The most beautiful book I own. A few days ago, I curled up on my sofa re-reading it – Labradors (finally!) at rest across my lap. My friend text me, “it’s on tele, now!” 💫 the serendipity. I’m more of a reader than a watcher, but the movie has been cleverly translated. I bought 2 more copies for loved ones. A strong yet gentle story glittered with quotes about friendship, self-worth, kindness, perspective, love & courage – it captures that raw complexity of human feelings – then somehow simplifies (& pacifies) the knots of emotion. Pretty genius. Most of us have experienced being, well, just a little bit lost & this is addressed in such a helpful & ♥️ warming way. Each quote finds a slightly different part of me & there’s a gorgeous pen & ink drawing connected. This Christmas 🎄 has been good – I’m lucky – but a monumental personal loss landed unexpectedly at the heart of my 2022… With all the ups & downs in life, it’s vital to find something like this book to uplift the spirit & hug the soul. I am yet to read from start to finish & I don’t know if reading in chronological order is something I’ll ever do? I tend to dip in & out of it, choosing each page at random, swept ever so slightly off my tootsies 👣 by the wisdom, each time. There should be a copy in every persons home 🎁 ♥️ #charliemackesy #bookstagram #reading #artistsoninstagram #books
@redbulletin #articlereview – so @rosemac01 introduced me to @redbull tv, mags (all the #sportsadventure 💥) & I can vouch it’s beyond the ordinary. The art of football & photography meet head to head in this write up! Turns out, athletes & artists aren’t too dissimilar? To create or to exert, that is the question 🎭 All one big performance on stage & on the pitch – whether it’s feigning injury or gettin’ ya ear 👂 lobbed off on set @historyvikings – “all the men & women are merely players” – tongue out of cheek, I couldn’t agree more with this overall concept linking art & sport. As 2010, political sportswriter Dave Zirin states, “amid the politics & pain that engulf & sometimes threaten to smother professional sport, there is also an art that can take your breath away.” Watching @england play, I often feel breathless (& dizzy 😵💫) it’s the passion, dedication, mindset; the aesthetic, the players (the pub, the wine, the crisps 😂)
To bring you up to speed, Red Bull’s “Depth of Field Project” & the charity @positiveviewfoundation have provided tutelage under the magnificent @davidsimsofficial enabling a group of young photographers access to a dream mentorship & to shoot the Liverpudlian talent ⚽️ @trentarnold66 💥 The photos are on form! & the interview kicks about the idea of the cross overs between footy & art. I’ve included @kittysharpart stadium pics to compliment my review of this write up too – plus the three graces!
“Can you call strategy art? I think you can,” says Sims on the topic of the art of the team commicating & taking their manager’s direction. A unique piece & a beating opportunity for youngsters to learn, build & believe in their own capacity to fulfil their dreams. “If you’re ready to dedicate yourself & make sacrifices, there’s no reason why you can’t achieve, at anything.” ♥️ #liverpool #photography #football #art
My great Grandparents fleed Poland during WW1 (1914-1918) They arrived in England & swiftly changed their last name. This book holds personal space in my heart ♥️ & no doubt many others.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Frankl, the author, an Austrian Psychiatrist, survived Auschwitz. If you don’t get goose pimples reading this, further educate yourself on the history of the holocaust, WW2 (1939-1945)
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Starved, exhausted, persecuted (& if one is lucky enough to escape getting gassed) a brutal (& totally unnecessary) end persisted highly likely to prevail.
“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour.”
Frankl speaks from a place, most readers will never know. Approx 85% sent to this “extermination camp” were killed; Frankl, lived. Hundreds of thousands of human beings murdered & tortured & eventually millions (yes, millions) more, as the Nazis carried out their systemic murder, the “final solution.”
I am sickened, sickened. There are no words. Yet, Frankl somehow uses his to renew faith & reinforce the “hope” we all, as human beings, must cling to, in any given situation.
Profound statements throughout strike the chord of your soul. Frankl found beauty & humour at times when all appeared lost.
Despite everything he not only highlights the good in humankind but inspires his reader(s) on how to strive to be the best version of oneself.
First half is an account of his experiences within the camp, second focuses on his personal gift to psychology – Logotherapy; the importance & ultimately the “motivational force” behind the meaning of life;
“Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.’”
This is a book about love, fear, suffering, mental health, what it means to be human & a super power; HOPE.
My great Grandparents fleed Poland during WW1 (1914-1918) They arrived in England & swiftly changed their last name. This book holds personal space in my heart ♥️ & no doubt many others.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Frankl, the author, an Austrian Psychiatrist, survived Auschwitz. If you don’t get goose pimples reading this, further educate yourself on the history of the holocaust, WW2 (1939-1945)
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Starved, exhausted, persecuted (& if one is lucky enough to escape getting gassed) a brutal (& totally unnecessary) end persisted highly likely to prevail.
“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour.”
Frankl speaks from a place, most readers will never know. Approx 85% sent to this “extermination camp” were killed; Frankl, lived. Hundreds of thousands of human beings murdered & tortured & eventually millions (yes, millions) more, as the Nazis carried out their systemic murder, the “final solution.”
