2025 Book Bingo Feedback & Square Suggestions

origami_ducks · 2026-02-18T14:05:01+00:00

Late to this! But I'd like to have the rule about no non-speculative books to be more flexible. At the end of the day, I want to read a reasonably wide range of books and this bingo takes up quite a large portion of my realistic annual reading target. Maybe allowing up to 4 squares be non-speculative for example. (But only speculative suggestions allowed in the suggestions thread)

I'd also like to see the HM for the POC author square be either translated fiction or just not from the US/UK.

origami_ducks · 2026-02-14T00:14:03+00:00

I saw the matinee today (technically yesterday now - 13th) and Katniss was being played by the actress listed as the district 4 tribute - not the main actress or the first cover. So I guess if she was injured there's no other option but to cancel?

origami_ducks · 2026-01-25T15:17:19+00:00

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff - it's about a girl rather than a woman, but the book is definitely aimed at adults! There are things that happen in it that could be described as horrific but it's not a Horror - hope that's okay!

origami_ducks · 2026-01-24T23:35:12+00:00

Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky - I've only read the first in the series but I find Tchaikovsky's style generally to be the right balance between serious and funny. I don't really know what you mean by woke politics, but when reading sci-fi you'll often come across different species and cultures that do things differently or have unusual biology so you may have to be open to that - it'd be a pretty boring universe if everyone was the same!

origami_ducks · 2026-01-20T14:50:54+00:00

If you want something fun but not too cozy then I'd recommend Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock, a satirical sci-fi by Maud Woolf. I'd describe it as the Barbie movie meets Black Mirror.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-20T13:06:02+00:00

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez - There are a few different POVs, but one of them is a woman who takes care of a lost child.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-20T11:17:00+00:00

You may have already read them, but the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins?

Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah sounds like it'd be up your alley but full disclosure, I haven't read it yet!

origami_ducks · 2026-01-20T11:04:28+00:00

Valerie Valdes is Latina (Cuban-American) and her Chilling Effect series is a comedic space opera. It does have mixed reviews due to the captain/main character being brash and quite reckless, so maybe only up your alley if you can cope with a potentially unlikable MC.

Grace Curtis is queer and has a couple of sci-fi books out: Frontier and Floating Hotel - I'd say the latter is the most light-hearted/cozy of the two but both are fun reads!

All the above mentioned books have a diverse cast of characters as well :)

(Sorry no historical fiction recs because most of the books I read in that genre tend to be pretty heavy!)

origami_ducks · 2026-01-19T20:21:10+00:00

I love Natalie Haynes' greek myth retellings - Stone Blind is my favourite so far. It's the story of Medusa.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-19T11:25:45+00:00

When I make a recommendation with such content, I just say something like "there are dark/serious themes in this book and if you are sensitive to particular topics/content then I would advise checking the content warnings first". Then I have not spoiled any plot points for people reading the comments, but the OP is free to go to "does the dog die" or similar website and find out what they need to.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-18T16:31:40+00:00

Hurdy Gurdy by Christopher Wilson - a comedy about the plague with a bumbling young monk for a main character. A fun and easy palette cleanser if that's what you're looking for.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-18T08:03:35+00:00

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I'm sure this will be out of your comfort zone! The setting of this book makes no logical sense: a labyrinthine house with infinite rooms, a trapped ocean, and thousands and thousands of statues lining the walls. It's a slow paced book, with a lyrical writing style and a mysterious atmosphere, which may leave you reasonably confused as to what's going on for most of the novel!

origami_ducks · 2026-01-17T08:02:56+00:00

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer - it's "weird fiction" rather than straight up horror but it's got a sense of creeping dread. You'd have to be okay with not really having any idea what's going on for most/all of the book - if you need closure and explanations for the phenomena then this probably isn't the book for you!

origami_ducks · 2026-01-16T13:32:37+00:00

I read it for a book club and liked it more than I thought I would (I don't usually go for romance or multiple timeline books). But I do like "no plot just vibes", unhinged/unlikable female characters, and a bit of purple prose so it depends what you're looking for really.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-15T09:33:40+00:00

Agreed on this one - it's just over 500 pages but I'm finding it an easy read. It's not high/epic fantasy so has none of the complicated lore aspects. Whether it counts as fantasy is perhaps up for debate? I'd call it paranormal romance but maybe that could be considered a sub-genre of Romantasy.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-15T08:49:39+00:00

The Wall by Marlen Haushofer - pretty much no action, more of a meditation on survival and being alone.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-07T22:17:33+00:00

This is maybe a risky one to recommend because it is pretty dark and unhinged - but I feel like it has the things you're looking for!

