2025 has been a busy year with downsizing to a new home, launching a new book, and editing and publishing another. There has still been time to read and reflect on cultural trends. The Wolf Hall series had just finished at the end of 2024, so it felt appropriate to read the memoir of the distinguished author and creator, Hilary Mantel at the beginning of 2025.
A Memoir of My Former Self: A Life in Writing, Hilary Mantel (Hachette)
Having suffered from painful endometriosis as a young woman, that was coolly passed off as ‘women’s troubles’, Hilary began writing to distract from the pain. The French Revolution from the revolutionaries’ perspective was her first novel, but no one was interested. The UK publishers wanted the Tudors and Henry VIII, so she sought to find a character that intrigued her. Research led her to Thomas Cromwell, a man from lowly beginnings to the beating heart of 16th century politics. He reminded her of Icarus who flew too close to the sun but enjoyed it so much he didn’t want to give it up. This was Cromwell. When often asked if she was a novelist or a historian, she felt that by breathing life into her characters and letting them speak, she was more of a novelist than historian. And sad to think of all the historical characters on her bookshelf that she didn’t have time to write about.
Eight Weeks by Baroness Lola Young (Penguin Books)
Eight Weeks by Baroness Lola Young (Penguin Books) This is a personal and moving memoir that demonstrates great resilience from an abandoned child put into care at eight weeks old. Young Lola questions at every stage of her life, why? She is grateful to her London foster carer Daisy, who aged 70 plus, gave her stability and love. She is grateful too to all the social workers and council officers who had faith in her. It’s a story of triumph over adversity not just as an abandoned child, but as a tall black Nigerian girl growing up in 1960/70s London where blatant racism and sexism was rife. As a clever, ambitious girl Lola gains a place at Parliament Hill High School and despite challenges she succeeds. Indeed, her absent Nigerian father, is so impressed with her achievement, he unexpectedly arrives from Lagos to let the head teacher know that he is a high-ranking judge. Fast forward 50 years and Lola is now a Baroness in the House of Lords. It’s ironic that her formative years spent at the Parliamentary High School, should return full circle to her later years now in Westminster where, as Baroness Hornsey, she is in an ideal position to support those with tough lives themselves.
Sergei Prokofiev, A Biography by Harlow Robinson (Viking Press)
This memoir was so revelatory that I wanted to tell everyone about it. Inspired to read it by the Apprentice series on BBC2 that uses Prokofiev’s music from his Romeo and Juliet ballet score, I wondered what kind of life Prokofiev had led that could lead to such powerful and yet fragile music. I imagined a life fraught with tortuous experiences brought on by the Russian revolution. How wrong I was. Prokofiev wrote this tempestuous piece in his mid-thirties. He had grown up as a cherished only son in Ukraine. His father was a wealthy land manager, and Sergei was tutored in music, classics and chess playing. He spent his summers in St Petersburg where he later studied at the Grand École de Musique. He managed to escape Russia during the Revolution and was feted in the USA and Europe. He married a Spanish singer Lina in New York and together they toured the top concert halls of the day and motored around Paris and the South of France à la Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920s. But in his heart, he could never quite escape his Russian roots. The turbulence in his life never happened until he was in his 50s when back settled in Moscow his circumstances dramatically changed during Stalin’s regime. This is an outstanding memoir about the terror of Communism as well as the emptiness of chasing the American Dream, both of which Sergei Prokofiev experienced.
The Life of Charlotte Brontë, by Elizabeth Gaskell (Penguin Classics)
I am always amazed how the legacy of the Bronte’s never dies. Margot Robbie’s film Wuthering Heights is about to be released for Valentine’s Day in 2026, as is a reappraisal of Elizabeth Gaskell’s letters of Charlotte Bronte later in the year. If the three sisters had known from their remote reclusive existences, how far their influence would extend globally into the 21st century, they would be astonished, but never proud. For one thing I learned was that their father Patrick ensured the family led a comfort-free, austere existence. Fripperies and fancy things were for the feeble. His family were raised to be both strong in spirit and character. Gaskell’s autobiography also reveals Emily’s ‘rod of iron’ nature as well as the brutish nature of her beloved dog Keeper. It was incredible to read of the amount of household chores and sewing tasks that were required, and yet they still maintained the urge to create and write. Charlotte witnessed the death of her siblings one by one, leaving her bereft, but nothing is as sad as Gaskell’s account of Charlotte’s last walk on the moors, as a young wife who is newly pregnant and wishing to please her husband. Wearing the wrong shoes, an unexpected downpour lets in water causing her to take a chill from which she never recovers. Charlotte’s life is such an epic struggle not only to survive, but to she demonstrated dogged determination for she and her sisters to be published writers. It's such a gift that Gaskell took the time to write about it.
