What should I read now? Let the tarot pick your next book!

Are you stuck for something to read? Perhaps you’ve finished a great novel and looking for something to cure your book hangover? Look no further! One thing you should know about Willoughby: we often do tarot reading breaks in the office! We're also always looking for interesting ways to shake up our own home libraries, so we’ve done a special reading for all of you and have carefully curated 7 books based on what came up. We’ve used the Grimalkin’s Curious Casts Tarot deck, for anyone curious and tempted to have their bookish fortunes with a feline twist.

Check out our bookshop.org link if you are eager to pick up any of the titles we’ve selected.

Seven of Pentacles

The Seven of Pentacles is a great card to pull from any tarot deck! Representing the manifestation of our dreams and goals, this card emphasises the need to avoid seeking immediate success. It’s about taking your time and reaping the rewards at the most opportune moment.

Therefore, for the Seven of Pentacles, I would look towards finding a longer read than you normally go for. Choose something that will be a big investment of your time, with a satisfying pay-off!

Opt for a chunky historical romp like The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. Marianne read this fantastic Victorian pastiche when it was first published and still thinks about how great it is. Coming in at a whopping 922 pages, it’s a tome but you’ll find that you whip through it in no time.

Following the exploits of nineteen-year-old Sugar, a sex worker in London as she climbs the social ladder and encounters a myriad of unique and often devious characters, you’ll be swept up in the adventurous spirit of it all.

It’s the Seven of Pentacles in book form!

The Lovers

The Lovers card always raises a few eyebrows when drawn from the deck, but there’s a lot more nuance to it than simply romance! It’s often a card about choice, whether that be choosing to start or end a relationship, to commit or to leave an idea or feeling behind. A novel with passion and choice at the centre of it will definitely fulfil the expectation of the card.

As such, we’re really excited to read the recently published Entitlement by Rumaan Alam. Following on from his wildly successful Leave the World Behind, this book follows the protagonist, Brooke, a black woman living in Manhattan, who wants to make a difference in the lives of others. When she takes a role assisting an old billionaire give away his wealth, Brooke is soon caught up by the dark world of philanthropy.

It’s a novel about motivation, about deciding whether to use your privilege for good or for bad, as well as the seductive power of money. If you like a book with an antagonist, hazy morals and interesting discussions of race, gender and privilege here, check this one out.

The Lovers card is ultimately about choices and this is a perfect example of some of those choices in action!

King of Swords

Often used to depict a mature man, the King of Swords is a card of action and determination. It encourages you to consider objectivity and sticking to the facts.

With such themes in mind, a non-fiction book would be a solid choice for this card. If, like many, non-fiction sounds a little intimidating, have no fear.

Liv recently read Africa is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin, a striking and engaging piece of factual writing, written in a personable and witty style. Wide-ranging in scope, Faloyin discusses colonialism and the ‘Scramble for Africa’, restitution of cultural artefacts, jollof rice, dictators and revolution. It’s a wild ride and one that is perfectly rendered by a journalist who has lived in Nigeria, the US and the UK.

If you have read Natives by Akala, you’ll enjoy this one. Go forth and learn… in an accessible way!

The Star

The Star is a lovely tarot card, signifying hope and spirituality. When it appears, you are likely to find yourself feeling inspired and open to new things.

If you like authors such as Matt Haig and Fredrik Backman, a book like The Lovers card always raises a few eyebrows when drawn from the deck, but there’s a lot more nuance to it than simply romance! It’s often a card about choice, whether that be choosing to start or end a relationship, to commit or to leave an idea or feeling behind. A novel with passion and choice at the centre of it will definitely fulfil the expectation of the card Frankie, the latest release from Graham Norton, would be an ideal pick.

Frankie Howe, an 84-year-old artist, recalls her fascinating and wife-ranging life story to her new carer, Damian. It’s a sweeping, fulfilling and witty novel of living in a significant, affirming way, Frankie is an aspirational character, full of depth and human experience. From County Cork to New York and London, you’ll come away feeling nourished and inspired to be your own, unique self.

Page of Cups

A very emotions-based card, the Page of Cups often signifies the start of a new (or old) romance! If you’re into books that explore the complicated dynamics of

romantic and familial relationships, pick up a book like Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny.

Launched onto the literary scene with her debut novel Early Morning Riser, Heiny’s a great writer with a keen, observational eye. It’s an uplifting and lovable story that follows the highs and lows of Graham and Audra’s family’s life in contemporary America. When Graham’s first wife re-enters their lives, Graham is soon considering whether his choice of wife was the right one. Funny and heartbreaking, if you like David Nicholls and Nick Hornby, Heiny’s definitely an author that should be added to your ‘to-be-read’ list.

Unity

Unity is very much a card of relationships, whatever form they take. It’s about wholeness and community. Therefore, select a book with great friendships at the heart of the story.

We’re particularly excited for This Motherless Land by Nikki May, published on Oct. 29^th.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, Quiet Funke is happily living in Nigeria with her family. After tragedy strikes, she moves to England to live with her cold and distant English family. The only respite she finds is in the form of her cousin, Liv, whose warmth and kindness begins to heal Quiet’s heartbreak.

Charting their strong friendship from youth to adulthood, events regarding their shared family history seek to tear them apart. Spanning two decades and two countries, it’s a rich and immersive story of family, love, belonging, and identity.

If your interest is piqued, check out Sara and Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club podcast, where they have a really interesting discussion of the book with the author.

The Sun

The Sun card is one of the happiest and most positive of the tarot deck. Picking this one signifies radiance and abundance, particularly around relationships.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum is a delightful that thoroughly exudes The Sun card’s high-beam, optimistic energy. Alisha recently read this, and she found it to be charming, quirky and comforting in equal measure.

Following the quirky bookshop owner and his diverse array of customers, this book will absolutely fill your cup. Everyone we’ve spoken to it about it has fallen in love with it.