GoodReads

Billy Summers by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don’t normally post reviews for big-name authors because…well because they don’t need them! People are going to buy their books on name recognition alone. But I really liked this book. I am a sucker for the bad dude with a heart of gold. Anti-hero I heart you. This book is a (much) smarter Jack Reacher meets Dean Koontz-esk suspense. For me, this book is proof an author can write anything they want, in any genre they want, and do it very well. Trigger warning there is violence and a rape scene that is remembered in flashes.

Recollections of My Nonexistence: A Memoir by Rebecca Solnit

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Amazing. Sometimes I read a memoir, and I think, I like this person; I’m so glad they were brave and shared their stories. I’m grateful for their work. Every once in a while I read a memoir and halfway through, I am stunned by how much I don’t know, how much I will probably never know and am humbled by this person’s life and experiences and deductions. Her mind is so analytical and the language so precise. The concepts though complex, resonate clear as a bell. I’m glad I splurged on the paper copy so I could underline and dog-ear. There is so much to unpack about feminism, about taking up space, fighting to be heard, and being trusted. Nothing is more timely right now.



View all my reviews

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This took me a long time to read – there was a lot to unpack. I love the idea of treating our clothes as if they had ‘feelings’ and wanted a special place to ‘rest’ – I have noticed when I do that little ‘thank you for keeping me warm today’ thing when I put a sweater back in the drawer I tend to (feel silly, yes) but also take better care of it. It’s strange. This is one of those books where you won’t apply every single principle to your life, (I will always have more than 30 books) but the one or two things you do take away becomes a part of your daily life. I think that’s amazing. It’s a NYT best seller for a reason.



View all my reviews

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was a gift from a new friend who knows me probably better than most people get a chance to. And I loved it so much. I cried, I cried so much and I laughed and I wondered how a world as crazy as ours can produce writers and humans with such heart and passion. I ordered another copy to send to Kait back home in Canada. And I have a new model for how to live an authentic, empathetic life where maybe I can make the world a little bit better from the words that I write. #WorldChanger.



View all my reviews

An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Amazing collection of poems alive with fire and blood and passion. I would recommend getting this on audible so you can hear her narrate in her own voice. This will make you cry, and think, and feel. These words will make you a more compassionate, empathetic human. That’s not too bad for one small poetry book.



View all my reviews

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam M. Grant

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I got this on audible and I’m so glad I did – he narrated it himself and you can really hear his personality shine through. I listened to this in two days it was very interesting. He changed my attitudes about changing my mind, about being open to making mistakes, and about the value of admitting them. I didn’t know I was getting a crash course in sincere negotiation, but I did. The next time I get pulled into an emotionally charged debate about…take your pick right now…I feel more confident in my ability to use empathy and openness to see their point of view and ensure they hear mine as well. A must-read for anyone navigating relationships with people they don’t always agree with. So, anyone who is working or breathing or alive right now!



View all my reviews