non-fiction – Ruth Dawkins Freelance Writer

Photo shows a close up of a book with the pages fanned out, and the text '2025: My year in reading'

It’s time for one of my favourite annual traditions: a roundup of the reading I’ve done this year. Some of you have followed along with me on my Instagram account, which has been lovely. If you haven’t found me on there and you’d like to, please do come and say hello.

In 2025, I read 100 books. Of those, 51 were fiction, 46 were non-fiction, and three were poetry. I also logged six DNFs – which, by my own rules, only count if I made it at least 50 pages in before admitting defeat. Anything abandoned earlier than that doesn’t make the list at all.

Compared with previous years, this has been a slightly lighter reading year overall. ALMOST LIKE THE WORLD HAS BEEN REALLY MESSY AND I’VE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME DOOMSCROLLING LOL. Continue reading “2025: My year in reading” →

2020: a year in reading by Ruth Dawkins

Despite everything that happened in 2020 – or perhaps even because of everything that happened – I’ve managed to keep up a pretty good pace of reading this year.

There’s still a week or so left in the year, but to date I’ve read 107 books. Ten less than last year, but still not bad.

The split was 48 fiction, 48 non-fiction, 8 poetry and 3 mixed anthologies. Three of them were audiobooks, and four of them were e-books that I was sent as a volunteer reader for the Highland Book Prize. The rest were hardcopy, sourced from a combination of new and second hand bookshops, op shops, loans from friends, and free little libraries.

Additionally, I started three books that I didn’t finish – but I tend not to name and shame when that happens, because reading is such a personal thing. Message me if you really want to know…

I thought I’d share my favourite fiction and non-fiction reads, along with a couple of poetry recommendations, in case you’re looking for some reading inspiration over the holidays. (Or perhaps a last-minute Christmas present!) Continue reading “2020: a year in reading” →