The winners of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Nonfiction were announced earlier this week at what looked like a wonderful event. I’ve found many excellent novels via this prize, but in 2025 it was all about nonfiction for me. I was happy to see The Story of a Heart as the nonfiction winner. On the fiction side, The Safekeep triumphed.
Reading Nonfiction
Since my last wrap-up, I’ve read five nonfiction books, of which three (Raising Hare, Private Revolutions and The Story of a Heart) were from the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction shortlist.
Super Volcanos ★★★
I’ve always found it fascinating how plate tectonics and volcanos have shaped Earth as we know it. Strangely, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as expected, possibly because I already know the topic quite well. The chapters about volcanos on other planets and moons saved the book for me. Space geology is weird!
Raising Hare ★★★★
During lockdown Chloe Dalton raises a motherless hare, which quickly becomes a central part of her life. She fully recognises it’s a wild animal and the hare is free to come and go as it pleases. Raising Hare is a wonderful book about co-existing with wildlife. It was interesting to see how the hare gradually changed Dalton’s view on the nature surrounding her.
Private Revolutions ★★★
Four women grow up during China’s decades of extreme economic growth. I found the book interesting, rather than engaging. The four women’s stories are intertwined, which is confusing and makes them blend together. Still, there are lots of fascinating facts about China to be learned via this book
The Story of a Heart ★★★★1/2
In The Story of a Hart, Dr. Rachel Clarke interweaves the history of medical innovations behind transplant surgery with the story of two children: Max who is in desperate need a new heart and Keira, who is tragically killed in a car accident. It is an informative book, which is simultaneously devastating and hopeful, demonstrating human nature at its best and kindest. A worthy winner of the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction.
The Order of Time ★★
Unfortunately, The Order of Time was a disappointing read. A good description of our current understanding of time was followed by a series of random musings and anecdotes about scientists. It wasn’t presented in a particularly concise way and the bits of serious science drowned amongst all the chit-chat.
Reading Fiction
My reading of fiction has mainly been in the more lighthearted category and with one exception, I have been properly entertained.
An Assassination on the Agenda ★★★1/2
Admittedly, the Lady Hardcastle series is rather silly cosy crime. But it does something rare. It makes me laugh. The Assasination on the Agenda didn’t fail and I enjoyed my time with Lady Hardcastle and her maid as they dealt with murder and intrigue.
We Begin at the End ★★★1/2
It took me a long time to get into this and child protagonists have never been my favourite thing in the world. However, I slowly got caught up in this novel filled with imperfect, broken characters and a dark past, which continues to impact the present.
2001 A Space Odyssey ★★★★
It has been a while since I watched 2001 and I decided to read the novel in connection with my post Favourite Fictional AI characters. Whilst not as trippy as the film, the book is thought-provoking and leaves a lot of interpretation to the reader. The issues around AI are quite progressive.
On the Calculation of Volume I ★★★★1/2
This novella is a philosophical take on the human condition wrapped in a playful science fiction concept (reliving the same day over and over again). Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025 and one of my favourites this year. Full review here.
Wuthering Heights ★
Unfortunately, this classic wasn’t for me. Enough said. Full review here.
Wrapping up my Fantasy reading project
With my great enjoyment of fantasy series such as Rivers of London, His Dark Materials and Lord of the Rings, I’ve suspected fantasy could potentially add diversification and joy to my reading repertoire.
Over the last years, I’ve explored the genre, primarily by picking up some of the more popular books of the genre. My reading includes Brandon Sanderson’s Elantris (mediocre), the prize winning The Fifth Season (terrible), fantasy crime fiction such as The Dresden Files and The Tainted Cup (unreadable) and fairytale adjacent The Bear and the Nightingale and Nettle and Bone (not for me).
I won’t rule out picking up more fantasy in the future, but will conclude the genre isn’t generally for me. Luckily, I ended my project on a high with The Sword of Kaigen, which together with Legendborn is the most successful book in this project.
