Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard

  

This book is a memoir of a scientist who devoted her career to studying trees after she realised that traditional logging practices in her native Canada resulted in unhealthy looking trees. She discovered that trees are all connected via mycorrhizal fungi and are able to communicate with each other. Even more astonishingly, older trees are able to care for younger trees and even able to recognise which saplings have grown from their own seeds! The parallels with humans are clear.

The book covers the author’s scientific experiments in easy-to-understand detail, as well as her struggles in getting the industry to accept her findings. It also looks at her own story, her relationship with trees, her family and health problems, as well as why she chose the career that she did.

Although the book is quite science heavy, it is explained in clear, accessible language and having the stories of the author’s family life interspersed does prevent the book from becoming too dry.  However, there is a lot of both science and memoir so readers who may prefer one over the other need to be prepared for this.  It is a fascinating, thought-provoking book that really makes you appreciate the wisdom of nature. The author is clearly very passionate about her subject. I really enjoyed this book - it showed me that everything in nature has a purpose, even things that appear initially to be unimportant. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the web of nature and it’s intricacies.

With thanks to Netgalley and Allen Lane for providing a free review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Of Arcs and Circles by Marc Peter Keane

 

This is a beautifully written book of short essays, each one focused on one tiny aspect of the author’s world which are broadened out via train-of-thought writing to encompass wider and often unexpected ideas. Marc Peter Keane lives in Japan and he writes a lot about the country, it’s culture and history. I enjoyed observing how he moves from one idea to the other, tying different thoughts together into a cohesive whole. I found it to be a truly fascinating read.

In trying to identify the theme of this book, I found several: the author’s love of the natural world, the cycle of nature, and in some of the essays there is a general feeling of melancholy at how progress leads to a disconnection from nature. This book offers a unique look at Japanese culture and includes an exploration of the simplicity of the tea ceremony, reflections on government policies, the beauty of the environment and the origins of many iconic Japanese symbols such as karesansui gardens and torii gates. 

It is not a book to be read quickly, and don’t expect to finish it too soon. Each essay invites you to mull over what you have read, to absorb it fully before moving on to the next one. I enjoyed every word I read in this book and if you enjoy reading well written, thoughtful essays, or if you have an interest in Japanese culture, I definitely recommend this book.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Line Above the Sky by Helen Mort

 

I have read a lot of books that I feel have been written from the heart but this book is more than that. Helen Mort has spilled her heart right out onto the page and has done so using elegant, emotive, almost perfect prose. What a fabulous writer! 

The book is a memoir that weaves the author’s dual experiences of climbing and motherhood and their impact on each other, as well as the story of two other climbers: Alison Hargreaves, who tragically lost her life while descending K2 in 1995, and her son Tom Ballard.

You do not have to be interested in climbing to enjoy this book. In fact, I would argue that it is better if you aren’t because you get to experience it through her words, living an experience that perhaps, like me, you would never have otherwise. Climbing has never been on my radar, yet, after reading this book, I feel that, for a short while at least, I got to partake in this exhilarating sport and find out what it really feels like to navigate rocky crags with just a rope to save me if I should fall. That is the power of beautiful writing.

Helen Mort has a talent for describing her inner emotions in a way that speaks to me and mirrors how I have felt in the past, such as feeling happier around men and insecure around women, and her descriptions of motherhood are so close to what I have felt but been unable to articulate, it is scary! In fact, I found myself nodding in agreement with a lot of the things she writes, realising that yes, I feel that, but have never tried or indeed had the ability to express my thoughts in such a way. The parts about being an only child and how that felt for her really resonated with me because I, too, have no siblings but could never really articulate how that made me feel. Then I read Helen’s perspective and thought, yes, that’s exactly how it feels. 

Although this book talks a lot about climbing, sometimes it is used as a metaphor to underlie the author’s emotions and experiences, which is why you don’t need to be a climber to enjoy this book. It is a truly fascinating read and I recommend it if you like to read about another person’s experiences and thoughts and lives. This book certainly took me to places I had never been before!

