26ish books 2025

[Tinkhasflown]

A shiny new thread for 2025.

All welcome and note 26 is just a number. Everyone can set their own target and you are welcome here even if you only read 2 books a year.

I personally count the larger novel style books I read to my children and audio books I listen to. Others don't and there are no rules.

I look forward to all your suggestions again this year.

Can I join please? I'm on my 7th book. I've read:

1. Dreamcatcher - Stephen King
2. Wicked - Gregory Maguire
3. Salems Lot - Stephen King
4. The Hidde Girl - Lucinda Riley
5. Insomnia - Stephen King
6. Raising The Senbetweeners - Lisa Lloyd.

I'm currently reading Eve of Man by Tom and Giovanna Fletcher.

Having a bit of a passion for Stephen King at the moment and only fairly light reading due to being exhausted from small children. But I love reading, always have to read before I sleep.

Welcome Dracarys1

7 - Clear by Cary’s Davies
can’t make up my mind about this. Very well written and engaging but still not sure I liked the premise

8 Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell
Brilliant book, really thought provoking

11 - 10 minutes 38 seconds in this Strange World - Elif Shaak

An interesting and beautiful, in many ways, book (probably not great if you have recently been bereaved though). A Turkish sex worker's death and life - in that order. A story of friendship in hardship.

@Yuja So glad to hear a positive comment about Nesting, it is my next TBR.

13 Changing Planes by Ursula le Guin

I've been reading this slowly to DS16 for the last few months. I usually have a book on the go with each child and it's nice dedicated time together even though they're teenagers now. I got a bit bored of the premise and all those made up sci fi words got me a bit bogged down but as a general premise it's interesting. It felt a bit dated especially compared to so much of her other work which I loved. I'd give it a 2.5 but he'd say 3.5

12 - The Blackwater Lightship- Colm Tóibín.

Jesus this was an amazing book but it didn't half knock my heart a bit. My mum died at the end of last year and this story, both the interplay of reconciliation and past grievances in family relationships being worked through at the end of one of the character's life and the description of the end is pretty hard hitting.

It was a wonderfully written book and will stay with me.

13 - The Sun over the Mountains - Suzie Fletcher.

A strange one to pick as my 'lighter read' as it is the autobiography of the leather worker woman from The Repair Shop and deals with domestic abuse and death. But, it was a lighter read, an easy to read book if you like. Some bits felt a bit cliched, both in the writing style and the content and I found myself rolling my eyes a couple of times but an enjoyable read nontheless and she has had an interesting life. Interestingly, she talks about the support from Jay Blades to write the book and I wonder how she feels now his story has come out.

On a side note, due to me finishing a course that took up a lot of my time and putting a strict time limit on my phone use, I am devouring books. Okay, a lot of time I have swapped one screen (my phone) for another (my kindle) I'm not as easily distracted and certainly not scrolling on here and other time sapping sites. I'm much less distracted when I read on my kindle rather than the kindle app on my phone. (I find real books difficult on my eyes).

I sm not doing well!
Book 3 - The answer is no. Frederik Backman. A very very short book.

Just starting The Mercies.

Moon Road by Sarah Leipciger
A lyrical read about an uncompromising woman whose daughter is missing. The way the author portrays the family members is captivating and the ending was unexpected.

God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Strangely, another book set in America about a missing girl and boy.
It is set in a children’s summer camp in the Adirondacks, somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit.
It deals beautifully with themes of entitlement, misogyny, grief and friendship. I loved it and, again, another unexpected ending.

Just started The Ministry of Time which is based around (surprise!) time travel, my favourite literary subject. So far, it’s excellent.

9. The Wrestling by Simon Garfield. Non fiction. Account of British wrestling up until slightly after the rise of WWF in America and their style of wrestling changed the scene dramatically. That and it being taken off the telly by ITV. The history is told through interviews with wrestlers, promoters and other connected people with some additions from the author, who is a massive fan. Well structured, easy to dip in and out of and as you'd imagine some eyebrow raising anecdotes.
The cover says it's hilarious but I didn't find it hilarious at all, I found that a strange description because although there are some farcical and laugable things happen, most involved either took it really seriously or were doing it because they were skint and 'hilarious' seems a bit rude.

14. Nesting - Roisin O'Donnell

Thanks for the recomendation on here. Agreed, really thought provoking.

Not got one lined up next so will look back for inspiration.

15 - Moon Tiger - Penelope Lively.

A beautiful, raw book.

16 - Us Three - Ruth Jones.

I wanted a lighter read and this worked. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

17 Sketches from the Periphery : A Novel - MP Summers.

Meh, didn't really enjoy this. But, I stuck with it.

Going to try The Girl with The Louding Voice next which is on offer at 99p on Kindle for anyone else who has it on their to buy list.

Not doing very well, daughter with lots of health needs and getting too distracted on my phone once she's in bed.
Just finished book 3.

3 The truth about melody browne lisa jewell really enjoyed this snd hoping it's gotten me back into things. Finished in under a week.
Just started never let me go whilst at an appointment today. Looking forward to continuing tonight

10. Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson. Loved this! It's going to take some beating and will stay with me I reckon. Set on a remote Irish island. Artist is asked by the women of a closed retreat to make a piece for them and gets sucked into their workings. Meanwhile the island has strange quirks and myths. Some gothic traits. I don't want to say too much and spoil it.
I would say if you like Barbara Comyns, female "outsiders", and We Have Always Lived In The Castle suspense vibes of "oh, it's gone a bit strange and uneasy / ok all normal again / what is actually going on here?" you should give this a go.

I finished 3 books in March:

(9) Jamaica Inn - Daphne du Maurier
I was underwhelmed by this. The only other DdM I’ve read is Rebecca so guess that’s a high bar. Not sure I’ll try any more of hers unless anyone has any strong recommendations.

(10) The Wonder of Stevie
This is a bit of a cheat as it’s more of a podcast - part of the Audible Originals series - so I got it for free when I blagged a couple of free months of Audible. I’ve decided that if it’s listed on the StoryGraph book app then I’m counting it. Anyway, this was wonderful. The story of Stevie’s 5 seminal albums that he released in the 70s, episode by episode. Included some amazing guests inc the Obamas and Stevie himself and was basically a huge love letter to the great man.

(11) All Fours - Miranda July
I mean, it’s completely ridiculous, self indulgent twaddle. But there are moments which pulled me up because they were so relatable, which gave me pause for thought - am I as big a twat as Miranda July?!? 🤔😱

I also did not finish the audiobook of The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux. I couldn’t get into it although I usually prefer non fiction on audio and really love travel writing.

@Breathmiller
Hmm that’s good to know..I’ve been considering the Ruth Jones for a holiday read.
The Girl with the Louding Voice is superb but definitely not a holiday read!

8: Mary Toft or the Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer
This was a great read about a woman who gave birth to rabbits and the physicians who attended her.

I read Rebecca last year for my classic and loved it so much I was also a bit worried about being disappointed with other works but I read My Cousin Rachel this year and enjoyed it almost as much.

@MargotMoon I loved My Cousin Rachel more than Rebecca so maybe try that? I did also love Rebecca, but it got pushed off the top spot of her novels.

I enjoyed Jamaica Inn but felt very underwhelmed and disappointed by Frenchmans Creek.

@Breathmillerand @OrangebadgerThanks both, I’ll put My Cousin Rachel on my list 😊

I read Girl with the Louding Voice earlier this year and really enjoyed it. The follow up is supposed to be good too.

Hi could I join this thread.. I love reading but am quite slow so would like to fit more reading time into my day. Currently reading Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason which I’m enjoying