Air and Love by Or Rosenboim

Rosenboim tells her family’s story – one that is dominated by being displaced, fleeing war, and migration – through describing the food they eat. As her family moved from Latvia and Uzbekistan to the cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in Israel, their journey can be traced through the recipes of her grandparents and great-grandparents. The availability or lack of particular ingredients meant that many recipes were adapted, and equally, ingredients new to them were incorporated, as they settled in new places.

The book provides an interesting reflection on how we record migrant histories, given that war is the reason many people leave their birth country, and that the resulting lack of permanence means that keeping mementos of family significance is difficult. Additionally, many recipes weren’t written down but simply passed on through demonstration, with each generation making small adaptations.

This book is packed with mouth-watering descriptions of food, and quite a few recipes – don’t read if you’re feeling hungry!

3/5

Shoemaker by Joe Foster

Not my usual kind of book but picked to fulfill a tricky category in a reading challenge! Shoemaker retells the history of iconic British footwear brand, Reebok. Because I grew up in an age when particular sneakers became an enviable wardrobe item, and because I spent a vast amount of time in the nineties at Step Reebok, it was interesting to hear about how trends, chance, and Foster’s perseverance shaped what is now an international company.

The growth of the aerobics industry is fascinating for a bunch of reasons, and Reebok played a key role in it when they developed the first aeorbics shoes for women. The Freestyle shoes flew off the shelves (and were nicknamed 5411s because they cost $54.11) and became one of the first styles to cross the barrier between athletic footwear and casual streetwear.

Foster’s writing is plain and serviceable but nothing to get excited about.

2.5/5

You Are Here by David Nicholls

Nicholls writes books that are reliably enjoyable, and You Are Here had the charm, humour and emotional depth that I had anticipated.

It’s the story of Michael and Marnie, both single, slightly older (by ‘older’ I mean late thirties/ forties – this is not a twenty-something rom-com), and both have a relationship history that includes disappointments. Importantly, both are lonely but experiencing that in different ways. They meet on a ten-day hike across England – the miserable weather and the challenging walk makes a nice backdrop for the sharp dialogue and wry humour.

If you need a feel-good read, look no further.

4/5