Since we decided to add more books to our We Are Reading, section of the site, we have been inundated with publishers sending us books to review. Much as we love reading, there are only so many hours in the day and we simply don’t have time to get round to reading them all.
We don’t like recommending them to you unless we have either read them ourselves or had them personally recommended to us, so here’s where you come in. You may have a holiday coming up, or need a new book for your commute to work, or simply have a lot of time on your hands? If this sounds like you and you fancy writing a short review for us, leave us a comment.
Move over Oprah and Richard and Judy, this is the start of The Womens Room book club!
The books we have on offer are:
Get Some Head Space by Andy Puddicombe which promises to get people to take 10 minutes out of their day to sit in the here and now, using simple to learn, but highly effective techniques of meditation.
Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor a memoir based on the authors own story, which starts the day her husband dies and ends sixteen months later on her son’s first birthday. “A heartbreaking, blackly funny book which will move you to laughter and tears”.
L’Auberge by Julia Stagg is a novel set in the small commune of Fogas in the French Pyrenees which has been thrown into turmoil by the revelation that the Auberge des Deux Vallées has been bought by an English couple and not by the Mayor’s brother-in-law as had been expected. With everyone aghast at the idea of an English run restaurant and the certainty of gastronomic disasters, the Mayor wants to take revenge. Within hours of hearing the news, he has called an emergency Committee meeting and his plans to force out the new owners have begun.
The Reading Promise by Alice Ozama tells the story of Alice , who’s school librarian father made a promise to read aloud together for 100 consecutive nights. Upon reaching their goal it was clear that neither wanted to let go of what had become their reading ritual. They decided to continue what became known as The Streak for as long as they possibly could. Alice poignantly illustrates the unbreakable parent-child bond, the books they treasured, and the life lessons learned along the way.
Farangi Girl by Ashley Dartnell Ashley Dartnell’s mother was a glamorous American, her father a dashing Englishman who were trying to shake off their past and upgrade to a more romantic and exotic present in Iran. The story begins in the 1960’s as Ashley is eight years old and living in Tehran, the Shah is in power, life for Westerners is rich and privileged, but not quite what it seems. As the story unfolds, it tells of bankruptcies and prison, betrayal and lovers, lies and evasion and the relationship between Ashley and her passionate, strong-willed mother, Genie.
And one you may want to try if you are planning a holiday, or indeed ignore if it’s too late and your holiday is imminent is Flat Tummy Club by Kate Adams, which claims ‘healthy eating doesn’t require a depressing deprivation diet just sensible eating and motivational advice! Yeh right, we’ve heard it all before and we are not usually huge fans of diet books, but let us know if you fancy giving it a go?
Leave a comment if any of these sound like the kind of thing you might enjoy.
‘The Reading Promise’ sounds touching and original. I’d love to read/review this one.
Would be more than happy to read and review L’Auberge or Signs of Life. I’ve got a week in Italy coming up soon so pleanty of beach reading can be done. Cheers
I’d absolutely love to read Farangi girl, a lot of my friends are Iranians and I am fascinated by the country and its history. Pleeeease, pleeease, and pleeease again.
PS Did I mentioned you are my favourite website and if you told me to jump off a cliff I would unquestioningly.
I would love to review ‘Get Some Headspace’, by Andy Puddicombe. I’m doing his meditation programme at them moment (free on his website). I am about half way through and it is making a significant difference in my life. Honestly, I’m feeling calmer and finding it easier to let stuff go. I’m a mature student with a full-time job who only has time to read for pleasure for the next couple of months and this book is on my list.
Love your website – my favourite was ‘The Fear’ about post-bookclub anxiety. Nice to know its not just me!
I am fascinated by the whole concept of meditation and mindfulness, but find it difficult to achieve. Even after a full on yoga session, instead of meditating I am just thinking about what’s for dinner! Some instruction would be helpful, so I would be interested in reviewing ‘Get some head space’, and actually trying out some of the suggestions.
In the spirit of wanting to take on new challenges and try different things, I’d love to have a go at writing a book review. I have a compulsive Amazon and Persephone habit and have always got room for another book in my life!
Hi, I’m just getting back into regular reading thanks to a new job with a commute across London. I would love to try meditation and definitely need some ‘headspace’ away from my three children, job and general domestic chaos.
And having never read a diet/exercise book ever, I am intriged by how a whole book can focus on flat stomachs while secretly hoping that, just by reading it, my post-baby stomach will magically flatten – that’s how it works, no?!
