Our staff share the books they missed in 2014, and have put on their 2015 reading lists.

Everything? I’m always so overwhelmed this time of year when everyone’s ‘Best of’ lists start coming out. This year I’ve thought of all the things I’ve missed and, again, I come back to everything. A few notables on my list include On Immunity: an Inoculation by Eula Biss, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward. Did I already say everything?
– Bronte Coates, Digital Content Coordinator

I’m saving Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld and The Protected by Claire Zorn, both published in the second half of this year, both of which I started but couldn’t continue and not because I wasn’t enjoying them, quite the opposite. They have joined a small pile of books I’ve been collecting that feel in conflict with the novel I’m currently writing. The conflict wouldn’t be obvious to anyone but me; small details or broad themes can set me off. I read fiction constantly while I’m writing: sometimes it’s inspiring, sometimes it takes my mind off my own story, but occasionally something comes up that threatens to destroy what little confidence I have in my first drafts.
– Emily Gale, Online Children’s Specialist

My colleague Bronte first told me about Elena Ferrante’s Neopolitan novels (starting with My Brilliant Friend) about a year ago now. I promised her I would read them. I watched other people following her advice, and loving the books. I’ve heard raves from colleagues, friends, best books of the year lists and random podcast discussions. These novels are hailed as masterpieces and they sound truly amazing in every way – and I still haven’t got around to reading them! What is wrong with me? I blame my anxious need to keep reading new releases; working in the book industry, the desire to be reading what’s new or about to come out can be overwhelming (and necessary), so setting aside the time to read the first two books of the series before the third one came out seemed like a time-consuming undertaking. I also blame that sometimes contrary impulse to resist things everyone is excited about (I did it with Frozen – another of Bronte’s recommendations – then finally watched the movie and loved it so much). This summer, over my holidays, I vow to read the Ferrante books. I’m already looking forward to texting Bronte: ‘I freaking loved them!’
– Nina Kenwood, Digital Marketing Manager

There are so many books that I can’t wait to read over the holidays! On top of my list though is Ali Smith’s Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel How to be Both which I’m planning to pick up as soon as I go on holidays next week. Too many of my friends and colleagues have raved about this book that I won’t be able to see them again in the new year until I’ve read it … I also can’t wait to read Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend.
– Emily Harms, Head of Marketing and Communications

Like many people who work in bookshops, I’m a writer and hopeful that one day I will publish a multi-billion-selling novel that everyone adores. For that reason alone, I couldn’t bring myself to read Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. I got annoyed at all the colleagues and customers who told me it was wonderful and then picked it up one day only to read the first page and realise: I can’t read this. While some books inspire you to create wonderful things, others are so crushingly excellent in their first pages alone that to read it would only send me into a ridiculous spiral of, ‘Why do I bother?; I am never going to be nominated for a Man Booker Prize; There’s no point; Wahhhhh’. And so I left it on the shelf and picked up something else that was still better than anything I’ve ever written, but not enough to ruin my dreams. That said, I am looking forward to the day when I’m mature enough to read this book because it seems marvellous.
– Fiona Hardy, Bookseller

Christos Tsiolkas told me recently that he has read the Bible. I’d like to read it also but have not yet found the time to do so. I reckon it would be worth it.
– Chris Gordon, Event Manager