Last Christmas by various authors (curated by Greg Wise and Emma Thompson) – I started this read before Christmas but in the end didn’t finish it until after I arrived back in Aberdeen. lt is a lovely collection of writings about what Christmas means to people, their memories. Everyone has written with a very different style and purpose. It was heart warming and thought provoking.
Five Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott with Mikki Daughtry & Tobias Iaconis – This is classified as a young adult novel. When I first started blogging, I ended up becoming friends with a few people who have Cystic Fibrosis. As a result, I often get YouTube recommendations from CF vloggers many of whom had a lot to say when the trailer came out for this film. It arrived on Netflix, and after watching it I wanted to see what the book (which was created after the film script) was like. It gave a little bit more background to certain story points and characters. I really recommend watching the film if you haven’t already seen it.
If you are frustrated with COVID-19 – well, to be honest, it might give you empathy with those who have CF, and why the guidelines being taken for the rest of us are so important.
What is a Girl Worth? by Rachael Denhollander – You’ll likely have heard me talk about Rachael before. Rachael was the first person to come forward publicly as one of the many athletes who had been subjected to sexual abuse from the medical coordinator and osteopath at USA Gymnastics. Trained in law, her knowledge helped ensure that he was held to account and Rachael has worked tirelessly to push for institutions to have proper safeguarding policies in place and followed. As a gymnastics fan it has been infuriating to see how the victims in this case and so many others (as there were a huge number of coaches also sexually abusing girls reported to USA Gymnastics but allowed to continue coaching), but I also was appalled (but sadly not surprised) to hear about how Rachael was treated by her church. Her book uncovers more about what happened there, and quite honestly it’s a cautionary tale that anyone in a church, sports organisation or any organisation where adults have influence over children and young people should read. And hopefully be moved to know that it’s everyone’s job to ensure the safety of others.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – I am not a fan of the ‘classics’. I am not a fan of period drama. However, seeing the trailer for Greta Gerwig’s take on Little Women, I was for the first time interested. Like most I knew the basics of the story, I think I had a sort of abridged illustrated version of the book when I was a child and just thought it was a big yawn. However, seeing the film I wanted to go back and read the original. In UK the book is published as two separate books. I felt the film was pretty true to the story, and having read into the history of Louisa May Alcott, I loved the way that’s been written into this latest film. It felt far more real and true to history. I only wish there had been more of the Laurences in the film. I would have loved to see how Laurie was protective of Beth and integral to her learning piano and his protectiveness of Amy when she had to go live with Aunt March. Also in reading the book, I’m struck by how ‘old’ is not in fact old at all. It’s actually pretty darned young.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood – The sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, I put off reading this book for a while as it felt like the West has been slipping very much into this story being very, very real. In fact, the book though still quite harrowing, is far more hope giving. It was interesting to revisit familiar and new characters and have a different perspective on the ‘history’ of Gilead uncovered by the scholars of the future. I highly recommend it if you like The Handmaid’s Tale. However, if you are waiting to follow the series, you may wish to wait off reading the book in case it gives you some spoilers to how the TV show may pan out.
I know many of my friends around the world are now self-isolation or having to spend a lot more time at home than is usual due to a certain strain of Coronavirus.
Are there any books keeping you company in the meantime? Let me know in the comments!
Keep others safe.
Wash your hands.
And as Nurse Barb would say – ‘Six feet apart at all times’.
BK x