Our advent winter staff reads
Have you wondered what our staff have been reading? We have put together a list of books that we have enjoyed across a range of themes and genres. You may find some great present ideas too!
If you would like to chat about books or discover titles others have been reading, we have a dedicated Online Readers Group
The Reading Agency offer lots of information on their website if you are looking for your next read.
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The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins | I really enjoyed this book by Sara Collins. It’s an interesting historical novel set in the early 1800s about the life of Frannie who has been convicted of murder. The majority of the story is made up of the letter that Frannie writes from her prison cell to her lawyer, based around her life in Jamaica, becoming a maid in London and the emotional story that unfolds. The book is very moving at times and deals with the discrimination, hardship and horror faced by Frannie and other slaves in the plantations at the hands of the plantation owners. A great debut read from Sara and a worthy winner of the Costa First Novel Award 2019, for fans of Andrea Levy. | |
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Us Three by Ruth Jones |
I loved Ruth’s first novel, ‘Never greener’ so I couldn't wait to read this, although I wondered if it could be as good. It certainly didn't disappoint, it tells the story of the lives of three girls, a friendship made when they were school age and how it progresses over the years, there are some really sad parts but it's a real feel-good read. |
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How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee | Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020, this is a very well written heart-rending story about survival and endurance in Japanese occupied Singapore, during the Second World War. The story centres around two characters in two different times, both telling their own moving stories. I knew little about Singapore’s history and this gave me an insight into this period. A really good debut book, I’d like to read more by this author. | |
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The Testaments by Margaret Atwood | The Booker Prize winning sequel to the dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, set 15 years later in the Republic of Gilead. I did wonder if the sequel could match up to The Handmaid’s Tale but it really does. It takes the reader in another direction revolving around the Aunts in Gilead and continuing their story with some twists and turns on its journey. Atwood is a great writer and manages to challenge her readers to think about how they would act, behave and live in such a society. This is a must-read novel that leaves you thinking! | |
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The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes |
Warm and powerful novel with something for everyone - romance, history, poetry and mystery. Set in 1930s Depression-era America, Alice moves to in an isolated Kentucky coal mining community with her new husband. Feeling lonely, she defies the customs of the time and volunteers with a fledgling Packhorse Library. Alice joins other pioneering women who keep the flame of reading going - riding out through all terrains and weather to bring hope, help and knowledge with their bundles of books. The importance of friends, love, communities and books in hard and changing times! |
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The Catch by T.M Logan | I loved this, a great psychological thriller from this author. What do you do when your daughter introduces you to her new partner and they're getting married quickly and you just don’t like this person. The lengths that Ed goes to when trying to find out what's wrong are amazing, quite a surprise ending too. Now I can't wait for the next title to come out in 2021! |
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The Cat and the City by Nick Bradley | I loved this. A collection of (at first glance) stand-alone short stories. But incredibly cleverly woven together using a calico cat as a golden thread. Each story is a gem of description of the city of Tokyo, the Japanese culture and language. But at their heart, they are stories of families: close, estranged, new or old to which we can all relate. Not only that, each story is written in the style of the person who happens to be relating that tale. An elderly person, a child, a yakusa, or a poet, and all totally believable. You don’t have to be a lover of cats to read and enjoy it, you just need to be a lover of stories, and open to the magical world of a vibrant city and its inhabitants. |
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Our Dark Secret by Jenny Quintana | I loved this, a story about two families, friendships and also manages to be a thriller too. I really couldn’t imagine how it was going to end, but couldn’t put it down – its easily a read in one go book. |
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The Goodbye Man by Jeffery Deaver | In pursuit of two young men accused of terrible hate crimes, Colter Shaw stumbles upon a clue to another mystery. In an effort to save the life of a young woman - and possibly others - he travels to the wilderness of Washington State to investigate a mysterious organisation. Is it a community that consoles the bereaved? Or a dangerous cult under the sway of a captivating leader? As he peels back the layers of truth, Shaw finds that some people will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden. From the very first page, this story has you wanting to keep turning the pages to unravel the story! |
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All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison |
Set over the course of a Summer in Suffolk just before the war, this book is a warm, captivating depiction of rurality and family. 14-year-old Edie is in awe of London reporter Connie who is visiting to record the rural traditions of the area. With her modern ideas and political opinions, Connie doesn't go down as well with everyone in the quiet hamlet that is still recovering from the horrors of the Great War. This is a real coming-of-age tale as we see Evie's struggles, but I found the best part to be the evocative descriptions of landscape.
