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

Saturday 10th October, 6.00pm
at United Reformed Church
Sunday 11th October, 5.45pm
at Unitarian Meeting House
Wednesday 4th November, 1.30pm
at Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge
Broadcaster and writer, Gyles Brandreth will be in conversation sharing his tips on how we might all live well, for longer.
Monday 23rd November, 2.00pm
at Woodbridge Library
The award-winning biographer presents her latest book, exploring the life of novelist Anita Brookner.

Recent Events

Sunday 27 September 2026
Continuing The Cazalet Chronicles created by her aunt Elizabeth Jane Howard, writer Louisa Young introduces the first of her trilogy.
Saturday 19 September 2026
Tim Dee will be talking about his book 'Landfill' as part of a day of author talks for the Leiston Book. Festival
Sunday 23 August 2026
Debut novelist Jenny Knight talked about 'Wild Moon Rising' at FolkEast.

Events Archive

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

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. 

NEW:  Read our views on the Booker Longlist here

Less
by Andrew Sean Greer
This is the Pulitzer prize-winning novel about a failed writer trying to escape his problems by travelling abroad. It's been described as 'hilarious, heart-warming and life-enhancing'. What will we think of it?
Monday, 26 October 2026 - 8:00pm

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 2025 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

Buckeye
by Patrick Ryan
It's Ohio after the war and the lives of two young couples - Becky and Cal, Margaret and Felix - have become intertwined. The consequences are ultimately devastating and far reaching. Considered a 'big-hearted bestselling phenomenon', what will we think of this novel?
Wednesday, 11 November 2026 - 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.

Patrick Radden Keefe
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 7th April 2026
Hardback edition
Errollyn Wallen
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 14th August 2025
Matthew Rice
Recommended non-fiction
A beautiful, joyful account of the artist's garden in the Cotswolds.
Publication date: 24th September 2026
Hardback edition
Emma Fowle
Recommended non-fiction
A powerful, moving memoir of betrayal, hope and redemption.
Publication date: 19th February 2026
Louisa Young
Continuing the stories from The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard.
Publication date: 3rd September 2026
Hardback edition
William Boyd
The third thriller featuring travel writer and spy, Gabriel Dax.
Publication date: 3rd September 2026
Hardback edition
Kathryn Scanlan
Publication date: 19th January 2023
Stewart White
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 30th April 2026

For children

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

by Harriet Howe and illustrated by Katie Cottle
A camping trip looks set to go badly wrong.
Publication date: 10th September 2026
by Iqbal Hussain
Publication date: 1st January 2026
by Catherine Bruton
A wonderfully engaging but ultimately very sad story about one summer looking out for tadpoles, and coping with a little boy gettting very ill.
Publication date: 7th May 2026
by Steve Cole
Publication date: 30th July 2026
by Piers Torday and illustrated by Matthew Taylor Wilson
A beautiful fable about our relationship with the natural world, with stunning illustrations on every page.
Publication date: 15th January 2026
Hardback edition
by Sophie Kirtley
A magical, mysterious story of nature, friendship and folklore.
Publication date: 6th November 2025
by Anthony McGowan
The adventures of an unlikely trio of birds.
Publication date: 14th May 2026
by Emma Dodd
The first in a series of stories for new-born babies, this contains four tales about animals and sleep.
Publication date: 13th August 2026
Hardback edition

Look out for

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

by Louise Willder
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 1st October 2026
by Ann Cleeves
The fourth in the Two Rivers series with detective Matthew Venn.
Publication date: 8th October 2026
by Roisin Maguire
Publication date: 8th October 2026
by Bonnie Garmus
The follow-up to the incredible 'Lessons in Chemistry'.
Publication date: 13th October 2026
by Gyles Brandreth and Finola Burrell
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 15th October 2026
by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Publication date: 20th October 2026
by Peter James
Publication date: 20th October 2026
by Isla McGuckin and illustrated by Circle Yuen
Recommended for children
Publication date: 5th November 2026

News

Sunday 27 September 2026

Choosing your words

There have been various theories on why this is the case - the blockbuster movie 'The Odyssey' and 'Instapoetry' are two key factors, it's thought. But I've been particularly interested to learn from a number of sources that we may be turning to poetry to help us deal with our troubled world.

The 'Guardian's Culture Editor Charlotte Higgins wrote recently that 'poetry is the only language for these times of violence and chaos'.

Jacqueline Saphra agrees. She is a poet and trustee of the Poetry in Aldeburgh festival which takes place on 5-8 November. ‘I think people turn to poetry in times of trauma and trouble,' she told me for an article in next month's 'Suffolk' magazine.