Read What You Own 2026

2 The Lady in the Tower by Elizabeth St John (bought at the very end of last year) followed by 3 The King’s General by Daphne du Maurier (which I’ve had for some time as it was a teenage favourite and finally decided to reread to continue the 17th century vibe).

I have at least one more 17th century RWYO on my Kindle, which I’m hoping to read soon to continue the theme.

Have finished two books that have been on my kindle for years.

Peter Robinson - Watching the Dark - not one of his beat and I found it long winded - I bought that in 2013.

Faith Martin - Murder at Work from 2018.

It's fantastic, one of my favourites in 2024.

@FrostyFlo I hope you enjoy it, although "enjoy" is maybe not quite the right word here. I thought it an incredibly good novel, but hard-hitting and quite upsetting.

Strange Sally Diamond has been languishing in my Kindle , and now thanks to you I'm mindful to read it next .

I've just finished Bookworm by Lucy Mangan and loved every word!
Unfortunately the book makes me want to buy some of the childhood books that I missed at the time. It's a book about her lifelong love of reading, particularly in childhood, and I found it fascinating and evocative.

I might have accidentally ordered a second hand copy of Private- Keep Out by Gwen Grant 😌

Finished Helm by Sarah Hall, hated it !

I used to love the Chalet School books too as a child. Might give them a go again.

I’ve just finished Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois. A long one. I thought it was really interesting and quite liked it. Although some of the content is so sad. Also thought it jumped around a bit.

I loved PHM book but I am not sure how the film will translate as a lot of it is 'internal' re the thoughts of the main character.

@BeaAndBen @ÚlldemoShúl After I read it, I bought Project Hail Mary for my friend and they and their spouse flew through it and we’ve got a cinema trip planned. I absolutely loved it

@LadybirdDaphne
The charity book sale is my nemesis too. I fear the lure is too strong. July is my version of Christmas.

I can't wait for the film! I loved the book and I loved The Martian (both book and film)

I am currently partway through The Dictator’s Wife but it is something of a nail biter so I have segued into a non-fiction - MI6 - on a related topic!

@SheilaFentiman ..oh yes,I agree. I have done that if too long between them

@Boudy I do sometimes jump around between books but try not to do it too much as I end up forgetting and restarting!

I first read them when I was about 10..am now 56! Do not have any on kindle or book form now and am now wishing I had not said I won't be buying this year( except for Cazalet one in sept) I was rash in the extreme.Agree with pp am adding to wish list becsuse of this thread😄

The School at the Chalet is the 1st one I think.Elinor M Brent-Dyer.

I've never read them. Where would you suggest I start?

This thread is just adding to my wish list 😂

@Tarragon123 Love the Chalet School books!

Well done @MamaNewtNewt brilliant start! And well done @ÚlldemoShúl

@Boudy – I usually have a few books on the go. At the very least, one kindle, one physical book and one library book. I generally read different types of books at the same time, so one NF, one murder mystery/crime procedural and one something else so that I don’t get confused.

I treated myself to a new Kindle/Amazon Fire thing this year. What's been really helpful for me is that I don’t know how to find the Daily Deals, or any deals for that matter. And I don’t need to know. Because I really had a good go at reducing my Kindle stash over the past few years, I’ve only got around 18 and all of them are from April 2025 onwards. I’m very pleased with that. @BeaAndBen I only (?) had about 100 unread books on my Kindle and that gave me anxiety!
I do have a couple of authors that I’m happy to buy their latest releases, Marion Todd and Lynn McEwan. However, I do feel that the price of kindle books has been ridiculous. I remember everyone talking about the latest Strike book and the price of that was a nonsense.

I also have all the Chalet School books on Drop Box. My plan is to finish the Chalet School set this month. Only another 10 to go, so no problem at all. I’m on holiday for two weeks later on this month and when I go on holiday in January, all I do is eat, drink and read. I’m also determined to finish HHhH which has been lingering and I’ve just not managed to get right into it.

My aim is to organise my bookshelves in the next few few weeks - I will have one bookshelf of TBR and one of books I really want to keep. I will only read from the TBR shelves or the library - with the exception of the £10 credit I still have at Waterstones. I'm being very careful about that £10!

I haven't yet settled on my first book of the year - I've read a few pages of a few different books but nothing has grabbed me. Hopefully with being back in the work routine this week with my normal reading pattern it'll kick off. I have the first two Lincoln Lawyer books on order at the library just now also.