Books I read in Q2 2023

April, May, and June were amazing months. The optimistic Spring vibes, the long Summer days, the nature at its full bloom … oh, this is my favourite time of the year 🌸

In terms of reading, I read quite a lot – both fiction and non-fiction.

When talking about fiction, I read new-to-me authors (Alix. E Harrow, Naomi Jackson, but also authors I already knew (Margaret Atwood, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Pip Williams, Maggie O’Farrell).

When looking at non-fiction, the books are set around my new interest in the human mind – Yalom (psychology), Marcia Reynolds & John Whitmore (coaching), and Eric Berne (Transactional Analysis).

I hope you enjoy reading the post and find inspiration to read out of your bubble, one book at a time!

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FICTION

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Sisterhood and witchcraft in New Salem, United States, in 1890s – sounds amazing, right? The three Eastwood sisters fight for the right to vote, as well as advocating for witching rights.

A super captivating and energetic story, with plot twists and a lot of magic, fighting for the family bonds and for the greater good!

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

Sisterhood again – this time, about twin sisters Peggy and Maude, who work as bookbinders at the Oxford University Press. They are folding and sewing the pages of some of the most important books, but they’re not expected to read them.

The Bookbinder of Jericho is about family and love, social classes and impact of war, books and fighting against the odds for the education you want. Read my review for more details!

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Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

Grace, sentenced to life imprisonment, is a curious person – some think she’s innocent, some think she’s the mastermind behind the crime committed with her partner, James. Young doctor Simon Jordan is asked to study Grace from a psychological perspective, to clarify whether she’s innocent or not.

Alias Grace is based on a real murder case from Canada in the 1840s. The book is A-MA-ZING, Atwood at its best ❤ There’s also a very good TV series based on the book, on Netflix. 

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book … how do I even start? The story is about a band – The Six – and their lead singer – Daisy. The plot structure is super innovative, as the whole story is a collection of interviews with the band members, plus emails, song lyrics, transcripts. Mindblowing!

Daisy Jones and The Six is a historical fiction story, inspired by Fleetwood Mac and the recording of their 1977 album Rumours. There’s also a TV series by Amazon Prime, and you can listen to their album on Spotify 😉

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The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

One more historical fiction book – I guess that’s my cup of tea lately 🙂

In the 1560s, 15-year-old Lucrezia married Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. Less than a year later, she died. The official cause was “putrid fever”, but there were rumours she was murdered by her husband. Pam pam! That’s how the book begins …

The Marriage Portrait is a type of “whydunit” or “howdunit” story – we know from the beginning that someone dies, but why, and how? Super super captivating story, loved it so much! I also read Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (my review) – loved it as well!

The Star Side of the Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson

Dionne (16) and Phaedra (10), sisters living in Brooklyn USA, are suddenly sent for the summer holiday to live with their grandmother, in Barbados. They discover the community from their mother’s birth place, get accustomed to the local spiritual practices of their grandmother, while also falling in love and discovering themselves.

The Star Side of the Bird Hill was a super interesting read, full of cultural learnings about Barbados! And Hyacinth, the grandmother, reminded me so much of another fictional grandmother – Grandma Diệu Lan from The Mountains Sing, set in Vietnam (my review).

NON-FICTION

For the non-fiction books I’ll just explain briefly their main topic, without too many details and personal opinions.

Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore

Written by the pioneer of coaching, Sir John Whitmore, Coaching for Performance is the foundation book for the coaching profession. It features the well-known GROW model and explains why enabling people to bring the best out of themselves is the key to driving productivity, growth, and engagement.

The Discomfort Zone by Marcia Reynolds

The Discomfort Zone is a book about how to turn difficult conversations into breakthroughs. It is based on the idea that the discomfort zone – the moment when the mind is most open to learning – is one of the best moments to “prompt people to think through problems, see situations more strategically, and transcend their limitations”

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What Do You Say After You Say Hello by Eric Berne

Eric Berne, the father of Transactional Analysis, reveals in this comprehensive book how everyone’s life follows a predetermined script – a script they compose for themselves during early childhood. I read about 50% of this book.

Lying on the Couch by Irvin Yalom

This is a fiction book, but I chose to add it to the non-fiction stack because I read it for non-fiction purpose 🙂 It is a funny story about unusual relations of therapists with their patients, about lying and what “therapists might really be thinking during their sessions”.

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If you would like to buy books or other (non)bookish things, please consider using one of these links: Amazon | Waterstones | Carturesti. Thank you!

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What books made you happy recently?

I’d love to get some inspiration for what to read next!

‘Till next time .. happy reading!

Georgiana