Christmas Gift Guide 2019: The Alternative Gifts Edit - Practical, Useful & Thought-Provoking Gifts

If your Christmas shopping list involves buying gifts which are practical, thought-provoking and useful in some way, this short but sweet alternative edit is here to give you a couple of ideas!

Reusable Coffee Cups and Drinks Bottles

Whilst many of us have already got the memo about ditching single-use plastic drinks cups and bottles, there are still some people who haven't gotten around to buying an alternative yet. Fret not! You can give them a helping hand in the right direction by gifting them their very own reusable coffee cup or bottle, and help save millions of tons of unnecessary single-use waste from going to landfill every year. Loads of shops sell them on the high street, supermarkets stock them, and I even found them by the till recently at my local petrol station, so they're super easy to find and pick up. 

Diversity Books Subscription

There are lots of book subscription boxes out there, but one that I've been particularly taken with recently is a newbie called Heady Mix. Heady Mix focuses on showcasing characters and writers from underrepresented groups including women, race, disabilities, LGBTQI+ and more, which is a great way to promote diversity whilst finding something new and interesting to read. 

They have a range of subscription options depending on how much you want to spend each month, with prices starting at just £12 (including UK postage). In the photo above is their October Heady Mix box* themed on Afrofuturism, which includes two novels and a specially compiled anthology. Sign up here. 

Kid-Friendly Stockings - Bamboo Toothbrushes 

I've seen a recent trend on social media of parents shunning the typical plastic consumer 'tat' that are marketed at their kids, and instead, making them a Christmas stocking which is full of useful products to help kickstart family conversations about the importance of protecting the environment. With so many young kids being more aware of the problems that the world is facing these days thanks to movements like Extinction Rebellion and programmes such as Blue Planet, I think it's a pretty cool idea!

One item that you can include in their stocking is the much-loved bamboo toothbrush. This sustainable, biodegradable, plastic-free alternative helps to represent how easy it is to change daily habits with just one product. And again, this is an easy item to shop for on the high street or online.

 The Healthy Tea Gift

To round off this edit I wanted to include something that I will always appreciate receiving myself and that's tea! Matcha Green Tea is perhaps the healthiest tea that you can find and it's packed full of heart-healthy antioxidants which have a wide range of proven benefits. It also gives you a boost of energy but has a much lower caffeine content than regular coffee, so you can avoid those annoying post-coffee jitters! Try making a classic Matcha Latte (recipe here) or use some in baking and treat yourself to these delicious Matcha Green Tea & Lemon Breakfast Muffins (recipe here).

The perfect starter kit is this Pure Chimp Matcha Green Tea Gift Set* (£29.95, link) which comprises of a full-size jar of their excellent Matcha Green Tea, a stainless steel measuring spoon and a bamboo whisk and holder.

Are you shopping for useful and practical Christmas gifts this year?

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What I've Been Reading Lately: June Books Roundup

A round-up of the books that I've been reading this month:-

Wildflower by Drew Barrymore

Non-Fiction / Memoirs: "Award-winning actress Drew Barrymore shares funny, insightful, and profound stories from her past and present told from the place of happiness she's achieved today."

Drew Barrymore has been one of those actors who has literally grown up in the spotlight, and I've been a fan of many of her films for a long time. She was one of the infamous 90s girls and always came across as a friendly, confident woman with a real passion for life in interviews, despite her past troubles with alcohol and drugs. I didn't realise that she had a book out until I spotted Wildflower in the library and intrigued to find out more, I picked it up.

Wildflower is what I'd describe as a 'memoir of sorts'. It's not a chronologically ordered autobiography, rather it's a free-flowing, mish-mash of anecdotes and stories recalled in short chapters, and it's the type of book that you can dip in and out of as you please. There are a few sad parts, but Drew's ability to maintain a positive outlook throughout everything that life throws at her, is admirable, to say the least. That said, for someone who has led such an interesting life, this book felt like it only really skimmed the surface but I get the feeling that Drew wanted to keep some things private which I can completely understand. Fans of hers will no doubt love it nonetheless. [3/5]

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Historical Fiction / Romance: "Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby. Mrs. Sucksby’s household, with its fussy babies calmed with doses of gin, also hosts a transient family of petty thieves—fingersmiths—for whom this house in the heart of a mean London slum is home."

This book has been recommended to me so many times by close friends and online friends, that it was inevitable that I would have to get my hands on a copy at some point in my life and I've finally read it!

