Here are my goodreads reviews. If you’re on goodreads, add me as a friend so I can see your books too! I’ve also started an instagram account where I join my love of reading with my love of art.
Emergency Skin (4 stars): “Sometimes that’s all it takes to save a world, you see. A new vision. A new way of thinking, appearing at just the right time.”
This book is a super fast read and reasonably simple to follow. It’s one of the Forward series books based off of an idea Blake Crouch had where he then recruited writers to write their own versions. N. K. Jemisin’s story packs several ideas around sexism, socialism, racism and more into a simple, upbeat-feeling story. It’s so short that I’d recommend you just read the story instead of reading reviews about it.
Summer Frost (4 stars): “Because you saw Max for the first time in the form of a corporately mandated idea of what a perfect woman should be—beautiful and expendable.”
This was my second read from the Forward series. I have enjoyed every Blake Crouch book I’ve read and this was no exception. This short, simple story is full of complex ideas around good and evil, future of technology, identity, artificial intelligence and more. The pacing is super fast in the beginning and slows down a bit in the middle and then picks up again at the end. There are some twists. It’s fast, it’s interesting, it’s enjoyable and it blows your mind a bit. Signature Blake Crouch.
The Whisper Man (3.5 stars): This book gets very strong positive reviews from lots of people, so it had been on my list for some time. I don’t usually enjoy creepy novels but I decided to tackle this and in the end, for me, it was just so-so. I did like how character-driven the story was. It’s rare for mystery stories to be character driven and I enjoyed that a lot. I also enjoyed how flawed, complex and textured each of the male characters was (albeit the female ones were not quite as three-dimensional.) I did like the story but maybe because I listened to it on audio, the creepiness factor wasn’t there enough for me to make this book stand out in any particular way. I definitely appear to be the anomaly, however, so I’d ignore my review 🙂
Fleishman is in Trouble (4 stars): I have so many thoughts about this novel that I don’t even know where to begin. The novel starts with the story of a newly separated Fleishman and at first you think it’s going to be all about how he is trying to put himself out there again and get laid. There are a lot of sexual details that, for me, was the original reason I put this book down the first time I tried to read it. I felt that I didn’t really need to read a book about a man in his mid-life crisis. I’m not a big fan of that type of funny either. But, my friend Lauren really liked and recommended it, so I picked it up again and kept reading.
And it got so much better. And sadder.
I will say that the book goes on a bit longer than I think is necessary, I was a lot more engaged and interested when the story turned to their past and how the marriage unraveled. And maybe not surprisingly, it got so much stronger when we finally get to hear the wife’s perspective. It was such a profound shift that it’s almost like Lauren Groff’s Fates and Furies where once you hear the story from the other character’s perspective, your whole experience changes. That’s how it felt to me. And there were enough things that hit so close to home that I couldn’t help but mourn.
Even though at its core, it’s about marriage, this book is really about being a woman, a mother, a wife and tackles concepts around ambition, success, aging, and the complexity and impossibility of balancing/managing all of these while being a woman.
There’s so much here. I am glad I gave this book another chance. But, I think I also will be sad for a while thanks to the truths it tells.
Winners Take All (4 stars): There’s so much I can say about this book but honestly I am still forming my own thoughts. There’s so many layers of this book that touches my own history and my own present. I don’t think the book is perfect, I am not even sure it’s a fully formed hypothesis but I do think that it’s highlighting something important. I am glad I read it and I will be thinking about it for a long time. For me, that’s all that I ask of a non-fiction book. I already have and will continue to recommend this to many people I know.
There You Are (5 stars): “There’s no way for me to separate myself from my brother and no way to separate Francis from, I don’t know being Francis. Do you understand?” “I think so,” Mina Said. “I know it sounds crazy, but before I can even know what I, Octavian, want, I have to be sure that Francis is going to be alright first.: “I understand,” she said. “How?” Mina took a deep breath. “Because that’s how I feel about you sometimes.”
