Books I've read in 2025

BuddingLast updated: 12 october 2025tags: review, books

The Lord of the Rings-series (3 books)
A staple in the fantasy literature world. This was my first time reading it and I really liked it. Sometimes I did get to checking how many pages were left though, especially towards the end when all Frodo and Sam do is struggle through Mordor. But I understand that this is what a lot of fantasy today is inspired by, and I can appreciate that. I am very fascinated by the detailed languages, conlangs have been an interest of mine for a long time. Guards! Guards!
I have read some other Discworld books beofre, but this one was definitely the funniest so far! I think this one had better pacing than the other’s I’ve read. I love the changes Vimes goes through, and I think Carrot was both funny and really interesting. To me the book is a bout how a community handles a crisis, and authoritarianism. But I suppose the latter comes across pretty well in every Discworld book, with Vetinari and all. Really good and I also love that Sybil is not romanticised as much as she could’ve been. We love female characters that aren’t one-dimensional. The hitchiker’s guide to the galaxy-series (5 books)
These books were to me very different from eachother. They remind me of Disccworld books. The two first I felt like were directly connected, the third one a bit of an explanation to the first 2, the 4th utterly unnecessary, and the 5th just strange. That is of course a bit of an oversimplification, and I understand that it doesn’t always need to add up like it conventionally would. I can appreciate the strangeness! I mostly stuck around for the humor. I wasn’t really satisfied about the ending though, but I suppose that can’t change outside of fanfiction. But the first book or two I could read again, those were funny. Maresi
Jag var nog lite för gammal för den här boken, men jag läste den eftersom jag efentligen läst uppföljaren till den här boken för flera år sen, och tänkte det var hög tid att jag tog mig an originalet. Då jag läste den tyckte jag att den var riktigt bra! Nu I efterhand märker jag att den var nästan en direkt kopia av The Tombs of Atuan. Inga män får komma dit, hela grejen med katakomberna och döden, alla ritualer, de är oroväckande lika, och jag undrar om inte författaren tagit en gnutta för mycket inspiration. Älgflickan
Den här boken var jag nog också för gammal för, men jag gillade den. Ganska mysig bok som fick mig att tänka på naturskydd och sånt. Jag gillar att både huvufkaraktären och hon som leder Skogens Vänner båda bryr sig om älgarna, men har så olika åsikter om hur man ska ta tag I situationen att det verkar som att de har helt olika mål. Men jag skulle rekommendera boken åt yngre läsare som vill läsa om en tjej som gillar naturen och blir kompis med älgar. Väldigt mysigt. Skuggas
Älskade boken. Jag älskar hur det skildrar en vanlig kvinnas perspektiv på kriget. Man får så många känslor, man förstår verkligen Ruts personlighet och vad hon tänker och tycker om saker. Hur livet går vidare, och också alla små detaljer om när under kriget vissa saker sker. Och miljön på den Österbottniska landsbygden får en att känna sig som hemma. Väldigt gripande och jag rekommenderar den verkligen. Minor detail
It really opens your eyes to the horror generations of palestinians have gone through. It is just inhumane what these people have happen to them on a daily basis. Short book, with a clear point. Free Palestine. Paper towns
I loved this book so much. First I wasn’t that interested, and just picked it up as something to read when I’m bored, but then I got really invested. I love the whole theme about not really knowing a person, the poem, the clues, it’s just so wonderfully written. The feeling of running away, it grips you and gives you shivers along your spine. Paper town, paper girl. Are we all paper? Can we ever be something real? Really stops you to think for a moment, and I think that’s beautiful. Kometen Kommer
Jag har alltid älskat mumin, och Tove Jansson är en av mina största inspirationer här I livet. Jag kan verkligen förstå att hon höll på med mumin då under kriget, då man behövde något lugnande, att komma bort från vardagen. Jag har läst Kometen kommer förut, och jag blir alltid lika glad. Snusmumrikens enkla livsstil, mumintrollets äventyrslust, muminmammans lugn… Jag kan inte annat än bli nostalgisk som finlandssvensk. Jag tror ätt även idag, behöver vi komma bort från vardagen. Earthsea (4 books)