Fingersmith is a novel quite unlike anything that I've ever read before. It's set in Victorian times and the story follows two young teenage girls; Sue, a poor but sly and cunning master pickpocket (often referred to as a 'fingersmith', hence the title of the book) and Maud, a quiet and sheltered girl who is the heiress to a small fortune. Both lead wildly different lives, but the two soon meet when Sue becomes involved in a plot to steal Maud's inheritance. However, things don't exactly go to plan as Sue develops feelings for Maud and the story quickly evolves into a rollercoaster of emotions and dark secrets.

There were a lot of really interesting plot twists throughout which kept me hooked, yet despite the thrilling lesbian romance (and um yes, there are sex scenes too), there was a certain level of Victorian misery and bleakness that kept the story grounded and stopped it from going off into the realms of a romance fantasy. The ending was especially good - unexpected, but one that made a lot of sense the more that I thought about it, long after I'd turned the last page. A Dickensian-style novel with a difference! [4/5]

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

Psychological Horror / Thriller: "Frank - no ordinary sixteen-year-old - lives with his father outside a remote Scottish village. Their life is, to say the least, unconventional. Frank has turned to strange acts of violence to vent his frustrations. In the bizarre daily rituals there is some solace, but how far is too far?"

Iain Banks first novel, The Wasp Factory was released to much controversy back in 1984, with many people calling for it to be banned due to its graphic and violent content. Being a fan of psychological horrors and having a strong stomach, I'm not sure how this book has managed to pass me by for so long and now that I've read it, I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

The Wasp Factory is not a book for the faint-hearted. It's told in the first person by Frank, a deeply troubled 16-year old who has killed three children (all related to him) by the time that he's 10. The story now sees him reflecting upon his actions and pondering on his childhood as he approaches becoming an adult. What follows is a depressingly dark account of an isolated upbringing filled with horrifying sadistic rituals often involving animal abuse; a difficult relationship with his father, and numerous conversations with his older brother Eric, who has recently escaped from a mental institution.

It's clear that both Frank and Eric are psychopaths, and that the mother's absence from their lives and the father's 'odd' behaviour (plus some other life changing events) may have played a central part in all this violent mayhem. It brings about that old debate of nature vs nurture -is it all the parents' fault, or are the boys just naturally twisted and evil? Whilst The Wasp Factory will guarantee to sicken and horrify 99% of people who read it (I can only assume the other 1% are psychopaths themselves), it does make you think about how someone can do such awful things, and whether it's their background/upbringing that makes them how they are. [3/5]

The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier 

Historical Fiction / WW2: "The silver sword became the symbol of hope and courage which kept four deserted and starving children alive through the years of Nazi occupation, and afterwards on the search to find their parents in the harshest of circumstances."

The Silver Sword is a story featuring the Balicki family that's based on true events during the Nazi occupation of Poland in 1940 during WW2. The family become separated when the father is taken to a prison camp for refusing to put up a portrait of Hitler in the school classroom that he works in, and the mother is taken by the Gestapo in the middle of the night. This terrifying situation leaves behind the three Balicki children (aged 13, 11 and 3), who must now try to survive in a country that is being torn apart by war. The first half of the story focuses on the father's escape from prison after serving a year and his desperation to try and find his family back in Warsaw, and then the rest of the book reverts back to the children's survival story immediately after their mother is taken away. 

It's a YA story, so the prose is simplistic and fast-paced, but it's still an incredibly moving novel and one that really packs an emotional punch into such a short amount of space. [3/5]

The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles

Historical Fiction / Literature / Romance: "Obsessed with an irresistible fascination for the enigmatic Sarah, Charles is hurtled by a moment of consummated lust to the brink of the existential void. Duty dictates that his engagement must be broken as he goes forth once again to seek the woman who has captured his Victorian soul & gentleman's heart."

Given the scandalous praise that screams at you when you read the blurb on the back of this book, I half expected The French Lieutenant's Woman to be a sordid, bodice-ripping erotica, but thankfully, it's much more intelligent and sincere than a trashy French version of a Mills and Boon yarn. 

