Hello Restless Gang,
A post with a difference this week - book recommendations. Because I just luuuuurrrvvve me the books, I do.
Even though reading time is limited when you have little humans dangling from you for much of the day/night - having a good book to get stuck into is food for the soul.
You can…
Watch this post as a video
Listen to it as audio only
Or just scroll on down to see the books and a few lines about why I picked them up and what I thought of them once I’d made it to the end.
MAGIC eh?
Please pop any future reading suggestions in the comments - let’s have a share-a-thon.
Ciao for now and catch you next week,
Anna xx
The Year of Living Danishly by
Why I picked it up: Because I would love, love, love to live abroad for a while in the future (nay… I WILL).
What’s it about? Prepare to snort while reading. Helen is hilarious— her one liners had me LOLling all the way through, but there’s so much warmth and insight in this book too. I learnt a lot about Danish living and considered moving to Denmark after finishing it.
The Year of Living Danishly on Paperback here and Audiobook here
My Wild and Sleepless Nights: A mother’s story by
Why I picked it up: Because motherhood makes me feel CRAZY and I wondered if Clover felt the same.
What’s it about? The most beautiful book on Motherhood I’ve ever read — Very raw, brave and full of gentle, honest wisdom. Written by a mum of five about the year she has a newborn but also a teenager (and all the other kids are in between). The story unfolds so beautifully. I full on cried at the end.
My Wild and Sleepless Nights on Paperback here and Audiobook here.
Up: A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging adventure by Patricia Ellis-Herr
Why I picked it up: Because I have often wondered whether I could be more adventurous with the kids (or at least one kid in tow)
What’s it about? Patricia and her little girl, Alex, head off on a mission over the course of 18 months to climb 48 of New Hampshire’s highest mountains. You might think Patricia is the one driving the goal…. but it’s definetly five-year old Alex. It’s a brilliant story with a few twists and such a lovely example of what happens when we let our kids lead the way.
Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff
Why I picked it up: Because even though I live in the western world, in a house with walls and screens and all of the fast paced things, I would love to get closer to a slower, more natural way of life for our family.
What’s it about? Michaeleen is a journalist who has a toddler called Rosie and is struggling with mum life. She decides to take Rosie with her on a journey, living in various indigenous cultures around the world and observing how; they raise their kids, what their values are and what she could do to improve her relationship with Rosie.
The ‘advice’ sections should be taken with a pinch of salt, but the stories are just wonderful and there’s plenty of food for thought.
Hunt, Gather, Parent on Paperback here and Audiobook here
Womb by Leah Hazard
Why I picked it up: Because growing a human is unbelievably hard and yet amazing at the same time. And I wanted to foster a little more love for the power of my body, and specifically my magical womb.
What’s it about? It’s not just about the womb, although yes there’s lots of that. Think of it as if The Womb is a central character, a heroine, in a tale of medical history, women’s struggles and general body empowerment.
I found it fascinating. Very witty in places and it left me feeling SO proud to be a person with a womb, and live in the body that I do.
(Full disclosure, Leah is my cousin. Well, she’s my Dad’s cousin’s wife. Figure that one out. So I can vouch for her being an excellent human as well as a great writer.)
Womb on Paperback here and Audiobook here
The Girl Who Rowed the Ocean by
Why I picked it up: Because I promised my mum I’d never row an ocean, but I’m fascinated as to what it’s like. And… how ace is the cover design?!
What’s it about? It’s a fictional story about a schoolgirl called Lucy who has a dream to row an ocean and goes ahead and makes it happen. It’s based on the author (Al’s) own experience of rowing an ocean, but rather than write a chest-beating non-fiction book about his own journey, he’s turned it into a work of fiction that is quite unputdownable.
It’s a book for kids, yes, but it’s an easy read for adults. It deals with feelings of apprehension and resilience and is very open in that way. I felt quite attached to Lucy by the end.
p.s I also know that multiple publishers turned this book down saying that no one would buy an adventure book with a female protagonist. So I love that Al went ahead and published it independently anyway.
The Girl Who Rowed The Ocean on Paperback here and Audiobook here
Wonderful by Harry Baker
Why I picked it up: Because I am a secret poetry nerd. I LOVE it. I always have, even as a kid. Well, I love certain types of poetry. And this is that type.
What it’s about: Life, in all it’s glory. Harry Baker is a spoken word poet and a mathematician (what a combo!) who is very funny, and has the ability to make you smile but also go ‘oh my gosh, he’s so right…’ in the space of a few lines.
This book is about everything from wellington boots to German beer, to having babies and the wonder of life.
Wonderful on paperback here
And that’s the lot! Please let me know in the comments if any of the books have taken your fancy or if you have any suggestions for future reads? I’m all ears (and some eyes too).
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