Turns out I’ve become a “twitcher�. Who knew?
This light wee read has been super helpful in figuring out some of our native birds and how to enjoy themTurns out I’ve become a “twitcher�. Who knew?
This light wee read has been super helpful in figuring out some of our native birds and how to enjoy them. Loving my new interest, thanks Steve....more
I didn’t finish this before it was due back at the library but tbh it was no loss. I was struggling. Back in lockdown I wanted to read this after watcI didn’t finish this before it was due back at the library but tbh it was no loss. I was struggling. Back in lockdown I wanted to read this after watching Barbara Ewing excerpt in the Auckland Readers and Writers festival online. It sounded great, she interviewed well, the beautiful cover grabbed me and the subject matter appealing. Sadly it didn’t really meet my overblown expectations. The reflection was two dimensional and I didn’t find her life story intersection enough to want to pick it up often enough...... hence I let it go....more
It’s been a number of weeks since I finished this and I didn’t review it immediately after completing not deliberately, I just got busy.
The story has It’s been a number of weeks since I finished this and I didn’t review it immediately after completing not deliberately, I just got busy.
The story has lingered with me and has been rather ethereal. Which is a complete surprise because while reading it it didn’t feel that way. It felt overly detailed in the first half and a little too tidy in the second half. However the overall effect has left me aware that our sense of smell is well underrated and should in fact be cultivated as the book suggests. The essence of the story has become like a scent. The upfront impact of the high notes jarring, the mid notes a little sedentary but present and the base notes lingering with the truth and real essence.
So overall well worth the effort. A nice quirky family drama with an excellent romance tied in.
I am deeply impressed with Matt Haig as an author and person of influence. He speaks about mental health in the present from lived experience. This isI am deeply impressed with Matt Haig as an author and person of influence. He speaks about mental health in the present from lived experience. This is important and necessary so really it’s immaterial about my thoughts on this book because what he is achieving is worth a million moderate reviews. He is greater than his parts. That said I especially liked Notes on a Nervous Planet, it was a stellar read so I was looking forward to this one as it had some hype.
I enjoyed Midnight Library but felt it was a little patchy in places and perhaps didn’t live up to the hype. Hype aside it’s another great example of tackling the tricky topic of depression and expectation both rampant issues associated with poor physical and mental health in our current environment. I loved the concept of a library in the abyss between life and death of someone unconscious. The popping in and out of the multiple possibilities a life could offer up. I also loved the truth that no matter the life it contained the paradox of good and bad turning up in different ways. Acceptance of this is by definition in our current research the best place to sit for stable mental health.......the message is clear here. So if Midnight Library helps one person it’s a win regardless of my star rating. ...more
With things from external perspective feeling shaky, vulnerable and a little scary I’ve been struggling to find peace Exactly what I needed right now.
With things from external perspective feeling shaky, vulnerable and a little scary I’ve been struggling to find peace in my reading. Jumping from book to book and not settling. This however calmed me and reminded me. It is only ourselves that we can have any certainty about. Showing up for ourselves by listening to others, hearing and seeing them with curiosity all the while noticing our own destructive and defensive patterns in the mix. This gentle story demonstrates the need to see our part in what ever is creating the conflict. Being prepared to recognise this rather than blame the offending party....... ouch.
Read on the heels of Harriet Lerner this sweet story all about communication of what we really need vs staying in the victim mode landed perfectly.
Jeremy, Alyssa, Mum, Dad, Grandma all just doing the best they could with what they had. Add coffee and books into the mix and you have something just about right....more
Ever since I discovered the library online its been rather a boon, no late fees and I can find both real and audio books. This was my fist book read oEver since I discovered the library online its been rather a boon, no late fees and I can find both real and audio books. This was my fist book read on my phone and tbh it was fine, more than fine actually as it came with me where ever I was and was easy to read and not get lost. A way better experience than my first kindle.
This lovely author is my current crush. I read her latest book "Don't feed The Bear" a while back and found this via the library while tootling around on the website and well here we are finished.
I loved this, I suspect some would call it quirky and I guess it is and while that gives it merit. It is the writing and depth of insight into trauma, self and stuckness that illuminates it for me. Miriam has been staying home and indoors for the last three years. She cannot speak above a whisper and has a wonderfully supportive friend who has been supporting her through her isolation. However miriamis now ready to venture out.
Ralph got married early to Sadie because they were having twins, he left his enjoyable gardening job because sadie required them to be moving up in the world and he trained to become a therapist. Only he's not really sure he is walking his talk. Sadie is living vicariously through twitter and posts frequently about their exploits to the point where Ralphs clients know his goings on. Ralph is uncomfortable about this and the upcoming party being thrown for his birtheday.
Sadie is begining to wonder if she is in fact gay, however having teenage twins and Ralph as her husband has stopped her from really considering it. That is untile the night of the birthday party...... From this point three stuck individuals splinter off into a syncronistic connections, alowwing each one to begin the process of decending into the beginnings of transformaion that is both cathartic and healing.
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