Stories
Calm Escape
A good book provides enjoyment and pleasure. Brigita Soldo shares three of her favorite books and introduces us to their adventures, and their fascinating and entertaining plots.
Words & Photography by Brigita Soldo
Mariana, by Monica Dickens
One cold and rainy night, inside a tiny cottage in the British countryside, we are introduced to our titular character. The year is 1939 and, slowly, Mariana begins to reminisce about her life and what led her to this sleepless night. An engaging and charming coming- of-age story, this book is the ideal choice for immersing yourself in a world so unlike ours today. I am endlessly fascinated by what daily life looked like during the 1930s, so I am often drawn to books written by people that actually lived through that era. And I must point out that Charles Dickens’ granddaughter writes about it in an extremely witty and enjoyable fashion!
West With the Night, by Beryl Markham
Beryl Markham was many things: an aviator, a horse trainer, an adventurer, and also, a damn good writer. So good that her book made Ernest Hemingway feel ashamed of his own writing! And he isn’t far off, because Beryl effortlessly draws us into her life story. Memories of Africa at the start of the 20th century, and descriptions of countries that no longer exist, weave themselves around her life. I have always been fascinated by history and, as a woman, have actively looked for other women who have led adventurous and intriguing lives, during a time when that wasn’t a possibility for most of them. Beryl Markham certainly is one of those women and reading her story is an absolute delight
Auntie Mame, by Patrick Dennis
I was first introduced to Auntie Mame through the 1958 movie adaptation and, while the film is entertaining and hilarious, the book easily surpasses it! I found myself constantly laughing out loud while reading it and getting acquainted with its quirky and charming eponymous character! Auntie Mame is the kind of eccentric person I wish I had known in life. Then again, that might make my life so chaotic that maybe it’s better she remains a character inside a book I can revisit and laugh alongside. Overall, Auntie Mame is endless fun and it makes for an amusing read about a life filled with hilarious and unhinged events!
The full story appeared in our print
‘Life Issue’ magazine.