Here are a few of my favourite books and why … I’d recommend all of them.
Career Girls, Louise Bagshawe.
“Rowena Gordon, an upper-class young English girl, and Topaz Rossi, a feisty American, meet and become the best of friends at Oxford. Both are determined to succeed in their chosen careers – Topaz as a journalist and Rowena as a scout for the music industry. But their friendship turns to rivalry when they fall out over a man . . . From then on, Rowena and Topaz are determined to do each other down, as they battle against each other in both their personal and private lives. Until there is an unexpected chance for reconciliation …”
I love this book. It’s completely trashy, but I read it when I was editing my University magazine, and it was like my life, but with way more glitz. This was Louise’s first book, and in my mind, her best. I wanted to be both Topaz (for her enviable career) and Rowena (for her courage in a turbulent love life), and I read it once a year just to remind myself of the book that made me want to be an author. (Buy the book here)
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
“A misfit at an exclusive New England college, Richard finds kindred spirits in the five eccentric students of his ancient Greek class. But his new friends have a horrific secret. When blackmail and violence threaten to blow their privileged lives apart, they drag Richard into the nightmare that engulfs them. And soon they enter a terrifying heart of darkness from which they may never return …”
Americans have a certain style to their writing, and Donna Tartt’s the master. If you’ve not read this book, you absolutely have to. It’s intelligent, funny, observational … it’s loads (you can see why I’m not a book reviewer). The beauty of the book is the characterization. You can picture Henry Winter so clearly in your mind. You know exactly the type of girl Camilla is. And the story somehow makes you Richard Papen. I don’t think I’m doing this book any sort of justice at all – read the reviews on Amazon. (Buy the book here)
To be continued …
