A Deep Dive into Scandal Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels by Paul Pringle My rating: 5 of 5 stars Genre: Nonfiction, Investigative Journalism Edition Reviewed: Hardcover, 304 pages Published July 19th 2022 by Celadon Books Upon reading Bad City by Paul Pringle, my first thought was that it might have better Read More
Weekend Book Review: The Untethered Soul
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself Author: Michael A. Singer Genre: Self-Help, Spirituality Page Length: 186 pages, auidiobook is 6 hours, 10 minutes Publisher/Publication Date: New Harbinger Publications, Oct. 3, 2007 “There is nothing more important to true growth than realizing that you are not the voice of the mind – you are the Read More
Weekend Book Review: The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle by Jannette Walls Page Length: 288 pages Publisher/Publication Date: Scribner, 2006 Rating: 5 of 5 Stars In the opening scene of Jeannette Walls,’ The Glass Castle, we are invited into an NYC taxi cab with Jeannette on her way to an important business dinner. As we are stuck in traffic, our gaze Read More
Heartbreaks
Yesterday evening my husband and I were watching a National Geographic nature show with my nine-year-old daughter when enjoyment turned to tears. We got to the inevitable point where the bear catches up to the newborn elk, who had fallen behind the herd, and you know the rest. My daughter ran upstairs crying and vowing Read More
Weekend Book Review: Violeta
Violeta by Isabel Allende My rating: 5 of 5 stars Genre: Historical Fiction Hardcover, 336 pages Published January 25th 2022 by Ballantine Books I can’t believe that I am just now getting around to reading Isabel Allende, and I can’t wait to read more. As an avid fan of historical fiction, Latin American authors, and magical Read More
August’s Word of the Month: Consistency
Ok, I know that Consistency isn’t a very sexy word…but the alternative is chaos. I believe consistency is key, especially for people in recovery; building a collection of actions and habits that contribute to your daily success. If we leave things to chance, our subconscious slips into the driver’s seat, and impulses and whims seem Read More
Weekend Book Review: We Are the Light
We Are the Light by Matthew Quick My rating: 5 of 5 starsGenre: Contemporary Fiction Length: 256 pages Publisher: Avid Reader Press/Simon Schuster We Are the Light by Matthew Quick (author of The Silver Linings Playbook) is an epistolary novel with a timely, if not tragic focus. After a mass shooting in Majestic, PA, where Read More
Patterns
My half brother from New York is visiting this week. He came to spend time with my parents, his father and step-mom, and the rest of our family. He’s 52 now. Moving in to hug him, I remembered the excitement of his arrivals throughout my childhood years, during summers and holidays; my super-cool, break-dancing, bleach Read More
Weekend Book Review: The Magic of Momentum
The Magic of Momentum: Escape Any Rut. Build Winning Streaks. Use Forward Motion to Change the Trajectory of Your Life. by Stephen Guise My rating: 4 of 5 starsGenre: Self-Help Length: 244 pages The Magic of Momentum is my introduction to Stephen Guise and his self-help books, and it did not disappoint. It focuses on Read More
Fire, Water, Air
Last week, I spent my time taking in brilliant blue coastal views, inhaling woodsy fresh forest air, and climbing volcanic mountains to reach serene alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers. We set out in our faithful, functional RV not headed to Yellowstone as planned (due to flooding) but up the coast of Northern California, into the Read More