The Travelling Cat Chronicles: a book review

The Travelling Cat Chronicles 

Written by Hiro Arikawa

Translated by Philip Gabriel

Published in English language: October 23, 2018

Published by Berkley

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a wonderful story in translation about a man and his cat, or perhaps a cat and his man.

In the beginning of the story, we meet a stray cat who is approached by a man. The story begins with the cat as the narrator. The tone is delightfully exactly the sort of attitude you would expect from a cat.

The man, Sartoru, takes in the cat, names it Nana, which means seven in Japanese for the way his tail is crooked like the number. Then, we skip ahead a few years to follow Sartoru and Nana as they go on a journey to visit old friends.

The reason for the journey is somewhat obscure at the beginning. Sartoru is unable to keep Nana and hopes to find a new home for his cat. In the meantime, we learn Sartoru's life story as he visits friends from the past.

The novel alternates points of view between the the cat and omniscient flashbacks.

This is a sweet book that will likely evoke smiles and tears. It is fairly short at 288 pages and definitely worth a read.

Disclaimer: I received a free ebook copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Body Mindful Yoga: a book review

Body Mindful Yoga: Create a Powerful and Affirming Relationship with Your Body 

by Robert Butera Butera and Jennifer Kreatsoulas Kreatsoulas

Published November 8, 2018

Llewellyn Publications

This is a great book about learning to be comfortable with your body. Through explanations, anecdotes, and questions, the authors guide the reader in learning about their body beliefs. I love that this book incorporates the philosophy of yoga. It is not, however, a yoga book that offers poses, so if that's what you want choose a different title. This book is about thought and changing belief systems. It is well written and easy to read.

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Everyday Enchantments: a book review

Everyday Enchantments

by Maria DeBlassie

Published: October 26, 2018

Moon Books

Maria DeBlassie and I have never met, but after reading her new book Everyday Enchantments, I think it might have been written just for me.

From the very first page, Maira DeBleassie’s words drew me in. I was not familiar with her before. I found this book as an advanced reader offering and selected simply because of the title. By page 4, I was already typing her name in Google. Who is this woman? Why have I not seen her words until now?

I clicked around her blog for a few minutes, then returned even more enamored to Everyday Enchantments. This collection of essays makes mundane experiences seem filled with magic and wonder. I am all in for that.

In this book of very short essays -- musings, really -- DeBlassie talks about tea, used bookstores, yoga, herb shops, rainy days, and pretty much everything I like. If you like these things, too, go get this book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Tarot Inspired Life: a book review

Tarot Inspired Life

by Jaymi Elford

Publishes: January 8, 2019

Llewellyn Publications

This is my favorite book that I have come across about tarot.

It explains the cards, arcanas, and suits with direct clarity and invites the reader to study the cards through different exercises to make their own observations and connections.

That is only the first chapter. After that, the author covers many uses for tarot, including creativity.

Although I received a free ebook copy of this book for review, I plan to add the physical book to my shelf as soon as it is available.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Rising Out of Hatred: a book review

Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist

Eli Saslow

Published September 18, 2018

Published by Doubleday

I had this advanced reader copy for 2 months before I finally felt ready to read it. I was worried what I would find. Then the book was published and I picked up a copy from my local library thinking it would be easier to read in physical copy than on the computer screen. With that, however, I was afraid to have the book where anyone might see it. I didn’t want people to glimpse only the words “white nationalist” on the cover and jump to conclusions.

All that to say, I have read a number of books about race written by people of color. They aren’t always easy to read, but I dive in eager to learn from their words and experiences. Rising Out of Hatred is the flip side of the equation. It begins with the perpetrator side of the story. Somehow it seems so much easier to read the victim side. When you read the victim side, you can sympathize, you can be shocked. What do you do when you read the perpetrator side? How do you feel?

This is what kept me from picking up the book for so long, even though I wanted to learn from this story.

If I hadn’t already been anxious, the table of contents gave another clue of the tension to come, with chapters titled, “This is Scary,” “So Much Worse than I Ever Thought,” and “All-Out Mayhem.” Still, I am trying to educate myself on racial and social justice, which means I need to understand many stories. Finally, after a deep centering breath, I started reading.

Eli Saslow is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. In this book, he writes about the transformation of Derek Black, heir of the white nationalist movement who ultimately became an advocate for racial and social justice.

Derek was homeschooled and during that time he already began to insert himself on the white nationalist movement. He created a kids version of the Stormfront website -- a website for white nationalists -- and later joined his father on a daily radio show of the same kind. He continued to call in to the radio show daily while attending the liberal New College in Florida. It is there that he befriended a Mexican immigrant, a convert to Kaballah Judaism, and then fell for a Jewish woman. Through the relationships formed there, he slowly begins to unravel his beliefs. Ultimately, he publicly renounces white nationalism, which has familial repercussions.

Saslow approaches this material with a thorough journalistic eye. He relays the events that happened based on interviews he conducted with many of the people mentioned in the book, as well as studying correspondence that was shared with him.

