Besides an excuse to read a work of J.R.R. Tolkien every year, this little “tradition” came about due to the Goodreads annual reading challenge. While I cannot remember what my goal was back in 2024, I decided to go for a more “leisurely” goal of 15 books for 2025. That being said, I may have gone a bit overboard this year despite having a more relaxed reading pace.
Some thoughts on the books which jumped at me for 2025:
a. This year was Bible and Catechism in a Year season, with the last one being last 2022. As such I found myself reading and listening to other books by Catholic figures, namely St. Therese of Lisieux and Benedict XVI. If there is something I desperately need to actually do, it’s to actually live what Fr. Mike Schmitz keeps saying on his Catechism in a Year podcast; that reading/listening to the Catechism and the Bible is all about transformation and not merely information transfer. Simply put, true conversion. And oh how it remains a struggle as I prepare to enter another year.
b. Speaking of spiritual writers, I decided to re-read C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. Well, I only got to around Prince Caspian but I hope to continue with it for 2026. Though if I’m being honest, I cannot help but feel a little disappointed with Lewis’s writing. I thoroughly enjoyed his more philosophical works, but Narnia just isn’t jiving with me. I don’t hate Narnia, and I want to enjoy the books. However one gets the feeling that I am not the preferred audience for this series.
c. I went on a Brandon Sanderson marathon last year with Mistborn Era 1, the first two Stormlight Archive novels, and some of his shorter works in preparation for Wind and Truth. However as reviews started coming, I have to admit that I started to feel discouraged in continuing reading his Cosmere novels. Still, I thought the Mistborn Era 2 books were enjoyable reads. One that surprised me though was The Emperor’s Soul. It was probably his most “philosophical” book that I have read so far, and was quite moving at times.
d. I only got to read one volume of Berserk this year. See the volume that I read and you’ll understand why. Hehe. Though on a similar topic, I stumbled upon Goblin Slayer this year and thought, “Wow, this series had such wild shifts in tone”, followed by “Wow, this is like ‘Baby’s First Berserk’ in terms of the violence and depravity.” I get how first time readers can get turned off by the very first volume, but considering I was able to soldier on with Berserk, especially with the Wyald chapters and the Eclipse, I feel like I just want to pat Goblin Slayer on the head and say, “Of course you’re an edgy manga now”.
e. Yes you will see The Fires of Heaven here. I guess I am a masochist just waiting for women to make misandrist comments at how I am stupid for being a man. This series had better have a payoff to shame all other payoffs.
f. I have actually never read the entirety of Hamlet and King Lear before as I have only seen the recorded performances of both plays. King Lear was the first actual Shakespearean play I read back in highschool (I believe you can see where this is coming) and for a while its bleak ending resonated well with me. Reading it for the first time in its entirety and I… well, it was okay I guess. As for Hamlet, I have seen Kenneth Branagh’s and Mel Gibson’s adaptations and, I have to admit that reading the play was a far more enriching experience as the filmed adaptations tend to be over the top, especially Branagh’s take on the play. Overall, I really enjoyed Hamlet.
g. Lastly, I feel the need to re-read Tolkien’s On Fairy-Stories again as I feel that there are a lot more information within its pages that have to be carefully unpacked. So much so that I am partially entertaining ill-advised thoughts of pursuing my long delayed PhD on Literature.
Sorry that was a mouthful. Here’s my accomplished reading/listening list for 2025. May you have a wonderful 2026, and Happy Tolkien Day!
- Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
- Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux
- Deus Caritas Est by Benedict XVI
- Berserk Vol. 13 by Kentaro Miura
- 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline
- The Odyssey of Homer
- The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
- Mistborn: Secret History by Brandon Sanderson
- The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson
- A Girl on the Shore by Inio Asano
- The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson
- The Oedipus Cycle of Sophocles
- Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb, Time Sale, and Bjarne Hansen
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
- The Holy Bible
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Goblin Slayer Vol. 1-3
- On Fairy-Stories by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
- The Gods of Pegana by Lord Dunsany
- The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
- King Lear by William Shakespeare
Commentary by a Jaded Idealist 