The Delightful Mr F, as long time readers will know, is delightful in many a way, but he has a particular knack with present buying. His complete understanding and appreciation of my book addiction knows no bounds, and he happily supports my literary cravings by giving me Mr B’s Reading Spas at least once per year. I have lost count on how many I have had*, but it doesn’t matter, each one is as different as the last, and all are marvellous.
The Delightful Mr F and I pottered up the M4 in good time last Friday to have a pre-reading spa breakfast at Rosarios. After a little wander around the town we headed back to Mr B’s where The Delightful Mr F left me with in the capable hands of Ed. My favourite part of the spa is talking with one of the Mr B’s team about what I have read, what they have read, the latest books, recent discoveries and new favourites. Due to The Important Things, I hadn’t read as much as I normally have by this point in the year, nevertheless we had a good chat about The Vegetarian by Han Kang, Stoner by John Williams (more of that later) and the rather dark nature of my recent reading**. I was then left with a few books to look at, and a very nice chocolate brownie as Ed headed off to find me some more reading material.
I hadn’t asked for anything in particular, and Ed bought back a lovely eclectic mix of dark, unusual, feel good and classic books for me to choose from. I bought the lot***. So here they are, have you read any of these?

You can find them on the Mr B’s webshop if you fancy getting copies yourself, and of course they will be reviewed here in due course. I’m particularly looking forward to The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage which Ed tells me is better than Stoner. Better?! Well that’s a lot to live up to. City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett is one I would never have looked at on my own, and I have a feeling my open up a whole new genre for me to explore.
A Reading Spa at Mr B’s is one of life’s pleasures as far as I am concerned, and so, see if you can get yourself down to Bath for a natter with one of Team B. Your book joy will spilleth over.
* Mr B – do you know? Is it 8 or 9?
** Not dark for a reason, they were just short books and I couldn’t face anything longer than about 200 pages.
*** I always do, I have no willpower, and a strong husband to help me carry them back to the car.