Independent Bookselling for Independent Minds
Beryl by Jeremy Wilson
Without listing all of her achievements, it is hard to capture just how successful an athlete Beryl Burton was and it is also hard to explain just why she is so largely unknown. This fantastic biography brings great passion to exploring both of these topics, including a wealth of observations from sports psychologists and sports scientists, as well as family, team-mates and competitors to aid the reader in their understanding of Beryl and to put her achievements in context. Definitely not just one for the sports fans – a fascinating woman and a highly engaging read.
The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris
This is a superbly engaging biography of Harold Gillies, famous for his pioneering work in the field of facial reconstructive surgery during the First World War. Fitzharris writes lucidly and unsentimentally about his work, with unflinching examinations of battlefield injuries, while never losing sight of the sheer human endurance required by both medical personnel and patients to survive such challenging conditions. Ultimately, this is actually much more than a biography; it’s a deeply moving, humane story of hope, determination and community, which is felt most especially in the tributes paid to the individual soldiers whom Gillies treated. An absolutely outstanding read.
Wild Guide - North East England
This meticulously researched book by Sarah Banks will take you from the Borders to Spurn Head, from incomparable Northumberland beaches to the wildflower meadows of Upper Teesdale. It includes recommendations for cosy pubs, funky seafood shacks and traditional afternoon teas. Being a Wild Guide of course it is also brilliant for the more adventurous - with author-tested sites for swimming and wild camping, and treks to ancient stones, ruined castles and craggy scrambles. I love how each chapter begins with a suggestion of a ‘Perfect Weekend’ for that particular area to help you prioritise the places you want to visit. But ssshhh, don’t tell anyone or they’ll all be coming here!
Politics On the Edge - Rory Stewart
Written from a very personal and heartfelt perspective, this political memoir is unusually candid, pacy and witty and provides an all too rare view into the opaque inner workings of parliament and government. Rigour, honesty, balance and compromise are not often associated with modern British politics and so it is that Rory Stewart describes the many challenges he faced in attempting to deliver these qualities during his time as a minister and MP for Penrith and The Border. Powerful yet entertaining, a clear call for better politics.
Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris
Fugitives Edward Whalley and William Goffe take ship for New England: signatories to the death warrant of Charles I, they are two of the most wanted men in Restoration England. This is superlative stuff from Robert Harris, following the pair’s attempts to evade capture and salvage new lives from the wreckage of their old; adrift in a new continent and pursued with relentless obsession by Richard Naylor, Secretary of the Regicide Committee. But it’s not only Naylor’s men who dog their every step, both are haunted by thoughts of home; by decisions made and regrets accrued; meditating on the importance of family and belonging and, of course, what remains when all appears lost.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This novel is a towering achievement; ambitious in scope it is both a scathing indictment of state induced poverty and addiction and a love letter to Kingsolver’s native Appalachia. We follow central character ‘Demon’ from his early life as a neglected and abused infant through to early adulthood in a small-town community where the odds stacked against even the most hopeful, resourceful individuals are huge. The author, with all of her gifts, ensures that we’re emotionally invested in all of the characters here; furiously eschewing any stereotypical portrayal of social deprivation, and placing complex, poignantly realised human lives at the heart of this vitally important story.
Haven by Emma Donoghue
This is a beautifully wrought and deftly handled story of tyranny and the simple humanity which challenges it. Set in the seventh century, the novel follows a priest and two monks who journey to the skelligs on the far west of Ireland to create a new community, uncorrupted by material wants; it’s to be a place filled only with the love of God. But the harshness of life on the barren island begins to create tensions which will ultimately bring the monks’ conscience into bitter conflict with the strict tenets of their religious faith.
A Month in the Country by J L Carr
This is a remarkable book which is, in essence, about the human spirit's ability to heal itself even after suffering extreme trauma. A veteran of The First World War accepts a commission to uncover a medieval church painting in the village of Oxgodby. On the surface this is such a simple story, as the author shows us the central character's growing enthusiasm for his work and the people he meets in the village. The war is felt as an oblique presence, the effects of which are gradually ameliorated by the simple yet profound effects of being reconnected to a community and the work he loves.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Set in Ireland in 1985, we follow coal merchant Bill Furlong on his final rounds before Christmas. A gentle, affectionate father, Bill’s intention is ‘to keep his head down and keep on the right side of people’ for the sake of his family. But Bill experienced kindness and acceptance as a child – and he is increasingly troubled by the lack of compassion within his community and its silence about a terrible wrong in its midst. Keegan’s tender portrait of the yearning, sensitive, conflicted soul of an ‘ordinary’ man and the pressure on him to maintain a pragmatic exterior reflects wider repressions within his society. Spare and beautiful, this is a hopeful read about the bravery of kindness.
