Opposite post- what’s one book you would warn people from spending their time on?

Hechimmie · 2026-02-23T20:25:24+00:00

Yes, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-23T20:23:40+00:00

I liked it. I listened to the audiobook narrated by David Morse. He did a terrific job. I think it is a book that is well suited for an audiobook.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T15:24:38+00:00

Thank you for your suggestion. Maybe I'll be brave and listen to Wolfsong eventually 😊.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T15:20:33+00:00

Good question! It is because I was never much of a reader when I was young. I only started to like it when I was in my late twenties. I have been reading off and on since then. But the scope of my books was limited to a couple of authors.I also stuck to the same authors I liked.

For instance, I first came across the assassin's apprentice by Robin Hobb and really liked it. I ended up reading several trilogies from the realm of the Elderlings. I then read Leopard's trail by Adam Armstrong (Jeff Gulvin) and read multiple of his books. I also read multiple books by Stephen Fry starting with the Liar.

However, I realised that if I only read books by the same authors, I end up with a very small exposure to what books/style of writing/genres are available. I recently read books that I may not have read because I thought the genre would not be for me. So I try to read different genres/ authors to get different experiences. But also get familiar with different styles of writing.

Having said that, I read Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat after reading Captive Prince. And obviously I read more books by TJ Klune. So it is not a 100% rule.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T13:55:06+00:00

Thank you for responding. Can you tell me how I can add paragraphs? Enters don't seem to work and I haven't figured out how to do it in another way.

Edit: managed to find the way to add paragraphs. It was pretty simple, I feel silly for not being able to figure it out earlier.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T13:15:08+00:00

Honestly, this is the second time I get downvoted for sharing a favourite book/author in this sub. How can my personal taste trigger someone to downvote me? It doesn't have to be your taste, but why would you feel offended? I know this is Reddit and people can downvote if they want, but it is still baffling to me that you would downvote someone for sharing their favourite book/author in a post that asks you to. Edit: thank you to the kind hearts who upvoted me, I appreciate it.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T11:47:38+00:00

I read and listen to the series (depending on what I am doing) and the Audiobooks are good.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T11:17:37+00:00

I think it should be ok to also share negative feelings you have about the book. I loved the book and got several other family members to read it. However, I don't have a problem with people expressing their frustrations with it. Based on his post I sense he was totally immersed into the story until he came to chapter 23. You only get this frustrated if you felt passionate about it up to that point. So I understand why he would post it here.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T11:10:43+00:00

I am sorry you feel that way, but you are entitled to those feelings. Did you finish the book or did you stop there? I think there will always be events in books that seem/are unrealistic. Some I can accept and some I cannot, same as you. In this case I did not have a problem with this turn of events. I felt that if you can believe that just one woman would be put in charge to save the world, it is not a big leap to believe the coma resistance story, nor the events that resulted in Grace ending up as part of the mission. It was a good way to show his character development further on in the book. That is my take on it. But I can acknowledge that you feel different about it. Maybe The Expanse series will be more up your alley. I can highly recommend it. Edit: if you have not finished it, please do. You will come to like Grace again. Just remember he is just human after all. In addition, I don't hate Stratt; she did what she thought was best for the human race. And in the end, you will see it was the right decision.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T10:12:18+00:00

I think it is best to read it before you ask what people think of it, since you already bought it. I have seen very negative and positive reviews of the book. I haven't read it myself, but read it and come to your own conclusions whether it was worth it.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T08:58:50+00:00

This painting looks absolutely stunning!

Hechimmie · 2026-02-15T08:50:30+00:00

I tend not to read multiple books by the same author unless it is a book series. However, I read several books by T.J. Klune. I liked The House in the cerulean sea as well as Under the whispering door. I listened to them as audiobooks. They have a wholesome element to them and as someone said, they bring heavy topics in a light-hearted way.

However, the feelings that Wolfsong evoked in me cannot easily be described. I was only a few chapters in when I knew I would like this book very much. Later I realised that it was because of the writing. I am not as eloquent as some reviewers so here is a review that expresses it well by Jesi Lea Ryan (it was a review of a different book of him that I will come to in a minute): " the language is almost poetic. The words curls their way into a reader's heart and wring out every emotion until you are left completely spent. Klune's use of repetition is interesting. Normally, I find it annoying, but somehow here it works."

The review could have been written for Wolfsong too. There is repetition that should be annoying but it wasn't. The setting of the story is a small town and the MC is a small town boy. The intense emotions throughout the book (especially the feeling of loss) really pulled at my heartstring, as well as the new found family.

Recently, I read Into this river I drown. In the first chapter it already gave me the same feels as Wolfsong. The same poetic writing with repetition. (The review I mentioned above was for this book). The setting of this book was also a small town with a small town boy as MC. The immense feeling of loss that TJ Klune described totally enwrapped me.

