This year, the whole team at Obelisk Support is contributing to a 2017 book review to inspire your future reads. Each one of us was asked to nominate one (or two) books they had really enjoyed reading in 2017 and to explain why they recommend it. We hope that you will find this list enjoyable and that through our book recommendations, you will get to know us a little bit better. As our logo proudly states, we are Human First.
In no particular order, here are the favourite books we read in 2017…
Book #1 Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
By Brené Brown
Book #2 Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy
By Sheryl Sandberg
#1 and #2 are recommended by Debbie Tembo, Client Relationship Manager
Why they are worth reading
These books are by women for everyone – encouraging more of us to live brave courageous lives and to stand in our truth more. To take more moments to remember the simple pleasures in life and that no matter how hopeless the world can seem some times, there is always an option b that requires living bravely in order to thrive.
Book #3: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
By Gail Honeyman
Recommended by Sophie Seymour, Operations Officer
Why it’s worth reading
It’s a great book with really wonderful characters and brilliant observations. I found myself thinking about it a lot when I wasn’t reading it and really missing the central characters when I finished it. Two other brilliant books this year are My name is Leon by Kit De Waal and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.
Books #4, 5 & 6: The Woods | Missing You | Six Years
By Harlen Coben
Recommended by Naz Khanom, Technical Support Analyst
Why they are worth reading
The genre for these three books are crime thriller. I love how Harlen Coben has made me excited to read and how the plots slowly unravel keeping me completely hooked. I love these books because I took them on my holidays this year. It whisks me back to reading on the sandy beaches of Tenerife, the feeling of blissfulness when being immersed into a whole new world for a couple of hours.
Book #7: Strange the Dreamer
By Laini Taylor
Recommended by Laure Latham, Marketing Manager
Why it’s worth reading
I love fantasy and this book took me on the most wonderful mind voyage, to the arid sands of a desert where the city of Weep is crushed by the shadow of a floating fortress in the shape of a seraphim. Beyond the setting, Laini Taylor is a great storyteller and Strange the Dreamer is first and foremost a tragic love story. It left me wanting for more so after I finished this book, I read the first trilogy by the same author, Daughter of Smoke and Bone and loved it just as much. Definitely recommended for all ages.
Book #8: The Racketeer
By John Grisham
Recommended by Kayleigh Ziolo, The Attic Editor
Why it’s worth reading
I resolved this year to try to read more regularly for sheer enjoyment, and decided to revisit John Grisham for a non-put-downable read with plenty of twists and turns. This ticked the boxes – slightly implausible in parts, but that at least added a sense of fun. It left me eager for another entertaining revenge-heist thriller to devour, so it helped me stick to my resolution!
Book #11: Let It Go
By Dame Stephanie Shirley
Recommended by Dana Denis-Smith, CEO
Why it’s worth reading
This book is like reading the Obelisk story in reverse. It brings to mind not just the entrepreneurial story but the constant juggle of parenting and work; and also how focus can achieve success but you don’t have to compromise on your integrity. I always loved her promise to herself that she had to make her life a life worth saving. We should all have a motto that we live by.
Book #12: Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls
By Rebel Girls
Recommended by Dana Denis-Smith, CEO
Why it’s worth reading
It’s a lovely introduction to the history of women. I love the colours and pictures and that they are snippets, it’s a beginning of the story and told well – I hope a lot of boys get given it.
Book #13: The Four Hour Work Week
By Tim Ferris
Recommended by Lawrance Shepstone, Technology Director
Why it’s worth reading
A refreshing, possibly idealistic look at living and working from anywhere and why it’s important, how to adjust your mindset and those around you to focus on performance, and best of all, examples of how it’s all done.
Book #14: The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down
By Haemin Sunim
Recommended by Jane Leader, Recruitment Co-ordinator
Why it’s worth reading
I liked it because I needed something I could dip in and out of in bed at night (too tired to read anything serious!) and this book just had some nice insights and was thought provoking.
Book #15: My Name is Lucy Barton
By Elizabeth Strout
Recommended by Lucinda Acland, Community Manager
Why it’s worth reading
This is an unusual book dealing with the uneven landscape of family relationships- in particular mother and daughter love from childhood to motherhood. It’s written in a spare, thought- provoking style which deftly encompasses the range of complicated ambivalent feelings of love and loss in families.
Book #16: Strong Woman
By Karren Brady
Recommended by Lucy Paton, Key Account Manager
Why it’s worth reading
A good insight into the struggles for women in business, exploring Brady’s successes and juggling a family with a successful business. Quite inspiring.
Book #17: Bury Me Behind the Baseboard
By Pavel Sanaev
Recommended by Nadya Kirichenko, Client Delivery Manager
Why it’s worth reading
It’s very funny and sad at the same time, as well as very well written. “An autobiographical story about family, love, madness, violence, and trauma—told from the view of an eight-year-old boy—it shook Russia to the core as a surprising portrait of a generation, unveiling the madness of family structures familiar to everybody. Touchingly naïve, tragic, and incredibly funny at the same time” – Alina Bronsky.
Book #18: The Master of Petersburg
By J. M. Coetzee
Recommended by Nadya Kirichenko, Client Delivery Manager
Why it’s worth reading
This something I stumbled across and really liked – features Dostoevsky and links to St Petersburg.
Book #19: The Story of Art
By E. H. Gombrich
Recommended by Nadya Kirichenko, Client Delivery Manager
Why it’s worth reading
This is my go to reference book when it comes to art history.