‘James’ by Percival Everett
As booksellers, the requirement to come up with an annual “best of” list each summer sits quietly in the back of our minds all year long. As of the start of April, I had zero works of fiction on my shortlist, then along came James, by Percival Everett. A book I’m certain will make my Top 10 for 2024!
‘Annie Bot’ by Sierra Greer
Set in near-present day New York state, we meet a custom-built robot named Annie - developed to be the perfect girlfriend for her wealthy human owner Doug.
‘Easy Wins’ by Anna Jones
12 flavour hits.
125 delicious recipes.
365 days of good eating!
‘Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I’, by Tracey Borman
Tracy Borman has reinvigorated the dramatic lives of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth 1. In her introduction she describes a tiny “exquisitely crafted’ hinged locket ring with the initials ER for Elizabeth Regina on the bezel. The ring opens and has two portraits, one of Elizabeth and one thought to be of Anne. When closed these two portraits“touch face to face”. Elizabeth kept this until she died. So the scene is set to describe a mother and daughter relationship and how this shaped Elizabeth's reign.
‘The Plain Cake Appreciation Society’ by Tilly Pamment
Tilly Pamment has achieved something that has been long overdue for me. Cakes celebrating simplicity - timeless cakes that taste delicious, look beautiful and don't take multiple layers of buttercream and two days of your time.
‘The Girl from London’ by Olivia Spooner
From the bomb blitz of London to Sydney, then Auckland and a tiny Pacific Island, Emirau Island, New Zealand author Olivia Spooner brings to life the harsh realities of parents having to make heartbreaking decisions to send their children to far off places to ‘keep them safe’ as the shadows of the European war stretched across Britain. Her meticulous research solidifies the fictionalised account, making The Girl From London an absolute must-read.
‘Material World’ by Ed Conway
Ed Conway, writer and broadcaster in the field of economics, takes us on a journey around the world visiting vast mines (a salt mine which stretches for miles under the North Sea) and manufacturing plants. From concrete and steel buildings to super conductors smaller than a human red blood cell our world is composed of these elemental materials.
‘The Abundant Kitchen’ by Niva and Yotam Kay
Full, extensive, invaluable intellectual knowledge is placed into our hands for us to glean from in their new book The Abundant Kitchen – we gain from their exploratory principles and hard work. Each page is full of a glossary of terms well explained for us to learn; the art of preserving plentiful yields and protect fragile food security; not just for themselves but in the true spirit of permaculture – nurturing the spirit of community.
‘Murray Ball - A Cartoonist’s Life’ by Mason Ball
Honest and authentic, Mason gives us not only his own memories, but quotes from Murray’s books, hand-written speeches and recollections from the wider family. A poignant touch is the cover photo taken by Murray’s beloved and dedicated wife Pam – a moment in time captured with the farm dog Finn who is reminiscent of his iconic Footrot Flats character Dog.
‘Lola in the Mirror’ by Trent Dalton
Big, bold, heart-breaking, hopeful – full of love, danger and audacious courage …this makes Lola In The Mirror my number one top read for 2023 and why Trent Dalton will continue to be a well-deserved award winning storyteller.
‘Don’t Go Near the Creek’ by Adam Blackwell & Paul Rees
A fun, curious tale that sparks our adventurous spirit – young Adam breaks out from his wheezy, snorty reading nook to make a determined decision to head to the creek!
‘The Door-to-Door Bookstore’ by Carsten Henn
Carl and Schascha bring an unlikely friendship – perfectly paired for this time of their life and show us the need for enacting on intuition and the power that a book can bring to add the spark of life!
‘Bookshop Dogs’ by Ruth Shaw
In Bookshop Dogs, Ruth Shaw introduces us to the wide, vast and varied community of Manapouri and the Fiordland region, south-west New Zealand. Isolated in geography only, Ruth’s collection of short stories reminds us that there is no isolation within these huge-hearted rural communities.
‘Sleepless in Stringybark Bay’ by Susan Duncan
A perfect who-dunnit written in a gentle style that will transport you to the New South Wales Pittwater and straight into an eclectic boat-access-community, centred around the Briny Café. This is perfect, cosy reading.
‘The Seventh Son’ by Sebastian Faulks
‘What is it to be human?’ … Can fortune and powerful positions decide to create something more and will it better humanity?
These are the lofty themes in The Seventh Son. Sebastian Faulks has created an imagined future and the ethical boundaries are stretched to accommodate man’s pursuit of science in the year 2030 and beyond.
‘Reykjavik’ by Ragnar Jonasson & Katrin Jakobsdottir
Ragnar Jonasson and Katrin Jakobsdottir deliver a most satisfying crime page-turner that was easy to devour. I was on a relentless pursuit to read ‘til I knew the answers. All the crucial elements of power, mis-use of societal position, a dutiful police officer and his drive to find the truth come together in Reykjavik that I highly recommend!
‘The Milkwood Permaculture Living Handbook’ by Kirsten Bradley
Milkwood means a combination of softness and strength, sustenance and shelter – and reflects the author’s commitment to permaculture principles.
A most impressive guide to create food resilience in homes and communities.
‘ASTOR’ by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe
From vast real estate, wealth that ruled in the New York Gilded Age society, the legendary Waldorf-Astoria hotel then family grief in the Titanic disaster. The Astors are a hallmark of American history with all its rise and falls, fortunes favoured and lost.
‘Vincent & Sien - A Story Of Love and Art’ by Silvia Kwon
Two worlds collide when artist Vincent van Gogh scoops up the frail prostitute Siene and her young daughter from the cold Dutch cobblestone streets in Geest. It’s winter in 1882 and two lives are pulled together by fate.
‘The Dressmaker and the Hidden Soldier’ by Doug Gold
Based on a true-story, Thalia and Peter play a dangerous game under the dominance and oppression from German occupation within Thessaloniki in World War Two. Heart rates are heightened as it becomes increasingly risky to stay within the safe house provided. Tension and suspense put you ill at ease as you wish for a hopeful outcome.