The Mirror and the Light
In a year dominated by plague and politics, what better escapism than to lose oneself in 16th Century Britain, where pestilence stalks the land and a corpulent narcissist bends the country to his every passing whim. With a cast of characters that rivals War and Peace (including far more Richards than decency allows), and enough political intrigue to put House of Cards to shame, it is testament to Mantel’s skill that it remains coherent throughout, and the intimacy of the story at its heart kept me transfixed until the final page. As for the Booker, the vote was rigged.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heap
Those of us who live to read know that book characters have a life of their own. So what could be better than to to see them alive and rampaging through the streets of Wellington? Throw in a jaded lawyer, a dash of sibling rivalry and a quintet of Mr Darcy and you get a novel like nothing (or everything) you’ve ever read. An ideal present for fans of Jasper Fforde, Dickens and Penny Dreadful alike, Parry’s Pratchett-esque sense of humour and love of a literature shines throughout this rolicking adventure.
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