A few weeks ago I made a call out to my Instagram community to give me their suggestions and recommendations on their favourite novels. And boy, did they deliver! At the top of their list (and already high on my radar) was the Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris – so I was super pleased when Santa Clause left it in my stocking.

Let me tell you – it is a page turner. Without giving too much away, the novel follows the story of Lale Sokolov, an extraordinary Jewish man, and his survival of the Auschwitz concentration camp. The stories and experiences are based on a true story – from the life of the real Lale, and his love (in the novel and in real life) Gita, with creative licenses taken to flesh out memories of combine timelines where necessary. I loved it and would definitely recommend a read, and a box of tissues.

If you’re anything like me, the beginning of the new year has prompted you to put at least 1 mildly achievable goal in place for the year (I’m not one really for resolutions), so I decided reading books it is. I’ve got a long long list of recommendations, and many requests to share those, so here it is. (In no particular order)

  1. Cilka’s Journey (is the sequel in this series) – Heather Morris
  2. Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl
  3. Boy Swallows Universe – Trent Dalton
  4. The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals – Wendy Jones
  5. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman
  6. Between a Wolf and a Dog – Georgia Blain
  7. The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey
  8. To The Bright Edge of the World – Eowyn Ivey
  9. Hunter – Jack Heath
  10. A Child Called ‘It’ – Dave Pelzer
  11. The Bronze Horsemen Trilogy – Paullina Simons
  12. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
  13. Becoming – Michelle Obama
  14. The Girl from Munich – Tania Blanchard
  15. Suitcase of Dreams – Tania Blanchard
  16. The Book Ninja – Ali Berg
  17. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
  18. The Alice Network –  Kate Quin
  19. The Huntress –  Kate Quin
  20. The Invitation – Belinda Alexander
  21. A Discovery of Witches – Deborah Harkness
  22. The Olive Grove – Deborah Rohan
  23. Ten Minutes, 38 Seconds in the Strange World – Elif Shafak
  24. Jessica – Bryce Cortany
  25. Marching Powder – Rusty Young
  26. Scar Tissue – Anthony Kiedsi
  27. The Power of One – Bryce Courtenay
  28. 1984 – George Orwell
  29. The Rosie Project – Graeme Simsion
  30. The Dry – Jane Harper
  31. Force of Nature – Jane Harper
  32. Three Women – Lisa Toddaeo
  33. Your Own Kind of Girl – Calre Bowditch
  34. Eggshell Skull – Bri Lee
  35. The Trauma Cleaner – Sarah Krasnostein
  36. A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
  37. The Natural Way of Things – Charlotte Wood
  38. Star Crossed – Minne Drake
  39. One of Us is Lying – Karen McManus
  40. One Day in December – Josie Silver