Such a lovely idea, Luisa. May I please nominate my own book, Chasing Fog? It was published in August and is a meditation on fog and mist, a love song to weather and nature’s power to transform. 💚
I would like to recommend Sophie Strand's "The Body Is a Doorway". Every time I hear her interviewed she opens my mind up to larger ideas, ways of seeing the world and the times we live in.
Thank you Luisa. This year's gentle book club has been a gift, and I'm delighted that my book Breaking Waves is under consideration for the next year. Whichever books are selected, it will be a list of joy, thank you 🙏💕
I’m just waiting for delivery of ‘Chasing Fog’ by Laura Pashby - don’t tell JoJo, it’s a secret gift … if you’ll forgive an old fella sticking his nose in, it would be a fab choice. Eleanor Anstruther is a strong and fascinating writer (and champion of others) here on Substack.
Mmmm Laura's book could be beautifully timely, pitched at the right part of the year! ;) Am off down an Eleanor rabbit hole now....... thanks Barrie! :)
Well, I'm going to be bold and offer my own, latest book as a suggestion - The House in the Hedge...I think it ticks all of your boxes 😉...and I'm all about promoting the under-represented indies with small, but devoted readerships...which is to say, me. 🥰
I love the slow and gentle approach to reading. I would recommend The Body is a Doorway by Sophie Strand. Fits perfectly with this slow and seasonal approach to moving through all of life’s seasons and challenges.
What a wonderful idea! I'd love to join in this year. I'm pretty new to Substack and just found your Gentle Book Club. I read a lot and I love your wonderful book choices and recommendations! Right up my alley. Looking forward to start reading with you all! 🥰
Thank you for your kind welcome! I'm so amazed about this online space! What a lovely community, wonderful writers, inspiring essays, kind and friendly people, niches for every interest - and it got me writing and publishing again regularly. Perfect! ❤️
Do you know, I may or may not have brought Gentle Book Club back for Year Two simply because we miss the publication date of Emma's book otherwise! So thank you for nominating, Helen ;)
Jenny this is an absolute stonker of a nomination, but we were actually lucky to read ‘Weathering’ in this first year of Gentle Book Club! Ruth kicked the whole club off actually, in March 2024 just as it was released. (I shall read and re-read it again, many times though, I’m sure).
I do have two suggestions, and although neither are on Substack, I did think maybe some people on here would enjoy the recommendations regardless of whether they're chosen for the club or not! I know I've been adding some of these suggestions to my own lists 😊
Becoming Baba Yaga by Kris Spisak and The Wild Wool Shepherdess by Elizabeth Kneafsey
Hello Stacey, a huge thank you for being here. These are both new to me (which I adore, how many wonderful new people are we going to find as this post keeps getting added to!) Thank you 🖤 Luisa
Wow-what a cozy, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and hold a hot beverage piece! Thank you. My I nominate my debut book (It came out Dec. 3)...my memoir of my coming-of-age years in Cold War West Germany. (Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany). I wrote it as an hommage to that young woman (me) so lost as a middle child, and empowered by travel, my mom (who was the dutiful officer's wife and on the side, a purveyor of feminist wisdom) and our female bodies going through monumental changes.
Raynor Winn, The Salt Path. Memoir of a woman and her husband who lose everything and set out on the South Coast Trail in England, camping along the way. It’s a quiet and lovely book about life, struggles, love, and not giving up
I know the book, and Raynor’s others, well. Great suggestion. I actually live at the very start of the South West Coast Path! I’ve made it as far as Land’s End (so just the first 200 miles!) :)
Wow! I read it in anticipation of a retreat to North Devon in Spring of ‘26! I’m very excited to see this part of the country. I’m an American and have only visited London. Any recommendations as to where to spend a few days while I acclimate to time zone before retreat?
Oh enjoy enjoy. Definitely spend as much time on the south west coast as you can. I'm biased, but it IS the best! And until then you can watch the movie of The Salt Path, think it's coming out this April? Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs star, I caught a glimpse of them when they filmed here last year :)
Such a lovely idea, Luisa. May I please nominate my own book, Chasing Fog? It was published in August and is a meditation on fog and mist, a love song to weather and nature’s power to transform. 💚
Oh, it may just be perfect for us, Laura, thank you! :)
Came to nominate Chasing Fog - so glad to see it’s already being considered! 🥰
I've read Chasing Fog alreeady too, and agree that it would be perfect.
Thank you! ✨
Ooh yes!! I have this one already, would love to discuss 😍
Your book sounds lovely
Thank you!
It is such a beautiful idea!! Love it ... I would nominate Laura too
Likewise - would like to vote to read this together because I loved it!
I would like to recommend Sophie Strand's "The Body Is a Doorway". Every time I hear her interviewed she opens my mind up to larger ideas, ways of seeing the world and the times we live in.
