October 31, 2017

Monthly Book Review: October 2017

Blackout by Connie Willis - An 8 hour roundtrip road trip helped me get through a big chunk of this 19 hour book. In 2060 Oxford "historians" are traveling back in time to witness world changing events first hand. One is sent north to study evacuated children; one is working as a shop girl during the Blitz; yet another ends up where he wasn't intending to go, Dunkirk. Though sent at different times, all are within miles of one another in 1940 when it's obvious that something has gone awry - they are unable to return to Oxford and could be altering history. I'm a sucker for British accents, historical fiction (book is classified as science fiction) and WWII so thought this would be right up my alley. It was until I found out the book ends with a cliffhanger! The story continues in book two, All Clear, which is 24 hours! I originally thought I'd boycott part two on principle, but darn it all if I can't stop thinking 'what happens next?'.

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple - quirky! Our quest for acceptance and ability to make assumptions that often have little basis in reality gets us in trouble every time. I really liked this and think Bernadette and I would be great friends in real life.

The Child by Fiona Barton - Four women, a baby and how their lives are intertwined. Jude is one of the least nurturing helicopter mums you'll come across, Emma is a recluse living a self-imposed sentence for something no one else knows, Angela "lost" a baby forty years ago and Kate is the journalist bound and determined to get to the bottom of the truth even if it's not what she expected.

Another 8 hour road trip helped me jump start my first book of November - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.

I joined a book club and we meet on 11/28 To discuss Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance. I'll start on that as soon as I finish A Gentleman in Moscow.
On deck after those:
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari
The Map of Heaven by Eben Alexander

October 19, 2017

50 ways to grill your prospective lover

I may or may not enter the dating world again within the next decade. It's a possibility. Or not.
Because I feel the need to overthink so many things I decided to give my brain a fun exercise of what I would need to know about someone before they could be considered a good match. So far I have -

Travel lover
Foodie
Book reader
Walking Dead watcher or at least interested in watching from the beginning
Position on gay marriage
Political leanings
Star Wars vs Star Trek
Religious leanings
Myers Briggs type
Enneagram type

What else am I missing?

October 3, 2017

Monthly Book Review: September 2017


In addition to the following books, I listened to 10 Esther Perel therapy session podcasts - free on Audible. Good insight. I'm in an introspective, search for enlightenment kind of mood lately so my choices reflect that.

He Said/She Said by Robert Morgan - a slow build that alternates the stories of events that occur during solar eclipses over many years. The title reflects the story alternating chapters between husband and wife protagonists. It was a coincidence that I started this within a couple of weeks of The Great American Eclipse. 4/5 stars.

Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo - loquacious, but good messages about the value of less judgement, more contemplation and the idea that each life we live builds on our last. I have a lot of work to do in this life to better my chances in the next ;)

I started a third, Chasing the North Star by Robert Morgan, but could not get into it. I have A LOT built up in my queue so am anxious to dive in. An upcoming 10 hour road trip should help.

 Next up:
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari
Blackout by Connie Willis
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
The Child by Fiona Barton
The Map of Heaven by Eben Alexander

 Image by Jones Design