Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord - chosen by Wanjiku wa Ngugi (contributor to the Fire issue)
When Paama leaves her good-for-nothing husband, she is met by the djomba—the unding ones—who gift her with the Chaos Stick, enabling her to control the subtle forces of this world. Partly inspired by a Senegalese folk tale, Redemption in Indigo is magical and adventurous debut from Karen Lord, an exciting new voice in Caribbean literature. "Fantasy as a genre does not have boundaries," writes Lord. "It has roots. You may call it fantasy. I call it life.”
No one is talking about this by Patricia Lockwood - chosen by Yasmina Floyer (regular contributor)
This debut novel by Patricia Lockwood is one of the most original books I have read. Our unnamed protagonist provides the reader with an insight into her innermost thoughts as she navigates what it is to live a life online and offline. Her searing observations examine the way in which the internet, or ‘the portal’ as she refers to it, affects the way we relate to ourselves and how we adapt our thoughts and behaviour in response to the perpetually shifting landscape of the internet. The story has a fragmented form which effectively reflects the bite-sized short form of social media. A poignant narrative is loosely woven throughout the novel and it is one I have recommended time and time again!
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni - chosen by Wanjiku wa Ngugi
“Can't you ever be serious?' I said, mortified. 'It's difficult,' he said. 'There's so little in life that's worth it.”Recently we have seen a surge of interest in reworkings of myth. Poet and novelist Chitra Divakaruni re-imagines the Indian epic, the Mahabharat, centring on Panchaali, married to five men who seek to reclaim their birthright, and friend to Krishna. History and myth blur, but the within of this tale are fierce and independent.
Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire by Bettany Hughes - chosen by Beth Ward (regular contributor)
Venus/Aphrodite is arguably one of the most recognizable and familiar goddesses of the Greek/Roman pantheon. We've all seen the image, Boticelli's famous depiction of her birth, the copper-haired beauty emerging from frothy waves on a shell, greeting the viewer demurely, a kind of monolithic symbol of femininity and fertility.
Bettany Hughes, however, isn't so interested in this version of Venus, the version she describes as "safe, attractive, chocolate-box pretty," in her book Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire (2019). Instead, historian Hughes introduces readers to the goddess before the goddess, the one from the land of Cyprus, from the Middle East, from the Baltic, a great warrior goddess, love goddess, sex goddess, goddess of justice, of fertility and war, pain and pleasure, love and empire, life and death and rebirth.
Hughes' book reveals the story of a shapeshifting immortal goddess some five millenia old who is so much more than an "avatar of commercial romance" draped in pearls and honey. We're instead gifted with the historical tale of a profound and complex deity who, across centuries, has been worshiped as Inanna, Ishtar, Astarte, Aphrodite, Venus, among other names -- one we reduce to an "image on a Valentine's Day card" at our own peril.
I devoured this book.
Women and Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard - chosen by Yasmina Floyer
Whilst this compact book can be read in one sitting, it delves into the weighty and pertinent subject of women and power. Beard, who is Professor of Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge, examines the deep roots of misogyny by taking us back to the myths and societies of the Ancient Greeks and Romans in order to better understand the structural dynamics that affect women today, and more specifically, women’s relationship with power. Beard explores the public voice of women and references powerful women of both the mythical and contemporary world, from Medea and Athena to Merkle and Thatcher. This is a rousing and compelling manifesto that I find myself frequently returning to.
Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry edited by WB Yeats - chosen by Beth Ward
In compiling and editing the collection Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry (first published in 1888), William Butler Yates aimed to preserve and protect the tales of mystery and myth that lent his native Ireland its unique magic.
This book then is a kind of Wunderkammer, a cabinet of curiosities packed with tales and songs of witches and ghosts, fairies and queens, tales such as "The Fairy Well of Lagnanay," "Changelings," "The Horned Women," and "The Demon Cat." Reading them took me to a kind of shimmering, liminal place, each one rich with myth, and mood, and atmosphere, and enchantment.
The stories are also mostly short, and I ate them up like little sweets.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl - chosen by Elizabeth Kim (Editor)
This book had been on my to-read pile for so long and I only just got around to it. Perhaps because the story sounded rather bleak: Viktor E. Frankl was a neuroscientist, and a victim of the Holocaust; he and his entire family were prisoners at concentration camps during World War II, where so many Jews, disabled people, prisoners of war, and Romany people were slaughtered by the Nazi regime. While Frankl touches on some of the horrors of Auschwitz and other camps, he emphasises that describing conditions of this experience was not his objective. He was more interested in what happens to our humanity in the most extreme places, where food is scarce and the future seems bleak. Frankl speaks with compassion and deep wisdom about the meaning that can be found even in moments of unthinkable suffering. I was surprised to find in this concise story a spiritual journey and an antidote to existential nihilism.
