Vestafan will try harder this year! (but will still get distracted)
Talk 2025 Category Challenge
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1vestafan
Hello, I am Vestafan (named after one of our late much-loved cats), real name Sue. I live in the Yorkshire and Humber region of the UK. This is about the fourth year I have tried this challenge. As a retired person I should have lots of time to read, but other aspects of life tend to intrude!
I have come up with 12 categories for this year:
1. Book group - I am in a book group which meets monthly, so I aim to read all these books.
2. Backlisted - I am a great fan of this podcast which discusses less well known or forgotten books. It comes out fortnightly, the presenters are positive and full of enthusiasm and it gives me loads of titles to search for in charity or second hand bookshops. I have decided to expand this category to include recommendations from other book-related podcasts such as You're Booked, Tea or Books? and Sarah and Cariad's Weirdos' Book Club.
3. Virago Modern Classics - for some years I have been collecting these books (another focus for my trawls of second hand bookshops), but I haven't read very many of them recently.
4. Persephone Books - another imprint which specialises in forgotten fiction and non-fiction, mainly by women. They look beautiful too - the covers are grey and the endpapers feature textile and graphic designs by women.
5. Crime - My go to genre and I predict this will be the most populated group by the end of the year.
6. Children and young people's literature - I've acquired a lot of this over the past few years and want to delve a bit deeper.
7. Diaries and letters - An enjoyable genre to pick up when you've not got long to read.
8. Orwell - browsing my bookshelves, I realised I had a lot of books by, about and inspired by the writer George Orwell, so I thought it would be interesting to read a few of these books together.
9. 'Mighty' books - these are the books that look large and intimidating on the shelves so tend not to be tried. As a rule of thumb, I am saying any book over 650pp.
10. Visual arts - for the purpose of this list, I mean fine art and film.
11. 1920-1960 - Lots of writing from this period is being republished, so I will pick out works from this period.
12. Miscellaneous - because I know other things will spark my interest during the year
13. Series - I will try to read some of the unfinished series on my shelves and Kindle
I have come up with 12 categories for this year:
1. Book group - I am in a book group which meets monthly, so I aim to read all these books.
2. Backlisted - I am a great fan of this podcast which discusses less well known or forgotten books. It comes out fortnightly, the presenters are positive and full of enthusiasm and it gives me loads of titles to search for in charity or second hand bookshops. I have decided to expand this category to include recommendations from other book-related podcasts such as You're Booked, Tea or Books? and Sarah and Cariad's Weirdos' Book Club.
3. Virago Modern Classics - for some years I have been collecting these books (another focus for my trawls of second hand bookshops), but I haven't read very many of them recently.
4. Persephone Books - another imprint which specialises in forgotten fiction and non-fiction, mainly by women. They look beautiful too - the covers are grey and the endpapers feature textile and graphic designs by women.
5. Crime - My go to genre and I predict this will be the most populated group by the end of the year.
6. Children and young people's literature - I've acquired a lot of this over the past few years and want to delve a bit deeper.
7. Diaries and letters - An enjoyable genre to pick up when you've not got long to read.
8. Orwell - browsing my bookshelves, I realised I had a lot of books by, about and inspired by the writer George Orwell, so I thought it would be interesting to read a few of these books together.
9. 'Mighty' books - these are the books that look large and intimidating on the shelves so tend not to be tried. As a rule of thumb, I am saying any book over 650pp.
10. Visual arts - for the purpose of this list, I mean fine art and film.
11. 1920-1960 - Lots of writing from this period is being republished, so I will pick out works from this period.
12. Miscellaneous - because I know other things will spark my interest during the year
13. Series - I will try to read some of the unfinished series on my shelves and Kindle
2christina_reads
Love your categories! I have a few Persephone editions and love their beautiful simplicity.
3thornton37814
I think we all get distracted. Life is kind of like that!
4lowelibrary
Happy New Year and good luck with your reading.
5MissBrangwen
I really like your categories! I have a doorstopper category that is a bit like your mighty books. Good luck and happy reading in 2024!
6MissWatson
Good luck with your categories!
7purpleiris
Good luck with your reading!
