Q3 2025 book stack is here.

Cos books make us all better.

Slower quarter, first abandoned book for a while and a lot of Greek story retelling.

Birding by Rose Ruane. Abandoned.
I wanted to like this but I just didn’t. It felt slow and whilst I get the scene setting was important, 112 pages is too much.
I gave it a chance but life is too short. First women’s prize long list I’ve given up on.
(Not pictured as I gave it to the charity shop)

Summer by Ali Smith
State of the Nation commentary on post Brexit Tory Britain. Her anger fizzes from every page. She doesn’t hold back.
It also took a month to read cos anger isn’t fast.

Moominpapa at Sea by Tove Janson
The family decide to leave Moomin Valley and set off on an adventure to an island Moominpapa has discovered. They learn about the island and what it means to arrive somewhere new. By small boat. So much wisdom.

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
So good to get back into an absolute page turner about Greek ancient history. Helen is kidnapped by the Trojans. The Greeks are in pursuit. Trapped in the Greek soldiers camp is Queen Briseis who has been captured and is now condemned to be Achilles bed-slave (what a euphemism). Achilles butchered her family and she becomes an object for warriors to bargain with and over.
We hear her story from her perspective. It’s extraordinary.

The Women of Troy by Pat Barker.
Book 2 in the Trojan trilogy.
Troy has fallen and Achilles son, is attempting to imitate his father and failing miserably.
We get to meet more of the Trojan women given to the Greek Kings as spoils of war but here Barker reclaims their voices and silent power. So very compelling.

Tiny Experiments by Anne Laure Le Cunff
How to move away from linear ways to measure performance, productivity and innovation and move to experimental ways of working that allow for continual improvement without burnout. Smart.

Currently reading: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Millar.
Mooching around an exceptional bookshop in Antwerp I found this. The story of Patroclus and Achilles. Having just read about their deaths, it feels fitting to read about how their friendship was forged.
Also a former women’s prize winner.

Q4 is looking good. More Greeks, some preordered Osman and Coe and a bit more Smith on the bookshelves waiting to be devoured.

What are you reading?