The coffee is brewing and I’m muting the BBC election coverage long enough to tell you about the books I’ve been reading over the last few weeks. Top of the list is an Icelandic novel, as well as a couple of cosy crimes and a brilliant book about the ocean. Scroll down for a little snap of a literary event I took part in last week which was just wonderful. Enjoy!
BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Mark by Fríða Ísberg
(Faber & Faber, 6 June 2024)
I really savoured this book, enamoured by the way the author managed to envision a near-future society that was both utopian and dystopian. Set in Iceland, the story follows a handful of characters in the lead up to a referendum that poses whether an empathy test should be mandatory for all citizens. Proponents claim it will help keep society safer and healthier, while critics believe it to be invasive and oppressive. Not only is it well written - with brilliant psychological portraits of the main characters - it has been really interesting to read in the lead up to the general election, amidst the conversation around freedom of choice, societal values and propagandist messaging.
The Feast by Margaret Kennedy
(Faber & Faber, originally published in 1950)
I picked this up in the library thinking it would just be another cosy crime read, but it really surprised me! There was much more depth and character development than I thought, and it ended up being a poignant and entertaining story about all sorts of stuff - sin, good and evil, friendship and ambition.
The High Seas: Ambition, Power and Greed on the Unclaimed Ocean by Olive Heffernan
(Profile, 2024)
I’m fascinated - and intimidated - by the sea. So wild and untameable, although that doesn’t stop the powers of the world attempting to control them. This is the subject of Olive Heffernan’s new book, which is a meticulously researched exploration of the often overlooked-and-out-of-sight exploitation that happens in the open sea, including harmful fishing practices, deep-sea mining, and attempts to combat climate change. A brilliant book if you’re interested in ocean conservation and industrial corruption.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
(HarperCollins, 2024)
I mentioned this one last week in the lead up to a beautiful evening I took part in for the launch of my friend Lucy’s newest book. We had a wonderful time at La Follia in South Harting for their supper club, eating delicious food, drinking cocktails and chatting about The Midnight Feast. If you haven’t read one of Lucy’s books yet, I highly recommend this one! The definition of a page-turner. Here we are having our Q&A, where I got to ask Lucy lots of questions about writing, the folklore revival and much more. Thanks so much for having me, Lucy and La Follia!
If you’re looking for books to read, might I suggest preordering my next one?
Ebb and Flow: A Guide to Seasonal Living is an illustrated guide to slowing down and tuning into the rhythm of the year. I’ve poured many happy hours into it, illustrating every page and writing essays, poems, crafts, recipes and other tidbits, all designed to help you embrace each season and find peace, mindfulness and joy throughout the year. I really feel like there’s a little piece of my soul in this book!
The hardback is published with Bloomsbury on 12 September 2024, and it can be preordered anywhere you buy your books, including Bloomsbury, Bookshop, Amazon and Waterstones.