Reading Review: October 2019

Here's what I thought of what I read this month, while travelling through Berlin, Prague, Frankfurt and Luxembourg. It's been busy in the best, bookish way. Let me know if you've read any of these, and what you thought of them! 


The Life Diet by Laura Jane Williams (4/5)

This was released on the exact day I needed it most, I'm talking the everything going wrong kind of day. It's funny, reassuring, and motivational. Laura shares her approach to curating a balanced, joyful life with realistic advice. Creating boundaries, money management, habits, looking after your future self. I'd still recommend her book: Ice cream For Breakfast, but this acts as a great sample of what you'll find in there.

'Don't do what you love, do what you have to do with love.' 

'Nothing good comes from faking it - permit yourself to want what you want. Permit others. Chase what you want, need, desire...' 

'Choosing where to spend your fucks.' 

Expectation by Anna Hope (4/5)

This follows three twenty-somethings from university life to their thirties, where each is struggling with their lives for different reasons: underwhelming careers, regrets, failing IVF, uncertain marriages. This captures some universally recognisable feelings and presents some flawed, real characters. Anna writes beautifully and creates a bittersweet, nostalgic tone. 


Growing Things And Other Stories by Paul Tremblay (3/5)

An eerie, unsettling, ambiguous, apocalyptic short story collection. I really liked this! It reminded me of Emma Donoghue's Room in its powerful simplicity. Not a genre I'm usually drawn to, but would definitely recommend. 

'Merry draws green lines on the front door. The lines are long and thick and she draws small leaves on the ends. She's never seen the growing things, but it's what she imagines.' 

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (4/5) 

The hype worried me with this one, but thankfully it was worth it. This is much more fast-paced than The Handmaid's Tale and is very plot driven. I just love that this book has had so many people discussing the world of Gilead and are finding it empowering. 

'The future doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes'.

Lost in The Spanish Quarter by Heddi Goodrich (4/5) 

This is a love story set in the 90s in Naples. Two students struggle with longing for freedom and escape whilst being torn by tradition and impossible Italian in-laws. The narrator, Heddi, is untangling her relationship with Naples, the concept of home, and with romantic attachment. Her partner, Pietro is reassuring, predictable, comforting - everything that the future isn't. Emails sent years later are spread throughout the novel, piecing together their story. I loved how Heddi's writing transports us to Italy, though it gets a little repetitive at times. 

‘Don’t forgive me, don’t answer, don’t be sad. Be happy, have babies, write books, make mixed tapes, take pictures… it’s how I always love to think of you. And now and then, if you can and if you want to, remember me.’ 

'Desire isn't written in the future but in history'.

‘Century after century nothing in Naples ever really changed. And I was beginning to sense that the strange sadness that was perhaps uniquely Neapolitan might just be the knowledge that, no matter what, life goes on.’ 

Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey (3/5)

This is about the conversations women have together in private, about decisions, regrets, guilt, motherhood etc. I found the first half of this a little slow and hard to get into, but the second half had me hooked. Some really shocking, wonderful sentences in this. Out in January, 2020.

‘There is, below the surface of every conversation in which intimacies are shared, an erotic current. Sometimes this current is so hot it all but boils and other times it’s barely lukewarm, hardly noticeable, but always the current is present, if only you plunge your hands just an inch or two farther down in the water’. 

So... We're Graduates Now?

So for many of us, newly graduated, we are in the same boat. Some are no doubt seasick, in a world which suddenly demands more decision-making than we could have imagined. I think a lot of us are struggling to adapt, though it's early days, so I thought I'd share what I've found comforting recently whilst job-hunting.

Illustration by Manuela Gandara

What to watch/read/listen to when life is messy and overwhelming: 

Minnie Small's YouTube Channel. Minnie documents her creative process when painting, and often discusses dealing with imposter sydrome - particularly with never feeling like a 'real' artist. Her voice is comforting and her advice is never cliche. Here's one to get started with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPmKeGgsBKE&index=53&list=WL&t=0s

The Multi-Hypen Method by Emma Gannon. Now I'll probably dedicate an entire post to this book, as it's genuinely transformed my perspective on W.O.R.K. It's incredible. If you need motivation and comfort in the changing industries, this is all you need. Emma explores side-hustles, and finding the style and work-balance which suits us all as individuals. There are some interesting stories in here, with people who juggle (magnificently) seemingly contrasting jobs. She doesn't look down on those who work the 9-5, but instead praises the need for flexible hours and the option to work remotely, as there are a whole generation of job-seekers who won't settle for unfulfilling jobs!

Laura Jane Williams' Instagram Stories and Tweets. Laura talks about everything from renovating her house to Love Island - but mainly she gives advice on pitching, writing and presenting in a down to earth way. I love her writing style, and her books (Ice-cream for Breakfast and Becoming) are both brilliant. I've had to stop and jot down several inspirational/memorable quotes from both!

Lean In: For Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg. This was a touch too cheesy at times, but there are some memorable quotes and tips which I'd actually use. It can be tough even knowing where to start, let alone what to charge as a writer (or other roles), and this helped in that area. It didn't focus enough on freelancing, I felt, but re-considered the generic 'career ladder' image into a soft play area, where we can dip our toes into various things and experiment along the way. If sending daunting emails, discussing salaries and prepping for interviews give you goosebumps - this could help.

GrownUpLand podcast. Comedians navigate the adult world, from dating and ambition, money and travelling, to sex and saving money. If you've worried about it, these guys have discussed it!

Playing Big (A Practical Guide to Trusting Your Instincts and Sharing Your Brilliance in a World that Needs Women's Voices) by Tara Mohr. Tara is an expert in offering practical skills to help women achieve their dreams, and this book gave me so many tips to start doing just that. It covers inner critics and self-doubt, not knowing what our calling is, and handling criticism and praise in a damaging way. One of the biggest things I took from this was to unlearn good student habits which can be harmful in the workplace. I also admired the way she treated childcare, volunteering and non-traditional/office jobs as equal, and focused on helping women achieve in any area of their lives.

The Comedy Lineup Part 1 & Queer Eye (Netflix). These two have been the ultimate distraction, both are hilarious and heart-warming in equal measure, so I'm recommending them to everyone!

I hope these suggestions help in some way! Feel free to leave any questions below, or let me know what you're doing to tackle the real world at the moment. Obviously I recommend all the cups of tea, dancing, talking to people who care and doing things you love - which will all make a difference. It's worth remembering that there is no rush or pressure to do everything right now, life can, and will, wait.