I am sickened, sickened. There are no words. Yet, Frankl somehow uses his to renew faith & reinforce the “hope” we all, as human beings, must cling to, in any given situation.
Profound statements throughout strike the chord of your soul. Frankl found beauty & humour at times when all appeared lost.
Despite everything he not only highlights the good in humankind but inspires his reader(s) on how to strive to be the best version of oneself.
First half is an account of his experiences within the camp, second focuses on his personal gift to psychology – Logotherapy; the importance & ultimately the “motivational force” behind the meaning of life;
“Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.’”
This is a book about love, fear, suffering, mental health, what it means to be human & a super power; HOPE.
Luke Hadler, father of two small children, is found dead; “staged” as though he’s committed suicide? Or did he take his own life?
On the floor of the family home lies the bodies of his wife (Karen) & young son (Billy) murdered… their youngest, just a baby, spared, wails in her cot. “It wasn’t as though the farm hadn’t seen death before, and the blowflies didn’t discriminate. To them there was little difference between a carcass and a corpse.”
Set in a small town called Kiewarra, in the middle of one of the worst Australian draughts, the intensity is as unbearable as the environment; pathetic fallacy working it’s magic. I gained an insight into some of the harsh struggles rural Australian’s have to face.
It’s not obnoxiously gruesome, despite the horror of the slaughter, but def ain’t for the faint hearted. If you like a solid “crime/thriller” fizzing with mystery & red herrings, read THE DRY. The plot is thick from the get go & the author intertwines not one murder mystery, but two. Aaron Falk’s a cop who moved away at a young age but returns for Luke Hadler’s funeral; growing up, they were besties. The author reveals secrets from their past (& the present) through flashbacks, letters, discrepancies at the local pub & Luke Hadler’s Dad who puts the pressure on (blackmails) Aaron to stick around/help solve the case. I burnt through the book fast. I just gave my copy away to a stranger before I had chance to take a pic with it for this #bookeecommendation so swipe for a selfie 🤳 I’d sent to a friend last week, in an MS Centre Oxygen Chamber #hbot
Easy to read & kept me guessing. I’m not going to give more away re characters/storyline… it’s on fire 🔥 & it’s a whopping full marks from me 5/5 #bookstagram #readersofinstagram @janeharperauthor #thedry
Luke Hadler, father of two small children, is found dead; “staged” as though he’s committed suicide? Or did he take his own life?
On the floor of the family home lies the bodies of his wife (Karen) & young son (Billy) murdered… their youngest, just a baby, spared, wails in her cot. “It wasn’t as though the farm hadn’t seen death before, and the blowflies didn’t discriminate. To them there was little difference between a carcass and a corpse.”
Set in a small town called Kiewarra, in the middle of one of the worst Australian draughts, the intensity is as unbearable as the environment; pathetic fallacy working it’s magic. I gained an insight into some of the harsh struggles rural Australian’s have to face.
It’s not obnoxiously gruesome, despite the horror of the slaughter, but def ain’t for the faint hearted. If you like a solid “crime/thriller” fizzing with mystery & red herrings, read THE DRY. The plot is thick from the get go & the author intertwines not one murder mystery, but two. Aaron Falk’s a cop who moved away at a young age but returns for Luke Hadler’s funeral; growing up, they were besties. The author reveals secrets from their past (& the present) through flashbacks, letters, discrepancies at the local pub & Luke Hadler’s Dad who puts the pressure on (blackmails) Aaron to stick around/help solve the case. I burnt through the book fast. I just gave my copy away to a stranger before I had chance to take a pic with it for this #bookeecommendation so swipe for a selfie 🤳 I’d sent to a friend last week, in an MS Centre Oxygen Chamber #hbot
Easy to read & kept me guessing. I’m not going to give more away re characters/storyline… it’s on fire 🔥 & it’s a whopping full marks from me 5/5 #bookstagram #readersofinstagram @janeharperauthor #thedry
Luke Hadler, father of two small children, is found dead; “staged” as though he’s committed suicide? Or did he take his own life?
On the floor of the family home lies the bodies of his wife (Karen) & young son (Billy) murdered… their youngest, just a baby, spared, wails in her cot. “It wasn’t as though the farm hadn’t seen death before, and the blowflies didn’t discriminate. To them there was little difference between a carcass and a corpse.”
Set in a small town called Kiewarra, in the middle of one of the worst Australian draughts, the intensity is as unbearable as the environment; pathetic fallacy working it’s magic. I gained an insight into some of the harsh struggles rural Australian’s have to face.