The book is engaging, and I found myself flying through much quicker than I expected to. The complete 180-degree flip in beliefs is fascinating to follow. Many of the students at New College wanted to ostracize Derek when they learned of his affiliation. A few students had already built friendships with him and decided that what they had seen from him didn’t seem to match his white nationalist propaganda. If those were truly his beliefs, why would he join them for Shabbat dinner on Friday nights? Why would he continue to speak with them? The result of continuing to pursue the friendships was that Derek began to question what he had always believed. He began to research other ideas, explore other countries, and through debate with a young woman named Allison transformed his own belief system.

I highly recommend this book. Don’t be afraid to read it like I was.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Be Your Higher Self: a book review

Be Your Higher Self

by Samesh Ramjattan

Published August 22, 2018

Published by Matador

Be Your Higher Self is a short self-help book with a New Age feel. The cover is beautiful; the contents are okay. Ramjattan covers a lot of ground in brief chapters.

The book begins with a call to recognize yourself as a spiritual human being made of the same cosmic dust as everything and everyone else. From there the discussions flow to ego, masculine/feminine energy balance, age of aquarius, karma through reincarnation, chakras, and advice for healing, including breathing exercises, mantras, meditation, and diet, to name a few. It even offers examples via a few pop culture references to The Matrix, Groundhog Day, and Field of Dreams.

Be Your Higher Self didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It is a physically gorgeous book with interesting information, but not much that truly resonated with me.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

All the Colors We Will See: a book review

All the Colors We Will See: Reflections on Barriers, Brokenness, and Finding Our Way

by Patrice Gopo

Published August 7, 2018

Published by Thomas Nelson

In All the Colors We Will See, Patrice Gopo explores her experience of race throughout various points in her life. These experiences have been shaped by a number of factors and in a number of locales.

Gopo was born in Jamaica, grew up in Alaska, lived in Cape Town where she met her husband, then in Charlotte, North Carolina where she raises her family. She has two grandparents from India. She was among 5% of black students in attendance at Carnegie Mellon University during her time there. She has been told her hair looks more professional when relaxed and straightened (meaning not worn naturally).

I imagine many people of color can relate to these stories and many white people need to hear them.

Gopo’s writing is beautiful and matter-of-fact. It comes across with ease, which almost certainly means she has taken the time to hone her craft because writing is not easy.

Her chapter about hair -- it’s different types and textures -- is a mindful exploration of society’s expectations for how hair should look, what is beautiful, what is unkempt and what is professional. This made me wonder if hair has so much expectation tied to it, what does that mean for the rest of our existence?

Perhaps the most prevalent theme in the book is about belonging. Gopo looks at the ways she may be seen as an outsider or something "other." She is the only black student in her class at school in Alaska, which leads her to be singled out for questions about race. She doesn’t feel she fits in with her family members in Jamaica because of her accent and inability to understand some of the local dialect. She recognizes that she is an anomaly in her university graduation class as a black woman in engineering. She questions, years after the fact, what it meant when a friend said, “I don’t see you as black.” She describes with rawness what she felt when she first encountered a confederate flag.

I highly recommend this book. I think people of color will be able to relate and see themselves in Gopo’s stories, and I think white people need to hear more stories from people of color. We have a responsibility to learn how word choices contribute to racism, how simple exchanges can have greater impact than we realize. And I think all of us, of all colors, need to move to a state of belonging and understanding. All the Colors We Will See is an easy entry point to this conversation.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Octopus on a Treadmill: a book review

Octopus on a Treadmill: Women. Success. Health. Happiness

by Gifty Enright

Published March 6, 2018

Book Refinery Limited

Octopus on a Treadmill: Women. Success. Health. Happiness begins with Gifty Enright’s experience of finding herself with 14 symptoms and a recommendation for hormone replacement therapy, then grows into a full exploration of the factors that can affect our health and energy.

Following various models of basic needs, Enright speaks to nutrition, hydration, sleep, exercise, clearing clutter, choosing better thoughts, boundaries, and meditation. Many of her tips are common pieces of advice, like drinking lots of water, filling half your plate with vegetables, and getting 8-9 hours of sleep. What makes this book handy, is having all of that information -- physical, mental, environmental, and spiritual -- in one place. She also explains a little of the science and reasoning behind them.

Enright has approached these topics in a very readable, conversational tone that makes the concepts easy to understand and implement. She has used her own research, as well as her experiences as a woman born in Ghana and living in the U.K. to enrich her book.

I recommend this book for working mothers. It is geared specifically toward women as it includes discussions of menstrual cycles and women’s experiences in the workplace and motherhood. If working mother doesn’t describe you, you may get something out of this book, but not as much as those who identify as working mothers.

And if you need to understand why you should follow various health advice, this book will answer all the whys.

Disclaimer: I received this ebook for free from Enright’s marketing team in exchange for an honest review.

Raise Your Voice: a book review

Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up

by Kathy Khang

Published July 31, 2018

IVP Books

I heard about this book on Jen Hatmaker’s For the Love podcast (I think I say that a lot) and loved hearing Kathy Khang speak about it so much that I requested it on NetGalley.

In Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up, Khang explores the reasons we stay silent, which can include fear, not wanting to cause conflict, that the offense doesn’t apply to us specifically, or because of the “Let go and let God” mentality.

It’s about finding your voice and the courage to speak up in any scenario, but also specifically addresses racism as well as Christianity. She begins with her own difficulty of having a voice as a woman and particularly as a woman of color (she is Korean American and came to the U.S. as a child).

She includes a chapter about addressing live audiences and another about addressing digital audiences.

This book is about all the ways we keep ourselves from speaking up and all the ways we can speak up.

I appreciated Khang’s thorough look at this topic and her vulnerability in sharing her own struggles in raising her voice. This is a good book for anyone who wants to get better about speaking up.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

I Wrote This for You and Only You: a poetry review

I Wrote This for You and Only You

by Iain S. Thomas

Releases October 2, 2018

Andrews McMeel Publishing

I Wrote This for You and Only You is a book of poetry by Iain S. Thomas paired with photography by Jon Ellis. Thomas’s short prose poetry covers topics like the self, love, suicide (or rather, not doing it), and heartbreak..

Each poem is paired with a photograph. Many of the images are black and white; some are full color. They often depict landscapes and urban scenes and occasionally include portraits.

This book is a follow-up to Thomas’s earlier two books and collects entries from both of those.

I bought the earlier version of this book when I saw it in a bookstore while visiting my mother in Florida. I was mesmerized by the combination of poetry and photography, both of which are compelling in their own ways. Together, they add more nuance to one another.

This book provides that feeling once again. My favorite entries in this book are The Anxiety Inherent in Air, The World Is Not As Dark As It Seems, and The Truth is Different Every Day.

I recommend this book to those who like short form prose and poetry, as well as those who enjoy photography.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Inward: a poetry review

Inward

by Yung Pueblo

Published September 25, 2018

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Inward is a beautiful poetry collection that focuses on self-love, self-healing, and all the good that can come from these.

Diego Perez writes under the pen name Yung Pueblo, which means “young people,” according to his bio in the back of the book.

Pueblo begins with what he feels will be the lesson of the 21st century: that to harm another is to harm oneself and to heal oneself is to heal the world. That sets the tone for the poems that follow.

Poems are grouped into sections: distance, union, interlude, self-love, understanding. Interlude is a short story of sorts that sticks to the overall theme of the book.

Most of the poems are short, and a few pieces of short prose are woven among them. They speak of recognizing the pain we carry in ourselves and the importance of self-love to heal that pain, so we can offer our best selves to the world.

Pueblo’s writing is thoughtful and direct. You don’t need master sleuthing skills to decipher his meaning. This leaves the reader able to simply read and absorb.

I recommend this collection to lovers of poetry, as well as lovers of the self-help section. You may find more direction toward self-healing in this small volume than in a dense, text-heavy nonfiction book. I plan to buy the paperback copy to add to my shelf, because I want to revisit these poems again and again. They are good lessons and reminders.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Imperfect Courage: a book review

Imperfect Courage: Live a Life of Purpose by Leaving Comfort and Going Scared

Jessica Honegger

Published: August 14, 2018

Crown Publishing Group

I heard about this book on Jen Hatmaker’s For the Love podcast when she interviewed the author Jessica Honegger.

Jessica is the founder and co-CEO of Noonday Collection. Before growing into the large direct sales business that it currently is, it began as Jessica selling jewelry and accessories handcrafted by friends of hers in Uganda in an effort to raise money to adopt internationally. From there, the business grew to include artisans from Rwanda, Haiti, and other countries.

Imperfect Courage is about several things. It is partly about how and why Jessica grew her business, and how she supports women through it and because of it.

It is partly about international adoption and how she adopted her son Jack from Rwanda. She also mentions other parents’ stories of adoption.

It also is partly about how to act on something despite fear, uncertainty, negative self-talk, and criticism. Jessica talks about the importance of vulnerability to healing. This can be in small or big ways, from exposing negative self-talk to victims of genocide sharing their stories.

She talks about how judgment affects our ability to look at each other as sisters in womanhood to approach one another, to support one another, and to simply be friendly to one another.

I recommend this book for women in business and entrepreneurial women who have their own businesses or wish to start them. Although this isn’t a business how-to book, it is sure to spark inspiration. Also, readers who want to find new ways to help their fellow humans, whether close to home or around the globe, can find ideas here.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Namaste the Hard Way: a book review

Namaste the Hard Way: A Daughter's Journey to Find Her Mother on the Yoga Mat

by Sasha Brown-Worsham

Published: September 4, 2018

Published by Health Communications, Inc.

I like yoga and I am trying to learn more about it. I also like memoirs. So when I saw Namaste the Hard Way on NetGalley, I jumped on the opportunity to request it.

Sasha Brown-Worsham has organized her books as a series of essays that build an overarching exploration of her path with yoga. As a child, she found her mother’s yoga practice (at a time when it wasn’t as popular as it is today) to be weird and embarrassing. Aside from that, all her healthy mind/body choices and vegetarian lifestyle didn’t excuse her from dying of cancer somewhat quickly. Sasha reflects on particular points throughout her childhood and teen years and how they affected her, as well as affected her relationship with her mother.

As an adult Sasha came to yoga in her own way. Although she practices in a slightly different way from her mother, yoga has become a core part of Sasha’s life despite her initial disdain.

The essays are organized into sections that follow the order of a practice: centering, breathing, connecting, saluting, flowing, balancing, strengthening, surrendering, integrating, and rebirthing. This structure made a lot of sense for moving through Sasha’s stories. It also taught me that these were all actual parts of a yoga practice. My first yoga practice after finishing this book felt so much deeper because I had a better understanding.

I plan to read this book a second time. Knowing how it helped me with my own understanding of yoga, I want to revisit it from the beginning to see what else I might recognize that I didn’t on first passing. I may even buy myself the paperback version even though I have an advanced read ebook copy.

I recommend this book for readers who like memoir (whether or not you like yoga), as well as for those who maybe aren’t used to memoir but do love yoga.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Diary of a Bookseller: a book review

The Diary of a Bookseller

by Shaun Bythell

Published September 4, 2018

Melville House

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to run your own bookstore, this is your chance to experience it vicariously.

The Diary of a Bookseller is exactly what it claims to be -- a diary kept by Shaun Bythell for one year. Bythell owns a secondhand bookstore in Wigtown, Scotland. In this diary he shares stories about his customers, shop repairs, his employees, and even the daily till count.

This memoir isn’t about self-growth or personal tragedy. In fact, nothing much happens in this book, yet I couldn’t stop reading. I wanted to experience a day in the life… and then another… and another.

Bythell’s tone is straightforward and sarcastic. His employee Nicky reads like a fictional character and makes Bythell’s search for books sold online nearly impossible at times from her own quirky thought process for shelving books.

Customers come in to the store asking questions to show off their own intelligence, or that lead to the exact offbeat book they are looking for, only to have them leave without buying it.

The beginning of each month begins with a quote from George Orwell's account of working in a book shop, so you get a sort of two-for-one experience.

This is a fun, light read that you can dip in and out of. The short entries will likely have you continuing to turn the pages long after you say, “just one more.”

I recommend this to book lovers, anyone who dreams of working in a bookstore, shop owners, and readers who need to knock themselves out of a reading rut.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.

The Air You Breathe: a book review

The Air You Breathe

by Frances de Pontes Peebles

Published August 21, 2018

Riverhead Books

I feel like I want to cry from the beauty and rawness of these characters. The book was longer than my personal preference. However, the writing was breathtaking.

The push and pull between Graca and Dores as they move from 1930s Brazil to 1940s Hollywood is fun to experience.

The characters and settings are rich. The language was stunning in places. There were certain paragraphs and sentences I stopped to re-read.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book with my own money through Book of the Month Club.

The Minority Experience: a book review

The Minority Experience: Navigating Emotional and Organizational Realities

by Adrian Pei

Publish date: September 4, 2018

InterVarsity Press

The Minority Experience: Navigating Emotional and Organizational Realities is a new entry into the own voices discussions of race, particularly as they relate to organizations' employees.

The first section of the book discusses Pei’s experiences as Asian American and also offers examples of those of other persons of color.

The second section offers ideas for how to approach topics of race and pain within an organization. Pei’s background is in ministry and the corporate world, but the concepts are applicable to many industries, organizations, and groups.

Unless this is a completely new topic for readers, there isn’t anything particularly revelatory in this book. However, it is a good addition to the own voices books about social justice, and it is somewhat new due to the Asian American perspective. We need perspectives from all different people of color to round out our knowledge and our libraries.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Sheets: a graphic novel review

Sheets

by Brenna Thummler

Published August 28, 2018

Publisher: Lion Forge

Sheets is a graphic novel about a girl named Marjorie whose mother has died and father rarely leaves his room. Marjorie runs her parents’ laundry business after school. It is struggling and a sneaky man is trying to take the building from them to start a yoga resort.

Meanwhile, a ghost named Wendell is having trouble adjusting to the Land of Ghosts and begins to visit the laundry at night where he builds blanket forts and otherwise messes up the store. He attempts to help Marjorie, but things don’t go as planned.

This story was so creative and fun. The Land of Ghosts comes with its own rules and reckoning, and Wendell prefers the world of humans.

We also get to see how Marjorie deals with having to be the business owner and deal with normal school drama in the wake of her mother’s death.

Wendell’s story provides levity against the gravity of Marjorie’s. I definitely recommend this book for adults and young adults.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Convenience Store Woman: a book review

Convenience Store Woman

Written by Sayaka Murata; translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori

Released in English Language June 12, 2018

Grove Press

 I first heard about Convenience Store Woman on the What Should I Read Next? podcast episode 133 where Anne Bogel sold it for me. I knew I had to put it on my list.

The novel, originally published in Japan, follows Keiko who isn’t sure how social interactions are supposed to work and finds joy working in a convenience store for a long period of time. She likes that the employee training manual tells her exactly what to say and she is able to anticipate the needs of the day. She finds comfort and value in a job that her family, and perhaps society at large, don’t see as a proper adult job.