I loved every bit of this book. There’s so much that’s special about it. It’s about Octavian and Mina who meet when they are 5 and become friends but then they go to separate schools and lose touch and then come together again as teenagers, both working in a record store.
The novel follows their lives, going back and forth in time and jumping around to also show Octavian’s father’s perspective and the record store owner’s (Bones) who might have been one of my very favorite characters. In fact, the handful of chapters that are his backstory might be my favorite where I was so delighted, I laughed out loud.
The characters in this story are so well developed, so three dimensional, so layered and textured and real that it’s not possible to not get invested in all of them. The music store as a setting is absolutely perfect and such a great place for all these young people to come together and form relationships of a lifetime.
There is a lot about racism in this book but no new revelations or lesson, more about the role it plays in the characters’ lives in all sorts of ways that feel real and remind the reader about how far we have not come without being preachy at all. There’s a profound-to-me section where Octavian’s dad is still trying to be respectful and let his neighbor’s feelings matter more than his about a racially charged event and it just made me realize how much I still have to learn and how far we all still have to go. The story made me think and wince and highlighted how there’s still so much to do. It’s so beautifully woven into the story, feels so authentic to the characters.
“…but as he wrapped her in his arms, he felt a gathering of pieces of himself that had scattered since the time when he hadn’t known pain so intimately. He pressed them together into his own box of memories and closed the lid.”
This book is not just about race, it’s about family, love, friendship, being young, belonging, and so much more. Race is a layer across all of it since it’s a big part of the character’s experiences as they move through life. The loyalty and responsibility Octavian feels to his brother. The love he and Mina have for each other and how love of that magnitude is often complicated.
“She wasn’t sure she had the energy to manage the life she had created.”
I will repeat that I loved every bit of this book. The characters, the setting, the writing, it was all beautifully done. Highly recommended.
With gratitude to netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Nothing To See Here (4 stars): “How else would we protect ourselves?” she asked. “I don’t know,” I answered. How did people protect themselves? How did anyone keep this world from ruining them? I wanted to know. I wanted to know so bad.
The blurb of this book is not typical and I am not sure what drew me to it but I am so glad I read it. Even though this book sounds like it’s about two kids who light on fire, the fire itself is such a small part of the overall story. It’s really about parenting, family, friendship, neglect, and belonging.
“She was holding it in her hands, cupped together. It looked like what love must look like, just barely there, so easy to extinguish.”
I am not usually a fan of dark humor but in this case, I think it was beautifully done and added a tiny bit of lightness into this story which at its core is actually a very sad story. If you’re looking for a funny, clever story about kids who spontaneously burst into flames, this is not your story.
If you’re looking for a touching story about belonging and family with bits of dark humor sprinkled in about politics and wealth, this is your story.
I loved reading it.
With gratitude to netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Memory Police (3.5 stars): One of the reasons I really enjoy reading Japanese fiction is that I find the stories are very different from what I usually read which I love. This was no exception. A really unusual story that emphasizes the importance of memories and how we forget things and move on easily. It has an Orwellian tone to it and it’s absurd in places but it’s laced with a quietness and love that kept drawing me to the story and if you, like me, really enjoy unusual stories, add this one to your list.
And there we go, a solid week of reading. Here’s to another great week next week.
Books I Read this Week 2019 is a year-long project for 2019. You can read more about my projects for 2019 here. I am also tracking my books in real time on Good Reads here. If you’re on Good Reads add me so I can follow you, too! I’ve also started an instagram account where I join my love of reading with my love of art.
Weekly Intention: This week is going to be intense. I have promotion committee all of Monday. And the rest of the week will be full of presentations we have to prepare for two different summits next week. Kids are home Wednesday and I might be taking David to school on Friday night. So, all this means that I will do what matters most: exercise, eat well and sleep. That’s the plan.
