This week's topic is Best Books in 2025
2025 was Jane Austen's birthday year and I participated in the #Reading Austen project. I found lots of books about Jane Austen and re-read all of her books. I could have included all of them but I thought I also need to show some of the other great books I found during the year. So, here is my Top Twelve of 2025. Just add anything by or about Jane Austen in your mind.
Austen, Jane "The History of England: By a Partial, Prejudiced and Ignorant Historian" - 1791
Brooks, Geraldine "Year of Wonders" - 2001
Deresiewicz, William "A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter" - 2011
Haig, Matt "The Midnight Library" - 2020
Harris, Kamala "107 Days" - 2025
Deresiewicz, William "A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter" - 2011
Haig, Matt "The Midnight Library" - 2020
Harris, Kamala "107 Days" - 2025
Hislop, Victoria "The Figurine" - 2023
Mak, Geert "The Dream of Europe. Travels in a Troubled Continent" (NL: Grote verwachtingen. In Europa 1999-2019) - 2019
Mak, Geert "The Dream of Europe. Travels in a Troubled Continent" (NL: Grote verwachtingen. In Europa 1999-2019) - 2019
Mann, Heinrich "Professor Unrat" - The Blue Angel - 1904
Rushdie, Salman "Knife" - 2024
Takahashi, Yuta "The Chibineko Kitchen" (J: ちびねこ亭の思い出ごはん 黒猫と初恋サンドイッチ/Chibinekoteino omoidegohan kuronekoto hatsukoisandoitchi) - 2020
Worsley, Lucy "Jane Austen at Home" - 2017
Rushdie, Salman "Knife" - 2024
Takahashi, Yuta "The Chibineko Kitchen" (J: ちびねこ亭の思い出ごはん 黒猫と初恋サンドイッチ/Chibinekoteino omoidegohan kuronekoto hatsukoisandoitchi) - 2020
Worsley, Lucy "Jane Austen at Home" - 2017
📚 Happy Reading 📚
Oh, I like the sound of Jane Austen Education. That was a bit how I got into reading Jane -- a male reader suggested that studying some of her male characters was a way to discover both virtues and avoid foibles.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea, Stephen. I once re-read all Jane Austen books with a look at the mothers but one can look at any kind of characters and concentrate on that. I'm glad you found Jane Austen like that.
DeleteLove it. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lark. I always enjoy lists, whether I make them myself or look at the ones others compiled.
DeleteDefinitely agree on 'Jane Austen Education' and 'Midnight Library'.
ReplyDeleteWell, that makes two of my list, Kitten. Have you read any of the others?
DeleteNo, but I'm definitely interested in the Geert Mak book. Oh, BTW, I picked up 'Snow' by Orhan Pamuk from my local charity shop today. That place is a little *goldmine*. I also started a very funny Ukrainian book today - 'Death & the Penguin' by Andrey Kurkov. Only about 30 pages in so far, but I'm pretty constantly chuckling...
DeleteNice. Thanks, Kitten. I did not know Kurkov had written another one. I read "Grey Bees" and loved it, so the Penguin book will go on my list.
DeleteIf you want to read the Geert Mak book, I would recommend, you start with his first book about this subject: "In Europe. Travels Through the Twentieth Century", although it's not necessarily obiligatory.
I think I'm going to try to read everything Kurkov has produced. I picked up the first book in a new mystery trilogy from my Indie shop, and I'd also (unknown to me) already bought one of his non-fiction on the Ukraine war. He's fast becoming a new favourite author in translation.
DeleteI totally agree, Kitten. If it weren't for my large TBR pile, I'd order all his books now.
DeleteI loved Geraldine Brooks book Year of Wonders and also her book Memorial Days. Abolutely yes to Matt Haig's Midnight Library. I may reread that this year.
ReplyDeleteI have read quite a few books by her, as you can see by the link on her name, she is just fantastic. And I definitely want to read more by Matt Haig. Thanks, Tina.
DeleteOne of these days I really should read 107 Days!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great book, Lydia. Though, like with other books on this topic, it just makes you more angry about You Know Who.
DeleteThank you for sharing your list of best books. I must say, to my shame, I have not read any of them. I see you were into Jane Austen a lot. I read a lot of books about her time many years ago. I did actually read one Jane Austen this year, Lady Susan, which I like very much.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for Mann's book. I was not aware that the film was based on his book. I remember seing it many, many years ago.
Hopefully, you will find a few good books also for 2026. Looking forward to following you through the year.
So do I, Lisbeth, you also have great suggestions, so you don't need to be ashamed.
DeleteWell, as you know, it was Jane Austen's 150th birthday last year and a few of us had the goal to re-read all of her major works every other month. I used the months in between to read a book about her. Most of them were really interesting.
I had not idea Professor Unrat was the book they turned into The Blue Angel. Which, I must say, I have never seen, but we all hear about it, right? It was very good, like everything I read so far by the Mann brothers.