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor - chosen by Elizabeth Kim
The classic source texts make huge claims about the efficacy of pranayama (Sanskrit for breath expansion) in “combatting all diseases,” which I thought a little optimistic, even if I have personally experienced the benefits of breathing well, and know that pranayama has been shown to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety. Science journalist James Nestor’s book suggests perhaps these ancient authors knew a trick we didn’t, tracing the strange history of breathing, its value in native and indigenous communities, as well as in ancient civilisations. He puts forward a good case to learn to breathe better and provides the tools for doing so.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by Simon Armitage - chosen by Elizabeth Kim
“And wonder, dread and war / have lingered in that land / where loss and love in turn / have held the upper hand.” For a period of time, I was obsessed with Arthurian legend. This was one of the titles I didn’t get around to, though felt compelled to revisit it after watching David Lowery’s stunning adaptation starring Dev Patel as Gawain. This 14th-century romance recalls one of the most famous quests from Arthur’s round table. Sir Gawain accepts a challenge from the mysterious Green Knight, one which he must face with courage and chivalry. The Green Knight is such an enigmatic character, he has puzzled countless translators and readers including JRR Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. This version is beautifully translated by Simon Armitage and an enchanting reading experience, transporting you deep into the folds of the land.
Ring by Koji Suzuki - chosen by Elizabeth Kim
If you thought the film adaptations of Ring were terrifying, the original book trilogy really gets into your head. Reading it, I felt like the book was coming alive. A storm started in the story, and then outside a storm raged. The character could hear the tap dripping and I could too. Infused with the occult, this is a page-turner, simple and effective in its execution, and sufficiently different from the films to surprise you. Expect demons, a legend of a Buddhist ascetic monk with powers of telekinesis, that strange feeling of reality turning inside out. Ring also touches on deeper, existential questions, as good horror should: “See, we don’t know the beginning and we don’t know the end; all we can know about is the in-between stuff. And that, my friend, is what life is like.” I loved this and cannot wait to read the other books in the series.
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés - chosen by Maggie Eliana (In-House Herbalist)
One of my favourite story collections, Women Who Run with the Wolves is a compendium of folktales exploring the archetype of the “Wild Woman.” Pinkola Estés has a PhD in ethno-clinical psychology and focuses her work on understanding the cultural roles that women have played, from innocent maiden to cannibalistic crone. This collection in particular aims to help women reconnect with their primal, instinctual nature and to reclaim this wildness. Expect folk tales from various cultures alongside Pinkola Estés’ analysis, as well as beautiful personal anecdotes. My personal copy is filled with notes and underscores as it is simply bursting with inspirational ideas!
The Conference of the Birds by Farīd al-Dīn ʻAṭṭār - chosen by Elizabeth Kim
“It was in China, late one moonless night / The Simorgh first appeared to mortal sight – / He let a feather float down through the air, / And rumours of its fame spread everywhere...”I read this Persian mystic epic poem a long time ago and returned to it now, thinking about our Air issue. A murmur of birds set out seeking the Simurgh, a legendary god-like bird. It seems like a grail quest, one of those journeys without end. Through beautiful verse, we see their doubts, their fears, their trepidations regarding setting out on the way, and the profound things learned from pushing past these obstacles and reaching this seemingly untenable goal. This is a deeply spiritual tale and one I will return to time and time again.
Old Wive’s Tales: The History of Remedies, Charms and Spells by Mary Chamberlain - chosen by Maggie Eliana
This book provides a unique window into the history of old wives’ tales and the social implications entwined within them. Chamberlain weaves a beautiful story from this timeline of the history of our ideas of spells, charms, and magic while tying it into the social history the ideas are contained within. Throughout human history and across cultures, we see women go from goddess to sorceress, expert, witch, and charlatan. We see what is happening culturally alongside these changes and how these ideas affect wider culture. And as the blurb states, we actually have a lot to learn from such stories.
The Yellow on the Broom by Betsy Whyte - chosen by Maggie Eliana
One of the most wonderful books I have ever come across, The Yellow on the Broom is an autobiographical account of a traveller family in 1919. We are treated to a rare glimpse into a way of life that is seldom found today. Whyte tells her family’s story with warmth, humour, respect, compassion, and matter-of-factness in the face of challenging situations. A true gem of a book, Whyte’s storytelling takes you along with her family on their travels in such a way that one can’t help getting swept along through the British countryside along with them. A book of true wistful nostalgic enjoyment.
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora - chosen by Wanjiku wa Ngugi
Set in the South after the Civil War, here is the tale of three generations of women: Rue, Varina and May Belle. When a strange illness shakes the community, they are divided. To some, Rue’s conjure is healing. To others, it is a curse.
Read our interview with Afia Atakora.