Tag: non-fiction

❄️ November Reading Wrapup 📚

Currently recovering from an infection that has floored me and my youngest for the past week or so, and thought I’d share my November reading wrapup.

Good Inside by Dr Becky Kennedy

Good Inside is one of the best parenting books I’ve read, packed full of wisdom and evidence-based research, which reminds parents that we should be more invested in building a positive relationship with our children than policing their behaviour. I didn’t agree with everything in the book but this was accessible, relatable and informative, with specific chapters on the most common parenting problems and a lot of information about child development, self regulation for parents and building a secure attachment with your child.

Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker

A dark YA fantasy inspired by Japanese folklore about a half English reaper and half Japanese shinigami who fits into neither world trying to accept her unique identity and purpose in life. Although this is an epic quest, the focus is very much about what she’s willing to do and sacrifice in order to fit in. This was dark and gory but really unique, and I’m looking forward to picking up the final part of the duology to find out how the story concludes.

The Girl Who Raced the World by Nat Harrison

I’m not usually a fan of retellings, but this was such a lovely trip down memory lane for me as I adored the cartoon of Around the World in 80 Days as a child. The Girl Who Raced the World follows young orphan Maggie Appleton as she finds herself on a wild adventure with Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout as they race around the world to win a bet pursued by Detective Fix who happens to be investigating a bank robbery that occurred the same day Fogg set out on his journey. This was so heartwarming, touching on themes of grief, family and friendship, but really capturing the mystery of the bank robbery and the and urgency of their voyage. I enjoyed this so much that it had me digging out an old copy of the original by Jules Verne to read.

The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club has become something of a comfort series that I dip into when life feels hectic. The characters are what make this cosy mystery series so unique, and I love returning to the aging amateur sleuths at Coopers Chase retirement village and their younger police and criminal friends. The mystery they take it upon themselves to investigate is a great little workout for the old grey matter with money laundering and a murder to solve, but a few clever red herrings.

Juniper’s Christmas by Eoin Colfer

This festive middlegrade adventure is set ten years after Santa Claus mysteriously stops delivering presents to children around the world, and two years after little Juniper Lane’s father passed away. Elves from the North Pole are desperately seeking Santa before his magic runs out forever, a criminal mastermind decides to steal Santa’s magical artifacts in order to turn Christmas into a profiteering racket, a mysterious benefactor is helping the homeless people that live in a London park and Juniper is desperately seeking her mother who goes missing just before Christmas. I’m not sure what I was expecting from this but it touches on so many themes of grief and loss, greed and generosity, love and hope, and was a lovely, moving story to ease into the festive season.

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

An absolutely fascinating insight into the working culture of Facebook revealing at first American-centric naivity to global politics and legislation, and then a callous indifference to real world violence and shrewd profit driven focus to the insecurities that Facebook could cause. It was particularly interesting to see the friction between tech and business management during the early years, an insight into the workaholic culture and outrageous expectations from managers with Sarah still sending emails while giving birth, and seriously considering being arrested by a foreign government. It’s not surprising that Zuckerberg tried so hard to prevent this book reaching the public because it paints an unflattering view of both him and Sheryl Sanberg. Yet it also offers insight into how Facebook could’ve been an incredible force for connection and community if Zuckerberg and his colleagues hadn’t prioritised profit and power.

What have you read lately? X

June Reading Wrapup

Life has been really hectic lately, and I’ve really appreciated escaping into stories at the end of long, busy days.

The City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak

This is the story of a young girl, Chompa, who has powerful magic that she struggles to control. When Chompa’s mum is abducted by British colonizers, she must undertake a daring adventure to rescue her. I loved this historical fantasy adventure with fascinating contrasts between the locations in India and London. This also has some really interesting but age appropriate insights into racism, colonisation and exploitation, and I really enjoyed some of the ideas explored in this story, like great power comes at a price and rebels attempting to democratize magic. Really looking forward to seeing where the next installment takes brave Chompa and her loyal friends.

