Katheryn Thompson's Blog, page 4
April 26, 2022
Literary Prize Round-Up
Are you a literary prize reader? I love following literary prizes, because, with so many books to read (and so little time to read them in!), it helps me to decide which books to read next.
Top Five 2022 Literary Prize Nominees (so far!)
Assembly by Natasha Brown, shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
The themes that Assembly explores might sound familiar, but its protagonist has a story worth telling, and it feels like her own. I loved the multi-layered character Natasha Brown has crafted, and the way she tells her story. The writing feels almost poetic. A remarkable debut.
Things I Have Withheld by Kei Miller, shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize
Things I Have Withheld is a brilliant, insightful, and moving collection of disarmingly personal essays, which sets a new standard for the genre. Kei Miller's talent for writing, and storytelling, is evident, and I have obviously been missing out by not reading his words until now.
The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini, longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction
I read The Bread the Devil Knead in one sitting, reading past my usual bedtime, and if that isn't the sign of a good book then I don't know what is. Lisa Allen-Agostini tells her protagonist's story of daily life and past trauma with candour and sensitivity, but this book takes the reader to some dark places so it won't be for everyone. I loved the way she evokes the book's Trinidad and Tobago setting.
A Blood Condition by Kayo Chingonyi, longlisted for the Jhalak Prize
A Blood Condition is the kind of poetry collection that makes you wonder why you don't read more poetry. This is such a wonderfully connected collection, in which you can admire the curation of the whole as well as the composition of individual poems. I loved the rhythm of Kayo Chingonyi's writing, which made reading A Blood Condition such an pleasurable experience. An impressive, moving, and highly readable collection.
China Room by Sunjeev Sahota, shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
I thought this was a really rich story, beautifully written and utterly compelling. I loved the way the two strands of the story were interwoven, one following a young bride in 1929 Punjab, the other, in 1999, a young man in India recovering from drug addiction before starting university back home in England. China Room felt like a real and personal story, and I enjoyed it very much.
Honorary mention: Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla, longlisted for the Jhalak Prize.
Top Five (still!) on my TBR
My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley, shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
The Khan by Saima Mir, longlisted for the Jhalak Prize.
This One Sky Day by Leone Ross, longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
Have you read any of these? What did you think?
Top Five 2022 Literary Prize Nominees (so far!)
Assembly by Natasha Brown, shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
The themes that Assembly explores might sound familiar, but its protagonist has a story worth telling, and it feels like her own. I loved the multi-layered character Natasha Brown has crafted, and the way she tells her story. The writing feels almost poetic. A remarkable debut.
Things I Have Withheld by Kei Miller, shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize
Things I Have Withheld is a brilliant, insightful, and moving collection of disarmingly personal essays, which sets a new standard for the genre. Kei Miller's talent for writing, and storytelling, is evident, and I have obviously been missing out by not reading his words until now.
The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini, longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction
I read The Bread the Devil Knead in one sitting, reading past my usual bedtime, and if that isn't the sign of a good book then I don't know what is. Lisa Allen-Agostini tells her protagonist's story of daily life and past trauma with candour and sensitivity, but this book takes the reader to some dark places so it won't be for everyone. I loved the way she evokes the book's Trinidad and Tobago setting.
A Blood Condition by Kayo Chingonyi, longlisted for the Jhalak Prize
A Blood Condition is the kind of poetry collection that makes you wonder why you don't read more poetry. This is such a wonderfully connected collection, in which you can admire the curation of the whole as well as the composition of individual poems. I loved the rhythm of Kayo Chingonyi's writing, which made reading A Blood Condition such an pleasurable experience. An impressive, moving, and highly readable collection.
China Room by Sunjeev Sahota, shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
I thought this was a really rich story, beautifully written and utterly compelling. I loved the way the two strands of the story were interwoven, one following a young bride in 1929 Punjab, the other, in 1999, a young man in India recovering from drug addiction before starting university back home in England. China Room felt like a real and personal story, and I enjoyed it very much.
Honorary mention: Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla, longlisted for the Jhalak Prize.
Top Five (still!) on my TBR
My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley, shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize.
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
The Khan by Saima Mir, longlisted for the Jhalak Prize.
This One Sky Day by Leone Ross, longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
Have you read any of these? What did you think?
March 31, 2022
March in Books
March felt like a bit of a disappointing month, reading-wise. As my TBR grew with all the various literary prize nominees I wanted to read, I kept finding myself disappointed by books I had been really looking forward to. But I managed to read 10 books, crossing off plenty of titles which had been on my to-read list for too long, and I discovered 3 new favourites, which are sure to be contenders for my book of the year.
The first book I read in March was Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain by Sathnam Sanghera, which had been on my to-read list for too long.
I don't know whether it's because I'm used to academic non-fiction, but I often find popular non-fiction disappointing. Unfortunately this was the case with Empireland, which I struggled a little with, but ultimately found a rewarding read. I love the way Sathnam Sanghera doesn't shy away from some really tough questions.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Up next was Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez, which is a book I was really excited about.
I found the phonetic writing difficult to read, but otherwise Rainbow Milk was a compulsive read. There were so many interesting asides in this book that make me excited for what Paul Mendez might write next. But I wasn’t convinced by the way the book’s structure, which felt a little fragmented and incomplete.
⭐⭐⭐
My next read was the last of my latest library haul, Double Blind by Edward St. Aubyn, whose Patrick Melrose novels I absolutely loved.
Double Blind is a book that will feel familiar to a lot of readers, and while I wasn't convinced by its interest in futuristic science and technology, and would have liked some stronger female characters, it's the kind of book that I usually enjoy. I liked the playful cleverness of Double Blind, and I liked that it was surprisingly concise for such a dense story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Assembly by Natasha Brown was one of the 2021 books still on my to-read list, about which I'd only heard good things.
