What Team Whistles Are Reading
We’re a bunch of bookworms here at Whistles, loving nothing more than curling up with a novel at the weekends. But with so many great reads out there, how to choose which one to pull off the bookshelf next? We asked our in-house team what stories they are loving at the moment for your reading pleasure.
White Girls by Hilton Als, Modern Nature by Derek Jarman, and Big Sur by Jack Kerouac
“I’m one of those ‘read multiple books at the same time types.’ Right now, that’s Hilton Al’s White Girls, a powerful essay about queerness. I’m also re-reading Derek Jarman’s Modern Nature, which documents his garden on the barren coast of Dungeness, and Jack Kerouac’s Big Sur which is about seeking solitude in a cabin on the Californian coast – both quite fitting for now.”
Daniel Hynd, Editorial & Social Media Coordinator
Jerusalem the Golden by Margaret Drabble
“I have just finished reading Margaret Drabble’s Jerusalem the Golden and was hooked from the outset. The story follows a young girl’s journey into womanhood during the 1960s. It’s an insightful read.”
Jamie-Lee Bullen, PR & Communications Executive
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
“I am currently reading The Lacuna recommended by a trusted friend as her favourite book ‘ever’. It’s totally a book to savour and dip in and out of. Set between Mexico and the US in the 1930s-50s, it’s a story of a fictional character Harrison Shepherd, whose life intertwines with real life events and people, from Frida Khalo to Leon Trotsky. It discusses everything from identity to self-discovery, through to the McCarthy witch-hunts in the US. It’s a beautiful way to absorb history.”
Anna Cunningham, Senior PR & Communications Manager
An American Marriage By Tayari Jones
“Tayari Jones’ novel follows the story of a young African-American couple and the effects of a wrongful conviction on their marriage. It is a powerful and thought provoking read.”
Georgia Dashfield, Communications Coordinator
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
“Possibly my favourite book that I’ve read all year, I could not put Where The Crawdads Sing down. Set in North Carolina during the 1950s-60s, and tells the story of a young girl, Kya, who is abandoned by her family to live alone in a marsh. It switches between decades, from her learning how to fend for herself, to where she is accused murder. Not only did it have a great twist at the end, but it was heartwarming and I felt very sad when it was over.”
Lucy Harper, Ecommerce Assistant Trader
Calypso by David Sedaris
This book was given to me by a friend with high praise attached, and it didn’t disappoint. I hadn’t read any Sedaris before, but his writing is both hilariously funny and refreshingly open. Broken into small essays, the book cleverly balances humour with poignant themes within his family dynamic, from clothes shopping in Tokyo, to a friendship with a fox named Carol. It gave me many laugh out loud moments.
Lottie Pewter, Graphic Design Lead
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
I am currently reading the Booker Prize-winning novel Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. An important and timely book, the novel charts the lives of 12 characters, mostly women who are black and British, and the subtle ways their worlds interconnect. It’s energetic, brilliantly written and paints an amazing portrait of modern Britain. Highly recommended!
Charlotte Wood, Senior Brand Editor & Creative Producer
