March has been a strange month for us all, as we find ourselves in unprecedented circumstances. For some, reading has helped with this time being isolated and for others the worry has meant they are not reading as much. If you are looking for some inspiration, maybe some of the books I read in March will appeal to you. My top reads of the month are below, but remember you can access all my reviews on my blog. Whatever you do, please stay safe.
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. It is no surprise that this made my top reads, I did preorder it six months in advance. This is the final book in the Wolf Hall trilogy that follows the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell. This book starts where Bringing up the Bodies finished, at the execution of Anne Boleyn. Cromwell continues to see his star continue to rise, but makes many enemies along the way, always willing to try and turn the King against him, and the higher you climb the further you have to fall. As expected from Hilary Mantel this book is beautifully written, overflowing with historical detail and with plenty of wit and humour. This is a stunning read and I can’t praise it highly enough, the only downside is that Hilary Mantel has said she has no plans to write any more books in the foreseeable future.
The Rearranged Life of Onna Lockhart by Margarita Montimore. What would it be like if we didn’t live our lives chronologically, but on each birthday just jumped to a random year. At Oona’s eighteenth birthday party she is having the time in her life, in love with her boyfriend Dale, looking forward to taking their band on tour when on the stroke of midnight he finds herself in her fifties and in a strange house, with a letter from herself letting her know about her life at this stage. This book is like a jigsaw that sees Oona jump to different years, finding herself married to a man she doesn’t know and with boyfriend trouble. Written with warmth, understanding and emotion that shone through, this was a fascinating read.
The Operator by Gretchen Berg. If we are honest we all like a bit of a gossip, as long as its not about us. 1952 Wooster, Ohio, Vivian Dalton works on the local switchboard connecting calls to the local residents. Rules state they are not allowed to listen in on calls, but Vivien and her colleagues occasionally fall into temptation. When Vivian hears a secret about herself her world is turned upside down, even worse is that the call was to Betty Millar the town gossip and pillar of the community. As Vivian’s life spirals out of control, she is determined to find out who made that call. This perfectly portrays a small town in 1950’s America, where gossip held power over people’s lives. There also the moral tale, of people in glass houses not throwing stones, as Vivian learns that Betty is not as perfect as she seems. I loved the warmth and wit of Gretchen Berg’s writing and her keen observations make this such an enjoyable and compelling read.
The Canary Keeper by Clare Carson. Birdie Quinn finds the body of a man on the banks of the Thames in the early hours of the morning. Witnesses claim they say a tin canoe drop the body off, but Birdie finds herself as an accomplice. In order to clear her name she decides to travel to Stromness in Orkney to find information on the dead man, and hopefully to escape the hangman. The juxtaposition of London and Orkney couldn’t be more disparate; the foggy, busy streets of London and the quiet life and clean air of Orkney. I loved Bidi’s strength and courage of character and quest for the truth even when it finds her against the shipping companies and those in charge of the fur trade. Atmospheric, with a touch of the gothic in feel this book has a menacing undertone and some memorable characters. A wonderful tale of one woman’s adventure to clear her name.
I am looking forward to sharing some more wonderful books with you in April, especially I Am Dust by Louise Beech, Strangers by C.L Taylor and Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell.
