Here we go again on the picture a day shenanigans.
We took the decorations down today and piled them up at the top of the stairs ready to go back in the loft.
Project365 #1
Author: Phil Lengthorn
2025: A Year of Reading
Last year I managed to read 29 books, and year before 30, so my target of reading 31 books in 2025 seemed sensible.
I ended up reading 32 in the end – so another good year on the reading front.
This was made up of the usual varied selection of books and genres:
- Running books = 6
- Teenage Fiction = 10
- Thrillers = 9
- Autobiographies = 1
- Fantasy = 1
- Music = 2
- Science Fiction = 1
- Coming-of-age novel = 1
- Epic Novel = 1
A few favourites:
The Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer. Top rated book of the year: 4.5 stars. Loved it.
Mind Over Miles by Russ Cook. I love a running book and this was the top rated running book of the year: 4 stars. A book about grit and determination.
His Bloody Project by Graham Mcrae Burnet. Another 4 star book. Fictional story written in a very real way. Really liked it.
Some stats…
Book 32 of 2025
‘A Mind of my Own’ by Kathy Burke
My first, and last, autobiography of the year. I’m not a great fan of the genre.
This book was ok. A bit too much, ‘I did this play with this person, then this person asked me to do this show’, but it was interesting enough. I didn’t know she had done so much ‘serious’ stuff!
Last book of the year done. Review of the ‘Reading Year’ to follow.
Best albums of 2025?
Seen a fair bit on the socials about the favourite albums of the year. So wanted to stick my oar in…
I find it really tricky to actually come up with a top ten, especially if you want me to do it in order. So I haven’t. I’ve picked six really good albums from the year. Albums I physically own and have played a fair bit. I’m not even faffing around with a ‘why I like it’.
So, in no particular order:
Divorce – ‘Drive To Goldenhammer’
Sam Fender – ‘People Watching’
Wet Leg – ‘Moisturizer’
Anthony Szmierek – ‘Service Station at the End of the Universe’
Geese – ‘Getting Killed’
Olivia Dean – ‘The Art of Loving’
Book 31 of 2025
‘She is not Invisible’ by Marcus Sedgwick
It’s another teenage fiction, by Marcus Sedgwick, my favourite author of teenage fiction. One of his earlier novels, My Swordhand is Singing, is one of my favourite teenage novels.
This book, She is not Invisible, was really good. Probably my favourite teenage novel of the year. It follows Laureth, a 16-year-old blind girl, and her younger brother, on the search to find their father. It explores themes of trust, obsession and coincidence.
I would definitely recommend.
Book 30 of 2025
‘Wild Folk People’ by Beans on Toast
Beans on Toast is a folk singer that I’ve seen quite a few times. I love his music, he is a fantastic storyteller and folk singer. In this book he tells some heartwarming, rebellious and deeply human stories about various people who have inspired. They are the stories he often tells during his gigs – I’ve heard a few of these recently – they talk of connection, creativity and the beautiful mess of being alive.
People are everything, and people shape the world with the stories they tell and the songs they sing. So sing your song. Live your life. Love each other and always be wild.
Lengthorn's Blog 