Michael Kist

Kist Reads

Kist

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Exclusive advance digital copies of original Kist Reads books

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Kist Reads

Michael Kist

Kist Reads

Kist

Welcome to our community of book reading Sickos!

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Sicko

Kist Reads logo

Exclusive advance digital copies of original Kist Reads books

7 more exclusive benefits

Kist Reads

Bookshelf

The Kist Master List - History Books (Updated 6/30/26)
The Kist Master List - History Books (Updated 6/30/26)

9

Mar 10 2025

Weekly Checkpoint!

I've finished both October book club picks and am starting some new stuff, so I'll tell ya all about that and as always let me know what you plan on reading this week in the comments!

READING

REVIEW

THE SECRET HISTORY by DONNA TARTT (literary thriller)

Progress: Finished

I developed so many competing interpretations of The Secret History that I'm still not sure how to rate it, much less who I'd recommend it to. It reminded me of Crime & Punishment in some ways, but I don't know if it achieves the same resonance. Tartt does so much exceptionally well to pull you into this story, but I'm not sure it all adds up to anything particularly profound.

Revealing the murder from the outset is a great device that adds another dimension to nearly every interaction and watching these characters gradually disintegrate is compelling, but I'm still wrestling with whether that disintegration = a meaningful arc or simply reveals who these people were all along. If it's the latter (and that very well may be the point), what does that revelation actually leave us with?

Basically, I was absorbed by this book and it's super engaging. I just finished it wondering what it had all been in service of. So I'm gonna have to think on it some more and see how my feelings about it develop with some distance. And then I'll post a review about how stupid I am because I haven't figured it out yet and get roasted online by people that (like a certain character) have dreams about Dante Alighieri. Hell yeah!

CARTHAGE MUST BE DESTROYED: THE RISE AND FALL OF AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION by RICHARD MILES (ancient history)

Progress: Finished

Boy, did I love being back with this one. I've read several books on Carthage since my first time through, and revisiting it made me appreciate just how much attention Miles gives to some of the lesser-explored aspects of its history. One of my favorites is Hannibal's propaganda campaign, particularly his efforts to associate himself with Hercules/Heracles and the role that played in his struggle against Rome. I'm developing a video around that bit of history, along with another exploring whether Rome's greatest victory ultimately sowed the seeds of its own catastrophe. Keep an eye out for those!

THREE ASSASSINS by KOTARO ISAKA (dark thriller)

Progress: 56/254

This is my li'l snack before I jump into something heavier. Whacky assassins and a civilian out for revenge but up shit creek without a paddle seems like a good way to smack the reset button on the ol' brain. Both interesting and a little too quirky for its own good at times so far.

20TH CENTURY BOYS by NAOKI URASAWA [The Perfect Edition Vol. 3] (manga/seinen thriller)

Progress: Chapter 18 of 22

Whenever I mention Manga, somebody recommends this and, I'm here to tell ya, it rocks hard butt. The only gripe I have so far is some reveals are teased and then pulled back simply to keep the suspense for them going, and this can happen with an abrupt time jump that leads us down an entirely path, but it always ends up being killer shit anyway so whatever y'know? The last chapter I read was one of those moments where in you're head you're like, "tell me it's... it's gotta be... YES!" I've been told Monster by Urasawa is also a banger so I'm gonna have to pick those up too.

PREVIEW

It's time to finally put down the beefy chonky thicc boi that is A People's Tragedy by Orlando Figes.

EVERYTHING ELSE

  • Publication News: I emailed our two winners for the A Complement of Scoundrels Spotify audiobook code giveaway, so congrats to comrades Adam and Heather! I'll be giving away one more code on IG soon!

  • Game of the Week: I'm gonna actually do the tutorial for Crusader Kings III because during my first playthrough I was dizzier than a cricket in a hubcap. This Thursday is another test stream for the group I'll be gaming with on Twitch so follow me there.

  • Show of the Week: I'm over halfway through S3 of Slow Horses, it still bangs.

