So much more than just a book

This Bookshelf episode reminded me that sometimes a book gives us far more than just a good story.

Jo joined me to talk about Passiontide by Monique Roffey, but we ended up chatting about so much more than the book itself. We talked about finding a bit of escapism when life keeps you close to home, why some books completely pull you in, and how reading isn't always straightforward for all of us.

As two people who both find reading hard work, we also found ourselves talking about dyslexia, audiobooks, rereading pages and why the right book is worth the effort.

Jo also shared something I hadn't expected. As the story unfolds, women from very different backgrounds come together to stand up for what's right. It reminded her of the SEND parent community and how parents so often find strength in each other when the system feels stacked against them.

If you've ever been looking for a book that transports you somewhere else, or you've wondered whether you're the only one who struggles to read, I think you'll really enjoy this conversation.
 
 Jo has definitely persuaded me to add a few more of Monique Roffey's books to my ever-growing list. If you'd like to have a look at her other books too, you'll find them on her website: www.moniqueroffey.com

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Transcript

Welcome To The Bookshelf Series

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello and welcome back to the Untypical Parent Podcast Bookshelf, the mini episodes where we talk about books that have either meant something to us as parents, or we've even had authors on as well talking about books that they have read that might be something interesting to the untypical parents that join and listen to the untypical parent podcast. So today I have a parent join me. I have Joe join me. So Joe, welcome to the podcast. Nice to have you with us. Now, I put out a message, a post on my social media asking for people that might be interested in coming on to talk about a book that meant something to them. So it kind of either resonated particularly for maybe an additional needs purpose or neurodivergence or STD, or actually just because the book meant something important to that person and that parent at that moment. So it doesn't always have to be tied in. Sometimes books are about a bit of escapism, doesn't have to be tied to that. So, Joe, you made a comment on one on the post and you were very brave and decided that you were gonna come on to the podcast. And I believe this is your first podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

Yes. I mean I've listened to them a few times, obviously. No, I've never been on the other side.

SPEAKER_00 1:26

Well, you're gonna be fine. I'm gonna lead you through it. It's gonna we're gonna look after you, but I appreciate you coming on. I know sometimes that can be a bit nerve-wracking.

Why Joe Chose Passion Tide

SPEAKER_00 1:35

So you decided there was a book in particular that you wanted to talk about. Can you tell us the name of that book, Joe?

SPEAKER_01 1:42

Yes, it's um Passion Tide. And it's by Oh, it's by Monique Roffy. I think that's how you say her name. Monique Roffy.

SPEAKER_00 1:50

So, Jo, tell us a bit about the story without giving it away, because we still want people to go away and read it. So don't give any, you know, we have to keep the mystery of the book. But but what's the book generally about?

SPEAKER_01 2:04

Okay, and obviously stop me if I am giving it away too much, because that's yes, I'm a massive oversharer. So basically the gist of the book, it's set in the Caribbean, um, and it's um on a on a on a little eye on I don't know how big the island is, um, actually, and it's nowadays set in today, and it's a kind of mixture of um it's very feminist, it's got uh it's all about the women on the island. Um, and this won't be a um a bloop if I say this, because this happens right at the start. There is a murder. Um, and then it kind of evolves from there, and then it it very much focuses on what all the women do um because of the murder. Um it that's the rough, rough gist of it. Um and it's got it's very it's police, it's got a real political kind of side to it, a kind of um protest side to it, and a feminist side to it. Not that I really read it for any of those reasons. I mean I liked all of those, but I I also love the fact that it was based in Caribbean. Yeah. Where did you find out about the book, Joe? How did you hear about it? Well, um actually I'm not massively great at n learning about where what to read and that sort of thing. Don't me neither. No, but I I basically I think I heard on the radio someone talking about Monique Roffy's other book called the um Mermaid of the Black Conch. And that's also based in the Caribbean, and I read that one and I loved it so much, and then I read Passion Tide because that's her, I think it's her latest one. I just loved her writing so much in the other one. So that's how I felt about it.

SPEAKER_00 3:44

She's got a number of books, because I did a bit a little bit of a a Google on her before we came on, and I was looking and think saying she's got a number of books that she's written over the time, yeah. So it's it looks like she's got quite a lot and she's been writing for a while, but why did why did the book why this book, Joe? Because when I said to you, you know, we can choose one book. This one is the one that obviously has meant a lot to you for some reason or has has evoked something in you. Why why? What was it about this book?

