Recommended Reads, Vol. 3

It’s been a while since I’ve written a post about books, so I thought I’d share some more of my recommended reads with you today! I’ve included a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and some of these recommendations are linked to mental health, but aren’t specifically “therapy” books.

They’re in no particular order, and cover a range of different genres, but they’re all authored or co-authored by women. I’m always looking for recommendations for books to read, so do let me know if you have any!

And if you’d like to read about more of my previous recommended reads, you can find the posts here and here.

‘The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies’ - Alison Goodman

This is one of my top 3 reads so far for 2023, as it’s a fast-paced, fun story with fabulous characters, and lots of wit. It’s set in London in the Regency period (think Jane Austen-esque if she had written about amateur female detectives!), and follows twin sisters Augusta (Gus) and Julia as they solve mysteries and protect other women in a society designed to oppress them.

As they immerse themselves in the thrill of the chase, they have to navigate the privileges and pitfalls of entrenched social hierarchies, and to challenge the assumption that they’re “old maids”. If you’re looking for a joyful, clever, engaging read, I’d strongly suggest you take a look at this!

‘What Happened to You'?’ - Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey

During Covid, Oprah Winfrey and Dr Bruce Perry, a specialist on trauma and the brain, began to record their conversations about the devastating impact that traumatic experiences have on development, and human beings’ remarkable ability to heal from it.

This book is the written account of those conversations, and the style is accessible and easy to follow, with beautiful images accompanying the text to give a visual representation of some complex ideas. Although it undoubtedly covers some difficult content, it’s a hugely important read to give everyone an understanding of how we all need to account for ‘What happened to you?” when other people say and do things that may seem “irrational” and / or harmful.

‘This Much Is True’ - Miriam Margolyes

Whether you love her, hate her or have no opinion either way about her, Miriam Margolyes has been a stalwart of the acting world for almost 70 years. This is her memoir, written during lockdown at the age of 80, when she finally felt ready to share her story.

Hilarious, sweary and endlessly fascinating, Margolyes highlights the people, experiences and places that have shaped the person she’s become. There are anecdotes about lots of famous faces she worked with, decisions she had to make about whether to prioritise her career or her personal life, and many of the lessons and insights she’s gathered along the way, so well worth a read.

‘Memphis’ - Tara M. Stringfellow

The city of Memphis is an extra character in this rich, vibrant novel, which follows the stories of three generations of women from the same family, and the connections they have within their community. There are some challenging themes of abuse, racism, and trans-generational trauma, but this is balanced out by the vivid descriptions of people and places, which enable the reader to immerse themselves in this world.

Every character is fleshed out beautifully, and the layering of their stories reflects the complexity of establishing and maintaining a connected family unit. I felt that it sustained a steady pace, but each of the plot threads were given room to breathe and develop, which is a reflection of Stringfellow’s skill as a writer, and I highly recommend it.

‘What My Bones Know’ - Stephanie Foo

Another memoir in the list, this time from Stephanie Foo, an Asian-American writer who set out to understand more about her family history and recognise the potency of unprocessed trans-generational trauma. Stephanie shares some of the harrowing experiences she had when she was growing up, her struggle to make sense of what happened to her, and her quest to find a way to heal herself from its impact.

At times, this is a difficult read, so do keep that in mind, especially if elements of her story resonate with your own (specifically, there are themes of abuse, war, and suicidal ideation). And yet, it’s another example of how confronting our demons can open up new depths of grief and pain, but also the opportunity to heal. I am endlessly amazed by the human capacity to emerge from the worst possible circumstances into something new.

‘Strong Female Character’ - Fern Brady

I hadn’t seen much of Fern Brady’s comedy before her time on Taskmaster, but I thought she was brilliant, and when I heard that she had released a memoir, I set out to get hold of a copy. Fern recounts her experiences of growing up as an undiagnosed autistic woman, and reflects on the impact that this had on her sense of self, her relationships, and her wellbeing.

Her honesty and vulnerability are evidently some of her biggest strengths, and it’s refreshing to read an unflinching account of the highs and lows of navigating a world that simply isn’t designed for people who are neurodivergent. This book has also been a hugely important read for me professionally, as more than half of my current clients are autistic women, and / or women with a diagnosis of ADHD…

If you haven’t heard of this book, I’d encourage you to add it to your reading list and to read it as soon as possible.

‘The Devil You Know’ - Dr Gwen Adshead & Eileen Horne

This is another difficult but fascinating read and it features 12 stories from a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist who has worked with offenders in high-security facilities, including Broadmoor. Having worked with offenders in the community before training as a therapist, I was particularly interested in how she approached therapy with a client group that many therapists would steer clear of, as well as her reflections and insights on her own development.

Fair warning: it’s not a “light” read (there are some upsetting details of disturbing offences, including sexual abuse and murder), so it’s definitely not for everyone. If you still feel able to manage reading beyond this element, then it offers a lot of food-for-thought on the wider impact of trauma and crime, as well as whether it’s possible to rehabilitate even the most dangerous people.

I hope that this post inspires you to check out something you might not have considered reading before! I’m always on the lookout for book recommendations, so do let me know if you think there’s anything I’d enjoy.

At the time of writing this post, I have some limited availability for new clients who like to work with me. If this is you, feel free to contact me: using the form at the bottom of the page; via email to emma@emmapooleytherapy.com, or on Facebook and Instagram @emmapooleytherapy, and let’s see if we’d like to work together.