I recently stumbled across a post from 2015 titled Our Favourite Books and Why We Love Them, in which some of my co-workers shared their favourite reads. One Hundred Years of Solitude appeared twice. I knew of the book as a widely acclaimed, landmark novel that uses magic realism, a style of fiction that blurs…More
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
The Doll Factory is a compelling and well-written gothic affair, with the following ensemble of main characters: Silas, an obsessive epidermist and owner of a Curiosity Shop, who is entranced by all things strange and beautiful. Two twins, Iris and Rose, apprentices in a doll shop. Iris has a twisted collarbone which she is incredibly…More
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Hamnet, the reimagining of the death of Shakespeare’s 11-year-old son, is set in the days of the Bubonic plague. It was published in 2020 and, in the years of work leading up to its release, O’Farrell would never have been able to guess how the plights of the 1580s would resonate for its readers in…More
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor is a 29-year-old social misfit who, following years of a solitary life, sticking to the shadows, becomes enamoured with a musician, which pushes her to be more social. Eleanor’s mix of intelligence, her unusual way of thinking, and a lack of any type of social filter make her a compelling, entertaining character. It’s humorous…More
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
At the top of the year, “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art” was recommended to me alongside Yoga with Adriene’s Breath challenge. I was quick to jump into the yoga challenge but put the book on hold for a few months, as I wasn’t truly convinced of how interesting a book on breathing…More
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
An American friend was surprised when the topic of Mark Twain came up in conversation, and I mentioned I hadn’t read anything by him. I hadn’t even read Huckleberry Finn, which I understand has been a fixture of reading lists in many US schools for many years. So, I decided now was the time to…More
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