WINTER READS Books chosen by boys, beaks and staff All books are available from the Vaughan Library

The Western Wind The Betrayals by Bridget Collins by Samantha Harvey A compelling, magical and forensically It’s set in Oakham in Somerset in crafted book about the ‘grand jeu’, an medieval times and Harvey’s writing archaic game which combines music, is so rich that the sense of place maths and movement. Set in the 1930s and time is incredibly vivid. There in an unnamed (but familiar) European is an interesting cast of characters country, it’s an unusual and complex and an intriguing mystery story that story based on Herman Hesse’s The unfolds in reverse, which really keeps Glass Bead Game. you engaged. I would definitely recommend it. Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Assistant Librarian Recommended by Kirsty Matthews, Academic Principal HSSC 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari The follow up to Sapiens and Homo English Pastoral by James Rebanks Deus. I am recommending it as I The author – a sheep farmer from the believe all Harrovians should read it Lake District and Oxford graduate to broaden their understanding of our – gives us a unique and eloquent species: our past, present and future. account of how farming has shaped, and continues to shape, our rural Recommended by Gregory Warmback, British landscape. This urgent, Development Officer necessary treatise is infused with the hard-fought, first-hand experience of an earnest man grappling with how to V2 by Robert Harris pay the bills and yet, at the same time, A gripping story of espionage that carve out a patch of England that cares focuses on the deadly Nazi V2 rocket intimately about wildlife, nature and programme. the social heritage of his craft. Recommended by JPM Recommended by RCHA

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz A labyrinth of clues. A mystery novel Reality and other Stories hiding a deadly secret. A killer with a by John Lanchester fiendish plot: a brilliantly intricate and A disquieting collection of sinister original thriller from the bestselling stories about the perils of technology author of Magpie Murders. and contemporary culture.

Recommended by Daniel Sidhom (The Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Knoll, Lower Sixth) Assistant Librarian Sex Power Money by Sara Pascoe The Omnivores Dilemma A funny book with serious intent, by Michael Pollan Sex Power Money interrogates this Acclaimed food writer Michael Pollan contentious triptych and examines sets out to answer the question “what the links between the three. Asking should we have for dinner?”. The book uncompromising questions about follows three vastly different meals the sex industry, objectification and from paddock to plate and, in doing so, the erotic allure of immense wealth, evaluates industrial farming, organic Pascoe offers a splenetic, incisive and certification, hunting and foraging. It is frequently hilarious account of the fascinating read at a time when global modern condition. food systems are being strained by a pandemic and a growing population. Recommended by Marie Staunton, Head of Library and Archive Recommended by OWM

Troy by Stephen Fry The Thursday Murder Club A lively and entertaining re-telling of by Richard Osman the Trojan myth. Richard Osman’s debut novel is a welcome addition to the detective Recommended by Clare Wilkins, fiction genre. A group of older people Assistant Librarian living in a retirement village keep themselves active by investigating old murders. They are then drawn to investigate a murder on their own doorstep. It is understated, humorous and well written. It also tackles issues by of aging, usefulness and dementia in a It’s a clever, witty and entertaining charming and thoughtful manner. read set in the depth of the in the early 1970s. If the Northern Irish Recommended by Amada Deal, dialect is a new experience, you will Assistant Librarian quickly fall in with the writing style.

Recommended by Ralph Arundell, The Swerve: How the Renaissance Director of Operations Began by Stephen Greenblatt It is all about a 15th-century Italian Humanist who is chasing around Journey to the River Sea Europe looking for classical texts, by Eva Ibbotson when he stumbles across Lucretius’ On I loved reading this book because the Nature of Things, which Greenblatt of the calm, beautiful descriptions argues is a fundamental text that dotted throughout the text and reshaped how we viewed the world. because it really conveyed a powerful The second chapter, which is all about and valuable meaning of adventure how the monasteries preserved texts and courage. for the best part of 1,000 years, is wittily written. Greenblatt talks about Recommended by Saarvin Cambatta- how the monks had ‘reading periods’ Mistry (Lyon’s, Shell) and were punished if they did not take it seriously... It all sounds very familiar!

