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Sally Murphy, Australian author

What I Read in May, 2024

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It’s a new month, which means time to share what I read last month. I was on the road – in France, London and Singapore – for most of May, so was surprised when I tallied up and saw I’d still managed 12 books. Here’s what kept me up late in hotel rooms all over the world 🙂

Books for Children

1.Kitty and the Kidnap TrapKitty and the Kidnap Trap, by Paula Harrison, illustrated by Jenny Lovlie (Oxford University Press, 2021). I spent some time browsing London bookshops and came away with several books including this one. Kitty is a human child by day but a superhero, with cat powers at night – and in this instalment uses those powers to rescue her friend’s pet hamster. Very cute.

2. Squishy McFluff: The Invisible Cat! (Squishy McFluff the Invisible Cat)Squishy McFluff: The Invisible Cat! (Squishy McFluff the Invisible Cat), by Pip Jones, illustrated by Ella Okstad (Faber & Faber, 2018). Another London purchase – this time an early reader chapter book, in rhyming verse, which I found quite novel. Ava and her invisible cat get up to lots of mischief.

3. The Lonely BookThe Lonely Book, by Meg Grehan (Little Island Press, 2023). Also bought in London, but recommended to me at my conference in France by a bookseller from Canada. Really pleased to get hold of this – a verse novel about a magical bookshop, families, gender identity and acceptance. Great stuff.

4. Keisha Jones Takes on the WorldKeisha Jones Takes on the World, by Natalie Denny, illustrated by Chante Timothy (Little Tiger, 2023). And yes, also bought (and read) in London. This one is about a determined, feisty girl who is out to make a difference – in spite of her propensity to not always get that right.
5. Overheard in a Tower Block: Poems byOverheard in a Tower Block: Poems by, by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Kate Milner (Otter Barry Books, 2017). Another one bought in London, a collection by the current Children’s Laureate that reads a lot like a verse novel, though many of the poems do stand alone.

6. Little HeroLittle Hero, by Emily Lim-Leh (Penguin, 2024). I was lucky enough to attend the launch of this book at the AFCC in Singapore this month, and headed staright to the bookshop to buy it.  Inspired by the real life of the author’s father (who was on stage at the launch) it tells the tale of seven year old Xiong as he navigates life in post-war 1940s Singapore.

7. The Riding GalleryThe Riding Gallery, by Sally Murphy, illustrated by Marine Heiduczek (Walker Books, 2024). Yes, I’m the author of this one, but also, I sat down and read it cover to cover after my author copies arrived. It doesn’t matter how much I have worked on a book, how well I think I know it, it’s only when it arrives in hard copy and I can turn the pages, seeing both text and image in physical form that I really know whether it works. I think it does – and can’t wait to share it with the world in July.

8.Eye Spy Singapore: A look and find activity bookEye Spy Singapore: A look and find activity book, by Pippa Chorley & David Liew (Marshall Cavendish, 2021). I was gifted this book by my wonderful friend David Liew (who, you might notice, is also the illustrator) and was lucky enough to have it signed both by David and by the author, Pippa, at the AFCC. A fun book exploring many of Singapore’s attractions and landmarks, with each spread also inviting young readers to find items in each scene.

9. Picture Perfect Poetry: An Anthology of Ekphrastic Nature Poetry for StudentsPicture Perfect Poetry: An Anthology of Ekphrastic Nature Poetry for Students, edited by Carol J. Labuzzetta (2024). What a treasure! I have been eagerly waiting for this anthology, because I had three photos and three poems included, but also because I knew it would be a visual and literary feast, pairing nature photography with poems, from members of the Poetry Friday community and beyond.  I read it in one sitting but will be dipping in and out for a long time to come.

10. Abre, by Amandine Laprun (Actes Sud, 2022). I fell in love with this little beauty when I saw it in the window of a Paris bookstore. The shop was closed so I had to wait till the next day to go back and buy it. The image doesn’t do it justice – the book is shaped like a tree and has a ribbon which ties the front and back covers together so the book stands upright like a little tree. Each spread shows the cherry tree at different times of year, so that it goes from spring, through summer, autumn, winter and back to spring, with blossoms, leaves, cherries, autumn leaves and bare branches, as well as squirrels, birds, and even children all visiting the tree. Stunning.