It’s not obnoxiously gruesome, despite the horror of the slaughter, but def ain’t for the faint hearted. If you like a solid “crime/thriller” fizzing with mystery & red herrings, read THE DRY. The plot is thick from the get go & the author intertwines not one murder mystery, but two. Aaron Falk’s a cop who moved away at a young age but returns for Luke Hadler’s funeral; growing up, they were besties. The author reveals secrets from their past (& the present) through flashbacks, letters, discrepancies at the local pub & Luke Hadler’s Dad who puts the pressure on (blackmails) Aaron to stick around/help solve the case. I burnt through the book fast. I just gave my copy away to a stranger before I had chance to take a pic with it for this #bookeecommendation so swipe for a selfie 🤳 I’d sent to a friend last week, in an MS Centre Oxygen Chamber #hbot
Easy to read & kept me guessing. I’m not going to give more away re characters/storyline… it’s on fire 🔥 & it’s a whopping full marks from me 5/5 #bookstagram #readersofinstagram @janeharperauthor #thedry
Recently, my mind has been plagued by the “the survival of consciousness after death.” I don’t know if I picked this from the shelf consciously or subconsciously, but I’m glad – #forgettingtime is centred around reincarnation; children remembering past lives & needing to resolve them; beautifully written, thought provoking. Noah, 4 years old, our protagonist, appears to remember extreme trauma from a previous life; he used to be called Tommy & he was murdered at 9 years old. His single mother, Janie, from Brooklyn NYC, is confronted re her sons unusual behaviour, when the school question his well being & lean toward involving social services. Janie steps up, attempting to find the right doctors to help her son, but when an anti-psychotic drug is prescribed (at such a young age) it doesn’t sit right & Janine wants more information. Lost, she researches intensely, online, stumbling across Dr Anderson… a man who has dedicated a huge part of his life to investigating children’s connection to potential “former lives.” Anderson has Aphasia – difficulty with language, speaking, reading – but remains determined to finish his book about the aforementioned, desperately seeking an American case to add to the many others he has duly collected from other countries. Weaved into Guskins fictional novel, there are real life excerpts from a non fictional book called “Life before life; extraordinary cases of children who remember past lives.” At times, to me, it felt abrupt moving from the fiction to non-fiction – but it was easy to follow & a clever “method” to reiterate that this obscure concept of a little boy remembering a past life, isn’t as far fetched as some might think. As humans, I guess it’s part & package of survival for the brain to constantly attempt to “predict” what’s next and plausibly explains why we often fear the “unknown.” In tarot, the Death card isn’t just about an ending; it’s rebirth, change & transformation. The themes in this book are exactly that. Tidy story structure, arguably a bit of a thriller with the murder mystery, good character arcs & it held my attention throughout… I’d recommend this book 4.5/5 💥#readersofinstagram #bookstagram
Recently, my mind has been plagued by the “the survival of consciousness after death.” I don’t know if I picked this from the shelf consciously or subconsciously, but I’m glad – #forgettingtime is centred around reincarnation; children remembering past lives & needing to resolve them; beautifully written, thought provoking. Noah, 4 years old, our protagonist, appears to remember extreme trauma from a previous life; he used to be called Tommy & he was murdered at 9 years old. His single mother, Janie, from Brooklyn NYC, is confronted re her sons unusual behaviour, when the school question his well being & lean toward involving social services. Janie steps up, attempting to find the right doctors to help her son, but when an anti-psychotic drug is prescribed (at such a young age) it doesn’t sit right & Janine wants more information. Lost, she researches intensely, online, stumbling across Dr Anderson… a man who has dedicated a huge part of his life to investigating children’s connection to potential “former lives.” Anderson has Aphasia – difficulty with language, speaking, reading – but remains determined to finish his book about the aforementioned, desperately seeking an American case to add to the many others he has duly collected from other countries. Weaved into Guskins fictional novel, there are real life excerpts from a non fictional book called “Life before life; extraordinary cases of children who remember past lives.” At times, to me, it felt abrupt moving from the fiction to non-fiction – but it was easy to follow & a clever “method” to reiterate that this obscure concept of a little boy remembering a past life, isn’t as far fetched as some might think. As humans, I guess it’s part & package of survival for the brain to constantly attempt to “predict” what’s next and plausibly explains why we often fear the “unknown.” In tarot, the Death card isn’t just about an ending; it’s rebirth, change & transformation. The themes in this book are exactly that. Tidy story structure, arguably a bit of a thriller with the murder mystery, good character arcs & it held my attention throughout… I’d recommend this book 4.5/5 💥#readersofinstagram #bookstagram
I’m reading (& learning) how hyperbaric oxygen therapy #hbot helps a variety of conditions from #carbonmonoxidepoisoning to #sportsinjury to #decompressionsickness to #multiplescerosis & more.