This month’s intention is:Everyday Magic: October is a long month and not a lot of time off so you need to add a bit of magic to it. Add small bits of life and magic into your every day. Give this month the kick it needs to make it a notch more magical. Ok this week’s small bit of magic will be getting something for my office desk. or printing something for it.
One way I will show up this week: quiet.
One magic I will make this week: Maybe i can spend some time with a friend. i miss seeing friends.
This week, I will pay attention to: how i can be more curious and listen more.
This week, I will be kinder to: myself.
This week, I will focus on pleasing: it’s going to have to be work.
One new thing I will learn this week: i’m going to focus on learning how to be quieter.
I am looking forward to: reading some more this week if I can.
This week’s challenges: promo committee. all the meetings that are still to come. piling up email.
Top Goals:
Work: nbu preso. stay on top of email. clean up calendar aggressively. getting offsite ready. more perf. committee. setup perf meetings.
Personal: daily drawing, exercise, journal, make time to sleep. come up with a whitney plan. continue meal plan.
Family: family photos, hug kids. date night with jake. hair.
I will focus on my values:
Love: loving getting to snuggle under the covers and reading.
Learn: learn how to present slowly and well.
Peace: with going to bed early.
Service: to taking a breath, stepping back and staying focused.
Gratitude: for the wild.
This week, I want to remember: the going out is good for me. i love the fresh air.
Everyday Magic is a year-long project for 2019. You can read more about my projects for 2019 here.
Magic I Saw this Week: This was another work-heavy week. I have one more and then it should get quieter or so I hope. Most of the magic I saw this week has been my wonderful family taking every day as it comes.
Magic I Made this Week: I worked hard this past friday so I didn’t have to work over the weekend. We’re going to say that counts!
Magic of Me that I explored Week: hmm some fun scrapbooking.
Top Goals Review: not the most successful week this week.
Work: did a bit on org health. did stay on top of email. did clean up calendar but not aggressively yet. still getting offsite ready. and getting my preso ready. did some more perf. did committee packets.
Personal: did daily drawing, exercised, journaled, made time to sleep. did not come up with a whitney plan. and did sort of do a meal plan.
Family: did family photos, hugged kids. did date night with jake. will get hair done soon.
I celebrate: working late Friday and reading all the packets
I am grateful for: a quiet weekend
This week, I exercised: i went to body pump, walked on a 15% incline on my treadmill and went rockclimbing this week and also finally got my belay card.
Self-care this week: still reading a lot that’s about it.
Here are my goodreads reviews. If you’re on goodreads, add me as a friend so I can see your books too! I’ve also started an instagram account where I join my love of reading with my love of art.
Inspired Artist: Draw Every Little Thing (3.5 stars): This sweet book has creative prompts and drawing exercises for things around the home, outside, everyday life, and around town. it also has some lovely crafting projects. If you’re brand new to drawing and want to look for inspiration, this is a sweet book that you can flip through and read whichever section speaks most to you. It has a few steps for how to draw things but I think it’s too hard for a true beginner to make the leaps in between each step.
If you’re more advanced, you can also use this book for inspiration but it might seem a bit too basic for you. I fall somewhere in between and while I really enjoyed my time with this book, I don’t think there was a major take away for me. There were 1-2 wonderful ideas in the book that I would like to try which is enough to make me happy that I read this book. Not to mention a few hours of lovely inspiration.
thank you to netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Grace Year (4 stars): “I wonder what would happen if we all said what we really felt…just for one night. They couldn’t banish us all. If we stood together, they’d have to listen. But with rumors swirling about a usurper among us, no one is willing to take that risk. Not even me.
I read this book in one day, in pretty much one sitting. I have read so many YA dystopia novels about 5-6 years ago when they were all the rage that I am not even a fan of dystopia anymore so I am not sure what compelled me to request this book to begin with. But I am glad I did. Usually I don’t agree with the comparisons they make in the book blurbs but I think calling this a mix of “Lord of the Flies” and “Handmaid’s Tale” is pretty spot on. Especially the first one. This might be the closest to an all-girls version of “Lord of the Flies” I’ve ever read.