Instead, The French Lieutenant's Woman is a deeply romantic and multi-layered story that features the complexity of a classic love triangle with Charles (a confident, self-made gentleman), Ernestina (Charles' fiancée, the beautiful heiress to a vast fortune), and Sarah (the classic 'other woman', with a sense of mystery about her). It's always obvious in these kinds of stories that someone like Charles should dump the pretty wealthy woman and run off into the sunset with someone like Sarah, but the story delves into the emotions and hearts of everyone involved and makes for an interesting holiday read. Fowles' prose is beautiful, with the erotica scenes adding a little naughtiness here and there. My only criticism is that some parts played out longer in the storyline than I wanted them to, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. [3/5]

What have you been reading lately?

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What I've Been Reading Lately: May Books Roundup

A round-up of the books that I've been reading this month:-

The Story of Junk by Linda Yablonsky

Contemporary / Drugs Subculture: "New York City. March 1986. The world is made of junk: junk bonds, junk food, junk powder. At least, that's how it seems to a woman in a downtown walk-up, where every day for five years she's been opening her door to people engaged in the culture of the moment."

From most pop culture books that I've read, the 80s sounded like a really bad time to be in New York if you weren't on heroin and a really bad time to be in New York if you were. I have no idea if either was true, but Yablonsky's The Story of Junk makes for a thrilling read nonetheless. 

Set in downtown New York, everything feels hot and dirty, and heroin is the drug of choice for many. For two young women in love, it starts off as a party/social drug but soon develops into a habit, which then takes over their lives as they turn to dealing it to friends and junkies. The cash is coming in thick and fast, but their world soon comes crashing down when a someone they know tips off a DEA agent and they get busted. But who was it?

The Story of Junk is a well-written, fast-paced thriller with plenty of dark downward spirals amongst the highs. It's gritty and very bleak in places (there's certainly no sugarcoating going on in here), as you'd expect which makes it a compelling read overall, but some parts felt a little rushed. [3/5]

Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis

Horror / Contemporary: "Bret Ellis, the narrator of Lunar Park, is a writer whose first novel Less Than Zero catapulted him to international stardom while he was still in college. In the years that followed he found himself adrift in a world of wealth, drugs, and fame, as well as dealing with the unexpected death of his abusive father. Now he doesn't know who he is."

Ellis' characters are almost always the classic anti-hero types that somehow evolve into someone that you just love to hate, and his bitterly awesome satirical prose is addictive to read. Like a lot of his work, Lunar Park delves deep into the human psyche and uncovers some of our worst personality traits, yet this one is a real head-fuck on a level that's beyond a lot of contemporary stuff that I've ever read.

In Lunar Park, the author essentially becomes one of his own characters, in this bizarre mash-up of semi-autographical accounts, blended with some downright horror fiction. It starts off fairly normal enough (for a BBE novel anyhow), as the reader follows the life of a young critically acclaimed author (i.e Bret Easton Ellis) coming to terms with the pressures and pleasures of achieving such high levels of fame and notoriety in such a short period of time. The story then begins its downward spiral into despair as normal suburban living doesn't work out for the author, and instead, a dark psychological horror ensues with evil ghosts, a crazy demonic Furby (yes, really!) and even Patrick Bateman himself pops up for all the shits and giggles as the fictional Ellis' life turns into something resembling a living nightmare.

Lunar Park is a brilliant tale of the American suburban family dream going horribly wrong and fans of Ellis will no doubt lap it up just like I did. [4/5]

Cut by Patricia McCormick

Young Adult / Mental Health: "Callie cuts herself. Never too deep, never enough to die. But enough to feel the pain. Enough to feel the scream inside. Now she's at Sea Pines, a "residential treatment facility" filled with girls struggling with problems of their own and Callie doesn't want to have anything to do with them."

As you may have already guessed by the title, the main subject matter revolves around self-harming and Cut is told as a first-person account by our protagonist, Callie. She's a 15-year-old girl who cuts herself as a way of coping with the numerous problems that herself and her family are trying to deal with. Callie's mum finds out about the self-harming and sends her to Sea Pines, a private rehabilitation facility for troubled teens. In Sea Pines, Callie's surrounded by girls who are seeking treatment for a range of problems such as eating disorders and substance abuse, and she's encouraged to talk about her issues in group shares, but Callie never speaks to anyone.

Instead, she just listens to the conversations around her, observing her surroundings, and it's from this perspective that we get to really know Callie and begin to understand what's going on with her. Crammed into just over 150 pages, Cut is a YA novel with a lot of substance and heart - you really feel for Callie and I was completely engrossed in the book to see if she gets better. [4/5]

Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk

Horror / Transgressive Fiction: "Carl Streator is a reporter investigating Sudden Infant Death Syndrome for a soft-news feature. After responding to several calls with paramedics, he notices that all the dead children were read the same poem from the same library book the night before they died."

