I haven’t posted much in 2025, so I thought I’d do a quick update on my year so far.
Winter has been relatively cold and grey in London, but luckily a short stay in the Swiss mountains offered proper winter weather including snow and sunshine. However, after that trip I felt ready for spring.
You would have thought that Barcelona in February could provide a bit of spring weather. It was partly sunny, but rather cold. Still, Barcelona is always worth a visit. It is a beautiful place with lovely architecture, small atmospheric street, a long-stretched beach and huge selection of culture and culinary experiences.
Amongst all the greyness, London has also provided a bit of light. The area I work in hosted a winter light festival with light installations all over the place. I also inadvertently came across the Chinese New Year celebrations a couple of weeks ago, which were blocking several important thoroughfares in the area around Chinatown. At least it was bright and colourful.
Reading Nonfiction
The cold winter days have offered a good excuse to stay indoors and read. I have been in the mood for nonfiction recently and with one exception, I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Human Universe ★★
Why does every popular science book have to start with Adam or Eve (or at least Galileo and Newton). There were interesting facts in this ode to the human race, but the endless repetition of well-known content made it a disappointing read.
Jellyfish Age Backwards ★★★★
A wonderful book about aging and health span, which stands out in the vast sea of books about this topic. There is a bit of overlap to Peter Attia’s bestseller Outlive, but I actually preferred Jellyfish Age Backwards, which is scientific, accessible and non-preachy.
The Third Gilmore Girl ★★★★★
You don’t have to be a Gilmore Girls fan to enjoy Kelly Bishop’s memoir. There is a lot more to her than the tv show and she comes across as an interesting and wonderful person with a great sense of humour. Who would have thought this would be a five star read?
The Trading Game ★★★1/2
From the brutal show business to the equally brutal world of finance. Gary Stevenson, a rough working class guy from London, ended against all odds as a top trader in Citibank. If you can cope with the endless swearing and the fact that Gary can be a bit of an idiot (although a very intelligent one), this book provides fascinating insights from the trading floors of London.
Women’s Prize for Nonfiction
I might continue with my nonfiction binge, seeing that the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction longlist has just been announced.
- Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum
- Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age by Eleanor Barraclough
- The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV by Helen Castor
- A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry
- The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke
- Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
- Ootlin by Jenni Fagan
- Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller
- Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elżbieta Zawacka by Clare Mulley
- By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land by Rebecca Nagle
- Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin by Sue Prideaux
- What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World’s Ocean by Helen Scales
- The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale
- Sister in Law: Fighting for Justice in a System Designed by Men by Harriet Wistrich
- Tracker by Alexis Wright
- Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China by Yuan Yang
Similar to last year, the list looks good. My first pick would probably be Private Revolutions about four Chinese women striving for a better future or Raising Hare about, well, raising a hare. The latter has already been recommended quite a bit online.
What about Fiction?
I haven’t read much fiction. The exception is last year’s Booker winner, Orbital, which I finally got from the library. With 64 people behind me on the waiting list, I thought I’d better get to it quickly. Considering my track record with Booker books, I was somewhat sceptical. On paper, it sounded perfect; introspective, philosophical, taking place in space. However, that was the case for the disappointing In Ascension as well. What did I think about Orbital? Well, I guess you have to wait for my review. 😉
There is one more fiction book I would like to squeeze in before spring sets in. The Bear and the Nightingale, which is inspired by a Russian fairytale, seems like a book perfect for winter. I did have a few more winter reads lined up, but they may have to wait until next winter.
That is all for now. Hope you are all doing well and reading some good books. Am I the only one, who can’t wait for spring?
For more bookish Sunday posts, please visit Caffeinated Reviewer who hosts Sunday Post and Readerbuzz who hosts The Sunday Salon.
We just missed each other in Barcelona! I was there (or within 12 miles of it anyway) in January with my daughter and family. You have reminded me that I have so far read zero non fiction this year. And the only reading we have in common is Orbital, which I loved. Your review awaited!
Yes, I remember you were in Barcelona earlier in the year. Judging from your photos, you may actually have had nicer weather than I did. But it was still nice! My nonfiction reading often comes in clusters, right now I am definitely leaning towards nonfiction rather than fiction.
I have those phases too. But not right now. Sorry the weather didn’t quite deliver.
Didn’t matter. Barcelona is always nice. 🙂
Your travel photos are spectacular, those blue, blue skies!
I never watched Gilmore Girls but my daughter loved it. Maybe I should look for a copy of that book for her.
Thanks Rose! I guess you have nice weather this time of year, but if you lived in London you would also be appreciative of a bit of blue sky! 🙂 I would recommend Kelly Bishop’s memoir both to you and your daughter.
The weather this summer has been lovely, but we had a few days last week that were too hot to sleep. I suppose we are the opposite to you, we desperately need some rain. Dams are dry and the country is dry down my way.
I’ll see if I can get a copy today while the book is fresh to mind, thanks for the recommendation 😀
Ah yes, it is always about finding the Goldilocks zone. I struggle to sleep, when it is very hot as well. Fingers crossed, you will soon get some much needed rain.
Your Goldilocks reference made me smile, quite an apt way to put it 😀
I’m a Gilmore Girls fan but still was surprised at how much I loved Kelly Bishop’s story. Glad you did, too.
