England has produced great works of literature through the ages. Books set in the backdrop of the British Isles , or written by a English author are some of my favorites. Whether you adore Jane Austin, or only use her to cure insomnia, there are many current English authors worth reading. These are the reads from across the pond (as they say) that I have enjoyed, ranging from immensely to thoroughly.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
From start to finish I enjoyed the tale of Harold Fry and his Unlikely Pilgrimage. Harold and his wife exist, but do not live; they function, but do not thrive. It is as if a large gray cloud cover their lives with gray and shadows and they have accepted their drab life. Unexpectedly Harold receives a letter from an old friend. Queenie, is terminally ill in a town across the country. He gets the letter, and begins to walk to see his old friend. Without a plan, and a lousy pair of shoes upon his feet, he just walks. The strange pilgrimage shocks and frustrates his wife, but Harold begins to collect a small following to cheer him on. Pretty soon the whole country of England begins to rally for Harold to make it to see his old friend Queenie. Harold sets out searching to find closure with an old friend, but the journey leads him to a vastly different destination. This is a sweet story, honest, and well written.
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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
Longbourne by Jo Baker
Longbourne is reminiscent of Jane Austin’s story telling. You will like it If you are looking for a book will elements similar to Pride and Prejudice. However, it is not a retelling of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Let Longbourne speak for itself and tell its own story. It is classic in its theme, tension, and hierarchy between servants and higher class. It is romantic in its story of love hoped for, but unspoken and uncertain. As a reader you need to attentively tune into the tension and longings of the characters. The things that go unsaid are almost as important as what is said. Longbourne takes you into old England, carriages, foggy mornings, stone houses, and quiet romance. I enjoyed this book, it is not a page turner, but a story that unfolds with quiet reserve.
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Longbourn (Vintage)
The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart
Balthazar Jones has lived in the Tower of London with his wife for years, along with their 120 year old pet turtle. He is a Beefeater at the Tower and his wife is in charge of the lost and found department at the Tower of London. This book is whimsical and completely unique. Julia Stuart is a superb writer and has a talent for strong characterization, and weaving beautifully written language. Part history lesson and part tale of Balthazar Jones and his wife, you will get a rich feel for London’s history and the lives of the quirky characters that inhabit the tower. It has a wonderful setting, rich characters, and an offbeat story. It is a quality read.
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The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise
What the Nanny Saw by Fiona Neill
What the Nanny Saw is a great summer beach read. I listened to this on audio book, the advantage to the audio version is the fantastic British accent. I highly recommend this book for a glance into extraordinary wealth, and the extraordinary fall that came to many during the 2008 financial crisis. Alli is the trusted nanny who tells the story of Nick and Bryony, the couple with everything and more in central London. She cares for the children while maintaining a certain invisibility as the hired help. However, she sees and hears more than she ever wanted to know. The characters are charming and their lives are intriguing. I think the author does a fine job with showing the good and bad in all the levels of social status. The kind hearted nanny makes choices that are somewhat appalling, as do her employers. This book is timely, engaging, and a good pick for summer.
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What the Nanny Saw
The Lowland is Jhumpa Lahiri’s latest novel. She is my favorite writer; I first fell in love with her reading The Namesake and her Pulitzer Prize winning short stories, The Interpreter of Maladies. Her stories are brutally honest, at times tragically sad, but always exquisitely written. Her greatest talent is capturing the tension between Indian and American culture. The Lowland tells the story of two brothers. The younger brother, Udayan is involved in an anti-government group during the Naxalite movement in India. The older brother, Subhash takes the opposite path, chasing after academic success and adhering to a conservative, traditional lifestyle. Lahiri weaves their stories together from past and present, in India and the United States. The brothers are like magnets that repel one another on one side, but are pulled with an unstoppable force on the other. The younger brother is in the riptide of the revolution, pushing for his beliefs at all costs. The older brother is the rule governed sibling, riddled with a sense of responsibility to his family and doing what is noble, rather than what feels right. The book is worth reading, especially to gain an understanding of the Naxalite movement in India in the 1960’s. Lahiri feels more far removed in this novel compared to her others, but the writing is strong and the plot is interesting. Jumpha Lahiri continues to create prose that is superb and tell a story worth reading.
Beginnings and Book Ends 