Faking Happiness, Feeling Sadness by Jennifer Licate

Rating:

4 Stars

Themes:

Children's Fiction, Psychologyy, Mental Health

Thoughts:

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I really wish I had this book when I was younger and struggling to understand my own mental health. Anika is a relatable character to anyone who has struggled to understand or cope with their mental health while still school age. The illustrations were realistic while staying childlike and cartoon enough not to make it too overwhelmingly realistic with the topic. I am glad that she was shown opening up to a variety of people (family and friends as well as professionals) and the methods explored to help are great ones that anyone can try.

Favourite Quote:

"I've been in a sad funk for a few weeks. Maybe even a month now. What's weird is that nothing happened or changed to make me start feeling this way. I almost wish something really awful had happened, then I'd understand it. But nothing changed. I'm just getting sadder and sadder. I want to snap out of it, but I can't."

Comments

Vincent: A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Comic, Non-Fiction, Biography Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great little book on Vincent van Gogh. It is very detailed containing pieces of his life such as changing careers and failed love interests that are often not considered when we think of van Gogh, instead favouring his art and mental health. The illustrations were really well done and at times helped to bring levity to the story which isn’t often the happiest of lives.

The War of Sober by Edward Rand

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Addiction, Psychology Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book not just for addicts trying to establish and maintain their sobriety but also psychologists, counsellors and the people working with them. It approaches the experience of addiction from the perspective of going to war and may help those who can’t get along with the 12 steps, contingency management or other forms of therapy traditionally used. It’s also helpful to have Edward detail his own experiences and approaches throughout so it feels less clinical and shows he does know what he’s talking about when he mentions the difficulties so it comes across less patronising than some self-help addiction books. Favourite Quote: "It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Win or lose, if we are still alive, we must decide to be different today and then make the correct choices today, because friends, ...

Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

KJK Reads

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