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Articles by Robert J. Somerville
Guest Editor, Spring 2021 - Guy Gavriel Kay
Each quarter we ask a best-selling and much loved author to sit in the LoveReading spotlight as our Guest Editor. Their job is to pick five books, these can sit within a genre or theme, or just be particular favourites.
The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander
LoveReading View on The Littlest Library What do you get if you mix romance, bats in the attic, and a library, you get the most comforting warm embrace of a read, that’s what. When Jess starts a new life she discovers her cottage comes with the addition of a telephone box that has to be used for the community. What would a former librarian do, turn it into a little library of course.
Hotel Cartagena by Simone Buchholz
LoveReading View on Hotel Cartagena With a smart writing style that combines lyrical and thoughtful with sharp and pacy, this thriller reads like a zingy dream. Public Prosecutor Chastity Riley and friends are celebrating a birthday in a 20th floor hotel bar in Hamburg when armed men take the occupants hostage. Meet the fourth in the rather fabulous Chastity Riley series. Two linked stories separated by time sit side by side. Short sharp shocks of chapters fizz into being.
5 Reasons You Need a Literary Agent - Your Path to Publication
In our previous “path to publication” piece for aspiring authors we outlined the first three steps writers would do well to take after finishing their novel. Having followed those (take a break, revisit, re-work), and you feel ready to share your work with the wider world, it’s pretty much a given that you’ll need to find a literary agent (NB this applies to writers looking to have their novel taken on by a publishing house.
The Last Protector by Andrew Taylor
LoveReading View on The Last Protector A twisty, intriguing, multi-layered mystery and fascinating fictional foray into the past from award-winning author Andrew Taylor. It’s 1668, James Marwood is tasked with finding out why Oliver Cromwell’s son has returned to London while Cat Lovett is drawn into a conspiracy, and both are soon in grave danger. This is the fourth in a terrifically readable series which began with the Ashes of London.
10 Books That Make Us Happy for International Day of Happiness
Lion Author: Mark Adlington Format: Hardback Release Date: 07/12/2020 Click to read our Q&A with Mark Adlington A book to fall totally and irretrievably in love with, Lion is full of the most gorgeous paintings, drawings, and sketches, and is absolutely stunning. The lion, an apex predator, is surely one of the most beautiful sights you can see. When I was 19 I found myself in Kenya, eyes wide, mouth open as I watched a lioness and three cubs at a water hole.
Barn Club: Excerpt
By Robert Somerville, originally published by Resilience.org March 19, 2021 While it’s true that machines can make life easier, they don’t necessarily make it better. Robert Somerville, author of Barn Club, understood this fact. That’s why he decided to gather a team of volunteers to come together and build a barn the old fashioned way – with a little sweat, tears, and his hands.
Good Eggs by Rebecca Hardiman (9781838952747/Hardback)
LoveReading View on Good Eggs What a lovely, amusing, and uplifting multi-generational debut this is! Viewed from three different perspectives of the Gogarty’s from gran through to teenager, we see family life in all its wonderful glory. The three distinct views, all linked and sometimes tangled yet separate, make this a readable peek into their relationships. Rebecca Hardiman lets you see possibilities and potential, encourages a connection and made me care about Millie, Kevin and Aideen.
The Mercenary by Paul Vidich
LoveReading View on The Mercenary An absorbing, penetrating, and intricately plotted spy novel that just thrums with tension. Former CIA officer Alex Garin is asked to return to Moscow in 1985 to assist with the exfiltration of a senior KJB officer. Garin himself is a complete enigma and trust is a valuable commodity.
Many Different Kinds of Love by Michael Rosen
LoveReading View on Many Different Kinds of Love Many Different Kinds of Love has the subtitle ‘A story of life, death and the NHS’. This book is a thank you to the NHS healthcare professionals and helpers who looked after Michael Rosen when he caught Covid-19 last year. These weren’t just doctors and nurses, but also speech & language therapists and physios, all working out of their own comfort zone to help on the frontline.