A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson
This is an absolutely exquisite read, if you’re a fan of Anne Tyler then you’ll be in safe hands with the wonderful Mary Lawson. The novel centres on three disparate but connected characters, all at very different stages of life; an elderly woman lies dying in hospital, confronting past trauma and deep regret; a young man contemplates life post-divorce, wondering if he’s actually capable of anything other than emotionally distanced relationships, and a young girl struggles to cope with the sudden disappearance of her older sister. This beautifully written book reveals the complex, moving stories of ordinary lives made utterly compelling by the author’s belief that they are so, it’s an absolute triumph of empathy and insight.
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
This is a poignant, compelling tale of an unconventional family; full of great characters, it’s hugely emotionally engaging, with shocking secrets and damaging lies at its very core. When their mother Dot dies, middle aged twins Jeanie and Julius are forced to fend for themselves for the first time. Prevented from living lives like their peers due to Dot’s suffocating need for their constant proximity, they are at an apparent disadvantage when navigating the complexities and casual cruelties of everyday life. But their story is also potentially one of discovery and possibility: will they be able to reconstruct their lives free of the influence of their mother or will their lack of experience of the outside world be their undoing?
One More Croissant for the Road by Felicity Cloake
This is such an uplifting, entertaining read. Whether you relish a physical challenge, delight in the love of food or dream of a more French way of life (or like me, embrace all three), this food memoir combined with cycling adventure celebrates French cuisine, the vast landscape of l’Hexagon and the frustrations of navigating French systems, all from the seat of two wheels. With warmth, wit, and an infectious dollop of enthusiasm for the indulgence in good eating, even the steepest mountain slog or constant whipping rain fails to obliterate Felicity’s grit and determination, as there is always the joy of food…one more croissant for the road anyone?
River Kings by Cat Jarman
I’m a huge fan of Norse history and Cat Jarman’s book brings a fresh perspective to the Vikings’ achievements as explorers, as she attempts to trace the provenance of a carnelian bead excavated at the Repton site in Britain. Using the latest forensic archaeological techniques, she tracks the bead’s possible journey through the river routes of northern Europe into Iraq and perhaps even to India, exploring settlements and trading relationships along the way. Fascinating, enlightening and just utterly inspiring.
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage (and These Precious Days) by Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett’s first collection of essays reads like a memoir; we find out about her life’s loves, her thoughts on key elements of society, her family and how being a writer is at her core. Her writing and ideas are sharp and articulate, delicately exposing the nuances of her topic whilst simultaneously addressing major issues. Her consideration and difference of opinion is refreshing, her honesty is admirable, and her writing is intelligent, respectful, entertaining, and incredibly thought-provoking. In reading her non-fiction, it has been a pleasure to spend time with this extraordinary, ordinary woman. Her second collection continues to show her exceptional skill as a writer, and unsurprisingly given current times, it has a reflection on life, and our consciousness of being alive.
Native by Patrick Laurie
Laurie has been described as a farmer with a poet’s eye, and I couldn’t agree more. I absolutely loved this quiet but powerfully evocative book. Farming the slow-maturing Galloway cattle, Laurie retains a connection to the methods and traditions of the region’s past, whilst aiming to secure a future for its dwindling wildlife. He writes sensitively about the difficulty he and his wife have conceiving, in contrast to the fertile cycle of life on the farm. With grace and humour, Laurie takes us through a year as he grapples with rusting machinery, listens for curlews and immerses himself in the heritage of his beloved Galloway.
This is Happiness by Niall Willams
This is a wonderful quiet read, full of compassion with a gentle nod to times past. Young Noe recounts the spring he stays with his grandparents after his mother has died and he’s experiencing a crisis of faith. Faha in County Kerry seems locked in time, but as Easter is being celebrated there is excitement for the new possibilities that electricity will offer. The magic of this novel is Williams’s eye for detail, capturing the intricacies and complexities of the riches and pains in life’s tapestry of grief, faith and love. Written in beautiful lyrical prose with such warmth and wit, this is a novel to spend time over.
The Woman in the Photograph by Stephanie Butland
I was immersed in this book from page one. Vee is a press photographer, struggling to reconcile her passion for her work with society’s expectations of her as a woman. It’s 1968, and an encounter with the inimitable Leonie Barratt is about to change her life. Inspired by Leonie’s passionate fight for equality, Vee finds her calling and embarks on a groundbreaking career documenting women’s lives through the lens – until a single photograph cuts it short. Now, Leonie’s niece is curating a controversial retrospective of Vee’s work, with that photograph as the centrepiece… Astute and beautifully written, this novel is a fascinating examination of second-wave feminism – and the challenges of living up to its legacy.
Warrior by Edoardo Albert and Paul Gething
This is a must read for all those interested in early medieval history and in the kingdom of Northumbria in particular. Its exciting starting point is the discovery of an Anglo-Saxon warrior’s bones, unearthed during an archaeological dig at Bamburgh Castle. What then follows is an inspired attempt to place this ancient figure into historical, archaeological, and social context. This involves a wonderfully vivid interpretation of the unending struggle to conquer and unite disparate kingdoms, the spread of Celtic Christianity east from Ireland, and, of course, the life of this region’s most famous leader, Oswald.
English Pastoral by James Rebanks
James Rebanks needs no introduction, which can only be a good thing. Exploring how the delicate balance of our farmland has been eroded within our lifetime, English Pastoral raises a passionate call to action – for farmers and consumers alike – to restore the equilibrium. In prose that is both spare and poetic, Rebanks recalls a time when farming was intensely physical – and uncovers the disconnect between the way we live and our relationship with the land that feeds us. Whether musing on Virgil’s Georgics, or working the sheepdogs with his two-year-old son, Rebanks takes us along for the ride. Whilst addressing some of the thornier debates around how we breathe life back into the land, Rebanks retains a sense of spellbound wonder at nature simply doing its thing. Deeply personal, full of hope and more than a little revolutionary, this book is a joy to read.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
This is without doubt one of the most beautiful books I’ve read this year; there’s such an abundance of vivid life in its pages even as it seeks to explore the most profound loss. Maggie O’Farrell’s premise is a bold one: to write a life of Shakespeare (although he is never named) as viewed through the prism of his wife Agnes and their children. Although the eponymous Hamnet, the playwright’s only son, is the talisman, his loss the novel’s fulcrum; the book ranges through the life of this extraordinary family from the unconventional courtship of Shakespeare and Agnes to the devastating aftermath of the young boy’s death. The characters are all richly drawn; O’Farrell’s wonderful language giving a powerful physicality to their lives and immediately engaging the reader’s sympathy. This beautifully wrought vision of Shakespeare’s family life has an intensity which is utterly hypnotic; it’s a profound and captivating read.
Wintering by Katherine May
This is a fascinating account of how we can learn to cope when our lives become ‘frozen’ by sudden change or trauma; in the author’s case this took the form of an unexpected family illness. After an initial period of shock and emotional paralysis Katherine May learned to embrace her period of ‘wintering’ by exploring different cultural approaches to these times of enforced retreat and re-assessment. The book is both wise and illuminating and obviously so very relevant to our present collective experience and I must say that I found reading it greatly comforting.
The Tidal Zone by Sarah Moss
This novel by the brilliant Sarah Moss is centred on a family who have apparently avoided tragedy, yet have to learn to live in its constant shadow. The incisive and wide ranging points the novel makes about modern life are punctuated by the research one of the characters undertakes into the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral after the Second World War. This clever time shift informs the way we are persuaded to view contemporary life and allows the author scope to discuss the various ways that we as human beings respond to, and recover from, trauma. This is a thought provoking, yet warm and humorous novel which would make a great introduction to the author’s work.
The Island at the Centre of the World by Russell Shorto
Telling the fascinating story of New York’s rackety beginnings under the Dutch colonists, this book reads like the best fiction and breathes life into an almost forgotten period in the city’s history. It is an amazingly informative read and stays with you even when walking the streets of New York today.
