Reading Review: February 2020

Here are some mini reviews of the books I read last month (February)!

Be My Guest by Priya Basil (3/5)

I finished this as the UK officially left the European Union, which definitely added a painful aspect to reading. Priya writes about immigrants and refugees, about hospitality and how we welcome others through sharing food. It was touching and insightful, with glimpses into her own life and her family's attitude towards eating. I would say that this is one for dipping into, as the pacing is quite slow. 

Love, an index by Rebecca Lindenberg (5/5)

Rebecca's partner disappeared whilst hiking a volcano in Japan, and these poems span the moments before and after, following love and loss as they tangle. It's possibly my new favourite collection. Each poem is haunting, lyrical and powerfully simplistic. 

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (2/5)

This one was intense. It follows a middle-aged man as he tries to unpack his past. The mystery he is faced with is a curious one, but I lost interest as the novel develops.  found it clumsy, with an unsatisfactory reveal at the end. 

Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth (4/5)

This is about social media addiction and flailing through adulthood. The protagonist is self-absorbed and dramatic, similar to the chaotic Tyler in Animals (Emma's previous novel which I really liked). This accurately portrays the mania of obsession and using performative social platforms as a crutch in life. Some painfully relatable inner monologues too. 

The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp (5/5)

This is really great. Practical advice from Twyla's thirty year dancing and choreographing career, applicable to all creators - designers, writers, artists etc. Or even anyone trying to get a little more creativity into their lives. I'm writing a full piece on this, so stay tuned for that...

First Reads of The Year - January 2020

Hi, hello.

Happy (very belated) New Year!

One month down. We did it. It's been an intense month for me, unfortunately. I also didn't love a lot of the books I discuss below, but I have high hopes for the books due to be published later in the year.

Surrender the Pink by Carrie Fisher 4/5

Carrie was such a brilliant writer. She wrote funny, uncomfortable dialogue and shared the vulnerabilities of her characters in dark, painful character studies. This is wonderful. I'll be reading her other books very soon.

How to be a Poet by Jo Bell and Jane Commane 3/5

I really want to continue playing with poetry this year, as I found the writing process really cathartic in 2019. I thought this would be a good place to start revising. This has lots of useful prompts, activities and advice for drafting and building a poetry collection and approaching publishers, etc. I'd definitely recommend it if you're interested in learning more about writing poetry.

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron 4/5

Witty and hilarious, these articles are on self-consciousness and the struggles of womanhood. I highlighted whole passages that struck me, and I reckon you will too. An easy, amusing read.

Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoan 1/5

This was another Leena Norms recommendation, which sadly didn't live up to expectation. I started listening to the audiobook expecting cheekiness and sarcasm, but it was just flat. This book aims to bring new perspectives to concerns about married life, but I didn't find it made me any less cynical or more hopeful. Even the  more dramatic stories and descriptions of her and her partner's affairs were uninteresting.

Reading Review: December

Here's a (very overdue) post about the books I read in the last month of 2019!

Tin Man by Sarah Winman, 4/5

This was an interesting portrayal of the friendship between two boys as they grow into men. It touches on grief, masculinity and sexuality. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but it's genuinely heartbreaking and wonderful.

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler, 1/5 

I wish I'd abandoned this book sooner as it was so frustrating. The story follows a woman at different stages of life. The plot was predictable, there was unnecessary repetition and fat phobia in every airplane scene (and there are loads of airplane scenes...) I felt zero connection to any of the unrealistic characters. Big nope.

When All Is Said by Anne Griffin, 5/5

This is a great debut which had me sobbing by the end. It definitely reminded me I want to read more Irish literature in 2020. In this, an elderly man raises five toasts to people in his life, sharing their stories and painting a picture of his past.

How Much the Heart Can Hold by various authors, 3/5

This is a collection of stories inspired by seven concepts of love. Some were great, others more forgettable. Donal Ryan and Carys Bray both worth noting here.

Set Me On Fire: A Poem For Every Feeling by Ella Risbridger, 4/5

This is a great, diverse anthology which I've bookmarked beyond recognition. Gorgeous. A perfect gift for those who love poetry, or those who are hesitant to delve into the poetry world. Ella guides us through each poem with little notes, and reminds us not to punish ourselves for not 'getting' them at first. 

Can't and Won't by Lydia Davis, 1/5

I enjoyed studying Lydia's work when I was at uni, and she sparked my initial love for micro fiction... but I couldn't get into this collection at all. 

Public Library by Ali Smith 3/5

This celebrates libraries, with short stories and discussions from well known people about what libraries mean to them. An interesting read, but not a favourite. I've not read much of Ali Smith's work so I might try more this year. 

