Ok this story is weird. Like super super weird. And even though it’s tender in the end, I do wish it had a bit more depth because there was more there and it could have been explored.

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I love John Green. I love his writing. I love the way he looks at the world. I love how he can write about being human with such tenderness and such keen observation. I am so glad he is writing again.

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I love Mary Beth Keane. The types of stories she tells are exactly the types of stories I prefer to read. Slow burn stories about families that navigate challenges and learn and grow. Whale Harbor is no different. This book focuses primarily on this one family with eleven sons who lose their mother at a young age and slowly immigrate out of Ireland in different ways and towards different futures. Parts of it are so very sad and other parts are funny and many parts are [...]]]>
Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Mary Beth Keane. The types of stories she tells are exactly the types of stories I prefer to read. Slow burn stories about families that navigate challenges and learn and grow. Whale Harbor is no different. This book focuses primarily on this one family with eleven sons who lose their mother at a young age and slowly immigrate out of Ireland in different ways and towards different futures. Parts of it are so very sad and other parts are funny and many parts are endearing. Like life. It’s beautifully written with characters and stories that will stay with you long after the last page.

with gratitude to Scribner and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This was different than the previous Michael Robotham stories I’ve read. It was slower and more character-driven. There is a lot here around forgiveness, small towns, coming of age on top of the usual people hiding and covering things up and making selfish choices. I liked the slow burn and I liked how I could completely visualize this small town. I also really enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the book.

with gratitude to netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced copy in [...]]]>
Tell Me Something True by Michael Robotham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was different than the previous Michael Robotham stories I’ve read. It was slower and more character-driven. There is a lot here around forgiveness, small towns, coming of age on top of the usual people hiding and covering things up and making selfish choices. I liked the slow burn and I liked how I could completely visualize this small town. I also really enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the book.

with gratitude to netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I found myself a bit disconnected from the narrative on this one than usual. I feel that Emily St. John Mandel is better read with my eyeballs for me vs listening. Her language is so beautiful and I always enjoy it better when I read her novels. Nonetheless I loved this one.

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Not entirely sure how to rate this book as it’s not the kind of book I usually read. But it gets 3.5 stars for my wanting to just keep reading it at a time when I really was stuck finding books to read. Lots of trigger warnings and lots of spice in this one, if those things make your reading experience harder, I’d stay away.

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Big Goal: I really took my big goal to heart and I’ve been working hard to be kind to myself. I have been trying to hear myself talk and remind myself that I also deserve [...]]]>

I thought I had written an update last week but it looks like I skipped both of the Mondays in September so far. Last Monday I was off and the Monday before was Labor day so here we are. The good news is that September has been kind to me and I have had a relaxing and joyful time so far.

Big Goal: I really took my big goal to heart and I’ve been working hard to be kind to myself. I have been trying to hear myself talk and remind myself that I also deserve my kindness. Additionally, last week, I took the week off for my birthday and purposefully changed my routines so I wouldn’t feel any pressure of routine and it was just truly lovely. I just did whatever I wanted and each time the little voice perked up to say something critical, I reminded her that we were trying something new this week. I’m very grateful for the break in the constant chatter in my head.

• Progress on the big five:
  • Y: I haven’t really done anything to figure out more plans for winter-prep. But my flowers in the front are now blooming!
  • G: not so far lol.
  • S: all september appointments done and so far good news all around, crossing fingers and toes!
  • Sa: both vet appointment and back to school night done! also grooming scheduled.
  • D: drove to school!
• Three Medium goals:
  • working on helping A.
  • got tix for NYC!
  • didn’t really start healthy meals, yoga, or visual note taking. but it’s ok. i’m ok with giving myself grace.
  • Chores:
    • A appointment done
    • hang up office lights not done
    • grooming – scheduled

• Start: didn’t a new book with D yet.
• Stop: working on this one.
• Continue: didn’t add new ones here yet but will work on this.
• Brave: man oh man, working on this one too.

Also unexpectedly I decided to do something i’d been putting off for ten years and it looks like it might be working, which would be a birthday miracle. Thanks to good people doing amazing things for me. I am so grateful.

Here’s to another month. Joyful one this time around. Paying attention. Loving my people. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.

i read both of these back to back which was likely a mistake.

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Not sure why I decided to read this. it was good but I never fully got into it. which begs the question on why i then continued to read #2.

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It’s been a long time since I read a 700+ page book with my eyes. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book the moment it came out because I had read so much about it and I wanted to read it so badly. And it so so did not disappoint. I will say that I think the descriptions I’ve read, for me, didn’t really do it the kind of justice that connected with me.

Yes this book starts as being [...]]]>
The Song of Stork and Dromedary by Anjet Daanje
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s been a long time since I read a 700+ page book with my eyes. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book the moment it came out because I had read so much about it and I wanted to read it so badly. And it so so did not disappoint. I will say that I think the descriptions I’ve read, for me, didn’t really do it the kind of justice that connected with me.

Yes this book starts as being about two writer sisters (likely modeled after the Brontes) and there’s a lot about them in the beginning. But the structure is really like a collection of short stories with super short chapters weaved in and the we progress in time with every story. As we get closer to modern day, the connection to the original characters gets more tenuous. In fact, I think that’s one of the reasons the last story was my least favorite.

While most of the stories are about sisters, some are also about brothers, and some are siblings. There’s a lot of death in the book. There’s a lot about marriage. A lot about being a woman. A lot about identity and belonging and autonomy. Every story was unique and incredible in its own way.

Even though I wish there was one more circle back to the original sisters at the very end, and even though I didn’t love the last story as much as I did the others, this book will stay with me for years to come.

And since I read it, I also reread many parts on audio and I was so worried it wouldn’t hold up its magic but it absolutely does. It’s perfect on audio so if you’re into audio, you have a winner here! Henrietta Meire does the most incredible job.

with gratitude to netgalley and Brilliance Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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