I hope the year has been good to you!
Here are some titles that stood out in 2023:
Lost In Work: Escaping Capitalism by Amelia Horgan.
The nature of work (be it salaried or self-employed) is changing fast. This is not an anti-work book; it is a call for fairness. Horgan highlights the historical issues around work and presents ideas for positive change. It is a compelling read about money and class that inspires and motivates.
Clear by Scott Snyder.
In this virtuosic graphic novel, Scott Snyder takes a familiar setting (a dystopian future where people view the world through their own neurological filter) and amplifies it from every angle. The ideas, characters and pacing are bold and sharp. The art, by Francis Manapul, is beautiful. Like the best science fiction, Clear has something to say about the present state of things.
The Analog Sea Review (Volumes I-IV) edited by Jonathan Simons.
These beautiful periodicals are more than they first appear. Inside are essays, fine art, poems and fiction from a range of contributors. These books are for those wishing “to maintain a contemplative life in the digital age.’ Find them at your nearest independent bookseller and throw your phone into the lake.
Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald.
This powerful story follows Jacques Austerlitz, an elderly architectural historian who makes a discovery that changes the course of his life. Sebald frequently shifts the tone and uses a variety of visual media (photographs, maps and diagrams) to create a layered, surreal atmosphere. It is a bleak, timely warning about the consequences of war.
The Day Of The Locust by Nathanael West.
One of the great Hollywood novels, this lurid exploration of fame and deception has been shocking readers since it was first published in 1939. Todd Hackett is the movie set designer who watches his acquaintances spiral into self-absorption, envy and violence.
The Book You Want Everyone You Love To Read by Philippa Perry.
Grounded in solid research and experience, there is something in this book for everyone. Perry takes on big, scary aspects of life with compassion and wit. Her writing style is concise and conversational and the approaches she suggests are revelatory. An amazing book.
You have made it this far - well done! I hope you found something on this list to enjoy.
I have a lot planned for next year. Exciting projects are landing. I am putting the finishing touches to my first release. I am not consistent on social media (I take frequent breaks) so if you want to be in the loop, please sign up to my mailing list below. As well as updates about music, I hope to write about other things like music theory, life and council tax. All the important stuff. I will not bombard your inbox. Promise.