The themes that Assembly explores might sound familiar, but its protagonist has a story worth telling, and it feels like her own. I loved the multi-layered character Natasha Brown has crafted, and the way she tells her story. The writing feels almost poetic. A remarkable debut.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Up next was Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors, one of this month's "buzzy" books.
This story of a tumultuous relationship was really engaging, and the second half, in particular, I didn't want to put down. But Cleopatra and Frankenstein felt like quite a superficial read to me, one that I enjoyed but can't see staying with me.
⭐⭐⭐
Sundial by Catriona Ward was another new release, which came highly recommended.
Sundial is a compulsively readable story that uses the horror genre to push the domestic thriller to extremes. This is a book jam-packed with secrets, and I never knew who to trust. The setting, an abandoned ranch in the Mojave Desert, is brilliantly imagined, and Catriona Ward plays on everyday fears to considerable effect, creating a story that will stay with me for some time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In the mood for some non-fiction next, I turned to Things I Have Withheld by Kei Miller, which was longlisted for this year's Jhalak Prize.
Things I Have Withheld is a brilliant, insightful, and moving collection of disarmingly personal essays, which I can see myself returning to. Kei Miller's talent for writing, and storytelling, is evident, and I have obviously been missing out by not reading his words until now.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was A Narrow Door by Joanne Harris, the latest in her series set at St Oswald's school.
A Narrow Door feels like the perfect combination of new and old; all the things I loved about the first two St. Oswald's books are present and correct, but this story also works perfectly well as a standalone. It was a little long for it to be a five-star read for me, but I loved the story, and it felt good to be back.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Magician by Colm Tóibín immediately got bumped up my to-read list when it won the Rathbones Folio prize.
I found The Magician a disappointing read from quite early on, and a slog to get through. I think the span of the book is too wide, not giving Colm Tóibín the space to go much beyond the surface of Mann's life. I think I would have preferred a book with a narrower focus, which really zoomed in on a particular period of Mann's life. I still intend to read more of the Rathbones Folio nominees, but The Magician just wasn't for me.
⭐⭐⭐
I finished writing this post on the last day in March, then picked up China Room by Sunjeev Sahota and couldn't put it down.
I thought this was a really rich story, beautifully written and utterly compelling. I loved the way the two strands of the story were interwoven, one following a young bride in 1929 Punjab, the other, in 1999, a young man in India recovering from drug addiction before starting university back home in England. China Room felt like a real and personal story, and I enjoyed it very much.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first book I read in March was Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain by Sathnam Sanghera, which had been on my to-read list for too long.
I don't know whether it's because I'm used to academic non-fiction, but I often find popular non-fiction disappointing. Unfortunately this was the case with Empireland, which I struggled a little with, but ultimately found a rewarding read. I love the way Sathnam Sanghera doesn't shy away from some really tough questions.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Up next was Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez, which is a book I was really excited about.
I found the phonetic writing difficult to read, but otherwise Rainbow Milk was a compulsive read. There were so many interesting asides in this book that make me excited for what Paul Mendez might write next. But I wasn’t convinced by the way the book’s structure, which felt a little fragmented and incomplete.
⭐⭐⭐
My next read was the last of my latest library haul, Double Blind by Edward St. Aubyn, whose Patrick Melrose novels I absolutely loved.
Double Blind is a book that will feel familiar to a lot of readers, and while I wasn't convinced by its interest in futuristic science and technology, and would have liked some stronger female characters, it's the kind of book that I usually enjoy. I liked the playful cleverness of Double Blind, and I liked that it was surprisingly concise for such a dense story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Assembly by Natasha Brown was one of the 2021 books still on my to-read list, about which I'd only heard good things.
The themes that Assembly explores might sound familiar, but its protagonist has a story worth telling, and it feels like her own. I loved the multi-layered character Natasha Brown has crafted, and the way she tells her story. The writing feels almost poetic. A remarkable debut.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Up next was Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors, one of this month's "buzzy" books.
This story of a tumultuous relationship was really engaging, and the second half, in particular, I didn't want to put down. But Cleopatra and Frankenstein felt like quite a superficial read to me, one that I enjoyed but can't see staying with me.
⭐⭐⭐
Sundial by Catriona Ward was another new release, which came highly recommended.
Sundial is a compulsively readable story that uses the horror genre to push the domestic thriller to extremes. This is a book jam-packed with secrets, and I never knew who to trust. The setting, an abandoned ranch in the Mojave Desert, is brilliantly imagined, and Catriona Ward plays on everyday fears to considerable effect, creating a story that will stay with me for some time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In the mood for some non-fiction next, I turned to Things I Have Withheld by Kei Miller, which was longlisted for this year's Jhalak Prize.
Things I Have Withheld is a brilliant, insightful, and moving collection of disarmingly personal essays, which I can see myself returning to. Kei Miller's talent for writing, and storytelling, is evident, and I have obviously been missing out by not reading his words until now.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was A Narrow Door by Joanne Harris, the latest in her series set at St Oswald's school.
A Narrow Door feels like the perfect combination of new and old; all the things I loved about the first two St. Oswald's books are present and correct, but this story also works perfectly well as a standalone. It was a little long for it to be a five-star read for me, but I loved the story, and it felt good to be back.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Magician by Colm Tóibín immediately got bumped up my to-read list when it won the Rathbones Folio prize.
I found The Magician a disappointing read from quite early on, and a slog to get through. I think the span of the book is too wide, not giving Colm Tóibín the space to go much beyond the surface of Mann's life. I think I would have preferred a book with a narrower focus, which really zoomed in on a particular period of Mann's life. I still intend to read more of the Rathbones Folio nominees, but The Magician just wasn't for me.
⭐⭐⭐
I finished writing this post on the last day in March, then picked up China Room by Sunjeev Sahota and couldn't put it down.
I thought this was a really rich story, beautifully written and utterly compelling. I loved the way the two strands of the story were interwoven, one following a young bride in 1929 Punjab, the other, in 1999, a young man in India recovering from drug addiction before starting university back home in England. China Room felt like a real and personal story, and I enjoyed it very much.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 1, 2022
February in Books
February might be the shortest month, but I still managed to cram in plenty of reading!
