Foster by Claire Keegan
‘The best book I have read this year — in a crowded field — is Claire Keegan’s Foster. A tightly written novella about a young girl who spends the summer on a farm with kindly friends of her chaotic family, its impact outweighs its size. I wish two things. One: that every author could write as beautifully as Claire Keegan. Two: that Claire Keegan wrote more.’ – Becky Ladenburg, Features Editor
This Is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
‘I cried, I laughed, I couldn’t put down this brave and life-affirming book. What happens when the person you love most no longer recognizes you? Screenwriter Abi Morgan shares her heart-breaking true story about a family tragedy in This Is Not A Pity Memoir. Her writing is brutally honest, arrestingly funny and full of hope. Totally gripping.’ – Annabel Jack, Contributing Editor
SJ Axelby’s Interior Portraits
An Artist's View of Designers' Living Spaces
‘This is not really a tome but a book to dip into time and time again and I do frequently. I became transfixed by SJ Axelby's Instagram account during lockdown, @roomportraitclub, whereby she puts up a lovely picture of an interior every week and then artists from all over draw/paint/create their versions. The account is such a delight and when news hit that its creator was publishing a book, well, what joy.
The book lives up to the Instagram account with paintings of rooms of designers and creatives from florist, Willow Crossley, to hotelier, Kit Kemp; cookbook author, Skye McAlpine, to interior designer, Veere Grenney. The paintings are joyful and come with some background on each guest featured. SJ asks quick fire questions too and you'll pick up tips, from those on decorating a room to the guests' favourite artists and flowers. For home lovers and those interested in art and design, you won't go wrong putting this in someone's stocking or under the tree this year. I am.’ – Arabella Dymoke, MD
The Radical Potter: Josiah Wedgwood and the Transformation of Britain by Tristram Hunt
‘As for something more thought provoking, although printed in 2021, I didn't read this until earlier this year. Tristram Hunt brings the era of Wedgwood and the Potteries to light. It's captivating and you skip through the pages, imagining yourself there as the history of the tableware manufacturer unfolds.’ – Arabella Dymoke, MD
Mr Wilder & Me by Jonathan Coe
‘Oh how I loved this book! Calista, the narrator, is a Greek film composer looking back upon the chance encounter that led to her formative summer spent working on Billy Wilder’s film, Fedora, and thus her cinematic education. As her daughters stand on the threshold of flying the nest and having to make some very grown-up decisions as they do so, Calista feels as though her best years have come and gone. As she composes a suite for a chamber orchestra – a tune she calls ‘Billy’ – the story that unfolds is of the intertwining of her own life with that of the great director. The story is wonderful and the writing effortless.’ – Nancy Alsop, Editor
Lost Dog by Kate Spicer
‘Lost Dog was by far my favourite book of the year. A wonderful story about a woman who adopts a Lurcher called Wolfy. When, one day, he goes missing, Kate makes it her mission to find the dog and herself in the process.’ – Lucy Abletshauser, Shopping Editor
By Team GWG
December 2022
