2026/1: Words, words, words.

For my first post of 2026 I thought I’d have a look back on how I did in my ’25 in 25′ Reading Challenge.

I’m pleased to say that I reached and passed my target by reading … wait for it … 31 Books! (Yay me! Although I do realise this is small fry compared to some people.)

It was a varied list including old and new books, fiction and non-fiction, short stories and graphic novels.

This was my 2025 mixed bag of books:

How to Avoid a Happy Life – Julia Lawrinson – NF Auto
Juice -Tim Winton – F
1984 (George Orwell) – Fido Nesti Graphic Novel F, GN
All Star Superman – GN
Woody Allen: Apropos of Nothing – Auto
Billy Connolly: Windswept and Interesting – Auto
The Boat – Nam Le – F short stories
Mel Brooks: All About Me! – Auto
First Person – Richard Fanagan – F
The Monkees – Tom Kempler NF
The Bee Sting – Paul Murray F
Boy Friends – Michael Pedersen – F
Curtain Call To Murder – Julian Clary – F
Muckle Flugga – Michael Pedersen – F
Neil Finn: Don’t Dream It’s Over – Jeff Apter – Bio
The Lamplighters – Emma Stonex- F
Tell Me Everything – Elizabeth Stroud – F
Ghost Cities – Siang Lu – F
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller – F
A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian – Marina Lewycka – F
The Road (Cormac McCarthy) – Manu Larcenet – GN F
John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs – Ian Leslie – NF
Such Stuff – Michael Morpurgo – NF
Hello I Must Be Going (Groucho Marx) – Charlotte Chandler – Auto
Smoke and Mirrors – Barry Jonsberg – F Mid Grade
Male White Standup – Alan Davies – Auto
On The Road To Find Out – Yusuf/Cat Stevens – Auto
A Gentleman In Moscow – Amor Towles – F
Break No Bones – Kathy Reichs – F
Rules of Civility – Amor Towles – F
Husband Replacement Therapy – Kathy Lette – F

Overall I didn’t read anything I really disliked but obviously some appealed more than others.

12 of the books were non-fiction in the form of biographies and autobiographies most of which I really enjoyed.

The remainder of the books were fiction. (A few of these were re-reads or graphic novels of books I’ve read before – Catch 22; The Road; 1984 – so I won’t include those in my 2025 selections.)

Anyway, here are my 2025 Reading Challenge picks.

BEST FICTION BOOK READ IN 2025:

A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW – Amor Towles (I also enjoyed his Rules of Civility) Wonderful, stylish writer.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

Tell Me Everything – Elizabeth Stroud
A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian – Marina Lewycka

2. BEST NON-FICTION BOOK READ IN 2025:

JOHN & PAUL: a love story in songs – Ian Leslie (It’s the Beatles. Of course I loved it.)

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

How to Avoid a Happy Life – Julia Lawrinson
Billy Connolly: Windswept and Interesting
Mel Brooks: All About Me!
On The Road To Find Out – Yusuf/Cat Stevens