My first read of February was actually a book I started in January, Anna Karenina, written by Leo Tolstoy and translated by Louise Maude and Alymer Maude. This one had been on my to-read list for a long time, and it felt good to finally read it.
This was a lo-ong book, but not at all a slog to read, and even though there were plenty of moments which felt like good places to pause - as the plot follows multiple characters and storylines - I was always eager to pick it up again. I have to admit that I lost track a little of some of the minor characters, but following the main cast of characters was, for me, the chief delight of this book. I was repeatedly struck by how incredibly complex and believable the characters are. I also really enjoyed discovering so many interesting things about the time and place, and I definitely need to add more Russian literature to my to-read list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After such a long read, I felt in the mood for some short stories, so I picked up The Complete Short Fiction by Oscar Wilde (edited by Ian Small).
I’ve read quite a few of these short stories before, in The Happy Prince & Other Stories and Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories, but I enjoyed revisiting them, especially after reading the enlightening introduction to this collection, and I really enjoyed reading the stories that were new to me. The stories in this collection are brilliant, funny, moving, and delightfully unexpected.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar, which I won in a giveaway run by the wonderful @TwoFondOfBooks.
Silence Is a Sense is a rich story, which creates a narrative arc that feels true to the character and world it has created. AlAmmar writes about her protagonist's journey in a sensitive and evocative way, and she has created a powerful story that doesn't overwhelm its reader. I was deeply impressed by this book, which I enjoyed reading very much, and I look forward to returning to it soon, and discovering everything I missed the first time around.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My next read was one I was very excited about, Breasts and Eggs, written by Mieko Kawakami and translated by Sam Bett and David Boyd.
If I had to describe Breasts and Eggs in one word it would be: compelling. This book sucked me in and wouldn’t let go, and I ended up staying awake too late to finish it. The title gives away this book’s interest in women’s bodies, and there are so many really interesting and insightful moments, thinking about what it might mean to be a woman. I particularly loved the edge this topic takes on in the novel’s Japanese setting, which becomes most pertinent when the single Natsuko starts to think about having a child.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of my highlights of February was discovering the first four Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books in a charity shop. Having reread the first book over Christmas, I immediately started The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams.
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe was every bit as hilarious and brilliant as I'd remembered, but I definitely think this is a series best enjoyed in order.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It had to be Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams, the third in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, next.
Life, the Universe, and Everything felt a little different in tone from the first two books in the series. It takes that title pretty seriously, and there's a lot more exposition to get your head around. But it's still a delightful and compelling read, and the slightly fewer laugh-out-loud moments are balanced out by slightly more utterly brilliant moments. I cannot begin to fathom how Douglas Adams came up with all of this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams was the last in the set of 4 that I bought, and the only one that I hadn't read before.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is very different in tone from the first three books in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. It’s a brilliant book that works nicely as the continuation of the Hitchhiker’s trilogy, as what could Arthur possibly do with himself after all that excitement. But it’s not quite, for me, the five-star read those first three books were.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wasn't convinced that Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford sounded like my kind of book, but I couldn't resist the lure of the Booker Prize longlist.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a compelling read whose alternating characters and timelines keep you interested, and I loved the way Francis Spufford carves out individual personalities and stories for each of the protagonists. I liked that I could tell the characters and years apart without needing to remember what chapter I was reading, and I liked that I could visualise each character at the different points in their lives. A solid four-star read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Next up was Lord of the Flies by William Golding, finally making up for the fact that we didn't read it at school.
The concept of this book is an interesting one, as a group of schoolboys who crash land on an island, in the midst of some unidentified crisis, have to decide for themselves how they want to live. But it all feels a little heavy-handed. There are a lot of topographical descriptions, which have never really appealed to me, and I found the story as a whole rather distasteful. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, or wasn’t impressed by it, just that it’s not really my kind of book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The last book I read in February was Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller, one of last year's Women's Prize for Fiction nominees which I didn't get around to at the time.
I loved the way Unsettled Ground talked about money, often an uncomfortable or unrealistic subject for writers, and there is a superb scene set in a shop where Jeanie is making decisions about what to buy based on how much money she has left. I really enjoyed the details of Jeanie's life, tending to her garden and trying to make money from the produce. Claire Fuller has a beautiful writing style, which struck me from the opening sentence, and which really suits what is being written about. I didn't think I would finish Unsettled Ground in February, but ended up staying awake until I had finished it, because I just couldn't put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first read of February was actually a book I started in January, Anna Karenina, written by Leo Tolstoy and translated by Louise Maude and Alymer Maude. This one had been on my to-read list for a long time, and it felt good to finally read it.
This was a lo-ong book, but not at all a slog to read, and even though there were plenty of moments which felt like good places to pause - as the plot follows multiple characters and storylines - I was always eager to pick it up again. I have to admit that I lost track a little of some of the minor characters, but following the main cast of characters was, for me, the chief delight of this book. I was repeatedly struck by how incredibly complex and believable the characters are. I also really enjoyed discovering so many interesting things about the time and place, and I definitely need to add more Russian literature to my to-read list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After such a long read, I felt in the mood for some short stories, so I picked up The Complete Short Fiction by Oscar Wilde (edited by Ian Small).
I’ve read quite a few of these short stories before, in The Happy Prince & Other Stories and Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories, but I enjoyed revisiting them, especially after reading the enlightening introduction to this collection, and I really enjoyed reading the stories that were new to me. The stories in this collection are brilliant, funny, moving, and delightfully unexpected.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar, which I won in a giveaway run by the wonderful @TwoFondOfBooks.
Silence Is a Sense is a rich story, which creates a narrative arc that feels true to the character and world it has created. AlAmmar writes about her protagonist's journey in a sensitive and evocative way, and she has created a powerful story that doesn't overwhelm its reader. I was deeply impressed by this book, which I enjoyed reading very much, and I look forward to returning to it soon, and discovering everything I missed the first time around.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My next read was one I was very excited about, Breasts and Eggs, written by Mieko Kawakami and translated by Sam Bett and David Boyd.