Lullaby is the fourth book by Chuck Palahniuk that I've now read, and I'd say it's quickly become my second favourite novel by him after Fight Club. 

The story follows a journalist named Carl Streator, who is researching a feature on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He unearths a pattern of deaths that have occurred after the children were read a seemingly innocent lullaby from a poetry book, and he quickly realises that this is how he accidentally killed his own wife and child over 20 years ago. Carl becomes hellbent on finding and destroying every single copy of this poetry book to prevent any more deaths, and teams up with a real estate agent who has also discovered this chilling fact and wants to help.

The pair embark on a crazy road trip, resulting in an absurd, fast-paced black comedy told in Palahniuk's much-loved satirical and often deadpan tone. It made me laugh and cringe at the same time, whilst being horrified at some of the events that unfold. Definitely one for all the fans of contemporary transgressive fiction who like their books sprinkled with a heavy dose of weird horror. [4/5]

Success by Martin Amis

Contemporary: "Bind two fosters brothers with ties of class hatred, sexual rivalry and unrequited love in a tiny London flat, throw in a disloyal girlfriend and a spectacularly unstable sister and you have Amis' answer to a modern-day Jacobean revenge comedy".

Having read a handful of Amis' novels, I was already familiar with his prose and the way that he often likes to take his characters (and the readers) on a journey to some of the most depraved parts of the human psyche. But Success was sadly a chore for me to get through as it lacked a lot of the dark wit and humour that I was hoping for.

The lacklustre storyline of the two foster brothers, both from wildy different backgrounds (Gregory from the posh, successful upper classes and Terry from the unlucky, weary working classes), has its ups and downs, but mostly feels too forced and contrived in many parts. Disappointing! I'd recommend reading Money or London Fields instead. [2/5]

What have you been reading lately?

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What I've Been Reading Lately: April Books Roundup

 A round-up of the books that I read last month:-

Surfacing by Margaret Atwood

Contemporary Literature: "Atwood's second novel published in 1972 was hailed by the New York Times as 'one of the most important novels of the twentieth century'."

Like many of Atwood's novels, Surfacing is not a barrel of laughs. It's what I'd call 'beautifully depressing'; a quietly haunting and multi-layered story which follows a young woman's journey as she looks into the mystery of her father's disappearance on a remote island off Quebec. It's a deeply emotional book, and the wild, isolated setting provides the perfect backdrop for much contemplation as our unnamed protagonist asks questions of which she's unlikely to find any answers. Atwood's prose is beautiful as always, and the slow pacing throughout adds a strong dreamlike quality to the narrative.

Interwoven within the general storyline of Surfacing are lots of socio-political themes such as the American impact on Canada, and the struggles of women during the 70s; all of which help to increase the tension and turmoil that's felt by our main character. This is not a book that should be rushed - take your time with it and try to really appreciate and understand what Atwood is conveying here. [4/5]

The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things by J.T LeRoy

Contemporary / Short Stories: "The extraordinary stories that brought the author a cult following. These are the stories of a young boy on the run, away from his past, hell-bent towards an unknown future."

Having recently watched the J.T LeRoy documentary which explored that whole 90s 'literary hoax' by Laura Albert, I was eager to read something by her just to see what all the fuss had been about. A friend recommended The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things and I immediately ploughed straight into it.

The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things is a collection of ten short stories which together depict a bleak and disturbing road trip across America, as a young boy named Jeremiah is taken away from his foster parents by his crystal meth addicted birth mother. She takes him on the run with her and exposes him to the abuses that she herself experienced as a child of crazy religious parents. It's like reading the worst nightmare social worker case study that you can possibly think of, as Jeremiah is subjected to abuse after abuse. However, between the lines here and there are glimpses of humour, hope, and love, but they quickly spiral into depression, poverty and despair again. An enthralling fast-paced, emotional roller coaster for the reader to embark on, and I highly recommend watching the author's documentary afterwards to help fill in some of the gaps. [3/5]

Other Days, Other Eyes by Bob Shaw

Science Fiction / Dystopia: "Slow glass was an amusing scientific toy. Light travelled through it so slowly that, looking through a pane of it, you might see what had happened five minutes ago on the other side, or five years ago. It was going to change the world." 

