My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem
23 Feb - 1 March
What’s not to love about a memoir by one of the original feminists? Steinem tells about her father’s peripatetic attitude to life as she was growing up, and what she learnt from the people she came across. This is a book that touches on race and class as well as gender, and it’ll inspire you and make you angry in equal measure. Massively worth the read if you’ve even a passing interest in a more equitable society.
Head of State, Andrew Marr
3 - 12 March
If you’re already sick to the back teeth of the EU referendum, this might not be for you. But if you can get past that wee fact, this novel about a Conservative Prime Minister during the final days in the lead up to a referendum (although Scottish independence, rather than European), with the Out campaign led by a glamorous female former Home Secretary. If you’ve ever worked in or around politics or political media, this will make you chuckle deeply with some of its side-eye looks. If you’re not a political nerd, the not-terribly-elegant prose might annoy you more than the fun story entertains. (What is with journos not being able to write fiction?)
A Change of Climate, Hilary Mantel
4 - 25 March
From the ridiculous to the sublime, here. Mantel is a woman whose prose should be heralded by angels. It’s gorgeous. This is an all-pages-turned-down kinda book. It’s a family saga about love and betrayal and what makes a person a good person. If you like her other stuff, you’ll love this.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Helen Fielding
26 - 28 March
I picked this up in the library as I thought I might see the upcoming film at some point. If it’s anything like the book, the film would have to be on Netflix after I’ve finally worked my way through all 12 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, as well as having read every single book left on the shelves. It’s desperately average. Bridget was of her time, which has been and gone.
The Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey
28 March - 2 April
A gorgeous novel that falls into the ‘fairy story for grown ups’ category. Set in the wilds of Alaska in the early 20th century, an elderly couple create a girl out of snow during a storm, only for her to come to life. It’s haunting and magical, occasionally dark and always enveloping. The perfect Sunday afternoon on the sofa read.
