what I'm currently reading
The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry
Gabrielle Levin
A widowed bookstore owner finds himself raising a young child abandoned in his shop. This light and heartwarming tale is about a handful of people finding their way in the world, and is set against an all-important backdrop of books.
THE SILVER MOON
Bryce Courtenay
A compilation of Bryce Courtney's reflections and musings about life, approaching death, and the craft of writing. It is an inspirational gem of a read and will definitely find a permanent home on my bookshelf.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Richard Flanagan
This often overwhelming commentary on humanity is set against the backdrop of the Burma Death Railway. A masterpiece. Winner of the 2014 Man Booker Prize.
Black Dog Summer
Miranda Sherry
A murdered mother lingers in the afterworld, following the different threads of story that belong to those left behind.
My Long Flight From Freedom
Sandy Geyer
South African born Sandy Geyer's frank and heartfelt account of why she left her homeland and moved with her family to New Zealand
The End Of Your Life Book Club
Will Schwalbe
The journey of a mother's terminal illness facilitated and shared with her son through books. A memoir.
A History of Silence
Lloyd Jones
The devastating Christchurch earthquake of 2011 served as a catalyst for this arresting memoir, which unearths and pieces together long-hidden truths within the author's family. This book lingered with me long after the last page.
The Cat's Table
Michael Ondaatje
A sea voyage from Sri Lanka to Britain throws three young boys together. The friendships forged and their adventures on board the Oronsay will resonate long into their adult lives."
The Invention of Wings
Sue Monk Kidd
"The Invention of Wings" is another powerful and beautifully written novel by Sue Monk Kidd, based on the true story of Sarah Grimke – a woman who fought tirelessly for both the abolition of slavery and women’s rights at the start of the nineteenth century. A harsh and poignant reminder of this era in America's history.
CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY
Alan Paton
I first read ‘Cry the Beloved Country’ many years ago. On reading it again, I have been reminded what a moving work it is – and brave for its time (1948), written when apartheid was just taking shape in South Africa.
Beloved
Toni Morrison
This deeply affecting and heartbreaking story by American Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison.
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
Piper Kerman
A rare and enlightening account of life behind bars in a US federal women’s prison. 'Orange is the New Black' raises many questions about modern society’s attitude towards crime and punishment.
Instructions for a Heatwave.
Maggie O'Farrell
The Riordan family regroups following the mysterious disappearance of their loving father and husband. An insightful portrait of a family in crisis.
We Need New Names
NoViolet Bulawayo
Told in the innocent voice of ten-year-old Darling, 'We Need New Names' is both a humorous and heartbreaking story about growing up in contemporary Zimbabwe (2005+) and the challenges of emigration.
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage
Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett offers a memoir-like compilation of some of the most significant moments and experiences in her life. The book affords a rare and candid insight into her world.
The Parihaka Woman
Witi Ihimeara
Witi Ihimeara seamlessly blends fact with fiction to create an engaging and moving read about an important period in Maori history.
The Luminaries
Eleanor Catton
A satisfying murder mystery set during the nineteenth century New Zealand gold rush. This intriguing yarn never once flagged; I kept turning the pages - all 832 of them! As a winner of the Man Booker Prize, The Luminaries is a great example of accessible literary fiction.
SNOWDROPS
A.D. Miller
This novel navigates the murky underworld of modern Moscow, where everything has a price and life is cheap. Miller draws the reader so completely into the bleak physical and moral landscape that it takes a while to reorientate after reading the last page.
The Street Sweeper
Elliot Perlman
An ambitious work set against a vast backdrop that encompasses both the horrors of the Holocaust and the American civil rights movement.
PERFECT
Rachel Joyce
From the author of ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’ comes a much darker tale about one mistake with unimaginable consequences.
Mukiwa. A White Boy in Africa
Peter Godwin
Peter Godwin has written a compelling memoir of growing up in Rhodesia in the 1960’s during the last years of white rule. Beautifully written and powerfully evoked.
Mr Rosenblum's List
Natasha Solomon
A delightful, humorous and poignant read. This book got a big ‘yes’ from me.
The Yellow Birds
Kevin Powers
A haunting account of two young soldiers' bid to stay alive during their tour of duty in Iraq. Deeply affecting.
Not Me
Michael Lavigne
In this novel, the truth for one man – Michael Rosenheim – is tipped on its head. A captivating tale that challenges society’s traditional definitions of good and evil, and leaves the reader grappling with moral uncertainties.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Rachel Joyce
I found myself looking at the world with different eyes by the end of Harold's journey. A must read!
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
An unsettling thriller that had me hooked from the opening line.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer
An epistolary novel set in 1946, following the end of the German occupation of Guernsey. A charming and uplifting read celebrating the power of the written word and the ability of the human spirit to rise above adversity.