Catch up with Dymphna's January Book Club

Welcome to Dymphna's Book Club here on The Big Breakfast Blaa. Here, there is always a warm cuppa, a roaring fire, the comforting crack of the spine as the book opens, and a friend to talk about the book with. (That would be me, I am THAT friend!)

January was filled with the hottest best-sellers of the Christmas charts, and with that in mind, we kick off this month's Book Club with 'Poor' by Katriona O'Sullivan.

'Poor' by Katriona O'Sullivan

As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty, the odds were low on Katriona O'Sullivan making anything of her life. When she became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless, what followed were five years of barely coping. This is the extraordinary story - moving, funny, brave, and sometimes startling - of how Katriona turned her life around. How the seeds of self-belief planted by teachers in childhood stayed with her. How she found mentors whose encouragement revitalised those seeds in adulthood, leading her to become an award-winning academic whose work challenges barriers to education. Poor is not only Katriona's story, but is also her impassioned argument for the importance of looking out for our kids' futures. Of giving them hope, practical support and meaningful opportunities.

While this is, at times, a very triggering and difficult read, it is also a brave and honest re-telling of how the horrors of childhood carry power over us. As adults, we are shaped by the world of childhood, our morals and values mirroring those passed on to us by family. Katriona's story is inspirational, offering hope amid such bleak prospects, as she changed the narrative of her story and in doing so, took back the power of her own story.

'My Hot Friend' by Sophie White

Lexi is on top of the world, the podcast she co-hosts with her ride-or-die bestie is going stratospheric. But will all this fame and success cost them their friendship? Joanne's just had a baby But her pals keep forgetting that she's no longer available for tequila-fuelled nights out. She loves her son and her boyfriend but the loneliness is killing her. Claire is feeling left out The Whatsapp chat with her old school friends is ominously quiet these days, which can only mean one thing: a side group without her. Can she convince them to give her another chance, or is it time to move on and seek out new BFFs? Fate brings Claire, Joanne and Lexi together as they navigate the knotty, joyful and occasionally toxic swamp that is female friendship. But how will they each decide which friendships to fight for, and which to let go forever?

I chose this book because we often talk about the fears we have when children are starting school, will they make a friend, will those friendships survive the test of time as children evolve into teenagers? However, little is said about the other friendships, the ones which we cling to as adults because without them, we are alone. Adults can find themselves trapped in a hamster-wheel of the school run, the pressing work schedule, juggling a marriage with heavy eye-lids- knowing that your marriage needs you to stay up a little later to watch a film together, but you inevitably fall asleep on the couch during the first few minutes of the film. Amidst all of this pressure, where do friendships survive, thrive, and how resilient must they be in order to shoulder the storm of you cancelling every single plan because you're just too tired? This is funny, engaging, a rapid page-turner, with a deeply thought-provoking core.

'How to Love your Daughter' by Hila Blum

The seemingly inexplicable estrangement between a woman and her grown daughter opens up a troubling question: What damage do we do in the blindness of love?

Thousands of miles from home, a woman stands on a dark street, peeking through well-lit windows at two little girls. They are the grandchildren she’s never met, daughters of the daughter she has not seen in years.
At the center of this mesmerizing story is the woman’s quest to understand how a relationship that began in bliss—a mother besotted with her only child—arrived at a point of such unfathomable distance. Weaving back and forth in time, she unravels memories and long-buried feelings, retracing the infinite acts of parental care, each so mundane and apparently benign, that in ensemble may have undermined what she most treasured. With exquisite psychological precision, Blum traces the seemingly insignificant missteps and deceptions of family life, where it’s possible to cross the line between protectiveness and possession without even seeing it—and uncertain whether, or how, we can find our way back.

This month's books delve into the complexities of relationships as adults, however the relationship we take for granted perhaps is that with our children. We assume they will always love us, will need us, and will keep the bonds strong as they grow older, embarking on their own journey. Yoella has always loved her daughter, cloaking her in an all-encompassing shroud of care and compassion. She saw her first steps, watched her heart break and was there to repair it, she nurtured her daughter through the milestones of childhood, confident that their bond would remain forever. However, when her daughter is older, Yoella is shut out from her life, having never met her grandchildren, never visiting her daughter's home nor even knowing her whereabouts. There is no closure when a relationship is severed without reason, and she is forced to revisit their relationship, to ask did she love her daughter too much? Did she smother her with a selfish love, allowing no room to breathe, and as a result, did she limit the freedom and growth of the greatest love in her life?

'Cat Club Comic Influencers' by Dav Pilkey

The perfect present for Dog Man fans - starring some of your favourite characters from the series!

Excitement grips the Cat Kid Comic Club as Li'l Petey, Flippy, and Molly inspire twenty-one baby frog siblings to continue making authentic and unique comics. Will Naomi and Melvin keep up their antics, or will they finally decide to straighten up?
The story is genuinely funny, thought-provoking, and full of action-packed mini-comics including "Frogzilla vs. Mechafrogzilla" and "RoboChubbs." "Two Birds" shows the value of viewing the world with a positive attitude. (something we could all learn from!)
Award-winning author and illustrator Dav Pilkey employs a variety of techniques - including acrylic paints, coloured pencils, photography, collage, gouache, watercolours, and more - to capture the joyful spirit of creativity. The variety of art styles, paired with Pilkey's trademark storytelling and humour, inspires imagination and innovation for readers of all ages.

Nothing brings me as much joy as when a child willingly and happily picks up a book. I always say it, but regular reading will teach a child how to shape a story, how to expand their vocabulary, and most importantly, it offers them an escape from the pressures in life, for the times when a child just needs to press pause. Suitable for a wide age-range, this book is the perfect fast read and one your child will return to again and again.