Yanis Varoufakis: Raise your soul, Bodley Head, pub date Oct 2, 2025

Most of us probably remember Yanis Varoufakis, an economist, as the former charismatic finance minister of Greece.

 "Raise your soul" with the undertitle " A personal history of resistance" tells the fascinating story of his family, from the 1920ties to the present, with resistence to existing political systems seemingly being a  part of his families DNA.

 Through the biographies of the women in his family who influenced him the most, starting with his grandmother Anna who lived in Egypt and whom I was particularly drawn to,  this is a  portrait of tumultous years of Greek history, Nazi occupation, Communist uprising, Civil and Cold war. The personal suffering these political developments caused his family are vividly portrayed through the lives of Anna, Trisevgeni, Elina, Georgia and Danae. His father Yorgos is also an exceptionaly strong human being who had to suffer inprisonment and torture for his political conviction.

I found this an absolutely captivating, personal book and it is easy to see how his familiy history has shaped Varoufakis to this day. 

 Patrick Ryan: Buckeye, Bloomsbury UK, c format paperback,  9781526689320, ebook available

Patrick Ryan's novel "Buckeye" is one of my favorite books of the year. I just loved this wonderful story, 464 pages, often heartbreaking but also funny, at it's heart how our longings and one single action can cast a shadow over several peoples lives forever.. Loved his writing, reminding me of John Irving and Ann Patchett's work but with its own distinct voice. I fell in love with all the four main characters and their flaws very quickly. The book follows their lives and interactions from childhood in the 1920ties in small town America until the 70ties.

Cal Jenkins, born with a short leg, his future wife Becky Hanover, a bit of an oddball who can see the spirit of dead people, stunning redhead Margaret, who grew up in an orphanage marrying handsome Felix Salt. Their marriage is full of secrets yet provides a stability they had both longed for. When WWII breaks out wheels are set in motion altering their previous conception of themselves seriously. 

Highly recommend this great story,  was sad when i turned the last page.