THE BOOK PAGE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Rural Reader’s own choice of books for gift giving includes new titles, the best of 2020 and an old favourite. Starting with my Book of the Year: the compelling ‘Apeirogon’ (Bloomsbury £18.99) by Colum McCann. The story of two men, one an Israeli, the other a Palestinian, brought together by fate, torn apart by events and ultimately united by a common cause. Beautifully, lyrically written, copious thanks will come from recipients who revel in discovery. Cooking: A cook book they’ll actually use: Ottolenghi’s ‘Flavour’ (Ebury £27.00). On nature and the environment: it will be hard to match ‘English Pastoral’ by James Rebanks (Penguin £20) a captivating story of a family and a farm, of a landscape and a legacy and the possibility that, environmentally, all may not be lost. ‘Tresspass’ (Nick Hayes, Bloomsbury £18) favourably reviewed here in September, with its superb illustrations, also makes a fine impression. Old favourite: those of you who have already read any of Barbara Kingsolver’s novels, and there must be many, will not be surprised at the inclusion of ‘The Poisonwood Bible’ 52
in association with Winstone’s Bookshop (Faber & Faber £8.99) with convincingly drawn characters and brilliant blending of humour, drama, trumph and tragedy. It’s her masterpiece. Fiction: recent novels from four authors whose reputations go before them. Has Anne Tyler ever written a bad book? The latest is right up there with her best. ‘Redhead by the side of the Road’ (Vintage £14.99) showcases her observational powers to the full. Anthony Horowitz has written a sequel to the best selling ‘Magpie Murders’. ‘Moonflower Murders’ (illustration above, Cornerstone £20) looks like being just as successful. Those who read the recent column on D H Lawrence will detect parallels with ‘Shuggie Bain’ (Picador £14.99) by Douglas Stuart, a magnetic, sometimes sorrowful but never maudlin story of the eponymous Shuggie and his mother, fighting to realise their dreams in 80s Glasgow. A fresh talent which seems all the more astonishing given this is a first novel. William Boyd is back on form with ‘Trio’ (Viking £18.99) set in 1968, the year of Martin Luther King, Bobbie Kennedy and the Paris student riots. As global events swirl, the trio of the title set out to make a swinging sixties movie. Stirring. Ghost Story: (but a real one ) Kate Summerscale’s ‘The Haunting of Alma Fielding - a True Ghost Story’ is a spectral tour de force.