11. Curly, by Rachelyn Gordon, illustrated by Cecilia Hidayat (2023). I bought this book at the AFCC after listening to the amazing author speak on a panel. Curly’s pixie cut makes her feel strong and confident – until she starts school and other children tease her about having short her. An important message, but also just a lovely story.

Books for Adults

  1. The Spare RoomThe Spare Room, by Laura Starkey. Read on Kindle on two of my flights this month. A  heart warming rom com.

That brings my total for the year to 57, with more to come. I brought home quite a few books from my trip, and often ponder whether I could read in my sleep to keep on top of all the amazing new books I want to read.

What have you been reading?

What I Read in April, 2024

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It’s May 1, and so time for an update on my reading last month. I finished 11 books in April, with, as is my wont, a mixed bag, although there was a delightful amount of poetry. Here is what I got through.

Books for Children

  1. Shape Me a Rhyme: Nature's Forms in PoetryShape Me a Rhyme: Nature’s Forms in Poetry, by Jane Yolen with photographs by Jason Stemple (Wordsong, 2007).  This is not the first collection I’ve read from this mother/son pairing and, like the others I’ve read, I adored the combination of stunning nature photography by Stemple and poetry by Yolen. This one focusses on the shapes found in nature.
  2. Beetle SoupBeetle Soup, edited by Robin Morrow, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (Scholastic, 1996). I picked this up in a second hand bookshop in Adelaide last year, forgetting that it was actually rereleased later under another title (And the Roo Jumped over the Moon) which I already owned, and reviewed when it was released in 2004. But that isn’t a problem, as it’s an excellent anthology of stories and poems for children and I enjoyed rereading it, not for the first time.
  3. In and Out the WindowIn and Out the Window, by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Cathrin Peterslund (Philomel, 2024). More poetry, more Jane Yolen, whose poetry I adore. This is her largest single collection of poetry, and a treasure to own, filled with poetry for children on themes including home, school, sport, pets and more.
  4. The Sideways Orbit of Evie HartThe Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart, by Samera Kamaleddine (Harper Collins, 2023). Shortlisted in the Younger Readers category of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, this is a heartfelt story about anxiety, family and friendship.

Books for Young Adults

    1. Scar TownScar Town, by Tristan Bancks (Puffin Books, 2023). One of the books recently shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year, which made me realise I  hadn’t yet read it. Mystery and action, as Will and his friends explore a house which has emerged from the receding waters of  a failing dam, and find a stash of cash and human bones in the walls.
    2. The Quiet and the LoudThe Quiet and the Loud, by Helena Fox (Pan, 2023). Another shortlisted title, and I am glad I sought it out. George is dealing with a lot – problems with her best friend, Tess, fear about the climate emergency which sees smoke smothering the city, and pressure from her estranged father to visit before he dies. But int he midst of this there is also the presence of Calliope, the girl who literally cartwheels into her life.
    3. Finding Baba Yaga: A Short Novel in VerseFinding Baba Yaga: A Short Novel in Verse, by Jane Yolen (Tor, 2018). As you might know, I adore verse novels, so was delighted to come across this one by one of my favourite poets for young people. This is a modern day reimagining of the Baba Yaga story, blending the story of Natasha, who is on the run from a controlling father and is taken in by Baba Yaga.
    4. Those GirlsThose Girls, by Pamela Rushby (Walker Books, 2024). An excellent book from one of the best writers of historical fiction for this age group. The focus is on the work of the Women’s Land Army, women and girls who volunteered during World War !! to work on famrs and in agricultural industries to ensure that food production continued, and to make a vital contribution to the war effort.
    5. Let's Never Speak of This AgainLet’s Never Speak of This Again, by Megan Williams (Text, 2023). Continuing my reading of the CBCA Shortlist, this debut novel explores friendship, family and loyalty, with dashes of humour and lots of poignant moments.

 

 

Books for Adults

  1. ButterButter, by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton (4th Estate, 2024). I chose this one on a whim, because the title , and matching butter-yellow cover caught my eye, and found it absorbing. It’s about a series of murders, cooking, food, and, most importantly, women.
  2. The Bordeaux Bookclub, by Gillian Harvey (Boldwood, 2024). It seemed appropriate to read this book on a flight to France – and I read the whole thing on the flight. The story of a mixed group of English-speakers who come together to form a  book club, and end up supporting each other through their various tough times.

