dEN NEWS
Last month kicked off with an inspirational evening "In Conversation with Margaret Atwood" at the National Theatre in London, with extracts from her new and hotly tipped sequel The Testaments which is naturally already on the Den's reading pile! Reviews suggest we can expect some answers to The Handmaid's Tale as it brings the reader bang up to date. We understand a more optimistic outlook is on the horizon and for lovers of Atwood's clever and witty prose, it promises to be worth the hype.
The Den also caught up with Amor Towles who made a couple of rare appearances in London last month. He delighted his audience with stories of the Russian psyche, his lightbulb moments that set the narrative for A Gentleman in Moscow and his passion for Russian Literature. Work has already begun on the film adaptation with actor/director Kenneth Branagh.
If this month's books don't appeal to your book club, we'd recommend one of our Den's Dozen and you might be tempted to try The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, to coincide with its film release. The Den is undecided on whether to see the film as it's been tipped 'flop of the year'! Ouch. Such an enticing read for self or your club. But will you resist the film?
​
Some of our Den readers are bunkering down this autumn to a feast of new titles, whether it be the recently released Booker short-listed novels, new sequels out or tackling your quest to reading a new genre.
Interestingly, many of you have mentioned these books to the Den crew: The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, Fleishmann is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner and The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.
The Den were thrilled to hear Margaret Atwood in conversation with Samira Ahmed at the National Theatre with the added bonus of hearing readings from the three voices by Ann Dowd, Sally Hawkins and Lily James. A wonderfully inspiring evening. Can't wait to read The Testaments.