Reading Recommendations From (Almost) A Year Of Reading
Exactly what it says on the tin, I mean, subject line.
Hi, I’m Becky, an artist and writer based in Derbyshire. I write about my life in what I hope is an honest and open way. I write about mental health, sobriety and simply trying to find my way in this world. Please subscribe to support my work and to read more of my posts.
Hello,
How are you?
This week’s post is brought to you by an idea inspired by
. She commented on my last letter asking if I had any book recommendations and a light bulb went on. Thus proving that even if the creative well is dry, it is sometimes a good idea to write anyway because it could help inspiration to strike.So, thank you, Janelle!
As it has in the subject line, today I am going to be talking about some of my favourite books that I have in 2024, so far.
My Favourite Books Of 2024… so far
I am going to go out on a limb and say that Raynor Winn’s books are not just some of my favourite books of 2024 but there are some of my favourite books of all time.
They are all non-fiction memoirs that tell the story of Raynor Winn and her husband, Moth.
They start with The Salt Path, in which we learn that Raynor and Moth, have lost their home and livelihood due to a horrible legal battle with someone they believed to be a friend. Whilst this is all going on, Moth is diagnosed with a degenerative illness. Homeless and filled with unknowing and dread, they decide to walk. And by walk I mean they walk 630 miles along the south coast. As they walk, Moth begins to feel better, more like himself and both he and Raynor begin to find themselves again.
The Wild Silence and Landlines carry on their story, with many more walks and beautiful descriptions of nature, whilst not shying away from speaking of the damage we as human beings are doing to this world.
They are all beautiful books filled with nature, hope and love. Love emanates from Raynor as she speaks of Moth and her fear of living without him and desperately wanting to help make him feel better. Even if that means walking 100s of miles.
These books are all extremely well written and so descriptive you feel as if you are with Raynor and Moth on their journey. I was highly inspired and filled with a need to go on long, adventurous walks.
Note: I will say that I cried within the first 30 or so pages of The Salt Path. Raynor and Moth are going through so much and it is all so unfair! I get very wound up when things feel unfair and I have a high sense of justice to the point where I get frustrated when people cheat in wrestling. For anyone who doesn’t know, wrestling for entertainment purposes - AEW, WWE, New Japan etc. - is entirely scripted so getting annoyed at it at the age of 36 is entirely ridiculous by I am who I am!
What I am trying to say, in a rambling manner, is The Salt Path (and the other two books) may make you cry.
I watched the film adaptation of Wild before I read the book. I really enjoyed the film and so was certain I would love the book. I was right.
Wild is very similar to The Salt Path in that it is about someone embarking on a long walk in order to find themselves and to heal. Its differences lie in that Cheryl embarked on her journey alone at the age of 26.
Four years early, Cheryl had lost her mother to cancer. This loss lead down a destructive path of drugs and adultery, culminating in the breakdown of her marriage and distancing herself from her remaining family and friends.
One day, Cheryl makes the decision to walk the Pacific Crest Trail - an 1,100 mile hike along the West Coast of America. With no experience in long-distance hiking, Cheryl wants to escape what her life has become.
Throughout the walk, she is physically and mentally challenged but she reaches the end, Portland, having made many new friends and feeling renewed.
Cheryl, herself, calls this a book about redemption. I found it wholly inspiring. No matter how dark life seems, there will always be light. We just have to keep walking so we can find it.
Heartstopper is series of graphic novels that I read after watching the first series of the Netflix show.
It tells the story of Nick and Charlie. Nick is a popular rugby player in Year 11. Charlie is a creative, shy Year 10 who has spent a lot of time at school being bullied for being gay. Nick and Charlie end up sitting next to each other in form time, developing a friendship that leads to Nick realising he has romantic feeling for Charlie.
The series and novella are both aimed at young adults and at 36 a lot of people might wonder why I even read these, let alone why they are on my favourite books of 2024, but I do not care. The story within them are wonderful, looking at LGBTQIA relationships, bullying and mental health in a very honest and caring way.
They are the books I wish existed when I was younger but I am happy I get to read them now.
Another graphic novel (i.e. a comic book!) because I am a proud nerd. This is a really great graphic novel. Alan Moore is the master of comic book writing.
Watchmen is set in a 1980s America in which superheroes exist but have been outlawed for some years, forcing many into retirement and many to continue working as vigilantes. The story begins when one of the superheroes is murdered and the others must come back together to work out who did it and why, before anyone else is killed.
I am making it sound much more boring than it is but I don’t want to give too much away!
Note: Now, Watchmen is a great graphic novel but it is by no means a nice book. You will not come away from reading it feeling all warm and fuzzy. There are some highly unlikeable characters who do/say terrible things, including attempted rape and murder. I do believe it is Alan Moore’s way of portraying that people with immense amounts of power often do terrible things and get away with it. That being said, please approach with caution if these are trigger points for you.
The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a complete classic and I adore it. It is dark and brooding, with an almost vampiric quality what with Dorian pledging his soul for eternal youth. Unlike many other classic books that I have read/tried to read, I find The Picture Of Dorian Gray very easy to read. It is filled with Oscar Wilde’s poetic language and many of his famous quotes but the writing is not overly complicated.
When it comes to classics I think those who know me would say I am a bit of a cliche. I am all for Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe. I am not a big fan of Jane Austen or Shakespeare. (Shall I leave Substack right now?) I do really love Much Ado About Nothing but that is because I saw the Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson film adaptation when I was younger and loved it. (I’ve made it worse haven’t I?)
I think we need to not be so snobby about the classics and reading in general. Read what you love to read. Don’t force yourself to read something just because it’s a ‘classic’.
Saying that, if you fancy trying a classic, The Picture Of Dorian Gray is a great one.
Note: If you have ever seen the film Velvet Goldmine, you will read a lot of this book in the film character’s voices which is a lot of fun!
This is another scenario where I watched the TV series first, this time on Amazon Prime.
The first series of the TV series follows this book pretty much verbatim and the book is everything you would want from a Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman combination.
Good Omens follows the journey of Aziraphale, an angel, and Crowley, a demon, as they join together to try to stop the son of Satan from ending of the world. It is superbly well written and very funny. I recommend both the book and the show as Aziraphale and Crowley are superbly well played by Martin Sheen and David Tennent, respectively.
Okay, I am going to leave it there before this get’s too long but, before you go, tell me:
📚 What book have you read this year that you have really loved?
Thank you so much for reading.
As always, if you enjoyed this letter or anything resonated, please let me know by replying to this email or, if you are on Substack, by giving it a like or leaving a comment. If you really enjoyed it, please share it or restack it so someone else might find it. Thank you. 🖤
Until next time, take care of yourself.
Love,
Becky
🖤✨🌈
*All the links in today’s letter are affiliate links so, if you buy any of the books via a link, I will get a small fee.*