Possible Reads 2025 Listing

 

Title	Author	Pages		Comments
James	Percival Everett	336	A re-imagining of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, told from the standpoint of the enslaved Jim. Dazzling and very humorous.
Orbital (READ)	Samantha Harvey	138	A team of astronauts in the International Space Station observes the planet Earth and each other. Their communications dwell on the fragility of human life and of the planet itself. Winner of the 2024 Booker Prize. The Sunday Times described is as “Stunning, an uplifting book.”
Victim	Andrew Boryga	288	A young man in the Bronx learns to use his tragic background as the perfect route to fame and fortune, and to enhance his growing reputation as a writer. Praised for its exceptional character development, the novel draws the reader into the protagonist’s psyche, involving a blend of fear, rationalisation and occasionally guilt.
The Safekeep	Yale van der Wouden	288	Isabel is an uptight, controlled and humourless figure living in her family’s countryside home in the Netherlands in the early 1960s. Her reserve begins to break down when her brother’s girlfriend comes to stay. Tensions simmer, truths are uncovered, leading to a devastating revelation.- Thee New York Times called it “a quietly remarkable book.”
Caledonian Road	Andrew O’Hagan	656	Satirical novel featuring a celebrity Scottish author in London, mixing with everyone from minor Royals and Russian oligarchs to people traffickers and grime artists. A portrait of a society both dazzling and disgusting- “Addictively enjoyable” said The Guardian.
Intermezzo	Sally Rooney	432	Two adult brothers are working their way through grief and family tensions  following the death of their father. Messy romantic entanglements, plenty of sex and philosophical debate. “A tender funny page-turner” said The Observer.
The Heart in Winter	Kevin Barry	242	Irish humour, doomed lovers, and bounty hunters, all set in 1890s Montana. Awarded The Sunday Times Historical Novel of the Year. The Observer said “by turns, funny and tragic, full of typically outrageous figures and sublime writing.”
Tell Me Everything	Elizabeth Strout	336	Featuring characters from Strout’s earlier books, this is a novel set in Maine, full of story-telling and empathy among old friends and acquaintances – Olive Kitteridge, Bob Burgess and Lucy Barton. Full of pathos and dry humour, this is a book with heart.
Wild Houses	Colin Barrett	272	Set in a small town in Ireland, where a sweet-natured teenage boy is kidnapped by a local gang as collateral  for his older brother’s crimes. The Washington Post called it “an electric thriller” with masterful touches of comedy, while The Telegraph praised “a superb tale of violence, loyalty and loss”.
Death At the Sign of the Rook (READ)	Kate Atkinson	384	Jackson Brodie is back. A case of a stolen painting leads to a mystery in a country house hotel, featuring an assortment of characters worthy of Agatha Christie. A showcase for Kate Atkinson’s perfect observation of contemporary culture and her sharp humour.
Juice	Tim Winton	528	Two fugitives, a man and a child, drive across a stony desert. They find what looks like a refuge, but they are not alone..Their journey continues and the challenge becomes not only to survive but how   to retain your humanity if you do. An edge of your seat post-apocalyptic thriller from one of Australia’s most respected writers.
Creation Lake	Rachel Kushner	416	A vital and wickedly entertaining novel about a 34-year old female undercover agent who infiltrates a radical eco-activist commune in France. Having successfully penetrated the group, she becomes intrigued by an elderly philosopher and his rejection of modern life. Shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize
The Bee Sting	Paul Murray	656	Epic many-layered tragic-comedy of an Irish family in crisis. The Washington Post called it an instant classic. A novel concerned with the ties that bind, secrets and lies, love and loss. Thought by many critics to have been unlucky not to win the Booker Prize. “Immersive, brilliantly structured and beautifully written.”
The Fraud (READ)	Zadie Smith	400	Dazzling historical fiction set in Victorian England, against the background of an actual infamous trial. Hypocrisy and self-deception abound, all told with Smith’s inimitable humour
Baumgartner	Paul Auster	208	Baumgartner is a noted author and professor of philosophy, about to embark on his 70s following the death of his beloved wife with whom he has shared over 40 years. The book is rich with compassion, wit and an eye for beauty. A tender and late masterpiece by the renowned American author.
Night Watch (MAY 2025)	Jayne Anne Phillips	304	Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. A 12-year old girl and her war-damaged mother seek refuge in the aftermath of the American Civil War. The book traces an arc of damage and loss to recovery.  Historical story-telling at its best.