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Letter to my daughter

Letter to My Daughter

This book is a mix of memoir and personal advice. Her prose is powerful. However, because certain chapters move suddenly into themes of violence and abuse, they can easily trigger dark and unmanageable emotions. These sections are so raw that I feel there should be a content warning at the beginning. Other chapters included poetry that was beautiful to read. It gave me a sense of comfort and warmth, I felt like she was giving me a hug. One piece of her advice worth remembering:… Read More »Letter to My Daughter

Becoming Meg Dashwood

Becoming Meg Dashwood

  • Fiction

This was my first amazing experience with an audiobook and it has set the bar very high! Although I later realised not all audiobooks are the same, and that this was a “full cast” audiobook, which means multiple voices (one for each character), music (the chant of the den was simply the best!), sound effects, etc., a midway point between a book and a film. It’s an imaginary modern sequel to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, who I think would have been delighted and proud to… Read More »Becoming Meg Dashwood

Good Girls Go to Heaven, Bad Girls Go Everywhere

Good Girls Go to Heaven, Bad Girls Go Everywhere

There was a time when the title of this book felt like a promise of liberation. I even had a T-shirt with those words on it, which I wore with pride. Later, during an afternoon in an Italian bookstore, I came across this volume and became convinced that I simply had to read it. The writing is fluid and simple, yet it left me with a sense of incompleteness. The book loses itself in a list of precepts, a series of “do this” and “behave… Read More »Good Girls Go to Heaven, Bad Girls Go Everywhere

Show, Don't Tell: How to write vivid descriptions, handle backstory, and describe your characters’ emotions

Show, Don’t Tell: How to write vivid descriptions, handle backstory, and describe your characters’ emotions

This book is an invaluable resource for any writer, regardless of experience level. Exceptionally well-written, well-organised, and highly practical, it offers advice that is easy to understand and implement. Each writing tip is explained clearly and supported by abundant examples and exercises to help you put the concepts into practice. One of the most helpful aspects for me is its potential to be used as a writing checklist, helping you evaluate your work and identify areas for improvement. If you write, this book is a… Read More »Show, Don’t Tell: How to write vivid descriptions, handle backstory, and describe your characters’ emotions

Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness Are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe

Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness Are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe

Lanza argues that life and consciousness are not mere byproducts of the physical universe but are, in fact, central to its very existence. In other words, according to “Biocentrism,” life created the universe, and the laws of the universe are fine-tuned to accommodate consciousness. This idea starkly contrasts with the traditional materialistic viewpoint, which suggests that life emerged as a result of physical processes in a pre-existing universe. I’m not a scientist, so I lack the tools to say whether the book leans more towards… Read More »Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness Are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

This book has opened my eyes. I firmly believe that words matter. The way we use them shapes our world and our connection with others. The way we speak to others can change the way they feel. We can be violent with our words because words can hurt, but we can also be compassionate with our words, they can heal. In the Italian version, the title of this book is: “Words are windows (or walls)”. The method the author offers is simple but powerful (and… Read More »Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

Happy Ever After

If you believe that happiness comes from being wealthy, successful, educated, married with children, healthy, etc., then read this book, and your beliefs will be challenged. The author, Paul Dolan, is a Professor of Behavioral Science who explores the concept of happiness by challenging societal norms. I enjoyed this book because it has many thought-provoking chapters that made me reflect a lot and gave me a fresh perspective on our society. It stayed with me long after I finished reading it. Title: Happy Ever After:… Read More »Happy Ever After

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Despite fantasy not typically being my cup of tea, it was easy for me to see why Harry Potter is so well-loved. It’s descriptive, immersive, and has a remarkable ability to ignite the imagination. As someone who usually finds it hard to engage with fantasy worlds, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself affected by this book. Once, in the period I was reading it, I even had dreams about magic! I don’t think I’ll read the rest of the series, but it was still… Read More »Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

When Things Fall Apart

I picked up this book during one of the most difficult periods of my life when my son was in intensive care last summer. The anguish was visceral, and there wasn’t a single part of my body that didn’t ache. Colours seemed to vanish from my surroundings, and everything people said, except for those few who genuinely were there for me, had zero impact. Silently, I was screaming that I wanted it all to stop. So, I resonated with the book’s core concept: in moments… Read More »When Things Fall Apart

The Highly Sensitive Person

The Highly Sensitive Person

This book helps highly sensitive people (HSPs) to honour their traits and take care of themselves in a less sensitive society. Sometimes I felt the author was speaking to me directly; other times, I felt like an observer. This is not bad, as it makes this book thought-provoking. The paragraph about medications for HSPs was very interesting. I am deeply moved by things. I’d hate to miss the intense joy of that. Overall, it helped me ask questions, and so I practised a bit more… Read More »The Highly Sensitive Person