Editor’s picks: 6 Inspirational summer reading books

There’s probably no season quite as blissful as summer to indulge in the pleasure of reading. From timeless classics to modern marvels, our editors have hand-picked a selection of the most inspirational books to keep you entertained and inspired this season.

1. ‘The Garden Party’ and Other Stories 

And after all the weather was ideal. They could not have had a more perfect day for a garden-party if they had ordered it.

That’s how the collection of 15 short stories by the New Zealand-born writer Katherine Mansfield, a pioneer of the modernist movement, starts. Written towards the end of her short life and published in 1922, it presents an exquisite portrayal of human emotions and the subtleties of social hierarchies, taking readers through various vignettes of life where characters grapple with love, loss, and the complexities of societal expectations. From the opening story, ‘At the Bay’ which gives us a glimpse of family life to ‘Mrs. Brill’, in which a solitary woman is confronted by two young lovers who make fun of her, ‘The Garden Party’ makes for a timeless addition to your summer reading repertoire.

2. ‘The Witches of Vardo’ by Anya Bergman

If you're in the mood for something mysterious steeped in folklore this summer, the recently released historical fiction novel ‘The Witches of Vardo’ by Anya Bergman, which is based on real events, is likely to cast an enchanting spell on you. Set in the remote island of Vardo in Norway, Bergman’s debut delves into the dark and haunting events of the 17th-century witch trials, weaving a mesmerising tale of two young women on a mission to rescue an accused witch at the fortress of Vard. A powerful book reflecting on the resilience of women, ‘The Witches of Vardo’ will transport you to a time when being a woman could be extremely dangerous.

3. ‘It Didn't Start with You’ by Mark Wolynn