Book Rack – The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: A tale within tales
Matt Haig writes from his heart. And that’s one recipe for a remarkable piece of writing. Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning. “What looks like magic is simply a part of life we don’t understand yet…” – that’s how lyrical and magical is Haig’s understanding of life. The Life Impossible tells the story of a retired math teacher Grace Winters who is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend. At this place, curiosity gets the better of her and Winters arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan. Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past. In many ways, The Life Impossible is a story of contrasts. Grace travels from her bleak bungalow in Lincoln to solve a crime on the most vibrant island in the world. As her unlikely friendship with Alberto progresses, her mathematical mind embraces the improbable, and she is released from anhedonia – going from feeling nothing at all to feeling everything. The many seemingly unrelated references Haig brings, from Nostradamus to Freddie Mercury, Shakespeare to Hill Street Blues, all begin to weave together, and the only way Grace will save herself – and the island – is to embrace those connections. Haig’s wise and moving novel is both a mystery and a love story, and its greatest gift lies in showing us that it is possible to dismantle the boundaries we have built, grasp the connections previously hidden, and appreciate life in all its richness. While it was a slow start, this became such a moving tale. It covers so much: grief, loss, acceptance, found family, Ibiza’s complicated past and present, impacts of tourism, mistakes, second chances, and more.
Atomic Habits: What makes or breaks us
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, delves deep into the power of small habits and their ability to make a big impact on our lives. It offers practical strategies and insightful anecdotes to help readers understand how to build and break habits effectively. The author emphasises that change does not occur overnight, but rather through the accumulation of small, consistent actions and outlines a simple yet powerful framework: the four laws of behaviour change which consists of making habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. These laws, when applied appropriately, can help readers create desirable habits and eliminate undesirable ones. His whole philosophy is based on the idea of making tiny, or “atom-like” changes. And then those small changes snowball. Clear backs up his claims and advice with scientific research and studies, by illustrating the psychology and neuroscience behind habit formation, and provides a solid foundation for his suggestions. This evidence-based approach adds weight to the ideas presented, making them more compelling. What sets Atomic Habits apart from other self-help books is its practicality. Clear breaks down the process of habit formation into easy-to-follow steps, making it more likely for readers to take action and see real progress, providing various techniques to overcome common stumbling blocks along the way, such as habit stacking and habit tracking, making it easier for readers to build in accountability. This is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their lives by harnessing the power of habit. The four laws
