Reading Wales Month ‘2025 — the curtain falls
What a month ReadingWales25 has been. It’s been wonderful to see so many people reading books by authors from Wales and discovering authors they’ve never encountered before.
When I decided to take on the hosting mantel from Paula at BookJotter, I purposefully set my expectations low. There are so many other fabulous reading events competing for attention that I thought I’d be lucky if I could persuade at least a handful of you to join in.
Well the number of contributors was a lot more than five! Across the month we’ve seen 34 posts across the month on everything from short stories and poetry to historical fiction and crime. My TBR is going to shoot up in the coming months because I’ve been tempted by many of the books you’ve reviewed.
You can find the posts all listed on the ReadingWales25 page. I hope I haven’t missed anyone but if you don’t see your name, please leave. a comment and link below so I can make sure you are included. If you’re still reading or haven’t yet written your review (I plead guilty!), don’t worry, I won’t be closing the doors any time soon.
Thank you all for your support. i’ve been bowled over by the level of enthusiasm you’ve all shown, particularly because I didn’t give you much advance notice that Reading Wales Month would happen this year. I promise to do better next year. Yes, there will be a Reading Wales 26 so if you didn’t get to join in this year’s fun, put a marker in your calendar now!!!
So the curtain is coming down on this year but it will rise again come March 1, 2026. Gweld chi flwyddyn nesaf (see you next year)
Calmgrove
Thanks again for taking this over, Karen, I would miss it if it wasn’t running but sadly couldn’t have spared the time to host it if you hadn’t offered!
Jane
Thank you for hosting Karen, it’s been fun reading all the reviews and my tbr list has grown too!
Whispering Gums
Oh my oh my … so sorry that the month slipped by without my managing to even read a short story. I struggle with all these reading weeks/months but usually manage to fit in a short story. Can you point me to short story writers/sources for next year? My Welsh reading is woeful and I have a Welsh background (two great grandparents, as I’ve probably said before) and middle name. Shame on me.
FictionFan
Congratulations on a successful challenge!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Thanks for hosting Karen – have enjoyed reading everyone’s reviews!
BookerTalk
The variety has been extraordinary
A Life in Books
I’d say it went very well. I’ve seen lots of Reading Wales in my timeline! Here’s my contribution – Anthony Shapland’s A Room Above A Shop https://alifeinbooks.co.uk/2025/03/a-room-above-a-shop-by-anthony-shapland-a-love-story/ – if you want to add it.
BookerTalk
Thanks for joining in Susan and with such an interesting piece of fiction. I’ve duely added it to the master page
Cathy746books
Thanks for a great month Karen, I loved both the Sheers and the Carys Davies that I read. WIll have to line something up for next year!
BookerTalk
I’m astounded that you had time to read anything given that you were hosting your own event (much bigger than mine) at the same time. Very impressive.
margaret21
Note to self. Will try harder in time for 2026!
BookerTalk
At least it won’t get sprung on you at the last moment next year
margaret21
👍
kimbofo
Apologies I didn’t contribute; I was focussed on Reading Ireland and the Stella Prize long list, but I’ll keep my eye out for some Welsh fiction so I can participate in 2026!
BookerTalk
Don’t feel bad Kim, there are only so many hours available to read and you already had two big events to contend with.
Lisa Hill
Thank you for hosting!
BookerTalk
it was a learning curve – hope to do better next year at keeping up to date with everyone’s posts
Lisa Hill
You’ve done well. I hosted Indigenous/First Nations Reading Week for over a decade and never got anything like the engagement you’ve achieved.
WordsAndPeace
I wanted to participate, but I still have a couple of hours to finish my long audiobook, a scifi novel by Welsh author Alastair Reynolds – The Prefect
BookerTalk
No worries at all – let me know when you’ve done your review and I’ll add it anyway
Carol
I’ll pursue the list to glean ideas for next year!
BookerTalk
There is sure to be something to suit you Carol