I loved the new nicholls " you are here", I listened to it as an audio book and the narrators were nice they gave people character. I also enjoyed talking at night , and the invisible life of Adie larue. The books by benedict wells and Virginia grimaldi are also lovely to read if you haven't tried them
What a great list! I was listening to Piranesi as an audiobook in the mornings and evenings of that Cambridge summer-school and you're right - it was like slipping into a dream. I'm so behind on reading books for grown-ups that I haven't even read Hamnet, so that and the Marriage Portrait are a couple of library treats to look forward to!
I’ve read 3 out of your list… Well technically, 5 ;). ( I’m a bookseller, so that helps).
I am currently reading Van Gogh’s Letters to Theo - quite the novelty, uh ? ) and a workbook on painting by Mitchell Albala that makes my brain spin with new ideas and things to do next and how to apply them to the #3materials 😵💫
Ooh, some great recommendations, thank you Charlotte! I loved Piranesi, how the story slowly came into focus. I’m going to look out for How Ideas are Born, it sounds really interesting
🙌 I can still see all the pictures in my head of the different rooms in Piranesi. The ideas book is really interesting. I got a second hand copy easily.
Piranesi is an all time favourite! My husband got me a signed copy for Christmas. Been meaning to read it again. I loved Tom Lake more than The Dutch House…have you read that one? But maybe I read The Dutch House at the wrong time. I just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (an octopus is a narrator!!!) and The Summer House (a delightful summer read) by Tove Jansson. Currently indulging in the Court of Thorns series by Sarah Maas because it’s light and fun and fantasy and lots of big books that are easy to devour.
That’s three recommendations for Remarkabky Bright Creatures - I must get it! I haven’t read Tom Lake, only Bel Canto but will look it up, thank you. I loved The Summer Book and recently saw Notes from an Island which I’d like to read too.
OOh I love a good book recommendation. I've recently finished 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and Tomorrow' By Gabrielle Zevin, I didn't expect to enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did!
Lovely post! So glad to have come across another person who like Susanna Clarke. Looking forward to her next book later this year ☺️
Thank you. I will look out for that too. I haven’t read any of her other books but would like to.
No worries. Jonathan Strange is so so good. It’s my favourite book! Definitely worth reading 😎
Great!
I love anything Susanna Clarke has ever written! I just finished a summer re-read of Piranesi, it is so fabulous.
I also love everything I've read by Martin Salisbury!
Nice!!! I’m over due a Jonathan Strange re-read I think 🤔
I’ve only ever read Piranesi. Will look up her other books! I have lots of Martin’s books and they are all brilliant.
what a great round up! i want to read them all
Thank you!
I’ve just completed reading Art and Faith twice! It’s absolutely so amazing!!
Thank you for the recommendation! I will look it up.
Those are so nice. I discovered many nice ones thanks to you 🥰
Ah I’m so glad! Have you read any good books recently?
I loved the new nicholls " you are here", I listened to it as an audio book and the narrators were nice they gave people character. I also enjoyed talking at night , and the invisible life of Adie larue. The books by benedict wells and Virginia grimaldi are also lovely to read if you haven't tried them
Thanks for the recommendations. I haven’t read any of those books and will look them up.
What a great list! I was listening to Piranesi as an audiobook in the mornings and evenings of that Cambridge summer-school and you're right - it was like slipping into a dream. I'm so behind on reading books for grown-ups that I haven't even read Hamnet, so that and the Marriage Portrait are a couple of library treats to look forward to!
Wow that must have felt surreal being away from home and listening to that. Let me know what you think of the books!
PS I didn't even know there were two more Deborah Levys :) Thank you for dragging me slightly closer to up to date in book current affairs!
🙌 They are so good. I read them one after the other!
Ooh fabulous suggestions Charlotte,that creative ideas book looks great
It’s really interesting. I love looking through artists’ sketchbooks
Ooo great recommendations!
I've been reading:
- What you're looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama. Heartwarming with gentle reminders we all need nudging about in life.
- Glorious Exploits, Ferdia Lennon. Historical with humour - I really enjoyed it, and don't normally read historical fiction.
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Enjoyable, easy read.
Thanks for the recommendations Alyce! I’ve only read the last one and will look up the others 🙌
I’ve read 3 out of your list… Well technically, 5 ;). ( I’m a bookseller, so that helps).
I am currently reading Van Gogh’s Letters to Theo - quite the novelty, uh ? ) and a workbook on painting by Mitchell Albala that makes my brain spin with new ideas and things to do next and how to apply them to the #3materials 😵💫
The workbook sounds very interesting. I’ll look it up. Thanks!
Ooh, some great recommendations, thank you Charlotte! I loved Piranesi, how the story slowly came into focus. I’m going to look out for How Ideas are Born, it sounds really interesting
🙌 I can still see all the pictures in my head of the different rooms in Piranesi. The ideas book is really interesting. I got a second hand copy easily.
Love the sketch of the book reader!
Thank you Cathy!
Piranesi is an all time favourite! My husband got me a signed copy for Christmas. Been meaning to read it again. I loved Tom Lake more than The Dutch House…have you read that one? But maybe I read The Dutch House at the wrong time. I just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (an octopus is a narrator!!!) and The Summer House (a delightful summer read) by Tove Jansson. Currently indulging in the Court of Thorns series by Sarah Maas because it’s light and fun and fantasy and lots of big books that are easy to devour.
I second Remarkably Bright Creatures. I am eking out the last few chapters because I don’t want it to end.
Wow! I must try it.
That’s three recommendations for Remarkabky Bright Creatures - I must get it! I haven’t read Tom Lake, only Bel Canto but will look it up, thank you. I loved The Summer Book and recently saw Notes from an Island which I’d like to read too.
Oh I just finished a great new read! The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Had to share. It kept me up past my bedtime.
Oh that is a good review! Thanks!
I loved Piranesi and also the Dutch House. I hope you continue to enjoy it! Thank you for the recommendations- I added all of these to my Goodreads
Thanks Becca. Hope you enjoy them 🙌
Nice selection. I loved the Marriage Portrait (and Hamnet) a lot!
Here's my most recent reads (top one, I've only just started):
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
Confessions of a forty something f### up by Alexandra Potter
A House for Alice by Diane Evans
A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
Enjoyed them all in different ways, but favourites were probably A House for Alice and Yellowface.
If you've not read any Elena Ferrante I will always always recommend the Neapolitan series (starting with My Brilliant Friend).
Thanks for the recommendations! I have read My Brilliant Friend and enjoyed it. Will look up the others 🙌
Thanks for all the recs! Really enjoyed the Marriage Portrait too 👌 I'll add the other books to my list
Thanks Marta! It’s such a great book. 🙌
Piranesi was a dream. I love “academics behaving badly” as a genre in general!
OOh I love a good book recommendation. I've recently finished 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and Tomorrow' By Gabrielle Zevin, I didn't expect to enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did!