This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, Ann Patchett
30 Jan - 10 Feb

God I love everything this woman does. I would read Ann Patchett’s shopping lists if only she’d publish them. This collection of essays is gorgeous (lots of pages folded down in the notebook). Anyone who has even a passing interest in writing will adore The Getaway Car, the essay in the collection about the writing process: I found it utterly inspirational.



Euphoria, Lily King
10 - 13 Feb

Curtis Sittenfeld, author extraordinaire of American Wife (one of my Desert Island books), recommended this on Twitter, and where is the sense in not reading something recommended by someone whose writing you love? It totally hit the mark, as apparently all fiction about anthropologists making discoveries in the deepest jungle does (see also Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Signature of All Things - although that’s botany and the colonies, but has a similar feel. I digress). I read this in just a couple of sittings: it’s enveloping, and King has a wonderful turn of phrase. Highly recommended.


Big Magic, Liz Gilbert
13 - 16 Feb

I saw plenty of people rave about this on Twitter as an inspirational exploration of creativity and inspiration. If you’re the sort of person who loved Eat, Pray, Love (disclaimer: I haven’t read it, and don’t plan to), I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that you’ll enjoy this. Otherwise, I’d steer clear. It’s about as hippy drippy as you can get (ideas being sentient things that search for a home through humans who’ll birth them? Do please fuck off). There are a couple of tiny nuggets in there that you might find interesting (how Gilbert is bosom buddies with my gal Patchett, for starters) but I’d read Happy Marriage instead. It’ll save you the blood pressure rise.


Make Your Home Among Strangers, Jennine Capo Crucet
16 - 22 Feb

Another book recommended on Twitter by the fabulous Sittenfeld, who suggested that if you enjoyed her Prep, you’ll like this debut novel: I can see where she’s coming from. The premise, of a young woman out of her depth at a fancy US university, is very similar, and throws the protagonist into similar situations. It’s a thought-provoking read about class and social mobility; about race and racism; different worlds and fitting into neither - and both; and family and where you come from. (All February’s books seemed to be linked in some way. Funny how that happens. But a good month for cracking (ish) female writers - unplanned, but the best reading month I’ve had in a while.)