26ish books 2025

This was my book of the year last year. I've never cried at a book before. As a dog lover, the writing around the relationships with Radar is spot on (although SK is known to be a big dog lover too!)

Tried to quote, failed!

@Yuja Not sure if you're aware, but this is one of a group of books set in the same what do you call it... realm?

Love a bit of John Marrs

I've had to DNF book 2 of the year which I'm disappointed about. Might still count it though as I did try! It was a ghost stories short stories think there were 12 stories, I tried 3 but didn't like any of them 😞

Edit yo add title....the winter spirits, ghostly tales for frosty nights

Oh I got so excited until I reached the end of your post!!

#3 My Grandmother Told Me To Tell You She’s Sorry - Frederik Bachman

i loved the Granny in the story and the protagonist Elsa and grew to love this but it was a very slow burn and (dare I say it) a bit boring - and this is from someone who usually loves the pace of Bachman’s books. Solid 3.5, on the subject of which it’s very annoying you can’t give 3.5 on goodreads

have to read a few books for work, but next after that is Birnam Wood

2. The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton.

This is the sequel to The Miniaturist which I read and loved last year. This book is 18 years later in 18th C Amsterdam. It's a good enough book, but no where near as good as its predecessor.

The Definitive Collection is 71 hours 57 min!

I've just finished The Definitive Collection by Stephen Fry, reading / performing the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and it was even longer than this! Stephen is an excellent narrator

1: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (audio).
I first read this in the 90s when it was published and remember loving it as a young adult. Bought it on audible as I knew I'd never read it again with the length (40+ hours, @Lua it's not just you looking for value ). Thoroughly enjoyed it again. It's not highbrow literature and some of the more modern language jars a bit, some of the violence esp towards women is a bit grim but it was a great listen overall.

1. Death At The Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson

2 . She Speaks! by Harriet Walter
Harriet Walter writes speeches from the perspective of Shakespeare’s female characters. I’m an English teacher with a specialism in Shakespeare and read a lot of theatrical biographies and criticism. This was good, but not as good as I hoped it would be. I enjoyed Walter’s musings on the characters and thoughts based on her own experiences with the plays more than I enjoyed the speeches themselves. Thought-provoking stuff nonetheless.

S*tephen King - Fairy Tale
*
Not a bad book. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. Even though it can be slow and was needlessly 576 pages. The book was like having two books in one. I enjoyed the main characters and the side characters. I was rooting for Percival to be alive at the end. Anyone with a dog will understand the reasonings behind what Charlie did. No sexy scenes unless you count a lady asking "will you lay with me" but overall a good read

Just finished book 4 - The Puppet Show by MW Craven
I loved this book and delighted to have found a whole crime series to now enjoy.
I knew from the very beginning it was my sort of book. It's a bit gory so not for those who don't enjoy that. Great characters that I can't wait to read more about.
I have reserved the next one at the library, which I am trying to make more use of instead of buying so many books!

I have added The Little Friend to my list. I enjoyed ALL - if enjoyed is the right word…!!

@MonkeyTennis34 It was just miserable!! - I realised after I'd finished it that it was pure narrative. No character insight or emotion. @Lua has it right - she's a cold fish! I did love The Secret History when I read it as a teenager though.

@MargotMoon
I can remember reading about The Little Friend and thinking it sounded too harrowing.
Although I have read and enjoyed A Little Life and I can't imagine a book more harrowing than ALL.

I have read the Goldfinch in the past, and I think I am not pursuing more Donna Tart's books. She is a good writer, for sure. But her stories are a bit too cold for me...

I am a cheapskate.... and am known for choosing audible book by the length...😮

But this is an umissable bargain for those of you interested in catching up on classics:
Loads of classics read by stephen Fry for 1 credit

Don't bother with The Little Friend, though - one of the worst books I've ever read!

@DiggoryVenn
I loved The Secret History too but I think The Goldfinch eclipsed it.

@Lua Secret History is one of my favourites, I think I’ve read it three times!

Hi everyone, I posted up thread in response to a couple of posts, but somehow didn't link or quote the posts I was responding to!
My first book this year was Chaise Longue by Baxter Drury, I really wanted to like this more than I did. Current read is The Mad Women's Ball by Victoria Mas, which I am enjoying so far.
All the colours of the dark was my favorite read of 2024.
I'm planning on reading at least classic novels this year, thought I might start with a reread of Anna Karenina. Happy reading all

I gave this book as my Xmas gift at my book club and the receiver loved it - looking forward to reading it myself . Reading Intermezzo atm

I will timidly join you. Always loved reading but have been reading too little until last year. Got audible and combining with dog walking really got me going.

My 1st book completed this year was Secret History by Donna Tart. Love the first half, not so keen on the second.....

My favourite books last year was: Milkman and The Prophet Song. Really recommend Milkman to whomever was looking for a book set in the Troubles. Is not really about it, but is very much part of it.

1: A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater
This was such a great little downstairs book for me to pick up a read a few "chapters" of whilst I was eating breakfast. There are no actual recipes, but just memories of food, travel and gardening (and often all three) in Nigel's particularly evocative and comforting style.

Thank you. I've read some but not all so will have a look at them.

@Breathmiller I haven’t read Jane Eyre yet but it is on my classics TBR along with Rebecca which I have started many times. I did attempt the Mill on the Floss many years ago and although I enjoyed what I read of it I didn’t finish it either. The push to read some classics is because my DD (16) read Pride and Prejudice and then we watched the BBC adaptation. She loved both but was shocked I hadn’t read the book. We hope to read classics which have good tv adaptations or film versions so we can watch together after and compare.

@therewasafishinthepercolator thank you for the warning. I will bear that in mind when ever I get round to reading it. Last year I read The Autistic Spectrum by Lorna Wing which I know is more of a guide and even that made me emotional!!