Harpy by Caroline Magennis

 

This month I’ve enjoyed Harpy: a manifesto for childfree women by Caroline Magennis. Caroline is a former colleague of mine.  She has chosen to remain childfree; this has not been imposed upon her.

It has been a delight to read this book.
Magennis manages to combine a very engaging and readable style with some academic rigour. She recounts instances of how she enjoys her childfree status and how that is challenged socially and in the work place.

As one would expect in a book like this, she quotes accurately from many sources and never forgets to show her own opinion about what others have said. She has interviewed many other childfree women and this gives us a rich combination of many different stances.
It certainly made me think more carefully about the childfree women I know.

A very rewarding read.
 
Find your copy here.      
 
Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you, may go to Bridge House Publishing.    
 

The Lost Diary by Rose Alexander

 

I loved The Lost Diary by Rose Alexander.

Two riveting stories form the past combine with a more recent dilemma.

This story covers three of the grimmest aspects of World War II, aspects not often covered in mass market lit: the Death Marches, German civilian refugees and rapes by Russian soldiers.
The personal story of Katja and Lou is gripping and we are kept guessing right until the very end.

The framework is of Katja at last telling her daughter Jo the true story of what happened to her and of Jo reading Lou’s story in the forgotten diary.

There is surprise after surprise.

Jo too has her problems but realises that they are of little significance compared to what happened to her parents.

Yet Katja’s narration of what happened also helps to solve Jo’s problems.

A fantastic read

Find your copy here 

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you, may go to Bridge House Publishing.    

Someone Else's Shoes by Jo Jo Moyes

 

I read Someone Else’s Shoes by Jo Jo Moyes for our book club and then we didn’t meet. Nevertheless, it’s a good read.

So, two women end up swapping gym bags and therefore shoes when one of them leaves in a hurry. The gym goes bankrupt, and there is more to the designer shoes than either woman could possibly imagine.

Neither has a perfect marriage and having to live in each other’s shoes for a while makes life even more complicated.

Some say the story is far-fetched. It is and it becomes almost like a Whitehall farce towards the end. Yet it comes good for all of the women involved. It is all a little improbable but sometimes stories have to be that way.  Think Dickens, Molière, Shakespeare and most pantomimes.

Jo Jo Moyes certainly persuades us to watch the backs of all of the ladies that feature in Someone Else’s Shoes.

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you, may go to Bridge House Publishing.    

Worth a read. 

Find your copy here 

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing.

A Lancashire Story by Ged Melia.

 

It was difficult to choose this time as I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve read this month.

I’ve finally settled on A Lancashire Story by Ged Melia.  Ged is local to where I live and also a fellow member of The Lancashire Authors Association.

Austin Melia is ambitious.

The story tells how he escapes a career path that would have made him work as a miner or a cotton spinner. He becomes a skilled engineer. His family too grow up and become successful. Yet the shadow of war threatens.

Ged Melia has created characters we care about and a pleasing story line in A Lancashire Story.

Find your copy here.        

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you, may go to Bridge House Publishing.      

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnnie Garmus

 

 This month I’m recommending Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

This is the story of Elizabeth Zott, a scientist who is trying to establish herself in the 1950s. 

She has to fight a lot of prejudice against women and female scientists in particular. She is an unmarried mother, which was much less acceptable then that it is now. And she has a wonderful dog, Six-Thirty, who understands a lot more than many humans.

The characters are well- drawn and colourful. This story keeps us engaged. And although things are not yet perfect for women we are appreciative of how much better they are now than they were then.

Bonny Garmus certainly keep us guessing in the story for Every Woman, Lessons in Chemistry.

Find your copy here.

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing.      

Wilding by Isabella Tree and Angela Harding

 

This month I’m recommending Wilding by Isabella Tree and Angela Harding.

It is a book about rewilding and Angela Harding’s illustrations are exquisite.

We read the story of how Isabella and her husband Charlie returned their 3,500 acres of land at Knepp in West Sussex to nature. There is so much information packed into this book. There is the history of the land and the rewilding, there are details about the kinds of wild life that live there and about the types of plants. There are examples of other rewilding projects and also hints and tips about if you would like to do your own rewilding

It is a beautiful book and also very tactile.  It was marketed as a book for children but I believe many adults would also enjoy it.   

Find Your Copy Here 

Now Go Tell by Susan Sachon

 

The month I’m recommending Now Go Tell by Susan Sachon.

Protagonist Jenny Watson has a challenging life anyway. And then she is offered an even greater challenge.

It seems like a dream job - putting on a Shakespeare festival and running a pub but she knows she has to get this right. Then things start to become quite sinister and her life is in danger.  

This novel has well-drawn characters, plenty of pace and tension and a satisfying ending. This makes a good holiday read.

Susan Sachon certainly keeps us guessing in Now Go Tell.  

Find your copy here 

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House publishing.