Great Books You Shouldn't Miss

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

This is easily the book I recommend more than any other in print. Why? Because it gives so much more than what is simply on the page yet it remains wonderfully accessible.

Everyone I speak to almost seems to have read a completely different book. Essentially, the book forces an answer 'If you got to live your life over and over again, what would you do with it?'.

Life After Life is a book about choices. It’s a book for deep thinkers or anyone who appreciates great storytelling. Take it chapter by chapter or lose yourself in it all at once. The choice is yours.

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Content Warning

Lionel Shriver was put firmly on the literary map with We Need to Talk About Kevin. Published in the wake of the Columbine massacre and written, as Shriver herself notes, in direct response to it and other school shootings. It's her take on a family unravelled by tragic violence sends genuine shivers down your spine.

It isn’t an easy read. In fact, given the content, it can be deeply challenging at times. Yet what truly stays with you is this raw, wrenching portrayal of a mother facing the darkest period of her life. As she struggles to make sense of the son she raised and wrestles with whether she is fundamentally a good person, the book gives some heavy punches. It's an intimate look at a mother who missed the devastating signs, left to endure the stares, judgement, and torment of her neighbours, friends, and the public.

If you can bear the emotional weight, it is easily one of the most eye opening and unforgettable books you will ever read.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

This book was first published when I was working for Unity Books, an independent bookstore on High Street in Auckland. It absolutely roared onto the scene and I fondly remember having lots of conversations with bookshop punters about this book in particular.

It follows the story of an every day man who slaps a child that is not his own, in full view of everyone at, what should have been a friendly neighboorhood barbeque. The book centers itself around consent, parenthood, the idea of respect and what that means, the differences between right and wrong. The witnesess are divided.

Confronting and intriguing, this could be the book you're looking for.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

I’ll admit, this isn't my absolute favorite book on the shelf. It stuck with me because, at the time, I’d never read anything quite like it, which sure made it memorable. Plus, it paved the way for a wave of whimsical, sci-fi-slanted reads (if you enjoy that vibe, I’d also recommend The Night Circus).

It seamlessly weaves together its characters, plot, and bizarre settings into a story that's undeniably weird. Yes, weird, but it works.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Ok, I promised I’d stop at five but I just couldn't.

Both titles are critically acclaimed, both explore cultural themes in ways that have split audiences. Some readers find their portrayals direct and confronting, others see them as a vital response to the call for more diverse voices in print and on screen.

While Mexican Gothic delivers a fast paced, atmospheric thriller, The Underground Railroad offers a powerful, deliberate slow burn.

Read them both, I'd be keen to hear your thoughts.