Life’s better when you have books and TV shows you like. For my wife Debbie and me, 2025 was a “productive” year for reading fiction and watching TV together. We coveted escaping into fictional worlds.
It’s my job to curate the television fare at our house. Unfortunately, although we on science fiction (pretty much anything), and semi-cosy mystery shows, my tastes in drama series especially are broader Chris’s.
I saved this post so that I can refer back to it. I am really trying to get back into reading—I think that depression has been getting in my way for a while.
I hadn’t heard of Nuremberg; I really look forward to seeing it. Have you and Debbie seen the movie Judgment at Nuremberg, with Spencer Tracy? I just watched part of it again recently (it was very late/early and I couldn’t stay awake. I have watched it several times before, and I think everyone should see it at least once. (Great performances by Richard Widmark, Maximillian Schell, Judy Garland, and Burt Lancaster, in addition to Tracy.
I recently read the profile of you which mentions your investment in so many Substacks (I am proud to be one of the many.)
I am upgrading my subscription to your Substack to show my appreciation for many of your posts in the last couple of years. I don’t always comment because I feel that my comments would end up being way too long.
You and hubby would get along. He watches sci-fi at night when he can’t sleep and will let me know if he thinks I would like it. I’m normally not a sci fi fan. Some shows I do like tho.
Your idea for “binge-gift” makes me nostalgic for mix tapes. Remember when you could give music to people — a favorite CD or for a more personal, curated touch, a mix tape? I miss that. Spotify playlists are great and all, but it’s no comparison.
Thank you so much for this!! I have read a lot myself this year and want to read even more in 2026. Reading has been a pleasure for most of my life and it is just sad that adulthood often deprives us of this time. I am now intentionally making more space for both fiction and non fiction. Regarding tv shows I am loving season 5 of stranger things which I am watching with my kids. What a wonderful example of character arc and nuanced story telling. It might not be so obvious but it truly is!
I am sure it does but I actually watched the first three seasons by myself as my kids at the time were still too young. I loved it from the start. Now it’s great to be able to watch it together. I really think it’s one of the best shows that has come out in recent years but I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea :)
Thanks for the suggestions. Here are a few of my most recent reads: “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans. The entire book is a series of letters. I actually listened to the audio version and it’s jumped to the top of my recommendations. And - “I see you’ve called in Dead” by John Kenney. Witty and engaging. Also listened on Audio. For viewing, I just started watching “Victoria” on Netflix. About Queen Victoria. I am a sucker historical drama. Continued happy reading and viewing!
For Victoria fans - Victoria the Queen by Julie Baird was one of my favorite reads of 2024. The ultimate, thoughtful and thought provoking biography. This year I read Queen Victoria & Her Prime Ministers by Anne Somerset. Also excellent and a great companion!
David, so many great recs - thanks! Sam and I especially liked Adolescence and Slow Horses… and more recently, House of Dynamite. I love that you admit that watching TV series is one of the favorite things you do with your Debbie - ditto here, with Sam. Do you have rules, like we do?? As in, you’re not allowed to go ahead without the other person?
Yes, the rule is not to watch ahead. Although I will sometimes watch part of a first episode to see if I think we'll watch it. We do have certain shows where tastes diverge, which is fine.
Thanks for sharing. It’s great to have both lists. My husband streams 20+ hours per week. We may watch 1-3 hours together. It’s a challenge for me to find something he hasn’t already seen, but our tastes vary as well. He has a very low tolerance bar. I often prefer reading. Lots of titles here that neither of us knows, so that’s great!
I’m with Debbie: Ethan Hawke is brilliant! As fan who is about Hawke’s age, I have enjoyed seeing him change over the course of his long career from a beautiful young man to a grizzled, quirky character actor.
Debbie might enjoy The Lowdown, in which Hawke plays a journalist trying to be a good dad, to uncover a secret criminal cabal in a small town, and to somehow recover from frequently being beaten up. It’s by Sterlin Harjo, whose previous series was the outstanding Reservation Dogs. Highly recommended!
In winter, spouse and I frequently make a fire in the fireplace and snuggle in with a series, so your list is quite welcome, David! I tend toward historical or social drama while my husband will get caught up in slightly weird German-language satire. We overlap heavily at crime and detective, so Slow Horses has been a house favorite for some time. Recently we also enjoyed The Paper, which was over-the-top but earnest and goofy. German TV also did an excellent series on Franz Kafka which I think is available in the US now.