The above 👆 by Hayden Dunstan has been extraordinary to read. I’ve been experimenting with #hbot as part of my multi-pronged approach to help manage my “post” viral #mecfs – check out my latest blog (Linktree in bio) for further details. The potential benefits of HBOT from #woundhealing to “oxygen as an anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial agent” has blown my mind. So what exactly is it? In Dunstan’s words, HBOT is, “The administration of pure oxygen (enriched breathing) mixed at higher than atmospheric pressure.” In my words; HBOT is me laying down for 2 hours in a multi person chamber, breathing pure oxygen via a fitted mask at 14 metres (2.4 ATA) below sea level, with required oxygen breaks. All I had to grasp was equalising my ears to adjust re the change in pressure. Gases under pressure act differently, which means HBOT enables oxygen to get directly into my plasma & tissues; saturation of oxygen at a level far higher than that of normal (baric) oxygen breathing. In my opinion, non-invasive therapy, such as HBOT, should be available on our NHS, for the #millionsmissing to at least try (& many others) who may very well benefit. I don’t mean the commercial kind that likely won’t dive deep enough for effect. I mean HBOT used at Diving Centres like @midlandsdivingchamber for divers with “the bends” & more recently helping some people battling #longcovid
HBOT has been utilised for over 💯 years; it isn’t new – are we underestimating it’s wider potential in 2020? If so, why? Dunstan sharply reiterates, no one is saying it’s a cure but a complimentary therapy, hence the name & I couldn’t agree more. To date, HBOT brings me the most significant short term relief. While I experiment with how to possibly maintain the gains 💪 I am hoovering up as much knowledge as I am oxygen & anyone who wants to join me in finding out more about HBOT should start with Hayden Dunstan’s website – again, link in my LinkTree! 5/5 for the straightforward, informative writing!
I’m reading (& learning) how hyperbaric oxygen therapy #hbot helps a variety of conditions from #carbonmonoxidepoisoning to #sportsinjury to #decompressionsickness to #multiplescerosis & more.
The above 👆 by Hayden Dunstan has been extraordinary to read. I’ve been experimenting with #hbot as part of my multi-pronged approach to help manage my “post” viral #mecfs – check out my latest blog (Linktree in bio) for further details. The potential benefits of HBOT from #woundhealing to “oxygen as an anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial agent” has blown my mind. So what exactly is it? In Dunstan’s words, HBOT is, “The administration of pure oxygen (enriched breathing) mixed at higher than atmospheric pressure.” In my words; HBOT is me laying down for 2 hours in a multi person chamber, breathing pure oxygen via a fitted mask at 14 metres (2.4 ATA) below sea level, with required oxygen breaks. All I had to grasp was equalising my ears to adjust re the change in pressure. Gases under pressure act differently, which means HBOT enables oxygen to get directly into my plasma & tissues; saturation of oxygen at a level far higher than that of normal (baric) oxygen breathing. In my opinion, non-invasive therapy, such as HBOT, should be available on our NHS, for the #millionsmissing to at least try (& many others) who may very well benefit. I don’t mean the commercial kind that likely won’t dive deep enough for effect. I mean HBOT used at Diving Centres like @midlandsdivingchamber for divers with “the bends” & more recently helping some people battling #longcovid
HBOT has been utilised for over 💯 years; it isn’t new – are we underestimating it’s wider potential in 2020? If so, why? Dunstan sharply reiterates, no one is saying it’s a cure but a complimentary therapy, hence the name & I couldn’t agree more. To date, HBOT brings me the most significant short term relief. While I experiment with how to possibly maintain the gains 💪 I am hoovering up as much knowledge as I am oxygen & anyone who wants to join me in finding out more about HBOT should start with Hayden Dunstan’s website – again, link in my LinkTree! 5/5 for the straightforward, informative writing!
Easy to digest & milking a cow 🐄 is still on my bucket list ♥️ I laughed out loud at this autobiography/memoir & received an unexpected education on a portion of the politics controlling farming! Not to mention environmental awareness & the irony of some of the misinformation surrounding it. Clarkson gives a light hearted insight into rearing live stock, shearing v.cheeky sheep 🐑 & NOT eating the pigs 🐖 because, in the end, the pets are too darn cute. Clarkson surprised me & really made me smile at times… then, at other times, he didn’t 😂 – read that statement however you wish. From keeping bees 🐝 to bottling spring water 💦 it’s more than just “quite interesting,” it’s a bloody inspiring read. I imagine I’ll end up living on a farm, one day… barefoot, heavily pregnant, peeling potatoes, with a view of the sea. I hope my dream comes to fruition in this lifetime, despite my current battle with #mecfs Prior to illness I spent most of my life in & out of cities 🌃 #nyc #london #dublin chasing my career & (as planned) I bought my first property in London, so it might sound contradictory BUT in my heart I know there’s something so extraordinary & beautiful (& real) about animals & the land & the sea & just that “rural” way of living off it, which, as humans, while we can certainly destroy the beauty of the aforementioned 🙄 we simply cannot re-create it. And that’s why it’s priceless. This is a book about nature, the weather, breaking rules & diddly fcking squat. I loved it. Clarkson, as playful as he comes across, is evidently serious about farming & he grabs the bull by its horns with his middle finger up to anyone who doubts him. The author specialised in motoring, originally (if you don’t know!) so naturally there are references – prime example, he’s got a big bold Lambo tractor 🚜 💥 & teaches us duly that Lamborghini actually started out as a tractor maker! I’m not a car enthusiast by any means – I don’t even drive 😂 but the text has snippets of both superfluous & meaningful info, I enjoyed binging. SWIPE left to see me being a #sexycow 🐮 #bookrecommendations #bookreview #diddlysquat
