Actor Jason Isaacs picks his favourite books. He will be reading at the Follow the Stars Carol Concert for Macmillan Cancer Support on 6 December, at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.
The Human Stain
Roth inhabits his protagonist's world so perfectly, navigating his big secret with such humanity that it beggars belief that it is not autobiographical. Read it in awe.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Available on The Week Bookshop
The World According to Garp
John Irving, 1978
I've not revisited this since, aged 15, it reignited a love for reading that skateboarding had sidelined. I didn't look up for three days as I devoured its mix of richly complex characters, gasp-out-loud plotting and heartbreaking misadventures.
Available on The Week Bookshop
There's Nothing Wrong With Her
Kate Weinberg, 2024
My wife has had debilitating long Covid for three years. This delicious book was inspired by the author's similar struggle and gave me an insight into some of the despair she wrestles with daily. It's a witty tale of panic, lust, the search for identity and the helpful companionship of a long-dead Italian nobleman.
Available on The Week Bookshop
Santaland Diaries
David Sedaris, 1999
Although all of his books are hilarious, do listen to him first so that you can hear his unique voice in your head as you read. This contains his account of being a Macy's Christmas elf, excerpts from which I'll be reading at the Macmillan carol service.
Available on The Week Bookshop
The Magician's Nephew
C.S. Lewis, 1955
I loved all the Narnia books as a kid. When Peter was told he wouldn't be coming back, I understood something devastating about mortality. I picked this one because Greta Gerwig is about to make a film of it, which I can't wait to see.
Available on The Week Bookshop
Jerusalem
Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2011
For any strident virtue-signallers who think the issues in the Middle East can be reduced to a slogan or easy labels, a definitive, apolitical, mesmerising account of the most invaded and occupied city on Earth and the carnage that built today's headlines.
Available on The Week Bookshop
-
5 health-conscious cartoons about anti-vaccine rhetoricCartoons Artists take on RFK Jr's militant methods, the viral lottery, and more
-
September 13 editorial cartoonsCartoons Saturday's political cartoons include court-approved racial profiling and America's moral compass
-
Giorgio Armani obituary: designer revolutionised the business of fashionIn the Spotlight ‘King Giorgio’ came from humble beginnings to become a titan of the fashion industry and redefine 20th century clothing
-
Video games to curl up with this fall, including Ghost of Yotei and LEGO PartyThe Week Recommends Several highly anticipated video games are coming this fall
-
10 upcoming albums to stream during spooky seasonThe Week Recommends As fall arrives, check out new albums from Taylor Swift, Jeff Tweedy, the Lemonheads and more
-
A Spinal Tap reunion, Thomas Pynchon by way of Paul Thomas Anderson and a harrowing Stephen King adaptation in September moviesthe week recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Spinal Tap II,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘The Long Walk’
-
Don't fly by the seat of your pants. Do it the healthy way with these airborne tips.The Week Recommends Yes to stretching. Even more yesses to hydration.
-
'The Office' spinoff, a 'Mare of Easttown' follow-up and the Guinness family royalty in September TVthe week recommends This month's new television releases include 'The Paper,' 'Task' and 'House of Guinness'
-
One great cookbook: 'Jam Bakes'The Week Recommends A guide to pristine jam-making, plus the baked goods that love them
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosisthe week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
-
6 products and apps to help fight jet lagThe Week Recommends Don't let travel fatigue drag you down
