Jedidiah Jenkins : Mother, Nature, 9780593137260, Convergent, PRH USA

Jed Jenkins previous book, "To shake the sleeping self" , his account of a bike trip from Oregon to the tip of South America, was one of my favourite books during the lockdown.  When recounting his bike adventures, he also admitts to inner battles of being gay, denying himself sexuality and being raised by a very Southern Baptist mother who believes his gayness is a sin.  

In "Mother, Nature" , Jed embarkes on a 5000 mile road trip with his mother Barbara who had walked this stretch from New Orleans to Portland Oregon with his father Peter in the 1970ties.  I remember reading about it in National Geographic, so it was interesting to hear the stories behind this unbelievable walk and getting an update. 

 Jed shares their very open, provoking and honest conversations during this trip,  their disagreements and differences in faith but also their unshakable love and fun which makes this book so very touching and special.  Food for thought for anyone who sometimes tears their hair out when having open confrontations and disagreements with their parents or loved ones,  no matter how old you are..

 Sarah Winman: Still Life, 9780008283391, Paperback, Forth Estate, 

This little gem of a book gave me much solace and comfort during an upheaval, a move from a beloved home, during packing and unpacking. When bone tired, reading a few pages before falling asleep or waking up during the night not being able to go back to sleep, this novel always brought me peace and a warm glow. Sounds kitschy perhaps but Winman's quality writing prevented that from happening even if the story was sometimes sugar coated.

In "Still Life" Sarah Winman creates a chosen tribe of people, a family, all a little "special" and excentric but with absolute commitment and love for each other. Be it Margret and Evelyn, art historians and lesbians, who are having lunch in war torn Tuscany 1944 when a chance encounter with Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier, changes all their lives forever.  Switching between London East End, Florence,  Tuscan hills and villages  with life unfolding into the 1970ties for each of these characters, Ulysses's group of friends , I always felt like returning to a family as one would like to have it when I switching on my E reader.  Reminded me a little of Arminstead Maupins San Francisco tribe which I absolutely adored.  A great read for me during a chaotic time.