I loved these so much. I think it’s interesting to see Ged grow up and learn things, even as he gets older. That’s really great, to show how to young people that even as you get older, there will always be more to learn. At least I took it that way. Although In the first 3 books he is kind of one-dimensional and I had a hard time finding a flaw in him after the “incident”. Tenar is an intersting character though, and I love that quote of hers about dancing, but not knowing who the dancer is. Taking on different forms, but never really knowing yourself. And really interesting languages. Although even if it was handled and discussed a bit more in Tehanu, I felt the author didn’t really solve the question about that women and men are inherently not that different. I think it was on the right track, but it might’ve been something I missed, or character opinions that confused me. I don’t know. But other than that really good. A psalm for the wild built (audiobook)
I’ve only recently gotten into the world of ecological literature, and I think this book was a great start. I love how the world is set up, and I can really relate to Dex in not knowing what their purpose is, and never feeling like what they’re doing is enough. Their discussions with Mosscap really got me feeling filosophical. Sometimes when you read a book there is no flare at all, but here felt I could almost smell the onions frying, and the water on their skin mixed with the sweet forest air, and their soggy socks. Really really good book, funny at times yet leaves you thinking for a while. Sommarboken
Så mysig och nostalgisk. Man känner igen sig både i den gamla gumman och den lilla flickan. Ibland var man inte säker på vem som talade, och det var mycket intressant. Det påminde om hur det är att vara vid mina morföräldrars stuga på somrarna. Lugnt och tyst, anonymt, skärgården. Det känns som en bok som man läser om och om och om igen. The hobbit
I can't believe it took me so long to read such a classic! I surely have nothing new to say about this book, but i have never read a review so my experience is worth sharing anyway. It's definitely more aimed at younger audiences than the Lord of the Rings-trilogy. But i actually think this one was easier to relate to, and i didn't get lost in the same way i did with the trilogy. Then again, it was more of a "perfect" story. And i do appreciate happy endings. The whole book got me in a very nice mood, so i think i'll be reading it many times over :) Going Postal
I condemn this book to anyone that might find it, or whatever. Amazing all throughout. I love books that really draw you in and when you look up from the pages again it's half past midnight and you're hungry as hell. I relate to Moist a lot, with his shows and people skills. The way society is portraied, the relationships between characters, the funny little details... It all adds up to a wonderful story that feels very fitting in our world of enshittification. Always a wonderful experience to read Sir Terry Pratchett's books. I especially love how Moist comes to realize that his actions do have consequences for other people. And everything about that just because we have the technology to send messages across the world so quick you can't fathom it, doesn't mean we should throw away the old system. Both are important. Both the new and the old can work cooperate, to build a better whole. That's a really nice thought, i think. On Tyranny
Got to borrow this book from my history teacher, and i read the whole thing in one sitting. Even if i don't live in the US, the world is so globalized you can't really just ignore what's happening there. It's basically a "hold your sanity intact"-guide for the world we are living in today. Tyranny isn't a thing of the past. It's happening actively, closer than you might think. I especially appreciate the "watch out for dangerous words" segment, as well as the first "don't comply in advance". Very important lessons. Read the news, spend less time getting upset about what people say online, and support local and independent institutions. Braiding Sweetgrass (audiobook)
I started listening to this maybe 2 months ago, and now I've finished it! I must say, it was definitely as good as people said it was. Kimmerer has a wonderful way with words, you get swooped up into the storm of the stories, and you don't eveer want to get down. She explains the relationship between plants and people so delicately, so precisely. You learn how important is is to listen. And how you can learn from everything. And you learn to be grateful, and generous. I've heard the word reciprocity so many times now i think it is permanently etched into my mind. But it's beautiful. The pecans and the maples, the witch hazel, the goldenrods, the sweetgrass. They all have their gifts. And in what way have we thanked them for their gifts? Do we not take and take and take until there is nothing left? It makes me terribly sad. But also greatful, to