Being Bookish

There is something rather indulgent about getting wrapped up in the reading (or listening) of a good book.   Whether hunkered down during an inclement weather day, back yard reading or a holiday book… I truly love that ‘ oh wow’ moment when finishing a book that has completely held your rapt attention.

I have always enjoyed a good book throughout my youth, but I must give particular kudos to my Tante Daina (and Godmother), who was a remarkable English teacher in London, Ontario who for may years gave me a box of books for my birthday.   As my birthday is in late June, it was well timed with the ending of the school year and the beginning of our annual family camping vacations. Every year there was a wonderful array of reading to dive into spanning humour, mysteries, historical fiction and much more. I must admit that not only I benefited from this generous birthday gift, but my siblings and mother quite readily dove into the new selection as well.  Good thing that I was a ‘sharing’ kinda gal even in my youth!  😉

This was a particular Godsend when one year our van broke down somewhere in the deep south, and we all wiled away the hours with our noses deep in whatever book of choice in the parking lot of the local mechanic whilst the ol van was repaired.

Not only do I enjoy the benefits of reading for its escapism, self-help or motivational elements, but also there is hard science supporting mental and physical health.

Reading improves your ability to empathize

Studies have shown that those who read literary fiction display a heightened ability to understand and embrace the beliefs and feelings of others.   This capacity is referred to as “theory of mind” by researchers, and it is a set of skills necessary for forming, navigating, and maintaining social interactions

Reading prepares you for a good night’s sleep

According to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, reading prior to turning off the light to dreamland, is an excellent way to slow down your body and brain hence allowing for a better night’s sleep. For best results, a traditional book is best as the ‘blue screen’ element of eReaders and electronic devices can disrupt the brain waves resulting in overactive brainwave activity.

Reading strengthens your brain

A growing body of research has concluded that reading, quite literally, changes your mind. Researchers have confirmed that reading includes a complex network of circuits and messages in the brain using MRI images. Those networks become stronger and more sophisticated as your reading ability improve

So as we roll into a season of searching for new and memorable reads, I want to share some of my absolute favourite reads from last year.   ( For earlier book reviews, check out Pandemic Book Club, Winter is Coming, or the hilarious Book Review: Reasons Why Mommy Drinks )

Wherever you are, and however you find yourself deep into a new book, there is something rather delicious about snuggling onto the couch with a cosy throw, in the back yard on a balmy day, or a decadent holiday getaway…here are a few of my favourites

The Four Winds – Kristen Hannah  

I simply love a great book that features a strong and resilient woman!

In Kristin Hannah’s novel The Four Winds, Elsa Wolcott is a woman trying to raise two children on a farm in the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl following the Great Depression.

She stands there watching the fields around her crumble in their perpetually parched state, and the misery threatens to break the spirits of everyone around her. Elsa must decide whether to stay and fight or go to the unknown and unknown countries of the West as the crisis worsens. Kristin’s narrative is a survivor’s tale about resilience, love, family, strength, and the American Dream.

A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini

From the author who gave us the haunting and memorable “The Kite Runner”, you would expect nothing less than an exquisite story telling that is heart wrenching and at times tender.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is an epic novel about three generations of Afghan women and their extraordinary resilience set in the war-torn slums of Kabul in the 1990s. When her family is disrupted by battle, Laila must seek refuge, first in her own house and later in the arms of an older neighbour. Mariam, her new husband’s first wife, and she quickly form an unusual and unexpected connection. The two ladies seek hope and the promise of a better future by summoning the strength to fight a repressive society.

The Rose Code – Kate Quinn

I was introduced to Kate Quinn by my book club read of “The Alice Network”. So enthralled by Quinn’s extensive research for that historical fiction novel, I went on to read many more of her books.

For those who are intrigued by World War II , and the war efforts by brilliantly minded civilians behind the war efforts, this is an absolute must read.

The novel is set in England during and just after World War II, and it recounts the experiences of three women who worked on the code breaking operation at Bletchley Park, as well as their efforts after the war to find a traitor among their colleagues. Their accounts shed light on the social upheavals wrought by WWII, particularly in terms of gender dynamics.

Interestingly, the characters are based on actual women (or combinations thereof) and the dynamic of the different social classes, and personal aspirations through that tumultuous time in history makes for a riveting read.

You can read more about Bletchley Park here.

Shuggie Bain – Douglas Stuart   

You can expect a riot of emotion reading this book. Set in Thatcher era Glasgow, it roils though despair, hope, love and abuse.

The remarkable narrative of young Hugh “Shuggie” Bain, a lovely and lonely youngster who spends his 1980s boyhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow, Scotland, is told in Shuggie Bain. Thatcher’s policies have resulted in the unemployment of fathers and sons, and the city’s famed drug epidemic and alcoholism runs rampant.

Shuggie is a sweet young boy who, though often bullied and beaten by neighbourhood thugs, remains kind and hopeful. His mother Agnes, a beehive coifed Glaswegian “Elizabeth Taylor”, swings wildly between alcoholic binges and sobriety is an interesting study of humanity.

Oft not easy to get through the pages, but through the brilliant storytelling of Stuart this is truly a remarkable book.

Though it’s a challenge to provide a tidy synopsis of each of these books as they are complex and compelling reads, they truly merit much more eleaboration than a short blog post.  I hope I have enticed you though!

As you can surmise, I do have a penchant for historically based novels with strong characters that elicit an emotional pull whether for survival, perseverance or hope.   If you have read any of the above, or have new books to suggest…do let me know.

Happy reading!

Xoxo-S

Sources:

Healthwatch.com

Healthline.com

Medical News Today

Mayo CLinic

Photo credits to:

Vincenzo Malagoli-Pexels

Juan Salamanaca -Pexels

Ketut -Pexels

Shvets -Pexels

Lisa Fotios -Pexels