Love Nina: Despatches from Family Life by Nina Stibbe

I loved this book. It is a collection of letters written by Nina in the 1980s when she was a nanny to a London family moving in literary circles. I love the style of the writing, which is witty, eccentric and easy to read. The narrative is entertaining and the people the letters describe are beautifully portrayed and easy to like. These letters make a very interesting and fun read.

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

I enjoyed this book, which is about a photographer who moves from New York City to a remote rural cottage in order to help get her finances in order. I enjoyed the writing in this novel which is wonderfully descriptive but easy to read. The characters are well drawn and the story compelling. A very easy and entertaining read but has a real depth.

The Bear by Claire Cameron

A young family go camping and are attacked by a bear. The two children survive and this novel is written from the point of view of Anna, the oldest child, who tries to help her and her brother to safety. This is a difficult book to read and it is very well written, but it is nowhere near as good as Room.

All The Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld

I really enjoyed this novel which is about a young Australian girl, Jake, who is living on a remote island in the UK and raising sheep.  Jake is escaping from something in her past which is gradually revealed throughout the novel as she begins to come to terms with it.  The plot is compelling and Jake as a character is very well drawn. Definitely worth reading.

The Radleys by Matt Haig

A fun book about a family of vampires trying to fit into suburban life. This is an entertaining read and funny in parts but not especially memorable and a bit silly. Not as good as The Humans.

From The Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple

A much more interesting book than I was expecting, this is a non-fiction book about a journey through Istanbul and the Middle East. It isn't as dense as I thought it would be and I learnt a lot about the history of religious conflict. There are anecdotes and human interest stories throughout this book but I found it difficult to connect with any of them.  I didn't find this particularly enjoyable to read but it is worthwhile if you are interested in religious history or that part of the world.

Capital by John Lanchester

A very readable book about the residents of Pepys Road, South London. I really enjoyed reading this book, which has some well drawn characters and interesting stories.  This book is not especially literary and some of the themes were a bit forced but it is very easy to read, entertaining and well written.