Rosie's Top Ten - 2021Like this list

10 items

• Grief Is the Thing With Feathers

  Porter, Max

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  An incredible and other worldly look at grief and the impact of the sudden loss of a wife and mother. Left behind are the husband, a Ted Hughes scholar, and two young sons until Crow appears. Crow, a motif from Hughes's poetry, acts as a mischievous…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Burnt Sugar

  Doshi, Avni, 1982-

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  A rollercoaster look at the struggles of being a mother and being a daughter. Antara must face the emotional damage inflicted on her by her mother in order to heal and provide the care her mother needs as her health dwindles. The fragility of memory…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Klara and the Sun

  Ishiguro, Kazuo, 1954-

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  Such a beautiful and quiet read from a contemporary master. A speculative novel that mirrors humanity back to us through the experiences of an android; taking a prophetic look at the role robots could play in our lives and the traces we will imprint…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Red Comet

  the Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath

  Clark, Heather

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  A masterful biography of Sylvia Plath - one which is balanced, objective and celebratory. Focusing on Plath's extraordinary talents as a poet and framing her experiences in the context of her work means that this acts as a perfect companion to her…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

  Brontë, Anne, 1820-1849

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  Anne Brontë weaves an unexpected tale with surprising characters, unflinching realism and modern themes ahead of her time. This is the story of Helen Graham who defies convention and leaves her abusive, philandering and alcoholic husband in order to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Small Pleasures

  Chambers, Clare, 1966-

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  Long listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021, this is a quiet gem of a read. A virgin birth, a hollow marriage and a once in a lifetime passion. 'Small Pleasures' follows Jean Swinney through the trials of late 1950s Britain, as she juggles a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Last Things

  Offill, Jenny, 1968-

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  I loved Jenny Offill's novels 'Weather' (2020) and 'Department of Speculation' (2014), so was keen to read any other adult novels of hers. 'Last Things' was a dazzling and turbulent read - we see the breakdown of a marriage and family through the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Secret History

  Tartt, Donna, 1963-

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  It's difficult to articulate how good 'The Secret History' is but suffice to say that you will struggle to find a better read! I would suggest not reading this when you have a busy schedule though, as you'll be forced to cancel all your appointments…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Crying in H Mart

  a Memoir

  Zauner, Michelle

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  An incredible memoir from Michelle Zauner, the genius behind indie rock outfit Japanese Breakfast. This is an unflinching look at loss, parental expectation and the way food and traditions shape us. The loss of her mother forced Zauner to reconnect…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Discomfort of Evening

  Rijneveld, Marieke Lucas

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  You definitely should pick a book by it's cover and I was so intrigued by this one! We get to see behind the red rain mac as we follow Jas and her family through a period of intense grief, after the loss of her brother Matthies. Jas and her siblings…Read moreRead more of this annotation