Easy to digest & milking a cow 🐄 is still on my bucket list ♥️ I laughed out loud at this autobiography/memoir & received an unexpected education on a portion of the politics controlling farming! Not to mention environmental awareness & the irony of some of the misinformation surrounding it. Clarkson gives a light hearted insight into rearing live stock, shearing v.cheeky sheep 🐑 & NOT eating the pigs 🐖 because, in the end, the pets are too darn cute. Clarkson surprised me & really made me smile at times… then, at other times, he didn’t 😂 – read that statement however you wish. From keeping bees 🐝 to bottling spring water 💦 it’s more than just “quite interesting,” it’s a bloody inspiring read. I imagine I’ll end up living on a farm, one day… barefoot, heavily pregnant, peeling potatoes, with a view of the sea. I hope my dream comes to fruition in this lifetime, despite my current battle with #mecfs Prior to illness I spent most of my life in & out of cities 🌃 #nyc #london #dublin chasing my career & (as planned) I bought my first property in London, so it might sound contradictory BUT in my heart I know there’s something so extraordinary & beautiful (& real) about animals & the land & the sea & just that “rural” way of living off it, which, as humans, while we can certainly destroy the beauty of the aforementioned 🙄 we simply cannot re-create it. And that’s why it’s priceless. This is a book about nature, the weather, breaking rules & diddly fcking squat. I loved it. Clarkson, as playful as he comes across, is evidently serious about farming & he grabs the bull by its horns with his middle finger up to anyone who doubts him. The author specialised in motoring, originally (if you don’t know!) so naturally there are references – prime example, he’s got a big bold Lambo tractor 🚜 💥 & teaches us duly that Lamborghini actually started out as a tractor maker! I’m not a car enthusiast by any means – I don’t even drive 😂 but the text has snippets of both superfluous & meaningful info, I enjoyed binging. SWIPE left to see me being a #sexycow 🐮 #bookrecommendations #bookreview #diddlysquat
A few moments, caught me completely off guard; a genuine, heart wrenching, reaction to the loyalty, sheer teamwork & camaraderie – it blew me away; one of the “beauty spots” of sport, isn’t it? Prior to illness, running races made me feel on fire! Being one of 7 kids, we grew up with “teamwork” at the heart of each day. If you aren’t “into” your running, per se, but perhaps want to renew your faith in human beings, this is one to read. Equally, remaining true to life, it had me questioning the stupidity (& backstabbing greed) of some “business minded” c#%nts. This is a story about an epic foot race from LA to NYC… but there’s more mileage & greater emotional depth than my wee review can reflect. Read it. Or give it a listen 👂 🎧 Well structured, with detailed backstories (& arcs) for each of the characters. It could make a fine tv series. The author (McNab) was an Olympic Coach in real life, plausibly supporting that rawness/authenticity which runs (pun intended) throughout the book! Not to mention he also won 5 titles in the Scottish triple jump. I know – what a guy?! He’s created this “1931 Trans American race” for fictional purpose, but I read it’s inspired by the actual 1928 Bunion Derby, covering the same route; explains why parts of the novel were more like a documentary, than pretend. With 2000 runners gathered from around the world during the Great Depression, to compete for the 150,000 dollar prize… you “might” imagine the gambling, bets, drugs & corruption that “might” arise around it. I’m not going to give much away about the colourful characters & subplots but here’s some words to tickle ya tastebuds… survival, human spirit, wheeler-dealers, bootleg whiskey, pigeons, cocaine, gangsters, Hitler, old timers, feisty 😈 ladies 💥 poverty, determination & love! 4.5/5 *felt a bit like I was running a marathon reading it to the end, when (at times) I wanted to sprint… but perhaps that’s genius?! #bookreview #bookrecommendations #running #races #sport #reading
A few moments, caught me completely off guard; a genuine, heart wrenching, reaction to the loyalty, sheer teamwork & camaraderie – it blew me away; one of the “beauty spots” of sport, isn’t it? Prior to illness, running races made me feel on fire! Being one of 7 kids, we grew up with “teamwork” at the heart of each day. If you aren’t “into” your running, per se, but perhaps want to renew your faith in human beings, this is one to read. Equally, remaining true to life, it had me questioning the stupidity (& backstabbing greed) of some “business minded” c#%nts. This is a story about an epic foot race from LA to NYC… but there’s more mileage & greater emotional depth than my wee review can reflect. Read it. Or give it a listen 👂 🎧 Well structured, with detailed backstories (& arcs) for each of the characters. It could make a fine tv series. The author (McNab) was an Olympic Coach in real life, plausibly supporting that rawness/authenticity which runs (pun intended) throughout the book! Not to mention he also won 5 titles in the Scottish triple jump. I know – what a guy?! He’s created this “1931 Trans American