Graham Caveney has mastered the art of the memoir. His previous books — which explore adolescence, abuse, agoraphobia, and some of the darker corners of life — are enough to prove that. But The Body in the Library brings Caveney’s skills further into the light. This brilliant work will not go unnoticed, which is why we’ve picked it for our second May Book of the Month review.

When Graham Caveney was a child the word ‘cancer’ was unspeakable, only uttered in jokes told by people too frightened to say the word in any other context. Now the boy with perpetual nervousness is a fifty-something man, and the oncologist in front of him is saying words evacuated of all meaning: Inoperable. Incurable.

In this startling and deeply moving memoir from one of the great chroniclers of British working-class life, Graham Caveney charts a year of disease from diagnosis to past ‘original sell-by-date’. Shot through with Northerness, tenderness, and Caveney’s trademark humour, The Body in the Library reflects on an unfinished lifetime filled with books and with love.

From the blurb and subtitle alone, you’d be forgiven for believing this is a book solely about cancer. I had the same kinds of expectations. But illness is not a singular experience, and Caveny is far from a singular-minded author. The Body in The Library is like taking a walk with the author himself, wandering down to his beloved lake and taking conversational turns down unexpected pathways. Some paths lead to his journey with illness, others take us to his struggles as a survivor of abuse, internal battles over religion, falling in love with his wife, and his adoration for Flannery O’Connor.

His history of recovery from alcoholism, for example, is explored with great vulnerability and a gentle sense of exploration. There is a deep thoughtfulness to the writing as well as to the past, that makes this such an intimate and pleasurable read. This book is all a memoir should be — poignant, insightfully written, and unfearingly honest.

Graham’s writing is always thoughtful and witty, erudite and hugely entertaining. I so enjoyed this touching and insightful book.

David Nicholls

I don’t have to urge you to read The Body in the Library. You’re already going to read it – why else would you be holding it in your hands? All I will say is that it is, in my for-what-it’s-worth opinion, a small (in fact not so small) masterpiece. A book that will take hold of your heart and never let go.

Jonathan Coe

The Body in the Library is as compelling as it is unnerving. On the one hand confronting illness and mortality head-on, it is also the story of a generation who raised themselves on great music and great literature. It is the combination of these themes – how might the music and literature help when you are suddenly on the front-line of life or death – that makes this book important, and, if you can face it, necessary reading.

Michael Bracewell