know, that in a world with artificial scarcity, we have everything we need. I've always been angry at fast fashion, consumption culture and factories spitting out products faster than we can think. But this put it in an entirely new light. You would not steal what you know you can be given. I love the epilogue, where Kimmerer speaks of a giveaway for mother earth, and the chapter with the students out in the wetlands. How can we give back? I would love to go to, or organize some event like that. What will you give to mother earth? Would there be organizations taking donations? Would there be people volunteering to pick up trash? Would you protest? Would you garden? Would you educate people? What would you do? I think it's such an interesting thought. I think we all need to do our part. If i went, i think i would give out zines with tips on how to live a bit more with the environment in mind. What would you do? Djupvattnet
Otroligt ledsam bok. Mot slutet satt jag och storbölade med bok i hand. Jag kommer inte att säga mycket om boken annat än: läs den. Det är ca. 170 sidor bedövande ledsamhet och ca. 40 sidor sorg som bryter en på mitten. Men den slutar bra. Och nu har jag lärt mig att ibland kan man bara ta vilken bok som helst i biblioteket. Man behöver inte ha blivit tipsad den på förhand alla gånger. Skred
En till bok av samma författare som boken ovan. Men i jämförelse till Djupvattnet var inte den här lika bra. Det var definitivt intressant att läsa om hur mamman blev mer och mer sjuk ju mer tid som gick. Och då man jämför med början av boken verkade hon ändå någorlunda stabil? Det är hemskt att liknande situationer händer på riktigt, och jag kände sån sorg för barnen. Såklart var det synd om mamman också, och jag förstår att man inte riktigt kan bestämma vad som var rätt och fel i en sån här bok. Det är en mycket intressant genre av böcker. Man lär sig att allt inte kan uppdelas i rätt och fel. Ibland bara gör man saker. Och efteråt kan man såklart sitta och fundera hur länge som helst på var det hade kunnat förändrats, var de hade sluppit ur situationen, hur man hade kunnat vända och vrida på det om man bara fått vara där. Men då hade inte jag fått läsa boken jag höll i handen. Det skulle aldrig blivit en story. Nåja, helt bra bok om man är beredd på att bli väldigt arg och ledsen. Sköldpaddsön
Kvinnan som var ansvarig för mig under PRAO-veckan på biblioteket satte boken i handen på mig och sa "Vi tänkte att om du kan läsa den här, så får du fixa en frågesport till en författarkväll". Så satt jag då, och läste den på ca. 2 1/2 timme. Förvånandsvärt bra bok! Riktar sig till kanske 9-12 åringar. Väl uppbygd story, gillade hur allt hängde ihop. Jag gillade delen om att Ilse tyckte om att Edla inte hade hår, och klippte av sitt eget. Rekommenderas åt yngre läsare som vill bekanta sig med finlandssvenska böcker :) Klein
Kom mig äntligen för att läsa Klein! Jag förstår verkligen att den är ett sånt "måste" inom bokkretsar. Fantastiskt att man alltid kan fästa temat "Klein" på någon i de olika novellerna, ibland flera. Det beror så mycket på synvinklar. Allt från den första novellen där gubben är lite "klein i hovo" till hierarkin i bastun, kommundirektörens sätt att "ta hand om" problem, prästens utbrott på begravningen. Vissa förstår man mer än andra. Vi e alla liti klein. Varför ska man behöva, män såväl som andra, vara så tuff hela tiden? Så smart och tilltänkt och stark och klara av vilken kritik som helst? Böja sig för alla möjliga normer? Det är ju, förstås, ett obotligt fenomen. Men allt kan bättras på. Rekommenderar starkt åt vem som helst. Yellowface
In similarity to Skred, the protagonist falls deeper and deeper into their own problems, blaming everyone else and doesn't realize how bad everything is before finally breaking. The discrimination in the book indstry was a problem i was not aware of. To be fair, i did not know anything about the book industry before i read this book. But the thing about having only one author from one minority group at a publishing company, who then also should comply to the necessary white standards, really hit me in the head with unknown prejudice. Many people in the est do really see the world through such a small lense, they do not realize that in other places, the minority and majority they know of switch places. And that in our globalized world it is necessary to not judge someone based on where they come from, to not see them as a souvenir, a thing to show off, from that country, but as a person, with unique emotions and feelings and stories, compared to any other person from that country. It's really just rasism. Any way, don't steal peoples art and claim it as your own, and have more than one thing to live for.