Bookish - The Rest of Me

Heya,

Katie Marsh’s book The Rest of Me was a really interesting exploration of what it is to be a family and how the roles we take in a family can unintentionally limit us.

Alex is the one who always copes, she is the one on who all the responsibility rests and she needs to be well. So how does she cope when her husband is suddenly well after years and she isn’t well? What does it take for us to live honestly with those around us?

And maybe there’s a lot worse than the worst that can happen.

I think this story will appeal to many women who want to be good at all the things and are slowly dying under the weight of their own expectations. At the heart of it this is a story about honesty and about the very most important things in life… which are always relationships.

Details – Hachette NZ, April 2018, RRP$34.99

love you more than making peace with the past xxx

Bookish - Women of the Dunes

Hi, hi,

Can you believe how fast the year is speeding through?!

I recently finished reading Women of the Dunes by Sarah Maine. 

Set in three time periods in Ullaness, Scotland. The legendary woman Ulla 800AD, Ellen 1890 and Libby the archaeologist – what secrets and difficulties unite them and how much of the legend is true?

I really enjoyed reading this book. I appreciated that the main story was Libby’s but there was enough of Ellen’s story and Ulla’s story to tighten the modern narrative and some twists that were unexpected.

I enjoy Maine’s writing style. The characters felt nuanced and there were some great characters in the book and some lovely moments between them. I was sad to finish it. I thought a lot about the characters while I was reading it, guessed at what might come next and would definitely pick up other books by this author.

Details – Hachette NZ, July 2018, RRP$34.99

love you more than the stories history may or may not confirm xxx