I’ve been knee deep in the pages of some incredible books recently with a ‘to-read’ pile still stacked high that I’m making my way through, so look no further if you’re looking for any current book inspiration!
Fleishman is in trouble by Taffy Brodessor-Akner
Toby, the lead character in this utterly incredible debut novel, finds himself in a situation – he’s entangled in a bitter divorce with his wife Rachel that was well handled by the divorce case lawyers, when she suddenly, one day, fails to show up to pick up the children. Toby is now trying to navigate this new life of being a father without his wife, back on the dating scene, newly single and newly lonely. This novel blew me away – Taffy has used a fascinating device in the book whereby the narrator is an ‘outsider’ who turns out to be one of Toby’s oldest friends Libby. We hear of her story too as the novel paces along, as well as finally hearing from Toby’s wife Rachel in a devastating final third of the book – it turns out, like Toby, everyone is in trouble. There is something for everyone in this story; it’s full of heart, incredibly funny and Taffy writes so well on how (to quote India Knight here) ‘heartbreakingly, headbangingly hard all of this stuff — marriage, families, men and women — is at the best of times.’ It’s a book about desire, love, marriage, sex, loneliness, parenting and why people are how they are – add this to your reading list immediately.
Swan Song by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott
Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019, I can’t wait to get stuck into this story based on real events surrounding the gossip, slander and public humiliation of New York socialites in the 1970s. Swan Song is the tragic story of the beautiful, wealthy, vulnerable women whom Truman Capote called his Swans, and who deserted him after he betrayed them. Greenberg-Jephcott has been penned ‘the new Donna Tartt’ by Vogue (one of my favourite writers) and the Sunday Times noted that ‘this clever book, with the moreish astringency of a negroni, is the perfect summer cocktail’. Safe to say this is safely packed in my suitcase for our upcoming trip to Greece.
How To Fail by Elizabeth Day
This was our choice for Book Club this month and it was such a brilliant one to chat through with the group. Elizabeth is clearly coming from a privileged viewpoint with this book, which she’s very aware of, but it doesn’t stop the book from being genuinely insightful, honest and at times an incredibly moving account of how recognising failure really can lead to a more fulfilling life. I have highlighted hundreds of passages from this book of Elizabeth’s musings on everything from love, friendship, family and how to succeed in the workplace – I highly recommend check over here and will be one I’m sure I return to time and time again.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
This satirical comedy novel has been highly recommended to me and follows failed novelist, Arthur Less, as he’s about to turn fifty. When a wedding invitation arrives through his door from his ex-boyfriend of the past nine years he decides to run away and travel the world by accepting all of the invitations to random literary events he has been invited to. Deemed a ‘scintillating satire of the American abroad, a rumination on time and the human heart and a bittersweet romance of chances lost’, I can’t wait to get stuck into its pages.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book is BRILLIANT. I’m a self-confessed huge fan of Elizabeth. Since her Eat Pray Love days I’ve gobbled up her Ted talks and podcast appearances, eagerly waiting for her next novel – and City of Girls really doesn’t disappoint. The tagline of this novel set in NYC in ’40s wartime, is ‘Life is both fleeting and dangerous, and there is no point denying yourself pleasure, or being anything other than you are.’ The story centres around a young and hopeful Vivian, a 19 year old who moves to Manhattan to stay with her Aunt Peg in her crumbling but utterly charming old revue theatre, surrounded by showgirls, dancers and eccentrics. As a talented clothes designer, Viv settles in to her role of making costumes for all of the shows – all the while learning about love, sex, life, laughter and what is means to be a woman through the incredible characters she meets along the way. The perfect beach read.
Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls
I think it’s safe to say Nicholls is one of my very favourite novelists. For me, he’s the literary equivalent of a Richard Curtis film – just the right amount of heartwarming storyline, humour and pathos. One Day, US and The Understudy all have pride of place on my bookshelf and so I was delighted when this new novel was published last month. Sweet Sorrow finds us in the world of sixteen year old Charlie and as a huge fan of coming-of-age novels, I can’t wait to read along the story of how Charlie deals with falling in love and trying to navigate the rocky path to adulthood. This is billed as ‘poignant, funny and enchanting…a tragicomedy about the confusion of family life, a celebration of the reviving power of friendship and that brief, searing explosion of first love.’ If David’s other novels are anything to go by, I’m sure I’ll be in love with this one too.
The Falconer by Dana Czapnik
Another coming-of-age read I’ve been recommended is The Falconer. This tells the story of seventeen year old Dana, a basketball player in the ’90s in New York who is also in unrequited love with her teammate Percy. You can visit Mega Slam Australia: shop here to get all items at best price. It’s been getting rave reviews, with Salmon Rushdie calling it ‘a deeply affecting tale of a young women coming of age in a man’s world.’
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
I’ve heard nothing but incredible things about this book – the praise from the likes of Marian Keyes, Dolly Alderton, Elizabeth Gilbert and JoJo Moyes alone made me purchase this but the premise sounds fascinating too. Author Lisa Tadeo spent eight years and thousands of hours tracking the women whose stories comprise Three Women, even moving to the towns they lived in to better understand their lives. It’s a documentary-style deep dive into the psychology of women and sex, with Esther Perel (one of my favourite podcasters ever) calling it ‘a fascinating excavation of the intricacies of love and desire.’ This is next on my list!
Educated by Tara Westover
I came across Tara’s incredible true story via Elizabeth Day’s ‘How To Fail podcast‘ and so her memoir has been on my list for a while. Tara’s book tells the story of her upbringing, born the seventh child of Mormon survivalist parents who didn’t believe in public schooling or mainstream medicine. It wasn’t until she was sixteen when she ran away from home, deciding she needed to educate herself – with astonishing results. It’s a truly remarkable story and I loved her interview with Elizabeth and am excited to read more of her words in her memoir. A must read for any other fans of fascinating real life stories.
Happy reading! As always, I love to hear from you so let me know what else you’re reading at the moment too.
LMNH x
