By Kate DugganBooks to uplift, inspire and help you to move forwards.The Shift – Sam BakerWhether you’re just approaching the perimenopause or have reachedthe other side, Shift is a must read. It covers everything from commonsymptoms to the media’s treatment of ‘invisible women’. You won’t finda list of all the different types of HRT or discover a magic cure-all forhot flushes. Instead, as the subtitle says, it’s the story of how Baker lost(and found) herself after 40 – and how you can too. I loved the author’swry humour and admission that she doesn’t have all the answers.Interspersed with her writing are quotes from hundreds of women,revealing differing views to the menopause, ageing and life in general.Where Hope Comes From – Nikita GillNikita Gill’s poems take the reader on a journey through the stages of grief,onwards to hope. Gill is at high risk from Covid-19 and lives thousands of milesaway from her family. Her poems helped her to find a way forward. As sheexplained on Instagram, “When I realised that I needed to honour my grief andanger, I finally began to work my way through them.” The result is a truly beautifulcollection of short poems to help the reader “… come away with a little more joyand hope than before.”One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot – Marianne CroninA book about two terminally ill friends may not seem like the most uplifting of reads,yet somehow One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot manages to be just that.seventeen-year-old Lenni and eighty-three-year-old Margot meet in hospital. Theyset themselves a challenge of painting a hundred pictures, one for every year oftheir lives. As they grow closer, they reveal the stories behind the paintings. Whilethe original focus in on Lenni, it’s Margot’s life, with all its ups, downs and loveslost, that ends up taking centre stage.Do Pause – Robert PoyntonPoynton discusses how pausing (whether to reconsider, question yourself,appreciate your surroundings or just rest) can help us to take back control, becomemore creative and, ultimately, be happier. If you’re struggling to find a balance inlife, or find your brain is always ‘on’, this little book could be the coffee break readyou’re looking for.The Atlas of Happiness – Helen RussellHelen Russell explores traditions, practices and beliefs from around the world,from the Italian ‘dolce far niente’ (the joy of doing nothing) to Japan’s ‘wabi-sabi’(appreciating things as they are, with all their imperfections). She also offers advicefor embracing some of these practices in everyday life. An enjoyable read to dip inan out of, The Atlas of Happiness might just help you to see life a little differently.Other books to try…I’ve covered these before, but in case you missed them, I highly recommend:• Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library• Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse• Brandon Stanton’s Humans28To adverse please call Dawn on: 01603 466392 or visit NR8.CO.UK
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