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.

Hi
Joining thread please.
First book is Holly by Stephen King.

Hello all, and Happy New Year!
Today I finished Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys by Viv Albertine.
I'm not actually that much of a fan of the Slits but I appreciate they were doing something different musically and pushing at boundaries for women. Viv has lead a very full life and writes well. I like her attitude and her perspectives on a lot of things. It goes up to 2013, and her post Slits life is as interesting as her time on the punk scene - such as her losing herself in motherhood, being a sahm and trying to fit in with private school parents. She tries to get some of herself back starting with a weekly ceramics class and her husband doesn't like it....As you'd expect, some of the things she and those around her do are questionable at best, and she seems to have a lot of time for people I would find intolerable. Sid Vicious, unsurprisingly, comes across as an utter bellend and I'm at a loss as to why she was such close friends with him for so long.
The title of the book comes from a comment her mum made - that those all she cares about. Unfortunately, while I get the importance of clothes to punk, of those 3 I only care about music really and her constant details of what she is wearing and how she longs for a boyfriend (this continues throughout, not just as a teen /in the band) get tiresome. The women in her life are so much more interesting. But I do know that's an unreasonable complaint given the book's title!

P.s. I haven't decided on my next book yet but think I am going to pre-order a few. The plan is I will hopefully forget about them then get a nice suprise when they turn up. Might do it after a couple of wines and start with Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson.

Hello all! I didn't actually update all my books last year but it came to 33 in total.
I've finished two so far this year:.

1. All Good Things by Amanda Prowse. Took me ages to read despite being very light because it just wasn't that exciting. Read the last couple of pages today.
2. We should all be Feminists by Chimandana Ngozi Adichie - a relief both in content and length!

First book and a bit of a cheat as I actually started it on 30th

1: Never Met Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro. I watched the film several years ago but the premise is revealed so slowly I think it spoiled the book for me really. I found it a bit overwritten and lengthy and wasn’t a fan of the voice of Kath and her repetitiveness though I see how he managed to sustain such a clear narrative voice was quite an achievement. Def prefer Remains of the Day

Thanks for the new thread. I managed 17 last year so hoping to match or improve on that. I have started the year off with The Bee Sting. Enjoying it so far but I think it’s going to take me a while.

I'm a cheat too as I've been starting and stopping this for months now (a reflection on my lack of focus, not reflection on book) but I started again on the 1st and blattered through it.

Excellent snapshot of a young Catholic teacher's experience in The Troubles. Realistic, well written and not laid on too thick like some can be. Thoroughly enjoyed. Once I got used to lack of speech marks.

1. Tresspasses by Louise Kennedy

*Trespasses 🤦‍♀️

I joined the 50 books thread not realising there was another one. There's no way on earth ill manage 50, and my goal is more likely to be 12 to 15, so I think I'll be better off here.

I started "The hike" by Susi Holliday yesterday, its easy reading, but what I need to get going again.

Would love to join in 😊 reading A Valley Dream by Anna Jacobs ATM .
I find her books very easy reading and enjoy them . They aren't Booker prizes by any means but l enjoy them 😊

First book down. Feels like cheating as I started it last year. An audio book too!

1. I haven't been entirely honest with you, Miranda Hart

What I thought about it - I should have read the description first. It wasn't what I expected at all. It felt more like a self help book when I was expecting comedy. This isn't to criticise it and it did make me laugh in parts. But I learnt an important lesson in reading descriptions before committing to a book! Having finished it I still love Miranda and have an enormous amount of respect for her. She's achieved a lot despite enormous challenges.

@CordylineCapybara I'm another one with an upstairs and a downstairs book. It definitely worked in 2024.

I may be a while until I finish my first, as one of the two I'm reading is over 800 pages (The Last Chairlift by John Irving)!

First book of the year done! Although I started it last year! It was The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargreaves. I'm a fan of historical fiction and this was excellent. Really atmospheric.

Hello! Id love to join please. Trying to get back into reading books after having two small children and spending too much time on my phone! I’ll aim for 26, including audiobooks and re-reads.

Starting today with Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. He has just released the 5th book in the series but I need a refresher before I read that. So re-reading the other 4 first.

Loved this book. I think The Mercies was one of the most popular books on last years thread.

😆 I read read The Satsuma Complex and liked it will enough - love Bob Mortimer- so got the sequel on Audible. But I've yet to start. For some reason I'm just never in the mood for it. It'll be on my list this year though.

Not sure why the reluctance- maybe its because the main character is a needy whiny creep. 🤔🤣

I started How to Kill your Family - Bella Mackie today. Have it in book form and on Audible. Is FAR better in book form. I prefer the protagonist's voice in my head far more than the Audible narrators. But handy to switch to some chapters when I'm cooking / driving. Glad to get back to book though.

@therewasafishinthepercolator I do love Bob Mortimer and I'm on the Avocado Hotel. It's just Gary is genuinely whiny and a bit of a red flag. He latches on to women who are down and need love. I have loads of love for Grace and Lassoo 😹

My next books are

• Guenther Steiner - Unfiltered
• Richard Cole's - Murder at the Monastery
• Matt Whyman - inside Mercedes
• Rob Rinder - the suspect

And two Freida McFadden books

I've also got three in my Amazon cart because I want to complete more Goodreads challenges this year

I'm joining this thread.
I have a few books to read and I've decided that I'm going to do less social media and more reading this month at least. Hopefully to start me off.

That was my favourite book of last year!

Welcome to all our new members!

I'll join you too. Managed a poor 16 books last year but really want to read more. I have such a big pile to read.

I've started a selection of short stories by different authors, The Winter Spirits, Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights. About half way through and really enjoyed every story so far.
Perfect ghost stories for this time of year.

Oohh so much love for The Mercies here, I chose it for my book group this year. Can't wait to read it.

I managed 17 books last year, I have a lot of time to read but I'm not a particularly fast reader!

Currently reading and LOVING Chris Whitaker's All the Colours of the Dark.

@Snozzlemaid
If you like short stories with a frosty/wintery theme, try Antarctica by Clare Keegan.

Now I think of it, the content isn't frosty but the title and cover (beautiful btw) are!

@DiggoryVenn
Oh wow, I didn't realise that John Irving is still writing!
He used to be my favourite author back in the days of Owen Meany, Hampshire Hotel and (personal favourite) Cider House Rules.

First book finished!! Really pleased! I've had an ill child so we've been lolling around at hone, so I read instead of mindless doom scrolling.

The Hike by Susi Holliday. Completely ridiculous but easy reading and got me started. I think it was an amazon freebie.

Oooh, looks like there's a new Wally Lamb out in May, The River Is Waiting.

I would like to read the work he did with female prisoners but I'm reluctant as apparently one or more have said they weren't happy with the publication. If anyone on here has read them I'd be interested on your views.