The Best Books I've Read Lately
Plus news, and what are you reading now?
This week I wanted to share the books I’ve been loving lately, and hear from you what you are reading. But first . . .
Book Club News
It was so lovely to finish our discussion of The Way of Transition last Sunday. I’ve sent the video recording to all paid subscribers. Our next book is If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie.
We’ll meet on the fourth Sunday of the month again, March 22, at 5 pm UK time, 12 pm Eastern, 9 am Pacific.
If you’d like to join us, you can upgrade your subscription for $5/mo. or $45/yr.
And if you have any suggestions for April’s read, let me know. Our theme for the book club is TRANSFORMATION. Speaking of which . . .
Substack Live with Laura Hearn
Also mark your calendars for Thursday, March 12, at 6 pm UK time, 1 pm Eastern, 10 am Pacific when I’ll be doing a 30-minute Live chat on Substack with Laura Hearn about writing as our anchor through transformation. Watch your email for an invite to sign up for that.
In Laura’s lovely words:
We met on Substack, because like so many of us, we both had been on a similar journey. Yet we would never have known if it weren’t for sharing our story and writing to the world.
Two women – one who moved from the US to the UK and one born and bred here. But, by one of those strange turns of life – we are now connected in so many ways. Some collaborations are strategic, and some – like ours - feel like they were waiting to happen.
So, to honour the power and craft of writing we have joined forces. From 10 to 14 June, we are hosting a small, intimate writing retreat in West Wittering that in one word summarises what we and many of you have been going through: Transformation.
In our Substack Live chat, we’ll explore:
• Writing as grounding through upheaval
• Identity when it feels up in the air
• How confidence grows through expression
• Why your uniqueness is your strength
• What it means to create a new expression of being a writer
If you are navigating change, sensing something new emerging, or simply feeling the pull to write more honestly, we would love you to join us. A recording will be sent out as well, but join us live with your comments and questions!
At the end of the Live, we will also share more about the June 10-14 retreat and how to apply for one of the four places. (You can see the webpage here.)
What Are We Reading Now?
Many of us will be reading Blackie’s book over the coming weeks, but what else are we reading now? I’ve had a lovely stretch of reading and wanted to share the books I’ve loved with you all, as well as hear what’s engaging you right now.
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
I loved this quiet, beautiful memoir about a woman who finds a baby hare (a leveret) and decides to bring it home, only to find out that no hare has ever been raised successfully by a human and its mother would surely reject it if she could find it. There is nothing sentimental about this book, but it packs an emotional punch. I loved learning about hares, a rather elusive wild species, and seeing how it adapts to its home, while never becoming domesticated. Dalton ends up adapting as much as the hare does.
Heart the Lover by Lily King
If you’ve read Writers and Lovers, I recommend this prequel/sequel. I liked it so much better than Writers and Lovers, in fact. King’s writing style doesn’t exactly pull me in, but I was quickly sucked into the story, and soon I was loving the writing as well. It’s a deep, beautiful, devastating read. Fans of Maggie O’Farrell (of which I’m one) may enjoy. I read it in three nights, which is unusual for me!
Days of Light by Megan Hunter
This is a gorgeously written novel. The prose is achingly beautiful at times. I couldn’t devour it like Heart the Lover. I had to savor it in small bites. It’s somewhat loosely based on Charleston House and its inhabitants, the home where Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, and others lived in the Sussex countryside, although all the names are changed. It’s told from the point of view of a character based on Angelica, Bell’s and Grant’s daughter. I heard an interesting podcast interview with Hunter in which she described her difficulty writing about the Bloomsbury group until she decided that it wouldn’t really be about them. (But it still is to a great extent, although it’s her loose interpretation of the characters and events, and some details are changed.)
Glimmers: Tiny Moments to Transform Your Life by Katia Narain Phillips and Nadia Narain
Wow, this book is life-changing! I told my daughter to make sure she got a copy. And I haven’t even finished it yet. Even if you only read the opening pages, you will see yourself differently. Because it’s about how our nervous systems shape our moods and behaviors, and how to recognize when our nervous systems are aroused and need to be calmed—and how to do that! I don’t love the title, and it sounds pretty self-helpy, but it’s a very important book. (Glimmers are the opposite of triggers.) I’m going to be recommending it to everyone I know! Thank you to the 💛 The Shelf Help Clubhouse for mentioning it on their Instagram account, where I first saw it. They will be interviewing the authors, so definitely check out their podcast.
I’ve learned through my training as a Quantum Energy Coach that our physical and mental health is fundamentally rooted in our Autonomic Nervous System. I’ll be sharing more about that soon. But I’ve found it difficult to find good resources for explaining the ANS and how to regulate it; most are too technical. Glimmers is the best I’ve seen! It’s science-based and super smart, yet presented so that anyone can understand it.
The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain by Tara Swart
I also don’t love this title, but I loved the book! It’s a neuroscientist’s exploration of the science behind manifestation and the so-called law of attraction. Turns out it’s not all hooey. Mindset and beliefs play a huge roll in the reality we create for ourselves. I learned this through Quantum Energy Coaching, so this book was catnip for me. She also has a second book, The Signs, which is a bit more speculative and less convincing, but still super interesting. I’ve become a huge fan of Tara Swart. There are so many interesting podcast interviews with her as well. Here is one.
Now, tell us what you’ve been reading lately. And have you read any of the ones I mention here? Do share. As always, I love hearing your thoughts!
Until next time,
Anne
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I sent your recommendations of neuroscience-related books to our neurologist friend, who runs a non-profit called "Good Wolf." He teaches high school students how their brain chemistry affects their behavior and decision-making. These books sound like great supplemental material for him and them. Thanks!
I remember trying to read Writers & Lovers but had trouble getting into it. If I want to try reading it again do you recommend reading the “prequel” first or second?
I just finished a book that I loved called On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle. It’s a 7 book series that hasn’t been completed yet and it’s about a woman who is stuck in time, not able to move past a certain day on the calendar. It may be one of those books that you love or hate. I can see how someone might get bored by the repetition, but I found it cozy for some reason.