The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
The Light Years is the first in a quintet telling the story of the Cazalets, a large, wealthy, upper class family who come together each summer at their parents’ house in Sussex. With the extended family, friends and servants all under one roof, Howard has cleverly constructed a stage on which she expertly interweaves the lives of her characters, exploring their individual motivations, hopes and losses, set within the social context of the 1930s and the impending outbreak of the Second World War. I read this on holiday after several recommendations from customers and it’s exactly what I wanted – The Light Years effortlessly draws you in to a different time and place - I became completely absorbed, stealing snatches of time to read ‘just a few more pages’, such is the power of the storytelling.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The first in Hilary Mantel’s acclaimed trilogy, charting the dizzying rise of Thomas Cromwell, Wolf Hall is as immersive and satisfying as its reputation would suggest. I’ve never read anything quite like it; on the one hand so intricate with historical detail, on the other, so raw and elemental – almost Shakespearean in seeking to capture the essence of human experience. Mantel’s depiction of Cromwell is rich and multifaceted; he is by turns calculating and loyal; refined (is there a language he doesn’t speak?) and earthy. What moved me most was the compassion of Mantel’s vision; for me, Wolf Hall is as much a tender portrait of flawed humanity as an interpretation of history.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
This is a sublime piece of storytelling, set at an intentionally unspecified period it cleverly weaves together elements of traditional myth and folk lore with the burgeoning world of scientific investigation, all centred around an ancient inn at the village of Radcot, nestled on the River Thames to the north of Oxford. The tale begins with the dramatic night time arrival at the inn of an injured stranger, carrying the body of a drowned young girl. As the quest to identify both the girl and her rescuer gathers momentum, we’re drawn into the lives of those who dwell along the river as their stories are slowly revealed to us; lives blighted by grief and loss and also those lived with quiet dignity and determination. As the plot ebbs and flows like the river itself, we watch fascinated, as relationships are forged, crimes are committed, and always the question remains: who is the mysterious child? There are so many wonderful elements to this book: the fluid storytelling, the sense of place and the wonderful characters, who are so beautifully and sympathetically drawn. It’s a spellbinding read, and a great homage to the nineteenth century novel; definitely one for fans of Wilkie Collins.
A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler
This is the moving story of a solitary man called Andreas Egger and his simple life in an alpine valley, “he had no one, but he had all he needed and that was enough”. Although it is only 148 pages, this is a book to be savoured, written with precision and beautifully translated.
Slow Train to Switzerland by Diccon Bewes
In this very agreeable account, Bewes journeys to and through Switzerland following the route of pioneering Victorian tourist, Miss Jemima Morrell, on her ground breaking Thomas Cook tour. Bewes’s engaging writing style presents a wealth of observations about the journey, both now and then, including historic, economic and cultural context. A great fireside read that is informative, entertaining and left me excited to head to the Alps.
Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams
Butcher's Crossing, by the recently 'rediscovered' American author John Williams has been one of the most admired books that the Cogito Book group have read. The book is set in 1870 and follows the journey made by four very different men into the inhospitable Colorado wilderness to hunt down a herd of buffalo. Although this herd seems to have the quality of myth, as if conjured up by one of the characters - the veteran hunter Miller - this is very much a novel which de-mythologises the traditional romanticised view of the old west. We all agreed on the exquisite nature of the writing, especially with regard to sensory experience - the reader feels that they are experiencing the wonders and horrors of the natural world as the characters encounter them on their journey. We also felt that by virtue of the novel's pared down yet lucid style, the essence of the characters was revealed in a very naturalistic way - young Will Andrews undergoes a gruelling rite of passage as he is forced to confront not only the wholesale slaughter and butchering of the buffalo but also the life threatening conditions of a Colorado winter, while the taciturn quasi-father figure of Miller is slowly shown to be someone who has given himself over to an obsession with the hunt which is ultimately tragically futile. Nobody should be put off by the subject matter of this novel - it is a fascinating, beautifully written study of human nature.
The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
This novel, about a woman who has lost her husband and decides to open a bookshop in a small town, is suffused by a profound sense of moral outrage and a deep distrust of seemingly innocuous behaviour. The subsequent trials which Mrs Green endures on opening her shop, as she unwittingly battles against the sinister agendas of others, are marvellously revealed in Penelope Fitzgerald's beautifully understated writing.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
It is tempting to say that if you liked Kite Runner you should enjoy this, in that it gives a compelling insight into a totally different culture, with characters in whose fate you must be interested. Intensely moving, funny, and tremendously entertaining, it is the sort of novel you keep giving to friends so that they will read it too – a work of genius.