This brings my total for the year so far to 46. What have you been reading?

What I Read in March 2024

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It’s the end of another month, so time for my reading roundup for March. After a slowish start to my reading year, this month I surprised myself by reading 16 books, largely the result of attending some excellent industry events and buying more books than I expected that I just HAD to make time for. A good problem to have. Here’s what I got through:

Books for Kids

  1. Another Day as EmilyAnother Day as Emily, by Eileen Spinelli, with illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vreithoff (Random House, 2014). It’s a verse novel which means I loved it before I even opened it – have yet to find a verse novel I don’t like. This one is about a girl who’s having a tough summer, and, when she reads about Emily Dickinson, decides to try the life of a recluse.
  2. Dream Within a DreamDream Within a Dream, by Patricia MacLachlan (Margaret McElderry Books, 2019). I’m a sucker for a gorgeous cover, and this one is not just visually gorgeous but the cover has a finish which makes it lovely to stroke (I think it’s got a vinyl finish?). The story inside is similarly lovely, about a girl who holidays with her much-loved grandparents every summer, and finds everything changing.
  3. Pearly and Pig and the Island of SecretsPearly and Pig and the Island of Secrets (Walker Books, 2024) Not only is this book dedicate to me (and our friend Claire Saxby, too), but I once dressed up as Pig to help  Sue Whiting speak about the book. I do a pretty mean Oink, let me tell you!  This is the third in the series, but stands alone – still, why wouldn’t you read them all. Pearly is an Adventurologist who, with her friend Pig gets into all kinds of scrapes, this time involving a remote island, puffins, a volcano and more.

Books for Young Adults

  1. The SidekicksThe Sidekicks, by Will Kostakis (Penguin, 2016). I spent time with Will at the Between the Lines Festival  recently and, although I’d read two of his later books, realised I’d not read this one. So, of course, I decided it was time. Great read – about three boys who all shared a mutual best friend, but don’t particularly like each other. But his death has repercussions for all of them. I really enjoyed the viewpoint here – each character has roughly one third of the book, with their stories overlapping, but gradually revealed.
  2. A Hunger of ThornsA Hunger of Thorns, by Lili Wilkinson (Allen & Unwin, 2023).Lili was also at the Between the Lines festival, inspiring me to buy a copy of this book which I then, coincidentally, started reading on the day the CBCA Shortlist was announced. Easy to see why this one is on the shortlist – I was drawn in to this alternative world where witches and magic exits in a contemporary world and Maude, the daughter of witches, tries to find her missing friend.
  3. BirdyBirdy, by Sharon Kernot (Text Publishing, 2024). Great to see a new verse novel from Sharon Kernot, some time after her first one. This one is the story of Maddy, who is selectively mute following an incident that has left her feeling ashamed and alone, and of Alice, whose daughter, Birdy, disappeared long ago. The pair form an unlikely bond, and move towards mutual healing.
  4. One Song One Song, by A.J. Betts (Pan, 2023). Not sure why it took me so long to get to this one, as I was eagerly awaiting its release last year. Anyway, glad I finally picked it up. Betts is a genius at the young adult novel.

