From Britain’s hidden islands to Italy’s passionate Borgia family and London’s hidden depths, we’ve got the lowdown on this summer’s most essential reads
Culture: Read It
From Britain’s hidden islands to Italy’s passionate Borgia family and London’s hidden depths, we’ve got the lowdown on this summer’s most essential re
BROKEN HOMES, BEN AARONOVITCH (£14.99, GOLLANCZ) Elephant & Castle never gets a good write-up. Neither does Crawley – that purpose-built suburbia 28 miles south of Charing Cross. But both have found a certain notoriety in
ink, featuring in Ben Aaronovitch’s latest crime novel. London – which the author calls “the capital of the world” – is the main character in Broken Homes, as the narrative takes in architecture, evil magicians and opens up a vast eye to London’s less salubrious parts. Steer clear, south-of-the-river dwellers!
BLOOD & BEAUTY, SARAH DUNANT (£16.99, VIRAGO)
The House of Borgia was certainly not a family to be reckoned with in Italy.The notorious Spanish family, now remembered for treachery, incest and murder, are reincarnated in Dunant’s epic Blood & Beauty.There’s a cardinal with illegitimate children, a child married off before she reaches her 13th birthday and a gifted Machiavellian son – the makings of a gripping historic read. Good for those who loved The Other Boleyn Girl and like the pages of their book dyed blood red.
TINY ISLANDS: 60 REMARKABLE LITTLE WORLDS AROUND BRITAIN, DIXE WILLS (£14.99, AA PUBLISHING) If you thought Eel Pie Island was a euphemism and Monkey Island belonged in a graphic novel, think again. While old Blighty might be a damp, bland place to be most of the time, it’s also home to many other islands (that you didn’t know existed) with fascinating names and histories. Thoroughly enjoyable fluff.
AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED, KHALED HOSSEINI (£18.99, BLOOMSBURY) Following on from the runaway success of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini’s new novel – his first in six years – explores the relationship between two siblings against the backdrop of 1950s rural Afghanistan. The novel moves between time and continent across a pathetically tear-jerking
416 pages, in Hosseini’s traditional, captivating style. Just make sure you take your mascara off first.
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