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, 3.00pm
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.

Readers recommendations
At the end of each year, members of the Woodbridge 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.

FRAMLINGHAM

I'm leading a monthly adult book group at the fabulous Ottie and the Bea children's shop in Framlingham. You can find out about how to join in the meeting and sign up here or call in to the shop to learn more and browse the wonderful selection of children's books and gifts. The book we are reading this month is

For thy great pain have mercy on my little pain
by Victoria Mackenzie
Wednesday, 13 November 2024 - 7:30pm

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.

Playground
Richard Powers
Publication date: 26th September 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Under the Hornbeams
Emma Tarlo
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 18th January 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
The lives of Lee Miller
Antony Penrose
Recommended non-fiction
The essential guide to the story of the phenomenal Lee Miller, with brilliant photography included.
read my review
Publication date: 29th August 2024
Buy this book online
Tell Me Everything
Elizabeth Strout
Another beautiful peek into the lives of Strout's characters in this small town in Maine, USA.
read my review
Publication date: 19th September 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
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

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
The Dictionary Story
by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
Publication date: 1st August 2024
Hardback edition
Buy this book online
Hot Dog
by Doug Salati
A beautifully simple, evocative tale of a hot summer's day, from the perspective of a small dog. Fantastic illustrations. Wonderful!
read my review
Publication date: 4th July 2024
Hardback edition
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
The Troubled Deep
by Rob Parker
The first in a brilliant new series set on the Norfolk Broads with Cam Killick, a former Marine and SBS diver investigating cold cases.
Publication date: 16th January 2025
Order this book online
The Bookseller
by Tim Sullivan
A DS Cross thriller this time based in the world of secondhand books!
Publication date: 16th January 2025
Order this book online
The Honesty Box
by Lucy Brazier
Recommended non-fiction
A memoir of being in a relationship with someone who is neurodivergent. It's fun and enlightening, and talks of family life in Dorset as well as giving an insight into a career in the media.
Publication date: 27th February 2025
Order this book online

 

 

For my reviews on radio click here

News

Sunday 20 October 2024

From page to screen

Last week was a very busy week for me, but I still managed to make three trips to the cinema and watch a few hours of shows on streaming channels! 

In normal circumstances I would have told myself that I couldn't fit in all that screen time but it depends on your priorities doesn't it?! I knew that if I didn't get to see the films this week, the opportunities would have passed me by. They didn't have any other showings at the cinema and my free offers on the streaming channels came to an end this weekend!! 

Looking back, each film or series was an adaptation of a book and it's been interesting considering how I've responded to them all.

There were the books I hadn't read which I saw as films at The Riverside - 'Touch', a novel by Swedish writer Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, and 'Outrun', a memoir by Amy Liptrot. Both interesting films, beautifully shot, though a little slow, and which haven't left me keen to read the original text.