Book Chat Issue #42

One great book, one great TV show, and a pretty good salad

Hello reading friends

Thanks for reading Book Chat, a newsletter that helps you find your next great read (with bonus recipes because people who read well like to eat good food). Learn more here.

A couple of weeks ago I floated the idea of starting an online book club. A few lovely people got in touch and said they were interested, so I thought I’d check to see if we could get something off the ground in the new year. If you haven’t already replied, please complete the little poll below, or just hit reply and tell me where in the world you live and what you like to read.

What I’ve been reading

This week I found myself in the strange situation of wanting to finish a book so I could rave about it, and not wanting to finish because then it would be all over and I would be sad. I have to admit that I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. It reminded me of reading Billy Bunter as a child.

A Terrible Kindness is the debut novel of Jo Browning Wroe. The author grew up in a crematorium in Birmingham and this book is a great example of the dictum “write what you know”.

It focuses on the life of William Lavery, a newly qualified embalmer who goes to Wales to assist in recovering the bodies of children killed in the Aberfan disaster in 1966, when tonnes of coal waste slid down the hill and engulfed the local primary school, taking the lives of 140 children. The experience has a profound impact on William’s life and relationships, especially his relationship with his mother Evelyn, and his delightful girlfriend, Gloria.

As a young boy, William goes to Cambridge and becomes a chorister. It’s here that he meets his best friend Martin, a larger than life character with a big heart.

Despite the somewhat grim setting, this is a book about hope, redemption and starting over. I was fortunate to access the audio version, delightfully narrated by the actor David Dawson. Born in Cheshire, Dawson does a beautiful job of the Welsh voices and the Birmingham accents. The book features many references to Allegri’s Miserere, so I was keen to hear what it actually sounds like.

Here’s a version from King’s College which closely matches the descriptions in the book.

What I’ve been watching

Like many people, I’ve been glued to Bad Sisters, the latest series on Apple TV. Darkly humorous, it’s about five sisters who want to kill the husband of the second eldest sister because (let’s face it) he’s a prick. Played by Danish actor Claes Bang, the manipulative and despicable husband spends most of his time undermining his wife in a variety of subtle and not so subtle ways, but as it turns out, all the sisters have their own reasons for despising him. Written and produced by Sharon Horgan, it’s brilliant and hilarious.

I also listened to this interview with Anne Marie Duff (who plays the abused wife) where she talks about growing up in an Irish working class family, being different, and playing the role of Grace. It’s worth a listen.

What I’ve been cooking

My obsession with frying broccoli continues! Spurred on by several recipes by Deb Perelman from Smitten Kitchen I’ve been experimenting with various combinations of crispy (but not soggy) vegetables, combined with nuts, pasta and usually some cheese.

I don’t use a recipe as such, but I usually start by frying some garlic in olive oil - I use a nice lemongrass and ginger flavoured oil, a present from my sister Jennifer - then I throw in some thinly sliced broccoli or zucchini and fry until brown. Then I add some almonds or pine nuts and cook until they are toasty. Lastly, I add some cooked pumpkin or sweet potato (or pasta) for a bit of heft and maybe some fetta or parmesan, then I dress it with a lemony dressing.

Here’s one I made today. It’s not very elegant, but it was delicious.

Well that’s all for now,

You can look forward to more recommendations in the next issue, but until then, happy reading.

Warm wishes

Marg xxx