Books for Adults

  1. Womxn: Sticks and Stones: Acrostics and Poems to Reclaim the Words That Have Hurt UsWomxn: Sticks and Stones: Acrostics and Poems to Reclaim the Words That Have Hurt Us, by Lexy Wren-Sillevis (Octopus Books, 2021). I love this! It’s easy to think of Acrostic poems as a simple exercise in matching words to letters, but this little volume is anything but simple. Using the acrostic form, the poet takes word commonly used to insult and hurt womxn (her spelling) and rewrites or redefines them in thought provoking and insightful ways.
  2. Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens: WINNER OF THE MILES FRANKLIN LITERARY AWARDChai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, by Shankari Chandran (Ultiom Press, 2022). I was fortunate enough to listen to the author on a panel at the recent Perth Writer Festival, inspiring me to take this out of the to-read pile. And, while I found it a really challenging read, that’s the whole point. Telling the story of the people who live at and love a nursing home in suburban Sydney and the events which escalate to not only threaten its existence, but also to divide a country, this is also a story of family, belonging, colonialism and racism.  Hard to do justice in just a few lines, but not only do I recommend this book, I am grateful to it for  challenging my knowledge and my privilege.
  3.  Greater City Shadows, by Laurie Steed (UWA Press, 2024). Another purchase at the Writers Festival, though I had planned to go to the launch the week before. Accessible, thought-provoking stories of humanity, connection, relationships and more.
  4. On the Homefront: Western Australia and World War 11, edited by Jenny Gregory (UWA Press, 1996). Read in my continuing research for a historical fiction I am writing, I found this really interesting.
  5. The Book of Tree PoemsThe Book of Tree Poems, compiled by Ana Sampson, illustrated by Sarah Maycock (Laurence King Publishing, 2023). This one was a gift, and will be long treasured. A beautiful collection, both visually and in its content, with poems about all kinds of trees, in all seasons, and by poets both well known to me, and those who are new. I read it cover to cover over a couple of evenings, but know that I will dip in and out of it many more times.
  6. ADHD For Smart Ass Women: How to fall in love with your neurodivergent brainADHD For Smart Ass Women: How to fall in love with your neurodivergent brain, by Tracy Otsuka (Headline, 2024). The author has a podcast of the same name and it’s excellent, so I knew I needed to also read the book. I listened to the audio version as it isn’t yet out in print in Australia (coming in May, I think), but will likely get the print version when it comes out as there is a lot of useful information which my ADHD brain might not retain but wants to revisit. Lots of practical advice and explanations.
  7. Goldenrod: PoemsGoldenrod: Poems, by Maggie Smith (One Signal, 2021). This one was given to me along with Tree A Poems (above). What a thoughtful gift  from a fellow poet. I savoured this two or three poems each day, mainly over breakfast, and really enjoyed it. One poem that particularly spoke to me was Wife for Scale, which is reprinted online (with permission)  here.
  8. Bitter & SweetBitter & Sweet, by Amal Awad (Panterra Press, 2023). I listened to this author on a panel at the Perth Writers’ festival last month, and just had to buy a book afterwards. An excellent read, although it left me hungry, with lots of food scenes 🙂

 

 

That brings my total for the year so far to 35 books, which is more than I expected, but a sign of a satisfying month of reading. What have you been reading?   

What I Read in April 2023

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Oh dear! A whole month has gone past since I last found time to post here. Just as well I do a monthly reading round up – it at least makes it hard to go any longer without posting. April has been busy, so I was surprised to realise I still managed  to read 13 books. From picture books, to graphic novels to long form historical fiction, with some classics thrown in, it was an eclectic mix as always. Here’s what I read this month:

Books for Children

        1. Cloudspotting, by Samantha Tidy & Susannah Crispe (Windy Hollow, 2023). I love  a bit of cloud spotting myself – whether its just contemplating the beauty of a cloudy sky or spotting shapes in the clouds.  So I was delighted to be asked to launch this picture book in WA. When my copy arrived I discovered that while it is indeed about the loveliness of watching clouds, it is also about family, and father-daughter outings and more, as the young protagonist accompanies her father on a early-morning crabbing trip.
        2. Friendly Bee and FriendsFriendly Bee and Friends, by Sean E. Avery (Walker Books, 2023). I lvoed this little graphic novel which follows the adventures of Friendly Bee, who wants to be freinds with every bug he meets – including Angry Wasp, Slightly Peckish Caterpillar and even Enormous Hairy Spider, intent on drinking Bee up.  Lots of humour and silliness, but a so some gentle messages about friendship and getting along.
        3. Little JiangLittle Jiang, by Shirley Marr, illustrated by Katy Jiang (Fremantle Press, 2020). I love Shirley Marr’s writing (and Shirley Marr, who is a lovely friend) but had somehow  not read this one, until now. An exciting, heart warming and quirky tale of how Mei Ling, who is born able to see ghosts and seems to be followed by misfortune, manages to save not just her family’s restaurant, but her whole town.
        4. The Machine GunnersThe Machine Gunners, by Robert Westall (Puffin, 1975). I have read this classic many times. I think I probably first read it in high school, and then taught it in my early years of teaching.  Now I have a copy that, somehow, came to me  having previously been for sale in a second hand bookshop in Cork, Ireland. How did I end up with it? I honestly don’t know, but  I do love a well travelled book.  All that aside, this was in my to-read cupboard and will now go back on my keepers shelves – I am not ready to part with it, because I know I’ll read it again.
        5. When I'm BigWhen I’m Big, by Karen Blair (Penguin, 2023). I always love a new Karen Blair picture book – but I was especially excited to get my hands on this one because I won a little piece of the original art, won at an auction at the CBCA WA Annual Night With Our Stars. The book is a gorgeous interpretation of the mixed feelings of a sibling waiting the arrival of a new baby – with fears about being ‘big’ and what that might mean. Gorgeous!

