BOOK REVIEW

I've just finished reading The Sober Diaries by the brilliant Clare Pooley and surprisingly loved it. I say surprisingly because I was unsure how I would relate (not being a drinker) but also questioned how genuine it was going to feel. Thankfully it exceeded all my expectations and I found The Sober Diaries to be an emotive, bravely honest but also witty and light account of one woman's struggle. The book is Clare Pooley's diary during the year she accepted she had a problem with alcohol, decided to quit the booze for good, discovered and defeated breast cancer and worked hard on falling in love with being a mum to her three young children again.

Clare's book is based on her hugely successful blog Mummy was a secret drinker. Clare a Cambridge graduate became managing partner at one of the world's biggest advertising agencies and, after having her children, decided to become a full time stay at home mum. However, fast forward 18 months, she had become an overweight, depressed, middle-aged mother of three who was drinking more than a bottle of wine a day and spending her evenings googling 'Am I an alcoholic?'. The first half of the book centres around Clare realising and accepting her problems. I found it incredibly endearing just how open and frank she was in accepting her own demons and realising the road ahead was not going to be an easy ride. I think many readers will be able to relate to those feelings of fear when facing personal challenges and the strength you find in yourself to take the first few steps towards whatever it is you're aiming to achieve. 

The Sober Diaries is an upbeat, funny and positive look at how to live life to the full. It delves into topics about motherhood, depression, addiction, the pressures of juggling a busy modern life whilst all the while making you laugh and nod along with Clare's hilarious musings. Interwoven within Clare's own very personal and frank story is invaluable research and advice and answers to questions like, How do I know if I'm drinking too much? How will I cope at parties? How do I cope with cravings? Will I lose/gain weight? And many more.

I would absolutely recommend The Sober Diaries, currently sold in hardback at £16.99, available at Bay Tree Books & Gifts.

EMPOWERING THE GENERATIONS.

If, like us, you watched Oprah deliver her Golden Globes speech with a distinct feeling of pride in your stomach then you'll definitely enjoy some of our empowering, unapologetic, books about strong women who broke the rules and changed the world. It truly feels like we are in a moment of huge movement and change. It's fantastic to see so many women, and men speaking their own truths and wanting to know more about female history. 

Similarly in the book world we have seen huge growth in books for women, about women. From beautiful photography books, such as 'Strong is the New Pretty' by Kate T. Parker, to children's books such as the popular 'Little People, Big Dreams' collection which educate, simplify and illustrate the stories of Rosa Parks, Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo and many more. In a time where women are speaking up against modern prejudices and using their voices to be heard, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the books that look at the women through history, who also did just that.

'Bad Girls Throughout History' and 'Rad Women Worldwide' are two fantastic books which explore hundreds of remarkable women who 'had a ton of fear and personal flaws and faced insurmountable obstacles but did amazing things anyway'. It teaches girls and women alike that you are never too old, too small or too late to live the life you're meant to lead, even when it means rewriting the rules. From Josephine Baker, the showgirl who spied for the Allies during World War II, to Joan Jett, the godmother of punk. These are books we believe should be in every home and school and make for a brilliant gift for the ladies in your life.

Some other fantastic books we have on our shelves at Bay Tree Books are those of bestselling feminist poet Rupi Kaur, author of 'Milk and Honey' and her latest offering 'The Sun and Her Flowers' which celebrates and explores womanhood, freedom and empowerment but also explores topics such as love, loss, society and restriction. Her books and social media presence have helped push modern poetry back into popularity and have inspired millions around the world. 

'I am Malala' by Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and international symbol of peaceful protest, is the memoir of her life. It's an incredible story of one girl who stood up for her right to an education and was shot by the Taliban but survived and went on to be one of the most influential young people in the world.

Maya Angelou, American poet and civil activist's books have been the topic of much conversation in recent years, most notably her work 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' feature short stories and poems about her life growing up as an oppressed black female.

All books mentioned in today's blog post are available from the shop and are truly wonderful additions to any book shelf or coffee table.

BOOK REVIEW

Paige Toon - The Last Piece of my Heart.

When thinking about which book I wanted to review for our first blogpost, this one sprang to mind immediately. This was the first Paige Toon novel I read and it certainly wont be my last. As the chick lit genre goes, "The Last Piece of My Heart" ticks all the boxes - the classic romance, heartwarmingly good, full of twists and turns, that by the end of the book leaves you feeling slightly bereft you've reached the end. 

The Last Piece Of My Heart is a contemporary romance. Bridget is a travel magazine writer and an aspiring novelist. Her synopsis for a book about her broken relationships is shelved by her agent, instead Bridget becomes the ghostwriter for a sequel of a successful bestseller novel who died suddenly a year ago. To finish the highly anticipated sequel, she moves to Padstow, Cornwall and finds Nicky's widow and young daughter. 

I was hooked from the very first page. The way Paige carves the characters is captivating, and Bridget, Toon's protagonist is adventurous, wearing her heart on her sleeve, strong - minded and independent, making her voice throughout the book so authentic and drawing you further into the story. On the surface of the book, it all seems quite light, but in reality Toon tackles some incredibly difficult issues, such as grief, anger and loss. Charlie's character, as a recently widowed single dad his journey through the story is complex and messy but gives the reader an insight into the process of grieving for a loved one.

The plot is fairly predictable, but this is by no means a bad thing - knowing vaguely what's going to happen takes the stress out of reading so you can just sit back and enjoy. The settings are beautiful and make you long for a holiday yourself; the locations become like characters in themselves, the way in which Toon writes about Padstow is spellbinding, and the location plays such a vital role in the unwinding story. Much like the locations in this book, music also plays an integral role in setting the scene and Toon provides us with a track list at the end of the book, so we can go back and listen along as the novel unwinds. 

"The Last Piece of My Heart" is incredibly beautiful story about love, loss, grief and hope. It made me smile, it made me cry, this rollercoaster journey of emotions was just perfect. I instantly fell for the characters and I lived through all the ups and downs with them, I kept my fingers crossed for them, I also got angry with them sometimes, especially when they didn't see what was so obvious. It was filled with adventures, heart - breaking moments and just this overwhelming feel - good factor. I loved this story, and I am sure you're going to love it too - I would highly recommended!