What a wonderful list! So many interesting titles that had not crossed my radar. Thank you. I’m presently reading The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey which is a joy. Thanks again.
I'm actually doing a lot of re-reading of books/memoirs by autistic people, yourself included Katherine. I had my official diagnosis less than a month ago and I think I am feeling a need to re-read them from this place of truly knowing that I am autistic. I am currently on 'Odd Girl Out' by Laura James. 🖤
What an amazing list, especially the Fae/folk tales and gardening/nature. I'm almost finished with Circe by Madeline Miller. Perfect for summer and a bit of escape.
I recently finished and loved Ephemera by Sierra DeMulder. It's a gorgeous poetry collection. I'm currently rereading A Psalm for the Wild-Built; it's so soothing.
Inspiring diversity of books! I’d like to add herbalist Pam Montgomery’s new book, Co-Creating with Nature: Healing the Wound of Separation. A wonderful and comprehensive reading of all the many ways we can heal ourselves and co create a sustainable, healthy future.
What a lovely list! I look forward to challenging the library service with a few of these! I am third in line for 'Hark'. I love Alice's writing. Last week, while cycling in Yorkshire I read 'A month in the country ' by JL Carr, set in these landscapes 100 years ago. Currently I am loving 'By thorn and Briar', a year in the life of a hedge layer, very soothing and bringing back good memories of BTCV days as well as unrealistic looks at hedge laying courses!! Coming up is an unscheduled summer of reading, probably moving on to some fiction for a while.
What an amazing list - thank you for putting this together. I am currently reading The Gender of Sound by Anne Carson, which is a short (30 pages) but very might book. In fact, I find what I read so upsetting that I can only read a few pages at a time. I think I am going to follow it with Hark: How Women Listen by Alice Vincent from your list.
What a list! So many titles I haven’t heard of, thanks for the recommendations! Alice Vincent has definitely been on my TBR pile. I finally got to enjoy Maggie Smith’s brilliant memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful and I had a lot of fun with Emma Gannon’s Table For One.
WOW what a list. I love the ideas you have posted on Magic and Stones. I am a Sacred Stones person since childhood and currently researching to write an article on Avebury. I am a slow reader. Alas, the library borrowing system not great for me as I have ADHD and other neurodivergent stuff going on, so despite the library's insistence that it is easy to conform to their rules of borrowing, I get in a pickle. So I have to be realistic in that does it pass the ADHD 'energy / battery' top up filter test?
My recommendation is an old book full of wonders and hidden information 'The Traveller's Guide to Sacred England' by John Michell. A genius mavarick, in my opinion, who many have referenced, since, without referencing, I am sure you know what I mean.
What a brilliant list! Two I already have in my tbr pile (Wild Folk and No Straight Road Takes You There) and many of the others have been added to my “look out for when I’m in the book shop” list. Having just finished reading, and absolutely loved, The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin, which is on the Wainwright long list this year, I have to recommend it here!
I am spending the summer rereading. Currently it is Orbital (for a book club) which I find very soothing to read. I am also making my way through (for the millionth time) His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust series in anticipation of the final book in October. Then it’s some old Kathleen Jamie (Findings) and Sarah Moss’s Names for the Sea (although her new one sounds fab.) So many good books on this one! Shall come back to it when I am out of ideas.
Such a fabulous list - so many books, so little time (sigh). I read Amina Cain's 'Indelicacy' and 'Crush' by Ada Calhoun. Slowly picking through Knausgaard's 'Summer', lining it up with the months and loving it. Was recently gifted 'Between Two Waters' by Pam Brunton - that may be next, though the TBR pile is daunting!
What a fantastic list! These sound fascinating. I've just finished reading Medea by Rosie Hewlett which was wonderful. I will be directing a production of Medea (Euripides) next year and this novel from Medea's perspective was incredbile research. I keep dipping into Nigel Slater's A Thousand Feasts as it's so beautifully written I want to savour it.
Great list- thank you! I just finished Zadie Smith’s The Fraud which I really enjoyed: particularly loved the history in it linking with various bits I already knew and teaching me more. Then devoured Yellowface by R F Kuang which I loved: great, fast paced read for holiday. Now a few chapters into Wedding People which I am enjoying more than I thought I would!
In non-fiction, I recently read Chinese and any other Asian : Exploring East and South East Asian Identity in Britain by Anna Sulan Masing which was incredibly validating and helpful to read.
I love seeing a list full of books I never heard of. Something tipped me into listening to the Wolf Hall trilogy this summer, read by Ben Miles. I was really submersed in his wonderful performance. Now I’m reading a biography of Thomas Cromwell that came out after Mantel’s books. I have never really been interested in this time before but I find myself completely captivated
This list feels like it was designed for me personally and now my bank account is looking perturbed!
My recommendation for summer reading is probably a bit of a cliche but I always return to it - The Summer Book by Tove Jansson.