“The things we do to girls. Whether we put them on pedestals only to tear them down, or use them for parts and holes, we’re all complicit in this. But everything touches everything else, and I have to believe that some good will come out of all this destruction.”
In the end though, this book is a feminist book. It is about the power of women. It is about how the world, and the men in this book, try to break the women. Try to pit them against each other at all costs. It’s about how both love and betrayal can come from unexpected sources.
“There’s a place inside us where they can’t reach us, they can’t see. What burns in you burns in all of us.”
It’s about survival. About not losing hope. Not letting yourself be broken. It’s a powerful book that made me feel angry, dejected, hopeful and proud all at once. I am glad I read it and I am glad it’s out there.
Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
This very short story is a pure delight. The story is about the magic of friendship and beautiful, vulnerable conversations we have when we have close, supportive friendships.
“Sometimes I worry you’ll all realise I’m ordinary,” said the boy. “love doesn’t need you to be extraordinary.” said the mole.
The drawings are incredible and add so much layer and texture to these beautiful words that the friends share.
“The greatest illusion,” said the mole, “is that life should be perfect.”
And it’s all such a good reminder of the beauty of life, the joy of belonging and the gratitude of friendships.
“Is your glass half empty or half full?” asked the mole. “I think I’m grateful to have a glass,” said the boy.
With gratitude to edelweiss and HarperOne for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Mindful Year (3.5 stars): This book is structured in a way that encourages daily reading of 1-2 paragraphs on a concept/idea/thought/encouragement. Each day starts with a quote and then an example/story relating to the quote/idea and then a small encouragement of something the reader can try out or think about in this same area. Here’s one example:
“Today why not feast on life? Once we’re gone this world will go on without us in almost exactly the same way, just as it did before we arrived. Feel what it’s like today to fully inhabit this life. This is your time.”
There are bits and pieces from research, from famous writers, from inspirational quotes, etc.
“Research has shown that we’re prone to “hindsight bias,” meaning we factor our current knowledge into decisions made in the past.”
There are many invitations to reflect, to look back, to set goals, to be in the present.
“What have I learned about myself? In what ways have I changed? What will I miss about this chapter in my life? What will I be glad to leave behind? What will I take with me?”
If you’ve read extensively, like I have, none of these are thoughts you never heard before. And they are all reminders I appreciate regularly. so, for me, this is a perfect bedside companion to start every morning with and end each day with. 1-2 minutes to help make myself more mindful is a precious gift.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Blackstone Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
How To (4.5 stars): How can you go wrong with a Randall Munroe book? You can’t. We listened to this book read by Will Wheaton during a car trip as a family. Yes, I know this book is meant to be read since it’s full of Munroe’s excellent drawings but we were stuck in the car and I didn’t want to wait one more moment to read the book. So we listened and it was excellent! Now we go back and reread so we can enjoy all the excellent drawings, too.
I deeply appreciate someone like Munroe who can make science both fun and interesting to kids and adults alike. So grateful.
Nature Tonic (4 stars): “The thing with humans is that we systematically underestimate how good nature makes us feel, while at the same time, we overestimate how good we feel when indoors. Scientists call these flaws in our predictions “forecasting errors.” The problem is that we base our actions on these flawed forecasting skills. We choose comfort, only for it to make us feel bored in the end.”
I picked this book because it has the three things I love: art, mindfulness and nature. One of my goals for 2020 is to be out in nature even more and I thought this book would be the perfect encouragement. I was not disappointed.
This book has 365 bits spread over 12 sections and each bit consists of a fact, an encouragement, an invitation to draw or reflect or go out into the world. The sections range from “in the forest” to “the life aquatic” and “traveling and tramping.” It’s all about being outdoors in nature in all the ways you can.
