While most of my wintering occurs in the actual season of winter, especially as a now avid gardener, I love the idea that wintering can also occur in While most of my wintering occurs in the actual season of winter, especially as a now avid gardener, I love the idea that wintering can also occur in different seasons of life. Let's all give ourselves a break every once in a while to rest and recalibrate, mkay?
Side note: I was fascinated by the cold plunge chapter but also NO THANK YOU....more
This was maybe not the book I should have read while trying to fall asleep during the first two weeks of Trump's second term in office.
The harrowing This was maybe not the book I should have read while trying to fall asleep during the first two weeks of Trump's second term in office.
The harrowing descriptions of her mouth sores will live with me forever.
Being sick and caregiving for someone who is sick are two things I am horrible at. I can't stand to be in pain or witness someone else's pain. I don't know how she or her family survived, even though she does her best to describe how it happened.
I often was reminded of John Green's essay about viral meningitis and how hard it is to remember how it feels to be sick once you're well, and how hard it is to remember being well when you are sick....more
So very rare that I get to read a book that references places I know very well, which is a treat.
I've never been married and I've never had kids, butSo very rare that I get to read a book that references places I know very well, which is a treat.
I've never been married and I've never had kids, but Maggie Smith shares her experience in a way that is extremely relatable. And her focus on clinging to the joy of life despite all the shit that comes with it is why she is so easy to love.
I do wish there were fewer refrains and callbacks - they often felt forced. But I appreciate the concept nevertheless....more
The essay on Amy Krouse Rosenthal had me quite unexpectedly crying in a waiting room. The world lost so much when she died.
I took a long break about The essay on Amy Krouse Rosenthal had me quite unexpectedly crying in a waiting room. The world lost so much when she died.
I took a long break about halfway through and I'm glad I did, because I came back to it with a much better mentality. John Green is a fascinating human....more
I am fascinated by the idea that someone does not have access to a full range of emotions, because my emotions seem to be in a permanent state of overI am fascinated by the idea that someone does not have access to a full range of emotions, because my emotions seem to be in a permanent state of overdrive. But I am also thankful for them, especially after reading Gagne's account of how hard it is to navigate a world without them. Her lack of emotions was no less stressful or frustrating or at times debilitating. People are fascinating.
(A lot of reviews I read question the author's experience and authenticity. I'm choosing to believe this is someone's lived experience and that it was written as intended - to help people understand themselves and those around them better. It's not to say this is every sociopath's lived experience. Welcome to being human - we're all the same and we're all wildly different.)...more
I don't often feel compelled to talk about the books I'm reading, but this one sunk its teeth into me and I needed to tell everyone I encountered abouI don't often feel compelled to talk about the books I'm reading, but this one sunk its teeth into me and I needed to tell everyone I encountered about it.
The insights into what sexual assault survivors face and how inept our system is to bring them justice has given me a more layered understanding of the #metoo movement than anything I've read up to this point.
The author expertly wove together threads from the past with the present in a way I've never experienced before. I am blown away by her strength and determination and vulnerability. This will stick with me for a long time....more
A beautiful character study of an imperfect mother/daughter relationship brimming with fierce love.
The slow, methodical descriptions of food I've nevA beautiful character study of an imperfect mother/daughter relationship brimming with fierce love.
The slow, methodical descriptions of food I've never eaten and wouldn't have a clue how to pronounce were mesmerizing and comforting in a surprising way....more
Strange how a book about crushing depression and anxiety can be so...comforting? Relatable and easy to digest. Living can be impossible and impossiblyStrange how a book about crushing depression and anxiety can be so...comforting? Relatable and easy to digest. Living can be impossible and impossibly gorgeous....more
An extremely entertaining & effective way to explain racism to people who haven't directly experienced it.
The most impressive thing for me is the casuAn extremely entertaining & effective way to explain racism to people who haven't directly experienced it.
The most impressive thing for me is the casual, conversational tone the author was able to uphold all the while sharing painful and cringeworthy stories about truly awful people. (I don't like to vilify people, preferring to vilify their actions instead, but... Ugh. Just ugh.) And the comedy is TOP NOTCH.
2 other things I really appreciated: 1. every time you wondered "but why?", the author answered with "because racism". There truly is no other explanation and I appreciate it being stated so clearly and often. It kept me honest as I was trying to understand how these things could actually be happening in the world. 2. I'm glad the author validated - and showed in action - the options available to people when they personally experience racism. You can get angry. You can set people straight. You can walk away. You can teach. You can stand up for others. You can do nothing. You can call your sister to vent. You can choose to eat the racist donuts. And whichever option you choose is right. Because there is no one right way to survive in a racist world.
Thank you to Amber and Lacey for sharing this with the world....more
A refreshing perspective, with honesty and directness and vulnerability.
The two things that I struggled with:
1. Since the author was writing about thA refreshing perspective, with honesty and directness and vulnerability.
The two things that I struggled with:
1. Since the author was writing about things from recent memory, without distance for perspective, there was a pervasive defensiveness (?) that had me on edge and made it harder for me to settle into the story.
2. The quotes from other works felt much more profound than the author's own observations, which made it seem like I was reading a term paper. A very well written and researched term paper....more
Nothing exceptional, but I love cats and love living with cats and can easily imagine myself writing very similar tales (ahem...tails?) about my own cNothing exceptional, but I love cats and love living with cats and can easily imagine myself writing very similar tales (ahem...tails?) about my own cats. So I guess there's a sort of comfort in this book that made me choose to pick it up and keep reading.
I mostly didn't finish because there was a waiting list on the library copy and I wanted to start reading next month's book club book....more
I rarely stumble upon this NPR series when flipping channels on the radio, but every time I do it pulls me in. This compilation had the same power. A I rarely stumble upon this NPR series when flipping channels on the radio, but every time I do it pulls me in. This compilation had the same power. A more polished but just-as-honest version of the Storycorp series....more
I had a healthy appreciation for Springsteen's music, but knew little about the man. What struck me most were his respect for his audience. I also lovI had a healthy appreciation for Springsteen's music, but knew little about the man. What struck me most were his respect for his audience. I also loved that music didn't come naturally to him, that he worked crazy hard for a long time to actually get good at his passion. ...more
Wow, I really knew/know nothing about the Roosevelt's, both as people and as political figures. This only a little bit scratched the surface for me, bWow, I really knew/know nothing about the Roosevelt's, both as people and as political figures. This only a little bit scratched the surface for me, but I am now totally on the Eleanor Roosevelt bandwagon. ...more
Hmmm. I didn't know anything about Issa Rae leading into this, and it might have helped if I did. There wasn't anything exceptional for me here, but IHmmm. I didn't know anything about Issa Rae leading into this, and it might have helped if I did. There wasn't anything exceptional for me here, but I did finish it so that's something. ...more
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