20 November 2025

As the temperature in London plummets this week, we're swapping book recommends and battening down the hatches. Here's what we're reading right now.

Laura is reading Mongrel by Hanako Footman.
“The story follows the intertwining lives of 3 Japanese women, tackling issues of identity, belonging and grief. I loved the specificity of Footman's language. Packed full of nostalgic 00's cultural references, it’s a visceral depiction of the similarities and contrasts of young adulthood in London, Tokyo and rural Japan.”

Nick is reading Is A River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane.
“Rivers are not just a resource for us humans to use, explore, and increasingly exploit and pollute, but a living being that deserves our recognition in both our hearts, imagination, and in law. Read this book, and you will never look at rivers the same again.”

Joe is reading Human Kind by Rutger Bregman.
“Bregman is on a mission to prove that humans are fundamentally decent and predisposed to kindness, with historical evidence to back it up. I'm reading this in the hope that it's the antidote to the 'empathy fatigue' brought on by the constant doom-and-gloom of the daily news.”

Jess has just finished Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.
“An epic multigenerational story about what it means to occupy the complex and unnamed middle ground between male and female, Greek and American, past and present. This is the type of book that kids need to study at school – a thought provoking reflection of the diversity of the human experience. Plus, it won the Pulitzer Prize.”

Julian has just finished NUTS BOOK I: Nothing, Everything.
“There doesn’t need to be anymore fashion - obviously there should be less - but if you’re going to make a maga-zine championing fashion then this is it. Black and white throughout, lovely typography, self indulgent, Nuts subverts the visual and verbal language of the fashion mag.”

Peter is reading Japan: Through the Looking Glass by Alan Macfarlane.
“I've always been fascinated by Japan as a country by its cultural exports and history, but never really considered things beyond that. This book is now making me think about the people and society, and in turn, how all societies can evolve. Showing many more layers to Japan, and giving a very rewarding read.”