Self-Care for a Fifty Hour Work Week

My tips for giving yourself a little bit of TLC when time is not on your side.

I recently started a new job as a key worker. While I’m grateful to be working and finding it very rewarding, it isn’t the job I’ve always dreamed of. Its a complete gear shift for me. So why am I doing it? Well, I’m a literature graduate that wants to enter the creative industry during a pandemic, which just so happens to be governed by a group of people who do not prioritise the arts – but let’s not get into that.

I lost the job that I loved at my local theatre just at the start of lockdown. I’d worked there since I was sixteen and it hadn’t crossed my mind that I’d ever be forced to leave before I was absolutely ready to. Preferably with an exciting and secure job offer being my reason for doing so. Losing my job was a wake-up call. Despite always working from a young age, I had worked in roles that suited my personality that I truly enjoyed. Internships at literary festivals, assistant work at a library and ushering at a theatre were all roles that slotted into my life as an arts lover with ease. They actually supplemented it. I realise now that I was very privileged to have been in the position I was in, and that having job security should never be taken for granted.

My new role as a key worker is not the first job that I applied for, or even amongst the first ten that I applied for. My job search has made me so grateful to have the luxury of working and earning money to fund my book buying habit – I mean lifestyle. Oh, and other important stuff like food and petrol. It gives me a sense of purpose again. I wake up knowing that I matter, and that what I do helps others. That knowledge drives me, and even though it’s not my ‘dream career’, I am proud of myself for keeping going.

The logistics of my new working life require me to wake up at 6.30am and then only walk back through my front door at past 9pm. This is a long, with a capital L, day for someone who spent weeks during lockdown averaging 500 steps, and the majority of those were to fetch snacks.

*never feel guilty for looking after yourself*

Here are some little acts of TLC that I’ve been implementing into my schedule to look after myself:

1. Preparing for battle.

Having my clothes and bag laid out ready for work the next day saves me precious minutes searching for a pair of socks, my essential thermos mug or a bottle of hand sanitiser, when I could be relishing those extra moments snuggled up in my duvet. I have also started to lay out a fresh pair of pyjamas, my slippers and some newly acquired fancy bath items so that I can get into my comfies with speed when I get home.

2. Baths > Showers

If you told me last month that the highlight of my day would be a bubble bath, I’d have laughed in your face. I was stubbornly pro-shower and I never understood the appeal of sitting in hot water and actually enjoying it for more than five minutes at a time. Now, after becoming burdened with the joints of a seventy year old caused by hours of standing in icy conditions, I crave the feeling of submerging myself into near-boiling lavender scented water each night. That, coupled with the fact that I prefer to spend my time outside of work horizontal. I invested in some products from Lush that I would usually refrain from splurging on and now I walk around each day in a cloud of essential oil scented bliss.

3. HOT DRINKS!

I don’t know about you, but thanks to the Welsh weather each day I say a little prayer of thanks that I haven’t yet developed hypothermia. I’ve discovered the answer to preventing my organs shutting down is merino wool thermals under my uniform, fluffy socks, and a new cuppa every hour. Feel free to use whatever floats your boat. My fragile heart can only handle tea and hot chocolate, but I recommend coffee if you’re a normal functioning adult.

*Gilmore girls makes me feel inferior for not handling caffeine*

4. Reading, but for your ears

Listening to audiobooks on my hour round commute each day has been a game changer for me. By the time I get home each night my fingers are too frozen to turn a page and my eyes are too blurry to read a sentence. So I use my car journeys and any dead time at work to get some ear-reading in. I recently listened to Neil Gaiman’s ‘Stardust’ and felt like I was escaping into a daydream every time I hit play. If you’re not an audiobook fan, then swap it out for an episode of your favourite podcast or a guided meditation.

*but what more could you want than Stephen Fry’s voice narrating your day?*

5. Include your mits in your skin care routine.

I’m hoping that everyone on earth is washing their hands and sanitising as much as possible. If you’re like me and anti-bac is both your friend and foe, then treat your battered hands to a nice hand cream. I picked a couple up at Lush and another coconut scented one from The Body Shop to have a tiny sense of indulgence each day. Pop it onto the end of your skin care routine or fit it in when you have a spare minute. Your hands (and nose) will thank you for it!

6. Be easy on yourself.

That’s it, lovelies! I hope that I have inspired you to be a little kinder to yourself. It’s a scary world out there, and you should be proud of yourself for persevering. If you’re not where you want to be right now, remember that you have so much time to achieve your goals. Your life is so much more than this moment, and even this year. It’s natural to feel down sometimes, but remember it’s in our power to look after our bodies and our minds so that we can feel even the littlest bit better.

Reading Diary: September

Hello my lovely readers. This has been a slightly tougher month for me than usual and so I’ll save you from a self-pitying ramble and just get straight into my latest reads. Funnily enough, I really felt as though I hardly picked up a book during this month and suspected I was in a reading slump, yet I actually still made it through a fairly ample eight (!) books and a bonus short story which I have included. As always, my love goes out to you all at this strange time and I hope you find some form of solace at my little corner of the internet.

‘Martha, Jack & Shanco’ by Caryl Lewis

*yes, I am beyond excited for knitted clothing.*

The lovely guys over at Parthian Books sent me two books to review this month. I was beyond excited to delve into this autumnal, atmospheric, creepy story set in the Welsh countryside. The details of the farm that the siblings lived on filled me with nostalgia for my own upbringing, as well as making it impossible for me to sleep in a setting that resembled the one I was reading about. It is a deeply unsettling and haunting story that reads like a classic. I have thought back to it often since reading, which shows that it is worthy of a recommendation.