If I had to describe Breasts and Eggs in one word it would be: compelling. This book sucked me in and wouldn’t let go, and I ended up staying awake too late to finish it. The title gives away this book’s interest in women’s bodies, and there are so many really interesting and insightful moments, thinking about what it might mean to be a woman. I particularly loved the edge this topic takes on in the novel’s Japanese setting, which becomes most pertinent when the single Natsuko starts to think about having a child.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of my highlights of February was discovering the first four Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books in a charity shop. Having reread the first book over Christmas, I immediately started The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams.
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe was every bit as hilarious and brilliant as I'd remembered, but I definitely think this is a series best enjoyed in order.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It had to be Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams, the third in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, next.
Life, the Universe, and Everything felt a little different in tone from the first two books in the series. It takes that title pretty seriously, and there's a lot more exposition to get your head around. But it's still a delightful and compelling read, and the slightly fewer laugh-out-loud moments are balanced out by slightly more utterly brilliant moments. I cannot begin to fathom how Douglas Adams came up with all of this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams was the last in the set of 4 that I bought, and the only one that I hadn't read before.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is very different in tone from the first three books in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. It’s a brilliant book that works nicely as the continuation of the Hitchhiker’s trilogy, as what could Arthur possibly do with himself after all that excitement. But it’s not quite, for me, the five-star read those first three books were.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wasn't convinced that Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford sounded like my kind of book, but I couldn't resist the lure of the Booker Prize longlist.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a compelling read whose alternating characters and timelines keep you interested, and I loved the way Francis Spufford carves out individual personalities and stories for each of the protagonists. I liked that I could tell the characters and years apart without needing to remember what chapter I was reading, and I liked that I could visualise each character at the different points in their lives. A solid four-star read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Next up was Lord of the Flies by William Golding, finally making up for the fact that we didn't read it at school.
The concept of this book is an interesting one, as a group of schoolboys who crash land on an island, in the midst of some unidentified crisis, have to decide for themselves how they want to live. But it all feels a little heavy-handed. There are a lot of topographical descriptions, which have never really appealed to me, and I found the story as a whole rather distasteful. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, or wasn’t impressed by it, just that it’s not really my kind of book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The last book I read in February was Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller, one of last year's Women's Prize for Fiction nominees which I didn't get around to at the time.
I loved the way Unsettled Ground talked about money, often an uncomfortable or unrealistic subject for writers, and there is a superb scene set in a shop where Jeanie is making decisions about what to buy based on how much money she has left. I really enjoyed the details of Jeanie's life, tending to her garden and trying to make money from the produce. Claire Fuller has a beautiful writing style, which struck me from the opening sentence, and which really suits what is being written about. I didn't think I would finish Unsettled Ground in February, but ended up staying awake until I had finished it, because I just couldn't put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 30, 2022
January in Books
I only read 5 books in January, but I'm pretty pleased with my choices: 3 from the backlist, and 2 new releases. Read on to find out what they were!
My first read of 2022 was one that was recommended to me a long time ago, and which I unexpectedly received this Christmas: The Oxford Murders, written by Guillermo Martínez and translated by Sonia Soto.
The Oxford Murders wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much. The writing style is beautiful, although the women could have been written better, and I loved the Oxford setting. This cosy mystery has a delightfully twisty plot, and I read it straight through in one sitting, which isn't something I do very often. A great way to kick off the New Year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was Persuasion by Jane Austen, another Christmas present, and my last of her six main novels.
Persuasion was a great choice to leave until the end, as it is just as well-written as Pride and Prejudice, the first Austen I tried and my personal favourite, but very different in tone. I liked that Persuasion is about a slightly older woman, and I enjoyed the more subdued tone. Austen's writing never fails to sweep me away, and this was no exception.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book 3 of 2022 was one I gifted to someone else for Christmas, which they then lent to me to read: The Passenger, written by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz and translated by Philip Boehm.
The Passenger is a brilliant book. Set over the course of only a few days, in November 1938, the story focuses on one German Jew, living in Berlin. It captures so much of the nuance of this period in history, as well as revealing much about human nature in general. This is a very well-written book, and I love the way the story is told. A good choice.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
My first 2022 release was the highly-anticipated To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara.
I had a lot of thoughts on To Paradise, and you can read my full, spoiler-free review on Goodreads or on Instagram. There are so many great moments in this book; so many great ideas; so many thoughts just perfectly expressed. But this is a lo-ong book, and I didn’t think the whole was as good as the parts deserved. Definitely worth your time though.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with another 2022 release, and Waterstones' Thriller of the Month: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.
I loved The Sanatorium. What started off as an interesting murder mystery in a fantastic location soon became much more than that. I was really impressed by the sensitivity with which Pearse handled all the different issues that she brought into play. The Sanatorium is a gripping read, with blessedly short chapters, and a really interesting storyline that keeps you guessing right up until the last page.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I spent the last few days of January starting Anna Karenina, which is sure to keep me going until well into February!
My first read of 2022 was one that was recommended to me a long time ago, and which I unexpectedly received this Christmas: The Oxford Murders, written by Guillermo Martínez and translated by Sonia Soto.
The Oxford Murders wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much. The writing style is beautiful, although the women could have been written better, and I loved the Oxford setting. This cosy mystery has a delightfully twisty plot, and I read it straight through in one sitting, which isn't something I do very often. A great way to kick off the New Year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was Persuasion by Jane Austen, another Christmas present, and my last of her six main novels.
Persuasion was a great choice to leave until the end, as it is just as well-written as Pride and Prejudice, the first Austen I tried and my personal favourite, but very different in tone. I liked that Persuasion is about a slightly older woman, and I enjoyed the more subdued tone. Austen's writing never fails to sweep me away, and this was no exception.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book 3 of 2022 was one I gifted to someone else for Christmas, which they then lent to me to read: The Passenger, written by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz and translated by Philip Boehm.
