Best Read of 2023: "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Date(s) of reading

There’s a reason I’ve chosen Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer for my “Best Read of 2023. I have, in fact, read it all the way through twice, and have dipped in and out of different chapters throughout the year.
My first reading was in February and March of 2023, as I listened through the audiobook (read by Kimmerer herself) slowly. My second reading was in May and June, after a friend gifted me a physical copy of this wonderful book.

Honey and Jane present this year’s Best Read: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Why this book?

I found my way to this book after watching BBC4’s "The Magical World of Moss” with my granny back in February. It was an intriguing programme, and I went upstairs that evening very much wanting to learn more. So I did what I always do: started looking for books.

My search lead me to Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Gathering Moss. Unfortunately for my tight budget, I was unable to find somewhere I could read it for free. No libraries I’m part of had it, and it wasn’t included in my audiobook membership. But guess what was? A book by the same author: Braiding Sweetgrass.

So, I got it. And I listened to it.

I listened to it as I worked on crocheting a blanket. I listened to it while flying internationally. I listened to it as I chopped vegetables for battuto. I listened to it, frequently skipping backwards to listen again to something I’d missed, or something that had especially captured my attention. I listened, and listened, and listened.

And, of course, told everyone about it.

What is this book about?

This book’s subtitle reads “Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants”. This is an apt, if somewhat dry, summary of the book’s thesis. Kimmerer is a Potawatomi ecologist. The Potawatomi are one of North America’s First Nations, and her family’s history along with her journey of reconnecting with her heritage shape Kimmerer’s book just as much as her training as a scientist and knowledge as an ecologist.

With a deft lyrical hand, Kimmerer weaves together the strands of scientific methodology and research, the historic (and ongoing) knowledge and wisdom of Indigenous peoples, and her own lived experiences. The result is a reflective and insightful body of work that challenges the reader’s ways of thinking about the world whilst teaching them a good deal about the ecological world in which we live.

My thoughts on this book

I loved this book. Obviously. It’s why I picked it out of the 100+ books I’ve read this year to share here. I loved it, and I’ve been telling everyone they should read it as well.

Kimmerer writes from a worldview and perspective that is quite different from my own. This is, in every single way, a good thing. It forced me to stop, re-read, consider, and rethink. All vitally important, especially as a British person living on colonised land myself. The Potawatomi are from North America, and I am in Australia, but the lessons and as relevant to me as they would be to a white American. Indigenous ways of thinking are radically different from non-Indigenous ways of thinking, and these differences contribute knowledge and understanding currently lacking in non-Indigenous thought and knowledge.

Kimmerer’s training as a scientist, and her experience as a researcher and writer, has perfectly positioned her to bridge the gap between Western scientific ways of knowing and Indigenous ways of knowing. She provides the reader with a clear map with which to orient themselves in the knew ways of thinking and knowing, and then to navigate them.

Kimmerer’s writing is clear, but may require re-reading in order to understand and fully absorb the things she is saying. For this reason, whilst I want everyone to read this book, I warn you that if you are wanting a light, easy read, this is probably not the book you want to reach for. If, however, you want to learn something, be challenged, and see the world in a new light, then this is exactly the book for you.

How this book has affected me

“We are showered every day with gifts, but they are not meant for us to keep. Their life is in their movement, the inhale and exhale of our shared breath. Our work and our joy is to pass along the gift and to trust that what we put into the universe will always come back.”

— Robin Wall Kimmerer

In my opinion, the best books are the ones that shift something inside of you, making reality just that bit more real and relationships that bit more precious. The Anne books do this for me without fail, and this is the effect that Braiding Sweetgrass has had on me.

This book has adjusted the way I perceive the world around me. I look at my garden and am more conscious of the intricate totality of the ecosystems and lives that fill it. I pay closer attention to the rain as it falls, to the way leaves bud and flowers mature into fruit. I stop and turn my head in the direction of birdsong more often, and sit breathing more intentionally. I watch the skies more closely and study the food I prepare more intently. I’ve even cooked food from this book, and Three Sisters Soup is now a family favourite.

I have read more. I’ve read books that dive into the science of trees, or soil, or mushrooms, or or or. And with every new book, my world becomes bigger, more complex, more extraordinary, and yet more integrated, more friendly, more intimate.

Braiding Sweetgrass has also clarified, challenged, enhanced and given new direction to my understanding of community. Kimmerer speaks extensively on gift economy and reciprocity. I would not have expected this to result in a paradigm shift. We Christians speak regularly about generosity and gratitude. However, there is a mutuality to reciprocity that is frequently missing from the Christian rhetoric.’

The number of times I have heard “you come to church to serve, not to be served” is probably concerning. In theory, if everyone is serving then everyone is being served. In practice, however, if the purpose of going to church is to serve, then what happens when you can’t serve? And when the advice that is given when you are feeling discouraged is to “serve more”, how does one avoid internalising the belief that there is a limit to how much help one can ask for?

Approaching my relationships with others with the mindset of reciprocity has alleviated some of those concerns. “A gift is also a responsibility” says Kimmerer, and I am now better able to say “my gift is this, and my responsibility is to use it well, and that includes setting boundaries and limits. Other have gifts and it is their responsibility to use them well, and that includes responding to my needs when they are able.” I find I am more able to accept a gift of time, or service, or finances without guilt, and more able to identify and value my own reciprocal gifts: service, time, or finances as I am able to.

And it all started here, with Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Follow-up Reading Recommendations

Honey and Jane seen here modelling the follow up reading recommendations (sans The Power of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. That was already returned to the library).

The Power of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Just about anything by German forester turned ecologist Wohlleben would be an excellent companion to this book. Like Kimmerer, Wohlleben combines scientific research and lived experience to tell the stories of nature in language the average reader can understand. The Power of Trees, however, is his most recent release, and is filled with fascinating information and insights. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I would like to take this opportunity to shout out Jane Billinghurst. I can’t read German, the original language of Wohlleben’s books, but Billinghurst has translated most of the ones I have read. Her translations ensure the accessibility and passion of Wohlleben’s work is not lost (in translation), but instead is just as available to the English language reader.

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Of the non-fiction books listed here, mycologist Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life is perhaps the most scientifically detached. This is not to say it is cold and clinic. Sheldrake’s writing is engaging and clear, his passion for the mycelium he studies fills every page. Still, his approach was clearly “how can I make this exciting science accessible to the layperson?” rather than “I’m going to tell stories about nature and science is part of that”. Part of the difference in approach is probably down to Sheldrake’s youth. Sheldrake is still in his 30s, whereas both Kimmerer and Wohlleben have 2+ on him. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and I enjoyed every single moment of his book. That’s why I’m recommending it. Fungus is mindboggling and, quite frankly, so cool! I hope Sheldrake writes more in the future. I’m willing to bet he has more to tell us about the wonderful world of fungi.

Future Girl by Asphyxia
Unlike the other books in this post, Future Girl is a novel. It is a novel in the emerging genre of “solarpunk fiction” - my generation’s answer to the “cyberpunk fiction” embodied in works such as Blade Runner. Like cyberpunk, solarpunk examines trends in society and draws an image of a possible future. Unlike cyberpunk, solarpunk presents a hopeful action plan for pushing back against our increasingly dystopian lives, encouraging us to focus on community and intentionally cultivate relationship with nature. Future Girl does this wonderfully, as Asphyxia, herself a Deaf Australian, follows Piper - a Deaf Australian teenager in a Melbourne of soaring costs of living, corporate greed, and environmental disaster - as she finds herself and her place in community through her decision to start growing her own food garden.