Other Days, Other Eyes is another of those 'forgotten' 70s science-fiction novels that I've been hunting down recently. This was one of Bob Shaw's sci-fi classics as it explored this new concept of 'slow glass', an innovative type of glass that could record and store events which take place before it, to reveal them months or years later. Slow glass manages to do this by slowing down the light that travels through it, and thus a whole industry emerges that uses this new level of technology, with its inventor, a character named Alban Garrod, quickly becoming rich and famous.

Yet with fame and wealth, comes a whole host of dangers that Garrod has to navigate, as the Government decides that it can use slow glass as a form of mass surveillance to spy on the public. Big Brother starts to get involved and the plot begins to thicken. I liked Other Days, Other Eyes as it utilised a technology that seems so simple, and demonstrates how in the wrong hands, it can become a force for the destruction of privacy everywhere. It's an interesting concept, but the book began to feel very rushed half-way through and went off on a couple of unnecessary tangents, instead of focusing on the main storyline which would have kept me more engaged towards the end. However, if you like sci-fi and Big Brother themes, you'll still enjoy it. [3/5]

In The Country Of Men by Hisham Matar

Historical / Contemporary Fiction: "Libya, 1979. Nine-year-old Suleiman's days are circumscribed by the narrow rituals of childhood: outings to the ruins surrounding Tripoli, games with friends played under the burning sun, exotic gifts from his father's constant business trips abroad. But that's all about to change."

Written from a child's perspective living in war-torn Libya under Gaddafi's evil regime in the late 70s, In The Country of Men is a harrowing fictional account of the brutality of war and its impact on the loss of innocence. It highlights how easy it is for children to become 'men' after they witness first hand the tyranny that men are capable of.

One day, nine-year-old Suleiman is playing in the street with his friends, seemingly oblivious to most of the horrors that are going on around him behind closed doors. But these horrors quickly reveal themselves, and Suleiman's young, innocent mind is catapulted into a very dark and adult world where men regularly go missing, people are interrogated on live TV and everyone lives in fear of what will happen tomorrow. Although compelling, the fact that Suleiman becomes such an unlikeable character makes this book particularly difficult to get through, but I'm glad that I read it. [3/5]

On The Move: Feminism For a New Generation by Natasha Walter

Non-Fiction / Feminism: "In this book more than a dozen young writers outline their vision of the feminist future."

One of my mum's friends wanted a non-fiction book that she could read with her 11-year-old daughter to introduce her to feminism, and I found this one at the library which looked suitable. On The Move was published in 1999, so it's rather dated, but the general themes and goals of feminism are still (sadly) relevant today, and the book is aimed at young girls and teenagers.

It's a good compilation of mini-essays from a range of young British writers who are discussing a variety of topics (politics, media culture/portrayal of female stereotypes, the glass ceiling and sexism at work etc), as well as short opinion pieces on what is means to be a feminist and how this idea is constantly evolving. Having read so much about the subject, this book didn't provide me personally with anything new, but as an introduction to feminism for a young girl/teenager, it still does the job. [2/5]

What have you been reading lately?

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What I've Been Reading Lately: March Books Roundup

 A round-up of the books that I read last month:-

The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe by D. G Compton

Science Fiction / Dystopia: "When Katherine Mortenhoe is told that she has about four weeks to live, she knows it's not just her life she's about to lose but her privacy as well." 

Having read a lot of contemporary science fiction, I wanted to explore more of the classics and books that were published in the 50s, 60s and 70s as so much of the modern sci-fi stuff is based on concepts and themes from decades ago. The Continous Katherine Mortenhoe is heralded as a 'forgotten classic' and was published in 1974. 

The story is set in a world where modern medicine has found cures for all common illnesses and diseases, and so people now live a healthy life and only die of natural causes related to old age or a freak accident. Yet, there's a tiny percentage of the population who cannot be cured because they have diseases or illnesses which are incredibly rare, and thus society has turned these people into celebrities as everyone else is utterly fascinated with those who can actually die much younger. These 'celebrities' are paraded on reality TV for audiences to gawk at as they watch them live out their last days live on screen before death finally comes knocking.

Katherine Mortenhoe is one such woman who has been told she has an incurable disease and with only four weeks left to live, she becomes an immediate media sensation. The novel pre-empts our insatiable thirst for reality TV, and brings up important issues of privacy and ethics. There's a satirical sense of humour running through it which I loved, and it's easy to see why so many other writers were influenced by this. Well worth a read. [4/5]

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Young Adult / Contemporary: "Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down."