race” for fictional purpose, but I read it’s inspired by the actual 1928 Bunion Derby, covering the same route; explains why parts of the novel were more like a documentary, than pretend. With 2000 runners gathered from around the world during the Great Depression, to compete for the 150,000 dollar prize… you “might” imagine the gambling, bets, drugs & corruption that “might” arise around it. I’m not going to give much away about the colourful characters & subplots but here’s some words to tickle ya tastebuds… survival, human spirit, wheeler-dealers, bootleg whiskey, pigeons, cocaine, gangsters, Hitler, old timers, feisty 😈 ladies 💥 poverty, determination & love! 4.5/5 *felt a bit like I was running a marathon reading it to the end, when (at times) I wanted to sprint… but perhaps that’s genius?! #bookreview #bookrecommendations #running #races #sport #reading
A few moments, caught me completely off guard; a genuine, heart wrenching, reaction to the loyalty, sheer teamwork & camaraderie – it blew me away; one of the “beauty spots” of sport, isn’t it? Prior to illness, running races made me feel on fire! Being one of 7 kids, we grew up with “teamwork” at the heart of each day. If you aren’t “into” your running, per se, but perhaps want to renew your faith in human beings, this is one to read. Equally, remaining true to life, it had me questioning the stupidity (& backstabbing greed) of some “business minded” c#%nts. This is a story about an epic foot race from LA to NYC… but there’s more mileage & greater emotional depth than my wee review can reflect. Read it. Or give it a listen 👂 🎧 Well structured, with detailed backstories (& arcs) for each of the characters. It could make a fine tv series. The author (McNab) was an Olympic Coach in real life, plausibly supporting that rawness/authenticity which runs (pun intended) throughout the book! Not to mention he also won 5 titles in the Scottish triple jump. I know – what a guy?! He’s created this “1931 Trans American race” for fictional purpose, but I read it’s inspired by the actual 1928 Bunion Derby, covering the same route; explains why parts of the novel were more like a documentary, than pretend. With 2000 runners gathered from around the world during the Great Depression, to compete for the 150,000 dollar prize… you “might” imagine the gambling, bets, drugs & corruption that “might” arise around it. I’m not going to give much away about the colourful characters & subplots but here’s some words to tickle ya tastebuds… survival, human spirit, wheeler-dealers, bootleg whiskey, pigeons, cocaine, gangsters, Hitler, old timers, feisty 😈 ladies 💥 poverty, determination & love! 4.5/5 *felt a bit like I was running a marathon reading it to the end, when (at times) I wanted to sprint… but perhaps that’s genius?! #bookreview #bookrecommendations #running #races #sport #reading
A few moments, caught me completely off guard; a genuine, heart wrenching, reaction to the loyalty, sheer teamwork & camaraderie – it blew me away; one of the “beauty spots” of sport, isn’t it? Prior to illness, running races made me feel on fire! Being one of 7 kids, we grew up with “teamwork” at the heart of each day. If you aren’t “into” your running, per se, but perhaps want to renew your faith in human beings, this is one to read. Equally, remaining true to life, it had me questioning the stupidity (& backstabbing greed) of some “business minded” c#%nts. This is a story about an epic foot race from LA to NYC… but there’s more mileage & greater emotional depth than my wee review can reflect. Read it. Or give it a listen 👂 🎧 Well structured, with detailed backstories (& arcs) for each of the characters. It could make a fine tv series. The author (McNab) was an Olympic Coach in real life, plausibly supporting that rawness/authenticity which runs (pun intended) throughout the book! Not to mention he also won 5 titles in the Scottish triple jump. I know – what a guy?! He’s created this “1931 Trans American race” for fictional purpose, but I read it’s inspired by the actual 1928 Bunion Derby, covering the same route; explains why parts of the novel were more like a documentary, than pretend. With 2000 runners gathered from around the world during the Great Depression, to compete for the 150,000 dollar prize… you “might” imagine the gambling, bets, drugs & corruption that “might” arise around it. I’m not going to give much away about the colourful characters & subplots but here’s some words to tickle ya tastebuds… survival, human spirit, wheeler-dealers, bootleg whiskey, pigeons, cocaine, gangsters, Hitler, old timers, feisty 😈 ladies 💥 poverty, determination & love! 4.5/5 *felt a bit like I was running a marathon reading it to the end, when (at times) I wanted to sprint… but perhaps that’s genius?! #bookreview #bookrecommendations #running #races #sport #reading
To WATCH the FULL live interview click the link in my bio – video is at the end of the article 😊
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@timesradio @decodemestudy @actionform.e & thank you to @rosemac01 @emzfitofficial for the edit
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#mecfs #longcovid #decodemestudy #postviralfatiguesyndrome #myalgicencephalomyelitis #chronicillness #longhaulers #pots #dysautonomia #mcas #lyme #ebv #hyperbaricoxygentherapy #hbot #vedicinals9 #mecfspacing