Change and the Passage of Time

“All he saw was a mass of timepieces, all telling him that it lacked only half an hour ‘til midnight. And then? He set himself not to think about it.”

— John Goddard

Conversations, with Clocks

by John Goddard

As much as I enjoy books that challenge me, it is sometimes nice to sit down with a comfortable read and enjoy it over a cup of tea and a biscuit. “Conversations, with Clocks” by John Goddard is one such read.

Why this book?

To be as upfront and transparent as possible, the only reason this book ever entered my radar, in fact, the only reason I chose to read it, was the author. John Goddard, or Dr. Goddard as I know him better, was my English teacher the last three years of my high school career. He proceeded to take my middle sister though her last two years of English, and then retired. Much to the irritation of my youngest sister who had been hoping to have him for her final years as well.

As a teacher, Dr. Goddard’s love of literature and energy in teaching it made his classes tolerable for those who hated the subject, and truly magical for students such as myself.

About three, maybe four, years ago, he told me he had decided to try his hand at writing a novel. He had spent so many years teaching them, he wondered if he’d be any good at writing them.

Then, when had the fortune to see him in January of this year, he told me he had finished the book and seen it published. Naturally, I ordered myself a copy and began reading as soon as it arrived a week and a half later.

What is this book about?

In the words of Dr. Goddard, “it is about the only thing I know anything about: schools”. Whilst I’m not entirely convinced that he doesn’t know anything about things besides schools, it is certainly true that, after 40 years as a teacher and administrator, he does know schools.

“Conversations, with Clocks” differentiates itself from other books about schools by focusing not on the students, but on the staff. In fact, unless something happens to force the students into the attention of the staff, they may as well not be there. A role which the staff usually seem to fill in such novels.

This focus on the staff, however, results in a novel that examines the realities of what it takes to keep a school running. From the potted roads of syllabus planning and class allocation, to the interpersonal politics of daily interactions between differing personalities and visions.

Beyond this, the book is about the passage of time and the inevitability of change that comes with it. Perhaps unsurprisingly, clocks are a recurring motif, with the title itself referring to a painting gifted to one of the teachers by his students. A gift that touches and saddens him as he prepares to make a life changing announcement of his own.

The themes of time and change can also be seen in the references to the school term and week, a pregnancy and in constant meeting between headmaster and school board regarding the future of the school.

My thoughts on this book

The two words that immediately and consistently spring to mind when describing this book are “charming” and “delightful”. It is neither a hard read, nor particularly challenging. Instead, my old English teacher’s wit and humour is clearly present, as is his grasp of human nature. When I was asked by my sister if I could “hear Dr. Goddard”, my answer was a definite yes.

And that was exactly what I wanted.

“Conversations, with Clocks” is not a perfect book. I doubt very much that such a thing exists. Most of it’s shortfalls lie with the size of the cast. A great many characters come and go, with most of them introduced in the first half of the first chapter. This resulted in some difficulty in remembering who was who and what role they played. It did settle down, and by the end I was able to keep the necessary characters straight. I realise, of course, that this mirrors the challenge of entering a new environment. However, in reality, the overwhelming rush of people is a necessary evil. In my fiction, I prefer it to be tamed to a slow trickle.

The other comment I have would be with regards to which characters took centre stage. It is not necessarily negative, but from the blurb provided, I had expected Doug Anderson and Allan Parslow to be the central figures. Instead, a third character, Sam Baker, seemed to push Anderson to the side. Fortunately, Baker’s story was interesting, so the narrative did not suffer for it, but I would have liked to see more of Anderson.

Overall, “Conversations, with Clocks” is an enjoyable and insightful read. I would definitely recommend it to teachers, and to students of human nature. Or if you just enjoy a light read over a cup of tea.

How this book affected me

Unlike many other books I read, this did not require me to confront anything uncomfortable or to examine some aspect of my life. A relief, really. A person can only handle so much introspection.

It did, however, make me think it was just as well I hadn’t gone into teaching. The students and the teaching I would probably have enjoyed. The politics, not so much.

Did you know…

I’m going to do something a little different this month. Instead of sharing some fact or bit of information, I have decided to share a favourite memory of Dr. Goddard. I hope this gives you a little insight into the character and personality of this wonderful man.

Due to circumstances I won’t go into here, I did year 11 English twice, first as an HSC student, then as an IB student. I was fortunate enough to have Dr. Goddard for both those years. As a result, there were a number of texts I studied with him that my IB classmates did not. Most notably, and pertinently, was Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”.

My IB class was a group of 14 or 15, all of us about 16 years of age. On this particular day, we had arrived to class a few minutes ahead of Dr. Goddard. We let ourselves in and set about getting ready for class and continuing our conversations. One of the boys, tired from the day, lay on his desk, resting his legs along the wall beside.

Enter John Goddard.

He glanced around the room, mischief lighting up his eyes. He turned to me, excitement evident in the slight skip of his step, the bounce of his shoulders and the smile on his face.

“I have always wanted to do this!”

He moved over to the desk my classmate lay on, folded his arms, drew himself up and exclaimed, as only a fan of Wilde can, “Mr. Byrne! Rise from that semi-recumbent posture!”

The effect was immediate.

Mr. Byrne was shocked right off his desk. Our classmates stared in confusion. Dr. Goddard and I could only laugh, before endeavouring to explain the joke.

And such was English class with Dr. John Goddard.

Mindfulness and the Christian Faith

“And if we do engage with mindfulness practices, are there ways to do this consistently with our Christian worldview? What about our own faith heritage - does it have anything to offer us that could enrich our prayer lives, help us to draw near to God and grow in Christlikeness?”

— Katherine Thompson

Christ Centred Mindfulness

Dr. Katherine Thompson

Before I begin, I want to quickly, and incredibly briefly, define two terms that will appear throughout this review. Both are big concepts that I have only just begun to explore, and that I suspect I will talk about at length in other places at other times. For now though, short definitions will suffice so that you understand what I am talking about here.

Mindfulness: In essence, mindfulness is the act of being present in the moment. It’s about being open, curious and observant. Mindfulness is pretty universally encouraged by mental health therapists as a tool for managing mental health.

Christian spirituality: this is a term that refers to such a broad and complex topic that I will be grossly oversimplifying it here. In short, though, Christian spirituality and spiritual practices are focused on growing and developing the Christian’s relationship with God, be that individually or communally. It is very much about connection with God, self and community.

Why this book?

I was browsing my local Christian bookstore a couple of months ago when Christ Centred Mindfulness caught my eye. I immediately knew I wanted to read it. Fortunately, I had some Christmas money leftover, so I bought it.

As a Christian with a long standing interest in psychology, as well as my own long term mental health struggles (shout out to my depression and anxiety), I have been increasingly exposed to two things: mindfulness as a therapy tool and Christian spirituality. With these two things coming into my life, I had a lot of questions. These questions included: how do I practice mindfulness as a Christian, especially given its Buddhist roots? Is there a connection between mindfulness and Christian spirituality? What makes mindfulness such a useful therapy tool?

This book promised to explore some of the answers to these questions, and Dr. Thompson seemed to be uniquely qualified to answer them. She is a trained and experienced mental health worker, and has a background in theology. All in all, this book struck me as a promising beginning to my own journey into the intersection between mindfulness and Christian spirituality.