It was wonderful, wasn’t it? She is such an interesting person. I wasn’t even aware she started out as a dancer.
I thought The Bear and the Nightingale was a lovey read.
Kelly Bishops memoir is on my TBR, I’m curious about Jellyfish Age Backwards too.
Wishing you a happy reading week
I look forward to The Bear and the Nightingale, al lot of people have recommended it. You should definitely pick up Kelly Bishop’s memoir, it is probably my favourite read this year. Happy reading to you too.
I feel exactly the same about the weather, the cold has been going on for too long!
Yup, spring can’t arrive soon enough!
I’m going to need to give Jellyfish Age Backwards a look.
I thought it was an excellent book – and believe it or not, some jellyfish can actually age backwards.
I tend to focus more on nonfiction. I will be curious to see which titles on the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction longlist you enjoy.
It’s turned cold here again along the Texas coast. Ridiculous!
After studying I had a long phase, where I only read nonfiction and the odd crime novel. These days the balance tips towards fiction, but I’ve rediscovered nonfiction in recent years, so maybe I’ll move towards 50/50. It’s ridiculous, right? Can we please have some spring temperatures soon! 😉
Hi. You list a whole lot of books that pique my interest. There are SO many worthy books out there. Here’s a real good crime novel I read recently: The Friends Of Eddie Coyle, by George V. Higgins.
Thanks for the recommendation, I am always interested in a good crime novel! And you are right of course, there are so many good books around – impossible to read all of them.
How nice that you can travel to warmer climates (and there’s so close)! I need to read The Third Gilmore Girl!
Yes, it is nice to be able to travel to different climates, although I wish the climate I live in would warm up, just a tiny bit. 🙂 The Third Gilmore Girl is probably my favourite 2025 read so far, you should definitely pick it up.
Beautiful photos, your traveling sounds amazing! That’s too bad about Human Universe, that cover caught my eye right away. I want to read The Bear and the Nightingale also. I can’t wait for Spring to arrive.
Thanks, I always enjoy a bit of traveling. I’ve heard a lot of good things about The Bear and the Nightingale, so let’s hope it can live up to all the hype. Agreed, let’s get some spring weather soon!
You’ve been busy! Yes, I sort of feel “over” winter now. I want to stop being cold!
Me too! This winter seems to have been colder than normal.
Hi. Nice you got a couple trips in. Spring would be nice but I fear it’ll be a long time till April weather. You seem to have picked 2 good ones on the nonfiction longlist. Raising Hare eh? You can get the scoop on women in China for us. I have read more nonfiction in 2025 … but still fiction is usually my fav. I look forward to the longlist in that. Thx for the update.
It was nice with a couple of shorter trips, but maybe it would have been even nicer with a longer break to go somewhere nice and warm. I will consider that for next winter. Yes, I am hopeful there will be some good ones on the nonfiction longlist, although maybe not the ones I picked. The longlist for fiction will come out 4th of March, so not long to go.
I have The Third Gilmore Girl on my list. I started Orbital but I just couldn’t get into it so it was a DNF for me.
I hope you will enjoy The Third Gilmore Girl if you get to it. I fully understand what you mean about Orbital. It also took me a little while to get into it and it required some focus and concentration. I’ve heard of many readers who found it boring.
Jellyfish Age Backwards has my full attention (smile). This one is added to my reading list.
Sending you loads of Florida sunshine until London experiences a proper spring.
Hope you will enjoy Jellyfish Age Backwards, if you decide to pick it up. Thanks, a bit of Florida sunshine is much appreciated! I can offer a bit of London rain in exchange? 😉
Oh, Barcelona is so high on my list of places to visit! My husband and I visited Madrid, Seville, and Grenada 15 years ago but we didn’t make it to Barcelona. We’ll get there some day. Your pictures are beautiful!
I loved The Bear and the Nightingale series. It’s the perfect read for winter.
I hope you get to visit Barcelona. I have enjoyed Seville and Madrid as well (never been to Grenada), but Barcelona is my favourite. Glad to hear you loved The Bear and The Nightingale, can’t wait to get started.
Your travels sound amazing, if not as warm as one might want for a vacation 😉
Thank you for the Women’s Prize list! I’ve added Embers of the Hands and By the Fire We Carry to my TBR.
I am currently reading Orbital and am curious to see what you think about it. I’ll keep an eye out for your review. I *love the Winternight Trilogy, the three are truly among my top favorites ever. I hope you enjoy The Bear and the Nightingale and finish off the other two in quick order!
I am glad you found something, which sounded interesting on the Women’s Prize list. Last year, I enjoyed several of the books, so I am hopeful for this year’s list as well. Let’s see if I love The Bear and the Nightingale enough to continue with the rest of the series. We shall see! 🙂
Raising Hare is on my list to read. I am nervous though – these type books always make me cry!
Your Swiss mountains trip sounds fabulous!
Books about bonding with animals can be rather emotional, but I am not sure it is that kind of book. We will see!
We will! And if it is… I will just skip past the sad parts. Lol.
I haven’t read any of these nonfiction titles, and I am curious who will win
I am curious as well! It will be a while, I am afraid. The winner won’t be announced until 12th of June.
Definitely ready for Spring, this grey lid we’ve been living under has to lift sometime soon (although today was lovely!)
Today was lovely! Unfortunately, I was in the office until 7pm, but it looked nice through the window. 😉