Monocle's Summer Reading List: 14 Books Matched to Mood and Place

Monocle's 'Meet the Writers' host Georgina Godwin has curated a summer reading list of 14 titles, each matched to specific travel or leisure scenarios. The list includes 'The Odyssey' translated by Emily Wilson, recommended for long-haul flights, and 'Jan Morris: A Life' by Sara Wheeler for departure lounges. Notable picks include 'Lázár' by 22-year-old Nelio Biedermann, a century-spanning Hungarian family saga; 'Baldwin: A Love Story' by Nicholas Boggs, exploring James Baldwin's life through his relationships; and Marlon James's Booker-longlisted 'The Disappearers', set in 1988 Kingston. Other selections include Chloe Aridjis's 'The Shadow of the Object', Jake Arnott's occult thriller 'Netherwood', Clémence Michallon's 'Our Last Resort', Erika Lust's feminist manifesto 'Lust', Miranda July's 'All Fours', Peter Godwin's memoir 'Exit Wounds', Aea Varfis-van Warmelo's 'Attention-Seeking Behaviour', Oana Aristide's 'Astronaut!', and Fran Fabriczki's 'Porcupines'. The list emphasizes matching books to conditions and mood, from poolside reads to airport bar companions. Several authors, including Boggs, Aridjis, Godwin, and Aristide, have been interviewed on Monocle Radio's 'Meet the Writers'. The list also highlights upcoming events: Godwin and her brother will tour Western Australia with 'Exit Wounds' in October, and the Syros Literary Festival, co-founded by Aristide and Godwin, will take place in Greece in April.