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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   3009 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 25, 2026

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So what are you reading?

Got two more sections of Capital to finish, which I will be very glad to be done with. Hoping to write up an effort post here and on my blog after I finish. I think it will generate an interesting discussion not only because Marx presents a convincing critique of capitalism (although I think his central premise of the labor theory of value is wrong, or at least incomplete) but also because it's been illuminating to see how the leftist group I've been reading it with has gone from worshiping Marx to understanding him as the flawed, snarky philosopher that he is.

Also planning on finishing up Outlive by Peter Attia today. Also going to write-up an effort post on this for Wellness Wednesday. Think it's a fantastic book, but I disagree slightly with his prescriptions and want to add a few of my own.

Also working on Harry Potter 7 in Italian.

Finishing up Twelve Months: Dresden Files Book 18 by Jim Butcher. I expected to be finished with it by now but, fuck, some of its themes just hit too close to home right now for me to be able to devour it in my usual fashion. I'm finding myself having to take breaks and deal with my own feelings frequently, which is probably a good thing, but it also reminds me that despite having more good days than bad, it's going to be A While before I find whatever my latest new Normal is.

Wait, that's out? Damn, I've been slipping.

Eh, it's been out all of eight days now so I wouldn't worry too much about it were I in your shoes.

I enjoyed it though felt that it didn't do enough to advance the metaplot considering the 5 year wait between books.

Yeah, as I was reading it I was also surprised to find that, for the most part, it was only advancing a few larger plot threads. Finishing it left me hungrier than usual for the next Dresden files, which really isn't saying that much but still.

Yeah he's indicated he's gonna try to go back to a yearly cadence but after the last 2 books took 5 years each it's hard to be super bullish.

Agree, if he can pull of a book every two years I'll be happy! Regardless, I hope his Troubles are behind him or at least mostly behind him at this point.

Any idea if we are getting more Cinder Spires? Last I heard he was going to decide based off sales.

The sword moment in the last book was peak and I want more.

I'm afraid not, the drawn-out development of Peace Talks and Battle Ground pretty much habituated me to waiting indefinitely for my next dose of Butcher, but FWIW, I also found the sword moment deeply satisfying even as it called to mind another series that had one of the best subversions of Chekhov's Gun that I've ever seen.

WoT?

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I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I thought he had written himself into a corner and I had no idea how he was going to make this work, and seeing how long it took to come out I bet he had the same problems, but he made it work and made it believable.

So yeah, good book!

I'm on #8 now. It is a bit dark (and from what I heard about it, is going to get darker) but I am liking it so far. Getting to the end will likely take me a couple of years though, as I need to take breaks for other things.

Glad that you're enjoying them! The Dresden files quickly went from decent enough read to one of my all-time favorite series, and I got the first eight books at a cheap price, but Grave Peril was the one that hooked me. They do get darker, but for me, they also get deeper and more poignant as they progress.

I'm looking forward to that one! I'm in the middle of other stuff right now so I haven't bought it yet, but hopefully next month I'll get to it. I'm glad to get another fix of Harry Dresden suffering porn.

I'm glad to get another fix of Harry Dresden suffering porn.

It definitely delivers the goods, though that'd pretty much be a given after the last book. I was lucky enough to be finishing my last book the day that it came out so I'm fortunate in that particular department!

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