Since summer is (for all intents and purposes) over, I decided to look back on the best things I read this summer. There are far too many to choose from, but I did my best. Here are my top ten:

1. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams (read 5 - 7 June)
I have possibly found the pinnacle of my sense of humour in this series, of which this, the second, is my favourite thus far.

2. Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams (13 June)
The third in the series, and the book that transformed my experience of the World Cricket Cup this summer (you will have to read it to understand).



3. Common People: An Anthology of Working Class Writers edited by Kit de Waal (13 - 14 June)
This ground-breaking anthology, only published this year, gave voice to so many of my personal experiences.

4. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (19 - 23 June)
This utterly brilliant, satirical novel made me laugh and cry, and its ambitious and mesmerising adaptation was possibly the best thing on television this summer.



5. Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers’ Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac (24 - 26 June)
This book is one of those rare books that I think people need to read.

6. Murmur by Will Eaves (26 June)
A beautiful, almost mesmerising, book; the kind that makes you want to savour every word.



7. The Birdwatcher by William Shaw (11 July)
This slow-burn thriller has really stuck in my mind; for its focus on the more local element of policing, and for its evocative portrayal of Dungeness.

8. King Lear by William Shakespeare (29 - 30 July)
A prime example of how Shakespeare is able to strike the perfect balance between language and content.



9. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (6 August)
This comedy seems to me the culmination of everything Shakespeare does well.

10. Milkman by Anna Burns (15 - 20 August)
Last year's Booker Prize winner, and a book that requires concentration, I loved the ambiguity and perspective of this one.