I really liked all the information and all the encouragement in this book. I plan to keep it close to remind myself why I am choosing to get off the couch and spend my time outdoors.
thank you to netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Twice in a Blue Moon (4 stars): When I started this novel I knew that there was a high chance I was going to have to clear out my day because many of the Christina Lauren novels have been books I can’t put down once I start.
And this was no exception.
I pretty much read it from beginning to end in one spot in one day. Their ability to bring characters to life and have the reader empathize and root for them and cheer them on in unparalleled. Their books always seem to have the sweet romance that has strong chemistry between the characters. This book’s first section has the characters at a considerably younger age than other books I’ve read by them (18 & 21) which I think sets the tone a bit for the novel. Even after almost 20 years, the characters still don’t develop the more typical slightly snarky tone some of their novels have.
Which, for some, might have been a loss, but for me felt just right.
I loved the extra texture in the novel around trust, family, support, vulnerability. I also loved Luther and Roberta’s story and how that layered here with small glimpses into some of the racism of the time. It did not at all address the issues around racism or feminist thinking or even really the drug/sex issues in the movie industry from the past. There are a bunch of mentions but no real depth in any of them.
At its core these novels are always about the romance, the redemption, the forgiveness and self-journey and this one was no different. I knew what to expect and it didn’t disappoint. If you’re a fan, I think you will enjoy this one.
??Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Pure Heart (3 stars): Sometimes a novel comes at the wrong time and maybe the right thing to do then is to stop reading and wait for when it’s the right time which is probably what I should have done with A Pure Heart. This thoughtful novel of two sisters who grew up in Egypt and took very different paths and were both filled with grief and guilt in their own way was a very interesting read that just didn’t keep my attention for long enough for me to really fall into the story. And this was not a story you want to be in the periphery of, it’s deep and sad and textured. It’s talking about how people are and life is complicated. And how things aren’t as black and white as they seem. I could tell it could have been a profound story but it just wasn’t for me at this time.
And there we go, a great week of reading. Here’s to another great week next week.
Books I Read this Week 2019 is a year-long project for 2019. You can read more about my projects for 2019 here. I am also tracking my books in real time on Good Reads here. If you’re on Good Reads add me so I can follow you, too! I’ve also started an instagram account where I join my love of reading with my love of art.
Here are more stories from my 2019 album. The content for these comes from Ali Edwards Story Kits.
Stories from 2019 is a year-long project for 2019. You can read more about my projects for 2019 here. Everything on the pages is from Ali’s Story Kits unless mentioned otherwise.
Weekly Intention: This week looks pretty quiet so far but that’s deceiving because I know there are about six meetings that are currently not on my calendar. So I guess my intention this week is going to be taking things as they come.
This month’s intention is:Everyday Magic: October is a long month and not a lot of time off so you need to add a bit of magic to it. Add small bits of life and magic into your every day. Give this month the kick it needs to make it a notch more magical. Since there’s only one day in September left, I figured it was ok to move to October. There’s a lot happening at work this month so I love this reminder to add small bits of magic. I’m going to have to think on this one.
One way I will show up this week: open.
One magic I will make this week: I am hoping to go to the community dinner on Tuesday night at my son’s school.
This week, I will pay attention to: what it takes to really step back and drop all i can and lean in where i really need to.
This week, I will be kinder to: my husband.
This week, I will focus on pleasing: hmm i am not sure to be honest.
One new thing I will learn this week: i guess how to give a presentation since i will be giving one in two weeks.
I am looking forward to: to be totally honest, i am looking forward to the next two weeks being over. there’s a lot going on and i am tired and anxious about it all so i will feel better when it’s over.
This week’s challenges: just unexpected meetings. and all the packets that will arrive on Monday.
Top Goals:
Work: org health. stay on top of email. clean up calendar aggressively. getting offsite ready. getting my preso ready. perf. committee packets.
