Sauce’s summer reads
2020 has thrown challenges at us from every angle. Even writing this sentence, in a moment of reflection is a challenge, as like so many of you, the end of year burnout has well and truly arrived. And with the busy holiday season now upon us, it’s hard to comprehend when it is all going to slow down so we can catch our breath, switch off and pick up a good book.
Here I’ve compiled a handful of books I adored or can’t wait to read this summer.
Luster by Raven Leilani
This hotly anticipated debut has been hailed by Zadie Smith as 'taut, sharp and funny'. Edie can't seem to get anything right, from her job to the guys she is sleeping with and her one true passion painting. Then comes along Eric, a white middle-aged man from the suburbs with a family and a wife.... here things get really interesting.
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
New Zealand expat Meg Mason’s second novel is one of those books you'll struggle to put down. It's compulsive reading at its absolute best. For fans of Fleabag and author Sally Rooney, this engrossing new novel follows Martha who knows something is wrong with her, she just doesn't know what it is yet. Her husband brushes her off and tells her to keep going. By the time she figures out what's wrong, it's too late to get what she wanted all along. Or maybe you can stop loving someone and start again if you take time to figure out what you want. Sorrow and Bliss explores themes of mental health and self sabotage. It's real, honest and totally captivating. Get ready to laugh and cry.
Outraged by Ashley Dotty Charles
This is the essential guide to living through the age of outrage. Ashley ‘Dotty’ Charles hones in on where we should really be focusing our outrage in an effort to highlight issues with social media activism and how we can better fight the fight. Charles was recently interviewed on Pandora Sykes new podcast ‘Doing It Right’, it's a great introductory listen for this book.
Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshi Kawakazu
For pure escapism Before The Coffee Gets Cold is your go to. Set in a small café in Japan this book tells the story of four different customers who visit the cafe for it’s special ability to allow it’s visitors to travel through time, if they can get past the quirky rules first.This book is magical, it’s equal party’s heartbreaking and heartwarming and is also a lovely short read.
Exciting Times by Naiose Dolan
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan is the story of Ava a 22 year old Irish expat working in a badly paid job as an English teacher for young children in Hong Kong where she meets Julian, a 28 year old Banker from London, they quickly move in together where a murky relationship ensues. While Julian is out of town for work Ava meets Edith, a lawyer and a Hong Kong local. This book takes us into the mind of Ava as she narrates the myriad emotions about navigating these two relationships in this hotly anticipated debut novel.
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
Feminism is about equality, right? But for whom? Mikki Kendall unpacks the reasons why feminism has become a movement which instead of focusing on helping all women have their basic needs met is focused on white women gaining equality alongside white men and forgetting marginalized communities along the way. The quote on the cover by Elizabeth Gilbert perfectly sums this book up, “my wish is that every white woman who calls herself a feminist will read this book.”
Words – Mandy Myles, founder of Bookety Book Books