No holds barred 😂 cutting, entertaining, refreshingly honest… #thismuchistrue … Pre warning: a lot of dirty talk about “sucking off.” I would love (to dare) to read that which Margoyles Lawyers advised her not to include. Her openness about her impressive 50 plus years of work – acting in both theatre & film – was extraordinary to read & as a big fan of Baz Luhrmann’s R&J it was great to get an insight behind the scenes! Born in early 1940s Britain to Jewish parents, lower working class mother & working class father (who duly grafted his arse off to become a U.K. GP) it was admirable & inspiring to read how 2nd generation immigrant parents gave only the best of the best, in terms of education & love to their only daughter. But it broke my heart reading about Margoyles deep regret for coming out as gay to her Mum. Heather, Margoyles’ Wife, is mentioned only briefly for privacy, but the love between them is the arguably backbone of this book. I felt a lump in my throat & a pang in my stomach, when Miriam explained her Wife had a viral infection (respiratory) & then diagnosed with the demonic… chronic fatigue syndrome, from which she never recovered #mecfs – strangely comforting to note the illness mentioned. Talking about it openly like this helps to dilute stigma. But so sad to know there are millions of us (& millions more off the back of Long Covid) with huge parts our lives robbed, forever. I give this colourful, laugh out loud, memoir a strong 💪 4.5 & recommend you grab a copy! #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #miriammargolyes #thismuchistrue
No holds barred 😂 cutting, entertaining, refreshingly honest… #thismuchistrue … Pre warning: a lot of dirty talk about “sucking off.” I would love (to dare) to read that which Margoyles Lawyers advised her not to include. Her openness about her impressive 50 plus years of work – acting in both theatre & film – was extraordinary to read & as a big fan of Baz Luhrmann’s R&J it was great to get an insight behind the scenes! Born in early 1940s Britain to Jewish parents, lower working class mother & working class father (who duly grafted his arse off to become a U.K. GP) it was admirable & inspiring to read how 2nd generation immigrant parents gave only the best of the best, in terms of education & love to their only daughter. But it broke my heart reading about Margoyles deep regret for coming out as gay to her Mum. Heather, Margoyles’ Wife, is mentioned only briefly for privacy, but the love between them is the arguably backbone of this book. I felt a lump in my throat & a pang in my stomach, when Miriam explained her Wife had a viral infection (respiratory) & then diagnosed with the demonic… chronic fatigue syndrome, from which she never recovered #mecfs – strangely comforting to note the illness mentioned. Talking about it openly like this helps to dilute stigma. But so sad to know there are millions of us (& millions more off the back of Long Covid) with huge parts our lives robbed, forever. I give this colourful, laugh out loud, memoir a strong 💪 4.5 & recommend you grab a copy! #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #miriammargolyes #thismuchistrue
My 1st @sophiekinsellawriter book 📖 Easy-to-read, page turner #romcom with several unexpected twists & turns & some verrry funny scenarios. The art on the front of the book shows a grown woman hiding under the table… listening in on the guests (her friends & fam) at a dinner party she’s “not” supposed to “not” be at… 😂 Strong 4.5/5 💥
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Greenoaks is a quirky old family house with history 🏡 & the youngest sibling, Effie (now an adult) gate crashes the so-called “leaving-do” (hosted by the seemingly stereotypical, gold-digger, step-mum) when the family home is rather unexpectedly SOLD!
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When I’m well enough to get back to acting again, I would happily play any of the women in this. All so different, but each certainly had “something” about their character.
It’s light hearted, arguably “eccentric” middle class humour, not with out depth; broken families, divorce & the human insecurities we can all relate to in one way or another – a sprinkle of misjudging people 🙈 makes everyone all the more real.
Each of the 3 siblings who grew up at Greenoaks – Bean, Effie & Gus – have their own life sh*t going on (behind the scenes) & Kinsella reveals the flaws, worries & secrets, purposefully timed to keep the reader (& her characters) on their toes. The fact that Effie has supposedly only “gate crashed” the party to find her childhood Russian Dolls, is a potent metaphor, which is dripped into the narrative throughout, as we discover the layers to each colourful character.
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I often tend to give a bit more away in my #bookreviews but I’m not going to because I think it could spoil the structure. If you want a straightforward bulletproof romantic comedy to read this summer, grab it!
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A moment, towards the end, where it felt a little lulling re the storyline… if I’m totally honest… caught myself starting to speed read… BUT the way in which Kinsella wrapped it all up, threw me off guard (in a good way!) I was pulled back in & very much look forward to reading more!
My 1st @sophiekinsellawriter book 📖 Easy-to-read, page turner #romcom with several unexpected twists & turns & some verrry funny scenarios. The art on the front of the book shows a grown woman hiding under the table… listening in on the guests (her friends & fam) at a dinner party she’s “not” supposed to “not” be at… 😂 Strong 4.5/5 💥
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Greenoaks is a quirky old family house with history 🏡 & the youngest sibling, Effie (now an adult) gate crashes the so-called “leaving-do” (hosted by the seemingly stereotypical, gold-digger, step-mum) when the family home is rather unexpectedly SOLD!
*
When I’m well enough to get back to acting again, I would happily play any of the women in this. All so different, but each certainly had “something” about their character.
