My friends Review a book

Full details of the book-swap chain happening can be found on @TheElizabethanBoookclub instagram!

I started taking part in a book swap last week, the days feel like they’re melting into one, but I’m sure it was only last week. It’s been fantastic, actually, and I feel a weird connection to the people I don’t know, sending me books. I’ve had people’s personal copies of their favourite books, with hand written notes, and also amazon copies with printed notes, just as sincere and personal. I’ve started reading one of them, The Only Story by Julian Barnes. I’ll include a small review of the book when I’ve finished it. I think the book-swap has helped me feel connected to people in some way, we post so much online, that when you return to your room, it just becomes this pixelated, box of light we look into for a connection. So it’s refreshing, actually, to reach out and have that message met with a product of this communication, a physical object from someone else you don’t know, it’s like a note, saying that you've seen each other.

Anyway, book swaps aside it got me thinking about what our book choices really say about us, is it an attractive cover and an escape. What are we searching for in the pages? Moreover, this lead me to ask some friends to write me a mini recommendation or review of a book they like. I sent everyone a slightly different request and message. Some, I asked for a significant book to them, then some for a read they read a possibly a pivotal time in their lives.

Mostly, I ask because I wanted to see what it said about them, and maybe our relationship with each other - would I find out something about them? I followed up, and asked a couple of questions, but otherwise I’ve left it unedited. This wasn’t about amazing written expression, it’s just about enjoying speaking about a world you were once immersed in or when you forgot yourself, in reading. I’m hoping this encourages these lovely people to read each-other’s words, and maybe visit these books.

Whats more, I think we all can connect through these books and understand each other a little more, without needing to explain our feelings, we are using the words of others.

Artwork by Lily Bevan

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban BY J.K Rowling

'I have been a fan of the Harry Potter series for as long as I can remember. It’s a hard decision to choose one favourite but I think it has to be the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Not only are all of these books incredibly well written, moving, funny, thrilling, heart-wrenching, heart-warming (the list goes on), but they are also very close to me.

My late father introduced Harry Potter to me and started reading them to me when I was a little girl and we sadly never made it passed the Prisoner of Azkaban together. I didn’t actually finish reading the series until I was 18 (which I’ve always regretted because they’re so brilliant!).

I think this book stands out the most for me because of the introduction of Sirius Black, who is one of my favourite characters. He is exceptionally intrepid, compassionate, funny, his need to fight for what he thinks is right, and the deep love he has for those closest to him. This book is when the story really starts to unfold for me. We get to learn so much more about Harry’s past and his family, only egging us on to want to read more and more. JK Rowling has such a way of bringing this magical world to life, and I think that’s what hooks us all in; this world could be real. It’s not too fantastical that it could exist. I don’t know many friends my age who weren’t waiting for their letter from Hogwarts on their eleventh birthday. These books are brilliant if you’re 10 years old or 60 years young and I would always recommend them to anyone.'

'The film adaptation of this book has one of my all time favourite quotes, and words that I remind myself of frequently —

“It’s cruel that I got to spend so much time with James and Lily, and you so little. But know this; the ones who love us never really us, you can always find them in here”

Sirius Black, J.K Rowling'

Steal Like an Artist BY AUSTIN KLEON

'Although toilet book size, it taps into the mind of someone navigating their way through life and a creative career. This was such an inspiring read, and if I had it my way it would be on the curriculum at every art school.'

A History of The World in 21 Women BY Jenni Murray

'At this point in history where many of us feel less empowered by what we can achieve, I have been reading about achievements of the past. More specifically the achievements of twenty one bad ass women! A History of The World in 21 Women by Jenni Murray, explores history through the stories of extraordinary women. From Pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of the first historically-confirmed female Pharaohs back in 1478 BC; to Coco Chanel in the 20th Century freeing women of the ‘corseted-silhouette’; to 21st Century Australian Olympic sprinter, Cathy Freeman.

This book tells the story of each woman in chapters, going through time and history in chronological order. Covering a vast range of women, through a wide variety of ambitions and achievements. They were Pharaohs, business women, artists, scientists and politicians to name a few… in conclusion, the one thing I can be certain after reading this book, is that the twenty one women it uncovers are all QUEENS.'