The Morrigan by Kim Curran

When I was about seven, my primary teacher read The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O’Shea to our class, it was my introduction to celtic mythology and fantasy, and I’ve been fascinated by both ever since. I found this in the library and couldn’t resist returning to find out more about the shapeshifting goddess of war. This retelling of Irish mythology starts with the arrival of the Tuatha De to Ireland and runs right through to the defeat of the warrior Cuchulain. I was gripped by this howling tale of female rage and revenge, love and loss, and it’s easily one of the most gripping books I’ve read this year.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This series of essays by a botanist who also happens to be of indigenous descent has been on my radar for a while and it did not disappoint. There were parts of this book that were just so refreshing and comforting to read, like the ideas around gifts, reciprocity and symbiotic relationships in nature, and about the relationship between Earth and humans. Braiding Sweetgrass is quite a long book but such an interesting mix of topics like botany, nature, history, colonisation, indigenous culture, environmental issues and parenthood that I really enjoyed listening to over a couple of months.

Wildlands by Brogen Murphy

Set in 2050, this is about two children, Astrid and Indie, who accidentally fall out of a train running between Manchester and Glasgow and into a section of Britain that has been depopulated of humans and rewilded with beavers, bison, wolves, bears and lynx. The map at the start made me laugh out loud because the area that becomes the wildlands in the story is where I was born and grew up in the South West of Scotland. Wildlands is a tense and thrilling survival adventure as the sisters try to make their way out of the Wildlands to safety and considers whether humans can truly ever live in harmony with nature.

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa

A short slice of life novel by the writer of The Travelling Cat Chronicles (reviewed here) about the chance encounters of passengers travelling on the Hankyu Line train. The story follows how these seemingly random interactions end up changing the course of the characters’ lives from fledgling romances to break ups and new beginnings. This was such a sweet and gentle story that was so easy and pleasant to dip into at the end of a busy day.

Halfway through the year and halfway towards my target as I’ve read (and listened to) 25/50.

Have a lovely week! X

April and May Reading wrapup

I was in a reading slump through April and May so combining my monthly wrapups.

The Burning God by R. F. Kuang

I finally plucked up the nerve to read the final part of The Poppy War trilogy, and returned to this brilliant fantasy inspired by modern Chinese history. I normally avoid grimdark fantasy and this trilogy really captures the horror of war, colonialism and dehumanisation, but the protagonist, Rin is utterly fascinating, she’s ruthless, determined, pragmatic and ambitious, and I just had to know how it ended. The ending itself was foreshadowed from the first book and repeatedly through the final book, and yet I still wasn’t prepared for it, and it hit me like a sledgehammer. The Poppy War trilogy is easily one of the darkest but gripping and original fantasy trilogies I’ve ever read.

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Message is a really compelling book about the duty of writers and journalists to inspire, inform and educate readers about white supremacy, colonialism and systems of oppression in the age of censorship, misinformation and propaganda. The book has attracted some criticism and controversy as Ta-Nehisi Coates uses his visits to Israel and occupied Palestine to demonstrate how a victim can become an oppressor, and described what he saw as apartheid and colonialism. He could arguably have used the conflicts in Sudan or the exploitation of people and resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo as examples, but he uses Israel and Palestine instead because he accepted the narrative that Israel was given to the Jewish people as reparations for the Holocaust without ever questioning it or using critical thinking, and he uses The Message to repudiate his own article ‘The Case for Reparations’ originally published in the Atlantic. I thoroughly enjoyed The Message, but I wanted more.

Boy Everywhere by A. M. Dasu

This is a middlegrade story that follows 13 year old Sami who is forced to flee his home in Damascus when the Syrian civil war reached the city. Boy Everywhere describes his family’s desperate journey from Syria to England as they attempt to find safety and start a new life. This was an extremely tense and sad story in places, but also one that reminds the reader to be kind to others because it’s so easy to judge people without knowing what they’ve been through. Boy Everywhere doesn’t shy away from describing the bombings and horrors the family fled, the risks of the journey from crossing the mediterranean sea to being squashed into a van with other refugees and asylum seekers, the dehumanisation and bureaucracy at the detention centre, and the prejudice that migrants face when they finally reach the UK. This was such a poignant, gripping and hopeful story.

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

Set in a fictional African village, this tells the story of the villagers whose land, water and children are poisoned by a nearby oil refinery. Frustrated by the broken promises of clean up and financial compensation from the American oil company and the indifference of their corrupt government and violent dictator, the story follows what happens when the villagers finally start fighting back. This story covers some heavy topics such as slavery, colonialism and environmental destruction, but also balanced by family, community, education and survival.

