winning Long-Term Games by Luca Dellanna. A business book on playing the long game of achieving success in life.
- ⭐ Kalvot by Chi Ta-wei, translated by Rauno Sainio (English title: The Membranes). Cyberpunk soft sci-fi about identity. Reminds me of Ann Leckie’s books. Fresh considering its was published 30 years ago.
Earlier: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
All-time favorite fiction
I rarely re-read books, but there are some books I keep thinking about.
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.
- Historias de cronopios y famas by Julio Cortázar.
- The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.
- Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.
I look at this list and I realize I must have incredibly ordinary taste. Still, they’re good books.
In April 2020, I filled a social-media bingo card about my favorite books. I’m not sure if they’re my eternal favorites, but they felt like good books at the time. Ask me again in the future.
My reading projects
Lists of books read by other people
I’ve found the following lists especially interesting:
- Alvaro Videla’s Some Books For You Consideration
- Venkatesh Rao’s Now Reading page
- David R. MacIver’s three-book sets and book pairings
- Further reading for Meaningness