Expectation by Anna Hope
Expectation has the sort of pitch-perfect brilliance that feels effortless to read. Hooked from the first page, I became even more deeply immersed as the tale unfolded, tracing the lives of three friends across three decades. As the novel opens Hannah, Cate and Lissa have it all to play for. They are as young, hip and aspirational as the newly-gentrified area of London they inhabit. Ten years later, life has taken some interesting turns. New mum Cate is feeling the strain, while Hannah is desperate to conceive; Hannah has a chic apartment and rewarding career, but Lissa’s acting never quite got off the ground and she struggles to make her rent… Each wants what the other has, and the ties of friendship are tested. With warmth and compassion, Anna Hope explores how we navigate the space between the expectations we place on ourselves and reality – in a world where demands on us are increasingly complex – and the importance of taking good friends with us on this journey.
Between Stone and Sky by Whitney Brown
This was easily my book of the year. At twenty-six, Whitney Brown’s career path is mapped out. That is, until chance brings dry-stone waller Jack to Washington DC. Fascinated by his craft, Whitney accepts an invitation to visit his home in Wales. Mere months later, she is working alongside him on the hill. Delighting in the physicality of the job (despite smashed fingers and bruised shins) and the shifting beauty of the Welsh countryside, Whitney discovers she need not be on native soil to feel a sense of homecoming. Between Stone and Sky is suffused by Whitney’s lively warmth, humour and originality. She deftly sketches the local topography by listing the gear changes required to navigate its valleys, revels in the local language and discovers the joy of elevenses. More than the delicate love story at its heart, Whitney’s is also a tale of finding harmony between body and soul, between the heft of stone, the inspiration of good friends and the joy of travel.
Lanny by Max Porter
This profound and original novel almost defies description, but its bold, beautiful language, innovative form and content are a rare treat indeed. It’s the story of a village, a family and a unique, imaginative child; the eponymous Lanny. Yet it’s also an attempt to capture all at once, our contemporary world and it’s more traditional roots and how one feeds into the other when a community’s fears and prejudices are brought to the fore when a child goes missing. The book interweaves elements reminiscent of a folk tale with incisive commentary on contemporary attitudes and behaviour to create a hybrid which is visionary, disturbing and totally unique.
The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry
This is just the most magnificent treat for any fans of historical crime fiction. Set in Victorian Edinburgh’s medical community, the novel cleverly weaves together real historical figures and embryonic fictional investigative duo Will Raven and Sarah Fisher, in a deliciously addictive mystery. As Will and Sarah, drawn reluctantly together, begin to investigate the deaths of young women in the city’s notorious Old Town, we enter a wonderfully realised world of poverty, crime and a medical profession in its infancy; compelling yet terrifying at the same time. Full of great characters, fascinating historical detail and a rallying commentary on gender politics throughout, this is a fantastic start to a new crime series.
Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession
I started to read this book and almost immediately it began acting as a wonderful uplifting tonic. It’s a disarmingly simple story of two friends, both very singular in their perspective and outlook on the world, yet happy in their own skins. We learn the ins and outs of Leonard and Hungry Paul’s families, work routines and their wonderfully low-key hopes and desires. Although very moving at times, this is the most heart-warming, gentle story where nothing dramatic actually happens, yet as a reader, you’re more than happy to spend time in the company of the two main characters and Ronan Hession’s mesmerising and often hilarious writing. I just loved this book; an object of quiet but total adoration.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
This is a story that draws you in, consumes your attention, and remains with you. Cutting for Stone follows the lives of twins born in a mission hospital in Addis Ababa; it demonstrates the stark contrast between places with advanced medical care and those with virtually none. Verghese is a perceptive and skilled writer who builds rich detail and depth into the development of his characters and this has allowed him to create a captivating read that examines the complexities of human relationships and cultural influences. Cutting for Stone is a very human story told with precision, respect and emotion.
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
Most of us probably haven’t given the science of sleep a great deal of thought, but Why We Sleep makes an extremely persuasive case for why we should. Walker contends that sleep should be considered as important as diet and exercise, and he certainly convinced me. Clear explanations of the various processes that occur whilst we sleep and demonstrations of their consequences make this usually overlooked subject exciting and significant. Read it and wake up to the power of sleep!
The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono
This is a short but powerful story about a quiet, unassuming man who plants acorns every day, renewing the Provençal landscape where he lives. The intricate wood engravings that accompany the narrative further enhance the depth of meaning behind Giono’s simple tale and reinforce the importance of our relationship with nature. I’ve read this book several times this year and have been comforted and inspired by its message that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting and significant impact.