You Are Here by David Nicholls
Set against the dramatic landscapes of the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, this story of two world-weary characters falling in love is both bittersweet and uplifting. Reading it gave me an immense feeling of cosiness and comfort, but it never felt saccharine. Nicholls’ descriptions of places and people are exquisitely well-observed and often made me laugh out loud, and his two central characters are continually intriguing, their vulnerabilities and complex inner worlds slowly emerging from behind protective walls of humour and stoicism. This book would be the perfect companion novel to a hiking trip or long train journey through the countryside. by Cathy
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
I first read this when I was a kid (in Japanese!), and even decades later, I still go back to this bright summer gem to lose myself in every now and again. There aren’t any life-threatening events or white-knuckle battles against enemies. Instead, it’s filled with a wonderful sense of “real” adventure. The four children count every single item they need before setting off to sail to a small island in the lake by themselves – nothing fancy, just practical. They find an inlet that’s perfect for hiding their dinghy and learn how to navigate a narrow channel by using marked trees as landmarks. Although they’re meant to be isolated from civilization, they still have to sail across the water every morning to fetch fresh milk. It’s those little details that I love so much. They make the adventure feel completely believable (which is why I’ve never bothered watching a newer film adaptation!) By Megumi
How to Kill your Family by Bella Mackie
Grace Bernard is currently languishing in Limehouse Prison for a murder she didn’t commit, which is ironic, given she decides to spend the time she is waiting on her appeal decision writing a memoir of all the murders she did commit. Grace had set herself the task of killing her estranged family, one by one, culminating in her father who abandoned her as a baby. She tells us why and how she executed each member, starting with her elderly grandparents.
In the wrong hands this could seem implausible, faintly ridiculous. However, Grace’s voice is so strong, shot through with sarcasm, wit and humour that it is not only plausible but seems to make sense. The ways she chooses to end her family’s lives is brilliantly mad at times, but again the tone makes it work.
Running alongside this she gradually tells us why she is actually in prison and we wait to see whether she will be released.
The book is so skilfully written that I found myself rooting for Grace, hoping that she would be successful, despite the fact that she is a psychopath. Wondering whether she will get away with it propels you through to the end, which is surprising and satisfying.
It’s a great book and a real achievement for the author. By Jonathan
Remembering the Kana by James W.Heisig, with Helmut Morsbach and Kazue Kurebayashi
If you really want to progress in life, then learning Japanese is essential. And to learn Japanese, you must learn Hiragana. With this book, James Heisig turns the process into an easy, short, simple method. Crucially, he has re-ordered the 46 kana by shape, not by sound or syllabic order. By starting with the simplest shapes, and layering them into the more complex, he brings order and sense to the chaotic gojūon. With this clarity, and by crafting your own mnemonics, it really does take but a week to learn them. So obvious, you wonder why nobody did it before. And now you have the rest of summer to practice. by Jon
