Hello!
A happy Easter holidays to you.
The holidays aren't too much different from term time for us, but it's a good chance to see friends who're usually at school.
And there's so much stuff happening too. We've had a busy week!
This week we got to cuddle some sheep (read on for more), discovered 1000 years of history, met a snake called Pudding, listened to a brilliant retelling of Roald Dahl's The Twits and painted rocks for an art installation.
Oh, and had some lovely blossom-filled days - check out these crafts, meditation and recipe from the National Trust.
Workwise, I had to get creative to balance work and play/being with Iris. Managed to get a lot more content planned out for our Joy special edition, out next month.
Here's what we've been up to
Reading Fiction
I'm still working my way through the Women's Prize for Fiction winners. This week I finished Tell me Everything by Elizabeth Strout. I love Elizabeth's writing style - I thoroughly recommend all her books - this was a delicious, slowburn of a novel about Bob Burgess and Lucy Barton. Her characters are so well observed; they feel deeply real and relatable. She's known for the way she explores human relationships and the intricacies of small-town life. Here, Elizabeth delves into the deeply personal and often painful stories of her characters, examining the emotional complexity of their lives.
Like much of her work, the novel highlights the universal struggles of love, loss, and the quest for self-understanding. Her novels often feature interconnected stories, offering a profound look at the ways people’s lives intersect and the secrets they keep hidden from one another. Order a copy from the library now!
The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji explores the emotional and cultural complexities of the Persian diaspora. Through her rich prose and nuanced storytelling, Sanam captures the experience of individuals torn between the traditions of their Iranian heritage and the demands of contemporary Western life.
The novel delves into themes of identity, family, belonging, and the impact of displacement, reflecting the complexities of navigating two cultures. Sanam’s characters are multifaceted, offering readers a window into the struggles and joys of embracing one's roots while adapting to new environments.
