What we’re reading: George Saunders, Erin Somers and Guardian readers on the books they enjoyed in January

January 30, 2026

TL;DR

George Saunders discusses re-reading classics like 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass' for inspiration, along with Nabokov's 'Speak, Memory' and planning to read Robert A. Caro's 'The Power Broker'.
Matt, a Guardian reader, praises Jonathan Franzen's 'The Corrections' for its realistic portrayal of family dynamics and human fallibility, finding it both humorous and deeply humane.
Ti, another reader, recommends J.L. Carr's 'A Month in the Country' as a calming escape from distressing news, appreciating its contemplative and witty narrative set in rural England.
Erin Somers, an author, shares her experience reading Edith Wharton's 'Ethan Frome' and 'The New York Stories' with her daughter, and also recommends Gwendoline Riley's 'First Love' and 'My Phantoms'.
Elle, a reader, has enjoyed 'Valley of the Dolls' by Jacqueline Susann for its glamorous yet grotesque depiction of flawed women, and is currently engrossed in 'Butter' by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton.
Finn describes Rachel Ingalls' 'Mrs Caliban' as a unique and absurd novel exploring feminist themes through the story of a lonely housewife's affair with a frog-man, finding it both funny and sad.
Federico is reading Laila Lalami's 'The Dream Hotel', a dystopian novel about state surveillance, which he plans to use with his ESL students for discussion.

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