8vestafan
1. Book Group
The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson
The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
The Story Collector by Evie Woods
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
The Eight Mountains by Paolo Cognetti
The Children's Train by Viola Ardone
The Queen of Fives by Alex Hay
The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell
The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson
The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
The Story Collector by Evie Woods
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
The Eight Mountains by Paolo Cognetti
The Children's Train by Viola Ardone
The Queen of Fives by Alex Hay
The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell
9vestafan
2. Backlisted + other podcast recommendations
Imogen By Jilly Cooper
Look at Me by Anita Brookner
The Elsie Drake Letters by Robert Popper
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Imogen By Jilly Cooper
Look at Me by Anita Brookner
The Elsie Drake Letters by Robert Popper
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos
You Are Here by David Nicholls
10vestafan
3. Virago Modern Classics
The New House by Lettice Cooper
Celia by E H Young
Wave Me Goodbye: stories of the Second World War edited by Anne Boston
The New House by Lettice Cooper
Celia by E H Young
Wave Me Goodbye: stories of the Second World War edited by Anne Boston
12vestafan
5. Crime
Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans
You All Die Tonight by Simon Kernick
In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Before I Sleep by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear
At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweet
The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
Holly by Stephen King
Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson
Invisible by Christne Poulson
Shot with Crimson by Nicola Upson
The Vanishing Act by Sarah Ward
The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre
The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side by Agatha Christie
Murder in Cambridge by Christina Koning
An Untidy Death by Simon Brett
Black Coffee by Agatha Christie
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie
The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall
Marple: Twelve New Stories published by Harper Collins - an anthology of newly written short stories featuring Miss Marple by contemporary authors
Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm by Gil North
Towards Zero by Agatha Christie
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
The New Forest Murders by Matthew Sweet
Easeful Death by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
The Private Patient by P D James
Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh
The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell
Those People Next Door by Kia Abdullah
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
The Death of Us by Abigail Dean
The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson
Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans
You All Die Tonight by Simon Kernick
In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Before I Sleep by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear
At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweet
The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
Holly by Stephen King
Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jonasson
Invisible by Christne Poulson
Shot with Crimson by Nicola Upson
The Vanishing Act by Sarah Ward
The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre
The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side by Agatha Christie
Murder in Cambridge by Christina Koning
An Untidy Death by Simon Brett
Black Coffee by Agatha Christie
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie
The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall
Marple: Twelve New Stories published by Harper Collins - an anthology of newly written short stories featuring Miss Marple by contemporary authors
Sergeant Cluff Stands Firm by Gil North
Towards Zero by Agatha Christie
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
The New Forest Murders by Matthew Sweet
Easeful Death by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
The Private Patient by P D James
Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh
The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell
Those People Next Door by Kia Abdullah
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
The Death of Us by Abigail Dean
The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson
13vestafan
6.Children and young people's literature
Just William by Richmal Crompton - a very happy reread
Jane of Lantern Hill by L M Montgomery
The Bagthorpe Triangle by Helen Cresswell
Just William by Richmal Crompton - a very happy reread
Jane of Lantern Hill by L M Montgomery
The Bagthorpe Triangle by Helen Cresswell
14vestafan
7. Diaries and letters
Breaking the Code by Gyles Brandreth - this is the diary of his time as an MP - this role seems to have reduced his normal joie de vivre, and it's quite scary how much MPs drink!
Went to London, Took the Dog by Nina Stibbe
Breaking the Code by Gyles Brandreth - this is the diary of his time as an MP - this role seems to have reduced his normal joie de vivre, and it's quite scary how much MPs drink!
Went to London, Took the Dog by Nina Stibbe
15vestafan
8. Orwell
1984 by George Orwell - a novel I thought I'd read, but in fact I think my familiarity with the story is from popular culture, not the text
1984 by George Orwell - a novel I thought I'd read, but in fact I think my familiarity with the story is from popular culture, not the text
16vestafan
9. 'Mighty' Books
The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund
All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Tombland by C J Sansom
The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund
All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Tombland by C J Sansom
18vestafan
11. 1920-1960
The House Opposite by Barbara Noble
Lady Living Alone by Norah Lofts
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart
The House Opposite by Barbara Noble
Lady Living Alone by Norah Lofts
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart
19vestafan
12. Miscellaneous
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
The Gift by Edith Eger
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey - I bought this thinking it was a crime novel, but in fact, although set around the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, it's subject is really friendship and adolescent misunderstanding of the adult world.
