Have you read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans? The cover is totally not my thing but the (epistolary) book itself is GORGEOUS. Like Small Pleasures meets Eleanor Oliphant but with a dash of Elizabeth Strout. I’m two thirds through and don’t want it to end. Other favourites are Slanting Towards the Sea, Brian, James, and Diary of a Mad Housewife (hilarious).
From what I can glean from the books you’ve recommended over the years, I think you’ll love it. Also: well jel about holiday. Save me from darkness at 4pm.
My favorite fiction book was Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These (I’m late to the party but what a perfect read for this time of year) and my favorite nonfiction was Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s Bite by Bite, a collection of mini essays accompanied by the most gorgeous illustrations. I’m a library girl but it’s one worth buying and owning!
Just read it for the book club I’ve just squeezed myself into and now I can attend😆 really enjoyed it and look forward to reread. Perhaps also watch the adaptation during the holidays 🌟👌🏽
My favourite book of the year was James by Percival Everett. I devoured it in 2 days. Such efficient writing, fast paced and the story was brilliant 🥰 Second place goes to Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors. I felt grief when I finished it as I wouldn’t be with those sisters anymore!
📚 Through his Substack this year I came across Dr. Jonathan Fisher's 'Just One Heart', which draws from his experience and awareness as a practicing cardiologist as to just how precarious and precious a gift one's life truly is. My father, who experienced real poverty as a boy, and severe chronic back pain from curvature of the spine and slipped discs, died one Christmas morning. Good writing meant the world to him. Hence, Charles Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol' will probably be my last book of 2025.
That’s such a lovely homage to your father. The first one reminded me Rachel Clarke’s new book on a pediatric heart transplant - I haven’t read it but I went to a talk about it and she was just so thoughtful in her balance of medical and pastoral
Fiction - Demon Copperhead (which I read because of your rec, so thanks!). And for non fiction - Enchantment by Katherine May, which after a hard second half of the year, was such a tonic. Her writing always hits!
Thank you for this. Every time I do this I remember novels I've read loved and forgotten.
Fiction: Heart the lover, The Correspondent, Happy all the time -Laurie Colwin, The Best of Everything - Kit de Waal and The Shell Seekers - Rosamunde Pilcher.
Non fiction: Dead and Alive - Zadie Smith, Attention - Anne Enright and Home - India Knight.
Long time reader of Books + Bits - thanks for another year of excellent reccs and content!
Tried to read more fiction in translation, and loved Reservoir Bitches (Dahlia de la Cerda), On the Calculation of Volume I & II (Solvej Balle) and Whale (Cheon Myeong-Kwan). Non-fic wise, I am still thinking about Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Elizabeth Hardwick’s Seduction & Betrayal 🥲
I’m rather late to the party with Solvej Balle since I’m Danish. Really had to hold back on the first volume this summer and looking forward to the next six volumes😎
Ooh love the teaser for tomorrow’s post! I also loved Maggie O’Farrell’s Instructions For A Heatwave this year - realised my niche fave genre is:stories about big Irish families, spread across the globe, forced to return to Ireland to deal with family crisis and confront their demons. Also loved Nina Stibbe’s One Day I Shall Astonish the World - it’s rare to come across fiction that genuinely makes me laugh and I want to discover more! And finally, I discovered Viv Albertine’s non fiction writing this year. The words raw and unflinching are overused but wow she’s an incredible writer and I loved hearing a woman’s perspective on the punk scene (and how she navigated life after it). Thanks for all your amazing recs and insights this year Pandora. Merry Christmas!
My favourites have been ‘Long Island Compromise’ by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, ‘Wellness’ by Nathan Hill, ‘God of the Woods’ by Liz Moore and ‘Stoner’ by John Williams. I’m in a reading slump at the mo so keen to see others faves!
I've just bought multiple copies of The Correspondent by Virginia Evan's to give as Christmas presents because it was such a brilliant read.
I read Still Life by Sarah Winman at the beginning of the year and still think about it weekly. Could be a favorite book of all time! This year unfortunately no Maggie O'Farrell because i've now read them all but hopeful 2026 will bring us a new one! Have a beautiful christmas.
Thank you for sharing your stack Pandora! My favourite fictions were The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell, and The Song of Penelope series by Claire North. It seems I wanted to spend my time with women from history with disappointing husbands 😬
And my favourite non-fiction was Fearing the Black Body: the racist origins of fat phobia by Sabrina Strings, one of the most well researched books I have ever read. It felt especially timely in the current ozempic era.
The Names, Buckeye, hello Beautiful & The Great Believers were all highlights for me. And I’ve just finished Hamnet - for the love of Paul Mescal, I don’t know why it took me so long to get to it! Brilliant
What did you think of the John J Lenon one?? I bought Barbara Demick's today. My favs this year The Mushroom Tapes, This House of Grief, both by Helen Garner. Then enjoyed The Slicks by Maggie Nelson.
Barbara Demnick’s is SO GOOD. Could have easily been in my top 10. Was so shocked by how little we know about the damage and trauma of chinas one child policy. John Lennon, loved some bits, got a bit bored in others - it jumped around a lot. Will gather thoughts and write about next yr!
Have you read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans? The cover is totally not my thing but the (epistolary) book itself is GORGEOUS. Like Small Pleasures meets Eleanor Oliphant but with a dash of Elizabeth Strout. I’m two thirds through and don’t want it to end. Other favourites are Slanting Towards the Sea, Brian, James, and Diary of a Mad Housewife (hilarious).
I just packed The Correspondent for holiday! So many people have mentioned it
From what I can glean from the books you’ve recommended over the years, I think you’ll love it. Also: well jel about holiday. Save me from darkness at 4pm.
