Let Me Be Frank With You

Let Me Be Frank With You, Richard Ford

Another check-in with one of my favourite literary characters, Richard Ford's former novelist, turned sportswriter, turned real estate seller, turned retiree, Frank Bascombe. It's not an extended stay with Frank this time, just four vignettes. While there's something about loss running through them - of a house, of an ex-wife, of an old "friend" - Frank is just a joy to spend time with. Even in this more truncated volume. I hope Ford's not done with Frank just yet.

Stuff Matters

Stuff Matters, Mark Miodownik

Another fab pick by @mrbsemporium - this time a non-fiction volume on the seemingly arcane subject of materials science. Using a photograph of the author drinking coffee on a roof terrace, it's a brilliant tale of 10 materials that we utterly take for granted in our modern lives. While it touches on the underlying science in places, it never comes close to being too heavy. And you leave it feeling much cleverer about the world around us.