What I’m reading: Five books I have enjoyed this summer.
Hello everyone,
I hope you are well and enjoying this transitional time, as we approach the beautiful season of Autumn. It is a time when those great summer reads, which we lost ourselves in on glorious hot beach days, are still fresh in our minds. But we are also thinking of something new to snuggle up with as the nights draw in and autumnal reading is upon us. With this in mind, I though I would share five of my recent reads with you. Reading is known to be one of the ultimate feel good occupations and studies have shown that it is the number one choice, when we are asked how we love to spend our free time. Doing things we love boosts our feelings of contentment and fulfilment, and is essential to our health and wellbeing.
So without further ado, here are five books I have loved over the summer months, that I think you might enjoy too!
Swimming with Seals by Victoria Whitworth.
Several years ago my family and I stayed at a croft on the shores of a sea loch on the Isle of Mull. It was a rustic, isolated place - utterly beautiful and secluded. There was no wifi, no tv, no screens at all. It was divinely remote in every sense, and the feeling of being removed from the modern world was one of wonder and after just a few hours, delight. The only entertainment as it were, in this little traditional Scottish house, was a library of books and games. In this small, but diverse library I saw the title Swimming with Seals. The cover immediately drew my attention, shades of blue and aquamarine with a lone woman’s head and shoulders emerging from the water. I started to read it. Our stay was short however, and I returned the book to the croft’s library on our departure. This summer, I bought my own copy and began again. This book is rich and intense. Victoria describes Orkney so well that the reader can almost taste the tang of the salt in the sea air. She tells of her life on Orkney, the life crises she endures there, and how swimming in the cold, healing waters surrounding Orkney helps her to escape and deal with loss, a failing marriage and her mental health. I absolutely loved this book. Some of the descriptions took me back to our time in the Scottish islands and engaged me in my love of wild swimming. I would highly recommend it. This book is not just about swimming in the cold waters surrounding a Scottish island, it is a story of life, loss and healing, woven with the history, myth, wildlife and folklore of Orkney.
View from our rustic little croft on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.
Brightwater Bay by Holly Hepburn.
My Mum recommended this book to me. She knows that I love a tale located in Scotland, and this one is also set on Orkney. This book is light, refreshing and an easy summer beach read. It tells the story of Merina Wilde, a romantic novelist, who at a crossroads in her life decides to take up a writer in residence opportunity on the wilds of Orkney. I found this book to be a page turner in true feel good fashion. It is a lovely, escapist read, with charming characters, beautiful scenic descriptions of the rugged isles and how the main character becomes unexpectedly attached to them. There is a sense of community in the pages, with plenty of laugher and tears thrown in. I found this to be an effortless read that was really difficult to put down! If you long to be transported to a place of magic, history, folklore and community, look no further than this delightful tale from isles of Orkney.
Two titles with an Orkney theme.
Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto.
This one is a New York Times bestseller and for good reason. It’s a book that’s been on my wish list for a while and this summer I actually got around to listening to it. I’ve had a subscription to Audible for several years and I find that listening to books, especially non fiction, is a really great way to be immersed in a topic while doing other things. I like to listen on dog walks, when I’m gardening, or even just doing boring housework. It really works for my lifestyle and increases the books I’m able to consume. So it’s a win, win! Back to the book Hidden Messages. To sum up this book I would use two words, life changing! It truly is an illuminating book on many levels. It’s fascinating, interesting and has the potential to change the way we think and experience the world around us. The book explains how water connects us all and how that connection extends to all things on the planet. It is deeply profound and clearly describes the power of positivity. I can’t recommend this book highly enough, it is must read for anyone who is interested in understanding how our actions and words impact our experience of life.
Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele.
This is a small, yet powerful book. I have read it a number of times, and find myself coming back to it quite frequently. There is wisdom in its pages. I picked it up this summer, as I wanted to reconnect with some yoga philosophy on a deeply level. It’s an easy read and one which can be dipped in and out of when needed. The book explores the first two limbs of yoga. Deborah writes in a practical, easy to follow manner, but the depth of her awareness is exceptional. She uses stories and reflection to describe yoga philosophy, making it applicable to everyday life. Whether you practice yoga or not, this book is a gem for personal growth in general. You will return to it again and again.
A small, yet powerful read.
Hagitude by Sharon Blackie
The last of my five summer recommended reads, which you can easily transition to Fall, is Hagitude by Sharon Blackie. Released only a couple of weeks ago, I am still immersed in its pages and enjoying every minute of it. I loved Sharon’s previous book, “When Women Rose Rooted” and this one is shaping up to be similar in its powerful narrative of the importance of challenging the perceptions of women in their middle years. Engaging and empowering; I am finding this work, which is woven with myth, fairy tales and classic stories of women in mid life and beyond, to give voice to how the second half of life can be just as exceptional, if not more so, than the first. It is a book about reclaiming power, finding meaning in menopause and reimagining the second half of life. I am loving it so far!
I would love to know if you have read any of the books mentioned and if so, what you thought of them. I’m open to a new read at anytime, so please share any of your favourite books in the comments below. Putting the screens away, opening a book and being transported to another world, is a wonderful way to boost those feel good hormones. It’s an act of self care and one we can all enjoy, even for just ten minutes a day.
Comment below, or find me on the Connect with Me page of this website, on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. And if this inspired you today, please share it with a friend; it might inspire them too!
Until next time.. Be Well!