Personal: daily drawing, exercise, journal, make time to sleep. come up with a whitney plan. and a meal plan.
Family: family photos, hug kids. date night with jake. hair.
I will focus on my values:
Love: i love the idea of running an experiment in kindness.
Learn: learn about presentation.
Peace: a busy two weeks.
Service: to taking a breath, stepping back and staying focused.
Gratitude: for the simple joys of life.
This week, I want to remember: that all of this is a choice and i can opt to choose differently at any moment.
Everyday Magic is a year-long project for 2019. You can read more about my projects for 2019 here.
Magic I Saw this Week: This was one of the quieter weeks. I worked pretty long days, spent the nights helping the kids or working, drew and read. But didn’t do too much else.
Magic I Made this Week: I spent all of my Saturday scrapbooking, printing our photos, telling our stories, reading. It was magical.
Magic of Me that I explored Week: hmm some journaling but that’s mostly it.
Top Goals Review: not the most successful week this week.
Work: did more perf and did calibrations. did not do org health but will do soon. stayed on top of email. organized birthday some more. did not clean up calendar aggressively.
Personal: did daily drawing, exercised very little, journaled very little, did make time to sleep. did not come up with a whitney plan. nor a meal plan.
Family: no family photos, hugged kids. did not do date night with jake.
I celebrate: going to book club!
I am grateful for: printing all those pictures.
This week, I exercised: i only went rockclimbing this week and that was it.
Self-care this week: none really this week i’m afraid. except maybe for all the reading and going to book club.
I showed up for: book club.
I said yes to: taking more time to sleep this week.
Thanks to a lot of flights I read a lot this week. Here are my goodreads reviews. If you’re on goodreads, add me as a friend so I can see your books too! I’ve also started an instagram account where I join my love of reading with my love of art.
The Testaments (4 stars): I read The Handmaid’s Tale a handful of years ago. Long enough that I don’t remember the details of the plot, recent enough that I remember the impact it had on me. As a fan of Atwood, I couldn’t wait to see what she decided to do with a story as influential as this one. It’s hard to follow a book that has had so much of an impact on so many people. I was worried it would be didactic. I was worried it would be flimsy. I was worried it wouldn’t live up to the hype. I also was worried that since I never watched the TV series, there might be some plot line that I couldn’t follow.
As it worked out, I didn’t need to worry, for a multitude of reasons. This book, in my opinion, doesn’t even try to be influential. If you are reading it to see if it will be a similar experience as reading the first one, you will be sorely disappointed. It’s not didactic, mostly because it’s not really trying to make a point. It’s not flimsy, most especially because of Aunt Lydia’s perspective. As for the hype, well it’s unclear if it did live to the hype or not.
Atwood is a good writer so the book is written well. There are three perspectives. Aunt Lydia, a girl in Gilead, and one in Canada. There are some twists but not super shocking, in my opinion. And the two girls mostly serve as a way to move the plot forward and as a way to deliver much of the setting but not more than that. Their perspectives aren’t all that interesting.
It will not be a book I’ll remember forever. It’s the kind of book a fan of the first novel would enjoy if you wished you knew more about how Gilead came to be. I am still glad I read it. I especially enjoyed Aunt Lydia’s perspective.
Talking to Strangers (4 stars): “We think we can easily see into the hearts of others based on the flimsiest of clues. We jump at the chance to judge strangers. We would never do that to ourselves, of course. We are nuanced and complex and enigmatic. But the stranger is easy. If I can convince you of one thing in this book, let it be this: Strangers are not easy.”
I have so many thoughts about this book. I’ve been a Gladwell fan since his first book and have read every single book he’s written. I like his anecdotal style of writing. I like that he likes to peak your curiosity and engages the reader quite easily and that he can take a complicated subject and make it simple enough for an ordinary person like me to digest.
Alas, in this case, this is exactly what annoyed me.
