Stories that speak to you
One of the few bonuses of the Pandemic for many has been the time and opportunity to read more.
I often wake in the night, finding it hard to get to sleep again. I decided to sign up to Audible audiobooks and it has proved a great decision. I mostly read fiction, and some biographies and I wasn’t sure how I would get on with listening to a book rather than reading one, but after a few chapters of my first book it just seemed perfectly normal! Books are downloaded on to your smart phone or tablet and then you can listen to them out loud or through headphones. When I wake now, I just plug in my headphones and listen to a book. My only personal rule is that the story mustn’t be too exciting, or I don’t drop off to sleep! There is a sleep timer, so when you do go back to sleep the book doesn’t race too far ahead.
Here are two books I have enjoyed listening to recently:
‘Where the light enters’ – Jill Biden
A hugely readable book by Dr Jill Biden, wife of now President Joe Biden. It was published in 2018 so there is no mention of running for President at that time and is a very warm account of how Jill built a family – and a life of her own. Joe Biden lost his first wife and baby daughter in a car crash leaving him with two small boys to bring up. He then met and married Jill who had to learn to balance life as a mother, wife, teacher and political spouse.
I really recommend this book as a it describes the challenges Jill faced marrying into a strong Irish Catholic family, helping Joe to bring up the boys and supporting him in his political career. I found it a very genuine and honest account and a good background to what is now the US First Family.
‘A single thread’ – Tracy Chevalier
This book is set in Winchester in 1932 and tells the story of Violet Speedwell, who has become a ‘surplus woman’ having lost her brother and fiancé in the First World War. She is drawn into the life of the Cathedral broderers where she finds support and community. She is also drawn to a married bellringer, Arthur.
I found this book soothing and calming. The story paints a rich picture of history and social change in the inter-war years. It is well researched and the description of cathedral life, and all the issues often associated with small communities rang true for me after our time at York Minster. ‘The novel touches on issues of the position of women, of sexuality, of being an unmarried mother, of the importance of friendships, of identity, family, of love and art.’
For more details on Audible see https://www.audible.co.uk/?source_code=M2M30DFT1BkSH1015140054&&ipRedirectOverride=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItpT89MPJ7gIV0u7tCh1jWgkpEAAYASAAEgKVkfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds