CULTURE CLUB
This sweeping, nostalgia-soaked summer read is a coming-of-age epic that traces the connection between three ten-year-old friends: Adrien, Etienne and Nina. We first meet them at primary school in 1986, where chance bonds are forged, linking them through 30 years of life: they each tackle childhood trauma, first loves, loss, work and relationship crises aplenty, before their carefully planned lives take truly unexpected turns. In 2017, a car is pulled from the lake near their childhood homes and a body is found inside – attracting the attention of local journalist Virginie. She knows the three friends and sets out to solve the mystery, reconnecting the lapsed links between the trio and proving that no matter how well you think you know someone, there are still hidden depths to reveal. Valérie Perrin has a talent for capturing the complex nature of human relationships, somehow spinning domesticity into heart-stopping drama – and rendering her books unputdownable. This longer novel is an ideal accompaniment to a break in the sun. Three BY VALÉRIE PERRIN
A BIGGER SPLASH Valérie Perrin was born among the Vosges mountains in France, near the German border. This is her second English-language novel
What if enough is enough? What if you took a deep breath, stopped caring what other people thought, and realised that most people aren’t thinking about you at all? Radically Content is the first book from writer Jamie Varon, who has spent the past few years sharing her approach and amassing a sizable audience online, who find reassuring truths in the posts she uploads to social media. This book is a mix of her own story and advice for adjusting your approach to life’s unexpected challenges: the pages are peppered with perspectives and tools she’s found useful when shaking off Radically Content BY JAMIE VARON
the draw of ‘hustle culture’. What if we stopped wanting more and instead found radical, true contentment in the simple things around us, which we ourselves have chosen? What if we stopped wanting what we’ve been told we need to be happy, and instead focused inward, finding out what our own unique form of peace truly looks like? A beautifully written manual for anyone resetting after the past few years; for those who feel small in their own lives, disillusioned by the world’s focus on perpetual acquisition – this book can help lead you back to joy.
A captivating glimpse into the life of Mya-Rose Craig, a passionate 20-year-old ornithologist and environmental activist. British-Bangladeshi Mya-Rose first appeared on screens in the 2009 BBC Four documentary Twitchers , which followed her avian-loving family’s quest to see 300 birds in one year. This new book allows Mya-Rose to share her own life story, including her mother’s battle with mental health crises, her father’s shepherding of his family around the globe in pursuit of even more bird sightings, and the deep love of nature that’s embedded in all their lives. Mya-Rose is thought to be the youngest person ever to see over half of the world’s species of birds: the exceptional dedication and laser-like focus required to surpass this milestone is now being applied to larger issues such as equal access to nature, the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity. Required reading for environmentalists of all ages – although bird-lovers may be left envious of her extended avian adventures around the globe. BY MYA-ROSE CRAIG Birdgirl
FLYING THE NEST Sharing a title with the blog Mya-Rose has penned since age 11, Birdgirl is a chronicle of her family’s adventures to date
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JULY 2022 25
Powered by FlippingBook