Book Review: October 2023
October felt like a speeding train, just cruising through fast. I was still able to consume 5 books (which is pretty average for me) with a good mix of fiction and non-fiction. I'm looking forward to reading more as the months grow colder and I go into (relative) hibernation.
"Abundance: The Inner Path to Wealth" by Dr. Deepak Chopra
4 stars
I enjoyed the reminders that wealth isn't just the cash we have in our pockets. Dr. Chopra shared the wisdom that emotional + mental stress is deeply connected to our physical dis-ease. Stress is not bad per say, it's how we deal with it and how we allow (or don't) the stress cycle to complete / finish. I liked the quizzes (way better than the "fashion mag" quizzes I took in high school and college) as pauses for self-reflection. Creating wealth, not to hoard it but to use it for the highest good is a great concept.
"This Time Tomorrow" by Emma Staub
5 stars
I love time travel books: the path not taken, the chance to make a decision at a critical junction in a different way. This book was tender with deep loving relationships. A sweet read with the added notion that we're all one decision from a new life. The throwback / nostalgic moments to being a teenager in the 1990's had me smiling as well. Like a protagonist, I also turned 40 and am having a "how did I get here" moment. Thinking of the places I could or should be at this point in my life. Also feeling immense gratitude for where I currently am. I love the focus on hope...as a verb, a noun and an action. Really a lovely book, perfect fiction read.
"Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock" by Jenny Odell
4 stars
A nonfiction book about time...which was an interesting follow up to "This Time Tomorrow." I was shook by this book; angry, tearful and joyful all at the same time. The line that rocked me the most was "Not spending or saving time but to garden it. Steward different rhythms of life" Like damn! I love living life at my own speed but of course often feel rushed to do more, make more, consume more. And I hate thinking that someone else owns my time and yet we're all out here trading hours of dollars. I love the explanations of the development of time in different cultures and how we keep it now in modern capitalism. I have been saying this for years, "time is a social construction" (much like money and gender to name two other examples) and Odell's book really confirmed this for me.
"The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing" by Jonathan Goldman
5 stars
This was assigned reading for the Sound Healing training I am currently enrolled in. Really fascinating (and at sometimes technical) information about how intention + frequency can bring about healing. I love diving into rabbit holes like this and I know there's so much more to learn about how sound, vibration and energy work.
"Wish You Were Here" by Jodi Picoult
5 stars
When reading a book set in the early days of the Covid pandemic, it was easy to flash back to where I was in March of 2020. The immediate joy of "sooooo no work tomorrow?!" followed by the fear of, "are we ever leaving the house again." Like books about WW2, 9/11 or other touchstone events, we'll all have the perspective of "I was here when <<insert event>> went down" Picolut is a master for connecting characters and building them with love. So many sweet moments and also real painful human experiences as well. Special shoutout to all the nurses, doctors and Healthcare workers that were so incredible to during Covid. Y’all are all-stars, thank you!
Monthly book total: 5
Annual book total: 66