Books for Young Adults

  1. Libby Lawrence is Good at PretendingLibby Lawrence is Good at Pretending, by Jodi McAlister (Wakefield Press, 2022).  I enjoyed this book for older teens. Nineteen year old Libby navigates first  sexual encounters, university life and the challenge of trying to figure out how to be herself rather than trying to pretend to be who she thinks she should be.
  2. Invisibly GraceInvisibly Grace, by Avery McDougall (FortySouth, 2022). I bought this one, along with Libby Lawrence, soon after the CBCA Notables list for 2023 was announced. I love that these lists not only profile good quality books, but also remind readers such as myself of what they might have missed.  This one deals with the subject of invisible illnesses, with Grace Turing suffering an undiagnosed chronic illness but determined not to be known as the Sick Girl at the new school she is starting at.

Books for Adults

    1. No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming SufferingNo Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering, by Thich Naht Hahn. I listened  audiobook version of this little book about the reality of suffering as part of being human, and the use of mindfulness and meditation to face and transform suffering. The author is a well known Buddhist monk and the lessons and insights were useful reminders of the importance of mindfulness.
    2. Frankenstein Frankenstein , by Mary Shelley. Another audiobook listened to in the car. I find this a great way of reading or rereading classic books that I might otherwise not find time for. This particular classic is one I’d not read before, so it was interesting to read the story and get to know the original story which has been reinterpreted a lot of times.
    3. The Happiness Jar, by Samantha Tidy (Storytorch, 2023). I read this as a precursor to launching it, with the author, in WA this month.  This is a book that covers a lot of territory – the jar, filled with memories of things that made its owner (Rachel( happy, is found by her mother(Beth) amongst her possessions after she dies. The story traces the journeys of  Beth and of her son Matthew, as they try to fulfil Rachel’s wishes – for  them each to take half her ashes on journeys that Rachel has planned. Matthew must travel to a remote Kimberley community, and Beth to India. For each the journey is confronting as they overcome their owns pasts and their grief at losing Rachel.  Themes including  the generational impacts of the Vietnam war on returned soldiers and their families, grief, religion and cystic fibrosis are all worked together into a satisfying whole.
    4. Redhead by the Side of the Road: From the bestselling author of French BraidRedhead by the Side of the Road, by Anne Tyler (Penguin, 2020). I have bene trying my hand at capturing and releasing BookCrossing books, and when I saw this one had been released at a Little Street Library not too far from home, I went  there especially to collect it.  Then, true to form, it sat in my to-read pile for a while before I finally got to it. It wasn’t a long read – I read it in one day, and while it wasn’t high-action, I enjoyed it. Micah is a man who is very set in his ways and doesn’t see much point in changing. But when a teenager who claims Micah is his father turns up at his doorstep, Micah starts to realise his life is perhaps not going as well as he thinks.
    5. The Blackout, by  Ruth McIver (Audible Original, 2023). This thriller was a free download from  Audible, and filled a couple of car trips. Narrated by three characters, each read my a different voice, which makes listening easy, though being about some pretty yucky murders, ‘easy’ is maybe not the best word choice.
    6. The Bookbinder of JerichoThe Bookbinder of Jericho, by Pip Williams (Affirm Press, 2023). My favourite book in the last couple of years was The Dictionary of Lost Words, so when I heard there was a companion book, I had to read it – and I wasn’t disappointed. I was lucky enough to go a long to a high tea where Pip Williams spoke,  and the depth of her knowledge, research and passion was obvious, as it is on the pages. Set, like Dictionary, in Oxford against the backdrop of WW1 and in the publishing world, this is fascinating. The main character, Peggy, is a bookbinder, working at Oxford Press but dreaming of being able to enrol at the university and be part of telling the stories. With appearances by some of the characters from Dictionary, it has made me want to go back and read that – and it is lovely that, as companion books, they can be read independently and in either order.

That brings my total for the year to 45 books. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading. Talk soon!

