Read What You Own 2026

Broke the slump with Death of the Author but it wasn’t good at all

Finished Trust Me by TM Logan, which I bought in 2021.

That’s an impressive month @ÚlldemoShúl! Any faves from the lists so far?

Sorry to hear you are struggling @EineReiseDurchDieZeit , I don’t think a reread is a waste if it gets you back in the mood.

I’ve slowed right down, and haven’t picked up kindle or physical book for over a week now which is terrible. I’ve made the fatal error of putting a TV in the bedroom, so I’ve been watching The White Lotus every night when I should be reading.

I have managed one more RWYO though - or rather Listen/ LWYO which was Odyssey- Stephen Fry. I started this last year then got bored and gave up, but decided to get it finished. I’m in a phase of struggling to stay asleep, waking up for hours at a time through the night, so it’s been a good one to listen to then. I did not enjoy it as much as Mythos or Heroes, but then I’ve never really liked Odysseus and wouldn’t have minded if Homer had drowned him on day 1 honestly. It did make me think I need to get round to The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker which is another one on my RWYO list.

That should have said inconclusive!

@SilverShadowNight I have but it feels like a waste!

Finished Lifeless by Mark Billingham. Bought in 2015, and I haven’t read one of his for years. Enjoyed.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeitit’s awful when you are exhausted and have lost your reading mojo. Have you considered a re-read of something you enjoyed?

I’d be happy just to read ANY Book at this point

Two more RWYO for me - The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway - a novel set during the siege of Sarajevo- and a book by Maggie Hartley about her experiences as a foster carer. Have so far resisted the new kindle deals.

Finished Expert Witness by Dr HJ Walls, a memoir of sorts from the early days of forensic science. Readable but of its time in places. Full review to follow when I have time to do a review dump on 50B.

A quarter of the way through the year (already!) - thanks to Ulldemoshul and this thread for giving me some discipline. I’ve read 20 books including 2 library books; disposed of 13; not quite as well behaved as I’d like as I’ve been given/bought 7 (including book club choices so necessary). On the whole I own less books now than at 1st January so I’m on the right track 😊

Now read a 2023 purchase - A Bird in Winter - Louise Doughty. Worth reading although slightly inclusive ending which always annoys me. Will put full review on 50B thread.

Just finished Patricia Brent, Spinster by Herbert George Jenkins which was sweet and charming.

I loved Moon Tiger @CutFlowers , hope you enjoyed it.

I finished The Correspondent last night, but I bought it this year so not classing as a RWYO. I've decided to only include anything I already owned on 1st Jan, though the itch to buy/ download more does keep striking me I'm still being fairly restrained.

I have finished 5 more RWYO in March (helped by some long train journeys). 3 booker winners - Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively , The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes and The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, all of which I enjoyed. I have also read a memoir of an Afghani girl Defiant Dreams by Sola Mahfouz which was excellent and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig which was less so.

Managed to finish another one - The Racketeer by John Grisham - but was tempted to make it a DNF. Only the fact I was up with DD being ill and needed something easy meant I finished it.

Finished Lies to Tell by Marion Todd - enjoying this series so far.

Just finished Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister.. it was ok

Finished Desperate Undertaking by Lindsey Davis, another whodunnit set in Ancient Rome. This one was relatively dark in tone but I love the setting and characters. It was a birthday/Christmas present some years ago and is a keeper. Full review to follow on 50B at some point.

Finished a 2016 purchase, JM Gregson - Making a Killing. The second in the Lambert and Hook mysteries. Cosy crime and easy reads, I enjoy these.

Finished Babel by RF Kuang which has taken bloody ages. I really liked it, but I am fascinated by etymology so there was lots for me here.

Finished Tom Lake - Ann Patchett which I bought in 2024 and really enjoyed it. Review to follow on 50B thread.

Just finished my 10th RWYO of the year, 14th book overall, All the Birds, Singing - Evie Wyld which has been on my kindle since 2015 - think it’s the oldest unread one I had on there (as in one I’d had the longest rather than publication date!)

Brilliant, unsettling read - not sure what took my so long!

Im sure I have another of her books - I saw her talk at Cheltenham festival and bought a signed copy I think. I’ll have to see if I can find it, some of my books have still not surfaced since we moved last year.

I loved Dreamland @ÚlldemoShúl one of my standouts from last year!
No RWYO going on here, I'm on prize lists as well, doing the Women's Prize for Fiction and the Climate Fiction Prize. In both cases I already had a few read so a bit of a head start! And I'm getting most of the rest from library reserves so not buying!