The beginning of Autumn is here in the southern hemisphere. As the mornings have become crisp, my taste in books has begun to change. I’m putting down the summer beach reads for now and am instead picking up books that are ideal for devouring under a blanket or by the fireplace.

Here’s what I read:

Classic of the Month: White Nights - Fyodor Dostoevsky

A short story takes place over several consecutive nights after a man finds a woman crying alone and becomes besotted with her. It delves into loneliness, isolation and unrequited love.

My first foray into Dostoevsky. It took me a minute to get the hang of the way the story was written, but after that, I was in—hook, line and sinker. It was odd and sorrowful, a surreal exploration into loneliness that still holds relevance today.

Favourite Read: Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain

A memoir depicting Anthony Bourdain’s journey through the culinary underbelly. Filled with wild stories of chaotic kitchens and memorable characters, we follow Anthony’s tumultuous career in various New York kitchens.

If you ever need something to shove you out of your comfort zone and serve as a reminder that life should be exciting, look no further. It felt like a story amongst friends shared over a bottle of wine—if you’ve watched Parts Unknown then I can almost guarantee you will hear his voice narrating as you read. I’ve already lent my copy to a friend and know it will be a book I reread many times in years to come.

Wait For It - Mariana Zapata

A single aunt juggles a new neighbourhood, two kids she is now the guardian of and a cranky neighbour who becomes increasingly entangled in her already complex life.

I really wanted to love this. I have heard endlessly good things about Mariana Zapata's books and how they are filled with yearning. I just didn’t quite get that from Wait For It. I found the characters likeable, but I didn’t feel invested in the story. I liked it, but I wanted to love it.

The Poppy War - R. F. Kuang

Fang Runin is a war orphan seeking to escape a forced marriage. She studies tirelessly for a national test that would see her study at a prestigious military academy, preparing her for a life of service in the Militia of an empire on the brink of war.

R.F. Kuang is at my heartstrings again. I read Babel in January and knew I had to read her other books. The Poppy War was incredible. The characters are deeply flawed and complex, the narrative is as masterfully crafted as the phenomenal world building. I’ve started the next book in the series The Dragon Republic, and can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy throughout April.

What did you read in March? I’d love to know.

Till next time xx

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