As January breezes in with its boot-camp vibe, it’s easy to feel a touch overwhelmed. This is a time when many of us struggle with the basics of getting through the day, let alone fronting up to a declutter, detox and diarise regime. For anyone facing the new year jitters, the books below might just help, generously mapping the way to worlds of adventure – but also reminding us to take our time. There’s no deadline, after all, for starting the next chapter.
1. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
“It was Larry, of course, who started it”, as young Gerry recalls. One day, the Durrell family are variously cursing their catarrh, their acne, and the endlessly grey English drizzle. The next, thanks to the urging of their imperious eldest brother Lawrence, they’ve sold up and are living in a strawberry-pink villa on the island of Corfu. Gorgeous prose and perfect comic timing make this autobiographical novel the ideal read, or re-read, for anyone who needs a vicarious getaway.