I am glad to say, it did not disappoint.

What is this book about?

As I have already said, this book is essentially about the relationship between mindfulness and Christian spiritual practices. The book is split into three sections, each answering a slightly different question and furthering our understanding of the two things.

In part one, Dr. Thompson examines the historical roots of mindfulness and what it is has become in modern therapeutic practices. This involves breaking down the history of mindfulness, analysing different theraputic approaches to mindfulness and then exploring how mindfulness might align with a Christian perspective.

In part two, she explores the history of Christian spirituality and the roll that mindfulness has played and continues to play in Christian spiritual practice. In the third and final part, she lays practical ways in which Christians can healthily and helpfully engage with both mindfulness and Christian spiritual disciplines.

My thoughts on this book

I greatly appreciated this book and intend to go back to it often. It is a helpful resource for people of all stripes who are curious about this mindfulness craze and how a Christian ought to approach it.

Dr. Thompson is clear and concise throughout this book, and I was able to follow what she was saying easily. I did have to set this book aside during the worst of my CFS flare, but that was mostly because I wanted to be able to engage with it properly, and brain fog is not conducive to that. Still, if I am able to follow what is being said even with some brain fog, most people will be able to understand her.

The content itself is well researched, thought through and laid out, making it a valuable text, for both mental health professionals and the lay person. In short, I highly recommend this book, and will probably purchase myself a second copy at some point for lending purposes. I definitely want to keep a copy on hand!

How this book affected me

This book has encouraged me to engage more intentionally with mindfulness throughout my daily life, for my mental health, but also my spiritual health. Tied into that, I have began to engage with some of the spiritual practices and mindfulness exercises that Dr. Thompson lays out in the book. Fortunately, both mindfulness and spiritual disciplines are flexible and can be adjusted to work with my life. Which is good, because, as I have said, CFS can be unpredictable.

I fully intend to continue on this mindfulness/spiritual journey and will return to this book for guidance for years to come.

Did you know…

One of my favourite mindfulness practices is the 5-4-3-2-1. In this, one lists 5 things they can see, 4 things they can feel, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell and 1 thing they can taste. This serves to draw attention to what is happening in the present moment, and is incredibly helpful in grounding a person struggling with anxiety (hello again, anxiety, my old friend). As well as this, I find it to be an excellent why to focus on God’s creation and notice things I might otherwise miss.

Why don’t you try it now?

If you feel comfortable doing so, let me know in the comments below: what are 5 things you can see? What are 4 things you can feel? What are 3 things you can hear? What are 2 things you can smell? And what is 1 thing you can taste?

Books I Loved this Year

So, after sharing ten books that I’m looking forward to reading next year, I figured I should share ten books I read and loved this year. Eight of these are books I read for the first time this year, the other two are books I re-read for the first time in several years. I have also tried to avoid talking about the same books I have already talked about on this blog. Because where’s the fun in just talking about the same things over and over?

The only significance to this order is that this is how someone at some point in history decided this was the order in which our letters should be arranged. Which is to say: these are in no particular order.

Aurora Rising

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I had never come across these authors before this year. Now I am obsessed. This is their newest book, and the first in a trilogy. Fortunately, the second book is due to come out in May.

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty

I was not expecting to enjoy this book so much. Still, I was curious as to what all the fuss was about, so I picked it up and read it. And I must admit, I am very glad I did. This was cleverly written, and I did not see the twist at the end coming.

Carry On

Rainbow Rowell

Another author I didn’t discover until this year. This book, and it’s sequel, Wayward Son, are so much fun. I love the way Rowell takes the classic “Chosen One” story and explores aspects of it that may not be twisted.

I also appreciate her flat out acceptance that Simon Snow is “an orphaned boy soldier” and that means trauma. She’s not heavy handed with it, but she acknowledges it and explores it.

Dracula

Bram Stoker

This is one of the two books I read before this year. In fact, I gave it an honourable mention in My Favourite Books. Which, if you’re only familiar with how Dracula has been adapted or portrayed in various pop culture contexts, may have confused you. Stoker’s book, however, is absolutely brilliant. And Mina Harker is probably one of my favourite fictional women. She’s incredible.

Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell

Those of you who are familiar with Rainbow Rowell will know that technically this book comes before the Simon Snow books. In fact, the seeds of the Simon Snow books were sown in Fangirl - the books Cath is obsessed with being The Simon Snow Series. This, however, is not a “Chosen One” story, but a coming of age story. One I relate to, being obsessed with books and shows myself.

Howl’s Moving Castle

Diana Wynne Jones

This one is just sheer fun. I love the movie and I love the book. They are different things, but both so good. Also, I relate to Sophie. If I woke up one day to find I’d suddenly become old, I too would be like “yep, this makes sense, better get on with it”.

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas

This book lent me such great insight into the culture of police brutality and black shootings in the USA. It also got me thinking about the racism and brutality directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) here in Australia. Definitely a book to read.

The Illuminae Files

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Believe it or not, I picked these books up because of nail polish. Yes, you read that right. Nail polish. I was given a beautiful set of nail polishes for my birthday this year, and one of my favourites was inspired by this trilogy. The cover of Obsidio, more precisely. And I have absolutely no regrets. These books are clever, witty and incredibly interesting.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

A brilliant, brilliant classic. The older I get, the more I appreciate it, and the depths of what Lee is saying with it. What a wonderful exploration of empathy, compassion, justice and growing up.

Written in History: Letters that Changed the World

Simon Sebag Montefiore

I love history, and I love getting into other peoples shoes and seeing the world from their perspective, so a book that allows me to read the letters written by people throughout history was perfect for me. I mean, I’m a little sad that I can’t read the letters in their original languages, but hey - I’ve only got this one lifetime. I can’t learn everything I want to learn. Sadly.

Over to you

What books did you read and love this year?

From the Archives: There Once Was a Rabbit...

This article was originally published at Tea With Laura Dee on September 4th, 2016. At the time, I had not yet been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, and the sickness I refer to was what eventually developed into my ongoing CFS. I have come a long way since then, but The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo continues to be one of my favourite stories. So, as this current CFS flare and the accompanying dip in my mental health prevented me from reading a book and reviewing it for this month, I decided to pull this post out of my archives and share it with you, just as I pulled the book off of my shelf and curled up with it a week or two ago.

xox
Laura Dee

"I don't care if anyone comes for me," said Edward.

"But that's dreadful," said the old doll. "There's no point in going on if you feel that way. No point at all. You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next."

"I am done being loved," Edward told her. "I am done with loving. It's too painful."

"Pish!" said the old doll. "Where is your courage?"

"Somewhere else, I guess," said Edward.

"You disappoint me," she said. "You disappoint me greatly. If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless." 

- Kate DiCamillo

Isn't it strange? The way a kids' book can provide the best comfort when you are deeply not OK? How the seemingly simply storyline just touches your hurting heart with the right amount of tenderness and love?

And my heart does hurt. Not just emotionally, but physically too. Too often these days do I feel as though a hand is reaching into my chest and squeezing  it. My heart, and sometimes my lungs. And the pressure, it will sit there. Sometimes for hours.

And perhaps the physical pain is just a symptom of emotional pain gone unacknowledge for too long. For too long I have said that I'm OK. I've said it to others. And I've said it to myself. And I've believed it.

