Elizabeth Day: ‘I’m always searching for something engrossing, with beautifully drawn characters’
Podcaster and author Elizabeth Day is looking forward to new books by her favourite writers.
‘My favourite place to read is on a sunlounger, near a body of water, with nothing whatsoever to do other than relax, sunbathe and consider an Aperol spritz at cocktail hour. After reading Heart The Lover recently, I want to work my way through Lily King’s back catalogue. I’m also looking forward to John Of John by Douglas Stuart, which I’ll pack in my suitcase, and Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer, who wrote one of my favourite books, Less.
‘My ideal holiday read is something engrossing, with beautifully drawn characters that I fully believe in. I love an epic tale that’s personal in resonance – Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a good example. Or The Bonfire Of The Vanities by Tom Wolfe. It doesn’t have to be plot-driven (although I do remember reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn on holiday in Tenerife and being blown away by the twist). Susannah Dickey is a favourite new find – she’s a terrific Northern Irish novelist and poet.’
One Of Us by Elizabeth Day is out now in paperback
Sara Cox: ‘My perfect holiday read is gentle and emotional, with characters you care about’
Broadcaster and novelist Sara Cox wants to read the new book from an author she’s loved in the past.
‘On a hot day, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than reclining in the shade in my garden, reading my Kindle, ginger beer on the go, trying to ignore my big dog constantly putting her toy in my lap to throw. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the new Douglas Stuart, John Of John. I loved his previous novels, Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo, and I interviewed him recently for the new one.
What to read next
‘If I had to pick one perfect holiday read, I’d say Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt; it’s gentle and emotional, with characters you care about. An author I can’t wait to read more from is Roisín O’Donnell – she just won the inaugural Radio 2 Book Club Award for her debut Nesting. It’s a tough read but incredible.’
The Truth Of Us by Sara Cox is out on 16 July
Cariad Lloyd: ‘Reading a novel set in the country you’re in, like Elena Ferrante’s books in Italy, just adds to the joy’
Podcaster and Women’s Prize for Fiction judge Cariad Lloyd likes to match her book to her destination.
‘I have a huge pile to read right now, thanks to my podcast (Weirdos Book Club with Sara Pascoe), so I’ll be working my way through books we want to read for that. But in my own pile, there’s Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson, Whistler by Ann Patchett and Queenie Is Working On It by Candice Carty-Williams. I like my holiday reads to be consuming; I want to disappear into another world. Even better if it’s set in the country you’re in – I love being able to go and see some of the landmarks the author is referencing. Reading Elena Ferrante in Italy, for example, just adds to the joy.
‘In terms of new (to me) authors, I loved both Sheena Kalayil, who was on the longlist for the Women’s Prize this year with her book The Others, and Rozie Kelly’s Kingfisher – both brilliant but very different books from newer voices.’
Cariad will be appearing with Weirdos Book Club at Crossed Wires Festival and Edinburgh International Book Festival
Dawn O'Porter: ‘Everyone from my 90-year-old aunt to my male friends have loved this story’
Author Dawn O’Porter is bingeing memoirs at the moment.
‘In my kitchen at 6am, before anyone else wakes up, is when I do most of my reading. And in bed at night. Nothing makes me happier than getting into bed at 8.30pm with a book and zero intentions to get out. I’m loving midlife memoirs at the moment and Rewilding by Jane Green is top of my list. It’s about the end of her marriage and how she reconnected with her former self.
‘On holiday, I love a thriller. There’s something fun about the juxtaposition of calm surroundings with heart-shuddering terror on the page. The thriller I always recommend is All The Colours Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker; I think it’s the perfect story. Everyone from my 90-year-old aunt to male friends in their mid-40s has agreed. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does next. Same for Josh Silver, who I love. His book Fruit Fly was brilliant.’
Hungry Eyes: A Memoir Of Appetite, Ambition And The Odd Bag Of Wotsits For Dinner by Dawn O’Porter is out now
Sophie Raworth: ‘This novel showed me what was happening to my dad and it really moved me’
News presenter Sophie Raworth has a pacy piece of investigative journalism to read.
‘This summer, I’m going to the beach in Greece with my kids, then to the Alps for a solo trip, running hut-to-hut across the mountains. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I won’t do much reading on that trip, but I have a few books set aside for Greece. I’ve started Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy and it’s really good.
Another I want to read is London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, which is non-fiction and is meticulously researched and told. It sounds like an extraordinary story: it’s about a 19-year-old boy from London who fell to his death from a luxury apartment building on the banks of the Thames. It turns out that he had a whole other identity – pretending that he was the son of a Russian oligarch – and he became involved with some bad people.
‘My hot tip is a new writer called Lisa Ridzén. I recently read her book When The Cranes Fly South and it’s beautiful. My dad died a year ago and reading it gave me an insight into what was happening to him that he couldn’t tell me about. It felt like I was seeing the other side of the story and it really moved me.’
Running On Air: From BBC Headlines To Life-changing Finish Lines by Sophie Raworth is out now
Anthony Horowitz: ‘Many friends have recommended The Names to me as a remarkable debut’
International bestseller Anthony Horowitz is looking forward to the freedom of reading for pleasure.
‘Books are a big part of my holidays – I can’t imagine a holiday without paperbacks slowly falling apart in the sunshine. Sitting by a pool is easier than reading on the beach, and the fridge is nearer. So much of my usual reading is connected to my work that I love the sense of liberation: being on holiday and reading purely for pleasure. I’m finally going to be able to read Clown Town, the latest book from Mick Herron in the Slow Horses series.
I also have The Names by Florence Knapp, which many friends have recommended to me as a remarkable debut. And lastly, Empire Of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe. I want to read it before I start his latest non-fiction, London Falling, which everyone is raving about.’
A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz is out now
Alexander Armstrong: ‘I want something with strong flavours when I’m away’
TV presenter and children’s author Alexander Armstrong has a classic novel at the top of his holiday reading pile.
‘I’m making the most of this summer. We’ve got a week in Cornwall, a fortnight in Northumberland and – fingers crossed – a week in Mallorca. I’m so looking forward to it! I always try to take at least one classic with me on holiday – it’s been fun making friends with books that were once more duty than pleasure. This year, I think some Henry James is on the cards. Probably The Portrait Of A Lady. I’m also looking forward to William Boyd’s The Predicament and Kate Atkinson’s Death At The Sign Of The Rook.
‘I want something with strong flavours when I’m away – I always remember where and when I read certain books. The way the characters and atmospheres of those stories start to inhabit my thoughts is part of the pleasure of a holiday read. A new discovery is Benjamin Wood, of whom I’m a huge fan. His novel Seascraper was a fabulous and beautifully crafted book.’
Evenfall: The Tempest Stone by Alexander Armstrong is out now
Kit de Waal: ‘I’m never, ever without a book – in fact, two!’
Author Kit de Waal wants to read a book about the queen of crime.
‘My plans for the summer are to be at home in my postage-stamp garden, where I’ll mostly be watching tennis, reading and eating outdoors as much as possible. I’m never, ever without a book – in fact, never, ever without two! Those I’m looking forward to reading include The Agatha Christie Cure: What Reading The Queen Of Crime Taught Me About Life by Cathy Rentzenbrink (published in September), which I’ve been lucky enough to have bagged an early copy of. I love Cathy’s writing – she has so much heart.
‘A writer to look out for is Marcia Hutchinson, who is shortlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize with The Mercy Step. She’s 63, a debut writer with a great voice.’
The Best Of Everything by Kit de Waal is out now in paperback
