#Review By Lou of A Therapeutic Journey By Alain De Botton #AlainDeBotton @PenguinUKBooks #HamishHamilton #ATherapeuticJourney #LessonsFromTheSchoolOfLife #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #NonFiction

A Therapeutic Journey
By Alain De Botton

A Therapeutic Journey is an interesting exploration of mental health by the Sunday Times bestselling author of The School of Life. A book many will find interesting in a factual way and for many it may well be rather relatable.
Check out the blurb and my review below.

AS HEARD ON THE DIARY OF A CEO PODCAST WITH STEVEN BARTLETT

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The School of Life

A healthy mind knows how to hope, hanging on tenaciously to the reasons to keep going.

A healthy mind resists unfair comparisons, not allowing others’ successes to throw it off course.

A healthy mind avoids catastrophic imaginings, distinguishing worries of what could happen from what likely will.

Just as there is no such thing as a human being who will never become physically ill, there is no human who will go their whole life without becoming mentally unwell. But recognising ourselves when we’re well can do a lot to help us identify what can go awry. Written with his signature kindness and empathy, this book is Alain de Botton’s practical guide to caring for our mental health – from the acts of self-care in which we find respite to the help which psychotherapy can bring.

Mental illness is as common, and as unshameful, as its bodily counterpart. We should be no more reluctant to seek help than we are if we develop a chest infection or sore knee – and we are no less worthy of love and sympathy in those moments. This book is a reminder of that.

Review

A Therapeutic Journey takes readers into mental health. Everyone has mental health, healthy or otherwise and from either perspective of how you’re mentally feeling, it’s an interesting book. It’s a bit unfortunate that some of it can appear a bit angry in tone, but it is at least just a small handful of places, so it doesn’t detract too much from wanting to read the entire book. On the whole, the book is written with kindness and compassion with interesting information about mental health, in a way that people will be able to relate to. Fascinatingly it explores the history of mental health and certain well-known artists who are known for a deterioration in their state of mind at certain points in their lives. There is also some artwork in certain sections by people such as Picasso, Cezanne and more…

It’s a wise book, in many respects as it talks about the contributions to poorer mental health in many aspects of life, although lingers a bit long on childhood before moving along. The journey of the book also takes readers into the topic of therapy, which is rather insightful and thought-provoking.

A Therapeutic Journey takes readers through an exploration of art, love, compassion and more in a blend of historical perspectives and facts and personal experiences and discoveries.

About the Author

Alain de Botton is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including The School of Life: An Emotional Education, How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and The Course of Love. He is the founder of The School of Life.

#Review By Lou of Island In The Sun By Katie Fforde @KatieFforde @centurybooksuk @randomhouse #HolidayRead #Escapism #Summer

Island In The Sun
By Katie Fforde

Sun, sea and pure escapism can all be found in Katie Fforde’s latest, enticing book.

Blurb

Dominica. A beautiful remote island where the sun shines and the living is easy.

And where Cass goes to photograph a rare stone carving as a favour to her father.

With her is Ranulph, a deeply attractive, much-travelled journalist, who offers to help Cass with her quest.

But Dominica has just been hit be a severe hurricane, and Cass and Ranulph are spending all of their time helping the local community.

Cass knows she must not fall in love with him… He is just looking out for her. He’s being kind.

There is no way he could be even the slightest bit interested in her. Could he?

Review

Dominica is painted as a very attractive and desirable place to be. The idyllic location is soon rocked by a severe hurricane hitting its shores and interfering with community life. Katie Fford captures the contrast in between the calm, serene scenery and the destructive nature of the storm, beautifully.

Cass is on a mission from her father to photograph a rare stone carving in Dominica, where she also meets Ranulph. He’s well travelled and interesting, so very quickly becomes a character you want to know more about. He’s a journalist, so of course is curious about Cass, since she’s on the hunt for something rare.
When the hurricane hits, there’s a more genuine warm-heartedness about the characters as they want to help the community get through the devastation.