But tonight, as I sat in church, with an unseen weight crushing my heart, my lungs gasping for breath, dreading the coming school lesson, I realised it.

I am not OK. I am deeply, deeply not OK. My heart hurts.

And it's the anxiety over my grades. It's the fear I won't be able to catch up after being sick at the beginning of semester.

It's the longing to hug the middle sister, and swap jokes with her, growing as her birthday nears. It's the knowledge that I don't know the younger sister well enough. It's the grief over losing dear friends as they move to another country.

It's the fear that I'll let love pass me by. It's the fear that I've built a stonewall around the deepest crevice of my heart. A wall built to protect this bruised, battered thing I call my heart. But is it too thick? Too high? Will anyone be able to climb it? Will I be able to let them in?

It's the pain of 'Am I good enough?'. It's the fear of being a failure. It's the fear of hurting and being hurt. It's the certainty that I can't succeed. The terror that I can't love enough. The quaking that I'll turn away, withholding love. It's the fear of falling that chains me to the ground.

It's the ache that wonders 'but who will hug me?'. It's the loneliness that longs for connection. It's the desire to bake and the question 'who for?'.

It's the screaming for God and the knowing I won't hear an answer, because I've blocked my ears. It's the not knowing how to open them, and being too afraid to ask.

It's the half steps to ask for help. It's the stopping short, because 'I'm OK'. And even if I wasn't, who'd have the time anyway?

It's the not knowing how to finish this, and the not knowing how to sit with it.

It's the haunting question 'Where is your courage?'. It's the quiet indictment 'You disappoint me', whispered in the very depths of my soul.

It's the promise of home. It's the not knowing how to get there.

It's knowing that I'll wake up tomorrow. I'll go to uni. I'll talk with friends. I'll even laugh.

If you ask me how I am, I'll probably say OK. I might even truly believe it.

And all the while the pain in my chest will come. And go. And come again.

But I really am OK...

My Favourite Sitcoms

And I’m back! This time with a list of my top 10 favourite sitcoms, and why. Let’s get into it.

The Addams Family (1964 - 1966)

based on characters created by Charles Addams

They’re creepy, they’re cooky and I love them to bits. Honestly, The Addams Family is one of the most loving and supportive families I’ve ever come across. They’re eccentric, but they are fully comfortable with who they are. This translates to them being fully accepting of the people who come into their sphere, wildly generous and I’m pretty sure you could be an Addams just by waltzing in and saying “so, where’s my bedroom? Also, where can I keep Bambam, my pet snake?”

And, honestly, Morticia and Gomez are goals. But I’ll talk more about that in a future post. Keep your eyes peeled!

Boy Meets World (1993 -2000)

Created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly

Another loving and supportive family. This show has a special place in my heart, and I can watch it over and over again. I love seeing Cory, Topanga, Shawn and Eric navigating the challenges of growing up and becoming some of the most iconic characters ever in the process. And I will never say no to some Feeny wisdom.

Full House (1987 - 1995)

Created by Jeff Franklin

Full disclosure: I love the idea of communal living, and hate the fact that it’s somehow become synonymous with “cult”. So, when Full House came out on Netflix and I realised what it was about, I had to watch it. And I was not disappointed. I love watching this family grow over the seasons, as they figure out how to do life together. What starts of as a family of four with an uncle and a friend moving in for a few days ends up as a family of 9 all still living in the same house. If that’s not wild, I don’t know what is.

The Good Place (2016 - 2019)

Created by Michael Schur

This is the first of three shows on this list created by Michael Schur. The only one by him not on this list is The Office, which (confession) I have not watched in it’s entirety. The Good Place, however, may just be my favourite. I love philosophy and discussions about ethics.. Sure, the premise of this show may not align with my own personal beliefs as a Christian, but it is a compelling watch, excellently written, with amazing characters. Personally, I think this is not a show to be missed.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013 - )

Created by Michael Schur and Daniel Goor

NINE-NINE!!

Oh man, I love this show so much! I love the diversity and complexity of the main cast of characters. I love how pure and wholesome they all are. I love the way they humourously and sensitively look at heavy topics, all while still being the coolest cops around. It’s so fun to just watch these characters interact, and honestly? Those are the best kinds of shows.

Parks and Recreation (2009 - 2015)

Created by Michael Schur and Greg Daniels

Leslie Knope is an icon.

What else is there to say?

But seriously, I love this show. And I love that the cast is led by a strong, driven female character, who I would be very happy to have working for my local government. Leslie Knope cares so much, and her whole town is better for it.

One Day at a Time (2017 - )

Created by Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce

A show featuring a Cuban-American family living in LA? That talks about anxiety, PTSD, racism, sexuality, addiction and so much more in a thoughtful, sensitive way? Yes please!

Mr. Iglesias (2019 - )

Created by Kevin Hench

Gabriel Iglesias is a hilarious man, and I can not believe that this show was my first introduction to him. Here, he stars as the titular character: Mr. Iglesias, a Latino-American history teacher who decides to take on the more “challenging” students. Over the course of the first season (there’s only one so far! More please!), his love and commitment to his students results in them beginning to not only flourish, but to grow in confidence and certainty of their place in the world. All while being insanely funny.

As Time Goes By (1992 - 2005)

Directed by Sydney Lotterby
Written by Colin Bostock-Smith and Bob Larbey

This one is a family favourite, so I grew up watching it. The shenanigans of these grown men and women as they try to figure out love, life and family are both funny and extremely British. I mean, how do you accidentally turn down a knighthood? Also, it’s Judi Dench. She’s incredible.

The IT Crowd (2006 - 2013)

Created by Graham Lineham

This show is one I would describe as being a candy show. I heavily debated whether or not I should include it, but the truth is, it leaves me gasping for breath from laughter. So I decided to include it. However, I do also find this show highly problematic, as they make light of a character’s suicide, mental health problems and even day to day misogyny in the work place. I also tend to prefer the things I watch and read to have something to say, and I just don’t know that this show does.

But still, it’s really hard to get past: "Dear Sir stroke Madam. Fire, exclamation mark. Fire, exclamation mark. Help me, exclamation mark. 123 Clarendon Road. Looking forward to hearing from you. All the best, Maurice Moss."

Honourable Mentions

So, these are my top 10 favourite sitcoms. As I decided not to include spin-off series, I’ll shout them out here as Honourable Mentions:

• Fuller House (Full House sequel series)

• Girl Meets World (Boy Meets World sequel series - Cory, Topanga, Shawn and Eric are all still iconic!)

• The Office (not included as I haven’t finished it yet, but still a fun show).

And now for you guys! Do you enjoy sitcoms? If so, what are some of your favourites? Let me know in the comments below!

A Life of Magic

“When given a choice
between you and them
choose you.
It’s better to be whole and alone
than broken at their feet.”

— Atticus

The Truth About Magic

By Atticus

You all know me, I love poetry! I ordered this book in time to get it as soon as it was released, and I am so glad I did. I spent a truly magical morning tangled up in bedsheets, listening to rain fall and reading his poems out loud to myself. Seriously, if you don’t read poetry, you should.

Why this book?

As you may remember from “My Favourite Books” list and my speech “My Relationship with Poetry”, Atticus is one of my all time favourite poets. So, when he announced earlier this year that he was coming out with a new collection of poetry, I knew I was going to get it. And there was absolutely no question on my mind: I was going to be telling all of you about it as well.

What is this book about?

