BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS WITH ANNABEL
Books can be a tonic for the soul – providing a welcome distraction from the wider world. Reading can also give an analogue alternative to your phone, avoiding blue light that an impact your sleep.
There is almost an infinite variety of books, so I’ve put together some of my favourites of 2021:
For the wild swimmers:
At the Pond; Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies’ Pond, Various
Wild swimming is having a moment, none more than at its mecca; Hampstead Ladies’ Pond. This is a collection of short essays divided by season, with various writers inspired by their swims at the Ponds. What is striking about the essays, especially those set in the summer, is the sadness running through many – it makes the Ponds come alive, a wonderfully special place.
For the sceptics:
Cultish, Amanda Montell
Cults are FASCINATING, and this book delves into both the language of how cults operate, and how we describe them. Montell applies the same thinking to “traditional” cults and ideas we wouldn’t think of as cults, such as SoulCycle or CrossFit. Comparisons are never made flippantly, but with nuance, adding to the thoughtfulness of the book. Overall a different take on cults with a fascinating angle.
For the lovers of non-fiction:
Empire of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe
Patrick Radden Keefe is a phenomenal writer for the New Yorker, and one of the first journalists to really break the story of the Sackler Family and their relationship with the opioid crisis. This is a meticulously researched account of the Sackler family, and a worthy winner of the Baillie Gifford prize for 2020 – a cracking book.
For the historical fiction fan:
The Pursuit of Love, Nancy Mitford
2021 is the year I fell head over heels in love with Nancy Mitford and The Pursuit of Love trilogy – the original in particular. The writing is phenomenally funny, clearly one of the reasons it is still loved 80 years on. The characters are rich and richly drawn – jumping to life off the page.
For the prize winner fan:
Piranesi, Susanna Clarke
The winner of the Women’s Prize in 2020, and possibly one of the most unique books of the year. The narrator wanders empty halls and courtyards, in a mysterious world, documenting his days. He gradually becomes more curious, revealing more to himself and the reader – the story increasingly making sense as the world’s boundaries widen.
For the romance lover:
Out of Love, Hazel Hayes
This is a “romance” novel that begins at the end of a relationship, and works backwards. This is made by the fullness of the main character, complete with focus on other parts of her life, not solely her romantic relationship. A fun book to just gobble up.
For the lovers of murder mystery:
Magpie Lane, Lucy Atkins
A fab who-dunnit set in Oxford, focusing on the missing daughter of a college Provost, from the point of view of the girl’s nanny. A great mystery, with real characters and a believable setting. Many books set in Oxford read awkwardly - too many references shoehorned in, but this book reads seamlessly. I would recommend it to anyone.