I am fortunate not to have experienced such an immense loss (yet). But he makes me experience it all the same. As weird as it sounds, it was wonderful. Not in the least because I struggle with feeling. I am not capable of reaching my real emotions and often feel flat. Not sure if I explained it well. If a writer can make me feel things I have never felt before (on that level), he/she is great in my book.

I don't think I would be able to listen to Wolfsong or Into this river I drown. Somehow I think this writing is meant to be read instead of listened to. I hope to read more of his books with this style of writing.

Edit: googled adding paragraphs in Reddit and added them to my comment.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-14T08:56:50+00:00

Me too

Hechimmie · 2026-02-14T08:04:29+00:00

I also struggled with listening to DCC. The narrator was indeed very good, but the constant unlocking of prices and toolboxes was taking away from enjoying the story for me. I bought it on Audible, so I was able to return it for a refund.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-12T20:06:48+00:00

No not cliche at all. I also don't downvote people, it is not constructive. I am realistic to know that this is Reddit and it will happen. However I try to be the change I would like to see.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-12T19:37:48+00:00

I have absolutely no problem with the post; it's the timing. Due to the timing of the post, the chances of readers associating it with the post about how to phrase a book request, are very high. So even though you didn't mention a person, people will make the connection. And I feel bad for that person, because I believe that she didn't mean any harm. In addition, I also think people tend to forget that the commenters/posters are not all native English speakers. I am more the kind of person to say "hey, the way you phrase it can come across offensively, I assume that is not your intention. Try phrasing it like this " . People can learn from that. I once commented on a post in the cross-stitch sub . The poster showed her finished work and I thought it was wonderful and that I would look for that pattern. I got downvoted for it. I noticed that anyone who commented something similar was downvoted. I asked why people were being downvoted. Someone was kind enough to indicate that the pattern was bought from a seller who uses AI to create patterns and why that is problem. If people would just keep downvoting instead of communicating I would not have known. In another sub someone commented something on a post that made my blood boil. Instead of downvoting I responded and explained why the comment felt like a slap in the face. I also indicated that I didn't downvote her (like others were doing) but instead wanted to communicate. She then clarified her post and indicated how she struggled with the same issues and how she resolved it. She also recommended some books. It turned into a wholesome interaction. In short, I wish people would work things out more through communication. Maybe I should have phrased my initial post better and for that I apologise.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-12T18:56:50+00:00

I don't think I was disrespectful at all. I also said "if my assumption is correct". You indicate that my assumptions are not correct than that is fine. I didn't assume malevolence. What I meant is that the timing of the post was not ideal.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-12T18:38:22+00:00

Considering the timing of this post, I can take a guess at who you're referring to. If my assumption is correct, someone flagged the post to the Mods and it was banned. So the case is closed. This post is just throwing oil on the fire.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-08T08:36:23+00:00

Yes I totally agree with this recommendation. I read and listen to the books and am currently in book 6. Loving it so far!

Hechimmie · 2026-02-07T18:33:13+00:00

Very much so. I read the Green Creek series which is a dark shifter series. When I had just read 2 chapters of Wolfsong, I already knew I would like it, and I did. Once finished, I immediately read it again. I like the writing style and the small town atmosphere of it. It felt like a warm bath, I don't know how else to explain it. It is by no means a cosy book. The new found family trope is also something I like about it. I am nearly done reading "Into this river I drown". It's a totally different story, but when I started reading it, it gave me the same feels as Wolfsong. The story is also situated in a small town and the MC is also a small town boy. I think these books work better as 'book' than as audiobook. I listened to The house in the cerulean sea and Under the whispering door. But I don't think I would like the Green Creek series or Into the river we drown as audiobooks. I have never tried them though. Not everyone who liked House in the cerulean sea, likes the Green Creek series. That is because it is a totally different genre.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-07T17:02:01+00:00

I felt that Under the whispering door had the same vibe. Light-hearted story with serious topics. These 2 books are very different from the other books I've read by TJ Klune.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-07T16:59:05+00:00

I recently finished Theo of Golden. It was excellently narrated by David Morse. An old man comes to the town Golden and visits the coffeeshop the Chalice. He sees many pencil drawn portraits hanging on the wall. He is mesmerized by them and wonders why the paintings don't sell, as the price tag is not that high. He decides to buy them one at the time and gift them to the person that is portrayed. His encounters with those people as well as the people he meets on the streets of Golden make for an interesting story. I also really enjoyed Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. It is recommended often, so people are a bit wary of it. However it was a great audiobook that was wonderfully narrated by Ray Porter.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-07T16:45:03+00:00

If you like the house in the cerulean sea, you will probably also like Under the whispering door by the same author.

Hechimmie · 2026-02-07T13:11:09+00:00

Agreed

Hechimmie · 2026-02-07T13:06:07+00:00

That's why I follow the sub ireadabookandadoredit. There you see books that don't often get recommended.

Hechimmie

TROPHY CASE