BOOKS | 35
IT’S WORTH READING Matthew Perren recommends
ATLAS OF REMOTE ISLANDS
by Judith Schalansky Ok. No beating around the bush. This is the most beautiful book I have ever seen. It won a prize in Germany where it was first published for being exactly that. Why don’t we have beauty prizes for books? Anyway, this is exactly what it says it is. Each island is perfectly illustrated in a classically austere style and is accompanied by a facing page of text: sometimes informative, sometimes tangential and almost dreamlike. It’s a fascinating work of imaginary travel by a very talented artist, author and typesetter.
THE FLAVOUR THESAURUS by Niki Segnit It’s clearly a month for superlatives. I can’t remember when I last came across such an inventive, imaginative and original book about food. Each item is listed with all the ingredients that complement it. Each entry accompanied by an entertaining and useful snippet. Ever wondered what goes well with watermelon or peanuts or egg or cabbage? It’s all here. There are very few recipes but tons of ideas. The whole thing is an inspiration.
HANDY DAD by Todd Davis Want to build a doll’s house? A skateboard? A tree house? A climbing wall? No? Why on earth not? You need to buy this ridiculously inspiring book by the absurdly enthusiastic Todd Davis. And if these projects seem ambitious he tells you how to build a super-easy lava lamp and even provides instructions for a perfect paper plane. Not just for Dads.
THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbø
I’m always happy when a new Jo Nesbø thumps onto my desk. This one’s a cracker. Harry Hole, Nesbø’s Oslo detective is like a younger, punkier Rebus and here he’s up against Norway’s first serial killer. It’s tense, densely plotted and ignore-the-kids compelling. I don’t want to say any more about it at the risk of giving anything away except that the ending is a deeply satisfying tying up of all loose ends. Often a weak point in some contemporary crime writing. Not here though. If you’ve not read Jo Nesbø then please do. You’ll thank me.
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