Hot Milk

Sofia takes her mother to visit a clinic in Spain in attempt to cure her mysterious paralysis. A beautiful depiction of the Mediterranean and although I didn’t fully warm to the characters it is a thought-provoking tale of relationships and illness.

Heather Morris ~ The Tattooist of Auschwitz ~ 6/10. A romance between two prisoners forms as they fight for their survival in the concentration camp. There is a lot of controversy about the authenticity of this novel, but it is gripping nonetheless. Others described this book as eye-opening, but in my view there are more unforgettable novels depicting the horrors of the war.

Tayari Jones - An American Marriage ~ 6/10. Roy and Celestials’s marriage is turned upside down as Roy is suddenly thrown into a jail for a crime he did not commit, a huge miscarriage of justice. African Americans are incarcerated at five times the rate of white Americans, and Tayari Jones probes these facts and their cultural effect. Packed with emotion, and although the characters are not ‘likeable’ the novel poses a lot of big questions throughout. Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey both listed this as their favourite novel.

Kamila Shamsie ~ Home Fire ~ 7/10. A retelling of Sophocles’ Antigone, based in modern London. Suspenseful writing exploring the clash of society family and faith.

Rosamund Lipton ~ Three Hours ~ 6/10. A fast-paced thriller, set over 180 minutes, as a school in Somerset is sieged and students and teachers come together to fight the terrorism. Enjoyable and quick read, with twists and turns throughout and a focus on friendship.