‘I am, I am, I am’ by Maggie O’Farrell

O’Farrell’s memoir is an unique one. It is told in vignettes of moments in her life when she came close to death – 17 of them to be exact. Some are jarring, such as the first chapter that left me reeling, while others are more subtle in their discomfort, such as going for an AIDS check because of an unfaithful partner. Unfortunately, I felt that aspects of the writing were choppy and clunky for a non-fiction. Also, while O’Farrell has had many life experiences that I recognise and respect her for, she is still a rich, cambridge-educated, white western cis woman. For someone so privileged her writing is uncomfortably ignorant to that. Overall a ‘meh’ read, excluding the first chapter which I loved.

‘Just So You Know: Essays Of Experience’

*Diolch Parthian am anfon y llyfr ardderchog hwn ataf i!*

This essay collection touches on topics such as race, religion, LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, and just identity as a whole. These are all conversations that are finally beginning to exist within British publishing. Unfortunately, this is rarely inclusive of authors with a connection to Wales. I loved how each essay was so different in both style and substance. Some poetic, some academic, some recollections, some opinions. It was refreshing to read about topics that I, and I’m sure many of you, have a connection to, yet rarely see that reflected in the books we pick up. My favourites included ‘Crisp’ which humorously explored the writer’s discovery of their bisexuality, ‘Look At Me’ which chronicles the writer taking a bike ride and learning to love themselves as a mixed-race, dyslexic, dyspraxic and autistic person, and ‘Language As Water’ which explores the link between water and bilingualism backed up by familiar Welsh scenery and quotations.

‘Intimations’ by Zadie Smith

*the struggle to make e-books Instagram* *worthy.*

This was my first Zadie Smith read and I must admit I had sky-high expectations. ‘Intimations’ is a collection of personal essays written in response to the tumultuous events of 2020. It was bizarre to see such current conversations on the page – I definitely didn’t expect to see Dominic Cummings’ name pop up. I liked how this was very much a constellation of thoughts collected over the last however-many-months (time doesn’t seem tangible anymore) rather than an overly self-reflective piece. It took me a minute to get hooked but I began to enjoy the essays more as they went along. In particular, I loved ‘Contempt as a Virus’ which compared the ‘epidemic’ of contempt to the epidemic of covid, particularly influenced by George Floyd and the BLM movement. I also very much enjoyed ‘Something To Do’ which explored the hustle culture of today and the pressure to be using up and scheduling every minute of your time to fit others’ approval.

‘No One is Too Small To Make a Difference’ by Greta Thunberg

A collection of essays and speeches by the young climate activist. I listened to the audio version on car journeys this month and it was definitely a better use of my time than Radio 1. I imagine it would be odd to read on the pageas this is a speech collection and therefore had quite a lot of repetition. Overall I’m glad I read it and would recommend as an audiobook. Get em, Greta.

‘Persepolis, Volume 1’ by Marjane Satrapi

An unique memoir for sure. I made the mistake of thinking that the black and white comic strip format would help ease some of the depth of content, and while it’s true there were plenty of moments of comic relief, this is a very heavy and dense read. Persepolis paints a portrait of daily life in Iran and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the discrepancy between home life and public life. Marjane gives us a child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution, which allows us to learn along with her of the history of this fascinating country and of her own family. It certainly gave me shades of Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird, but comparing the two would be a disservice to Satrapi. It shows how people are able to carry on and live even through the harshest of times. An inspiring tale, especially in the current climate.

*This photo does zero justice to* *the beauty of this book*

Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and my entire heart. Shoutout to my mum who surprised me with the book of my dreams which was way out of my budget, you’re the best. Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of William Shakespeare during the plague in the 16th C. It’s the perfect book for literature fans. It was… interesting to read a book set in a pandemic during a pandemic. I’m yet to write my review but keep an eye out on insta. Spoiler, I absolutely loved it.

‘Minimal’ by Madeleine Olivia

‘We are facing an urgent climate crisis and we must all take action now. However, it can be difficult to know where to start when bombarded with overwhelming facts and statistics every day. We all want to make a difference, but what can we do?’ – I really liked this, I found it on my library’s audiobook app (again) and it was a very soothing and educational listen for me during housework and other menial activities.

Bill Bryson for The Love Hearts Appeal

Not technically a book, but I wanted to include this for anyone interested. I found this on my library’s audiobook app and had a quick listen while tidying my bedroom. For every download it donates money to the Love Hearts Appeal to fund research into childhood cardiac conditions. An inspiring listen for a great cause. Check it out if you have a spare 10 minutes!

I will leave you with the friendly reminder that while Shakespeare may have been productive during a pandemic, it doesn’t mean we should be. I’m sure if he was alive in 2020 he’d be watching Selling Sunset, scrolling through Instagram and baking banana bread just like the rest of us. See ya next month friends.

Review: ‘Just So You Know: Essays of Experience’

As a book blogger, I am passionate about inclusivity within literature and promoting that in the content I create. This essay collection touches on topics such as race, religion, LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, and just identity as a whole. These are all conversations that are finally beginning to exist within British publishing. Unfortunately, this is rarely inclusive of authors with a connection to Wales. In this collection, the independent Welsh Publisher, Parthian, celebrates and gives a platform to Welsh voices.

I cannot coherently explain how inspiring and necessary this essay collection is. Wales is often sidelined in UK media, and not just in the creative industries. It was so refreshing to read a collection of varied voices from a myriad of creatives who all connect to Wales.

I loved how each essay was so different in both style and substance. Some poetic, some academic, some recollections, some opinions. It was refreshing to read about topics that I, and I’m sure many of you, have a connection to, yet rarely see that reflected in the books we pick up. My favourites included ‘Crisp’ which humorously explored the writer’s discovery of their bisexuality, ‘Look At Me’ which chronicles the writer taking a bike ride and learning to love themselves as a mixed-race, dyslexic, dyspraxic and autistic person, and ‘Language As Water’ which explores the link between water and bilingualism backed up by familiar Welsh scenery and quotations.

