The books that made me...

Book recommendations with a twist

Sep 30, 2024

Hello, I’m Molly, a full time creator based in the Scottish Highlands. Subscribers can enjoy weekly posts around the themes of slow living, thriving in a creative career, books & nature. Members get access to ALL my content, including video tea times, slow scrolls of all my favourites and seasonal book reviews.

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Reading is a huge part of my life, so its little wonder that these stories have had a lasting effect on me.

Today, I thought we would cosy in and reflect on some books that have stood out. Whether that be those that have had a strong emotional impact or those that have changed the trajectory of my entire life.

These include a range of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, some of which I’ve read recently and other’s I grew up with.

So make yourself a nice cosy drink and lets chat books…🫖

The book that made me….

Laugh

Really Good Actually (Monica Heisey)

I think it takes a special kind of skill for a book to be properly funny. The kind of writing that can make you belly laugh, with tears running down your face.

I can only remember this happening a handful of times, the most memorable being a relatively recent read, Really Good Actually, which I picked up on impulse last year.

The plot was simple as it described the protagonist, a woman in her early 30’s, who is in the trenches of a divorce and learning to date again. But the writing was something else.

I howled more than once and its a book I can imagine revisiting again and again.

“I felt like a walking Before photo surrounded by dozens of possible Afters, all of them named Amber.”

Honourable mentions - other corkers include Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine (Gail Honeyman) and Dolly Alderton’s memoir Everything I know about love.

Be brave enough to read classics

Anne of Green Gables (L. M. Montgomery)

As a young teen, I was very much a lover of contemporary books, the likes of Harry Potter and anything written by Jacqueline Wilson.

So when my mum gently suggested the children’s classic, Anne of Green Gables, I was reluctant to give it a go. But thankfully I did. And this started my romance with classical fiction.

The writing was like nothing I’d ever read before and I’ve no doubt that this early experience with classics influenced the writer I am now.

Anne is also one of my all time hero’s. A red-haired dreamer who wants to live life just that little bit differently. I’ve carried her with me all these years and its a book that I would recommend to everyone.

Honourable mention - although not a children’s book, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier is a compulsive read that is likely to kickstart your journey if you’re new to classics.

Give up alcohol

The unexpected joy of being sober (Catherine Gray)

This book came at just the right time for me. I was in my mid-late 20’s and had slowly started moving away from alcohol.

After leaving the student life behind, drinking no longer fit with my lifestyle in the rural Highlands nor did it fit with my values.

This brave and surprisingly funny memoir from Catherine, who opens up about her addiction and subsequent recovery from alcohol, gave me the last nudge I needed to finally give up booze for good.

Its now been 3 years since I had a drink and I’m a much happier and healthier person for it.

Honourable mention - I also really enjoyed Catherine’s book, The unexpected joy of the ordinary.

Fall in love with Gothic literature

Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)

What may just be my favourite book of all time, reading this story felt like coming home.

A twisted love story in a wild, unforgiving landscape. Teeming with anti-hero’s and flawed characters. It felt both absurdly romanticised and yet very real.

As someone who is easily unsettled by horror, this opened the door to Gothic writing, which is still my favourite style of story today.

“Because misery and degradation, and death, and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will, did it. I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it you have broken mine.”

Honourable mentions - Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) and The tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte), also have that gothic feel.

Gasp

Verity (Colleen Hoover)

By far my favourite of Colleen’s novels, I adored the suspenseful atmosphere in this book, as we follow the protagonist who takes a job as a shadow writer, with dramatic consequences.

Although I enjoyed the whole book, for me, the thing that makes it stand out was the gasp-worthy twist that comes right at the very end.

I still think about it to this day.

Honourable mention - read more about the most surprising books I’ve read HERE (including more with gasp-worthy twists.

Quit social media

Digital Minimalism (Call Newport)

I’ll admit, it took the second read of this book for me to quit social media for good.

Unlike drinking, which I found relatively easy to give up, quitting social media took a lot more willpower.

This decision has affected all aspects of my life. Its improved my mental health, freed up time for hobbies and honed my productivity. I firmly believe that this is one of the primary decisions that has allowed me to become a full time creative.

(Find out more about my life after social media HERE and HERE)

Honourable mention - Cal’s book Deep Work is also fantastic and touches on similar themes.

Feel all cosy inside

The little shop of happily ever after (Jenny Colgan)

If there’s one thing the author Jenny Colgan can do, its write a heart-warming novel.

This particular novel follows Nina, who is an avid reader, leaving the hustle of city life to open her very own book store on wheels, in the Scottish Highlands no less.

With a plot like this, its little wonder that this was a five star read for me.

“Books have been her solace when she was sad; her friends when she was lonely. The had mended her heart when it was broken, and encouraged her to hope when she was down.”

Honourable mention - The bookshop on the shore (Jenny Colgan), is technically the sequel to the above novel, but can be read as a stand alone book. Also a five star read!

Discover nature memoirs

The Salt Path (Raynor Winn)

I read this book in early 2023 and it opened up a whole new world of reading for me.

In this memoir, Raynor describes her and her husband’s experience of walking the South West Coast Path, after becoming homeless and receiving a devastating health diagnosis.

This genre is now my preferred style of non-fiction. Although I’ve read multiple memoirs since this point, this one is still my favourite.

You can read all my nature memoir recommendations HERE

Cry

The Binding, (Bridget Collins)

I’m yet to meet anyone that doesn’t love this book.

A novel that crosses fantasy, romance and historical fiction, yet its not any one thing.

I was swept away by this story. I don’t often cry at books (which is surprising as I am one of life’s criers!), but this one made me shed tears more than once, both happy and sad.

One of my favourite books that I found completely enchanting.

Honourable mention - One day (David Nicholls) is still one of my ultimate tear-jerkers

Question my life choices

The midnight library (Matt Haig)

Although this is essentially a fantasy novel, like many of Matt’s books, it runs deeper than that.

When the main character, Nora, is given the chance to do things differently in this fantasy library, Matt is indirectly encouraging us to reflect on our own lives.

If we had the choice, would we change things, or are we just falling into the grass is always greener trap?

And perhaps we should cherish the life we do have instead.

Honourable mention - I also enjoyed Matt’s novel, How to stop time, where he digs into whether it would be a good thing to live forever.

Write this post

Dear reader (Cathy Rentzenbrink)

I had the idea for this post after reading Cathy’s memoir, where she reflects on how books and reading have changed her life.

I was fascinated with her experience of being a bookseller and how her love of reading made her into the writer she is today.

Plus there are some wonderful, tailored book recommendations at the end of each chapter.

A memoir for all bookworms!

“Books are a masterclass in how to carry on”

Change my life

The life changing magic of tidying (Mari Kondo)

This book was the start of my minimalism journey.

Although Mari never uses the word minimalism, her method of tidying essentially follows the minimalist principles of only holding onto items that spark joy/hold real value.

I first started practicing minimalism 5 years ago and this has been the tool that’s allowed me to carve the life that I really want.

Its meant I could save to build our Tiny Home (and fit comfortably into it!) which in turn meant I to could drop to part time, then, as of August 2023, become fully self-employed as an online creative.

I have a lot to thank Mari for.

Honourable mention - Enough by Substack writer

Jessica Rose Williams

is another book that is wonderful if you are also seeking a simpler life.

And I’m sure these 12 books are just the beginning…

Until next week,

Molly xx