Friday reads

    A mention of Kate Atkinson's brilliant Life after Life (in Cathy Rentzenbrink's Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books) had me reaching this morning for its sequel A God in Ruins, bought ages ago but not read. I'm off to a flying start with it and hoping it will be as immersive a read as was Life after Life.

    Cathy Rentzenbrink's own book is part autobiography, part 're-reading as medicine': finding comfort in the familiar. I've made a note of some of her favourite novels to read for the first time or to re-visit, as it's good to be reminded of past delights or pointed towards future treats. Here are a few of them:

Any Human Heart, William Boyd (see also Waiting for Sunrise and Love is Blind)

Not that sort of girl, Mary Wesley

Possession, AS Byatt (and see The Children's Book)

Moon Tiger, Penelope Lively

The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood (the book group read Alias Grace)

The Silkworm, Robert Galbraith

The Infatuations, Javier Marías

Commonwealth, Ann Patchett (see also Bel Canto - another book group read, and State of Wonder)

Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier (and My Cousin Rachel - the book group again)

    To finish with Kate Atkinson, and for good measure, here's a post on the excellent Transcription.

Comments

[Mary]

Oh, I do miss the Cornflower book group! Would you ever consider reviving it or has life moved on?