“Love and worry can etch the weirdest things into you to keep you safe.”
How Parenthood Is Like Paris: A Sprawling Memoir Of Mess And Beauty You Never Really Leave
“What this book gave me was the sense of the weird and wild places the early parenting years take you, what you have to fight for there, and why it’s worth it.”
The Art of Flying: Bach Goes To The Circus
“Surely to know flight is to know falling. How many times have these young people fallen literally in rehearsal or performance? How many broken bones and ligaments had to heal to build these places of crossing over, of worship?”
The Genius Of A Kitchen Piano: Bringing Art Home, And Framing What’s Already There…
“In plonking the greatest musical instrument created, in a kitchen, Smith elevates the kitchen to stage level. The goings on around the piano gain their own artistic recognition. We all know this to be true: so many vital compositions, maddening rehearsals and virtuoso performances have taken place in the kitchen.”
SPLIT, by Maggie Walters
“I think it’s so wonderful that Maggie has chosen to refuse to hide, and in telling her story shows the way for any of us wanting to recover from hurt and shame.”
Are We There Yet?
“a town that holds its men and boys so they grow and stay strong, responsible and nurturing, is a fairer, safer, happier town for all.”
Are We There Yet? (Mothers’ Day Edit)
“What a gift for a mum…a world in which fairness for all was arrived at by healing men and boys.”
Harm None by Gay Lynch
“Reading this as Netflix’s Adolescence hit the headlines was timely indeed. Harm None raises some similar questions of teenage development, gender and technology, but through the eyes of a girl.”
Lions – A Short Story
“Some texts seem to know when to arrive.
The first time I read it, outside the meerkats, I went to scroll back to try and read it again and dropped the phone. And kicked the phone. And then grabbed it and Cookie and left via the gift shop.”
Short Story: After The Catacombs
“For a beautiful French person you have just met in Paris to think you are funny is very nice. But I’m not funny at the best of times, and this was not the best of times at all for me. Mostly.”
The Normal Grown-Up 