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart
The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson
The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coe
The Haunting of Alma Fielding by Kate Summerscale
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
The Gift by Edith Eger
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey - I bought this thinking it was a crime novel, but in fact, although set around the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, it's subject is really friendship and adolescent misunderstanding of the adult world.
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart
The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson
The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coe
The Haunting of Alma Fielding by Kate Summerscale
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
20vestafan
13. Series
The Last Girl by Jane Casey
The Stranger You Know by Jane Casey
The Kill by Jane Casey
After the Fire by Jane Casey
Let the Dead Speak by Jane Casey
Cruel Acts by Jane Casey
The Cutting Place by Jane Casey
The Close by Jane Casey
A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey
The Secret Room by Jane Casey
The Black Ship by Carola Dunn
Sheer Folly by Carola Dunn
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
After That Night by Karin Slaughter
This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
Queen Lucia by E F Benson
Miss Mapp by E F Benson
Lucia in London by E F Benson
Mapp and Lucia by E F Benson
Lucia's Progress by E F Benson
Trouble for Lucia by E F Benson
Dead at First Sight by Peter James
Find Them Dead by Peter James
Left You Dead by Peter James
Picture You Dead by Peter James
A Touch of Frost by R D Wingfield
Winter Frost by R D Wingfield
The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson
Death Deserved by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Smoke Screen by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Unhinged by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Stigma by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Victim by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson
The Island by Ragnar Jonasson
The Mist by Ragnar Jonasson
From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith
A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith
The Great Hippopotamus Hotel by Alexander McCall Smith
In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith
The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen
The Night Man by Jorn Lier Horst
Snow Fall by Jorn Lier Horst
The Traitor by Jorn Lier Horst
The Last Girl by Jane Casey
The Stranger You Know by Jane Casey
The Kill by Jane Casey
After the Fire by Jane Casey
Let the Dead Speak by Jane Casey
Cruel Acts by Jane Casey
The Cutting Place by Jane Casey
The Close by Jane Casey
A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey
The Secret Room by Jane Casey
The Black Ship by Carola Dunn
Sheer Folly by Carola Dunn
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
After That Night by Karin Slaughter
This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
Queen Lucia by E F Benson
Miss Mapp by E F Benson
Lucia in London by E F Benson
Mapp and Lucia by E F Benson
Lucia's Progress by E F Benson
Trouble for Lucia by E F Benson
Dead at First Sight by Peter James
Find Them Dead by Peter James
Left You Dead by Peter James
Picture You Dead by Peter James
A Touch of Frost by R D Wingfield
Winter Frost by R D Wingfield
The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson
Death Deserved by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Smoke Screen by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Unhinged by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Stigma by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
Victim by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger
The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson
The Island by Ragnar Jonasson
The Mist by Ragnar Jonasson
From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith
A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith
The Great Hippopotamus Hotel by Alexander McCall Smith
In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith
The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen
The Night Man by Jorn Lier Horst
Snow Fall by Jorn Lier Horst
The Traitor by Jorn Lier Horst
21Tallulah_Rose
>8 vestafan: What is the Wartime Book Club about? The title sounds quite interesting.
>15 vestafan: Great that Orwell has his own category. I have not even read 1984 yet. Or am I not getting that right?
>15 vestafan: Great that Orwell has his own category. I have not even read 1984 yet. Or am I not getting that right?
22vestafan
>21 Tallulah_Rose: Hi, The Wartime Book Club is a novel set on the island of Jersey during World War II when it was occupied by the Germans. It concerns small but dangerous acts of resistance by the ordinary people on the island. The author met some people who remembered the occupation so the novel is based on real events.
It is a long time since I read 1984, but I may try to reread it this year. There is also a recently published novel Julia by Sandra Newman which tells the same story from the point of view of the woman who becomes involved with Winston Smith in the original work.
It is a long time since I read 1984, but I may try to reread it this year. There is also a recently published novel Julia by Sandra Newman which tells the same story from the point of view of the woman who becomes involved with Winston Smith in the original work.
