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.