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

Parable of the Sower was one of my favourite reads last year, and I didn’t want to wait too long before picking up the sequel to find out how the Earth Seed duology ends. Set in the very near future where climate breakdown has caused societal collapse across America, this book feels eerily prescient in places as Octavia E. Butler predicts the rise of militant Christian evangelicals and a President who promises to “Make America Great Again”. Meanwhile the protagonist, Lauren Olamina, is still trying to build her own religion ‘Earth Seed’ and secure the future of humanity by colonising space, but this is very much dystopian fiction rather than science fiction. This story does have some pretty dark moments and I would definitely check the content warnings before reading, but I really appreciated themes of education, community and resilience that also run through this story.  

January reading wrapup

My reading year is off to a good start as I read six books in January, which were a mix of current interests and easy, escapist reads.

The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson

An enchanting story of family curses, the power of stories, found families and self-acceptance. Yanka, bigger and stronger, than other people in the village, struggles to fit in and wonders about her identity, she runs away to find out who she really is, chasing the fairy tales she heard through her childhood. This is a wonderful tale of identity, found family, friendship, self-acceptance and the difference between fitting in and belonging.

Mornings with My Cat Mii by Mayumi Inaba

The first of two books I picked for #januaryinjapan on bookstagram, I was a bit apprehensive about reading this memoir of life with a beloved cat so soon after losing my own beloved cat, but it was a gentle book that actually reminded me of all the cats I’ve loved and cared for through my life. It particularly captutes the unique routines we fall into with our pets, the responsibility that pet ownership involves and the heartache of caring for aging pets.

The Electricity of Every Living Thing by Katherine May

Part walking journal and part neurodiversity memoir, the descriptions of walking the South Coast were wasted on me, but this was such an interesting and relatable autobiography of a woman who didn’t learn that she was autistic until her 40s and reviewing the impact it has had on her education, career, friendships, marriage and motherhood. This had a lot that I could also relate to, having only been diagnosed as an ADHDer last year at the age of 40, especially the mental health issues and misdiagnosis, social difficulties and masking in order to fit in, sensory overwhelm and the reasons for seeking late diagnosis. A very personal but relatable and affirming read.

The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle

Given that I enjoy fantasy with a strong romantic subplot, I’ve been underwhelmed by the romantasy subgenre. The Dagger and the Flame is an enemies to lovers story following Seraphine of the Thieves guild who is seeking vengeance for her mother’s murder, and Ransom, a member of the assassins guild assigned to eliminate her. I much preferred Seraphine’s personal quest and there’s some thrilling action scenes, but the romance between the leads left me cold, though the ending sets itself up perfectly for a sequel.

The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem

A short but thought provoking novel about what would happen in Israel if all the Palestinians disappeared without a trace overnight. Written in dual perspective of an Israeli Arab and a liberal zionist, it really delves into the contradictions of Israeli society such as a secular nation that claims divine right to the land, racism and colonialism, the awkward juxtaposition of old Jaffa and new Tel Aviv, and the atmosphere of fear, distrust and misunderstanding that exists between the two nations inhabiting the same land.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

This was a short, sweet and surreal story about a cafe run by talking cats that help customers identify parts of their life they want to change with astrology. The Full Moon Coffee Shop was a bit of a mixed bag because I felt it went into unnecessary detail about the character’s astrological birth charts at certain points, but I enjoyed seeing the characters grow in self-understanding and self-compassion, and starting to pursue their hopes and dreams.

Have a lovely week. X

December and End of Year Reading Wrapup! 📚

What with Christmas preparations and celebrations, December is typically one of my worst months for reading. I only read three books, but enjoyed them all.

The House of Frost and Feathers by Lauren Wiseborn

A delightful and enchanting story of a young woman trying to escape the sleeping plague that left her parents and so many other victims in a sanatorium, who finds employment as an assistant to the witches who live and travel around in a house with chicken legs. This had a few pacing issues near the start but had me gripped to the end with lots of mystery, twists and betrayals and a slow burn romance (or two!). A wonderful fantasy story to curl up with on these long, dark winter nights. Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the advanced copy. The House of Frost and Feathers is out on 16th January 2025.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

A powerful memoir of grief, hiking, vulnerability and courage, determination and resilience. When Cheryl Strayed’s mother died suddenly from cancer and her own marriage broke down, she decided to walk the Pacific Crest Trail, 2663 miles running from the Mexican border, through California and Oregon to Canada. This isn’t the sort of book I normally read, but was absolutely captivated by this story of endurance and self discovery.

