Crib Notes: 6 Destination Reads for Ultimate Escapism

A year ago, my little family travelled to Southern Spain for our first holiday together as a trio. The opportunity to swim, eat seafood on the beach and feel the sun on my face was, for me, a luxurious break from the daily rhythms of looking after a baby. Usually, this time of year holds the promise of travel and long, light evenings drinking wine with friends. This year there is a marked uncertainty around what we might be able to look forward to this summer. Really, these are small sacrifices to make when we consider what is at stake, but after eight weeks of lockdown it is unsurprising if we feel unenthusiastic about the prospect of an endless staycation. In this issue of Crib Notes, I’ve selected six of my favourite destination reads: these books will whisk you away to warmer climes, bustling foreign cities and island paradises.

6 Destination Reads

Destination: Mythical Ancient Greece

Circe by Madeline Miller

Shortlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, this luscious and enchanting tale reimagines the myth of the witch goddess, Circe, who makes a brief appearance in Homer’s Odyssey when she turns Odysseus’ men into pigs. Daughter of the god Helios, Circe is neither beautiful nor powerful, but she has a gift of her own: witchcraft, an art forbidden to the gods. When love drives her to transform a beautiful water nymph into a hideous monster, Zeus banishes Circe to the remote island of Aiaia. No longer faced with the petulance and vanity of the divinites who scorned her, Circe enjoys her new independence. However she does not remain alone for long; threatened by mortal men with violent intentions and vengeful goddesses, Circe soon learns how fiercely a woman must protect her freedom. When the warrior, Odysseus, washes up on her shore, Circe’s defiance and passion will alter the course of destiny.

When to Read: Circe ticks so many boxes: not only is it a fabulously readable novel, it’s also a scorching-hot, feminist retelling of Greek myth: Miller unravels familiar stories, teases out the voices of women and weaves a tale which is imaginative and captivating. You’ll feel swept up, entertained and empowered.

Sensitive Content: Miller’s account of the birth of Circe’s son — and the descriptions of hours spent with a wailing newborn strapped to her chest— are powerful and resonant, giving the hard and awe-inspiring work of mothering the recognition it deserves. The novel also interrogates the sexual violence which has long accepted as part of Greek myth. Both of these elements, in particular, shine a light on the darker corners of female experience which Circe seeks to illuminate. However, if either theme is something you’d prefer to avoid right now, leave this one on the shelf for another occasion.

How to Consume: The bronze-jacketed paperback is a real beauty and I highly recommend the audiobook too: the combination of Perdita Weeks’ elegant narration and Miller’s gilded prose makes for a lush storytelling experience.

What to read next: Luckily, there’s a glut of mythical revisions to enjoy: Pat Barker’s The SIlence of the GIrls and Natalie Haynes’ A Thousand Ships are both excellent. For more of Madeline Miller’s honeyed style, check out her beautiful debut novel The Song of Achilles.

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Destination: Trinidad

The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey 

When I first read The White Woman on the Green Bicycle,  I was so enraptured, I kept missing my stop on my commute to work. In 1956, Sabine and George Harwood leave their English home for Trinidad. George slips easily into island living, instantly seduced by the beautiful women, the rum and the exotic landscape. Meanwhile, Sabine is desperately homesick and wilting in the humidity. One day, she hears the country’s charismatic new Prime Minister, Eric Williams speaking at a political rally and is intensely drawn to him. In secret, Sabine begins writing letters to Williams, pouring out her innermost feelings: her rage at George for his absences and infidelities, her fears for Trinidad’s future and her unspoken desires. Years later, George discovers Sabine’s cache of unsent billet-doux and realises how little he knows of his wife’s heart. When their housekeeper’s son is brutally beaten by a corrupt police officer, George sees an opportunity to prove his love for Sabine, but it comes far too late. 

When to Read: Bejewelled rainforests and azure waters come to life on the page in this sensuously-written love story, set against the backdrop of Trinidad’s recent political history. Robust, bold and vivacious, The White Woman on the Green Bicycle will completely transport you.