Thank you. As a Brit I don't watch tv,it's a political thing. The book that sounds interesting of those is the one by Charlotte Runcie subject being to do with Glasto which I've never been to but live within range of. I'm currently reading 'Pytheas the Greek's by Barry Cunliffe the extraordinary story of the ancient Greek man who travelled up Britain to the Arctic and when the wrote up what he saw no one believed him but luckily enough other authors quoted portions from his work that his journey is known of at least and now historians concur he was telling the truth. Incidentally he said that Britain,where I live,was prosperous,well ruled,and happy.
Books make the perfect gift. Great list! Did you write these reviews/synopsis as you read them this year? I love that you and Debbie have your own private book group.
Thanks for all the recommendations! I loved Trust and The Stolen Queen too. And I'm thinking about starting The Pitt. But new Bridgerton drops soon too so that might take precedence. 😅
One battle after another was great but it felt like two movies to me—part 1 with the deplorable mom who I genuinely thought was going to be our 3 hour protagonist—and everything else. I was perplexed! So grateful for the rest of these pics, many of which I haven’t seen or read.
Oh— two great women centered books— Becoming Madame Secretary. About Francis Perkins— the first woman labor secretary in FDR’s cabinet. And The Churchill Sisters- about Winston and Clementine’s daughters.
TV— Death By Lightening. 4 fab episodes. Best of 2025.
Okay okay I'll read Heart the Lover! (I haven't read a single negative thing about it.)
Almost annoying how praised it is!
ha I know! Everything I’ve read is 100% great.
I didn’t love the last third, so thats’s somewhere between a quibble and a qualm.
OK, I’ll get back to you on that
It’s my job to curate the television fare at our house. Unfortunately, although we on science fiction (pretty much anything), and semi-cosy mystery shows, my tastes in drama series especially are broader Chris’s.
I saved this post so that I can refer back to it. I am really trying to get back into reading—I think that depression has been getting in my way for a while.
I hadn’t heard of Nuremberg; I really look forward to seeing it. Have you and Debbie seen the movie Judgment at Nuremberg, with Spencer Tracy? I just watched part of it again recently (it was very late/early and I couldn’t stay awake. I have watched it several times before, and I think everyone should see it at least once. (Great performances by Richard Widmark, Maximillian Schell, Judy Garland, and Burt Lancaster, in addition to Tracy.
I recently read the profile of you which mentions your investment in so many Substacks (I am proud to be one of the many.)
I am upgrading my subscription to your Substack to show my appreciation for many of your posts in the last couple of years. I don’t always comment because I feel that my comments would end up being way too long.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
You and hubby would get along. He watches sci-fi at night when he can’t sleep and will let me know if he thinks I would like it. I’m normally not a sci fi fan. Some shows I do like tho.
Judgement at Nuremberg is so good.
Russell Crowe was scary as HG, menace and charm. Evil can be both banal and hypnotic.
But does it require us to...fetch?
Thanks Teri for everything.
We need to see the original Nuremberg!
You absolutely do!
Your idea for “binge-gift” makes me nostalgic for mix tapes. Remember when you could give music to people — a favorite CD or for a more personal, curated touch, a mix tape? I miss that. Spotify playlists are great and all, but it’s no comparison.
I loved those mixed tapes! Giving and receiving.
Agree, Julie, mix tapes were far more personal.
It took true effort to create a mix tape (or CD). A great, and lamented, way for a 👦 to get the attention of a 🧒
Thank you so much for this!! I have read a lot myself this year and want to read even more in 2026. Reading has been a pleasure for most of my life and it is just sad that adulthood often deprives us of this time. I am now intentionally making more space for both fiction and non fiction. Regarding tv shows I am loving season 5 of stranger things which I am watching with my kids. What a wonderful example of character arc and nuanced story telling. It might not be so obvious but it truly is!
We dropped Stranger Things after the first two seasons. Probably helps to have kids to watch it with.
I am sure it does but I actually watched the first three seasons by myself as my kids at the time were still too young. I loved it from the start. Now it’s great to be able to watch it together. I really think it’s one of the best shows that has come out in recent years but I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea :)
Thanks for the suggestions. Here are a few of my most recent reads: “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans. The entire book is a series of letters. I actually listened to the audio version and it’s jumped to the top of my recommendations. And - “I see you’ve called in Dead” by John Kenney. Witty and engaging. Also listened on Audio. For viewing, I just started watching “Victoria” on Netflix. About Queen Victoria. I am a sucker historical drama. Continued happy reading and viewing!