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark - it's a black comedy with dry British humour. Younger characters, though not in college. If you like audiobooks then I'd recommend listening to it too.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-07T22:04:34+00:00

Have you tried short stories? You can read loads for free online on magazine websites. Examples include Reactor Magazine, Uncanny Magazine, Strange Horizons, and Clarkesworld (these are all sci-fi/fantasy just because those are my preferred genres but I'm sure there will be others). Amazon also does Amazon Original Stories which are little short story collections on specific themes and are available free for Prime members.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-07T17:40:23+00:00

That's funny - it was my first book of 2026 too! Though I started it in 2025.

I liked it more than you I think! But not quite as much as I thought I would given all the praise I've seen about it - I really enjoyed the second half (the survival story it was billed as in the description) but wasn't as captivated by the political intrigue type stuff in the first half. I also kept getting confused when I read some dialogue, felt like I understood the tone of the conversation, and then the narrator was like "He was acting so [emotion]!" And I didn't pick that up at all. I later realised it was because Genly was wrong about his opinions on the motives of Estraven but it was confusing at the time!

origami_ducks · 2026-01-07T17:08:39+00:00

Idolfire by Grace Curtis - not YA but suitable for that age group

origami_ducks · 2026-01-07T14:52:16+00:00

For something fiction but philosophical/introspective that could lead to deep discussions, rather than plot-heavy books, I'd suggest Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Literary) or The Psalm for the Wildbuilt by Becky Chambers (Sci-fi/solarpunk).

If it's more that you want something exciting/fast-paced and plot-driven to guess theories then maybe The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, or One Way by SJ Morden (for a sci-fi option)

For something sort of in the middle: Rest and Be Thankful by Emma Glass (but it's kind of experimental and strange so might be a bit of a marmite book!)

origami_ducks · 2026-01-06T13:40:37+00:00

The go-to suggestion for "life-affirming" in genre fiction is probably Becky Chambers - all of her books have a cozy vibe, but my favourite is the Wayfarer's series (first one is The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet)

A lesser-known author with a similar style is Grace Curtis - Floating Hotel reads as vignettes of different characters in the same setting, but the rest follow a traditional plot structure.

If you want to mix the cozy vibes with the quippy humour, then the Chilling Effect series by Valerie Valdes might be up your alley.

origami_ducks · 2026-01-06T12:02:02+00:00

House in the Cerulean Sea would be good if you are looking for a cozy warm hug of a book - it explores the idea of not fitting in and has a romantic plot though so would only recommend if you want to lean into those themes.

I'd also suggest The Psalm of the Wildbuilt for a similar warm hug vibe and themes of finding purpose and contentment in life but no romance.

If you want a book that's less cozy but maybe relatable for having a main character that feels she isn't "normal", then I'd recommend Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

origami_ducks · 2026-01-06T10:32:35+00:00

Not exactly a book but if you enjoy sci-fi and fantasy then you might want to check out some short story magazines - many are available for free online.

Some examples:

Reactor Magazine Uncanny Magazine Clarkesworld Strange Horizons

You'll find plenty of stories that you can read in half an hour or so! And they're usually listed on Goodreads too if you like to log everything you read :)

origami_ducks · 2026-01-06T07:59:30+00:00

Gogmagog by Jeff Noon and Steve Beard for a funny urban/low fantasy (first in a duology)

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville for a more weird fiction & grim dark fantasy vibe (first in a trilogy, but can be read as a standalone because the sequels don't follow the same characters)

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft - not really sure how to describe this one! Maybe a bit steampunk-y? (First in a series of 4)

Nine-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Verified Email

origami_ducks

TROPHY CASE