I’d love to read ‘The Reading Promise’. I’m involved in two reading groups,and have been fascinated by the ways in which reading often draws people together in quite unexpected ways. It would be interesting to see whether it would be a book to recommend to either of my groups. I’ve never reviewed a book before… there’s always a first time!
I would like to read The Reading Promise or Get Some Head Space if either of these were available. Otherwise would read any of the others too. I commute to and from work in Central London and can usually get through a book a week, plus I work on a magazine. Thanks!
Whilst I would like to be a person who meditates and has the willpower to obtain a flat tummy, I much prefer lying on the sofa with a cup of tea, some chocolate and book that will make me laugh and cry. So I’ll happily put myself forward to read Signs of Life – especially as my book group has decided that one of our summer reads will be Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf (I kid you not!).
I would love to read L’Auberge by Julia Stagg. It sounds like a great summer read.
I would love to read either ‘Signs of Life’ or ‘The Reading Promise’.
Books are everyday accessories for me, I take one everywhere just in case I get the opportunity for a few minutes escapism and I would love to be able to write up a review for you!
Ok we had to put names in hats for the books several of you liked the sound of. So heres the results.
The Reading Promise – Kathryn
Get some Head Space – Emma
Flat tummy Club- Hannah
L’Auberge – Jane G
Farangi Girl – Tracy C
Send us an email with your details and I can send them off ASAP
JX
I only just found your site. I’m probably too late but please bare me in mind if you have any more books to be reviewed. I review also for Troubador Self Publishing.
I would also love to review the Flat Tummy Club by Kate Adams.
I would love to read and write about ‘Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor’. Do let me know the details of this project.
Hi, I would love to be able to review your books if you have any available spaces.
Just found this post and would ask you to bear me in mind for the future. I am an avid reader with ecelctic taste (excluding science fiction).
Hi I am interested in the first selection that you offered, Get some head space by Andy Puddicombe. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
I would love to read any of these books, especially the Natalie Taylor one.
I am an avid reader. Busy as my schedule may be, I always find the time to read about topics that interest me or even ones that could be new and exciting! I currently review books on Librarything.com and MyBookDroid. I would love to be considered in taking a few books off your hands :)
I would love to read one of the books – Get Some Head Space; Signs of Life, or the Farangi Girl – and pen a review!
I would love to read some of these books and get my thoughts out there. I like reading, have varied interests and ready to try new topics. Being an architect, I love anything to do with art and design. Please consider me next time.
I love to read books and love writing reviews on them. The Signs of Life sounds like a great book! Please consider me when you get overrun with books again.
I am interested in reading Signs of Life. I am a stay at home mom with extra time on my hands and I love reading books.
Just a quick note. I’m a professional proofreader and editor – if you need any help reviewing the books, feel free to give me a shout. I can never have enough books and read vociferously. I am also a published author who has a film being made of her first novel (which has not been published yet, ironically). It will be released at Christmas 2014.
My own website has a review section and more books are being added to the site by the day.
Hope I can be of assistance.
Yours faithfully
Melanie Winrow
I am an avid reader and their are several titles listed I would enjoy reading. The reading promise sounds like such a simple topic produced in a creative way. So if it’s not too late I’d like to read it. If it is too late, send me a new list because I am eager to get started. Thanks.
Kristin Green
I would love to write book reviews for your website. But i live in India so can you please let me know how we can take this further.
P.S. I really want to take up reviewing.
Hi,
Still waiting for your reply. Kindly consider me for book reviewing.
Gratitude,
Asmita Gaikwad
Would love to be considered as a book reviewer. I can’t get out much (due to health problems) so read anything and everything. I am on a “contact” list for an author having reviewed her books in the past (I have received them free for a honest review). Thanks for the chance
Hey there Tracey, could you email us as we have a pile of books waiting to be reviewed – thanks J x
Hi,
My name is Theresa. I am an aspiring writer and I Love to Read. I read many types of genres. Also signs, lables, billboards even instruction manuals…
I have only read for personal friends, but I came across your site and thought hmmm, what a dream job. I would be delighted to be considered if you have an opening.
Sincerely,
Theresa Greenoge
I am very familiar with Andy’s work and would be more than happy to do a review on his headspace book.
Hi,
My name is Barbara Therrien, and I would consider it to be an honor and privilege to review any books you may have available. I strongly feel that the more different types of books I read, the more I learn about the world outside. Please consider contacting me if there are any books I could review for you.