Gulf Weekly Book Club

BOOK OF THE WEEK with Charlie Richards.

A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, Ruby Wax 978-0241972069 (Penguin) BD4.400 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members

Five hundred years ago no one died of stress … we invented this concept and now we let it rule us. Ruby Wax shows us how to de-frazzle for good by making simple changes that give us time to breathe, reflect and live in the moment.

Let Ruby be your guide to a healthier, happier you. You’ve nothing to lose but your stress.

READ IT NOW IN PAPERBACK

The Essex Serpent, Sarah Perry, ISBN 978-1781255445 BD7.300 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members.

London 1893. When Cora Seaborne’s husband dies, she steps into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness: her marriage was not a happy one, and she never suited the role of society wife. Accompanied by her son Francis - a curious, obsessive boy - she leaves town for Essex, where she hopes fresh air and open space will provide the refuge they need.

When they take lodgings in Colchester, rumours reach them from further up the estuary that the mythical Essex Serpent, once said to roam the marshes claiming human lives, has returned to the coastal parish of Aldwinter.

Cora, a keen amateur naturalist with no patience for religion or superstition, is immediately enthralled, convinced that what the local people think is a magical beast may be a previously undiscovered species.

As she sets out on its trail, she is introduced to William Ransome, Aldwinter’s vicar. Like Cora, Will is deeply suspicious of the rumours, but he thinks they are founded on moral panic, a flight from real faith. As he tries to calm his parishioners, he and Cora strike up an intense relationship, and although they agree on absolutely nothing, they find themselves inexorably drawn together and torn apart, eventually changing each other’s lives in ways entirely unexpected.

My favourite read of the week

Hello, Is this Planet Earth?, Tim Peake, ISBN 978-1780897158 (Century) BD9.800 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members

This book takes readers on a mesmerising tour of Tim’s historic and inspirational six-month Principia mission.

Based on over 150 of Tim’s stunning photographs that he took on board the international space station, many of which have not been seen before, this lavish collection showcases the beauty of earth from above, and is the perfect visual time capsule of Tim’s remarkable trip, which captured the imaginations of millions of children and adults across the world.

The book can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, and comes with a personal commentary from Tim, full of his characteristic warmth and charm. The book includes breath-taking aerial photos of cities illuminated at night, the northern lights and unforgettable vistas of oceans, mountains and deserts. The title of the book is inspired by Tim’s famous ‘wrong number’ dialled from space, when he accidentally misdialled a woman from the space station and inquired: ‘Hello, is this planet Earth?’

During his mission, Tim conducted numerous ground-breaking science experiments and engaged the British public in ingenious ways. He became the first British astronaut to complete a spacewalk and the first person to run the London marathon in space.

He spoke to hundreds of thousands of school children back on earth via events such as the Cosmic Classroom live from the ISS, engaging more than one million children during the whole mission.

He was also involved in other memorable events, such as presenting the BRIT Awards live from space in a dinner jacket. Around 24 million people watched Tim blast off and more than two million fans continue to follow his updates across social media.

In the Queen’s birthday honours, Tim was made a companion of the order of St Michael and St George, an award given to those who have given distinguished service overseas, or, in Tim’s case, in space.