This book is so tiny! Both in length and physical dimensions. For as short as it was (176 pages), I thought I would breeze through in one or two sittings. Instead, I read a few pages at a time over the course of a week. Even a few days past finishing it, I’m honestly not sure what I thought of it. I laughed at a few parts. It was weird. I had fun seeing Keiko try to understand and function in the world around her.

There is also an underlying study of laziness vs. contentment, which is interesting to unpack.

Overall, I think it’s worth a read. It doesn’t need to be at the top of your list, but if you stumble across it, give it a go.

Disclaimer: I picked up this book from my local library. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Inspired: a book review

Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again

by Rachel Held Evans

Released June 12, 2018

Published by Thomas Nelson

Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again is Rachel Held Evans’s attempt to get readers to fall in love with the Bible, despite the tough stories within it.

The introduction pulled me in right away as Evans weaves her own fairy tale of a girl in love with a book and describes the wondrous stories she found in the Bible, until she was older and realized there were many stories that left God seeming more like a villain than a hero.

What I appreciated about this book is that Evans doesn’t shy away from the harder parts of the Bible that deal with war, slavery, rape, and other difficult topics. She doesn’t sweep those under the rug in a blind “The Bible is perfect” way. In fact, she talks about how some of these points caused her to deeply question faith and Christianity.


Ultimately, Evans is still making the case for Christianity and learning from the Bible, but she approaches text as a collection of letters, poetry, and prose -- as a wide literary canon that can be studied. For example, she describes how the story of Jonah and the whale employs fanciful literary conventions to make its point, and she says that it is okay not to view the story as a literal history.

Having heard plenty of literal interpretations without room for questioning, I appreciated Inspired for its ability to question and reframe these stories. It’s worth a read for Christians and questioners.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Thank and Grow Rich: a book review

Thank & Grow Rich: A 30-Day Experiment in Shameless Gratitude and Unabashed Joy

by Pam Grout

Released August 30, 2016

Published by Hay House

As the title suggests, Thank & Grow Rich is about cultivating gratitude. Certainly this isn’t a new idea, but it is a good book.

Author Pam Grout uses a fun tone to deliver her message. Whereas some gratitude books approach the topic with reverence, Thank and Grow Rich refers to its concepts as "party tricks" and presents the ideas in a way that seem fun and inviting, rather than just another thing to list off in your journal every day. It is this tone that kept me reading and set it apart from other self-help books on the same topic.

Yet, it isn’t overly fluffy either. Grout provides some really great ideas. One that I liked, in particular, was to start each day thinking your preferred variation of, “Something amazing will happen today.” This attitude sets you up to notice the good throughout the day.

Overall, this is a fun read and should be welcome on the shelves of self-improvement readers. It could also be a fun gift for fellow readers.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Healing Our Broken Humanity: a book review

Healing Our Broken Humanity: Practices for Revitalizing the Church and Renewing the World

by Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Graham Hill

Release: August 28, 2018

InterVarsity Press

Healing Our Broken Humanity aims to focus Christianity on social justice issues.

The authors argue that the church needs to heal and become whole, because the world is watching. “We need a new narrative and a new way of telling our stories of God in our lives,” they write. Rather than expecting others to adapt to the church, the authors posit the church should adapt with fresh practices and that race relations may be a good place to start.

They say that Christians first passion must be for Jesus, then they can respond with passion to other issues like politics, race, gender, and others. They also argue that pastors should address racism and sexim as sins, because they are abuses of power.

The ideas presented in this book are very good and relevant for our present society. The authors are very good about providing specific examples from the real world, as well as citing scripture to support their writing. I truly believe social justice concepts are vital for modern Christianity, so I recommend it for religious readers.

Although this book claims to be for clergy and laypersons alike, the academic tone will probably lend itself better to the former. This would be a great book for small groups or ministries working on discernment and vision for their churches. Discussions and activities are suggested throughout.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry: a book review

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry: A Novel

by Gabrielle Zevin

Released April 1, 2014

Algonquin Books

Oh, this book! I heard so many good things about it on various book podcasts. It is mentioned somewhat frequently by guests on the What Should I Read Next? podcast (my favorite). A few months back, I purchased a copy at my local chain bookstore, but it had been sitting in my TBR pile (that’s, to-be-read pile) ever since. Saturday night I decided to start reading, and I finished Monday morning.

This novel follows A.J. Fikry, a widowed bookstore owner with very specific reading tastes -- literary fiction only, no postmortem narrators, no YA, etc. -- whose prized antique book goes missing just before a baby appears in his shop with a note from the mother.

The characters, particularly Fikry, are well thought out, each with their own distinct personalities. The storytelling is delightful, both humorous and full of emotion.

I highly recommend The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. In fact, I can’t recommend it enough. This was such a great reading experience.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book with my own money at Barnes & Noble.

Bow First, Ask Questions Later: a book review

Bow First, Ask Questions Later: Ordination, Love, and Monastic Zen in Japan

by Gesshin Claire Greenwood

Released May 8, 2018

Wisdom Publications

Bow First, Ask Questions Later is a memoir by Gesshin Claire Greenwood, a white woman from San Francisco, who ordained as a Zen monk in Japan at the age of 24 years. She talks about her experiences in the monastery, as a student, as a teacher, as a questioner. And she does so with openness and humor.

Simply running down the table of contents was fun, and yes, the book is named for one such chapter. It implied that I would be brought on a spiritual journey and would laugh along the way.

I loved this book. I loved learning about Greenwood’s experiences, but even more I loved her exploration of faith, trust, surrender, and what enlightenment really means. I especially love that she was able to approach all of this with humor. She takes her practice very seriously, but not herself.

She opened up about some of her experience with depression and ways she attempted to deal with it. She talked about the differences in different countries’ monasteries. She talked about how wearing the robes made her feel in different situations. She even talked about sex.

Greenwood is also a great questioner. She questions Buddhism and practice in a way that shows the depth of how much she wants to understand it all at a core level.

This book is smart and funny, which makes for a very engaging read.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

The Summer Wives: a book review

The Summer Wives: A Novel

Beatriz Williams

Released July 10, 2018

Published by William Morrow

The Summer Wives is a novel that follows a few characters over the course of several summers decades apart on an island in New England. It is a study of relationships, of the working class year-rounders vs. the wealthy summer families. It is about loss, love, family, friendship, and secrets.

The story moves between three summers in the 1930s, 1950s, and 1960s to weave together a history of the island’s inhabitants. There are scandals, but the people keep these to themselves, unwilling to share with outsiders, because even if there is a crime, it is their crime.

I selected this book as my July Book of the Month pick. I had just returned from a weekend in Newport, Rhode Island where I had toured some of the famed mansions -- the quaint 37,000-square foot summer homes. For me, it brought the story to life. I could picture the lighthouse, the summer parties, the hidden beach, the cliffs of the island in the novel.

This is a wonderful summer read. Take it to the beach or to your porch on these sticky summer nights, and immerse yourself in The Summer Wives.

Disclaimer: I purchased this book with my own money through Book of the Month Club.

SELF-ish: A Transgender Awakening: a book review

SELF-ish: A Transgender Awakening

by Chloe Schwenke

Released May 4, 2018

Red Hen Press

SELF-ish: A Transgender Awakening is an open look at how transitioning from a man to woman affected Chloe Schwenke in all areas of her life.

Schwenke covers a lot of ground in this memoir. She shares her own journey of navigating her identity, of therapy sessions with both helpful and unhelpful therapists. She shares her own questions of what it means to transition to the gender she identifies with and it what it would mean not to. She discusses coming out as transgender to her father, siblings, wife, children, friends, and colleagues, and how it affected those relationships.

As such, the reader gets to see how her family changed with the news. Was it possible to stay married? What is her new parental identity now that she is no longer “father?” Is she “mother” or something else? Does she make that determination or do her children decide?

In the professional realm, we see how Schwenke approached her human resources representative, the email she sent to her colleagues to announce that beginning Monday, Stephen would no longer be showing up and Chloe would be. There were follow-up discussions with colleagues who wanted to learn more, as well as follow-up discussions with management who ultimately fired her. Then the new job search.

Schwenke also explores what it means to be part of the womanhood and her fears of not being accepted. As she develops experiences of being accepted by women, she wonders what it means to be a grown woman who does not have the experience of girlhood.

She also talks about the transition period during which she had not yet undergone surgery, but was presenting herself as a woman. During that time she traveled out of the country with a passport that still listed her gender as male, which caused quite a delay in Turkish customs. Later, she expresses her appreciation of being welcomed to Africa as Chloe after previously working there as Stephen.

There are so many nuanced aspects to the stories of transgender experience, far beyond those that cisgender people might think about. I appreciated so much that this book covered so much and answered questions I didn’t even know to ask.

Readers who love well-told memoir and those who want to gain a deeper understanding of transgender experience -- whether cisgender or transgender themselves -- will get a lot from this book. It covers everything with the perfect combination of frankness and emotion.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.

Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation: a book review

Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation: Relax, Replenish, and Rejuvenate>

by Heather Dawn Godfrey

Scheduled for release on November 6, 2018

Healing Arts Press

Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation: Relax, Replenish, and Rejuvenate> is a great resource for those who want to deepen their understanding of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils in general, but particularly as a way to enhance mindfulness.

The book begins with a high-level discussion of mindfulness, then moves onto a thorough exploration of essential oils and how to use them as part of your mindfulness practice. This means that you don’t have to have background knowledge about mindfulness, meditation, or essential oils before coming to this book. You get to learn it all in one place.

Godfrey approaches the material academically. She cites numerous studies and references to back her claims. She explores essential oils from a variety of directions to include the history of their use, the science of scent, and the practical application of how to use them. She talks about how to choose them, how to store them, proper dosages, dilution, and so on. In addition to standard prose, the book includes photographs, tables, and diagrams to make the information easy to understand. The book even includes a section about complementary wellness techniques in which Godfrey touches on exercise and nutrition.

