On my quest to read short paperback novels on my commute I was inspired by seeing someone else on the train reading Until August by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of my favourite authors (see my blog on One Hundred Years of Solitude).

This was published after his death and against his wishes but I am glad his family chose to do so, given how enjoyable a read it was. Its premise is that Ana Magdalena Bach makes a trip to a small island each year to leave gladioli on her mother’s grave, and to take a lover for one night only, before returning to her happy marriage.

As she does this the island changes from sleepy backwater to overbooked tourist destination and she changes too, finding these single nights are impacting on her relationship with her husband. 

Each of these trips nods to what she was reading, which I loved, adding some books to my reading list along the way.

The ending left me wanting more and whilst it may not be a masterpiece it was definitely time well spent.