Second paragraph of third section:

The last three times Elisabeth’s been, he’s been asleep. He’ll be asleep this time too, when she gets there. She’ll sit on the chair next to the bed and get the book out of her bag.

Another of Ali Smith’s wonderful short novels, addressing post-Brexit Britain (published in October 2016), with the central theme the friendship between an old man and a young girl as she grows up. There’s also a fascinating meditation on the life and work of Pauline Boty, the only woman among the British Pop Artists, and lots of other gritty nuggets that make you stop and think a bit more about what you have just read. Quite a short book too, with a lot packed into it. Strongly recommended. You can get Autumn here.

This was my top unread book by a woman. Next on that pile is Volume 2 of Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset.