Book recommendations from the Vertical Leap team

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Some great and varied book recommendations here from the Vertical Leap team covering hilarious diaries of the NHS, thrillers, trees and Victorian time travelling.

This Is Going To Hurt, by Adam Kay

Mel Soutar - This is going to hurt

“Secret diaries of a junior doctor. This book made me laugh out loud so many times. There is humour in some of the most dire circumstances and it’s the only way most NHS staff can get through the day! A brilliant read which can be dipped into when you have 5 minutes here and there. I devoured it then was gutted it was over. It’s one I will definitely re-visit.

“His second book, The night shift before Christmas, was also great, but too short ☹ I’m hoping to catch his tour as he’s just so funny. Apparently he keeps being told off by people whose children were planning on going to med school but read his book and went ‘Hmmm, maybe not!’.”

Mel Soutar, Senior Business Dev’t Manager

The Cuckoo’s Calling, by Robert Galbraith

the Cuckoo's calling - Jarid Hixon PPC Specialist at Vertical Leap

“Just started reading The Cuckoo’s Calling, which Callum recommended to me. It’s written by “Robert Galbraith” who is actually JK Rowling!! Super well written Adult Crime Thriller – first in the series.”

Jarid Hixon, PPC Specialist

The Greatest Show on Earth, by Richard Dawkins

The greatest show on earth - Carl Wood SEO Specialist at Vertical Leap

“At the moment I am reading and really enjoying The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins. It’s full of examples explaining the evidence for evolution which truly capture the imagination, from ancient fossils to present day experiments, showing the incredible ways in which life adapts to new challenges.”

Carl Wood, SEO Specialist

Dead City Exit, by Mark Wesley

Dead City Exit - Dave Colgate - Head of SEO at Vertical Leap

“Action based, all go right from the start. Its story line is cleverly linked to a snubbed story published a few years ago from CERN about a discovery that particles can move faster than the speed of light. Interesting and believable characters with some twists that keep you thinking.”

Dave Colgate, Head of Enterprise SEO

The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben

the hidden life of trees - Verity Maton - Developer at Vertical Leap

“I absolutely stormed through this book. He breaks it down into really readable chapters that are each about one aspect of how trees work. It’s fantastically written and so interesting, it explains everything really well and gives you a whole new outlook on trees. I know that sounds lame but seriously, that book.”

Verity Maton, Developer

The Fell, by Robert Jenkins

The Fell - Kirsty McLean - Head of Creative at Vertical Leap

“I’ve just finished The Fell – an unnamed boy in an unknown time and place coming of age in a boarding house for dysfunctional boys. It’s got magical realism, unconventional love stories and tame roller pigeons – what more could you ask for?”

Kirsty McLean, Head of Creative

The Border Trilogy, by Cormac McCarthy

The Border Trilogy - Ben Olive-Jones - SEO Specialist at Vertical Leap

“A beautifully written, fierce and moving eulogy to the American West told across three books.”

Ben Olive-Jones, SEO Specialist

The Abominable Showman, by Robert Rankin

The Abominable Showman - Stu Clark - SEO and CRO Specialist at Vertical Leap

“A young boy is forced to travel to Victorian times by a time travelling Holy Guardian Brussel Sprout named Barry, where he fails miserably in his mission as a spy. Instead, he flies in a Victorian spaceship through the sun and meets God, meets a Russian villain who calls everybody ‘Chumrade’ and is forced to flee from space pirates. Serious stuff.”

Stu Clark, SEO Specialist

Shōgun, by James Clavell

Shogun by James Clavell

“Historical fiction about the first Englishman in Japan during the 1600s, how he find himself captured in a strange land up against the hostile Catholic church and in the middle of a brewing civil war… but first he needs to survive, learning the very alien customs and ways of these other islanders. A book so good it inspired the western world to embrace and learn about Japan when it was written.”

Phill French – Developer

We’re always on the look out for more books so if you’ve read a good one lately, please do tweet us.

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Michelle Hill

Michelle joined Vertical Leap in 2011 as Marketing Manager, having spent the previous 15 years of her marketing career in the recruitment, leisure and printing industries. Her passions include dogs, yoga, walking, cycling, the beach, mountains and tapas.

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