Next up for me to read is The Antidote by Karen Russell. I loves Swamplandia! and I'm excited for this one.
The Summer Book is on my pile, too.
What a wonderful list! So many interesting titles that had not crossed my radar. Thank you. I’m presently reading The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey which is a joy. Thanks again.
I'm actually doing a lot of re-reading of books/memoirs by autistic people, yourself included Katherine. I had my official diagnosis less than a month ago and I think I am feeling a need to re-read them from this place of truly knowing that I am autistic. I am currently on 'Odd Girl Out' by Laura James. 🖤
What an amazing list, especially the Fae/folk tales and gardening/nature. I'm almost finished with Circe by Madeline Miller. Perfect for summer and a bit of escape.
I recently finished and loved Ephemera by Sierra DeMulder. It's a gorgeous poetry collection. I'm currently rereading A Psalm for the Wild-Built; it's so soothing.
Inspiring diversity of books! I’d like to add herbalist Pam Montgomery’s new book, Co-Creating with Nature: Healing the Wound of Separation. A wonderful and comprehensive reading of all the many ways we can heal ourselves and co create a sustainable, healthy future.
What a lovely list! I look forward to challenging the library service with a few of these! I am third in line for 'Hark'. I love Alice's writing. Last week, while cycling in Yorkshire I read 'A month in the country ' by JL Carr, set in these landscapes 100 years ago. Currently I am loving 'By thorn and Briar', a year in the life of a hedge layer, very soothing and bringing back good memories of BTCV days as well as unrealistic looks at hedge laying courses!! Coming up is an unscheduled summer of reading, probably moving on to some fiction for a while.
What an amazing list - thank you for putting this together. I am currently reading The Gender of Sound by Anne Carson, which is a short (30 pages) but very might book. In fact, I find what I read so upsetting that I can only read a few pages at a time. I think I am going to follow it with Hark: How Women Listen by Alice Vincent from your list.
What a list! So many titles I haven’t heard of, thanks for the recommendations! Alice Vincent has definitely been on my TBR pile. I finally got to enjoy Maggie Smith’s brilliant memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful and I had a lot of fun with Emma Gannon’s Table For One.
WOW what a list. I love the ideas you have posted on Magic and Stones. I am a Sacred Stones person since childhood and currently researching to write an article on Avebury. I am a slow reader. Alas, the library borrowing system not great for me as I have ADHD and other neurodivergent stuff going on, so despite the library's insistence that it is easy to conform to their rules of borrowing, I get in a pickle. So I have to be realistic in that does it pass the ADHD 'energy / battery' top up filter test?
My recommendation is an old book full of wonders and hidden information 'The Traveller's Guide to Sacred England' by John Michell. A genius mavarick, in my opinion, who many have referenced, since, without referencing, I am sure you know what I mean.
What a brilliant list! Two I already have in my tbr pile (Wild Folk and No Straight Road Takes You There) and many of the others have been added to my “look out for when I’m in the book shop” list. Having just finished reading, and absolutely loved, The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin, which is on the Wainwright long list this year, I have to recommend it here!
I am spending the summer rereading. Currently it is Orbital (for a book club) which I find very soothing to read. I am also making my way through (for the millionth time) His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust series in anticipation of the final book in October. Then it’s some old Kathleen Jamie (Findings) and Sarah Moss’s Names for the Sea (although her new one sounds fab.) So many good books on this one! Shall come back to it when I am out of ideas.
Such a fabulous list - so many books, so little time (sigh). I read Amina Cain's 'Indelicacy' and 'Crush' by Ada Calhoun. Slowly picking through Knausgaard's 'Summer', lining it up with the months and loving it. Was recently gifted 'Between Two Waters' by Pam Brunton - that may be next, though the TBR pile is daunting!
What a fantastic list! These sound fascinating. I've just finished reading Medea by Rosie Hewlett which was wonderful. I will be directing a production of Medea (Euripides) next year and this novel from Medea's perspective was incredbile research. I keep dipping into Nigel Slater's A Thousand Feasts as it's so beautifully written I want to savour it.
Great list- thank you! I just finished Zadie Smith’s The Fraud which I really enjoyed: particularly loved the history in it linking with various bits I already knew and teaching me more. Then devoured Yellowface by R F Kuang which I loved: great, fast paced read for holiday. Now a few chapters into Wedding People which I am enjoying more than I thought I would!
In non-fiction, I recently read Chinese and any other Asian : Exploring East and South East Asian Identity in Britain by Anna Sulan Masing which was incredibly validating and helpful to read.
I love seeing a list full of books I never heard of. Something tipped me into listening to the Wolf Hall trilogy this summer, read by Ben Miles. I was really submersed in his wonderful performance. Now I’m reading a biography of Thomas Cromwell that came out after Mantel’s books. I have never really been interested in this time before but I find myself completely captivated