The Narrow Land Recommended by JESB by Christine Dwyer Hickey It’s about the painter Edward Hopper and his wife, and a young refugee from A Hundred Years of Solitude the war in Germany who befriends by Gabriel Garcia Marquez them. It is set in Cape Cod on the coast I like the book because, with its where they had a home and is imaginative blend of magic, fantasy, a wonderful evocation of that part of and reality, the whole novel morphs the world and the lives of Hopper and into one beautiful poem of history, the people living there in the years progress and human life. after the war. Recommended by Vincent Song (The Recommended by Caroline Sampson, Head Master’s, Remove) House Masters’ Secretary Snow by This Lovely City by Louise Hare A classic murder mystery, Banville’s A tale of young love and shameful depiction of the new Republic of prejudice with a disturbing mystery, Ireland is fascinating. Strafford’s all set in 1950s’ Brixton. Lawrie has investigation is hampered by the settled, along with many of his fellow Roman Catholic Church whose grip — Windrush passengers, to build a new politically and emotionally — is evident life in a country that needs him but over the country and its people. may not want him.

Recommended by Marie Staunton, Recommended by Marie Staunton, Head of Library and Archive Head of Library and Archive

Independence Square by A D Miller The End of Loneliness An exceptional political thriller, by Benedict Wells Independence Square is a story German contemporary literature at its of ordinary people caught up in best, I think. A melancholy read but so extraordinary times. It is a story about beautifully written. corruption and personal and political betrayals. It is a story about where, in Recommended by Astrid Jennewein, the 21st century, power really lies. HR Manager

Recommended by CM

A Gentleman in Moscow Piranesi by Susanna Clarke by Amor Towles Mysterious, entrancing and unique, this Set after the Bolshevik Revolution, it is a book which it is best to know as tells the story of a Russian aristocrat little as possible, before losing yourself living under house arrest in a luxury in its labyrinth. I loved it. hotel for 30 years. Despite every setback, the Count maintains his wit Recommended by Joanne Payne, and humanity in this wonderful novel Assistant Librarian full of humour and pathos.

Recommended by Arturo Saville Mascioni (Rendalls, Shell) A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes An excellent and vivid portrayal of the Trojan War as seen from an entirely Flights by female perspective. A sweeping, lyrical novel, told with wit and vivacity. A significant story Recommended by HAH of travel and human connection in a polarised world.

Recommended by KAF

Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack by Richard Ovenden All the King’s Men From the destruction of the Great by Robert Penn Warren Library of Alexandria to the Windrush Set in the 1930s, this book traces the papers, Burning the Books charts rise and fall of Willie Stark, who begins the extraordinary history of hostility his political career as an idealistic towards knowledge, and of those who man of the people but soon becomes have fought to preserve it. corrupted by success. A gritty tale of politics in the American South. Recommend by JPM Recommended by AGC The Best of A. A. Gill by A A Gill This is Happiness by Niall Williams What a sad loss his untimely death A wistful coming-of-age in a small was. Peerlessly observant and laugh- Irish parish, This is Happiness sings out-loud funny, this is one of those with tenderness and humanity. A gems that keeps you dipping in and deft chronicler of the Celtic state of out. A brilliant journalist who was often mind, Williams has produced another pigeonholed by many as just a food lyrical treatise on identity, community and TV critic, but this collection shows and belonging. he was so much more. Recommended by JMA Recommended by Ralph Arundell, Director of Operations Whoops! by John Lanchester ‘Normally a writer of amusing novels, The Constant Rabbit this time he addresses the financial by Jasper Fforde collapse of 2008. In a way that The Another characteristically eccentric Big Short exposed subprime lending concept breaks free from the wildly on film so this does in prose, amusing inventive mind of Jasper Fforde and disturbing in equal measure, but it as a bizarre tale of human-rabbit makes complex finance and economics coexistence masks a clever allegory accessible to the uninitiated. about belonging and identity. Recommended by Ralph Arundel, Recommended by Joanne Payne, Director of Operations Assistant Librarian

People of Abandoned Character Festive Spirits by Kate Atkinson by Clare Whitfield Three short, but exquisitely formed, An absorbing page turner that tells tales with a yuletide theme from the the story of a disaffected wife who pen of the mercurial Kate Atkinson, thinks that her husband may be Jack Festive Spirits is a diverse and the Ripper. Hugely atmospheric, it’s winning collection. Easily digestible full of flawed and complex characters in one sitting, this volume makes the including a sinister housekeeper perfect pick-me-up for the whirlwind who definitely has a touch of the Mrs festive season. Danvers about her!

