Four Stars

Best for:
Those interested in learning more about how our language is shaped by – and shapes – society. Everyone who speaks US English.

In a nutshell:
Author Montell explores a variety of aspects of language and how it reinforces and can be used to fight the patriarchy.

Worth quoting:
N/A (but only because it was an audio book and usually I was running while listening so didn’t have a way to note something down)

Why I chose it:
The topic was intriguing to me.

Review:
I wish I’d read a hard copy instead of reading an audio version because I think I would have been underlining a lot and keeping it for future reference. That aid, it was great to listen to the author read her work.

The book explores multiple ways that language reinforces the patriarchy (the English language, specifically). Things like the default for ‘person’ being man, for example. As though men are the standard or the norm, and women are a deviation from that. But also more insidious things, like creating gendered qualifiers for words that theoretically are gender neutral, suggesting again that the default boss is male (hence ‘girl boss’). Or, conversely, some insults again should be gender neutral, but the default for the negatives are female (whore vs manwhore, for example).

Montell argues convincingly that this isn’t just an issue of sticks and stones, its that the words show the values of the speakers overall. She makes the point even clearer in the chapter where she references how some folks complain about how ‘you can’t say anything anymore;’ it’s not that one can’t say things, it’s that what they say and the words they choose reflect their values, and people are allowed to make judgments based on those values.

Each chapter covers a different aspect of language, including language changes from the LGBTQ community, the use of singular they/them, and how women are judged for sounding ‘shrill’ when they speak. This book was written a few years ago, and it’s disappointing to think about how much language and our acceptance of new usages to better reflect reality has been rolled back as more conservatives and more anti-trans folks have gained power.

The section on vulgar language and the slang that exists for penises vs vaginas (spell check wants me to call that vaginae?) was also so interesting. I’ve obviously thought in passing about how gross it is that the worst insults for men are to refer to them by terms associated with female genitalia, but hearing it spelled out here made it even clearer how gross that is.

Best for:
Those with a strong stomach. Probably those who liked reading Silence of the Lambs.

In a nutshell:
Detective Martin lost his wife and young son on a cruise ship a few years ago. He was told it was murder suicide. He gets a call and learns that a child who had gone missing on the same cruise ship under the same circumstance has reappeared, and was holding his child’s teddy bear.

Worth quoting:
N/A

Why I chose it:
Wanted another mystery to read while on holiday and this one looked interesting. It definitely was.

Review:
Content note: Torture, pedophilia.

So I didn’t realize that this book would be as dark as it was. So just a fair warning. That said, I found this to be an interesting and captivating read. So much so that I ended up going back to the same bookshop and buying another of his books.

I’m trying to figure out how to review this without spoiling things. Obviously the content note for the book gives away something, so you know it will be a dark read. And it is. There were times I definitely was uncomfortable, but it didn’t seem to be written in a salacious way, if that makes sense.

There are so many twists in this book. There was a point where I even thought the book was over and there was a whole other bit that I’d missed. And there are loads of moment where I thought I had it figured out (and other, more clever readers might have), but then was shown to be completely wrong. The writing is great but vivid.

And the topic is an interesting backdrop, as anyone who has even a passing familiarity with ‘true crime’ will likely be aware of folks who have disappeared from cruise ships, and how challenging it is to get a proper investigation done. I doubt there is anything going on quite like what is described in this book, but who knows.

Five Stars

Best for:
Anyone interested in stopping the desire to be smaller, chasing after diets and such.

In a nutshell:
Registered dietitian nutritionist Spence looks at (and breaks apart) the history of diet culture, and shares her thoughts on ways to have a better relationship with food and your body.

Worth quoting:
“That’s the thing with a diet culture mindset: even though you see how certain aspects are unattainable or unsustainable, the narrative of an ideal body is still perpetuated.”

“In our current #hustleculture, dieting and restricting are correlated with discipline and being as small as you can be, with taking up less space and being obedient. It’s a sign of hard work, of conforming correctly.”

Why I chose it:
I follow Spence on TikTok and love what she shares. I bought this book a couple of years ago when it came out, but finally actually read it and I’m so glad I did.

Review:
What a great book. Probably one of the best I’ve read on diet culture from the perspective of someone trained in nutrition. Her whole approach is basically diets not only don’t work but they aren’t necessary for people to improve their overall health and wellbeing. Moreover, she isn’t just focused on this being an issue for the individual to resolve; she is focused on the bigger picture, including discussion of things like social determinants of health.

The first half of the book looks at diet culture, and how it is perpetuated by the patriarchy. She explores ideas like how ridiculous it is that we all could or should be the same body size, and also has a chapter focused on the elitism of the wellness community. It’s great to read. Infuriating, but great to see it all laid out in one place.

The second half of the book offers suggests for individuals who have spent their life on the diet wheel, or who have gotten off but perhaps are feeling the pull back to it. Her philosophy is not about restriction o removal, but about addition. Getting more sleep. Eating more vegetables. Moving in a way that is for ENJOYMENT, not to ‘earn’ your food. She does talk about intuitive eating, and recognizes it has some positive take-aways, but she takes it a step further and offers her own suggestions she crystallizes into ten principles. The ones that have really stood out to me have been to be really present with my food and actually eating what I want.

