We love a good book and what it can do for our imagination, and our soul. Here we have compiled a round-up of our favourite paperbacks, that we have loved and have felt forever changed by. We hope they can do the same for you too.
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig
Pondering the infinite possibilities of life. Centred around a young woman named Nora, who is feeling unaccomplished and unhappy with how her life has turned out. One night in the depths of her despair, she commits suicide. She finds herself in a place between life and death and has an opportunity to experience various ways her life could have unfolded, had she made different choices; she is given the chance to undo her regrets. Nora's exploration of herself is captivating as she attempts to discover what is really important in life.
Sorrow and Bliss, Meg Mason
Tackling the issue of long-term mental illness with wit and candour. A brilliantly faceted and hilarious novel centred around a woman named Martha who has struggled to find contentment in her adult life. Taking a rounded and empathetic look at the condition through the experiences of Martha who has been loved everyday of her adult life by one man, called Patrick. Martha has one last chance to find out if life is ever too broken to fix, or whether, maybe, by starting over she will get to write a better ending for herself.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman
Eleanor leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day, and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled existence. Except, sometimes, everything.
The Body Keep's the Score, Bessel van der Kolk
A pioneering researcher and one of the world's foremost experts on traumatic stress offers a bold new paradigm for healing. Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Such experiences inevitably leave traces on minds, emotions and even on biology. Van der Kolk has spent over three decades working with survivors, he transforms our understanding of traumatic stress, revealing how it literally rearranges the brain's wiring, specifically areas dedicated to pleasure, engagement, control and trust. He shows how these areas can be reactivated through innovative treatments including neurofeedback, mindfulness techniques, play, yoga and other therapies. Based on his own research and that of other leading specialists, this book offers proven alternatives to drugs and talk therapy—and a way to reclaim lives.
