We're still stuck in lockdown here in Wales and absolutely blasting through Star Wars (and the Mandalorian). But sometimes you want something that you can read, snuggle down into bed with or listen to during a walk if you're a lover of audiobooks (audiobooks aren't usually my forte but I'm trying to get into them for times when I need to multi task!). I now possess two useless English degrees which were a lot of fun to do, but in this post-covid world might not prove to be very helpful or practical. It does mean, however, that I am able to come to you with some book recommendations to burrow into!
A BLONDE IDIOT'S TOP 10 READS FOR FEB:
1) Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift:
Oh my word - this was definitely my favourite book to study at uni. You may have seen the films, but they miss out a lot of his journeys and the undertone of everything Swift does is incredibly political. I won't give away too many spoilers, but this was a gem. To write this off as a children's book is to do it a disservice - Swift is a master of prose satire and each piece is rich with comedy. I remember writing an essay on why Gulliver hated the yahoos and preferred the horse-like creatures, eventually coming to the conclusion that the character rejected humanity, warts and all.
2) The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger:
The lush Welshman disagrees with me on this, so it might be a Marmite pick, but I now have three copies and have read it whenever I feel a bit overwhelmed. It documents Holden's teenage antics and his mental decline, but I love the language (Salinger loved to include slang) and the opening line is genius:
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."
3) The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand:
Another controversial choice, however this novel has stuck with me since 2017 when I was reading it on the cramped London commute. The basis of the novel is the rejection of collectivism in favour of individualism - Rand was a big fan of Objectivism, which is rational individualism, meaning that the ideal person would live by their own efforts and their achievements would be honoured. Howard Roark would be a difficult man to invite to a dinner party, but her writing is superb.
4) Anything by Charles Bukowski:
Honestly, anything. I think he's such a rough and ready writer and I adore the comedy in every novel I have read so far. Pulp and The Post Office are the two I've read over Christmas, but the lush Welshman has dived into his poetry previously and really liked it. It's not 'classic' in terms of lofty language and prudish romance, but rather iconic (in my opinion).
5) Call Me By Your Name - Andre Aciman:
I couldn't put this down. A beautiful first love story, the exhilaration that we feel when we discover love and lust during the teenage years with the backdrop of rural Italy. I would recommend listening to the soundtrack from the film to create a soundscape - Sufjan Stevens' pieces are hauntingly beautiful. There's also a passage towards the end of the novel that makes me well up every time:
"We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster that we go bankrupt by the age of 30 and have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to make yourself feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste! [...] Just remember, our hearts and our bodies are given to us only once, and before you know it, your heart's worn out. [...] Right now, there's sorrow, pain; don't kill it, and with it, the joy you've felt..."
Exactly what is says on the tin: gritty. Following a collection of friends in Aberystwyth, the novel explores relationships - romance, friendship, drugs, sex - and there are no real happy endings. It's coarse and sometimes difficult to read, but if you're a fan of Irvine Welsh then I would highly recommend Griffiths. The written dialect can be a little mind-bending for the initial chapters but is (in my opinion) one of the best parts of the novel.
7) The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion:
The intricacies of grief are explored by Didion in this fantastic memoir. There will be tears, but it's quite cathartic and really made me appreciate the moments that we have with our loved ones. The fragility of life but also the realisation that we only have one life to enjoy. This is the only novel I have read by Didion, however it has certainly piqued my interest to read her fiction in the future.
8) And Still I Rise - Maya Angelou:
Ah, a collection of poetry to add into the mix! I always think of Maya as a warm cuddle on an autumnal evening - she's comforting and musical and bold. This is a great place to start with her writing - taking bite-sized chunks of a poem with each reading and then mulling it over, like a wine connoisseur. Even if you're not particularly into poetry, I would suggest giving Angelou a go.
9) Where the Crawdads Sing - Dalia Owens:
A couple of people recommended this book to me at the beginning of the year (shout out to Nia - another lush Welsh gal!) and, since reading it, I have recommended it to anyone who had ears. My grandma enjoyed the audiobook immensely, so even if you don't have the capacity to read right now then join Scribd (or another audiobook service) and enjoy. The dual narrative is excellently interwoven and the plot is...well, it made me stay up late one night because I needed to know what happened next!
10) Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier:
My mum recommended this book to me on numerous occasions but, for some reason, I thought it was simply a love story. Oh how I thoroughly misjudged it. This novel is incredible - the twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat. I went from thinking it was about love, to thinking it had similarities to Shirley Jackson's novels, to going 'OMG' with the final reveal. Great writing, fantastic plot, 10/10 wish I could read again with fresh eyes...
I would recommend buying these books via Bookshop rather than getting them through Amazon / another large retailer as this helps local booksellers / bookshops to keep them going, particularly through the pandemic. If this isn't a viable option, then there are lots of e-books you are able to access on the Libby app through your library or second hand copies available on sites such as ebay and AbeBooks.
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