The Dutch House (Ann Patchett)

Ann Patchett
The Dutch House

Very engaging story of siblings who... spoiler alert... have a mother who leaves whilst they are young, a father who dies when still children and a step mother who kicks them out and ensures that they don't get anything from the sizeable will. It's convoluted so I won't try to summarise further except to say that it's funny and sad and makes you think about life and relationships. A good read with a few twists in the tail.

The Periodic Table (Primo Levi)

Primo Levi
The Periodic Table

I can't believe I've not read this before given it's fame. A very readable and interesting series of anecdotes each related to a chemical element. If that seems a bit contrived it doesn't read like that in any way. It's broadly a biography very much focussing on his feelings and skirting around his time in a Fascist Nazi concentration camp which he's documented elsewhere. There are a couple of other stories thrown in for good measure. I'm entirely sure why except that they are interesting. Excellent book.