27th February Newsletter
What’s On At Veranda
Welcome, welcome! Maybe it’s predictable to mention the (temporary) improvement in the weather, but the fact is, the mood on Seymour Place was noticeably lifted when the sun came out this week. Then again, weather’s not just for smalltalk – consider all the literature it’s inspired, and what better place to start than poetry…
If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze
…
that you felt like taking
a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,
releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage
so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting
into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.
Today, by Billy Collins
International Booker Prize 2026
The International Booker Prize is 10 years old this year, and announced its longlist of titles on Tuesday. We’re not really in the business of predicting winners, but we were heartened to see so many of the books we’ve enjoyed – and raved about in these newsletters – acknowledged by the judges.
There was a distinctly European flavour to this year’s list; of the 13 titles listed, only 4 were by writers based elsewhere. Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and Ana Paula Maia hail from South America (Argentina and Brazil, respectively), Shahrnush Parsipur from Iran and Yáng Shuāng-zǐ from Taiwan. That aside, the themes and settings of these outstanding novels are wildly ambitious – from queer conquistadors to Danish witches, from an Albanian village to a Belgian asylum, reading even a selection of these books will shift your perspective.
If they had to choose, the Veranda team would go for…
- Leo: Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur. Banned in Iran, this is a fearless and seditious novel about the interwoven destinies of five Iranian women. A (no longer) lost feminist classic that feels as relevant to the world today as it was upon publication in 1989
- Alison: Small Comfort by Ia Genberg. Chosen purely because of her love of Genberg’s The Details, which was shortlisted in 2024, this series of interconnected stories themed around money won’t be published in the UK til next month. Hoping for more precise, provocative writing in Genberg’s trademark non-linear style.
- Emily: On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia. This short, powerful novel is extremely timely considering all the horrors in the world. Highly political and set on the land used to murder enslaved people during the fledgling days of a prison in the Brazilian wilderness. This is a current and essential read – would be a deserved winner!
Mexico on our mind
Emily and Alison have both been dreaming of trips to Mexico this year. But until those plans hatch (or not…let’s see), they’ve been consoling themselves with Mexican distractions closer to home – books, food and art.
Tate Modern’s show of the summer will be a showcase of some of Frida Kahlo’s most iconic works – exhibited alongside personal photographs and effects, plus works by her contemporaries and the artists who followed in her wake. (Running from 25th June – 3rd January www.tate.org.uk)
Tate Members will have the opportunity to taste the food of acclaimed chef Santiago Lastra, founder of KOL a marvellous fine-dining restaurant on Seymour Street, a stone’s throw from the shop.
In fact, Marylebone offers a wealth of opportunities for those tempted by Mexican cuisine – try also Santo Remedio on Thayer St or Cavita on Wigmore St.
When it comes to books, Alison and Emily’s tastes often diverge – and yet, Mexican literature manages to feed both their souls.
Alison’s love of magical realism found satisfaction in Juan Rulfo’s surreal masterpiece, Pedro Páramo (tr. Douglas J. Weatherford). But she also loved Dahlia de la Cerda’s debut Reservoir Bitches (tr. Julia Sanches & Heather Cleary), a raucous array of interlinked stories featuring hard-done-by women and their unapologetic will to survive.
Emily is a fan of Guadalupe Nettel, devouring her novel Still Born and short story collection The Accidentals (both tr. Rosalind Harvey), the minute they hit the shelf. Nettel is regarded as a fearless writer tackling subjects such as ambivalence towards motherhood, and the complexities of modern life.
Both looking forward to a new novel this year by Juan Pablo Villalobos. The Past Pursues Us Like Detectives, Debt Collectors, Thieves (tr. Daniel Hahn) promises to be a funny, refreshing take on the whodunnit. Out in July.
Now Booking
An evening with Fatima Bhutto
The fullest of full houses on Tuesday when Fatima Bhutto came to Veranda to discuss her new book, a memoir entitled The Hour Of The Wolf. In conversation with writer and editor, Sana Goyal, Fatima gave us an insight into her writing and life as a committed owner of too many Jack Russells. Sana, one of the judges of last year’s International Booker Prize, arrived with the relaxed air of a woman who had NOT had to read 160 books in the last 12 months, and the atmosphere in the room was both intimate and exhilarating.
Conversation continued to flow over drinks; the lively crowd included Santanu Bhattacharya, author of Deviants, and Sarvat Hasin, whose 4th novel Strange Girls will be out next month. Fatima was happy to sign both the green bench, and a stack of her brilliant book – call in at the shop to pick one up (more details on The Hour of the Wolf in Our Recommeded Reads below)
Our Recommended Reads
Cuisines of Odesa: Recipes and Stories from Ukraine‘s Historic City by Maria Kalenska
With Ukraine very much on our minds this week, a recommendation for this stunning culinary journey through the coastal city of Odesa. Nestled on the Black Sea coast, Odesa has been shaped by numerous cultures, all united here by their love of food. Ukrainian, Jewish, Greek, Turkish and Armenian influences are evident in the 100+ recipes assembled here by travel writer and gourmand Maria Kalenska, from Rose Petal Jam to Chicken Borscht. A portion of proceeds supports the charity Bake For Ukraine.
The Hour of the Wolf by Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto’s life has followed a unique trajectory, but this memoir recounts her experience of a shockingly commonplace ordeal – coercion and control at the hands of her partner. She has spoken of the shame she felt at being manipulated in this way – rationalised by her desire for a child, and fear of abandonment. Yet this breathtaking book shows no trace of self-pity. Rather, it is an ode to the redemptive power of friendship, and the bond between humans and animals. A unanimous pick for the Veranda Team this week.
What we’re loving this week…
Emily has loved seeing the Wes Anderson retrospective at the Design Museum. A collection of all the amazing costumes, props and puppets used in his films. Highlights include all the characters from his adaptation of The Fantastic Mr Fox including details of how to create the perfectly-matted fur. A whimsical delight!
Leo went to see a preview of Broken Glass at The Young Vic. Set in Brooklyn in 1938 during the rise of fascism in Europe, this is a psychological drama about a marriage in free fall. One of Arthur Miller‘s lesser known works, it is worth noting that he was almost 80 when he wrote this play, and it went on to win a number of awards when it was first dramatised in 1994, including the Tony Award. Not cheery but extremely compelling!
Alison took a trip to Manchester and made a beeline for independent bookshop UNITOM in the Northern Quarter. A treasure trove of books on art and photography, magazines and zines, this is a great place to while away a chilly morning. Also loved Night & Day Cafe a music venue with a great line in all-day veggie breakfasts.
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