Romance is in the air and oozes off the page, just like the romance of the location does. It’s a very different sort of romance from the norm, which I rather liked. I won’t say too much about that as I feel it’s something to be explored as you read the book. It certainly adds much interest to the characters as its played out.

Island in the Sun is a rather interesting escapist read that embodies romance and danger.

#Review By Lou of Island In The Sun By Katie Fforde @KatieFforde @centurybooksuk @randomhouse #HolidayRead #Escapism

Island In The Sun
By Katie Fforde

Sun, sea and pure escapism can all be found in Katie Fforde’s latest, enticing book.

Blurb

Dominica. A beautiful remote island where the sun shines and the living is easy.

And where Cass goes to photograph a rare stone carving as a favour to her father.

With her is Ranulph, a deeply attractive, much-travelled journalist, who offers to help Cass with her quest.

But Dominica has just been hit be a severe hurricane, and Cass and Ranulph are spending all of their time helping the local community.

Cass knows she must not fall in love with him… He is just looking out for her. He’s being kind.

There is no way he could be even the slightest bit interested in her. Could he?

Review

Island in the Sun is a rather interesting escapist read that embodies romance and danger.

#Review of Hattie Brings the House Down By Patrick Gleeson #PatrickGleeson @noexitpress #ATheatrelandMystery #Theatre #HattieBringsTheHouseDown #Mystery

Hattie Brings the House Down
By Patrick Gleeson

Hattie Brings the House Down is a book that serves theatre and mystery lovers well. Thanks to No Exit Press and Random T. Tours, I have the blurb and my review for you.

Blurb

Get ready for a thrilling backstage ride in the world of theatre as seasoned
stage manager Hattie embarks on a new production at London’s Tavistock pub
theatre. Here, the drama doesn’t just occur on stage.
Troublesome directors and fastidious assistants soon become the least of
Hattie’s worries as, a week into rehearsals, an actress is found dead backstage
on the same day that an extremely valuable theatrical mask goes missing.
Hattie begins investigating both mysteries, all the while trying to keep the
dysfunctional cast and crew on track for opening night. As she delves deeper
into the secrets behind the scenes, her allegiance to her theatre, cast and crew
will be tested to destruction.

Follow this unconventional detective as she delves into the alluring and
exquisitely perilous world of the theatre.

Review

There’s as much drama off-stage as there is on-stage, if not more…

A theatre, this case London’s Tavistock pub theatre, provides a great setting for a mysterious plot with some larger than life characters, some with more than just a few quirks and foibles.

Readers are treated to theatrical shenanigans and intricacies of putting on a play. All is far from well as, dramatically, there is a dead body and a theft, so the fact the cast and the backstage team aren’t ready for opening night, since it’s only week 1 of rehearsals meaning they’ve got a lot to deal with.

The case isn’t easy to solve as it takes readers down trap doors of secrets and lies and red herrings. Suddenly it isn’t as easy as just saying “stage left” etc. The circumstances sends Hattie on quite a quest to discover the truth of what’s been going on that led to the theft of a valuable item and a death.

Patrick Gleeson’s passion for theatre shines through and as the plot unfolds, the concept could almost be an entertaining play within a play on a stage. As it goes, it’s an entertaining and enjoyable book.

About the Author

Patrick has a degree in philosophy and classics, another one in technical theatre
and stage management, and one more in business administration. He has
worked as a theatre sound designer, an “interpretive naturalist” at an aquarium,
a software developer, a business mentor to fledgling entrepreneurs, and a voice
actor.
He composed the music for a musical about taxidermy that The Stage said “put
to shame the hackneyed standards of the contemporary musical scene”, and has
been performed in London, Edinburgh, Suffolk and, weirdly, Alaska.
He now lives in Norfolk with his wife and two children, where he brews
mediocre cider.

#Review By Lou of The Bravest Word By Kate Foster @kfosterauthor @WalkerBooksUK@LoveBooksTours #Kidslit #MiddleGrade #ChildrensBook #MentalHealth #Football #Dogs #TheBravestWord

The Bravest Word
By Kate Foster

A brave, heartfelt book for Middle-grade children that combines a dog, football and prevalent childhood issues.

