Top Picks of 2025
It may seem self-indulgent to continue to make these kinds of lists when the world is so full of horror from the Hunger Strikers here, through creeping Fascism in America, to the continuing genocide in Palestine; however giving up on everything is a victory for the oppressors.
Music
My top gigs of the year were Graham Nash and Amy Speace.
My favourite album was Margo Price’s Hard Headed Woman.
My favourite song was Lucinda Williams’ The World’s Gone Wrong
TV
From 2025, Sirens on Netflix was my programme of the year – everything I love: very dark humour, searing political insight, especially in terms of class and gender, and redemption (for some characters) at the end.
I got a recommendation from someone I really trust to watch Fargo, which, like many other things, passed me by originally. So I started with Series 1 Episode 1 and watched all 5 series straight off, then bought the Box Set of Series 1-3 and have already rewatched 1 and 2!
It is at the genius level and joins my all-time favourites, which probably haven’t changed for a few years.
So Top TV series of all time….
The Wire
……………
Rome
Friday Night Lights
Fargo
Nashville
The West Wing
The Wire is in a category of its own for me. Not only is it my favourite but I judge it the best in every way – artistically, politically, ideologically. I am pretty confident that I am not going to see anything remotely as good in my lifetime.
This is not to say that I have watched it more – the experience, especially with Series 2 and above all 3, is just too harrowing.
The other 5 I can’t really separate. For enjoyment, Rome would be top, but even I can’t argue that it is a work of genius. Friday Night Lights is severely let down by an abysmal 2nd season (I have never researched what happened here). Anyway, Fargo definitely joins the list now.
Books
Like previous years this is an easy category…
Elena Ferrante – The Story of the Last Child. This is the fourth and final book in the My Brilliant Friend and is a fittingly wondrous conclusion to this masterpiece.
Eimear McBride – The City Changes It’s Face. This is the continuation novel to The Lesser Bohemians and is an exception for me in that I read it in the year of publication. I am now up to date with McBride’s novels (Strange Hotel, the other McBride I read this year is an alternate!).
A mention must also go to Annie Ernaux’s The Years, which would win but for my adoration of McBride/Ferrante. Fanboy – guilty!
Moving Toyshop 
Forster told us each of us has to carry on in our lives as best we may when the ruthless brutal thugs take over. I see you’ve kept up. We share only one title or author because I have not read or watched (though have heard of) many of your citations. Our shared ground is Elena Ferrara, my favorite might be the third book. I love The Lost Daughter, book & film. A single book which I read this year and then reread and taught, and then watched the 1977 BBC serial: Winifred Holtby’s South Riding.
Dear Nick, that fascism you refer to is now in galloping mode.