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A wonderful introduction to the history of Western classical music. Written by a scholar but not too scholarly, the book is full of stories and characters and context. Every chapter comes with numerous listening suggestions that immerse but don't overwhelm you. Exactly what I was looking for as a music appreciator who has never really understood classical music.

A thriller-ish story grounded in a kind of philosophy-of-advertising that I found unexpected and interesting. It becomes a little more procedural in the second half, but is consistently satisfying. The characters are deep, the place descriptions are transporting. I was surprised at how much dread could be evoked from the Michelin man. Happy to learn there's a second in the series!

I read about a third of this book before my loan expired. I probably won't check it out again, unless someone convinces me otherwise.

I enjoyed reading this but ultimately found it unsatisfying. The characters were interesting, but I wasn't particularly interested in them. The plot grabbed me at first, but then settled into something familiar from other Tchaikovksy stories. Though my initial high hopes weren't met, I can certainly see why others enjoyed this more than I did.

Whimsical, humorous, unique story about a pony on a quest to re-unite with his human and save her from being convicted of a crime she didn't commit. The pony is a reluctant and hilarious hero, and the characters he encounters and the labors he undertakes are amusing. The human stories of helplessness and isolation parallel those of the animals, and are delivered with sarcasm and wit. It takes a while to get going, tends to drags on in places, and certainly has a few head-scratching moments, but well-written and fun.

Another lovely entry in Becky Chambers's Wayfarer series. This serves as an ethnography of sorts of the Exodans, descendants of Earth dwellers who made large ships their permanent homes, describing their lives through a set of interconnected lives and stories. It's light sci fi, but the universe Chambers has constructed is optimistic and compelling, and the stories ring true both there and here.

Another light, fun, heartwarming adventure of the Thursday Murder Club. Osman is skilled at both telling a straightforward procedural mystery, as well as developing and exploring characters to care about. As with the first two books, it's the bittersweet celebration of old age that really sets this apart.

An overview of how we study the physical world that is serious in intent but informal in style. These are transcriptions of a series of lectures given by the famous physicist, and while these talks were written to be experienced rather than read, Feynman's skill and command as a speaker are evident in the presentation of ideas and the conversational feel. Feynman communicates the scientific process with clarity and humility, regularly centering the idea that we don't really know why things are the way they are, just that they are. For all the contempt he seems to have for philosophers, Feynman has a pretty good handle on the philosophy of science himself.

An enjoyable book. Part memoir, part writing guide, but more a profile of one person's particular creative genius than a "How To". It's least effective when trying to inspire the novelist-to-be ("Work at it four hours a day, and it shouldn't feel like work if you're passionate about it" isn't actually advice about how to be good at something) but there's lots of great wisdom from a master, and as a book it practices what it preaches. The first book I've ever read by Stephen King, and I'll read more.