Perhaps this is an unusual question to ask about a book of poetry, but poetry, perhaps more than anything else, is always about something. Atticus’s poetry often centres around themes of life and love, and in this collection, he really focused in on capturing the magic life with his words. Helpfully for me, he has even broken his book into themed sections: Youth, Love, Adventure, Her, Darkness, Words, and Stars.

My thoughts on this book

I loved it! It was absolutely everything I hoped it would be.

Atticus continues to be able to capture my heart and my imagination with his words. And each poem in this book, coupled with his photography, really was a little piece of magic.

Atticus is gifted in observing the minutia of a scene, or a moment, and then expressing it in a way that makes the reader feel as though they are in that moment with him, experiencing it alongside him. The result is that we feel the highs and lows of love, we see the beauty of a girl dancing in starlight and revel in her laugh. His joy in Paris and Rome and Brooklyn becomes our joy, and his desire to sip wine on stormy nights because our desire.

His poetry is so electric and alive, and so warm and comforting, that I always come away ready to embrace all the messy beauty that is life.

How this book affected me

This book was a breath of fresh air, as well as a deep dive into the magic and mystery of life. This book, as the two books Atticus has released before, helped me to slow down, to breathe in deep and be present in each moment of joy, and pain, and beauty. And with his reminders to open my eyes and see, I am also inspired to write more poems of my own. Some of them in answer to his poems, some of them about things I’ve tried because one of his poems challenged me, and some of them just because I’m seeing things fresh and it needs to be spoken.

There is a calmness to the poetry in this book, and it is a calmness I need when my anxiety is playing up or my CFS is flaring. So, thank you, Atticus.

Did you know…

It would be remiss of me to talk about “The Truth About Magic” without mentioning Atticus’s beautiful, and heart wrenching dedication:

This book is dedicated to Alina.
A girl I never knew
who died in my arms.

- Atticus

Atticus shares the story behind this dedication in this post on his Instagram.

In summary, Alina was a big fan of Atticus’s. When she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, her friend Jess reached out to Atticus to ask if she could get an early copy of the audiobook - Alina was not expected to survive to the release date. Atticus flew out to spend a day with Alina and her family, reading poetry and hearing stories about Alina’s life. She died while he was with her, and his book is dedicated to her.

A book of Alina’s poetry, “Magic Whispers”, is available of Amazon, and I am very much looking forward to getting a copy and reading it for myself.

Sides, Self-knowledge and a YouTube Series?

“Thomas: Wait... scary costumes? I don’t think I got the memo on that one.
Roman: I literally don’t know how. We discussed it in your head.”

— Sanders Sides, ep 26 "Embarrassing Phases: The Nightmare instead of Christmas"

Sanders Sides

By Thomas Sanders and Joan Stokes

Yes, this is not a book. No, I have not lost my marbles. However, due to an unusually busy month and the resulting CF flares, I was unable to do the reading I had planned for this month’s book review. And it’s a little hard to review a book when I’ve only read one third of it. Still, I did not want to leave you without a post today, and I wanted to let you all know about this YouTube series, so I decided to kill too birds with one stone.

Why this series?

So, I have been seeing “Sanders Sides” memes for over a year, which were amusing, but gave me absolutely no context for the series or what it was about. Then, this week, I was exhausted and I needed something short and light to watch while my brain slowly died. So, I decided, what the heck? I’ll watch “Sanders Sides”.

Best decision of my life.

Or at least this week.

What is this series about?

Thomas Sanders is a YouTuber who started off on Vine. You know, that thing that used to be a thing. On the 19th of October, 2016, Thomas released his first “Sanders Sides” episode. The intention, according to himself in the video, was to help his viewers get to know him better, and he chose to do this by “projecting” different aspects of his personality as characters within the show.

In the nearly three years since then, the show has grown into more of a fun, educational show in which Sanders explores complex issues ranging through dealing with anxiety, the importance of honesty, motivation, intrusive thoughts and a range of other issues. All with the help of the four other main characters: Logan, his logical side; Patton, his morality; Roman, his creativity; and Virgil, his anxiety.

My thoughts on this series

This series is incredibly creative. Not simply in concept, but also in execution. I find myself constantly impressed by the quality of the writing, the excellence of Thomas’s acting (seriously, I forget that there aren’t actually five individual people standing around talking to each other), the ways in which he explores the content (we’ve had a puppet episode, a musical episode, a debate episode, a courtroom episode), and the humour with which he handles some very important topics.

As someone who struggles with mental and physical health, and has studied psychology, I greatly appreciate how informative each episode is, with each side contributing something valuable to the discussion, and Logan whipping out studies and evidence when necessary.

Thanks to Thomas and Joan’s creativity, I think this series makes difficult subject matters accessible to a wide range of age groups, although I would recommend parents view it and make there own decisions. Especially with regards to episodes like “Dealing with Intrusive Thoughts”.

Whilst this show wasn’t exactly the light viewing I had anticipated, I have loved every minute of it, and have already been going around recommending people watch it.

How this series affected me

As I said, I have already been recommending that people watch this show. One friend has already obliged me, and in the few days of watching it, we have already found it helps give us a common language with which to talk about more serious issues. For instance, when one of us is struggling with something, the other can say “what would Logan say?” or “how would Patton react?”. That has been a fun and helpful way of being able to encourage each other.

I have also decided to take the step of personifying different aspects of myself, primarily to help myself work through different challenges and keep things in perspective. That has already been really helpful, and the process of figuring out “who” each of the different aspects I am personifying are has already given me greater insight into who I am and how I work.

Over time, I will probably introduce you to the different characters and examine their roles in my life. Although, that is much more likely to happen in either my self care section or my blog.

Did you know…

Anxiety is our natural fight or flight reaction. Sometimes (like for me) that can be heightened to an unhealthy extreme. That does not, however, mean that anxiety itself is a bad thing. As Logan points out in the two-part episode “Accepting Anxiety”, there is such a thing as a Yerkes-Dodson Curve. This curve basically demonstrates the relationship between performance and anxiety/tension. Basically, there is a level of anxiety or tension that is need for the optimal performance of a task. Both too much and too little anxiety can cause problems. The helpful level of anxiety varies depending on the complexity and familiarity of the task at hand, but a little bit is almost always helpful in ensuring that we perform to the best of our abilities.

Favourite Korean Dramas

As I mentioned in my book review of Pachinko, I love Korean dramas, more often known simply as kdramas. There are certain rules that kdramas follow, providing international viewers with insight as to what Koreans value, which I find fascinating. They have often been described as fairytale-esque due to the fact that, as a general rule, justice is served, the guy gets the girl (although victims of Second Male Lead Syndrome may disagree) and there is often an innocence to the main characters who are battling to overcome the cruelty of life and other people.

Still, within that, there is a wide range of genres. The following is my list of my top 10 favourite kdramas.

Solomon’s Perjury (Dec 2016 - January 2017)

In general, these shows aren’t in any particular order, but I do believe that Solomon’s Perjury is one of my all time favourite TV shows. It’s definitely my all time favourite kdrama!
In just 12 hours, we take a deep dive into the lives of a group of high schoolers as they try to figure out just how their classmate died. Where other shows may shy away from intense subjects such as abuse and suicide, Solomon’s Perjury faces them head on, resulting in a show that criticises those who abuse their power and authority, affirms the power of friendship, encourages people to keep living in hope and to seek out the truth with compassion.

I can not recommend this show highly enough. And if any of you are interested in watching it, it’s available on Netflix.

