Quarter Three Non-Fiction Reading – 2021

So my July, August and September non-fiction picks were all fabulous!

Cult Following was absolutely engrossing and I could not put it down and ended up basically reading it in one sitting. I can’t recommend this book enough. Cults are crazy and this is the second book I’ve read this year written by a survivor who was in one as a child. Bexy’s story was particularly heartbreaking for me because we are the same age so it was impossible not to compare what my childhood was like to hers. Also couldn’t help thinking about what I was doing at 15 while she was navigating the world on her own after being sheltered for her entire life. I may have been getting in to screaming fights with my mother because she rightly wouldn’t let me do the things I wanted but at least I was safe to do so. My childhood traumas are no less valid but sometimes perspective is important.

Cult Following by Bexy Cameron – 5 ⭐

Bexy Cameron was in her late twenties then the dark events of her past finally caught up with her.

Bexy was born into the Children of God, one of the world’s most notorious cults. She was 9 years old when she experienced her first exorcism, held in a secret commune deep in the British countryside. At 10, she was placed on Silence Restriction, forced to be silent for a whole year. Even from an early age, she knew what was happening was not right. At the age of 15, she escaped, leaving behind her parents and 11 siblings.

Haunted by her past, Bexy set off on a road trip across America, embedding herself in the underbelly of religious cults, living with children who, like her, are born into the worlds their parents and cult leaders have created for them.

It is a journey of meth cooks, monks, Jesus Freaks, soap-making Armageddonists, surveillance vans and finally, confronting her parents and herself.

Cult Following Synopsis

I adore Claudia Winkleman, she is funny and whacky and I would love to be her friend. I was a little disappointed that this wasn’t a memoir because I would love to know more about how she became the Claud we all know and love. This is more of a ‘how to Claud’ manual’ and I really did enjoy it but I was craving more. I totally agreed with about 90% of her wisdom. Naps, art, black being the best colour to wear and her opinion on skiing!

I vehemently disagree with her opinions on skincare and makeup though! 🙂

Quite by Claudia Winkleman – 3.5⭐

Claudia Winkleman’s warmth, humour, no-holds-barred attitude and smoky eye have made her the favourite broadcaster of millions and a much-loved household name.

In this, her first ever book, Claudia invites us all into her world. She shares her observations on topics such as the importance of melted cheese, why black coats are vital, how it’s never okay to have sex with someone who has an opinion on your date outfit, how nurses are our most precious national treasure, and why colourful clothing is only for the under 10s (if you’re reading this sporting a bright red jumper and you’re 9, great! If you’re older, sorry).

This is a love letter to life – the real, sometimes messy kind. Quite celebrates friendship, the power of art, the highs and lows of parenting, and of course, how a good eyeliner can really save your life.

Heartfelt, wry and unmistakably Claudia, this book gets to the heart of what really matters.

Quite Synopsis

This was joy in a book. I started following Dean back when the Dodo article came out and every update from him and Nala make my day. Dean and Nala are soulmates and I adore them both. They are out on the road again and it’s great to see Dean back in the wild. Where he belongs and is happy! Nala is patiently putting up with his antics. 😀

Nala’s World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe by Dean Nicholson, Garry Jenkins – 5⭐

Discover the heartwarming true story of a life-changing friendship between a man and his rescue cat, Nala, as they adventure together on a bike journey around the world — from the Instagram phenomenon @1bike1world.

When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our troubled planet. But he hadn’t bargained on the lessons he’d learn from his unlikely companion.

Three months after leaving home, on a remote road in the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia, he came across an abandoned kitten. Something about the piercing eyes and plaintive meowing of the bedraggled little cat proved irresistible. He couldn’t leave her to her fate, so he put her on his bike and then, with the help of local vets, nursed her back to health.

Soon on his travels with the cat he named Nala, they forged an unbreakable bond — both curious, independent, resilient and adventurous. The video of how they met has had 20 million views and their Instagram has grown to almost 750k followers — and still counting!

Experiencing the kindness of strangers, visiting refugee camps, rescuing animals through Europe and Asia, Dean and Nala have already learned that the unexpected can be pretty amazing. Together with Garry Jenkins, writer with James Bowen of the bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob, Dean shares the extraordinary tale of his and Nala’s inspiring and heart-warming adventure together.

Nala’s World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe Synopsis