Did June fly by in an astonishing hurry for anyone else? It did for me!
This month I did a lot of gardening, classes at the gym, took the kids places, hosted book club, and ran off to a Mat Kearney concert with Jeff.
The best show we've seen in years! Super interactive and they sounded great.
I also turned 43, visited my Dad in Oregon, and then we all celebrated Jeff on Father's Day.
So it was a full month. Probably why it feels like I blinked and it was over.
As for the books I read, it was a "mid" month, with books that I really enjoyed and a couple that I did not. But hey, you can't win them all, and the bombs make the 5-stars all the more exciting. I enjoy reading seasonally, so all are books that fit in that "summer reading" category. Here's what I ended up getting to. (You can click the image of the book's cover to be taken to its Amazon page. I don't make any money from it--just want you to have easy access if something sounds good!)
How I rate books:
DNF did not finish
1/5 I hated this book
2/5 I did not like this book
3/5 I liked this book
4/5 I really liked this book
5/5 I loved this book
To start, here are "Too Many Words about a book that has stayed with me."
The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin.
I didn't want to read this book last year. The title irritated me. From it, I guessed that it was something like,"I spent a year trying to make myself as happy as possible because life is all about happiness and, you know what? I'm worth it." So I didn't wanna spend any time going down that road. But people kept recommending it and praising both the project and Gretchen's writing, so I kept it on my list but still wasn't sure if I'd actually read it.
Then last summer (due to bad planning) I ended up on a trip to California with nothing new downloaded on my phone, save my Mat Kearney music and this book. First I listened to probably 20 hours of Mat Kearney (which was epic!), and then skeptically started this book.
In the first few chapters, I turned it off several times after the author said something I didn't agree with. I thought, "If I don't agree with her worldview, it's unlikely that I'm going to agree with her conclusions." But then another half hour of driving would pass with no cell service and I'd give it another go. There was a lot of information about human behavior that I found interesting, plus some cool ideas for bringing joy into your family culture. And even where I disagreed with Gretchen's conclusions, she still posed lots of questions that I thought worth considering. In the end, the message of "The Happiness Project" ended up refreshing my stagnant soul and making me excited about life again!
I came home inspired! I wanted t0 love on my family better and started incorporating more joy-filled activities in our days. I sang with my kids while we did our chores and worked on actively being a storehouse of good memories and nostalgia. I made time for new recipes, sometimes creating whimsical spreads of foods from other countries that the family loved and talked about for weeks.
That same month I planned an anniversary trip up north, pulled the trigger on a Nate Bargatze comedy show in Boise, and helped facilitate opportunities for the kids to try some of the things they had expressed a desire for at some point. We signed them up for college classes, pottery, archery, concerts, and more. By the time a few months had elapsed, the steam from reading The Happiness Project had prompted me to start a book club, join the gym, and create this blog.
Basically I was the recipient of a kick in the pants, one that prompted me to stop being complacent and get to living! And my family noticed that something had sparked inside me. Jeff said, "It makes me happy to see you all lit up!" several times. Making more efforts to improve my family's happiness made me happy. Seeing me happier made them happy. Win-win.
After this second read through, it dawned on me that the priorities of a Christian (things like loving God, loving others, and being content with whatever circumstance you are in) and happiness, joy, and fun, are not mutually exclusive but are often treated as if they are. I was someone who tended toward devaluing something like joy in favor of something more noble, like service. But while “happiness” as we think of it is not the goal, there are ways that every person can cheer up their days and make a positive impact on those around them. I’m convinced that this is a worthwhile endeavor.
As I listened along, I asked God to give me ideas for how to love on the people in my life better, and He gave me so many. There are dozens of things this book reminded me to do. Things like making eye contact and smiling at people when I'm going about my days, being intentional about practicing gratitude, and slowing down to make time for conversations that have no point other than enjoying one another's company.
It's possible that this was just a me thing--an effect based on the fact that I personally needed help out of a rut. Maybe others read this and have a completely different take. But for me it was a right book, right time project. I believe there is value in paying attention to your behaviors and routines. As Gretchen says in the book, “You manage what you measure.” That’s so true for me!
So this is my second read through in as many years. I'll tell you straight out, I do not agree with everything Gretchen says. Her secular worldview, while very loving and well-rounded, includes a few assertions that are unbiblical. However, her research and perspective were so interesting and helpful to me, making The Happiness Project one of my favorite re-reads in years.
So this is my second read through in as many years. I'll tell you straight out, I do not agree with everything Gretchen says. Her secular worldview, while very loving and well-rounded, includes a few assertions that are unbiblical. However, her research and perspective were so interesting and helpful to me, making The Happiness Project one of my favorite re-reads in years.
*Tip: I strongly recommend the audio version of this book, read by the author.
