26ish books 2025

I also loved Never Let Me Go and thought the film adaptation was great too.

1. Never let me go Kazuo Ishiguro. Really enjoyed this and the story beind it. Not my usual kind of read either.

Just starting all the colours of the dark

4. never let me go kazuo ishiguro. Really enjoyed reading this. Completely different to my normal!

20 The Testament of Mary - Colm Tóibín
A short story but I wolfed it down. I have had it on my bedside table for a long time and had no idea what it was about. Dudn't wven realise I had another book by the author. Or what it was about. Seems apt for Easter Monday. Its a book in a few hours length and I would recommend it.

9 Real Americans - Rachel Khong
readable but not particularly good. I couldn’t get into any of the characters and felt there was too much coincidence to be believable.

@ExtraDisorganised
Yippee! Can’t wait.

Just coming back to say they have said S5 will be broadcast this summer, exact date TBC. Can't wait!

Love a witch trial! Might add this to my TBR pile!

11. The vanishing act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell.

I think someone on here recommended this to me after I had read and loved Hamnet. This did not disappoint. Such a sad story but so well written in its multi dimensional way!

5 The Familiars by Stacey Halls
Set in 1612 and based on the Pendle witch trials.
I really enjoyed it. 4 out of 5

@DiggoryVenn
You've just reminded me that I need to read the final Cazalet.
I too love these books and Sea of Tranquility. Keep meaning to read Station Eleven, the tv adaptation was exceptional.

Oh I loved Sea of Tranquility

10: Confusion by Elizabeth Jane Howard
The third in the Cazalet chronicles series. I love these books and find something so comforting in reading them, despite the fact that the subject matter isn't.

11: Sea of Tranquillity by Emily St John Mandel
Such a great writer. This book ties in some of the characters from Glass Hotel. One of those books that you feel you need to read again once you have finished.

Been off MN for a while and can't quite remember where I updated! I think just these:

14, The Gluttton - AK Blakemore. This got quite hallunicatory which I enjoyed though missed the feeling of horror it kicked off with
15, Wavewalker - Suzanne Heywood. True memoir of a girl's childhood on the seas (brought by insatiably selfish parents), not an incredible well written book but interesting
16, Beasts of a Little Land - Juhea Kim, story of Japanese occupation of Korea up to and including WW2. Took me a while to get into it but kept coming back to it more frequently as the characters grew and developed

7 This book may save your life by Dr Karan Rajan. Full of fun facts but his style on his reels doesn't work well in written form.
8 Come as you are by Emily Nagoski. I learned a lot about women's sexuality but also a slightly irritating writing style.
9 Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Loved this.
10 Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear. I did find myself wondering if I'd read it before, but a good Maisie Dobbs book.

8 This book may save your life by Dr Karan Rajan. Full of fun facts but his style on his reels doesn't work well in written form.
9 Come as you are by Emily Nagoski. I learned a lot about women's sexuality but also a slightly irritating writing style.

5. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
What a book!
LOVED it.
As the title suggests, it’s a tale of time travel but it plays out in an (almost) entirely believable way.
It’s intelligently written, (what a talent Bradley is)it’s hilarious in places, moving, profound…it’s got everything.
It’s an adventure story, a love story, a thriller.
It also deals with pertinent issues such as climate change.
It has permanent residency on my Keepers Shelf.

Ha! Excellent 1-word review. I won’t start ranting about what a pretentious twat I think he is.

13. Two Pound Tram by William Newton. Pacy but didn't grab me. Increasingly implausible adventures of two brothers who are rather neglected by their parents then run away to buy a disused tram aged 14 and 16ish. I stuck with it because it was short and I didn't want to give up but wasn't invested in any of it beyond maybe 50 pages in.

7-10: The seasons quartet by Ali Smith.

Enjoyed these, mostly autumn and summer, followed by winter. Spring was my least favourite, which is a shame as it’s my favourite season.

Thanks SCOUT2016

I did read a bit of the sequel that was at the end of the Kindle edition of Louding Voice. Similarly to you I'm slightly wary of being disappointed. But, I may come back to it at a later date. If you decide to read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

4 Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason .. I thought this was well written but didn’t agree with all the rave reviews. Found it a bit irritating as it went on and couldn’t wait to finish it

In case (like me) you didn't know, there is a sequel called And So I Roar. I am a bit nervous about reading it in case it disappoints. When I finished Louding Voice I was a bit "meh" but with time I realised I have thought about it a lot and really didn't give it its due.
I need to listen to Abi Dare's interview on the You're Booked podcast too and find out what books she personally rates.

So many book and so many things in the way of reading them!

12. Tilt by Emma Pattee. I absolutely loved this. The central character is heavily pregnant and in IKEA to buy a cot when an earthquake hits. She's the sort woman who rolled her eyes and wished herself elsewhere in antenatal classes. To be fair, she was being cheerily told not to think of the pain as pain. The main narrative follows her attempts to get home in the aftermath of the quake, alternating with some background narrative. I was glued from the off and sad to finish.