For more bookish Sunday posts, please visit Caffeinated Reviewer who hosts Sunday Post and Readerbuzz who hosts The Sunday Salon.
Your mini-reviews of your non-fiction reads were helpful, though I was sorry that the volcanoes didn’t grab you quite as much as you hoped. Still, I don’t know that much – yet, so maybe it will work for me. I think your fiction choices on the whole aren’t for me, though I agree about Wuthering Heights. I so dislike fantasy that your reading experiment wouldn’t be for me. Well done for giving it a go!
I am glad the mini (or micro) reviews were helpful. It seems like I can either write very loong and rambling reviews or ultra-short summaries. Nothing in between. It doesn’t make sense to explore a genre you know you dislike. For instance, I would never do a reading project on romance. However, I thought fantasy reading would have been more successful for me.
I loved Raising Hare. I’m glad you enjoyed it too 🙂
It was an interesting and charming book, I thought. 🙂 Glad I read it.
I’ve added Super Volcanoes to my TBR list. I struggle with the classics as well. There are very few that appeal to me. I’m not sure why.
My luck with classics is a bit up and down as well. However, it is rare that I dislike a novel as much as I did with Wuthering Heights.
I’d love to read Raising Hare (it’s the second time I read about it today, it’s a sign). I’m listening to a Chris Whitacker story now, All The Colours of the Dark (very very slowly) but I’m starting to think he’s not an author for me.
Raising Hare is a wonderful book, if you like animals. It isn’t at all sentimental (which I dislike) but charming and informative. I thought the same about Chris Whitacker when reading We Begin at the End, but halfway through, I started to feel invested in the story and the characters. So maybe give it a proper chance, before giving up.
I thought Raising Hare was a thoughtful read. I’ve recommended it to several people who do not like sentimental animal stories. I am adding Story of a Heart to my list from your nonfiction section, and On the Calculation of Volume I from your fiction section.
Thank you for your thoughts about fantasy. I’m not sure why I haven’t found many fantasy novels that I have liked.
I agree about Raising Hare. Many books about animals are way too sentimental for my taste, but Raising Hare found the right balance and I enjoyed the facts about hares, which were thrown in. Maybe my judgement on the fantasy genre was a bit harsh. I am sure the novels mentioned have excellent qualities, but they were just not a good match for my reading taste. Ah well, it is not that there is a shortage of other books / genres to read.
Fantasy wasn’t my thing either for a long time, but some of the classics have made it onto my favorites list.
Maybe (when I’ve recovered from my less than successful journey into fantasy) I will try some of the classics. Anything in particular, you would recommend?
I see a few I’d like to read, especially Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. When I was 15 my boyfriend gave me a white bunny for Easter, along with a few other things.
I can highly recommend Raising Hare, especially if you are an animal lover. It is a wonderful story with some interesting facts about hares thrown in.
I’m impressed by how much non-fiction you read!
I used to read a lot more fantasy than I do these days. It still wasn’t much but it is even less now!
Every now and again I will read something.
Have a great week!
Nonfiction and crime fiction were really my preferred genres for many years, when I was younger. Only later in life, I’ve started to read more general fiction and other genres than crime. I doubt fantasy will become a regular part of my reading, though. Thanks and you too!
Well you finished a lot and I’m pleased to hear about the nonfiction books especially Raising Hare. I like wildlife and animals so I think I’ll get to it at some point. I admit I’m not generally a fantasy reader either. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is about as fantasy as I get. Glad for your post. Happy summer to you.
Happy summer! Raising Hare is a wonderful book. It may not change your life, but it is enjoyable and interesting. I have a feeling, there is some fantasy out there I’d enjoy, but with such a low hit-ratio, it isn’t worth trying to find them.
I don’t know much about valcanoes but find them fascinating so I added that book to my tbr, I really need to read more nonfic.
I hope you will enjoy it!
Saving this list for later! Thank you!
You are welcome.