Treatment has afforded me a lot of time to read so here are some of the books that I thoroughly recommend, and why.
This is one of my favourite books of all time and contains one of the most unexpected and tender love stories I have ever read.
Set during the First World War, In Memoriam follows a group of young men as the world they know is overtaken by war and they are drawn into its devastating reality.
It is beautifully written, deeply moving and utterly unflinching about the realities of war. There is nothing glamorous about what these young men experience, and the book is a much-needed reminder that war is awful for the soldiers on both sides. Lives are destroyed, people are changed forever and, ultimately, no one truly wins.
Heartbreaking, intimate and incredibly tender, this is one of those rare books that has stayed with me long after I finished it. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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This is quite possibly my favourite book of all time. Set in the years following the Second World War, it moves between London and Italy and follows a wonderful collection of characters as their lives intersect in unexpected ways.
It’s funny, tender and beautifully observed, but what I love most is the feeling of it. Somehow it keeps me completely absorbed while also being one of the most peaceful, comforting books I’ve ever read.
I also have the audiobook, read by Sarah Winman herself, and her wonderfully soothing voice makes it feel like being wrapped in a hug. I’ve genuinely put it on just to fall asleep to.
If I could recommend only one book, this might be it.
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