Having more books on my shelves than I could possibly ever read in a lifetime, often means that I simply 'miss' a lot of the big bestsellers of the time, only to discover them years after everyone was talking about them. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one such book that I remember from well over ten years ago, and I've only just gotten around to reading it this month. Better late than never eh?

This book received a lot of attention because of its young protagonist who has Asperger's Syndrome. It gives us, the reader, a unique insight into the 15-year-old mindset of a boy who has AS, and how he views the world in his own special way. I was already familiar with some of the more common traits of Asperger's before reading this, so I guess the story didn't have that initial shock impact for me, that it may have done for other people. It just seemed far too gimmicky and simplistic (even for a YA novel) with a dull storyline. Not for me. [2/5]

Four Past Midnight by Stephen King

Short Stories / Horror: "You are strapped in an airline seat on a flight beyond hell. You are forced into a hunt for the most horrifying secret a small town ever hid. You are trapped in the demonic depths of a writer's worst nightmare. You are focusing in on a beast bent on shredding your sanity."

One main problem that you can easily encounter with a short story is that sometimes they can completely hook you in, but then because of their briefness, they can end far too early and leave too many questions unanswered. However, with Stephen King's Four Past Midnight, it contains four full-length novellas which you can really get your teeth stuck into.

This collection begins with The Langoliers, a fast-paced horror nightmare which begins on a plane and lands in a strange, alien world with only a handful of your fellow passengers for company. It has a strong Twilight Zone vibe to it and is my favourite of the four as it shows King at his best. The second story, Secret Window, Secret Garden, was a hard one for me to get into and features an altercation between two writers as one accuses the other of stealing his story. It's a little slow and just didn't particularly grip me. 

The Library Policeman is the third story and strangely explores the world of the 'library police' who come after you if you haven't returned your books on time. It's a little silly, but builds up a good sense of suspense and is surprisingly very entertaining. Lastly, The Sun Dog completes the collection with a tale of an evil dog that appears to be hidden in an old polaroid camera and makes himself seen through the photos that it takes. It starts off so well, yet seems to get too disjointed half-way through and loses its momentum - it could have been so much more intriguing.

A bit of a mixed bag, but a solid 3/5 for the most part. [3/5]

A Pukka Life by Sebastian Pole*

Non-Fiction / Self-Help / Ayurveda: "'A Pukka Life' is about living in a truly authentic way, guided by the wisdom of Ayurveda. Also known as 'the science of life', Ayurveda is a complete system of knowledge that deals with physical health, mental balance, spiritual wellbeing, social welfare, relationships, environmental issues, dietary and lifestyle habits and more."

For this month's non-fiction read, I decided to educate myself about Ayurveda, which is something that I've been meaning to read up on for a while. Written by Sebastian Pole (co-founder of Pukka Herbs - read my interview with the man himself here), A Pukka Life offers a beginner's guide to Ayurveda, based on its holistic principles of keeping everything in balance and living a kind, happy and considerate life. 

It explains the basics of Ayurveda in an engaging and accessible tone, and covers a range of subjects including Consitution (finding out what 'dosha' you are), Nourishment (following a healthy diet that's good for your 'agni'), Cleansing, Rejuvenation (secrets to keeping young in mind and body), and Ecology to name a few. The books is laid out beautifully and is perfect to dip in and out of, or use for reference at a later date. If you're new to Ayurveda and need a book to start you off on your journey, pick this one up. [4/5]

What have you been reading lately?

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Health & Lifestyle: An Interview with Sebastian Pole - Co-Founder & Herbal Director of Pukka

Pukka have been one of my favourite herbal tea brands for many years now, and I've recently started to explore their Ayurvedic health supplements which are a huge part of what the company believes in. The man behind the exquisite tea blends and the growing range of supplements is Sebastian Pole, the co-founder and Herbal Director of Pukka.    

I was lucky enough to be able to interview Sebastian to ask him about Pukka, why he loves working with herbs, what benefits the ancient Indian wellbeing practice of Ayurveda can bring to our modern way of life, and new Pukka products that he's currently developing.

Can you describe the Pukka brand in just three words? 
People, plants and planet – they’re at the core of everything we do. 

Given the political climate at the moment, a lot of people are very stressed and worried about their futures, especially the younger generation. What advice would you give to those who are looking at Ayurvedic methods to help them through these difficult times? 