SPEAKER_01 4:15

I mean I don't know what I can't remember what I felt when I first like like looked at the sort of blurry bit on the back. But I really like the fact that it's based in the

Escapism When You Are Housebound

SPEAKER_01 4:25

Caribbean because at the moment I'm very much at home with my son, not very much able to leave the house. Um and um so I really needed a bit of escapism, and um that and that gave me that um basically, and I'll and also at the same time, I know this is nothing to do with the book, but I'm also watching all of the series of Death in Paradise. Yes. So that gave me, if you like, which is a very different type of murdering type of writing, but it gave me the backdrop and that kind of lovely kind of I could I mean I can see it in that TV show, and then I could watch read it in the book, and Monica writes in such an amazing way. And she also what I really like about her writing is that she writes as the language is spoken, not all not I mean, there's it's written in English, but every now and then she'll be using how someone might say a sentence, a Caribbean person will say a sentence, and I loved that because that just made you feel even more like you were there, it was even more escorting. It was brilliant.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

It's amazing, isn't it, when people write like that? Because I think I've read some books oh a long, long time ago, because I don't read very many books, it's all audio for me. Is I think is it something like train spotting or something like that? And it was written as if they're talking in a Scottish accent. And it really does someone will probably correct me, I'm probably wrong. Um, but there's something I've read somewhere that they wrote in the accent, and I think it's like you say, it really pulls you in. You feel like you can really hear them talking.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

Yes, and I I'm probably terrible at making the pronunciations in my head as they should be. Um, but I still liked having a go, and um, you know, it was just um lovely that side of it, actually. Yeah, it's a clever way of writing that, I think. Yeah, it really is a another section that immerses you in. It's another Yeah. Oh, it's brilliant, which I really wanted, I really wanted that kind of as much of that as possible.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

Yeah. It's really interesting because I think what I just wanted to pick up on, and I think there's there'll be a lot of parents that probably can relate to that, is you spent saying actually, you know, the reason for you choosing this book actually was was around a bit of escapism and and you know, being in additional needs families, you know, I'm a bit like you in the fact that I'm at home a lot of the time because of my son's needs. But when we're kind of feeling like we're stuck in doors a lot of the time, is is how do you get that escapism? How do I get that? And it sounds like for you you really get that through reading.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

The thing is, I'm I'm not I mean, I I think I'm quite a slow reader. I mean, my son's actually dyslexic, so I do get it through reading. But it I wouldn't say it's an easy win for me, that one. I I I have to have the right, I can't just read a whole mix of books, you know, and I'm not a constant reader, which is why also I was so pleased with this book. So when I saw you write on your Facebook, you know, has anyone read a book? I thought, yeah, uh this book has because I actually don't read as a hobby, as a habit. Uh I I would love to get more into it, but I just draws you in.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Yeah. But I think uh you you were saying, because I was I was talking then I think about you know it giving you that escapism, but actually you were saying, a bit like probably me as well, is that reading it actually can be really hard work. And I've gone very much down the audio, but I've I've never read really. I read bits, I've got books in the background, but sometimes people can see them books in the background. They've been there for three years. Not read them. Um and I still buy books. There's still something I love about a book. So I like to go into a bookshop and I'll buy a book.

Reading Vs Audiobooks And Attention

SPEAKER_00 8:10

Yes. I never read the flipping thing. Whereas now the smell of the book is quite nice sometimes. Everything, yeah, everything about it. Uh that I I I love going I you know I could go into a bookshop and happily sit there and just kind of flick through the shelves and have a look at what was there, and I love the colours and the front all the front covers and all that kind of but reading it, no thanks, just like to look at it. Um But I think that that audio really opened up uh reading for me in a different way. Do you do you listen to audio or do you still kind of pursue with the reading?

SPEAKER_01 8:48

I'm I I I'm yes, no, I I mean I think I've attempted the odd audio, um, and I think I get a little bit confused about what to be sort of physically doing. Yes, I know I get what you mean. I have to sort of and if I haven't sorted that, I I I then can't listen to it. I don't know. Yes. Yeah. So it makes complete sense. Yes, that I can't be like just cooking because that's too noisy or whatever, or something noisy. So I kind of don't find that all that easy to be honest with you, listening to audio.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I wonder, and I don't know about you, Joe. I'm not diagnosed ADHD, but I have a suspicion um that I like the idea of sitting and reading a book. When I look at people, I feel quite jealous. They're kind of snuggled up or they're lying on a sun lounge or wherever they are reading their book. I'm thinking, oh my god, I wish I could do that. There's not, even if I could read better, I still probably wouldn't sit still long enough. So I'm very much like you're talking about, when I listen to audio, I I kind of need to do something with it. So my classic is I have to be in the car. If I'm in the car, I can listen to an audiobook.

SPEAKER_01 9:58

Yes. Yes, I can relate to that actually. I think I'd probably be the same, but we rarely, I mean, at the moment we just don't do I just don't use the car very much, but but I can imagine, yeah, I can imagine that would work very well.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

Yeah, and sometimes I think people say they listen to them when they're walking, um, a bit like a podcast, I suppose, they'll listen to it as they're walking. Um, I was trying to think what else. The other thing I do at night is I listen to them at night, but then I go to sleep.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

Yes. I do actually that's when I've tried to listen to it at night and I go to sleep. And the other thing I've realized about the listening to the audiobooks is they go very fast. And what I love about reading is, and I probably did this with Passion Tide, is I can re-read I I know I did it. I have to reread so many times certain sections. Sometimes, you know, I'll re I'll read like two pages and I'll be going, that really hasn't gone in, so I have to go back. And that's why the book has to be really attractive and I want to read it because otherwise I won't have the interest in going back again.