Recommended by CM Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Assistant Librarian

The Snakes by Sadie Jones A beautifully written, dark, suspenseful The Tattooist of Auschwitz thriller about the corruption of money by Heather Morris and abuse within a dysfunctional A heartfelt tale of love born in family. darkness, inspired by the astonishing true story of Lale Sokolov, The Recommended by Astrid Jennewein, Tattooist of Auschwitz is as remarkable HR Manager as it is life-affirming. Morris’ deft approach to the most emotive subject matter is a triumph of empathetic storytelling. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith Private Detective Cormoran Strike is Recommended by Mackenzie Morgan visiting his family in Cornwall when (Lyon’s, Remove) he is approached by a woman asking for help finding her mother, Margot Bamborough, who went missing in The Sicilian by Mario Puzo mysterious circumstances in 1974. A ripping yarn of mafia derring-do, as Strike has never tackled a cold case told by a master storyteller who wrote before, let alone one 40 years old, but, the infamous The Godfather. despite the slim chance of success, he is intrigued and takes it on. This is a Recommended by HAH perfect read for winter.

Recommended by Amanda Deal, Assistant Librarian Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle by Mildred D Taylor A dramatisation of true events, this This book was written on quite a harsh is the compelling and powerful story and unforgiving subject, but I think of Tacky’s war – a slave uprising in it really gives a great picture of the Jamaica in 1760. Narrated by 14 -year history of the black race and diversity. old Moa, this harrowing portrayal of plantation life is brought to life in this Recommended by Saarvin Cambatta- short but important read. Mistry (Lyon’s, Shell) Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Assistant Librarian Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline The eagerly and long-awaited sequel to Ready Player One plunges Wade The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Watts straight back into another by Stuart Turton riddle-solving adventure. A new and An inventive, mind-bending and powerful enemy awaits, and Wade original high-concept murder mystery must once again navigate the virtual with a cast of fantastically odd universe to safeguard the future characters. of OASIS. Recommended by Daniel Sidhom (The Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Knoll, Lower Sixth) Assistant Librarian

10 minutes 38 seconds in this Strange Sacred Darkness World by Elif Shafak by Levan Berzenishivili Capturing the evocative recollections Based on true events and a thrilling of Tequila Leila in the ten minutes after marriage of reportage and lived her death, Shafak’s spellbinding novel experience, Sacred Darkness tears extracts the value of a fully lived life apart the fabric of Russian Soviet from its untimely ending. An excellent repression with biting humour and read and surprisingly uplifting. wry insight. Recommended by HAH Recommended by KAF

Sapiens: A Graphic History We Had it So Good by Linda Grant by Yuval Noah Harari An engaging and well-written story of A graphic re-working of the best- a London family from the late 1960s to selling book about the creation and the present. evolution of humans.

Recommended by Astrid Jennewein, Recommended by Clare Wilkins, HR Manager Assistant Librarian

The Girl with the Louding Voice The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins by Abi Dare This brilliant dystopian action novel Dare’s exuberant, moving debut is so exciting; I couldn’t find a single revolves around Adunni, a Nigerian moment where I was bored. I highly girl regarded as property at the age of recommend it. 14 yet determined to find her ‘louding voice’ and live a life that she controls. Recommended by Saarvin Cambatta- Mistry (Lyon’s, Shell) Recommended by Marie Staunton, Head of Library and Archive Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson The Siege by Ismail Kadare A quirky novel about a woman who A novel ostensibly about a siege in finds meaning in her life when she Albania by the Ottoman Turks in the begins caring for two children with 15th century but also a stinging critique remarkable and disturbing abilities. of Communism in the 20th century.

