What I read in 2025

I'm a pretty avid read--I'm also that nerd that asks for books for Christmas. Books and Loungefly stuff. I did not read as much this year, and course prep took up a bit of time because I re-read the Twilight series and Austen's works. Barring that and anything I did for a book review, this is the new stuff I got through.

Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787 (The Poldark Saga, 1) by Winston Graham

If you like Ian Fleming's writing or Outlander, give this a go. Started reading after binging the series, which is a pretty close adaptation. Quick read, fun time.

The Lives of Lee Miller by Antony Penrose

Badass photographer Lee Miller covered the European Front during WWII. Feel like I don't need to say more.

Hell's Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders, a Serial Killer Family on the American Frontier

by Susan Jonusas

I read this before I saw the episode Shane and Ryan did (Mystery Files). If you saw that ep, this it far more extensive. Brutal, bloody, and a damn, fine mystery.

The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream

by David M Rubenstein

If it hasn't occurred to you by now, I am a history nerd. This is a quick read because it's interview transcripts. Digestible history done through conversation.

Toil and Trouble: A Women's History of the Occult

by Lisa Kröger, Melanie R. Anderson

A compilation of short biographies and histories regarding the occult. Some cool people in here--a few you may have heard of and more.

Inspired me to teach a course about witches and the occult.

A Killer by Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to

Decipher the Criminal Mind by Ann Wolbert Burgess, Steven Matthew Constantine

Picked this up after binging Mindhunter (which, if you are meh on the pilot, stick it through until they get to Kemper and see if you're still in). Fun if you're into true crime and wanna hear from an OG profiler. Talks real cases that aren't as well covered in the media.

A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult (Esoteric Histories) by DK, foreword by Suzannah Lipscomb

Compilation of bite-sized history of witchcraft and the occult from around the world--with pictures.

Read this for course prep.

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer

Can't get enough Twilight--here's a solution. This is fun if you felt that some character's weren't well explored in the series. The stuff on Bella, Edward, Rosalie, and Carlisle are mostly regurgitated, but adds context for Leah, Alice, the Volturi, and more.

Read this for course prep.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Okay, so I am behind on this one. Love the movie, book is different but not in a bad way. A different experience from the film.

We Are Not Alone: The Extraordinary History of UFOs and Aliens Invading Our Hopes, Fears, and Fantasies by Marc Hartzman

There are a couple of wild stories in here. Gives a more complete history, correcting (for me) what has been retained from the collective consciousness. If you are looking for something more grounded than Ancient Aliens, viola.

Read this for course prep.

Chasing Ghosts: A Tour of Our Fascination with Spirits and the Supernatural by Marc Harztman

Similar to the above book, but with ghosts/"ghosts" instead of aliens. Less spooky and more about how people pretended to be mediums and so on. Less about believability and more of a critical history of the American obsession with the dead.

Read this for course prep.

Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction by Lisa Kröger, Melanie R. Anderson

This is a good read if you are a teacher and/or you like speculative fiction and are looking for some fresh reads. All about the authors (women, obviously) who pioneered the genre.

Read this for course prep.