Sudden Traveler by Sarah Hall 2/5 

I liked The Beautiful Indifference by Sarah, but I didn't enjoy this collection as much. The titular story is stunning, especially in audio form. It deals with the concept of time and parenthood. The rest however, weren't for me. 

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A Little Bookshop Tour of Europe

In November I arrived home after two months of travelling and I thought I’d share some of the bookshops I found myself in along the way. Some are tiny hidden gems, others are enormous and well-known, but all are irresistible in their own way. 

Bookshops are my favourite places to hide in. To bury myself in a book or a piece of work, or to shelter from the rain, surrounded by the particular calm of stories waiting patiently. But I'm particularly drawn to them when I'm in a new place. When my surroundings are unfamiliar and potentially intimidating. These are safe, welcoming spaces to browse or settle in for a while. 

First up, my top four favourite bookshops from the trip: 

Filigraines, Brussels. This is the holy grail. A huge selection with eye-catching displays. Plus – a café filled with people actually reading! They also sell wine and stationery. I’m not entirely sure how I managed to drag myself away…

Shakespeare & Sons, Prague and Berlin. These are very memorable shops. Berlin has bagels so gets a few bonus points, but Prague has a basement space filled with antique furniture and interesting prints. I have fond memories of wandering around both with new friends.

De Slegte Bookstore, Leuven. A second hand bookshop with a huge English section. Well-priced with kind staff. I had to resist picking up any more books here as it was towards the end of my trip and my backpack was bulging dangerously…

Book Store Dominicanen, Maastricht. An independent bookshop inside a 700-year-old former Dominican church with new and second hand books in several languages, along with a huge vinyl collection and café. I visited on a spontaneous day trip and fell in love with the city. A historic and stunning space which absolutely won my heart.

Some other recommendations:

• Passa Porta, Brussels. Very modern. Great tote bag selection and range of travel guides.

• Donner Boekhandel, Rotterdam. Large bookshop with a variety of literature and space for talks and lectures. I sat with a girl I met to read our new poetry books in the café, and we can both confirm it’s a great place for a restorative cry!

• Bosch&deJong boekverkopers, Rotterdam. Small, but inside a food court! I stumbled in here when my umbrella had disintegrated, and my mood was similarly crumbling. A safe haven with delicious coffee and food stalls. 

• Globe English Bookstore & Café, Prague. A gorgeous bookshop with a bar and restaurant in the back. Great coffee, great cider (maybe not at the same time). Highly recommend. 

• Librairie Alinea, Luxembourg. Extensive selection with lovely gift options. Also very close to the Chocolate House. You know what to do.

• Dussman, Berlin. Filled with people with their noses in books – BLISS. Decorated beautifully with plants and trees, a gorgeous place to spend a few hours. 

I hope you check these places out if you're nearby, and enjoy them as much as I did.

My bookshop bucket list is still ever-growing... What's on yours? 

Reading Review: November 2019

November. What a month. I arrived home after travelling (mostly) alone for two months, feeling overwhelmed and excited and almost every emotion in-between. I'm now ridiculously ready to cover everything in tinsel. Anyway, where were we? Right - books. 

Here's what I thought of what I read this month:

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes 4/5

This is inspired by the real librarians who worked in Kentucky between 1935 and 1943. Women delivered books on horseback to those living in rural areas. The programme was incredibly empowering and they managed to get books to over a hundred thousand people! This follows a group of rebellious, brave women as they challenge societal norms. The characters are well-fleshed out and although the plot is a little slow at times, there are some surprising twists.  

'Maybe that's the thing we need to understand, Alice. That some things are a gift, even if you don't get to keep them.' 

Calypso by David Sedaris 4/5

I’ve not read much of Sedaris’ work, but after listening to this I’m desperate to read more. A hilarious collection of stories commenting on daily life. It's shocking, relatable and has been referred to as ‘required reading for those who loathe small talk and love a good tumor joke’. This had me cry-laughing in public. What more could you want?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 2/5

I re-read to this for the first time in thirteen years as I wanted a refresher before the new film adaptation comes out next month. Sadly I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did when I was younger. I found it frustrating and repetitive and the families obsession with being good felt uncomfortable. Although, it’s possible that listening to the audiobook version had an impact on my overall experience… 

It’s Not OK to Feel Blue (and other lies) edited by Scarlett Curtis 4/5

This is a collection of essays, poems and general ramblings from famous people about their relationships with mental health. Matt Haig, Reggie Yates, Miranda Hart, Hannah Witton, and so many more. Some of the pieces are funny, most are heart breaking, and all are extremely useful. A great coffee table book, and a good Christmas gift option.

