March Reading

A (largely) very good month of books.

As anyone following on my Chat channel will know, I’m trying to read as much of the Women’s Prize longlist as possible before the shortlist is announced (or actually, before Eric and I film our shortlist prediction video). One of the things I enjoy about reading a prize list is that, obviously, I tend to have less idea of what a book is before I start than when I’ve picked a book out. You know that scene in The Magician’s Nephew, in the wood between the worlds, where Digory and Polly jump into the pools, not knowing which world they’ll land in? That’s how it feels and I really enjoy the sensation of not knowing what kind of novel I’m going to land in. Adding to that feeling is that this year I’m reading it at random, literally choosing them out of a jar, to try and circumvent bad covers/my own prejudices and well, you’ll see how that’s shaking out below..!

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

On the subject of prejudices, I often (relatively speaking) say that I don’t like books about animals and I don’t like books about sport. I might have to change that second one as between this and Western Lane by Chetna Maroo (which will be in next month’s wrap up) I don’t think I can commit to it anymore. Of course neither of those books are actually about sport in the way that what a novel is technically about is rarely the thing that matters. Headshot is a debut novel about the fictional Daughters of America boxing competition and it is brilliant. It takes the form of the knock-out competition itself, each chapter is the bout between two girls and we hear about their lives and inner selves as the fight progresses from each of their perspectives as they knock each other out the tournament. Each of them has different reasons for being there, different hopes for its outcome and different feelings about winning or losing. And despite it being a book about fighting, it is a very tender and beautiful book that builds to a final section that made me cry with its loveliness. A celebration of girlhood in all its brutal beauty.

Should you buy it? Yes, this is a full-throated recommendation from me. I doubt this will be knocked from my best of the year list. It’s also published by Daunt Books, an indie press, so always great to support them too.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
I must disclose that Katherine is a personal friend of mine and that I was reading this to interview her - a double whammy of conflicting interests for you! But! I met Katherine because I loved The Bear and the Nightingale so much - we hosted Katherine for the first ever Lush Book Club way back in 2017 and are now Officially Friends. This is the fourth time I’ve interviewed Katherine and it was fun to be able to delve into a new book and a new time period. The Warm Hands of Ghosts is set during the First World War and follows a Canadian nurse trying to find out what has happened to her soldier brother. I was a little nervous to read it because I loved the Winternight trilogy so much and because it’s always slightly anxiety-inducing reading friends books, but I am pleased and relieved to report that this is exceptionally good (I maybe like it more than The Bear and the Nightingale?). I really loved the way that it essentially is a historical novel but has this very cleverly done fantastical angle exploring such an clever question - what would the devil do in a mechanised, man-made horror of such scope like the war? (It also has some excellent chemistry but no spoilers.)

Should you buy it? Another pretty broad yes for this one because it’s just very, very well done. Even if you don’t normally go for war fiction, I’d recommend (and it’s a must read if you do).

The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright

The first of my Women’s Prize reads, serendipitously I was already reading this when the longlist was announced. From Enright’s backlist, I’ve only ever read The Green Road before, and I liked this more, although I had a similar experience with it in that while I was reading it I was moved and impressed but it hasn’t really stayed with me. But I really did enjoy it while immersed in it - Enright is such a pro so her characters always feel vividly real and her sentences are always gleaming. Honestly this gave me a sort of older-sister-of-Sally-Rooney/Normal People kind of energy with its explorations of Irishness, family and first love told with real wit and insight. I would definitely say that I preferred Enright’s handling of sex, which I found much more nuanced and interesting than Rooney’s. In terms of the Prize, I wouldn’t be mad at it being shortlisted and would actually be interested to reread it to see if it landed more firmly in my brain/heart, but certainly not one I would be heartbroken to see not make it to the next stage.

“Carmel felt sorry for Imelda then, who had grown old in the story of their parents’ lives. It was such a greedy story and so small.”

Should you buy it? Wait for the paperback (imminent), but then yes.

Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan

I can’t remember the last time I cried so much reading a book. This was my first random pick for my longlist read and made that strategy immediately worthwhile, as I thought it was utterly brilliant. It’s set primarily in 1980s Sri Lanka, during the civil war, and follows an aspiring doctor named Sashi from the age of 16 until her early 20s as she tries to understand what “do no harm” means amid impossible circumstances. She’s a brilliantly written protagonist. The book also weaves in fictionalised versions of two real-life people - Thileepan, the Tamil Tiger revolutionary who went on hunger strike, and more obliquely Rajani Thiranagama, a doctor who both medically assisted and criticised the movement. (I’d recommend not reading about the real life counterparts until after you’ve read the novel.) The book reads as a memoir, both because of its style and these inclusions, but it is a superb piece of fiction that is propulsive, nuanced and hugely moving. I’d be hugely disappointed if it didn’t make the shortlist.

“Give me a house that hasn’t burned, I thought: an upright home full of people who consider me precious.”

Should you buy it? Another strong yes from me on this one although worth just flagging that it has several upsetting and distressing moments based in the real life, recent history of Sri Lanka.

