'There is a sweetness and very real intimacy in Vanessa Chakour's stories of her relations with plants that is rare to find; there is a humbleness as well, which is even rarer. I loved Awakening Artemis; I think you will too'

'The human relationship to the natural world-Nature-is changing . . . has to change. Vanessa Chakour gifts us an intimate, unique, inspiring autobiography of what it means to bring together plant, animal, and human. At the center of her experience stands Artemis-not a metaphor or a historical goddess but an experience, a unification of the wild; the feminine; healing plants; healing wolves; Nature as a living, conscious, intelligent being;
activism; mysticism; and Vanessa herself'

'Vanessa Chakour has so many gifts of wisdom to share with the world. In Awakening Artemis, Vanessa Chakour weaves together a rich tapestry of compelling personal narrative with the medicines and teachings of plants so we can get to know the plants themselves as beings. This intoxicating read facilitates, as Chakour calls it, a 'deep remembering' or soul medicine, a healing salve that hits the right spot, awakening readers to their own true gifts. The Botany of Desire meets Braiding Sweetgrass meets Women Who Run With the Wolves'

'A revolutionary work of reverence for the plant kingdom. Vanessa weaves her own intimate story together with the wisdom of the plants and an exploration of her ancestral roots. The result is an empowering and transformative text about rewilding ourselves and reconnecting with the natural world'

A beautifully written and deeply personal book that provides and entirely new perspective on the 'personalities' of herbs. Vanessa's own personal experience is expertly woven into the healing properties of these wondrous herbal allies, in a book that is both touching and enlightening. Brimming full of history, folklore and herbology insights, Awakening Artemis is an amazing fusion of herbal knowledge and personal reflection

Awakening Artemis is the call of the wild in the dusk of the forest, a visceral turning inside out of the paternalist paradigm and a devoted, sweeping bow to Mother Earth. It is a deeply personal exposé on the author's life so far and a gloriously practical manual on human-plant relationships for both seekers in the woods and dreamers on the rooftops

Thich Nhat Hanh's words are like water. Simple, pure, transparent, and absolutely indispensable for life

A deeply-moving account...a must-read.

A remarkable memoir...an incredibly moving read. I had to put the book down several times to cry...it's a book that will save lives.

The best memoirs take the reader on two journeys: one journey is to a greater understanding of the author; the other is to a greater understanding of yourself and the society around you. A Dutiful Boy is one such book. It is the story of a young boy growing up in a devout Muslim family in east London who knew he was gay but who also knew such an admission was inconceivable in a religious culture where homosexuality was still taboo. This is the story of a family's love, a battle with shame and a long journey to acceptance. It is deeply moving and profoundly important and it made me cry. Mohsin is such an impressive person: the first from his comprehensive school to go to Oxbridge, he is now a highly regarded barrister but DAMMIT the man can write too. If you liked The Boy with the Topknot by Sathnam Sanghera or Educated by Tara Westover, you will also love this book. Thank you Mohsin, for having the courage to tell this story.

An incredibly moving memoir

A captivating, eloquent and genuinely inspiring memoir... Beautifully written, dignified and ultimately redemptive, this challenging story abounds with light and love

Utterly compelling, I couldn't put the book down, and at times I laughed out loud. I also cried

A Dutiful Boy details in a delicate and highly engrossing fashion the battles he [Zaidi] was forced to wage every step of the way - both with those around him, and deep within himself

Reading this story about family acceptance, redemption and love, written with such lucidity, had me crying with relief and filling up with hope.

Heartfelt, emotional and really funny....this book is very candid and it really educated and entertained me

A powerful memoir... Zaidi's writing offers poignant reflections on racism and class... his journey to acceptance shines through in the openness and clarity of his writing.

Sad, painful, warm, revelatory and utterly fascinating. I think we would live in a slightly kinder and better country if everyone read this book.

This is a fiercely important book with a big beating heart-Mohsin Zaidi has delivered to us a deeply personal story that is an urgent manual for our times.

A Dutiful Boy is a must read that will undoubtedly move you

[A] powerful read

Deeply affecting and often funny, A Dutiful Boy is an honest picture of what it is like to grow up day and Muslim in twenty-first-century Britain

A beautifully written book, a lovely story, life-affirming.

One of the most eloquent and inspiring memoirs of recent years... A Dutiful Boy is real-life storytelling at its finest

Mohsin Zaidi...in a compassionate, compelling and humorous way, tells his story of seeking acceptance within the gay community, and within the Muslim community in which he grew up

A powerful portrayal of being able to live authentically despite all the odds

Zaidi's affecting memoir recounts his journey growing up in east London in a devout Muslim household. He has a secret, one he cannot share with anyone - he is gay. When he moves away to study at Oxford he finds, for the first time, the possibility of living his life authentically. The dissonance this causes in him - of finding a way to accept himself while knowing his family will not do the same - is so sensitively depicted. One of the most moving chapters includes him coming home to a witch doctor, who his family has summoned to "cure" him. This is an incredibly important read, full of hope.

A beautifully written book, a lovely story, life-affirming

Zaidi's account is raw, honest and at times quite painful to read. It's so vivid that it feels almost tangible, as though you're living the experiences of the author himself.

This heartfelt and honest book is beautifully written and full of hope