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.

Book 4 One Moment, One Morning - Sarah Rayner This book explores the aftermath of a tragedy from the perspective of three main characters. Whilst nothing much happens, the main characters are likeable and you are drawn to wanting to know more about them. 3.5 *

Really been struggling to get reading time we've had illness after illness here with the children. My 4 year old has lots of hospital appointments and feel like we've been every week since the start of the year

I'm struggling too, watched a few things (traitors....) which took up some time . I have read yesterday and a bit today though, trying to make a conscious effort to sit diwn for half an hour probably doesn't help that the book I'm reading isn't gripping me. But I'm also conscious that TV and social media has ruined my attention span.

I'm struggling too! Traitors did take over my life though!!!
I have dipped in and out of a couple of non-fiction books (a self help and one on a film genre I like) but I don't really like including non-fiction in this.
I have been to the library today though and picked up Mrs Benson's Beetle and Dear Edward. Not sure which to read first but both sound good so am hoping they will kick start my 2025 reading!

Mrs Benson’s Beetle is a lovely read.

2: What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
I do find Stanley very entertaining and I loved this book. There’s nothing earth shattering in it, but his love of food, family and friends are what shines through. A real comfort read.

….and I’m still ploughing through The Last Chairlift…

Another vote for miss bensons beetle I read it a few years ago it's fab.

I'm about to start "that bonesetter woman"

3. Mrs Weber's Diary by Posy Simmonds. Entertaining, enjoyable and undemanding which is what I needed as I've had flu.
Graphic novel / comic strip.

@cromwell44 I’m currently reading Birnam Wood and agree with your consensus - it was recommended to me but I do so love a book that sucks you in and punches you in the gut and makes you fall in love with the characters and this…..isn’t that. Probably doesn’t help that I’m reading a book for work that is also tech related related thriller and much more character driven even though the writing isn’t as good (I don’t include books for work on my list though)

Thanks @Citygirlrurallife. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, Birnam Wood left me cold. No sympathetic characters.
I have Doppleganger as an audiobook and Intermezzo next.

4: Birnam Wood. As above and the ending left me cold

3: Wicked - Gregory Maguire
I haven’t seen the show or the movie, but I hope (and imagine) they are better than the book! It was a bit of a slog to get through and not a whole lot happened overall. Sometimes a bit too political for my liking. Glad I have read it though. Will not be reading the other 3 books in the series!

Book #4 will be Gravity - Tess Gerritsen.

I finished 3 books in January - and loved them all!

The Cheesemongers Guide to the British Isles - Ned Palmer.
Very interesting if you like history (which I do) and cheese (which I do A LOT). I started this before Christmas and just kept dipping in and out.

The Mercies - Kiran Millwood Hargrave
I think lots on this thread have read this, and I echo the recommendations. This one pulled me in immediately. The relationships between different female characters were so beautifully drawn, and carried you through even when the story got pretty dark.

The Girl with the Louding Voice - Abi Daré
Another one that pulled me in straight away. I loved Adunni from the start. This is essentially a Cinderella tale. There's a sequel which I will definitely read.

So a good start to the year. Last year I only managed 17 which was my lowest for a long time. I do listen to a lot of podcasts which reduces my audiobook time, but it was mostly because of getting into TV series and too much scrolling that I lost reading time. Would like to get back to my pandemic year high of 35 books or thereabouts this year.

Book 2 - Damon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

Love it. Love it. Love it. Not only is fabulous story, but it has so much heart and warmth. There are some pretty distressing moments, but my love for the main character carried me through. I was so much in love, that I felt it was a betrayal to start a new book!😳Don't think this has ever happened before!

But start book 3 and 4, I have.... listening to "night at the museum", and reading "Queenie". Still missing Damon....

What a shame that everyone is finding Birnam wood cold..... it was on my "to read" list! And so it was the girl with the louding voice. So must move that one up....

5: Ultra Processed People - Chris van Tulleken

listened to this on audiobook and he is BRILLIANT narrating his own work, it’s interspersed with conversations between Chris and his twin brother as well which really brings it alive and makes it feel intimate. I think I’ll get it in paper and pick parts to read out to my family. I’ve had two friends die in the last 18months from bowell cancer, both aged 40, and that’s freaked me out about UPFs but this book was scary and illuminating. Just how it’s permeated every food system we have and how politicised it is too. I did have a moment of despair listening to the chapter on the impacts on climate change and the environment and “what the hell CAN I eat” moment but his manner never feels patronising or judgemental. Has def made me want to crack down harder on DC particularly who buy themselves all sorts of crap on a weekly basis

The run up to Christmas is always a disaster for my reading habits and it's sometimes hard to get back into the swing of it afterwards when I try to make time for exercise and getting out into whatever natural light is available.

So far I've only managed one book - So Many Ways to Die, an unusual Agatha Christie.

I'm working on Capote's Women, by Laurence Leamer.

4. Smart Women by Judy Blume. I admit I love Judy Blume so she'd have to do a lot wrong to up me off but I enjoyed this. Range of female characters from tweens up. Lots of family dynamics at play, mother / kids especially, including adult kids...the adult women behaved less maturely than the kids...story romped along and kept me gripped. The premise is one woman gets involved with her friend's ex husband, both already have children and then there's loads of fall out. Maybe one for a holiday or long journey, or just when you want something enclosing but not weary. That's not a slight because it's a such a skill to write at that pitch snd keep it clever. It was perfect for me recovering from illness, the book I had before getting ill became hard work.

A terrible kindness by Jo Browning Wroe. 3/5 by me on Goodreads. Good enough but not great.

The blurb has you believe it's set around the tragedy in Aberfan wales, it starts there but it's really about a chap who volunteers there as an embalmer. It continues on about his life, complex family dynamics that just seem pointless and apparently PTSD. But I am not sure about that last bit. It was OK.

@Lua Thoughts on Queenie? I read approximately 70 % on my Kindle.

I read this last year and felt exactly the same as you. The ending was too neat and easy

Finished The Bee Sting by Paul Murray and it definitely wasn't my favourite read. In particular the chapters with no punctuation were very hard work. In contrast, I am loving Circe by Madeline Miller.

@MayfairRose I am not disliking it per se, but I don't manage more than a few pages before I go to sleep..... so not a page turner!

I have the feeling that I dropped in into someone conversation, IYSWIM, like I am missing something.... but I am perhaps 20% in only.
Did you gave up on it?

I've got both these on my tbr pile!

Just finished my first book of the year

1. the storm sister by lucinda Riley. I enjoyed this book once I got into it. Took a while to get started as felt quite similar and repetitive from the 1st in the series at first but was different once I got into it.

Loved it!