There’s something about the 1930s that keeps pulling me back as a reader, in a way that’s almost subconscious. It’s a dynamic decade: suspended between wars, thick with anxiety, experimentation,…
1930s Literature: Reading Books from (& about) the Age of Anxiety
Queer Yearning in Books: Novels & Memoirs about Desire
If you’re looking for queer books that sit with yearning, identity, community, and the messiness of being human: here are some that have really stayed with me. Romance is present…
Festive Reads: Seasonal Reads for Christmas Time
If you’re after festive reads that go beyond pure cheer: books that sit somewhere between warmth and darkness, comfort and unease, here are some seasonal favourites that really worked for…
Scottish Literature: Books by Scottish Authors
If you’re looking to read more Scottish books or books by Scottish authors, here’s a small but mighty pile I’ve really enjoyed recently. There’s a lot of history here, a…
Daphne du Maurier: Gothic Visionary, Shaped by Cornwall
Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989) was a British novelist, playwright, and short story writer whose works continue to fascinate. Some of her works have been made into iconic films and series,…
Books about Women’s Health: Medical Memoirs & History
I’ve got a bit of a thing for books on women’s health: whether that is an empowering memoir of dealing with pain and frustrating diagnoses, or hard-hitting reports on the…
Great Contemporary Short Story Collections From Great Writers
Short stories are an underappreciated literary art form: we should all read more short stories! They often get neglected as they are not seen as marketable as novels, but these…
Best Hercule Poirot Books: Agatha Christie’s Belgian Icon
Hercule Poirot is a beloved detective, a true icon of classic crime whose fastidious nature and over-the-top character have won him fans around the world. Poirot is meticulous, brilliant, and…
Best Miss Marple Books: Agatha Christie’s Sly Sleuth
I have a soft spot for Miss Marple. Her unthreatening and endearing “dear old lady spinster” demeanour hides a steely determination: she subverts the notion of how old ladies should…
Gritty Childhood Memoirs: Survival & Hope In Equal Measure
Why are we so drawn to difficult childhoods in literature? Do difficult childhoods make for great writers? There is something cathartic and compelling about reading stories of childhood survival and…
7Â Non-Fiction Biographies About Fascinating Historic Women
There are so many great non-fiction books out there about history’s unsung heroines: these are just a few of my favourites. These seven books bring together women who need to…