If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need - Cicero
Olivia Laing’s The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone is part memoir, part art criticism, and part meditation on what it means to be lonely in a world built for connection.
Japanese literary crime novel, Butter by Asako Yuzuki blends food, feminism, and mystery in a slow-burning exploration of desire and shame
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a bestselling sci-fi novel that blends science, suspense, and surprising emotion. A lone astronaut wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory and slowly uncovers a mission that could save humanity. Smart, fast-paced, and unexpectedly moving, this gripping space thriller is perfect for fans of clever science fiction with heart.
Awareness by Anthony de Mello is a modern spiritual classic that invites readers to wake up from the illusions of ego, conditioning, and control. With a blend of sharp humour, deep insight, and grounded practicality, de Mello delivers a powerful guide to inner freedom and present-moment living.
Michael Connelly’s Nightshade kicks off a gripping new series set on Catalina Island — murder, secrets, and golf carts included. A smart, atmospheric crime thriller with a quietly compelling lead and classic Connelly tension.
A reflective review of Pico Iyer’s A Beginner’s Guide to Japan — a poetic, thought-provoking travel book that explores Japanese culture through silence, stillness, humour, and contradiction. Ideal reading before your trip to Japan., or if you’re eager to return.
A review of Haruki Murakami’s 2024 novel The City and Its Uncertain Walls — a slow-burning meditation on memory, love, and the walls we build inside ourselves.
‘Stench’ is the debut collection from Fermanagh based Poet Trish Bennett. Very much rooted in the border hinterlands, these poems are full of humour, vigour and poignancy.
‘Air’ is the fourth novella in John Boyne’s ‘Elements’ series, and it’s somewhat apt that we find Aaron Umber and his son Emmett 30,000 feet above the ground on a long haul flight. Emmett is unaware they are going to meet someone from his fathers past, but can they bridge the gap that exists between them first?
Keiko is a 36 year old convenience store worker in Tokyo under pressure to conform - why isn’t she married with a career? Darkly humorous and thought provoking social critique on modern Japan.
‘Abroad in Japan’ is the informative and breezily entertaining account of Chris Broads life, first as a JET teacher then later as a successful youtuber.
‘Crying in H Mart: A memoir’ by Michelle Zauner is a an account of the Japanese Breakfast singer growing up mixed race in the US, experiencing the loss of her mother and the subsequent grief, then discovering her own identity and cultural heritage.
This is the engrossing story of The Wager, an a scarcely believable account of mutiny, shipwreck, murder, and survival against all the odds.
Wendy Erskine’s frenetic enthralling debut is a sharp, moving and thought provoking novel on real lives in the North of Ireland. It tackles gender and class inequality, what parents will do to protect their children, and is both dark and bloody funny.
Finally time for me to read Suze Rotolo’s memoir of her time in Greenwich Village, especially after watching ‘A Complete Unknown’. One for the casual reader or strictly for the bob cats?
Another fine slice of Aussie crime noir from Chris Hammer, which begins after the body of an entrepreneur is found in a small town, the beginning of a narrative stretching over 30 years. Featuring a bank robbery, DNA discoveries and family intrigue, environmental protests and police and political corruption, this is a top notch thriller.
Tim Marshall turns his attention from geopolitics to astropolitics, in another accessible and engaging book that details how many of our earthly squabbles are being transferred to the starry firmament above.
A young couple, Mari and Takahashi, meet in the twilight hours in a Tokyo diner before we set out on a story that involves love hotels, Chinese gangster and literal sleeping beauties. Another beguiling and enchanting novel from Murikami.
In Fire, John Boyne takes the reader on a chilling, uncomfortable but utterly compelling psychological journey to the epicentre of the human condition, asking the age-old question: nurture – or nature?
Two brothers along with some friends set out for a fresh start in california, in a road trip that goes in the opposite direction it’s meant to. Charming, funny and moving, Amor Towles intricate storytelling shines brightly again.
Twelve years in exile on an island for a crime they both committed, Aina and Whitney are awaiting parole. But is there anyone out there? Intriguing dystopian thriller.
Stephen King has a lot of fun with this story of a town that suddenly finds itself under an invisible dome. With a huge cast and a pace that never flags, this is vintage King.
Booker prize winning ‘Orbital’ by Samantha Harvey is a meditative and moving short novel about a day in the life of six astronauts orbiting planet earth.
National Book Award winning and Booker nominated, ‘James’ by Percival Everett is a retelling of an American Classic.
Renée is on the trail of a serial rapist, last seen twenty years ago. Meanwhile, she’s lost her badge so needs to involve Harry, whilst Maddie Bosch has uncovered details on one of LA’s most famous unsolved cases. Another strong outing from Micheal Connelly.
Gabor Mate’s bestseller, looking at the connections between stress and autoimmune disease is over twenty years old. How is it holding up?
Sally Rooney’s fourth novel is a moving and nuanced story of two grieving brothers and their complicated relationships.
Missing person thriller, serial killer chase, love story - all of this and more in Chris Whitakers epic, character driven ‘All the colors of the dark.’
Adyashanti's book contains 30 short exercises to introduce you to non duality or deepen your practice. Concise, clear and profound.
Lucy Barton’s ex-husband William needs a favour - he's discovered a family secret, and wants Lucy to accompany him on a trip to meet a half-sister. It’s a book that looks at the ties that bind us, about how the past shapes the present, and asks that all important question - do we ever, truly, really know anyone?
A summer round up featuring some books, gruff anti-heroes, a cillín, a beach boy and a school choir.
Celtic crosses, headstones, Say nothing and friendship in Naples. Been a while since I’ve had a round up so this one covers a couple of months.
Old oaks, ZEF and lowlife scum, some Belfast Cowboys and back by popular demand: favourite benches. Here's Septembers round up.
Hermits, mountains, deer, orange delight, young Irish blues singers - a Summer round up.
I've been blogging book reviews for three years now and I'm going to share what I've learnt in that time. Can you get paid to read books?
Some of my favourite distractions in May - Shinrin Yoku, civil war in the states, inside number 9, female pirate books, and a thrilling new series - my favourite park benches.