A few days ago I was inspired by the first chapter, written by Derwen Morfayel, to ask my Instagram followers about their opinion on changing their name after marriage. Out of about 60 responses, I was surprised to learn that ⅔ of them would want to keep their name. Identity is an interesting thing and manifests itself in a multitude of ways. The perspectives in ‘Just So You Know’ explore this while sparking new thoughts and presenting new information.

Diolch Parthian am anfon y llyfr ardderchog hwn ataf i! Thank you Parthian for sending me this brilliant book!

Autumnal Hope

*if only they sold this button on Amazon…*

I’m typing this in a melancholic stupor after my second warming bowl of homemade leek and potato soup. It’s by far my favourite cold weather dish to cook and it has filled me with a bittersweet happiness. I truly adore the autumn. I love pulling out my embarrassingly large collection of chunky knitted jumpers. I relish browsing the seasonal hot chocolate menu at my local cafe, and the cosy feeling of wearing my brightly coloured fluffy socks hidden inside my smart black boots.

Maybe even more so than January, a month known for its broken resolutions, September always comes with the promise of a fresh start. An exciting lieu between a sun kissed summer and long, cosy winter nights. Perhaps it’s a nostalgic nod to the beginning of a new school year. We have been told ever since primary school that September is the time for something new. The excitement of just-bought stationary, the thrill of a blank school planner and the nerves about meeting new teachers still lingers in our minds.

We pick back up the life that was put on hold and begin to settle into a routine. The long meandering weeks taper off, days become shorter and the nights stretch out with space for ideas and plans to bloom. The countdown to beloved holidays begin for those of us who crave an excuse to be merry. Or, for those who cringe at the beginning notes of a Michael Bublé song and the sight of premature Halloween costumes at Tesco, it promises that secretly pleasurable opportunity to roll their eyes at those who rejoice.

Of course, this is a year like no other with seasons like no other. Rather than camera rolls filled with photographs from family holidays overseas, hazy recollections of dancing on tables wine-drunk with friends, and days revelling in that precious time away from the office, we have instead lived in a point in time that could rival the most disturbing of dystopias.

This summer was both one that I imagine many of us will remember for the rest of our lives, for varied but connected reasons, while also being a time that seems to have slipped like water through our fingers without tangible memories. A permanent waiting game tinged with dread and frustration, interspersed with fleeting glimmers of relief or hope or calm.

I hope that the coming colder months won’t be what many of us fear, and that this could be the beginning of a new chapter. How fitting for the leaves to change to golden hues just as we metaphorically turn over a new leaf. If not, then the future awaits us with the hope for a summer of travelling, care-free family gatherings and contentment. But for now, we have books to remind us of different times.

Reading Diary: August YA Experiment

Hello lovelies! This month I decided to mix things up a little with my TBR stack. If you keep up to date with my Instagram then you probably noticed me raving about my newfound author-crush, Elizabeth Acevedo, last month. After dipping my toe into the unknown waters of YA literature with a spur-of-the-moment download of her most recent release, With The Fire On High, I suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to reconnect with the genre I’d previously overlooked.

I’ve been reflecting a whole lot recently about the books I read growing up, both during my time in education and out of it. It’s no secret that I’m a massive reader and always have been. It also won’t come as a surprise to you that I am passionate about all things feminism.

Growing up, my favourite literary characters were all girls with feminist values. Hermione from Harry Potter, Anne from Anne of Green Gables, Jo from Little Women, etc.⁣⁣⁣⁣ I loved girls who stood up for themselves and knew what they wanted. As a socially anxious bookworm, these characters let me live out my desire to be a confident and outspoken badass.

In my more recent teenage years, I was introduced to the term ‘intersectional feminism’. At first, I was confused. I thought it was obvious that I believed in equal rights for everyone and naively assumed everyone else did, too. But, when I looked at my role models from literature, TV shows and pop culture, they were largely white. My actions didn’t match up with my beliefs. This was an uncomfortable realisation, but an important one. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Ever since, I’ve been attempting to educate myself and broaden my consumption of inclusive media to truly become an intersectional feminist. ⁣⁣It’s not enough to ‘believe’ in equality if you don’t actively consider your role in helping lift others up. ⁣⁣Representation is so needed for women of colour, disabled women, the LGBTQ+ community etc. We need to actively support this cause by speaking up, educating ourselves, and promoting it. ⁣⁣

I have been noticing more and more YA novels that intrigue me from trusted reviewers that covet the genre. Teens and young adults have important stories to tell, and I kick myself for not reading more of the books that help them feel seen. The Hermiones of the book world were so important to my childhood, and it breaks my heart that there are millions of young readers who don’t have the same luxury of feeling represented more or less every time they pick up a new book.

There’s definitely a stigma around YA books. I should admit that I have internalised a lot of that myself, even as a teenager I would reach for a classic over the newest fantasy franchise. It’s probably yet another side effect of our society’s penchant for patronising and sidelining the youth. Yet, I’ve realised that YA is not a monolithic genre. It contains fantasy, memoirs, sci-fi, romance, poetry, you name it. And it doesn’t shy away from hard-hitting topics either.

This month, I decided to fill the gap in my reading life. I read a pretty meagre seven books but, taking into account that six of these were YA, I’d deem it a successful month. I truly loved immersing myself in a genre that way, and I hope to do more ‘experiments’ like this again.

Gosh, I’ve really rambled away. It’s time that I finally let you know which books I read in August…

Bookclub Pick: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

The only non- YA read this month, and what a read it was. Despite being deemed an adult novel, it centres around Elwood, a Black teenager living in the South in the Jim Crow era. After being falsely accused of a crime, Elwood is sent to a reform school called the ‘Nickel Academy’, which Whitehead based largely on the real life experiences of the students at the infamous Dozier school in Florida. The realities that he faces there are grotesque and violent.

