Crystalline writing, so vivid I could see it in my mind. The last chapter was evocative of loss and very poignant. I look forward to reading more of hCrystalline writing, so vivid I could see it in my mind. The last chapter was evocative of loss and very poignant. I look forward to reading more of his work....more
A book club selection which had the group staying overtime to talk about all the relevant topics written about in it and in our lives. It kept my inteA book club selection which had the group staying overtime to talk about all the relevant topics written about in it and in our lives. It kept my interest from the beginning until the end and was much funnier read aloud to my hubby. Since it follows a diary format, and Hendrik Groen did not miss writing about a single day, it is a bit long. We've now decided to read the first book. ...more
A clear, searing reclamation of a life. I applaud Sinclair's courage to write about the life which left her scarred until she began to release herselfA clear, searing reclamation of a life. I applaud Sinclair's courage to write about the life which left her scarred until she began to release herself and arise from the ashes of her abusive family and religion.
The phrase,"Pulling her silken thread to the underworld of myself," begins the journey, which then follows the 'red thread' that binds her and finally frees her to begin to become herself.
Strength and power, grace and fortitude, grit and honesty, this is one of the best contemporary memoirs I have encountered. Its poetry is astonishing....more
Something was missing for me in this book, although I was attracted to the ideas it initially presented. I think it had to do with organization or theSomething was missing for me in this book, although I was attracted to the ideas it initially presented. I think it had to do with organization or the order in which the examples were given, or in the link between the points and her experience. I would have preferred if what she listed in the Epilogue were the sections she explored in her personal life and interviews with others. Those topics are rich and deep and I know they are represented throughout the book, however just not with enough explication. ...more
I enjoyed this book, despite being in my 70s and far removed from coming-of-age memoirs, because it is balanced with delightful information about NorwI enjoyed this book, despite being in my 70s and far removed from coming-of-age memoirs, because it is balanced with delightful information about Norwegian culture, animals and nature. I look forward to reading her other two books. The PBS program "Musher" was a wonderful introduction to Blair, and other mushers, before I read her memoir. I highly recommend both the book and the documentary....more
This is a beautiful collection of essays about books, authors, poems, poets as well as a brief memoir of the author's connection to the books, storiesThis is a beautiful collection of essays about books, authors, poems, poets as well as a brief memoir of the author's connection to the books, stories and poetry. I look forward to reading more by this author....more
Good ideas, information and suggestions. There's lots more on her website to dig deeper into one's personal connections to the five senses.Good ideas, information and suggestions. There's lots more on her website to dig deeper into one's personal connections to the five senses....more
Struthers educates us on the history of horology and the practice of making and restoring time pieces. I found this fascinating and at the end of the Struthers educates us on the history of horology and the practice of making and restoring time pieces. I found this fascinating and at the end of the book got out my husband's grandfather's pocket watch which was given to him on the occasion of his 21st birthday, a milestone for young adults in the early 20th century. The information I'd gained from the book gave new meaning to this pocket watch and I'm grateful for all the background the book contained....more
This is a phenomenal book which has me thinking in a very different way. Filled to the brim with information on other authors, dictionaries, glossarieThis is a phenomenal book which has me thinking in a very different way. Filled to the brim with information on other authors, dictionaries, glossaries. The world looks fully dimensional with the wisdom contained in, and the practices hinted at in this volume. ...more
"...we are forever hungering for more. I wonder if the same thing is true for this Roman light, if enough of it enters our eyes, if we look at somethi"...we are forever hungering for more. I wonder if the same thing is true for this Roman light, if enough of it enters our eyes, if we look at something long enough maybe we incorporate it, maybe it becomes part of us. Maybe it flashes around inside us, endlessly reflecting, saturating everything."
This is so true of travel, living elsewhere for a length of time, being outside yourself in a new place for months. Life thereafter becomes saturated with the light, sounds, fragrances, textures and the "spray of stars" above, so much so that it can never be forgotten. Africa, like Rome for Doerr, I believe has become a part of my soul, and from its incipient newness it became familiar forever.
This book is very helpful as I am raising a companion dog and have never had a puppy before nor trained a dog. I've gone right on to listen to her othThis book is very helpful as I am raising a companion dog and have never had a puppy before nor trained a dog. I've gone right on to listen to her other book Being a Dog. Such thorough exploration of the dog universe!...more
This book follows the trajectory of my life, just a few years later in its beginnings and on another continent. Poignant yet deeply perceptive of the This book follows the trajectory of my life, just a few years later in its beginnings and on another continent. Poignant yet deeply perceptive of the past and what it brings to the present, or not. I would appreciate reading this alongside someone fluent in French to assist with untranslated terminology and titles....more
I'd love to try this with a dog. Presently we have a service dog in training so must adhere to their protocols but this is very intriguing. I'd love to try this with a dog. Presently we have a service dog in training so must adhere to their protocols but this is very intriguing. ...more
This book is not for the fainthearted. It covers a range of traumatic topics many people might have endured or experienced. She treats each, which sheThis book is not for the fainthearted. It covers a range of traumatic topics many people might have endured or experienced. She treats each, which she actually lived through, with gentleness, and compassion for herself. ...more
An atlas, dictionary and encyclopedia of Brown's top 87 emotions described with the purpose of helping us become more literate about and able to commuAn atlas, dictionary and encyclopedia of Brown's top 87 emotions described with the purpose of helping us become more literate about and able to communicate about our own felt emotions....more
I could do without his stars in the reviews, so I chose not to rate this book using stars. Unusual for me but consistent with my dislike of stars in hI could do without his stars in the reviews, so I chose not to rate this book using stars. Unusual for me but consistent with my dislike of stars in his book. It would be interesting to know how he grouped or arranged the essays, since it doesn't seem they are chronological. I'm tempted to suggest it might be intriguing to have them read from 1s in the beginning to 5s at the end of the book. This is a thoughtful group of essays, experiences and descriptions about contemporary life. He is very frank about his mental states and challenges, also about what he does to overcome them. My hands-down favorite part is his description of "falling in love with the world" at the very outset of the book. Ah, that it had continued with that depth of feeling....more
C a d e n c e. Poetic reading voice. Sentence breaks. Word breaks. Too much of everything in a voice.
I usually enjoy hearing an author read her own wC a d e n c e. Poetic reading voice. Sentence breaks. Word breaks. Too much of everything in a voice.
I usually enjoy hearing an author read her own writing, but not this time. Patchett should let someone else read this book aloud. Her voice is at the best disruptive to hearing the essays, at the least distressingly distracting.
Redo, rerecord, for a better performance. An audiobook is not a reading at a bookstore or cafe or whatever. It is read for coherence and comprehension for the listener.
The essay about flying was the only one I could suspend my awareness of the grating intonation of Patchett's voice....more
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