First of all, this book should come with many trigger warnings. It tackles difficult and complicated subjects like racism, police shootings, rape, child molestation, and Hitler. Any one of these topics, in my opinion, is too nuanced and textured, and complicated for a Gladwell-like book, and when all are in there, it’s enough for me to cringe and want to put the book down.
And so, maybe it makes no sense that I would rate this book as four stars. But alas, Gladwell’s book also does a lot of what he’s setting out to do: show you a big hole in our society and a glaring mistake in the way we read and communicate with other people. The way we assume things about them. How assuming only the best causes so much harm in some cases, and always assuming the worst is also no way to live. People are complicated and there always more than one thing going on. And that we often don’t know all the factors that culminate in a particular situation.
As always his story telling is great, his topic is fascinating, and he expands my thinking and makes me more curious about life. Any book that impacts my thinking this much, is a worthwhile book. I just wish his examples had been different. He makes wide generalizations so that his stories can fit under the “Talking to Strangers” category and there are many examples in the book where I don’t agree with him. But the overall point he’s making, I do agree with that. As with all of his books, it made me look at the world slightly differently. It made me ask more questions and notice more of my assumptions. And that is always a good thing.
The Art of Loneliness (4.5 stars): I loved this book. This is the story of three siblings who lose their parents at a tragic car accident at a young age and then live with the grief of that loss. They weave in and out of each others’ lives throughout the story but so much of their life is shaped by that loss. There’s a lot of grief but also a lot of hope. About how life moves on and you end up okay for the most part. There is a lot of introspection and this reads like a quiet story but it impacts the reader greatly. I really really enjoyed this character-driven story.
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store (4.5 stars): “Compare the people who write to me as lost, astray. In most cases, they have a map but just won’t look at it, or don’t know how to find their own location.”
What a delightful story. I have no idea how to review this story. Basically, three bandits find a run down convenience store as a hideaway. When a letter comes through the mail slot asking for advice, they realize this store’s owner used to give advice in the past when it was still running. So they decide to test it out. The story then twists and turns in each chapter coming all back together almost like a Mobius strip. You cant help but smile in the end.
There’s time travel, history, and some fun plot twists in this story. I found the translation to be a bit odd at times but since I didn’t read it in its original language I can’t tell if that was stylistic choice or just poor translation. It’s a reasonably simplistic story and not a giant amount of character development but some.
The idea is so novel that I was delighted just on that alone. If unusual novels are your thing I think you will enjoy this one. I did.
Huge thanks to netgalley and Yen Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Dominicana (4 stars): I loved this book. This story is about fifteen year-old Ana who moves from the Dominic Republic to New York when she marries Juan. Her life in New York is very constrained and she’s in an abusive relationship. There’s a brief period where Juan returns back and she gets to live a life where she’s taking English lessons, selling things, and dancing and gets a glimpse of the life she could be having. Her yearning and pain both come across so acutely that the reader can almost feel it first hand. And then Juan comes back and she’s right back to where she was, having to choose between personal happiness and family obligations. It is a well-written, thoughtful both funny and sad. A real joy to read.
The Dearly Beloved (4.5 stars): I loved this book. It’s the story of two couples where the husbands are co-stewards to the historic Third Presbyterian Church during a turbulent time. The couples themselves are complex characters and in complex relationships and then their friendship with each other is also layered and textured and complex. And then they go through trials and tribulations as they expand their families that adds yet more layers of complexity. It’s such a wonderful representation of real life in its joys, sorrows, celebrations, angst, frustrations and deep deep losses. Four rich characters make this novel a delight to read, especially if, like me, you cherish character-driven novels. Love love love.
