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For people who always tell me YA books are lightweight and not meaningful, I challenge you to read an A. S. King novel and repeat your assertion. A. S. King might be unlike any other author and many of her books are unusual and tough reads. But this one stood out even amongst all her books. I honestly don’t even know how to describe this book. Here’s part of the blurb: As if that’s not already confusing and “what?!” enough, Tru’s house has a switch in the middle and her dad keeps building boxes around it. And “Tru leaves the box through a Tru-shaped hole to go to school” and if I haven’t lost you by now, I am confident you will love this book. This book is unlike anything I’ve read. And I’ve read A LOT of books. It’s genre bending and incredibly difficult to summarize. But at its core it’s about what many of King’s books are about: family, communication, suffering and capturing the essence of real teens. I will not forget this book for a long, long time. with gratitude to edelweiss and Dutton Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
If you like to journal and have always wanted to keep an art journal, like I have, you will love every single page of this book. But most of all it helps you fall in love with the practice of disconnecting, being present with nature, paying attention and capturing what you see. It’s not about the perfection, it’s about the feeling of being present and noticing and keeping track of all you noticed. Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. with gratitude to netgalley and Storey Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review  Year of Yes – 46
Family photo day is always the best day of the month. I spent a lot of time thinking about making the invisible visible today. As I say yes to doing certain things what am I “invisibly” saying no to? How can I make that more visible for myself? What does it take for me to stop the inertia of doing more of what I’ve always done and really leaning into a life of yes. How do I connect with how it will feel to have done X vs Y so that I can make sure to do more of what I know will make me happy vs what feels comfortable in this moment? Yes is all about fighting that inertia. #yearofyes #karenikayearofyes  100 Days of Radical Wellness – Day 16
Here’s the thing that’s worth remembering: I am always one step, one day, one moment from being back on track. Every moment of every day, we get a chance to do the thing we want to do. The opportunity to reroute to the path we want to walk. It’s never too late, it’s never the wrong time, and the best moment to start is always this one right here. I finally journaled some today and did some art and my heart is lighter and more open now. It was instantly helpful. It’s never too late. #100dayproject, #the100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness February 15, 2021 | Tags: #100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness, #the100dayproject | 100 Days of Radical Wellness | Leave a comment
This is a collection of essays. I rarely read a collection of essays, but I’d read Hough’s piece about being a cableman and really liked it so I wanted to see what all her other stories looked like too. And I was not disappointed. “Most of the time, I figure it’s better to know the universe doesn’t pay out favors for magical thinking.” Hough doesn’t hold back her punches. The first story takes place when someone blows up her car because she’s gay and then she gets blamed for it and has to have a trial. It’s incredible how messed up how our justice system can work (and in the military nonetheless) and how your life can turn upside down in one moment. “I’ve learned, if not to expect the worst, to not be surprised by the worst.” By all accounts, Hough has lived an unusual life. Brought up in a cult, her roots are all over the place and her family is in pieces everywhere. I didn’t grow up in the United States and had never heard of this cult before so all of it was new to me. She writes about it matter-of-factly and not with self-pity or even anger the way you’d expect someone who has gone through all that might have. “You may think you have friends who’ll help you bury a body. But when the cops show up and flash their badges, your friends will point to bodies you’ve never seen to keep the cops from looking their way. There are only two sides, and when it comes down to it, even those with nothing to hide will side with those who have the power.” Hough’s pieces are each more incredible than the last and yet they are full of life, wisdom, reality and life. So much of real life. I appreciated her no nonsense writing and found myself feeling incredulous, angry and frustrated at the number of life’s hurdles she’s been dealt. “Fact is, there are more than two doors, forgiveness or Kathy Bates. The third door is, you don’t have to forgive at all. You can just go right on living your life with one less asshole to deal with.” I really hope she keeps writing and telling her story. with gratitude to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars This was such a surprise read. I had heard about it all over the internet and people kept recommending it but I still didn’t really know enough about it to know what to expect. The entire time I read this book, I kept waiting for something terrible to happen. I has this constant anxiety about the other shoe dropping. There would be a big reveal. One of the people would turn out to be this evil/terrible person. And it never happened. There are reveals in the book. But honestly, these are real people with real flaws and messed up lives and nothing more than that. Having read so many weird, twisty books, I think I just couldn’t believe that until the book was over. And it was such a kind, loving, generous book. I really loved all the minutes I spent with it and find myself thinking about it and smiling even now.
This book messed with my head. I know that was the point, but wow. It was such a different read. I started it and just couldn’t figure out where it was going. I couldn’t connect with the character and felt lost as to why others thought it was so powerful. And then it started getting under my skin. The grief, the loneliness, the underhanded neglect and dismissal. The cruelty. I couldn’t stop reading. I couldn’t stop feeling. It was strong enough that I felt like I had to numb myself from how this book was making me feel. And the ending. that ending. In the end, it wasn’t about the mystery. Of course not. I will remember the way this book made me feel for quite some time.
If you’re looking for a fast, fun read, this might do the trick for you. It’s lightweight, reasonably predictable, and fun. I find that books like these, in between heavier or grittier books are exactly what I need. Quick, enjoyable, fun. 
 100 Days of Radical Wellness – Day 15
No matter how much I want to curl up in bed (which is forever!) climbing outside is always 1000 times better than the couch. Exercise, fresh air, togetherness. The trifecta. So grateful for this shared hobby. #100dayproject, #the100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness February 14, 2021 | Tags: #100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness, #the100dayproject | 100 Days of Radical Wellness | Leave a comment
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