We’re going to have a bit of a break over Christmas and New Year, so there won’t be quite as much new content on the Autumn Voices website until we get going again in January.
This week though, in the run up to Christmas, we’re honouring the Icelandic phenomenon of Jolabokaflod, triggered by the tradition of book-gifting and reading on Christmas Eve – something we thoroughly approve of and encourage!
Each day this week, we’re bringing you a book recommendation (or two) from the Autumn Voices team members – a Jolabokablog series, if you will!
Gillian Hamnett, Content Editor and Consultant at Autumn Voices, recommends:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury, 2004)
I’m taking a bit of a risk recommending this book as I haven’t read it yet, but it looks fantastic! I have a lovely first edition hardback copy that has been in my book collection since it was published, but, like so many other books on my shelves, I’ve yet to read it! I consider such books friends in waiting that I haven’t met yet, and my unread book pile never stops me buying more of them.
The book is meant to be part fantasy and part historical novel, covering themes like magic, identity, friendship, reason, and literary traditions. It’s a chunky tome running to almost 800 pages, so I’ve always intended to start it when I had a decent bit of time off to properly get into it and not feel too daunted by its page-length. It’s a bit too big to pack in a suitcase and take away, so I think a quiet festive season at home is perfect for that! I’ll keep you posted …
Gillian
Why don’t you tell us all about your favourite festive reading?
Don’t forget about our other book recommendation and ideal Christmas gift this month
Tom Langlands will be joining us in January to talk about the book and taking up photography as a hobby.