As I am writing this I just experienced something profoundly traumatizing and received some extremely distressing news, so you can imagine my mood. Time to get lost into a fictional land as soon as humanly possible

Tonight, on our first day in London, my wife and I went to see Mousetrap by Agatha Christie. This is our 3rd trip to London together, and we have always meant to see it. So this time we pulled the trigger. Thought it would be a relaxing and fun way to end our first day. At intermission, I kid you not, the woman behind us turned to her husband and said, “ I told you we had seen this before the …….. did it.” She spoiled the whole 2nd half of the play and the twisty ending. Now, to be fair, I had already figured it out, but my wife had not. I was stunned. It is even worse when the actors stay on at the end of the show and ask the audience to recommend the show, but don’t give away the ending. I think this is the single worst spoiler moment of my life. I was so mad at that woman, and the nerve to not even care, she just ruined the show for everyone around her.

Tell me your worst spoiler moments. Books, movies, TV shows, I am interested in them all, but please, whatever you do, don’t actually list the spoiler. The name of the thing that got spoiled and how, but not the why. Thank you in advance. If anything, it will give all of us twisty people a list of things we can check out, hopefully without anyone blowing it up for us.

We’re probably all familiar with “the classics” writ large, but I really want to hear about your personal classics—the books in your reading life that have stood the test of time, the books you’ve repeatedly come back to over the course of years. Which books have been your steady companions? Which books have been most influential in your life?

A few of my personal classics have been:

• Mink River by Brian Doyle (this book changed my view of what magical realism can look like in fiction, and every re-read is a joy)
• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (a beautiful ode to ordinary people and places—this book became my gold standard for depictions of average folks in fiction)
• Words Under the Words: Selected Poems by Naomi Shihab Nye (one of the poems in this collection, “Kindness,” changed my brain chemistry forever)

I've just finished reading a title called Music and Silence by Rose Tremain and it deserves some attention. I thought this would be a nice opportunity for people to drop some underrated gems. Especially since PB is still growing, and I do often see the same few books getting attention.
Music and Silence is a historical fiction set in 17th century Denmark which follows the lives of several courtiers and other characters through multiple perspectives, usually narrative, sometimes letter form. I found it very well written. ** as a warning to anyone who does decide to pick it up, there are some uncomfortable moments including SA and some disturbing sexual acts, as well as racial abuse portrayed.

I quite enjoy learning new words. I like words that can be fun to say, and I like words with deep meanings as well.

Sonder - the profound realization that every random stranger is living a life as vivid, complex, and central to them as your own is to you.

Grotesque - describes something that is unnaturally odd, bizarre, or hideously distorted in shape or appearance.

Petrichor - pleasant, earthy, and fresh scent that fills the air when rain falls on dry soil.

Fracas - A noisy quarrel. A brawl.

Fiddle-faddle - Trivial matters.

I have a bunch of other words that I enjoy, but these were the ones I could think of right now. Are there any words that you like? Words that may be difficult to understand or words you just like saying? Words that you wish would be used more?

I am just wanting some opinions, I finished my reading goal for the year (50 books) a few weeks back and have just completed my 60th book. I know we can change our reading goals, so I was wondering, for others in this position, are you just reading over your goal, or are to adjusting/increasing them? And why?

That's the question.

I'm currently reading the You series by Caroline Kepnes and am feeling kind of bad about "wasting time."

My thoughts are:

I read a lot of heavier and academic stuff, so I should feel just fine about taking a break and reading brain candy (like the entire Guild Codex series), which isn't going to do anything toward making me a better person or opening the world to me. But for some reason I judge myself and get little embarrassed by it... just as I would be embarrassed if I ordered pizza every day (whether people knew about it or not).

Except I should feel fine about it even if that's ALL I read! I don't judge other people for reading exclusively brain candy, so why am I not allowed to?! (and the right pizza can actually be a readonably balanced meal!)

Dang it! If I want to read John Saul's entire catalogue that is just fine!! It's familiar and comfortable! It's no different than watching all of Dexter for the sixth time!!

Do you judge yourself like this, even when your rational brain knows better? How do you get yourself out of it? Do you admit it (anyone here not track their brain candy so nobody will know?)? Is it maybe a consequence of my age and when I was educated? [sigh]

Please tell me I'm not alone.

What is your all time favorite classic you have read (dusty or modern)? [to me: objectively- the count of Monte cristo but subjectively- The amateur cracksman by EW Hornung]

But also what is your least favorite classic you’ve read? (Such as one you were made to read at school) [to me: probably gone with the wind as I never actually did finish that one despite it being a “required reading” twice 🫢 I tried I swear!]

And most importantly why are these your fav./least favorite?

I will probably finish this book but it is dangerously close to a DNF. I find some of it amusing. Just amusing enough that I keep reading but I am starting to find myself wondering if this will be a series I will read book 2. This is never a good sign.

I'm currently planning my office/reading room in my house. I'm not sure how many books I actually have anymore. They've been packed up for so long in not great conditions, so I'm expecting the worst. But I'm thinking about starting with the corner Billy bookcase from IKEA. I hope they deliver to my area. (Not sure if you have to be close to a store or not.)

I'm planning on doing a really dark blue in the room with gold celestial accents, but that's as far as I've gotten. Do you guys have any recommendations for things that I should get? Anything that makes reading for hours more comfortable? Decor ideas? Or if you just wanna blab about your own libraries, I'd love to hear about them!

And if you don't have space for a reading room, tell me your dream ideas for when you do have the space for it!