Summer Reads 2021

---

Here are some of the books that I got lost in this summer, transporting me from the ice rinks of small town Sweden to the South West UK.

Us Against You – Fredrik Backman

This follow up to the incredibly successful Beartown finds us once more returning to the small town where hockey rules everything. Us Against You focuses on the aftermath of the events in the previous book as the town and it’s team struggle to rebuild. I wondered if this would live up to the first book, and it certainly did, with its building sense of trepidation and claustrophobic nature of a small town where everybody knows your business. The rest of Backman’s back-catalogue is now high on my wishlist.

Small Pleasures – Clare Chambers

In post-war London, a journalist delves into the phenomenon of an alleged virgin birth, but finds herself becoming emotionally invested in the family. Jean suddenly starts to see her own world as small and suffocating, and she craves more than the small mundane pleasures that had previously kept her satisfied. Inspired by two true events, Chambers weaves a slow-burning fictional narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and rooted for Jean all the way as she battled to find happiness despite never-ending obstacles.

A Woman Is No Man – Etaf Rum

This novel about arranged marriage and motherhood in a Palestinian household in Brooklyn reflects the authors own experiences. It tells the narrative of Isra, and her daughter Deya; and also occasionally the point of view of Fareeda, Isra’s mother-in-law and Deya’s guardian. The story explores themes of cultural and gender expectations, hierarchy and patriarchy, tragedy and loss, as Deya tries to unravel family secrets. Beautifully written, A Woman Is No Man is both heartbreaking and inspiring, speaking up on behalf of a community whose voices otherwise struggle to be heard.

The Interestings – Meg Wolitzer

This epic book tells the tale of a group of friends that meet at a summer camp in the 1970s. As the novel unfurls, Wolitzer writes elegantly about the events that befall the six, and how those event impacts their relationships. The characters are each flawed, and the story is largely narrated through the eye of Jules, often through a lens of jealousy and nostalgia. Wolitzer tackles serious and devastating subjects such as grief, depression and autism. This is a subtle, character-driven novel, full of insights into friendship and growing up.

The Wild Silence – Raynor Winn

This follow-up to The Salt Path sees Raynor and Moth adjusting to life within four walls, and the strong magnetic pull of nature. It describes how the original novel came about, as a way to help Moth reconnect with his fading memories of their epic hike. And naturally, Raynor and Moth can’t resist packing up their rucksack once more to tackle the glacial pathways of Iceland. A beautifully descriptive and touching tale of hope triumphing over despair.

House of Glass – Hadley Freeman

This moving family memoir by journalist and author Hadley Freeman is overflowing with interesting characters. The Glahs family fled from Poland to France in the 1920s, seeking a new life and a safe existence. Three brothers and their sister – Freeman’s grandmother – variously sought love, happiness and wealth, whilst trying to remain as faithful as possible to their Jewish identity. The family’s history is incredibly well researched, but that large case of characters means that the story does tend to meander at times. I almost gave up at a few points early on but I’m glad I persevered.

The Man Of My Dreams – Curtis Sittenfeld

The Man of My Dreams follows Hannah, from an awkward messed up childhood to, well, awkward messed up adulthood. We check in on her at various points of her life as she searches for her happy-after. She is a late bloomer, socially awkward and naive, trying and failing to fit in. And as she grows up, she dates questionable men, whilst wondering if they will in fact be the man of her dreams. Hannah isn’t a particularly endearing character, but some of her situations, thoughts and feelings are painfully relatable. Curtis Sittenfeld beautifully captures some of the painful realities of growing up, of fitting in, and of self-acceptance.

Currently Reading

A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

The Friend – Dorothy Koomson

Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro

---

---