At just over 200 pages, this book may be short in length but it’s an unforgettable, tightly woven tale. Elwood is largely influenced by Dr. Martin Luther King and the peaceful protesters of the civil rights movement. It covers racism, segregation, perseverance, liberation, criminal injustice and much more. The writing style is very similar to non-fiction, reminiscent to me of Capote’s In Cold Blood, which hammers home the harsh realities that lay behind the fiction. The ending has a twist that left me floored. One of those rare books that I’d recommend to everyone, regardless of their reading preferences.

Heartstopper: Volumes Two and Three by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper is a graphic novel series that follows Nick and Charlie, two teenage boys in the UK who become best friends and eventually fall in love. Above all, their story showcases the importance of acceptance and recovery, following them coming out to family and friends and dealing with the effects of that.

I really loved these books. They’re such feel good, light hearted reads. I found it so impressive how Alice Oseman was able to keep the fluffy, warm vibe in the novel while also covering important themes. These two volumes delve further into the topics hinted on in volume one, such as eating disorders, mental health and biphobia. I appreciated Oseman’s focus on recovery and support when discussing these topics, maintaining that these hurdles do not define their characters.

My favourite volume was by far volume 3, the chunkiest of the series, in which the cast go on a school trip to Paris. The illustrations are so fun – they visit the Louvre and Shakespeare & Co which is honestly such a dream for me! You can actually read this comic online for free on the Tapas app if you want to. 100% recommend to anyone looking to venture into the world of comics.

The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

A teenage love story with a twist. Set in the space of a day, Natasha and Daniel explore whether love at first sight is real with a ticking clock set against them. Natasha is on a mission to save her family from deportation while Daniel’s Yale interview has caused him to debate between following his family’s dream or his own.

On top of the cutesy romance, Yoon portrays realistic family dynamics by showing that they are usually complicated and flawed. It covers racism and how young people cope with having imperfect parents. The novel shows the teenagers break out of the expectation placed on them by their family and culture but also sensitively considers why and how those expectations came into place through multiple POVs.

The cover represents the major theme in the novel, which is how we all make hundreds of decisions everyday and each of these decisions leads to a different future where hundreds of more decisions lie. I just love books that explore the butterfly effect.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

*who would have thought that YA novels in verse would be my cup of tea.*

Another Acevedo novel! Surprise! Camino longs for her fathers visits to the Dominican Republic in the summer, while Yahaira questions why he leaves her and her mother for a few months every year. In 2001, two months after 9/11, their father dies on Flight AA587, which crashed in New York City. The two long-lost sisters, separated by grief and distance, must face their new reality together.

This is a heartbreaking yet hopeful tale about loss, forgiveness, and the strength of family connections. She wrote the novel as a tribute to the real life tragedy of Flight AA587. I loved how Acevedo characterised the girls so well and included aspects of the different trials in their lives living in NYC and the Dominican Republic. I particularly thought the plot of Yahaira’s mother and father fascinating. Similarly to The Sun Is Also A Star, we receive points of view that we would not normally receive in a standard novel. Acevedo’s characters are always so strong willed and resilient and I cannot wait to see what she brings out next.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

*My book photography game peaked with this photo and honestly, I’m not mad about it.*

This is a young adult novel written in verse following a boy named Mike from childhood to university. During his studies, he debates which society to join and struggles with feeling like a misfit. Eventually, he discovers the Drag society where he creates his stage persona, The Black Flamingo. ⁣
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Dean Atta did a wonderful job of representing many different aspects of Mike’s identity. I particularly enjoyed the family dynamics and discussions around the notion of the term ‘half’ : ‘half-sister’, ‘half-Greek Cypriot’, and what that really means. The inclusion of conversations surrounding the LGBT+ characters and their identities/pronouns was seamlessly done and sparked me to research further on some of the conversations. The illustrations are beyond gorgeous, it read easily but powerfully, and it tugged on my heartstrings. I feel like there’s an aspect in this that everyone would be able to connect with, no matter who you are, so I wholeheartedly recommend picking this up.

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

From the author of The Hate U Give, this Young Adult novel is an ode to hip hop, Black Panther and the fight to make your dreams come true. Bri is a sixteen year old wanna-be professional rapper with a serious talent. The rap battle scene will have you rooting for her from the beginning. We follow her rise to stardom which is staggered after she is violently racially profiled by two school security guards.

Bri’s dry humour had me laughing out loud throughout this. While she could be very frustrating at times, I really loved how she is a ballsy teen protagonist that makes realistic mistakes. Her family has their fair share of problems, including addiction, racism, grief and poverty. Despite this, the novel was refreshingly balanced and fast paced. My only qualm was that the ending felt very cheddar cheesy to me, but that is to be expected for a teen book.

And there we have it! I hope you enjoyed this little twist on my usual reading month. It’s taught me that it pays off to find ways to spice up your passions every now and then. I doubt these will be the last YA book reviews you’ll see from me, although I definitely feel like I’ve overdosed on the teen drama for a while. I’d love to hear about your thoughts on YA, so hit me up on insta to chat more about your favourite titles. But for now, pass me the chunky literary fiction please.

*you really thought I would end this blog post without another feminist meme?*

my perfect chocolatey banana bread recipe

If there’s one thing that life during lockdown has taught me, it’s how to make a banging banana bread. Remember that phase when everyone was distracting themselves from the C-word by binge watching Tiger King, learning TikTok dances and baking banana bread? I’m still living in that world, sans Joe Exotic. I’ve now replaced him with the crew on Below Deck. Seriously, I don’t recommend falling down that porthole of a series. You won’t be able to climb back out.

