Finally got round to reading this one! I sort of knew I would love it, but maybe also part of me was worried that I wouldn’t?! But I needn’t have…
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
The Home by Penelope Mortimer
My second Penelope Mortimer novel in a short time, and I think I enjoyed this more than The Pumpkin Eater. There are similar themes here, but this book is less…
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
A story about a life that starts auspiciously on the 15th of August, 1947, the day of Indian independence; Saleem’s life is wrapped up in his country’s history from day…
Odd Girl Out by Elizabeth Jane Howard
My first novel from this writer, I was reminded of other writers such as Margaret Drabble, Iris Murdoch etc. But maybe that’s unfair to Howard’s originality! It was very easy…
Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike
I’m a sucker for a Shakespeare connection, so I loved the idea of exploring Hamlet’s mother’s perspective as she marries Hamlet’s father and then, after his death, quickly marries her…
Clock Without Hands by Carson McCullers
This was a great book that took you on a journey that felt both profound and deeply connected to the ways in which ignorance, racism, and fear permeate small communities….
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
I was feeling sick and miserable and wanted a quick and easy read. And this delivered. This is a really well-paced locked room (island) mystery set during an island wedding….
The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
This isn’t written so long ago, but some of it felt “of its time”, especially when it came to describing people’s bodies. I also didn’t like some of the characters….
The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura
I read this pretty much in a day! It’s one of those “atmosphere” short novels that leaves a taste in your mouth, or an impression, but without a clear sense…
The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes
Think you know the story of Oedipus? Think again! Here we have Jocasta’s and her daughter’s point of view of the shocking and gruesome tale. And in fact, this book…
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
I was very curious to see where this book was going – and it was another book that’s been hyped up on social media recently. It’s honestly an engaging and…
Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel
Set mainly in Mexico City, this is a book about two friends and their different and changing views on motherhood. Will embarking on the journey of motherhood change everything? How…
The Guest by Emma Cline
Heady, panicky, dripping with the unseemly trappings of wealth and privilege, this book follows Alex as she tries to infiltrate a rich community over the course of a few sultry…
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
First off, my first McEwan, which feels overdue! Secondly, I love the atmosphere in this novel. The descriptions of the Oxford countryside, the very concise descriptions of young people struggling…
The House of Odysseus by Claire North
I practically hoover up these Greek and Roman retellings from different (often women or Gods or mythical character) perspectives, and Claire North is no different. This is the second book…
A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch
Oh Iris Murdoch. Her novel A Severed Head took me on a journey! What starts off as a rather conventional social novel set in London, where its townhouses act like…
The Premonition by Banana Yoshimoto
I’d heard the hype around Yoshimoto’s book Kitchen, so was excited to give this author a try! The writing is exquisite, I love the character, and the set-up is great…
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
A book I was probably “pushed” to read after seeing it a lot on people’s lists, grids etc. Which is always a tough place to start from, as you’re very…
Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor
Not my favourite Elizabeth Taylor novel, but not a bad read. It’s her last novel and has a slightly elegiac tone, but generally it’s just another one of her bitingly…
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Well, this is pretty epic, but you’re already expecting that with a Kingsolver novel! I find her novels easy to read despite their length, and the pacing is excellent. I’ve…
The Agüero Sisters by Cristina García
For lovers of magic realism, this is a beautiful story of sisters, desire, family, Cuba, and nature. I devoured this book on holiday and felt totally immersed in its world….
The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer
So, this was an interesting, punchy book! Love discovering a new writer like Penelope Mortimer: this was my first read from her. The Pumpkin Eater tracks the internal musings and…
Swimming Home by Deborah Levy
This recent read was one of those “I know I should be enjoying it more but I just can’t get into it” ones. Maybe I just wasn’t in the right…