Radical Love by Zachary Levi

In my time off reading I discovered Chuck a TV show I grew up aware of but not a viewer of being born in 1996 not 1990 alike my cousin's I was always aware of things they were into and then came to discover again as I grew up and to the age they loved them. Then, I watched Shazam! I was hooked and invested into the fun adult Zachary Levi was and after watching Chuck and many of his Instagram Live video's alongside me discovering and watching Chuck from start to end within the first couple of weeks of the pandemic lockdown starting. I then discovered this book, not only a refreshing, open account of a mental health breakdown and then getting back to life working on yourself and healthier habits, but a male in his forties being so open about it is honestly just great to see and I'm sure will encourage other older males to check in and realise they too can help their lives change for the better. Zachary may be a great actor, but his awareness and openness to help others and encourage mental health and trauma discussion is so refreshing to read about all the ways open and available to us to reflect and change and the fact that it's never, ever to late to help yourself, others and create a better you.

Somehow, Somehow Nyanda Foday

It's quite fitting the first book I am back to review is actually a memoir of sorts in prose about the pandemic. Call it a coincidence but when I read the summary I knew it would be interesting to read an account in verse and as it turns out was very similar and relatable to my own experience. As someone who has dealt with depression and others who struggled maybe even for the first time during the lockdowns that occurred the accounts in the book were not only relatable but raw and honest with the emotions written into each part of the book which told the authors story of their life in and out of lockdown during the occurrence of Covid ehilst they were away at university in their own little world of sorts at times locked in and away from others at some times. I really enjoyed the book, relatable, emotional, honest and a reflective book it's hard to believe how far we've come back to a semblance of normality since them first lockdown days.

A Long Awaited Catch-up!

Hello everyone still here on my old book blog! Long time no reviews, right?! What a strange few years it's been when COVID hit I had to isolate, we tragically lost my uncle and nearly my cousin and her husband too, my dad then broke his foot and after that spent three years unable to walk awaiting hip replacement surgery, we lost little Splodgie our bunny just after he turned eight very suddenly and I won't lie to you I was very low, depression I struggled with as a teen came back and I also dipped back into old negative self harming habits. It has been a rough few years and very mentally draining, the pleasure of reading slipped away as I tried hard to regain my sense of self and move on with what felt like jigsaw pieces left from my old life pre-covid to reassemble into a new life. So what has changed post COVID? Well, for me the biggets change is this year, 2024, in January I got my learners driving license and passed my theory test in the first two weekxs of the year which at 27 nearly 28 and being years on from my last exam experience at GCSE's I am immensly proud of myself for going through and not only getting through the test and passing first time trying it. I got through the shaking, crippling anxiety and passed with 50/50 on the questions! I have always been my own harshest critic and still seems incredible how far I've come deciding to go on the journey to driving despite my health wobbles I'm doing it, I have a beautiful little white Fiat Panda and am awaiting a practical test date to come now. As for reading and blogging now I am doing better and feeling brighter, I am coming back, intermittently but I am here, Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/28656604-eve-beinguniquebeingme Also on Instagram too @beinguniquebewingmeeve feel free to message, comment etc Also to you still here, thank you!