Book chat Issue #20

Best books, some good news and a mango cake

Hello reading friends

Well we’ve made it through Christmas and now it’s time to settle down and catch up on some good books. I got a massive stack from the library, including some short stories, but that doesn’t stop me keeping my ears open for new titles. And as usual, I’m keen to hear what you’ve been reading, so do let me know in the comments.

What I’ve been reading

I put together a list of my favourite books of 2021, many of which I’ve mentioned in this newsletter. You can read the full post on my blog if you missed it.

I finished The Last Woman in the World a few days ago and it was a bit bleak, but ultimately hopeful. It’s about a pandemic, so would avoid this if you are feeling anxious, but the writing is beautiful and the descriptions of the Australian countryside are accurate and engaging. This is a remarkable novel about a woman facing her worst fears and finding beauty in a world under threat.

Writing news

I was thrilled to have a short piece published on the Brevity blog a couple of weeks ago. You can read it here if you missed it. Brevity Magazine is a literary journal which publishes nonfiction by well-known and emerging writers.

What I’ve been listening to

I enjoyed this excellent interview with Rumaan Alam, the author of Leave the World Behind, a literary thriller about a family holiday that takes a sinister twist. I haven’t read it yet, but listening to this interview made me think I should move it further up my list.

What I’ve been cooking

I made my friend Megan a mango and macadamia cake when we caught up recently. I hadn’t seen her for nearly a year and missed her birthday because of the lockdown, so I wanted to make something a bit special. Unfortunately my cake didn’t look very good, but tasted delicious. If I make it again (and I probably will), I would keep the mango and buttercream separate, the way they are in this photo. Much prettier!

Here’s the recipe.

That’s all for now!

Keep well and look after one another.

Marg xxx