Like most people, I wish I read more. As a kid I'd read anything and everything, absolutely anywhere I could. Now that I'm older, I don't read much at all. So one of my resolutions for this next year is to read more books. I have a long list of things I'd like to read, but recommendations are always welcome!
Here are five great books I read over the last year. There's no particular order to this; I thoroughly enjoyed reading them all.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
I'd heard a lot of good things about this first book, but only decided to take a look for myself when my friend Becky recommended it to me.
The book follows Aristotle – Ari – an angry kid on the cusp of manhood. Ari meets Dante, a boy of the same age who thinks deeply about things. With Dante's help, Ari's mind is opened to the universe and all its possibilities.
On a basic level, it's a coming-of-age story about love, affection and friendship. It's also about inherited trauma, and the damage done by the suppression of emotions. It's an easy read too; I absolutely whizzed through it. I think a lot can from learnt from this book.
I'm with Ari, I think dogs are one of the secrets of the universe.
The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle
This next one is a children's book set on Arranmore, an island just off the west coast of Ireland. A young boy named Fionn Boyle moves to Arranmore along with his sister, to live with their eccentric grandfather, who is the resident Storm Keeper – a magical figure who captures storms and records the island's history.
The island of Arranmore is buzzing with magic, and the story is heavily influenced by Irish mythology and folklore. Fionn discovers it is his duty to protect the island from the evil of the Morrigan, who, though buried deep beneath the island, is still waging an ancient war with the Dagda, a good sorcerer.
It's a charming tale brimming with magic and excitement, and is the first in a quartet of books by Catherine Doyle.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
This isn't the type of book I would normally go for. It's creepy and spine-chilling and pure Gothic thriller. I was actually nervous to sleep after reading it, freezing at every creak of the floorboards.
The book is set in the 1860s and follows Elsie Bainbridge, a woman who moves to The Bridge – the family home of her recently deceased husband, Rupert. The Bridge is a house shrouded in mystery and fear, even the local villagers won't go near the place. Up in the attic, Elsie discovers several sinister 'Silent Companions' – life-sized figures painted onto wood. The dummy boards are brought downstairs and the dark history of the house and its occupants are revealed once the Silent Companions begin to move...
It's a real page-turner and I'm now a fan of Laura Purcell's writing. Her next book, Bone China, is on my list of books to read in 2020.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Greek myths were my thing when I was younger. I was that kid. However the only thing I knew about Circe was her talent in transforming unsuspecting men into pigs. This book has that, but so much more too. I was captivated from the opening lines; "When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist. They called me nymph, assuming I would be like my mother and aunts and thousand cousins."
This telling of her story is so rich and nuanced, and so beautifully written. Madeline Miller has such an amazing talent and I'm a big fan of The Song of Achilles too. I can't wait to see which mythical character she pays a visit to next!
The Five – The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
I actually only finished this book a few days ago. It's all about the lives of the canonical five murder victims of Jack the Ripper – Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly.
It's an in-depth examination of their lives and families, their luck as well as their misfortune. It's a reminder that so much is said of Jack the Ripper; there's so much commercial interest in the Whitechapel murders, whether it be merchandise or walking tours, or simply the iconography surrounding Jack. His victims are forgotten, their very human lives disregarded and neglected. In this book, their names are reclaimed and many of the now 130-year-old lies and fabrications are exposed and discredited.
Clearly Hallie Rubenhold has spent years undertaking painstaking research to restore the reputations of the canonical five. It truly honours them. I would highly recommend this book if you're interested in Victorian social history.
Callum
Here are five great books I read over the last year. There's no particular order to this; I thoroughly enjoyed reading them all.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
I'd heard a lot of good things about this first book, but only decided to take a look for myself when my friend Becky recommended it to me.
The book follows Aristotle – Ari – an angry kid on the cusp of manhood. Ari meets Dante, a boy of the same age who thinks deeply about things. With Dante's help, Ari's mind is opened to the universe and all its possibilities.
On a basic level, it's a coming-of-age story about love, affection and friendship. It's also about inherited trauma, and the damage done by the suppression of emotions. It's an easy read too; I absolutely whizzed through it. I think a lot can from learnt from this book.
I'm with Ari, I think dogs are one of the secrets of the universe.
The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle
This next one is a children's book set on Arranmore, an island just off the west coast of Ireland. A young boy named Fionn Boyle moves to Arranmore along with his sister, to live with their eccentric grandfather, who is the resident Storm Keeper – a magical figure who captures storms and records the island's history.
The island of Arranmore is buzzing with magic, and the story is heavily influenced by Irish mythology and folklore. Fionn discovers it is his duty to protect the island from the evil of the Morrigan, who, though buried deep beneath the island, is still waging an ancient war with the Dagda, a good sorcerer.
It's a charming tale brimming with magic and excitement, and is the first in a quartet of books by Catherine Doyle.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
This isn't the type of book I would normally go for. It's creepy and spine-chilling and pure Gothic thriller. I was actually nervous to sleep after reading it, freezing at every creak of the floorboards.
The book is set in the 1860s and follows Elsie Bainbridge, a woman who moves to The Bridge – the family home of her recently deceased husband, Rupert. The Bridge is a house shrouded in mystery and fear, even the local villagers won't go near the place. Up in the attic, Elsie discovers several sinister 'Silent Companions' – life-sized figures painted onto wood. The dummy boards are brought downstairs and the dark history of the house and its occupants are revealed once the Silent Companions begin to move...
It's a real page-turner and I'm now a fan of Laura Purcell's writing. Her next book, Bone China, is on my list of books to read in 2020.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Greek myths were my thing when I was younger. I was that kid. However the only thing I knew about Circe was her talent in transforming unsuspecting men into pigs. This book has that, but so much more too. I was captivated from the opening lines; "When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist. They called me nymph, assuming I would be like my mother and aunts and thousand cousins."
This telling of her story is so rich and nuanced, and so beautifully written. Madeline Miller has such an amazing talent and I'm a big fan of The Song of Achilles too. I can't wait to see which mythical character she pays a visit to next!
The Five – The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
I actually only finished this book a few days ago. It's all about the lives of the canonical five murder victims of Jack the Ripper – Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly.
It's an in-depth examination of their lives and families, their luck as well as their misfortune. It's a reminder that so much is said of Jack the Ripper; there's so much commercial interest in the Whitechapel murders, whether it be merchandise or walking tours, or simply the iconography surrounding Jack. His victims are forgotten, their very human lives disregarded and neglected. In this book, their names are reclaimed and many of the now 130-year-old lies and fabrications are exposed and discredited.
Clearly Hallie Rubenhold has spent years undertaking painstaking research to restore the reputations of the canonical five. It truly honours them. I would highly recommend this book if you're interested in Victorian social history.
Callum
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