Waterstone’s Books of The Month 2020: The Start

So not only have I decided to do a ‘Buzzfeed Recommends‘ series on this blog, based on one Buzzfeed article I read. I’ve also decided this year I’m going to read every Waterstone’s ‘Fiction Book of the Month’, because clearly I hate myself.

I was inspired to do this after stumbling upon one of the Books of The Month books this year called ‘The Binding’ which I absolutely adored and will post a review of it in this series; and so I figured, rather naively probably, every recommendation from Waterstones will be that good.

So, as you may have noticed, we are already in March of this year, but since we’re all self-isolating because of pandemic I do have the time to catch up on all their ‘Book of the Month’ recommendations as well as work my way through my ‘Buzzfeed Recommends’ series.

So I thought I’d just list all their ‘Fiction Book of The Month’ titles, and I’ll come back throughout the year and update this post with the title and synopsis once each book for the month is announced.

January: The Binding by Bridget Collins

Set in a part Victorian gothic, part medieval world, where books are binded with real memories that people give up. The story unravels the mystery of Emmett Farmer as his life changes when he becomes a Binder’s apprentice – it’s a skill like no other. As he learns his new trade, Emmett discovers a book with his own name on it and faces the choice of remembering or forgetting .

This is the book I stumbled upon in a Waterstones that started this whole thing, and I’ve already read it and can say I absolutely adored it with every fibre of my being, and if all the books are half as good as this one I’m in for some good reads this year.

February: Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Queenie is caught between a job that isn’t what she thought it would be, a Jamaican British family that just can’t seem to see her, and a break up with her long-term boyfriend. Queenie tries to navigate all these struggles and her life, and emerge on top as a Queen.

This is meant to be a comedy that includes a lot of hard-hitting social issues such as race, mental health and class. I’m a little unsure about it as I don’t tend to read books that are marketed as ‘comedic’ but I’m intrigued by this one.

March: The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal

It’s London 1850, and The Great Exhibition is taking place in Hyde Park and in the crowd Iris and Silas meet. For Iris, it’s only a few seconds, but for Silas, as a collector, it’s the start of something. When Iris is asked to model in exchange for learning how to paint her world begins to expand, as Silas’ world narrows and a dark obsession grows.

This sounds like something I wouldn’t ever choose myself, but I’m glad I’m being made to pick it up because it’s an interesting premise and this could be great, or it could be slightly too creepy for me, either way I’m excited for this read.

April: Lanny by Max Porter

There’s a village sixty miles outside of London built on ancient soil. It belongs to villagers live and have lived there, but it also belongs to Dead Papa Toothwort. He has awoken from his slumber for one reason: Lanny, the young boy whose something new and precious.

Again, this is a book I would never choose to pick up on my own accord, but I’m really happy I’m being made to pick this up. It sounds like a beautiful blend of modern and mythical.

May: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Danny Conroy grew up in a Dutch house in small town his property developer father picked up. Though his mum is absent, father is distant, Danny finds love his brilliant older sister Maeve. When their father one day brings Andrea home it sows the seeds of a banishment from their home, and follows them through the decades of the rest of their lives.

This sounds promising, and I’m excited to give this one a go. I’ve seen this popping on my Goodreads and it’s definitely intrigued me so I’m glad I have an excuse to read it.