I enjoyed reading this book. First of all, it is pretty. There is something to be said for a book that sparks peaceful excitement just by looking at its pages. The information is organized well, and I learned a lot. For example, I didn’t realize until I read this book how prevalent the mention of essential oils is in spiritual and historical texts. It is a practice that has been going on in some form for a very long time. I learned that adding essential oils to my bath mixed with a carrier oil is preferred to reduce the risk for drying and irritation over my current method of adding the drops “neat.”

This book is great for people who want to expand their own techniques at home, as well as for those who offer services to clients -- particularly meditation instructors, Reiki practitioners, yoga instructors, and other mindfulness practitioners.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Bookish Life in July 2018

I know I read a lot, and yet when I see the list of books I have finished by month end, I always feel the need to go back and check to see if it is right. I checked and it is. Here are the books I finished reading in July.

1. 1. Green Almonds: Letters from Palestine
   2. Hello, Nebulon! (Galaxy Zack #1) read aloud with my son
   3. Sharp Objects for July book club
   4. No One Tells You This: A Memoir
   5. Nevertheless She Persisted: True Stories of Women Leaders in Tech
   6. The Art of Inheriting Secrets
   7. The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan
   8. Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
   9. SELF-ish: A Transgender Awakening -- My review is coming later this week!

Also surprising, yet not, is the list of books that joined my TBR pile from a number of sources. (I like saying it this way. It sounds like they wandered over on their own accord.)

In July, I purchased Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life from Barnes & Noble and a used copy of The Seeker's Guide (previously published as The New American Spirituality) from Biblio.com.

I won an audiobook copy of Rabbit: The Autobiography of Ms. Pat by Patricia Williams and with Jeannine Amber through a Book Riot-hosted contest sponsored by Libro.fm.

From the library, I picked up I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer for my local book club meeting in August. Sadly, I didn’t even open it before it was due and I had to take it right back again. This happens sometimes.

Through subscription services, I selected The Summer Wives: A Novel as my Book of the Month, and Faithbox included in its box Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff. Goff’s book was a nice surprise as it happened to be on my wishlist already.

Lastly, I have received a bunch of ebook review copies from Netgalley. This month, they include:

• Bow First, Ask Questions Later: Ordination, Love, and Monastic Zen in Japan published May 8, 2018


• Namaste the Hard Way: A Daughter's Journey to Find Her Mother on the Yoga Mat by Sasha Brown-Worsham to be published September 4, 2018


• Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist to be published September 18, 2018


• Essential Oils for Mindfulness and Meditation: Relax, Replenish, and Rejuvenate by Heather Dawn Godfrey to be published November 6, 2018


• Body Mindful Yoga: Create a Powerful and Affirming Relationship with Your Body by Robert Butera and Jennifer Kreatsoulas to be published November 8, 2018


• The Art of Psychic Reiki: Developing Your Intuitive and Empathic Abilities for Energy Healing by Lisa Campion and Rhys Thomas to be published October 1, 2018

That's a pretty good month, I think!

Disclaimer: I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Bookish Link Love for 7.28.2018

Books bring understanding to life and, in turn, life makes books more interesting. Here are some of the stories from around the web that caught my attention recently.

One barber set up a mini-library so kids can spark a love for reading while getting a haircut -- “Books about slavery and civil rights have their place, Irby believes, but little black boys and girls deserve books that allow them to be children.”

Science shows reading books is good for you! -- Thank goodness! I should be super healthy now.

Page Chaser made a grumpy old man read a romance and share his thoughts -- and it is delightful.

A real look at depression and anxiety by author Fredrik Backman -- One of my favorite authors opens up about his day-to-day mental health.

Kids got to drop off their stuffed animals for a sleepover in a library -- They (the stuffed animals) watched movies, ate takeout, and slept next to the bookshelves. The library chronicled their event through photos.

An interview with Frances Mayes about her new book and writing about Italy -- I was already excited to read Women in Sunlight, but after this interview, I’m even more intrigued.

Chained libraries used to be a thing -- It kept the books from being stolen.

The Art of Inheriting Secrets: a book review

The Art of Inheriting Secrets: A Novel

by Barbara O'Neal

Released July 17, 2018

Lake Union Publishing

Looking for a light summer read with a gorgeous setting, delicious food descriptions, mystery, and romance? The Art of Inheriting Secrets is a good bet.

In it, we follow food editor Olivia who has inherited from her mother a dilapidated English estate that she didn’t even know existed. She flies from San Francisco to see exactly what it is and quickly has more questions than answers as she tries to determine what to do with it, what it means, and why her mother kept it a secret all this time.

This novel has a number of things going for it: a rich setting that beckons wandering, food descriptions that make me want to spend more time in my kitchen, and an exploration of class systems, ethnic heritage, and sexuality. With these last ideas, the novel provided more diversity than I anticipated. I appreciated that aspect.

I generally read a lot of nonfiction, but like to sprinkle in some fiction, as well, and this book didn’t disappoint. Although I didn’t necessarily relate to the characters, I found the setting remarkably engaging. My favorite aspect of the story was Olivia’s friendship with Pavi, the owner of an Indian restaurant. The way Olivia engaged with food was interesting to me and made me want to appreciate it as much as she does. Reading about the ingredients and concoctions served appealed to my nonfiction side.

