The election is finally behind us…for better or for worse. I’m hopeful that Americans can heal the divide we’ve seen in 2020 and work to create a much more brighter future!
Onto the books I read last week…
Last Week’s Reads:
*** I’m so Effing Tired: A Proven Plan to Beat Burnout, Boost Your Energy, and Reclaim Your Life by Amy Shah, M.D.
For years, I’ve tried to figure out what the heck is going on with my body. I’ve tried nearly everything and spent countless dollars with medical doctors, natural paths – I’ve even had surgery! All in an effort to figure out why my energy levels are so low.
I won’t say this book introduced any new groundbreaking information, but I didn’t know much about Intermittent Fasting (IF) and I was curious. I think I want to give her WTF plan a try (laid out in the book), and I’m going to focus on following the guidelines of an anti-inflammation diet. This book gave me the confidence to give it a try! (This book won’t be released until March 2021.) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*** The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I had no idea what I was getting heading into this one. While I wanted to read Haig’s previous book, How To Stop Time, I never got to it. I suppose I was nervous when I saw comparisons to The Time Traveler’s Wife (a DNF for me); however, that trepidation was unfounded as I was utterly charmed by this book!
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “what would have happened if I had done this instead of that?” or “are there parallel universes where I’m happier/famous/successful?” or just slightly melancholy about your current life/situations, The Midnight Library would be a fun exploration for you!
There’s a definite moral undertone to the story, but I was fine with it. For some reasons, I totally got The Five People You Meet in Heaven vibes (I’m not sure why; it’s been a few years since I read it), but that’s the overall sense of the book to me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*** Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey
This book was personal to me as many of the themes were quite personal and reminicent of my own childhood. However, this felt more like a first draft than a final book. I wanted more – deeper, more emotion – and I say that realizing that it was a very tough book to write and may have stirred up a bit of trauma during the process. Maybe I’m a little numb to the horrors of this life because of my own experiences, but it just go deep enough for me and left me emotionally vacant. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
*** Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
When this one first came out, I felt like the reviews were all over the place. Because of this, I was deterred from picking it up and I wish I wouldn’t have been because this book was so good! A perfect slow burn with descriptions that stand off the pages, I read this one in less than 24 hours. I love a book with such a strong sense of place that the setting becomes a character itself…and Odessa is certainly a strong character in this book. I could feel the blowing red dust in my throat, making me reach for a cup of water to wash it down. Wetmore shows true promise as a writer and I was so impressed with this debut! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*** The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask
Holy cow…I had no idea something I totally take for granted (my address) could be so fascinating! Mask does an amazing job of uncovering all things relating to an addresses. Did you realize that a simple number on the side of your house could reveal so much about you? Like, your class, race, wealth, and your identity? I was blown away by the information in this book…and it was so engaging that I consumed it in just a few days! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Current Reads:
*** Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
This is an incredible book! I’m literally only in Pillar Two, but I have no doubt that it may be my favorite nonfiction book of the year (A Knock at Midnight is also a consideration)! I’m alternating reading the book and then listening to the corresponding Oprah’s Book Club podcast with Wilkerson. I have already learned sooooo much and I find myself so anxious to be able to sit back down and read more!
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
I’m very early into this one, but I keep seeing people say this book is flying under the radar and deserves more hype. I’m even seeing people say it’s their favorite book of the year. It sounds like it’s got some super intense scenes and lots of trigger warnings, but I don’t shy away from hard things; in fact, a lot of times, they usually become my favorite books! I’m loving what I’m reading so far!
*** 🎧 Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
I thoroughly cleaned my garage during the first ⅓ of this on audiobook and I was really into. Now, I just need another project to immerse myself in to continue!
*** A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost
Eh. I’m not giving up…yet, but I haven’t listened to it at all this past week.
DNF (aka: Not For Me and/or Skipping For Now):
*** I’ll Be Seeing You by Elizabeth Berg
I was drawn to this book because the description says it’s a memoir of caring for Berg’s elderly parents, one of who suffers with Alzheimer’s. I lost my grandpa earlier this year, and while he didn’t have Alzheimer’s, I thought it would remind me of him. I took care of him every single day for the last several years – and especially the last six months of his life. He was truly my best friend and I miss him so much, but this book didn’t do anything to remind me of him and our situation. And sadly, I was pretty bored with the writing style.
Mean by Myriam Gurba
After the explosion of controvery surrounding American Dirt and #ownvoices authors, I commited to reading more books by authors with a personal experience of which they wrote. Mean was added to my TBR list, and while I think I would like it fine, I’m just not sure it’s what I’m looking for right now. There is some strong language and opinions, and in the face of the biggest election of our lifetimes, I can’t do extremely devisive thoughts right now. I may pick this one up again in the future…
Happiest When Reading 
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