The Passenger is a brilliant book. Set over the course of only a few days, in November 1938, the story focuses on one German Jew, living in Berlin. It captures so much of the nuance of this period in history, as well as revealing much about human nature in general. This is a very well-written book, and I love the way the story is told. A good choice.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
My first 2022 release was the highly-anticipated To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara.
I had a lot of thoughts on To Paradise, and you can read my full, spoiler-free review on Goodreads or on Instagram. There are so many great moments in this book; so many great ideas; so many thoughts just perfectly expressed. But this is a lo-ong book, and I didn’t think the whole was as good as the parts deserved. Definitely worth your time though.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with another 2022 release, and Waterstones' Thriller of the Month: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.
I loved The Sanatorium. What started off as an interesting murder mystery in a fantastic location soon became much more than that. I was really impressed by the sensitivity with which Pearse handled all the different issues that she brought into play. The Sanatorium is a gripping read, with blessedly short chapters, and a really interesting storyline that keeps you guessing right up until the last page.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I spent the last few days of January starting Anna Karenina, which is sure to keep me going until well into February!
January 2, 2022
2022 Books to Look Out For
Happy New Year! Check out some of the 2022 book releases I'm most looking forward to:
In the Seeing Hands of Others by Nat Ogle (Jan)
Handling its difficult subject matter with grace and striking insight, Ogle’s multi-viewpoint debut novel about the aftermath of a rape trial is a breathtaking meditation on trauma, care and the limits of empathy.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (Feb)
A puzzling inheritance in the form of a wealth of secrets and requests changes the lives of Byron and Benny as they are reunited at their estranged mother’s funeral in Wilkerson’s immersive, stunningly assured debut.
Our Wives Under the Sea (March)
Imbued with the same beautifully evoked strangeness and yearning as her short story collection Salt Slow, Armfield's debut novel finds the relationship between two women transformed by a deep dive onto a mysterious underwater vessel.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April)
Deftly subversive and delightfully uplifting, Garmus' 60s set debut features an unconventional female scientist with a quiet game-plan to change the world.
One Day I Shall Astonish the World by Nina Stibbe (April)
The dynamics of a dysfunctional relationship are probed with perfectly judged humour and compassion by the author of Reasons to Be Cheerful and Love, Nina in this hilarious novel of muddling through and making do.
The It Girl by Ruth Ware (July)
April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It Girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. By the end of the second term, April was dead.
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney (Aug)
The Darker family haven’t all been in the same place for over a decade, and when the tide comes in they’ll be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. When the tide goes back out, nothing will ever be the same again, because one of them is a killer.
In the Seeing Hands of Others by Nat Ogle (Jan)
Handling its difficult subject matter with grace and striking insight, Ogle’s multi-viewpoint debut novel about the aftermath of a rape trial is a breathtaking meditation on trauma, care and the limits of empathy.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (Feb)
A puzzling inheritance in the form of a wealth of secrets and requests changes the lives of Byron and Benny as they are reunited at their estranged mother’s funeral in Wilkerson’s immersive, stunningly assured debut.
Our Wives Under the Sea (March)
Imbued with the same beautifully evoked strangeness and yearning as her short story collection Salt Slow, Armfield's debut novel finds the relationship between two women transformed by a deep dive onto a mysterious underwater vessel.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April)
Deftly subversive and delightfully uplifting, Garmus' 60s set debut features an unconventional female scientist with a quiet game-plan to change the world.
One Day I Shall Astonish the World by Nina Stibbe (April)
The dynamics of a dysfunctional relationship are probed with perfectly judged humour and compassion by the author of Reasons to Be Cheerful and Love, Nina in this hilarious novel of muddling through and making do.
The It Girl by Ruth Ware (July)
April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It Girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. By the end of the second term, April was dead.
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney (Aug)
The Darker family haven’t all been in the same place for over a decade, and when the tide comes in they’ll be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. When the tide goes back out, nothing will ever be the same again, because one of them is a killer.
December 23, 2021
2021 Books still on my TBR
I love reading everyone's 'best of the year' lists, but it is very dangerous for my TBR! Here are some of the 2021 releases still on my to-read list:
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Feb)
Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists - he a photographer, she a dancer - trying to make their mark in a city that by turns celebrates and rejects them.
The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex (March)
Cornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish from a remote lighthouse, miles from the shore. The entrance door is locked from the inside. The clocks have stopped. The Principal Keeper’s weather log describes a mighty storm, but the skies have been clear all week.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (March)
This is the story of a serial killer. A stolen child. Revenge. Death. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. But it's not what you think...
My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley (April)
Bridget's mother is dying. An extrovert with few friends who has sought intimacy in the wrong places; a twice-divorced mother-of-two now living alone surrounded by her memories, Helen has always haunted her daughter. Now, as together they approach the end, Bridget looks back on their tumultuous relationship and tries to reckon with the cruelties inflicted on both sides.
Things I Have Withheld by Kei Miller (May)
Kei Miller explores the silence in which so many important things are kept. He examines the experience of discrimination through this silence and what it means to breach it: to risk words, to risk truths. And he considers the histories our bodies inherit - the crimes that haunt them, and how meaning can shift as we move throughout the world, variously assuming privilege or victimhood.
Assembly by Natasha Brown (June)
The narrator of Assembly is a black British woman. She is preparing to attend a lavish garden party at her boyfriend’s family estate, set deep in the English countryside. At the same time, she is considering the carefully assembled pieces of herself. As the minutes tick down and the future beckons, she can’t escape the question: is it time to take it all apart?
How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie (June)
When Grace Bernard discovers her absentee millionaire father has rejected her dying mother’s pleas for help, she vows revenge, and sets about to kill every member of his family. But then Grace is imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit.