It was great to try out on holiday, because I had access to all this amazing Greek food. And I ate it, and I didn’t need to go for a ten mile run to ‘work it off.’ Looking at food as something that is both for fuel but also for joy is something that a lot of fitness and health influencers seem to scoff at, but that’s not the life I want.

I’ll end with one of my favorite take-aways from the book: “The only foods to avoid are those that you’re allergic to, must avoid for medical reasons, or don’t like.”

Four Stars

Best for:
Fans of cozy mysteries.

In a nutshell:
A handful of passengers attend the soft launch of a new form of luxury travel – an airship – set for the North Pole. But someone dies, and everyone is stuck inside, possibly with a murderer.

Worth quoting:
N/A

Why I chose it:
Before setting out on holiday I usually try to buy a fun book from the airport bookstore. I was going to get the new Thursday Murder Club, but the special ‘airport’ copy was so big that I picked this one up, and I’m so glad I did!

Review:
The author’s books have been likened to Agatha Christie’s, and I can see why – a bunch of people in a closed environment, someone dead, who did it?

A company is taking a test run of a luxury airship trip to the North Pole from Svalbard. Chloe is a blogger given a chance to take the trip after something came up keeping the original travel writer from attending. Ezra, the COO, and Harold, the main founder, created the company from an idea Harold and Ezra’s late father had, and its been twenty years in the making.

I suppose minor spoiler:

The death doesn’t occur until about 2/5 of the way through the book, but the set-up all feels necessary and relevant. We get to know the characters, and we get chapters from different perspectives, which I love (seriously, not sure how I’ll handle reading a book again with only one perspective).

Hindle is a talented writer – I have such a vivid picture of the airship, the landscape, and the individuals thanks to his writing. I read the book in just over a day while on holiday, and I’ve just ordered his other three books.

Three Stars

Best for:
Those looking for some reminders related to the Buddhist approach to live and being present.

In a nutshell:
Prolific writer on Buddhism Thich Nhat Hanh shares some thoughts on positivity and presence.

Worth quoting:
“You need to recognize that these kinds of positive elements exist and that you can benefit from their refreshing and helpful presence.”

“We must always ask ourselves the question, ‘is my perception accurate?’”

“The future is being made out of the present, so the best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment.”

Why I chose it:
I’ve enjoyed writings by this author before.

Review:
I find this book a bit hard to review. I think because I’ve read similar books to this I didn’t get loads out of it if I’m honest.

If you’re fairly new to Buddhism and interested in some readings about being present, you might find this interesting.

I did read the book while I was traveling, and was specifically when I was in Athens, and it did make be think a lot about being present, and how to create a future I want. Obviously it can be pretty easy to be present while on holiday (though I did miss my cats a lot), but remaining present and positive during the less fun things – laundry, bills, wondering if the cats have fleas again – is more challenging.

One thing that I do find difficult about Buddhist teachings – and this is covered in this book – is the discussion around suffering and a bit of a lack of perspective. The book talks about only consuming positive media, because we all know enough about suffering from the real world. But I don’t agree – I think that different media (books, film, art) that could be viewed as ‘negative’ or not positive can help people gain some perspective or different understanding of challenges. I mean, not a slasher film, but there seems to be a strain of toxic positivity that I’m not comfortable with.

*When I went to add this review to Storygraph, I learned that I read this ten years ago. Lol. whoops.

Three Stars

Best for:
Those who don’t mind a vaguely unreliable narrator. Those who enjoy a bit of ‘he had it coming’ in their crime novels.

In a nutshell:
Hazel and Fox were sort of vigilante serial killers who now have a child. Fox has decided that they need to stop so they don’t risk their child’s way of life by getting caught, but Hazel is not satisfied with this and soon makes what might be a very costly mistake.

Worth quoting:
“I can’t tell what’s life and what’s just a chemical imbalance in my brain. I know I’m meant to be happy but things are a bit shit. So is that depression, or is that just feeing bummed out about my lot in life?”

Why I chose it:
Monthly book club choice.

Review:
It took me awhile to get into, but I decided to take it on holiday with me and figured the two flights would be a captive situation. And they were!

This is a slightly interesting take on what happens when women have to give it all up for a child. In this case, the giving up is not an office job, but instead years of killing men who ‘deserve it.’ We get point of view chapters from both Hazel and Fox, though it feels more like Hazel’s book.

Hazel attempts to make friends with a mother at a parent/child music class, but Hazel isn’t exactly a people person, and she’s pretty unlikable. I mean, other than that fact that she’s a murderer. Just, as a person, she thinks she’s quite above others, and can’t be bothered with connecting with or really caring about people unless she thinks they’ve been wronged by a man.

Then there’s Fox, who is doing his best to take care of his family and keep Hazel happy.

There are quite a few twists and turns, and one fairly large storyline that ends up being a bit of a red herring, but overall it was a fun read once I got into it.