Read What You Own 2026

[ÚlldemoShúl]

This is a brand shiny new thread for those of us who want to continue reading what we own in 2026.
My aims for 2026 are:

• At least half my reading will be from books I already own on 1st January 2026
• I will buy less than a quarter of my reading new including kindle deals😱 and book club books
• I will wait when prize lists are released to see if the books appear in the library within a week. I will not read full longlists unless I love the sound of each and every book on it.
• For the first two months I will only read what I own- focusing on the older books on my kindle while allowing myself to read newer (but already owned) physical books

What are your RWYO aims for 2026?

Decided to DNF Buffalo Hunter Hunter and Witchcraft for Wayward Girls the former was impenetrable and the latter boring

Another RWYO and another graphic novel for me - Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton. ‘Twas okay.

Finished Nutshell by Ian McEwan. Been on my kindle since 2018. * *

Finished People Person by Candice Carty-Williams. It was ok, I quite enjoyed the characters but wasn’t gripped.

@ÚlldemoShúl how was the Wally Lamb? I read I Know This Much is True years ago, always meant to read more of his but somehow don’t think I ever did.

Should have said, that’s 6 RWYO I’ve finished now and just over half way through another, so glad I came across this thread it’s really giving me the kick up the bum I needed!

My people! I’m just finishing the latest Richard Osman which I started last year, as soon as I purchased, but put down and only picked up again on 3rd January!
I do have a book club book to read but I have several books waiting to be finished/started that I’ve had for years!

I've just finished David Copperfield which I must have had on my bookshelves for more than 20 years now so I'm feeling very happy to have finally read it!

I had liked I Know This Much is True too Alias but I was disappointed in this one. I’ve done a full review on the 50 Bookers thread if you’re over there. Overall, I couldn’t get past the main character’s early actions and I’m not sure that he learned from them so it kind of switched me off. But I know it’s getting good reviews elsewhere. Just wasn’t for me.

First RWYO finished - Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. This was exactly what I needed right now, cosy and comfy.

I almost made it to 3 weeks but ive bought and am reading new. How dare authors publish new books 😆

😆 @DecafSoyaLatteExtraShotPlease

Am now on book 2 of my re reading of Frieda Klein series. Enjoying them again!

Well you own them now 🤣

I finished a reread of Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel today.* *Itseems I last read it in 2015, so pre-pandemic. Then I gave it 5 stars and a rather glowing review. This time, not quite so effusive. Maybe my taste in books has changed a little, but it was still a thought-provoking read and I liked the weaving in of references to Shakespeare's plays.

Very true! Finished one in 24hrs (i usually get through a couple a month) so in my mind that justifies it....

I took a small bag of books to the charity shop today, first of many this year I hope.

DNFd Aaron Rodd, Diviner by E Phillips Oppenheim. An odd little book first published in instalments in Harpers Bazaar in the early 20th century, a mix of heist and spy thriller. Not holding my attention.

70 pages of camino ghosts read.

Finished Till The Cows Come Home by Sara Cox, bought in 2019. Enjoyed.

I've been doing a slow read of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson for the last couple of weeks, focusing on a chapter at a time for my own clearing out.

I looked at my bookcases this week and have taken out another big pile of books I've either read or not going to read, including some cookery books. I found some Annabel Karmel weaning books - my DC are 16 and 19 so I definitely don't need these any more 😆

Read Bleeding Heart Square which I have had since May 2025. Review on 50B thread.

I have finished the Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams. Book7 RWYO so far.

@CutFlowers I enjoyed that one. Have you read The Dictionary of Lost Words by the same author?

And finished Devil's Cub - Georgette Heyer which I bought in March last year. Review to follow on 50B thread. However, I have lapsed and bought a book this week so no further forward!

Yes @RomanMum - I enjoyed that one too! I really liked the inclusion of Vera Brittain (as a very minor character) in The Bookbinder of Jericho as Testament of Youth is one of the most moving books I have ever read - but I hadn't really considered the class elements to women's experiences at this time that were raised in this book.