Antonia’s bookshelf

Hello, my name is Antonia and I am the Social Media and Events Manager at Books On The Hill.

I have a deep fascination with Ancient History and Archaeology, which I read at a Master’s level at University, which explains my love of historical fiction work.

I am very passionate about nature writing, which stems from my love of gardening. In my garden, I not only tend to a beautiful variety of roses but I also grow fresh fruit and vegetables.

Books for me provide an escape from the stresses of everyday life.

Request any books below here.

October 2022

I seem to be following a theme of late, and that is books with the theme of nature.

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

This book takes you on a beautiful journey with a mother and daughter on holiday in Japan. As the story unfolds, you visit art museums with Monet exhibitions, go on a hike through the woods and visit a bookshop with a multi linguist bookseller. I would highly recommend this short read if you fancy a fun exploration into the Japanese landscape.

The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono

This wonderful book is in two parts, the second part I am unable to let you know as this would spoil the fun of the first part. What I can tell you is the second part is written by the daughter of the first part, explaining the story’s effect on the author… to the reader’s amusement. The first part follows a young man who when traveling in the french landscape comes across a shepherd planting trees. After their initial meeting, the man goes back to visit 10 years later after the war, which the shepherd was not aware had taken place, to visit again to see a forest had sprouted during his absence. This is a wonderful story about the simplicity of connecting with nature.

Forager’s Calendar by John Wright

Perfect for the changing seasons this book gives the reader the skillset to go out in the landscape and see it in a new light.. a place to forage! I implore everyone to read the works of John Wright as he truly inspires you to get out into nature. This particular book has been an insightful resource to me, especially when walking the dog, as I spot something new each time.

September 2021

Unwell Women by Dr Elinor Cleghorn

As a young woman with a chronic illness, I found myself instantly drawn to this book. The premise of the history of medicine from the perspective of a female patient was something I felt I could relate to and learn more about. The shocking reality is that women have long since been ignored and deemed untrustworthy when it comes to their bodies and ailments, something I have experienced firsthand. Cleghorn takes you on a journey from Ancient Greece to the present day through a series of case studies, which when reading almost appear fictional, and how medicine has developed through the ages. A lot of the earlier case studies I was already aware of, due to my undergraduate studies in Ancient History, but the later works were new to me and incredibly fascinating. Medicine has a long way to go but I was so grateful to Cleghorn for her book and for sparking a much needed conversation into the treatment of women in the medical world.

In The Shadow Of Vesuvius~ A Life Of Pliny by Daisy Dunn

As a young girl, I studied the history of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and later I was able to travel to the Bay of Naples and climb to the top of Vesuvius something I highly recommend doing… on a clear day mind. Throughout my later studies both Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger became a vital part of my understanding of the Ancient World. I had been missing my student days recently so I decided to turn to Dunn’s book ‘In The Shadow of Vesuvius’ and delve back into their lives. Through reading this book you are immersed into their worlds, starting with the eruption of Vesuvius. I highly recommend this book as it is the perfect read for those wanting to know more or revisit their lives.

Women of Troy by Pat Barker

When I finished Barker’s book Silence of The Girls, I prayed that she had written another book as I didn’t want to let go of the world she had created. So When this book hit our shelves I immediately took a copy home to read and I wasn’t disappointed. Barker has such a wonderful way of retelling these ancient greek myths that you instantly care about the characters and the situation they are in. Told from the perspective of women after the Greeks have defeated Troy, a perspective which in my opinion enriches our modern understanding of these greek myths, Barker enables us as the reader to see what life may have been like for women during battles in the ancient world. This is the perfect book to add to your historical fiction pile.

The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson

Nadine Matheson joined us for our Festival of Culture for our crime panel held in the courtroom in St Albans Museum. During this event, I asked her for a prequel story because I did not want her book to end. Matheson takes you on a journey with DCI Henley who is on the hunt for a copycat killer in South London. The copycat killer is mimicking the work of Olivier, a charming serial killer, who is distraught that someone is copying his work and decides to find a way to hunt for them also. I had not delved into the world of crime fiction before reading this book, mostly because I thought it would be too scary or too gory for me, but I found myself not wanting to put it down. Matheson has a great writing style that makes you care for the characters she has created, as well as fascinated with their lives in the book. I finished the book excited to see what Matheson will write next.

January 2021

Wintering by Katherine May

Wintering is a poignant and comforting meditation on the fallow periods of life, times when we must retreat to care for and repair ourselves. Katherine May thoughtfully shows us how to come through these times with the wisdom of knowing that, like the seasons, our winters and summers are the ebb and flow of life. This book explains perfectly how when you are dealing with difficult situations in life, it is okay to take time for yourself. With helpful insights into how to help yourself deal with key issues, May provides a book which will inspire you to take time when you need it most. See my blog post here.

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

It is 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life. She dreams of greater things: a house with its own front door and a life bought and paid for outright (like her perfect, but false, teeth). But Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and soon she and her three children find themselves trapped in a decimated mining town. When reading this book I was shocked at the raw reality of being poor in the 1980’s for Agnes and Shuggie living in Glassgow. One sentence that has stuck with me is the idea of a better life and better wages being available if young lads moved away from the UK to South Africa. This notion greatly saddened me and the story as a whole has stayed with me many weeks after having read its final page.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has. In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls. I have to admit that I picked up this book in part due to its beautiful cover, which implied to me that it was a work of greek historical fiction. Despite the figure of Pan playing his flutes and the greek column, this story is not for those seeking greek historical fiction. But despite my incorrect assumptions, I could not have been more pleased with the story. Full of unexpected twists and turns, Clarke has truly written a masterpiece. Please see my blog post here.

Poem For Every Day Of The Year by Allie Esiri

A Poem For Every Day of the Year is a magnificent collection of 366 poems compiled by Allie Esiri, one to share on every day of the year. Reflecting the changing seasons and linking to events on key dates - funny for April Fool's Day, festive for Christmas - these poems are thoughtful, inspiring, humbling, informative, quiet, loud, small, epic, peaceful, energetic, upbeat, motivating, and empowering! Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family, it is bursting at the seams with familiar favourites and exciting new discoveries. I start my day reading a poem from this collection. I have fallen in love with poetry and can grasp an understanding prior to reading each poem thanks to Esiri’s short history and explanation which is above each poem. This edition is the perfect gift for those who would enjoy a need addition to their daily routine or anyone who enjoys poetry.

The Kinfolk Garden by John Burns

Since the launch of its magazine in 2011, Kinfolk has grown into an internationally recognized brand known for its minimalist aesthetic and strong community of inspiring and influential creatives. Kinfolk's books, with a combined 335,000 copies in print, have applied this lens to cooking, home design, and work. Now, in The Kinfolk Garden, the team turns its eye to outdoor spaces and the many ways they enhance our lives and help us foster community. With a focus on spaces that bring the outdoors in and the indoors out and people who have found ways to expertly incorporate the natural world into their lives, the book explores the garden as a place for work, play, entertaining, and inspiration. Featuring 30 homeowners and their spaces in locations around the globe, The Kinfolk Garden offers an easy approach to bringing nature home. Something I have started to do in my home since the initial lockdown back in March 2020 is to bring nature into my home. When I was told to shield I became very upset, especially at the reality of not being allowed to leave my home. I am someone who thrives from getting out into nature, whether that be in my garden; or through long walks; or cycling; or wild swimming. Therefore, being told to stay inside I needed to bring nature to me. This beautiful book not only helps with this notion but also helps you to do so in a very aesthetically pleasing way.