Laing & Lennon are Waterstones Books of the Year

As you will have seen from previous news posts on this page, Olivia Laing's The Garden Against Time and Ferdia Lennon's Glorious Exploits have been connecting with readers (and prize juries!) in the most wonderful and deserved way since they were published earlier this year.

Both books are the fruits of long labour, courage and painstaking craft on the part of their authors, and it is so heartening (my favourite word at the moment, because we all need heartening) to see them recognised today by Waterstones as among their books of the year. Both books are about the power of art at times of adversity, and our common humanity. And yet they are both true originals. The best kind of book! 

Bea Carvalho, Waterstones head of books, said:

"These fifteen books showcase a stellar year for publishing across genres, with new books from some of the biggest and most beloved authors at work today alongside dazzling new discoveries and word-of-mouth bestsellers. Here, booksellers champion books which shift perspectives on well-known histories and classic works of literature as well as insightful novels which skewer the glorious messiness of contemporary real life. We also celebrate mysteries which grip with pure page-turning brilliance, and stunning odes to the natural world which honour the joy to be found in nature, or in our bonds with animals. There is something for readers of all tastes and ages to pore over here: we cannot wait to share these wonderful books with readers everywhere."

The titles are nominated by Waterstones booksellers, who are asked to name 'an outstanding book they particularly enjoyed recommending to readers over the previous year'. The winner will be chosen by a Waterstones panel, and announced on 28 November. But whatever further recognition happens from hereon in, this is a great moment.