David
The best way to sum up my feelings about this installment is with two quotes from the book itself:
"I couldn't imagine how anybody could make sense of this confusing bullshit."
"Yeah, not helping. Jesus fuck. Nobody can follow this."
Honestly, those lines perfectly captured my experience with the Iron Tangle.
To be fair, the author warns readers from the outset not to get too hung up on the mechanics and complexity of it all and to just enjoy the ride. That's exactly what I ended up doing.
And enjoy it I did. The humor remains sharp, the stakes keep rising, and Carl and Donut continue to be an irresistible duo. Still, this is probably my least favorite of the first three books. Not bad by any means, just a victim of an incredibly strong start to the series.
Onward to Book 4.
I picked this up to see what all the hype was about, since it keeps topping so many lists.
As someone who doesn’t have a gaming background, parts of it were a bit challenging—but I can easily see how this would be a five-star read for gamers.
It hooks you immediately and doesn’t let go. Think The Hunger Games meets Dungeons & Dragons, with plenty of humor and one standout character: a delightfully snarky, wisecracking cat. Yes, the cat talks—and it’s fantastic.
Safe to say I’m hooked. On to the next seven books in the series.
From Mistakes to Meaning caught my attention largely because I wanted to read the author’s perspective on the Sony hack—especially since he was my boss at the time. That connection made the book feel more personal and gave additional context to parts of the story.
I particularly enjoyed the sections where friends and colleagues shared their own mistakes. Those stories were engaging and often revealing, especially in how they showed the ways past experiences shaped the decisions people later regretted.
At times, the book leaned a bit heavily into psychology and academic quotations for my taste. While those elements added depth, they occasionally slowed the narrative.
Overall, it’s an interesting and thoughtful read that offers meaningful reflections on how mistakes influence who we become.
In Such Good Company is a delightful look back at a show I loved watching as a kid. Carol Burnett warmly takes readers behind the scenes, sharing how the series was produced, what it was like working with major movie stars, and the remarkable journey of a show that ran for 11 years.
My only gripe is that the book occasionally feels padded with reproductions of full sketch transcripts.
Still, it’s a charming and nostalgic tribute to a television classic.
I gave up on my first attempt at The Passage several years ago because of the sheer number of indistinguishable characters. After seeing so many rave reviews, I gave it another shot this year and ultimately enjoyed it — though my original issue never fully went away.
I’ve just finished The Twelve, and I nearly abandoned this one as well. There are simply too many characters, timelines, and geographically scattered survivor groups that begin to blur together. I often found myself unsure who was alive, dead, or… undead. Add in callbacks to minor characters introduced 300 pages earlier, and it became more exhausting than immersive.
That said, there are genuinely exciting sequences and moments of high tension. For me, though, they didn’t quite justify the nearly 600-page sprawl.
Now I’m left deciding whether to tackle The City of Mirrors — or call it a trilogy and a day.
As I currently work in the outer office of what was once Louis B. Mayer’s office, I was especially intrigued to read Kenneth Turan’s Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation. The book offers a compelling look at two titans of Hollywood whose partnership—and rivalry—helped shape the studio system and the industry as we know it.
While I occasionally found the syntax a bit off-putting (which may be a matter of personal taste), the book remains a fascinating dive into Hollywood’s past and the complicated dynamic between these two powerful figures. Turan brings their ambitions, clashes, and influence into sharp focus.
One particularly delightful tidbit: learning that the Thalberg Building now stands on the spot where Buster Keaton once had his bungalow—a reminder of how layers of Hollywood history are forever stacked on top of one another.
Ready for My Closeup is a wonderfully researched look at the making of one of the greatest films ever made about the Hollywood machine—Sunset Boulevard—and arguably one of the greatest films of all time, period. The book strikes a perfect balance between deep historical insight and sheer entertainment, making it a quick, engaging read even for casual film fans.
Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, it explores not only how the film came together but also the profound cultural impact it had—on Hollywood, on audiences, and on the people who created it. The author brings the era vividly to life, capturing the glamour, delusion, and sharp-edged cynicism that still feel remarkably relevant today.
Fun (and dark) fact: this was reportedly a favorite film of Felon Trump. As Stephanie Grisham recounts in her memoir after watching it with him:
“Here was a woman (Norma Desmond) who was convinced that everyone loved her and lived in a fantasy world of her own making. I’m sure that Trump had no clue—like none—how similar to him she was.”
A cautionary tale about delusion, power, and decay—tragically lost on its biggest fan.
Reminiscent of the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life," while touching on themes of parenting and paralyzing fear, this book was full of twists and turns and hooked me up until the very end. Very imaginative with some particularly wild sequences. It's also quite violent and bloody, so be warned.
I did get a kick that one of the locations in the story is literally located at the end of the street where I live!
Julie Clark delivers once again! Even though this was my least favorite of her books, I still found it gripping and entertaining. The non-linear storyline, with its time jumps to the 1970s, was a highlight, and she did an excellent job recreating that period. Although the ending left me wanting more, the story as a whole was truly enjoyable.
Side note: The only ghosts in this story are those that linger in our minds.
While only 177 pages, I almost ditched this book around page 50, especially once I learned that the big question of the book is never really answered. Yet, much like our tireless narrator, I pushed onwards. Things picked up once the first big plot twist arrived, and thus my interest was piqued.
A philosophical sci-fi tale on what it is to be human, where there are more questions than answers.
It's a bleak tale, but one worth reading.
Detective Holly Gibney returns in Stephen King's latest crime (not horror) thriller! This time she is dealing with not one, but two killers. One a serial killer and the other a “pro-lifer” intent on killing a popular feminist activist. There's a lot going on in this book and there were moments I temporarily got confused as to who was who. Yet, it was a very enjoyable and suspenseful read.
Signed,
Totally Biased Lifelong Stephen King Fan
This book offers valuable insights and is easy to read, guiding you on how to manage your emotions and not allow the opinions of others to affect your mood or overall life goals. Whether it's dealing with a spouse, a friend, or your child, “The Let Them Theory” lays out a clear path for managing various situations, ultimately leading to a happier and more fulfilling life.
Star Wars Holiday Special
Paul Lynde Halloween Special
Snow White Oscar telecast
The Brady Bunch
The Village People
Carol Channing
Charo
If any of those shows and/or celebrities mean anything to you, then you should definitely pick up this book.
A fun, witty and gossipy behind-the-scenes memoir of what went into the making of some of the worst TV specials ever made during an era in Hollywood that is no longer.
This book is guaranteed to send you down a YouTube rabbit hole!
I loved the set up and the isolated setting for this novel about a father and his three children on a research island near Antarctica who are harboring a secret. A secret that is at risk of being exposed when a woman washes up on their shore.
Despite figuring out the major plot twist towards the end, we have great world building and fleshed out characters you truly care about that make this a riveting read.
Giving women their due, Kristin Hannah explores the life of women serving as nurses both during the Vietnam War and the aftermath.
There were moments where I felt a lack of subtlety when it came to the historic high points of the story, but overall, a moving and compelling read with some surprising twists along the way.