The Maiden by Kate Foster

The first disappointment of the longlist for me, although not a bad book by any means. It’s described as a historical thriller in the mould of The Confessions of Frannie Langton (a book I loved) and takes a similar shape in terms of flashing between our heroine on trial for murder and the events that lead up to that. The inspiration is the real life case of Lady Christian Nimmo who was accused of murdering her uncle and lover in 1670s Scotland. Even though the novel introduces two other fictional female characters who might have done it, the book is somewhat stymied by the realities of the case, meaning there’s less tension that I want from a thriller. Christian also makes for a tricky heroine to root for as she makes consistently terrible decisions and she isn’t created with enough warmth or nuance to not mind. It is aiming for a feminist take on the case, but Christian and the other women are all subject to the whims of at least one terrible misogynist and a patriarchal society with relatively little recourse for agency or hope and I found the whole thing a little depressing. It’s not badly written though, although it lacked a little verve, and I didn’t dislike it.

Should you buy it? For excellent historical fiction, I’d go for The Warm Hands of Ghosts instead but if you are a particular fan of the period then maybe give it go - the historical details were my favourite part.

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue

Post-pandemic we have run Lush Book Club every two months and Caroline was a guest at our March event. If you’re London based, Lush Book Club is an event which I a co-curate and host with Lush (as in the soap people) at their Studios in Carnaby. As well as the event itself, we pick out Lush products that fit with the themes or aesthetics of the book which are part of the ticket price (as is cake). If you want to hear about upcoming events, you can follow me on Instagram (@acaseforbooks) or if you sign up to the the Lush News newsletter and select a London store you’ll get updates that way! We’re announcing our May event very shortly.

I so enjoyed The Rachel Incident which is a sharp, funny romcom about growing up, best friends, Ireland, and abortion rights. It’s also about books and music and love and that very particular moment in time when you’re young and live in a rank flat with people you love and it feels amazing until it doesn’t.

Should you buy it? Another one that is imminent in paperback (although I would have said yes to the hardback). Many people know Caroline from her excellent podcast, Sentimental Garbage, and if you enjoy that you’ll definitely enjoy her fiction.

Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy

I saw this described as a panic attack in a book and I can’t disagree. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so claustrophobic or anxious reading a book, and even though I thought it was brilliantly done, it’s not a book I ever want to reread. It’s a stream of consciousness from a new mother as her marriage struggles and her identity blurs and changes. I can’t speak from the perspective of a mother or a parent, but I tell you what, it’s a wild ride if you even casually might be considering parenthood. As much as anything it’s a cautionary tale for marrying the right man. It does end on a hopeful note, but it kind of felt like a lollipop after a root canal. It’s undeniably excellently crafted - and I’d love to know what parents thought of it - but I did not have a good time. Having said that, I’d be more than happy to see it shortlisted as it’s so skilfully done.

“The sea is not glittering and the mothers are not serene and the wolves were never more alive than they are tonight. They are volatile, they are vengeful, and you have summoned them to your door.”

Should you buy it? Truly I do not know - it’s very, very well done but I think how anyone reacts to it will be so rooted in their own personal experience around children/birth. I can’t say I would recommend to anyone pregnant..!

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad

One of my two favourites from the longlist so far, I thought this was exceptional. Sonia is an actress of Palestinian and Dutch heritage living in London who returns to her family’s hometown of Haifa and ends up involved in a production of Hamlet in the West Bank. It’s about language and performance, the role of art amid conflict, and occupation of both land and identity and is unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s quite a dense writing style but I mean that as a compliment - it’s an elegant, complex book that rewards focus and attention but it still flows along, especially once Sonia gets involved in the play and it builds to a clever, affecting ending.

“Nothing is more flattering to an artist than the illusion that he is a secret revolutionary.”

Should you buy it? Yes, very much so. (And it is newly out in paperback).

In Defence of the Act by Effie Black

Published by tiny indie publisher époque press, this is a really interesting if unpolished book. It’s about scientist Jess who, after a traumatic childhood and several experiences around suicide, is studying suicide in animals. Her voice is very snappy and fresh and witty and there’s a clear talent to the writing and voice, but it is quite unhoned and the book loses a bit of rhythm as the plot progresses. I won’t go into spoilers, but I found elements of the ending frustrating, not so much for the events themselves as the tone the book took in its final pages - the turn to the trite felt at odds with the pleasing quirkiness of the first half of the book. Huge potential though, I’ll read whatever Black writes next. I don’t think it’s polished enough to make the shortlist but it feels fresh and interesting so - depending on how I feel about the rest of the longlist - I don’t think I’d be too frustrated if it made it despite its frustrations.

Should you buy it? Potentially - it’s always good to support indie presses publishing interesting work so they can keep publishing interesting work, and it absolutely has merit and style. It’s also a knotty subject matter although massive trigger warnings for suicide.

So, in summary, this is my current order of preference for the longlist after the first six books:

1. Brotherless Night

2. Enter Ghost

3. Soldier Sailor

4. The Wren, The Wren

5. In Defence of the Act

6. The Maiden

Oh, and I also finished The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson. My thoughts are in last month’s reading wrap-up but the headline is that it’s well worth reading, but that Odysseus really is the absolute fucking worst.

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: any books from the Women’s Prize were sent to me by the prize. Headshot, The Warm Hands of Ghosts and The Rachel Incident were sent to me by the publishers.