When was I last given a reading list I wonder? Very many decades ago I think. This all came to mind after finishing ‘The English Teacher,’ the third book by Lily King that I have recently read. (See readings.) After the acknowledgements and the now fairly common book group questions, there was a list of ‘Suggestions for Further Reading.’
I still haven’t quite decided if this was a slightly tongue in cheek device, continuing with the idea of the English Teacher or whether I’m reading more into it than is actually there!
The big concept in this book is freedom and I was interested to see what appeared on the reading list that would further this theme. Hardy was there with poor Tess and also Bathsheba intent on escaping her shackles. The Bennet girls of course, ‘A Room with a View’ and some Virginia Woolf, as well as ‘Atonement’ by Ian McEwan.
Then ‘The Gate of Angels’ by Penelope Fitzgerald (her novels are mostly slim volumes so great for travelling), Bel Canto by Ann Patchett and Amy and Isabelle by dear Elizabeth Strout. I have now acquired the last 3 and will indeed read them, with ‘The English Teacher’ in mind and that large focus on freedom, inevitably mostly of women, to the forefront.
A good reading list indeed.