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite (July)
You are born high, but marry a traitor's son. You bear him twelve children, carry his cause and bury his past. You play the game, against enemies who wish you ashes. Slowly, you rise. You are Cecily. But when the King who governs you proves unfit, what then? Loyalty or treason - death may follow both. The board is set. Time to make your first move.
If you want to know which 2021 releases I've already read and loved, you can check out my Alternative Books of the Year.
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Feb)
Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists - he a photographer, she a dancer - trying to make their mark in a city that by turns celebrates and rejects them.
The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex (March)
Cornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish from a remote lighthouse, miles from the shore. The entrance door is locked from the inside. The clocks have stopped. The Principal Keeper’s weather log describes a mighty storm, but the skies have been clear all week.
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward (March)
This is the story of a serial killer. A stolen child. Revenge. Death. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. But it's not what you think...
My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley (April)
Bridget's mother is dying. An extrovert with few friends who has sought intimacy in the wrong places; a twice-divorced mother-of-two now living alone surrounded by her memories, Helen has always haunted her daughter. Now, as together they approach the end, Bridget looks back on their tumultuous relationship and tries to reckon with the cruelties inflicted on both sides.
Things I Have Withheld by Kei Miller (May)
Kei Miller explores the silence in which so many important things are kept. He examines the experience of discrimination through this silence and what it means to breach it: to risk words, to risk truths. And he considers the histories our bodies inherit - the crimes that haunt them, and how meaning can shift as we move throughout the world, variously assuming privilege or victimhood.
Assembly by Natasha Brown (June)
The narrator of Assembly is a black British woman. She is preparing to attend a lavish garden party at her boyfriend’s family estate, set deep in the English countryside. At the same time, she is considering the carefully assembled pieces of herself. As the minutes tick down and the future beckons, she can’t escape the question: is it time to take it all apart?
How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie (June)
When Grace Bernard discovers her absentee millionaire father has rejected her dying mother’s pleas for help, she vows revenge, and sets about to kill every member of his family. But then Grace is imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit.
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite (July)
You are born high, but marry a traitor's son. You bear him twelve children, carry his cause and bury his past. You play the game, against enemies who wish you ashes. Slowly, you rise. You are Cecily. But when the King who governs you proves unfit, what then? Loyalty or treason - death may follow both. The board is set. Time to make your first move.
If you want to know which 2021 releases I've already read and loved, you can check out my Alternative Books of the Year.
December 2, 2021
Alternative Books of the Year
Today, Waterstones announced their Book of the Year. So I thought I'd suggest some alternatives:
1. The Beresford by Will Carver
Everything stays the same for the tenants of The Beresford, a grand old apartment building just outside the city…until the doorbell rings…Will Carver returns with an eerie, deliciously and uncomfortably dark standalone thriller.
2. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
3. How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
In Baxter's Beach, Barbados, Lala's grandmother Wilma tells the story of the one-armed sister, a cautionary tale about what happens to girls who disobey their mothers.
4. Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
A whipsmart debut about three women—transgender and cisgender—whose lives collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires around gender, motherhood, and sex.
5. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Deftly merging the personal with the political, Intimacies tells the story of a translator at the International Court at The Hague and how a confluence of circumstances forces her to question the morality of both her work and her personal life.
6. Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla
With humour and heart-rending honesty, Nikesh Shukla reflects on fatherhood, feminism, racial politics and how we become ourselves in this memoir that is as elegantly written as it is compassionate.
7. The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
A novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.
8. Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel
The comedian and author combines powerful polemic and personal testimony to investigate why, in an age of heightened awareness of the evils of systemic racism, anti-Semitism appears to have been neglected by those who consider themselves progressive and enlightened.
9. Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily R. Austin
A tender-hearted and hilarious debut all about the impending inevitability of death, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead centres on a morbid queer atheist taking the unlikely job of receptionist at a church therapy group.
10. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
The award-winning author of Say Nothing turns his penetrating gaze to the stupendously wealthy and influential Sackler family, probing the dark and murky methods they have employed to amass their fortune.
Honourable mention: I Belong Here: A Journey Along the Backbone of Britain by Anita Sethi
One woman's journey of reclamation through natural landscapes as she contemplates identity and womanhood, nature, place and belonging.
Have you read any of these? What would your book of the year be?
1. The Beresford by Will Carver
Everything stays the same for the tenants of The Beresford, a grand old apartment building just outside the city…until the doorbell rings…Will Carver returns with an eerie, deliciously and uncomfortably dark standalone thriller.
2. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada in this electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
3. How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
In Baxter's Beach, Barbados, Lala's grandmother Wilma tells the story of the one-armed sister, a cautionary tale about what happens to girls who disobey their mothers.
4. Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
A whipsmart debut about three women—transgender and cisgender—whose lives collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires around gender, motherhood, and sex.
5. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Deftly merging the personal with the political, Intimacies tells the story of a translator at the International Court at The Hague and how a confluence of circumstances forces her to question the morality of both her work and her personal life.
6. Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla
With humour and heart-rending honesty, Nikesh Shukla reflects on fatherhood, feminism, racial politics and how we become ourselves in this memoir that is as elegantly written as it is compassionate.
7. The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
A novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.
8. Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel
The comedian and author combines powerful polemic and personal testimony to investigate why, in an age of heightened awareness of the evils of systemic racism, anti-Semitism appears to have been neglected by those who consider themselves progressive and enlightened.
9. Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily R. Austin
A tender-hearted and hilarious debut all about the impending inevitability of death, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead centres on a morbid queer atheist taking the unlikely job of receptionist at a church therapy group.
10. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
The award-winning author of Say Nothing turns his penetrating gaze to the stupendously wealthy and influential Sackler family, probing the dark and murky methods they have employed to amass their fortune.
Honourable mention: I Belong Here: A Journey Along the Backbone of Britain by Anita Sethi
One woman's journey of reclamation through natural landscapes as she contemplates identity and womanhood, nature, place and belonging.
Have you read any of these? What would your book of the year be?
