Writers often say that reading is the best practice for learning how to write and I’ve had my head in books all my life. Maybe my parents deciding we wouldn’t have a TV when we were growing up helped, although at the time it was sometimes infuriating…
Anyhow, now that The Low Road is launched in the UK, and there’s time to breathe before it is published in the US, I’m enjoying reading and getting together a TBR pile for my summer holidays, fast approaching.
I wanted to share what I was reading and planning to read, as I’ve read some gorgeous books recently – and re-read old favourites, including The Summer Book, by Tove Jansson, a limpidly simple read (on the face of it) about an artist spending her holidays with her granddaughter on an island.
This also brings to mind the eight novel by novelist, Marika Cobbold, On Hampstead Heath. Light, shade, an angel and a journalist heroine (of sorts). What’s not to like…
I am keen to read this, by author EJ Barnes, about the life of the economist, Maynard Keynes and his family – the second in a series.
I also want to delve into the work of historical romantic novelist, Michelle Styles, as I want to understand the genre better and she is one of the best in the game. If I’m going to write more sagas post The Low Road, I need to read more. Choosing which one is going to be fun…
Likewise, the work of Michelle Smart is right on the button for contemporary romantic writing, so I think I will be starting with her Italian novel, Bound by the Italians, I do. I mean, best to read in Italy but Ireland will do, right?
I have just snaffled up Sugar Money, by Jane Harris, as it’s historical fiction based on a true story about slavery. It looks great…
A couple of other books I have read recently – two books from Simon Edge, recommended – In The Beginning and The End of The World is Flat. Also, from Simon’s publishing company, I can’t recommend sci fi novelist, Andrew Stickland, enough, for his new series. Loved The Arcadian Incident, so Escape to Midas is next on the list. I’m also going to read Lydia Syson’s Liberty’s Fire about the French Revolution, which I’ve always wanted to read – so now’s the time!
No summer is perfect without a re-read of most of Jane Austen – the best and greatest caustic romantic novelist…I’ve been listening to Mansfield Park again and wondering about how judgy Fanny is. I’d love to see a Mary Crawford take on it, and indeed a Mrs Bennett view on the internalised misogyny of her daughters…thoughts?
Katharine Quarmby 