Instagram Picks: summer reading inspiration
You might not be reading on a beach in the Med (or anywhere overseas) anytime soon, but that’s all the more reason to be taken away with a good book, is it not? Get ahead with your seasonal to-read list with this collection of summer reading inspiration, as picked from our favourite bookshops on Instagram.
London Review Bookshop
From the London Review Bookshop, a timely essay on the healing power of art by Olivia Laing.
Daunt Books
Daunt Books are recommending The See-Through House by Shelley Klein, her memoir of growing up in Klein House, commissioned by her father from Peter Womersley (did you know we sold it?). Our recent podcast guest Edmund de Waal calls it “A luminous book, full of light and colour, and a remarkable reflection on childhood and untold stories”. Earlier this month, The Modern House co-founder Albert Hill caught up with Shelley Klein following the release of her new memoir, watch the recording here.
Shakespeare and Company
On the Left Bank, English language bookshop Shakespeare and Company are recommending reads that celebrate cycling and walking (something we’re sure has increased over lockdown). Take your pick from In Praise of the Bicycle by Marc Augé or The Most Beautiful Walk in the World by John Baxter.
Ink@84
This bookshop in Highbury has recommended What Belongs to You author Gareth Grenwell’s new title, Cleanness, for its ‘exacting, elegant prose’ that picks apart the messy components of desire, love and human connection.
Burley Fisher Books
This Haggerston independent runs a weekly recommendation service, rounding up titles based on a theme, which have included ‘becoming’, ‘falsely accused’ and ‘classics’. Our pick for summer reading inspiration is the one on ‘movement and place’, which runs the gaunt from Homer’s Odyssey to Rachel Cusk’s Transit.
Libreria
Libreria wonderfully arranges their shelves not by authors, but by theme, in a beautiful space designed by Spanish architect SelgasCano. It ‘a world away from the narrow algorithmic recommendations of Amazon,’ they say, and we couldn’t agree more. Ta-Nehisi Coates’ debut novel is an important story that casts a light on the legacy of slavery in the United States.
Granta Books
Patrick Barkham’s new work on the role of nature in the lives of children is, according to Granta, ‘the perfect book for anyone struggling to make the most of their outdoor time with the kids during lockdown, and anyone just wanting to get back to nature.’
Literary Hub
And, lastly, if you’re struggling to muster some enthusiasm for reading, look to the eternal wisdom of Michael Jordan via Literary Hub.