Strong Girl Bong-Soon (2017)

This show is best described as a comedy. Although, like most kdramas, it has a darker plotline that weaves it’s way through it. Do Bong-soon is born to a line of women who have super strength. However, if they misuse that strength, they lose it forever. This premise sets up a 16 episode long show in which Bong-soon learns how to use her strength without abusing it, whilst also trying to figure out love, life and everything else.

This is, for the most part, a fun, lighthearted show. Although, if you are prone to the dreaded Second Male Lead Syndrome (SMLS), prepare to have your heart broken.

This show is available on Netflix.

I Remember You (or Hello, Monster) (2015)

This is the show that really introduced me to the range and ability of my all time favourite actor - Park Bogum. This show falls under the thriller/crime genre with all of the main characters working as police officers, criminal profilers, forensic scientists and lawyers.

Lee Hyun, our male lead, returns to South Korea after a number of years in the States in order to find out the truth of what happened the night his father was murdered and his little brother disappeared. This leads to 16 episodes in which matters of family, morality and love are explored and the question is posed: what is it that makes a monster?

I Hear Your Voice

This show has, in my opinion, a strong blend of romance and intense crime/thriller aspects.

Our leads, Jang Hye-sung and Park Soo-ha are brought together 10 years prior to the events of the show when Hye-sung witnesses the murder of Soo-ha’s father. On the strength of her testimony, the murderer is sent to prison. 10 years later, he is released and vows to get his revenge on Hye-sung and Soo-ha.

This leads to 18 episodes exploring what justice looks like and what it means to live your life with courage.

This show is available on Netflix.

City Hunter (2011)

This show starts explosively with a team of South Korean black ops soldiers being mowed down by their own government after an off the books mission into North Korea. The sole survivor of this massacre disappears into the jungles of Thailand with the new born son of his best friend, vowing revenge on those who betrayed them.

Nearly 30 years later, the son arrives in Seoul with explicit instructions to seek out and kill the five men responsible. What follows is a superhero origin story in which Lee Yoon-sung struggles to walk the line between vengeance and justice, whilst also longing for love and a life that doesn’t involve hurting the people he loves.

He is Psychometric (2019)

I’ll be honest, I never expected this one to become one of my top 10 favourite kdramas - I only started watching it because my one of my favourite kpop artists (GOT7’s Jinyoung) was the star.

It did not take long for me to become engrossed.

The show follows Lee Ahn (Jinyoung’s character) and his friends, Yoon Jae-in, Kang Sung-mo and Eun Ji-soo as they try to find out the full truth behind the fire that killed Ahn’s parents. I can’t really say too much more without spoilers, but I do highly recommend this show!

Encounter (2019)

This is another show starring my favourite actor, Park Bogum. And honestly, it’s a comfort show. Whilst many of the shows I gravitate towards have darker elements to them or are insanely funny, this is a sweet, pure look at what it is to fall in love, and what it takes to make love last.

I don’t have much to say about this one, but if you want to fall in the love, this is the show to watch.

Arthdal Chronicles (2019 - ?)

So, this show wasn’t on my list until today. Mostly because I didn’t watch in until this week. It also isn’t finished as it is on hiatus. Still, I’ve fallen in love with it.

The cinematography is stunning, the characters are complex and relatable, and it took me a long time to figure out who I was rooting for. Actually, no, I knew who I am rooting for to win ultimately from the second episode. It took me longer to work out who I am rooting against and who I am supporting for the time being.

Arthdal Chronicles is perhaps unique of all the kdramas I’ve watched as it is a high fantasy drama set long before any recognisable civilisation existed. In it are explorations of power and scathing criticisms of slavery and abuse of power.

As I said, it’s currently on hiatus, but I recommend you go watch it on Netflix right away. Then you can suffer the wait for more episodes with me.

W Two Worlds

This is another incredibly unique story with a complex world and interesting characters. It is set in modern times, but could probably be described as fantasy? I don’t know a better word for “a comic book character gains sentience and starts fighting for the right to live”. It’s so much fun, with so many twists and turns and that I’m left on the edge of my seat. Despite having seen it before!

10/10 would recommend. And it’s available on Netflix.

1% of Something (2016)

This is another one that is pure, light hearted fun. A remake of a kdrama made in 2003, watching both dramas provides amazing insight into the change in South Korean culture and attitudes towards romantic relationships.

With a relationship that starts off as a contract relationship to appease his peculiar (and rich) grandfather, the two soon find themselves falling in love. This is another great one to watch if you want to see two people falling in love and figuring out how to make it work.

Shoutout

Dramaworld (2016)

This show is not a kdrama, but it absolutely deserves a shoutout in a post talking about my favourite kdramas.

Main character Claire, a major kdrama fan, finds herself sucked into the world of kdramas - also known as Dramaworld. In there, she’s informed that it’s her job to keep this drama from falling apart, or it will be the end of all kdramas, everywhere. Over 10 episodes, we follow Claire as she bumbles her way through this world, and figures out all the rules of Dramaworld: the first male lead MUST kiss the first female lead, if a female faints a male lead WILL catch her, saving a character’s life means they instantly fall in love with their saviour… well, you get the picture.

This show is just a lot of fun, and is clearly written by people who appreciate the world of kdramas.

But don’t watch it until you’ve watched a few kdramas. You won’t get the jokes otherwise.

This show is available on Netflix.

Honourable Mentions

As with last month’s post, there were a few shows I considered, but that ultimately did not make it onto my list. So, I’ve included them here as honourable mentions. They are:

• Bring it on, Ghost (2016)

• Faith (2012)

• Pinocchio (2014) available on Netflix

• Kingdom (2019 - ?) available on Netflix

• Birth of a Beauty (2014) available on Netflix.

Over to you

Have you ever watched any kdramas? If so, what are some of your favourites?

Let me know in the comments down below!

Pachinko and History

“History has failed us, but no matter.”

— Min Jin Lee

Isn’t it great when a number of things you're interested in come together? This book has been catching my eye on and off ever since it came out, but I kept putting off reading it. So, when Emma Watson’s online book club Our Shared Shelf selected it as the book of the month, it was the kick up the butt I needed to hunt down a copy and get reading!

Why this book?

Well, there is the obvious reason of it being the book of the month(s) for Our Shared Shelf, but honestly, I would have gotten around to reading it eventually.

Anyone who has gotten to know me over the last few years will know that I have had a growing fascination with Korea and Korean culture over the last several years. I may be stating it mildly, as a cousin of mine has accused me of being “such a koreaboo!”

It all started at the end of 2014 when a dear friend of mine introduced me to my first kdrama - “You are Beautiful”. Which, whilst it’s not the gateway kdrama (that’s Boys over Flowers) it is certainly one of them.

But what’s kdrama? I hear a number of people ask.

Well, very simply, it’s Korean dramas. But in this context “drama” just means fictional TV shows. So, reality shows and contests do not fall under the “kdrama” umbrella. Nor do movies. Within kdrama, though, is every type of story genre available to humanity, as far as I can tell. There are rom-coms, thrillers, procedurals (both medical and criminal), mysteries, fantasies, sci-fis, periods (known as sageuk) and probably a number that I’m missing.

Kdramas as a phenomenon and a thing that exists are being analysed and discussed by people much more qualified than me. That’s not why I am here. If you’re interested in that, a quick Google search will probably yield some interesting results.

