At SWFT’s January Wellbeing Reading Group, we chatted about our current reads as well as what we read during the Christmas season. We collected a list of the great titles which might inspire your next read, so here are some of the books on our reading and “to-be-read” lists:
A fan of Whodunnits (describing them as ‘the McDonald’s of reading’), one member had recently read Freida McFadden‘s The Housemaid. The story is of Millie, a woman with a troubled past, who takes a live-in housekeeping job for a wealthy family, only to discover they have some very disturbing secrets.
James Fox has been travelling the length and breadth of Britain, looking at skills which are lost or dying out in Craft Land, an inspiring non fiction read. A member recommended it, saying how they found it fascinating but sad, as some crafts are now only done by one person, so when they die, their craft will die with them.
If you thought Alice in Wonderland’s talking rabbit was unusual, prepare for The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde. In the 60s an event took place and 18 ordinary rabbits became intelligent, talking, and human-sized. The book has been described as a cross between Watership Down and 1984 but for one reader it was very reminiscent of recent political upheaval.
An Irish YA ghost story by Amy Clarkin was the Christmas reading choice for one reader, who is thoroughly enjoying the audiobook of What Walks These Walls borrowed from Warwickshire Libraries Borrowbook service. The story of a family-based paranormal survey team and the house they are investigating was fascinating, as well as creepy.
One group member did a lot of reading over their Christmas break, and one of the books they recommended was The Shortest History of Japan by Lesley Downer. Part of a series, this focused on the how Japan went from centuries of samurai and shoguns to rapid modernisation in the 19th century, becoming a major world power in World War II.
Another book in the same series: The Shortest History of England by James Hess was a suggestion from the same reader. This book shows a rather different history of England than the one you were taught in school – less a steady and independent island than an permanently internally divided country.
What I Ate in One Year was a new favourite for one of our readers, who had been watching a programme on Stanley Tucci in Italy (which links to the book). They thoroughly enjoyed his talk of life, food and the stories behind meals, and also the amount of name dropping!
A Spark of Life is the current read for one of our group, who found some fellow Jodi Picoult fans during the meeting. Set in a reproductive health centre in America, it is tells the story of a gunman who takes everyone hostage, and the police negotiator whose daughter is inside. The events are told from various points of view, and go backwards in time. A thought provoking and surprising read.
Another recommendation for Jodi Picoult was Small Great Things. An African American nurse does a routine check on a newborn baby but is moved as his white supremacist parents object. The next day the baby goes into cardiac arrest and she is the only person there. The resulting media circus of a court case was reminiscent of episodes of Law and Order and gripped our readers.
One reader made the most of time travelling with their family (presumably not to darkest Peru) by listening to the audiobooks of Michael Bond‘s Paddington series. On discovering a young bear at a London station, the Brown family adopt him and name him ‘Paddington’, with both entertainment and catastrophe ensuing…
Another suggestion was the audiobook of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. Read by Stephen Fry, this is the last in the popular series. The plot follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their attempt to destroy all of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, with a dramatic finale of the Battle of Hogwarts.
Over to China for our next recommendation. Wild Swans by Jung Change is the autobiographical story of the experiences of three generations of women against the backdrop of 20th century China. The author’s grandmother who was a warlord’s concubine, her mother who was a rising figure in the Communist party, ending with her own experiences.
The sequel to Wild Swans, Fly Wild Swans by Jung Chang brings the story up to date. Almost fifty years on, China is now a global power. This book is a tribute to Jung’s mother, and demonstrates how history shapes countries as well as lives. A captivating read.
Next month’s read is The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu by Charlie English.
Timbuktu is a historic centre of learning and home to thousands of ancient manuscripts. This is the story of the city’s legendary allure and of the modern librarians who risked their lives to protect its manuscripts from destruction by jihadists.
Want to know more? Borrow your copy from the Education Centre Library at SWFT, and join our Teams meeting on Wednesday 18th February, at 1pm.
Find out more about our reading groups here or take a look at some of our previous book reviews.
We look forward to seeing you soon!