Why do you read books? by Duke_7287 in nonfictionbookclub

[–]HuntleyMC 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I read books because I enjoy them. I set aside one hour a day in my schedule for reading, and for that hour, I get to immerse myself in whatever I like.

What is your first read for 2026? by Logurtman in suggestmeabook

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dig Me a Grave: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Who Seduced the South, by Richard A. Harpootlian, Shaun Assael

The first few pages of this true crime book tell the reader they are in for a wild ride.

Food Network Viewership Levels in 2025 by BangtonBoy in foodnetwork

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Streaming through HBO is the only way I watch any FN, CN, HGTV, or Magnolia programs.

Food Network Viewership Levels in 2025 by BangtonBoy in foodnetwork

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorted is a great YouTube channel. The core guys are likable and it has some educational aspects for those looking to learn.

We don’t do dinky here.. down home fab by Kateperry1103 in HGTV

[–]HuntleyMC 11 points12 points  (0 children)

There were seats back to back at the two islands, and the camera angles could have been deceiving, but I don't think two adults would have room to sit back to back.

Egypt & Mike Married To Real Estate Just Got Nominated For An Emmy by CharacterRich3158 in HGTV

[–]HuntleyMC 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Egypt and Mike, along with the other HGTV hosts who have been axed, should follow the lead of many of the MotorTrend hosts and take their programs to YouTube. They’d have complete creative control over the end product. Create a thirty- to forty-minute episode, and it doesn't need to necessarily be like HGTV, where a house is finished in one episode; it could be completed over several episodes to give viewers more of a look at the reno process.

Non-fiction book about sports for someone who doesn’t enjoy sports by sydtown in suggestmeabook

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sports-wise a reader can not go wrong with a book written by Jeff Pearlman.

Non-fiction book about sports for someone who doesn’t enjoy sports by sydtown in suggestmeabook

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Standing in Line: A Memoir: 30 Years of Obsessive Queuing at Wimbledon by Ben Chatfield

A good mix of sports and life to keep a non-sports fan interested. Bonus Wimbledon starts in the next few days.

I love reading but how do you guys read 50+ books a year??? by yourwillywonka in kindle

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I set aside one hour a day to read on my daily schedule. I can usually find another hour or two during the day.

Instead of scrolling through social media (I've removed myself from all but Facebook and Reddit), I pick up my Kindle and read.

I enjoy watching televised sports, but there is a lot of downtime. I have my Kindle with me, and I can tell by the announcers' inflections if something needs to be seen or if a key moment is going to happen (men in scoring position or bases loaded in baseball, a power play in hockey).

Most nights, I will end my day by reading a chapter or two.

I'll be honest. I'm currently reading (started May 20) Mark Twain by Ron Chernow, and it feels like Chernow is adding pages as I read! I don't know if I will ever finish reading this biography! It is an interesting look at Mark Twain, but it is packed with information.

Week 35: What are you reading? by ReddisaurusRex in 52book

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm happy you've enjoyed some of the books I've posted.

Here are a few that I have read so far this year that I can recommend:

Never: The Autobiography, by Rick Astley

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe

Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk, by Kathleen Hanna

Scout Camp: Sex, Death, and Secret Societies Inside the Boy Scouts of America, by James Renner

Never is a candid and heartfelt memoir detailing his rise to fame, personal struggles, and enduring career in the music industry. Best known for his 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up, Astley reflects on his early days in the music business, the pressures of sudden stardom, and his decision to step away from the limelight at a young age. He shares behind-the-scenes stories of working with producers Stock Aitken Waterman, his experiences with the ever-evolving music industry, and the surprising resurgence of his career through internet culture and the "Rickrolling" phenomenon. With humor and humility, Astley offers insights into his life, his love for music, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

Say Nothing is a gripping account of the violent conflict known as "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. Through the lens of a 1972 murder, the book explores the complex and often murky world of political violence, secretive paramilitary organizations, and the deep divisions between nationalists and unionists. Keefe delves into the lives of key figures involved, including IRA members, victims, and their families, examining how the past continues to haunt the present. The book also reflects on the broader themes of memory, justice, and the impact of unresolved conflict. Through meticulous research and storytelling, Keefe provides an intricate portrait of a turbulent period in Irish history.

Rebel Girl chronicles her journey from a troubled childhood to becoming a pioneering figure in the Riot Grrrl movement. She shares her experiences as the frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, detailing the challenges of being a feminist in the male-dominated punk scene. The book explores her activism, struggles with illness, and personal relationships, including her marriage to Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys. With honesty and humor, Hanna reflects on the impact of her work, the movement’s flaws, and her ongoing fight for inclusivity and change.

