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

I am always planning new events but at the moment I have nothing quite ready to announce.

Recent Events

Saturday 23 May 2026
BBC newsreader, presenter, distance runner and now writer, Sophie Raworth joined us to talk about her new book 'Running on Air'.

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. 

Dominion
by Addie e Citchens
Shortlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize, this novel explores the repercussions of patriarchy by 'exalting the beauty and strength of Black womanhood'. What will we think of it?
Monday, 28 September 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

Madame Bovary
by Gustav Flaubert
In Madame Bovary, Flaubert created one of the most scandalous female characters literature has ever known. We're revisiting this classic ahead of reading Elif Shafak's new novel where she looks at Flaubert through the women he created. 
Wednesday, 19 August 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.

Bobby Palmer
A love story told from the perspective of the friends, family and strangers on the periphery! Brilliant.
Publication date: 2nd July 2026
Hardback edition
Ben Reeves
Publication date: 2nd July 2026
Hardback edition
Frank Cottrell_Boyce
Recommended non-fiction
The former children's laureate looks back on all he's learned about sharing the joy of reading.
Publication date: 18th June 2026
Hardback edition
Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
Recommended non-fiction
A very readable and enlightening memoir and a guide to getting more from our reading experience.
Publication date: 6th November 2025
Hardback edition
Ian Bogost
Recommended non-fiction
A fun and thought-provoking perspective on finding joy in the everyday - from watching the sunrise to punching the button on a vending machine!
Publication date: 7th July 2026
Hardback edition
Rose Tremain
Recommended non-fiction
A memoir of childhood from this award-winning author.
Publication date: 11th April 2019
Allen Levi
A beautiful, uplifting story of kindness and community.
Publication date: 4th December 2025
Angela Tomaski
A story of a family, and a grand mansion, through the ephemera of their everyday life.
Publication date: 5th March 2026
Hardback edition

For children

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

by Rachel Bright and illustrated by Jim Field
A wonderful story where the magic of the first moments of life for baby turtles is combined with a powerful message for us all.
Publication date: 9th October 2025
by Rose Tremain
Oliver discovers a rather special metal bird in a field.
Publication date: 5th September 2024
by Nicola Penfold
A school adventure, with a nostalgic flavour, but it's very much up-to-date in its climate catastrophe theme
Publication date: 2nd July 2026
by Alex G. Griffiths
A fox, living alone in the forest, receives a strange letter inviting him to solve a puzzle.
Publication date: 28th August 2025
by Eoin McLaughlin and illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark
Memories made by a young boy spending time with his grandmother.
Publication date: 4th June 2026
by Lucas Maxwell
A story of how a neurodivergent teenager copes with family breakdown.
Publication date: 9th April 2026
by Mick Jackson and illustrated by Baljinder Kaur
Taking an overnight train, a little girl struggles to get to sleep.
Publication date: 7th May 2026
by Jo Arnold and illustrated by Philip Harris
For anyone fascinated by what lies under the sea. Beautifully illustrated and incredible stories.
Publication date: 7th May 2026
Hardback edition

Look out for

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

by Meg Mason
In the world of literary events, Sophie becomes smitten and rather obsessed with one particular author.
Publication date: 27th August 2026
by Louisa Young
Continuing the stories from the Cazalet Chronicles by Elisabeth Jane Howard.
Publication date: 3rd September 2026
by William Boyd
Publication date: 3rd September 2026
by Caroline Quentin
Recommended non-fiction
A rather lovely book where the actress Caroline Quentin shares her wonder in the natural world through words and illustration.
Publication date: 10th September 2026
by Emma Cline
Publication date: 10th September 2026
by Rose Tremain
An imagining of how Daphne du Maurier may have been inspired to write 'Rebecca'.
Publication date: 17th September 2026
by Louise Kennedy
Publication date: 24th September 2026
by Louis de Berniéres
Recommended non-fiction
Publication date: 29th September 2026
by Sarah Moss
A short story to be devoured in one sitting, about how the past always catches up with you.
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 Bonnie Garmus
Publication date: 13th October 2026

News

Sunday 2 August 2026

Accepting the challenge

We've begun! With the Booker Prize Longlist revealed earlier this week, we are on our way to finding out this year's winner of the most prestigious and coveted award in English literature.

And in Woodbridge, once again we're investing in the process as members of our Booker Book Group take on the challenge of reading all 13 books between us to draw up our own shortlist, and potential champion.

Fairly predictably, most of the suggestions by bloggers, critics and booksellers about who might make this year's Longlist were wide of the mark. So the choices from judges Mary Beard, Jarvis Cocker, Patricia Lockwood, Raymond Antrobus and Rebecca Liu have been declared 'surprising', 'mischievous', 'original' and 'risk-taking'. 

We'll let you know what we make of their decision when we've had our discussion on Monday 7 September. And, by the way, if you want to attend that meeting to hear the presentations and our deliberations, you will be very welcome. I'll be giving more details nearer the time.