It’s light hearted, arguably “eccentric” middle class humour, not with out depth; broken families, divorce & the human insecurities we can all relate to in one way or another – a sprinkle of misjudging people 🙈 makes everyone all the more real.
Each of the 3 siblings who grew up at Greenoaks – Bean, Effie & Gus – have their own life sh*t going on (behind the scenes) & Kinsella reveals the flaws, worries & secrets, purposefully timed to keep the reader (& her characters) on their toes. The fact that Effie has supposedly only “gate crashed” the party to find her childhood Russian Dolls, is a potent metaphor, which is dripped into the narrative throughout, as we discover the layers to each colourful character.
*
I often tend to give a bit more away in my #bookreviews but I’m not going to because I think it could spoil the structure. If you want a straightforward bulletproof romantic comedy to read this summer, grab it!
*
A moment, towards the end, where it felt a little lulling re the storyline… if I’m totally honest… caught myself starting to speed read… BUT the way in which Kinsella wrapped it all up, threw me off guard (in a good way!) I was pulled back in & very much look forward to reading more!
1970’s Cyprus, the war-torn but beautiful Mediterranean island, is tangled up in the roots of this story. Conflict, trauma & danger keep the characters feet planted firmly on the blood-soaked soil – yet fleeing for some may be inevitable. What a time & place to fall in love. A Greek boy, Kostas (who has a profound fondness for trees, nature & animals) & his Turkish lover Defne (in their teens!) are head over heels for each other – quashing family feud, challenging tradition & religion, they meet up in secret at The Happy Fig tavern; with a real life Fig Tree growing indoors, at the heart of the venue, listening to every drunken laugh & tale… run by the generous (& welcoming) gay couple (Yiorgos & Yusuf) & occupied by a cheeky parrot they have rescued 🦜 ♥️
Kostas’s mother eventually gets suspicious (of course) & sends him away to an Uncle in London, rather abruptly. She’s already lost 2 of her 3 young sons, the decision is to (ultimately) keep Kostas safe. But poor Defne is left behind 🤰- the writer tells it all so much better than I can summarise – please read! #theislandofmissingtrees is set in the 1974 Cyprus & told by British Turkish author #elifshafak with some significant bouncing between London & the early 2000’s, which gives it an added dimension/contemporary twist.
Regrettably the universal language here is grief. But tremendous loss often leads to rebirth & growth…
Can pain be inherited? How much does the past of a family shape their children’s future? Even if the kids did not live through it? With out spoiling, I can confirm the star-crossed lovers end up back together. Moreover, plenty more unfolds; through Ada, their daughter, an aunt & the soul of the aforementioned Fig Tree. YES, there’s a talking tree. And honestly, it’s just incredible. Good humour, superstition & a real love for food & family, enrich the story & dilute some of the sadness. The chapters give perspective through different characters & there’s a gorgeous “coming of age” element adding unexpected warmth. This novel intertwines immigration, teenage angst, identity, homophobia, belonging, scars & the dichotomy & lack of consistency in “human kindness.” 5/5 ⭐️
1970’s Cyprus, the war-torn but beautiful Mediterranean island, is tangled up in the roots of this story. Conflict, trauma & danger keep the characters feet planted firmly on the blood-soaked soil – yet fleeing for some may be inevitable. What a time & place to fall in love. A Greek boy, Kostas (who has a profound fondness for trees, nature & animals) & his Turkish lover Defne (in their teens!) are head over heels for each other – quashing family feud, challenging tradition & religion, they meet up in secret at The Happy Fig tavern; with a real life Fig Tree growing indoors, at the heart of the venue, listening to every drunken laugh & tale… run by the generous (& welcoming) gay couple (Yiorgos & Yusuf) & occupied by a cheeky parrot they have rescued 🦜 ♥️
Kostas’s mother eventually gets suspicious (of course) & sends him away to an Uncle in London, rather abruptly. She’s already lost 2 of her 3 young sons, the decision is to (ultimately) keep Kostas safe. But poor Defne is left behind 🤰- the writer tells it all so much better than I can summarise – please read! #theislandofmissingtrees is set in the 1974 Cyprus & told by British Turkish author #elifshafak with some significant bouncing between London & the early 2000’s, which gives it an added dimension/contemporary twist.
Regrettably the universal language here is grief. But tremendous loss often leads to rebirth & growth…
Can pain be inherited? How much does the past of a family shape their children’s future? Even if the kids did not live through it? With out spoiling, I can confirm the star-crossed lovers end up back together. Moreover, plenty more unfolds; through Ada, their daughter, an aunt & the soul of the aforementioned Fig Tree. YES, there’s a talking tree. And honestly, it’s just incredible. Good humour, superstition & a real love for food & family, enrich the story & dilute some of the sadness. The chapters give perspective through different characters & there’s a gorgeous “coming of age” element adding unexpected warmth. This novel intertwines immigration, teenage angst, identity, homophobia, belonging, scars & the dichotomy & lack of consistency in “human kindness.” 5/5 ⭐️