What I Read in March 2023

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It is April, the year is whizzing by (seems to happen every year!) and it is time to look at what I read in March. Nine books this month, as diverse as ever – from a picturebook to a lengthy tome about trauma.  The  books I have been recommending to others – Minds Went Walking and Dirty Laundry (see below), for quite different reasons.

Anyway, here’s what I read:

Books for Young Readers

1. Senor Pilich the Monastery Cat, by Fr. Anscar McPhee OSB (Network Books, 2006). This is a funny little book that I suspect was given to my offspring at some point and has sat on my shelf unloved for a long time. Now I’ve read it, and given it the attention it needed. Told from the perspective of a cat who apprehends a criminal in the New Norcia Monastery.   I have my own book coming out in June which is partly told from the perspective of a cat  (Queen Narelle) so it’s lovely to read another one.

2. The Cockatoo Wars (Tales From the Bush Mob), by Helen Milroy (Magabala Books, 2023). I was lucky enough to hear the author talk about this book at the recent CBCA (WA) Night With Our Stars, and, of course, just had to buy a copy, which I look forward to  haring with my grandies as well as with my students at university. The tale of two wise mother cockatoos, and their babies – one black and one white – who withdraw from their clans’ ongoing battles and live harmoniously. It becomes up to them to work together to stop a bush fire and restore harmony to the bush.

3. Frank in Time, by Rod Clement (Angus & Robertson, 1998). I picked this up on my local library remainder trolley for $1. There probably should be a law against having remainder trolleys right where I have to walk past them – this wasn’t the only book I bought, but it is the one that caught my eye and made me stop and browse.  I really like Rod Clement’s illustration style and this humorous take on history involves the young protagonist and his dog (Frank) taking a trip to the museum and comparing the past with today. In each illustration, Frank is either part of the history, or up to some mischief.

4. Fog A Dox Fog A Dox, by Bruce Pascoe (Magabala, 2012). Last year I realised there were some gaps in y reading of notable titles by First nations writers, and I set about trying to rectify this. I am unsure why I hadn’t read this book, because I certainly knew about it and admire Pascoe’s other works. I adore this book and am glad I now own it – a story of unusual friendships, kindness and respect.

 

Books for Adults
    1. Minds Went Walking: Paul Kelly's Songs ReimaginedMinds Went Walking: Paul Kelly’s Songs Reimagined, curated by Jock Serong, Mark Smith & Neil A. White (Fremantle Press, 2022). I’ve had this one for a little while but glad it finally rose to the top of the pile, even though it has left me singing Paul Kelly songs everywhere I go. Not a bad thing really. Each contributor has been inspired by a single Kelly song,  writing about their own experiences with the song, or a creative response to the song, making each contribution unique.
    2. Someone Else's ShoesSomeone Else’s Shoes, by Jojo Moyes (Penguin Books, 2023). I listened to the audio version of this, expecting it be light and fluffy. And it was certainly light in places, but was really a story of sisterhood between women and I found myself cheering them on. A good driving story.
    3. Not Now, Not Ever: Ten Years On From the Misogyny SpeechNot Now, Not Ever: Ten Years On From the Misogyny Speech, edited by Julia Gillard (Vintage, 2022). I started reading this on International Women’s Day, which was a good time to do it. I laughed, I cried, I got angry and I thought A LOT.
    4. Dirty Laundry: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help - THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERDirty Laundry: Why adults with ADHD are so ashamed and what we can do to help , by Richard Pink and Roxanne Emery. I listened to this on Audible, but will be buying the print copy if I can find it in Australia. Written by a couple who are also, apparently, Tiktok famous for their videos about living with ADHD, I found this easy to listen to, and enjoyed hearing about ADHD from the perspective of a woman who lives with it and her husband.  Really useful insights, and a lot I could relate to.
    5. The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of TraumaThe Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma

(Penguin, 2014). Fairly heavy going because it is about how trauma impacts both the mind and the body, and discusses case histories, therapies and more, mostly from the viewpoint of the therapeutic practitioner. Sometimes though, hard is worthwhile, and I found these insights both informative and useful.

 

Total for the year to date is 32. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.

