What we're reading

Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on or the music we’re loving.


Kim is reading The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah late last year and absolutely adored it. Coincidentally, I had begun reading it days before Beyoncé released her surprise ‘visual album’ and was delighted to hear the author sampled on one of the album’s standout tracks.

Both album and novel continued to enthral me over the following weeks and I made it my business to watch the author’s brilliant TED talks on YouTube - and read all of her books. The Thing Around Your Neck is a collection of short stories that focuses largely on experiences of Nigerian women, particularly as immigrants but also on their roles in families, relationships and wider societies. Though brief and absorbed with ease, each story is insightful, feeling complete and entirely memorable, and the book itself is a perfect size for carrying around, as well as a very smart accompaniment to lunch breaks and on public transport journeys.


Araxi is reading Donna Tartt and Elena Ferrante

I’ve just finished reading Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and can now agree that she is a brilliant writer! The story is full of intrigue and anticipation. Set in Vermont, most of the novel’s plot unravels on a university campus. The book starts off with a murder so we immediately know a ‘what’ and are compelled to read more to find out ‘why’. In twenty years time it will likely still be one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

I’ve now moved on to Elena Ferrante’s novel The Story of a New Name, the sequel My Brilliant Friend. Both books are set in Naples during the 1950s and follow the close relationship between two friends with many emotions explored. The story is so totally compelling that it haunts me during my working hours. I already can’t wait for the third book in the series which is currently being translated and is due to be published in November.


Chris is reading I’d Eat That!: Simple Ways to be a Better Cook by Callum Hann

Callum Hann is that 20-year old sweetheart who came second in the second series of Masterchef and I’d Eat That! is his second cookbook, which he was motivated to write after watching his friends’ appalling eating habits. I don’t know about the rest of you but my own 20s were spent having mournful and wonderful conversations over 2-minute noodles and cask wine, eating kebabs at 3am and going home to Mum and Dad for a decent vegetable laden meal as often as possible. Callum recommends leaving such activities behind by taking control and cooking your own food.

If any cookbook is going to make that easy and possible then I’d Eat That! is the one. There’s a huge section on breakfasts, optimistically titled ‘Morning Glory’ and another one on ‘Food to Eat with your Hands’ - perfect for sharehouse menus! If that is not enough to grab you I also enjoyed the ‘Out to Impress’ section with recipes for such things as beer, rosemary focaccia and Spanish mussels.

Filled with cheap and cheery food that any hung-over party person can create when parents/date/friends descend, I’d recommend this fun and accessible cookbook for any person just moving out of home.

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Cover image for I'd Eat That; Simple Ways to be a Better Cook

I’d Eat That; Simple Ways to be a Better Cook

Callum Hann

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