Family of Origin (3.5 stars): I started and finished this novel during an international flight from London to SFO. It was the perfect flight novel because it’s both complicated and simple. It’s both surprising and engaging. It’s about two half-siblings who travel to an island where their dad has drowned. The story goes back and forth between the present and the past, laying the narration of how the kids grew up and how their relationship broke with each other and with the parent. There are very funny moments and also some triggery content in this book. The author does a good job staying in character for both of the characters and bringing the story to a close without being preachy or unrealistic. It’s about destruction of relationships and rebuilding of them. It’s about seeking redemption and attention. It’s about human things. I will say the major plot surprise was not welcome for me and I couldn’t get past it even though I understand why the author chose it, so be warned.
Even though I am Turkish, this is the first Elif Shafak book I’ve read. I had read the blurb and knew it took place during the last 10 minutes as a whore lay dying. The premise seemed interesting but I had no idea what to expect.
“Years later, she would come to think of this moment as the first time she realized that things were not always what they seemed. Just as the sour could hide beneath the sweet, or vide versa, within every sane mind, there was a trace of insanity, and within the depths of madness glimmered a sense of lucidity.”
As it worked out, this was an excellent story of the journey the main character, Leila, takes growing up in Van with a devout dad married to two women and her journey from there to Istanbul where she ends up having a terrible life (as she was trying to run away from another terrible one.)
“Everyone seemed a little lost, vulnerable and unsure of themselves, whether they were educated or not, modern or not, Eastern or not. grown up or a child. That’s what he reckoned, this boy. He, for one, always felt more comfortable next to people who weren’t perfect in any way.”
She makes some amazing friends along the way and the book also shares the background of each of these characters and the power of friendships to create tighter bonds than family.
“‘It’s a serious thing to believe in someone,’ she said. …. ‘You can’t just say it like that, It’s a big commitment to believe.'”
There is a lot of history in this book that takes place mostly in the background and sometimes in the foreground. A lot of moments of grief and horror with some moments of joy. Throughout the book Leila continues to be an amazingly rich character to follow where you root for her even as you know she’s going to die.
“We must do what we can to mend our lives, and we owe that to ourselves – but we need to be careful not to break others while achieving that.”
I loved every bit of this harrowing story and am really glad I read it. I look forward to reading more of her work.
With thanks to netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Art of Loneliness (4.5 stars): I loved this book. This is the story of three siblings who lose their parents at a tragic car accident at a young age and then live with the grief of that loss. They weave in and out of each others’ lives throughout the story but so much of their life is shaped by that loss. There’s a lot of grief but also a lot of hope. About how life moves on and you end up okay for the most part. There is a lot of introspection and this reads like a quiet story but it impacts the reader greatly. I really really enjoyed this character-driven story.
Read this if you want to be Great at Drawing People (4 stars): I have always had a lot of trouble drawing people. People are complex to draw on so many levels: proportions, perspective, expressions, depth, texture, movement. I can go on and on. It’s very easy for someone to look at a drawing of a person and tell when it’s off. Intuitively we have a sense for how it should look even if we don’t know how to draw.
So I was really looking forward to what I could learn from this book and it did not disappoint. It has multiple sections including: – Starting Out – Accuracy – Composition – Tone – Lighting – Individuality – Approach
Each section has about 6-8 examples of how to approach that topic. I especially liked the Starting Out section because it has tangible exercises for me to try in short bursts of time. The whole book is broken down in very easy ways that feel very doable. There is a wide array of examples so you don’t have one right answer on how to draw people. You can pick one that resonates with you the most and give it a try.
Like all art books, there’s no magic the book can provide that suddenly makes you great at drawing people. Only practice can do that. But this book gives you several approaches so that you can find a way to start tackling it and enjoy practicing.
thank you to netgalley and Laurence King Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
And there we go, a great week of reading. Here’s to another great week next week.
Books I Read this Week 2019 is a year-long project for 2019. You can read more about my projects for 2019 here. I am also tracking my books in real time on Good Reads here. If you’re on Good Reads add me so I can follow you, too! I’ve also started an instagram account where I join my love of reading with my love of art.