Oh I’m reading this currently and it’s divine!
loved it too!
You had me at epistolary + Eleanor Oliphant, thanks for the rec!
My favorite fiction book was Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These (I’m late to the party but what a perfect read for this time of year) and my favorite nonfiction was Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s Bite by Bite, a collection of mini essays accompanied by the most gorgeous illustrations. I’m a library girl but it’s one worth buying and owning!
Love the sound of the illustrated mini essays - thank you!
Just read it for the book club I’ve just squeezed myself into and now I can attend😆 really enjoyed it and look forward to reread. Perhaps also watch the adaptation during the holidays 🌟👌🏽
My favourite book of the year was James by Percival Everett. I devoured it in 2 days. Such efficient writing, fast paced and the story was brilliant 🥰 Second place goes to Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors. I felt grief when I finished it as I wouldn’t be with those sisters anymore!
📚 Through his Substack this year I came across Dr. Jonathan Fisher's 'Just One Heart', which draws from his experience and awareness as a practicing cardiologist as to just how precarious and precious a gift one's life truly is. My father, who experienced real poverty as a boy, and severe chronic back pain from curvature of the spine and slipped discs, died one Christmas morning. Good writing meant the world to him. Hence, Charles Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol' will probably be my last book of 2025.
That’s such a lovely homage to your father. The first one reminded me Rachel Clarke’s new book on a pediatric heart transplant - I haven’t read it but I went to a talk about it and she was just so thoughtful in her balance of medical and pastoral
Fiction - Demon Copperhead (which I read because of your rec, so thanks!). And for non fiction - Enchantment by Katherine May, which after a hard second half of the year, was such a tonic. Her writing always hits!
Thank you for this. Every time I do this I remember novels I've read loved and forgotten.
Fiction: Heart the lover, The Correspondent, Happy all the time -Laurie Colwin, The Best of Everything - Kit de Waal and The Shell Seekers - Rosamunde Pilcher.
Non fiction: Dead and Alive - Zadie Smith, Attention - Anne Enright and Home - India Knight.
Happy All The Time was one of mine too, I’m going to collect the set of those gorgeous new editions!
The loneliness of Sonia and Sunny 🥰
Reading this right now. I don’t know if I will finish it be the end of year, which is okay, because it’s the kind of book that you savor.
Long time reader of Books + Bits - thanks for another year of excellent reccs and content!
Tried to read more fiction in translation, and loved Reservoir Bitches (Dahlia de la Cerda), On the Calculation of Volume I & II (Solvej Balle) and Whale (Cheon Myeong-Kwan). Non-fic wise, I am still thinking about Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Elizabeth Hardwick’s Seduction & Betrayal 🥲
I want to try the volume calculations!! Amazing that they are all about one day
I’m rather late to the party with Solvej Balle since I’m Danish. Really had to hold back on the first volume this summer and looking forward to the next six volumes😎
My two standout favourites this year. The Safekeep & The Names. Both have stayed with me.
Really loved both ❤️❤️
Ooh love the teaser for tomorrow’s post! I also loved Maggie O’Farrell’s Instructions For A Heatwave this year - realised my niche fave genre is:stories about big Irish families, spread across the globe, forced to return to Ireland to deal with family crisis and confront their demons. Also loved Nina Stibbe’s One Day I Shall Astonish the World - it’s rare to come across fiction that genuinely makes me laugh and I want to discover more! And finally, I discovered Viv Albertine’s non fiction writing this year. The words raw and unflinching are overused but wow she’s an incredible writer and I loved hearing a woman’s perspective on the punk scene (and how she navigated life after it). Thanks for all your amazing recs and insights this year Pandora. Merry Christmas!
My favourites have been ‘Long Island Compromise’ by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, ‘Wellness’ by Nathan Hill, ‘God of the Woods’ by Liz Moore and ‘Stoner’ by John Williams. I’m in a reading slump at the mo so keen to see others faves!
I've just bought multiple copies of The Correspondent by Virginia Evan's to give as Christmas presents because it was such a brilliant read.
I read Still Life by Sarah Winman at the beginning of the year and still think about it weekly. Could be a favorite book of all time! This year unfortunately no Maggie O'Farrell because i've now read them all but hopeful 2026 will bring us a new one! Have a beautiful christmas.
LOVED Still Life. Peggy ❤️
Thank you for sharing your stack Pandora! My favourite fictions were The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell, and The Song of Penelope series by Claire North. It seems I wanted to spend my time with women from history with disappointing husbands 😬
And my favourite non-fiction was Fearing the Black Body: the racist origins of fat phobia by Sabrina Strings, one of the most well researched books I have ever read. It felt especially timely in the current ozempic era.
That book by Sabrina Strings sounds fascinating - and as you say, so timely
The Names, Buckeye, hello Beautiful & The Great Believers were all highlights for me. And I’ve just finished Hamnet - for the love of Paul Mescal, I don’t know why it took me so long to get to it! Brilliant
'Hello Beautiful' by Ann Napolitano and 'Clear' by Carys Davis.
What did you think of the John J Lenon one?? I bought Barbara Demick's today. My favs this year The Mushroom Tapes, This House of Grief, both by Helen Garner. Then enjoyed The Slicks by Maggie Nelson.
Barbara Demnick’s is SO GOOD. Could have easily been in my top 10. Was so shocked by how little we know about the damage and trauma of chinas one child policy. John Lennon, loved some bits, got a bit bored in others - it jumped around a lot. Will gather thoughts and write about next yr!
I'm whizzing through it! It's brilliant.