Q1 2025 Book Stack
11 books. 3 non fiction. 8 fiction.
A solid start to 2025.
Killing Time by Alan Bennett
Hilarious view of the humanity and lack of it at a residential home for the elderly and how Covid affected them.
Witty, poignant and unexpected. He’s 90 now and as sharp as ever.
Hat tip to Emma Chesworth for reminding me of the publication date.
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
First read in 1996 having lived in Tokyo a few years before. Now rereading for my local Eastend bookclub. First a charming story of two lost souls who find love and food together. Then the story of two young people brought together by the death of a boyfriend and brother.
Winter by Ali Smith
Beautifully written. This follows Sophia in her retirement with her conformity and the rebelliousness of her sister Iris.
Some of the descriptions of the determination of the women at Greenham Common will stay with me for a long time.
Ali Smith, fast becoming a favourite.
Tribal by Michael Morris
What do we know about how human behaviour affects their tribal instincts? From looking at peer, to ancestor, to hero’s instinct, how do grassroots movements work, how does shock therapy work or not?
How can we work together to thrive?
A Winter Book by Tove Jansson
A series of short stories never before released in this format with an introduction by Ali Smith (a current favourite).
Glorious Exploits by Ferdina Lennon
Set in Syrscuse in 412 BC, two out of work potters decide to put on a play by Euripides using Athenian slaves.
Along the way they learn about their own humanity and the importance of thriving; doing audacious things you can be proud of.
Written in a violently modern style this juxtaposes beautifully with ancient world, and makes life thousands of years ago become vibrantly real.
Thanks for the recommendation Paul Bennun
Kind by Graham Allcott
Using kindness for productivity and as an essential business tool.
It uses science to back up what many will think is a fluffy idea.
It’s not.
The Fetishist by Katherine Min
Daniel is a womanising musician with a penchant for Asian women. Alma was his only love, lost. And Kyoko wants Daniel dead for her mother, Emi’s death.
Complex and funny. A solid reminder that humans in lust and love behave irrationally, in general.
When I sing, mountains dance. By Irene Solã
Magical realism. Visceral descriptions of nature and being other than human: lightening striking a man or a roe deer being born.
Quite beautiful.
Time of the Flies by Claudia Piñeiro
Bard bookclub strikes again with a book I’d never have found. Although I struggled to finish, then the Meta exposé consumed me.
Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams
The explosive exposé of Facebook. Candid is an understatement. From the New Zealander who fought to get in, then fought to escape the bubble of private jets, political power parties and chaos.