Anyway, it was through kdramas that I began to see more of this country and culture that before I only knew in terms of the Korean War, the division between North and South, and the secrecy and persecution of Christians in the north. And, like, this list was the entirety of my knowledge prior to watching kdramas. I didn’t even have details.

So, as kdramas and, later, kpop (Korean pop music) began to introduce me to this culture and people I had previously known nothing about, I began to want to learn more. So, so much.

But, there are limits to how much one can learn through TV shows and music. I started learning about the food, day-to-day relations, cultural expectations and something of the heroes from their past. But nothing concrete about how Korea became the Korea we know today - division and all. And I couldn’t find anything to help me get started on that. All the books and information I came across was about modern relations with North Korea, or about the Korean War from a very western perspective.

Then came this book. A book about Koreans in the last century, written by a Korean. I knew I had to read it.

What is this book about?

Pachinko is, first and foremost, a novel. I would describe the genre as a historical, family saga. If you’ve read One Hundred Years of Solitude, it has a similar vibe to that.

Pachinko is entirely about the Korean perspective on the Japanese occupation from 1910 - 1945, which I had known very little about, the withdrawal of the Japanese from Korea and the effect that had on Koreans living in Japan, how the division of North and South Korea affected the Koreans and the ongoing discrimination that Koreans living in Japan face.

It does this by focusing in on the Baek family. Sunja is the matriarch of the family, and the book starts with her father, Hoonie, in Yoeng-do, near Busan and follows them down to her grandson, Solomon. The change from the family being situated in Yoeng-do to Japan happens early on, after Sunja finds herself pregnant out of wedlock. A disaster for any woman of that time. Fortunately, a young pastor on his way to Japan is staying with them and he offers to marry her and take her with him.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you more than this without spoiling things for you. But within this story and historical setting, Lee explores issues of discrimination, persecution, family, the role of men and women in Korean and Japanese cultures, racism, displacement, war, and a whole range of other difficult topics.

My thoughts on the book

I really enjoyed reading Pachinko. I do have some criticism of it, so I’ll discuss those first, but I will state right now, I enjoyed this book immensely.

So, what are my criticisms?

Well, pretty much all of them come back to the scope of what Lee was trying to accomplish. It was huge and amazing, and, for the most part, incredible, but did lead to a few issues in the writing.

For one thing, this book could get ponderous. There was just so much going on all the time, and it necessarily flow as well as it could have. She jumped between time periods and point of view frequently, which could get confusing and overwhelming. Her use of language was also not necessarily the smoothest and I did have to take a week long break between books two and three (all in one book though) as my mind felt overloaded.

She also tried to do too much. Within the story of the family, I didn’t mind so much, but I do think she should not have tried to explore what life was like for a homosexual Japanese man as much as she did. Please note: I do think it is important to have stories that explore this aspect of life, I just felt it didn’t belong in this book. There was an entire chapter dedicated to it from his wife’s perspective that did nothing but interrupt the flow of the story and pull us away from the main narrative. Especially as this is also the only time we even see his wife or get her perspective. It just added length to an already incredibly long story.

And that’s it for my criticisms.

As I said, I did enjoy this book immensely.

I loved being able to learn about an entire aspect of (ongoing) Korean history I had previously known nothing about. I loved the deep dive into one family’s experience of an incredibly difficult life in occupied Korea and then in Japan as a stateless family. I loved each member of the family and have a hearty respect for both Sunja and her sister-in-law, Kyunghee.

All in all, I would recommend this book and encourage people to read it.

How this book affected me

I learnt so much.

My the time I got to this book, I knew that during the second world war, Japan has occupied Korea and was fighting China. I knew that as part of that, Korean women were taken and sent as “companions” for Japanese soldiers.

I did not, however, know that the Japanese occupation of Korea started during the first world war. Or that during it a large number of Koreans moved to Japan in search of a better life. I did not know that the Koreans where treated as second class citizens and despised by their Japanese contemporaries.

I did not know that when Japan withdrew from Korea, the Koreans living in Japan suddenly stopped being Japanese citizens. I did not know that a number of them had originated from the north of Korea, and found themselves unable to go home.

I did not know that, until this day, a number of Koreans living in Japan are technically stateless. Even if their families have been there for a century. For more on this, I found this article to be helpful.

This book has shown me yet another way in which the North/South division is affecting Koreans in very real and ongoing ways. And not just in the Koreas themselves. It helped me to understand a little more about what it means to be displaced.

It also has not diminished my fascination, dare I say love, of Korea and her people and culture. If anything, it has grown. I sincerely hope to be able to visit sometime in the next five years, and hopefully more going into the future.

Did you know…

Pachinko is a Japanese game that is similar to Western pinball. Similar, but not the same. Works as a mechanical arcade game, but is used most commonly in gambling. Which is why the Baek family are not thought of particularly highly, despite their wealth.

My Favourite Books

Given that I am an avid reader, what better way to start my “Just 10 Things” series than with a post about my Top 10 favourite books of all time??

Now, within these ten, I can’t really rank them. However, I will admit to the fact that the top five on this list are my top five books over all. They’re just amazing OK?!

Also, I won’t be mentioning the Bible, not because I don’t love it, but because it’s obvious. Of course it’s one of my favourite and most read books.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo

Yeah, so, it’s been three years since I was introduced to this book, and I’ve read it probably a dozen times since then. Just talking about it now is making me want to read it again.

Hayao Miyazaki said “I would like to make a film to tell children ‘it’s good to be alive’”. And that’s how this book makes me feel. When I’m struggling and life just feels too hard, this is the book I pick up.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Yeah, I know. This one is a little cliche. But I do love it. I love Lizzie’s wit and Darcy’s extreme social awkwardness (I get it, mate, I do). This is a such a fun book, whilst having some really pointed things to say about the roles of love and respect in relationships.

Weirdly though, and here’s a confession, despite being a longstanding all time favourite book, it’s not actually my favourite book by Jane Austen. For that, you need to look to Persuasion.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

“I have hated the words, and I have loved them. And I hope I have made them right.”

Just… just beautiful.

As a reader and a writer, this book speaks straight to my soul. And, like many of the other books on this list, it makes me glad to be alive.

Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery

Oh, that Anne-girl! I love her dearly. This book is an old friend and re-reading it is like a portal back into childhood. Although, admittedly, when I was a child, I wasn’t much interested in it. I am now, though. I am now!

A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

I’ve only read this book once (so far), but it stands out in my memory it so many ways. I love Dickens’s descriptions, I love his use of simile and metaphor, and I love what he has to say about trauma, courage, love and family.

Seriously, people far more qualified than I am have commented on and analysed how spot on his depiction of trauma and PTSD was, at a time when neither were really recognised as being things - especially not for men, so I won’t go into it myself. But this is an amazing book and I love it.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I have not read many novels in letters, which is what this is. I tend to find myself struggling with the tonal shifts and character switches. I did not have that problem here. Instead, the characters - even ones who never write their own letters - feel vibrant and real, each voice adding to the story that’s unfolding.

This novel is beautifully written, and is simultaneously a love letter to books and a heartbreaking/heartwarming look at life during the Second World War - particularly in the only part of the British Isles to fall under German occupation, Guernsey.

It’s a wonderful tale of love, friendship, grief and moving forward in the face of immense tragedy. I can not recommend it highly enough.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, by Anne Bronte

Controversial opinion time: as much as I enjoy Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, I can sometimes find them to be overrated, certainly misunderstood. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, though, I believe to be criminally underrated.

