Secret Book Swap | No. 3 - Davidson's Mains June 2025
Secret Book Swap | Davidson’s Mains | No.4 | September 2025
Books We Swapped:
A ghostly, emotionally layered novel that follows Max, who doesn’t believe in the afterlife—until he becomes a ghost. Haunted by his own unexpected demise, he observes his girlfriend Hannah grappling with grief and hidden familial traumas. Wyld uses multiple timelines and haunting prose to explore memory, shame, and the ways the past refuses to stay buried.
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment—and a bed—but have never met in person. Their relationship evolves through witty sticky notes and silent companionship. O’Leary delivers a quirky, heartfelt romance that thrives on gradual connection and witty charm.
Howards End is on the Landing – Susan Hill
In this charming memoir, Hill decides to spend a year reading only the books already on her shelves. As she revisits forgotten titles, she reflects on how personal history and literature intersect, offering a thoughtful meditation on memory, identity, and reading habits.
Small Pleasures – Clare Chambers
Set in 1957, this quietly powerful novel follows journalist Jean Swinney as she investigates a woman’s claim of a virgin birth. What seems like a bizarre assignment evolves into a story about longing, unconventional love, and moral complexity in post-war Britain.
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant female scientist in the 1950s who finds herself hosting a cooking show—and turning it into a platform for feminist empowerment. With sharp wit and feminist resolve, Garmus crafts a spirited tale about identity, sexism, and making your chemistry count—both in the lab and on television.
Richard Mayhew, an ordinary London office worker, stumbles into a hidden, perilous realm beneath the city: London Below. As he helps the enigmatic Door, he encounters bizarre allies, deadly politics, and magic disguised as reality. Gaiman’s novel is a surreal, richly imaginative journey through the fantastical underbelly of urban life.
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Set in the racially charged American South, young Scout Finch recounts her father's defense of a black man falsely accused of a grave crime. Lee's classic novel confronts themes of justice, morality, and the loss of innocence with enduring relevance.
Stella Maris Mongodi
Guest, Illustrator - Stella Maris
Let me introduce you to, Stella Maris Mongodi, children's book illustrator, designer and coach.
You can read about Stella below and visit her website to get a taster for some of her wonderful work which she brought along and shared with us. It was not only lovely to see the books themselves but wonderful to hear the stories behind the books and characters and how she brought them to life.
Thank you Stella for joining us!
Stella Maris Mongodi began her earthly journey in Italy, where she explored a passion for art under the tutelage of such masters as Carll Cneut and Stefano Moroni. She dabbled with oils and wondered at watercolors, before settling on digital illustrations, steeped in “traditional media flavor”, and sporting a whimsically dreamy, feathery, playful feel, befitting her fairy spirit.
Eventually, Stella wandered off to the British Isles in search of kindred fairies. Finally stumbling upon them in the magical Scottish lands, she decided to put down roots among her own kind.
Between creating engaging imagery to delight young readers, Stella loves to explore her own inner child, zooming about on roller skates, sewing colorful skirts, and befriending her favorite creatures…owls, mice, and an occasional squirrel.
Banned Book Reading
We shared the same banned book reading from the Currie event in June. You can read about that here.
Join us at future secret book swaps: