Book Review: March 2023
My last real month of winter hibernation and I read or listened to 9 books. 2 were flops, others were awesome. Reading (like music or art) always surprises me and I love learning them things while be curious. What was your favorite book this month?
"The Pull of the Stars" by Emma Donoghue
3 stars
Being pregnant in a small town in Ireland during the 1920 Great Flu with WW1 raging would be rough, really rough. I have such respect for maternity and L&D nurses and doctors in this century, let alone with more limited resources 100+ years ago. The book was a bit slower than I would have liked but picked up steam at the end and the last 1/4 was great.
"Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World" by Anand Giridharadas
4 stars
A book about the intersection of philosophy, tech and philanthropy. How do elite business owners, politicians, thought leaders and other folks in the top 10% of income change the world? When are folks being charitable and when are they doing so in self-interest? Can the rich fix the world even though they don't understand the viewpoint of someone living in deep poverty. So many great, detailed questions with many interesting answers.
"The House Across the Lake" by Riley Sager
1 star
Rich / pretty / famous people getting hammered and then being surprised at the consequences. It's boring and old and I'm over it. Books like this glamorize substance abuse and inflate the value of celebrities. Sure this was a psycho-thriller and moved quickly but really I was just annoyed the whole time. I kept with the book because I wanted to know how it ended. There was an element of fantasy that wasn't fully explored which was a bummer. I realized that I don't like psychological thrillers nearly as much as other folks do. Sorry not sorry.
"Drop Acid" by Dr. David Pearlmutter
4 stars
Noooooo not that acid (although I do have some book suggestions on the other acid if you're looking for them). This is about uric acid as it pertains to blood sugar, weight loss and diabetes prevention. As a health coach I think it's critical to stay up to date on research regarding diets and lifestyle modifications, especially for longevity. This is a dense read (as you would imagine) and reminds me that I need to work on my own sugar habit. We are each in control of our own health...we need to take responsibility now so that we can live long and happy lives.
"Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir" by Erika L Sanchez
3 stars
TW: Abortion and depression including suicide. I like a memoir and this one had me laughing and then feeling super sad. If you're looking for an intense read that is equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious, this is a good one.
"Beartown" by Fredrik Backman
5 stars
TW: Sexual assault. This was a fantastic read, so deep and moving. I had empathy for so many characters but also felt pulled towards hating them at some points. I loved details about putting young athletes on a pedestal. The sport here was ice hockey but if it had lacrosse then the book could have been set in Baltimore. I found myself yelling, "ugh the patriarchy" several times. One of my top books for the month of March.
"Underland: A Deep Time Journey" by Robert Macfarlane
3 stars
I loved the rich narrative and descriptions of the earth. What a fantastic and weird planet we live on. I have spent much time thinking about the ocean and sky so to borrow inside the earth was really neat. I love to travel to unique natural places and going to some of these deep tunnels and under the earth spots has flamed my Wanderlust.
"The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E Schwab
5 stars
My favorite book of the month! Following the life of Addie LaRue who knows one can remember until she meets someone just like her. This is a fantasy book while still being realistic (a cool juxtaposition) spanning 300 years and several iterations of a life that could be any of us. A slow build with beautiful details, I found myself immersed in the character development and story line. I listened to the audio book and I'm obsessed with Julia Whelan's voice, I'll listen to anything she narrates (only a true audio book nerd would have a favorite narrator, right?) Totally give this book a read / listen.
"My Year of Rest and Relaxation" by Ottessa Moshfegh
2 stars
Annoying rich girl blows through a ton of cash in NYC to numb out. Feels like a common narrative in pop culture but one that I was rolling my eyes about. I felt polarized about this book: sadness for the protagonist for her crippling depression after the death of her parents while also shaking my head about how "lucky" she was to have the money and time to disengage when this behavior wouldn't be available for many other folks. A weird book.
Monthly Book Total: 9
Annual Book Total: 23