Hey besties! Hope you’re enjoying February so far. How about those lighter mornings? And the bulbs!! My annual reminder that life isn’t always dark and grey. What a treat.
In January I read one (1) book. I don’t feel bad about it because it was a cracker and also it was all my brain could handle, but now I’m finding it hard to pick up my next book. Idk what my brain wants. My creative flow seems to be having a moment and I’m finding myself writing more than ever, but perhaps that’s because I haven’t been reading as much?! I’m rambling.
So, just stopping by your inbox to share the one book I did manage to read, some things that I have been kind of reading for what feels like a million years, and some book-adjacent content.
What I read this month
Funny You Should Ask - Elissa Sussman
Ok, if I absolutely had to pick a guilty pleasure (even though I don’t believe in guilty pleasures because I don’t think you should feel guilty about things that bring you joy), I think it would be romance novels. Not Mills & Boon (although I’ve never read one, so who knows?!), but just easy-to-read, feel good romance.
If you read and enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy*, you’ll enjoy this one as well, although I would recommend not reading the two in quite close succession as I did because they sort of merged into one another.
The basic gist of the story is that it’s the story of a romance between a writer and an an actor (who also happens to be a Hollywood star)... You can probably figure out the rest. A genuinely excellent romance that is also dry and funny, pretty much all of my favourite things.
*If you, like me, refused to buy Romantic Comedy because of the crap UK cover, I implore you to read it another way because it is SO GOOD! I managed to get it for the library, so go forth and see whether yours has it on the shelves too.
What I’m Reading
Solo: How to Work Alone - Rebecca Seal
If you are a freelancer, part time worker, self employed person, or you just work on your own at home, this is an excellent read. It provides great information and facts about home working which really help you to realise you’re not on your own and the cabin fever sets in for everyone. It’s also a good contrast to the ‘hustle culture’ vibes, reminding you that you don't have to work 9-5 Monday to Friday to have a valid life.
You Are a Badass at Making Money - Jen Sincero
I read Jen Sincero’s ‘You are a Badass’ years ago, so when I saw this one in TK Maxx just before Christmas I thought I’d give it a go. I’m really enjoying it so far - similar to Solo it feels like it’s full of really good, interesting information and doesn’t draw from that LinkedIn bro culture of ‘sleep when you’re dead hustle hustle you have to be the best at everything’ etc etc. Hard recommend if you’re self employed or in an industry where you want to put your work out there into the world and work for yourself.
What I watched this month
The Many Primes of Murial Spark
“Kirsty Wark celebrates the life and work of Dame Muriel Spark, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and one of the 20th century's most enigmatic cultural figures, on the one-hundredth anniversary of her birth.”
My dad recommended this BBC show to me and I loved it; learning about Muriel Spark’s relationship with Edinburgh, her writing, her books and her time living in Italy. Also bonus points for Kirsty Wark’s delicious voice.
Just a shortie from me this month, I’m making lists for my ‘Things I Love Tuesdays’ and hopefully I’ll be able to deliver more on the reading front next month, but no pressure because we’re all about the cruisey, patient, low stress life.
Let me know what you’ve been reading or if you have any recommendations. See ya! Iona x