Ask Agatha
Our book advice column is back, and so is our wise and learned bookseller Agatha, who is ready to answer all your tricky (book-related) questions.
If you have a question for Agatha please email [email protected].
Dear Agatha
I get up in the evening and I ain’t got nothing to say. I come home in the morning and I go to bed feeling the same way. I ain’t nothing but tired. Man I’m just tired and bored with myself. Hey there Aunty, I could use just a little help.
Love from Born to Run
During winter we all aspire to be like Rocky, charging through the snow, punching carcasses and getting ripped. Seasonal Affective Disorder is no joke though; there’s a reason Black Metal bands emerged from Scandinavia and not the Bahamas. Most of us spend our spare time binge-watching Golden Girls and dreaming of the tropics but I’ve got two words for you baby: self care. Restore Refresh Relax is a handsome volume with plenty of ideas to help us ward off misery. For example, there are instructions to make uplifting candles, nettle and cleavers tea, and tinctures. Seems like it might be intended for hobbits, actually, but I’m sure you’ll find something useful in there. It doesn’t cover roasting potatoes in duck fat but that’s a great little winter hack too.
Dear Agatha
I’m working 9–5 to just make a living. You would think that I would deserve a fat promotion! I want to move ahead but the boss won’t seem to let me.
Love from Just Because I’m a Woman
Perhaps what may help you right now is a heart-warming and inspirational book about tech-bros getting totally dunked on. Alpha Girls tells the story of four women who thrived in the male dominated world of Silicon Valley. You may glean some strategies and be emboldened by these women who overcame sexist attitudes and annoying nerds to become wildly successful. Now, go dunk on your numbskull boss!
Dear Agatha
My partner is unhappy and I feel like I’m lost in love and I don’t know much. Was I thinking aloud and fell out of touch? But I’m (wanting to be) back on my feet and eager to be what you wanted.
Love from Lost in Love
There’s nothing like a book when it comes to getting on the same page! There have been a lot of books with f*ck in the title published recently, but most actually have very little to do with sex. Unf*ck Your Intimacy by Faith Harper, on the other hand, is an open-minded and non-traditional look at relationships and sex. Listening, communicating and healing – there are plenty of practical strategies in here to help you with your “Relationshipping”(her word, not mine). It also covers cheating, which is not really a practical strategy, and polyamory, which is a kind of lawful cheating I suppose. Best of luck with the unf*ckening (also her word)!
