Even programme-managing-adventure-horse-riders have to unwind…

I’ve decided to review some of my recent reads.

The views below are my own and are meant to give my friends an overview of the book and whether they might like it or not.

My comments are in no way meant to belittle the efforts of the authors who have actually written a book, and had it published (which is impressive stuff to be rightly proud of).

The Salt Path, Raynor Winn – ****** (6 STARS – I created a new rating just for this book, thanks for buying it for me Mum)

Gosh what a grounding and emotional book. I didn’t actually cry, it’s not that kind of emotional. But honest, raw and deeply beautiful, I have loved reading this. The personal story of a couple, homeless, wild camping, salt crusted and wind weathered, with nothing and yet with everything. The descriptions of the outdoors and living within it resonated with me. The fear of not knowing ‘what next?’ and just keeping going also spoke to me (especially given where I find myself in life right now). I’m going to need to visit Cornwall and Devon and walk some of this route when lockdown is over. I expect parts of this book – the frailty of our place in society and the hard truths of homeless life – will stay with me a long time. I’ll never turn my back on a seagull whilst eating a pasty either.

ABSOLUTELY go and buy this now at Amazon

Everything I Never Told you, Celeste Ng – ****(4 STARS)

A bit of an easy-read, murder-mystery told backwards, this novel reveals all the things one family don’t find a way to acknowledge for themselves or to say to each other. The characters open up to us, each on their journeys through inner thoughts laden with issues of fitting in, race, ethnicity, being a woman in a man’s world, gay in a straight world, loved too much and not enough etc. In spite of its perhaps contrived inclusion of modern themes, it was an intriguing read and drew a convincing picture of complex family dynamics. I enjoyed the book and was able to read it quickly, but felt it lost some pace nearer the end. It’s certainly an entertaining novel, which had me turning the pages whilst my husband slept, but ultimately it wasn’t uplifting for me (which is what I’m searching for in my coronavirus-times reading) and neither is it one which echoed around in my mind for very long afterwards. Solid Richard and Judy book club material.

Buy now at Amazon

Penelope’s Route, Karen Considine – ***** (5 STARS)
An unexpectedly charming story of one woman’s horse-back journey following the hoof-prints of another female horse-rider-adventurer, Penelope Chetwood. A good travel read on it’s own, packed with interesting social history relating to Andalucia’s rural towns and villages – I especially enjoyed reading about how Karen managed to travel by horse in the modern world and seeing how even her best laid plans could go completely awry made me feel a lot better about mishaps on my own horse-back travels!
Buy now at Amazon

• 9 Perfect Strangers, Lianne Moriarty – **** (4 STARS)

Definitely a page turner (2 days, admittedly didn’t get a lot else done that weekend), plenty of intrigue and character development which builds to an increasingly uncomfortable situation. Takes on the not insubstantial personal issues of 9 attendees and the owner of at a wellness retreat. The main protagonist is an author, and I enjoyed her writerly insights into that world in particular. Buy now at Amazon.

• City of Girls, Elizabeth Gilbert – ***** (5 STARS)

Escapism, back to the 1940s, showgirls, glamour and fashion. Raunchy and absorbing, I can smell the cigarette smoke just reading it. Buy at Amazon.

• Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid – ***** (5 STARS)

Belying the light-hearted title, Reid deals provocatively with stereotypical issues of race, female place, and notions of success. Narrated by two contrasting voices – both well-developed, female characters, each trying to find a way forward in life. This novel completely sucked me in, was a fast read, and moved my sympathies between the characters multiple times. Memorable. Buy at Amazon.

• The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse – Charlie Mackesy – ***** (5 STARS)

This is a precious book. It is a beautifully drawn and poignant book. I was given it by a friend, and I have absolutely loved it. Some of the pages stayed with me, and I enjoy going back to them to trigger memories and access my true feelings and strength. Buy from Amazon.

• So Lucky, Dawn O’Porter – ** (2 STARS)

Tackling the personal issue of female body image and social media from multiple female viewpoints, I think this novel fell short of being as powerful as the idea might have looked on paper. I also didn’t find the writing style in this chic-lit novel as enjoyable as some other reads on the list. The plot wound it’s way around to a mildly unexpected but still cliched denouement. Put your flip flops on, this is a Beach Read. Buy on Amazon.

• Big Little Lies, Lianne Moriarty – *** (3 STARS)

The novel uses the friendship of 3 very different school-mums whose lives become intermingled to discuss different kinds of abuse, female self-image, bullying and motherhood. The playground setting did reveal a more compelling story and style about half way in. Definitely a Mum’s read. Buy on Amazon.

• The Overstory, Richard Powers – **** (4 STARS)

This novel made me cry and I haven’t been able to finish it yet. It is made up of a number of separate but thematically linked stories, each about trees, and was incredibly sad and moving. Probably not one to read in lock-down when you aren’t seeing family and friends. The quality of the writing and story-telling is spellbinding. When I’m feeling less emotional this is one to finish. Fingers crossed for a happy ending, but given the topic is humanity’s destruction of trees and nature, I’m doubtful there is one. Social conscious read for gardeners. Buy on Amazon.