Six of My 2025 Reads: Water, Water by Billy Collins

At the top of 1997 I sat down and listed all the books I’d read up to that point. I came up with ~40 titles. I’m sure this was not all of them, but it was a fair start. Beginning that same year I began to keep a list of the books I’d read each year.

As the end of 2025 approaches, I’m highlighting six of this year’s reads—a book of poetry, two novels, and three non-fiction titles. Perhaps you’ll find one you wish to add to your 2026 reading stack.

Water, Water by Billy Collins

Since discovering the highly accessible narrative poet Billy Collins in the late 1990s, I’ve read each of his books as they’ve been released, and most of his back titles. I’m not a poet, but I read poetry with the firm belief a poetic sensibility is an asset when writing prose.

With this title, Collins is more introspective and contemplative—more serious than he’s been in recent collections—and I find that appealing.

Water, Water offers perspectives on the joys and challenges laced throughout everyday life. Mortality, marriage, and creative work all get their various treatments and unique situational placements—often in the same poem. His hallmark humor and occasional sharp edge remain intact.

Collins is late in his career, but no less productive it seems. In fact, he published another book yesterday, Dog Show—a good sign for readers (and writers) like me.

Leave a comment with what you’ve been reading this year!