What I’m NOT reading

while I work through The Power Broker

Hello everyone,

This week I started reading The Power Broker in earnest. It’s long. It’s dense. It does not take place on Roshar. But I’m loving it. I just finished chapter 7 and I think the way Caro structured the first 7 chapters is a work of genius.

I love carrying the paperback around and having people comment on the ugly cover. I love that it doubles the weight of my backpack. I love imagining Bob Caro turning every page as he did his research. The writing is engaging; each sentence is a feast with words and grammar and punctuation to chew on. It makes me happy.

But have I mentioned it’s long? And that it’s taking me a long time? I’m doing a lot of re-reading of chewy sentences and paragraphs to make sure I understand. It’s not that Caro is trying to obfuscate or show off; I genuinely believe that he was trying to make every single sentence sing. It could just be that I’m coming off a Jack Reacher book so it’s taking a minute to recalibrate to real sentences.

When I read a book I like to have the physical copy, kindle version, and audio so I can attack it on multiple fronts. With The Power Broker, I’m finding that audio only works in the car during my commute. I’m not listening during exercise or house chores or the other typical times because I’m afraid to miss a clever word choice or phrasing. That might change over time as I get more comfortable with the prose. Or it might not because so far I’ve enjoyed dipping a little deeper into the well by going slow.

Today I thought it would be fun to look at a small sampling of all the books I won’t be reading anytime soon because of this 1126 page behemoth standing in my way and demanding my attention. Many of these are new books from authors I’ve read and loved who decided that the best time for a new book release was while I was on Roshar.

Do you recommend any of these? What should I add to the list?

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The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Many friends have raved about this book, my friend Sara being the most recent. It sounds like something I will love: Multi-generational family saga set in India with characters overcoming challenges through faith and love. I want to read it.

Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

Re-reading Four Thousand Weeks is another thing I’m not doing right now. That book changed how I think about time and attention and my own limitations, so I’d love to read Burkeman’s latest. I’m waiting on the paperback to be released.

Homicide by David Simon

I recently watched the first season of The Wire and loved getting into the nitty gritty of police work on the streets of Baltimore. Prior to creating that series, then-reporter David Simon spent a year in Baltimore with a homicide unit, the first reporter ever given unlimited access. I’m sure this will be bleak and eye opening.

One Piece by Eiichiro Oda

I can only do so much graphic novel / manga before I need a break and as delightful as volume 1 was, I had to stop partway through volume 2. But I’ll always have the memory of watching the live action Netflix series in Japan with the fam and falling in love with Luffy and his crew.

Long Island by Colm Toibin

This is the sequel to Brooklyn, a book I very much enjoyed back in 2016. It continues the story of Eilis and…the man she chose in that book. I would love to dive into this and let it sweep me away, but in order to get to 1970s Long Island I have to first understand how Bob Moses reshaped New York from 1924 to 1968. Hence, The Power Broker.

The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros

This could be fun, right? Yarros is crushing it. Millions of copies sold. Fastest selling adult novel in 20 years. Everyone is reading it and I just hate feeling left out. Ok I’ll make a deal: If Jenny starts reading Fourth Wing, I will too.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

This is another popular, divisive book that had a lot said and written about it and now that the dust has settled I want to read it.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

I mostly want to read this due to the cover design. Is that pink paint? Pink blood? Did a unicorn die? I know nothing about the plot but watched the positive reviews roll in from the moment it was published.

The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Braiding Sweetgrass was a special experience for me and I want to read all of Kimmerer’s words about nature and living beings. Abundance and reciprocity are themes she explored in that book and it appears she expounds on them here.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

I’m a Moriarty fan from way back (ahem, 2024) and plan to listen to all her books. Caroline Lee is just too good at the narration to miss any of these.

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As always, thanks for being here. It means so much that we can share books with one another.

Kyle