Drawing on her experiences as a governess, Anne Bronte shone a spotlight on a massive problem within her society: the abuse of wives by their husbands. She even accurately portrayed how abusive behaviours are taught and passed down through the generations, showing that it takes willful intervention to break the cycle. As you can imagine, it did not go over well.

I love it. I love Anne’s bravery in looking at this topic, and I adore her heroine, Helen.

The Princess Saves Herself in this One, Amanda Lovelace

If that title doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will.

This is the first in a trilogy of poetry collections by Lovelace all with similar anti-fairytale style titles. Sadly, I have not yet been able to read the second and third. This one, though, I adore.

Through her poetry, one can trace a story of pain and grief and strength and hope. It connects with my heart, and helps me find the words to express myself as well.

The Dark Between Stars, by Atticus

This is the second in a trilogy of poetry by Atticus. The third book is coming out in a couple of months and I am so excited. Atticus’s poetry is so beautiful, so elegant, and is a wonderful celebration of the small, beautiful things. I love curling up with this book and a hot chocolate after a stressful day or week or month.

A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness

This was the book that got me started on Patrick Ness. This is also the book that really opened my eyes to how creatively writers can explore grief and loss through their novels. It’s beautiful and poignant and caring. This is a novel that has helped to shape not only my understanding of grief, but also my understanding of what I can do in my own writing.

So amazing.

Honourable mentions

So, these are my top 10 books of all time. It was really hard to settle on just ten books, with what book I would include as my 10th changing constantly. So, here are some honourable mentions.

• Dracula, by Bram Stoker

• Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro

• Seven Little Australians, by Ethel Turner

• Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

Given that I will probably talk about all of these in future posts, I won’t expand on it here.

Over to You

What are some of your favourite books?

Have you read any of the books on this list? If so, what did you think?

Please let me know in the comments below!

Honeybee Hearts and Baking

“And now for one moment, maybe two, sheltered by the holly, which also pricks my thighs, I forget where I am. Forget the house that doesn’t feel like home yet, and the hectic work schedule. This is when the idea arrives. Here is where the bees would be, I think, and then catch myself thinking it.”

— Helen Jukes

A Honeybee Heart has Five Openings

By Helen Jukes

This book caught my attention back in December, and I was immediately interested in getting my hands on a copy and reading it. So, when I joined a book club a couple of months ago and was asked to nominate a book, I did not hesitate to put this one forward. And it was accepted! Now I had an excuse to order myself a copy and spend a day reading it. Yay!

Why this book?

I have had a growing interest in bees - honeybees in particular - for a while now. I guess the start of my awareness of bees and their importance to our ecosystem was The Bee Movie (cue the horrified screaming).

But that was several years ago. So when a swarm of bees settled themselves into the walls of my sharehouse in Wollongong back in 2017, I knew very little more than that they were pollinators and endangered.

Of course, we couldn’t leave them to build their hive in the walls of the house. Although, maybe it would have been cool to knock down the wall of my bedroom a year later and just grab some honey. Still, it’s not really good for the house. So we called a beekeeper. Who immediately came and killed all the bees. Which was devastating - they weren’t harming anyone! They just couldn’t be where they were.

Anyway, that was when I knew I wanted to learn more about bees. But I had no idea where to start and I was too unwell to look into it without any kind of guidance. So, I set it to one side and figured I could come back to it at a later date.

Which brings us to last December. My mother and I were road-tripping to Coober Pedy and we stopped in Adelaide for a few days. While there, we - naturally - visited Dymocks. Whilst browsing the shelves, I came across this book and was intrigued, but unable to purchase it at that point in time. So I snapped a photo on my phone and continued hunting for other books to add to my list. Because that is all I do. If you follow me on Goodreads, you’ll probably see that.

I then forgot about it for a few months. Then in May, just a week or two before the opportunity came up to join the book club and nominate a book, I came across the photo in my phone, look up the book and decided I had to read it.

The rest, as they say, is history.

What is the book about?

This book is an autobiographical year-in-the-life. Helen Jukes, an English writer, shares very personally about her first year in Oxford, which became her first year of beekeeping.

She breaks the book down into the different stage of beekeeping over that year, and then further into each month. This means it is clear and straightforward to follow the progression from her first thought about getting bees, her research into the history of bees and beekeeping all the way through to the end of the first twelve months and her first honey harvest.

My thoughts on the book

I loved this book! Which is, of course, why I chose it for the inaugural post of this section of the blog.

Helen Jukes’s writing was clear, straightforward and elegant. I found myself absorbed in her world and her excitement and fascination with honeybees. Whilst this book is technically an autobiography, it felt more like reading a love letter. Her passion and love were all on display, and it was hard not to get caught up in her joys and her disappointments.

As well as being incredibly personal, this book was overflowing with information about bees and the history of their relationship with humans. Here, Jukes’s strengths as a writer and communicator really shone through, as with another writer, this may have veered into the tedious. Instead, Jukes remained clear and engaging throughout, and instead of growing bored, I found my own interest and fascination with honeybees growing. I am also incredibly grateful for the books she references - I now know where to go to keep learning about these amazing little creatures!

I also found that, for me, reading as a Christian, it was such an amazing encouragement to slow down and watch God’s creation more closely, more carefully, instead of acknowledging it from a distance and moving on. Jukes herself is not religious, but I still found her reflections on nature to be edifying.

In short, this book was engaging, personal and informative, and I strongly encourage people read it. If only to learn a little more about these tiny, but vital, animals.

How this book affected me

I personally don’t believe there’s much point in reading if what you are reading isn’t influencing your life in some way or another. Sometimes, it’s emotionally, as a book helps you process or understand your emotions more. Sometimes, it’s mentally as you learn and your thinking evolves. Sometimes, it’s practically. That was the case with this book.

After the incident with the swarm of bees at my home, I became curious about the role of beekeepers. This book was eye-opening and increased my interest further. I am no longer satisfied with simply reading about bees and beekeeping. So, I reached out to my local Amateur Beekeeping Association to ask some questions, and to see if I can attend a meeting or two. They responded and said I would be very welcome! Sadly, I don’t think it will be possible for me to attend this month’s meeting, as it is the day after my book launch (Amidst the Ash, coming July 13). I suspect that I will be in desperate need of some rest that day, and probably for a few days afterwards. Still, I am hopeful that I may be able to attend next months meeting. If things go well, I may even be able to start getting involved with beekeeping by helping out with caring for their hives.

I am extremely excited for this opportunity. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be able to keep a hive or two myself!

This book also grew my appreciation not only of bees, but also of honey. Seriously - honey is incredible! And, as with bees, I now want to learn so much more about it. I am also starting to use it more in my food and my teas. Mostly my chai.

At the end of the book, after Jukes and her friends have harvested the honey, she makes a honey cake. Which, naturally, made me start craving honey cake. So, I jumped onto my trusty old Pinterest and found this recipe. I’m pretty sure it’s not the cake that Jukes made, but it scratched where I itched and was delicious! I fully intend to make it again!

Did you know…

Honeybees have undertaker bees? According to Jukes, one of the many roles that worker bees can fill over the course of their life is that of undertaker. And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like! Their job is to take care of the dead. When a bee dies inside the hive, the undertakers make sure that the body is taken outside and moved a safe distance away from the colony.

Isn’t that so cool??