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Welcome to the Book Shed

The Book Shed

The Book Shed is my personal record of the books I have read, the books I want to read, and what I thought about them. What started as notes on a piece of card eventually became a spreadsheet and then grew into this website.

You can browse the complete reading list, explore authors and genres, find our favourite books, or see what is waiting on the ever-growing to-be-read pile.

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These are the authors with the most books currently recorded in the Book Shed.

Latest from the Book Shed

Alien franchise 7th June 2026

I know that this site is all about books, however, you will see that I have read 3 books recently that are a part of this universe. I have loved the films (in different amounts and for different reasons, there is nowhere near enough time to get into that) and the books filled in more story when the films left me wanting to know more.
Although I have seen them all and am also up to date with Alien Earth (eagerly awaiting the next season), I have been watching the Alien and Predator films with Century of Cinema, this has been like watching them over again for the first time. The stories are full of "what ifs" that could, one day, have some truth in them. That though is terrifying but we could never say that it can't happen.

BBC's Other Bennet Sister 13th May 2026

Last weekend, I watched The Other Bennet Sister on BBC's iPlayer. I had to mention it because it was so enjoyable. It is based on the book that I enjoyed so much a few years ago, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and rather than being another adaptation of this classic (in every sense of the term), it is the same story but told from the very different sister, Mary Bennet. This story runs in tandem with the more famous one but there are lovely insights into the family and life in that period along with some well-timed comedy and a story that Jane Austen herself would have been proud of. I highly recommend it.

Conclave movie 3rd April 2026

Yet another movie based on a book! Today is Good Friday and I have just finished Conclave. I adored this book and could not put it down, I have been nervous about watching it in case it does not do justice to an excellent book.
Firstly, the name change. I got very confused about the fact that Cardinal Lomeli is now Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). I only mention this as it threw me at first. The casting is excellent and all of the characters (despite the name change) match very well. There will always be a gap between books and films, mainly around the fact that it is impossible to squeeze all of the content of most books into a 2 hour film. This film does it very, the changes in direction could have been explored more and some parts were hurried a little, however, it certainly did the book justice. Please watch (after you have read the book).

This page was updated on: 1st July 2025