What you could read next ....

I have been trying to give up Amazon but I have a weak spot when it comes to my kindle. The low vision option alongside convenience is extremely alluring. I have resolved to buy every second book from our lovely local bookshop and am enjoying having a real paper copy by my bedside. I have read some great books this year, these are some of my favourites so far…

The Boy from the Sea - Garrett Carr

This enchanting story is told from the perspective of the local people of Killybeggs, a fishing town in Donegal. They follow the Bonnar family over two generations through good and bad times. Life is tough for the family but there ultimately a very optimistic tone to the book and the characters are charming and relatable. I particularly enjoyed The Boy from the Sea as it captured the quiet stoic character of many Irish men further enhanced by the slow pace of the story and the gorgeous lyrical language.

Fundamentally - Nussaibah Younis

Nussaibah Younis has achieved unbelievable feat in her debut novel by successfully balancing humour with themes of radicalization and ISIS ideology. To be clear, the plot line is not very relatable ; University Academic ‘Nadia’ is so heartbroken that she takes a job in Baghdad to run a de-radicalization programme for women recruited by ISIS. Nadia is absurdly unqualified and ill equipped for the role and her many blunders include the appointment of a hippy-dippy Californian Sheikh who is mercilessly ridiculed by the women in the camp. She becomes obsessed with the plight of Sara (a fellow East London girl) and helps her to escape the camp only to find out that there is a real possibility she may return to ISIS. Nussaibah Younis has successfully created awareness of a very serious problem using dark humour.

Went to London, took the dog - Nina Stibbe

I very much enjoyed Nina Stibbe’s first dairy ‘Love Nina’ and this felt like a sequel. Nina returns to London after twenty years and this collection of diary entries record some hilarious anecdotes, wonderful characters and touching scenarios (Think Adrian Mole but with tena ladies!) Although the book is very funny , Nina shows her vulnerability as she navigates a new life post-divorce. I had a personal interest in the diary as I also live in Cornwall and often wonder if I could move back to the big smoke when my children leave home. Nina’s complaints about cafe prices, bins and rubbish on dog walks have made me think again.

This is a Love Story - Emily Soffer

The book does what it says on the cover. It is the ultimate love story that documents the imperfect relationship between Abe and Jane from courtship to death. All of the pivotal moments in their lives together are linked to experiences they have shared in Central Park which takes on a life of it’s own in the story. The depiction of Jane’s Post Natal Depression and the cycle of shame and guilt felt very true and powerful. I enjoyed the writing style, however some readers may find the repetition irritating, definitely a marmitey kind of book!

Show, Don’t Tell - Curtis Sittenfeld

A wholly formed story in one chapter is something to be celebrated as it gives such satisfaction and requires very little effort on the part of the reader. This recent collection of short stories by Curtis Sittenfeld contains some real gems. In her typical style, she dials down the drama through stories that chronicle what it is to be human. The characters are all very relatable and I was happy to find middle aged suburban women featured heavily in most chapters. My favourite included a women who gets caught on camera in full Karen mode! These short stories are the perfect snack, the writing is clever and observational.

Top books that I have read in 2024

A book is a holiday in your own head. Even at my lowest ebb, I have found that I can escape into the characters and plot of a good story. During this year of ups and downs, I have really enjoyed the following books. January is the perfect month to hibernate with a good book and I hope that you find some inspiration here.

The Wedding People - Alison Espach

This heartwarming and funny tale deals with a very heavy subject matter. The struggles of infertility, divorce and the death of her beloved cat, leave Pheobe at the lowest point in her life. Dressed in an emerald gown, she books herself into a suite of a grand hotel in order to end her life by taking her cat’s painkillers. However Pheobe is intercepted by bride to be Lila, who has hired the hotel for her ‘perfect wedding’ and will not be inconvenienced by a corpse being wheeled through the lobby.

Pheobe and Lila develop an unlikely friendship based on sharing their repressed feelings. Before long, Pheobe is swept up by the bridal party and starts to see that her life can move forward in a different direction. I highly recommend this comforting book with such lovable characters and theme of the enduring human spirit.

“It’s all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you would be”

Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly - Joanna Glen

This book tells the story of Addie and Sol, two damaged individuals who find comfort in each others’ company but can’t risk falling completely and madly in love because of past dysfunctional relationships. The characters are beautifully developed and ultimately the story is about personal growth and learning to trust again.

The main pleasure of this book lies in Joanna Glenn’s magical descriptions of the natural world along the Northumberland coast. The story is set on a fictional island that can only be reached at low tide by bridge. The isolated location is well matched by the loneliness of the characters and their connection to the land and sea.

The Glass Maker - Tracy Chevalier

This historical novel transports the reader to Murano, Venice and follows a family of glass makers over a period of 500 years. The reader must suspend their imagination as the author plays with the timeline and we watch the Rosso family experience the Italian Renaissance all the way up to the Covid Pandemic.

The writing is absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed seeing the role of women evolve over time as well as learning about Murano culture and glassmaking.

..beads brought colour and beauty...There was a pricelessness to these tiny, hard things. They endured, and retained the history of their owners, and their makers'.

Caledonian Road - Andrew O’Hagen

This is dense book with a huge variety of themes and characters. I would recommend reading Caledonian Road if you are ready to take a deep dive into contemporary politics and economics and are looking for something chunky and challenging.

The story follows privileged art historian Campbell Flynn and his relationship with Milo, a brilliant young man of mixed heritage and voice of a new generation. Through their discussions, the themes of corruption, human trafficking arise, forcing Campbell to question his luxurious life amongst aristocrats and links to Russian Plutocrats. Set against the background of Caledonian Road, an area notorious for corrupt landlords, the novel has a Dickensian quality as it looks at the greed and class division of our society.

Sandwich - Catherine Newman

‘Sandwiched’ is the position that women find themselves in when children are leaving home and parents are ageing. . Rocky is in the sandwich and she seems to be constantly making sandwiches for these members of her family. Set on a family holiday in beautiful Cape Cod, we watch Rocky navigate this stage of her life with the added fun of menopausal symptoms.

If you are in the sandwich, I have no doubt that you will empathize with the main character as she reflects on past decisions, manages the needs of her adult children and forges a path ahead with her partner.

“Life is a seesaw, and I am standing dead center, still and balanced: living kids on one side, living parents on the other”

Girls - Kirsty Capes

This is a devastating and funny book about motherhood, family, fame, art and addiction. Sisters Nora and Mattie embark on a road trip accross America and try to untangle their terrible childhood with their famous mother Iris. Sisterly love saves the day and with the help of Matties fabulous daughter Beans, the girls find a way they can move forward in their lives.

The heavy subject matter is lightened by Kirsty Cape’s witty writing and the beautiful characters that she creates. ‘Girls’ is a very clever depiction of the complexities of mental health and family dynamics.

I have read some fantastic books over the past year but these are some of my favourites. If you look further back over the blog you will find more recommendations. I would love to hear about the books you have enjoyed in 2024. Please add your favourites to the comments below.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year

Sophie

Duvet cover handmade from Liberty fabric ‘Wiltshire’