The Ice Children by M.G. Leonard

On the first day of December, Bianca finds her little brother has been frozen in ice, and every day after more children join him. Bianca takes it upon herself to investigate and save her brother, embarking on an adventure that will take her to the heart of winter itself. This was such a surprising story that started off as a fairly familiar quest to rescue a missing child that reminded me of The Snow Queen and Northern Lights in places but became a totally original story about climate change and the power of stories to inspire us to action, and to imbue children with a sense of love and hope rather than fear and despair about the world they inherit.

2024 in Books

In 2024, I read a total of 58 books. I read 34 fiction books across a range of different genres from children’s and YA to fantasy, dystopia and magical realism, as well as mysteries and romance. I read 24 non-fiction books across a similarly eclectic choice of subjects from neurodiversity, memoirs, Palestine and environmentalism.

My Top 10 favourites were fairly reflective of my reading this year with several themes overlapping and crossing genres, such as environmental issues, Palestine, community, and witchcraft which is one of my favourite fictional subgenres. Unusually for me, four of my ten favourites this year were non-fiction and three were audiobooks.

This was the year I switched from audible to LibroFM and really got enjoyed listening to non-fiction audiobooks, listening to eight on my commute to work.

I joined Netgalley back in 2020, but 2024 was the year when I finally started to pick a few ARCs to read and review, and I improved my ratio from 0% to 53%, which I’m pretty chuffed with.

I’m a big advocate of public libraries and 21 of the 58 books I read last year were borrowed from the library. Aside from supporting a valuable public service, I saved myself £265 borrowing books instead of buying them.

What were your favourite reads in 2024?

August Reading Wrapup

It felt like we only had a handful of sunny days, and August was a dark and stormy month which was reflected in my reading as I found myself drawn to the mysteries, magical realism, romances and children’s adventures I normally reserve for the long, dark evenings of autumn and winter. I also thoroughly enjoyed listening to two non-fiction audiobooks last month.

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

This book was inspired by people frequently confusing Naomi Klein (No Logo and This Changes Everything) with Naomi Wolf (The Beauty Myth), like all doppelgangers there are similarities between them, but also significant differences. Doppelganger is a fascinating snapshot in time about personal branding, influencers and authenticity, and starts with Naomi Klein reflecting on her own evolution from No Logo to present, the choices and experiences that led her down one path as she tries to understand why her doppelganger took opposite paths. I was really interested in the exploration of political diagonialism when different groups find common ground that diverge from the traditional left-right political wings, and how the right has increasingly welcomed exiles from the left, combined with the persistent failure of the left to engage with fears and suspicion around vaccinations, social media and privacy, climate change, and other divisive topics. This is such a book full of big ideas that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to on audiobook.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

I have a soft spot for stories about witches and magic set in the real world like Chocolat, Practical Magic and The Once and Future Witches, and this is historical fiction with a dash of magical realism. Loosely inspired by Leigh Bardugo’s Spanish Jewish ancestors who converted to Christianity to escape the Inquisition and then disappeared, the story follows a scullion, Luzia, who has a just a little bit of magic that draws the attention of ambitious patrons who use her to further their own ends. Leigh Bardugo is one of my favourite writers and while this isn’t her best work, it’s an enjoyable tale with lots of tension, a bit of romance and a couple of clever twists.

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

I’ve read a few Inspector Poirot mysteries but decided to try Christie’s other famous sleuth, Miss Marple. When the dead body of a young woman is found in Colonel Bantry’s library, while he calls the police, his wife calls Miss Marple to help them solve the mystery of who the victim is, who killed her and how she ended up in their library. This is a clever little mystery with plenty of suspects, a few red herrings and a reveal that I didn’t see coming but wrapped up the story very neatly.

