What I read...
Some old, some new, some outliers and some coming your way very soon...
My reading taste is eclectic. I like a little trash. I love a haunting memoir. I am obsessed with non-fiction, and on hot summer days I like a lazy novel that will take me far far away.
Below is a fail safe reading list that I return to over the years. Some of these books are super old, but you may have missed them. (I mainly scrapped classics and anything by Joan Didion/Nora Ephron from this list as it’s a little too obvious.)
You can buy a bunch of these books from the very good World of Books, which is my go-to when I’m trying to track down out of print books. Some of these right at the bottom are pre-order, but you know my thoughts on pre-order: it’s like a lovely little surprise gift that drops through the letter box plus it’s so helpful to authors to have pre-orders lined up.
So anyway, here’s what I love in no particular order at all. Oh and as ever I would LOVE it if you could add to this list in the comments because August is such a good month for reading and it would be heaven to have a place where we can all trade book recommendations.
The Road To Tholonet by Monty Don (Non-fiction/gardening memoir)
Monty Don takes you on a deeply nostalgic tour of his love affair with France, with a bunch of gardens thrown in along the way. I read this every year before I head to the south of France to get me in the mood.
Self care by Leigh Stein (Contemporary fiction/humour)
Absolutely hysterical book which should have been bigger than it was when it came out a few years ago. The funniest -and most astute prod at Gen Z culture the I’ve ever read. If you want a serious giggle buy it.
Happenstance by Carol Shields (Classic fiction)
I read this a few months back and was floored. If you’re one for those slightly misty-eyed looks at mid-life and marriages in slow decline then this is for you. If you loved Revolutionary Road and The End of The Affair then you will adore this.
Miss Veal and Miss Ham by Vikki Hayward (New)
A beautiful- and devastating novel by a wonderful new voice in the fiction world- Vikki Hayward. Set over just one day it tells the story of two local spinsters, Miss Veal and Miss Ham whose quiet love affair will make you weep and rejoice in equal measure. A lovely, lovely read.
Broken English by Marianne Faithful (Memoir)
If you love a memoir then one of my absolute favourites is this one by the late Marianne Faithful who pulls zero punches about her failings, shenanigans and longing for Bob Dylan. Very dark in places but that’s how a real memoir should be.
Such A Pretty Fiction by Sam Sudar (New)
Not only does this book have one of the best titles in recent years it’s a wonderfully smart and moving novel by debut author, Sam Sudar. Set in South America, it charts the life of Logan- a jaded American questioning his purpose in life. That is until he joins a humanitarian project and falls for a female doctor whose story -and intent, may not be all it seems. Fabulous.