This recipe is perfect when baked mid-morning on a rainy day, still in your pyjamas with rubbish daytime TV playing in the background. I imagine it would be even better if you manage to make it without an unsettling anxious feeling in your stomach about your country’s perilous future. But I doubt that’s possible right now unless you’re a psychopath.

if you don’t have chocolate, top the loaf with half a banana and some sugar icing.

ingredients:

100 grams of unsalted butter (I usually use stork for a fluffier consistency)

180 grams of caster sugar

230 grams of self raising flour

2 medium free range eggs

2 bananas, preferably over-ripe

1 tsp of baking powder

1 heaped tablespoon Greek yogurt (optional)

a handful of roughly chopped dark chocolate

the recipe:

1. beware: this makes a hefty banana loaf. there’s nothing worse than a measly bake in my books, but if you’re dieting or whatever then you may want to make less mixture. the mixture should form an even layer to a third of the height of your tin. If you have excess you can make an extra mini loaf! What a win!

2. line your tin/ tins with non-stick baking paper and preheat the oven to 180C on the fan setting.

3. in a big bowl, measure the dry ingredients (sans chocolate) first, then add the wet ingredients and mix until creamy with an electric whisk or, for the old fashioned, a wooden spoon.

4. spoon the mixture into your tin and make sure it is as level as possible. I like to hold the tin and shake it gently side to side for this part.

5. sprinkle your chocolate on top.

6. bake for around 50 minutes. To avoid an ugly cracked top, cover your loaf with tin foil about half way through the baking time. Think of this as a high-end skincare regime for your loaf.

7. the loaf will be done when you can pop a knife in to the middle and it comes out clean.

8. bring the loaf out of the oven and let to cool for as long as you can resist that glorious banana-y temptation before using the baking paper to remove from tin.

9. slice thickly and serve warm, best paired with Greek yogurt, frozen berries, a drizzle of honey and a big cup of tea.

the brunch of dreams, aka, what I have been eating for every meal since March.

5 Books by Welsh Authors For Your TBR

I have been reflecting recently about my role as a Welsh book blogger. I have loved exploring new authors over the past year and believe that representation in literature is so important and should, and could, be so much better than it is.

I want to do better in lifting up authors from my country and language on this little platform. I have not read nearly enough books by Welsh authors despite having been born and raised here. Wales is often sidelined in the UK despite having so much to offer, and not just in the creative industries.

With the current attention being given to #WomenInTranslation, let’s remember that there is a wealth of authors from Wales who write in the magical language of Welsh and have stories that deserve to be heard across the whole world.

I urge you, lovely reader, to also reflect on your reading of Welsh authors and consider one of the following titles for your next bookish purchase. I have only included a few but I believe there is a title here that would suit everyone!

I will, of course, continue to work on uplifting all voices. I am just acknowledging that I should also do more for my own country, too.

1. Just So You Know: Essays of Experience

2. Submarine by Joe Dunthorpe

3. Pigeon by Alys Conran

4. Anything by Dylan Thomas, but I strongly recommend his poetry.

5. Martha, Jack & Shanco by Caryl Lewis

Reading Diary: July

How can it be August already? 2020 has been weirder than any dystopia that I have ever read.

During July I have indulged in some cheesier reads. For the majority of this year I have been reading mostly dense or sad books. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved most of them but I felt my love for reading begin to wane somewhat for it.

Sometimes it’s necessary to read just for the pleasure of it, so really I shouldn’t feel guilty about sharing my love for these books every now and then. I even feel like I found my new favourite book in The Song of Achilles. Reading is supposed to be fun and as much as I adore books which delve into important topics, I also enjoy grown up fairytales. So I’m promising to no longer feel guilty about promoting books that are just pure enjoyment, because that’s a good enough reason to read them! Watch my IGTV roundup here.

July Bookclub pick: Beloved by Toni Morrison

A haunting piece of essential classic literature.

Read bookclub member Hetta’s review here.

With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

‘𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵.’⁣
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This book is the perfect pick if you want to feel happy and warm inside. It’s a YA book, which is not my usual go-to genre, but I loved this & it’s made me question why I tend to veer away from books with younger main characters when I can actually relate more to them! It is told by seventeen-year-old single mom, Emoni, who dreams of becoming a professional chef. With a two-year-old daughter, her desire to be a responsible and stable parent makes her dream seem far away. We see her as she balances motherhood, friendship, jealousy, finances, new love, her studies and the looming question of her future. ⁣
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I loved how Acevedo presents Emoni as strong willed, talented, and able to do whatever she puts her mind to, without shying away from the realities of young motherhood and the conversations surrounding that. The chapters are all really short which helps you zoom through it with the same satisfaction as a Netflix binge. The characters are so well written, Malachi and Abuela have my heart, and the focus on friendship is beautiful. The use of cooking as the central focus was so unique and exciting, and the interspersing of recipes (all with Emoni’s signature touch) was so cool, but be warned it will make you hungry! I listened to the audio & I really recommend as it’s the best told fictional audio I’ve ever listened to.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

‘𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤, 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦.’

Classics teacher turned author, Madeline Miller retells the tale of Greece’s greatest hero, Achilles, from the viewpoint of his lesser-known best friend, Patroclus. She reworks their tale into an epic romance between the two men, which helped me sail through battle scenes I would usually roll my eyes at with a determination to see what happens next. A magical tale with the typical summery imagery of Grecian waters and sun kissed romance. If you are looking for a beach read – this is my new number-one recommendation.

Miller writes with elegant and simple prose which won’t frighten off readers who are less familiar with the primary texts. I went in without much prior knowledge of Patroclus and Achilles and, though it didn’t hamper my enjoyment, I will be rereading this in the future once I am more familiar with Greek Mythology. It’s rare that I know that I’ll want to reread a novel while I’m already reading it. I feel like this has become one of my favourite books, and I’m excited to read her newer novel, Circe.

Exciting Times by Naoise Nolan

Recent Irish uni graduate & TEFL teacher, Ava, becomes entangled in a love (lust) triangle with Julian, a PG-13 Mr Grey-esque oxford-educated British banker whose lavish apartment and life she moves into and Edith, an ambitious Hong Kong born banker. Ava is surrounded by wealthy people, from the rich children that she teaches grammar to, to the social circles she finds herself in.

