Welcome to Triple Choice Tuesday, an ad-hoc series I kicked off in 2010 which has been on hiatus for several years — but has now returned for 2024. This is where I ask some of my favourite bloggers, writers and readers to share the names of three books that mean a lot to them. The idea is that it might raise the profile of certain books and introduce you to new titles, new authors and new bloggers. If you’d like to take part simply visit this post and fill in the form!
Today’s guest is Margaret, who blogs at From Pyrenees to Pennines.
While Margaret’s blog is more wide-ranging than just books — it spans travel, photography, history, reading and everything in between — I invited her to participate because she’s such a loyal and passionate supporter of Reading Matters and our reading tastes seem fairly aligned.
Margaret describes herself as a “Yorkshire lass” who has spent much of her life living anywhere but Yorkshire.
“For the last ten years though, I’ve been back, exploring the many walks it has to offer, volunteering – at my local library of course – and at the National Treasure which is Fountains Abbey,” she says. “Together with my husband, we still travel in Europe as much as we can, especially in Spain, since our daughter lives there. What else? Singing, blogging, writing … and reading, always reading.”
Without further ado, here are Margaret’s choices:
A favourite book: The Commissario Brunetti series by Donna Leon
I’m choosing a series, rather than a single book as my go-to comfort read. When seeking the virtual and entirely congenial company of someone fictional, it often has to be Commissario Brunetti, of the Italian State Police. He’s always lived and worked in Venice, a city he loves whilst being alive to its problems. He and his wife Paola are civilised, humane and with a well-developed social conscience. They’re well-read, and they enjoy good food.
Walking the streets of the city with Guido (we’re on first-name terms now) is to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Italy, as his active and thoughtful brain works on his latest case. Thank you, Donna Leon, for bringing us so many intriguing stories about this special police officer!
A book that changed my world: ‘Mend the Living’ by Meylis de Karangal
I first read this book about eight years ago, and still remember its impact. A boy dies in a road accident as he and his friends return from surfing. His perfect body is there for his mother and his father to see, lying on his hospital bed. Thanks to technology, he breathes, as if in dreamless sleep. But he’s dead. And his parents need to decide whether his organs can be ‘harvested’ so others might live. And they must decide now, watching their son calmly ‘sleeping’.
This is their story. It’s also the story of the hospital staff, medical and otherwise, charged with his care, coming into work from their messy day-to-day lives. They leave behind them evenings of unsatisfactory sex, of football matches missed, and it’s business as usual for them. It’s the story of Simon’s girlfriend, annoyed that he’s preferred to go surfing than snatch a few more hours with her. It’s the story of the woman destined to receive his heart.
This is no medical manual. It’s poetic, beautiful, lyrical, rhythmical – and audacious: a quality which seemed to identify the book for me as ‘very French’. And I want to single out the quality of the translation. This is an extraordinary narrative alongside an intimate exploration of what it is to be human, which invites thought and reflection.
A book that deserves a wider audience: ‘The Communist’s Daughter’ by Aroa Moreno Durán
Katia, the daughter of Spanish refugees from the Civil War was raised in East Berlin with all its difficulties and privations. She saw the wall go up, experienced the limitations of the life they were obliged to leave. And she left, with all the difficulties and dangers her leaving represented. But what had she gained? And what might her family have lost?
This is a sparely written, thought-provoking and unsettling book about what it means to be personally and politically uprooted. Though widely read in Spain, this book seems to be a bit under the radar here.
What do you think of Margaret’s choices? Have you read any of these books?
I have read a few books by Donna Leon (all in the early days of this blog) but they didn’t really “grab” me in the way I’d hoped given I’ve been to Venice multiple times and am mildly obsessed with the watery city. The other two books are new-to-me titles and I love the sound of them. Triple Choice Tuesday does terrible things to my wishlist and TBR!
Reading Matters 
Great post 🌹🌹
LikeLike
I like the sound of her choices too. I’ve bought a copy of The Communist’s Daughter … I like books that explore societies in transition!
I went through a Donna Leon phase, long before I’d been to Venice, but I loved reading books set there anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you find The Communist’s Daughter as good a read as I did, Lisa. And I’m glad you’ve enjoyed trips to Venice with Commissario Brunetti!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another set of great choices. I love that Margaret started with a series. I am not a big series reader myself, but I can see that they can be the perfect comfort or favourite read. Her other two books, I’ve never heard of, but both sound excellent, and like books I’d be more than happy to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Donna Leon books aren’t a series in the sense that it matters what order you read them in. I just pick one up every now and then: despite their being about Murder most Foul, they soothe me by wandering the back streets o Venice ‘. I hope you do add my other choices to your no doubt tottering TBR pile.
LikeLike
I felt similarly to you about Donna Leon, tried one while backpacking but didn’t find it as atmospheric as I’d hoped. So great when you find a good comfort series though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting, Laura: it’s funny how atmosphere communicates itself in different ways in the books we choose to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, and to be fair to Donna Leon I probably read it on a long-distance South American bus so I doubt it was ideal reading conditions!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for this Kim. I’m looking forward to re-blogging this – Tomorrow, I think, as we have guests.
LikeLike
They’re great choices, Margaret. Thanks for taking part!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I’ve re-blogged your post on my site – hope that’s OK! https://margaret21.com/2024/04/24/in-which-i-appear-in-reading-matters/
LikeLike
Of course! I seem to have acquired a few new subscribers thanks to you pointing people this way, so thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hooray! That’s what I hoped for.
LikeLike
Margaret is one of my ‘go to’ bloggers for interesting reading matter. I certainly wouldn’t say that our tastes coincide but she reads from a much wider spectrum than I do and often has recommendations that I would want to read. I have read Leon in the past and rather enjoy Guido’s company too, but the book I would want to read of these is the second choice. The whole premise of it makes my stomach turn over, but then I’m drawn in.
Nice to ‘meet’ you. I love books, but am a slow reader.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for leaving a comment Restlessjo 🙂
Books are one of life’s pleasures, so it doesn’t really matter whether you are a fast or slow reader, as long as you make the time to get a little enjoyment out of turning the pages and immersing yourself in other worlds — it’s the safest (and cheapest) form of travel there is!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s true- I’ve just leapt from Chile with Isabel Allende, to Nigeria with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like your last remark!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for commenting Jo. I know our tastes are not the same, but I always appreciate the attention you give to my suggestions, even when they’re not your ‘thing’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗🩵
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a keen fan of Margaret’s blog – her photographs are so striking. I’m adding Mend the Living to my list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We seem to be in a Mutual Appreciation Club, Susan. Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I heard Donna Leon on the radio a couple of years ago and she sounded so interesting that I thought I really should read her books. Not quite got there yet, but she’s still on the list and might have jumped up a few places now! Of the other two, Mend the Living appeals the most. It sounds extraordinary and maybe one to suggest to book group – so many themes for discussion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mend the Living came to me via a Book Group choice, Anabel – and you’re right: it provoked a lot of discussion, and quite divided opinion. Go for it! And then relax over a nice glass of wine with Donna Leon …
LikeLiked by 1 person
What great choices. I loved the Maylis de Kerangal, you’re right – the translation is something else. I’ve read a couple of others by her translated by Jessica Moore now, and they’re equally amazing. Kerangal obviously loves using technical language, and Moore must have a challenge to make it as seamless as she does. I’ve read around the first 8 of the Donna Leon, and Brunetti and Paola are super – luckily I’ve lots more to read still.
LikeLike
Margaret has offered such a good mix of books. I’ve never read anything by Leon but I find it hard to resist anything which enables me to indulge in some Italian travel.
LikeLiked by 1 person