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.