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Belle

@bellelctaylor

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📍 Edinburgh, UK

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My 2025 year in reading, and pics of where I read them!

Starting with my favourite two books of the year...

🇮🇳 A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry:

I realise I am 29 years late to the party but wow! This is not a happy novel but is deep in humanity, showing how good people keep living despite all the horrors life throws their way. If I had to write a pithy one-liner, I'd say "If A Little Life and Shantaram had a baby" (make of that what you will!) but this, of course, predates both.

🌳 Prodigal Summer, Barbara Kingsolver:

I adored this novel, which opened my eyes to the needs and challenges of both wildness and cultivation, and gave me a deep appreciation of the roles of predator and prey. Plus, a familial community of characters I cared deeply for. (Note: will make you want to grow things / plan out your fantasy veg plot)

And coming in with 4.5/5 on my (highly scientific) ranking scale, I loved all these books too...

🤫 Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe:
This came highly recommended to me, as a gobbler up of anything about The Troubles. This is, in my opinion, how all non-fiction should be written – journalistic with a propulsive narrative and a strong cast of characters (not least, Belfast).

🏘 The City and Its Uncertain Walls, Haruki Murakami:
A very Murakami-esque (what else!) blend of the real, surreal, and unreal. I loved this deeply atmospheric book with interesting themes on depression, grief, closure, and its central message of letting your heart free in the belief that your mind will keep you safe (and vice versa!).

🛶 James, Pervical Everett:
This was the first book I read in 2025, and an excellent start to the year! Having not read Huckleberry Finn (although I've read Tom Sawyer) I do not know the original story, nor its deviations, but this was a well-paced 'adventure' with lots to say about slavery in the South, and "passing" in many forms.

🇲🇽 American Dirt, Jeanine Cummins:
I thought this was an incredibly well-paced read highlighting the dangers, terrors, and logistics of migrants journeying from Mexico to the US, and just how quickly lives can change. by @bellelctaylor

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10 months ago

Another excellent year of reading, thanks to 2 holidays, and a lot of train travel.

In no particular order, here are my 5* reads of 2024:

🇯🇵 Pachinko: a multi-generational epic following a Korean family in Japan (which I read while in Japan) and how identity, pride and character are shaped by surroundings and experiences. Incredibly rich storytelling, which I'd recommend to everyone!

🇮🇪 Prophet Song: this one was a pretty scary read, feeling both dystopian and prescient as Ireland falls into a facist and totalitarian regime, and the undoing of normal life in the process. Very thought-provoking.

🪖 In Memorium: an incredible account of the horrors of war and the camaraderie between men, as well as a beautiful love story. Plus, an insightful look into the English boarding school system.

👻 Lincoln in the Bardo: While the structure won't be for everyone, the cacophony of voices lent the narrative a gossipy and often very funny air, while tackling the questions of how we let go of the people and world we love.

👁 Julia: 1984 from another perspective. A richly realised character that asked questions of choice, complicity and freedom. Fiercly feminist and unputadownable - I adored it!

🔫 Four Shots in the Night: a gripping true story during the Troubles, with politicians and informers, the rise of the IRA, and later Sinn Fein. I learnt loads (although a Google tells me there is more to the tale). by @bellelctaylor

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2 years ago

What a flirt! by @bellelctaylor

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3 years ago

My 2023 reading year started badly: I got taken in by Instagram advertising and read some real duds. But hurrah, some excellent reads saved the day!

Here are my fave books of 2023 (all 5/5 - I won't be taking questions on my scoring system)...

1️⃣ Small Things Like These: I seem to have a thing for Irish fiction and Clare Keegan continues the tradition. A small, but perfectly formed, novel of wilful (?) ignorance in the time of mother and baby homes.

2️⃣ Young Mungo: Shuggy Bain is one of my faves, and the new Douglas Stuart novel did not disappoint. There were times when my heart was in my throat with dread, expecting the very worst - but amidst all the cruelty, we are left on a hopeful note.

3️⃣ Rebecca: my first time reading (I'd not even watched the film)! I loved Manderley and the feeling of foreboding woven throughout the novel. A classic gothic thriller.

4️⃣ A Thread Of Violence: a rare non fiction (thanks to @peterscottreid for the excellent birthday pressie!) and another Irish inclusion on the list. I gobbled up this account of an author trying, and sometimes failing, to grapple with the intent and ramifications of murder. Loved it!

5️⃣ Demon Copperhead (I had to steal a pic from the Internet, as I've lent my copy to my mum): Dickens, set in Appalachia, at the beginning of the opioid crisis - big themes, handled masterfully. I was utterly absorbed by Demon's patch of America, and the traumas its people (not least Demon) endured. A modern classic.

Well look at those overviews expanding as we work down the list...character limits be damned!

My to-be-read pile is currently tottering on my bookshelf, so I'm expecting some excellent reads in 2024. 📚 What should I add to my list? by @bellelctaylor

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3 years ago

Week 2 🌿🍂☘️

Following week 1's theory class (latin 101), today was our first practical session in the RBGE nursery.

This week's focus was SOIL. 🌱 We learnt about structure, texture and mulching; did some (dubious) pH tests; tried our hand at single digging beds; and dabbled in a bit of weeding.

Frankly, if you've never used an oscillating hoe, you haven't lived. 🤌 taken in Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh by @bellelctaylor

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3 years ago

A beautiful sunrise and a frozen fountain. taken in Danesfield House Hotel and Spa by @bellelctaylor

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4 years ago

Who said palm trees couldn't join the party?! 🌴🌲✨ by @bellelctaylor

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4 years ago

Woke up to the first frosting of the year - and Miso's first snow (she was not a fan)!

It's all melted now, but fingers crossed for a proper snow day soon! by @bellelctaylor

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4 years ago

Evidence of a flying trip to beautiful Bath where I got to imagine I was promenading with The Georgians and bathing with The Romans. 💕 What a pretty city! taken in Bath, Somerset by @bellelctaylor

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4 years ago

My favourite gardening helper. Her little paw! 😭

Also an insta hello to my gorgeous roses in the background! by @bellelctaylor

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4 years ago

What a lovely weekend so far, and it's only lunchtime..!
I saw Derren Brown yesterday (gogogo if you can! 🤯), and woke up to my first national newspaper coverage! 🎉 This morning I had a lovely coffee date with @blldt_, followed by a beautiful walk home to my sensational lilac in the garden.

Swipe for some drunk ducks. ➡️ by @bellelctaylor

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4 years ago

A rare grey sky (albeit not in Edinburgh)!

What a lovely trip to London to see the @somx_healthtech team and wander through the hallowed courtyard of @jessicamarysm's old work / this fancy building. taken in Holborn, London, England by @bellelctaylor

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5 years ago