In the face of the grim horrors unfolding around the world… I can’t even finish that sentence.

Here’s a few book recommendations instead:

You Are Here, by David Nicholls: I’ve never read any of Nicholls’ novels, I don’t know why, because I hate everyone* presumably. Anyway, this is a wonderful novel, uplifting and funny, with a surfeit of precisely observed detail about life today.

All the Colours of The Dark by Chris Whitaker: This is a very long and very OTT serial killer / love story / childhood trauma / road trip novel, set in the USA but by a Brit, perfect for taking you up and away from everyone* and everything, while allowing you to puzzle over word choice and meaning. Thanks to Cathryn Summerhayes for my copy.

Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A brilliant journey from Nigeria to the USA and back again through the stories of four women’s lives - rich and sad and funny and thought-provoking.

Plus one email newsletter for people who live in the UK: Strike 13 from Ian Dunt. Dunt is incredibly knowledgable about UK politics and his detailed look at the anti-trans stitch-up in particular is worth reading. If you listen to his podcast recordings of his email newsletter, you get the added bonus of a lot of swearing when his doorbell rings and his dog barks.

Here’s an image from Greece to cheer us all up:

*by ‘everyone’ I mean - well, you know who I mean and it definitely isn’t you.

Thanks for reading! Please share and/or subscribe. Kate