5 (Fiction & Non-Fiction) books to read this July
We think they're pretty great! Grab your favourite drink and add these to your ever growing TBR.
Sometimes all you need is a recommendation from somebody else. The stack of books by the side of your bed and the shelves upon shelves of books in your living room just aren’t as enticing as they need to be right now and that’s okay.
Lucky for you, the library exists!
Explore genres that you’ve not read before, or dive back into old favourites. However you decide to organise your TBR, here are a few suggestions from us for the month of July (in no particular order!)….
Lonely Castle in the Mirror - Mizuki Tsujimura (Translated by Philip Gabriel)
This Japanese novel is equal parts hopeful, reflective, and heart wrenching. Following the lives of seven students, all of whom cannot bring themselves to attend school for varying reasons, a castle emerges in the depths of their glowing mirrors. With a time limit set by the mysterious girl in the wolf mask, the seven students have until the following March to locate the Key to the wishing room where one of their wishes can be granted. Will they work together?
Whilst on the surface the plot seemingly screams science-fiction, readers of multiple genres will find themselves eager to read this. Throughout the story there is a focus on empathetic actions, the power of opening up to another and the reality that support can be what changes your own self belief. Each of the students is loveable in their own way and the reveal of each of their personal stories is captivating.
It is clear that there are some expressions that are missing in translation, but this certainly does not take away from the reading journey.
Yellowface - Rebecca F. Kuang
You may have seen posters for Yellowface plastered all over the London Underground, this book had quite the marketing push, which ironically feels like a nice intertwining of our reality and the book’s narrative messaging.
Yellowface follows bestselling author Juniper Song and her aggressive rise to fame whilst exploring how the death of her industry friend was the catalyst for it all. Kuang explores the publishing industries own flaws and realities, whilst developing a complicated and breathtakingly real character profile for Juniper, inclusive of her questionable actions.
I’m hesitant to mention too much about the plot, as it’s a book best read with few preconceived assumptions, but it’s clear just looking at the book’s standing on Good Reads that it’s a marmite read.
Yellowface sits somewhere between comedy, discomfort and betrayal as well as social commentary for an enjoyable and easy read.
Sensitive: The power of a thoughtful mind in an overwhelming world - Jenn Granneman and Andre Solo
After developing an online haven for the self-proclaimed Sensitive Person (Sensitive Refuge), Granneman and Solo explore the reality of the Highly-Sensitive person. In a world where the dominant narrative can often praise those who seldom show their emotions and are more able to portray a stereotypical version of strength and callousness, the duo here explores the hidden strength behind sensitivity and why embracing and better understanding our own sensitivity and the sensitivity of others can prove powerful in its own right.
Filled with personal anecdotes and accompanying research, Sensitive, explores the mental, physical and interpersonal ramifications of being a Highly Sensitive Person whilst providing alternative trains of thought as to how this particular experience of the world around us can benefit us socially and personally.
This is a particularly interesting read if you consider yourself sensitive or introverted, or have people in your life who would consider themselves so. In a world where we’re constantly thinking about how to do more, and be louder, and fill more time - Sensitive provides a refreshing argument for embracing our sensitivity and understanding it as the social, professional and personal benefit that it is.
Universal: A guide to the cosmos - Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw
Another Non-Fiction pick from us for July, this time exploring the vastness that is the universe around us. Answering many of our most common, most pressing questions about the universe, Cox and Forshaw bring our hyper local experiences into the big picture. By focussing on the things we can see and interact with in our every day life they make the vastness of the universe accessible in order to bring us along on the journey to answer some of these questions.
Both humorous and factual, the duo relies on explaining the how behind the journey towards some of these scientific answers rather than just showcasing that this is simply the answer. Whilst this is an easier read for those with some level of Physics and Mathematic understanding, the appendix and gradual increase in difficulty level makes it an accessible and interesting read throughout.
Ever wondered what happened before the Big Bang? This might be the book for you.
Infectious Generosity: The ultimate idea worth spreading - Chris Anderson
From the head of TED (AKA TED Talks), Chris Anderson found that after the pandemic and global lockdowns it is difficult to be hopeful and find reasons to be optimistic.
Social media can be a barrage of negativity and suffering seemingly if you press the wrong thing just once, and personal circumstances can make it feel as if positivity is so far removed from our daily lives. Through Infectious Generosity, Anderson takes his own inspiration from hearing from the most inspiring of people in our society (Via Ted Talks) to express the ways in which generosity may just be the key.
Through inspiring stories, Anderson showcases how generosity is just as infectious as negativity (if not more so!). He uses real world examples of the domino effect of positivity to exemplify the power that is at our very own fingertips, teaching us how we can each become beacons of positivity in our own ways.
This is a welcome read and is uplifting throughout. On gloomy days (and we’re having many of those, where is our summer sunshine?!) let this book provide a little sunshine.
HAPPY READING!
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