Christmas At the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin

A bit early for Christmas stories, but couldn’t resist this when I saw it on Netgalley. This is a romance novel about Anais, a recently divorced novelist with writer’s block and a delapidated hotel she got as part of her divorce settlement. With the help of her loyal cousin, Manon, she sets about renovating the hotel in time for its Christmas opening but soon discovers that the hotel has its own secrets and a mystery to solve. I really enjoyed the strong female friendship through this, the slow burn romance and learning about French Christmas traditions along the way. This is a lighthearted and escapist romance perfect to curl up with as the evenings draw in and the countdown to Christmas begins. Christmas At the Little Paris Hotel is out on 26th September, thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rebecca Raisin for the advanced reading copy.

The Island at the Edge of Night by Lucy Strange

A heart pounding, nail bitingly tense middlegrade thriller, the story follows 12 year old Faye Fitzgerald when she’s sent to a reform school for wicked children on a remote and desolate island for a crime she can’t remember. This is absolutely gripping, full of mystery, twists and turns. At times, this was so tense and foreboding, it could have been written by Daphne du Maurier, and other times it reminded me of classic adventures like The Wolves of Willoughby Chase with brave children outwitting devious and cruel adults.

One Garden Against the World by Kate Bradbury

This is such a love letter to nature, and Kate Bradbury is such an inspiration to me. One Garden Against the World is about the many ways gardeners can help nature, and maybe even mitigate climate change.  This is poignant and disheartening as she battles other people’s indifference, denial and cruelty, frets about the lack of rain during record breaking heatwaves and recites grim statistics about the collapse of bird, insect and hedgehog populations, yet is also so informative and inspiring. Kate Bradbury is so full of useful advice and her reverence for nature really shines through it all. I loved all the audacious and eccentric anecdotes she shares from rescuing caterpillars before the local council gardeners mowed down nettles in the park to fattening up hedgehogs from the local rescue centre in her garden.

Have a lovely week. X

June reading wrapup

Blogging has fallen by the wayside once again, and only finding time to share my June reviews midway through July.

Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham

Listened to this on Audiobook, and it really felt like catching up with an old friend who occasionally gives really good advice about dieting, dating, technology and social media. What really comes across is that she is every bit as much of a Gilmore Girls fan as the fans themselves. This is a whistle stop tour of Lauren’s life, more thematic than chronological it reminded me of Carrie Fisher’s trilogy of short autobiographies. Short on scandals and gossip but full of wry commentary and self-deprecating humour, this is a thoroughly enjoyable autobiography.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

This had a slow start, introducing all the characters and intrigue, but the second half was absolutely gripping. A Magic Steeped In Poison follows a girl called Ning whose mother was a shennong, a kind of tea mage, but both her mother and sister were poisoned by someone who has been contaminating tea around the Empire. Her mum succumbs to the poison but Ning travels to the capital city to compete in the competition to become the new royal shennong and ask the princess to heal her sister. Along the way she meets a mysterious but handsome exile, and finds herself embroiled in imperial politics. This definitely suffers from some pacing issues and the magic is a bit of a muddle but I’m keen to find out how it all works out in the concluding part.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

Every so often I read a book I love so much I want to press it into the hands of every reader I know, and I could tell right from the first page that this would be one of those books because every word of this hits home. I’ve always been drawn to stories about underdogs challenging injustice and this story follows an 11 year old autistic girl, Addie, as she learns about women from her own little scottish village who were tried and executed as witches. Recognising that the witches were most probably women who didn’t fit in and feeling kinship with them, Addie starts a campaign for a village memorial. Like so many children’s books, this has some pretty big themes like disability, friendship and bullying, shame and self acceptance, but is a wonderful story and definitely one of my favourites of the year.

Dirty Laundry by Roxanne Emery and Richard Pink

Over the years, I’ve overcome a lot of insecurities and so this (audio)book really surprised me because I expected a lighthearted but candid book about ADHD similar to the Instagram content they share, instead it ended up highlighting how often I’ve blamed myself for being lazy and useless because of symptoms I now know are part of ADHD. There were so many parts I could relate to from my sudden all consuming interests and hobbies, directional dyslexia, losing possessions, time blindness and struggles with housekeeping and personal hygiene. There are lots of useful tips to help make life easier but at times I wondered how Rox would cope without her organised and infinitely patient husband Rich, but the general relationship advice of being honest and treating each other with kindness and understanding is solid.

