Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
There’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in a compelling book. With such a vast array of choices, selecting your next great read can feel overwhelming. For trustworthy recommendations, who better to consult than fellow book lovers? In celebration of Independent Bookshop Week, we asked five passionate booksellers to share their personal favorite books of all time. Explore their top selections, ranging from enduring classics to contemporary gems in historical fiction.
Independent Bookshop Week, celebrated from June 14–21, is a key initiative by the Booksellers Association emphasizing the distinct cultural, economic, and community contributions of independent bookstores to the retail landscape. Below, discover reading suggestions from five booksellers, encompassing both enduring tales and recent acclaimed novels. Share in the comments how many you’ve encountered and which ones you plan to explore!
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Timeless Recommendations: Favorite Books from Independent Booksellers
1984 by George Orwell (1949)
Dean Freeman, from Heron & Willow in Jedburgh, stated, “Given my shop’s decor pays tribute to Winston Smith, selecting 1984 feels apt! I’ve revisited it countless times, a rarity for me, and it invariably captivates. Its strength lies in its versatile appeal: it’s a political commentary, a romance, and a thriller all in one.”
“Now as a parent, Winston’s recollection of a joyful moment with his mother, later dismissed as a tainted memory, deeply resonated. I admire Orwell’s detailed portrayal of the society’s mechanics, including the book-within-a-book and Newspeak appendices, though some find these tedious.”
“Recent years have been interesting for Orwell fans, with copyright expirations leading to sequels. Sandra Newman’s Julia, a retelling of 1984 from Julia’s viewpoint, took bold liberties, which I appreciated.”
“1984‘s ubiquity paradoxically leads to its oversight. Beyond its cultural imprint, it remains a masterful work of fiction.”
The Offing by Benjamin Myers (2019)
Mel O’Brien, from Dark Peak Books & Gifts in Glossop, shared, “My all-time favorite is The Offing by Benjamin Myers. While I enjoy all his diverse works, this one particularly stands out for recommendations.”
“It narrates the friendship between a young man from a North-East mining town and an older woman in Robin Hoods Bay, during a summer after World War II. Myers’ vivid prose paints a stunning picture, especially for someone who grew up in that region.”
“The portrayal of their tender, platonic bond and their mutual impact is profoundly heart-warming. Reading it during the 2020 lockdown, I longed to join Robert and Dulcie, savoring fresh lobster with garlic and lemon and enjoying cold white wine by the sea.”
“It’s a book I’ll revisit repeatedly and continue to promote in my bookshop (celebrating its fourth anniversary this Independent Bookshop Week!).”
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (1985)
Steph Collis, from David’s Bookshop in Hertfordshire, noted, “Lonesome Dove, with over 840 pages and a masculine cover, is a challenging recommendation. Even highlighting McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize and the prospect of weeks of entertainment for a reasonable price, it can be difficult to get it into customers’ hands.”
“Despite this, recent sales prove its enduring appeal. Readers embark on a journey from Texas to Montana with unforgettable characters. Lonesome Dove is a captivating adventure, a tragic romance, and a nuanced exploration of the Wild West.”
“My edition aptly quotes, ‘If you read only one Western novel, read this one.’ The upcoming Picador Collection release in June will feature a distinctive lasso design.”
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell (2022)
Sue Porter, from Linghams Bookshop in Heswall, expressed, “Choosing a single favorite is arduous! But, for a lasting impact, I recommend The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell. This masterpiece of historical fiction from the Women’s Prize winner tells the haunting tale of Lucrezia de’ Medici, Duchess of Ferrara.”
“At sixteen, Lucrezia is taken from her home and thrust into a political marriage with the unpredictable Alfonso II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. O’Farrell immerses readers in the opulent Renaissance courts—lavish and glittering yet fraught with danger and secrets.”
“From the outset, Lucrezia’s fate is foreshadowed. Her single known portrait compels readers to seek it out! The novel is rich with compelling characters and vivid descriptions of magnificent palazzos, reflecting the gilded cages in which many women were confined.”
“This novel captures the heart and imagination from the beginning and is a story of youth, power, art, and survival—a book to revisit time and again.”
The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore (2023)
Jacqui Delbaere, from The Little Green Bookshop in Herne Bay, admitted, “Selecting an all-time favorite is challenging! Though Anna Karenina long held the title, The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore has become a strong contender. Published in 2023, this novel reimagines the life of The Great Tarare, an 18th-century French figure. An act of violence triggers his insatiable appetite.”
“The narrative follows Tarare as he joins a group of outcasts traveling through France toward Revolutionary Paris. He becomes their spectacle, ‘The Glutton of Lyon,’ a sideshow performer.”
“As Tarare’s journey unfolds, I felt both repulsion and empathy. Illiterate and ostracized, his fleeting experiences with love hint at a life beyond his hunger. Despite his moral breaches, I sympathized with him.”
“Blakemore’s exceptional language captivated me. She portrays Tarare’s horrifying appetite with gruesome delight, detailing his consumption of everything from carcasses to household items before fascinated crowds.”
“Blakemore’s rich, sensory language transports one to the past. I felt utterly immersed in the period, and her command of words mirrors her past success as a prize-winning poet.”
“The Glutton made me feel present throughout Tarare’s unusual life, and it still lingers with me well after finishing it.”