Recommended by Helen Harrington, Recommended by HAH Assistant Librarian

Grey is the Colour of Hope Oranges by John McPhee by Irina Ratushinkskaya Inspired by the glass of freshly The searing account of the author’s squeezed orange juice he bought experiences in a brutal Soviet every day on his morning commute, labour camp. Only 28 when she Pulitzer Prize-winner John McPhee was imprisoned for her poetry, Irina takes us on a remarkable journey in nearly died from maltreatment and search of the world’s most popular a series of hunger strikes before fruit. A classic of reportage. eventually finding freedom. With surprising moments of humour, her Recommended by AGC inspiring memoir reveals how a group of incarcerated women built for themselves a life of selfless courage, Pine by Francine Toon order and mutual support. An atmospheric read set in the highlands of Scotland about a missing Recommended by KAF girl and the small town that must give up its secrets to find her.

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle Recommended by Clare Wilkins, A funny and moving meditation on Assistant Librarian love, race, old age and friendship that will not only charm and uplift but will also remind you of the power of ordinary people to make an Sofia Petrovnaby Lydia Chukovskaya extraordinary difference. Sofia is a Soviet Everywoman, a doctor’s widow who works as a typist Recommended by Joanne Payne, in a Leningrad publishing house. When Assistant Librarian her son is caught up in the maelstrom of the purge, she joins the long lines of women outside the prosecutor’s Hag: Forgotten Folk Tales Retold office, hoping against hope for good An anthology of dark and twisted news. Confronted with a world that British folktales retold with a feminist makes no moral sense, Sofia goes spin by some of today’s best female mad, a madness which manifests itself authors. in delusions little different from the lies those around her tell every day to Recommended by Clare Wilkins, protect themselves. Assistant Librarian Recommended by KAF

The Devil and the Dark Water An Official History of Britain: Our Story by Stuart Turton in Numbers by Boris Starling Featuring fugitive detectives, a twice- Two centuries worth of data collection dead leper and a stalking demon, from the Office for National Statistics The Devil and the Dark Water is a provides the background for this deliciously sinister period chiller set study of work, home and culture and on a blighted sea voyage to from the how life has changed since these Dutch East Indies to . records began. Recommended by Joanne Payne, Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Assistant Librarian Assistant Librarian Italian Life by Tim Parks Tales from the Café: Before the Coffee Thought-provoking, surprising and Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi always entertaining, Italian Life looks From the author of Before the Coffee into the psyche of Italy and the Italians Gets Cold comes Tales from the Cafe, and how Italy really works. a story of four new customers, each of whom is hoping to take advantage of Recommended by HAH Cafe Funiculi Funicula’s time-travelling offer. This simple tale tells the story of people who must face up to their past in order to move on with their lives. Kawaguchi invites the reader to ask Pilgrims by Matthew Kneale themselves: what would you change if A clever and witty novel featuring you could travel back in time? an assortment of beleaguered and bedevilled characters who hope that a Recommended by Tace Fox, Archivist pilgrimage to Rome will absolve them of their sins and ailments. An evocative historical exploration of fallible humans The Diary of a Bookseller & and the dangers of religious fervour. Confessions of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Wry and hilarious accounts of life Assistant Librarian in Scotland’s biggest second-hand bookshop and the band of eccentrics and book-obsessives who work there. The Artful Dickens by John Mullan Bythell takes us with him on buying Told in a series of essays, this lively trips to old estates and auction houses, and entertaining book provides an recommends books, introduces us to insightful look at Dickens’ fictional the thrill of the unexpected find, and worlds. Ideal for fans of Dickens but evokes the rhythms and charms of also perfectly accessible for those who small-town life, always with a sharp and are new to his books. sympathetic eye.

Recommended by Clare Wilkins, Recommended by Tace Fox, Archivist Assistant Librarian

Conversations with Picasso by Brassai The Stranger: The Selected Poetry of Since the early days of his career, Alexander Blok photographer and journalist Brassai Alexander Blok was a major poet of has been a guide to avant-garde Paris. the Russian Symbolism movement. This He developed close personal and dual-language collection of his poetry professional relationships with many seeks to represent the continuum of artists and writers, not the least among Blok’s growth as a poet, with particular these was Picasso. Brassai recorded his attention paid to the rhythm and many meetings and appointments with melody of his writing. the great Spanish artist from 1943 to 1946, resulting in this book. Recommended by KAF Recommended by Arturo Saville Mascioni (Rendalls, Shell)

With all best wishes for a Peaceful and Happy Christmas from all the Vaughan Librarians

VAUGHAN LIBRARY December 2020