Two remarkable reads that stayed with me.

Most of my reading happens on my journeys to and from work. That quiet space between the start and end of the day has become my time to unwind, reflect, and get lost in a good story. Recently, I have read 2 books that have really stayed with me - each powerful in its own way, and both offering stories that were thought-provoking, moving, and beautifully written.

Last Orders by Graham Swift 
Karl bought me this book because I liked the film, but I'd never actually read the novel until now. I'm so glad I finally did.  Last. Orders is set in the East End of London and follows 4 men on a journey to fulfil their friend Jack's dying wish to have his ashes scattered at the end of Margate pier. 

But the story goes far deeper than that. It also explores the lives of Jack and Amy and their daughter, June, who is in the care home. That thread of the story was specially poignant for me. Set in a time when people with disabilities were often hidden away or institutionalise. June's situation is heart-breaking. Yet her mother Amy visits her twice a week and offers a kind, quiet, kind of love and resistance. It was deeply moving.

What made the book even more personal for me were the familiar places. It mentioned Chatham, Margate, Spa road in London - and the journey along the old road from London to Margate. I could picture it all so vividly. The novel dives deep into the lives and emotional world of its characters, and I found their stories both stimulating and incredibly human.

The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns
The second book I read was the Woman in the White Kimono, a fictional story based on true events. It set in Japan in 1957 and also in modern day, and it beautifully weaved together the lives of the two central characters, Naoko, and Tori - connecting the past and the present.

The blob on the back of the book, describes it as "a searing portrait of one woman torn between her culture and her heart, and another woman on a journey to discover the true meaning of home.” That really sums it up. The novel explores identity, love, loss, and legacy in a way that feels both intimate and epic.

What struck me the most was the way the author chose to end the book. She writes:
"I place my story, their story, a beautiful and tragic truth within your hands. What you do with it is up to you."