My rating: 5/5
I'm so glad I finally got to this book! Set in 1968, One Crazy Summer is the story of three young sisters-- Delphine, Fern, and Cecile--who are made to visit their estranged mother in Oakland, California after their father decides that they should have the opportunity to know her. Never mind the fact that their mother has no desire to mother, nor any interest in making sure these girls are happy or safe. Delphine has to step in and up to take care of her sisters in this strange new land that is so different from her neighborhood in Brooklyn.
The girls arrive and discover that their mother, an artist, is part of the Black Panther movement and spends most of her time sequestered away in her makeshift art studio (the kitchen). During their stay, the girls spend their days at a Black Panther kids camp and their evenings eating takeout and entertaining themselves. Delphine, the eldest sister, takes it upon herself to do what she can to make the trip a good experience for her younger sisters.
This isn't a bubble gum book--there are hard things. An unloving mother, scary encounters with the police, and uncomfortable scenarios make it a good book for older kids and adults, but not for small children. Because the story centers around three young children, there are many opportunities for humor despite the difficult stuff.
My rating: 4/5
Disciplines of a Godly Woman, by Barbara Hughes.
I couldn't get into this one. It felt like the same old, same old. I found out that this was released as part of a set with the author's husband's book, Disciplines of a Godly Man. To me, that makes sense, given what I read of this one. I think the idea was to provide a checklist to both men and women, to encourage them to prioritize good works. I just felt like they were things I've read before, so didn't finish the book.
My rating: DNF
This is one Judy Blume book that I do not recommend. Seems to me that, often, books that are labeled as "summer reads" often use smutty tactics to get people to engage. Pretty disappointing.
Content warnings: Language and graphic sexual content that is woven into the fabric of the story and conversations, and is impossible to skip.
My rating: 1/5
The Ship of Brides, by Jojo Moyes
Our in-person book club pick for June. This was my second time through Brides, this time on audiobook. I enjoyed it, despite it being set during WWII. Ha ha. No, really though. This is a fictionalized story of a real ship that set sail from Sydney, Australia containing 650 war brides, all sailing to England to be reunited with their husbands.
I enjoy Jojo Moyes' writing style a lot. She takes time to develop characters, give interesting back stories, and give them meaningful experiences, but still keeps things moving along. No Anna Karenina-esque slow and contemplative slogs in a Moyes book. This makes her catalog full of fun summer reads that still have meaning. I did notice some awkward transitions this time through, each easily forgiven in my mind because I was invested enough to overlook them.
Content warnings: Language, sexual references, and one act of sexual violence.
My rating: 4/5
The Husbands, by Holly Gramazio
This was the Modern Mrs. Darcy book club pick for June. It's another British story whose tone is in the vein of Brigit Jones' Diary. The plot is a husband-centric version of "The Midnight Library," to put it simply. Every time a husband goes up into the attic, a completely new one comes down, showing main character Lauren hundreds of versions of how her life could turn out. I love the "I thought the grass was greener on the other side" trope, so was very interested in the book's premise. I also enjoyed Gramazio's writing style, which is charming and light.
While it was easy listening, it went on far too long. Hours too long. I really think it could have been cut in half and had the same effect. I also wish it had less sexual references, and would have enjoyed the book more if those parts were omitted.
Content warning: Sexual content, language.
My rating: 2/5
The Lager Queen of Minnesota, by J. Ryan Stradal
J. Ryan Stradal writes what he knows--the midwest--and he writes it well. I'm always in awe of authors who manage to develop heartfelt and emotional stories that are also light and fun. Not fluff. Of the three J. Ryan Stradal books I've read, all of them contain this perfect balance.
Another thing I like about Stradal's books: He writes human stories that we can relate to, but places them in locations that most of us don't know much about. So while you understand and relate to the characters (minus the midwest-specific stuff), you are eager to turn the page because you're unfamiliar with the world they live in. In Kitchens of the Great Midwest it's the culinary world, in Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, it's a vacation community, and in The Lager Queen of Minnesota, it's the world of beer brewing. A world that, turns out, is very interesting!
The narrator of Lager Queen is Edith, an almost-senior-citizen who has lived in Minnesota her entire life. She is faithful and kind with just the right amount of spice, making you wish you could befriend her. In the audio version she is narrated by Judith Ivey, who did a fantastic job with bringing the various midwest accents to life. I really enjoyed this book.
A passage that stayed with me:
Edith was only 64 years-old, but if she died right then, she would have felt the most important things a Minnesotan--woman or man--can feel at the end of their lives. She'd done what she could, and she was of use. She helped.
Content warnings: Some language.
My rating: 4/5
Up Next:
I'm really excited about the books I have planned for July! I'm planning to join several book clubs in reading their picks: Barnes & Noble, Close Reads, and our in-person book club. I hope I have time to get to everything I'd like to. But if not, there's always August!
Comments
Post a Comment