From a non-fiction book with a compelling case for engaging with the world outdoors to a beautiful graphic novel exploring the imaginary world of the Brontë siblings.
Recommendations
Editor's picks: What we are reading in February
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ta-Nehisi Coates' letter to his son, 2015’s Between the World and Me, warned of the sombre reality of being African American; a person of colour locked in a racist world. In his first work of fiction, he depicts the brutality and suffering of life for slaves on a plantation in Virginia but adds elements of magic realism along with some beautifully crafted prose. This is an unmissable commentary on race from one of the world’s most astute thinkers.
- Donna, Associate editor
Losing Eden by Lucy Jones
Most of us are familiar with the notion that a good walk or some time outdoors can soothe the mind, but few will fail to be astounded by the revelations in Lucy Jones’s second book, Losing Eden. Full of meticulous research, it makes a fiercely compelling case for embracing the world outdoors – not only to save ourselves, but to save what little of the natural world we have left.
Jones, a former music journalist whose first book, Foxes Unearthed, was published in 2016, weaves in her own narrative of overcoming addiction and raising her daughter in a planet that is increasingly on fire. For all of the grim statistics, what Jones is best at offering is hope - and real, tangible solutions for how we can fall back in love with the planet we have so roundly rejected.
- Alice, Features editor
Actress by Anne Enright
This is the story of Norah who chronicles the rise and fall of her actress mother, Katherine O’Dell. From the golden age of Hollywood to the stark reality of life in 1970s Dublin living through The Troubles, Katherine’s lies and secrets are unraveled when Norah starts to question how well she knew her own mother.
This is not only a story about the dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship, but also the darker side of fame - still relevant today. Fans of Anne Enright will be delighted with another witty and heartfelt novel which echoes themes of her booker-prize winner The Gathering.
- Sarah, Managing editor
The Book of Echoes by Rosanna Amaka
If you ever needed proof that some things are worth waiting for, this gripping debut should do it. Author Rosanna Amaka began writing The Book of Echoes some twenty years ago, hoping to give voice to the Brixton community she felt was vanishing before her eyes.
She has ended up doing that, and so much more. This is the story of two characters: a boy from south east London and a girl from Lagos, both attempting to escape their pasts in an 1980s England rife with racial tension. It glides between their two stories and eventual collision with remarkable grace and beauty. I already can't wait to see what Amaka does next.
- Sam, Editor in chief
Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg
Isabel Greenberg’s third graphic novel delves into Glass Town – the vast imaginary world of the Brontë siblings. It opens in July 1849, with Charlotte alone and grieving in gloomy blues and greys; before switching between the Brontës’ sepia-toned youth, and their technicoloured Glass Town. However, imagination and reality become difficult to separate, particularly for Charlotte. In unhappy moments, she finds herself paid frequent visits by her cad of a character Zamorna - who bears striking similarities to a certain Mr Rochester. Fans of the Brontës will enjoy this wild and heart-breaking journey, and will have you question what became of your own childish fantasies.
- Imogen, Content producer
What we read in January
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
Deepa Anappara spent eleven years working as a journalist in southern India reporting on the ways poverty and religious violence impact on children’s education. From the first page of her assured and empathetic debut novel, it shows. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line – which caused something of an industry frenzy when it was auctioned last year – tells the story of nine-year-old Jai, who is on the hunt for his missing schoolfriend along the railways and back alleys of Kerala. Witty, evocative and underpinned by astute commentary on class and inequality in the world’s largest democracy, fans of The God of Small Things will approve.
- Sam, Editor-in-chief
Braised Pork by An Yu
The story opens in a wealthy suburb of Beijing, when Jia Jia finds her husband drowned in the bathtub. Next to him is a crudely drawn picture of a strange creature – a man’s head on a fish’s body. What originally appears to be a straightforward contemporary thriller soon takes an unexpected and mystical turn, with Jia Jia's search for meaning in the ‘fishman' eventually leading her to a forgotten corner of Tibet. From the lyrical prose to the utterly original plot, this was an absolute joy to read and perfect for fans of Haruki Murakami and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
- Fran, Social media editor
Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
It’s one of literature’s greatest crimes: part tragedy, part mystery. When Cassandra Austen burned a trove of letters and correspondence from her sister, Jane, little did she know the act of defiance would trouble the writing world for years to come. Or perhaps she did. It’s this act of rebellion that Miss Austen is based on, a novel that, despite being a fictional account, is fully immersed in the delightfully period world of Austen. Author Gill Hornby uses the story to fondly profile Jane’s history through her sister’s narrative, and shine a spotlight on the woman who often stepped outside the boundaries of her time. This one is perfect for Austen aficionados looking for more detail on the progressive writer.
- Donna, Associate editor
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
Escaping a personal tragedy Ogden and Kitty Milton buy an island – despite The Great Depression – off the coast of Maine to create an idyllic retreat for their family. As the story sweeps between three generations of Miltons their family's secrets and lies begin to unravel and the consequences of their privileged lives come to light with devastating results. It is a story about hidden people throughout history and those who have ignored them, as well as a timely reminder that we all play a part in shaping a better world for everyone.
- Sarah, Managing editor
