My favorite books, movies, series and anime in 2025.
Photography is the focus of my website and blog, but it’s not the only activity that brings me joy. I also love reading and watching great movies and series, and I enjoy sharing some of that with you in hopes you may find something you’d enjoy, or perhaps discover we both enjoyed the same thing. Take a look below to see which of the books, movies and series ended up my favorites in 2025.
Some of the links below are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no extra cost to you.
Favorite Photography & Art Books
National Gallery of Art - Master Paintings From the Collection
This was an easy pick in that it was the only book of this category I read in the entire year. But thankfully, I did absolutely love the book. It’s a great read for anyone interested in the paintings of the great masters, especially those on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. It can be thought of as a perfect alternative for those unable to physically visit the museum, or as a fantastic supplement for those who have. It includes some information about each piece shown, and has short essays with even more information on many works.
Favorite Non-fiction Books
First Principles: What America’s Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country by Thomas E. Ricks
I’ve read other works of history about the founding of the United States, but this one differs from the others by looking at the education of the founders, what works and authors they were reading at the time, and how that likely affected their efforts to form a new government. I really enjoyed this perspective and learned quite a lot.
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
This was a fun read, as well as educational. The author is a professor and he shares how he goes about reading, analyzing, and understanding works of literature. I think I would have enjoyed classes with this professor as he appears to want students to learn to come to their own conclusions as much as, or more, than accepting any conclusions he’s come to.
Favorite Fiction Books
A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
An absolutely perfect book, and my introduction to Zelazny’s novels, though I think I’d read some of his short stories when younger. Told from the perspective of a watch dog as it goes about helping his human with his preparations in the Game. There are many players in the Game, each with an animal companion, and we only slowly learn what the Game is over the course of the novel, told one day at a time with each chapter a single day in October. I loved this book and look forward to trying more by this fantastic author.
The Riftwar Saga (Magician: Apprentice, Magician: Master, Silverthorn, A Darkness at Sethanon) by Raymond Feist
As with Zelazny, I’ve been aware of Feist for quite some time, but only this year did I finally try any of his novels. I dove straight into the larger Riftwar Cycle with these novels, The Riftwar Saga, where it all began. And I loved them. Classic Epic Fantasy, and yet it felt a bit different from much of the rest I’ve read. I listened to these as audiobooks and I’ve been slowly collecting the rest of the books he’s written so I can continue exploring his worlds and characters in the many interconnected series.
Contact by Carl Sagan
So this isn’t the first book I’ve read by Carl Sagan, though it is the first fiction I’ve read by him. Previously, I’d read and watched the two different versions of Cosmos where he teaches about the earth, the universe and everything. And I’ve watched the movie version of Contact, which I also loved. But it was great to finally read the book, one that explores first contact with a species not of this world. Fantastic read, and an interesting look back at a specific point in history.
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
I read and loved many Stephen King novels when younger but at some point I sort of stopped reading his works. I tried to get back into his newer stuff every so often and it just didn’t work. But this time is different, this time I found a fantastic book that reminds me why I used to love King’s stories as much as I did. This one is more mystery and thriller and horror, though it certainly includes aspects of that, as well. But most of all it has a great cast of characters, some that are not very good people but still expertly portrayed. I hope to continue reading more of King’s newer works.
The Swords of Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber
I’ve been enjoying reading Fritz Leiber’s adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser for quite some time. They are absolutely classic fantasy characters, most often portrayed in short story anthologies, but this time in a full length novel. This is probably one of the oldest fantasy novels I read this year, first published in 1968. And thankfully, I still have some of their stories left to read. I both look forward to, and dread, the day I finally read the last story of this incredible duo.
Favorite Graphic Novels & Comics
No Longer Human by Junji Ito
A dark, depressing, sometimes depraved, story about a man with so many problems throughout his life, many if not most self-inflicted. There are recurring themes of addiction of various forms, as well as suicide. This graphic novel by Junji Ito was based on the novel of the same name written by Osamu Dazai and thought by some to be a suicide note from the author who soon afterwards committed suicide with his lover. The graphic novel feels almost circular in some ways, self-referential, with Osamu Dazai being one of the characters, and him writing No Longer Human within the story. I assume this was also the case with his original novel, though I’ve not read it. The artwork by Junji Ito is fantastic and very well suited to the story. I would be curious to try reading Osamu Dazai’s novel to compare it to this adaptation.
Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror by Junji Ito
What a crazy and wild ride. I’d watched the live action movie, but so long ago I’d forgotten most of it so this felt very fresh and new. In some cases it felt like an anthology of interconnected stories, though the further in the more cohesive the story felt. A fantastic read for any fan of Junji Ito’s work.
The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong
I won a copy of this book through a goodreads giveaway. This was a real winner. It apparently started as a web comic and now it’s been published in a hardback graphic novel. I love these stories of Oscar Zahn, a floating skull in a trench coat and a paranormal investigator solving supernatural problems. He has a heart of gold as he struggles to help others, and each time he does we get a deeper look at problems he carries within himself. I’d love to read more of these tales and learn more about Oscar and all the fascinating characters and realms he’s a part of.
Favorite Movies and Series
The Expanse - Season One
I put off this series both because of its length and because I couldn’t decide whether to try the videos or the books first. Eventually I went for the videos and watched season one. What an incredible, epic, science fiction story, showing future conflicts and politics between Earth, Mars, and the Belters who live in the asteroid belt. I felt there was an incredible cast of characters, great special effects, and magnificent writing. I can’t wait to continue watching the series, and perhaps to one day reading the book series, as well.
Greyhound
A WWII story based on a novel inspired by true events, starring Tom Hanks commanding a destroyer escorting an international convoy of 37 ships across the Atlantic, who end up facing a wolf pack of Nazi U-boats, at least 6, and do all they can to fight them off and protect the convoy. Fantastic film. Well acted. Very emotional. Shows the difficulties of naval warfare at that time, the decisions one might have to make, the sacrifices, the honor, the fear.
The Faculty
This might have been my favorite movie the year it came out, when I was around the age of the characters, so it was easy putting myself in their shoes. And though I remembered the gist of it, enough years had passed since I first watched it that there were still some surprises during this rewatch. What do a group of students do when, one by one, the faculty of their school begin behaving very strangely?
The Sandlot
Another favorite movie when I first watched it back when it came out, and one that easily holds up today. It’s a coming of age film about a group of kids who love baseball but run afoul of the Beast, a dog behind a wooden fence at the edge of the sandlot where they play ball.
Favorite Anime & Animated Movies
Paranoia Agent
It’s definitely Satoshi Kon, that’s for sure. A series of fascinating characters linked together through getting attacked by Little Slugger, a kid with a bent bat and inline skates. And yet each person seems to feel like they’ve been set free after being attacked, almost as if Little Slugger has somehow saved them. Gets stranger and stranger the further in we get and by the end you may wonder what you just watched.
The Hobbit (Rankin Bass)
I loved this animated film when I was a kid. I’d already read the book and it was exciting to see it adapted. I remember watching it a couple times when younger. And I have to say I really enjoyed this rewatch, full of nostalgia of my youth.
Last exile
I almost didn’t include this one in the list because I haven’t finished watching it yet. But I’m thoroughly enjoying it so I figured I might as well call it out. It’s an anime series I first started watching, though never finished, when it first came out. But I enjoyed it enough that I purchased the DVDs. It’s a steampunk sort of story with warring nations, groups of pilots and mechanics who fly interesting aircraft delivering messages of various difficulty levels, and a great storyline portrayed with some incredible animations that mixes traditional and digital styles. It also has a great soundtrack. I look forward to finishing this series next year. Who knows, maybe it’ll also end up on next years favorites list.
So what did you read or watch in 2025 and what were your favorites? Have you ever read or watched anything from my list? Let me know in the comments below.
Do you enjoy these posts?
Sign up to receive periodic emails with updates and thoughts. Don’t worry, I won’t spam you. And please consider purchasing artwork or products from my online store, and using my affiliate links in the sidebar to the right when shopping online.
I appreciate your support!
