Book Review: February 2023
A short month yes, but with lots of hibernating I was able to enjoy 7 books including both fiction and non-fiction. I like to balance personal development books with lighter fiction (a palate cleanser I like to say) and also using a mix of audio books and physical books for learning. What are books did you enjoy this month? Drop me a comment and I’ll check it out.
"It Didn't Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End The Cycle" by Mark Wolynn
5 stars
When I tell you that I was ready for this book, it's only because I had taken a good chunk of January to rest and restore my nervous system. I also started seeing a new therapist and was open to exploring some challenging themes in my life. I wouldn't have been able to read this book if I hadn't used nervous system regulation tools already. That being said, this book is an excellent resource for anyone working through trauma (pssstt that's all of us) Going through the exercises of understanding my "Core Language", "Core Wound" and "Core Sentence" was really helpful. If you're ready to do some personal work, please consider this book. More information here
"Reluctant Immortals" by Gwendolyn Kiste
3 stars
A weird AF book that was cool but seemed to pull together too many genres. To combine English literature, vampires / horror and California during the summer of love in the 1960s/ made for a juxtaposition that was a good read but didn't make a lot of sense. I'm not a vampire fan so I found myself wondering "how did I get into this book?" I did loved the focus on female friendship as well as taking down toxic masculinity. But overall just sorta “meh.”
"Things You Save in a Fire" by Katherine Center
3 stars
A female firefighter leaves her diverse and loving department to work with a bunch of old, out of touch white dudes while helping her ailing mother and finds love. BOOM, you just read the book. I liked the “female overcoming adversity in a male industry” storyline but this was a bit predictable. I was happy to see a woman breaking barriers because they still exist but there were still annoying moments of the patriarchy. It was cute RomCom with an ending that was too cookie-cutter for me but I did appreciate the humor and funny parts.
“My Grandmother’s Hands: Radicalized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies” by Resmaa Menakem
5 stars
This book is an emotional heavy hitter that came to me as a recommendation from a fellow yoga teacher. I cried a lot, journaled even more and had some good epiphanies. I like that the book connected the past to specific ways to move forward. Addressing “white bodies”, “black bodies” and “police bodies” was helpful to understand how different bodies interact with the world and how they experience trauma. Our lived experiences stay in our bodies, as does those of our ancestors. We have so much work to do in the healing of America and the practices in this book will certainly lead us in that direction. Somatic movements and understanding the nervous system’s role in response, trauma and healing is really fascinating to me and I devoured this book as medicine. Readers of "The Body Keeps the Score" (which was a major turning point for me when I read it in winter 2019) will notice similar themes.
"Liberation Day: Stories" by George Saunders
3 stars
A collection of short stories that included dystopian themes set in the near-ish future as well as the everyday occurrences Some were really cool and I got into, others were too slow. Some characters were more fully developed so I was rooting for them more. I like reading short stories in one book but would prefer there be one theme that unites them all more fully.
"Positive Energy Practices” by Dr. Judith Orloff
5 stars
Dr. Orloff's work was known to me from other energy-based readings. I found this book to be compassionate and so helpful. It's a short read that is direct without being overly ornate. I felt seen and my thoughts validated when reading about energy vampires. I know there are some folks I feel great around and others I don't. I have been feeling this more as I get older and have been better about removing myself from the vampires. This happened last weekend when I literally left the bar while all my friends stayed. I just felt the energy being sucked out of me. And then what happened 2 days later....I started to get sick. On Wednesday I had to nap for 3 hours to get my energy back. The practices described in the book are easy to do and I will totally implement them more. An especially important book for folks that are intuitive empaths and those interested in energy work. More information including videos, article and quizzes can be found on Dr. Orloff's website
"The Golden Couple" by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
4 stars
I listened to this book over the span of 3 days because it was fun and moved quickly with multiple narrators and points of view. Marissa and Matthew are a rich DC suburban couple with an enviable life but of course there's more under the surface. I loved the role of the therapist Avery who goes rogue. I knew there would be a plot twist and if you read enough of these "rich white family looks like they have their shit together but really it’s all lies” books you can probably guess what happens. I enjoyed the book more while actively listening to it but afterwards I reflected on some annoying themes annoying: 1) Where the heck were Marissa's friends? How would this wealthy DC lady not have any friends she could call when things got hard and 2) Why the heck is everyone drinking so much? There were soooo many scenes that focused on drinking wine that didn’t really need to be there, it didn’t add to the story. This a dark thriller about relationships that many folks will like. And yes, another pallet cleaners for me after the deeper personal development books earlier in the month.
Monthly Book Total: 7
Annual Book Total: 14