Loooved The Correspondent!
Loved Victoria. We tried to do audio books but I fall asleep!
For Victoria fans - Victoria the Queen by Julie Baird was one of my favorite reads of 2024. The ultimate, thoughtful and thought provoking biography. This year I read Queen Victoria & Her Prime Ministers by Anne Somerset. Also excellent and a great companion!
Adding to my list. I love reading about prominent women in history. Or— women who should have had more accolades.
Thanks for the recommendations!
David, so many great recs - thanks! Sam and I especially liked Adolescence and Slow Horses… and more recently, House of Dynamite. I love that you admit that watching TV series is one of the favorite things you do with your Debbie - ditto here, with Sam. Do you have rules, like we do?? As in, you’re not allowed to go ahead without the other person?
Yes, the rule is not to watch ahead. Although I will sometimes watch part of a first episode to see if I think we'll watch it. We do have certain shows where tastes diverge, which is fine.
Thanks for sharing. It’s great to have both lists. My husband streams 20+ hours per week. We may watch 1-3 hours together. It’s a challenge for me to find something he hasn’t already seen, but our tastes vary as well. He has a very low tolerance bar. I often prefer reading. Lots of titles here that neither of us knows, so that’s great!
The best is when we have both a series and a book going.
I’m with Debbie: Ethan Hawke is brilliant! As fan who is about Hawke’s age, I have enjoyed seeing him change over the course of his long career from a beautiful young man to a grizzled, quirky character actor.
Debbie might enjoy The Lowdown, in which Hawke plays a journalist trying to be a good dad, to uncover a secret criminal cabal in a small town, and to somehow recover from frequently being beaten up. It’s by Sterlin Harjo, whose previous series was the outstanding Reservation Dogs. Highly recommended!
Have you seen Hawke in Maudie with Sally Hawkins? We loved it. Also Hawke's autobiographical theater novel was excellent on audiobook.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Thanks Mari. I will have to check out the Lowdown.
Love the book reccs, going to add to my pile :) x
In winter, spouse and I frequently make a fire in the fireplace and snuggle in with a series, so your list is quite welcome, David! I tend toward historical or social drama while my husband will get caught up in slightly weird German-language satire. We overlap heavily at crime and detective, so Slow Horses has been a house favorite for some time. Recently we also enjoyed The Paper, which was over-the-top but earnest and goofy. German TV also did an excellent series on Franz Kafka which I think is available in the US now.
Thanks Caroline. We liked Babylon Berlin but have not yet watched the most recent season.
Thank you. As a Brit I don't watch tv,it's a political thing. The book that sounds interesting of those is the one by Charlotte Runcie subject being to do with Glasto which I've never been to but live within range of. I'm currently reading 'Pytheas the Greek's by Barry Cunliffe the extraordinary story of the ancient Greek man who travelled up Britain to the Arctic and when the wrote up what he saw no one believed him but luckily enough other authors quoted portions from his work that his journey is known of at least and now historians concur he was telling the truth. Incidentally he said that Britain,where I live,was prosperous,well ruled,and happy.
Thanks Jane.
Buzzz. Lived it. BHills. Hollywood child. Left it. Write of. All in with Deb. Hawke is there! All in. All real. All Actor . All hot hot hot.
Books make the perfect gift. Great list! Did you write these reviews/synopsis as you read them this year? I love that you and Debbie have your own private book group.
I remembered Christine Sneed's book and I recently read Zoe Dubno's book so that was easy.
Thanks for all the recommendations! I loved Trust and The Stolen Queen too. And I'm thinking about starting The Pitt. But new Bridgerton drops soon too so that might take precedence. 😅
One battle after another was great but it felt like two movies to me—part 1 with the deplorable mom who I genuinely thought was going to be our 3 hour protagonist—and everything else. I was perplexed! So grateful for the rest of these pics, many of which I haven’t seen or read.
Debbie did not like the mom either!
Oh— two great women centered books— Becoming Madame Secretary. About Francis Perkins— the first woman labor secretary in FDR’s cabinet. And The Churchill Sisters- about Winston and Clementine’s daughters.
TV— Death By Lightening. 4 fab episodes. Best of 2025.
We liked Death by Lightening. It almost made the list. I kept hearing and seeing Tom Wambsgams from Succession as the assassin and that threw me off!
Haha!