Villette by Charlotte Bronte (Penguin Classics)
This is almost certainly an autobiographical account of Charlotte working abroad as a teacher. The protagonist in Villette is Lucy Snowe, a poor struggling intelligent soul, without family to support her and without beauty to attract a wealthy suitor. She realises her strengths as a teacher and she courageously leaves England for France in the 1840s where she is successful in finding a teaching post that provides food and lodgings in the small town of Villette. The directress is the secretive Madame Beck. She is impressed by Lucy’s serious work ethic and the reader is treated to daily accounts of lessons where the teacher is like a performer on the ‘estrada’ reading from texts and elucidating responses. One professor Lucy detests. They antagonise each other. He feels she is a cool and unfeeling ‘anglaise’ and she describes him as an ugly choleric despot. But herein lies the plot. As Charlotte explores the outward character she finds there are always hidden depths. It’s in her search for truth that Lucy uncovers what is really going on at Madame Beck’s boarding school. This was a book I was sorry to finish. I could have happily stayed in the little school courtyard taking cool evening walks in the rose scented garden, and I especially enjoyed the French words and phrases that appear throughout the book.
French Children Don’t Throw Food, By Pamela Druckerman (Penguin)
I am always interested in all things French having worked as a student in the South of France and observing at first-hand how strict French parents were with their offspring. Druckerman, an American mum in Paris is continually asking, why do French children have better table manners? Why are they better behaved? How do French parents manage always to appear calm when USA/UK/Irish parents are fraught? The answer is simple: higher expectations; firmness and authority in the voice; and no shilly-shallying on rules. They never pander to whims or give long explanations. Just a straight-forward ‘no’ is enough! Great reassuring read for all those parents out there who verged on the side of strict.
Guy Maupassant Normandy Short Stories (Barnes and Noble)
Great short story writers are a rare breed, and it's normally those who can portray strong characters from the start that pull it off. The French writer Maupassant, a magazine short story writer in 19th century Paris was a master of his craft. These tales from Normandy are not only amusing but they evoke the simple life of peasants in the 1870s without the superficiality of 'gaie' Paris. There is a touching love story of a travelling straw repairer, ‘le rempailler ‘, who is looked down on by the professional classes as little more than a vagabond. Another story tells of how a French farmer stands up to a German soldier in the Franco Prussian war. The farmer has all the brute force of the Gauls in the Astérix comics, while the German soldier is as feeble and indecisive as Michael Crawford in ‘Some Mothers Do Have Them’. There is brilliant characterisation and great guttural dialogue in these stories that are rare pearls.
The Silver Darlings by Neil Gunn(Faber and Faber)
Another classic writer, well known for great characterisation is the late Scottish author Neil Gunn. His book, The Silver Darlings was lauded in the late 1970s, and it was time for a re-read. It is a beautiful, evocative and moving description of a simple Highland way of life where the moon lit your path at night, where walking was the only mode of transport and the seamen ruled the waves in their search for the plentiful silver herring. Set in Muir of Ord on the Moray Firth, it tells of the time when government grants were available to fishermen for landing barrels of herring to be sold at a profit all over the world. It was heaven to the highland seafarers and female gutters on shore where fortunes could be made. But the fishermen were also bait for bigger fish: the press gangs who captured the main character, Finn’s father, before he was even born. But plagues and lower prices for herring don’t deter young Finn as he grows up delighting in the Highland way, as he takes courage from visions he dares not tell his fishermen friends. It’s a story of survival, camaraderie and the Highland landscape at its best. The descriptive passages of Finn rockcliff climbing for eggs and drinking sweet velvety water from fresh pools, elevates this novel to something almost Ulyssian. The trials, the tribulations, the finding home.
Reluctant Rebel by Barbara Henderson (Luath Press)
Set in 1746 after the Jacobite defeat at Culloden, this children’s book tells of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape. It is based on real evidence of houses being torched by the English Redcoats and Highlanders fleeing for their lives. The main character Archie is asked to spy on the movements of the Redcoats to help Prince Charlie escape. He is reluctant to do this as his father has died fighting for the Jacobite cause and he is torn between the two camps. Would his father have been better off resisting the call to join the Stuart army or did he die a hero? The Highland landscape is beautifully described and it’s exciting that Bonnie Prince Charlie appears in the story as he is fleeing, but I would have liked if young Archie had had a conversation with him. As Hilary Mantel said, the novelist breathes life into historical characters through dialogue. Otherwise a great adventure.
Present with Presence by Isobel Rimmer (Rethink Press 2025)
My final pick is a handbook for anyone wishing to improve their presentation skills whether in business, politics, going for interviews or speaking to audiences. Rimmer, an experienced trainer of top executives from companies such as PriceWaterhouse, the NHS and politicians, shares her key tips on how to present with confidence and with ease. To some it looks easy, but the author reveals it’s all down to preparation, breathing skills and practice. Presenting to audiences whatever age or stage in life can be terrifying. This friendly manual provides a step-by-step guide from a professional trainer with years of experience who knows the obstacles and gives clear strategies to overcome them. It’s a must read for those wishing to present with presence.
Bearsden: Sharks, Romans, Coffee Shops by Malcolm Hill has been recently edited an published by me and is available to purchase locally, or through my Contact: Drop Me A Line.
Hope you've enjoyed my 'Best Reads of 2025'. If you've been inspired to read or reread any of these books, please let me know. Book Reviews are so important, and my recently published novel: Smugglers’ Midnight Escape was reviewed in January 2026’s Scottish Field Magazine as “historically rich and very readable, with dialogue that sees the characters’ personalities shine through.” If you would like to read it, click on the picture below.
