The Anatomist by Federico Andahazi (translated by Alberto Manguel)

The Anatomist is based on the story of the 16th century Italian scientist, Mateo Colombo,  who discovered the role of the ‘Amor Veneris’ – the clitoris – in female pleasure. Yes, I am talking about ladybits in this week’s post, having decided to throw caution to the Bromley winds and go Marginally Kinky. Perhaps some of…

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate by Peter Wohlleben

Each Boxing Day, during the 2am walk home from our family gathering, we Turners cut through our local park to give the trees a festive hug. We refuse to believe that the resultant warm feeling is solely founded on the consumption of a crate of Spitfire and two bottles of Captain Morgan, and have longed…

Girl at War by Sara Novic

Girl at War is a journey through the trauma of the 1990s Yugoslav civil war, told by Ana, a child of war who becomes an adult tasked with coming to terms with its impact. Beginning in Zagreb as war breaks, and moving back and forth between the conflict, Ana’s subsequent new life as a teenager…