Blurb

A rescue story of love and trust between a boy and a dog from the talented author of Paws.

Matt is a football superstar. He can handle anything. Except lately his chest feels empty and his head is screaming. He can’t concentrate in school or enjoy football any more, and he is so, so tired. When Matt stumbles across an abandoned dog, there’s no doubt in his mind that he has to save him. But maybe the dog isn’t the only one who needs help.

Review

The Bravest Word combines some childhood interests, such as football with mental health, or rather suffering from poor mental health. It’s a winning combo, especially when a cute dog is also added to the mix. It’s a book many children will relate to.

Matt is lost. He loved football. He was a superstar and this book shows that even heroes are not infallible and are human after all. They can also find life tough at times as well as see their mental health decline.
When Matt comes across a dog, he feels moved to rescue it, but it becomes a greater partnership than he could ever imagine, turning it into a positive, heartfelt story.

The book cleverly draws the readers in with the style of writing, which also includes text message format here and there, that adds to the story and something kids can easily latch onto too, along with a feeling of not being alone.
There’s a supportive and hopeful nature about the plot of this book.
This is a great book for kids to either read alone or as a group or with a parent/caregiver as it can be used as a talking point or to foster empathy.
There’s plenty food for thought and a great plot to keep kids engaged.

There’s also a rather interesting and informative author’s note at the end too.

#Review By Lou of Close To Death By Anthony Horowitz @AntonyHorowitz @centurybooksuk @penguinrandom #HawthorneSeries #CloseToDeath @SarahHarwood_

Close To Death
By Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz brings the unexpected into our books and onto our screens and in his talks. I recently watched The Magpie Murders and enjoyed it and I also saw him give a fascinating talk at Bloody Scotland. So, to have a chance to review Close To Death, well, I was amazed and grabbed the opportunity with both hands thanks to Century/Penguin Random and Sarah Harwood.

Blurb

Richmond Upon Thames is one of the most desirable areas to live in London. And Riverview Close – a quiet, gated community – seems to offer its inhabitants the perfect life.

At least it does until Giles Kenworthy moves in with his wife and noisy children, his four gas-guzzling cars, his loud parties and his plans for a new swimming pool in his garden.

His neighbours all have a reason to hate him and are soon up in arms.

When Kenworthy is shot dead with a crossbow bolt through his neck, all of them come under suspicion and his murder opens the door to lies, deception and further death.

The police are baffled. Reluctantly, they call in former Detective Daniel Hawthorne. But even he is faced with a seemingly impossible puzzle.

Review

A quiet, gated community in Richmond Upon Thames should be just that… quiet and unassuming in a rich, picturesque, highly desirable area of London. Perhaps it is, most of the time, but this is Antony Horrowitz writing about this area, so of course this is turned on its head. There are twists and turns and and ending that you simply must reach.

Giles Kenworthy is the neighbour from hell, the sort you see being written about on social media from time to time each summer. No one likes him and when he is killed, everyone has a motive so everyone is under suspicion.

Close To Death is very cleverly plotted in such a way that you truly are left guessing until the very end. I found this in The Magpie Murders too. It’s reminiscent of Johnathon Creek in some, but not all ways as Horrowitz has very clearly got his own unique style.

I was glued to Close To Death from start to finish, even more than I expected with this curiously intriguing plot.

About the Author

Anthony John Horowitz CBE (born 5 April 1955) is an English novelist and screenwriter specialising in mystery and suspense. His works for children and young adult readers include the Alex Rider series and The Diamond Brother’s Series.

Horowitz’s works for adults include the play Mindgame; two Sherlock Holmes novels, Moriarty Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders The Twist of a Knife (2022), and Close to Death (2024).

The estate of James Bond creator Ian Fleming chose Horowitz to write Bond novels utilising unpublished material by Fleming, starting with Trigger Mortis.

Horowitz has also written for television, contributing scripts to ITV’s Agatha Christie’s Poirot and adapting six early episodes of Midsomer Murders.
He was the creator and writer of the ITV series Foyle’s War, Collision and Injustice and the BBC series Crime Traveller and New Blood.