19th June Newsletter

What’s On At Veranda

Welcome, welcome! Vibes aplenty on Seymour Place this week – is it the World Cup, is it the weather? Whatever the reason, the street – and our shop – has been buzzing with activity and bonhomie. As ever, this week’s newsletter is just a snapshot of what’s been going on; if you want to know more about our favourite books of the week, upcoming events and general goings-on in the literary world, call in and see us!

And a shout-out to all the Dads this weekend, hope you’re all well celebrated on Sunday. Happy Fathers’ Day! 😎

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This week’s busy-ness…

It’s been a whirlwind few days at Veranda: book launches, visiting authors, and team outings to literary events around London.
On the 11th June, as the World Cup kicked off (sorry!), we hosted an intimate launch event for French poet and mega football fan Valentin Deudon, for his brilliant and idiosyncratic book Éric Cantona’s 82 Goals which details the enigmatic Frenchman’s time at Manchester United.
We were also delighted to join forces with Bloomsbury publishing to launch Howard Cunnell’s powerful memoir Sun Country, with an evening of celebration for friends, family and fellow writers.
Both Howard and Valentin signed our green bench – as did Michele Masneri, author of Paradiso when his publisher (and the book’s translator) Richard Village of Foundry Editions called in for a visit. And finally, Emma Cleary, whose debut novel Our Monstrous Bodies will delight fans of literary horror, paid us a visit – signed copies of all these books are available at the shop and online now.
Away from the shop, Leo and Alison found themselves at the Museum of the Home in Hoxton, where the wondrous Major Books launched Echoing Whispers: Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales,  which takes the form of a display of lacquer-inspired paintings, all of which are included in a stunning book of the same name. There are a series of workshops and panel discussions running over the summer – well worth a visit (click on the link below for info).
On the 18th June, the team celebrated Sankthansaften, or Midsummer Eve, courtesy of the Cultural Team of the Norwegian Embassy. An evening of very generous hospitality (in the Ambassador’s garden, no less) and conversation about Norwegian culture – perfect end to a busy week.
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“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different” - John Steinbeck

Anyone/everyone else enjoying the longer evenings, and brighter mornings? This weekend we hit the Summer Solstice, a day when the natural world takes on a deeper significance, long celebrated in folklore and ancient myths, and still seeping into contemporary culture, inspiring books, films and art. At this time of year, even the most hardened of urbanites can’t fail to be dazzled by the abundant lushness of London’s parks and heaths, and the constant shimmer of birdsong competing with the manmade din of the capital.
Maybe your curiosity has been piqued and you’d like to put a name to a tree, a bird or a full-blooming flower. Or it might be that your need for nature runs deeper – a space for reflection, or the answer to deeply-felt questions.
We’ve been curating a few shelves of the best nature writing we could find. Some of these books, such as John Lewis-Stempel’s England: A Natural History, take an informative approach – a leaf-by leaf account of the English landscape, its habitats and inhabitants. Or the stunningly-written and illustrated Book of Birds by Jackie Morris & Robert Macfarlane (author of Is A River Alive?).
And then there are the books that might fulfill a deeper need – such as reconnection with nature in an increasingly technology-driven world, or simply a reminder that life runs in cycles, a comforting message on difficult days.
Here are our recommendations:
  • The Butterfly Season by Lea Korsgaard (tr. Sherilyn Nicolette Hellberg). In the depths of the Danish winter, driven by an irresistible urge, Korsgaard decides to spend the summer finding every butterfly species Denmark can offer. In doing so, she’s confronted by the biggest questions of existence: why do we live? And what are we living for?
  • Finding Albion by Zakia Sewell. In this unique and highly engaging book, Sewell uncovers an ancient Britain, alive with mystery and otherworldly folk culture. She meets neopagans and Morris Dancers,  ponders stone circles, and celebrates seasonal rites around the UK. In doing so, she provides another perspective to our ‘national story’, less divisive, but nevertheless honest about the ghosts of Empire which linger still.
  • A Wilder Way: How Gardens Grow Us by Poppy Okotcha. A regular contributor to Gardeners’ World and the Observer, in this poetic and practical book, Okotcha shares the wisdom she’s gained from tending her wild garden in Devon. Frequently mundane, often magical, and occasionally morbid, this is a beautiful book about nature and our relationship with it.
Join us soon for a browse!
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An evening with Andrea Bajani

We’re looking forward to a very special evening on the 1st July as we welcome Italian author Andrea Bajani to Veranda to talk about his Strega Prize-winning novel The Anniversary (tr. Geoffrey Brock). An emotionally profound book about growing up in an “ill-fated family”, parented by a tyrannical father and an all-but-invisible mother, the unnamed narrator ultimately escapes its hellish grip – his account marks 10 years of estrangement. A truly unforgettable book, whose impact on the reader is immediate and visceral. Leo read an advance copy several months ago and has already declared The Anniversary one of his books of the year. Who better then, to sit in the interviewer’s chair? Come along to hear Leo and Andrea discuss this outstanding novel – join us for drinks from 6.30, conversation at 7.

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Our Recommended Reads

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Days of Light by Megan Hunter

Alison has found herself absolutely transported this week by Megan Hunter’s sensual and absorbing novel which follows Ivy, the daughter of a privileged, Bloomsbury-esque family on six pivotal days across 6 decades of her life. On the first of those days, Easter Day, 1938, a family tragedy occurs, the effect of which lingers over Ivy for the rest of her life. There is so much to relish in this beautiful novel – the rich detail of Ivy’s experiences and surroundings. But in many ways, it’s the details Hunter omits that tell us the most, and filling in those gaps makes for a truly satisfying read.

Dad Had a Bad Day by Ashton Politanoff

Just in time for Father’s Day (and Wimbledon), Leo has been reading Dad Had a Bad Day, by former college tennis pro, Ashton Politanoff.
As recently laid-off Ned is struggling to make sense of his new identity as a stay-at-home dad to a 6-year-old son, ‘salvation’ from the daily humdrum appears to present itself in the form of tennis. Reconnecting with his younger, happier self, he rediscovers a long-lost passion for life, but what starts as a harmless pastime soon twists into something that closely resembles unhealthy obsession.
A lot may be said about this novel in relation to men and masculinity, but it’s offbeat, disarming humour called to mind Miranda July and her breakout 2024 hit, All Fours, which addresses similar themes about how we find our place in the world in mid-life.

What we’re loving this week…

Emily has been loving watching her garden turn into a usable space and just in time for the heatwave! Five years after moving into her house and after much bickering about design, style, ‘should we do it ourselves’ etc, it was finally decided upon to get the landscapers in. Now we just need to fill it with lush greenery and get the deck chair out with a glass of rosé
Leo is ecstatic about England’s impressive win over Croatia. Yes, we need to sort out our defensive tactics but the cohesion of this team so early on is impressive. And the set-pieces were a sight to behold for any football fan!
Alison has been loving Olivia Rodrigo’s new album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, an irresistibly exuberant collection of songs about love, loss, ex-girlfriends and maggots (?). Great songwriting, plenty of 80s references, and an appearance from Rodrigo’s musical hero, Robert Smith, a musical treat for sunny days.

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