For one lifelong bibliophile, the past year has been filled with literary discoveries that span genres and emotions. Vita Molyneux, a travel reporter and English Literature graduate, has curated a list of the five titles that captivated her most, proving that a passion for reading can flourish even after intensive academic study.
From Childhood Libraries to Lifelong Literary Passion
Molyneux's enduring love for books began in childhood, with weekly library trips where she would eagerly select a pile of books and lose herself in them. This passion led her to study English Literature at university, a path that, while academically demanding, never dimmed her personal enjoyment of reading. Today, she remains an avid and open-minded reader, and from her year of reading, five standout books have made a profound impact.
1. Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova: A Tale of Grief and Love
This powerful novel begins with a mother grappling with unimaginable loss after her son's death. In her despair, she performs a ritual based on an old folk tale, using a piece of his lung in a desperate attempt to bring back some part of him. The result is Monstrilio, or "M," an imperfect, clawed creature who becomes deeply cherished.
The narrative is split into four sections, each told by a different, deeply flawed character whose devotion and torment are palpable. Molyneux found the book profoundly moving, stating that upon finishing it, her only wish was to experience it again for the first time.
2. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe: A Gripping Non-Fiction Account
This meticulously researched book offers a riveting dive into The Troubles in Northern Ireland. It opens with the abduction of Jean McConville, a mother of ten, before expanding into a complex portrait of the political turmoil, violence, and terror of the era.
Keefe's masterful storytelling makes the true account read like a novel, refusing to shy away from the horrors perpetrated by all sides. For Molyneux, who knew little about the period, the book was an emotional rollercoaster that felt both stranger than fiction and painfully familiar.
3. The First Bad Man by Miranda July: An Eccentric Debut
Miranda July's compact debut novel centres on Cheryl Glickman, an odd and awkward woman in her mid-40s. Cheryl develops intense fixations, including one on her much older boss and another on the spirit of a child named Kubelko Bondy, whom she seeks in every baby she meets.
Her life is upended when her colleagues' daughter, Clee, moves into her obsessively tidy home. The story is bizarre, surreal, and utterly compelling, with characters so strange that Molyneux found it impossible to put down.
4. I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning by Keiran Goddard: Poetic and Melancholic
Author and poet Keiran Goddard brings a lyrical quality to this novel, which follows five friends—Patrick, Shiv, Rian, Oli, and Conor—as they navigate turning thirty. The narrative gives each character a voice as they grapple with faded dreams and the mundanity of adult life.
The book explores themes of routine, lost aspirations, and the seismic impact of a long-buried secret. At just 244 pages, it's a brief but engrossing read that immerses you deeply in the characters' anxieties and dreams.
5. The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard: Literary Sci-Fi
Defying her usual genre preferences, Molyneux was captivated by this science fiction novel with a literary heart. It is set in a remote town flanked by two others: one 20 years in the past, and one 20 years in the future.
The story follows sixteen-year-old Odile, who is training for the governing Conseil that oversees "mourning tours" to these valleys. Her world is shaken when she recognises visitors from the future as her classmate's parents, implying his impending death. The novel wrestles with an agonising choice—to intervene or let fate unfold—while also exploring adolescent love and familial tension.
A Year of Unforgettable Reading
From the raw exploration of grief in Monstrilio to the historical depths of Say Nothing and the imaginative frontiers of The Other Valley, these five books represent a year of diverse and powerful reading. Molyneux's selections, shared originally with the Express, demonstrate that compelling stories can be found in every corner of the literary world, waiting to captivate both the casual reader and the literature graduate alike.
