A friend of mine recommended this book to me and said it would get me out of my reading slump. It sort of did. What an unusual coming-of-age story about an Indian American boy, Neil, and his next door neighbor. I really liked the magical realism in this story that was woven into the story. I also loved how it started when he was a teen but then picked up again when he was in his twenties. It was a lovely story. (but did not really get me out of my slump!)
I have really enjoyed both of Rosie Danan’s books in this series. I was very much looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. If you’re into romance novels, you will love this series which has strong, 3-dimensional, and interesting characters with fun dialogue. I can’t wait to read more in the series.
This was an interesting story about a woman who finds out she has a step-sister through a DNA test and the sister is sick and might need her to make a major sacrifice. This starts a rolling series of unraveling in the sisters’ lives and their parents’ lives, too. It brings up questions around what family is, when and for whom should you sacrifice and take chances. And secrets we bury for a long time. It was an interesting read.
This is the story of Miriam, the daughter of a Baptist preacher, who witness her dad doing something that fundamentally shifts what she thinks of him and starts unraveling their whole family slowly.
It’s the story of what pride can do to a man, to a family. The story of what loss feels like and how we carry our thoughts, beliefs, wishes and dreams of who we are, who we can be and who we were inside ourselves. It’s the story of what happens when you revere a person and come to find out they are human. It’s the story of unspoken truths and how the weight of them can break a family. It’s the story of how things can look one way from the outside and be completely different from the inside (as they often are.)
It’s the story of what happens when you can no longer hide your own truth, your own potential and choose to step into your own sunshine even a little bit.
This is a wonderfully written, terribly sad story of a broken family and a strong heroine that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
with gratitude to Simon & Schuster and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
I don’t have much to say today. I am feeling calm and quiet. Likely still from vacation. I know next week will be stressful and busy so I am enjoying the calm while it’s here.
Here’s to sitting with the here and now and not paying down early to tomorrow’s stress.
I’ve been setting goals to read fewer books for the last few years. In service of doing other things that matter so I don’t always use the reading as an escape.
And finally I am.
I’m climbing, I’m doing yoga, I’m hanging out with my husband. I love it.
Another good climbing day today. I was telling Jake on the way home that the sessions are so unpredictable. I could feel like today will be great and then it’s a disaster. And then other days I could feel like I have nothing left and the session could be fantastic. It’s completely unpredictable in advance.
Tonight was a fantastic session.
It also was a good reminder that most days are just as unpredictable in life and as such a particular bad day doesn’t have to be an indicator that the next day will be bad too.
Yes to good sessions and trying hard climbs. Yes to taking life one day at a time.
I was watching @aliedwards April olw post today and she said something about her march project that really resonated with me. She mentioned that at some point she stopped keeping track because the things Ng she was tracking was top of mind for her all the time (I paraphrased.)
When I heard her say that, I thought that’s exactly how I feel about this project right now. I am seeking opportunities every day to do things that increase my wellness. Eating more veggies, exercising, meditating, doing restorative yoga, taking baths, on and on. I am working on this goal everyday.
Things will likely change as our lives change with the vaccine be and the kids going back to school at some point and me going back to work. At which point I will find a new routine. But for now, this project is working so well for me that I just don’t feel the need to track anymore.
I never liked going to bars or most social events. My 20s were painful as my peers wanted to go drinking and I would much rather have stayed home or gone somewhere cozy and had deep, meaningful conversations all night.
I so don’t miss those years.
Tonight we went climbing again for the second day in a row. I can totally get behind this kind of date night.
One of the perks of getting older is that I finally don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do. Or maybe that was an option all along and I’m finally realizing it.
Yes to doing what makes you happy. Yes to owning who you are. And yes to climbing more.
