Up and down, up and down. Great books and a lot of shitty TV. That pretty much describes my autumn. I have been touring endlessly for Love & Treasure, meeting amazing readers in far flung places. Somehow being on a plane makes me gaga and I stare mindlessly at the TV screen rather than dip into a good book. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine A massive leap forward for Rabih. A gorgeous book.

The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis I had to read this in short bursts. It was quite nearly unbearable to live for long with these astonishing and astonishingly vile characters.

The New Confessions by William Boyd I love Boyd when he sprawls. And since my new novel is sprawling, I needed some of his.

Girl at War by Sara Novi´c The first 100 pages of this will knock your socks off.

The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard I'm so completely over the Holocaust novel featuring the innocent child. Still, Shepard managed to bring me in and blow my mind. At least there were no fucking good Germans.

Trial by Fire by Gerry Spence Read for work.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel I fucking LOVED this novel. Please go buy it immediately. And please pay full price.

Some Luck by Jane Smiley She is the master.