Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan
This is a truly compelling read about the complexities of a childhood spent in poverty.
Katriona O'Sullivan was born in Coventry to parents struggling with addiction. Her story shines a light on her experiences of navigating a scary world as a poor child, and the enormous impact those in positions of power can have on the lives of children, both positive and negative. This book follows her life through school and young motherhood, as well as a move to Dublin, where through a twist of fate and enormous hard work she managed to access higher education.
Despite the difficult and confronting subject matter, this book is written with a light touch and clearly and directly conveys the intertwined complexities of childhood trauma and poverty, and their lifelong effects. Among all the issues I found myself thinking about since finishing the book, the main one was the reality of O'Sullivan having been the 'right' kind of person to have accessed education, who was required to perform the correct level of gratitude. In addition, the few supports that were available to her have been chipped away at in the years of austerity, with even fewer safety nets being available to children in dire need.
This is a shocking, powerful read that will make you re-think all the many privileges in your life and be profoundly grateful for all the opportunities you've had.
- Marianne
Africa is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin
Africa is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin is a fantastic piece of non-fiction that seeks to rectify the harmful stereotypes about Africa that exist today. Super informative yet witty and sharp in its style, it's also a powerfully told, much-needed correction of the Western portrayal of a complex, multi-faceted continent. Faloyin explores everything from colonialism and cultural theft, to representation of Africa in film, and lots in between. It's history, politics and memoir all rolled into one and would be a great choice for someone who wants to get into non fiction, but isn't sure where to start! If you read and enjoyed Natives by Akala, this would be a fantastic companion piece.
- Olivia
A Good Place to Hide a Body by Laura Marshall
This story follows Penny, who spends most of her life on-call to her elderly, high-maintenance parents. When she receives a frantic call in the night from her dad demanding she rushes over but to not call the police, the last thing she expects was to find the dead body of their nightmare tenant Cooper in the back garden!
I absolutely raced through this book. I expected it to be more comical and far-fetched in style, along the lines of Bella Mackie & Katy Brent, but it was a more serious thriller than those written by Mackie or Brent. There were some great elements of dark humour, but don't be fooled by the cover!
I was sad to finish this book as I loved everything about it. I can’t recommend it enough!
- Chloe
The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse
I always love a good historical novel that I can sink my teeth into, and The Ghost Ship was exactly that!
Despite being the third book in the Joubert Chronicles, this can be read as a standalone too. You follow Louise Reydon- Joubert and Gilles Barenton from 1610 to the 1620’s as they eventually meet under sad circumstances and become the companions they most needed, to be themselves. With the background of fighting Catholics and Huguenots, increased New World travels, Louise finds herself wanting to make her mark in a world made for men and settles off on her own ship with Gilles and their crew for adventures that will make them into legends.
Every time I was able to sit down to read, I couldn’t help myself but turn to the next page and most definitely stayed up too late a night or two. This was such a good historical novel. Every detail, the characters, the descriptions of the ships and cities you visit, really painted a vivid picture of the setting and time period. I came to really love the characters of Louise and Gilles and was really quite sad to see them go once I’d finished. I'm looking forward to reading more from Kate Mosse, in particular the rest of this series.
- Alisha
Heart, Be At Peace by Donal Ryan
Heart, Be At Peace is a companion piece to The Spinning Heart, Donal Ryan's award winning novel. In The Spinning Heart, inhabitants of a small rural town in Ireland are coming to terms with economic collapse, and in Heart, Be At Peace, the residents have weathered the storms only to face a new threat. You don't need to have read the Spinning Heart to read this, it would work just as well as a stand alone. I thoroughly recommend you read all the Donal Ryan books that you can get your hands on!
Written in the voices of 21 different characters, this is experimental and cleverly structured, but is not challenging to read. Each voice fits with all the others like a pleasing mosaic to lead to the finale. Donal Ryan's writing is so well crafted and beautiful, scattered through with such warmth and insight. I was in awe of his craft, but also completely engrossed with the voices, stories and moments of humanity that he's created. Go and get your hands on a copy!
- Marianne
The Houdini Inheritance by Emma Carroll
I really enjoy reading a children’s book from time to time so have just finished ‘The Houdini Inheritance’ by Emma Carroll.
Glory and her friend Dennis are first in line for tickets when Harry Houdini visits their hometown of Sidford-on-Sea to do a show…he is attempting his most dangerous trick yet, jumping from the pier into the sea, locked in chains!
Unexpectedly, Glory finds herself in charge of Houdini’s treasured trunk of secrets, not knowing he has many enemies & rivals trying to get their hands on it. In great danger, Glory and her family travel to Coney Island in New York, where the adventure puts their lives in danger.
This was a really exciting book to read, each chapter left you wanting to read the next one. I loved the descriptions of the old fashioned British seaside, but equally enjoyed when they travelled by ship over to America. This is the first Emma Carroll book I have read, but definitely won’t be my last.
- Chloe