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

This is a paranormal mystery-heist loosely inspired by the real story of a black woman called Clara Johnson who shot and killed a white policeman but was acquitted. In this story, Clara has paranormal abilities to communicate with spirits, and is one of several humans who have made deals with deities known as Enigmas who can bestow charms on people for a price. The Monsters We Defy is a really intriguing paranormal mystery as Clara finds herself trying to rescue people who have gone missing and free herself from the deal she made with an Enigma. I really enjoyed the richly described setting in Washington DC during the 1920s, the exploration of race and class during that era, the tense and spooky atmosphere, and slow burn romance.

The Kingdom Across the Sea by Zohra Nabi

A thrilling and gripping children’s fantasy about a recently orphaned young girl, Yara, who finds herself travelling from Bournemouth into a magical kingdom across the sea on a journey of self discovery. Trying to follow the last letter of her mother’s instructions, Yara tracks down a sorceress and finds herself against alchemists plotting to destroy all sorcerers who have been forced into hiding. This is such an exciting and heartwarming story of bravery, determination, identity, friendship and found family.

The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa

I loved The Travelling Cat Chronicles (reviewed here) a few years ago and picked this up recently while looking after my own beloved cat Mara after we discovered an ulcer on her eye. Both of these books really capture the eccentricities and personalities of the animals that we take on as pets, but also the sense of companionship, sense of purpose and well-being that pet ownership provides. The Goodbye Cat is seven short stories about different cats and the people who love and care for them with some new characters and others recurring from The Travelling Cat Chronicles.

Halfway through the year and I’m slightly ahead of my reading goal. What have you been reading lately? X

February Reading Wrapup

February turned out to be a quick, hectic month and unusually I found myself reading all non-fiction.

Ten Myths About Israel by Ilan Pappe

Frustrated by mainstream journalism coverage of the most recent conflict between Israel and Palestine, I picked up this book by Israeli historian, Ilan Pappe, to try to learn more. Ten Myths About Israel challenges the narrative many of us have been taught to believe about Israel as a land without a people for a people without a land, Israel being the only democracy in the middle east, that zionism is Judaism, and the two state solution is the only hope for lasting peace. It’s not without controversy, as Ilan Pappe argues that consecutive Israeli governments have undermined the peace process by refusing to negotiate with Palestinian leaders and allowing illegal settlements in Gaza and the West Bank. Ten Myths About Israel provided the context that I was seeking and I appreciated that this offers a secular history which doesn’t hold all Jewish people or Israeli citizens responsible for the actions of extremists in government or the Zionist movement.

Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate

A really interesting read (or in my case, listen) from a psychiatrist who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, which includes anecdotes and reflection from his own experiences as well as those of patients he’s worked with.
Scattered Minds explains the symptoms and signs of ADHD, and examines the links between genetics, early childhood environment and neurobiology in individuals with ADHD.
Gabor Mate argues that while there is a neurobiological aspect, that impaired parent-child attachment and environmental stress during the  early years can also have an impact on the development of ADHD, and that we live in a fast-paced culture and society that exacerbates ADHD symptoms.
This also contains advice on how to parent a child with adhd, such as how to build attunement and attachment, overcome oppositionality and stubbornness, and how to motivate a child with ADHD.

Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Y. Davis

This is an collection of speeches, articles and interviews on related themes and topics from the prison industrial complex, the militarization of the police and institutional racism which has lead to so many black people being killed by the police force, the power of collective action and intersectional feminism, and the struggle for freedom and abolition from the United States of America to Palestine. Freedom is a Constant Struggle is an interesting, informative and thought-provoking little book that really left me wanting to read more of Angela Y. Davis’ work.

It’s Not That Radical by Mikaela Loach

This is a really interesting book by a young, black female environmental activist that draws connections between exploitation of land and resources that lead to climate breakdown and social issues like the exploitation of workers and racism. One thing I found really inspiring was the idea that climate justice means more than just preserving the status quo with green capitalism alternatives, and the climate emergency provides an opportunity to create a fairer, cleaner and healthier world for everyone, but I was a little disappointed that there weren’t more practical steps to take beyond joining a trade union or protesting.

Have a lovely week all. X

January Reading Wrapup

Finally sharing my January reading wrapup, after a fairly hectic start to February. Last month, I sought out a few gentle, comfort reads to contrast the back to work blues and grim news.

