Christmas Book Recommendations 2019

‘Warlight’ by Michael Ondaatje

Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient, has written an exceptional book in Warlight. It is set mainly in Putney in 1945 and is an original look at how unsettling the immediate peace after the war was for some. Old hostilities continued, London was half rubble and there was a certain amount of lawlessness around. It is seen through the eyes of a teenage boy searching for answers about the roles his parents played in WW2. We thought that Ondaatje’s writing was both impeccable and often poetic. Highly recommended.

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens

An American Wildlife Scientist – 368 pages. This enthralling novel is about an isolated girl Kya, growing up alone in the swamplands of North Carolina, between the ages of 6 to 25, after being abandoned by her family. She learns how to fend for herself acquiring skills to catch mussels and fish, which she also sells to survive. A wild beautiful girl, she is targeted by the local boys and townsfolk, leading to being suspected of murder. It’s a heart-breaking love story with a happy ending. Delia Owens’ descriptions of the wildlife, fauna and flora are captivating.

‘My Sister, the Serial Killer’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite

This is a dark comedy, set in Nigeria, with an underlying message about the ascendancy of men over women. The book is part-thriller and partly an exploration of the relationship between the two sisters. A fascinating read.

Her debut novel, 226 pages, this book was listed for the 2019 Booker prize and on the short list for the Women’s Prize for Fiction

‘Crooked Heart’ by Lissa Evans

This is an enjoyable, humorous but also poignant read.

The plot is an ingenious account of the two sides to WW2 in London: under the suffering and stories of good people helping each other, dodgy characters are on the make. There is a great mix of opposing elements. It is a page-turner and well edited, economically shifting from scene to scene like a film. 
It is all brought to life via brilliant characterization.

‘Trying to Please’ – the autobiography of John Julius Norwich

An account of an appetite for life and a remarkable gift of friendship – we very much enjoyed it. John Julius had many interests and lived to the full with opportunities taken. His father was Duff Cooper, a cabinet minister and political ally of Winston Churchill, and his mother, Lady Diana Cooper, was a famous beauty. In 1952 he became a diplomat and travelled extensively. His career included writing, broadcasting, lecturing and commitments to the National Trust, Venice in Peril and the World Monuments Fund.

‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller – recommended for Young Adults

The great classics, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, have lost their legendary storytelling status these days, but Miller has injected them with ‘Super Soldier Serum’ by viewing them from a more modern perspective, through the eyes of ‘secondary’ characters. Instead of seeing Circe as an evil witch, we see how she is shaped by how she is treated. In a world where opinions are polarised, Circe is a vital reminder of the need for a measured, rational and well-rounded view on the world, as well as being a captivating revitalisation of one of the classics.

Sorcery of Thorns’ by Margaret Rogerson – recommended for Young Adults

The cruellest, and kindest, thing a good book does is to make you believe you live inside it for a few hundred pages, that you are a part of its world, not just skating around the edges… until it ends and the illusion dies like a snuffed flame, and you’re left marooned, adrift. This is just such a book.

The real world takes a seat at the back, because Rogerson’s imaginary one has called a character called Shotgun. This book is literally about a girl who must protect books in a world full of magic. Could her life get any dreamier?

‘Domino the Miracle Dog’ by Julia Adlard – recommended for younger children

Domino is a beautifully illustrated and engagingly written true story about a Jack Russell who disappears one day while out on a familiar walk.

Impulsive and inquisitive (and which Jack Russell isn’t both of those) she has squeezed down a rabbit hole and there she remains for days until she can be found and rescued. It is a wonderful story and ideal for children of 3+ but be warned – having bought the book there may be pressure to buy a puppy too!

These reviews are reproduced with grateful thanks to our friends and members: Wendy Thornton Fell, Vicki Baird, Frances Gordon, Rayne Hield, Mari Myerscough, Lottie Fauvelais, Sebastian Swallow and ‘Shelf Life’