Barn Club by Robert Somerville
LoveReading View on Barn Club Our March 2021 Book Club Recommendation Click here to see our Reading Group Questions. This is such a welcoming and warming read with community spirit, traditional craft, and the environment at its heart. Author Robert J Somerville was commissioned to build an elm barn by hand in Hertfordshire. Over the course of a year volunteers gathered together to help build the barn, and this is the story. There are so many positive elements to this read.
Debut Author of the Month: Femi Kayode
We were thrilled to read in The Bookseller that debut novelists performed really well during 2020, in fact even better than during 2019. We adore a wonderful debut at LoveReading, it really does feel as though you’re discovering a new talent, and there’s nothing better for us than being able to recommend a fabulous book.
Stella by Takis Wurger (9781611854497/Paperback)
LoveReading View on Stella Ringing with bell-clear writing, remarkable atmosphere and emotional honesty, Takis Würger’s Stella is a hauntingly gripping story of naive young love and duplicity in wartime Berlin. Innocent soul Friedrich grew up in Switzerland, with an alcoholic mother and somewhat eccentric father.
The Dog Share by Fiona Gibson
LoveReading View on The Dog Share If you’re in need of a truly lovely and heart-warming relationship tale then I can recommend that you stop right here. If the thought of a rescue dog and a Scottish island also appeal, then you really have come to the right place. An abandoned small terrier enters the lives of residents and visitors on the Island of Sgadansay.
Around the World in 80+ Historical Novels.
The very best historical novels not only bring a vibrant sense of place, they also encourage the reader to further research and explore. With the novels we have chosen here, you step back in time and also set off on an expedition to other countries and continents. Choose just a short sail across the waters to France, or you can travel right round to the other side of the world.
Bound by Vanda Symon
LoveReading View on Bound With intense pace, an intriguing storyline, and fascinating characters, this is an incredibly readable crime thriller. When Sam Shephard starts to investigate a murder in Dunedin, New Zealand she soon realises that things aren't as obvious as they may first appear. This is such a fabulous series, with a vivid sense of place, great characters, and juicy crimes to solve, no-nonsense detective Sam Shephard often has to kick some serious ass.
The Measure of Time by Gianrico Carofiglio
LoveReading View on The Measure of Time Deceptively simple and thought-provoking, Gianrico Carofiglio’s The Measure of Time is a compelling trial tale shot-through with the distinctly contemplative personality of its flawed, charismatic protagonist, defence attorney Guerrieri. “Time accelerates with age, they say.
5 Literary Late Bloomers to Put a Spring in Your Step
At last! Spring is finally springing after what feels like an absolute age and, while we’ve been enjoying a whole bunch of books by fresh young writers, we’ve also been thinking about all those literary greats who weren’t exactly spring chickens when they came to writing, and boy, we’re delighted they did.
The Favour by Laura Vaughan (9781838952013/Hardback)
LoveReading View on The Favour This is a book that will keep you wonderfully off balance, it feels as though you are being trusted with an unsettling and dangerous secret. When Ada Howell turns 18 her wealthy godmother presents her with a gift that could allow her access to the world she she craves. The shocking aftermath of a sudden death appears to pave the way for her dreams, but the route she takes comes at a cost.
Industry Insight: Q&A with Melissa Cox, Editorial Director at Hodder and Stoughton
From bookselling on the shop floor of Waterstones, to Editorial Director for Hodder and Stoughton (a division of Hachette UK), Melissa Cox has a unique, 360-perspective of the book world, and an eye for elegant writing with commercial appeal and distinctive voice, as testified by the novels she’s published, among them The Vanished Bride, A Gift in December, and The Wicked Cometh.
My One True North by Milly Johnson
LoveReading View on My One True North A delightfully readable, emotional, warm and witty relationship tale. This is Milly Johnson’s 17th novel, and I still look forward to them, each feels fresh, different, and I just know I will have a lovely reading experience. Friendships form and love whispers hello at a counselling group, will it be recognised or even welcomed?
