Tag: Read

My Week in Books – 2nd November 2025

whatcathyreadnextLeave a comment

On the blog last week

Monday – I published my review of For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain by Victoria MacKenzie, longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2024.

Tuesday – This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic was a freebie on the theme of Halloween.

Wednesday – As always WWW Wednesday is a weekly opportunity to share what I’ve just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next… and to take a peek at what others are reading. I also published my review of historical crime mystery A Pretender’s Murder by Christopher Huang.

Thursday – I published my Q&A with Ross Gilfillan, author of historical novel In Leicester Fields.

Friday – I shared My Year in Nonfiction, the first weekly prompt for Nonfiction November.

Saturday – I participated in the #6Degrees of Separation meme forging a book chain from We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson to The Book of Forgotten Authors by Christopher Fowler.

New on my shelves

The Forgotten Daughter by Anirudh Joshi (author review copy)

In the rain-slick alleys of Kamathipura, truth is a luxury few can afford.

When Meher disappears, the city shrugs—but one man refuses to forget. Vishy, a solitary book seller with a past he won’t speak of, begins a quiet rebellion against apathy. As he searches for Meher, the shadows grow darker, and the cost of remembering becomes unbearable. 

The Forgotten Daughter is a story of grit, grief, and the fragile hope that someone, somewhere, still cares.

What I’m currently reading

I’m reading The Assassin of Verona from my TBR pile, The Matchbox Girl from my NetGalley shelf and I’m listening to the audiobook of Swan Song.

Look out for…

  • Book Review: Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey
  • Book Review: Transcription by Kate Atkinson
  • Excerpt: A Knock at the Door by Peter Rowlands
  • My Top 3 October 2025 Reads

Nonfiction November – My Year in Nonfiction #NonFicNov25

whatcathyreadnext11 Comments

Nonfiction November 2025

Nonfiction November is an annual challenge hosted by bloggers Liz at Libro Fulltime, Frances at Volatile Rune, Heather at Based on a True Story, Rebekah at She Seeks Nonfiction and Deb at Readerbuzz designed to celebrate all things nonfiction. Helpfully, there are a series of weekly prompts to guide your posts.

The first prompt is hosted by Heather who invites us to answer a series of questions.

What books have you read?

Oh dear, looking back at the 81 books I’ve read so far this year only three were nonfiction, less than 1% of my reading. They were A Year in a Small Garden by Frances Tophill, The CIA Bookclub by Charlie English and The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke. Follow the links from the titles to read my reviews.

What were your favorites?

It seems unfair to choose one out of only three but if forced I’ll pick A Year in a Small Garden because, aside from reading, gardening is my favourite pastime and Frances’s approach to gardening – relaxed and wildlife-friendly – very closely matches my own.

Have you had a favorite topic?

I’d probably pick gardening and nature as my favourite nonfiction topic for both the practical advice it provides as well as the inspiration. In addition, gardening books tend to be beautifully illustrated which is a bonus.

Is there a topic you want to read about more?

I have a couple of memoirs and biographies in my TBR pile that I’m keen to read – Everything is Everything by Clive Myrie and Harold Wilson by Alan Johnson.

What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November?

Encouragement to read some of the nonfiction books I already have in my possession as well as obtaining recommendations from other readers.