So You've Been Publicly Shamed (Jon Ronson)

Jon Ronson
So You've Been Publicly Shamed

Factual book all about on-line shaming. Goes through significant shaming incidents and the vitriol that is spewed at people on-line. Analyses pre-on-line shaming and how to un-shame yourself on-line. It's an interesting read but I can't understand why you would spend so much time on-line looking to shame people whether you feel that they deserve it or not. Since the book was written a decade ago I don't think anything has changed for the better. So, although an interesting read and well written with a personal touch I did think "why?" 

The Things We Never Say (Elizabeth Strout)

Elizabeth Strout
The Things We Never Say

Very different to previous Strout novels that I've read as altogether darker. It's a story based on a teacher who is going through depressive thoughts already and then receives shellshock news. Interspersed with his story we follow others' stories as they go through tough times. Alongside and exacerbating the feelings of the main character is the lead up and result of the 2024 election and subsequent Trump actions. The novel is a great description of the impact of politics on people's wellbeing even if it doesn't directly significantly impact those lives. So, as well as being different for Strout it's one of the best books I've read covering that last theme so well.