More about books

Catherine Larner

Hello, I'm Catherine Larner, a freelance journalist, editor and presenter living in Suffolk. I contribute features, profiles, reviews, comment and analysis to regional and national magazines, newspapers and online. You can take a look at my published articles on my website here.

I also interview on stage for festivals, organisations and bookshops, 'in conversation' with novelists, historians, politicians and personalities.

Reading extensively and widely, I report on the books I've enjoyed in a weekly e-newsletter and on this site which now provides a resource of more than 800 titles. I hope you'll find it helpful in choosing books for yourself and for your friends and family.

Thank you for reading

 

My More About Books bookstore where books can be purchased online can be found here or from any 'buy this book online' link. If you buy books linked to this site, I earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

What's on

Angela Harding in conversation
Sunday 17th November, 4.00pm
at Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge
read more
Cartoonist Matt Pritchett
Sunday 17th November, 6.00pm
at Riverside Cinema
read more

Events Archive

Visit my archive pages for details of all events in recent years.

Listening in

For more than 10 years I co-hosted a monthly book club on BBC Radio Suffolk with the presenter Lesley Dolphin. You can listen to past discussions here.

Book Groups

WOODBRIDGE

I've been hosting an open Book Group in Woodbridge for the past 17 years. We used to meet in the town's bookshop but are now gathering in a hall just off the Thoroughfare. Please ​​​​sign up for the weekly e-newsletter here to receive details. 

The Children's Bach
by Helen Garner
Described as 'a jewel of a novel about a perfect family falling apart' this is considered Helen Garner's masterpiece. 'A perfect novel' which is 'drawn on a small canvas and with a subtle musical backdrop'. What will we think of it?
Monday, 28 October 2024 - 8:00pm

Reader recommendations

At the end of each year, members of the Book Group meet together to share their favourite titles and offer ideas for gifts for friends and family, and for new authors to try ourselves. For 2023 the titles that were mentioned are listed here.

Buying books

I've linked the reviews on my website so that you can purchase online if you wish (and I will receive a small commission for each purchase, with a further commission going to all independent bookshops). 

Click here for my page on bookshop.org and do consider using it whenever you wish to buy online. 

Book reviews

My recent recommendations

Here are the books I've been enjoying recently, both fiction and non-fiction titles.

Sleepless
Annabel Abbs
Recommended non-fiction
A wonderful memoir about rediscovering the night, enjoying the safety, comfort, solitude and inspiration it offers when sleep is elusive.
read my review
Publication date: 3rd October 2024
Buy this book online
The Switch
Beth O'Leary
A fun, enjoyable read about a young woman and her grandmother doing a life swap! All about friendship and community, and second chances.
read my review
Publication date: 21st January 2021
Buy this book online
Meditations for Mortals
Oliver Burkeman
Recommended non-fiction
How we have to accept that there is always too much for us to do - and the future will always be out of our control. So how do we live better?
read my review
Publication date: 12th September 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
The Book of Beginnings
Sally Page
Seeing life through the customers of a London stationery shop! A warm, charming and entertaining read.
read my review
Publication date: 28th September 2023
Buy this book online
The Children's Bach
Helen Garner
Described as 'a jewel of a novel about a perfect family falling apart' this is considered Helen Garner's masterpiece. 'A perfect...
Publication date: 14th March 2024
Buy this book online
Penance
Eliza Clark
A journalist seeks to investigate the truth behind the murder of a 16-year-old girl a decade earlier.
read my review
Publication date: 2nd May 2024
Buy this book online
In search of one last song
Patrick Galbraith
Recommended non-fiction
Part nature writing, part travel writing, meeting the people trying to save birds and wildlife in peril.
read my review
Publication date: 27th April 2023
Buy this book online
Jobs for the girls
Ysenda Maxtone Graham
Recommended non-fiction
A quirky, entertaining and enlightening view of women's careers in the 1950s through to the early 90s.
read my review
Publication date: 5th September 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online

For more reviews click here

For children

These are my most recent recommendations for children. Click here to see listings by age.

Blue Heart
by Nicola Davies
Stunning book about whales, combining beautiful illustrations, poetry, memoir and fascinating facts for all ages from four upwards.
read my review
Publication date: 19th September 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Betty and the mysterious visitor
by Anne Twist and illustrated by Emily Sutton
A charming story about plants and wildlife, and living alongside them both, beautifully illustrated by the incredible Emily Sutton.
read my review
Publication date: 5th September 2024
Buy this book online
On the wall
by Anne Fine
Finley intrigues his classmates and teachers alike with his calm composure. What's his secret? A wonderful story about being at peace with...
read my review
Publication date: 5th September 2024
Buy this book online
Almost Nothing Happened
by Meg Rosoff
A brilliantly funny, life-affirming, classy adventure set in Paris over a very hot weekend.
read my review
Publication date: 15th August 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Rosa by Starlight
by Hilary McKay
A wonderful, magical, uplifting tale of resourcefulness and courage. Fantastic!
read my review
Publication date: 8th August 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Nowhere Island
by Tania Unsworth
A brilliant adventure about survival and what it means to be family.
read my review
Publication date: 1st August 2024
Buy this book online
Hot Dog
by Doug Salati
Publication date: 4th July 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Delta and the Lost City
by Anna Fargher
In the shadow of Vesuvius, the wolf dog Delta has a race against time to save her family in 79 AD Pompeii.
read my review
Publication date: 4th July 2024
Buy this book online

Look out for

These titles will soon be published but are not yet available in the shops. 

The Proof of My Innocence
by Jonathan Coe
Publication date: 7th November 2024
Order this book online

 

 

For my reviews on radio click here

News

Sunday 13 October 2024

Found in books

This weekend I visited an extraordinary exhibition at the Art Workers' Guild in London. It was called the Table Top Museum and for one day only, 30 collectors had been invited to share their particular obsessions.

It was an eclectic mix, to say the least. There were beer mats, sugar sachets, perfumes, map postcards, 'all things blue', coloured knitting needles and...petrified potatoes. Yes. They were rather amazing actually. But there was much more, with each collection displayed on an allocated table in a couple of rooms in this beautifully historic terrace house near Bloomsbury.

A friend was taking part. She loves all things associated with libraries and invited visitors to her Table Top Museum of old library cards, stamps, badges and signage. I've seen some of her collection before, and it was fabulous viewing it in this setting (take a look at her Instagram account @bookyjen).