Libby

For anyone who, like me, enjoys learning what other writers read, here’s an updated list. Some favourites from November 2025 to now.
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Gods and Angels, short stories by David Park. Enjoyable, easy to read. I went through the volume like a novel, straight from start to finish.
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The Marlowe Papers, by Ros Barber. A verse novel which imagines Christopher Marlowe wasn’t murdered in 1593 but escaped to the Continent. It supposes he continued spying, having love affairs, coming back to England in disguise and being the real author of Shakespeare’s plays. I wasn’t so sure about the latter but I thoroughly enjoyed the rich language and lively depiction of Marlowe.
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The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman. Very entertaining, page turning and lots of humour.
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The Whitsun Weddings, Philip Larkin. Simon Armitage’s series on Larkin on Radio 4 was very enjoyable. Is Larkin still relevant or is he dated? Armitage and interviewees decided he’s well worth continued attention. I finally read the entirety of my old volume of The Whitsun Wedings.
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English Magic, stories by Uschi Gatward. A mix of stories inspired by old English festivals such as Beltane, and standard realism – all delicate and evocative.
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The Benefactors, Wendy Erskine. I was very impressed by this polyphonic novel. When three teenage boys are accused of sexual assault their mothers join forces to protect them. But the teenage girl who’s been assaulted also has people on her side.
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The Night in Venice, by A J Martin. This is the same Andrew Martin whose historical mysteries I’ve enjoyed before. His well written novels always have an enjoyable streak of eccentricity.
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Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson. I’d been meaning to read this for years. Good even if the narrative isn’t always logical. Plenty to think about too, how Stevenson keeps up the rattling pace and manages to stay away from the standard moralities of the time.
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Look Closer: How to Get More Out of Reading, by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst. Very well written, interesting and informative book on close reading. I whizzed through it and will return to it, probably several times.