LoveReading Bookshop Feature: Mainstreet Trading (St Boswells, Scotland)
Exuding the style and attention to detail one might expect of a boutique hotel, the Mainstreet Trading Company - bookshop, deli, café and homeware store - offers a beautiful bookish experience in a beautiful location - the picturesque village of St Boswells in the Scottish Borders.
Putting Authors in the Picture #29: Keith Stuart
Keith Stuart has been a favourite with the LoveReading team since his debut A Boy Made of Blocks which was one of our Books of the Year in 2016. He is not only an author, but also a journalist, writing about video games, technology, and digital culture. He has the ability to write novels that encourage thoughts and emotions to soar and dip and soar again. He opens a door to what it is to be human and to explore possibilities.
Doctors Get Cancer Too by Dr Philippa Kaye
LoveReading View on Doctors Get Cancer Too Doctors Get Cancer Too is the 18-month diary of a cancer patient who is also a GP. Dr Philippa Kaye was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 39. In her book, she gives a personal, honest insight into her cancer scans, surgeries and chemotherapy, from diagnosis to recovery. She writes about how each stage felt and looked, the decisions she had to make and the impact it had on her and her family’s daily life, using humour to cushion the graphic details.
While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart
LoveReading View on While Paris Slept A truly beautiful and powerful debut, it is haunted with exquisite emotion, but that emotion comes with an uplifting feeling of hope. Towards the end of the Second World War two people meet on a platform next to a train bound for Auschwitz, the exchange that takes place between them will have a bearing on their lives forever more. I entered this novel thinking I knew what to expect, I left having experienced an entirely unexpected read.
The LoveReading Very Short Story Awards 2021 - A chat with our winners.
We have announced our winners for the 2021 LoveReading Very Short Story Award on our Awards Page. Huge congratulations to Nathan Alling Long from the US who is the winner of the Judges’ Award with his story The Hole, and Paul Marriner from the UK with his story The Radio, is the winner of the People’s Choice Award. Having two different writers winning the Awards always makes us smile as it means we can celebrate two fabulous short stories that we’ve all fallen in love with.
March 2021 Book Club Recommendation: Barn Club by Robert J Somerville
We’d like to welcome you to our first non-fiction book club pick. Barn Club by Robert J. Somerville, published by Chelsea Green is a heart-warming, truly lovely read. Barn Club follows the building of a barn by volunteers over the course of a year using traditional methods. Full to overflowing with community spirit, traditional crafts, and its focus on the elm tree, Barn Club is a soul satisfying read. The author champions nature, our environment and the way we can live in it.
Writer's Reads: Laurence Smith, author of Rivers of Power
Laurence C Smith is a professor of environmental studies and professor of earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Brown University.
Writer's Reads: Rana Foroohar, author of Don't Be Evil – The Case Against Big Tech - Geographical Magazine
Rana Foroohar is the author of Makers and Takers (2016) and Don't Be Evil: The Case Against Big Tech (2019). She is a business columnist, an associate editor at the Financial Times, and CNN's global economic analyst. Here, she shares a selection of reads that have inspired, shaped and moved her An Artist of the Floating World • Kazuo Ishiguro • 1986 My favourite writer of all time.
Writer's Reads: Jini Reddy, author of Wanderland – A Search for Magic in the Landscape - Geographical Magazine
Jini Reddy is the author of the acclaimed Wanderland: A Search for Magic in the Landscape. Reviewed by Geographical in October 2020, the book was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. Here, Jini shares some life-affirming and thrilling reads The Overstory • Richard Powers • 2018 I’ve never read a novel about the wisdom of trees that speaks so powerfully from the trees’ perspective. Th e characters come from diverse backgrounds, racially and culturally, which resonated with me.
How to Drag A Body and Other Safety Tips You Hope to Never Need by Judith Matloff book review
Chills, diarrhoea, vomiting, sweating, body aches – all the symptoms endured by Judith Matloff during an attack of malaria. The author reminds us that mosquito-borne diseases include not only malaria, but dengue fever, Zika, West Nile fever, yellow fever, Chikungunya and encephalitis. In short, they are a bigger killer than wars raging around the world and ‘even if you don’t expire, you’ll suffer one of the worst bouts of headache, fever, joint pain and nausea in your life’.
