I loved All The Colours of the Dark - a real page turner, and Alan Moore's The Great When. Still Life by Sarah Winman was so evocative - I'm considering a trip to Italy off the back of it.
Finally (for here, not in terms of books I've read), I was fully immersed in Flow Violento by Scott Hulet. Beautiful writing.
This year in celebration of the kid's overseas exchanges, I loved Hannah Kent's Always Home Always Homesick - made me think about living on the other side of the world to my original home and my constant curiousness about belonging.
Mostly I've read for work and so its been about philanthropy, social change and inequality. One of my fave books in this series is The Promise Of Giants - turns out John Amaechi is Manc, similar age, playing basketball at a time I was really into it and the first 'leadership' story is about an accident clubbing on Canal Street. First time a 'leadership' book has been written in a real language and with examples that are relatable to me.
Listened to loads of Audio books to cut out the noise so I can work - turns out that the Jackson Lamb, Smiley, Peter Grant, Shardlake, Kosuke Kindaichi, and Martin Beck are helpful co conspirators. Feels like 2026 will be the year of the female crime detective - recommendations welcome.
Looking forward to the turning off of the socials and diving into the reading pile over the holidays. I've been collecting your recommendations and so have a large collection by the side of the bed.
I’ve just finished Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico. It’s a short but powerful book about a couple in modern gentrified Berlin and There’s also no speech in it which is an interesting device in context of the novel.
I read Flesh and liked it but when I finished didn’t think much more about it until It won the booker prize and then reading about it I realised I am not a very astute reader haha
I'm currently reading Mayflies and it's a stunning, resonant read. I'm almost dreading what will ultimately happen and how I will react.
I too read Stoner last year and found it hard to describe to anyone. It really stuck with me and felt like a 'lost' American classic.
Keep up the great work 🤙🏻
How good is Mayflies? I keep buying it for other people. And yes to Stoner. What else did you enjoy this year? Thanks for the support Matt 🙏
I'm buying it for everyone too!
I loved All The Colours of the Dark - a real page turner, and Alan Moore's The Great When. Still Life by Sarah Winman was so evocative - I'm considering a trip to Italy off the back of it.
Finally (for here, not in terms of books I've read), I was fully immersed in Flow Violento by Scott Hulet. Beautiful writing.
Still Life is on the list!
Blimey, i feel uncultured over here with Jeff Stellings autobiography being my current read.
Not for me Clive (boom tish)
This year in celebration of the kid's overseas exchanges, I loved Hannah Kent's Always Home Always Homesick - made me think about living on the other side of the world to my original home and my constant curiousness about belonging.
Mostly I've read for work and so its been about philanthropy, social change and inequality. One of my fave books in this series is The Promise Of Giants - turns out John Amaechi is Manc, similar age, playing basketball at a time I was really into it and the first 'leadership' story is about an accident clubbing on Canal Street. First time a 'leadership' book has been written in a real language and with examples that are relatable to me.
Listened to loads of Audio books to cut out the noise so I can work - turns out that the Jackson Lamb, Smiley, Peter Grant, Shardlake, Kosuke Kindaichi, and Martin Beck are helpful co conspirators. Feels like 2026 will be the year of the female crime detective - recommendations welcome.
Looking forward to the turning off of the socials and diving into the reading pile over the holidays. I've been collecting your recommendations and so have a large collection by the side of the bed.
The Hannah Kent book sounds great
I’ve just finished Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico. It’s a short but powerful book about a couple in modern gentrified Berlin and There’s also no speech in it which is an interesting device in context of the novel.
This sounds super interesting. Have you read Flesh? Intrigued by the narrative device at play there. Will read that when it's out in paperback
I read Flesh and liked it but when I finished didn’t think much more about it until It won the booker prize and then reading about it I realised I am not a very astute reader haha