Ava battles with her own feminist and moral instincts while her actions say otherwise, and the narrative explores political conversations surrounding rights to birth control and abortion, class, same-sex marriage in an entertaining way. The discussion surrounding Brexit was set before the result and felt a little outdated. I definitely felt it was extremely pretentious, so avoid if these narratives turn on you, the characters are very privileged and there’s only so much I can sympathise with people having a lack of direction in life when I know they’ll be okay either way.

The characters are bad at communicating (hence the many comparisons to Sally Rooney) But I enjoyed Ava, who is sarcastic and observant and provided some laugh out loud moments through her dry and self depreciating sense of humour. It was a light book, though quite forgettable, with interesting areas & I liked the audio narration which is quite short, engaging and funny.

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

Isolation brought this book into my life and it was the sweetest medicine. ⁣
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Do you want an escape from the terrifying reality that is the year 2020?⁣
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Do you want a book that’s long enough to distract you from real life for a week? Better yet – with the option of continuing the distraction with SIX MORE equally chunky stories in the series? ⁣
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Do you want to pretend to be a rich, beautiful and talented heiress living in a mansion on Lake Geneva, tasked with delving into your ‘true’ heritage by jetting off for trips to Rio and Paris, only to find out that there’s even more wealth, beauty and history in your blood? ⁣
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Are you prepared for adult fairy-tale tropes such as privileged girls feeling stifled in their wealthy lifestyles, gorgeous artist lovers, and overbearing step-mothers? ⁣
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If yes, this is the book for you. ⁣

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

‘𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮’

Xiomara, also known as X, vents her feelings through her poetry which she writes in her journal. The book feels like reading her journal which gives the reader an intimate look into her thoughts about living in a strict household, her relationship with her mother and her religion, along with her gradual understanding of her sexuality and the hassles that come with that as a teenage girl in high school.

The writing is beautiful and really accessible – the poetry aspect is not something to be frightened of. It felt fluid and similar to reading a regular novel due to the narrative and it actually sped up my reading while also adding an unique extra dimension to the experience. I was moved to tears at parts of this. It is really beautiful and I could not recommend more. I think I have found a new favourite author in Elizabeth Acevedo, and I cannot wait to get my hands on her newest release, Clap When You Land. 🍏

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

I’m trying to read outside my comfort zone lately because I realised that I’ve read close to a million books (𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 exaggeration) and the majority of those are pretty similar in the sense that they’re usually literary / contemporary fiction.

Enter: graphic novels. Previously I wrote off this little (huge) corner of the bookish market as a place for the superhero fans of the world. Oh, how wrong was I?

This is the CUTEST book*. This is my first of many graphic novels and I’m so excited to read more. Clearly there’s a graphic novel for everyone. I’d recommend this to anyone trying to widen their reading into different formats because the artwork is adorable and the story is easy to follow along. Its crazy how invested you feel despite no actual prose, just illustrations and speech. I also think this would be the perfect read for anyone who finds it hard to focus on a traditional book.

Reading Diary: June

Whoever claims they don’t judge a book by its cover is a liar.

June saw the Black Lives Matter movement finally achieve some of its long overdue media coverage and rise in social media activism following the murder of George Floyd in the US. While reading may be a seemingly small task in comparison to many of the the brave, impressive actions and words of the activists we admire, it is something that we can all achieve no matter our age or circumstances. By educating ourselves on the movement and the necessity for change we can contribute important information to conversations when they arise. I have been learning a lot this month and helping family members learn, too. This has affected my reading. You’ll see some great non-fiction reads below by Black authors which have helped me a lot, but you’ll also notice there’s fiction, too. Black authors are not a monolith. You can support authors by reading across all genres – be that romance, sci-fi, or contemporary. I made a few posts on this which you can find here and here. Stay safe and do what is in your power. Whether that be attending a local protest (if so, please be safe, wear a mask and keep your distance) or signing petitions, or simply sparking necessary conversations with relatives. The most important thing is that we try to keep the spotlight where it needs to be. Thank-you for reading. Now, onto the books I devoured in June!

Non-Fiction Reads (all audio versions)

‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ by Akala

Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire is a British book by the rapper Akala. Part-memoir, the book provides race and class analysis of a variety of historical eras, in addition to contemporary British society. Loved it.

‘We Should All Be Feminists’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is a great bite-sized non-fiction book that introduces the fundamental concepts of intersectional feminism in the 21st century. My reason for 4 stars is that I felt some points could have been expanded on (I would happily have read another 100 pages) but I realise that would have taken away from the appeal of its conciseness. ⁣
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I 100% recommend listening to the audio of this, as Chimamanda has a great talent for speaking – proven by her popular, powerful TedTalks.

‘It’s Not About The Burqa’ by Mariam Khan

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Born from the editor’s realisation that she rarely saw Muslim women speak for themselves in mainstream media, this collection shows different opinions and different experiences of Muslim women on themes such as: Racism & prejudice towards Muslim women in the UK, not only the lack of media representation but discussion around what constitutes as representation, the stigma surrounding mental health in the Muslim community, feminism, what it means to be a Muslim woman in the UK and discussion around the danger of a monolithic stereotype. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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This is not only educational, though it is dense with the first hand experiences of these women and factual evidence, but extremely entertaining and thought provoking. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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The recent comments from JK Rowling highlight the importance of speaking out about intersectional feminism, rather than the damaging white-middle-class-cis-gendered-orientated feminism that is so rife in the public eye. Feminism should not build walls, but fight for every woman

‘The Good Immigrant’ by Nikesh Shukla

A collection of 21 essays by Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic voices across Britain that explores otherness, racial inequality, and the immigrant experience. Uncovering the British immigrant experience, Shukla’s curated book is full of laughs and heartache. I would recommend this to anyone living in Britain, as it is both entertaining and educational. ⁣⁣
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I listened to the audio of this, and found that each essay being read by its author really brought it to life. In particular, I enjoyed Darren Chetty’s essay on racial injustice in children’s literature and Wei Ming Kam on the danger of the ‘good immigrant’ stereotype. I found Going Home by Kieran Yates, on the dual identities and displacement that many second generations feel in Britain, incredibly moving too.

