I honestly don’t even know where to start! It’s been so long since we chatted this way about books, friends!
I have read so, so many amazing and wonderful books, and they are all flying around in my brain competing for words on this page. I guess if you’d like to hear about them all, you’ll have to come in and visit me at the bookstore because there just isn’t space here to mention them.
So, I’m going to focus on a few that just won’t leave me that I’ve read in the last month.
First up is Margaret Atwood’s Book of Lives. This would be classified as non-fiction/ autobiography, but it is as quirky, creative, witty and sometimes as dark as her novels.
I suggest that if you take this book on that you set yourself up in a cozy spot with snacks, fluids and a stretching regime. I am loath to give away any of the content in this book, as it was such an incredible experience to read, I don’t want to spoil it for any of you. I have never delved into who Atwood is while reading her books, so much of it came as quite a surprise.
We, of course, see what people want us to see, and I have often said to myself that I’d like to be Margaret Atwood when I grow up. In equal parts, she inspires, thrills and terrifies me. She doesn’t just blather on about herself in this book; she goes into her family history and the history of the times she shares. She likely did as much, if not more, research for this book as she has done for each of her novels. I really just need to say if you enjoy her books, or are intrigued by her moxy in the news or on socials, pick this up.
Next, I want to tell you about The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus. I can hear the rushing of the sea when I think about this book; it was so descriptive. In the early 1800’s A young widow leaves London and travels by mail carriage to a small hamlet in Cornwall. I know some of you are hooked already. Cornwall is historically mythical, and this book draws on that magic from the start. Isabel has come to start again, almost penniless and searching for the truth of her past.
She arrived on these same shores as a young child, looking like she had just walked out of the sea. The locals know her instantly when she arrives again as a young lady, for she has been a legend in these parts as the child of the Sea Bucca. This sounds woo woo, but I promise, it’s a stunning story of love, friendship and acceptance.
Especially for a first novel, the story comes together seamlessly, and I was completely absorbed until the last page. I loved it so much that I had to immediately pick up another book set near the sea, at the same time, historically, to ease my soul. (That book is Clear by Carys Davies, which was published in 2024, if you’d like to chat about it – it was also incredible.)
And of course, I have been reading mystery/ thrillers. I have recommended Stig Abell’s Little Sky or Jake Jackson series to many of you over the last two years. His fourth book in that series comes out in April, A Twist in the River. I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of it last week, and it was excellent. Book one has remained my favourite for its descriptive attributes, the coziness of the building up of Little Sky and the introductions and subsequent relationships of Jake, Livia, and the other characters central to the series.
Book four managed to capture a similar magic as those characters have gotten closer, and life in country has ebbed and flowed. A woman goes missing and is suspected to have gone into the river, many feel, not of her own choice. As the news gains national coverage, Jake gets involved, behind the scenes, to help out. As more women disappear and are found in the river, Jake and his team get lured into the fray. The crime is complex and thrilling and winds its way around everything else that is going on at Little Sky and up and down the river. You might want to pre-order this one, as I will be raving about it constantly!
I’ve enjoyed the slower, darker moths, as I always do. I love the time of day when the light fades just as the door closes at the end of the day. After I finish up, I go home, light some candles, get into my cozy spot and disappear into other worlds and times. As the light increases, I look forward to longer days and outdoor reading!
Bring on Spring bookies, let’s read!
