Books read in 2025

Starting with most liked to least... 

Gods & Kings - Dana Thomas

Whilst absolutely crushing.. it reveals the brilliance and unforgettable art Alexander Mcqueen and John Galiano brought to the world. The accounts of both their lives in substantial and at times you feel like you are in the cutting room or watching Mcqueen drape fabric, but you also get a peep into the pain and suffering, the relentless pressure and what that does to once sense of self and belonging. In tandem with this, the way relationships make you feel and how they compel you in life, and when they fall apart the impetus to do, can go with.

Perfection - Vincenzo Latronico, Sophie Hughes

savage. At times a confronting read. It’s a critical take on our generation.. the way we want things, strive for them and still find ourselves underwhelmed / unsatisfied - wanting more.

Down the drain - Julia fox

I loved this, I’m not even ashamed to say so. 

Mars room - Rachel Kushner

Kinda brutal in parts, the protagonist is trapped by her own way of thinking, even though she experiences overcoming them, they keep pulling her back into the drudgery. 
There is no escaping the monotony of doing time. 

Lucy - Jamaica Kincaid

 

One of my favourite writers. Everytime I read Jamaica Kinkaids work, I feel like gain a new perspective that sticks. I hope reading her works makes me a more gentle person. This book reveals what is to make your way in life, in spite of the circumstances that restrict you from ascending professional, social, emotional heights.

Small 

Undying - Anne Boyer

Obvi sad, but deeply important text in revealing the intersectionality of cancer. yes you can have cancer and be a single mum raising children, unable to get adequate leave for treatement and need to find the money for treatment. The book explores the someone unavoidable tradeoffs and crushing isolation that is living with cancer and through treatment.

Flame thrower - Rachel Kushner

I like the raw feelings Rachel Kushner is able to uncover within her characters. So much of this text deals with the thoughts you hold about your own inner power / strengths and how your very own reality has no idea or continually forces you to swallow those thoughts.

The River Between - Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o

Similar but different to the book When things Fall apart by Shino Abe. An interesting story reminding us of the perils of missionaries.

Nicomachean ethics - Aristotle

Obviously this is the outlier in this list. I did a course where we studies Nicomachean Ethics. Interesting to think about the formation of ethics.

Stone yard devotional - Charlotte Wood 

I can see why it has been well received, but I found it hard to read about the intensity of the mouse plague when it had dominated so many news headlines in the year the book was published. It made me think about what makes a book interesting and captivating to me.

Being Mortal - Atal Gawande

We spend an enormous amount of money and medical resources keeping people alive, more so than ever.. is anyone talking about it? 

Lathe of heaven - Ursula Le guin

Not as good as Left hand of Darkness.. can still imagine myself in those epic snow storms. The book is ambitious in the way it asks the reader about balancing aspirations of power with reality. The book was writen in 1971.. and the text reflects the mood of the time. 

Green lights - Matthew McConney

I had a distant memory of someone enjoying this book. I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s pretty much a classic American Dream story.. build yourself up from the boot straps etc. Of course very easy and possible when you are as good looking at he is.