SPEAKER_00 10:55

I can really relate to that, and I think it's that's when it that's the energy it takes, isn't it? Is because you've read something and thought, What? Yeah, and it's not that you haven't understood it, it's just not you've kind of almost read the words, but it's not in your brain, and I've missed a big chunk,

Four Women Unite After The Murder

SPEAKER_00 11:10

and then I have to go back through it again.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

Yes, yes, no, completely, yeah, completely.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

Yeah, that's that's yeah, and I think that's why it can be so exhausting.

SPEAKER_01 11:17

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

But it's but it sounds like with this book, this book kind of really grabbed hold of you.

SPEAKER_01 11:24

Oh, yeah. I mean it's what I loved about it as it grew. I mean, I wouldn't be very good at reading gory murder-y type stuff. So so it's not like that. It it has the murder, but it's then all about these these women, and they're from very different backgrounds, and it's wonderful. And it I actually wrote their names down. There's gig Gigi, although my husband reckons that you would pronounce that Gigi. Oh, okay. Gigi Lala. And then there's Tara, Charlene, and Daisy. And Gig Gigi is a she's a prostitute, and she's very amazing at setting up things. So she set up this lovely kind of um sex work collective for all the women who are doing the same work as her, and hugely just quite amazing person. And then Tara's an activist, Charlene's a journalist, and then Daisy is the right the wife of this prime minister, and that and these four women know of each other, but this murder brings them all together and unites them, and that's what I particularly loved. And then they they all um began to sort of stand up for women's rights and violence against women, and it turned into this enormous sort of slow, slow, slow growing um protest. And that I like protests almost and I feel like I'm constantly protesting myself because of the situation with the SEN system and my child and everyone else's children. Yeah. So that part of it was also really great because I it it's sort of like it it's a tale of hope, and you know, if you do all collaborate, even in the you know, the face of real kind of um adversity, um, like you know, it was it's a very kind of male-oriented kind of culture, this the way it was set. Um, and all these women were kind of like riling against it. And then all these women came from all these different groups across the island, like the sort of different um churches, different religions, and this and that, and and and um different kind of like movements, and they all c gradually everybody came together from all these different areas to support all the women to do to to to sort of fight back and say, This is wrong, you know, these women shouldn't be being murdered, basically.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How amazing. And I love the fact as well you kind of made that link into you know our SCN world is that you know, a lot of us what we're facing and the difficulties we're up against, and and how actually it's that brings us together as a community as of parents, and actually we know that there's m louder and louder voices now about, you know, we're not okay with this and this needs to change and the the kind of strength that brings.

SPEAKER_01 14:12

Absolutely, and that is how you could describe the the the way this book kind of gradually goes and how the protest gradually grows and um and and how everyone's got a very different story, like those four women have got very different stories, um, but they all want to support the say the same they've all come together for the same reason, that it's it's wrong, that there's that so many women are murdered, and then it's not taken as a priority.

Parenting Parallels And How To Respond

SPEAKER_00 14:40

It sounds like a great book. Uh this is what I wanted the podcast to be about, Joe, is that I every time I'm doing these now, people I go, right, I've got another one, I've got to look this one up now and find this one. Um and I am slowly starting to make my way through them, which is quite amazing for me. Um they I'm buying them as audio and I'm listening to them in the car. I have a couple of journeys um during the week with my son that I have to do that are really long journeys. So I've this is part of my listening now in the car, and I'm really enjoying it. I'm really enjoying it. So I think this is definitely another one I need to add to my list.

SPEAKER_01 15:13

Let me know uh what you think. I'd love to know.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Yeah. It'd be really great. And I think when this goes out, you know, if people have had a listen um and have gone off to read the book, it'd be really great to leave some comments, or you know, you can find it on YouTube to leave a l a message if you want to, or drop a message on any of my social medias. And we're gonna obviously as well copy in Monique as well and and let her know that we've been talking about her book. I'm sure she'll be pleased to know it's being spoken about and uh what it's meant to to somebody. So I think all that leaves me to say, really, Joe, is thank you ever so much for coming on. I think it's really lovely to, as I say, know and and and that was my whole reason for the podcast in these little episodes, was to to try and give people ideas for new books to listen to and and to read. And a bit like you and I both struggle with that is finding that that prompt of, oh, have you tried this one? Um, hopefully this podcast series will do that and give parents a bit of an idea, and whether that's for helping them s gain some knowledge or whether it is that escapism and just some time out away from the stresses that we're under, I think that's what my hope for these will do. Yeah, no, no, it's been a real pleasure. Thank you very much. You're really welcome. Thank you for coming on, Joe. Thank you. Take care.