November 27, 2021
Reading Round-Up
Since I've found myself reading some quite new books recently, I thought I'd do a little reading round-up. Have you read any of these yet?
I think Will Carver might be the only author whose books I read as they come out. I love how dark and inventive his writing is, and love that I never know what he's going to write next.
Psychopaths Anonymous can absolutely be read as a standalone, but readers of Good Samaritans will recognise the protagonist, Maeve. I love that Carver chose to focus on her for his latest book, and I also love all the little nods to his other books in this story. When AA meetings just aren't working out for her, alcoholic Maeve decides to set up a group for psychopaths.
I didn't quite love Psychopaths Anonymous as much as some of Carver's other books, but he does set himself a very high standard.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
While I was reading Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, it was announced as the winner of this year's Baillie Gifford Prize, so you don't need me to tell you how good it is.
I didn't know very much at all about the opioid crisis before reading this book, and I was shocked to discover that Patrick Radden Keefe takes his account right up to the present day. I wanted to read this one because, as an undergraduate, I spent a lot of time in Oxford's Sackler Library, without having the faintest idea who it was named after. I found Empire of Pain an extremely eye-opening read.
Keefe is a superb writer, and this is easily one of the most engaging and interesting non-fiction books I have read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Baxter's Beach, Barbados, Lala's grandmother Wilma tells the story of the one-armed sister, a cautionary tale about what happens to girls who disobey their mothers.
Do you ever start reading a book, and immediately know, from the way the author writes, that it is your kind of book? That. I love the title of this book, and the pay-off of that title. I love the way Cherie Jones writes. I love the story itself, with its shock reveals. This book had me hooked from the first page, and I gulped it down in two sittings.
I've read a lot of great books recently, but it's been a while since one blew me away, like How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House did.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I haven't seen as much buzz about Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies as I have about the other books on this list, but they were all books whose releases I was really looking forward to.
Heiresses is a fascinating book, and I think Laura Thompson has chosen a great topic (I adore the title). But there is a lot going on in this book, and it did become a little difficult to keep track of everyone. Most of these women deserved a book in their own right, and I'm left wanting to read more about them.
I will now be on the look-out for more books from Laura Thompson, who has a really engaging writing style, and a knack for choosing great topics (and titles).
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think Will Carver might be the only author whose books I read as they come out. I love how dark and inventive his writing is, and love that I never know what he's going to write next.
Psychopaths Anonymous can absolutely be read as a standalone, but readers of Good Samaritans will recognise the protagonist, Maeve. I love that Carver chose to focus on her for his latest book, and I also love all the little nods to his other books in this story. When AA meetings just aren't working out for her, alcoholic Maeve decides to set up a group for psychopaths.
I didn't quite love Psychopaths Anonymous as much as some of Carver's other books, but he does set himself a very high standard.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
While I was reading Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, it was announced as the winner of this year's Baillie Gifford Prize, so you don't need me to tell you how good it is.
I didn't know very much at all about the opioid crisis before reading this book, and I was shocked to discover that Patrick Radden Keefe takes his account right up to the present day. I wanted to read this one because, as an undergraduate, I spent a lot of time in Oxford's Sackler Library, without having the faintest idea who it was named after. I found Empire of Pain an extremely eye-opening read.
Keefe is a superb writer, and this is easily one of the most engaging and interesting non-fiction books I have read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Baxter's Beach, Barbados, Lala's grandmother Wilma tells the story of the one-armed sister, a cautionary tale about what happens to girls who disobey their mothers.
Do you ever start reading a book, and immediately know, from the way the author writes, that it is your kind of book? That. I love the title of this book, and the pay-off of that title. I love the way Cherie Jones writes. I love the story itself, with its shock reveals. This book had me hooked from the first page, and I gulped it down in two sittings.
I've read a lot of great books recently, but it's been a while since one blew me away, like How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House did.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I haven't seen as much buzz about Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies as I have about the other books on this list, but they were all books whose releases I was really looking forward to.
Heiresses is a fascinating book, and I think Laura Thompson has chosen a great topic (I adore the title). But there is a lot going on in this book, and it did become a little difficult to keep track of everyone. Most of these women deserved a book in their own right, and I'm left wanting to read more about them.
I will now be on the look-out for more books from Laura Thompson, who has a really engaging writing style, and a knack for choosing great topics (and titles).
⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 15, 2021
Non-Fiction November
I've found myself reading mainly non-fiction this month, and after seeing someone post on IG about "Non-Fiction November", I've decided to make it a thing. So here are my top 10 non-fiction recommendations:
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez shows us how, in a world largely built for and by men, we are systematically ignoring half the population. It exposes the gender data gap – a gap in our knowledge that is at the root of perpetual, systemic discrimination against women, and that has created a pervasive but invisible bias with a profound effect on women’s lives.
Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac asks a question you don't hear very often: What do sex workers want? In this accessible manifesto, the strong argument for full decriminalization of sex work is explored through personal experience and looking at laws around the world.
The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla brings together 21 black, Asian and minority ethnic voices emerging in Britain today, to explore why immigrants come to the UK, why they stay and what it means to be ‘other’ in a country that doesn’t seem to want you, doesn’t truly accept you – however many generations you’ve been here – but still needs you for its diversity monitoring forms.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli guides us, with simplicity and clarity, through the scientific revolution that shook physics in the twentieth century and still continues to shake us today. This book offers everything you need to know about modern physics, the universe and our place in the world in seven enlightening lessons.
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold is a passionate condemnation of the misogyny Jack the Ripper's victims have been held in for over a century. The Five tells an engrossing group biography of Victorian womanhood, blighted by poverty and powerless against casual and constant abuse.
Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel is a book about how identity politics failed one particular identity. Baddiel outlines why and how, in a time of intensely heightened awareness of minorities, Jews don’t count as a real minority: and why they should.
African Europeans: An Untold History by Olivette Otélé uncovers the long history of Europeans of African descent, tracing an old and diverse African heritage in Europe through the lives of individuals both ordinary and extraordinary. By exploring a history that has been long overlooked, Otélé sheds light on questions very much alive today-on racism, identity, citizenship, power and resilience.
