The team's books of the year

Denise, Sav, Darby and Megan have a reading list for you

ONE OF THE THINGS that makes working at Backstory fun is the sheer range of my colleagues’ tastes. From graphic novels to the latest literary fiction, a blistering new work of reportage to a great beach read, if it’s good, the chances are one of the six of us will have read it — and will be itching to tell the others all about it.

Last week we shared our overall Backstory books of the year: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden and Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst.

So this week, here’s a look at the books that most appealed to each member of the team. The full list, and loads more recommendations, are in our Christmas gift guide, which you can pick up in the shop or download from our website.

Denise’s picks

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Six astronauts rotate in their spacecraft above Earth. They observe their experiments, Earth, each other — and themselves.

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson

Private detective Jackson Brodie finds himself in a sleepy Yorkshire town solving the mystery of a missing painting.

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

A hopeful novel about new friendships, old loves and how we all want to leave a mark on the world we inhabit. Beautiful.

Moon Road by Sarah Leipciger

A beautifully observed portrait of a relationship after divorce amidst the grief of a missing grown up child.

Savannah’s picks

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

A mad, sad, funny, brilliant book about two unemployed potters in 400BC Syracuse attempting to stage Euripides with Greek prisoners of war.

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

A beautiful sci-fi novel that questions our conceptions of nature vs human progression. We will always coexist and this is a profound reminder.

The Tidal Year by Freya Bromley

This memoir is a beautiful exploration of grief, love, community, cold water swimming and learning to live in London.

Young Hag by Isabel Greenberg

This gorgeous graphic novel is a retelling of Arthurian myths rooted in a female perspective with a beautiful illustration style.

Darby’s picks

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor

Set on a remote Welsh island in the 1930s, this stunning debut explores language, culture and place.

Air and Love by Or Rosenboim

Part recipe book, part family memoir, part history, Rosenboim tracks her family’s migratory history through recipes.

A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike

Set in Tudor England, this novel follows Tibb, a captivating and witty protagonist who forges her own way in a society that marginalises her and her friends.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This adult fantasy is full of great world-building and a gripping plot. Think Divergent meets How To Train Your Dragon.

Megan’s picks

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

This delicious book is a treat for people who know a thing or two about chess, weird siblings, grief and struggling to express feelings to those you love the most.

The Last Sane Woman by Hannah Regel

This acutely observed debut is a clever and moving look at failure, fine arts, and finding yourself through finding others.

Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan

O’Hagan’s sprawling state-of-the-nation novel is a 650-page thriller with a compelling portrait of modern Britain.

Question 7 by Richard Flanagan

Part memoir, part auto-fiction, part history, this book defies categorisation.

And mine

Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKenna

A lively debut about the overlapping lives of a group of friends in a London heatwave.

You Are Here by David Nicholls

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. This bittersweet tale of a geography teacher, a coast-to-coast walk and an unexpected romance is vintage Nicholls.

The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson

A fascinating glimpse into life on a trading floor by a man who was once one of Citibank’s top traders before throwing it all in.

Precipice by Robert Harris

He’s done it again. A tension-filled page-turner based on Prime Minister Asquith’s real-life indiscretions on the eve of the First World War.

Upcoming events

• THIS WEDNESDAY 13 November, 7.30pm Madhumita Murgia, Code Dependent

  Come out to Backstory to hear the AI Editor at the Financial Times, Madhumita Murgia, discuss the new technology that’s changing our world. Through the voices of ordinary people in places far removed from Silicon Valley, Code Dependent explores the impact of a set of powerful, flawed, and often exploitative technologies on individuals, communities, and our wider society.

• 20 November, 7.30pm Jonn Elledge, A History of the World in 47 Borders

  People have been drawing lines on maps for as long as there have been maps to draw on. By telling the stories of these borders, we can learn a lot about how political identities are shaped, why the world looks the way it does — and about the scale of human folly.

• 22 November, 6 for 7pm Winter Session 2: Alex Cambridge

• 28 November, 7.30pm Tim Shipman, Out SOLD OUT

• 4 December, 7.30pm Dan Keeling, Who’s Afraid of Romanee Conti?

  When our friends at Noble Rot announced that co-founder and editor Dan Keeling was coming out with a book, we were of course eager to get him down to Backstory. And so we have! Who’s Afraid of Romanee-Conti is a no-fuss wine guide for novices and wine enthusiasts alike. As he visits renowned vineyards all across the world, Keeling questions why some wines seem to matter more than others, all while offering personal recommendations and insights into the winemaking process.

• 5 December, 7.15pm Jay Rayner, Nights Out At Home SOLD OUT

• 6 December, 6 for 7pm Winter Session 3: HerOrangeCoat

• 20 December, 6 for 7pm Winter Session 4: Average Ginger

Join our neighbour for an arty evening

Our lovely neighbour at 81 Balham High Road, Mimi V Artworks, will be hosting an evening of extraordinary graphic art on 23 November from 7pm-10pm.

Prosecco, beer and nibbles provided. All art will be for sale and discounts available for multiple purchases. Pop along if you can!

The Backstory chart

Click on the links to order any of these books from our website with free UK delivery

Hardback

1. The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden Our Backstory novel of the year - a stunning debut set in the Dutch countryside in the 1960s.

2. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Megan loves this book about two brilliant brothers, a treat for people who know a thing or two about chess, weird siblings, grief, and thinking deep thoughts but sometimes struggling to express them to the people you love the most.

3. We’ll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida. The cosy and charming bestselling Japanese novel.

4. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout A hopeful novel about new friends, old loves, and how we all want to leave a mark on the world we inhabit.

5. Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKenna I devoured this book, set over the course of one sweltering weekend in London, as the deeds and desires of several interconnected characters collide.

Paperback

1. Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshananthan Winner of this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, coming to our Backstory fiction book club in November.

2. Orbital by Samantha Harvey A luminous novel about six astronauts orbiting the Earth and observing its beauty and fragility. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

3. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano Denise loved this book, an homage to Little Women set in Chicago.

4. Butter by Asako Yuzuki Still going strong.

5. Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess A delightful rom com about two people from very different backgrounds.

Join our club

Want to have more Backstory in your life? Why not:

• Join our fiction or non-fiction book clubs, which meet every month on Zoom with each book’s author. We’ve heard from winners of the Pulitzer, Nobel and Women’s prizes, and big names like Patrick Radden Keefe, Caleb Azumah Nelson and Christina Lamb. Join for £15 a month or come to a one-off session for £16.

• Take out a Backstory book subscription, tailored to each individual recipient. These start from £60 for three months (or £45 for kids) and make brilliant presents.

Happy reading!
Tom