Top reads for spring
Spring is upon us, and as we look ahead to warmer days and happier times, it’s a good excuse to refresh your bookshelf with some new reads to reflect the changing season. These titles explore themes of optimism, nature and new beginnings – perfect food for thought in strange and unpredictable times.
All available to buy online now at Waterstones.
A Room with a View,
E.M. Forster
Set in Italy and England, this is both a story of romance and a humorous critique of the repressed morals of Edwardian England. Follow the story of Lucy as she finds herself torn between the intensity of life in Italy and her snobbish and dislikable fiancé, Cecil. Will she throw caution to the wind and learn to follow her own heart?
Driving over Lemons,
Chris Stewart
Follow some-time Genesis drummer, Chris Stewart and his wife Ana, as woefully unprepared, they begin a new life on a remote farm in the Sierra Nevada in Spain. This charming travelogue will make you cry with laughter, long for warm summer days and learn to appreciate the simpler things in life all at the same time.
The Secret Garden,
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Arguably one of the most famous (and delightful) classics in children's literature, The Secret Garden tells the tale of young orphan, Mary Lennox, and her adventures at Misselthwaite Manor and its eponymous Secret Garden. With themes around nature, mystery, spirituality and the goodness of mankind, this is a charming and uplifting read for both children and adults alike.
Absent in The Spring,
Agatha Christie
While famous primarily for her crime novels and plays, Agatha Christie also wrote about crimes of the heart – as compelling and memorable as the best of her work. This striking novel of truth and soul-searching follows the story of Joan as she re-examines her life. Will she become self-aware enough to change her ways? You’ll have to read to find out!
The Hawk in the Rain,
Ted Hughes
This multi-award winning collection of poetry by Ted Hughes explores the beauty and harshness of the natural world. The Hawk in the Rain includes many of Hughes' best-known poems, such as The Jaguar, The Thought-Fox and Wind – now staples of British poetry anthologies. After reading this you will never look at nature in the same way again.