Oh my, just discovered Sophie, and disappeared for half an hour in her beautiful page and words! Thanks Laurie x
Thank you Luisa. This year's gentle book club has been a gift, and I'm delighted that my book Breaking Waves is under consideration for the next year. Whichever books are selected, it will be a list of joy, thank you 🙏💕
So welcome. And we have all waited for Breaking Waves *forever*, April cannot come soon enough ;) What's your release date? x
27 March - it has been such a long time coming but now it feels like it’s rushing towards me like a train!! 😍
Can only imagine how this humongous journey has been! Okay 27th March firmly in diary 🖤
Note to self! Check if Katherine May has a new book out this year ;)
I’m just waiting for delivery of ‘Chasing Fog’ by Laura Pashby - don’t tell JoJo, it’s a secret gift … if you’ll forgive an old fella sticking his nose in, it would be a fab choice. Eleanor Anstruther is a strong and fascinating writer (and champion of others) here on Substack.
Mmmm Laura's book could be beautifully timely, pitched at the right part of the year! ;) Am off down an Eleanor rabbit hole now....... thanks Barrie! :)
💛📚💛
Well, I'm going to be bold and offer my own, latest book as a suggestion - The House in the Hedge...I think it ticks all of your boxes 😉...and I'm all about promoting the under-represented indies with small, but devoted readerships...which is to say, me. 🥰
Well you already know I am a proud fan, Melanie :)))))
The House in the Hedge could be perfect. And well done for horn blowing!
You're too kind! And thanks...I had to go and hide under the table afterwards, still, I'm calling it a win :) xo
I love the slow and gentle approach to reading. I would recommend The Body is a Doorway by Sophie Strand. Fits perfectly with this slow and seasonal approach to moving through all of life’s seasons and challenges.
Glorious choice, thank you Stephanie! Is Sophie's publication Make Me Good Soil here on Substack?
Yes it is!
What a wonderful idea! I'd love to join in this year. I'm pretty new to Substack and just found your Gentle Book Club. I read a lot and I love your wonderful book choices and recommendations! Right up my alley. Looking forward to start reading with you all! 🥰
Ah welcome Klaudia! I'm 2 and a half years in (in between creative fires) and Substack remains my only online space now 🖤
Thank you for your kind welcome! I'm so amazed about this online space! What a lovely community, wonderful writers, inspiring essays, kind and friendly people, niches for every interest - and it got me writing and publishing again regularly. Perfect! ❤️
Same for me - brand new to Substack and ambled upon this book club. It sounds perfect.
Welcome, fellow Lu! :)
I was also going to suggest Breaking Waves by Emma Simpson!
Firmly in the mix! ;)
Thank you so much 😍😍
I loved the books you chose last year. Can I recommend Breaking Waves by Emma Simpson which will be published in April.
Do you know, I may or may not have brought Gentle Book Club back for Year Two simply because we miss the publication date of Emma's book otherwise! So thank you for nominating, Helen ;)
Thank you Helen ❤️❤️
I’d like to nominate Weathering by Ruth Allen which ties in with my two biggest passions: mental health alongside geology and how landscape shapes us
Jenny this is an absolute stonker of a nomination, but we were actually lucky to read ‘Weathering’ in this first year of Gentle Book Club! Ruth kicked the whole club off actually, in March 2024 just as it was released. (I shall read and re-read it again, many times though, I’m sure).
Aha, I hadn’t found the list from last year but that definitely confirms me as a member!
I do have two suggestions, and although neither are on Substack, I did think maybe some people on here would enjoy the recommendations regardless of whether they're chosen for the club or not! I know I've been adding some of these suggestions to my own lists 😊
Becoming Baba Yaga by Kris Spisak and The Wild Wool Shepherdess by Elizabeth Kneafsey
Wonderful suggestions, thank you Rachel, and yes absolutely I think we will all lap up any recommendations, regardless! 🖤
I love love love this gentle book club, and I have two ideas to suggest: The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Night Magic by Leigh Amn Henion.
Hello Stacey, a huge thank you for being here. These are both new to me (which I adore, how many wonderful new people are we going to find as this post keeps getting added to!) Thank you 🖤 Luisa
Wow-what a cozy, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and hold a hot beverage piece! Thank you. My I nominate my debut book (It came out Dec. 3)...my memoir of my coming-of-age years in Cold War West Germany. (Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany). I wrote it as an hommage to that young woman (me) so lost as a middle child, and empowered by travel, my mom (who was the dutiful officer's wife and on the side, a purveyor of feminist wisdom) and our female bodies going through monumental changes.
Mary, thrilled to have you here. Thank you for being brave and nominating yourself, am off to have a browse now! 🖤
An I recommend The Silk Pavilion by Sarah Walton. She is here on Substack as “Soul Writing “ I think x
Soul Writing is here, yes! Wonderful, thank you Hayley :)
Raynor Winn, The Salt Path. Memoir of a woman and her husband who lose everything and set out on the South Coast Trail in England, camping along the way. It’s a quiet and lovely book about life, struggles, love, and not giving up
I know the book, and Raynor’s others, well. Great suggestion. I actually live at the very start of the South West Coast Path! I’ve made it as far as Land’s End (so just the first 200 miles!) :)
Wow! I read it in anticipation of a retreat to North Devon in Spring of ‘26! I’m very excited to see this part of the country. I’m an American and have only visited London. Any recommendations as to where to spend a few days while I acclimate to time zone before retreat?
Oh enjoy enjoy. Definitely spend as much time on the south west coast as you can. I'm biased, but it IS the best! And until then you can watch the movie of The Salt Path, think it's coming out this April? Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs star, I caught a glimpse of them when they filmed here last year :)