MY FIVE FAVORITE BOOKS I READ IN 2025

The classic tale, dystopian surveillance and the destruction of the human spirit. Better than I anticipated. Highly relevant, nicely written, horrifyingly tragic, a mind [ __ ] to this very day. Particularly Orwell's concept of double think. An extremely impressive achievement.

It's simultaneously a love letter to and a vicious critique of pre-Ivil War southern culture in the United States. As you can see in my review of it, I can barely talk about the best part without crying. Incredible novel with a terrible ending.

This book is Freud's diagnosis of civilization and mankind itself, examining organized religion, our issues with guilt, as well as mankind's purpose, and the conflict that comes with these things... It's kind of perfect... it's deeply unsettling and worth considering.

Easily one of the strangest books ever written by the infamous and revered Reverend of Transgressive Fiction. It's a literary bullet shot at the head of society in the form of a costic, zany, twisted, vulgar, surreal, and satirical novel.

I don't endorse his violent actions, but TED was not to be dismissed. While I had my criticisms, it's a disturbingly relevant read and generally fascinating, even if flawed.

I didn't care for the ending, but the 1940s LA atmosphere conjured by it is magnificent. Falls apart in the end, but [ __ ] it. I really enjoyed this book.

This is a short tropical gothic novel about a diabolical rogue surgeon on an exotic island who has been transforming animals into humanoid aberrations through experimental surgery. Absolutely incredible, clever, darkly humorous, philosophically pessimistic. I loved it.

This is a beautifully written haunting story about a group of boys who disavow the world and ways of adults... One of Mishima's best novels, a love story with elements of horror. You can see Mishima's personality split between the three main characters. It's terrific.

A beautiful, mysterious, evocative poetry collection from a legendary poet who had an interest in mysticism and the occult or a cult, whichever you prefer. My favorite poems in this collection were Sailing to Baantium and Laid in the Swan.

It's a kind of philosophical love story about a doctor and his wife in Czechoslovakia during the time of the Soviet invasion. A quiet existential tale of love and betrayal, but not in the usual manner. It's kind of a sad feel-good book.