Yes, it's choppy times on many fronts. Something that has always inspired me are the principles of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian holistic philosophy that shows how to live a healthy, wholesome and more fulfilled life by balancing your mind, body and spirit. It teaches us to be proactive about our future, to take ownership of what we can be responsible for and to imbibe the power of nature. Just taking a few moments each day to marvel at the wonder of the world – a glorious sunrise, a fresh flower, some bird song – can help you stay inspired. If I ever feel a bit hopeless I sit and think of all the good things around me and make clear plans for what I can influence; for example, a few years ago I was feeling really down on the prospects of climate change so I thought ‘what can I do about it?’; so I signed up for renewable energy at home and we now make every Pukka teabag with renewable energy. Our power is in our hands.

For consumers who are new to Pukka, what one product would you recommend as a good introduction to the brand? 

I would recommend turmeric – either in the form of our Turmeric Gold tea or our turmeric supplements. Turmeric is making waves at the moment and for good reason. The potential benefits of this vibrant root for our own wellbeing are vast and there have been over 6,000 pieces of research which demonstrate this. It's been used for centuries to help keep the skin pure, the blood clean and the life long. In traditional Indian herbal medicine turmeric has been used to help maintain healthy blood, skin, circulation and as a nourishment to feed the whole body. And that’s why we’ve launched an entire range of Turmeric tea and supplement creations dedicated to this wonder spice.

I imagine this will be a hard one to answer, but what's your personal favourite Pukka product and why?

I probably connect with over 50 herbs a day through various cups of tea and supplements. I use Ashwagandha every day amongst a herbal-epicureans selection of teas. Ashwagandha is a wonderful herb that comes from traditional Ayurvedic medicine (Indian herbal medicine) and is now well known around the world. It’s classed as an ‘adaptogen’ – a herb that can help the body adapt to and cope with stress – and it has a reputation for supporting energy and having a rejuvenating effect on the whole body.

What are five herbs that you love working with?

My favourite herbs tend to be ones that are adaptogenic. Adaptogenic herbs have a normalising or balancing effect on the body and mind, reducing the negative changes that can happen in your body and mind in response to stress. Research shows that adaptogens can help improve energy, reduce fatigue, reduce anxiety, help people feel more positive, and improve focus and attention, amongst other benefits. To be classified as an adaptogen, a herb must be nourishing and also have no negative effects.

My favourite adaptogens are ashwagandha (for stress relief), ginseng (for energy), Triphala (for supporting the digestive system), Shatavari (for hormone balance) and Turmeric (for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits).

You have travelled to some amazing places including the Himalayas and around India. What would be the one place you'd recommend that everyone goes to at least once in their lifetime just to experience it? And where would you love to travel to next that you haven't visited before?

The one place I would recommend everyone to go to is right to the centre of their soul to explore who you really are. You’ll find a whole lot of magic there. Otherwise, I love Glastonbury and would recommend that for a touch of the British mystical beauty we have on our doorstep. As for where I want to go next, I keep meaning to walk the coast to coast route from St Bees in Cumbria through the lakes to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. I must do it!

What advice would you give to people who are interested in starting up their own holistic, wellbeing brand in 2017?

The most important thing is to be led by your passion as well as your values so that you create a profit with a purpose. There are already so many products in the world so try and bring something of benefit to people, plants and planet. Then create the best team you can because however good your idea is, in the end, it’s all about the people you work with. And, finally, have as much fun as you can because there’s lots of hard work ahead….

Can you tell us about any new products that you're working on for Pukka at the moment?

We are about to launch a brand new fruity green tea called Wonder Berry Green, Made using 12 delicious health and beauty boosting fruits and herbs, Wonder Berry Green provides the ultimate antioxidant lift. 

As well as growing our popular tea range, we’ve also an exciting range of supplements launching later this year. We can’t say too much at this stage although the clue’s in the herb which will take centre stage: Shatavari. Shatavari is one of my favourite herbs and has earnt the nickname of ‘she who possesses a 100 husbands.’

This Spring, we are also launching a more potent version of our Ashwagandha supplement, which will offer all of the wellbeing benefits of this supportive and nourishing adaptogen, especially when it comes to stressed minds and bodies.

Huge thanks to Sebastian for answering my questions. I'm currently reading his book, 'A Pukka Life' which is a great introduction to Ayurveda and how you can incorporate its principles into your life. Full review coming at the end of the month in my books roundup! For more info on Pukka, visit their website pukkaherbs.com

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