4 Books That Have Kept Me Going Through Recovery

It’s safe to say that I’ve had a lot of time on my hands over the last couple of months and hadn’t been coping so well with so much time in my own company (you can read more about it here). I’d already made a conscious effort to try and read more, but being stuck at home post surgery gave me all the time in the world to read and not feel guilty – not that I should feel guilty any other time.

I ordered some books I’d been recommended, dusted some off from my bookshelf and also ventured to the library and was pleasantly surprised by the selection they had! I certainly wasn’t short on choice of things to read to keep me entertained. Below are four of my favourite books I’ve read during this period.

1. Homesick: Why I Live in a Shed – Catrina Davies

At a point of complete uncertainty in my life, I found a lot of comfort in this book. It is beautifully written and I found it highly relatable.

This is Catrina’s second book (her first is now firmly on my to read list!) and in it she talks about her struggles with the housing market on low income and ultimately moves into a shed in Cornwall, that used to be her father’s office. Having lived down in Cornwall for nearly a year, I have witnessed first hand the struggles with the housing market and the lack of availability of properties, for both renters and buyers, though sadly this issue is country wide.

For me, this book is all about living simply and the freedom it can bring. Having left the rat race of the corporate world to try and find more balance in my life, this is something I can certainly relate to. It also touches on understanding our own values and how we live by them.

2. Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart – Carrot Quinn

This book took me out on an adventure, when I was physically unable to get out. Being stuck at home recovering from surgery has been one of the hardest things I’ve dealt with mentally. My answer to everything is to go out for a walk and when that option is taken away from me my head just falls into a deep, negative spiral.

A couple of days of good weather and enough strength to hobble to the beach, I demolished this book. It’s a personal account of hiking the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail), which focuses on relationships, the struggles and the simplest pleasures. There are no great revelations or epic tales, but it just feels so real.

As much as I enjoyed the film ‘wild’, I really struggled with how the book was written and didn’t personally enjoy the style. I found this a much easier to read and far more engaging.

The PCT is something I don’t think I could ever do, but I certainly want to do more thru-hiking. I find reading real books like this extremely inspirational and they motivate me to get planning! Even if it’s just those small adventures.

3. Finding My Right Mind – Vanessa Potter

Having recently attending a screening of My Year of Living Mindfully ( a documentary following one woman’s scientific journey of meditating every day for a year), I was excited to find this book in my local library.

After a rare neurological illness which temporarily left Vanessa blind and paralysed, she found that it was meditating that helped save her. This led her down a path of research into whether meditation could change her life. The book follows her journey, road testing 10 different forms of ‘mediation’ and looking at the impacts each one has on her life. With the use of an EEG headset and support of a neuroscientist, Vanessa can start to compare both the personal feelings and brain activity for each of the different types of mediation.

I found this book absolutely fascinating and it’s definitely left me wanting to find out more about certain types of meditation and the positive impacts they can have.

4. Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge

Having discussions with friends about difficult topics is something I am doing more and more of. I think it’s mostly because I am surrounding myself with people who I feel completely comfortable talking openly and honestly with, where mistakes can be made and you learn from each other. I have had so many relationships in the past where I was so scared of saying something wrong, or not being able to remember a fact to back up my point of view, that I’d just say nothing at all.

However, race is something that is I certainly feel uneducated about. Reading this book opened my eyes to so many things that I was blissfully unaware of. One of the chapters that had the biggest impact on me was around racism and feminism and how being both a woman and black just makes things so much harder. I’ve definitely found that this book has helped me to have more in-depth conversations about race and ultimately made me realise that ‘not being racist’ isn’t enough.

Though I started reading more when being stuck at home, it seems to have got ,e into a really good habit of reading in my down time and before bed. This means I’m getting through books pretty quickly and would really appreciate any recommendations on what to read next! I definitely seem to be going through a non-fiction phase at the moment, but personal growth and development is a big focus in my life right now! I’m currently reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod and I’m looking forward to doing a post about it once I’ve put it into practice!