Doom Rolled in Glitter by Leena Norms 5/5

This zine includes twenty poems about Norms’ twenties. Some are about the struggle of finding yourself, of losing love and hope. All are beautiful. She offered 2 for 1 for pre-orders, so I’ve framed some pages from my spare copy! 

'We are gorged on love songs and pregnant with poetry,

Birthing busking songs before babies and opening ISAs

For the end of the world.' 

How to Fall in Love with Anyone: A Memoir in Essays by Mandy Len Catron 4/5 

Following on from her viral New York Times essay in 2015, Catron's book looks at our relationship with love stories, and how we share ours with the world. She examines scientific studies as well as her own relationships, trying to find out whether we can truly work out what really makes love last. It’s insightful, well-researched and beautifully written. I highly recommend it to anyone else who is as obsessed with the nature of love as I am.

'But the abundance of how-we-met stories means we know a lot about falling in love - how it should feel and what we might say or do to influence its intensity and direction - but we don't have many scripts for making that love last.'

'The pleasures of recognising that one may have to undergo the same realizations, write the same notes in the margin, return to the same theme’s in one’s work, relearn the same emotional truths, write the same book over and over again - not because one is stupid or obstinate or incapable of change, but because such revisions constitute a life.' 

Lie With Me by Philippe Besson 5/5 

This award-winning French novel has been translated by the brilliant Molly Ringwald and is absolutely stunning. It's mainly set in the summer of 1984, as two teenage boys begin an affair which will impact the rest of their lives. It looks at the strong bonds we form in adolescence, at shame and denial and love.  

'This passion that can’t be talked about, that has to be concealed, gives way to the terrible question: if it isn’t talked about, how can one know that it really exists? One day, when it’s over, when it finally comes to an end, no one will be able to attest to what took place.'

'This feeling of love, it transports me, it makes me happy. But it also consumes me and makes me miserable, the way all impossible loves are miserable.'

Words for Winter (TBR)

The list of books I want to read is always growing, but recently it's become almost intimidating. And although I'm not usually one for planning how and when I read - unless it's holiday packing time, and I have to choose between socks and stories - I took some time to pick out the books I'm most excited for and dedicate the last few months of the year to those. 

Here are some thoughts on each book prior to starting them: 

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafrón. My grandfather has been telling me to read this translated book for as long as I can remember, so it takes priority. Set in postwar Barcelona, this follows a boy who sets about hunting down the author of a mysterious book. It appears he has the only copy of his works in existence, and someone has been intent on destroying all evidence of his writing. This is said to capture the magic of libraries, and the power of books. Unsurprisingly, I'm intrigued!

The Truth Pixie by Matt Haig. I'm a big fan of Matt's books, and although this is aimed at children, I'm sure it'll be appreciated by adult readers alike. It's essentially a mental-health guide for children which hopes to comfort worriers and anxious thinkers. The illustrations look incredible too.

Being an Adult: the ultimate guide to... by Lucy Tobin & Kat Poole. This came highly recommended by Leena Norms, who I trust explicitly with book advice. Written with tips from 'proper adults' including plumbers, doctors and finance experts, this should go beyond the clichés we all hear. Hopefully this will give some practical advice about renting, asking for pay rises and everything in between. I'll report back! 

The Pisces by Melissa Broder. I think Beth Mccoll recommended this, whose writing style I adore - honest, confessional, brave, funny... This is Melissa's debut novel about a character's crawl from rock bottom, fuelled by an obsession with love. Melissa explores how love can feel like the very thing that could both 'fix and break you' at the same time. People are very divided with this one, which makes me all the more excited to give it a try. 

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This was recommended by a friend, and is about a father who takes his family to the Belgian Congo in 1959, and their lives are transformed. This is supposedly eye-opening when it comes to postcolonial Africa, which is something I know embarrassingly little about. I sense this will be similar to The Girls by Emma Cline with its cult-like themes, or Amity and Sorrow by Peggy Riley which shows how someone can convince a huge number of people that the end of the world is coming. 

A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood. A blogger compared Laura's richly descriptive writing to Fitzgerald's, and that alone was enough to have me joining the hype. The main character (an aspiring writer) has always been curious about the empty house in her village (Similar to When Marnie Was There) and the owners arrive one summer, bringing with them a world of 'moonlit cocktail parties and glamour beyond (...) wildest dreams'. Very Gatsby. I can't wait. 

I doubt I'll finish all of these before the year is up, and I'm not necessarily challenging myself to (I've already read a lot this year and there's no rush to read them all) but these are in the 'next-up category'. I'll update on progress here and on GoodReads. Let me know what you're wanting to read on the run-up to Christmas, I'm always curious.