World Book Day 2021
Happy World Book Day! This is a day that feels even more special to me than usual after the last 12 months. Books have been a source of comfort and escapism for me since I was very young, and I have been especially thankful for them during the pandemic.
The opportunity to enter new worlds, learn new things, and appreciate the beauty of great writing is something I treasure, and reading (or listening to stories if you prefer to read that way) opens up so much wonder and joy. My favourite thing about primary school was when the Book Fair would be held there and I could choose a new book, and I’m still sad that this isn’t a thing in workplaces (if it is a thing in your workplace, please let me know and also, if I can visit one day, that would be amazing!).
If you’re thinking, yeah, lots of people claim to love books, you should know that: I was a library monitor at school and took that role incredibly seriously; I feel a physical pain when someone has written on the pages of a book (especially if they’ve used a pen!); I relate to ‘Matilda’ on a spiritual level, and my dream is to have a library in my home one day!
There’s something magical about libraries and bookshops, and they’re places in which I feel very peaceful. Spending several hours - or a whole day if I can - in a bookshop or library is always part of my dream weekend plans, and one of the things I’ve missed being able to do most during Covid. Some public libraries are incredible pieces of architecture in and of themselves, like the Kansas City Public Library, which I’ve never been to but looks absolutely incredible, and the British Library (below):
Part of ‘The Community Bookshelf’ feature at Kansas City Public Library in Kansas, Missouri
(C) David King via http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidking/9396803/sizes/o/in/set-232456/
The King’s Library (the collection of King George III) at The British Library in London
(C) British Library via https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/the-kings-library
I have set myself a reading challenge for 2021, which is to read 1 book every week for the whole year - 52 books in total. My screen time in 2020 sky-rocketed, so I’m determined to make an effort to change that this year!
So far in 2021, I’ve read:
‘They Ask, You Answer’ by Marcus Sheridan
‘Never Split the Difference’ by Chris Voss
‘Confessions of a Bookseller’ by Shaun Bythell
‘The Moth: Occasional Magic’ edited by Catherine Burns
‘Afropean’ by Johnny Pitts
‘Miracle Workers’ by Simon Rich
‘Being Mortal’ by Atul Gawande
‘Trainspotting’ by Irvin Welsh
I enjoy reading material from a wide variety of genres, especially if it isn’t something I would usually choose myself, and I’m avoiding reading too many “therapy / mental health” books at the moment because I can find that I don’t switch off from work if I do so.
Some of the books I’ve read this year have grabbed me more than others as you’d expect, but I’ve appreciated their differences and that I’ve got something from each of them. I’m now reading ‘Permanent Record’ by Edward Snowden, and have got at least 15 books in my ‘To Be Read’ pile at the moment!
As this is a post about my appreciation of books, here are 10 of my recommended reads:
‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle
‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney
The ‘Black Magicians’ trilogy by Trudi Canavan
‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ by Susannah Clarke
The ‘Millennium’ trilogy by Stieg Larsson
‘Maybe You Should Talk to Someone’ by Lori Gottlieb
‘Blood Sugar’ by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
‘Everybody Lies’ by Seth Stephens Davidowitz
‘This is Going to Hurt’ by Adam Kay
‘The Axeman’s Jazz’ by Ray Celestin
If you have any recommended reads for me, feel free to connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @emmapooleytherapy and let me know; I’d love to hear them!
And as ever, if you’re struggling with your mental health and think I might be the therapist for you, you can contact me using the form below, via @emmapooleytherapy on Instagram and Facebook, or via email to emma@emmapooleytherapy.com and let’s see if we can work together.