Reading Wales Month — the story so far

Just popping in here with a quick post to give you up an update on Reading Wales Month. We’re just over halfway through and I’ve been astounded at the level of support from you all. Reading Wales Month got organised in a bit of a rush this year so that didn’t give people much time…

BookerTalk
1–2 minutes

Just popping in here with a quick post to give you up an update on Reading Wales Month.

We’re just over halfway through and I’ve been astounded at the level of support from you all. Reading Wales Month got organised in a bit of a rush this year so that didn’t give people much time to search through TBRs or library catalogues to find something suitable to read. The variety of books you’ve found has been really impressive.

We’ve had poetry from the former National Poet of Wales, short stories, crime fiction set in rural Wales, and a classic of Welsh fiction which blends crime and industrial unrest. Literary fiction is represented with Clear by Carys Davies and Mrs Jeckyll by Emma Glass — one of the contenders for the Dylan Thomas prize.

I’ve read three books by Welsh authors so far and am now on my fourth, Clear by Carys Davies. As always I’m a bit behind with the reviews but hope to catch up soon.

You can find links to everyone’s reviews on the ReadingWales25 page — if I’ve missed anything do please let me know in the comments below.

20 responses to “Reading Wales Month — the story so far”

  1. Staircase Wit Avatar
    Staircase Wit

    Here’s another from me:
    A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh, who now lives and writes in Wales
    https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-game-of-lies-by-clare-mackintosh.html

    Constance

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      Thanks Constance – I think I’ve read one of Claire’s books but now i can’t remember what it was. This series sounds good thoug – I like the idea of capitalising on the historical tension between people living on the English/Welsh border

      Reply
  2. Claire 'Word by Word' Avatar
    Claire ‘Word by Word’

    I’m starting Clear by Carys Davies today! Juluet Greenwood’s novels are excellent, I read The Paris Train by her last year and loved her earlier novels and the gardens and landscapes she evokes.

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      Ive read a couple of Greenwood’s novels though can’t remember the titles right now. Am certain though that I’ve not read the Paris one so will have to check that out

      Reply
  3. TravellinPenguin Avatar
    TravellinPenguin

    It would be fun to participate with this but it sneaked up on me. I’m not sure if I have any TBRs on the shelf though no doubt one of my many travel writing books must be appropriate whether someone motorbiked or bicycled or walked through your country.

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      Hmmm, I don’t think I’ve come across anyone cycling/biking around Wales. There is a One Woman Walks Wales book but I doubt you have that one.

      Reply
  4. Calmgrove Avatar
    Calmgrove

    Thanks for listing the Jan Newton book I read, Karen; I’ve also now read and reviewed a novelette/novella by Arthur Machen (‘The Great Return’) and The Unbroken Beauty of Rosalind Bone by Alex McCarthy, both for Reading Wales.

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      I haven’t caught up with all the reviews yet so thanks for letting me know Chris.

      Reply
  5. FictionFan Avatar
    FictionFan

    Glad it’s going well! I finished my second book last night – just have to write the review now…

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      I’m trying to write my second review now – slow going though

      Reply
  6. Lisa Hill Avatar
    Lisa Hill

    Remember how much I admired Gifted by Nikita Lalwani? I’ve just read her third novel: https://anzlitlovers.com/2025/03/19/you-people-2020-by-nikita-lalwani/

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      That’s good going Lisa. I’ll take a look shortly

      Reply
  7. WordsAndPeace Avatar
    WordsAndPeace

    And I’m listening to scifi: The Prefect, by Alastait Reynolds. Really loving it, but it’s a long one, close to 20 hours, and am not sure I’ll be done in time

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      Oh yes that is a long one. Even if you don’t finish it before month end, I think we can still claim it for Reading Wales since you’ll have done most of the listening during the month :_)

      Reply
  8. hopewellslibraryoflife Avatar
    hopewellslibraryoflife

    Thank you, again for taking it on!

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      It’s been wonderful to see what people have come up with – a lot of the names are new to me

      Reply
      1. hopewellslibraryoflife Avatar
        hopewellslibraryoflife

        This one was so good! So was How Green Was My Valley. So wonderful.

        Reply
  9. Carol Avatar
    Carol

    I’m trying! I read Cobbler’s Apprentice in April (oops!) and I attempted The Long Dry but it was too bleak for my tastes. So I’ve been looking for something else. Carla alerted me that there’s an Agatha Christie book set in Wales, so I have that in audio format from the library. I should be able to post next week. I’ll have to plan in advance for this next year!

    Reply
    1. BookerTalk Avatar
      BookerTalk

      You might enjoy the novels by Judith Barrow or Juliet Greenwood

      Reply
      1. Carol Avatar
        Carol

        Thanks for the recs!

        Reply

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