'A subtle moving study of love...'

Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty

This is a subtle, moving study of love and of a long relationship in the course of

which two people have fallen out of step with each other. A brilliant study of

monogamy, this masterful novel explores the slow damage of compromise

within a marriage. The two central characters, haunted by the troubles in

Ireland, try to close the door on the past, whilst in the present, their decision

to spend a long weekend in Amsterdam proves a catalyst for self-examination.

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

So many of us struggle to get a good night’s sleep these days, so this book,

written by a neuroscientist, has probably never been so relevant. Matthew

Walker discusses in detail all the whys of sleep and the science behind it,

exploring the link between sleep and health. Fascinating, both analytical and

contemplative, this book will interest both scientists and general readers.

The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler

It’s 1937, and the shadows are lengthening across Europe. Set in Vienna, this

lovely novel follows a young man who works in a small tobacconist’s as an

apprentice and develops a friendship with Sigmund Freud. As the world

darkens, the lives of all will be irrevocably changed. Charming, yet full of

yearning and melancholy, this book is a beautiful elegy for a vanished world.