Bookshelf
2026
On the Calculation of Volume I
Good one for the algo to throw at me after a book about quantum physics
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
Beautiful, weirdly comforting, totally mind-bending, occassionally incomprehensible.
The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition
People drink too much (as I have long suspected).
The Dream Hotel
I was well into the dystopian premise but not that bothered by the characters or plot.
Brotherless Night
I haven’t cried so much reading a book in as long as I can remember. Maybe ever.
The Rainfall Market
I definitely wasn't the target audience. And maybe it lost something in translation. But I thought it was daft garbage.
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
My enjoyment was only slightly hampered by my complete ignorance of Sri Lankan history.
2025
Case Study
Funny and thought-provoking. Didn't quite have the pay-out I was hoping for, but I don't think that's the book's fault.
His Bloody Project
This was excellent. It's going to stick with me for some time.
Nutrition for Marathon Running
Carbs. Carbs. Carbs. Carbs. Mostly carbs. Carbs.
Dream Count
Pretty good. Pretty bleak.
The Voyage Home
Right back in my wheelhouse after my self-inflicted attritional sci-fi onslaught.
The Kellerby Code
Silly.
The Hydrogen Sonata
I am very glad that that was the last one in the series.
Daniels' Running Formula
Uses an extremely uncalled for amount of abbreviations, but I think I've worked out my training paces.
Advanced Marathoning
Lots of miles.
Hansons Marathon Method
Fewer miles, maybe more pain.
Embassytown
A gift from Si. At the time I think I joked that it would take me a year to get round to reading it. In fact it took two.
Surface Detail
Just one more to go and I can stop reading Iain M Banks books at the end of this self-inflicted Culture series marathon.
Matter
I enjoyed the characters and the worlds, but felt like the plot was a bit of a damp squib in the end.
Perfection
Short.
Look to Windward
Got better towards the end, granted, but I won't be reading it again.
Inversions
Best yet (perhaps because it's only remotely science fiction).
Excession
Long.
Ordinary Saints
Buy, borrow, or steal a copy now! But probably buy it yeah?
Use of Weapons
Florid.
On Photography
Interesting and thought provoking, for sure, but a bit higher-brow than I'm craving currently.
Analogue Photography
Christmas present from Σσ.
2024
Find Your Frame
Lots of excellent photos and solid advice.
Think Like a Street Photographer
Such an incredible body of work, especially since it's all film.
The Player of Games
Probably the most into science fiction I've been to date.
Consider Phlebas
Space opera is probably never going to be bang in my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed this enough to want to read more of the Culture series.
The Hike
An unimaginably rubbish sack of complete balls.
The Bridge
This is going to haunt me for some time – a really incredible work (that I wasn't remotely ready for when I read it last, age 14).
Border Crossing
This was gripping throughout, and I was set for more of the same at the end but (spoilers) it felt like a bit of a damp squib to me.
The Women of Troy
I didn't rate it as highly as The Silence of the Girls, but I enjoyed the writing.
Stone Blind
Retelling of Greek myths with more female agency is very much my jam.
2023
In it for the Long Run
An actual book that I started before baby girl was born and have just got round to finishing. It was ok.