  • Movie of the Week: I'll use this space to shout out all the folk who joined us for our Discord watchalong of Con-Air, which, was indeed a movie.

2

Oct 19

AUDIOBOOK GIVEAWAY! A Complement of Scoundrels!

It’s time for a giveaway! HUZZAH!

A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood has had an incredible first two weeks out in the world, and a huge amount of that is because of this community. Y'all showed up for this book in a massive way, so I wanted to kick a little something back your way.

I have TWO Spotify audiobook codes for A Complement of Scoundrels to give away!

The audiobook was produced by Tantor Media and narrated by the wonderful Gabrielle Baker, and I’m very excited to get a couple copies into your ears.

To enter the giveaway, be a “Kist Reads” Follower, Sicko, Sicko+, Mega Sicko or Sicko Society member and leave a comment on this post. It can be an emoji or whatever, you know the drill by now. I’ll randomly draw two winners, with each winner receiving one Spotify audiobook code, and reach out via email if you’ve won.

Thank you again for everything you’ve done to help make the launch of our first Kist Reads book such a success. Also make sure to enter the giveaway for one code on IG when that drops later this week to increase your chances. Good luck, Sickos!

*Terms & conditions below.

No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited by law. Spotify audiobook code redemption is subject to Spotify audiobook availability in your country.

How to enter:
Open to all “Kist Reads” Bindery members, any tier (including free “Follower” members). Comment to enter. Limit 1 entry per person.

Prize:
Two (2) Spotify audiobook codes for A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood. Two winners will each receive one (1) code.

Timing:
Runs 10/6/26 - 10/10/26

Winner Selection & Notification:
Two winners will be selected at random and notified via email within 3 days of the giveaway’s end. Winners must respond within 3 days to claim their prize.

Other Details:
By entering, you agree to these rules and all applicable laws. No cash substitute. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries, email delivery issues, or issues related to Spotify account eligibility or audiobook availability.

Sponsor:
Kist Reads, Sun City Center, FL
Kistreadsbooks@gmail.com

Oct 6

11 Ways to Help Scoundrels Find More Readers!
Poll

2

Sep 25

October Fiction/History Book Club Options!

Hello, Sickos! The October polls for the History/Fiction Sickos Book Clubs are live! You can go vote on them in the appropriate Discord channels (scroll down and you'll see #fiction-vote and #history-vote). The polls run for 72 hours so you've got plenty of opportunity to bully and bribe.

If you're not seeing the channels, make sure you've linked your Bindery subscription to Discord via the Account Settings page. Those vote/discussion channels unlock at the Sicko plus paid tiers, so if you're a "Follower", you'll need to upgrade. Along with the book club forums you also get access to a ton of other channels for various genres, book recommendation requests, movies/TV, buddy reads and much more.

Back to the options... These are the 8 books across the 2 clubs that we're voting on.

FICTION SICKOS

Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Incarcerated people fight in televised gladiatorial matches for a chance at freedom.

James by Percival Everett

A reimagining of Huckleberry Finn that retells the journey down the Mississippi from the perspective of the enslaved Jim.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

A group of elite classics students at a New England college cross a line with deadly consequences in this dark academia novel.

She's a Doll by Barbara Truelove (a Bindery book from Ezeekat Press!)

After being murdered, a young woman possesses an antique doll and sets out for revenge against her killer.

HISTORY SICKOS

The Invention of Prehistory by Stefanos Geroulanos

How the modern idea of "prehistory" was created, and how theories about humanity's origins have been used to justify empire, racism, and violence.

Carthage Must by Destroyed by Richard Miles

The rise and destruction of Carthage, from its Phoenician origins and through the Punic Wars with Rome.

The Trojan War by Barry Strauss

A historian looks behind Homer's epics to ask what archaeology and ancient evidence can tell us about the real war that may have inspired the legend of Troy.

King of Kings by Scott Anderson

A narrative history of the 1978-1979 Iranian Revolution that brought down the Shah and transformed Iran.

That's it, go vote! (and make sure you've got your copy of A Complement of Scoundrels!)

Sep 23