HUMAN COMPATIBLE: AI and the Problem of Control by Stuart Russell book review
If a human baby, in its first year of life, became the world Chess or Go champion, pandemonium would erupt. Theories would include demonic possession, an alien visitation, or a genetic engineering experiment let loose on the world. That baby did exist however: its name was AlphaGo, and the proud parents at Google trained it in 2016 through ‘reinforcement learning’ and 1.5 million iterations of ‘self-play’.
ATLANTIS: A Journey in Search of Beauty by Carlo and Renzo Piano book review
Renzo Piano’s CV is an impressive one. The Shard, the Centre Pompidou, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the New York Times Building – all his. And yet, he isn’t satisfied. Always seeking perfection, he feels very deeply the mistakes that have been made, the dreams that didn’t quite make it into reality. Atlantis is really Renzo’s story, though it is largely narrated by his son, the journalist Carlo Piano.
BARN CLUB: A Tale of Forgotten Elm Trees, Traditional Craft and Community Spirit by Robert J. Somerville book review
by Robert J. Somerville • Chelsea Green Robert Somerville is unashamedly nostalgic. Yes, he admits, it might seem naive and romantic to look back fondly on a time when people worked by hand, when power tools were unheard of, and when it took a large team to build a reliable structure, but ‘perhaps we romanticise the things we really miss and yearn for,’ he argues. Perhaps. He is certainly convincing.
LIFE AFTER GRAVITY: Isaac Newton's London Career by Patricia Fara book review
While most books on Isaac Newton choose to focus on his scientific career and legacy, Life after Gravity starts at the point where Newton has already left Cambridge. Grey-haired at 54, he arrives in London in 1696 as the new Warden of the Mint, a place he would work at in various roles for the final three decades of his life.
THE VOLGA: A History of Russia's Greatest River by Janet M. Hartley book review
by Janet M. Hartley • Yale University Press From the Nile to the Danube and Amazon, mighty rivers have shaped world history. The Volga, the longest river in Europe, at 3,530 kilometres (2,193 miles), is well and truly in that category.
40+ Quirky Novels - a little different and totally fabulous.
At LoveReading we adore novels that contain a hint or more of quirky. From relationship tales to sci-fi and fantasy, from humour to family drama, we have a collection of quirky tales for you to enjoy. These are books that contain something out of the ordinary, that cause a flicker of excitement to grow and burn with intensity until you’ve finished reading. They often are the books that spark your thoughts and stay with you forever.
We Are All Birds of Uganda by Hafsa Zayyan
LoveReading View on We Are All Birds of Uganda Often eye-opening and heart-wrenching, always elegant and absorbing, Hafsa Zayyan’s We Are All Birds of Uganda is an outstanding debut that crosses continents, cultures and generations.
Coming Home to the Four Streets by Nadine Dorries
LoveReading View on Coming Home to the Four Streets A moving and engaging addition to the family saga and drama of The Four Streets series set in 1950’s Liverpool. The Doherty’s, who everyone relies on have moved to Ireland, another family is in serious trouble, and corrupt police officer Frank the Skank is about to move into the street.
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
LoveReading View on A Long Petal of the Sea An incredibly engaging, fascinating, and rather beautiful read, this book will stay with me for some time. A couple seek refuge after the Spanish Civil War and end up in Chile, where years later they again face exile. Covering the period from 1938 through to 1994, this is a story that crosses continents, examines topics such as fascism, war, and migration, yet is as intimate as intimate can be.
50+ Beautifully Written Books
Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to beautifully-written books, it’s unlikely anyone will question the appeal of those included in this collection. These are novels that have got under our skin. Made us hold our breath and pause to take in the power of words made profound by their authors. These are novels whose characters we become deeply invested in. Whose worlds we might pine for when we reach the end. Yet their sway lingers long. Their impact remains.
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