Q: What was your favourite chapter?

A: 'The chapter on Queen Isabella of Castille, contained a fact at the end which I have remembered, as it resonated power and impact. In the 15th Century, in the game of chess, the Queen was only a weak player, only able to move one square at a time. Then, in 1495, when Isabella's reign became a success, the laws of chess were changed in her honour. The Queen is allowed to move across the board in all directions and as far as she liked. Today, the Queen is the most powerful piece on the chessboard, just as the woman who inspired the game to change.'

The untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper BY Hallie Rubenhold

'This is a gripping and haunting account of a well-known period in history. Hallie Rubenhold exquisitely captures the unknown lives of the five women murdered by Jack the Ripper. This book is incredible in its focus entirely on the women's lives (and not on their murderer or the detail of their unfortunate deaths), and it respectfully honours the treacherous and tragic everyday lives of these five women. The book resonated with me on two levels: firstly tracing the women through the streets of London, which I couldn’t help but compare with the areas I know today, and secondly it’s brutally honest depiction of women in the second half of the nineteenth century. It has made me question how much has developed for women since then.'

Junk BY Melvin Burgess

'So I pick the book ‘Junk’ by Melvin Burgess, Young Adult book about drugs.

It hits me because the book is raw & believable and readable. It sucks you into their world. The book is focused on two 14 year olds who run away for different reasons, and how their lives gets tangled in heroin. Each chapter is from a new characters view point. It’s a book I think everyone should read once in their life as it will impact and live a mark on you.

Each chapter changes character narrative so you see different perspectives on their ‘truth’ of the story their life. What stuck with me is that the book is not based on a ‘true’ story but based on millions of true stories. If I was to compare it to a films feel it would be Kids by Larry Clark'

Journey to the river sea BY Eva Ibbottson

'I think I read this book for the first time when I was 7 or 8, and I was hooked immediately. The only books I reread as much as this were the Harry Potter series. Set in Brazil on the banks of the Amazon river it inspired my longing to travel South America and explore the Amazon just as Maia did (only without being forced to live with horrible distant relatives). With Maia being such a confident, no shit taking kinda gal, intuitive and ultimately kind character she provided the perfect example of how I wanted to be when I grew up. No matter how bad a situation (and as the book goes on they get progressively worse) she always tried to find the positive, and tried to find the adventure in everything she did. The book inspired me to travel and find my own adventures, and even though I haven't made it to the Amazon yet, I know this book is waiting to take me there until I can.'

Oranges are not the only fruit / why be happy when you can be normal Both BY Jeanette Winterson

'These two books are ones that have stood out for me in the past year, alone and as a combination. ‘Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit” was the first novel of Jeanette Winterson, published in 1985 and is semi-autobiographical. The frame work revolves around her childhood, where she recalls memories of growing up in a very conservative world that was tirelessly forcing her to conform into something she’s not - to extreme ends. I found it extremely compelling, shocking and though-provoking. It was easy to read - in the sense that, it flows almost like a stream of consciousness from beginning to end, jumping from memory to memory. The majority of these memories depict the over-riding relationship of the book, between Jeanette and her adoptive mother - which was extremely unconventional and a constant battle in her formative years.

Overall, it’s an extremely powerful book about over-coming adversary, inner-strength, survival and finding love in a place that is loveless. The reason why I mentioned the second book, was because this story was made all the more heartbreaking and fascinating by the retelling in her auto-biography, that came out in 2011. It overlaps, discusses that period of her life and the years following.

Q: What made you pick up her books up?

A: 'I found her writing very thought provoking, and profound at times, it really spoke to me, some bits I read and still speak about regularly. Like, in one book she spaces about how it’s not the incident itself that leads to madness - but the space in between it. I just found all the stuff she said about love so fascinating too, She was adopted and split from her mother sometime before she was a year old, maybe, and she speaks about how that caused a trauma in her. Like a wound that stayed an affected how she loved or could be loved. I really just liked her writing style, And I found her story pretty heartbreaking but triumphant. '

Thanks for reading!

Here are the authors in order of appearance -

Lily Bevan

Amy Costello

Ellie Armstrong

Emilia Khan

Alex Shore

Lois Hutchison

Katie Madin