Book Review: June 2023
There’s often this moment in the 2nd or 3rd week of the month when I think, “we’ll maybe I won’t be reading as much this month” and then poof 4 more books come to me that I love. That was the case this month. Some gems and some to pass on. As always, I love hearing from you and what you’re enjoying.
"The Cabin at the End of the World" by Paul Tremblay
2 stars
Despite a decent start, I couldn't wait for this book to be over. I thought about putting it down at least 3 times but stuck with it. The ending was surprising but not enough to make me enjoy it. I like a dystopian novel but this was just a little too weird with weak dialogue and lackluster character development. Pass!
“Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert
5 stars
What a gem! I read “Eat, Pray, Love” in 2015 and it was a big part of why I wanted to do my yoga teacher training. It spurred my wanderlust, it felt like someone was seeing me. So now to read (well, listen) to the book again was a bit of a homecoming. I love Elizabeth Gilbert for her mix of humor and rich details. Her words were the same as when I originally read the book but I'm very different. I stopped drinking and rarely eat meat. I've been to Italy, India and Indonesia, the 3 places she lived in the book. I love reading books a 2nd time as my experience is different based on my current station in life. Stands the test of time for me.
"The Dictionary of Lost Words" by Pip Williams
5 stars
As a Communication Studies major in college, I love exploring the meaning of words. They are powerful and change over time. How we use words, how they evolve in a variety of context and who gets to use them is really interesting to me. I loved the setting of the book across a variety of countries and times including WWI. The character development was great. Sad in some parts, sweet in others, I enjoyed this book as much as I thought I would. Check out this article / interview with the author.
"Dream Girl" by Laura Lippman
4 stars
I've been a fan of Laura Lippman since college, reading her crime / suspense novels in large part because they are set in Baltimore. I know the neighborhoods, schools, restaurants and Baltimore-isms she shared. Even if you don't live in Charm City, the plot is good and I like the various timelines in the book. I was pleased with the ending which always feels satisfying in a suspense novel.
"The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly" by Margareta Magnusson
4 stars
A quick read that I was interested in because my sister turned me onto the show, "The Swedish Art of Death Cleaning" by the same author. This book is a sweet read with loving reminders about ways to live life to the fullest. No, it's not going to change my mind or make me live in a radically different way (apparently, I am already doing some of the things suggested) but some nice reminders all the same.
"The Life-Changing Science of Detecting Bullshit" by John V Petrocelli
1 star
I actually thought this book was bullshit! The author cherry picked situations, people and experiences to prove his point. Which is something he says that bullshitters do. Other than showing what a fool Trump is (something I have believed deeply for many years now) I found that his examples were myoptic and not open to folks of different races and genders. Another white guy who thinks facts matter more than feelings and puts down intuition. Yes, facts are important in making decisions but so are feelings. Maybe I'm too woo woo for a book like this. Hard pass.
"The Body Is Not An Apology" by Sonya Renee Taylor
5 stars
After hearing Sonya speak on Brene Brown's podcast I was looking forward to reading her book. I loved the questions and reflections, several of whom brought up interesting points for me. Such as how my mom and grandma talked about their bodies and dieting. For many of us, if we have lived in female bodies in America we feel pressure to look a certain way, and if we don't fit the mold, we feel bad about it. Here, we start to explore where these narratives came from and how we can learn to love ourselves exactly as we are. For folks that are parents, understanding their own body shame challenges is critical so they don't pass this along to children.
"The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" by John Mark Comer
2 stars
I really enjoyed some of the principles in this book but also struggled with the Christian view-point. I love the idea that doing less is an act of resistance and rebellion. That divine timing doesn't hurry so why should we. I also love taking a day of rest to really rest...not to accomplish tasks and call it rest. I'm also reviewing how much time I spend on my phone and when I reach for it, which is mostly when I'm bored. The strong Christian leaning of the book (the author is a pastor) made some parts challenging. I was raised in this faith but no longer identify with it. I think Jesus was a fantastic teacher but I don't believe he is the one way to heaven. I also disagree with many of the church's doctrines and policies. So while there were a few nuggets to consider in my personal life about how I can slow down, this book was a bit too religious for me. Folks who align with Christian doctrines might enjoy this.
Monthly book total: 8
Annual book total: 44