Our Favourite Books of All Time

Just a little blog post about some of our favourite books and reads. A lot of my favourite books are historical witchy fiction or feminist historical fiction reads, and I love a good contemporary magical realism book or a good cosy murder mystery. But I read books from most genres. Chris's favourites are probably a little more diverse in terms of genres. Have a scroll through them and you might just find your next favourite book in here (at least that's our hope)...

Emma's Favourites

Chris's Favourites

• Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch

  The perfect mix between mythological/ historical fiction, feminist retelling and "witchyness". It revolves around Morgan Le Fay and tells her side of the story. While in history and mythological texts, Morgan Le Fay is often demonise, this novel shows an alternative reality to what it might have been like for a woman (even a powerful one) to live in a society dominated and lead by men. And the cherry on the top is the little bit of witchcraft that Morgan discovers for herself and that helps her to survive. Absolute perfection!

• The Island of Mists and Miracles by Victoria Mas

  Weird, strange, unusual and I couldn't stop reading - it is told in dual timeline and follows the life of two nuns two hundred years apart on an island off the coast of Brittany. You discover the backstories of the two nuns that made them take the veil and live a life in isolation. It tells the story of their lives and how their experiences make them misunderstood and isolated in their environment.

• Hex by Jenni Fagan

  A heart-breaking, lyrical retelling of the life of Geillis Duncan who got accused of witchcraft and her last day before her execution. It's a story about the suffering of women at the hands of men and about the brutality of historical witch trials. However, it is also a story of friendship and the bond between women over generations and time. The novella doesn't just tell of suffering but also of women supporting each other and being there for each other over generations. It makes you cry, it makes you angry, but it also makes you admire the strength of women in and throughout history.     

  Other historical fiction books with strong female character that I loved are: Disobedient by Elizabeth Fremantle, The Sirens by Emilia Hart, The Darkening Globe by Naomi Kelsey, The Witches of Vardo by Anya Bergman, The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave & Remember, Remember by Elle Machray.

• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

  Utterly unique and mesmerizing. I didn't think it could work for the book to include an octopus as an active and influential character to the story, but it worked! It's a story about an elderly woman who is struggling with her grief for her husband and her long lost son. Her work as a cleaner in the local aquarium suddenly leads to an unusual friendship with the octopus, Marcellus, in the aquarium. And it is this friendship that makes the octopus try and find out what happened to the woman's son long ago. And he might just help her find happiness in life again...

• Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding

  A mind blowing story and mystery about the murder of a rapist and misogynist and the seven women he mistreated , abused and harassed in his life. It features so much women power, feminism, female rage, resilience and trauma. An absolutely amazing novel! I couldn't stop reading.

• A Man Called Ove & Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

  I absolutely adore Fredrik Backman's writing. His books seem like the perfect mix between comedy and drama. There's depth to his stories, there's struggling, but his characters always find unusual and heart-warming friendships and rediscover the joy of life for themselves. I'd recommend his books to everyone and have given them to most people in my family :D

• The Bear & the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

  A cosy heart-warming dark fairy tale about a girl who lives in a village at the edge of wilderness in an alternative medieval Russia, and her discovery of her magic powers that make her resilient to the struggles around her. Throughout the novel, she befriends the Frost demon and has to try and protect her family and the village from the incoming dangers by teaming up with the spirits of the house. A lovely "fairy talesque" story for adults and teenagers alike.

• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

  Shows you the world through different eyes and fully immerses you in a different culture. A historical family epic set in twentieth century Korea.

   

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

  Interlinks the lives of Marie-Lore, a young blind French girl, and Werner a young German and eventual soldier. Set against the backdrop of WW2 Doerr shows the implications of war from different perspectives. The innocence of Marie-Lore is set against the opportunities of war presented to Werner but ultimately gets caught up in the bigger picture. Ignore the tv series and read the book.

• The Tobacconist & A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler

  Both books are simple but elegant writing and explore humans surrounding by historical events which challenge the. The Tobacconist - a coming of age story set against the coming war. A Whole Life - follows Andreas throughout the 20th Century and the ups and downs of an unremarkable life. Seethalers writing sets the book apart.

  Other historical fiction books I loved are: The Warm Hands of Ghosts (which has a small bit of fantasy mixed in) by Katherine Arden, Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim.

• Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

  This isn't a typical love story, it's about love between friends. As two friends reconnect their passion for video games sparks a collaboration, what comes next is story of friendship, betrayal, and tragedy. It's about the connections we make and our need to love and be loved.

• Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

  A small yet powerful novel.