Fiction Reads

‘Homegoing’ by Yaa Gyasi

Wow. This book broke my heart. ⁣⁣
This novel spans seven generations, stemming from the two sisters Effia and Essi, and travels with their family over the years. It travels through Ghana and America, exploring the raw reality and emotion of the effects of slavery and Colonialism. Each chapter follows a new character, with their own story, never repeating. Unlike other books with multiple POVs, each chapter reads both as it’s own complete story and also as a link within the never ending lifeline of sons and daughters. Each chapter so beautiful that I couldn’t pick a favourite. ⁣⁣
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I think this is the most amazing book I’ve ever read. It’s now a firm favourite. If you loved Pachinko as much as I did, then this book is for you too. I’m in awe that someone could squeeze so much life and history into one book. Each story felt like I was reading a novel. I’m so in love with it. The ending is beautiful and so satisfying. I could read this a hundred times. It was a tremendous emotional experience. I couldn’t recommend enough. Gyasi has written an ambitious and impressive novel that will become a classic. It’s the kind of storytelling that proves the depth that only literature is capable of.

‘The Joy Luck Club’ by Amy Tan

Widely considered a classic work of literature in the US, this book is about filial love, exploring the mother-daughter relationships of Chinese / Chinese-American women. It is told in vignettes, which also read as individual short stories, depicting tales of immigration, marriage, family, culture and identity. The structure mirrors a game of mahjong, each section preluded by a parable from the game, adding to its brilliance. ⁣
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Some women despair, others boast over their daughters, and vice-versa, while revealing ghostly secrets in the process. I doubt I’ve read a book that is so rich in mother-daughter exploration. As with all books of short stories, there were certain ones I preferred over others. My favourite by far was ‘Half and Half’, the story of Bing Hsu.⁣

‘Americanah’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love in Nigeria, and we see them battle between their feelings for one another and the restlessness of early adulthood to leave for bigger things. Ifemelu goes to America, where she discovers the meaning of race for the first time. She begins a blog and we see her journey of realisation and frustration at American society. Obinze goes to London, where he, too, faces struggles which he had not faced before. ⁣⁣
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The novel spans many years, exploring how their relationships and lives develop both individually and as a couple, set against the backdrop of the Obama presidential campaign.⁣ ⁣As with most dual narratives, I preferred reading one more so than the other. I was rooting for Ifemelu as she struggled with her motivation and relationships which i felt were written so cleverly, and Dike stole my heart too. I personally found the pacing a little off, for such a dense and long book the end was rushed compared to the rest of the book. I wanted something a little more satisfying and would have happily read more pages to get one. I thought the blogs were really clever and I loved the untypical use of multimedia within a literary fiction book. Overall, I really recommend this as a work of fiction that explores American racism and Nigerian culture interwoven in a beautiful narrative of identity.⁣⁣

‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo’ by Christy Lefteri

This novel centres around the journey of Nuri and his wife Afra as they leave as refugees from Syria, through Europe, and eventually to the UK during the Syrian Civil War. ⁣
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The characterisation is quite simple and the language / descriptions are a lot less detailed than the usual books I enjoy, but I think it really worked in this instance. Lefteri notes that this is not her story, and this stayed prevalent in my mind throughout. Refugees are rarely given the opportunity to use their own voices to speak their truth & experiences. Therefore, it is a reminder that this is not the story of only these characters, but also one of the few representations of the many others who are on their journey to safety. ⁣
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Though it was written based on the author’s experience of listening to the stories of refugees during her time volunteering in Athens at a refugee centre, it is interestingly repeatedly grouped with historical fiction novels which discuss tragedy (the Holocaust, world wars etc.) Yet, this is a current day reality. I constantly had to remind myself of this during the story as I find it hard to believe that this is going on in the present day. It’s a beautiful, hopeful book that I would recommend to everyone.

‘Norwegian Wood’ by Haruki Murakami

I was so excited to read my first Murakami novel. I’d been intrigued by reviews that spoke of the magical realism he uses and his unique writing voice. I even worried that I’d find it difficult to read as it has such high literary acclaim. I actually found the writing style very engaging and readable which I’m sure is why so many love him as a writer. At first, I was certain that it would become a new favourite. But I soon realised that the main factor that made it difficult to read was the blatant misogyny. ⁣
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The first red flags were very early on. I initially overlooked a disarming quote about the fleeting appeal of adolescent girls with hopes that it was down to a mistranslation. However, the incessant note taking of the women’s eating habits, the fetishisation of underweight women, and the uncomfortable & unnecessary story of Reiko and her 13 year old student were inexcusable to me.🤢⁣
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Perhaps Murakami made each character repulsive on purpose, but I was looking out for this and it was still lost on me. Toru is extremely egotistical and, despite having an apparently high moral ground when judging males around him, lacked self awareness of his damaging and selfish actions. I felt like if the case was to comment on grief and patriarchal society (which I hope it was otherwise why does this story exist?) it lacked clarity. The representation of women was ridiculous, if not outright damaging, and can anyone comment on the need for the unhealthy male orientated sex? ⁣
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Overall, the plot has potential and I can see why it’s so popular. I’d be interested to read Kafka on the Shore, as I hope that these issues are exclusive to Norwegian Wood. He must be a good writer as despite all this, I still read on. It definitely has aspects that are intriguing such as the discussions of suicide, mental health, young love, culture, academia etc. But none of those themes were presented as I would personally be able to engage with. I couldn’t help reading this and thinking how potentially triggering it could be to an unknowing reader, so this is a big warning to anyone thinking of reading!

