The Reading List #47
I've recently got a new phone so I've been scrolling back through all my old photos and actually organising all the photos and notes of books I still need to share.
That means there's plenty of mini reviews on the way over the next few weeks...
For today, here's the latest four:
The Betrayals, Fiona Neill
Rosie and Lisa have always been best friends, until Lisa has an affair with Rosie's husband. Years later, Lisa sends Rosie a letter asking for her help.
There are four sides to this story: Rosie, Nick and their kids Max and Daisy, and each take it in turns to narrate chapters. The voices were clearly defined and the thread of the story was strong, even when being viewed from multiple angles. The central storyline features a couple of moral dilemmas which were interesting to unpick, but what really set this book apart was the descriptions of Daisy's OCD. It wasn't the main point of the story, but played a very critical role in how a lot of the characters identified with one another. It was an extremely sensitive, realistic portrayal of OCD, avoiding the common stereotypes, and thought the effects of that on Max, too, were written well. A good page turner and depiction of family relationships.
Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari
100,000 years ago, there were six or more human species, and now there's only homo sapiens. Why us? This is a sweeping history of the human race in a way you've never read it before. It's non-fiction but written in a narrative style, making it very readable whilst at the same time being packed with information.
My dad recommended this book to me and after about two pages I understood why. It's incredibly well-written and engaging, and the history is absolutely fascinating. I've already recommended this to so many more people, and I'll continue to do so.
The Cows, Dawn O'Porter
Tara, Cam and Stella are three very different women tied together by one event. This is the ultimate novel about being a woman today. It's funny, frank, honest and full of heart, and it's a book I genuinely just loved reading.
It focuses on celebrating the good but doesn't shy away from the bad, be that fears, judgement, ill health or poor treatment by men. There are so many moments where you can nod along and think 'that's me' which made it so easy to warm to the characters. It's great writing about friendship and it's very 'London', which any young woman who has spent some time living there will appreciate and relate to. It was also nice to read a novel featuring the blog and social media world written by somebody who actually understands it, because I've read plenty of things recently where people try to include these things and it ends up being more than a little awkward and stilted!
First Bite - How We Learn to Eat, Bee Wilson
This was a really interesting read. It's a deep dive into our eating habits and cravings and how those are formed, particularly focusing on the link between food and memory. It explores first how children learn to eat and how likes and dislikes are determined. From there, it move through to discuss how we can change unhealthy relationships with food, including in the case of eating disorders.
I'd seen this book recommended in a newspaper when it first came out, so it's been on my list for a little while. Having spent a good number of years really struggling with food myself, and even before then having always been a relatively fussy eater, I found it especially fascinating. It covers a lot of case studies and science delivered in a readable manner, and offers plenty of hope for change moving forwards.
Sophie x
That means there's plenty of mini reviews on the way over the next few weeks...
For today, here's the latest four:
The Betrayals, Fiona Neill
Rosie and Lisa have always been best friends, until Lisa has an affair with Rosie's husband. Years later, Lisa sends Rosie a letter asking for her help.
There are four sides to this story: Rosie, Nick and their kids Max and Daisy, and each take it in turns to narrate chapters. The voices were clearly defined and the thread of the story was strong, even when being viewed from multiple angles. The central storyline features a couple of moral dilemmas which were interesting to unpick, but what really set this book apart was the descriptions of Daisy's OCD. It wasn't the main point of the story, but played a very critical role in how a lot of the characters identified with one another. It was an extremely sensitive, realistic portrayal of OCD, avoiding the common stereotypes, and thought the effects of that on Max, too, were written well. A good page turner and depiction of family relationships.
Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari
100,000 years ago, there were six or more human species, and now there's only homo sapiens. Why us? This is a sweeping history of the human race in a way you've never read it before. It's non-fiction but written in a narrative style, making it very readable whilst at the same time being packed with information.
My dad recommended this book to me and after about two pages I understood why. It's incredibly well-written and engaging, and the history is absolutely fascinating. I've already recommended this to so many more people, and I'll continue to do so.
The Cows, Dawn O'Porter
Tara, Cam and Stella are three very different women tied together by one event. This is the ultimate novel about being a woman today. It's funny, frank, honest and full of heart, and it's a book I genuinely just loved reading.
It focuses on celebrating the good but doesn't shy away from the bad, be that fears, judgement, ill health or poor treatment by men. There are so many moments where you can nod along and think 'that's me' which made it so easy to warm to the characters. It's great writing about friendship and it's very 'London', which any young woman who has spent some time living there will appreciate and relate to. It was also nice to read a novel featuring the blog and social media world written by somebody who actually understands it, because I've read plenty of things recently where people try to include these things and it ends up being more than a little awkward and stilted!
First Bite - How We Learn to Eat, Bee Wilson
This was a really interesting read. It's a deep dive into our eating habits and cravings and how those are formed, particularly focusing on the link between food and memory. It explores first how children learn to eat and how likes and dislikes are determined. From there, it move through to discuss how we can change unhealthy relationships with food, including in the case of eating disorders.
I'd seen this book recommended in a newspaper when it first came out, so it's been on my list for a little while. Having spent a good number of years really struggling with food myself, and even before then having always been a relatively fussy eater, I found it especially fascinating. It covers a lot of case studies and science delivered in a readable manner, and offers plenty of hope for change moving forwards.
Sophie x
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