Journalist Vicki Notaro shares her latest book recommendations, from fiction to memoirs …
I’m reading The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, which I went into with little prior knowledge and I’m so glad I did. I’m not normally one for fantasy or science fiction, but this book is grounded in reality. Lauren comes home from a hen party to find a man in her house she doesn’t recognise, who claims to be her husband. She’s never met him, but her phone, wedding photos and the people she loves say otherwise …
Soon, she realises that when a husband goes into her attic, some unidentified magic happens and a new man emerges. They vary in quality – some are sexier than others, some she clicks better with – but faced with this abundance of husbands, how is Lauren meant to choose just one? The book is funny, whimsical and astute, yet deals with deep themes about relationships, choosing a mate and feeling left behind in life.
I like to temper my fiction consumption with a celebrity memoir and my most recent recommendation is My Name Is Barbra by the inimitable Ms Streisand. It’s a huge book – the audio version is 48 hours long and read by the woman herself – but if you’re a fan or even just love vintage showbiz gossip, this book is for you.
She goes off on tangents about clothing and men, but one thing is very clear throughout – she prefers to be thought of as an actor and director, not a singer. I’m going to listen to the audiobook when the nights draw in because Streisand sings, ad libs and even, at one point, attempts an Irish accent!
Notaro’s first novel Reality Check (Penguin Sandycove, €15.99) was inspired by her love of reality TV, social media and pop culture. She’s currently working on her second book.
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