‘People saw me differently in comedy; I found they misinterpreted my shyness as coldness and my almost constant overwhelming anxiety as anger.’ Fern Brady, comedian and Taskmaster alumni, struggled with her mental health for years before accepting that she was autistic and might need people around her – including herself – to make certain adjustments […]
‘I took the job in a panic as my life hit the buffers and the money ran out.’ This might not sound like an auspicious beginning, but as ‘The Volunteers’ beautifully records, Carol’s decision to take on a new role within wildlife conservation, and specifically the group of volunteers she learns to manage as a […]
‘Medicine was harder to leave than O2 or Virgin Active gyms.’ Adam Kay is back with his second memoir, reflecting on his experiences not just as a student and doctor within the NHS but with his own mental and physical health. What’s it about? Kay’s adult debut, ‘This is going to hurt’, was sad and […]
Would you visit a human safari park? My guess is that you would be revolted by the terminology, but whether or not you actually visited the ‘park’ would partly depend on how you perceive ancient tribes. Are they human beings – or entertainment for more ‘civilised’ beings? My belief is that you would feel – […]
I am always intrigued by books about books. What could possibly be better than, when closing the final pages of a book, discovering it has led you to create a list of twenty or so other books you really want to read? I also really liked the premise of this particular book, a memoir by […]
There are many times when I’d love to know what my son is thinking. What is he thinking when he completely ignores me repeatedly calling his name? (Has he heard me or is he too absorbed in his play?) What about when he says, “Mummy…” then falls silent for a full minute, before repeating the […]
Unreliable narrators fascinate me and other people’s psychological states intrigue me. So it’s not surprising that when I spotted ‘Confessions of a Sociopath’ it went straight onto my wish list. What’s it about? M.E. Thomas is (apparently) a successful American law professor writing about her sociopathy under a pseudonym. Originally, she founded a blog – […]