What we're reading: writers and readers on the books they enjoyed in January
Everyone else got there a long time ago but I've only recently read Adrian Tchaikovsky's sci-fi masterpiece Children of Time. Cautionary, richly imaginative and deeply, unexpectedly humane, it was both utterly unputdownable and a welcome relief from the current resignation to dystopia.
I've also been taking delight in Edward Carey's glorious novel Edith Holler. Set in a Norwich that is at once fictional, historical and fantastical, he transports the reader into the world of brilliant 12-year-old Edith who is cursed to never leave her family's tumbledown theatre … until fate decides otherwise. Filled with the author's witty, curious observations and alive with his own illustrations, it's a novel like no other.
I've been a Simon Russell Beale fan ever since, as a teenager, I first saw him in The Duchess of Malfi back in the 90s. So imagine my excitement when his memoir, A Piece of Work, appeared in the bookshops. It threads around every Shakespearean role he's performed – from Desdemona at school to his famous Richard III, his unforgettable Hamlet and beyond. It's a fascinating, hands-on view.
The City Changes Its Face by Eimear McBride is published by Faber (£20). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
I am always drawn to books that offer in-depth character studies. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey left me eager to learn more about each character, with each section of the book drawing me further into their world.
Meanwhile Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan was a slow burn. I felt as if I was being guided in one direction, only to be sent off on a detour, as O'Hagan unveiled the different layers of his central character's life. At times, I felt like I was being drawn into an unsettling dystopian world.
Sign up to Bookmarks
Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you
after newsletter promotion
For many months I've been reading novels for the Women's prize for fiction, which is celebrating its 30th year, and for which I'm on the judging panel. In between those books I've been reading poetry, and two of the best British collections I've discovered recently are Caleb Femi's Poor and Victoria Adukwei Bulley's Quiet. The latter is a wholly unique, beautifully muscled contemplation on the prism of silence and black interiority which really resonated with me. I also found Femi's collection very moving, with its acute, truthful and loving observation of the lives of black boys on the North Peckham Estate in London.
I Want to Talk to You by Diana Evans is published by Chatto & Windus (£18.99). To support the Guardian and the Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
I've just finished two great books, both of which I definitely rate five out of five. The first was The Outrun by Amy Liptrot, a beautiful and emotional memoir that tells the story of the author's childhood on Orkney, her move to London, and her return to Orkney aged 30 as a recovering alcoholic. Returning to the Scottish island, she reconnects with the power of the land and sea, and Orkney's history, culture and people. An immersive personal journey that reminds the reader of the healing and magical power of nature.
The second book I loved lately was The New Life by Tom Crewe, a fictional account of the lives of John Addington Symonds and Henry Havelock Ellis, who wrote the first English medical textbook about homosexuality, Sexual Inversion. As well as being a brilliant and gripping story, the history behind it is fascinating.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
The recognition in Bradford, where she ran the Northern Theatre School, will allow Esme Church to take her 'rightful place in the cultural memory of this country', Historic England said. Born on 11 February 1893 in Marylebone, London, she trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Rada before making her stage debut in the 1920s, and later joining the Old Vic Company. She performed major Shakespearean roles such as Lady Macbeth and Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and led the Old Vic's drama school from 1936. Her career as a director began in the 1930s when she became artistic director of the Greyhound Theatre in Croydon, before moving on to Bradford Civic Playhouse where she took up the same role during the 1940s and 1950s. There, she championed regional theatre, established the Northern Theatre School, and mentored The Omen actress Whitelaw, who won a film Bafta in 1969 for best supporting actress for her roles in thriller Twisted Nerve and comedy Charlie Bubbles, along with two Bafta TV gongs. Other actors such as Dorothy L Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey star Edward Petherbridge, Secret Army actor Bernard Hepton and theatre actor Sir Robert Stephens, Dame Maggie Smith's former husband, were also among those mentored by Church. Lord Neil Mendoza, chairman of Historic England, called Church a 'formidable force in British theatre' who was among the 'trailblazing women' who have 'not received the national recognition (they) deserve'. He added: 'It is time that Esme Church takes her rightful place in the cultural memory of this country.' The plaque, which will be unveiled on Friday at 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, reads: 'Esme Church, 1893-1972, actress and director ran the Northern Theatre School here.' Bruce Durham, the great-nephew of Church, said it is 'giving her the recognition that she deserves for all her contributions to the arts'. He said: 'Growing up with Esme around, it was always wonderful to see and hear about her work – whether it was entertaining troops in France during the First World War, becoming the head of The Old Vic Theatre School, or travelling to and from New York. 'It's important that not only my great-aunt Esme is recognised but being able to use brilliant platforms such as Ancestry to uncover the many unsung women who made a significant impact during the early 20th century.' Church's contribution comes as Bradford celebrates its year as UK City of Culture in 2025. Si Cunningham, chairman of Bradford Civic Society, said: 'It's thrilling to see yet more national recognition for Bradford's pioneering, creative heritage. 'Esme Church is an incredibly deserving recipient of a national blue plaque, which perfectly complements the city's own growing blue plaque scheme. 'I hope this beautiful plaque, and Esme's fascinating story, inspires a new generation of creative Bradfordians to do great things for their city.' Historic England and genealogy site Ancestry are calling on the public to uncover further inspiring women or girls from the 20th century, who may have been forgotten and deserve their place in history. The eight-week public nomination period for the National Blue Plaque Scheme is open until July 10 2025.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
'Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque The recognition in Bradford, where she ran the Northern Theatre School, will allow Esme Church to take her "rightful place in the cultural memory of this country", Historic England said An "unsung" actress and director who founded a theatre school that taught future stars including three-time Bafta winner Billie Whitelaw has been honoured with a blue plaque. The recognition in Bradford, where she ran the Northern Theatre School, will allow Esme Church to take her "rightful place in the cultural memory of this country", Historic England said. Born on 11 February 1893 in Marylebone, London, she trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Rada before making her stage debut in the 1920s, and later joining the Old Vic Company. She performed major Shakespearean roles such as Lady Macbeth and Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and led the Old Vic's drama school from 1936. Her career as a director began in the 1930s when she became artistic director of the Greyhound Theatre in Croydon, before moving on to Bradford Civic Playhouse where she took up the same role during the 1940s and 1950s. There, she championed regional theatre, established the Northern Theatre School, and mentored The Omen actress Whitelaw, who won a film Bafta in 1969 for best supporting actress for her roles in thriller Twisted Nerve and comedy Charlie Bubbles, along with two Bafta TV gongs. Article continues below Other actors such as Dorothy L Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey star Edward Petherbridge, Secret Army actor Bernard Hepton and theatre actor Sir Robert Stephens, Dame Maggie Smith's former husband, were also among those mentored by Church. Lord Neil Mendoza, chairman of Historic England, called Church a "formidable force in British theatre" who was among the "trailblazing women" who have "not received the national recognition (they) deserve". He added: "It is time that Esme Church takes her rightful place in the cultural memory of this country." The plaque, which will be unveiled on Friday at 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, reads: "Esme Church, 1893-1972, actress and director ran the Northern Theatre School here." Bruce Durham, the great-nephew of Church, said it is "giving her the recognition that she deserves for all her contributions to the arts". He said: "Growing up with Esme around, it was always wonderful to see and hear about her work – whether it was entertaining troops in France during the First World War, becoming the head of The Old Vic Theatre School, or travelling to and from New York. "It's important that not only my great-aunt Esme is recognised but being able to use brilliant platforms such as Ancestry to uncover the many unsung women who made a significant impact during the early 20th century." Church's contribution comes as Bradford celebrates its year as UK City of Culture in 2025. Si Cunningham, chairman of Bradford Civic Society, said: "It's thrilling to see yet more national recognition for Bradford's pioneering, creative heritage. "Esme Church is an incredibly deserving recipient of a national blue plaque, which perfectly complements the city's own growing blue plaque scheme. "I hope this beautiful plaque, and Esme's fascinating story, inspires a new generation of creative Bradfordians to do great things for their city." Historic England and genealogy site Ancestry are calling on the public to uncover further inspiring women or girls from the 20th century, who may have been forgotten and deserve their place in history. Article continues below The eight-week public nomination period for the National Blue Plaque Scheme is open until July 10 2025.
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
The recognition in Bradford, where she ran the Northern Theatre School, will allow Esme Church to take her 'rightful place in the cultural memory of this country', Historic England said. Born on 11 February 1893 in Marylebone, London, she trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Rada before making her stage debut in the 1920s, and later joining the Old Vic Company. She performed major Shakespearean roles such as Lady Macbeth and Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and led the Old Vic's drama school from 1936. Her career as a director began in the 1930s when she became artistic director of the Greyhound Theatre in Croydon, before moving on to Bradford Civic Playhouse where she took up the same role during the 1940s and 1950s. There, she championed regional theatre, established the Northern Theatre School, and mentored The Omen actress Whitelaw, who won a film Bafta in 1969 for best supporting actress for her roles in thriller Twisted Nerve and comedy Charlie Bubbles, along with two Bafta TV gongs. Other actors such as Dorothy L Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey star Edward Petherbridge, Secret Army actor Bernard Hepton and theatre actor Sir Robert Stephens, Dame Maggie Smith's former husband, were also among those mentored by Church. Lord Neil Mendoza, chairman of Historic England, called Church a 'formidable force in British theatre' who was among the 'trailblazing women' who have 'not received the national recognition (they) deserve'. He added: 'It is time that Esme Church takes her rightful place in the cultural memory of this country.' The plaque, which will be unveiled on Friday at 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, reads: 'Esme Church, 1893-1972, actress and director ran the Northern Theatre School here.' Bruce Durham, the great-nephew of Church, said it is 'giving her the recognition that she deserves for all her contributions to the arts'. He said: 'Growing up with Esme around, it was always wonderful to see and hear about her work – whether it was entertaining troops in France during the First World War, becoming the head of The Old Vic Theatre School, or travelling to and from New York. 'It's important that not only my great-aunt Esme is recognised but being able to use brilliant platforms such as Ancestry to uncover the many unsung women who made a significant impact during the early 20th century.' Church's contribution comes as Bradford celebrates its year as UK City of Culture in 2025. Si Cunningham, chairman of Bradford Civic Society, said: 'It's thrilling to see yet more national recognition for Bradford's pioneering, creative heritage. 'Esme Church is an incredibly deserving recipient of a national blue plaque, which perfectly complements the city's own growing blue plaque scheme. 'I hope this beautiful plaque, and Esme's fascinating story, inspires a new generation of creative Bradfordians to do great things for their city.' Historic England and genealogy site Ancestry are calling on the public to uncover further inspiring women or girls from the 20th century, who may have been forgotten and deserve their place in history. The eight-week public nomination period for the National Blue Plaque Scheme is open until July 10 2025.