Overall, this is an emotional, beautifully written book about the author’s experiences of climbing and motherhood, with the story of another climber and her fate woven throughout. It is fascinating, eye opening, compelling and thoroughly recommended. I absolutely loved reading it.

With thanks to Netgalley and Ebury Publishing for providing an advance review copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Your Story Matters by Nikesh Shukla

 

This was a very easy to read book which was written as if having a chat with a friend. It covers writing both fiction and non-fiction and includes many useful and in depth writing exercises. It is full of actionable writing advice and is an honest and authentic account of life as a writer.

Part 1 is about finding your writing voice, part 2 is about planning your story, part 3 covers character creation, part 4 guides you in creating your setting and part 5 is all about editing. One thing I really liked about this book was that the author stresses how important it is to follow your natural writing instinct and not be a slave to the rules. It is important to be aware of the rules but not let them stifle your unique voice. This is really good advice that more books should cover.

I’ve read a lot of books on writing but this one comes at it from a different perspective. The author doesn’t just tell you how to do it. Instead, he guides us, asks us questions and encourages us to answer them. It is a ‘yes, writing is hard but we are in this together’ kind of book rather than a ‘these are the rules; now go off and do it’ instruction manual. I recommend this to anyone who is a writer and wants to read a book that will gently guide them towards writing their best novel/essay/piece of non fiction.

I have deducted a star for two reasons: first, because of the scattered passive-aggressive comments about racial issues that are not necessary nor appropriate in a book like this, and secondly, because in some places the narrative became cringingly over-familiar, such as when the author went on about what nicknames we could call him. While some people may like this, I felt it added nothing to the learning experience of the book and was, quite frankly, irritating.

Other than these minor annoyances, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free advance review copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Burning Questions by Margaret Atwood

 

I had high expectations for this book of essays by Margaret Atwood, and it met every one. Written in a flowing style, covering a rich subject matter and deeply thought provoking, these essays will challenge you and really make you reconsider the world around you. 

Rich in the trademark Atwood wit, it is an eclectic mixture of book reviews, lectures and essays and each one is rich in content, moving smoothly between interlinked ideas to produce something truly pleasurable to read.  This is not a book to be read passively; rather it is to be actively engaged with, met head on and taken hold of. This lady knows an awful lot of stuff about an awful lot of things and I feel privileged to have been able to have a peek into her mind via these wonderful essays.

I recommend this book to all Margaret Atwood fans, but you don’t need to be a fan of her fiction to enjoy this book. Perhaps you want to read about the thoughts and ideas of a very wise lady, perhaps have your ideas challenged or possibly verified, or maybe just be entertained by someone who knows what they are talking about. There is something in this book for everyone, so if you enjoy a diverse range of non fiction, you’ll very likely enjoy this book.

With thanks to Netgalley and Vintage for providing an advance review copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Escaping The Body by Chloe N Clark

 

This is a dark collection of poems that covers topics such as death and loss, pain, violence, magic and love and relationships. Chloe N. Clark writes with a raw honesty; her poems are full of emotions that range from love to anger and everything in between. She has a very unique style, which serves to make these poems powerful and hard-hitting in places.

There were some poems in this collection that I couldn’t connect with and others that were so steeped in symbolism and metaphor that I found it very hard to understand what her message was. However, many of the poems did resonate with me and I enjoyed the fact that some were very surreal and made me think. I also liked how some of the poems were written in the traditional style with stanzas, yet others were written almost like prose. This wide diversity in the poems made the volume as a whole more pleasurable to read.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy modern poetry; however, the subject matter can be dark in places so if you want something full of joy and happiness, perhaps steer clear. But if you want poetry that is raw, with genuine emotion and an aching beauty, this book will satisfy you many times over.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