If you write, read

One of the best, and often repeated pieces of advice I've been given by successful authors is to read, read, read and read some more. 

Reading has never been an issue for me, I 'completed' the school's library when I was about 9 and went on to have books curated for me by a wonderfully sympathetic librarian. I think her love of books, and my enjoyment of someone picking out books I should read, have held me in good stead since and not a week goes by I haven't been reading something.

I must confess though, I do have a hangover from those curated book lists from my librarian. I find it incredibly hard to choose my own books. I feel overwhelmed with what's best, and just want to read them all so instead I go by recommendations and loans from friends and families. I don't have a specific genre I favour and will give anything a go. This tends to mean I have an eclectic reading list. 

January's reading consisted of - 

Don't Touch My Hair, by Emma Dabiri

As I mentioned, I tend to not 'choose' my books, and Don't Touch My Hair was loaned to me by a fellow #curlygirl after I mentioned having one of my curls pulled by someone in a shop (yes, even in Covid stay outta my way times). 

The incident for me, was completely out of kilter with how I expect people to behave, so my eyes were sadly widely opened when I read Dabiri's fascinating essay on the rich history of Afro hair and the huge amount of stigma around the different hair types.  Dabiri writes in a dry way, sometimes shockingly so when referencing cultural appropriation, racism and the various challenges women (in the main) face when looking after their hair. 

The Paris Interviews (vol4) edited by Philip Gourevitch

This book was recommended on a Curtis Brown writing course I recently completed, and, being a good student, I diligently bought it as it professed to give an insight into well-known writers. 

Whilst I found many of the mini essays within the book interesting, not least the level of alcoholism involved and hideaway retreats so many run away to, it didn't live up to expectation as the 'bible for readers and writers' that The Observer claimed. Whilst reading it, I got the sense that social media has rather overtaken this need to document in this way, I'm far more interested in seeing an author's writing room on Instagram or read their views on Twitter.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Confession time. I asked for this book for Christmas. I did say I was generally lent or recommended 80% of the time, there are occasions when I decide I specifically want to read something and recently it was this. 

This was my only adult fiction book this month and I enjoyed getting stuck into the character driven narrative. I'd managed to stay away from the adaptation before reading it and I'm glad I did. Whilst I didn't warm to either of the lead characters, I think that's the point. They're normal people, living relatively normal lives and it's a window on their world over a few years. 

Sometimes with books with so much hype, you fear it'll be for nowt, but I devoured this novel. It was so earnest. Not in a do-gooding, sickly way, just, tender and sad, and bittersweet and lovely and a bit sexy.  Not a bad choice by me.

Secret Seven by Enid Blyton with the family

Since lockdown no.1, the two children, my husband and I all sit and read together most nights. It started with Harry Potter, which we read the entire series of, and we then moved to one-off books the children wanted to read with us. 

Their first choice was Secret Seven. I read this as a child in the 80s, along with Famous Five etc when I didn't know any better, and, oh dear, it has not aged well now we're in 2021. As a family we had a good giggle at the patriarchal way Peter bossed the other six around, always leaving the girls out or ignoring their suggestions. My daughter (8), was the first to pipe up that poor old Janet never got listened to, and she was quite right. 

Anyway, we read the book. It had the first three Secret Seven novels published in it. We won't be reading any more.

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