Afropean: Notes from Black Europe by Johny Pitts is an on-the-ground documentary of areas where Europeans of African descent are juggling their multiple allegiances and forging new identities. Here is an alternative map of the continent, inhabiting European communities that fly under the radar of the mainstream media.
Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard explores the cultural underpinnings of misogyny, considering the public voice of women, our cultural assumptions about women's relationship with power, and how powerful women resist being packaged into a male template.
Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla explores themes of racism, feminism, parenting and our shifting ideas of home. Through love, grief, food and fatherhood, Shukla shows how it’s possible to believe in hope.
I'd love to hear your non-fiction recommendations, via Goodreads, Twitter, or Instagram!
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez shows us how, in a world largely built for and by men, we are systematically ignoring half the population. It exposes the gender data gap – a gap in our knowledge that is at the root of perpetual, systemic discrimination against women, and that has created a pervasive but invisible bias with a profound effect on women’s lives.
Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac asks a question you don't hear very often: What do sex workers want? In this accessible manifesto, the strong argument for full decriminalization of sex work is explored through personal experience and looking at laws around the world.
The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla brings together 21 black, Asian and minority ethnic voices emerging in Britain today, to explore why immigrants come to the UK, why they stay and what it means to be ‘other’ in a country that doesn’t seem to want you, doesn’t truly accept you – however many generations you’ve been here – but still needs you for its diversity monitoring forms.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli guides us, with simplicity and clarity, through the scientific revolution that shook physics in the twentieth century and still continues to shake us today. This book offers everything you need to know about modern physics, the universe and our place in the world in seven enlightening lessons.
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold is a passionate condemnation of the misogyny Jack the Ripper's victims have been held in for over a century. The Five tells an engrossing group biography of Victorian womanhood, blighted by poverty and powerless against casual and constant abuse.
Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel is a book about how identity politics failed one particular identity. Baddiel outlines why and how, in a time of intensely heightened awareness of minorities, Jews don’t count as a real minority: and why they should.
African Europeans: An Untold History by Olivette Otélé uncovers the long history of Europeans of African descent, tracing an old and diverse African heritage in Europe through the lives of individuals both ordinary and extraordinary. By exploring a history that has been long overlooked, Otélé sheds light on questions very much alive today-on racism, identity, citizenship, power and resilience.
Afropean: Notes from Black Europe by Johny Pitts is an on-the-ground documentary of areas where Europeans of African descent are juggling their multiple allegiances and forging new identities. Here is an alternative map of the continent, inhabiting European communities that fly under the radar of the mainstream media.
Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard explores the cultural underpinnings of misogyny, considering the public voice of women, our cultural assumptions about women's relationship with power, and how powerful women resist being packaged into a male template.
Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla explores themes of racism, feminism, parenting and our shifting ideas of home. Through love, grief, food and fatherhood, Shukla shows how it’s possible to believe in hope.
I'd love to hear your non-fiction recommendations, via Goodreads, Twitter, or Instagram!
November 1, 2021
Trans Rights are Human Rights
I decided against writing a blog post on the books I read last month, because most of the books I read were work-related and probably not of interest to many people!
So instead, prompted by some of the negativity I've been seeing on social media recently, I decided to make this a post about trans-inclusive books I've loved.
This list could definitely be longer, so please give me your recommendations!
I thought I'd start with Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, which was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, because it comes out in paperback in January.
I really love this book, Detransition, Baby is unlike anything I've ever read before, and I love the frankness with which Torrey Peters writes. She also has a great sense of humour.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, which won the 2019 Booker Prize, seemed like a good place to go next.
Each chapter of this book focuses on a different character, and I like the way this means most of the book's characters get their moment in the spotlight. I love the way Bernardine Evaristo writes, and so much of what she says about contemporary life rings true.
From a Booker Prize winner to a Booker Prize nominee, my next choice is Frankissstein: A Love Story by Jeanette Winterson.
I love the different places Jeanette Winterson takes the idea of Frankenstein. There are so many great moments in this endlessly rereadable book.
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson (another Booker Prize nominee) is turning into one of my most highly-recommended books.
I love the way Daisy Johnson writes, and I don't know why I haven't read anything else from her yet. I love Everything Under's evocations of language and water, and I really love its characterisation.
The last book on my list is The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (translated by Michele Hutchison), which won the 2020 International Booker Prize.
Not one for the faint-hearted, but a dark coming-of-age story with one of the most effective child narrators I've encountered. The language is as beautiful and brutal as the landscape.
So instead, prompted by some of the negativity I've been seeing on social media recently, I decided to make this a post about trans-inclusive books I've loved.
This list could definitely be longer, so please give me your recommendations!
I thought I'd start with Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, which was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, because it comes out in paperback in January.
I really love this book, Detransition, Baby is unlike anything I've ever read before, and I love the frankness with which Torrey Peters writes. She also has a great sense of humour.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, which won the 2019 Booker Prize, seemed like a good place to go next.
Each chapter of this book focuses on a different character, and I like the way this means most of the book's characters get their moment in the spotlight. I love the way Bernardine Evaristo writes, and so much of what she says about contemporary life rings true.
From a Booker Prize winner to a Booker Prize nominee, my next choice is Frankissstein: A Love Story by Jeanette Winterson.
I love the different places Jeanette Winterson takes the idea of Frankenstein. There are so many great moments in this endlessly rereadable book.
Everything Under by Daisy Johnson (another Booker Prize nominee) is turning into one of my most highly-recommended books.
I love the way Daisy Johnson writes, and I don't know why I haven't read anything else from her yet. I love Everything Under's evocations of language and water, and I really love its characterisation.
The last book on my list is The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (translated by Michele Hutchison), which won the 2020 International Booker Prize.
Not one for the faint-hearted, but a dark coming-of-age story with one of the most effective child narrators I've encountered. The language is as beautiful and brutal as the landscape.
