The Bibliotherapists Ep #19: Poorna Bell on Midlife Rage, Romance Novels and Radical Boundaries

Hello everybody,We’re back!Series Three of The Bibliotherapists podcast opened STRONG with a brilliant bookish conversation with Poorna Bell, journalist, author, and creator of Substack publication As I Was Saying.Poorna joined us live on Substack to talk about her new book, She Wanted More, a bold exploration of what happens when women stop waiting for permission and start asking for more from life, work and themselves.“I want you to have a stronger voice within your own life and not feel guilty about advocating for your own choices.”We spoke about:* Why fiction is her true form of bibliotherapy* The catharsis of writing about grief after losing her husband* Why she refuses to finish books she doesn’t love* The “reward” women are promised for good behaviour — and why it never arrives* How she protects her time, energy and calendar in midlifeWe also explored how her relationship with ambition, validation and boundaries has shifted in her 40s (and the curse of plan-cancelling friends).📖 Poorna’s Reading List(referenced in this podcast).* She Wanted More by Poorna Bell* Chase the Rainbow by Poorna Bell* Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto* The Neverending Story by Michael Ende* Haruki Murakami* The Elements by Kat Lister* Likeable by Fearne Cotton* Murder at Mount Fuji by Shizuko Natsuki* Eat Bitter by Lydia PangAbout The BibliotherapistsThe Bibliotherapists is hosted by Toni Jones, founder of The Shelf Help Club, and Tanya Lynch, therapeutic journaling coach and founder of Ease Retreats.Each week, we speak to a writer or creative about:* The books that shaped them* How reading supports their wellbeing* Their writing practice and reading habits* How they use Substack as part of their creative ecosystemWe believe words heal. And we love asking other word nerds questions that get beneath the surface (as well as taking a tour through their book shelves).** New episodes recorded live on Substack every week across March and April. Subscribe for all areas access at The Bibliotherapists. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebibliotherapists.substack.com