Reading List 2024
Non-Fiction
You’re Not Broken - Sarah Woodhouse
Found it really useful and interesting. She explains trauma loops and responses in a really clear way and breaks down and lists what some of the patterns look like and give clear examples of responses and behaviours. It’s written from a research + lived experience angle which is always something I look for. Highly recommend if you’re interested in learning more about trauma.
Maybe Baby - Sue Saunders
Written by a New Zealand fertility counsellor focusing on the emotional aspects of potential infertility and the options that are available. A topic on my mind currently as we are trying for a baby and it is taking longer than we thought.
The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van Der Kolk
Currently reading
Period Power - Maisie Hill
Currently listening to
The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD by Julie Legg
I really struggled with this book and it was difficult to put my finger on what it was that I didn't like as on paper it ticked a lot of what I look for in a non-fiction book: lived experience, multiple perspectives, topic relevant to me. Written by a late diagnosed female identifying New Zealand ADHDer, with examples and stories from other women throughout. The only redeeming feature was the final chapter titled 'Embracing our ADHD', here is where the compassion and talk of accommodations came in. Not one I would recommend. These were the things that didn't sit right with me:
Blame seemed to be very much with the individual, wishing things were different, tales of woe
Inaccurate definitions, e.g. using zoning out when instead it’s probably auditory processing
Incorrect use of neurodiverse to describe an individual when meaning neurodivergent
Lack of understanding around autism, uses functioning labels and states lack of empathy as inherent
Seems to push formal diagnosis without acknowledging the barriers to this
Puts success down to external factors, medication, understanding partners - not to the person
No acknowledgement of co-occurring conditions and intersectionality
Stolen Focus - Johann Hari
Better Late Than Never - Emma Mahoney
Fiction
The Mortal Instruments series - Cassandra Clare
Re-reading as I never finished the series originally. Easy teenage fantasy. Often a go to genre for a comfort read for me.
The Daevabad Triology - S. A. Chakraborty
Re-reading (audiobook) the first two to then finish the trilogy. Really interesting to have a non-Western centric story and to learn more about middle eastern mythology.
Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros
What a wild ride of an adventure. Sped through this in a couple of days. Great action fantasy with strong female characters and dragons. Can’t wait for the next one to come out!