Days are getting shorter, cloudier (even here in Perth it happens occasionally) and, hopefully, will be getting wetter soon. I’ve even started knitting again, a sure sign it’s cosy season. Are your reading choices influenced by the seasons? Sort of for me. Especially if I’m going on holiday in winter versus summer. With the latter, I like quick, easy to read page-turners. Whereas if I’m holed up somewhere with a fireplace, squashy chair and snacks, I like getting stuck into something meatier. Here are a few suggestions if you are similarly inclined.
The Sea, The sea by Iris murdoch
This was my first Murdoch and I fell in love with her special blend of psychology and philosophy. Her dialogue and the writing is like cut-glass crystal and I want to drink the rich Shiraz of her characterisation out of it all day long. Of all her books, I feel this is her most “exciting” with more plot than her other works. The wind-swept, cold English coast is the perfect winter setting and may make you a bit less depressed about your own winter clime. Unless, of course, you live on a wind-swept, cold English coast.
Wolf hall trilogy by hilary mantel
Even if you know nothing about the Tudors, or just think Henry VIII is an overblown, large, non-orange version of a certain modern American womaniser turned country leader, you will fall in love with Mantel’s rendition of the story and in particular, her Thomas Cromwell. She paints him with such a humanly fallible, but ultimately well-intentioned brush, you can’t help but wish history would rewrite itself by the 3rd book. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t, but these books are so worth the emotional trauma.
the woman in white by wilkie collins
I read somewhere that Wilkie Collins invented the detective novel with this one. I could believe this as it is one heck of a story. I first read it in my late teens. I have since reread it three more times. Every single time I get the same goose-bumpy feels when Walter first encounters Anne and then that shock of his seeing her double in Laura. So good for curling up with for a few days.
The Goldfinch by donna tartt
I did not like The Secret History mainly because of Tartt’s narration. Her voice has a nasal quality that grated on me and her accents aren’t terribly good, all of which made me dislike the characters and not care at all what happened to them. The Goldfinch, however, is way better. The story is a lovely concoction of loss, coming-of-age, friendships and art heist shenanigans that will keep you enthralled for days.
The great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald
Okay, okay, it’s a bit of a cliche and not everyone’s glass of bubbly, but there’s something about this flapper-era tale of obsession that is that perfect slice of escapism. I enjoyed this overly tragic tale with almost no likeable characters. Will be even more delectable reading it with Leo on the screen winking at you.
Good omens by terry pratchett and neil gaiman
If you’ve never read Pratchett or Gaiman, this is the perfect novel to start. Pratchett has a wicked wit and Gaiman has an amazing, if dark, imagination. Their powers combined gives the perfect blend of apocalyptic hilarity and the best angel-demon bromance ever. I’m only sorry that they didn’t get to write the sequel because of Pratchett’s death in 2015.