May 2025 Reading Report
As I wrap up another month of reading, I’ll pause to celebrate and appreciate the privileges of a comfortable retirement. These are troubled times, and there’s much to be concerned about, but at least I have the time and energy to bury myself in reading and thinking some of the time. I’m grateful.
I’ve now posted some notes about the books I finished reading in May. Some general comments: first, now that I look at the list as a whole I’m surprised at the number of books listed whose authors I knew absolutely nothing about when the month began. I discovered three of them (Craig Mod, Lauren Markham, and Andrea Barrett) while browsing bookstores on our recent trip to Texas and New York City. (Did I mention that one of my favorite pastimes is visiting bookstores?) I checked Solvej Balle’s novel out of the library after reading about it in the list of books shortlisted for this year’s International Booker prize. As I say in my comments, I think it’s one of the best novels I’ve read in quite a while. My wife has been pushing me to read Robin Wall Kimmerer for months, and I’m glad I finally followed her advice. Reading Rebecca Solnit is a treat — her latest collection of essays doesn’t disappoint.
I’ll say once again that I don’t consider these notes to be reviews in any sense. Rather, after finishing a book I write out what I hope to take from it. I write the notes mostly for myself; I’ve committed myself to posting them here to hold myself publicly accountable. If others find them interesting and/or helpful, that’s an added benefit. If you want to comment on any of my notes, whether that’s to challenge something that I say, to add something about a book that you think I’ve missed, or to celebrate a book worth reading, even better.
Following my usual practice, I’ve moved the list of books I’m reading now to the current month.