If you’re looking for a light read for the end of summer, give this one a try.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

No One Tells You This: a book review

No One Tells You This: A Memoir

by Glynnis MacNicol

Released July 10, 2018

Published by Simon & Schuster

No One Tells You This is a memoir in which Glynnis MacNicol explores what it means to be a woman at age 40 who is unmarried and without children.

In U.S. society, it is often "understood" that women will marry and have children, and those who don't tend to receive assurances that it can still happen, as if being happy alone is not an option.

MacNicol's exploration of her own experiences as a single woman approaching then turning 40 years old is a narrative we don't get to see enough of. Her perspective is refreshing as she realizes that she never questioned her path previously, but then begins to do so. After so many people in her life, including strangers, offer "you'll be okay" sentiments, she realizes it never occurred to her that she wouldn't be.

At the same time that she is strengthening her identity, her mother is battling her own identity as dementia takes hold. In this way, MacNicol covers quite a lot of ground.

I enjoyed reading this memoir and appreciated MacNicol's refreshing perspective. As a divorced woman of the same age, I am often assured that I can get married again -- a statement that makes me bristle. I don't want another marriage. Although my circumstances are somewhat different than the author's (I have been married and I am a mother), she and I share some basic beliefs. It was nice to see how someone else navigated the world as a single woman in her 40s.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

Green Almonds: a true story graphic novel review

Green Almonds: Letters from Palestine

by Anaële Hermans (Author) and Delphine Hermans (Artist)

Released July 3, 2018

Published by Lion Forge

Green Almonds: Letters from Palestine is a true story depicted in graphic novel format.

Anaële Hermans traveled from her home in Belgium to Palestine to volunteer with an aid organization. During that time she exchanged letters with her sister Delphine back home. Green Almonds brings these letters to life as a graphic novel.

During her time there, Anaële goes back and forth between Palestine and Israel, befriending people in both places, experiencing life on both sides of a physical wall between cities, and witnessing the violence that happens in occupied territories.

This book was originally published in France in 2011. There it received the Doctors Without Borders Award for best travel diary highlighting the living conditions of populations in precarious situations.

I definitely recommend Green Almonds, especially for people who like memoir, travel writing, and social justice issues.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

White Fragility: a book review

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

by Robin DiAngelo

Released June 26, 2018

Beacon Press

Having recently finished When They Call You a Terrorist about the Black Lives Matter movement, White Fragility is a great follow-up. But even if you haven't read the other, this is a necessary read for white people in the U.S.

Race relations are in a tough spot, especially with the current political climate. Many of us white people may have thought racism and discrimination were a thing of the past, but it is vital that we understand these things persist.

With a PhD in multicultural education, Robin DiAngelo -- a white woman -- leads university courses, as well as corporate training in multicultural teaching, inter-group dialogue facilitation, cultural diversity, social justice, and anti-racist education.

In White Fragility, DiAngelo explores the subtle and not-so-subtle ways whites uphold racism, perhaps without realizing it. She gives many examples from her consulting experience that show how we get in our own way in understanding racial issues and how we effectively cut off dialogue that could be productive.

She talks about phrases that aren't helpful, like "I have a black friend" or "my family member married/adopted a person of color" or "I marched in the 60s" and explains why these statements don't exclude the speakers from racist tendencies.

I learned a ton in this book, and I plan to keep reading and learning and listening as much as I can about social justice. I encourage other white people to do the same.

I highly recommend White Fragility as a great starting place. This is a book that white people should read. I'm not sure whether there is much value in this book for people of color other than to reinforce what they have already experienced, but if you are a person of color who has read this book, let me know your thoughts.

Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.

When They Call You a Terrorist: a book review

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir

by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele

Released January 16, 2018

St. Martin's Press

 

 

I had been wanting to read this book since hearing Rebecca Schinsky talk about it on the All The Books podcast earlier this year. I bought my copy from the museum gift shop at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.



When They Call You a Terrorist is a memoir that follows Patrisse Khan-Cullors and her family as they experience police throughout their lives. She writes matter-of-factly about the times her brothers are detained by the police without merit, the time her partner is pulled from their bed in the middle of the night because he fits the description of some minor crime that just happened, her brother's experiences in and out of prison and how he is denied his mental health medication while there.

It all paints a vivid picture of how different people of color experience day-to-day life in the United States.

Khan-Cullors started the hashtag #blacklivesmatter during a written discussion with a friend. Along with a few others, Khan-Cullors went on to turn that into a movement with peaceful protests and speaking up at political events, on Rodeo Drive, and anywhere they could. By the time she builds to this part of her life, the reader is able to better understand why it was so necessary.

Khan-Cullors also describes her experiences as a queer black woman, as well as that of other people of color from the LGBTQ community.

This is an important book at a time when white people like me are trying to understand the deep-rooted anger and fear that our counterparts of color have experienced all along. Where have we been? How could we have missed this?

Whether you are interested in the Black Lives Matter movement (and you should be) or you just like a good memoir, this book is for you. It is not an easy read because of the content and the questions you will find yourself struggling with, but it is a necessary read.



Disclaimer: I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.