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Mama Panaya’s Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin (A Village Tale from Kenya) |
A brilliant book with fond memories of Kenya. Colourful and simple illustrations, with caring and sharing theme. One of my favourites to read to my grandchildren. Very entertaining.
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Date with Death by Julia Chapman | There's been a suicide in the quiet Yorkshire village of Bruncliffe although local detective (and ex-police officer) Samson O'Brien is not entirely convinced it was a suicide. When he begins investigating, he uncovers a trail of death leading to the door of the Dales Dating Agency and its owner Delilah Metcalfe. Are Delilah's speed dating events actually a date with death? I heartily recommend this amusing cosy crime novel. Samson and Delilah are great characters as is Tolpuddle the Weimaraner who often steals a scene. I'm happy to report that this is the first in the Dales Detective series so there are plenty more dastardly deeds in the Dales to come! | |
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The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis | A chance for me to combine my last, and possibly favourite, trip abroad to Rome, exploring the Forum, with my love of a cosy crime series I can get hooked on, knowing there are many more books to enjoy. Set in Rome, in 70AD, Lindsey Davis makes the everyday Roman citizen feel very familiar. | |
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V for Vendetta by Alan Moore |
A graphic novel by one of the best British writers of the genre, the story and images drew me in as they work so well together in this story of a dark future, with more than echoes of the ever-current struggles for a fairer society. |
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The Five by Hallie Rubenhold |
This book tells the story of the lives of the 5 victims of Jack the Ripper. It is an interesting read for anyone who has a love for Victorian times and history in general. What makes this a standout read is the fact that the 5 victims get their voice at last and we learn all about them. A heartfelt story of the struggles of life in Victorian times. |
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Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery | A classic story for any age about the adventures of an orphan girl called Anne who goes to live with two middle-aged siblings. The only thing is they were expecting a boy to do jobs for them and got a girl instead. They learn to love the girl and the story takes us on all the adventures she has. A nice feelgood book with some ups and downs. |
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Dark Matter by Michelle Paver |
A ghost story set in the Arctic winter in the late 1930s. Jack takes part in an arctic expedition and gradually his companions are forced to leave their base camp, leaving Jack alone. |
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On Chapel Sands by Laura Cumming |
A true-life child abduction and the repercussions felt by the whole family. A moving memoir of the author's mother's abduction aged three and the search for her true identity. |
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| 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak | A gripping novel about domestic violence, love and friendship. It is a bleak and brutal book but strangely life-affirming with a wonderful mix of characters. | ||
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The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa | A dystopian novel about an island where things disappear and are forgotten: hats, ribbons and other everyday objects but where will it end? A compelling read translated from Japanese reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984. | |
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Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo |
An intriguing story of 12 mainly black, British women through history and how their lives are entwined. An unusual writing style does not detract from the moving portrayal of very different women. |
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The Puritan Princess by Miranda Malins | This book tells a fascinating story about the Cromwell family. From the minor gentry, the Cromwells became almost royalty after Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector after the civil war. The story follows his youngest daughter Frances as she struggles to find her own identity and love dealing with tragedy and the downfall of her family. An interesting slant on an interesting and significant historical period from a point of view you rarely hear. | |
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Raven Black by Ann Cleeves | A great wintery murder story set in the Shetlands; the first in a fantastic series of books featuring Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez. | |
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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott | A classic story with a heartfelt scene set at Christmas where they all treasure their small gifts. It will still make you cry. |