What We've Been Reading

What We've Been Reading - The Willoughby Book Club

Kala by Colin Walsh

I read Kala on the glowing recommendation of Marianne and it didn't disappoint! It's a literary thriller, a coming-of-age narrative, and a brooding noir, as well as an absolute masterclass in characterisation. There's beautiful, thoughtful prose, but also an investigation into the underbelly of society in the small, fictional, Irish town of Kinlough. Following the Mush, Helen and Joe, childhood friends, are confronted with the discovery of the body of their friend who went missing twenty years previously. Going back and forth in time from the present to that fateful summer so long ago, the secrets of Kinlough and their small group of friends are gradually unveiled.  What was so fascinating about the narrative was Walsh's uncanny ability to create a sort of anti-nostalgia for youth; managing to conjure the painful realities of growing up while never looking down on his teenage narrators.

I loved every moment of this book and can't wait for Walsh's next book, whenever that may be! If you liked Eliza Clark's Penance or anything written by Tana French, this would be a great addition to your stack.

 - Olivia

 

The Searcher by Tana French

Tana French was recommended to me by Liv, and I really enjoyed this book.

Set in a remote village in the north west of Ireland, this story follows Cal Hooper, a retiree form the Chicago police force as he begins to settle in what he hopes is a sleepy village. Cal is looking for the quiet life, and wants to renovate the shabby house he's bought following his retirement and recent divorce. However, he finds that the observation skills learned from his previous job have not left him, and that despite the village's idyllic first impression things may not be quite as they first seemed.

I enjoyed the tension of the small community and a remote setting of this novel, and I always enjoy books that lean on an outsider perspective for bringing to light the underbelly of a community. 

I don't know why it's taken me so long to read Tana French, I'm looking forward to reading more asap. Another great suggestion from Liv!

- Marianne

 

Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley

Choosing a biography is unusual for me, but this caught my eye as I love Agatha Christie and books set around the time of WW2, so thought I would give this a go.
It was really interesting to read how one of the greatest crime writers spent her life pretending she was just a ‘ordinary housewife’. She spent much of her time travelling overseas, doing things like surfing and enjoyed fast cars.
I liked reading how her life changed through the years, attitudes to women during those times, her work in a hospital during the war, her struggles with mental health and I liked looking at the old photographs.
If you like Agatha Christie, this is a really interesting read.

- Chloe

 

Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal

I have just finished reading Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal on a weeks holiday in the sunshine. I chose this book because of the bright front cover with a tortoise.

Zoologist Charlotte takes up a years residency on the tiny, remote and inaccessible island of Tuga to study the endangered Gold Coin Tortoise. She is soon accepted by the tight-knit islanders and their animals, with hope that she’ll become their resident vet, but Charlotte also has other - more personal - reasons for being on the island.

The descriptions of the location, the food, the weather in this book made you imagine you were there. Everything about this book made me want to pack up and move to Tuga: the friendliness, everyone knowing everyone, everyone pitching in and helping out, the laid back, sleepy lifestyle.

Quite a day-dreamy, meandering story, but a perfect holiday read.

- Chloe

 

Laid Back Camp by Afro

This title is a re-read for me. I started this series around 2018 when it was first released in English, and at some point I stopped keeping up with publications, which is an absolute travesty because honestly this is one of my favourite manga series! It’s a cute slice of life about an experienced teenage solo camper and another girl who just moved to her town and wants to learn how to camp and go out on trips. It’s a very easy-going story, there is no angst or major plot: the perfect kind of read when you just want to relax. It also helps that it is really well written and translated, and the art is absolutely gorgeous, especially all the depictions of Mount Fuji!

If you have never read any manga before but are interested, I highly recommend this series, its very approachable and a great way to ease you into the genre.

- Aishah

 

Rosarita by Anita Desai

I know you’re not meant to judge a book by it’s cover, but Rosarita completely pulled me in with it’s beautiful cover! I’d only ever read The Village by The Sea by Anita Desai before and that was a class book at school, so it didn’t ever cross my mind to read anything else by her. I really made a mistake in waiting this long to read one of Desai’s books again. Also, it’s quite small book and can be read in a sitting or two, if you’re ready for the emotional upheaval you’ll experience.
The book follows Bonita, a young student in Mexico, away from her home in India to learn Spanish. Despite the bliss of being alone in a place she has no connection to, she also starts to discover parts of her mother’s life she’s never knew before.
I did really enjoy this, I closed the book when I had finished it and just sat with my thoughts and feelings. It’s a book all about feelings, memory, love and finding an identity for yourself.

- Alisha

 

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