Reading Diary: May

May had the same vibe as those days in between Christmas and New Years when time becomes an abstract concept. I had no idea what day it was, or what time it was, at any point. Routine became a thing of the past. Well intentioned notions of at-home-workouts vaporised sooner than they were spoken about. My previously stable sleep schedule transformed into Netflix binges until 2AM, followed by restless slumbers into mid morning. However, I did manage to submit my final university assignment. The satisfaction of which I allowed myself to enjoy for approximately two seconds before panicking about what comes next for a literature graduate in an avalanching economy. Anyway, enough of that. Here are the books I read in May.

‘Conversations With Friends’ by Sally Rooney

I love Sally Rooney’s writing. Am I basic? Maybe. Do I care? A little. I couldn’t wait to read this after the obsession I had with ‘Normal People’. Sally’s novels are made for compulsively binge reading. This book follows Frances, a 21-year-old poet, and her friends Bobbi, Nick and Melissa. Again, Rooney’s enviable talent for writing beautiful sentences about things as mundane as drinking coffee are what made my heart flutter for this one. I’ve seen many criticisms about the characters being unlikeable and cold, which I understand, but for me that is one of the positives. Personally, I like reading about flawed people, and to me the quality of writing has more influence over my reaction to a book than the plot. I also appreciated seeing endometriosis being spoken about in literature. It’s rare I see discussion of periods or disabilities spoken about in the books I read. Note to self: be more mindful about seeking out inclusive reads in these areas. This book has many similarities to ‘Normal People’, but on my reflection post binge-reading I decided that this very much pales in comparison.

‘A Monster Calls’ by Patrick Ness

I love when a book doesn’t do what you expect it to. Who is the target audience of this book? It is rooted in classic fairytale storytelling, yet, I would consider it borderline cruel to hand this heartbreaking novella to a child under thirteen.

They say great things come in small packages. At just over 200 pages, I didn’t expect that this little novel would be the kind to have a lasting impact on me. It made me cry, and that rarely happens! Patrick Ness proves that great storytelling can be done simply. This story went a complete different direction to where I expected, and the unique narrative swept me away. It’s rich in metaphors of grief, loss and anger. I can’t really imagine recommending this to anyone I know because it’s so deeply sad, but if you’re looking for a quick & powerful read that will stick in your mind for years – this is it. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee

This is the best book I’ve read in a long time. It’s the kind of story that makes you marvel at what literature is capable of. It spans almost the entire 20th century, following the family of the resiliant Sunja – whose teenage relationship with a wealthy older man alters the path of generations of her Korean family – within the context of Japanese colonisation, political chaos and wartime. It addresses an area of history that is largely unspoken about outside of Asia. As soon as I finished this I wanted to start reading it again. ⁣Check out the podcast conversation discussing the novel’s themes with the author on the LitUpShow podcast.

‘Queenie’ by Candice Carty-Williams

Queenie is a fun character. At first, I struggled with the writing style. The genre is not one I usually reach for (I prefer literary fiction) but I really wanted a more contemporary read to mix things up. At first, I found the long sentences and short flashbacks in the first chapters quite distracting but I soon stopped noticing this when I got into the story. It was tough watching a character with so much wit and lovableness make such self depreciating decisions. Her relationships with men are upsetting and deflating but towards the end of the novel we see Queenie’s growth. I really liked how the depiction of mental health recovery was presented as non-linear, and the characters’ discussion around the fact that ‘normal’ doesn’t exist when it comes to mental health.⁣
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I think my favourite parts of the novel were the group chats. She talks about everything from her sex life to the gentrification of Brixton in a group chat nicknamed ‘The Corgis’. The use of texts is such an amazing way to display dialogue / characterisation in a natural way but it is shied away from in literature for some reason. I recently saw this in the emails in Normal People, but even that felt a bit outdated/ too lyrical compared to the more realistic sound bites of character and thought used here.⁣⁣⁣
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I loved the female friendships (apart from Cassandra) and can imagine this as an insanely good Netflix series. It manages to deal with some very serious issues in such an accessible manner without detracting from the gravity of them. This book is funny and heartbreaking at the same time. ⁣⁣⁣

‘Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge

I can’t recommend this enough. Prior to listening to this as an audio-book, I was largely ignorant to the racial history of Britain. In school, we learned about the American Civil Rights movement and the Apartheid, but were left bereft of the perpetual history of racial injustice in Britain. As a white person living in the UK, it is my job to educate myself to the best of my ability on the history of racism in my country and it’s place in society today, because racism is everyone’s problem. I recommend this as a good starting point for white British people to begin their education on why racism is a problem that everyone should care about. It covers many topics from slavery to white privilege to media representation to feminism to class divide and so much more. ⁣⁣

‘Fahrenheit 451’ by Ray Bradbury

I mainly picked this up because it had been sitting on my shelf for months and I felt guilty whenever it caught my eye. It explores a dystopian American society where books are outlawed, and the ‘firemen’ burn any literature that is found. I’d recommend this as a great starting point for the sci-fi / dystopian genre as it’s quite short but has a strong message. ⁣⁣
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I really enjoyed the themes presented, such as the danger of censorship, the fear of the unknown and the value of literature, while also appreciating how accessible the language was to display these. However, the world building wasn’t as developed as I would have liked and the novel read more like a long short story to me. Overall, though, I valued the story and would recommend for those who are new to science fiction. ⁣⁣

‘Educated’ by Tara Westover

This reads a little too good to be true. I found myself absorbed in this book as though it was a piece of fiction, despite it being a memoir. If I’m honest, I haven’t fully made up my mind on this enough to review it properly. If you’re into non-fiction reads surrounding a rags-to-riches style narrative: this is for you.