What I Read in January 2023

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I can’t believe we are already into the second month of this new year. Time flies!  It was a busy month – I holidayed, tried to write, swam a lot, walked George, who loves his beach walks especially, spent time with family – and went back to my dayjob too.  So I am a little surprised to realise I managed to read 12 books this month, though I did read my way through three flights. I think my favourite book was Reasons Not to Worry (see below), a book I am recommending widely – even though, if I am honest, at the end of this busy month I realised I had not retained anywhere near as many of the lessons it contains as I hoped. I may need to reread it 🙂

 

Anyway, here’s what I read.

 

Books for Children

  1. TrashTrash(Random House, 2014), by Andy Mulligan. Set amongst the trash heaps and hidden world of Manila, where children subsist as best they can, by collecting trash. But Raphael, Gordo and Rat find something they shouldn’t – and it lands them in the midst of an adventure they are not sure they want to be on.
  2. The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond (The House at the Edge of Magic)The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond (Walker Books, 2023). This is the third in a series – a fact I missed when I bought it. So it took a little while to get into, but did mostly stand alone as a fantasy adventure involving a travelling house filled with magical (and, in Nine’s case, human) inhabitants.
  3. Ming and Flo Fight for the Future (The Girls Who Changed the World,Ming and Flo Fight for the Future , by Jackie French (Harper Collins, 2022). The first title in the Girls Who Changed the World series, this one sees Ming, who bemoans the lack of girls in history lessons, taken back to the late 1800s where she lives the life of Flo Watson, a poor farm girl, but also witnesses the stirrings of change.
  4. The Raven's SongThe Raven’s Song, by Zana Fraillon & Bren MacDibble (Allen & Unwin, 2022). Two of my favourite authors coming together to write – how could I not adore this book! Set in a post-apocalyptic world, where people live low tech lives in the hopes of restoring the earth – and in the past, in the  beginnings of a terrible pandemic.
  5. RUNTRunt, by Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (Allen & Unwin, 2022). This is delightful. A little reminiscent of  stories like Babe – a clever, but slightly damaged dog, and his person, Annie, who together have the ability to save the family farm.  Touchingly whimsical, and inspired me to write a blackout poem when I found a chapter about a dog named George.
  6. The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Anderson, narrated by Julia Whelan (Audible). This audio version of the classic was a Christmas bonus with membership – though not a Christmas story. It was interesting to rediscover this story, which I believe inspired the movie Frozen, though the two are very different – which is common with Disney and other modern retellings.

 

Books for Young Adults

  1. The Edge of Limits, by S. J. Gervay (Flying Elephant media, 2022).  I read this book under its previous title The Cave, when it was released quite a few years ago.  But it felt like I was reading it for the first time, as I journey along with Sam on a gruelling bush camp. The topics aren’t easy – including sexual assault, violence and grief – but there are light moments, too, and the story is both well told and important. Great to see it back in print.

Books for Adults

    1. Lessons in Chemistry: The No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller and BBC Between the Covers Book Club pickLessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus (Penguin, 2022).  Recommended somewhere, but also read because  I liked the cover, and then the idea of  a scientist ending up on a so-called cooking show in the 60s. I enjoyed this, with a combination of issues including some quite heavy ones, and a touch if whimsy, including a very clever dog.
    2. Reasons Not to Worry: How to be Stoic in chaotic timesReasons Not to Worry: How to be Stoic in chaotic times, by Brigid Delaney (Allen & Unwin, 2022).  Oh wow! This book is amazing. Or maybe it came to me at the right time. Or both. A gift from my sister for Christmas, I was initially a little wary – the title and the subject matter (stoicism) made me think it might challenge me – and it did, but in a good way. It had me thinking, and contemplating what I could learn rom this very down to earth, relatable journey through what we can learn from the ancient stoics in modern times. Thoroughly recommend – and I’ll be rereading.
    3. Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after

Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent’s guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after, by Chloe Hayden (Audible, 2022). I have bene doing quite a bit of reading about neuodivergence in recent months, and I found this one an excellent insight. I read the Audible version, read by the author, which was an added bonus. Hayden gives an open insight into her life with autism and adhd, but also offers help to fellow sufferers, and a helpful insight for others.

A Philosophy of Walking4. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frederic Gros (Verso, 2015). I do love walking, so was quite excited to read this book. It was a little different than I expected, as I soon realised that my morning walks are not necessarily what Gros would call walking, given that I do them partly for exercising and walking my dog. He might call this strolling, perhaps. That aside, it was interesting to delve into why people walk, and how great philosophers of the past used walking to think, to breathe and to travel, too. 

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