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior

Away with the Penguins was my first read of the year, and what an emotional roller-coaster it was! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the cantankerous and indomitable Veronica McCready as she embarks on a grand adventure at the age of 86 to Antarctica and learns so much about herself, others and penguins along the way. Parts of this were extremely moving, and reminded me of stories my own late nanna told me about how much society has changed in her lifetime. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel.

What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

A lovely novel translated from Japanese that follows a group of characters all at different stages of life who visit their little local library, and get a personal recommendation from the enigmatic librarian. This is such a heartwarming, inspiring and comforting story about characters learning to see their own value and worth, working towards their dreams and learning to enjoy where they are on the journey too.

More than a Woman by Caitlin Moran

I’ve always considered Caitlyn Moran to be an opinionated, funny and sometimes vulgar big sisterly figure. I loved How to Be a Woman, which I read at a time when I was in a similar stage of life, and had been looking forward to her take on middle-age. As ever, Caitlin delivers an unflinchingly honest report of the joys, stresses and sorrows of life as she describes her work-life balance, housework, parenting teenagers, marriage, aging parents, botox and mid-life a fashion. I didn’t find this quite as politically astute as How to Be A Woman but at times this felt like such a reassuring chat and a cup of tea with an old friend.

Have a lovely week. X

November Reading Wrapup

My library requests arrived early so read mostly Christmas stories in November, which worked out well as it was a cold, frosty and dark month that definitely felt more wintry than autumnal.

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

I’ve been feeling oddly nostalgic for the years I spent working in a bookshop, though romance is a genre I’ve overlooked but this appealed to me because it reminded me of how my own husband and I met in a bookshop. The Christmas Bookshop defied all my expectations, it’s so much more then a romance, with a much greater focus on family relationships and personal agency than romance. When the department store Carmen has worked at since school closes down, she moves to Edinburgh with her over achieving, perfectionist older sister, Sofia, and starts working at a failing bookshop with the eccentric and reclusive owner. In many ways, this story feels like a love letter to Edinburgh with its idiosyncratic architecture and town planning, and I have to agree the Scottish capital is particularly enchanting around Christmas. I loved this story from start to end, and I can’t wait to read more by Jenny Colgan.

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Milly Johnson

The Christmas Bookshop was always going to be a hard book to follow and this didn’t hit the mark for me. It follows six people who are snowed in at an abandoned inn in the middle of nowhere: there’s the couple who met at the wrong time in their lives and had a roller-coaster romance reuniting only to sign their divorce papers, the PA with a crush on her oblivious boss, and an aging gay couple celebrating one last Christmas together after one of them receives a terminal diagnosis. This is full of festive atmosphere but it’s a very slow burn romance and I was disappointed when the couple I was rooting for didn’t end up together and the heroine I really hoped would move on ended up with her love interest whose rapid realisation and personality change just didn’t ring true for me.

The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

This was more of a family drama than a romance, which was just as well as the romantic subplots all fell flat for me, but I was swept up in the McBride family’s Christmas reunion as all three sisters return home for the first time in years. There’s ambitious, successful and emotionally reserved Hannah, Beth who feels overwhelmed and lost in motherhood but feels guilty about wanting to return to work, and finally the most open and adventurous sister, Posy, who has never left home for fear of letting her parents down. This was an enjoyable read but quite cheesy and the personal and romantic dilemmas were all resolved a bit too easily.

The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman

Having read and loved Fredrik Backman’s Beartown, I’ve been eager to read his other works but given the heavy topics he usually covers, I knew better than to expect his Christmas story to be cosy and heartwarming. The Deal of a Lifetime is a very short but haunting story about a man grappling with living and dying, his fear of death and his quest to build a legacy that will live on after him, until he has to choose whether to do something truly selfless even if no one else will ever know about it.

The Power of Showing Up by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

I ended the month by finishing a parenting book that I’ve been dipping in and out of for a few months. The Power of Showing Up takes a look at how to build a secure attachment with your children, explaining attachment theory and attachment disorders, before breaking down how to build a secure attachment at any age into four specific steps. I really enjoyed the informative and practical approach this book took to a topic that overlaps my personal and professional life.

Have a lovely week. X