Go Book Yourself

Book recommendations by humans, because algorithms are so 1984. Follow @book_yourself

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Out This Week – May 5th

Must read new releases to rush out and buy...

Don’t Be A Dick Pete by Stuart Heritage for a memoir that’s both a touching tribute to brotherhood and an exploration of modern masculinity.

The Nothing by Hanif Kureshi for a witty, acerbic novella about an ageing, bed-bound film director who suspects his much younger wife of cheating.

The 7th Function of Language by Laurent Binet for a genius literary thriller about writers, global politics, and the power of language itself.

The Ice by Laline Paul for a thriller set in the melting Arctic tundra, as a body in the ice sparks a murder mystery.

Strange Heart Beating by Eli Goldstone when his wife is killed by a swan, Seb finds letters to a man in her native Latvia, and goes in search of answers.

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Go Book Yourself: Kurt Vonnegut Edition

It’s ten years this week since we lost Kurt Vonnegut. If you’ve been meaning to get around to reading him, here’s where to start...

Slaughterhouse-Five for an American classic about a man haunted by the bombing of Dresden in WWII, who becomes unstuck in time.

Breakfast of Champions for Vonnegut’s exploration of the American condition, as a Pontiac salesman comes to believe he’s the last human with free will.

Cat’s Cradle for a satirical take on the post-WWII arms race, about the inventor of a dangerous fictional substance known as ice-nine.

Timequake for a novel Vonnegut deemed a “stew” of fiction, autobiography, and other devices that serve to explore ideas of time, depression, and free will.

Sirens of Titan for a bonafide sci-fi story concerning the wonderfully monikered Malachi Constant and the Martian invasion of Earth.

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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Happy 92nd birthday, Gatsby and co! The Jazz-age classic was published on this day in 1925. Here are some books to read next...

Jazz by Toni Morrison for a novel set at the heart of the Jazz-age, 1920s Harlem, that also explores love, obsession, and murder.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler for the Fitzgerald story as told by one of the most interesting characters in 20th century literature.

Ship of Fools by Katherine Ann Porter for a novel exploring ideas of society and class from one of F. Scott’s contemporaries.

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf for a story set in post-WWI British society, as a woman preparing for a party re-examines her life choices and her regrets.

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This Week’s New Releases

The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak for the 1980s set story of three 14 year old boys on a quest to get a legendary copy of Playboy magazine.

One of the Boys by Daniel Magriel for two young boys trying to hold the pieces together as their divorced father unravels before them.

The Cows by Dawn O’Porter for three modern women brought together by an extraordinary event, as they learn it’s okay not to follow the herd.

The Other Half of Happiness by Ayisha Malik for a romantic comedy sequel to last year’s Sofia Khan is Not Obliged.

White Tears by Hari Kunzru for the story of a mythical blues record, and the two white collectors who try to hunt it down, at any cost.

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This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz

For more short stories that explore love in all its undiluted forms, try these:

A Visit From The Good Squad by Jennifer Egan for another set of interconnected tales detailing the intimate lives of friends, lovers, and strangers.

Homesick For Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh for a collection of dark and often hilarious stories that expose the depths of human self-deception. 

Whatever Happened To Interracial Love by Kathleen Collins for a previously unpublished collection about lovers of all kinds from a voice we lost too soon.

Young Skins by Colin Barrett for more tough but tender tales about young men navigating love, addiction, and murder.

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Jhalak Prize 2017 Shortlist

The Jhalak Prize seeks to celebrate books by British-based BAME writers, open to both fiction and non-fiction. Here is the inaugural shortlist.

Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge for the story of November 23rd, 2013, a day when ten children in the US were killed by gunfire.

The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave for a YA adventure about a young girl on a quest to find her missing friend and save their island home. 

A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee for a crime thriller about a Scotland Yard detective new to Calcutta, investigating a murder with ties to the British Raj.

The Bone Readers by Jacob Ross for a detective story set on the Caribbean island of Camaho, where cultural tradition meets cutting edge forensics. 

Speak Gigantular by Irenosen Okojie for a short story collection with razor sharp insight into the darkest corners of the human experience.

Black & British: A Forgotten History by David Olugosa (not pictured) for a rich exploration of the relationship between Britain and the people of Africa.

You can find out more about the Jhalak Prize here. The winner will be announced 17th March.

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We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche 

For more must read feminist books, try these...

Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay for funny, insightful essays on feminism, pop culture, and finding your place in the world.

A Room Of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf for two essays arguing for both literal and figurative space for women writers. 

Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit for a searing indictment of patriarchal culture from the writer who coined the phrase ‘mansplaining’.

Asking For It by Louise O’Neill for a harrowing fictional exploration into the effects of sexual assault and victim blaming.

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All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

For more young heroes and intertwined fates, read these:

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson for another book about a boy surviving under an oppressive regime.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein for another moving wartime friendship.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt for another story of a young man whose fate is tied to a priceless object.

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell for a young girl evading capture in Paris.

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Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

For more edge-of-your-seat psychological thrillers try…

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane for a twisty thriller that will make you question everything you think you know. 

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica for an impressive debut about an abduction and some very tangled relationships.

Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson for the story of a woman who wakes up every morning without knowing who she is. 

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier for a classic novel as engrossing and unnerving as Gone Girl.

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Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

For more warts-and-all literary stories with unique voices...

How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman for a Booker-prize winning novel set in working class Glasgow, and written in Scottish dialect.

A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan for more interconnected tales dealing with drugs and broken dreams, in Los Angeles and New York.

The Crow Road by Iain Banks for another cult Scottish novel mixing dark humour with violence in the story of a young man investigating a murder.

A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing by Eimear McBride for more breathless stream of consciousness style very much of it's place.

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Deliciously Ella by Ella Woodward

For more inspirational books about clean eating that are never judgmental...

Eat Nourish Glow by Amelia Freer for a super easy to follow book that explains why different foods are good or bad for you and encourages you to make your own decisions.

The Art of Eating Well by Hemsley + Hemsley for a cook book packed with creative and colourful ways to eat unprocessed nourishing food.

A Change of Appetite by Diana Henry for a book where healthy meets delicious focused on seasonal produce and intelligent eating.

5 Weeks to Sugar Free by Davina McCall for a friendly, fun but well researched book, full of recipes to help reduce the refined sugar in your diet.

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Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

For more grown-up takes on boarding school fiction, try these…

St. Clare’s by Enid Blyton for a book series that will make you want to run away and join the O’ Sullivan twins at boarding school

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray for a hilarious, rambunctious story about the death of a young student at a Catholic boarding school in Dublin

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro for a beautifully rendered book that will make you think about life, mortality, and what it means to be human

The Secret History by Donna Tartt for a classic, devastatingly powerful campus novel that will stay with you for a very long time

This post was guest edited by author Louise O'Neill. Her debut novel Only Ever Yours is out now in the UK & Ireland (US April 2015). Follow her on Twitter.

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Go Book Yourself: Top 5 Posts 2014

The notes are in, here are our most popular posts of the year...

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 3,044 notes

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 2,330 notes

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell 1,910 notes

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green 1,862 notes

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen 1,401 notes

Thank you for a wonderful year, see you all in 2015!

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Go Book Ourselves: Christmas 2014 Edition

Here's our Christmas haul...

The Sense of an Ending by Frank Kermode, a seminal work of literary criticism – Anna

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling, because I've never read the books! – Dan

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle, a haunting literary meditation on loneliness and imagination – Rob

Your turn! What books did you get for Christmas?

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Go Book Yourself: Dan's Top 5 Books Of 2014

Dan’s favourite reads of the year...

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill for a witty, wise and heartbreaking book filled with profound and insightful writing.

Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer for an utterly gorgeous love affair written entirely in letters (released 2013, read this year).

Ablutions by Patrick DeWitt for a dark, drunken, downward spiral in a Los Angeles dive bar (released 2009, read this year).

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle for a beautiful, haunting ballad of a novel, an ode to solitude and secret lives.

My Salinger Year Joanna Rakoff for a young woman traversing New York, publishing, her twenties, and the most famous author in the world.

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Go Book Yourself: Top 5 Young Adult Books 2014

Our favourite YA of the year...

We Were Liars by E Lockhart for an exquisitely written tearjerker.

The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick for a novel in four quarters that will really make you think.

Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill for a haunting feminist dystopia.

A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond for a lyrical, literary retelling of the myth of Orpheus.

Trouble by Non Pratt for a funny, charming Brit novel full of heart.

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Go Book Yourself: Anna's Top 5 Books of 2014

Our Recommendations Editor Anna James gives her top picks of the year...

How to be Both by Ali Smith for a nimble, playful and deeply affecting novel in two halves.

The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison for a book of narrative essays that will get under your skin.

The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt for an intricate, intelligent and profoundly moving literary novel.

In the Country of Ice Cream Star by Sandra Newman for a jaw-droppingly creative epic that revels in linguistic playfulness.

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel for a genre-defying, unputdownable love letter to humanity.

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