What to read by the pool this summer: part 2

Here's part two of our essentail summer reading list, let us know if you have any more favourites, let us know about them?

The Hand That First Held Mine - Maggie O'Farrell

We loved Maggie O'Farrell's The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox about a rebellious woman locked in an asylum for over 60 years (we are certain that would have been us, had we lived in 1930's). Her latest book, The Hand That First Held Mine, tells two stories. The first follows Lexie, an artist who comes from Devon to be part of London's post war art scene. The second set fifty years later, follows Ted and Elina after they have had had their first child. The two stories intertwine and provide a sensitive insight into the world of an artist, the overwhelming first months of motherhood and how we make and unmake our lives.

What the Dog Saw and other Adventures - Malcolm Gladwell

The writer of the excellent The Tipping Point,takes the seemingly mundane and taps into ways of utilising our curiosity. He shows us how to look at the world around us and see it in new ways. He asks are smart people overrated? What can pit bulls teach us about crime? How do we hire when we cant tell who's right for the job, revealing how everything and everybody has some kind of intriguing story. A good one to ponder as you are floating round the pool!

Alone in Berlin - Hans Fallada

Described as the 'best book I've read for ages', by our friend Jane, this is another one we are planning to read over the summer. Based around an ordinary German couple who, after the death of their son at the front, decide to resist the Nazi regime. Their quiet rebellion involved depositing anti Nazi postcards across Berlin. The story evokes the horror of daily life under the third Reich and is an extraordinary story of deprivation, humiliation, depravation and fear. Written over 60 years ago, the book is inspired by a real life couple who were eventually caught and beheaded in 1943. 

Deceptions - Rebecca Frayn

A gripping story of every mothers worst nightmare. Annie is about to marry Julian when her 12 year old son goes missing. Over the next three years Annie refuses to believe he has simply disappeared and continues to think he will turn up. Julian just wants her to move on. Then a phone call bring news of Dans fate.
You'll have to read the book to find out more, we couldn't put it down!

Comments

[steffi]

Just finished What the Dog Saw - an absolutely FANTASTIC read. I love Gladwell's wonderfully clear style. Inspiring. Motivating. Entertaining. He is a bit of a genius!