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My Saboteur

1/26/2021

I've watched some great documentaries this week and binged the tragicomedy Back to Life on Netflix.

I also made a drawing of my Saboteur. I never even considered this could be a part of my psyche until my counselor raised it in this week's session. Self care and self love does not come easy to me - I do it more out of duty and responsibility - and I was telling her about some of my not so helpful coping strategies for depression and fibro.

That's the great thing about therapy, what you say in the room, stays in the room, but I can get it all off my chest without receiving any judgement in return.

You know, working full time and running a house that is so old it's a constant work in progress is tougher than I ever imagined. You throw in mental health management and fibro management and it's no wonder I often feel I can't face another day.

I don't want to sound like a pity party, I'm just telling my story. I am seriously missing travelling. Throwing myself into a completely different culture and experience is the great leveller for me. Travel is my reset button.

I guess one day at a time.

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Checking Out by Nick Spalding

1/19/2021

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I've been loosely following Nick Spalding's releases over the years and it helps that my Kindle makes suggestions, so I always know when he's published something new!

I think he's the first male author I've read who writes from the male perspective in the Chick Lit genre. I'm sure there are many others, but Spalding has captured my attention ever since he wrote that book "Life with no breaks" in 24 hours. I remember it was the first book on my Kindle.

"Checking Out" caught my eye because it verges on tragicomedy, a genre I"m very much enjoying at the moment. I would love to be able to fictionalise my mental health ups and downs for example. That ability to make your reader laugh and cry simultaneously has me captured.

Nathan gets given some extremely bad news and the story is about how he copes with it. His crazy and hectic journey of self discovery made me laugh out loud a lot, probably because I related to some of his attempts and the weird and wonderful scenarios we can get ourselves into when we feel so desperate. Then you look back at them and think, god what was I thinking?!

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Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes

1/12/2021

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This is my second Marian Keyes this year. I find her writing utterly compelling and believable. Again, I'd say the tragicomedy genre I'm enjoying so much is growing, as I'd put this novel into that category.

Anna has hit rock bottom and despite her large Irish family rallying around her, she just wants to be alone. Without giving anything away, I can relate to Anna's desperation and heartache and the impossible pain and having to drag your bum through another day that you can't bear to face. Throwing herself (and myself) into work. And mixed with the tragedy, there's the beautiful humour and the goings on of everyday life, as irritating as that is when you become obsessed with trying to get to the bottom of something and ordinary life is so tiresome and continuous.

I think it's brilliant writing!

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The Break by Marian Keyes

1/5/2021

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Kicking off the year with a review!

This was my introduction to Marian Keyes. I bought this one for Venice back in September, read quite a bit of it in hospital during October and then picked it up again to finish it this last week.

I love the big Irish family thing going on, they all bring something to the table and that's incredible plotting right there for you - trying to keep up with all the family members and how much "airitme" to give them, without overshadowing the main characters, Hugh and Amy.

I can imagine this being the stuff of nightmares for every person in a long term relationship - their other half suddenly taking off, saying they still love you but they want a break. It's so wishy washy for starters. What's the other person supposed to do with that?

But Amy has to get on with it. She's running a household, looking after her children and working full time and all that can't just be paused. Yep, it's difficult not to hate Hugh!

This is wise writing, glorious, believable. One of those life affirming novels for us women, who are trying to juggle it all. You will laugh and you will cry.

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All Things Writing Travel Photography

My Saboteur

Checking Out by Nick Spalding

Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes

The Break by Marian Keyes

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