The Storyteller's Library

March

Welcome to March’s, Storyteller’s Library. Two non-fiction books were on my list this month, one of which I knew was going to be mentally more demanding than usual and I wasn’t wrong. I missed my short stories so when I discovered a friend of mine had self-published an anthology, I took the opportunity to squeeze that one in this month too. Here’s the reviews for what I read in March:

• The Presence Of The Past - Rupert Sheldrake

• How To Be A Tudor - Ruth Goodman

• Consider The Cicada - Jane Andreoli

The Presence Of The Past - Rupert Sheldrake

I’ll be real about this one. I was really intrigued and excited to read more about Sheldrake’s theory of Morphic Resonance, however the book is not an easy read and I was disappointed that it was not more accessible for us mere mortals. It’s dense with facts and research and has years and years of thoughts and experience within it. As a result I skipped through a lot of it and just read the bits that held my interest and that I could grasp the concepts of.

If you want to just skip to the bit about story, Chapter 15 was of particular interest as it looks at the intersection between science and myth.

You will need a good grounding in biology to understand and retain a lot of this book but if, like me, you don’t have this and you are happy to let a lot of it go over your head there are some fascinating theories in this book that look at what it is to be a part of a nature and ultimately human. Definitely food for thought in this epic text.

How To Be A Tudor by Ruth Goodman

Absolutely excellent. Thoroughly accessible, fascinating and full of lived experiences. As an experimental historian, Ruth Goodman tries out exactly what it would have been like during this time.

She knows how long the rushes would have lasted on the floor before they became unhygienic because she’s tried it. She knows whether or not the Tudors washed and how they kept themselves clean because, yes you’ve guessed it, she’s tried it.

This makes for a unique take on history and as a re-enactor I appreciate the pains (yes, I some cases pains) Ruth has gone to bring us this information. Well researched and written in an entertaining way, if you’re curious about Tudor England, this is the book for you.

Consider The Cicada by Jane Andreoli

I have known Jane for many, many years and we have shared many a story in this time. Her imagination never ceases to amaze me and so when she messaged me to say she had finally put some of her writing out into the world I couldn’t wait to read it.

Consider The Cicada is a collection of kooky, darkly humorous and thought provoking tales that travel the path of life death and the in-between. Hauntings, metamorphosis, shapeshifting and just downright weird, Jane looks at the world in a way that will have you looking over your shoulder on a dark night.

This book is available as a paperback and an ebook via Amazon and is infinitely readable. Just what I needed in between this books of this month’s non-fiction fest. Thanks Jane!

What Were Your March Reads?

Don’t forget to share what you’ve been reading this month in the comments below.

Next Month’s Reading List

I’m hoping to get back to some more novels and short stories next month:

As always you can buy any of above books in all good bookshops. If you would like to buy a copy online, please consider visiting my page on Bookshop.org where I have gathered some of the books I read and recommend. Here you will find a plethora of myth, legend and folktale.

And don’t forget to support your local library too. See if they have a copy to borrow.