Every month, GWL team members and volunteers share what we’ve read at our Book Picnic. Here’s what we’ve been reading recently:
The Girl with the Silver Clasp by Juliet Greenwood
Elaine recommended this historical novel set during and after World War I, depicting the stories of three women, Jess, Rachel and Giselle, whose very different lives become interwoven. Jess longs to become a silversmith, but when the men return from war, she must return to her job as a seamstress. Rachel worked as an ambulance driver during the war and Giselle is a Hollywood movie star. The novel is about women having to return to their former lives after being able to do have other things during the war. Elaine really enjoyed it and found it was a quick read as it was so gripping.
Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson
Wendy recommended this novel, which is part of a series of the Jackson Brodie crime novels and a Sunday Times bestselling novel. Brodie investigates when a work of art is stolen from a converted country home which now hosts murder mystery weekends. In an Agatha Christie style plot, an assortment of guests are gathered and now come under suspicion. Wendy enjoyed Kate Atkinson’s light touch and thought her characters were really great.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Gaby recommended this novel, which was also recommended on Oprah’s book club. It is the story of Roy, a black man who is wrongfully convicted of rape and the impact is has on his wife Celestial, who knows he didn’t do it. Celestial gets support from Andre, her childhood friend and the best man at their wedding, but as the years go on the couple’s separation takes its toll on their marriage. The story is told from the perspective of all three characters, so Gaby felt she could sympathise with all of the them. The story is a love triangle but it’s also about the prison industrial complex in the US and is a beautifully written novel.
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Pauline has been reading this novel, which is the fictionalised story of Belle da Costa Greene, who was the personal librarian of J P Morgan until he retired in 1913. Belle was forced to hide the secret of her black ancestry due to living in an extremely racist society, a secret that was also kept by her mother and her sister. Pauline was struck by how much she achieved in her life and thought she was a remarkable women, but felt that the book did not do her justice and she wished she had liked it better. There is a biography of her life also published though it is not readily available in this country.
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
Pauline has also been reading this novel about a woman from York who travels to London in search of missing girls. It’s a lovely book as Kate Atkinson writes so well, and Pauline really enjoyed it.
Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang
Ren has been reading this novel about a woman and her friend who is a famous Chinese-American writer. Her friend dies in a freak accident in front of her and she steals the manuscript of a book she is yet to publish. Ren wasn’t that keen on the book as she found the protagonist very unlikable, so found it hard to read for this reason. They felt like they wanted the book to say something interesting but it didn’t.
Parasol against the Axe by Helen Oyeyemi
Ren has only read a few chapters of this novel but they are really enjoying it. It is a novel about Prague, narrated by the city itself and describing its relationship with the various characters they have encountered. Ren thought it was weird but good.
Bigger on the Inside by Kate Fox
Aileen has been reading this new book of poetry, which she thoroughly recommends. Kate describes her book as ‘a neuroqueer imaginary of Timelords, psychologists, octopuses, sparkly things and mushrooms’. Aileen really appreciated Kate’s exploration of neurodiversity and what it means, particularly for those who have lived most of their lives without understanding their differences, which offers a unique take on the world. Aileen read the poem Silence in the Library, which the group enjoyed, especially as it beautifully described the value of libraries, and the title poem Bigger on the Inside, which Aileen particularly enjoyed because of its Dr Who references, as she felt there was not enough poems featuring Dr Who. She also liked the cover as it has a picture of a Tardis tea pot on it.
