Words by Sarah Bailey // Photo by Sergei Nikulin
Most of my early childhood memories involve being read to or seeking out books to read. For me, books were magical portals that transported me to secret gardens, magical faraway trees and, as I got older, to war zones and morgues. My passion for reading was undoubtedly a gateway to writing and when I was at university I started penning short stories and fantasising about one day writing a novel. In my early twenties I embarked on what would prove to be a rewarding career in advertising, and for over a decade, I was creatively fulfilled and busy. The book writing dream faded but it never completely disappeared, rearing its head now and then, always something that I told myself I would get to ‘one day.’
When I turned thirty-two, the book writing urge bit hard. I thought about writing all the time but found it difficult to prioritise around everything else going on in my life. I realised I needed a deadline, so I set myself a goal to write a book by the time I was thirty-five. My first novel, The Dark Lake, was published the day after my thirty-fifth birthday. Nine years later I’ve just published my sixth book, Click.
Reading remains a huge part of my life and inspires my writing. I read over seventy books a year and typically have one physical book and one audio book on the go. I love discovering new books and I’m always scouting for the right book to deep dive on my new podcast, He Read She Read®.
Listing favourite books is always fraught because I love so many and for different reasons but there are certainly novels that have had a significant impact on me or ones I can still recall years after reading. I’ve also been lucky to read some absolute bangers lately that I strongly recommend people seek out.
Station Eleven by Emily St John Madel
Who would have thought that a book about the end of life as we know it could be such a comfort? I read Station Eleven in the first few weeks of the COVID pandemic, bunkered down in my bedroom with all the strangeness of that time swirling through my brain and found the epic tale of human resilience and the enduring spirit of art both heartening and reassuring.
Tully by Paullina Simons
This is a wonderful character study of how trauma lives in our bodies and impacts so many aspects of our lives. This book mesmerised me when I was a teenager and I’ve read it several times since. I know a lot of people find Tully insufferable, but I have a huge amount of empathy for her. I think it’s a beautiful book.
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
I discovered this novel on my parent’s bookshelf when I was nine years old and read it in secret. As a result, the myriad steamy and violent scenes remain permanently imprinted on my brain. I read it again at twenty and found it even more propulsive (and probably better understood what the hell was going on.) If you love I-can’t-believe-they-just-did-that, epic family dramas that explore the full gamete of human emotions then this classic tale of love, honour and betrayal is for you.
Into the Woods by Tana French
I wholeheartedly recommend all of French’s novels, but her debut is certainly the best place to start if you’ve not had the pleasure of getting lost in her particular brand of crime. Into the Woods is a bloody good mystery, but more so it’s a character study, and I dare anyone to resist being consumed by the intricate dynamics between main characters, Irish homicide detectives Rob and Cassie.
Heart the Lover by Lily King
It’s always a relief when an IT book is as satisfying as this was. Yes, it’s about a love triangle and yes, at times the characters are insufferable in the way that characters studying literature generally are, but you will feel like you know them and it WILL make you cry.
Strange Buildings by Uketsu
I bought this in a whim and finished it less than twenty-four hours later. It’s it a puzzle in book form, broken into eleven ‘files’, each one exploring a mysterious building. It’s narrated by the author, or is it? If it sounds weird, that’s because it is, but it’s also exactly what it says on the tin (unless it’s not). Strangeness aside, it’s such a fun ride and I will be buying and puzzling over the other books in this unusual series.
I’m constantly being asked what I’m going to read next, so I thought I’d share a few other books that are on my radar. I’ve been told by more than one person that Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir is awesome on audio so I’m planning to download and listen to that soon. I’m also determined to read Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton this year. It’s described as a literary eco thriller and it’s one I’ve been meaning to get to for ages. I’m also desperate to get my hands on Sophie Standing There by Meg Mason. I loved Mason’s wildly popular novel, Sorrow and Bliss, and enjoyed her lesser-known book You Be Mother, so I have no doubt that her new novel about a lonely sound technician who works at literary festivals will be an absolute delight.