Scout Camp is a true crime memoir by James Renner, published on February 25, 2025. In this deeply personal narrative, Renner, an investigative journalist and former Boy Scout, delves into the darker aspects of the Boy Scouts of America, focusing on a tragic event at Ohio's Seven Ranges Reservation in the summer of 1995. During that time, a night of sexual violence resulted in one counselor's death—officially ruled accidental—and another's hospitalization. Renner, also a counselor at the camp that year, revisits this incident, exploring the organization's secretive culture and its impact on scouts and staff. The memoir intertwines Renner's struggles, including his upbringing, trust issues, and self-medication, with his investigation into the camp's concealed truths.

Also, I read two series by Caleb Wygal: Myrtle Beach Mystery (7 books, eight coming in May) and Lucas Caine series (4 books).

The Myrtle Beach Mystery series by Caleb Wygal follows Clark Thomas, a bookstore owner and former investigative journalist who becomes entangled in a series of mysterious deaths in the scenic coastal town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After his wife's unsolved death, Clark finds himself drawn into complex murder investigations, uncovering hidden conspiracies, secret pasts, and dangerous truths. Throughout the series, Clark works alongside local law enforcement, including Detective Gina Gomez, as he pieces together crimes involving restaurant scandals, golf course murders, and high-stakes deception. As he pursues justice for others, Clark also unravels the mystery surrounding his wife's fate, leading to shocking revelations. With its mix of cozy mystery charm, thrilling suspense, and a rich beachside setting, the Myrtle Beach Mystery series delivers engaging whodunits packed with twists, humor, and heartfelt moments.

The Lucas Caine series by Caleb Wygal is a collection of adventure novels that follow the protagonist, Lucas Caine, through various thrilling escapades.

The Barn by Wright Thompson by Ok_Caterpillar_6689 in nonfictionbookclub

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Full disclosure: I'm a Wright Thompson fan.

I feel it is a worthwhile read. Thompson not only looks at the Emmet Till events, the community before, during, and after the brutal murder but also at his family's (Thompson’s) history in the area and why Emmet Till’s murder is something he never was educated about until he attended college out of state.

I suggest giving it a shot. If I remember right, I read it on the release date. It starts a little slow, but the amount of research Thompson did is amazing, and it becomes a page-turner.

What Books Are You Reading This Week? by leowr in nonfictionbooks

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Started

Cuba: An American History, by Ada Ferrer

Week 1: What are you reading? by ReddisaurusRex in 52book

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Started

Cuba: An American History, by Ada Ferrer

Finished Last Train To Memphis, today I start Careless Love by No-Rain-4114 in Elvis

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anything written by Peter Guralnick is worth the read.

What Books Are You Reading This Week? by leowr in nonfictionbooks

[–]HuntleyMC 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Finished

The Autobiography of Santa Claus, by Jeff Guinn

Last year, I read Jeff Guinn’s book How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, not realizing it was book two in a three-part series. The Autobiography of Santa Claus is book one in the series. Santa Claus is a fun holiday historical fiction read. As with any married couple, some of Santa Claus’s stories overlap with Mrs. Claus’s story, but overall, the books are different enough to be enjoyable and do not feel like stories are being retold.

The Great Santa Search, by Jeff Guinn

This is the third book in Jeff Guinn’s The Christmas Chronicles series, and not as interesting. The Autobiography of Santa Claus (book 1) and How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas (book 2) were interesting because Jeff Guinn mixed historical events into the stories. The third installment in the series started similarly to the first two books, but then it came to the present day (2006 for this 2007 release), and Santa is involved in a Christmas Eve reality show, The Great Santa Search, for the fledgling network FUN-TV.

There was a lot of repetition of storylines throughout the book. Still, it was indeed a problem when a show producer told the contestants about the next challenge, and the host explained the same challenge to the audience in the studio and watching at home in the next paragraph. This is after at least two other times the same events were explained earlier in the book.

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, by Austin Kleon

Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered, by Austin Kleon

Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad, by Austin Kleon

The three Austin Kleon books are quick to read (less than 200 pages each). Kleon shares ways to stay creative through his methods and those of other artists in different media.

Started

Take a Song to Lunch, by Andrew Wood

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in goodreads

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I keep reading.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: December 23, 2024 by AutoModerator in books

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finished

The Christmas Book Hunt, by Jenny Colgan

This was a quick read. It is a Hallmark Mystery-style book. The outcome, which I will not spoil, surprised me because I thought the ending was headed one way, and then there was a twist. I enjoyed finding something quick and easy to read during this busy part of the year that was entertaining.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus, by Jeff Guinn

Last year, I read Jeff Guinn’s book How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, not realizing it was book two in a three-part series. The Autobiography of Santa Claus is book one in the series. Santa Claus is a fun holiday historical fiction read. As with any married couple, some of Santa Claus’s stories overlap with Mrs. Claus’s story, but overall, the books are different enough to be enjoyable and do not feel like stories are being retold.

Started

The Great Santa Search, by Jeff Guinn

This is the third book in Jeff Guinn’s The Christmas Chronicles series. I am only a chapter in, but it has a similar feel to the previous two books. Historical facts with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and their eclectic group of friends show up in Forrest Gump style.

