June Reading
Including maybe my book of the year so far...
This month was quite a quiet reading month, for no particular reason other than general busyness. Two rereads, some escapism, prep for an event I’m really looking forward to and also potentially my book of the year so far!
(Apologies for the slight delay on this one, I was struck down by the Covid wave that seems to be hitting every other person in London currently so I’ve had a bit of a fuzzy-headed week.)
Follow This Thread by Henry Eliot
I reread this after visiting Punchdrunk’s new show, Viola’s Room. You can read my professional review of that here if you’re so inclined. The show is full of Punchdrunk’s signature obsession with mazes and labyrinths and mythology and so I went back to Eliot’s book while thinking on all of that. I love this book - it’s an exploration of mazes and labyrinths in history and culture and looks at all the different things that they have represented through a loose framework of Eliot trying to track down Greg Bright, the reclusive “Maze King”. The book itself becomes something to get lost in as you follow a continuous printed red line through the book which you have to turn left and right and up and down to follow. The first time I read it, I was quite profoundly affected by the experience by the end, and while it hasn’t produced that near-euphoria on rereads, it’s still a book I go back to regularly.
Should you buy it? Absolutely yes - one of my all time fav non-fiction books.
Another reread, this time in honour of going to see the play adaptation of the book that has been on at the Royal Court, starring Ben Whishaw, Emma D’Arcy, and Kayla Meikle and adapted by the fairly legendary Katie Mitchell. I read the book when it first came out in the UK in 2017 (although it was first published in 2009 in the US) and indeed I realised I have a first edition of the UK edition. I didn’t have very specific memories of the first read, The Argonauts was “my” Nelson book. Going back to it now, honestly I kind of stand by that. I found it a fascinating read that I’m glad I reread before seeing the play, but I’m not one of it’s cult followers (I know a few people who would list it as a favourite). It’s one I admire rather than love - I actually think potentially I preferred the experience of watching the play than reading the book. I had no idea how they were going to adapt something so abstract but I found the form of having the three performers exist as one and the live elements very affecting and it moved me more as a live performance.
Should you buy it? It’s one of those books that’s an interesting one to read, and an interesting one to talk to other people about. It’s also very short. If you like experimental work, auto-fiction or prose poetry then worth a go but perhaps don’t bother if that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea.
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Perhaps my favourite read of the year so far, certainly right up there. I loved Nelson’s debut, Open Water, but I loved this even more. It is a book of tender wonder about music, masculinity, grief, London, race, and love. It summons London summers to life perfectly (would really recommend reading in the summer, especially if you’re a Londoner, and especially if you’re a south Londoner) and it’s full of details of food and music and people. Music, in particular, is used to spectacular effect - there’s an official playlist on Spotify that’s a great soundtrack to read to. Nelson’s writing is just incredible, there are so many sentences I reread just to delight in them. This book uses a lot of repeating phrases and turns of phrase in a very clever and affecting way, building a rhythm all its own. This sounds absurd, but I was on the verge of tears at several points because of the beauty and brilliance of it all.
Should you buy it? A simple yes, this is just top notch lit fic, I can’t wait to read what Nelson writes next.
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
After reading Small Worlds I wanted to read something completely different as I knew I’d be disappointing by most lit fic - so I turned to Regency romance. My friend Katie is a huge fan of Sarah MacLean and I’ve had her first book on my shelf for ages so I thought it was high time to dive in, and I had heaps of fun. We’ve got secretly-beautiful spinster wallflowers, secretly-kind handsome rakes, Italian half-sisters, several balls, cross-dressing, and plenty of sex. It’s exactly what you’re expecting, but done very charmingly. It’s great fun and our heroine Callie is easy to root for. I would say that MacLean and I have different ideas of how sexy the word “turgid” is and there is more “laving” of things than you could possible ever anticipate, but it’s a great time nonetheless and I’m likely to read the sequel at some point.
Should you buy it? This is a very specific genre, and if you like that genre, I’d recommend this. I’m not sure it’d convert anyone to the genre however (while considerably less explicit, Georgette Heyer is who I’d point you to if you fancy being converted to Regency romance - start with The Grand Sophy).
I’ve been meaning to read this for absolutely ages, especially after it won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize earlier this year but it went up to the top of the pile as I’m doing an event with Pari in September to celebrate the publication of my new children’s fantasy series, the Chronicles of Whetherwhy. This is a panel event at Waterstones High Street Kensington on Saturday 21st September and Pari and I will be joined by Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series, and chaired by the lovely Tamzin Merchant, author of the Hatmakers books. You can get your tickets here, would love to see you there! But back to Greenwild, which is packed with gorgeous world-building, there are so many funny, lovely and clever details all rooted in green magic - the magic of plants and nature. It’s super fast-paced with a very appealing cast of characters.
Should you buy it? Would recommend if you have young readers in your life who enjoy whimsical, detailed fantasy adventures like Tamzin’s The Hatmakers, my Pages & Co books, or Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures.
Housekeeping!
The links go to my Bookshop.org page and are affiliate links which means I get a small amount of money if you buy these books or other books via one of my links - thank you if you do buy this way, I appreciate the support!
As a journalist and author, I am often reading proof copies of books sent for free by publishers. These are not sent with any obligation to read or write about them (indeed most of them are sent unsolicited) and I am never paid to say nice things about them. I’ll always disclose any personal relationships or if I’m reading a book for an event I’m being paid for. This month are all my own books ie books I bought with my own cash.
Added Small Worlds and Follow This thread to my TBR. I don't read a lot of non fic but I love when it manages to take you somewhere, turn the reading into an experienced.
Thank you for suggesting that we read Small Worlds in summer - I saved it up for summer in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Brilliant! Thank you!