When I’m not busy being a VIP London escort, part of my (other) job is reading and recommending books to people (yes, really — I have not one but two ultimate dream jobs). My problem with the question ‘what have you read recently’ is that I read a lot — and it’s mainly manuscripts, all with publication dates of 6-24 months away. So as someone who reads dozens (!) of books a month, I don’t actually post a lot about reading. I wasn’t lying: I really am a bookworm (and a foodie, and a merciless flirt — but those are things for another day).
While I read a real depth and breadth of things for work, at home I’ll read just about anything too — as you’ll know if you’ve ever bought a book off my Wishlist! I like literary fiction, I like crime, I like historical fiction, I like romcoms, and I’ll dabble in genre, too.
Bring me your favourite book, and I’ll read it for next time I see you — whatever it is, I’m no snob. I’ve never cared what anyone else thought of what I’m reading. I have good taste, in literary terms, but I’m open to enjoying anything done well — this is the philosophy I apply to every area of my life, and it’s why you’ll never see me turn down a burger. (Three star Michelin? Hell yes. Big Mac and fries? Just as much hell yes. Extra pickles, please and thank you.)
I love to recommend a book to someone I like, and I love to give a book away to a friend. I often joke that my bookshelves hold nothing that I actually like, because if I love reading something, I give it away to someone I love!
So here are eight books that I have loved (and given away) over the years; books which stick in my mind, which come back to me when I’m least expecting it, and which always make me think. These books can be read and enjoyed by anyone, of any background, and of any reading taste — have you read any of them?
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (2005)
I Am, I Am, I Am, by Maggie O’Farrell (2017)
Dog Boy, by Eva Hornung (2009)
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel (2009)
Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo (2019)
The Broken Shore, by Peter Temple (2005)
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari (2014)
The Argonauts, by Maggie Nelson (2015)
Well, I’m off to get a burger and a book! Do you have a book you recommend to everyone you meet?
Rachel x