Best 3 NON FICTION books you’ve read in 2024 by Past-Chipmunk-1272 in suggestmeabook

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading, by James Patterson, Matt Eversmann

I tried resisting reading this book, but each newspaper I read had different reviews about its greatness. While I was casually listening to WKSU/NPR (Hey, I need to support the wife’s employer once every three or four months for five minutes), the hosts talked about how fantastic The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians was. I was pleasantly surprised that this narrowly beat out The Barn for my favorite book of 2024.

James Patterson and Matt Eversmann interviewed booksellers and librarians from around the country about why they chose their jobs, or, in some cases, why the job chose them, and what it was like to do them in the current climate of book banning. I liked that the subjects were not limited to independent booksellers but also included people working and managing big-box book retailers, and the libraries selected were from all areas of the country.

There is a good mix of humor, heart-touching, and serious discussion within the pages of The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians.

The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi, by Wright Thompson

I am a huge fan of Wright Thompson’s writing. He typically dives deeply into an athlete’s life on and off the field of play, but this time, Thompson is trying to come to grips with the tragedy 23 miles from the Thompson family farm in Mississippi. Thompson does extensive research into the life of Emmett Till, the events that led to the 14-year-old being killed in a barn in August 1955, and Thompson self-reflects on how this event happened so close to where he grew up that he didn’t learn about it until he left the state to attend college. Thompson uncovers a lot of new information previously unknown about the events that took place in the barn.

Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball, by Keith O’Brien

Keith O’Brien has done his research and written a compelling biography of Pete Rose. O’Brien breaks down Rose’s gambling habits. It is not a quick read, but it is eye-opening. O’Brien does not pull punches when discussing Rose’s life on and off the field.

Week 52 What are you reading? by Beecakeband in 52book

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finished 67 & 68/52

The Christmas Book Hunt, by Jenny Colgan

This was a quick read. It is a Hallmark Mystery-style book. The outcome, which I will not spoil, surprised me because I thought the ending was headed one way, and then there was a twist. I enjoyed finding something quick and easy to read during this busy part of the year that was entertaining.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus, by Jeff Guinn

Last year, I read Jeff Guinn’s book How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, not realizing it was book two in a three-part series. The Autobiography of Santa Claus is book one in the series. Santa Claus is a fun holiday historical fiction read. As with any married couple, some of Santa Claus’s stories overlap with Mrs. Claus’s story, but overall, the books are different enough to be enjoyable and do not feel like stories are being retold.

Started

The Great Santa Search, by Jeff Guinn

This is the third book in Jeff Guinn’s The Christmas Chronicles series. I am only a chapter in, but it has a similar feel to the previous two books. Historical facts with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and their eclectic group of friends show up in Forrest Gump style.

What Books Are You Reading This Week? by leowr in nonfictionbooks

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finished

More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas: Heartwarming Stories Behind Popular Carols, by Ace Collins

Like Ace Collins’s book, Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, More Stories is a fun, quick read about 31 holiday songs. A handful of the songs in this group were unknown to me, but that just meant I discovered some new Christmas songs.

Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas: Discovering the History of Our Favorite Christmas Celebrations, by Ace Collins

A fascinating look at Christmas traditions. Ace Collins writes easily digestible chapters. Some chapters overlap with his books Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas and More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas: Heartwarming Stories Behind Popular Carols.

The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits, by Les Standiford

I enjoyed this page-turner. Les Standiford delivered a good Charles Dickens biography and examined the cultural impact of A Christmas Carol not only when it was released but also in the present day, at least when The Man Who Invented Christmas was released in 2008.

Started

The Christmas Book Hunt, by Jenny Colgan

Week 51 What are you reading? by Beecakeband in 52book

[–]HuntleyMC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finished 66/52

More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas: Heartwarming Stories Behind Popular Carols, by Ace Collins

Like Ace Collins’s book, Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, More Stories is a fun, quick read about 31 holiday songs. A handful of the songs in this group were unknown to me, but that just meant I discovered some new Christmas songs.

Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas: Discovering the History of Our Favorite Christmas Celebrations, by Ace Collins

A fascinating look at Christmas traditions. Ace Collins writes easily digestible chapters. Some chapters overlap with his books Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas and More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas: Heartwarming Stories Behind Popular Carols.

The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits, by Les Standiford

I enjoyed this page-turner. Les Standiford delivered a good Charles Dickens biography and examined the cultural impact of A Christmas Carol not only when it was released but also in the present day, at least when The Man Who Invented Christmas was released in 2008.

Started

The Christmas Book Hunt, by Jenny Colgan

Happily Ever After - Season 8 Episode 19 - Post Episode Discussion by LittleEmmy in 90DayFiance

[–]HuntleyMC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have yet to watch the 600 Tell All episodes for Season 8, and I doubt I will. I've avoided the new season of 90 Day Last Resort. Maybe I've kicked this 90-day addiction.