Book recommendations from the book worms at Literary Emporium

I was wondering what to read, looking for some light relief from home schooling and work, who better to ask than the book worms at Literary Emporium.  Literary Emporium have a real love of literature and create jewellery and other items based on literary works, they make perfect gifts for any book lover. 

Rio and Ian have compiled a list of 3 great reads all of which I have now added to my reading list!

Saltwater – Jessica Andrews

I really enjoyed this book from last year that recently won the Portico Prize for literature. Her poetic prose tells the story of the changes to her working-class family over two decades and her estrangement from family members. It documents the push-and-pull feelings she experiences moving away from the North East to London via Ireland.

The Discomfort Of Evening – Marieke Lucas Rijneveld

This debut novel ripples with “wild, violent beauty”. Without revealing spoilers, the plot centres around the fragile world of 10 year old Jas growing up in a deeply religious family in rural Holland. A tragic accident challenges the rigidity of her family life and Rijneveld darkly explores the ramifications of this through beautifully imaginative and fantastical verse. This book was recently shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.

A Long Petal Of The Sea – Isabel Allende

A beautifully written odyssey of historical fiction that explores exile, hope and belonging. It follows a family fleeing Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War and their emigration to Chile, charting the fortunes of each generation s they face new challenges in their South American exile. The characters are richly explored and the political upheaval of Chilean life impacts upon the fortunes of the family with dramatic consequence. This book, too, was also recently shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.

Enjoy x