A balanced look at the town vs. country divide

Divide by Anna Jones is a memoir (but so much more!) exploring the many differences between town and country. Each chapter covers a theme – including politics, diversity, food and environment. Anna’s pedigree as a journalist and interviewer shines through. Whilst Anna has lived in both town and country, this book is told much moreContinue reading “A balanced look at the town vs. country divide”

An entertaining and educational read for children

I always accept offers to review books about my two favourite topics – nature and health. This time, I’ve been gifted Norah’s Ark by Victoria Williamson. It’s a book for children (around 8-12) and in it we meet Norah and Adam. Their lives couldn’t be more different. Norah is in temporary accommodation on the edgeContinue reading “An entertaining and educational read for children”

Cuddle up to a cosy gardening murder mystery

Every month I am sent details of books I can review, and when Seeds of Murder dropped into my in-box I said yes straight away. I generally go for books which are nature or health-based and this is described as a gardening murder mystery. I also enjoy this type of cosy crime mystery – novelsContinue reading “Cuddle up to a cosy gardening murder mystery”

Read and rejoice!

It’s my stop today on the blog tour for The Invisible Women’s Club by Helen Paris. This five star read celebrates the power of connection and demonstrates the strength women can muster to achieve the impossible. The book’s main character, Janet Pimm, is used to being invisible. 70 something, with her beloved allotment for company,Continue reading “Read and rejoice!”

Feeling Blah?

It’s my stop on the blog tour for Feeling Blah by Tanith Carey. Before reading, I had never heard of anhedonia, which is when you feel more bad than good: This book will be useful for people who know they are not depressed but yet feel like they don’t enjoy life as much as theyContinue reading “Feeling Blah?”

I need to get my hands dirty

OK, I admit it. I desperately need to get my hands in the soil. I missed gardening when I lived in London in the noughties and only realised when I suffered from burnout and functional neurological disorder. Then I moved to Essex and immersed myself in rural life, enjoying reconnecting with the natural world. IContinue reading “I need to get my hands dirty”

If you think you know trees, think again!

Thirteen Ways to Smell a Tree: A celebration of our connection with trees is a small, easy-to-read non-fiction book packed with facts and insights – both historical and modern-day. The author, David George Haskell, took me around the world to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most marvellous trees, including oneContinue reading “If you think you know trees, think again!”

A book celebrating the joy of front gardens

This book heroes 20 commonly found plants growing in the front gardens of one road in London. Ben’s observations in Grove Park – such as hollyhocks growing at number 92 being ‘serotonin for the summer soul’ – are insightful and full of joy. Ben takes us with him as he walks up and down theContinue reading “A book celebrating the joy of front gardens”

On top of the world

Brown Clee is the highest hill in Shropshire, standing at 540 metres. On the first day of our holiday, we (my husband, daughter and I) set off to the top from our Air BNB because a previous guest mentioned it was a nice thing to do. There was an OS map on the wall, soContinue reading “On top of the world”