Battle Cry of Freedom, by James M McPherson

Title: Battle Cry of Freedom 

Author: James M McPherson 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 9/7/2026

Finished: 9/16/2026

This was a thoroughly enjoyable history of the civil war.  

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William L. Shirer

Title: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich 

Author: William L Shirer

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 8/31/2026

Finished: 9/7/2026

Interesting detailed overview of Hitler's rise to power and ultimate downfall. 

Lost in the Dark and other Than excursions, by John Langan

Title: Lost in the Dark and other Excursions 

Author: John Langan 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 8/22/206

Finished: 8/25/2026

Loved this collection of stories.  Pretty sure the last few I had read in other anthologies, but could be mistaken.  The titular story was so great as I love found footage style stories.  Highly recommend this one. 

Blood on the Tracks, by Barbara Nickless

Title: Blood on the Tracks 

Author: Barbara Nickless 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 8/20/2023

Finished: 8/23/2023

Another Reddit recommendation, this one wasn't for me. 

Ark Royal, by Christopher G Nuttall

Title: Ark Royal 

Author: Christopher G Nuttall 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 8/10/2026

Finished: 8/19/2026

Space military war type book.  Enjoyed it enough to finish the book, but not enough to continue the series.  

The North Water, by Ian McGuire

Title: The North Water 

Author: Ian McGuire 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: sometime in 2025

Finished: 8/18/2026

Started this one over a year ago and was really into it before a few depressing scenes just too the wind out of me. Finally picked it back up to finish.  

The Commentaries, by Julius Caesar

Title: The Commentaries 

Author: Julius Caesar 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 7/15/2026

Finished: 8/16/2026

I loved this one.  Now I know where every book or movie on ancient Rome got many of their stories from.  Incredibly approachable and entertaining.  

The Histories, by Herodotus

Title: The Histories

Author: Herodotus 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 8/1/2026

Finished: 8/16/2026

Enjoyable, ancient read.  

Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry

Title: Lonesome Dove 

Author: Larry McMurtry 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 7/4/2026

Finished: 8/10/2026

It's probably been 15-20 years since I last read Lonesome Dove.  Such a masterpiece, and this time I did it as a audiobook with one of the best narrators around, Will Patton.  Enjoyable beyond words.  

Diary of a Nobody, by Weedon & George Grossmith

Title: Diary of a Nobody 

Author: Weedon & George Grossmith 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 7/27/2026

Finished: 8/1/2026

Pretty enjoyable and endearing novel.  

My Friends, by Fredrik Backman

Title: My Friends 

Author: Fredrik Backman 

Hardcore gift

Started: 7/28/2026

Finished: 8/2/2026

I like Back man's books a lot and this was good, but it didn't grab me the way the others have.  Still, life affirming so ultimately satisfying.  

The Unworthy, by Augustina Bazterrica

Title: The Unworthy

Author: Augustina Bazterrica

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/26/2026

Finished: 7/31/2026

Interesting and sometimes enjoyable, but this felt like too much of a young adult novel to me. 

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Title: Pride and Prejudice 

Author: Jane Austen 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 7/23/2026

Finished: 7/27/2026

Long overdue on reading this one, as entertaining as advertised.  

Stoner, by John Williams

Title: Stoner

Author: John Williams

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/20/2026

Finished: 7/23/2026

I loved Williams' books Butchers Crossing and Augustus, so I never doubted that I would like Stoner as well, but the synopsis never grabbed me.  So it has taken me a few years to finally read this one and sure enough, it was fantastic.

The Spellman Files, by Lisa Lutz

Title: The Spellman Files

Author: Lisa Lutz

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/17/2026

Finished: 7/20/2026

This series is often recommended on various Reddit boards and it sounded right up my alley.  Unfortunately, this wasn't for me, but I can see why others love it. 

As I think I've mentioned here before I'm a law librarian and Lutz clearly did work in the people finding business because there are repeated, detailed descriptions of the use of public records databases -- the kinds of details you need to locate your target, how to use details you know about someone to pinpoint the right person, etc.  We use those resources frequently in my profession is this same way so that was interesting but the characters and plot never materialized that I was expecting.

Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant

Title: Person Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant 

Author: US Grant

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 7/10/2026

Finished: 7/17/2026

Wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one but it was fantastic.  Wish it had been twice as long and continued through his presidency.   Captivating.  

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo

Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame 

Author: Victor Hugo 

Borrowed from Audible 

Started: 6/16/2026

Finished:  6/25/2026

Forgot to record this one earlier, extremely enjoyable.  

Let's Pretend This Never Happened, by Jenny Lawson

Title: Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Author: Jenny Lawson

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/1/2026

Finished: 7/10/2026

Lots of reddit suggestions for this one and it was funny at times, but not for me.  

We Solve Murders, by Richard Osman

Title: We Solve Murders 

Author: Richard Osman 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 6/29/2026

Finished: 7/7/2026

I liked this one ok, but not enough to keep going with the series.  

Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman

Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl 

Author: Matt Dinniman 

Paperback picked up at free library 

Started: 6/29/2026

Finished: 7/4/2026

I know, I know, but hear me out. This time I wasn't doing the audio but the print version.