Sometimes you are really into it and can't put a book down, other times it's hard to get stuck in. Whether you are ploughing your way through reading right now with more time at home or struggling to have some time for yourself, we have shared some of the things we've been reading recently to hopefully inspire you to take a moment.

 

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld

Pair with ede • Roll On Therapist • BDE

Get this book, no really, right now. Whether you have an interest in politics or not, this incredible book tracks an imagined version of what Hilary Clinton's life would have turned out like if she, well, wasn't a Clinton. Charting her career independence, fierce values, empathy and intelligence, Rodham had us hooked as a story about female empowerment - if you ever loved the movie Sliding Doors, this is for you.

  

Salt by David Harsent

Pair with Find • Find Your Ground Candle

Poetry as escapism. For when you need a 'life palette cleanser', Salt is a beautiful compilation of David Harsent's poems about human nature. Like getting to read the forgotten scraps of notes a writer has left around the house, this is a beautiful book to invest in for yourself, or as a gift for any wordsmiths you know and love.

 

Outline by Rachel Cusk

Pair with Earl of East • Onsen Candle • Small

Rachel Cusk is one of those writers that you can't just read one of her books. You'll get hooked on her refreshing tone and ability to build up a setting you can close your eyes and be in, but without the need for a driving plot or drama. Outline is a stark read that follows a novelist teaching a course in creative writing over an oppressively hot summer in Athens, and is the first in a trilogy to get stuck into this year.

  

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

Pair with Wax + Wick • Amber & Mineral

This special book was written a few years back as a journal style memoir to Raynor Winn's heart breaking walking trip around the 630-mile South West Coast path as a couple with her terminally ill partner. After becoming homeless on losing their livelihoods and house to a business deal gone wrong, they have nothing left but to walk - sounds heavy, it's the opposite. The most uplifting, eye-opening and reality reminding read to get you through the hardest of times.

 

Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

Pair with Earl of East • Greenhouse Candle • Small

A fairy-tale for the modern world, Gingerbread was influenced by classic children's stories, telling tales of family legacy, inheritance and connection. It's a really beautiful and original story to absorb yourself in. We've read a review that says that trying to describe this book is like trying to recount a dream you've had to someone in the morning, and that's spot on. Something magical to enjoy right now.

 

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vong

Pair with Wax + Wick • Grapefruit & Sage Candle

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is the debut novel by Vietnamese-American poet Ocean Vuong, written in the form of a letter from a Vietnamese American son to his illiterate mother. It's not an easy read, covering trauma, abuse, the struggles of immigration and discovering sexuality, but it's pretty incredible in transporting all five senses into the story. A striking and important book to add to your collection.

 

Losing Earth by Nathaniel Rich

Pair with ede • Roll On Therapist • Press Pause

Wouldn't be a Treen reading list without at least one book about taking care of planet, and this one is possibly the most important book we've read in a while. A book about the existence of scientific evidence for global warming for decades whilst it was politically denied and the eventual damage that will occur as a result, this is one to read when you want to learn more, absorb the bigger picture and feel further inspired to keep making changes for the better.